Jungkook's POV-

"We were ships in the night, night, night..." I sing quietly, finishing the song as I continue to comb my fingers through Tae's hair.

When he doesn't request for me to sing it again I whisper his name. He doesn't answer, but he hasn't really spoken much in the last hour anyway.

His shoulders are no longer shaking and I can't hear any sniffling so I'm hoping he has finally fallen sleep. I raise myself up on my elbow enough so I am able to see that his dark lashes are resting against the tops of his cheeks.

After I see he is asleep, my next mission is to slide my arm out from under his head without disturbing him. It is asleep, it has been for a while, and my hand feels like it has pins sticking in it.

It takes about thirty slow seconds but I am finally able to slide my arm out from under him just as a few knocks are heard from the door of our room.

I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, standing up to make my way quickly to the door as the knocking is kind of loud and I really don't want to wake him up.

Once I get the door unlocked I open it just enough to peak through and am met with two soldiers staring at me.

"Yes?" I say quietly.

"Jungkook?" I hear my name called from behind the two men in a familiar deep voice.

After my name is said the soldiers step aside and my Grandfather appears between them.

"Jungkook, is Taehyung with you? How is he?"He asks in a concerned tone.

I nod with a mildly confused expression. "He's here. He's traumatized and exhausted, but he is asleep now."

"I was hoping to speak with both of you, but that's alright. How are you?"

"I'm doing as good as I can be. It's actually been a good distraction for myself to be able to take care of Tae."

After speaking I take a step out into the hallway with them, making sure to keep the door open just a crack behind me so that I can hear Tae if he wakes up.

"How is my mother?" I ask, glancing down the hall before bringing my eyes back to his.

"She is doing okay. Like you said, as good as she can be. She feels terrible about what's happ-"

"Which part?" I ask.

The question comes out a little more snarky than intended, but it's a genuine question for clarification.

She hasn't really asked me how Tae is doing, which is very strange because he is like a second child to her, and she hasn't explained anything to me about why she didn't tell my Grandfather about my sexuality. And she definitely hasn't said anything about the death of that man.

She hasn't said much outside of a few vague things about what her and Hyuk are planning to do while we are here.

My Grandfather begins to chuckle quietly with a mildly surprised expression, which confuses me. Was the question funny? It shouldn't and wasn't intended to be so.

As I'm trying to figure out why he is reacting the way he is I hear one of the soldiers behind him cough quietly, gaining my attention.

I look behind my Grandfather to see both soldiers looking at me. One is shaking his head with a disapproving look while the other is simply staring at my in surprise.

I furrow my brows at the two until I finally realize what they are so shocked at. I just interrupted him, a General, without hesitation which is beyond disrespectful. Relative or not.

I quickly move my eyes back to my Grandfather's to apologize. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just would like to know what you meant by your statement."

"You asked which part." He repeats slowly. I nod, to which he says, "What are you referring to?"

"You said, or were about to say, she feels terrible about what's happened. Which part does she feel terrible about? What Tae has had to go through, what happened to Jinyoung, or not telling you about my sexuality."

He takes a deep breath as he removes his hat. "Jungkook, I don't know how much she has said to you, but I will let you know that her keeping details about you from me isn't entirely her fault. I can understand why she was hesitant."

Hesitant. I want to roll my eyes at that colossal understatement. She had years to tell him. I don't think putting something off for years qualifies as being hesitant.

Keeping my attitude in check and not rolling my eyes, I look at him expectantly instead, waiting for him to explain what he means. Before he can continue I hear Tae call out my name, drawing my attention to the room behind me.

I quickly turn around, opening the door to see him sat up on the bed looking in my direction.

"Who is it, Yoongi or Chanyeol?" He asks as he yawns.

"No, it's my Grandfather. He," I turn to glance at my Grandfather who is wearing the same kind smile before peaking back into the room. "He wanted to talk to the two of us."

"You can invite him in." Tae says with the same stoic expression he's been wearing a lot since he got to the compound. Well, this face or crying.

It's two extremes. Completely unemotional or an extremely upset when he's in hysterics.

"Okay." I smile softly before turning back to the men in the hallway. They could hear what Tae said so my Grandfather has taken a step closer to where I am in the doorway, ready to come inside.

I push the door open fully, stepping aside so my Grandfather can walk past me into the room. I stay there to give room for the soldiers to come in but the two of them stay in the hall.

"They will wait in the hallway. This room is much too small for five of us. Besides, this is rather personal." He says to me before he turns and walks closer to where Tae is now stood by the bed.

As soon as they meet eyes my Grandfather bows deeply and holds it for about ten seconds.

This is the type of bow that he would give another General or person of importance that he respects. The fact he is doing this to Tae is very surprising and unexpected.

Tae and I quickly exchange confused glances before Tae bows at the same depth, holding it for the same amount of time before they both stand. My Grandfather then takes another step closer to him with his hand outstretched for a hand shake.

"I'm sorry I'm a bit unkept, General." Tae says after they have pulled apart from the handshake, instinctively bringing his hand up to fix his hair.

"Taehyung, you don't need to apologize to me. About anything. You are granted innumerable pardons as far as I am concerned."

He pauses to clear his throat before he straightens his back and speaks again, holding eye contact with Tae.

"I want to start by thanking you as a General on behalf of the Republic of South Korea, for your efforts in keeping one of our brave service members safe, as well as the family of a fallen soldier who isn't here to protect them himself."

My heart drops when I hear his words regarding my father and my eyes start to tear up but I blink them away, listening closely as he continues.

"Now, I'd like to thank you as a father and grandfather. You have kept my only daughter safe as well as my only Grandson. Ensuring their safety on my part would not have been possible without your selfless sacrifices and the effort you have put in to aid in bringing justice to the criminals targeting them.

"I am greatly looking forward to being able to build a relationship with my Grandson and that would not be a possibility if it weren't for you.

"I know how hard you have worked during every critical point these many months and I cannot express enough how grateful I am to you."

Tae is still stood next to the bed and he is looking at my Grandfather in shock with wide eyes and his jaw slightly dropped, which drops fully when my Grandfather raises his hand up and solutes him.

I walk over to him to wrap in a hug. "It's true Tae. No one has done more for me then you have." I say in a lowered voice before I pull away to look at him. "Thank you so much."

"It's not a big deal..." He stammers out.

I pull away from him and giggle at his still shocked expression and am surprised when I hear my Grandfather let out a quiet chuckle as well.

"Young man, it is not an exaggeration in the least when I say that none of this would have been possible without your assistance. My daughter has expressed to me numerous times that you have done more than anyone, including herself." He pauses before he turns away from Tae and I to look around the room.

When he spots the chair a few meters away in the corner he quickly goes towards it, pulling it closer to the bed and sits down.

After he's seated he gestures for the two of us to sit down as well so we walk around the foot of the bed to sit across from him as he continues.

"What my daughter does not seem to realize is the extent of her actions. I know what has happened to that gentleman, Jinyoung, and I am also aware that it likely would not have happened if she hadn't placed the idea in that girl's head.

"She is in shock herself but from what I have seen, you are suffering and baring this burden squarely on your shoulders alone."

Tae begins to tear up again as he nods his head.

"I know that you are suffering greatly and this is no place to try to work through grief and... disillusion, as I am sure you are feeling with my daughter currently. I know you two are close and have worked closely with each other throughout all of this.

"I wanted to come and speak with you both about some news. I haven't had the chance to speak with my daughter about this yet, but we have been able to confirm that she as well as Jungkook are not being targeted or sought after by anyone other than that girl.

"You have done so much for them, Taehyung that I would like to do something for you. If that's okay."

Tae looks at me before looking back at my Grandfather and nods. "What is it?"

"As I've said, this is no place to grieve. And I would imagine you are not ready to speak with my daughter."

He shakes his head quickly as he looks down at him lap.

"That is understandable to me, but for her, she has tried numerous times to come speak to you and has had to be stopped or redirected. As I've said, she seems to be shocked and isn't ready to accept responsibility for what her actions have caused.

"So, I would like to extend an offer to leave the base whenever you are ready. It doesn't have to be today or even tomorrow, but whenever you are ready I will assist with accommodations for wherever you would like to go as well as send proper protection with the three of you-"

"Three?" I ask abruptly.

He begins to chuckle as he turns his attention to me. "You have a terrible habit of interrupting. But yes, three. Taehyung, yourself and Yoongi."

"Y-Yoongi?" I ask, surprised at both the offer and that he would offer protection for all three of us.

"I was under the impression that Taehyung would not want to go without you and that you would want Yoongi to be with you. Unless that isn't the case?"

I don't say anything, instead turning to Tae to see how he has reacted or what he might have to say. Just as Tae opens his mouth to speak there are two knocks on the door.

"That's one of my men. I can get it." My Grandfather says as he stands up and walks to the door.

As soon as he passes me I turn to back to Tae. I can tell by his face that he is shocked an anxious as he looks towards the floor in front of him, pupils sweeping rapidly from side to side.

After a few seconds he slowly lifts his head, gulps and looks at me with teary, puppy eyes.

"I don't want to be selfish Koo." He says, barely above a whisper.

I immediately know exactly what he means. He wants me to be there for him. Just him.

I scoot closer to him on the bed and bring my hands up to cup his cheeks, running the pads of my thumbs under his eyes to wipe his tears.

"I understand." I say, to which he nods with his bottom lip tucked between his teeth. "You aren't selfish for wanting that."

I lean forward, placing a kiss on his forehead as I pull him into a hug.

He dedicated so much time to take care of me. I owe it to him to offer the same love and care in return. I want to be there for him, but how will I talk to Yoongi about this?

He has been so wonderful through all of this, but this is too much to ask. I can't leave him to be with Tae. It's the very thing he's been worried about happening for months.

Suddenly we hear my Grandfather's voice raise cheerfully, which immediately draws our attention to the door.

"I'm General Kim, Jungkook's Grandfather. Yoongi and Chanyeol, correct?"