Chapter Text
Minhyuk groggily sat up, stretching his arms to the ceiling. He brought a hand through his hair, fixing it the best he could before using the washroom. He threw a towel over his shoulder, stepping out of his room. The sound of the shower running occupied the long hallway. Passing it, he peeked his head into the bedroom beside it. Three beds lay against the wall, stars illuminating across the ceiling from their bedside lantern. Three tiny bodies sleeping peacefully. He continued down the hall towards the kitchen passing two more bedrooms. Kihyun’s room was shut, the sound of soft humming from the other side. Minhyuk decided not to bother him. There was already a small stack of pancakes on the table, plates and silverware set out accordingly. Minhyuk was convinced Kihyun was inhuman. Waking up at who knows what ungodly hour by his own freewill. He couldn’t relate.
He took a seat on the living room couch, not bothering to switch the lights on. The blue of dusk washing just enough light to make out the furniture in the room. His dry eyes shut as he laid his head back. Today they would go grocery shopping. Soon the kids would be up, even if they were still sleepy, slugging around like zombies. The door to the bathroom snapped open, Shownu stepping out in his shorts, towel on his broad tanned shoulders, drying his wet hair. “Woooo,” Minhyuk teased, earning a small chuckle from a suddenly bashful Shownu. “You leave any hot water for the rest of us?” Minhyuk questioned, noticing the small streams of steam escaping behind him. Shownu nodded, moving aside to let Minhyuk through. “Yeah, I tried to finish as fast as I could,” he replied.
Continuing to his room, Shownu stepped over children’s blocks right at his doorway. He took good care in watching for teeny plastic figures, they were the dangerous ones. He sat at the edge of his bed after pulling a simple black tee over his head. Turning, he found one of the kids’ plushies at the foot of his bed. He took a look at the room; toys scattered about, wondering if it was even his room anymore. Having nothing else to do until everyone was ready, he started picking up the toys, reaching for an empty hamper at the corner of the room to pile them into for now. After clearing the clutter he looked over the room, satisfied before clasping his eyes shut in search of peace as he heard a certain aegyo monster pop through the door behind him. “My toys!” exclaimed Jooheon. Shownu exhaled a long sigh as he heard the basket topple over. Jooheon excitedly digging through for his honeypot plushy almost the same size as him. “Jooheony,” Shownu began, but before he could even think to scold him, Jooheon looked up. He flashed Shownu his signature eye smile and baby dimples, something they all knew blew his knee caps away. Shownu could swear flowers were blooming behind him, not hiding the smile that came to his face. “Go get ready if you’re coming with Appa.”
Minhyuk found himself brushing a sleepy boy’s teeth currently sat on his lap as Jooheon brushed his own beside them. Kihyun told them to wash up after they came back, not wanting the kids to go out into the cold with wet hair. Minhyuk didn’t understand why this rule applied to him too. Even still, there he was obediently sat on the ledge of the bathtub with dry hair and dry towel on his shoulder. The boy in his lap sitting quietly, slouched in his seat. “Hyungwon, are you still sleepy? You can stay and sleep some more if you want to,” Minhyuk suggested. Hyungwon shook his head,” mumbling incoherently, toothbrush still in his mouth, pinching the side of Jooheon’s sleeve. “You want to go with Jooheony?” Minhyuk chuckled, “okay, Jooheony is too cute huh?” Hyungwon nodded his head. Jooheon smiling brightly at this, his freshly brushed baby teeth on display as he plopped on to Hyungwon in a tight embrace. Minhyuk gushed at the cute display, squeezing the youngsters even tighter as they started to giggle.
Kihyun stood by the front door, looking out the window at the glistening sheet of snow that covered the grass. “Kihyunnie,” Shownu stood behind him with Hyungwon on his hip, lifting towards him. Hyungwon put his arms out to Kihyun, who welcomed him happily. Shownu bent down to find his shoes. Feet sliding half way in before he brought them up to adjust, balancing himself with a single hand on the wall. “What were you looking at?” He inquired, walking over beside him to look closely out the window. His breath fogging the glass in front of him. “Uh, nothing I was just looking at the snow,” Kihyun explained. Hyungwon smothered his face into Kihyun’s chest, his wavy hair shaking about before he settled. “Don’t stay out too long, Changkyun will be upset when he wakes,” Kihyun reminded. Shownu nodded knowingly. Kihyun faced him ready to continue his list, “And-“
“Daddy,” a small voice came from the hall, Jooheon running up to claim it. Kihyun looked down his face of worry turning to adoration.
“Come here,” Kihyun called.
He leaned down with Hyungwon, pulling the sleeves of Jooheon’s shirt through to lay evenly under his jacket. Expertly patting the fabric flat with the fingers of his free hand. Then covering his ears with the muffs of his beanie. Jooheon watched him intently with crescent eyes. Kihyun smiled back with the same intensity, patting the Pom Pom atop his hat. Hyungwon pushing in the dimple of his cheek, earning a sweet giggle from Jooheon. Shownu walked over to Jooheon who instinctively put his arms up. “Lucky Kkukkung is asleep or he’d be throwing a fit,” Minhyuk teased as he walked down the hall. They all chuckled at the reminder of Kihyun’s spoiled baby. Bag in hand Minhyuk grabbed the keys as Kihyun kissed Jooheon and Hyungwon goodbye, letting the latter down to take Minhyuk’s hand.
Kihyun watched the car backup from their driveway before heading to his room. He peeked inside where it was silent and still, picking up his phone to check the time and leaving the door ajar. It was just before 9:30. For the meantime, he was going to take advantage of the absence of their younglings and finally do an overdue deep clean.
——
Kihyun wasn’t sure what happened but he woke up half an hour later, lying on the couch. He only remembered grabbing the vacuum and finishing the living room before falling back on the couch. The vacuum was still there, wire loose and still stuck into the outlet. “Well then,” he thought to himself, “I should cook a little something for Changkyun."
He opened the cabinets, finding the last ingredients they had available to use while waiting for new groceries. Kihyun sighed, finding mostly spices and condiments, the only thing besides the baby fruit purée containers.
Suddenly the pat pat pat of tiny feet could be heard scuddling towards the kitchen. A small mop of chestnut hair bouncing along the hall stopping abruptly at the doorway. Kihyun turning to see a tiny boy, wearing a pouty expression on his face, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.
“Eomma, you said I could help you today!” He whined, almost ready to cry.
Kihyun smiled a dimpled smile, standing straight from his position. An encouraging hand reaching out for the boy as he took a step forward. “I’m sorry baby, I didn’t want to wake you, you can still help don’t worry,” he explained. The little boy reached for his hyung’s hand, lips still upturned and pouty. Puppy eyes brimming with anxious tears, pointed eyebrows framing his expression. “Changkyun can help,” he assured both himself and Kihyun.
Kihyun nodded, humming in agreement and smoothing the tangles of the little boys hair.
Changkyun raised his arms high, fists opening and closing. “Up, up,” he pleaded. His little feet raising unto tip toes before Kihyun swept them up from the kitchen tiles.
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"What did Kihyun want us to get?" Shownu asked, eyebrows scrunched in thought as he questioned Minhyuk.
They were at the supermarket now, standing at the produce section. The silver cart filled with a few trays of meat and drinks.
Minhyuk simply stood with a startled face. "Did he tell you, cause he didn't tell me," Minhyuk shared quizzically with a frightened face.
Shownu blanched, remembering Minhyuk right next to him as Kihyun made his list. He sighed, a bit worried about calling, honestly not in the mood for the ear full of scolding. He scratched his head in thought, eyeing the ground before making eye contact with Hyungwon. Hyungwon blinked speechlessly before walking over and reaching into his tiny sweater pocket. Catching the edges of his pocket as he pulled out a folded sheet of paper, placing it in Shownu's hand. Shownu held the paper with new found hope as he unfolded it only to find it was a print out of a cartoon figure.
Minhyuk guffawed as he looked over at Shownu's hands. Shownu stood in despair before hearing the wheels of the cart shifting as Minhyuk filled the cart with randomly selected vegetables. Hyungwon and Jooheon trailing behind him. "He couldn't be mad about vegetables right? Green is good!" Minhyuk triumphed.
Shownu laughed along before reality set in, handing Jooheon and Hyungwon the phone after dialing Kihyun's number.
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Hyungwon stood behind Jooheon who stood in front of the candy aisle. Hyunwoo allowed them at least one snack to bring back home. Jooheon picked up a small pack of gummy candies, “Can baby eat this?” He inquired to Hyungwon. Hyungwon shook his head, face serious as he tried to recall what Kihyun would prepare. “Mm-mm,” he replied, “baby should eat something healthy,” he concluded. “Healthy,” Jooheon echoed. “Is this healthy?” Jooheon picked up the same brand of gummies only green this time. They both paused before nodding simultaneously in agreement. Yes, green is good.
Minhyuk was watching from the end of the aisle, laughing to himself. “Quickly you two,” he called, “Shownu is at the register!”
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Jooheony hurried up the driveway, lugging a pack of juice pouches to share with Changkyun. Hyungwon carrying a small bag of more than just one snack they convinced Shownu to get them. He took his time, lagging behind Jooheon walking slowly to the door. He stopped at the entrance, Jooheon way past him, stepping on the heels of his boots to wiggle his feet free.
Shownu and Minhyuk still behind the car grabbing bags from the trunk.
Shownu could hear the sound of small laughter from the hallway as he entered the house. He brought in as many bags as he could carry, Minhyuk trailing not far behind him with what was left. As they walked towards the kitchen the sound of giggling had faded away and instead a soft hum of a lullaby echoed through the empty hall.
Minhyuk peeked his head through the doorway. Kihyun’s back facing him, admiring the small boy in his arms. Only tiny feet dangling from Kihyun’s silhouette. Jooheon and Hyungwon staring up at them as Kihyun was bouncing him softly in his arms, patting his bottom lightly as he sang. As he turned Minhyuk could see the milky chubby cheeks of Baby Wonho pressed against Kihyun’s creme colored apron. Looking back to Shownu, Minhyuk gave a gleeful smile, his eyes brimming with fondness. He waved Shownu over, bringing a finger up to his own lips, signaling Shownu to keep quiet. He continued, his hand flapping feverishly before he reached into his jacket pocket. Shownu moved slowly towards the kitchen taking exaggeratedly big steps towards the doorway. A tiny sleepy face in Kihyun’s arms bringing a sweet smile to his face as he watched. Changkyun standing on his eomma’s feet, little arms wrapped around his calves, his cheek pressed against them as they slowly stepped in a circle. Jooheon hugging Kihyuns leg with one arm, the other on Changkyun. Hyungwon mirroring his position by Kihyun’s opposite leg. Wonho cradled to sleep. Shownu straightened up as Minhyuk’s arms shot out next to him. Holding his phone in his hands, the camera app was open, ready to snap a picture. Taking two in secret before Kihyun’s eyes caught the lens. His eyes widening in surprise before he frowned. His head tilting to the side with a questioning look.
“We’re home"