Date: February 4th
Time: 7:01am
Location: Y/n's apartment
Mood: Sometimes, kids are creepy for no reason
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"Doggy!!"

"Rosie, stop that!" Y/n's mother snapped after her youngest continued to insist that Taehyung was the 'doggy' that had visited them once before.

Although there was no realistic danger of their secret being exposed, the men and Y/n all found themselves in various states of nervousness, with the exception of Taehyung who found the whole thing amusing.

No one could tell you why Rosie knew his secret. All Y/n could figure was that it was one of those weird kid moments. They were all sensitive to the supernatural and that could be misconstrued as their imagination.

Rosie's bottom lip stuck out as one little foot stomped on the ground, eliciting a giggle from Jungkook. She raced over to where her sister stood next to Jimin and lifted her arms to be picked up. When Y/n obliged, the toddler whispered into her ear with a pointed look at Tae.

"Unnie, you beweef me? He's dat doggy!"

After a quick look to ensure that their mother wasn't paying attention, she lowered her head to whisper back.

"I believe you. But shhh," she held a finger to her lips. "It's a secret. If you tell anyone, all his magic will go away."

Rosie gasped. "Like my elf???"

It took Y/n a second to remember what she was referring to. The Elf on the Shelf was a 'magical' elf that came every day three weeks before Christmas to make sure Rosie was behaving and would make it on Santa's good list. But they couldn't touch the elf, because if they did, he would lose all his magic and wouldn't be able to go back home to the North Pole.

"Yes! Just like Naruto the Elf."

The two-year-old nodded solemnly before turning her sights back to Taehyung and motioning for him to come closer. When he did, they all had to bite their inner lips to keep from laughing as she pet his hair while whispering what a 'good doggy' he was.

Not long after, they were called to breakfast. Jimin sat to Y/n's right as they held hands under the table, while her step dad sat on her left and covertly slid an envelope full of money into her lap. Everyone's mouth watered as two trays of homemade cinnamon rolls and a tray of fruit were placed in the center of the table.

"This is for you two young men and my sweet husband." Mrs Yoon's smile did not quite reach her eyes as she slid the offered tray to the three men, all conveniently sat in a row. "It's a thank you for all that you did last night."

Taehyung's feeling of impending doom came to Jungkook as well. Now that it was too late. They couldn't insult this woman by rejecting her offering. For one she was an elder and for two Jimin had threatened to sit on their future mates if they acted up. And that shit was scary.

"Jimin," she turned her lethal smile on him as she began to distribute helpings to everyone's plate. "Say thank you to Y/n. She was able to save you. You see, I get a little bit...salty when I'm woken up prematurely."

Mr Yoon didn't say a thing. The near dead look on his face said enough for everyone.

Once they all had their food, they were all about to dig in before Y/n's mom shouted.

"Wait! Let us give thanks to Annapurna for this meal-"

Y/n honestly wouldn't mind if she just died right then for no reason. Unfortunately, her time wasn't quite up yet.

"Now dig in." She motioned for them to eat after a lengthy prayer to ten different gods.

Jimin, Rosie, and Y/n, the 'good' people could say it was the best cinnamon bun they'd ever had. Warm and soft on the inside and sweet with just the slightest crunch on the outside. It tasted like heaven and melted like butter.

Taehyung, Mr Yoon and Jungkook experienced something different. In place of sugar, it was salt. In exchange for cinnamon, it was salt. Mixed in with the icing was an ass ton of salt. Salty on the inside and salty on the outside. Rather than melting like butter, salt exploded on their taste buds and then seeped in to erode their tongues.

Figuring he could play this off if he shoved the entire thing into his mouth at once, Taehyung did just that. Then immediately regretted the decision as Mrs Yoon saw how much he LOVED it and shoveled another helping onto his plate.

Mr Yoon ate it like a champ. A sourly defeated champ that regretted having joined the game. When he finished halfway with no complaints, his wife gave him a portion from the tray for the good people with a wink.

Jungkook didn't give a shit. He was a sixteen-year-old male werewolf who could and would pack away whatever food was in front of him, no matter the helping size. No matter the taste. Food was food and food was good. No. Matter. What.

"Is good!" He complimented the chef while his mouth was still full. Right after he gulped down a cup of coffee that had been sweetened with an ounce of salt. (6tsps or 30ml)

"Interesting." Y/n's mother observed him with skepticism and some humor. This one was strong, she could tell. He would go on to do great things. Or eat a lot. Both, probably. "I'll send the leftovers home with you."

This earned a grin from the youngest male at the table as he continued to shove food into his mouth at a rate that would make you think he'd been on a deserted island for the past month.

When the torture otherwise known as breakfast was over, Y/n pulled Jimin aside. Her step dad having left for work, mom busy washing the dishes and Rosie happily showing off all of her toys to Tae and Jungkook, they were rewarded some degree of privacy as they sat close together on the sofa.

They had spent hours last night all the way into the early morning on the phone talking to one another. Expressing extreme worry over her emotional state, he had listened impatiently as she went over everything with him. The conversation had her crying again when she explained what exactly was wrong with Hyuna and the likelihood of her dying. Jimin had already known by her scent that this was the case but had held onto some hope that whatever was wrong could be rectified. And there was a chance that it could be. However slim those chances were.

When everything was laid out and all was well once more, they had continued their conversation. Talking about the more prevalent issues in their life to the less significant matters they were faced with. This went on up until Y/n passed out and Jimin was left to listen to the cute way she would occasionally mumble to herself while sleeping.

"My dad gave me this," she showed him the envelope that had been slipped into her lap under the table. "I'm going to give it to...the...uh, the other one."

The more time passed and interactions they shared, it became more heartbreakingly apparent to her that the man that had helped to create her couldn't be counted as a father. There was a disconnect there that the man wasn't doing much to repair. The more she dwelled on the fact, the more it bothered her. Dad was a name too easily given out. It was a title deserving of respect. One that should be earned. Some people had no right becoming parents in the first place. And if they did, they didn't automatically deserve the respect that came with it.

During her time with the therapist and having met this man again she had realized something. Dad's aren't fathers because of DNA. What makes a real parent is being involved. Taking care of their kids, helping them grow and mature. Teaching you how to swim and ride a bike and how to keep safe from the dangers of the world. Being there when things are hard and loving you even when you don't deserve it. Just because they helped to create you doesn't make them a real parent. Loving and caring and simply being there was what counted.

Still, that didn't lessen the pain. Nothing really would. Though she could take comfort in the fact that did have a real dad. One that wasn't blood related to her in any way, yet saw her as his daughter all the same. And at this point, it didn't seem right to give someone else the title he had rightfully earned.

At the sight of the envelope in her hand Jimin's eyebrows scrunched together as he frowned. "Are you sure about this? It gives me a bad feeling."

It made her feel the same way. "Me too. But I did break the window. I should pay for it."

"He broke your heart, is he gonna pay for that?" He retorted with a glare directed at the envelope in her lap.

"Probably not." She answered weakly all while willing for his features to straighten out and relax. "I'll be leaving shortly to meet him...can you come with me?"

Surprise flitted across his face for a second until it was exchanged with a look that spoke of conflicting emotions. "I will. Can you can push the time back some? Tae and I are going to the hospital to see if we could be a donor match for Hyuna."

She stilled, her mouth coming open for a moment. "Y-you are? Taehyung as well??"

"Yeah, hyung too, but I can put it off if you need me-"

"No! You go to that!" she pressed eagerly. The more possible matches to save her friend, the better. She could be a big girl and go do this alone. "That's far more important. I'll be alright."

He didn't appear to like that answer very much and his frown persisted. "Take Jungkook with you." Before she could stop him, he called the younger man over and he readily agreed to come along.

Dread that she wouldn't express filled her. Jungkook was so weird and said some audacious things when his hyungs weren't listening. Telling Jimin about it never crossed her mind. She knew he wouldn't believe her.

Yet, she couldn't say she wasn't grateful to have someone there. Similar to the feeling Jimin had expressed, something about this didn't sit right with her. Thinking on it felt ominous. Like a dark storm cloud had formed over the entire situation and lightening was going to strike at any given moment. Then she recalled how her mom had said she was going to tell Seo-Joon everything after she left. That partly explained why the anxiety was getting to her so much today.

It was just after 8:30 now and they were set to meet at 9. Jimin didn't say what time they had to be at the hospital but they went their separate ways when they stepped out of the apartment building. Once they were out of earshot Jungkook looked at her sideways.

"Red Noona. How come hyung hasn't marked you yet?"

At least this time she wasn't shocked by his intrusive question. A frown decorated her face as she thought about the answer to that. Why hadn't he marked her yet? She was definitely ready.

"I don't know." She mumbled sadly.

"I would have marked you right away."

As she turned her gaze sharply to his face, he grinned and she understood the comment for what it was: to make her feel better. Although they both were aware that if Jimin had heard it, it would be Jibooty doomsday for Jungkook.

"Want to listen to music?" The question was more of her way to keep him from talking than a desire for entertainment. Her stomach was so twisted in knots that the lyrics would probably go over her head anyway.

The teen next to her titled his head slightly as he assessed her. Concern was apparent on his face. Too busy with pulling out her phone, she never saw it.

"I've got wireless ones." He spoke up when she pulled out a pair of wired earbuds.

Getting it all set up and both having an earbud in one ear as they walked the sidewalk together, Jungkook realized that Y/n was more like him that he initially thought. Deceptively innocent. Deceptively being the important word here. Because no one who listened to a song with the words, 'slob on my knob like corn on the cob, squeeze on my nuts lick on my butt,' was innocent. Especially not a woman who mouthed every word.

"-Yeah you know who took that shit from you, come get it back in blood-"

"-Fuck integrity fuck your pedigree fuck your feelings fuck your culture fuck your mom fuck your family fuck your drive fuck your land fuck your children fuck your wives-"

"-you are hiding a child let that boy come home, deadbeat motherfucka playin' border patrol-"

"-oh you got three kids? All them bitches dead, POP, POP, POP, through they heads-"

"Noona, this is not what I expected." Jungkook gave her a funny look to which she shrugged. It wouldn't be the first time someone was surprised by her taste in music.

"What did you expect?"

"I dunno. Not this."

When she came to a stop in front of quaint, little cafe he followed suit. Already his stomach was grumbling. If he hadn't eaten that whole pan of food her mother had made he'd probably be starving by now. But since he had, he was only starving a little bit......Who was he kidding? He was about to die from hunger.

Holding a hand out in front of Jimin's mate he waited patiently. She looked to it and then to his face in question.

"I'm hungry. Buy me food."

"But you just ate."

He wiggled his fingers expectantly. "I'm still hungry." Then after a moment added, "you get me food and I'll tell you what Jimin looks like naked."

She'd already seen everything. Like hell was she going to tell him that. Without replying she led them inside and bought the kid more food and some sickeningly sweet frozen drink. After they sat down at a table by the window he took that as his cue to tell her all about naked Jimin. Tuning it out was a lot harder than it should have been. Or maybe it wasn't meant to be difficult at all.

A few minutes of this went by until he finally arrived. The rush of blood pounded in her ears as her heart jumped into her throat. Jungkook stopped speaking abruptly and turned to see where her gaze had been averted to. So preoccupied with looking at her run away parent, Y/n failed to notice the way teenager's features hardened. Nor the way he moved around the table to sit next to her instead of across.

"Morning." A single word was granted her way as greeting. Jungkook got an uninterested glance.

"Good morning..." her voice was quiet as she observed the tired look to his eyes, the firm line of his mouth. If exhausted was a person, then he would be it. One of the pockets of his jacket was inside out and there was a part of his hair that was stubbornly out of place. Her mom would have called it a 'cow lick'.

In her lap the paper envelope crinkled as her hands latched tighter around it. Seeing him like this reminded her of a conversation the other day with the therapist.

"Should I test him?" She had asked the professional. This woman understood emotions and behaviors yet wouldn't give Y/n her personal opinion on the one person she wanted to understand the most, stating that it was of no importance what she (the therapist) thought of the man. "To see if he's loyal. Or...something like that."

"Do you think it's fair that you have to test the loyalty of anyone in your life?" This was part of why Y/n disliked these meetings. She asked a question, why couldn't the therapist just tell her the answer? Rather, she would pose a question right back and force Y/n to think and solve the equation herself.

The answer to this one was no, it wasn't fair at all.

It was unfair. But it was not unnecessary. And she hated that. On some level she hated him. It was still 9am and already she wanted to cry. Because despite his words or the smile he would put on when he saw her or his apologies, she knew. He wasn't loyal to her. He felt no obligation to be so. Since the moment he'd left the first time, Y/n had never felt complete. Her heart was whole but there was a hole in her heart. No wonder it hurt so bad.

Before she could second guess or stop herself she blurted, "I won't...I'm-I'm sorry...I won't give you the money."

What she expected was for him to tell her hated her and say something hurtful like, 'this is why I left you'. What happened instead was for his face to screw up in anger. His nose twisted oddly as he gripped the bridge of it and sighed.

Although she was still sort of reeling over her own behavior (she couldn't believe she'd actually said that), she was satisfied with her decision. Resolute. Whatever happens from here happens.

Jungkook let out a quiet chuckle as he sipped at his strawberry frappe.

"What do you mean you won't give it to me?" He asked calmly, despite looking like he was ready to flip the table. Longingly her eyes looked to Jungkook's drink. She should have gotten something to sip on. Maybe this would have been less awkward if she did. "You broke my damn window!"

"Sorry."

Jungkook, noticing her stare, offered to let her have a sip. The offer was taken up instantly. Only for the sound of an empty cup coming back when she sucked on the straw. She shot the teen a dirty look. Why was he like this?

"I could sue, you know!" The middle aged man brought their attention back to him with that outburst.

Sighing gloomily, she placed the empty cup on the table and folded her hands together. "Then sue me." She tried for one of those boss bitch glares that Hyuna could give so easily, but knew that it failed miserably. Not when her jaw quivered to keep from crying, the steely grip she had caused her hands to go white and let's not speak of the way she couldn't maintain eye contact for more than 5 seconds.

He wouldn't take her court. Not if he didn't want to answer for what her mother had described as billions of won in child support.

"I'm so disappointed in you."

That cut. The manner in which he shook his head in shame at this statement would have made the old Y/n want to curl into a ball and die. The one narrative she had always desperately fought against bit back with a vindictive, 'I told you so.' She wasn't good enough. She never was. And she never would be.

...All those things she used to tell herself felt dumb now. Not to say that this wasn't depressing and didn't tear at her heart and self confidence. It absolutely did.

But it didn't break her. She had let him down. That was ok. The therapist taught her that it was unrealistic to be perfect at everything. Jimin taught her that love was selfless. Seo-Joon taught her that if someone cares for you, then they would protect you. Her mom taught her...well, her mom taught her to go with every religion possible in the hopes for salvation. She wasn't sure how that applied to this situation, but mom had tried. Last but not least, Jungkook taught her that no one is as they appear to be. They could say one thing but do another. Always expect for the other party to be diabolically evil and you're one step ahead. Or something.

Therefore, it was with a begrudging resignation that she accepted it. She had let him down. But that was ok because she wasn't perfect, he didn't love her, and if he were truly sorry and repentant for what he had done, he wouldn't be acting like this.

Knowing all that didn't fix things. It still hurt. Ridiculously so.

The table shook as her birth father slammed his palms onto the surface as he stood. There were no words from him. Only a scathing look spared her way and then he was leaving.

For a second, her inhibitions nearly flew out the window at the sight of his retreating back. For the second time all she could see was his back, leaving, abandoning. It was just like before.

Except last time, her best friend didn't run him over with a car.

The adult male's body bounced like a rubber ball off the shiny black hood and flew over two meters into the air before landing with a sick crunch on the pavement.

There was a collective gasp from the other patrons, as well as Y/n.

Jungkook snorted loudly and pulled out his phone to snap a picture before going, "he need some MILK-"

Hyuna jumped out of the car and rushed to his side. From inside of the building, no one could hear what her best friend said to the man she had just run over, but Y/n could swear she saw her mouth form the words "bitch ass" before Hyuna broke into a loud, dramatic sob.

"SOMEONE HEEEELP!" These words were clearly heard as she wailed in 'terror' and the mob of patrons ran outside to help.

Both Jungkook and Y/n rushed out as well. The latter bypassed her sperm donor (without fully realizing it) to get to Hyuna first. Hurriedly her gaze traveled over her body to inspect for injuries.

"Oh my god, is your car ok?!?" Jungkook demanded to know.

The man on the ground moaned in pain.

"Stephanie, call the ambulan!" A random foreigner yelled.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." The blonde woman looked to her best friend with pleading eyes.

Lucky for her, Y/n was the type to forgive easily. Even if Hyuna did run over her sperm donor with a car. "No. You have nothing to apologize for."

With that simple exchange, they made up. Stephanie called the 'ambulan'. Jungkook took pictures of the car Hyuna was driving for insurance purposes. The sperm donor, who appeared fine apart from a scraped knee, stood and refused medical treatment before storming off.

<><><>
February 18th

Waiting for donor match results took much longer than Y/n had anticipated. Initially they had told her that it would take a few days to find out. But a few days had bled into a week and a week had turned into two.

At work, Baek Hyeon whispered to Y/n a confession that made her stomach drop down to her toes. 'Dada' as he called him, had 'gone away'.

A great rush of fury hit her head on when she heard this. Hurting her was one thing, she was finally making peace with it. But doing this to Baek Hyeon, a three-year-old baby was repulsive. At this age it wasn't likely he would even remember he had a father. All he would hear was stories and the main one that would stick out would be where he left his wife and kid. He was going to go through the same struggles and self esteem issues she did.

That possible scenario was what brought her to make an important decision. She told Baek Hyeon's mom everything.

Her name was Nari and she was much younger than Y/n had thought. Now twenty eight years old and a single mother, Nari was refreshingly resilient, if not optimistic about the situation. Not completely unbothered, but seemingly acquiescent to the bitter facts. She had willingly invited Y/n and Seo-Joon into her home to hear their story and to tell her own.

Hers varied from theirs in some ways, yet in other places was strikingly familiar. Their marriage had already been on the rocks according to her, as he couldn't come to terms with the fact that she was the family's bread winner. As much as he loved his flowers, they weren't doing him much good when no one was buying them, and his business was on the verge of tanking. Come to find out that Nari had cut him off from her bank account after a particularly bad fight and that was when he had asked Y/n for money. Never had she been so relieved of a decision she had made.

Speaking of such, Y/n came to another decision. One that she was resolute in. Baek Hyeon wouldn't grow up with the same mind set she had. She wouldn't allow it. As a person who had been through it, she understood the signs and the triggers, and knew what he needed to hear. If their father wasn't going to be that person in his life, then she would be.

The last few days of the school term came and went, allowing more free time. Though they made sure that not a second was wasted. Hyuna revealed a bucket a list that she wanted to accomplish, 'just in case'. Both she and Y/n took a leave of absence at work after she heavily pressured the daycare supervisor until she relented to the sudden request for time off.

Jimin pouted consistently that work wasn't fun when she wasn't there. She had to make up for it with extra cuddles.

Hyuna's bucket list was relatively easy to accomplish, apart from a few wishes that were impossible...and odd. Like, 'flash the guards patrolling Buckingham Palace' and 'dance to Billie Jean at the Red Square in Moscow'.

They did their own versions though. Hyuna flashed her boobs at a police officer. Then got a ticket for indecent exposure.

"Guess he was an ass man." She joked. Y/n laughed.

Then they drove to Seoul and Hyuna danced to Billie Jean in front of a random barbecue restaurant where she was then scouted by an agent looking for trainees.

"Guess he don't know that scouting me is like a, dead end." She joked. Y/n did not laugh.

Jimin whined and complained that she had spent the entire day away from him. That night she sacrificed hours of sleep to spend with him on the phone, consistently telling him how handsome he was.

The last four days the girls crammed in as much as they could to complete the bucket list. They went bungee jumping. Jimin totally blew up and lectured his mate on how dangerous that had been and then proceeded to complain that they hadn't invited him to come along.

They got friend tattoos. Hyuna chose an outline of glasses, just like Velma would wear. Jimin glared at the minuscule gemini sign Y/n had imprinted on her wrist, muttering something about, "she marked you before I could." Becoming annoyed that he couldn't just be happy about anything she did, Y/n retaliated with a bite to his own wrist. Unsurprisingly, Jimin liked that a bit too much, and this had led to a heavy make out session.

The two friends went sightseeing in Seoraksan national park. For a picnic at Yeouido park. Rode bikes along the Han river.

Then the day came when the hospital finally called Y/n back to give her the news.

She wasn't a match. Giving a kidney up to her best friend wasn't possible. She had to work hard to not break down and cry. Denial is always easier than acceptance. Although Hyuna didn't appear bothered by it, Y/n still clung to hope.

Even at the news that Jimin nor Taehyung would be able to help either. There had to be some way to a void the inevitable. Hyuna couldn't die.

Though there was one fact in life that no one could argue. One fate that each person, regardless of race, religion or pedigree that we all share. Death. Everyone dies.

But another factor of life is that sometimes the universe works in strange ways and the unexpected comes to us when we least expect it.

Someone was a match. That was all the doctor told her before they went to the hospital as a group. Y/n, Hyuna and her parents, and Jimin.

The recipient herself was quiet, her expression guarded as they waited for the doctor to walk into the exam room. She squeezed Y/n's hand and didn't let go. That was the only sign that she gave to indicate how nervous she was.

It seemed to take forever for the medical professional to arrive. And when he did, a familiar face walked in behind him.

Keeping up with his anime villain character, Namjoon strutted into room and whipped his glasses off to pin Hyuna with a victorious grin.

"I WIN, loser. YOU OWE ME A LIFE DEBT NOW!"

"WHAT?" They all jumped as Hyuna shrieked. "He's my donor match?"

"Yes." The doctor said joyfully. "This young man has selflessly-"

"I'll just die." She deadpanned. Both Y/n and Hyuna's mom slapped her on either arm at the same time. "OW! You don't get it!! His mutant kidney will turn me into a grammar nazi!"

"You could use the improvement." Her father glared. "Now shut your mouth and thank this kid."

"How am I supposed to do both?" She bit back, which earned her another slap on the arm from her mother. "OW! I'm dying, quit hitting me!!"

"Thank you, Namjoon-oppa." Y/n said with tears in her eyes.

Hyuna's parents also began to thank him profusely.

"I'm not getting the surgery!" Hyuna interjected.

"Yes you are." They all said at once.

"No!"

"Yes."

"NO!"

"Yes."

Hyuna got the surgery. She accepted Namjoon's kind offer gracefully and never spoke an ill word against him ever again.

...Now go back and read that in a sarcastic tone.

<><><>
Song list by order

Tear Da Clubs Up Thugs—Slob on My Knob
Pooh Shiesty—Back in Blood
Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, James Blake—King's Dead
Push's T—The Story of Adidon
CupcakKe—The Gag Is

—
Edited 9/29/22