Chapter Text
Epilogue
Even If I die, It’s You.
“Seokjin!”
He sat up abruptly, his sleepiness wearing out quickly as he processed the urgency in Hoseok’s voice on the other line. Seokjin yawned weakly, rubbing his puffy eyes as he made his way to the bathroom.
“Hoseok,” he let out groggily, “what happened? Why’re you call—” he didn’t even have the chance to complete his sentence when Hoseok screamed at the other line again.
“Namjoon is giving birth!”
Seokjin quickly ran back down to the living room, urgently, when he heard the honking of the cab he had called earlier. He has a car, which he got in a pretty small price after negotiating to the owner (he discovered he’s pretty good at it). It’s a small car (which is still growing to Yoonji, that kid liked those more sophisticated and expensive cars like that one that Jimin has), pretty run down but still could work. But Seokjin figured out he can’t drive right now, not when he’s shaking to the bones with adrenaline rush. He’s had a pretty bad memories with car accidents and he wouldn’t like to have one once again.
When he appeared at the living room downstairs, he had become a laughing stock for the twins.
“Dada! Your shirt!”
Yoonji screamed at him whilst laughing to her heart’s content. He looked down and there’s his dress shirt with mismatched buttons causing some of his skin to show up and even his pectoral to peek out. He let out an embarrassed shriek and hastily covered himself out (he knows he’s being over dramatic but that’s because he’s trying to get some reaction from the twins, which he got, of course).
It has been six months since Yoonji’s operation, and the wound, though still a little bit red and soft compared to the rest of her skin, is pretty much close to healing. Very, actually. Because of this, Yoonji was back to school—they even had a welcoming party just for her which she thoroughly enjoyed—and is back to enjoying sports and other heavy activities without having Seokjin to worry about her health. Now, she can ran as fast and as far as she can without falling into a fatigue like what she did before.
Same with Yoongi who only aced more and more. No words can explain how incredibly proud Seokjin is of the two little angels.
After he was finished fixing up himself, Seokjin picked up the two and hopped in inside the taxi cab.
Six months and Namjoon’s baby is going to greet the world with a cry. A short bittersweet laugh escaped Seokjin’s lips as he watched the car pass through blurry buildings in the window. It was a long ride, hence why Seokjin was rushing earlier to get ready and hence why he didn’t chose to drive his car.
He found a small village near the outskirts of Seoul, away from the over populated part of the city. In the village lived mostly old people, who were more than willing to welcome a young parent like him with two kids. He bought a small, two story house with a traditional korean house style. It’s relatively small but it’s cozy and has enough space for the three of them to live in. Six months in and they were pretty much comfortable and fully settled in.
Except for the part that it’s pretty far from where they used to live so Seokjin and the kids has to get up earlier than usual to reach their school in time. That one isn’t that much of a problem since Seokjin loved long rides while the two can sleep comfortably on a moving car.
After an hour or two of driving (mainly because of the traffic) they hopped off the taxi cab after paying the ride fee. They rush in inside the hospital to where Namjoon was currently checked in. Into the third floor where they were told to, he caught a glimpse of Jimin and Hoseok’s back. As they did, the twins couldn’t help but to feel giddy at the sight of their uncles.
“Uncle!” They both shouted as they run towards the two. Jimin looked back and caught Yoonji in a tight hug whilst Hoseok picked up Yoongi and threw him in his arms.
“Seokjin-hyung,” Jimin greeted with a nod as Seokjin walked closer to them. Seokjin flashed a smile at his direction before turning to Hoseok.
“How’s Namjoon?”
“They’re still inside,” he tried to smile but Seokjin can see through Hoseok and sense his worry, “Namjoon doesn’t want me inside.”
It was Jimin who cackled softly, “He doesn’t want you to hear him scream like he’s giving birth except that he’s really giving birth, that’s why.”
Hoseok glared at him, “Shut the fuck up.”
And before Seokjin can even stop Hoseok, the twins already giggling at the alpha, repeating what he said in a bubbly aspect.
“Shuhs the pop up!”
“Jimin, shut da fupup!”
Seokjin glared at the two alphas, “I’ll talk to you two later.”
After another hour of waiting outside, the doctor finally came out of the room and called Hoseok to have him hold the baby first after Namjoon. Seokjin couldn’t see it but he knew that Hoseok must be crying like a baby right now and he chuckled softly at it, remembering the alpha’s reaction when he first met the twins. Almost six years later, they finally have their own little angel.
He looked down at Yoongi and Yoonji who are trying to fit themselves in Seokjin’s lap, “Uncle Hoseok and Namjoon finally have a baby.”
Yoongi looked up to him, “can I see the baby, Daddy?”
“No,” Yoonji was the one who answered, “later when she grows up!”
“Actually,” Jimin butted in later to the conversation, “it’s a he.”
Seokjin turned to him, “How did you know? Namjoon didn’t want to know the gender until he gives birth, right?”
“Well,” Jimim shrugged, “just an instinct.”
Jimin’s instinct turned out to be true, which he proudly claimed later on as his alpha instincts.
Namjoon and Hoseok decided to name the boy Seokjoon. A delight to Seokjin since it’s almost rhymes to his name. The couple initially thought they could name the kid after Seokjin but changed it at the last minute, at least with this name, Namjoon and Hoseok’s names are both present with their son.
Namjoon rested in the hospital for a day before he decided (he forced Hoseok) to have a bed rest in their house instead, claiming that their house is more than the best environment for Namjoon to recover faster in which Hoseok agreed to, obviously. Not that he has much of a choice.
Three weeks later and they received a wonderful news. Jimin’s album received the highest rank in a western chart, making it the first korean album to do so and Jimin to be the first korean artist to reach such a milestone. It called for a celebration and a few days later, Jimin crashed into Hoseok and Namjoon’s house—amidst Namjoon’s bed rest—bringing in a lot of food and party materials.
Seokjin followed in after receiving an urgent looking text from Jimin only to found out that it was used to lured him out of his house and get his ass to Namjoon’s house instead. Luckily, he brought the twins with him.
“Damn it, Jimin!” Seokjin hit Jimin once he spotted the alpha, “I almost broke my car because of you!”
Jimim only chuckled at him, “That means you have to change that old piece of metal, hyung. I can give you one.”
“No thanks!”
Nonetheless, the party turned out to be wholesome. Of course, with two kids and an infant around, you couldn’t really do much aside from doing karaoke and blasting the music as loud as the kids can take. Good thing Jimin’s a singer, and Seokjin pretty much can handle a note so two people can hog the karaoke and not let a tipsy Hoseok handle the mic. It’ll be a mess, as Namjoon have warned them before.
Once everything calmed down, and every kid present is already fast asleep, it’s the adults’ turn to be serious. Namjoon was the one who took the initiative, talking about his plans for the future as soon as he put his son to his crib.
He then turned to Jimim after rambling, “What about you, Jimin?”
Jimin paused, his hand stilled with a glass of champagne half empty on his hand, “What?” he asked, startled at the sudden mention of his name.
“How things are going for you and Jeongguk?”
Jimin’s eyebrows shot up, he leaned back as he swallowed down the last drops of his champagne before talking. “Right, I forgot to tell you all. My bad. Jeongguk and I decided to end it all.”
The three of them looked at him with wide eyes.
Jimin shrugged as he continued, “I gave him the space he wanted. He flew to Paris to work and continue his art. I let him go and since then we haven’t talked again.”
“Will,” Seokjin trailed off, “... won’t you try again?”
“I have a world tour upcoming this year. One of my stops is Paris,” he paused to look at Namjoon, who looked down to avoid meeting him in the eye, “from there, if we are really meant together, I’ll go with how the flow goes. I will let things unfold for me, I won’t force things again.” He looked back to Seokjin, “But enough about me, hyung. Let’s talk about the twins birthday in two weeks, what are your plans?”
The plan is: to celebrate peacefully. Seokjin doesn’t want to invite and cook for Yoonji and Yoongi’s whole class. He doesn’t plan to even hire a whole catering service just for the twin’s sixth birthday and doesn’t even plan on having Jimin as the special guest and special performer (which the kids and the parents loves, of course). No, he didn’t really plan any of this but Namjoon, Hoseok and Jimin seemed to have different plans. Completely different plans.
“Oh Lord,” Seokjin sighed as he looked at the situation before him. The party was held inside the twin’s classroom. It’s still a mystery to Seokjin how his three friends managed to convince not only the teachers but also the principal of the school to hold one day of the twin’s class and have a birthday party instead, but they did it anyways.
“No, hyung,” beside him, Hoseok chuckled softly, “it’s ‘Oh, Lord thank you for this day’”
Seokjin scoffed, “I mean, this is too much.”
“But the kids loved it.”
Of course, they did. The twins were happy, too happy indulging in everyone’s attention. Looking at them, they obviously know how to entertain each and everyone of their guests, much even without Seokjin’s help. He could just sit there at the corner and Yoongi and Yoonji could still have fun with their friends.
“By the way,” Hoseok spoke beside him again, “Namjoom told me to tell you to check your e-mail. He has a gift for you and for the kids.”
“For me?”
Hoseok nodded, “And for the kids.”
Seokjin did check his e-mail the night after the twin’s surprise birthday party. He did it when the kids were already tucked in their own beds, thinking it’s better handling things that well since Seokjin doesn’t have a very good feeling about this gift that Namjoon was talking about.
When he clicked to the e-mail that Namjoon sent him, Seokjin let out a soft gasp.
He bit his trembling lips as he scanned the letters on the screen, one by one, to make sure he wasn’t tripping or he wasn’t dreaming. The cursor hovered over the link, directing him to download a file and when he checked the file once again, he hurriedly fished out his phone from his pocket and dialled Namjoon’s contact.
“Namjoon,” he uttered as soon as the other omega picked up, “is this a prank?”
He heard Namjoon laugh on the other line, “Ah, I guess you’ve seen it. No, it’s not. Print that file to claim your plane tickets, hyung. Greece is waiting for you.”
“I know that,” he paused scanning the file once again, “How could you... this is...”
“No, it’s not from me. Someone reached out to me and told me to give those out to you,” Namjoon paused, “Someone’s waiting for you, hyung.”
“Shit, Namjoon,” Seokjin couldn’t help but to laugh through his tears, “he even left a freaking note.”
Namjoon mimicked his laugh, “I know, it’s ridiculous but it’s so much him. Go hyung, find your happiness.”
“I will,” he whispered, eyes lingering on the words on the screen, “Thank you for everything, Namjoon.”
“You’re welcome, hyung.” He replied before ending the call.
Seokjin put the phone down, slowly, as he reads the words over and over again.
I’m fulfilling my promise, Seokjin. Come to me.
____
When Taehyung left, not only Seokjin was affected. Sure, it did took a toll on him, but he hold onto Taehyung’s words. He reminded himself that someday, he’ll come back.
The first time that he has lost the alpha, he didn’t have the same kind of reassurance that he has right now. No one told him to wait for his alpha to come back, no one told him that Taehyung will come back. But right now, it came from his own mouth, his own words, so he will keep his promise as long as Taehyung will keep his.
That’s what he reminded his kids as well. They have pretty much adjusted with Taehyung being by their sides all the time, it was hard to go back to the old ways. Yet Seokjin was thankful for the three to keep them busy, instantly distracting their attention to other things. And enough, they stopped asking questions about Taehyung.
The media didn’t help. Absolutely not. The news of the famous actor resigning from the entertainment industry surely blew out and was a topic almost about a month. Countless rumours started to surface, nearly affecting Seokjin and the kids. But fortunately, they are far away from the populated part of the city, their sudden change of place helped with them running away from the attention.
Jimin, without Taehyung as his competition from the spotlight, finally shone brightly with his career. He sky rocketed at the top, even his singing career which is a complete hit at the west.
It bothers Seokjin that the song that ranked the highest in the chart was the song that Taehyung work with him (except the fact that they only included Taehyung in the credits since he have magically disappeared from the media). It’s weird hearing the full version of it—with the lines that he helped to write—in the most random places. In the streets of market whilst he was buying something for their dinner or while he was just strolling down the park with his kids.
It’s like Taehyung is still here despite of him being physically absent.
Three days after receiving the e-mail, Seokjin and the twins were fully packed. Their papers were on the process as soon as they turned them in with the help of Namjoon. Passports were finally clear as well and Seokjin made sure to keep him and the twins’ with him all the time, carefully not making the same mistake of Namjoon losing his passport. Tickets are also finally in his hands and all they have to do is to fly to Greece.
Seokjin have this weird feeling that sat with him throughout the flight. Namjoon and Hoseok drove them to the airport, bid them goodbye as they check in their baggage. Jimin wasn’t there due to complications with his schedule, but the alpha promised to stop by during his tour. He’s pretty much done bidding farewell to everyone he knew back in South Korea (yes, Jaehwan as well who cried and confessed his feeling for him which Seokjin only replied with a smile and a pat in the head) yet he still has this constant worry that wouldn’t leave him alone.
He ignored it and focused on his kids instead. It’s their first time on a plane (Seokjin’s first time on an international flight, as well) and he’s dying to see the twin’s reaction to them flying. Sadly, they fell as sleep as soon as they reached their seats, only to wake up when the plane is already up in the clouds.
Knowing this, they almost immediately stole the window seat from Seokjin and stared outside the window, looking at sea of clouds, almost half the entire flight.
After a nineteen-hour of flight or so, they finally reached Athens.
Inside the airport, Seokjin felt like he might throw up his guts any minute right now. At least he’s got most of the things he needs to get together almost... together. He and the twins are in one piece, their passports and pocket money are still intact in one of Seokjin’s pockets. His phone right there as well, they’ve already claimed their baggage. Everything is done, almost, all he needs to do is to meet Taehyung.
But where?
His questions were answered as soon as he heard a voice calling his name. He turned around, freezing in his place as soon as he saw the alpha running towards him.
Nothing much changed about Taehyung, except for his bright, electric blue hair that stood out from the crowd. The colour contrasted immensely with his sun-kissed skin and went well his bright patterned top and dark fitted pants. He still looked like a celebrity even though he have already resigned from the profession.
Seokjin’s thought were cut off abruptly when Taehyung reached him, looking down as the alpha crouched to greet the kids. He flinched when Yoongi hid behind Seokjin’s legs, hiding away from the alpha whilst Yoonji sniffed around Taehyung curiously.
Taehyung and Seokjin’s eyes met, Seokjin filled with confusion whilst Taehyung filled with recognition. Recognition with their situation itself. He stood up whilst Seokjin crouched down to meet with the kids’ height.
He turned to Yoongi first who still refused to show himself to Taehyung, “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Yoongi didn’t speak. He attacked Seokjin with a hug and clung to him like a koala, burying his head on his neck to hide his face. He then turned to Yoonji this time and the latter was on her defence mode after having a short whiff of Taehyung’s scent.
The two were acting like a stranger around Taehyung. Their own father that they have already spent time and made bonds with for months.
“Seokjin,” he stood up and turned to Taehyung, “it’s okay. I was told that this will happen.”
Seokjin caught the disappointment in Taehyung’s tone, “What is happening? Why are they acting like this?”
Taehyung looked down, “Jimin told me they’ll act like this. They think I rejected them as my kids when I left for the second time. I didn’t think it’ll really happen.”
Seokjin looked at the three, worriedly, “Oh, what are we going to do?”
Taehyung smile, forcibly and Seokjin knew he wasn’t even trying to hide it. It hurt Taehyung, he can feel it. Being rejected by your own child is the worst that could happen to them both. “It’s fine, they’ll come around. I know they will. The important thing is that you’re all here. Thank you, Seokjin. For trusting me again.”
He pulled him to a tight hug, “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too Tae. The kids did, too. You left a big mess back in Korea when you left.”
Taehyung chuckled, “That is for my mother to fix. It’s what she wanted and I only gave it to her. Now, come. We have another flight to catch up.”
The flight from Athens to Santorini was obviously shorter; and for the kids to trust Taehyung again, Seokjin took the seat on the left aisle and left Taehyung sit with the kids on the other. First things first, to let the twins be accustomed to Taehyung’s scent again.
It felt like they were dealing with someone with amnesia for the second time, yet this time, Taehyung was on other edge.
Taehyung leaned in, across the middle aisle just to whisper to him once, “Is this how you felt when you realised I couldn’t remember you?”
He leaned back with a sigh when Seokjin answered with a nod.
An hour passed and Seokjin landed in an airport once again. This time, they’re with Taehyung.
The kids are still wary with the seemingly unfamiliar presence with them, but not that much that Yoonji started to finally be comfortable around Taehyung. She even let Taehyung near her and was even comfortable enough to let Taehyung pick her up. This way, Seokjin doesn’t have to struggle pulling the baggage with him whilst holding two kids.
A car waited for them outside the airport, chaperoning them to Taehyung’s place, which was absolutely breath-taking. Santorini itself was an amazing place but they place where Taehyung’s house stood was even more so. To keep with the place’s aesthetic, Taehyung’s house was made with stone painted in white. It sat on top of a hill that gave them a great view of the sea, additionally came with the picturesque view of the sunset.
“The house isn’t fully furnished yet,” Taehyung told him once they entered the half empty house, “I thought we could plan how the interior would go together. You know, do furniture shopping together. I think you would like it.”
“Oh Taehyung,” Seokjin sighed, throwing Taehyung a hug whilst trying not disturb the two kids sleeping in each of their hold. “I would love to! I would, really.”
Taehyung toured Seokjin around the house, showed him different parts of it and discussed a few things how they wanted the room to look like. Once they reached the second floor with the only bedroom that’s fully furnished, Seokjin gently tucked in Yoongi and Yoonji into the bed and let them sleep in peace.
The two went back down to the living room to talk.
“Taehyung,” Seokjin talked first, getting the alpha’s full attention, “Tell me, tell me everything please.”
The alpha sighed, “when I went to my mother to get Yoonji, she told me she’ll give her back if I’ll leave you and the kids alone and marry Jeongguk instead. I know that wouldn’t work no matter which angle I look at it. Both Jeongguk and I doesn’t want to continue pretending anymore. So I told her that I’ll leave you, after a month of watching over Yoonji, I’ll leave for my mother’s own sake. I did. But I never told her my own plan, I pulled all my connections from her. Cut off any contacts so she wouldn’t reach me. She doesn’t have that much power overseas, so I know that if I could hide as far as I can from Korea, she wouldn’t reach me. I spent the first months here working from scrap. I couldn’t do much since I left Korea without bringing anything with me. But I kept my contact with Jimin and when his song was released, I received a paycheck. I used the money to invest in some of the companies here which grew fast in over six months. I've saved enough to buy a house. And to buy you plane tickets to get here.”
Taehyung laughed at Seokjin’s frozen face and gaping mouth, “Now I own a few stocks, enough that I can just stay home, be unemployed for a long time but still earn large amount of money.”
“That’s...” Seokjin blinked rapidly, “That’s incredible.”
“Hate to admit it but I guess I learned a few things from my parents being the largest tycoons in South Korea.”
Seokjin could only smile. Really, he doesn’t have the right words or the right reaction to these kind of things. All he knows is that Taehyung is right here, right in front of him.
“And to finally fulfil my promise,” Taehyung spoke again. He pulled something out from his pocket and went down on his knees, “Seokjin-hyung, my peaches, will you be my husband for the second time?”
Seokjin obviously said yes.
It’s weird that he didn’t send the news back to Korea and let them have their own wedding in Greece first. He knew that if he did, the three back there would act on their own again. He might just wake up once day with people inside his room, ready to fix his hair, apply make up and force him into a white suit without him knowing.
They did had their wedding in a small greenhouse somewhere near their place, and their only guests were their own kids, the preacher and some of Taehyung ‘s associates. That’s it, a small wedding that Seokjin wanted that he finally had.
Yet when he finally showed the wedding ring to the three back in Korea—also some wedding pictures—they flipped out and sooner or later, he knew they will just randomly barge in inside their house and demand for a part two of the wedding so they can just be there to witness it.
Although Seokjin promised to have another one in Korea (a private one, of course), Jimin still booked a flight to see them in Greece. Namjoon and Hoseok could’ve booked a flight as well but they both knew they can’t, not with a newly born infant with them.
(Seoljin showed Taehyung some pictures of Namjoon's baby and he swore he saw the alpha teared up.)
Jimin, on the other hand, is free to go anywhere since he’s having a break before his tour starts.
“I can’t believe you married and I’m not the best man!” It came with a soft punch to Taehyung’s shoulder, to which the kids surprisingly reacted with a revenge to Jimin. Taehyung, finally satisfied that he got some reaction from the twins, asked Jimin to punch him again, harder this time.
“Didn’t know you developed a nasty kink after staying here in Greece,” Jimin eyed the other alpha with a disgusted look.
Seokjin came back from the kitchen with a pair of glasses of water, “Words, Jimin. How many times do I have to tell you to watch your words when you’re around the kids?”
Jimin smiled apologetically, “Sorry, old habits die hard.”
Seokjin could only roll his eyes.
“Still, this is unacceptable! You married and I’m not the best man? This treachery!”
“Stop being over dramatic.”
“I’m an actor, I’m required to be over dramatic,” Jimin scoffed, “Still, I won’t forgive you for this. I won’t even invite you to my own wedding.”
“Jeongguk doesn’t even talk to you, how can you have a wedding—Ouch!”
The kids screamed at Jimin for punching again, and this time, he went hard like what Taehyung told him to. Seokjin could only sigh, he won’t deny the fact that though Taehyung can obviously receive a bruise from that punch, the kids’ reaction were a big step.
A couple of weeks later, Jimin left and flew back to Korea. The house, which was a mess and a chaos whilst Jimin were staying, went silent after the alpha was gone. It wasn't quite right, Seokjim thought, but it did change the way the kids act around Taehyung. Now that Jimim isn’t here to play with them anymore, they opted to bully Taehyung.
They played and played for hours, every day, though the alpha looked like he’s about to pass out every time right now with how much activity he’s doing, Taehyung and Seokjin both knew this is to get the kids close to Taehyung again. They weren’t doings this for nothing, but for Taehyung to gain trust again.
And it was worth, it was hella worth it.
A week after Jimin left Greece and left Taehyung to deal with the twin’s eagerness to play, Seokjin and Taehyung finally got the response they were waiting ever since they landed on Greece.
Seokjin was tucking in Yoonji and Yoongi for bed, saying goodnight and planting a kiss on each of their foreheads. Until Yoongi spoke up.
“Dada, where’s Papa?”
Seokjin nearly teared up as the memories flew back to him. Several months earlier, he would’ve answered the kids just a reassurance that Taehyung will come back, which would lead to a disappointed scowl to the twin’s lips. But not now, not now that Seokjin can confidently say that Taehyung has finally come back.
“He’s here, baby. Papa is here. Do you want to go see Papa?”
“I wanna goodnight kiss!” Yoonji’s words were muffled by her pillows, “I miss Papa.”
“I want Papa,” Yoongi started to cry, he must be still thinking that Taehyung isn’t here to sooth him.
“Ok, baby, stop crying okay? I’ll get Papa.”
“Papa’s here?”
A sob escaped Seokjin’s lips, “Y-Yes, he’s here. I’ll go get him.”
Seokjin rushed out, run through the stairs to call the alpha from the kitchen and when he came back to the twin’s room, he has Taehyung with him.
“They’re looking for you,” with that, Taehyung rushed in inside.
“I’m here, baby,” Taehyung whispered, hands brushing and rubbing Yoonji’s hair and Yoongi’s back. “Papa is here. I won’t leave you again. I promise, I swear.”
Taehyung was crying now and seeing this, Seokjin couldn’t help but to break into tears.
“I’m sorry for leaving you, I won’t do it again. I’ll stay from now on, I’ll take care of and your father,” he gave the crying Seokjin a side glance, “I love you much, so so much.”
Taehyung leaned back to look at the twins, now peaceful in their deep sleep. They couldn’t have heard his last words but hopefully, they felt it as they slowly fell asleep. He stood up, wiping his tears before turning back to Seokjin who’s also struggling to recover himself.
“Is it finally over?” Seokjin asked, as soon as Taehyung reached him.
“Over what?”
“All this odds that are against us? Are we finally allowed to be happy?”
Laughing through his tears, Taehyung nodded, “Yes. Yes. We do. We are.”
Seokjin turned fully at Taehyung, “I love you.”
He leaned in and caught Seokjin’s lips whilst muttering, “I love you more.”
And they sealed it with a kiss.
—fin—