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Chapter Text

Goeun was coming home to her parents' house for lunch since she finished her work early that day. It was quite late for lunch, but her parents were more than willing to wait. It's their celebrity daughter we are talking about. Since she rarely got the chance to visit, a little waiting won't hurt, right?

She was the happiest when her dad said her niece and nephew were also there by chance. She was giddy and giggly during her whole 30 minutes drive to her parents' house. She missed them so bad, and when she finally rang the bell, the kids' screams saying gomo is here! Grandma, the door please? made her heart swell. The door opened, and the kids ran out hugging her knees. At that time she was glad she took a bath and got changed into a fresh set of clothes before coming, and even disinfected herself before ringing the bell. 

"Hi, lovelies, do you miss gomo?" she stroked their small heads while stepping into her parents' house with them. They babbled about how much they miss her, and how Ire was being picky with his meal that afternoon -- ending up with both kids arguing about being a picky eater. "Ire, Roi, go play in the living room first, let gomo eat with grandma and grandpa first, ok? We are very hungry," She kissed Roi's head before heading to the dining room.

"How was the shoot?" her dad asked, taking his place at one side of the rectangular table. "Fun, of course," she smiled, her mouth-watering seeing the dishes her mom had prepared. "They shot using a smartphone. It may doesn't sound grand but seeing it for real is kinda fascinating," her chopsticks took a bite of kimchi, letting out a small mumble on how much she missed her mother's homemade dishes. "You're the one who said no when we want to deliver some kimchi over, Miss Goeun," her mother replied while adding some more kimchi to the plates. "Don't trouble yourself omma, I rarely had the chance to eat at home anyways. I'll come home when I have the chance to," she chuckled. 

Goeun sat beside her brother and her sister-in-law, while her parents sat across her. The usual conversation happened at their dining table -- how's work, how her mother is currently into the Friday-Saturday drama that premiered two days ago, how Ire is being strangely picky about his food lately. The atmosphere was light until her father's question made her choke on her drink.

"Gon, did you see my post earlier today?" her father asked. Goeun briefly nodded. She managed to steal some time for Instagram at the set while on break. Her father posted a picture of her brother carrying his daughter, Roi, at the beach. It was a recent photo, and the view was mesmerizing. "Oppa's picture, right? It was beautiful, too bad I wasn't there too," she replied, still casually munching on her bibimbap. 

"Right, and a fan of yours left a comment," her father remarked, the corner of his lips went up, creating a mischievous smile.

"Really? It wasn't even my picture. What did it say?"

"She asked whether we can see you with a baby too next year." 

She choked on her drink. 

"Appa!"

The whole dining room burst out laughing. 

Goeun was dumbfounded. That comment was beyond unexpected. "Me? A baby? But how? I don't even have a boyfriend!" She squealed in disbelief, earning a hearty laugh from everyone. "A baby next year means I need to get pregnant like, freaking now?" she cracked up, now finding it hilarious. "People might like your interaction with Ire and Roi, Gon," her brother replied. Her parents nodded in agreement. 

"How do you even reply to it, appa?" she asked between giggles, still laughing from the unexpected topic. That was so random, but why babies? She really couldn't contain the tickling sensation in her stomach. 

"Don't worry, I gave a sincere and honest reply," her father winked. "I said it is still too early," he continued. "But Gon, I think that fan might be somehow right," her mother implied, giving her a playful nod. "Also Ire and Roi need a playmate before they grow too big," her sister-in-law decided to add fuel to the fire. "But omma, I'm your forever baby, right? How can I have a baby?" She made an adorable whine, blushing beet red for some unknown reason. The table continued to have a delightful conversation -- and of course, teasing the youngest of the family about her boyfriend candidates.

Lunch ended in bliss. Goeun sat in the living room with her parents, chatting and cuddling in her mother's arms. "Do you want to stay the night, Gon?" her mother asked. She shook her head. "I can't, omma. I have work early tomorrow. They want to shoot a sunrise scene somewhere, I need to leave by dawn," she said. 

Their light conversation got interrupted by her little nephew coming out from the bedroom, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "What's wrong, Ire? Did you have a bad dream?" his sister-in-law stood up from the couch, walked over to his son. He made a small sobbing sound. 

"I saw gomo leaving in my dream, and I can't reach gomo, she left, all white," the little boy somehow managed to explain his dream between his small sobs. His mother hugged him, trying to console him that his gomo isn't going anywhere, it was just a bad dream. Goeun observed them, amused at the lengthy explanation the little boy managed to give. She approached him, kneeling in front of him. "I am not going anywhere, Ire," she gave his head a small tap. "Go back to sleep, hm?" Ire shook his head in refusal. "If I sleep the white light will take gomo away," he retorted. Goeun tried her best to hold her giggles. Kids are just too innocent, too sincere, and they are unbearably adorable. "Gomo will sleep with you then," Goeun took his small hand in his. She whispered I'll be back to her parents, leading the little boy back to the bedroom.

She was already out of everyone's sight in the living room when her sister-in-law let out a sigh.

"She's too good with them, Ire and Roi are head over heels for her. I might start to doubt myself at this point," she joked, cracking up her husband and in-laws. 

"I agree, though," Goeun's brother stated. "She's so ready for her own." 

At first, Goeun intended to only watch her nephew until he fell asleep, but the little boy refused to let go of her arms. He fell asleep in his favorite aunt's embrace (it's not like he had another, though), her hands patting his back in a soothing rhythm -- and she eventually fell asleep, too.

It was already six in the evening when her brother woke her up. The kids need to go home.  "You won't be having dinner with us?" she asked sleepily. "We promised the kids a family dinner at home tonight," her brother stroked her head lightly. "Will you help carry Ire to the car?" Goeun nodded, half-awake, brought the sleeping boy into her arms while her brother got the little girl. 

Ire stretched, giving her aunt a sleepy look when she put him on the car seat. "Are you leaving, gomo?" he asked, circling his arms tighter around his aunt's neck. "Ire-ya, you need to go home now. Chicken, remember?" Goeun whispered to the little boy's ear. "Chicken!" he brightened up almost immediately, throwing gazes at his father. "We'll have chicken at home. Say goodbye to gomo," his father said, and he showered Goeun with kisses. 

"See you soon, gomo!" 

Goeun came back to the house with a giddy smile plastered on her face, inciting a questioning gaze from her parents. "Did something happen downstairs?" her father asked. "No, no, nothing happened," she flopped down into the couch, the beautiful curve wasn't leaving her lips. "It's just I've got a fun idea... Remember that fan appa said asking about a baby?" Her father nodded. "Should I just post a picture with Ire? I won't be having mine shortly anyways," she scrolled through her gallery, looking for a picture to post. She had a lot of pictures with her nephew and niece, and it's pretty hard to choose just one to post. They're too adorable in every picture, and she was proud of being their aunt. She wasn't wearing any makeup in most of the pictures, but she could care less. 

Her father sighed in amusement. "I expected something more interesting. You're so boring," her father teased, earning a whine from her. "Appa! I guess you've never been a fan before, huh? A true fan will appreciate the gesture, you know?" Goeun beamed before hitting post. 

Here's to Kim Goeun being asked about her baby plans, but flexing her nephew instead! 

**

Minho had his own ways towards things, and getting himself access to her was one of the most extraordinary ones. Yes, he couldn't follow her on Instagram -- the internet would go insane if he did, and that won't do any good to her, too. But I want to see her posts! Don't you know she's such a serotonin boost? Can't I just start following everybody on Instagram? He once whined to his sister, but she stood firm on her no, Minho dear, you can't. But his stylist followed her after their drama ended, since all of the staff, crews, and even cast were friendly with each other. And yes, Minho being Minho, he was "getting help" from her -- the way he liked to address it, but his stylist preferred to say Minho is using me -- receiving notification manually from his stylist every time this specific former leading lady of his posted something on Instagram.

You should pay me extra for this! His stylist had protested the day he asked for her help. This lady became more active on Instagram since the drama ended, and that means this poor stylist's additional work of giving the manual Instagram notification had become more frequent. He replied with a whine. I didn't mean you need to stay on Instagram 24/7. You're exaggerating! You're making me look like a weird stalker, you know? He protested. I just asked for a favor, if you saw her on your timeline can you please tell me? That's not a sin, noona, her account isn't even private, there's nothing wrong with that, right? His stylist laughed, amused at him acting like a teenager. 

You better be quick, go for her before somebody else snatches her away, ok? I won't do this for you forever, alright? She added, but he suddenly got quiet. His eyes wandered, exuding doubt. Does that make me look like a weird stalker? It's not wrong wanting to see her posts, right? He went doubtful of his own act. Is it too much? His stylist chuckled. Well, I wanted to say yes, Lee Minho, you really look like a weird stalker, but then I realized you are just smitten, his stylist's expression softened. She lightly patted his shoulder. You're right, her account is public, everybody can see. Including you, she gave him a wink before continuing on her duty.

And that night, Minho was lying if he said her post didn't make his mind go wonders. When he received a text from his stylist saying boy, your crush posted and I bet you'll go crazy about it, she's so cute!, it was already too late. 

He saw her post already. 

He was laying down on his bed, having a hard time falling asleep, and decided to look up her username on his search bar -- and he ended up knowing he won't be able to sleep tonight. 

You're late, noona, I saw it already. 

What? You impatient kid! 

And noona is right, I must be crazy by now. 

Minho threw his phone across the bed and face-dived into his pillow, groaning. He never knew she could affect him this much. They weren't even in a relationship -- yet, but his whole heart and body already behaved like this. "Lee Minho, you're screwed," he mumbled to himself. 

Establishing a new habit of scrolling on her Instagram page made Minho learn a few things. 

First, she loved the sunset. The sky. There were so many pictures of her showing off the sky behind her, and even the sky itself. Even when they were still filming, whenever she had the chance, she always took her time alone to admire the sunset. Amidst the bustling chaos at the set, she was never bothered by it. She would stare and smile to herself as if seeing the scenery provided her rest.

Two, she IS a smiley, happy baby. Her adorable cheeks were all over her posts, accompanied by her moon-like eyes and gummy smiles, pushing her cheeks up making it look chubbier (and cuter, he admitted). She had this weird ability to make people smile and laugh with her -- and he experienced it himself while they were filming. Her laugh was cheerful and contagious, there was no doubt the whole crew had secretly thanked her for being such a vitamin on set. He felt his fatigue evaporate just by seeing her joked with their staff, chatting with the PD, or even just by hearing her squeals when she played mobile games during their breaks. And by scrolling her account, now he realized how powerful she is -- even through old pictures, she managed to emit joy just by being herself.

Three, she was a very family person. She loved her grandmother, and was very affected by her death -- she once told him when they had a break during a midnight shoot. Everybody was tired at that time, and so was she. They just shot a melancholic scene, her eyes were still watery when they sat together for the 15 minutes break. And she just blurted it out. How she missed her occasionally, especially on midnights like this. He watched her silently collecting herself that night and quickly came back to the cheery Goeun in 15 minutes, muttering sorry sunbae, did I make you sad? He found that amusing and he only chuckled with her. 

She adored her brother's kids, treating them like her own. There were pictures of the little boy and girl in front of the TV watching her dramas, adorable videos of her babying them, and even a photo where the toddler slept on her arms as if she was his own mother. They are love, she had always said during her interviews -- yes, he watched her interviews, and at the same time, watched himself falling for her more. 

He loved all the newly-found facts about her, but his favorite is definitely the third one. Her loving her family -- especially her brother's kids -- was such a beautiful fact -- and he can't help but wonder how loving she will be when she finally has her own. Seeing her new post made the butterflies in his stomach make a comeback. It was so domestic, so humble. No makeup, messy hair, in home clothes. The internet might say Kim Goeun is plain -- he once read an article about it, and it made him sad (and upset as hell) because people couldn't appreciate her originality and decided to hate on her instead -- but that's what he loved the most about her. She didn't try to flex her good looks or post something fancy to make her look more like an actress. She was real. She was humane, and what she posted was the thing she loved. Her family. Her projects and crafts. Her friends, her fans. The activities she enjoyed. Being an actress didn't mean she needed to appear unreachable to everyone. She felt close, and warm. 

She looked absolutely stunning, in that pink sweater and training pants. The smile that didn't leave her lips when she looked down on his nephew. The messy bun atop her head. The loving eyes. He loved every tiny bit about that picture. About her. 

Don't text, don't text, don't text, Minho murmured to himself. 

**

Goeun-a, how old is your nephew? 

Goeun chuckled at the text she received from a specific sunbae, in the middle of the night. She had trouble sleeping due to the long nap she had earlier, and she fiddled with her phone. Scrolling through Instagram, reading some comments, liking some posts, when this awkward-but-adorable text came in. She really needed to say sorry to her stylist, dark circles were going to show up later on -- this text coming might lead her into not sleeping at all. 

Sunbae, do you know you are so bad at making up conversations? 

She sent a witty reply, and that made her sunbae left her on read for almost ten minutes. She couldn't hold back her grin imagining him thinking hard (and probably softly half-cursing under his breath -- he never cursed) about a mere text message. 

I know, can you just pretend you don't know about it? Answering my question won't hurt, he finally replied, along with a pair of ㅠㅠ at the end. 

Alright then, mister, his name is Kim Ire, he is five. But the picture I posted was a throwback picture, it was last year. He is already much taller right now. Kids really grow up fast.

She already hit send when a realization came to her. Shit, he never mentioned my post, she cursed on herself. He might think I expected him to see!

Goeun was still regretting her choice when her phone dinged. 

Can I call? 

She held her breath when she typed ok, but why?

It didn't take more than ten seconds since her sunbae read the text, and her phone rang. 

Lee Minho sunbaenim is calling...

Goeun cleared her throat, trying to calm herself and sound less anticipating when she finally swiped her screen to answer her (now favorite) sunbae's call. They were sending each other messages -- after their drama ended -- and even random phone calls when either of them had a bad day. Talking to you made me feel better, Minho admitted to her in one of their midnight calls. She didn't know what to say at that time, she only chuckled and replied good then. But she couldn't deny the giddiness in her every time this specific sunbae made up some excuse to call (she had always wanted a concrete reason for each call made). And several calls later, she found the courage to admit, I had a bad day, talking to sunbae made me feel better. 

Minho was friendly and caring, he listened to her and asked her questions that were nothing like small talks. He really wanted to know and paid attention to her every word. They grew closer than ever, their conversations clicked, even with his awkward-but-adorable way to start a conversation, the outcome was actually good. To maintain a good relationship, she said to herself. Having a good friend in the same industry is great. But their texts and calls screamed louder than what her heart had acknowledged. He called when he couldn't fall asleep, and she complied, even when she was sleepy as hell and ended up falling asleep on the phone instead. You snored, he teased her, making her complain. Why didn't you wake me up? Why didn't you hang up, then? He chuckled and teased further, your snores helped with my insomnia, it made me feel sleepy too. 

Sunbae is a good friend. Maintaining a good relationship is not a sin.

"Hello? Sunbae?"

"Goeun-a? You sound sleepy." 

"I am, sunbae, you're disturbing my beauty sleep." She chuckled. She enjoyed teasing him.

"Should I hang up? You have a shoot this dawn, right?" He sounded troubled, torn between not wanting to disturb her and wanting to hear her voice. She let out a quick no no it's okay, truthfully explaining she had trouble falling asleep because she had a long afternoon nap with her beloved babies. She was actually wide awake, she only faked a sleepy voice to tease him. 

"I slept like a baby this afternoon. I won't even wake up for dinner if oppa didn't come for me," she chuckled. "Sleeping with babies turned me into a baby myself," she giggled. That afternoon's nap was one of the best she ever had in the last few weeks. The sensation of her niece clinging to her arms while sleeping felt really good.

You ARE a baby, he replied, inside of his head. Decided that saying these kinds of comments right now won't do any good to their friendly-relationship. Instead, he asked, "tell me more about your babies? The only baby existing around me is Choco and she is more like a princess than a baby. There are no kids as well as my closest relatives. I can't sleep, hearing your stories might help," he tried to reason with her before she could even ask. 

He heard her chuckle on the other end. "You don't have to make excuses, sunbae," she said. "I actually planned on forcing you to hear me out because I'm not sleepy, and you called by chance," she joked, and he snickered. "I really can't sleep, I'm not making that up! Don't you think I sound energetic?" he replied. "No, you don't sound an inch near energetic, sunbae. Don't even try to fool me," though she knew he was indeed not sleepy -- as she knew how his sleepy voice sounded like -- she let herself continue teasing him. It was fun, the 34 years old sunbae turned into a kid at her teasing and jokes. And on the other side, it bothered her that he actually sounded somehow delightful --  she refused to believe what her guts told her, he enjoyed talking to you. 

"Why do you want to hear stories about them anyways, sunbae? You know kids can be a nuisance sometimes," Goeun put her phone into speaker mode, set her alarm, then placed it on the bedside table. The gesture she did every time she sensed that the conversation was going to last long -- either with one of them falling asleep without hanging up or the call ended when she already felt too sleepy. 

"That's why. They looked adorable, I played with kids on set, they were cute and all polite but I haven't had any experience babysitting in any way so I am curious," Minho's voice filled her room. It must feel better if I can see his face instead of his voice only, Goeun subconsciously thought -- but quickly scolded herself when she realized she had let her mind wander too far. While silently groaning on her own thought, she made herself comfortable under the covers before replying to her sunbae. "Kids are unexpected indeed, they can be so adorable but they can be annoying too. Sometimes they are all ears, so obedient, but there are times when they seem to be deaf." Goeun stared at the glass window half-covered with beige curtains, the view of busy Seoul night visible to her eyes as Minho's laugh echoed, bringing warmth to her whole being. 

"And how do you deal with that? Did they pick up fights with each other or be grumpy about their food?" 

"It varies, though, sunbae. There is no exact, constant way to handle them, at least for my brother's kids. Ire is a playful human being but his little sister is yet able to appreciate that," Goeun sighed, suddenly missing her babies she left earlier this evening. "The key is patience and love. Much love and gentleness. In all circumstances, they seem to understand I love them. Oh, and be strict if they make mistakes. They must learn, and you don't want them to grow up spoiled."

"Did you just sigh? Why, miss them?" Minho's tone turned playful. 

"Did you just read my mind?" Goeun gasped. 

"I did," he chuckled. Of course, he didn't, but her tone turned softer when she talked about them. He felt adoration and affection dripping from her voice. It was clear as day that she loved her niece and nephew, and wanted them to grow into decent, beautiful human beings. 

She was beyond beautiful. So mesmerizing, just by being herself. The one woman that was full of love. 

She was so, so, lovely. 

Their phone call went for only an hour, unlike their usual conversations. She told him stories about the babies, about her current filming atmosphere, the new friends she gained from the site. She asked him back -- she was never the one to keep talking about herself -- about his upcoming project, the book he had been reading, the newest charity project ideas, until finally, she couldn't stop yawning and her speech started to sound weird. 

"Goeun-a, you just talked to your pillow, not to me," he called on her, his voice was half-soft and half-amused. He couldn't hear more than half of her sentence, it sounded like she drowned her face on the pillow and mumbled there. Tonight's talk was pretty quick to end, usually, their calls lasted for more than two hours until one of them started spitting nonsense. 

"Oh rwwlly?" 

"You did that again, baby." 

"I didn't, I talked louwd and cleawwrr?"

Minho groaned. He just lost his sanity on her. If Goeun knew he called her a baby... He didn't want to imagine what would happen. 

Whatever then, she won't remember anyway. After almost a year of knowing Goeun (and months trying to be her best "oppa" friend), he found out this specific habit of hers. Whenever she's very sleepy, she would temporarily lose her head, like she had no storage left on her memory at that moment. She would respond to questions (with her eyes half open and her speech barely recognizable), weirdly her logic still works somehow, but she would never remember that particular conversation the next morning. 

That's exactly how he would behave early mornings when somebody woke him up and tried talking to him. But he was worse -- he was basically incoherent and his sentences didn't make sense. 

"I guess it's bedtime, then. What time do you need to get up?"

"Thrwe," she mumbled. Minho glanced at the clock hanging on his bedroom wall. A little past one. 

"Okay then, baby. Go on, sleep. I'll call to make sure you wake up on time." 

"Uh-huh. You need to slewp too, sunbae."

"I know," he smiled, though he knew she couldn't see him.

"By the way, Goeun-a?"

"Uh-hum?"

"I've been thinking about this, and I feel I need to tell you this," Minho looked up at the ceiling, strong waves of feelings taking over his mind and body. 

This, was the only thing occupying his mind through the night -- since he saw her post, through their call, and hear stories about her babies, and everything else.

This, might sound so random, and might even be weird. 

But I need to tell her this. I want her to know, even though tomorrow morning there's a big fat chance she won't remember. 

But I'll tell her today, and I'll tell her someday again, when we are both fully awake. 

"Do you know, what's my favorite part of our conversation tonight?"

Goeun didn't answer. 

"The part you told me about your babies. When you told me you want them to learn from their mistakes. When you told me you missed them, and how much you love them."

"Do you know? Motherhood will look so beautiful on you, Kim Goeun."

"Someday, you are going to be an amazing mother."

And I really hope I will have the honor to witness that. 

Minho kept that last sentence to himself, along with the soft, steady breath he could hear from the other end of the phone.

**

Chapter Text

"No, no, dear, that's not for you to eat!" 

Minho was just about to make his presence known by shouting his usual "love, I'm home! Where are you?" but decided to stay silent when he heard a soft scolding coming from the living room. He quietly took off his shoes and slipped into his dark blue house slippers before peeking into the living room from the foyer. 

His apartment's foyer lead directly into the living room, a short corridor with high shelves up to the ceiling on the left, containing his and his wife's shoe collection. On the right side was a hollow cupboard, several photo frames, synthetic plants and small mementos from various countries ornamented the rack. The cupboard's arrangement ended the short corridor's track, leaving the living room in sight. He peeked, and what he saw melted his heart right away. He decided to stay silent for a few minutes, savoring the view with so much adoration dripping from his gaze. 

The baby seater's panda ears definitely stirred the little baby girl's curiosity -- or maybe she was just being a baby. She tried to chomp off the panda ears off her seater, and her mother was desperately trying to talk her that the ears weren't food and she should not chomp on them. 

"Eomma will go to the kitchen and get you some bananas so stop chomping on the panda, okay baby? That's not food and the panda will feel hurt. Promise eomma," his wife slowly stood up from her crouching position, making sure her baby is listening to her. She quickly ran to the kitchen to get the banana puree she prepped earlier.

She was still in the kitchen when her baby whined -- no longer chomping on her seater -- demanding her presence. "Eomma will be back soon with your banana, baby, it's your favorite, right?" Her voice echoed through the living room. The little baby girl seemed to recognize her voice and decided to be patient while again, started chomping on the panda ears, her face slightly red from the previous whining. 

"I think we made a wrong decision with the seater," Minho finally made his presence known, standing beside the cupboard by the foyer when his wife emerged from the kitchen with a small pink bowl on her hand and a spoon on the other. 

"Oh, oppa you're home! Why didn't you, oh no baby that's not food! Banana is here, banana is food, okay?"

Minho chuckled when Goeun didn't even give him a second glance when she saw their little girl chewing on the panda ear like it was the best food she ever had. She sat back in front of the seater, put away the banana bowl, and separated her tiny mouth from the panda ear. She tried to feed her some bananas instead, but the little girl decided that banana is less delicious than the ears. She was already on the verge of tears when Minho finally walked closer to them. 

"Baby, listen to eomma, hmm?" Minho said, making the little girl turn her head to him, making her beam at her father's presence. She babbled at him, her chubby arms grabbing air here and there. 

"God, appa's baby, you missed me?" Minho was about to crouch down and pull her from the seater when Goeun's arms blocked him on the stomach.

"Lee Minho, sir, you're dirty, go take a shower then you can cuddle her," she softly pushed her husband's chest. Minho whined, and their little girl's tears were back as she saw her father canceled his gesture to her. 

"Appa will take a shower first, okay baby? Appa is dirty, you don't want to get dirty too, right, dear? Appa will come here as fast as he can then we can cuddle." Goeun picked her teary, whiny baby from her seater and cuddled her to her neck, her tears still falling down her cheeks and her hands still wandered to her father's direction. 

"And you oppa, don't be such a baby and go shower!" 

Minho laughed at his wife and daughter's antics and went to shower as fast as he could. He had missed them. 

**

Minho walked back to the living room with one hand drying his hair with a towel. He could still hear his wife's gentle voice coaxing their baby daughter, along with little sniffles and occasional babbling. The seven months old baby had been whiny for the last few days -- Goeun told him through her texts and calls, he's been away for a week for filming -- but she could still handle her, she told him not to worry and focus on his filming instead. And now as he saw it using his own eyes, he could see her daughter was indeed being whinier than usual. Her cries usually didn't last long, she was easily comforted by snacks and cuddles.

The banana bowl was now neglected along with the panda seater, while his wife cuddled their daughter, standing at the edge of the living room, facing the glass wall showing the Seoul afternoon view. He could hear her mumbling small loving words to their baby, saying appa will come soon so she shouldn't be sad. 

"Appa is here, baby, why do you sound so sad?" Minho approached them, his arms extended, making their daughter wiggled in her mother's arms. He took her into his embrace, making her sniffles lessened as she leaned on his shoulder. "Are you hurt somewhere? Why did you make eomma confused this whole week?" Minho gave her a small pat-pat on the back, his body swayed the way she always liked it. 

"I guess she missed you," Goeun sighed. "Appa's princess. She whined a little harder every time we finished our calls. It's her first time being away from you for so long, anyways," Goeun made her way to Minho's back, observing her baby's face. The little girl's tears stopped almost immediately as she saw her father at the foyer, resumed as he went to shower, and now she calmed down again as soon as she reached her father's arms. "She must be tired from all the crying," Goeun wiped the tears off her small cheeks and went to her tip-toes, giving a small kiss on her head. "Let's just put her to sleep, oppa," Goeun suggested. Minho nodded. "Our room, shall we? I missed her too."

**

Minho and Goeun lay on their bed with their little girl in the middle, sound asleep. It's been a month since they moved her to her own room -- and used a digital baby monitor instead -- but Minho decided he was missing his princess a little more today and wanted to sleep near her. Minho propped his body using one elbow, observing his daughter's little face -- her nose scrunched a little, the way her mother would usually do after she cried. Then he turned his gaze towards his wife. Obvious exhaustion was visible on her beautiful face, but her gaze was dripping with love. With her eyes locked on their daughter, her thumb wiped away the remaining teardrops on her small face. It must be hard for her, he thought. He really didn't want to be away from his family, especially now as their daughter is still so young and needed their full attention, but Goeun had always told him this. 

"Having a family doesn't mean you should give up on your passion and dreams. Being married means supporting each other, filling in each other's void. It doesn't matter if we need to take turns taking care of her. Being away once or twice a year won't matter, Oppa. You won't miss any of her development, and she won't forget you that easily, too. She's your princess, she will miss you, and definitely learn that butterflies come to her when she sees you on the foyer, coming home for her. It's a good dynamic, too, for her to learn emotions. Go on, do your work, and come home to us after that."

"Good job, Gon eomma," Minho extended his arm to cradle his wife's head. His thumb caressed her soft cheeks, trying to give her the comfort she lacked this whole week. "Thank you, and I miss you," Goeun snuggled her face closer to his hand. Minho got up and walked to her side of the bed. He hadn’t hugged her since he came home earlier. She sat by the headboard -- her eyes following her husband in confusion -- but gave away when he sat close and opened his arms wide to her. Goeun gave in to the warmth of Minho's embrace, her heart finally at ease for the first time that week. 

"Every time she cried, I kept asking myself, what did I do wrong? I felt like a bad mother, not being able to understand her. Was she hurt anywhere? Did I get off guard and she stumbled off the bed? Or did I feed her too little or too much? Did she hate her snacks?" Goeun mumbled on her husband's neck, her voice trembled. Minho could feel the knot in his chest tightening. 

"Gon," he pulled away, his hands found their way to her face. "Love, look at me, and calm down, okay?" 

She was never a bad mother in his eyes. The word 'best' wasn't even enough to describe her. How could she be a bad mother when she even took a hiatus from her career so that she could focus on being a mother? How could she be a bad mother when she hopped off the bed at the wee hours of the night when she heard her crying and cradled her back to sleep, whispering soft loving words to her ears? How could she be a bad mother when she talked with her like she could understand her, like the little baby girl is her best friend? 

Minho held his wife's face close, softly staring at her already glassy eyes. "A bad day doesn't make a bad life, her being fussy doesn't make you a bad mother," he planted a kiss on her forehead. He cradled her face, waited until her breath calmed, before finally telling her the thing he had always wanted to tell her even after years. It might be the right time to tell her. 

"Gon, do you remember the one night I called you, way before we started dating?"

"Oppa, you called me at night countless times even before we started dating," Goeun chuckled, her mind wandered back to their early thirties when Minho started pursuing her and she was still in denial. Minho's heart warmed at the memory. He was such an awkward boy, making up excuses in front of her face just for a phone call. 

"I was so lame."

Goeun laughed out loud, but immediately regretted it when she remembered they had a sleeping baby in the room. She took a quick glance towards her daughter -- she was still deep asleep, not bothered even an inch by her parents' demeanor. Eomma and appa need some time alone, I will just stay asleep to help, might be her thinking in her sleep. 

"You were, but lucky you, I was crushing hard that I found you adorable instead of lame," Goeun poked her husband's dimples with her index finger. 

"Oh come on, which call? Be specific," she continued poking on Minho's cheeks, his dimples got deeper as his smile widened. 

"The one when you went to your parents' place for lunch, met your niece and nephew, had a long nap and you couldn't sleep later at night. You had a morning shoot and needed to be up at three, we talked about your niece and nephew until you fell asleep. You even snored." 

"That's extremely detailed."

"I was a smitten man, and I still am."

"Oh, that," Goeun blushed at Minho's remark. Years together and he was still the best flirt she knew. "What's about that call? I don't remember anything besides giving you a crash course on how to babysit kids and a quick introduction of my brother's kids, and then fell asleep."

She really doesn't remember anything. Minho held back his smile, his mind wandered back to that night where he had a very hard time sleeping just because this woman appeared every time he closed his eyes. This woman who was finally his.

"Will you stop smiling like a creep and talk?"

Minho's laughter echoed in the room, earning a whack in the arm from his wife. "Oppa shoo! It'll be hard for her to sleep again if she wakes up!" Goeun glared at him only to make him laugh even more. 

She tried to whack him once more, but he caught her arms, his touch lingered and slowly went down to her fingers. The playful mood caused by the teasing turned sentimental right away. With eyes locked to each other, he played with her fingers -- the way they always do -- trying to compose the right words, the right way to tell her. Goeun knew Minho was currently trying to collect himself, so she waited. 

"'Do you know, what's my favorite part of our conversation tonight?'" Minho recited what he said that night. Still loud and clear in his memories, what he had said that night, that she didn't even remember the next morning and until today.

"Huh?"

Goeun was puzzled. She frowned, her eyes studying her husband's expression. What does he mean by that? 

"Seeing your face, you must not remember." Minho chuckled, tapping his wife's head gently. Goeun only made a small nod, still frowning. She looked so adorable that he couldn't resist the urge to bump his nose on hers. 

"The only thing I remember is I was saying I need to be up at three and that's it."

"This was right after it."

Minho smiled at the sight of her mumbling to herself about how she should change her habit because she looked drunk rather than half-asleep. 

"'The part you told me about your babies. When you told me you want them to learn from their mistakes. When you told me you missed them, and how much you love them.' That was my favorite part of our conversation that night. Told you, but you didn't respond anymore. Fast asleep," Minho continued. Goeun still gave him the I just heard this today look, but he only smiled. 

"That night, I made a promise to myself that I will tell you once again, when we are both sober and fully awake, about what I felt that night." 

"'Do you know? Motherhood will look so beautiful on you, Kim Goeun.'"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"And do you know what? It is. It looks so beautiful on you, Kim Goeun. I was right." 

A drop of tear escaped her right eye, and his quick hands wiped it away before it could reach her cheeks. 

"Beautiful was the only word that came to my mind seeing the picture you uploaded that day. Talking about kids the whole night with you ignited wild, wandering thoughts on my mind. The thoughts I know I shouldn't be having at that time."

Goeun stayed silent, her lips slightly parted and her eyes were glistening. She never knew a simple late-night conversation with him -- who was still her sunbae, and nothing more -- could affect him this much. 

"I made a wish that night. A wish, that someday I'll witness that. I'll witness the way you love your children, the way you kissed them good night, the way you hug their sadness away. I made a very inappropriate wish that night, knowing I was a nobody to you at that time."

Minho let out a chuckle seeing more and more tears streaming down his wife's cheeks, but with a wide, incredulous grin. He grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, quickly tapping her cheeks dry. 

"And you granted my wish," Minho pulled her into a hug. "So don't you dare feel you are a bad mother again, because you never were, and will never be. You are an awesome mother, I have the best eyes," he tried to joke while she sobbed into his shoulder, her hands clenching his pajama shirt tightly. Minho hugged her tighter, rubbing her back until her sobs calmed down. 

"I love you, Kim Goeun," he whispered to her ears. 

Goeun didn't reply. She pulled away, locking her gaze to his. And give him a quick kiss on the nose. And buried herself back into his embrace, finding comfort in his neck. Goeun was never the one to talk much about her feelings. She acted on it. She asked for hugs, for embraces, for kisses, for handhelds -- and Minho lowkey loved all of that. 

They stayed in each other's embrace for a while until Goeun's head perked up in realization. Minho was just about to ask her what's wrong when she spit out her suspicion.

"Oppa, why do you think she's been so cranky these days? She even had a mild fever while you were away. I texted her doctor and gave her a fever reducer, but she was still so cranky and fussy and started chewing on basically everything. Her favorite is the panda ears." 

"Oppa, do you think our pumpkin is teething?" 

**