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wherein jimin is aera's father.

___

"stay still, baby." jimin sighs, buckling his daughter's shoe while she's sitting on the couch, kicking her legs and swaying side to side as she sings along the rhymes playing in his phone. he exhales deeply, standing up once he's done and is sure that they're ready to leave the house.

he leans down, taking his phone and turns off the video of the farmer dancing and singing with his puppy, making aera whine as she jumps on her feet, extending her hands up for him to give her the phone back. "later, sweetheart. we have to go now. you wanted to go the party right?" he says, holding her hand and walks outside.

"but- but we can listen to bingo!" the girl pouts

"yes we can, but daddy's phone's gonna die if you play more rhymes. you didn't let me charge it earlier." he sighs, buckling her in the booster seat, sighing when he notices her tinted lips puckered into a pout and eyes staring at him intently. "we'll listen to more rhymes when we come back okay?"

"muffin man?"

"yes, whatever you like." he chuckles, patting her cheek gently and leans in, "now can daddy get a kiss real quick?"

aera giggles, cupping his face between her tiny hands and pecks his lips softly, breaking into a playful laugh soon after, which makes jimin chuckle as well. he pulls back, jogging to the driver's seat and hops in, igniting the engine to drive off to the venue where his manager's daughter's wedding ceremony will take place today.

he had got the first invite of the big day when manager lee had put forth his leave application saying he wants to be the one to do all the preparations and make his daughter's wedding day the best out there. the reason managed to make jimin smile and warmed his heart, also it was the first time the manager had asked for a leave due to personal matters. so he found himself agreeing and granted the leave, earning the first invitation card printed for him, in a soft pastel pink paper with designed borders, having the words imprinted in pretty, golden letters that also attracted his four-year-old daughter.

his eyes wander from the windshield to the mirror reflecting aera's quiet self, looking out of the window at the buildings and shops passing by. a soft smile tugs his lips upwards and he shakes his head, focusing back on the street as it soon comes about the time he pulls over.

jimin steps out of the car, straightening his suit and checks his hair once in the mirror before going to get his daughter out. he crouches down in front of her, fixing her dress and says, "be a good girl yeah? there'll be a lot of people."

"riri is good girl." aera smiles confidently, making him laugh and nod his head.

"of course, let's go now." he says, holding her hand, heading towards the entrance of the church which is decorated nicely with flowers and a carpet running all the way inside.

"mr jeon!" a manly voice says, approaching jimin as soon as he arrives in the premises laiden with flowers and soft, white curtains draped at the sides giving an authentic and elegant look the place.

jimin smiles at the manager, shaking hands as he stops him from bowing today, "you're here, i'm glad." the older man smiles, then glances down at the side, seeing the little girl, sticking close to her father's legs, "and aera'e here too. how are you little one?"

"say hello, aera." jimin pats her head, nodding towards his manager, "this is uncle lee. he works with daddy."

"hello," aera says quietly, "i'm fine, thank you."

"adorable," the manager chuckles, patting her head and turns to jimin again, gesturing his hand to the front where the chairs and sofas are arranged around circular tables for the guests. "have a seat, mr jeon. mr min and the others are arriving."

"sure, i talked to them earlier. jungkook might be a little late though. he's got some work at the last minute, manager lee." jimin says.

"that's alright, no worries. work can show up at weird times. we all can understand that well." he laughs with jimin who nods, agreeing to the words for he is himself a sufferer of the big-fat work pressure.

manager lee leaves soon enough, attending more guests while jimin sits on one of the tables with eight cushioned chairs which makes him smile in acknowledgement that his manager didn't miss out any one. aera climbs up on the chair next to him, sitting till the very end until she has her back resting against the chair, making her short legs to remain half on the chair instead hanging down.

"daddy" she calls, turning in her place and stands on her knees, leaning towards him directly as there's no armrest in between.

"sit down, princess." jimin says, holding her hand so she won't fall on leaning further ahead. aera shakes her head, reaching out, but stops in the middle, gasping with a wide smile as her hand points behind jimin in the direction they came in from. the father turns around seeing the five faces smiling at them while yoongi exchanges a few brief words with manager lee before heading their way.

"uncle jinnie!" aera chirps, jumping down from her chair instantly and hugs the eldest man's legs, grinning up at him. he smiles at her, carrying her in his arms and kisses her cheek.

"hey, how's our champ doing?"

"good!" she giggles, hugging him with her arms wrapped halfway around his broad shoulders while the rest of them greet her father with a warm hug.

"finally we have time." yoongi shakes his head.

"i know," jimin chuckles, "everyone's been so busy."

"yeah especially these past few months." hoseok sighs, smiling despite the weight of his words for he's holding aera in his arms, returning her hug as she said she missed her sunshine uncle. "i missed you more sunshine." he pouts, smiling at the little girl and kisses her forehead.

"where's koo?" aera asks looking through the five uncles, finding seokjin, yoongi, namjoon, hoseok and taehyung, but there's no jungkook.

"he's coming." namjoon says and glances at jimin, "might take half an hour or so."

"yeah i spoke to him," jimin nods, sitting down with the boys, letting his daughter play as she looks more comfortable and engaged with the familiar presence near her. her frequent giggles make him smile too when she stacks up the small water bottles one on top of the othr with taehyung and pushes it and makes the tower collapse.

"finally," a voice says, "am i late?"

the boys turn to look at the owner of the voice, finding their their youngest brother coming their way, grinning his world-famous bunny smile as he leans forward, quickly scooping aera up in his aera from behind, making her wiggle as she tries to look at the person who interrupted her game with taehyung.

a whine leaves her lips when jungkook teases her a bit more, not showing his face yet, "daddy!" the girl cries, nearly dropping tears and kicks her legs hitting jungkook's chest once, making the boys laugh while jimin stands up, taking her from the younger brother.

"you're absurd." jimin shakes his head at jungkook, patting his daughters back, "it's kookie, look. he was trying to scare riri."

aera looks at jungkook grinning, raising his brows as he opens his arms again, "hey, i didn't get a hug yet." he says, "won't you give me a hug princess?"

she nods slowly leaning forward, making him smirk victoriously at elder brother who sighs watching his daughter with a defeated expression, once again acknowledging that jungkook can get away with anything because aera loves him too much to see him as the bad one. jungkook chuckles lightly, sitting between jimin and taehyung, engulfing aera's small body in his hug and kisses her a few times, pulling away with a 'ah' sound which for some reason always makes the child laugh.

"how did you come early?" jimin asks.

"the recording i thought i had to do was already done last month, and i found it at the last minute. you don't know how happy that made me." jungkook says.

"lucky you," taehyung sighs, "i lost two of my documents that i completed a few days back. now i've to do it again."

"careless," jungkook comments, laughing at the elder earning a silent scoff in return. his attention shifts to aera who is trying to kick off her shoes, sitting on his lap, "you wanna take them off?"

"mm-hmm" she nods and jungkook helps her out, making her sit properly facing him after putting the shoes at a side near his feet. "i miss you,"

jungkook chuckles at the sudden confession from the four-year-old and nods subtly, "really? i missed you too. why didn't you come to see me?"

"i don't know the way."

"ah right, that's a problem."

aera nods, staring at him and says, "why not koo coming to see riri?"

"i was a little busy these days. but i promise i'll come home today and stay for a few days. then we can play together." he smiles, "will you take me home?"

"yes," she nods eagerly, and turns to jimin, "daddy, koo coming home with me."

"ah really? and you're letting him?" the father jokes, earning an offended look from jungkook who turns aera to face him again and whispers something in her ear, making her nod.

"ri, would you tell this guy who's your favourite?" jungkook asks confidently and aera points at him. "see? so i can come and spend time with my favourite person. others don't have to be jealous."

"you can never stop acting cam you?" jimin sighs while the others laugh silently at the drama.

most of the guests had arrived and the wedding ceremony started with the bride entering with her father, their arms linked together, looking beautiful in the white gown and texudo. manager lee walks up to the center, leaving his daughter with the man that's going to be her husband now. tears well his eyes and everyone can see it, all smiling with happines and wish for the newly wed couple to last long and never fall out of love.

when manager lee hugs his daughter, wiping his tears both of joy and pain that his daughter would leave him now, jimin feels himself having similiar tears in his eyes too as he turns to look at his own daughter, envisioning the possible day he, too, would have to let go of his little girl and have nothing but memories surrounding him and his home.

"jimin?" yoongi pats his shoulder, "are you okay? you're spacing out."

"uh yeah, i'm-" he clears his throat, blinking his tears away and smiles, "i'm fine."

everyone claps and so does jimin as the bride's brother just finished his speech, giving up the next to the father who still has a tissue in his hand and wipes the tears before stuffing it in his pocket. he flashes a smile, first to the couple and then to the guests, "i never realised how time runs so fast... i mean, i feel like it was just yesterday when i first held jiwoo in my arms for the first time; as if she started to speak and walk with me just a moment ago. but now, i'm standing here to deliver some nice words on my daughter's big day..."

jimin can't help but steal a glance at aera who is busy going through jungkook's phone which he gave her to make sure she sits quietly while everyone is listening to the father's words. her little white dress that oddly resembles to what jimin would call a flower girl's dress makes her look like a little angel. he smiles softly, seeing her lips curving up into a smile as points at the screen of the phone, showing something to jungkook who nods, patting her back.

"i remember her taking her first steps holding my hand, and now my princess is ready to leave it forever and hold another man's hand. seonghin, son," manager lee turns to the groom earning a smile from him, "please hold my daughter's hand tight and make sure to never let go, because you'll be holding my entire world with that."

jimin looks down trying his best not to cry as his mind keeps going to certain day when he would be the one speaking those words from the stage while his daughter would sit with her husband, ready to let go of the hand that held her tight and secure for all her life.

he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment and grabs a bottle of water. once he thinks he's fine enough, he smiles again, tapping on his daughter's shoulder, making her look at him and opens his arms for her. aera leans forward quickly, almost dropping jungkook's phone between the motion but the boy catches it swiftly, sighing in releif that his cracked screen is saved from literally breaking into half this time.

"my little baby," jimin whispers through a fond smile, kissing her forehead as he makes her sit on his lap, facing him. aera giggles at him, standing on her knees as she leans onto him, resting her head on his shoulder and kisses quickly near his jawline, making him chuckle.

he glances back at the stage as some music starts playing in the background and there are pictures of the bride with her family from the day she was born, giving a warm feeling in jimin's chest, hugging his four-year-old daughter close to himself.

gotta hold on easy as i let you go
gonna tell how much i love you
though you think you already know
i remember i thought you looked like an angel
wrapped in pink, so soft and warm
you've had me wrapped around your finger
since the day you were born

jimin smiles softly, remembering the exact day he saw aera for the first time, wrapped in a baby pink towel adding blush to her delicate skin, making the tinted lips and the puffy cheeks look even more beautiful to him. and each day after that he found his daughter just getting prettier and sending love all the way straight to his heart that he thought was deserted after his wife's death during the delivery.

you're beautiful, baby, from the outside in
chase your dreams, but always know the road
that'll lead you home again
go on, take on this whole world
but to me you know you'll always be
my little girl

aera pulls away from the hug, sitting straight as she looks at jimin with a pout that gives off to him that she's getting bored here. he smiles at her giving her his phone at last after turning down the volume to the least and switching of the mobile network. so having nothing much to do, aera ends up at the gallery, scrolling mindlessly until she gasps, stopping at a picture and looks at jimin, pointing at the screen.

"baby!"

"that's you," he smiles, stroking her hair as she rests comfortably against his chest, holding the phone on her lap, studying the younger version of herself, laying on the bed, wearing a diaper and her hand in her mouth.

meanwhile in the big screen up at the stage a picture of manager lee's daughter is showing in which the girl, around ten or eleven years old, is seen standing with her hands at her back, smiling nervously while a broken cup is lying near her feet.

when you were in trouble, that crooked little smile
could melt my heart of stone
now look at you, i've turned around
and you've almost grown

jimin smiles at that before glancing back at his daughter who is giggling at something. when he leans forward, peeking over her shoulder, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle on seeing a video of two-year-old aera dancing with jungkook. when it ends, aera moves to the next picture which is of jimin holding her in his arms, leaning forward to kiss her while she's laughing happily.

"daddy, love you!" aera smiles, kissing the picture and leans against his chest, as brings his one arm to wrap around her tiny waist and pull her up properly for her dress keeps making her slide a bit.

"hm?"

"daddy, love you!" she repeats this looking up at him with a wide grin, making jimin chuckle.

"ah thank you, daddy loves riri more." he smiles, patting her cheek gently.

sometimes you're asleep, i whisper, i love you
in the moonlight at your door
as i walk away, i hear you say
daddy, love you more

you're beautiful, baby, from the outside in
chase your dreams, but always know the road
that'll lead you home again
go on, take on this whole world
but to me you know you'll always be
my little girl

aera slides down from his lap, standing between him and jungkook as she's now showing the pictures to jungkook as well. jimin looks up at the stage again with a soft gaze as the pictures have changed now and the girl has grown up. it's from a restaurant where the family is sitting together with another three more people - the groom and his parents. all smiling at the camera.

and it has jimin thinking if aera would also arrange a meeting between him and her boyfriend in future, telling him that she loves this boy and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. that would be hard for him to take in, he wouldn't agree at once that is for sure. how can he just let his daughter go with some random boy for the rest of her life without even testing him and making sure that he will keep his princess happy and love her the way she deserves to be loved?

someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand
but i won't say yes to him unless i know
he's the half that makes you whole
he has a poet's soul
and the heart of a man's man
i know he'll say that he's in love
but between you and me
he won't be good enough

manager lee wipes his tears as the picture changes again and now it's from their engagement day. the girl looks happy, smiling widely at the boy who is on his one knee, holding out a small box of ring for her. the daughter lets out a silent chuckle, wiping her tears as well as many of the guests do the same, seeing the emotional and heart touching slide show from the father to his little girl.

you're beautiful, baby, from the outside in
chase your dreams, but always know the road
that'll lead you home again
go on, take on this whole world
but to me you know you'll always be
my little girl

jimin wipes his tears again and claps along with the other guests, touched by the speech, the song, and simply by the day that arises a bitter sweet feeling in his heart, making it hard for him to comprehend if it's actually the joy the daughter found her partner or the agony that she will leave her dear father, her daddy.

"daddy" aera's voice brings him back from his trail of thoughts, making him rub his eyes and glance at the little girl, nodding for her to continue, "toilet" she says, making jimin sigh.

"now?" he asks and the daughter nods. "alright, come." he stands up, taking her hand and looks at jungkook after making her wear her shoes, "i'll come in a while from the restroom."

"sure," the brother nods and jimin carries aera as she lifts up her arms, jumping for him to take her in his arms.

jimin walks to the side of the hall, exiting from the door which opens into a quiet hallway. aera looks around the place, then shakes her head as there's nothing that interesting and focuses on her father, frowning a little as she notices his eyes still glistening a little with tears, "why daddy crying?" she pulls herself straight in his arms, facing jimin with a worried expression.

"daddy's not crying, my love." he chuckles, blinking a few times to get the tears away.

"no, you crying... why are you crying, daddy? you feeling icky?"

"i'm okay, baby." he smiles, "look i'm smiling?"

aera stares at him, nodding her head and looks around as they enter a smaller place with mirrors on one wall above the sinks and a few stalls one side. jimin opens the door of a stall, making aera stand on her feet and crouches down, holding her dress up and helps her sit on the toilet, holding her hands to avoid having her falling in.

"daddy" she chirps, freeing her one hand and pokes his cheek.

"yes?"

"daddy!"

"yes, my baby?" he chuckles at the extra playfulness coming out of his daughter right now after being stuck in the boring wedding ceremony for almost two hours.

"done" she says, giving him a thumbs up which makes him laugh as he cleans her and dresses her up, ready to go back.

"daddy," aera holds his hand stopping him from standing up yet and steps forward between his arms, "no crying okay? riri love you."

jimin nibbles on his lip, nodding his head subtly as he hugs her tightly and kisses her shoulder, "my little girl, daddy loves you more, always." he whispers fondly, pressing another on the side of her head. "you're the best thing my life ever came up with. thank you so much, princess."

"thank you," she nods, making him laugh now, realising she's too young to understand what he's saying.

so he shakes his head, patting her head and stands up with his daughter in his arms. as they head out of the restroom, he can't help but smile and feel proud on remembering the words aera said to him a few minutes ago and he can he bet it's going to stay in his memory under the 'best things ever said' list.

"ri, can i ask you something?" he says, glancing at his daughter who is busy playing with the silver chains dangling from his earrings, but she nods anyway and jimin continues knowing that she's listening, "will you marry someone when you grow up?"

"yes" jimin stares at her bluntness with an expression that looks dead and hurt for a second.

but he clears his throat and asks another questions, "so you'll leave daddy alone?" he pouts, earning a quick glance from aera who shakes her head and pecks his lips.

"no, riri and daddy will staying together," she declares. "because- because riri is daddy's baby."

"ah right," he chuckles, happy to hear that and kisses her cheek, "you probably don't even know what marrying someone means, that's why you said yes earlier right?"

"mm?" she tilts her head, making the father smile at her innocence.

"nothing, riri's my princess, isn't she?"

"yes!" she cheers happily, hugging him tightly as he chuckles and pats her back.

"ah you're here. i'm heading home now." jungkook says, approaching the father-daughter duo. "i'm honestly tired and don't think i can stay here any longer."

"it's alright, where are you going though?" jimin asks, earning a mischievous grin from the younger brother who takes aera from him and winks at her.

"riri's place of course. me and my princess are gonna have a lot of fun. you can come home when you're done with here." he says, showing his hand to the little girl who quickly responds the high-five and nods. "great, let's go then. daddy will come later. is that okay?"

"no, daddy..." aera says, looking at jimin who smiles and pats her back.

"i'm coming in another car, you can go with kookie." jimin says, and turns to jungkook, "change her into something comfortable first. then feed her, not some snacks but actual food. and then sleep."

"aye aye captain!" jungkook salutes the elder, glancing at aera who giggles and copies him too, making jimin chuckle amusedly. "we'll head home now, say bye to daddy."

"bye-bye daddy!" aera waves at her father who waves back at her, smiling as he watches her engaging in a conversation with jungkook who fishes out the keys of his car and hands it to aera, walking towards the exit.

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a/n- ayyeeeee! how are y'all?✨ good? how did u like the chapter? pls u gotta tell me now 😌

and well, since i had a lot of people requesting for jimin and aera as father daughter, here we go. a chapter with daddy-daughter moments of jimin and riri. (yk i don't call aera as "aera" now, i refer to her as "riri" because in the dialogues the boys call her that lol. what do you call her?)

alright so, let's wrap up here. that's pretty much all for today, i just updated randomly hehe. but ik u love it come on 😁 vote if you liked the chapter, comment, share and take care of yourself ❤️

also i was wondering if we need a new cover for this book. not completely different, just have a look and tell me what u think. i like the current one and this one too. so please don't say both because then it's gonna be impossible for me to choose one. i request you to choose one. this or the one we have rn.

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