Chapter Text
"What time will they return home, bun?"
"Soon, nampyeon. I do not want to see anything go wrong, Joongie. Get your ass to move faster! The presents aren't going to be set up by themselves!" Seonghwa pushes his husband towards the presents that sprawl all over the floor in the living room.
"Yeosangie baby, could you help me with the plates? Thank you, my lil bun."
"Sannie! Young! Stop messing with the balloons. You're going to pop it and-" A mixture of pop and cries fills the living room.
"Eomma! Woongie did it!" Mingi cried; it scared him when the balloon popped, alerting the mother. "No! Woongie didn't do it." The second youngest hides behind his father, sitting on the floor, arranging the gifts. San starts crying, too, when he sees his triplet brother crying.
Seonghwa placed the freshly decorated cake on the dining table and rushed toward the scene. "I told you, didn't I? We can't have those tears at your big brother's birthday party, right? Yuyu Hyung will be sad if he sees his little brothers like this." Mingi and San sniffed softly. The boys rubbed their tears with his sweater paws, sparkling eyes meeting his mother's while pouting, "I don't want Yuyu Hyung sad. Sannie, no cry." “MinMin no cry too, eomma”
Seonghwa smiles and pecks both the crybabies' foreheads. "Now go help your appa and you, young man. What did I tell you about messing with the balloons? Again." Wooyoung stares at his mother and smiles innocently, showing off his white pearl teeth. The mother sighs, giving up, and pinches his baby cheeks. "Lucky you're cute, you little troublemaker." Wooyoung giggles gleefully and climbs on Hongjoong's back.
"Joongie love, any updates? Is Minho on their way?"
"Yunho and Changbin are with Minho now. They stopped by the mart, and Bangchan and his kids were coming here with the snacks."
Hongjoong steps into the kitchen, letting the kids sit in the living room playing around. He watches his wife struggle to ensure everything is perfect for their eldest's 8th birthday. "Hwa hun, could you calm down? It's just our Yuyu's birthday. It's not like the end of the world. Why are you so stressed out?" He looks at his wife, inspecting everything as if something is missing.
"That's the thing, Joongie! Our Yuyu is growing up! Sooner or later, he's going to be a teenager. Then, becoming an adult, he'll marry, leave this house, and have a family. I can't hug that little puppy anymore because Yuyu got his wife and kids to hug and then Sangie, then—" Seonghwa got cut off when his husband kissed him in the middle, bragging in one breath about their eldest growing up.
"Stop messing around, Joongie! God, you always interrupt me with those moves!" Seonghwa pouts with his blushing cheeks. Hongjoong didn't bother to peck his wife's cheeks, "Yet you still fall for that. Star, calm down. That's how life is. We were born, grew up, lived, and married just like we did." He kissed his husband's fragile, delicate hand. "If so, we can always make new babies just how you love them," Hongjoong whispered to him with a smirk at the end. Seonghwa raised his eyebrow, knowing that look from his husband.
'Two can play that game.'
Seonghwa leaned against the counter while pulling his husband's collar, trapping himself between Hongjoong's solid arms and caging him. "I warned you, didn't I? I drew the line, Kim Hongjoong," Seonghwa tilted his head a little, putting on his seductive look to test his horny husband, tracing his finger along his husband's jaw. (Not like he hates it)
"You are not gonna put your 'friend' near me again, Joongie." Seonghwa licked Hongjoong's earlobe, hands tracing across his clothed abs.
Hongjoong is a weak soldier when it comes to his wife. His lips were apart, his body shivered from the lick, and his hands groped on Seonghwa's soft bums. "Hwa, your actions didn't seem to protest about having my dick inside. God, you're a goddess." He wasted no time attaching his lips to Seonghwa's and didn't bother if their kids saw them.
A quick make-out won't bother.
The sounds of their smooches echoing the kitchen, hands tracing each other's bodies, and they were deep in their world.
"Hmm~ Joongie...the kids…" Seonghwa whimpered after he pulled off from their kiss.
"They're playing. Don't worry about them, jagiya," Hongjoong growled low against his wife's neck, giving a lick and then sucking on it. He lifted the hem of Seonghwa's sweatshirt, kissing his abdomen. Seonghwa gripped Hongjoong's hair lightly, attempting to push away, but no use, "Joongie~ No... They're going to see us.."
"Hey, guys. I'm back. I bought- OH MY GOSH! Really? Right before your son's birthday?" Chan spun around, facing away immediately from the couple and making sure none of the kids noticed as they were admiring the decorations and meals prepared.
The parents turned their heads toward the direction of the voice. "Chan?! W-wha...I-...when did you arrive?" Seonghwa pulled down his sweatshirt while Hongjoong leaned against the counter beside his wife, arms wrapped securely around his tiny waist and looking calm as if he hadn't just devoured his wife right in the middle of their kitchen.
"Oh, cool. You came. We have been waiting for you guys. Right, yeobo?~" Hongjoong smiled innocently at his wife.
Seonghwa looks at his husband in disbelief. Bangchan just shook his head with a slight chuckle. "I can't believe you almost did 'it' with your wife right before celebrating your son's birthday. You're unbelievable, Joong. Is it your mating season or something?" Chan walked away from the scene; meanwhile, Seonghwa pretended to make herself look busy with a thick blush. His husband didn't miss his chance to teasingly pinched his wife's fluffy butt with his proud smirk.
"Don't act like you never did the same to your wife when I came to your place. Not to mention in the middle of the living room?!" Hongjoong highlighted the last sentence. Chan chuckled, fixing his jacket, "Who am I to resist such beauty? How dare he, wearing such seductive outfits..."
"He was in his pajamas 'cause we're the only one who needs to go to the studio for our songs early in the morning, you lovesick dumbass." Hongjoong scoffed at his friend.
"I know, right? That sexy ass-"
"Oh God…Really, you guys? Ugh..doms"
"Eomma! Appa! Uncle Chan! They're back!"
The trio panicked and rushed to the living room. "Joongie! The candles!" Seonghwa whispered while assembling the kids.
"Alright, careful boys. Watch your steps." Minho observed the boys step out of Minho's car. The kids strode towards the main door with their schoolbags on their shoulders as Minho picked up his kids and Yunho from school. Minho unlocked the door and let Yunho step inside first.
"Happy birthday to you~"
Yunho lifted his gaze. He could see his eomma holding a beautiful cake with a Spiderman topper on top of it; the candle was in the shape of the number eight. His appa was recording using his phone. His parents and brothers sang birthday songs. Even Aunty Minho and Uncle Chan's family sang together.
Yunho's mouth is agape with awe. He's officially eight years old and couldn't be more enthusiastic. He was over the moon at that moment.
"Make a wish, my little pup," Seonghwa said, bringing the cake closer to him. Yunho clasped his hands together and stared at the candle, making his eyes seem sparkling, and then he blew. Everyone clapped and cheered for the birthday boy. Blue and red birthday decorations were all over, from the living room to the dining room. It brings out the Spiderman concept since it's the birthday boy's favourite superhero.
Yunho ran towards his parents and hugged them, squishing his chubby cheeks on both his parent's shoulders. "Thank you, eomma and appa." Seonghwa had to hold himself back from tearing. He couldn't believe that his eldest son was growing up so fast. He still recalled Yunho's first birthday. The baby was stunned to see the candle for the first time and thrilled after blowing it. It was as if he found it amusing that he giggled so hard.
Everybody enjoyed the birthday cake, even the youngest, Jongho. Hongjoong wipes some of the mess from the infant's chubby cheeks after devouring the dessert messily. Seonghwa keeps recording everything, seeing his eldest baby humming happily with his cheeks full. His habit of stuffing the meal until his cheeks are round shows that he's enjoying the meal so much. The mother giggled, seeing the state of his eldest child right now. He got some of the cream on his cheeks. He wiped it with wet tissue and said, "Eomma's baby boy." Yunho beamed brightly at his eomma, "I'm a big boy now, eomma". Seonghwa is struggling with himself not to cry right in front of his baby, all grown-up.
"Hwa, this is so good! You've got to teach me. This is the most delicious cake I've ever tasted," Minho licked the fork, not noticing one of his children, Felix, impersonating the mother's action; luckily, the fork is made of plastic. "Hmm~ Yum!" Hyunjin put down the plastic fork, and the corner of his lips still had some cream. Chan helped wipe the mess using the wet tissue. "It's nothing. I learned it from my mom~ Remind me to give you the recipe." Seonghwa sat beside the high chair, cleaning some cake crumbs sprawled on the feeding tray. Jongho seems to enjoy too much with the cake.
After eating, they all gathered excitedly in the living room for the next activity Yunho had been waiting for. The surprise makes him happy, but his inner child is still there.
"Woooahhhh, so many presents!" Yunho exclaimed as he made tiny runs toward a pile of presents in the living room. "All these for me? For Yuyu?" The birthday boy's eyes twinkled when he turned around and made eye contact with the rest." Of course, bud. Happy birthday, pup." Hongjoong ruffled Yunho's hair. "Go on. Open it." Seonghwa nudged the eldest toward the presents.
After all the presents were opened, most of the kids were occupied playing with each other, and Yunho sat with his presents around him, concentrating on each one.
Wooyoung and San played tag with Changbin, Jisung, and Felix, running around in the living room; Yeosang sat on the playmat with Mingi, Hyunjin, and Seungmin while enthralling Yunho's unwrapped gifts. There were lots of new toys, clothes and bags.
"Waaaa~" The infant's eyes sparkled to see many toys on the floor that trapped his brother with his mouth busy chewing on his chew toy. Hongjoong chuckled, seeing the infant in his arms making a few noises. "Cute~," he said.
"Woongie wan' play this!" the second-youngest said, holding out a stuffed bunny that belongs to the birthday boy, and it's his first-ever plushie.
"Ask your brother first, boys. That bunny is very special to him." The mother told the duo, who assembled the gift wrappers Yunho had unwrapped.
Both face their brother, making puppy eyes, hands clasped together, and lips pout like their mother did when he wanted something from appa. “Please, Yuyu-hyung?”
Yunho smiled, making his chubby cheeks even chubbier. "Sure. You can play with hyung's bunny."
"Yeayyy!" The duo cheered, embracing the eldest and playing with Yunho's new toys.
Yunho may be the eldest, but inside, he's still a baby in his parents' view who needs to be showered with love and attention. Here he is, sitting on his appa's lap while Hongjoong feeds him with chicken that Chan bought earlier. It's Yunho's favourite, too. "You're a big boy now, Yuyu." Hongjoong patted Yunho's fluffy hair.
Suddenly, faint cries were heard, which attracted the living's attention to the source. Seonghwa walked into the living room with Wooyoung and San trailing from behind, with broad smiles, a pout glued to their faces, and dry tears on their chubby cheeks. "Tell your hyung what happened, boys," Seonghwa sternly told the duo. They faced each other, then looked back down on the floor but still faced their older brother. They outstretched their hands, heads, and bodies on each hand.
"We're sorry, hyung. We no wan' hurt hyung's bunny." The duo apologized together to their hyung. Still looking nervous and even guilty when their hyung's eyes widen to witness his favourite plushie condition.
The first-ever bunny plushie the parents bought for Yunho is now….ripped….in…. half.
-
The adults were concerned when the birthday boy didn't say anything. 'Maybe Yunho is fine with-'
"Bunny!" Yunho frantically cries out, and it startled everyone since Yunho is always happy, rarely seeing him cry out his heart. He threw himself on the floor in a fit of tears. The duo went to their brother, attempting to calm him down, but Yunho snatched the ripped plushie away from his brothers, saying, "No play with b-bunny!" Yunho blubbers out and hugs the ripped bunny tightly, crying harder. That resulted in more cries in the living room, including the infant, because they were sensitive to loud noises.
"Eomma!"
"Appa!"
There are a total of four children crying right now, and the parents are making their move, not wanting to add more.
Yunho wailed as he clumsily ran to his mother, and Seonghwa lifted him, carrying him as if he were still a baby and gently patting his back. Wooyoung and San hugged their father, tucking their faces on the father's neck. They were still crying out their hearts after getting yelled at by their brother, which he never did.
"Eomma! B-bunny!" Yunho shows the ripped plushie to his mother with his eyes red from crying too hard and his snot on his nose. "Oh pup…Eomma is sorry this happened to you. Your brothers didn't mean to hurt the bunny, pup." Yunho shocked his head aggressively, denying that his brothers didn't mean to hurt his favourite plushie. "N-no! Hurt bunny! Woongie…Sannie..hurt bunny!" Yunho continued wailing and coughing hard; Seonghwa patted his back and bounced him a little in his arms, just like he always did when they were infants.
"Woongie no wan' hurt bunny, hyung!" "Sannie no hurt bunny too, hyung!"
Hongjoong patted the duo's bums, which seemed to affect how their cries started to calm down and proceeded to give the crying infant his pacifier, except for Yunho, who was still screaming his lungs out and truthfully to himself. It's his first time seeing Yunho cry this hard. His heart breaks seeing his appa's boy in this state.
"It's alright, pup. Eomma will fix bunny, okay? Eomma will fix it." Seonghwa continues to calm the crying baby in his arms. "Joongie, I'm gonna make the bottles for the boys, okay?"
Seonghwa felt a slight movement and tugged on his sweatshirt. He met with Yunho's glossy eyes, lips pouting, dry tears replaced with new ones on his chubby cheeks even after he wiped them away, "M-mama… Wan' bottle, too."
It softened Seonghwa's fragile heart, seeing his 8-year-old baby still wanting to drink milk from the bottle after he stopped when he was seven because he wanted to be a big brother to his siblings. "Of course, pup. Mama will make a bottle for my big boy, okay? Yuyu sit with appa, yea?" The mother almost bends down to put Yunho on the couch near Hongjoong, but Yunho clings to him tighter, whining about getting separated from the comfort. "Wan' mama"
Seonghwa made eye contact with his husband, and Hongjoong immediately received the message, as he had thought. "It's okay, Hwa. I'll go make it-"
"It's okay, love. I'll do it. Can you just look after the boys? I'll need some time with Yuyu here, mama and Yuyu?" Hongjoong looks at the birthday boy, who's still clinging to the mother, not showing any signs of letting go, sniffing softly. "Alright, star. Let me know if you need any help, yea?" Hongjoong sat back on the floor, having the duo lean against his sides, seeking comfort from the father. "I will, Joongie~" Seonghwa disappeared into the kitchen with the crying baby in his arms.
"Okay, Yuyu. Eomma is going to put you down on the counter so Eomma can make bottles right now." Seonghwa received another whine from his baby boy. Yunho seems clingier ever. It warms Seonghwa's heart how the older one still wants his affection, even his grown-up. In addition, he still loves the bunny plushie Seonghwa and Hongjoong bought for his first toy ever to cuddle with. 'Well, that won't stop me from doing it.'
Seonghwa tried to balance Yunho in his arm while the other made bottles for the boys.
Once it was done, Seonghwa called out his husband to give the bottles to their sons. "Hey there, lil pup. You're good?" Hongjoong wiped away Yunho's tears on his cheeks as he was drinking his milk right now, squishing his cheek on the mother's shoulder. Yunho stared back at the father with wide, glossy eyes, whimpering softly with his ripped plushie gripped tight in his arm. Hongjoong brushed his son's hair with a sympathetic smile and did not forget to give a peck on his forehead.
The birthday party was more chaotic than expected. After cleaning up the dishes and boxes with some help from Chan's family, they bid their goodbye around the evening.
Yunho was still upset about his bunny plushie and gave Woo and San a cold shoulder. They pouted sadly, not able to comfort their big brother. They all cuddled with the father, drinking their bottles while Seonghwa was upstairs. Hongjoong tried everything to make the duo and Yunho talk again but was met with awkward silence, except for the TV playing the movie 'Spiderman,' secretly hoping that it would make Yunho smile again.
"Yuyu~ Where's my happy Yuyu, hmm? Appa wants to see a happy Yuyu~" Hongjoong pulled the eldest closer into his arm, making Yunho bury his face into the father's side. "Don't be like this, pup. It's still your birthday before midnight. You need to cherish it." Still, nothing, and Yunho only responds with a soft whine. Hongjoong looks to his left, and Woo and San are still sad, even with their bottles in their mouths. They're all focusing on the movie and don't hear their mother's footsteps coming close.
Seonghwa crouched before the still-birthday boy with his hands behind his back. The mother smiled warmly and spoke softly, "Yuyu~ Can you look at eomma for a bit? Eomma has another gift for you." Nothing could beat the mother's gentle tone. Yunho peeked a little to look at his mother, who grew his smile even more expansive. "There he is~ The birthday boy. We're sorry for what happened at your birthday party, pup. We promise to make a better one next year, okay? Oh, by the way, lookie here, Yuyu~"
Yunho's eyes sparkle to see his bunny plushie all fixed up in his mother's hands. "Good as new, Yuyu~ Eomma fixed bunny just for you." He gave it to Yunho and received a hug from the eldest, whispering 'thank you, eomma' to him. "Anything for my babies. Have you forgiven your brothers, Yuyu?" Yunho shook his head gently. "N-no, eomma…" Seonghwa leaned against the couch, letting Yunho sit on his lap; meanwhile, Hongjoong gently told Wooyoung and San to sit with their mother and Yunho.
When the children are upset, the parents usually encourage them to have a little reset to calm themselves. The trio sits on the mother's lap, lips pouting and staring down. "You know how this works, right boys?" Yunho looks up, stretches his hand to Woo, and San, "Hyung is sorry. Hyung didn't mean to get mad at Woongie and Sannie. Hyung loves Woongie and Sannie". The duo didn't hesitate to hug their big brother. They've made up and cuddled each other after apologizing. Seonghwa looks up to see his husband smiling right now at his wife while caressing his hair, feeling proud of how their eldest is smiling again. It lifted the mood, filling the living room with happy giggles.
"Eomma, appa. Can we sleep together here?" Yunho looks at the parents, and then the rest of the siblings follow their hyung, flashing puppy eyes with hands clasped together. That made both of the parents laugh. "Of course. Anything for our babies. Go get your plushies and blankets, boys."
The boys run upstairs excitedly, except for Jongho, sitting on Hongjoong's lap, babbling nonsense.
"You taught them, didn't you, star?"
Seonghwa fake gasps, "No, I didn't. How dare you accuse me like that. Look at your father here, Jongie bear. Accusing your mother. Eomma is sad." Seonghwa pretends to wipe his fake tears. The youngest only giggles happily, seeing his parent's interactions. "You did that even when we were in college, star. I know you very well."
"Maybe they saw me doing it. I never taught them, okay? End of story. Now, help me with the futons, Joongie."
After setting up, Seonghwa lay on his back, stretching his limbs with soft groans. Today was a lot of work, but it's all worth it.
Then, he felt a familiar weight on his chest. He looks down to see his husband smiling innocently with his cheek squished on his chest. "Why hello there, gorgeous."
"What are you doing?"
"What's it look like? I'm lying down right where I belong, which is righttttt…here." He nuzzled his face on Seonghwa's chest. Seonghwa only rolled his eyes over his childish husband and caressed his husband's dark locks.
Jongho yawned on Seonghwa's other side, hugging his teddy bear, eyes slowly shut. Hongjoong was still enjoying the warmth of his wife when he felt tiny hands grab his shirt, attempting to drag him away from Seonghwa—Hongjoong played along, rolling away with groans. "Noooo~ My spotttt."
The boys giggled and raced, fighting playfully to get on the mother's side, including the father. "Min Min wanna sleep with eomma."
"Nooo~ Sannie wan' sleep with eomma."
"Sangie wants to sleep with eomma."
"Not happening. It's my spot, boys. Back off now." Hongjoong tried to crawl back on his spot, but his sons attacked him.
"No, appa~ Woongie sleep with eomma." Wooyoung clings to Hongjoong's back.
Seonghwa can only exhale and accept his fate. He looks so done with his husband, fighting with their sons to sleep beside him.
It's going to be a long night for Seonghwa. He shut his eyes and cuddled with the infant, letting his husband with the boys, who are still fighting over to sleep next to the mother.