TAE POV:

My lips thin, watching with a pained grimace as (Y/N) twists in discomfort, Jin's hands massaging at the low of her back. But rather than smoothening out the pinched, pained expression from her face it deepens, a soft hitch of breath as she curls her head into the burrow of her arms, body language broadcasting her discomfort.

"Jin careful!" the words come out as a grating snap, defensive and protective when I hear a muffled cry, watching his hands freeze, expression a mix of concern and fretting and soft, soft apology.

My hands unconsciously cradle Taeseungie closer, hands keeping him tucked against my chest, fingers brushing through soft curls, steadily swaying and rocking, voice falling quiet when it threatens to disturb Taeseungie's soft, even breaths as he sleeps, cheek pressed against my chest.

"I am Tae-ah. She'll feel better afterwards." Voice coaxing and promising, though the motion of his hands slow further, thumbs rubbing circles at the base of her back, down the softness of her hips, eyes flitting to her in careful observation.

"It's fine Tae." words muffled, and I watch as Mimi watches me, watches me torn, wishing I had enough hands to both soothe (Y/N) and continue to cradle Taeseungie to me as I have been since (Y/N)'s fed him. Hand rubbing up and down his back, coaxed to sleep somewhere in the constant rubs, body curled and swaddled. Tucked into the protective cradle of my hands. See Mimi's gaze flit to me, watching me move towards the bed, keeping Taeseungie soothed and tucked but all the whilst aching to somehow soothe the distress (Y/N)'s body radiates with. My eyes and Minnie's settling on (Y/N), watching and examining her body for any tells that she's hiding or stifling a greater pain.

"Joon did stock up on tonics, but it takes time to bounce back love... give your body some time." Voice sympathetic, watching as Jin reaches for a small vial of oil, halting him before he can thumb open the cork to continue massaging the stiffness and tension in the low of her back.

Mimi's head tilting towards the bedside table.

"There's a new oil Joon's worked on, it's sort of a pain-relief one, he infused it." Watching as Minnie sidesteps past him, hand at the low of his back to carefully steer him aside and to the edge of the bed before he's tugging open the vial.

Moving back towards me rather than (Y/N), a knowing softness in his eyes as he holds his hands out to carefully scoop Taeseungie from me and cradle him towards his own chest immediately, a quick ease in the motion that Taeseungie doesn't stir at all, continuing to sleep in Mimi's arms. Carefully easing back before moving to kneel down on the edge of the bed, hand reaching out to brush against the back of her arm, smiling softly when she unfurls an arm to entangle our fingers together. Squeezing gently and heart aching at the tiredness that lingers on her face.

Leaning in to press a kiss against her temple, against her hair, lips lingering there as I curve closer.

"I'm sorry." Voice morose and quiet.

"What for?" lips quirking up, her hand squeezing mine tighter, in consolation and grounding reassurance. The gesture making my heart clench tight.

"That you're hurting. When you've been so strong for months."

"I just want a long nap." She murmurs, eyes fluttering with relief as the infused oil brings her greater, immediate relief, sinking heavily against the bed, even as she stirs slightly, discomforted by suddenly lying on her front when months of engrained habit and the curved tautness of her stomach hadn't allowed for it. Still squirming with faint discomfort at the position, hand rubbing circles against her stomach, a grounding of her palm against skin, head drooping forward.

"I'm sure little love will be asleep for a few hours now, he's fed, and I changed his clothes after a bath. Get some rest baby mama." Voice coaxing and grounding, Mimi's words making her eyes blink open, head tilting, cheek against the pillows as she peers up at the two of them. Fondness in her gaze at seeing Mimi continue to rock Taeseungie, cradling him against his chest, hands securing him.

"Mimi sneaking in for the appa role?"

Smile quirking when I make an unintelligible noise at the back of my throat, a soft protesting sound that makes him beam, eyes crinkling into crescents, pearly smile as he lets out a soft tinkling giggle.

"What do you mean? I'm stealing it." He boasts proudly, fingers gently brushing and playing with small curls, eyes creasing deeper, laughter lines around his eyes as he laughs softly when I swipe out a hand to swat at him, lips pressing a smatter of pecks against curls, against Taeseungie's skin.

"Try." I retort, feeling the faint squeeze of fingers, the press of her wedding band against my skin as I lean to brush a kiss across her knuckles, thumbing at her ring with a fond smile. Nuzzling into her.

"Oh don't worry Tae honey... my baby will know his appa very well." A soft, playful coo that in its sweetness does nothing to disguise the playful coyness, the challenge and threat both.

"Yes he will!"

Voice hushed and careful to not stir him, fingers drawing (Y/N)'s hand in mine, lips brushing against her knuckles once more.

"Let me have a nap with my baby mama and baby boy Minnie."

Jin's hands continue to work the stiffness out her back, his smile deepening, eyes soft and warm when she melts under his touch, groaning softly.

"Good luck with that. At most I'm willing to compromise with getting either Taeseungie to hold or baby mama to nap with." A playful gleam to his eyes as he meets Minnie's gaze, the two of them grinning with conspiration.

"How about we have a nap with baby mama and little Seungie and Tae makes dinner?" Minnie bargains, eyes drifting to the bed, eyeing it with longing, thumb tracing small circles against Taeseungie's nape.

"Deal." A crowed echo followed by a breathless laugh, sleepy, tired eyes blinking up at me.

"How does that sound my Lord Kim?"

I lean down to steal a kiss from her lips.

"I'll make dinner..."

Watch as her eyes narrow playfully.

"I'll beg Kookie to help me make dinner. And let you get some rest. How ever do I fight the odds of two against one?"

She leans into me, tilting her head, craning it in silent implore for another kiss. Then another. Body ducked down to press close to kiss her, her kiss slow and lazy, lips soft against my own.

"I thought you gambled with much riskier odds than that Tae."

"...how can I deny anyone time with you when that's all I ever want to? I'll be less selfish and share-maybe just this once." Lips lingering against hers, drawing away unwillingly with a final peck.

Jin's hands are careful as they begin to ease away, immediately moving to wash his hands clean before helping her up, arms steadying her as she draws the blanket she was sprawled on close to her bare front, curling into it tiredly.

"Make sure she puts something on-she'll get cold." Already moving to rummage through the drawers myself, slipping close to her, (Y/N)'s weight sinking against mine tiredly. Manoeuvring her arms through shirt sleeves, easing the blanket away to draw the loose fabric down her front, her body still somewhere between the form of post-partum and the pregnancy swells.

Hand smoothening down over her stomach instinctively, for a brief moment, a searing pang of wistfulness before I duck my head to press a kiss against the rounded curve regardless.

"No baby there anymore Tae." Jin lilts, a softness in his voice that's far, far tender than the faint playfulness he intends.

My hands briefly drift to brush against her stomach, cupping the softness there, nuzzling against soft, soft, mama softness.

"Still feels like it sometimes... been round with our baby for months."

I feel her mouth curve against my throat, the slow press of her lips as I ease her back, Jin already setting the pillows behind her, attentive and fussing with a soft affection.

"Might be round for a few more until my body remembers we have our little gem."

"Sweet baby mama. I think you've become even more beautiful. Mama glow seems permanent." Mimi murmurs, carefully easing himself in beside her, leaning to press a kiss against her cheek, nuzzling against her as he cradles Taeseungie, her eyes flitting to him, leaning to press a kiss against dark brown curls.

"He's not wrong. You're breath-taking." Hovering as I watch the two of them curl on either side of her, a loose enough drape of arms almost careful to not press closer for fear of discomforting her until she's tugging Jin closer, drawing his arm around her, her head curling to rest against Mimi's chest.

A soft huff of laughter bubbling past my lips at (Y/N)'s insistence to have them closer, carefully cradling Taeseungie against her chest when Mimi eases him down gently, cheek pressing to her skin, against her heartbeat, feeling his tiny fluttering pulse against her own skin too.

"Seducing when she's in bed with me? An impossible task to sway her now." Arms wrapping around her, drawing blankets more securely around the four of them, pressing his lips against her shoulder with an unrestrained grin. Wide and beaming.

"Don't bet on it. I don't surrender. I've wifed her." Fingers poking at a squishy cheek, watching as his eyes crinkle, watch as Jin's eyes follow me as I slowly ease myself up, eyes knowing and sparkling. Lips curved into a reassuring smile even as he shoos me away, a cradling hold on (Y/N).

"That's got quite strong hold Mimi." She murmurs against him.

"I like a challenge."

------------------------

"You look... Tae." the words startled and trailing off, accompanied with a grin as Mimi and Kook shoulder their way in, brushing past with a fond, easy grin. Kook's hands squeezing at my shoulders as he steers me down the hallway when I don't shut the door behind me, the cold air nipping at skin, nudging me forward with a curved grin.

"You okay Tae? Look a bit dazed."

"Probably only got his legs to stop trembling... (Y/N) has that effect." Minnie calls over his shoulder with a proud smirking lilt to his mouth, laugh tinkling as he moves further down the hallway to drift towards the drawing room.

".....Tae? Maybe you need a lie down." Kook's voice filters through as he steers me back towards the long couch, eyes sparking with a familiar mischief as he considers Minnie's gaze.

Watches me slump down, sprawling against the upholstery, too tired to tug at the blankets.

"Did she really tire you out that much?" Minnie peeks over the back of the couch, leaning against it as he eyes me contemplatively. But even in the dulled awareness, fatigue heavy and sweeping, I can recognise the worry flickering behind the tease, watching as Kookie leans over, drawing a blanket over me, a half-garbled mumbled thanks that's swallowed in my throat, but he understands it regardless, eyes crinkling with laughter lines.

"Taeseungie's not been sleeping well recently." Words heavy and drained, slumping down as I ground my palm against my eyes, trying to will away the throbbing pulse of a headache flaring up.

Watch sympathy and concern both bleed into their expressions.

"How's (Y/N) holding up? Where's (Y/N)?"

"Sleeping with Seungie... he only just about managed to drop off for a nap a little while ago. Thought... catch up... sleep." I mumble, feeling the faint brush of fingers against my curls, the gentle scratch against my scalp that has the weary fatigue increase its lull at the repetitive gentleness of Minnie's ministrations, eyes fluttering.

"Looks like the cavalry arrived in time then." The soft lilt warm and fond, fingers brushing curls from my face, a soft hum of words buzzing around my head and the huff of a laugh I recognise immediately as Jungkook-ah's. Know it as well as my own.

Eyes blinking at the gentle shake at my shoulders, stirring me awake before Kook crouches down, offering a cool glass of water towards me, his other palm held open, outstretched with the innocuous white pain-relief tablets.

"Got to keep you in your prime condition... new appa and all." Voice warm and encouraging, watching as pass one tablet, then the other past my lips, swallowing them down with deep draws of water, cool against my throat.

"Thanks Jungkookie." Words tired, lips curling up as the way his entire face softens, understanding and empathetic.

Lips curving up in a wider smile.

"The very least any of us could do. Sure you don't want to go to bed?"

"Too tired." I shake my head.

Nor was it worth clambering into bed if it could stir either (Y/N) or Taeseungie awake... especially when he seemed to be sleeping light these days, stirred awake by a sound just a tad bit loud and the fitful crying when all he wanted to sleep but couldn't settle again.

The corners of my eyes prickle with a phantom ache.

Both towards the stretch of restless nights we'd had, towards the painful shaky cries as Taeseungie thrashed, unable to find comfort nor sleep for a long, long time in either of our arms and that tired, exhausting feeling I was relating to all too well... I wanted to cry because I missed sleep too.

There's a soft wounded sound and the gentle fleeting brush of fingers against the underside of my eyes, thumbing at tears I hadn't realised were prickling under shut eyelids, a dampness that Mimi spots and catches.

A forlorn, upset expression on Kook's face.

"He'd started sleeping well a few months back no?"

"Joonie's heading over later-it might be nothing, but he's kept track all this time. He might know how to soothe little Seungie. Something we're missing." Fingers resuming their soft lulling touch before it fades a while later, stirring briefly to a pillow being shifted to support the tilted angle of my head better, cushioning cool against my cheek as I curl against it.

"Appas need rest too Tae... sleep hun." The same gentle murmured sweetness I've heard so many times over the years, have felt the pillar of support stronger and sturdier and unflappable...especially since Taeseungie was born.

"Will you two stay?"

"Of course we will... couldn't get rid of us if you tried." Words warm and in them a promise.

[......]

Teething.

"He keeps crying because his gums are getting sore. Which means he doesn't feed enough to be full... which explains why he's not sleeping well and why he needs more feeds. Little bean's teething." Joon explains, fingers painstakingly gentle, his pinky finger carefully applying the barest minimum of a new ointment he'd made. Crushed and prepared after he'd checked Seungie over.

Dimpled indents appearing when Taeseungie gums on his finger, hands catching at Joon's fingers to keep his finger there, drool and saliva slicking his finger, muffled gurgles as he tries to gum.

"So he'll try to chew and gum a lot. So soft fruits or bread is mine. He'll sleep better if you rub the ointment on... sometimes just rubbing his gums will help too."

"Little teeth coming in?" (Y/N)'s eyes are shining and crinkling with happiness, a relieved sigh slipping past her lips as her fingers unfurl their clenching hold in her hair, eyes drifting to meet mine.

"Babies grow quicker than you know." Joon confirms with a deepening dimpled smile as Taeseungie stares up at him with shining eyes, soft mumbles that are muffled around the finger he holds captive still, his body relaxing against Joon's, reclined against his stomach.

It hadn't been too long since he'd learnt to sit up unaided too, balance still teetering and tottering, lurching over randomly, but delighted in his own

My eyes shine with amazement.

"I might have to steal you from Mimi, Joon... your hands are magic."

Taeseungie's so settled. And calm.

And the ointment works magic too, soothing the pinched expression Taeseungie had had when he'd woken, fussing in Kook's arms as he swayed, rocking him gently as he slowly paced the room, watching Joon grind the herbs into an ointment, quickly falling to an understanding.

There's a soft snort before it morphs into a tinkling laugh.

Airy and delighted.

Eyes sparkling with mischief and delight.

"Ah is that how it is? Payback for seducing Mrs. Kim first? Got your eyes on my Kim now?"

For the first time in days I feel an unrestrained grin curve deep and wide across my lips, see the way (Y/N)'s eyes crinkle with amusement, eyes glinting as she raises her eyebrows at me, tilting her head with a coyness.

After days suddenly everything seems light now that we know how to help and soothe Taeseungie, that weighted, crushing feeling of suddenly loosing the slight grasp I had on being a father, that nauseating mix of terror and insecurity falling away.

Teething. He was teething.

"Nope... he's just magic."

"So's Jin." A quick retort, the lilting smirk all coy tease and grins when he sees my body reflexively shudder at the insinuation.

At the way Minnie winks. Purposely provoking and taunting, splaying out wide across the sheets with a soft sighed relief.

"There's not many who know how to use their hands well~" (Y/N) adds, smile still sleepy and easy, curled lazily across her lips, hair mussed and still entangled in the blankets Minnie makes an advance for, hand grabbing for them.

Worming his way to press close to her, arms gathering her close.

Playfully skimming his hands over her, eliciting a sharp yelp before she melts into breathless giggles, the sound making Seungie jolt forward where he's been sitting on Joon's lap, relinquishing his hold on his fingers to squeal with giddy imitation, bouncing eagerly. Grabby hands stretched out for the two as he babbles.

Eager to join.

Me too! Me too! Mama me too! The unintelligible babbles don't form words, don't form what he wants to say but his giddiness is palpable and when Kookie sweeps in, diving forward to scoop him up and whirl him around, the screeches and giggles are loud and enamoured and so, so loud.

Body wriggling in excitement when he's tossed upwards and caught with hands, the sudden height he whirls at making his already flushed cheeks pinken further, eyes sparkling and bright.

Laughing as he coos, bringing a curled fist to gum at, drool pooling at his lips, almost bonking in haste against Kook's forehead, trying to surge forward to stretch small hands against his cheeks.

Distracted by the scrunchy grin, the earrings glittering at his lobe and the faint curl of ink Taeseung's eyes track from the hands that keep him scooped, mouth opening in a little curious o shape.

Giggling happily when Kookie eventually sets him down, dabbing at drooling lips with the cuff of his shirt, the material also briefly falling captive to small fingers curling to clutch at him, looking infinitely happier and settled than he has been for a few days.

My fingers squeeze at my nape, trying to ease the stiffness and stress that had made it stiffen and lock up, rolling my shoulders as I try dispel the tightness suffused with my limbs, though it ebbs away as I look at the cluster of bodies sprawled across the bed, the centre of gravity the now happy giggles and curious eyes of Seungie, balance teetering as he tilts back, head cushioned against (Y/N).

"Breathe Taehyungie... little Tae's stronger than you both think." Joon reassures when he's leaving later that night, eyes flickering with a bit of worry that lingers in the depths of soft, knowing eyes.

"Is it bad I kinda want this forever?"

"Not at all... but I know you both love the time you can get to sleep now. And... to let us occasionally babysit. Whenever the rota allows." A generous grin curling his lips.

Taeseungie is in high, popular demand by every single uncle, doted and loved and fussed and cherished so wholly, so entirely by every single person.

The centre of ours worlds, our gravities coming to shift entirely around him, so enamoured by the newest, small addition to our family.

"Ahh I think Yoongi's next. He doesn't say but I know he'd steal away Seungie and not share... he hates sharing our son I'm sure." I confide with a hushed murmur, the throbbing headache having dissipated in those hours of sleep I could get.

"I think he lets me share because we live together..."

"Is that we're calling being in love now?" I laugh, watching as Kook approaches, the quiet, almost noiseless tread of his boots as he approaches the front door, hair in more disarray now that Taeseungie had had ample time to play and pull at it.

Watching a scrunchy grin soften his features further.

"I'm just saying-I don't think I'd have gotten the baby snuggling privileges so easily if we weren't madly in love and living together."

"We may have a custody problem on our hands one day at this rate." Joon commiserates with a dimpled grin.

"Ahh I'm sure we'll figure something out." Though it makes my heart bloom with a giddy wild thrumming fondness that Taeseungie would always, always have the security of an entire family network of people who love him.

That he'll have the secure, loving, doted childhood that neither (Y/N) nor me had. That... that I wasn't my father and so Taeseungie would grow up in the way every child should. Loved so fiercely that there's never a single scrap of doubt about it.

And it's still new... being a father is still so new but day by day... learning bit by bit... I know... I know I won't be my father. I will... I love Taeseungie. And he'll always have a father who gives him the entirety of his world without hesitation.

------------------------

"Say bye to mama and appa..." Hobi coos, heart-shaped grin deep and the high lilt of his voice makes Seungie wriggle happily, imitating the wave with a whole bodily eagerness that Hobi mimics, swaying with him. Cradling him as he peppers endless kisses to Taeseung's full cheeks, only relenting when I lean forward, getting the sweet smooshy kisses only babies or rather Taeseungie gave, the eager tilt of his body to (Y/N) as she scoops him for a final hug, the same infectious eagerness as she smatters kisses across skin and curls.

"I think your post babymoon's long overdue... Tae's all rough around the edges. In dire need of a break."

"It's a day give or take we're getting." I laugh when Jin leans over Hobi's shoulder, eyes lighting up as he sees Taeseungie, quick to scoop him up in his own arms.

"So? Go date, be young and in love... be risqué without the fret of baby boy interrupting midway. I hear his timing's quite the something." Jin teases with a knowing glint, sharing a look with (Y/N), her cheeks pinking when I turn my gaze to her.

Feeling the intensity of my stare and the flush of heat when I'm reminded time and time again how deeply involved Mimi and Jin, to name only two are in the details she shares with them.

"Don't worry Tae... she's been sharing her frustrations. Sometimes you've got to pin your Kim down and take." Hobi shares with a loud laugh, his cheeks curved up as he shares the teasing joke with (Y/N), the tips of Jin's ears pinking as he splutters, cradling Taeseungie's ears.

"Not around my baby."

"Not around my brother." I hiss in retort, hand snagging her wrist and tugging her back into me, arm snaking around her as I watch the fond roll of Hobi's eyes as he turns to watch Jin walk further into the house.

"Have fun... remember if he fusses..."

"He's our baby too (Y/N), go unwind baby mama. Get your husbanded bandit show his thanks."

"I will." I promise, lips curling against the shell of her ear when she flushes, though her gaze glitters; dark and dangerous, a brief warning flickering through her gaze before she lets me draw her against my side as we leave, hands entangled together.

It isn't hours later when we get home, the day spent around town, revisiting haunts, finally toasting parenthood to the eager clink of her glass against mine and her lips painted with a deep wine-red that only seemed to darken when she drank, lips slick and inviting me for the taste of intoxication that lingered in the curve of her wicked mouth despite pushing the glass away after one toast. Eager to spend the day together, an unusual mix of déjà vu and not.

"It feels odd doesn't it?" she reads the expression in my face without needing to decipher it, for her it's written as clear as day there.

"A bit. I've gotten used to the small bubble of just the three of us for so long." I admit.

Her fingers lace together with mine, tugging me to her, smile curving when I stumble into her side, hand wrapping around the soft of her waist.

Her body settled confidently and securely into motherhood.

A curvier form that she glows in. She raptures me in.

"Want to get those strawberry tarts from the bakers at the edge of town?" she asks, face bright with invite.

"You're after my heart." I grin at her, hand stealing hers and lacing our fingers together. Entangled together as I tug her down a familiar side street.

"Isn't that what I vowed to do? Keep you wooed and swooning?" batting her lashes at me, her breaths shuddering uneven and fluttering, her body readily falling into pace beside mine when I tug her along quicker, cheeks flushed with colour.

"Going to catch me if I swoon then?" I teasingly sway heavily against her side, her hand squeezing my arm, eyes flickering with appreciation and her lips with a coy want.

"I think you have the arms for that." Lips leaning up to brush against mine, fingers skimming across my cheek, palm against the roughness of my skin, a soft shuddered exhale, her gaze darkening briefly, thumbing at skin before she draws back.

"Hobi's right. My bandit's getting rough around the edges."

But her voice drops as she says it, a ghosting murmur and her touch lingers even as she turns to tug me into the bakery, leaving the words hanging suspended.

With a different weighted meaning that I want nothing more than to unpack. And ask her about.

But her lips, sticky sweet with berries, refuse to divulge the honeyed secret she keeps on the tip of her tongue, chasing the sweetness from her mouth herself, her eyes sparked with a molten want she keeps on the tip of her tongue and evades sharing.

Not now.

Not until we're home, her eyes taunt and challenge the frayed edges of restraint and patience.

Until I take her hand and tug.

Flagging the nearest coach to tug her into, startled at the way she evades the press of my lips to hers, eyes dancing with mischief, her hand a squeezing warning and promise both against the inner seam of my breeches.

"Patience Lord Kim."

"Patience and I'll reward it~" she lilts, her fingers trailing upwards, the confines of the breeches suddenly all the more restricting.

----------------------

"Kiss me." Words wanting and sudden, nudging the door shut behind her, hands fisting into my shirt to yank me bodily towards her, the words a breathless roughness that I barely get to process before the sharp bruising force of her kiss melds our mouths together. A groan tumbling past my lips at the suddenness, body tugging me closer when throughout the entire coach ride back her hands had only trailed across clothes, mouth ducking away from mine with a sparking fire that'd only burned the heat under my skin.

And she tastes of berries and wine, the sweetness entangled with the faint tartness of the drink that lingers against the wicked sensual curve of her mouth that melds with mine with a hungering, gnawing want that I can only surrender to... indulge readily in.

Fingers sinking eagerly into my hair, winding themselves into curls to tug me further into her, lips parting with a moan, mouth angled to mine, desperate to feel the sweep of my tongue rove through her mouth in hungering claim, feel my body curve further inwards to her at the beckoning tugs of her touch, teeth sinking sharp against my bottom lip. Soothing the hissed breath, the sting away with the leisurely sweep of her tongue against swollen, tingling flesh.

There's something different about the way (Y/N) kisses me, deep and fierce, every breath shuddered against the seam of her curved lips, swallowing every sound she tugs out of me. There's something that each touch sets alight, that the feverish brush of her hand against my shoulder, against my arm, trailing downwards makes me ache to feel her fingers against skin, feel the trail of her nails without fabric barring it.

Bucking into her touch when her fingers clutch at my wrist, clutch at bracelets and jewels, skimming over my knuckles before guiding my hand to her front, her touch guiding mine until she's arching under my touch, my hand skimming down her clavicle to grip at curves. Hand palming at the full, curvier fullness of her breast before I tug at the laces. Her mouth unwilling to relinquish its branding claim, soft shaky breaths stolen in brief reprieve before her fingers curl tighter into my hair once more.

"Been waiting to rob my honour against a door my love?" voice breathless against hers, teeth nipping at her bottom lip in retaliation, the heated brush of her tongue roving through my mouth, her soft groan chased eagerly, fingers briefly stilling at her bodice.

"Longer than you may know bandit. Wanted to steal it for a while." She admits, lips curving into a lazy grin before she draws back, eyes darkened slightly, the quickened rise and fall of her chest dragging my sight downwards, catching the fluttering pulse at her throat, thrumming quick and loud without my hand settled against her heart and my mouth at her neck.

"Whatever happened to patience?" I tease, mouth surging forward to kiss her, body pushing away slightly from the door, a soft laugh swallowed by the impatient press of her mouth.

"You should reward mine too my Lord Kim... it's so hard to hold back from all the things I want to do to you."

"Wicked and scandalous I hope." I murmur against her lips, teasing the swollen kiss-reddened flesh, tugging her bottom lip between my teeth briefly, thumbing at her jaw, angling her mouth to mine even as she steers me back against the wall, an impatient sound as she reaches her hand to tug at her laces where my fingers have stilled.

"Can't do that when you seem out of practice with your hands."

A soft shuddered breath and breathless grin curled against my jaw, breaths hot against my skin, curving into me, nuzzling close, her hand tracing nonsensical patterns against my shirt, a dizzying rush where she teases at my skin, at my nipples over the shirt, working them slowly to a stiff, stimulated hardness. Feel the pinpricks of pleasure begin to fan embers of heat into growing flames that lick at my skin, that makes my blood burn and my heart thrum and my spine arch under her slow, almost taunting ministrations.

The first brush of my hand against the soft shift of fabric under her dress draws a visceral reaction, a rough keen and arch of her back under my touch, her eyes fluttering with sensitivity.

It's been a few months... just barely, but a few months and motherhood, post-pregnancy has made (Y/N) so, so beautifully sensitive, even more so.

And in these few months her body's lost the pregnancy roundness, but settled beautifully into her own as a mother. A more curvier, softer frame.

The same curves that my fingers meld to, skimming over the fabric, tugging at her dress, watching as she helps in tugging it off, foot hastily nudging it aside, eyes dragging over the way stockings cling to curvier thighs, the sheer fabric clinging to skin, the material of garters, of her drawers highlighting her form.

"You're so beautiful sweetheart. If I ever don't say that, if I ever fail to remind you until you're sick of hearing it whack some sense into me."

Her eyes brighten with laughter and amusement, eyes dancing with delight as she tilts her head, angling it to the side, the motion drawing her unbound hair to brush against her shoulder.

"If my husband stops being so taken by me he can't word it, chances are I might've gotten his tongue and lips occupied elsewhere." Words honeyed and teasing, a sudden yelp of startled surprise my hands snake around her to grip her tight before trailing down to snag at the back of her thighs, fingers tightening in warning before I tug, hoisting her up against me, her legs locking around my waist. Pleasant, heady breathless need in her eyes, hands winding around me, pupils dilating at the sudden jolt of movement.

"In that case keep them occupied by all means. If I'm not professing my undying love, let me worship my wife until you lose the ability to do anything but say my name."

"If I can still speak as you're pleasuring me... you might've lost your edge." (Y/N) teases, a sharp provoking sweetness to her words, though her breath hitches as my head dips to sweep slow kisses against her curves, groaning with frustration at the thin barrier of fabric, flimsy but obstructing regardless. The same impatience mirrored in the way (Y/N) tugs at my curls, snaring them between her fingers, gripping them tightly.

"Can't have that. Can't lose my edge-whatever do I have to offer apart from jewels and pleasure?"

Her lips curve against my temple, pressing a softer kiss there, nuzzling into me with a loose smile.

"Makes me sound like I only kept you around to be my pretty trinket."

"Is that not why? Don't have a thing for something pretty to have on your arm and flaunt about?"

"I could say the same!" she laughs.

My lips press against skin, mouth lingering there, a kiss about the swells of her cleavage, grip tightening as I keep her anchored to me, pace slow and careful as I ascend the stairs, even if I want nothing more than to be pressed flush to her, lines and curves melded and fused together and lost in her, the last thing I was going to do was have her against a rough surface. For now.

For now my glowing, flushed wife deserved nothing more than silk sheets and the softest material against her skin as she fell apart under my touch.

First and foremost (Y/N) was going to be pleasured on our bed then anywhere else.

"Trust me I want and love you more than I can say. The only jewel I'm proud of pickpocketing and keeping. The only jewel that's priceless. That nothing could ever sway me from."

There's a burning glazed want that clouds her eyes as I set her down against the bed, hands skimming down her thighs, down her calves, squeezing before I'm tugging at the final layers that keeps her from me, head dipping to mouth along skin, along the sensitive flesh of her thighs, the softness of her hips and stomach, trailing up to mouth along curves, tongue and teeth sweeping across one achingly stiff nipple, feel the tautness in her body. The sharp brokenness of the sound that tumbles past her lips unbidden.

"Oh fuck." The sharply exhaled expletive has my gaze drifting upwards, mouth lathing attention to the stiff bud, teeth tugging, feeling the way she arches and twists with a keening cry, hands curled into tight fists at her sides, tugging at the sheets before her head tilts back, throat bobbing.

"Something got you so sensitive?" I murmur against her skin, mouth drawing the puffy bud back between the nipping hold of my teeth, feeling the way her hand darts out to snag at my curls, a rough cry of my name exhaled as her back arches off the sheets.

Her eyes flutter, pupils dilating as she looks at me, lips parted with a silent plea and want, her words rough.

Hand brushing against my jaw, fingers rubbing at skin, her touch slow and exploratory. But the touch is slow, and it makes her gaze darken.

Words shuddered out of her.

"Again."

My lips sweep lower, chasing the other bud, lathing the same attention, slow and unrushed even if every move quickens with need when her fingers noticeably tighten in my hair, tugging me forward, chest curved and arched further into my mouth, the sweeping heat of my tongue and the sharper, rougher bite that has her body trembling under mine, the sweetness against my tongue a warm heady surprise, groaning wetly against her.

Fingers toying with her other breast, working at the full curves as my tongue chases the sweetness of her milk, fingers tugging out the thin rivulets that steadily drip against my knuckles, mouth chasing to swallow down the taste, body pressing further into hers, weight pressing down with the intent to hold her there. Writhing and twisting under me.

A broken sub torn from her throat, guttural and aching.

"More... Tae more." a breathless command and plea in her ruined words, her lips flushed an angry red where her teeth had clamped down hard, breaths shuddering, gaze focused on me, peering up at her with lidded eyes.

"What's got you so worked up?" lips curving in a pleased grin against her skin, tongue chasing the sweetness, working the stimulated nipple to an aching roughness where the barest of touch has her arching further and further into my touch, fingers fisted tight into curls and the sheets she's spread out across.

Lips stilling when she speaks.

Sounding utterly wrecked.

Eyes glazed and pinned on me with a hunger that words can't even begin to describe. Her look alone makes arousal pool low in my gut, the pulsing sear of blood rushing southwards, hips rutting against the sheets for some relief, groaning at the weighted intensity of her stare pinning me where I cage her body with mine. Teeth at her bud.

"You have gotten rough around the edges. Haven't shaved."

I tilt my face to her touch, feel the way her fingers trail from my nape to rub against my jaw, thumb sweeping over my bottom lip.

"It's been a few days... must've forgotten."

Her fingers trail to the edge of my jaw, briefly tilting my face up to look at her, her fluttering lashes and the betraying tells of her body speaking volumes for how much she likes it.

"But I thought you liked me being rough... your rogue, your bandit." I tease, feel the tremble of her legs on either side of me when I let my head dip once more, tongue teasingly flicking against her breast, mouth swooping lower to tug the pert nub captive again.

Desperate to swallow down every cry, the sweetness of her milk, to commit to memory the way she arches and keens under my touch, under me, so undone, so receptive, so sensitive and worked up.

"I do, I do... I really do."

"Sounds like you're renewing your vows." I tease with a low laugh.

"Making new ones." A breathlessness to her voice, eyes fluttering with pleasure every time I readily surrender to her, mouthing at curves, tongue circling round a taut bud, feel how stiff it's become, how the barest of touches elicits a response from her.

"Which are?"

Fingers drifting to skim down her side, squeezing at soft lines and curves, reacquainting myself to her, a mix of tenderness and snared wild want slowly undoing my restraints, my control as I look at her, skimming over the silvery stretchmarks that have steadily lost the redness to them. Lines that map her growth into motherhood. That map her towards our next chapter as parents.

And I've never been more attracted to her than I am in this instant.

Which in itself seems impossible but every day, every moment expands the feelings I have for her, the love I have burning stronger and fiercer, attraction a snare I don't ever want to disentangle myself from.

"Enjoying your rough ways bandit." Words a lilted murmur, lips curling up, her fingers skimming from my shoulder before winding into my hair, her eyes blazing with heat as she tugs at the longer curls, the wilder, grown out strands, hand sinking in to clutch to ground herself.

"I want at least one release with my mouth on you. Just like this-you're going to come undone for me sweetheart." I murmur, a roughness bleeding into my voice. A carnal want as I draw myself up over her slightly, hovering over the sprawled invite of her body, eyes greedily and wanting as they drag across the full curves of her body, the flushed, glittering expression of pleasure on her face as I let my head swoop lower, fingers squeezing her breast. Palming at curves with a rough urgency.

Mouth tugging a nipple, then the other, captive to tongue and teeth, relishing in every single cry and whimper that bubbles past swollen lips, the tremble of her thighs as she arches, back curving off the bed, the line of her spine taut as she cries out.

Mouth chasing every sweet rivulet of milk, teeth skimming and sinking in harshly to tug out the broken keens as she twists under me, eyes glazing over, shining with brimming, overwhelmed tears that well up, suspended and caught in her eyeline before they trickle down the side of her cheeks. Hitched breaths as she tugs me closer, desperate to be snared by the pleasure that continues to wrack her body, knowing the tells of her body and the sounds she makes how close she is, how restlessly she aches for a peak. Lathing the bitten marks of reds with the slower, indulgent sweep of my tongue, flicking the wet muscle over the faint indents, a possessive, hungering ache that rears its head and growls with vicious pleasure and satisfaction at marking her up.

There's no greater pride and carnal satisfaction than there is in seeing how wrecked she looks as (Y/N) comes undone, the way my name trembles from her lips, hangs suspended and delicate in the air before she's tugging me to her, lips aching and soft against my own, mouth bruised by the claim of hers, hands skimming up and down her sides, coming to rest at her hips, grip tightening as they twist with sensitivity. Riding out her high caged underneath the sprawl of my body, her legs tightening as they lock around me, feeling the tremors that wrack her thighs, feel the heat of her body suffusing with my own and the wrecked state of her body as she slumps, breathing heavily.

Breasts marked with thorough blooms of colour where my mouth has sunk into flesh, where tongue and teeth have pleasured her, her nipples puffy and hardened peaks that brush against my chest, sending pinpricks of pleasure to prickle over my skin and a muffled groan against the seam of my mouth where the curves of her chest are pressed tight and flush against the hard plane of my own.

Feel the way her hand comes to cup my cheek, fingers skimming against the roughness of stubble, feel the way her mouth parts with a breathless murmur, kissing me deep and slow, tongue sweeping against the crevices of my mouth, enjoying the touch of her fingers against my skin. The skimming touch before she breaks the kiss, tilting her mouth to press slow, lingering kisses against the curved line of my jaw, trembling breaths against skin.

"It suits you. My big, bad bandit." She muses, eyes dragging over my face, rooted to the sight with an intensity I feel coiling my own arousal in winding snares round my gut, round my limbs. Encasing me in the weighted depths of her stare.

"Should I leave it? Let me stay a bit rough?" I tease, head tilting for her touch, feel her fingers skim against the smaller jewels at my lobe, bereft of their dangling delicate chains and adornments.

She hums in lieu of a response, eyes sparked with a contemplative thoughtfulness as she examines me.

Lips curling in a loose, lazy smile.

"You have a way with your tongue Tae... why don't you try persuade me some more?" words sparking with challenge and tease and molten want.

Soft laugh petering into quieter, hitched keens of breath as I let my lips begin their descent down her throat, remapping the curves of her breasts before lowering myself down the softness of her stomach and hips, mouth lingering to press kisses against each stretchmark, against the silvery faded marks that bear testament for how strong her body is, how much she's grown and developed with motherhood and how much we've grown together.

Her body deserves nothing less of being thoroughly worshipped and then ruined.

Skin soft under my touch, the restless buck of her hips stilled with my hands clamping against curves, stilling the restless arch of her body, drawing her legs over my shoulders as I draw myself further down her body, open-mouthed kisses that press promises to lathe every inch of her in blooming reds, teeth sinking in against the soft giving flesh, feeling the jerk of her body.

"Don't worry little jewel, I'll be very persuasive and thorough." Words low with promise, drifting lower and lower, mouthing along the sensitive skin of the inside of her thighs, mouth slowly ghosting along her core, fingers brushing lazy circles, groaning at the slick arousal that stains my fingers, drawing them to my lips to chase the first taste of her.

I knew how sensitive (Y/N) was but the pleasure I wring out of her, the slew of sounds and praise murmured with raw unadulterated need, the grinding buck of her hips against my tongue and fingers, burying myself between her thighs makes me wonder whether in the long-term, whether beyond teasing and riling her up, it's something I should keep. The stubble is the result of lost time and sleep, of being lost in Taeseungie that I'd forgotten to shave.

But the way (Y/N)'s hand tightens in my hair, the way her thighs tighten around me, hand banding across her front, keeping her anchored under me, keeping the restless buck and twist of her hips stilled, lips curving into a grin against her, tongue and fingers curling and thrusting, beckoning-reeling out the pleasure. My own hips rutting against the sheets, the sounds she makes driving that pleasure hotter and heavier in my gut.

That maybe... maybe though I adored the jewels, the silks, the fabrics, the luxury, it was a change I could adjust to. Especially if it makes her writhe with keening plea, with blown out pupils and a gaze that's dazed and fucked out before I'm far, far from done.

I don't know whether to narrow it all down to one small change or whether it's an accumulation of hunger and impatience and restless need for one another, whether it's the opportunity of having the time to indulge in her.

"Is this why you didn't want me to kiss you in the coach?" I murmur against her, fingers continuing to work themselves in and out, curling and twisting, her body moulding to the touch just as familiarly as my fingers are intimately aware as to how to tug out pleasure.

"Because I'd have let you fuck me there if you had." She shudders out, propping herself up on a trembling arm as she peers at me, hand guiding my face closer, desperate for the peak that dangles just within reach.

"What crude words... as if a coach ride would've been long enough for all the things I want to do you."

Her smile curves in a lazy, loose curve.

"What's stopping you now? Do every wicked thing you want and then more." challenge and desire and want heavy in her voice.

"It'd be my absolute pleasure little jewel." Before I let my mouth dip lower once more, tongue toying with her nub, feeling the way her legs tremble, hand sprawling heavier. Weighted.

Lips and tongue thorough in persuading. In coaxing out one peak then another, swallowing down her heady taste, senses intoxicated by it.

Drowning with the focus of spending every moment committing to her, pleasuring her, persuading her-giving in to every plea, every sound she makes and in turn surrendering also to the pleasure that makes my skin burn.

Wondering if in undoing her, I'll be undone.

But finding that it doesn't matter.

Not in the slightest. Especially when her thighs tighten around me and her name ripples past lips that have reddened with the clench of her teeth.

"Don't need to be quiet-we've finally got the home to ourselves." I grin.

"Sounds like you've been lying in wait."

"I've never stopped waiting for opportunity-never when it comes to stealing you." slowly letting my fingers stretch, tongue dipping to taste her, groan muffled against her core.

Never when it comes to this.

--------------------------

"It'll have to go." Voice breathless and shaking, slumping against the pillows and sheets, twisting and batting at my hands when my hand sprawls against the inside of her thigh, eyes flashing.

"What?" I laugh, fingers curling against skin, squeezing at supple flesh, the rise and fall of her chest, the unevenness of her breaths felt in the press of my other hand against her stomach, the way her thighs tremble as she bats at my hand, fingers clutching at my wrist. The sight of her hand adorning my wrist far more enticing than the bracelets that usually encircle them.

"The stubble has to go." She murmurs, eyes fluttering with a lazy, satiated smile, my lips brushing against the curve of her throat, burrowing against the crook of her neck, pressing kisses against skin. Feel her shiver under my touch, head arching to the side with invite even as she curls slightly, body dewy and flushed with pleasure.

"Thought you liked it? Didn't do a good enough of persuading you?" I lilt, lips lingering at the crook of her neck, mouthing lazily at new marks, intent on colouring them deeper, tongue flicking over skin. Tasting the tang of exertion.

"Maybe too well of a job." Hand skimming over my forearm, trying to tug my hand from between her thighs, my fingers clutching at her with a tighter sprawling weight, laugh muffled against her skin at the protest.

"Tae! Stop~"

"Why~ won't let me try again?" I tease.

"The babymoon is meant to let me rest, not tire me out...at least let me catch my breath."

"Isn't it the good kind of being worn out though?" I lilt with a laugh, pressing a line of kisses up the column of her neck, trailing to her jaw, pressing kiss after kiss to a flushed cheek.

See the way her smile deepens, head tilting back and craned.

"Not if I can't feel my legs."

"That means I did good at persuading you-give me credit where credit is due!" I demand, lips peppering kisses against skin, laughs entangled in the same way our bodies are, cradling her to me, sprawled over sheets, feeling the rise and fall of her breaths and the press of her heartbeat, my own suffusing to skin where my chest presses to her back.

Twisting to lean over her.

Hovering.

"Why Lord Kim I do believe you've fucked me so hard and thorough I won't survive if the stubble stays. Not that I didn't enjoy every single moment of your ravishing." Words lilting and murmured against my jaw, fingers cradling me closer, drawing me further to her, lips slotting to mine.

Kisses slow and unrushed, tasting the wavers of each other's breaths, drawing her into my arms, gathering her to me, curves pressing to the lines and angles of my own body, twisting as I lie down against the sheets, drawing her onto my lap, losing myself to the repetitive brush of her hands skimming against my arms, the way she slumps forward, hair hiding the two of us, pressing sweet kisses against my jaw.

Feel the way her thighs clench on either side of me, my hand skimming to settle over the crease of her hip and thigh, rubbing circles into skin as she kisses me. Kisses me until her lips part against mine, lax and unrushed.

"That being said. The stubble has to go-poor Tete can't have rough kisses. No matter how much of an impact they have on me." She lilts, drawing back, forehead resting against mine.

"Shame. Can't convince you again?"

"Insatiable. You're insatiable." Incredulity in her voice, eyes warm with amusement as she draws back, hands cupping my cheeks, pressing a featherlight kiss against my mouth before drawing back slightly.

"When I fell in love with you, when I lost to attraction-I knew there'd never be a cure for this hunger."

Feel the playful poke to my stomach, feel the way she lets her fingers skim against my chest before patting. Trying to placate me, a proud lilt to her mouth.

"We have to try anyways Tae baby." Legs trembling as she draws herself off, a flash of fire in her eyes when my lips curve with preening satisfaction, stumbling off the bed after her, chasing the distance of a few slow steps to scoop her up in my arms, gathering her to me.

"Bath first."

"Then my rough bandit-got to make you all smooth cheeks again. Can't scare my baby away!"

"But-"

"It wasn't planned was it? I know you love being so put together, but I liked this. I liked seeing you all rumpled." Fingers gently gripping my jaw, tilting my face to her, a flicker of mischief in her gaze even as she sighs, gaze dropping heavily to my lips.

"Doesn't seem that way." I narrow my eyes at her, movements gentle and careful as I set her down onto the edge of the tub, watch as she watches me in turn, watching the large bath fill, gentle scents as dried flowers float on the surface.

Her eyes crinkling with happiness and affection.

"Pulling out all the stops?"

"I don't stop trying until I know it's a lost cause!" I retort, grin widening when she lets her eyes roll at me, unable to help the deep quirk of her lips as she smiles back, twisting herself round to slowly lower herself into the water.

A deep rippled moan that does nothing to hide the scorch of her touch that remains engrained on my body, feeling my body unconsciously tighten and coil, all the whilst she sinks into the hot water with bliss smoothening out her features.

"Don't make those sounds little jewel." I groan.

"What?" a confused smile, a bubble of laughter as she sinks further into the water, the tilt of her head provoking. Taunting.

"I thought you didn't want me to hold any sounds back." Words coy.

"You minx."

"Why? I can't enjoy a hot bath and show my appreciation?"

I move towards the bath tub, watching as the water sloshes as she moves forward, making space for me to clamber behind her, sinking down into the hot water, a hiss of pleasure and approval at the heat, at the way she sinks into me, leaning into the cradle of my body, arms winding around her.

"Of course you can. But I can't guarantee the way the bath will turn." Hands teasing at her sides, laughing when she tugs at my hands, drawing them into reasonably safe territory, wound round her front, snagging her and tugging her further into me, legs angled wide for her to settle comfortably, her head against my shoulder.

"I like my odds."

-------------------------

"You're a dangerous man Lord Kim. As much as I love my rough bandit, I don't think my teeny Tae will love the prickly kisses appa has to give." (Y/N) laments, crowding into the space between our bodies, the robe she's tugged over her still damp body to bar me from temptation, from surging forward to tug her to me again-the knowing grin on her lips answer enough, as she'd eyed me before making the decision to cover herself up.

Steered into a seat in front of the vanity table, positions somehow altered and changed. Because the seat has been nudged back so (Y/N) can settle into the space between the table and the sprawl of my legs, caged by my body but also leaning into me. Leaning into my space.

Angling my face as she uses the brush to apply the shaving foam, every movement careful and precise though she can't help smearing it with eager experimentation, lathing my cheeks in an abundance of the thick foam.

"I don't mind the position I've found myself in though." I muse, tilting my head back at the prompt of her head, fingers angling my jaw, the brush against the underside of my jaw and neck, eyes sparked with laughter as she looks at me.

"You look like you've got an old, white beard." Body tilting so I can peer into the mirror, the basins of water occupying the space of the table, grinning up at her. Fingers quick to swipe the foam from my upper lip, wiping her fingers clean on the small towel before she contemplates her position.

"Don't be all fussy and move about." Voice warning as she reaches for a towel and the shaving blade, something wicked in her eyes and the curved slant of her mouth as she flicks the blade open, thumbing at it carefully before shifting her body so she's no longer caged in by the sprawl of my thighs.

Moving to swing a leg over one thigh so she's straddling me without sinking her weight down, my hands giving her a tug, trying to beckon her closer, trying to get her to sink down against me, eyes gleaming as I take in the position.

"Stay still." Voice lilting and scolding, fingers careful as she lets the blade hover a hairsbreadth of a distance from the foam, from my skin.

See the slight waver to her hand, uncertainty in the movement.

My hand drifts to encircle her wrist, squeezing tight, watching as the faint tremble eases.

"Just don't slit my throat." I tease, watching as her eyes flare wide with surprise and shock before narrowing.

"And have you bleed all over my robe? Mimi made this for me!"

"You're caring about a robe but not about the threat you're wielding to your husband's throat?" I laugh, teasing as I guide her hand, careful and slow, fingers loosening from her wrist and letting my hand fall away entirely.

Eyes holding hers, encouraging her.

"You've seen me do it all the time."

Watching her face rather than tracking the motion of the blade though my body stills entirely under her touch when the blade presses carefully against my cheek, the press of it light as she holds my gaze.

"Gonna make you my pretty Kim again. So don't try anything." She warns, breath warm and ghosting along skin, shivers dancing across skin at her closeness, entirely in my proximity, the way she leans closer angles her chest to my face, fingers careful and gentle as she keeps my jaw angled, uncaring of the shaving foam, the slow scrape of the blade sweeping down across foam and skin, a breath shuddering past my lungs. A breath I hadn't known either of us were holding until her eyes sparkle, shining with pride as she wipes it clean on the towel I hold for her. Gaze unwittingly dropping low, face angled but eyelids lowered as I peer at her, eyeing the silky material loosely tied around her, close enough to see but not touch, close enough that the lotions she'd massaged into her skin taunt at my senses, inviting me to unconsciously tilt closer. But her fingers grip my jaw a bit tighter, firm.

Keeping me still.

An amused curve to her mouth.

"Eyes up here handsome."

"I can't help you gave me such a great view." Her weight leans into me, hands clasping at the silk covering her hips, letting my palms skim lower to brush against the outside of her thighs, a quiet sharp intake of breath and then slow movement of her hand, sweeping the blade down my cheek, hand steadied now that she's sure of the motion. Gaze flitting from my face to briefly track where my hands knead and palm at soft skin, settled under the fluttering fabric.

The quietness interspersed with the sound of the blade being wiped clean, the slosh of water as she rinses the blade only to return again, fingers carefully angling my face to her liking, the slow drag of it against skin, the press of metal warm from her touch, methodical and careful and slow, a small smile playing on her lips, curving deeper when my hands skim upwards, clasping at her hips, silently squeezing in want for her to lean closer.

"Tae." warning and chastising, though her lips quirk as she continues to ease the blade down across skin, clearing foam from my face, thumb brushing against my lip.

"(Y/N)..." I lilt her name back, eyes fluttering as I peer upwards, peering at her, drinking in the expression of her quiet amusement, the way she lets her gaze drift... briefly to flit her eyes to mine.

"Something keeping you distracted?"

"You." the word blunt, accompanied with a curved grin as I see the soft huff of laughter that makes her lips stretch.

"Well I can't help it... I'm quite the handful aren't I?"

My hands squeeze at her hips, skimming lower once more, tweaking the hem of her robe.

"I'd say more than." Eyes running appreciatively down her front, feeling my lips still as she continues to smoothen the edge of the blade against skin, careful and precise as she slowly edges the blade over the skin above my lips, down my chin.

The soft scrape of the blade, the sound muffled by foam and then the water sloshing as she dips the blade back into the bowl.

Weight sinking down to straddle my thigh, my hands tightening with approval as she sits, her thighs astride my own, the movement making the robe part, baring the sight of curvy thighs, never hating breeches more than I do in this instant. Hating the fact I can't feel the heat of my body against hers, gaze wrenched away from the sight of her thighs, still dewy flushed and red marks scattered upwards.

A frustrated growled sound tumbling past my lips when she laughs, the sound honeyed and teasing. Playfully delighted before the press of the blade is directly against my throat, against my Adam's apple, swallowing heavier at the sharp metal against skin and the low crooned words; molten and sticky sweet.

"Won't sit still for me bandit? Even with a blade to your throat?" words lilted with a dangerous headiness.

"Your threat doesn't have the impact it does when you look like this."

"Assuming just because I'm only wearing a thin piece of silk I can't be dangerous?" voice coy as if she doesn't know that her like this is doing more damage than needs be, that the slip of silk is dangerous enough.

The press of the blade presses closer to skin, still angled carefully but the weighted press of her body, the coy hushed murmur of her words and the subtle scent that's so intrinsically identifiable as her chases my senses, snares them. Body unconsciously shifting but denied the want to curve closer to her.

The subtle clench of her thighs on either side of my own and the slow raking drag of the blade upwards, the motion forcing my head into a tilt, angled back for her to continue drawing the blade across skin. There's some delighted curiosity in (Y/N)'s eyes as she continues to help me shave, a flicker of intrigue as she reads the tells of my body, fingers continuing their lazy trail over soft curves, fidgeting restlessly with the patterned silk.

Breath hitching when she uses the blade to angle my face, pressing it to the underside of my jaw with mischief colouring her features, a sly curve to her lip.

"That's exactly why you're dangerous." I finally mutter, the words a low rough rasp that drips off my lips, a heavy weighted quality to my voice, the words forced out past the tight constriction of my throat.

"It's one of my favourites. Very comfortable to move around in... easier to take it off."

"For the sake of my sanity stop." I plead with a lower unevenness that bleeds into my voice.

Shaving doesn't take this long, it doesn't stretch into an infinity like this. It doesn't make my body brim with impatience and yet every moment to stretch out until control and my body both are taut with tension.

But she's revelling in it.

Fingers meticulous in their movements, a precision that brings her body closer, a teasing brush of her legs against mine, wanting nothing more than to take her in but her movements compel the tilt of my head back, craned away from her.

"Being good for me my love." lilted praise as she peers at me, the final stretch of patience unravelled, a low throaty groan when she leans back with a proud home.

"Done."

The water sloshing as she drops the blade into it and wipes her hand onto the towel, moving back and leaning against the table. Watching as I straighten, leaning past as I stand, body pressed to hers, peering over her shoulder to examine my face.

Hand brushing over now smooth cheeks.

Gaze drifting to her, watching as (Y/N) tilts her head back, throat angled and on display as she examines me, fingers skimming over my jaw.

"See... pretty, pretty soft bandit again."

"Kinda miss it." I muse, leaning into her, head ducking to press a kiss to the corner of her lips, her head tilting to mine, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

"Why's that?"

"Seemed to have quite the effect on you." eyes dragging low, the silk doing nothing to hide the marks scattered over skin, barely hidden.

"Almost too much of an effect. Need to be able to walk afterwards." Words coy and full of laughter as she bats at my chest when I curve into her, letting my lips skim across the curve of her throat, softer, lingering presses of my lips where blotches of colour still bloom. Proudly vivid.

"But I'm at your beck and call to carry you everywhere." I lilt, lips trailing to the curve of her jaw, leaning into her, hands snaking around her, body pressing her further against the wood.

"And how do I raise Taeseungie?"

"From my lap. From my arms." I murmur.

A soft brush of her lips against my curls, fingers curling against my nape, tilting her head in invite.

"Doesn't seem too bad but what about bathing him. And changing diapers? And~"

"..."

"My lap?"

"As perfect of a place as it is-I do want to raise our child together. And shouldn't I share the prime seat of your lap with our baby? So he can get to play on appa's lap as well as my own?"

"....fine, fine." I acquiesce with a huff, lips curved into a grin against her cheek, tilting to her as her hand brushes against my sternum, palm against skin.

"Talking of Taeseungie..."

"My little Tae~" (Y/N) coos with fondness.

"What do you want to do as he sleeps?"

"I have... some ideas." A soft murmur, eyes dragging slowly over me, the hum at the back of her throat soft and pleased.

Letting me hoist her up against the dresser, letting her legs angle open in invite as I smoothen my hand over her thighs before reaching for the silk tie that keeps the fabric secured to her.

Tugging it open with a quick motion.

Admiring the softness of her body, the curves and lines of her body that for months I haven't had the time to commit to memory and charcoal and parchment.

"Mind posing for me Lady Kim?"

The shining glint to her eyes draw me closer, makes my fingers itch with that familiar ache.

"How do you want me?"

In every way.

------------------------

"Shhh you'll wake him!" I murmur in a loud hush, hands cradling Taeseungie in the crook of my arm, fingers smoothening over the folds in the blanket, tucking him against my chest.

Watching as Yoongi's brows rise, miming with a finger to his lips as he draws the blanket more securely around me, the back of his knuckles grazing against Taeseungie's cheek, brushing curls from his eyes.

"I wasn't saying anything." Words hushed and quiet, lips curled into a fond gummy smile.

"I can hear Kookie giggling at whatever you said to him." I accuse, eyes narrowing my gaze drifting to peer at him, see him still curled on the opposite couch, cheeks flushed and pink, eyes shining. His grin widens when he catches my gaze, pressing a finger to his lips. Nose scrunching.

"Sorry... sorry, it's not my fault (Y/N) went for a walk with Minnie. Want to whisper sweet somethings in her ear?" he lilts, a playful tease in his hushed voice as he draws back, eyes bright with mischief.

I tilt my head to him, lips curving softer than I intend, when Taeseungie shuffles and curls further into the hold of my embrace, his hand clasping at my shirt, tucking himself more securely against me. Sleepy mumbles that quieten a while later.

"So you were wooing my sweet Jungkook-ah in the presence of a baby?"

His lips thin before they quirk. A nonchalant shrug of his shoulders though his gaze is inexplicably fond as he looks at the tiny slither of Taeseungie's face peeking past the blanket.

"Don't worry-none of the scandalous things you say. Very baby-approved level of wooing." He admits, sinking back once he's silently tucked a corner of the blanket more securely around the two, carefully easing a cushion against my side so I'm not pressed entirely uncomfortable against the couch, easing the stiffness of my posture.

But if it means Taeseungie remains sleeping, if he sleeps undisturbed and comfortable, than I'd bear the awkward angle I'd found myself in when he'd nodded off.

It seems like Yoongi hadn't missed that.

Smiling gratefully at him as I sink back.

"Hungry?" a quiet murmur, careful, much more mindful of Taeseung's sleeping than perhaps anyone, approving of it too, always content to keep a snoozing baby curled against him, content to be the one to settle with him for a nap, content to be the one to keep him scooped once he got restless and fidgety... Yoongi's a calming balm to Taeseungie.

And even now I know he wouldn't have minded in the slightest if Taeseungie was curled against him. I also know he wouldn't have said a word if it'd been him slouched in the most stiff angle.

"A bit." I admit with warm cheeks when he sidesteps to move towards the kitchen, the brief brush of his fingers through my curls, skimming against my nape to squeeze grounding and reassuring.

"I'll make you something. Taeseungie's onto soft foods now isn't he?"

I let out a soft laugh.

"He is. I can't quite believe it. He was gumming and drooling over my best shirts for the longest time." I admit, awe bleeding into my voice at how quickly time seems to pass. Moments seeming like brief instances caught before they blur and meld with the next.

He's growing in front of our eyes so, so quickly.

On the opposite couch Kook sprawls out, head resting against his palm, gaze fond and tender.

"And Yoongi's music sheets got all soggy. And I'm pretty sure Joon's apron has nibbles where he's gummed most. And~ us." Proud and soft and the scrunched smile on his face endeared as he peers at the bundle in my arms.

"He's bitten your nose hasn't he?" I grin.

"More times than I can count."

"It's the scrunch I keep telling him." Yoongi's voice carries, full of amusement and affection, the same scrunch making his features crease as he laughs, the sound loud and bubbling out.

Infectiously so.

It's loud enough to make Taeseungie jolt and stir, the soft shuffles as he moves making Kook's face fall in contrite apology.

But he's slept well, rumpled features peeking at me, a small chubby fist coming to rub at his eyes, soft scrunched yawns as he mumbles.

Soft incoherent mumbles as he stirs, shuffling awake, smile droopy and boxy and half-asleep as he peers at me, scooped and set upright into my lap.

Smoothening down his curls, brushing against his cheek, a sleepy tilt to his body.

He's not quite awake yet.

But he's not unsettled by the sudden stirring awake, drooping heavily against me, legs kicking to dislodge the blanket that's entangled around them.

"Sorry baby..." Kook moves forward, crouching down, lips curling up when sleepy eyes blink at him before he lurches forward with a mumble, hands outstretched for him.

Eagerly and quickly scooped up, my body straightening with a soft groan, watching as Kook stands, a cheek squished against his shoulder immediately, soft baby babbles that are half words.

Hand patting at Kook's cheek, curled contentedly.

It's a while later that he seems to awaken properly, giddiness bleeding into his movements and eager baby talk.

Kook's eyes are earnest and bright, fixed onto him, nodding and speaking in response to the soft gurgles and coos.

And delighted giggles, both of theirs, ring out when Taeseungie leans and tries to bite once more, squealing and kicking his legs when Kook's nose scrunches and their heads bonk in eagerness.

And this too becomes a memory that brands itself into my mind alongside the others, that bubbly giddy feeling of love filling the space. And it rings with giggles and squeals and in the quiet, a gummy smile deepens as he watches. Nudging himself against me. Words quiet but in no way soft or less than firm.

"You did good Taehyungie."

--------------------------

"He's worn himself out." (Y/N) murmurs as she carefully eases Taeseungie down into his bed, drawing the blanket over his curled form, his hands keeping a pillow tucked between them. The pillow's almost near identical to him in size. And the bed is big, far bigger than a four year old needs but there's mounds of pillows and cushions strewn across it, a veritable nest of soft comfy materials that he's tucked between.

"I'm worn out. I didn't think he'd want to go foraging so far for flowers."

"Hush. They made the most beautiful bouquet." She murmurs, eyes glittering with happiness as she slowly eases back. The bouquet in question in pride of place on the kitchen table.

"He's a charmer." I admit with a smile, the two of us easing away, door left ajar, the lanterns lit and glowing softly, though he sleeps deeply through the nights now.

"He's a mini Tae. I never doubted that for a second." Hand interlacing with mine as she draws me from his room to our own.

It's late when we finally slip into bed, (Y/N) tugging me alongside her, a heaviness in my limbs that tug, tug, tugs me to sleep but a part of mind continues to whir awake when I see that instead of fatigue, a restlessness brews in her gaze. That continues to buzz even as she sink downs against me, curling into the embrace of my arms wrapping around her to draw (Y/N) closer to me, further into me.

The repetitive brush of my hand up and down her back, warmth seeping into flesh and bones, threatens to lull her asleep, body relaxing under my touch, head curling to tuck under my own as she traces slow patterns against the curve of my shoulder, down the swell of my bicep, further down my forearm and back up again.

"Something's on your mind, little jewel. Won't you tell me what it is?" Voice soft and hushed, lower in the dimly lit space.

I see her lips curl up at the corners, eyes fluttering as my hand briefly rests at the base of her spine, tracing slow circles over fabric.

But I feel the touch as though it's against the warmth of her skin.

"Joon and Mimi are hurting... and I think they have been hurting for a while." The words hushed. Suspended delicately between the slither of gap between us. Tugging at my heartstrings the moment she utters the feeling we've been sensing, seeing all too well.

Something that hasn't dulled with time but only made me all the more attentive and aware of the longing and want as they spend time with Taeseungie, with a ghosting haunt lingering in their eyes.

"Has something happened?" No news still?

"There's just so much ache in their eyes. And I know, even if they won't say everything, I know they've always wanted their own family. Their baby."

That even if they didn't say it, we still knew that dream hadn't dulled or lost its want for them. But their dream wasn't coming to a fruition either.

I feel her fingers tremble where they curl against my arm, clutching at me. Exhaling softly against her temple before pressing a kiss there.

Hand continuing their grounding motion of rubbing up and down her spine, gathering her to me.

"And it's hard for them. To adopt." I murmur, a throbbing ache that makes my heart clench tightly.

And as much as Mimi confides in (Y/N)... to some level Joon does to me, confiding the grievances wearing the two down. The dwindling hope that reared its head at a possibility only for it not to quite fall through.

My heart aches for two of the closest people in our lives. Aches for their ache.

"It's not fair. Mimi and Joon deserve their happiness. Mimi deserves his own baby...his own small family." Words muffled and pained and radiating with sorrow.

My hand skims up to curl against her nape, drawing (Y/N) into the cocoon of my body, limbs entangling with hers, winding around her to hold her close to me. A tighter, fiercer hug.

Trying to embrace her tight enough that the grief in her voice leaves.

Knows how much she aches because Minnie aches. Because the other half of her soul aches.

"They do. They deserve it so much." Words murmured against her skin. Sharing in that aching want for the two of them to have what they yearn and long for.

"I didn't... I didn't want to bring it up to Mimi without talking it through with you... but I... I wondered if we could help."

She draws her head back to peer at me, a mix of nervousness and thrumming tentativeness blooming in the space between us. My eyes skim over her features, searching and wondering-bolstering her to speak.

There's always been communication at the very heart of our relationship, everything laid bare and exposed for each other to see... baring the most scarred and broken parts of ourselves to one another, and healing together. Healing each other.

"Help them with?" Voice nudging and coaxing.

"I told them about surrogacy. About a woman having their baby for them. That the baby would be theirs and I knew...I know a few women who wouldn't care for the way some people do. That they're not a traditional couple."

"Fuck tradition." I say vehemently. Words sharp with protectiveness. A familiar blazing anger in her eyes that I know all too well, that I've felt all too well.

"Fuck it." She echoes with a proud curl of her lips, encouraged further by the anger that radiates off me.

The corners of her smile fades however when I say the next words.

"But they don't want a surrogate. They can't trust a stranger to bear their child, it's bringing a baby into the world...how can they place their dreams and entire happiness in the trust of someone they don't know?"

Her words build towards a point that she's hesitant of approaching so she searches for that encouragement in my gaze.

See the same resignation in the sad twist of her lips mirror my own.

"So I thought...I wanted to talk to you about it. But what if... what if I was the surrogate? What if I had their baby for them?" A bated breath of silence that's almost suffocatingly thick when she looks at me. Lets the words sink in.

My heart aches because she says it with a delicate hope. And then she entrusts those words to me.

But there's no sharp surprise or visceral rejection to her words.

My hand continues to rub up and down her spine, not ducking my head away from the vulnerable rawness of her gaze, her own continuing to hold mine.

"Only for them...only because it's them. Because they deserve the happiness we have too." Voice plaintive and soft and just like that. Everything lain bare.

"Taeseungie is our gift." I murmur.

"And I want them to have that love, that family, that joy that we have too."

"Have you-" my voice falters.

A prickling sense of heat flooding my body under her gaze.

"Have you told them?"

There's not a waver of doubt or uncertainty in her voice when she speaks.

"I was never going to say until we'd talked it through, until I knew how you felt. I wouldn't do something that'd hurt you."

Because this-this is her choice to be surrogate, to bear a child for them, but it's a decision she rests in both of our hands, in both of us.

Would I be okay with it?

Would Taeseungie?

Would she?

"Are you scared?" I murmur a while later, the silence stretching out in contemplation, lost in thought. In the myriad of thoughts that I can't even begin to sort through or filter.

But right now only (Y/N) matters. Knowing that she's supported through it all, because even as my mind whirls there's one solid coherent thought.

One concrete realisation that's never wavered from the instant my life overlapped with (Y/N)'s.

Mimi and (Y/N) are two halves of a whole, cut from the same cloth, sharing one soul. She wants to do this for Mimi and it's something that perhaps I wouldn't understand if I didn't know them. But knowing them, loving them, knowing that they mean the world to one another. That their love is one that doesn't fit labels or understanding until you know them, until you see that they mean each other's worlds.

And I know it'll take a lot of communication and trust, not just between us two but the four of us. Because how could I deny them their one chance at a child, how could I deny them their chance of the same happiness that's made our world grow bigger?

I'm scared too I realise when she nods, tugging herself closer to me, the two of us falling into a soothing, grounding silence, my lips brushing against her hair.

"I am too... I'm not saying no but can we talk about it? A bit more?"

"Of course we can Tae... of course we can."

"I love you."

"I love you too Tae."

"And we'll be the same if not stronger on the other end of this." I whisper, cradling her to me, knowing she can feel the quick hammering pulse of my heartbeat. Soothed by the knowledge that against the tell of my own heartbeat, it's lost in her own. It's claimed and calmed by hers.

And that we trust ourselves to each other. To talk it through.

[......]

"I want Minnie and Joon to have a baby."

"Even if I offer they could say no. But I never wanted to say unless you were ready to."

My hand brushes against her cheek, heart aching with fondness when she tilts in, my gaze drifting to peer past her into the garden, humming as I draw her around after a brief kiss, encasing her in my arms as our gazes settle on Joon and Taeseungie gardening, Taeseungie toddling after Joon with eagerness, hand clasping at his breeches, peering at the small mounds of soil where they've planted seeds.

"Look at them. They love Taeseungie. They look at him with the wish he was their little miracle."

"They do love him. And if... if they'll be okay with the idea... maybe we could help them have their little miracle too."

And I feel her hands squeeze my own entangled ones, head tilting to lean against me, our bodies cradling embraces for one another.

"It's still scary." I admit quietly, lips pressing to the shell of her ear.

"I'd be scared more if you said you weren't. But we'll remain open about it. We'll talk through it all." She promises.

And the way I see Joon draw Taeseungie to hide side, hands gently steering him closer, his large frame crouched down and kneeling in the grass beside him. See the pure joy in Joon's posture and eyes as he sees Taeseungie pat at the small mounds of soil with a gentleness that Joon possesses too.

And I imagine how much more happy they'll be if they have the chance to have their own baby.

I imagine them feeling how the two of us feel in this instant, hearts brimming and overflowing.

And my heart wants it for them.