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*Requested by ClowneryQueen*

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Note: This chapter does NOT affect any other chapter in context of this book. The plot and storyline mentioned here has a separate approach from the rest.

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Aera flinched suddenly hearing a shattering noise behind her, turning around on her heels, she quickly crouched down helping the lady worker who had dropped the glass jar with candies accidentally. The lady smiled at her thankfully as they gathered all the little candies wrapped in different colored plastic wraps.

"You can have some" She said.

"Uh no no, its fine." Aera said, standing up and dusting her hands off before she grabbed a bag of chips and a few chocolate bars. "That's all I want."

"Alright, thanks for helping me though."

"No problem" Aera chimed, bowing slightly before walking towards the counter to get her favourite snacks.

"Thanks for coming, have a nice weekend." The cashier said, handing her the white plastic bag with the items she bought. Aera smiled back before leaving the store and jogged towards the other side of the street as the signal was red for the vehicles.

She fished out a bar of white milk chocolate, eating it while on her way back home. After crossing a few blocks, she could see a familiar body standing near a black car. Her motions hastened, quickly stuffing the wrapper in her pocket, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve and gained her posture jogging to the porch of the house where her brother stood.

"Where were you?" Jimin asked strictly, "How many times do I need to tell you to come back before it gets dark?"

"I'm sorry oppa, I was getting some snacks so it took a little bit longer and then I started walking slowly because I was tired..." She said, handing him the bag. Jimin frowned, peeking in the bag and seeing a two chocolate bars and a bag of chips.

"You had the money with you?" He asked.

"Yeah, a little bit, Koo gave me a few days back." She answered, following her brother inside the house.

"God! Aera where were you?" Jungkook said, trapping her in a big hug as soon as she entered the living room.

"Wow, did you miss me that much in just a few hours?" She laughed, looking up at his face that was filled with concern and his eyes reflecting fear. "What happened? Why are you so stressed?"

"I wa-"

"He just came back and didn't find you at home that's why" Jimin said quickly covering up for his brother. He eyed the younger to pull himself together and filter his words before letting them out.

"Uh yeah... I just thought you'd be at home and... but you weren't, so I was just kinda worried. Uh you know its just-"

"Big brother thing?" Aera added to his statement making him sigh in relief and chuckle softly, nodding his head.

"Yeah, big brother thing."

Aera giggled, turning to grab the bag from Jimin and showing it to Jungkook, "I bought chocolates and chips."

"Wow, great" Jungkook said, instantly diving his hand in to grab the bag of chips.

"Doesn't it feel like I'm the eldest and I came back with treats for my younger siblings?" She said excitedly, making the elders laugh.

"Ah right" Jungkook nodded, "Thanks noona, Kookie loves you!"

"Eh no, that's so weird" She cringed, "Let me be the youngest."

Jungkook laughed, engulfing her small body in a big bear hug as he sat down bringing Aera in his lap. Jimin sighed watching their sister in relief, his body flinched on the sudden buzzing of his phone. Feeling his fingers almost going numb as they clutched too hard on the exterior, glaring at the screen which had an oddly familiar number popping up.

"I'll come in a minute" He said shortly, taking a moment to go a little farther from his siblings before answering the call.

"I told you not to call me again-"

"Jimin," the person spoke, "let's talk calmly. There's no point in arguing, when we know you have thin chances of winning if I bring this up in court and I'm pretty sure you don't want that."

Jimin inhaled deeply and spoke, "Look, do whatever you feel like, just know that I won't tolerate you or any of your people near my sister. You either take that as a threat or my advice."

Silence fell for a moment, soon breaking into a disheartening chuckle for Jimin as the man started again, "Sister? Is she, really? C'mon young man, you can't stand against a father fighting for his daughter. She's no one to you. Your parents wanted a daughter so they took Aera from us, now that they're no more, how can I trust you and your little brother for taking care of my daughter who just turned thirteen?"

"Bullshit," Jimin spat, "Tell your lame excuses to someone else, I'm done, get lost."

"Hyung?" He heardJungkook's voice, "Who's it?"

Jimin sighed, shaking his head as he hung up pushing his phone back in his pocket and finally turned to face the younger.

"Byungho?" Jungkook guessed, earning a straight glance followed by a nod from the elder brother. "God! He's- wait... what did he say?"

"About Aera. He said he wants her back... and I don't have a good feeling about this. He wasn't wrong, if he actually files a case in the court, there's a high possibility of him winning."

"...an- and take Aera with him?"

Jimin nodded slowly, straining his brain to find a way of working this out and having Aera with them as their sister and their family.

"No," Jungkook said, "she's not going anywhere. I won't let him take my sister away from me."

"Don't worry Jungkook, we'll do something. I'll get the best lawyers for us and do everything I can. We can't afford to lose here..."

"Lose what?" Aera jumped out from her spot behind the wall with a wide grin and staring at her oppas. Although her smile soon got replaced by a frown as she noticed their worried faces. "What happened? Why are you both so sad today?"

"Nothing much, just some work in the company." Jimin said.

"Oh well, don't worry. Even I get stressed before my math exam." She shrugged.

"Hmm I hope we can handle everything." Jimin whispered to himself, patting her head.

"You will" Aera said, "my oppas are all-rounders, they don't lose."

Jimin smiled at her and hugged fondly, I hope you're right.

°°°°

Night fell, time passed, but Jimin couldn't find an ounce of sleep for himself yet. His brain kept reminding him of all the years he had spent with Aera, loving and cherishing all the moments from the bedtime cuddles to late night snacks, to carrying her in his arms, to endless stories and songs, to scolding the floor when she fell down, to being her prince, to wiping her tears off, to seeing her running towards him for a hug and many more things that cannot be listed just like that.

For all these years he never thought she wasn't his sister. For all these years he never thought she won't stay with him, and even after all these years, his ears still loved her voice calling him 'oppa' just like she did the first time.

Remembering the time they heard their parents' car stopping in the driveway, excitement rushing through the veins of the twelve and fourteen year old boys as the day had finally come when they were going to meet their new sister. Jimin had opened the door with Jungkook lingering closely behind him to see the new family member. Their dad wore a big smile, stepping in with their mom who was holding the small kid, the baby who was just sixteen months old at that time.

Remembering her round eyes staring intently at the two boys as if questioning the reason for their overflowing happiness. Her tiny arms and tinted lips and the sky blue colored romper that suited her more than anyone else in the world.

Remembering the first smile she flashed towards the brothers before instantly hiding her face on the mother's shoulder making the family coo at her cute behaviour which assured the boys that their new sister liked them.

From all those times he had never thought something like this would happen after so many years of Aera being with them.

How was he supposed to give up on the girl they literally raised? Why was he expected to just let go of his little sister who he loves more than anything? What about Aera who comes home everyday ranting about how she missed them at school? What about Jungkook who wants nothing more than Aera to live with them just like she did all this while?

Letting out a shaky breath, Jimin rolled to his side, getting off the bed and walking out of his room. A few feet away, he stopped staring at the door with 'Little Kookie' written on a white cardboard sheet and a few bunny stickers next to it. It was Jungkook and Aera's collective idea to hang something that means its Aera's room.

Jimin smiled caressing the board with his fingertips, his attention suddenly shifted to the faint footsteps up the stairs. A sigh heaved out of his lips watching Aera stopping on her track with a big pack of Doritos and a few granola bars.

"This is not for me" She said quickly, "It's for emergency, y'know like what if there's an earthquake or something and we won't have food then, so... I- I didn't wanted us to die. Look there's three bars, one for you and one for Kookie and one for me."

"Do I have to believe that?" Jimin said, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Uhm yeah" she nodded, "I mean, it'll be good for me if you believe it y'know."

"This girl," Jimin sighed, "Eating all that at night is not healthy. You don't eat dinner and then feed on snacks, this is not a good thing Aera."

"I'm sorry" she mumbled, "but what are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you're sleeping, and I'm glad I came." He nodded eyeing her snacks.

"I have a deal," Aera said gathering enough courage from all corners of her body that somehow managed to bring a smile on her face and Jimin's interest grew, "How about I share my snacks with you and you don't scold me? Let it slide this once?"

"Oh so you're trying to bribe your brother kiddo?" He said raising his eyebrows at the young girl.

"Uh no, its not bribing, I'm just trying to share out of pure kindness...?"

"Aish! When will you grow up?" Jimin sighed shaking his head as a small chuckle left his lips. Seeing him not being mad, Aera grinned mischievously and handed him the snacks signalling to come with her.

Jimin followed her watching with odd amusement as instead of going and sitting on the bed, the thirteen year-old opened the closet door, throwing a few clothes out and sat inside. She extended her arms out taking the snacks from her brother and smiled, telling him to come in as well.

"Are you sure? I don't think I'm going to fit in there." Jimin uttered with confusion, pointing at the small space next to her. "Why do you even sit there though?"

"You don't know oppa" Aera said, "Look, I'll put it really short and simple."

"Please do," He blinked a few times, waiting for his sister to enlighten him.

"Y'know when its night and I come back from taking snacks 'sometimes' I don't do it every night, I promise. I sit here because... uhm let it be its embarrassing."

"What? Its fine, go on." Jimin encouraged, "Since when are you embarrassed about things with your oppa?"

"Yeah but, okay fine. I sit here when I'm scared of..."

"a monster?"

"Yeah, a monster" She mumbled, earning a chuckle from Jimin. "And yes I know I could've come to you or Kookie but oppa it's night and you both sleep after working hard the whole day."

"And?"

"And... I don't know that's all."

"You're adorable" Jimin said, patting her cheek, "first of all, there's no monster. Second, you can always come to me if you're scared of anything, it doesn't matter if its night or morning or whatever. Just come to me and I'll make sure you're safe and not scared anymore."

Aera smiled and pulled his hand making him lean down to hug him properly. Jimin smiled to himself, forgetting all his concerns for a while as his mind felt more relaxed now. Something that was always common was Aera taking away his worries like magic and making him smile no matter what, even if she did it unknowingly it was still the best thing for the brothers.

I won't let anyone come between us princess.

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A/N- First of all, Thank you so much for 5K+ reads! 🥳🥳🥳 I'm soooo happy, thank you guys so muchhhh for the constant love and support, love ya loads!

And second, again some people were asking me about me Instagram (sigh) you can follow me @sparklesfics_ on Ig.

PS: I'm sorry for not being that active, I really am sorry from the bottom of my heart.

Ahh and PTD is soooo cool, I'm sure it's break a lot of records. Let's hope and try for the best. Stream PTD guys! 😌😌

Take care, don't overwork yourselves, stay hydrated and eat a lot of your favourite food. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay safe. Let's meet in the chapter! 💜💜💜

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