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“Do you believe the fucking realtor told us we had to move in today or we’d lose the apartment? On fucking Christmas Eve?” Taehyung complains over the phone as he makes his way up the stairs to open the door.
“And she didn’t even explain why. That’s the worst part of it! We had to rush everything and even ask Jeongguk and Jimin to watch over Peggie,” Taehyung says, fumbling over the keys to finally open the door but failing miserably.
His keychain holds at least five different types of keys he has no idea where came from and a lot of pendants. There was a plushie of a tiger Jimin had gifted him years ago; a plastic pokemon he had found on the street and taken home finding it too cute to be lost; a metal knife that Yoongi had given him for protection; a small camera Jeongguk had given him as a gift on Secret Santa and even a small frame that held a picture he and Namjoon had taken on the first years of their relationship on one side and a picture of their dog, Peggie, on the other.
There was no way he was taking anything out of it, but as he tried to find out which key opened the door, the numerous knick-knacks seemed to not be helpful at all.
“Babe, is everything okay?” Namjoon calls from behind him. Bending his head from behind the two cardboard boxes he was balancing on his arms. Glasses heavy on his nose and fingers growing white from the strength, one might say he looked a little distressed.
“Sorry,” Taehyung mumbles from under his breath. “I’m gonna have to call you back later, Hobi. Love you, see you Monday.”
Deeply focused on the task, it doesn’t take Taehyung more than five tries to open the door and turn on all the lights. Before he can even get his shoes off, Namjoon is already storming past him to put the boxes away in the living room.
“Sorry, baby. I couldn’t feel my fingers,” Namjoon jokes, lifting one of now normal-colored fingers to push his glasses back to where they belong on his face and to dab a little bit of sweat that gathers on his forehead.
Taehyung can’t help but smile. “It’s okay, love. I should have been quicker on the door."
“Don’t worry, it was fine. Was Hobi at the airport?” Namjoon asks as he makes his way to the door to finally take his shoes and coat off.
Taehyung is already walking around their new apartment. It had been a dream come true. With floor-to-ceiling windows covering the left wing of the living room, a lot of wall space they could hang their collection, an open-plan kitchen, and even one of those fancy and modern fireplaces. It would look perfect once it was all done.
As of now, it only held a couch and a lot of boxes.
“Yes, he was waiting for his luggage and wanted to chat but we’ll see him in two days,” Taehyung comments as he walks by their new apartment.
After taking a brand new look around the place, Namjoon looks back at Taehyung. “I can’t believe we were able to rent this. It’s insane,” he admits.
Taehyung huffs an annoyed breath as he makes his way towards Namjoon, quickly intertwining their hands and closing the space between them. “If it wasn’t for the call we got at ass crack in the morning saying we had to move in today otherwise we’d lose it, it would definitely be a dream,” he complains.
“It was at ten, baby,” Namjoon laughs softly. “But we got here so it’s fine, isn’t it?”
Taehyung is pouting as he responds, his voice sounding as whiny as the attitude he puts in. “Half of our stuff isn’t here and our baby isn’t as well. I don’t trust Jeongguk and Jimin with our child.”
“They’re good guys,” Namjoon reassures. “They took care of our plants that time.”
“I’m pretty sure they just bought new ones. Our monstera didn’t even look at me when we got back,” Taehyung is serious as he talks and Namjoon’s eyes glow as he looks at him, the warmth and love never leaving his gaze.
“They’ll be okay, I’m sure and we’ll pick her up tomorrow morning,” he says and kisses Taehyung on the lips. The younger instantly melts. Namjoon can feel all the nervousness evaporating from his every pore.
“Okay. I trust you,” Taehyung kisses him again.
They eventually separate from their embrace to start fumbling with the boxes, trying to find where it all belongs. Much to their dismay, the truck service would only work on the 26th so they had to work with their small boxes until then.
“At least the couch we got is comfortable,” Taehyung points out as he sits back at the cushions with Namjoon by his side.
Namjoon nuzzles into Taehyung’s side. “Uhum. I could sleep like this,” he admits.
“That’s a good thing because our bed hasn’t arrived yet,” Taehyung closes his eyes the moment Namjoon snaps open his.
“Are you serious?” he deadpans.
Taehyung opens one of his eyes carefully but as soon as he meets Namjoon’s powerful gaze he closes it again. “I’m sorry. I got the dates mixed up so it will only arrive the day after tomorrow,” he says in barely a whisper. "Think about it as a sleepover!"
"It's not a sleepover if we've been sleeping on the same bed for years, Tae." Namjoon flops back down on the couch, an exasperated breath falling out of his lips like a prayer. “I can’t believe this. Why is everything going wrong with this move? Why can’t we have nice things?” He croaks.
Taehyung sits up in the blink of an eye. “Take that back right now, Kim Namjoon, or we’ll probably end up powerless or some shit."
Namjoon is the one pouting now. “I’m just frustrated. This was supposed to be our dream home,” Namjoon admits with a sad smile.
Taehyung grabs him by the cheeks, eyes overflowing with love, the same look in his eyes even after all these years. “I know, my love. But it still is, we only had a change of plans. It’s still our house and we’re here together so we’ll be fine,” he kisses him.
They spent a while like that. Kissing softly, worshiping each other’s lips, and finding ways to get closer, and closer at every moment.
“We should probably start opening some boxes while there’s still some natural light,” Namjoon mutters, breaking the comfortable silence they had.
“Ugh, really?” Taehyung complains. “It’s so comfortable here."
“I’m sorry, baby, but we have to,” Namjoon says as he stands up, stretching his back and neck.
“Fine,” Taehyung gives in. “But I’m putting some music on."
“I wouldn't have it any other way,” Namjoon’s smile can be heard as he speaks.
They start opening some boxes. Thanks to their friends, they had been able to grab most of their small belongings from their old apartment. So most of the objects from the kitchen cupboards and decorations of the living room and bedroom were covered and needed to be sorted out.
Taehyung had living room duty as Namjoon was responsible for the kitchen, opening, washing, and putting the things away in their specific places.
Namjoon swayed lightly as he washed everything, Taehyung’s phone playing the old-time jazz classics he was so fond of. When he finally turned around to pick up another box, he saw Taehyung crouched at the same spot he had been for the last hour.
“Baby, everything okay?” he asks and waits for him to turn around.
Soon, Taehyung looks at him with tears in his eyes, holding one of their decoration objects. A broken wine glass secured inside a frame.
“Baby,” Namjoon runs towards him, hugging him close. “What’s wrong?”
But Taehyung isn’t able to say anything and just holds him closer.
He calms down after a while and Namjoon’s eyes are still big with worry. “What happened?”He asks.
“I just got overwhelmed with memories. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to finish setting everything up without bursting into tears every time I open a box,” Taehyung laughs in between tears and Namjoon tightens his hold.
“It’s okay, baby, we can do it together,” Namjoon says and Taehyung scoffs.
“Then we’ll have two grown-ups crying in the empty apartment, Joon."
“At least we’ll be together."
“That’s gross. I love you,” Taehyung mutters softly and Namjoon kisses the top of his head. The peach smell from Taehyung’s shampoo overflows his nostrils and Namjoon is reminded of his favorite scent.
“But what were you looking at?” he asks.
Taehyung grabs it again and Namjoon is finally able to take a proper look. “This old thing made you this emotional?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung responds. “I hadn’t thought about that party in so long I guess I got overwhelmed. But in a good way.”
“I still remember that see-through shirt you were wearing. Could never forget it,” Namjoon admits and Taehyung bursts into laughter.
“You pervert!”
“I’m sorry that your chest looked amazing. And you even had earrings on. You looked so good, baby,” Namjoon can see Taehyung blushing.
“Don’t say that. I was so young,” Taehyung remembers. “And that party sucked balls until I found you."
“What was it, though? Like the third, fourth time we properly talked with each other?” Namjoon wonders.
“I think so. We had met in like two dinner parties before that and Jeongguk’s graduation, I think,” Taehyung tries to remember but it’s been so long.
“Yeah, right. But why were you alone at the party? I can’t remember anymore,” Namjoon starts caressing the younger’s hair and can see him closing his eyes in pleasure.
“I came with Jeongguk and Jimin and as soon as the clock hit midnight they were nowhere to be seen. New Year’s kiss tradition, more like a quickie in the bathroom tradition. You can’t trust them with anything,” Taehyung says. “The party was so fancy but I don’t even remember properly enjoying it before I found you there."
“Aw, so romantic,” Namjoon jokes. “Nothing more captivating than breaking a wine glass in front of your crush.”
“Babe, you had a crush on me? That’s embarrassing,” Taehyung says.
“Taehyung, we’re married,” Namjoon points out.
“Still embarrassing to admit that out loud,” Taehyung looks back at him and pokes Namjoon’s dimples. “You did steal my attention at the party and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you since.”
“You got your midnight kiss at what? 1:30?” Namjoon smiles softly.
“It was midnight somewhere. Time is a construct Bla Bla Bla,” Taehyung mimics a mouth with his hand just to emphasize his words.
“Exactly. And we can kiss how many times we want, at any hour in the day, isn’t that the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen?” Namjoon offers.
“You’re such a sap,” Taehyung mocks but loves every minute of it.
“But you love me,” Namjoon says.
“I do."
They spend another hour sitting together. Going on a trip down memory lane, enjoying how the objects seemed to bring back powerful memories of all their years together.
“Remember that time I had appendicitis and you wanted to take care of me?” Namjoon asks as he caresses Taehyung’s hair.
Smiling, the younger responds. “I do. It was fun, we got to watch a lot of movies, thanks to my unemployment,” he laughs it off.
From a picture of baby Peggie to one of the first-ever artworks they bought as a family, they keep going over the eleven years they’d been together. It’s a special moment but the sun is almost completely hidden away and stomachs are becoming louder.
They end up ordering from the only place that's still open since the snow is falling harder and the night is fast approaching.
The faint sound of snow hits the street outside and the slow jazz plays on Taehyung’s phone. Sitting on the floor, a glass of wine in one hand and chopsticks in the other, they have their Christmas Eve dinner.
Namjoon would say Taehyung convinced him to not do anything else that night. But the reality was that both of them were too tired to even think about opening another box.
The kitchen was mostly done and what had to be taken out of the decoration boxes had already been taken out, so there were only a few details left for it to be done and then they would have to wait for the big boxes to arrive.
They wash up and change into their pajamas - thank God Yoongi had reminded them to bring their things otherwise they’d have to sit around sweaty and dirty.
Yoongi had also reminded them to bring a computer since the television had yet to come. So there they sit on the couch. A fuzzy blanket is thrown over their bodies as they watch a movie. One of their favorites, As Good as It Gets .
Of course, their eyes are heavy and bodies sore so when the credits roll in they are quick to nuzzle into each other to sleep.
“Love?” Taehyung breaks the silence with warm words. “Are you asleep?”
“Not yet,” Namjoon says. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, um… Do you remember our vows?” he asks as if it didn’t mean anything.
“Of course I do,” Namjoon softly responds. “Why were you thinking about it? It’s been a while.”
Both Namjoon and Taehyung laugh shily together, gentle, like the late hour demands it to be.
“I was just wondering… Why did it take us so long to be together?” His voice is low but strong still and Namjoon ponders before answering.
“I don’t have all the facts but I think some things are meant to happen when they’re meant to happen,” he says and he can feel Taehyung thinking about it.
Taehyung sighs. “I just feel that so much pain would have been eased if we’d just found each other before,” he admits with a heavy heart. “When you wrote ‘you make me wanna be a better man’ on your vows it just stuck with me how much better I feel and act with you. I love who I am next to you and I just wish that it hadn’t taken that long… That’s a thought that always comes back to me.”
Namjoon understands everything about it, he knows what Taehyung means because he too felt that way. He was the one to say those words back at their wedding. “I know, baby, but we were together when it was meant to be. Maybe before or even after it just wasn’t our time,” he shrugs. “We can’t be our better selves without experience, without living. Some of those things are hard and painful and I wish I could take all those away from you but I can’t. What I can do is love this Taehyung from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head and I do, every day. We cannot change the past but we can build our future.”
Taehyung is silent for a while, trying to let the words simmer around his brain.
“I know it’s stupid but I feel like I missed out on so much,” he admits and Namjoon keeps their hands intermingled. “Like every time Hobi or Yoongi talk about you in high school or in college I just wish I could have been there and lived all those things with you. I can’t explain why I miss things I didn’t live through. It’s weird, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that. It’s okay to feel that way,” Namjoon says as softly as he can, knowing Taehyung feels vulnerable. “I get that. I too wish I got to see you growing up. Be beside you in all of your good and bad moments and help ease all that grows in your chest. But we have each other now, don’t we?”
Taehyung nods and Namjoon feels like he needs to say something else so he does.
“Sometimes we feel like we lost so much time on small things and left the good thing behind but that’s not true, baby. We did what we have to do to get to where we are now and we found each other. Doesn’t matter how or when," he caresses Taehyung's back. "Some people say we find love when we need it the most but are not even looking for it. Maybe that’s why it took us so long,” Namjoon offers.
Taehyung nods lightly over Namjoon’s chest. “I guess I’m just too lucky to have you in my life. Doesn't matter when,” he admits.
After a moment they both take a deep breath. “You could be a little less wise sometimes,” is the only thing Taehyung says.
“But you love me anyway,” Namjoon teases.
“I do.”
They spent minutes tangled into each other, no words needed. None of them sleep but they stay quiet, enjoying the warmth they share in the house that’s their new home.
“I have something else to tell you,” Taehyung breaks it again.
“Okay, baby, go ahead,” Namjoon waits.
“We’re pregnant."
Namjoon waits for new information but Taehyung is dead silent. “Tae, we can’t be,” Namjoon tries. “I know those books you’ve been reading can be a little deceiving but I thought we agreed we would both be omegas and I could even identify as a beta-”
“It’s Peggie, love. She’s pregnant,” Taehyung cuts him before bursting into laughter.
“KIM PEGASUS IS PREGNANT? HOW? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?” Namjoon asks in a haze. “Oh my God. We’re gonna be grandparents”.
Taehyung’s laugh is full-blown and his body shakes as he tries to get back down from it. “She is! The vet told me last week and I was trying to find a way to tell you,” he explains.
“It’s probably some dog from that daycare. I don’t trust them anymore. She’s just a baby, Tae. She’s gonna be a mom, oh God,” Namjoon groans and Taehyung is laughing again.
“She’ll be fine and we can give the puppies to our friends and we’ll all be a big family,” Taehyung musters enthusiastically.
“She’s pregnant and we left her with dumb and dumber? Oh no,” Namjoon recalls.
“It’s only a few hours until we have her. It will be fine, they sent me a picture of her laying on Jeongguk’s chest, they’re okay,” Taehyung says and can feel Namjoon physically relaxing.
“Okay, fine, but first thing tomorrow morning,” Namjoon reiterates.
“First thing tomorrow. Let’s sleep now,” Taehyung says. “I love you, Joon”.
“Love you too, baby,” Namjoon says before his tiredness catches up, his eyes growing heavy as the only thing he’s able to hear is Taehyung’s heartbeats and his own, in sync.
…………………………………………………………………………
One year later and the last person just left their apartment.
They had just hosted their first of many New Year’s parties they would host at their house. Thankfully their friends didn’t make that much of a mess and Hoseok and Seokjin made sure to tidy everything up before leaving.
Their house has been complete for a while now. The walls are filled to the brim with old and new paintings as part of their collection. There are frames with pictures of them and their families coloring the living room. A record player is buzzing on the side as another one of Taehyung's vinyl fills the room. On the far right wall, there's a big shelf with all of Namjoon's books and a few of their plants sitting comfortably by the window. The Christmas Tree on the left glows with fairy lights. The warm lighting contributes to the cozy ambiance and it feels good.
Taehyung falls to the couch in a haste, waking up the two corgis that sleep in the corner. Peggie, with her caramel fur, and Hercules, one of the puppies with the white spots on his muzzle that they just seemed to not be able to let go.
“Sorry,” Taehyung mutters to them but they quickly find their sleeping positions again.
Taehyung’s feet are hurting and he can’t even keep his eyes open for too long. Namjoon is somewhere around the house Taehyung doesn't have the energy to think about right now.
He is almost falling asleep when Namjoon shows up. Taehyung feels the sofa dipping next to him and for a small heartbeat, he stays with his eyes closed. But then he opens it and regrets not looking before.
Namjoon is sitting on his side, trying to make himself small with his head on the backrest. He had lowered the lights and turned the volume of the music down a little bit. With his thick lenses and fuzzy socks, he looks like home and he is softly staring back at Taehyung.
"Hey, baby," he says and his voice is deep, like usual after he has stopped trying to make it higher. Or maybe it is the tiredness from the day's events.
Taehyung shifts in his spot and mimics Namjoon's position on the couch. Like this, they're both laying down on top of their arms on the backrest, looking at each other's eyes.
"My love," Taehyung calls in a whisper, stretching his left palm to caress Namjoon's right cheek. The older closes his eyes and sighs into the touch like a cat.
Sitting there, although they don't touch, feels as if they were embraced. As if their bodies are entangled and they can feel each other’s breaths and heartbeats on their own skin.
“We did good today, didn’t we?” Taehyung asks, lifting his head slowly. His voice is soft and low, erupting shivers down Namjoon’s body as the warm breath touches his skin.
Namjoon only hums in response.
“Thank you for always being by my side and helping me be my best self,” Taehyung whispers into the air of the living room.
“Thank you for allowing me too,” Namjoon shoots back before crossing the space between them to peck his husband's cheek gently before spreading kisses on his face and then finally connecting their lips.
The needle shifts on the record player, stopping the music but they don't even notice, too lost on each other to care.
Not bearing being apart for another moment, they fold themselves into one another. Taehyung lays his head on Namjoon’s chest and the older entangles his hand on Taehyung's hair with soft touches and gentleness, just how he knows Taehyung likes it.
“Happy new year, baby,” he says and Taehyung doesn’t need to look up to feel the smile that sits heavy on Namjoon's lips.
“Happy new year, my love.”