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Jeonghan woke up to the slight crack of the door to his and Cheol’s bedroom opening, light seeping through the gap. He’d always been a light sleeper, so it didn’t come as a surprise that such a quiet noise would wake him. What did concern him was who would be coming to their room in the middle of the night - and why.
“Eomma…” Chan whispered, his voice slightly slurred from the pacifier in his mouth and his upset. His arms were wrapped tightly around his otter stuffed toy, eyes glistening with tears.
“Hi, baby,” Jeonghan greeted him, his voice still thick with sleep. “C’mere, Channie,” he continued softly as he sat up a little and lifted the duvet slightly to invite the younger in. Chan stood frozen in the doorway, dressed in his colourful dinosaur-print pyjama pants and an oversized white sleep shirt. Jeonghan wasn’t sure if Chan had really liked dinosaurs before choosing the stage name Dino, but when he was little, he loved stuffed dinosaur toys and anything with a dinosaur print on it.
Chan shuffled into the room, gently closing the door behind him before climbing into his caregiver’s bed and curling into his Eomma’s chest, still holding his otter tightly. His knuckle pressed into Jeonghan’s chest, tracing circles and patterns, humming softly as he tried to soothe himself.
“‘M sorry, Eomma. Couldn’t sleep. Wanted you,” Chan said quietly into Jeonghan’s chest, the tears in his eyes starting to fall as he cuddled closer, curling in on himself and trying to make himself smaller.
“S’okay, my baby. Do you want to tell Eomma what’s wrong?” Jeonghan asked, rubbing the younger’s back soothingly. He felt his sleep shirt growing damp with tears as Chan sobbed quietly, one hand leaving his otter to cling to Jeonghan’s shirt. The little sniffled, trying to burrow even further into his caregiver’s chest.
“‘M tired, ‘Mma. Hurts and ‘m tired,” Chan whimpered, tears falling in a steady stream down his cheeks. Jeonghan held him tighter, rubbing gentle circles against his back to comfort him.
Jeonghan sighed. “I know, my baby. It’s okay. Just let go now, okay? Eomma’s here. I’ll look after you.” He kept rubbing Chan’s back, rocking them slightly, holding Chan close as the little cried. “Just let all the big boy stress go, okay? You’re just Eomma’s little baby right now, aren’t you?”
He was grateful that Chan had been regressed when they put him to bed a few hours ago, already in his comfortable pyjamas and a diaper, so he wouldn’t need to get up and change his clothes. All Jeonghan needed to worry about now was comforting his baby.
“Hannie-” Seungcheol mumbled, rubbing his face as he stirred from the noise beside him.
“Sorry, love. Channie’s just a bit upset at the moment, aren’t you, my baby?” Jeonghan murmured as he comforted the younger, hushing him and whispering praise as he kissed the crown of Chan’s head, still gently rocking him.
Chan whined, lifting his head slightly from Jeonghan’s chest at the sound of his second caregiver’s voice. “Appa?”
“Hi, my baby. Are you okay?” Cheol mumbled, voice still thick with sleep, eyes hazy and disoriented as he reached across to run a hand through Chan’s hair.
“Appa,” Chan whined again, untangling his hand from Jeonghan’s shirt to reach across, hand outstretched toward Seungcheol, his other hand still clutching his otter.
“Channie~” Cheol sang softly as he sat up in bed, his hand reaching out to meet Chan’s, holding it gently. “Where’s my smiley baby gone, hmm?” he mused, stroking Chan’s hand.
Chan hummed in response, holding tightly to his Appa’s hand, squeezing slightly. He frowned when Seungcheol dropped his hand, a whine forming in his throat, which was quickly replaced by a giggle as Cheol lifted him gently under the arms and hoisted him from Jeonghan’s chest into his own lap.
“Appa wanted cuddles with his baby too! Eomma’s stealing all your cuddles, keeping you to himself!” Cheol teased playfully, bouncing Chan on his lap as he wiped the tears from his face.
Chan giggled softly behind his pacifier, then leaned forward to rest his head on his Appa’s shoulder, yawning. He nestled in closer as Cheol’s arms wrapped around his waist, holding him securely. Jeonghan’s hand rested on his knee, rubbing slow, comforting circles as Chan hummed in contentment, finally calmed.
“Are you ready for sleep now, Channie? It’s very late for a little baby like you to be awake, yeah?” Seungcheol asked, glancing down to see Chan’s face. The little only nodded, his body going lax in Cheol’s arms.
With confirmation that Chan was calm enough to sleep again, Cheol gently shifted him from his lap, helping him lie down between himself and Jeonghan. Chan’s back pressed snugly to Cheol’s chest, while his face nuzzled into Jeonghan’s. He sighed in contentment at being held so closely and securely between his Eomma and Appa.
“That’s it, darling. Sleep well, and Eomma and Appa will see you in the morning,” Jeonghan whispered, leaning down to kiss Chan’s head.
As Chan’s breathing evened out and his grip on his otter slackened with sleep, Jeonghan looked up to meet his boyfriend’s eyes. His heart swelled as Cheol reached for his hand, their fingers interlacing, resting gently over Chan’s waist.
I love you, Cheol mouthed silently, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby between them.
I love you too, Jeonghan mouthed back, smiling as Seungcheol squeezed his hand. He stifled a yawn as his eyes drifted shut, his heart full of love for the family he had found and forged within the band. As sleep overtook him, he hoped Chan would still be little when they woke up—they had no schedules for the next two days, and he would give anything to spend them with their sweet baby Channie.
🦦🫧🍼
Jeonghan woke once again to morning light flittering through the blinds of the bedroom window. He stretched as best he could with Chan still curled against his chest and Seungcheol’s hand loosely wrapped around his own. The grip was slightly weaker than it had been when they’d fallen asleep.
He smiled to himself as he looked down at Chan, who was nestled between them. His pacifier was still in place, and one arm was lightly wrapped around his otter plush. His hair was ruffled against the pillow, long lashes fluttering slightly as he slept, his chest rising and falling with soft, even breaths. Jeonghan looked at him fondly. He truly looked adorable.
While Jeonghan would never admit this to anyone except Seungcheol, he’d always dreamed of having kids and being a father. But it was a dream he’d long since packed away- a box tucked carefully into the back of his mind. As his relationship with Cheol had progressed, he’d accepted it was a futile dream. No matter how much he loved the older man, raising a child was nearly impossible while they were still idols, and especially while living in Korea.
Then Chan came along.
He had confided in the two eldest members through teary eyes, hidden behind sweater-covered hands, after they found him regressed and alone in his room the day before. Jeonghan swore his heart had skipped a beat. Selfishly, he’d wanted Chan to accept him into this vulnerable part of his life. He wanted to care for Chan like he was his own child.
It had taken several months for Chan to become fully comfortable, but he’d welcomed the couple as his caregivers fairly quickly. Eventually, they all fell into a steady rhythm. Chan’s regression gave him relief from idol life, and for Jeonghan, caring for him provided the same kind of peace. He still remembered the first time Chan called him “Eomma” the way he’d cried in Seungcheol’s arms afterwards, overwhelmed with love. His heart had felt like it could burst with joy, completeness, and a quiet, unconditional love for his boyfriend and their sweet Chan.
A soft whine pulled Jeonghan from his thoughts. Chan stirred, stretching slightly, fists rubbing at his eyes.
“Good morning, Channie,” Jeonghan said gently, smiling as he slipped his hand from Cheol’s to caress the side of Chan’s face.
Chan responded with a contented hum, eyes wide and innocent as he looked up at Jeonghan. He continued to suck gently on his pacifier, trust and comfort brimming in his gaze.
Jeonghan chuckled quietly and reached down to hold Chan’s hand. In return, Chan began playing with his fingers, bending them and messing with the ring on his little finger.
“Hi, darling,” Jeonghan cooed. “Oh, you’re just Eomma’s sweet baby today, aren’t you?”
Chan focused on spinning the ring around Jeonghan’s finger, babbling softly behind his pacifier. A groggy sound from the other side of the bed signalled Seungcheol waking up. His hand, which had been resting on Chan’s waist, slid around to gently hold the younger’s tummy and pull him closer.
“Good morning, baby,” Cheol murmured, pressing a kiss to the back of Chan’s neck. “Are you playing with Eomma’s ring again?”
“‘Ppa, ‘Ppa, Appa,” Chan giggled, pressing himself back into Seungcheol’s embrace, still fiddling with Jeonghan’s hand.
“Channie, Channie, Channie,” Seungcheol echoed enthusiastically with a soft laugh. “Are we a tiny, tiny baby today? I think we might be, hmm.”
“He was already quite small when he came in last night,” Jeonghan said with a smile. “But he’s definitely regressed further since then. He’s been like this since we woke up.”
He laughed as Chan abandoned his hand in favour of grabbing at his face.
“Yes, you are, aren’t you, darling? So very small,” he added, gently redirecting Chan’s hand to the otter plush.
It worked. Chan turned his attention to the stuffed animal, babbling happily and moving it around.
“Channie, are you hungry, baby?” Seungcheol asked as he sat up. “Should we get you changed and ready for some breakfast?”
Chan turned to face him with a happy nod, clapping his hands a little, still babbling to himself.
“Yeah? Are you hungry, darling?” Cheol repeated, laughing at the babbled response.
Jeonghan chuckled. “Oh wow, we’re very talkative this morning, aren’t we, Channie?”
Seungcheol climbed out of bed, stretching his arms above his head before leaning down to scoop Chan up. The little squealed in delight at being lifted.
“You stay here, love,” Cheol said to Jeonghan. “I’ll get him changed and dressed. Just join us for breakfast in a bit.”
“M’kay,” Jeonghan mumbled, already sinking back into his pillow. He gratefully accepted the extra few minutes of peace. As Cheol carried Chan out of the room, Jeonghan listened to the fading sound of giggles down the hall.
He used the quiet moment to scroll through his phone, answering texts and emails. He let their managers know that he, Cheol, and Chan would be unavailable for the day. After taking care of a few work messages and checking SNS briefly, he sighed and decided it was probably time to get up.
Jeonghan stretched, then pushed the duvet aside and stood up. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to tame the post-sleep mess as he left the bedroom. The kitchen and living room were empty. Cheol and Chan must still be in Chan’s room getting ready.
As he neared the bathroom, he saw the door slightly ajar and the light still on. They must’ve just finished in there.
He closed the door behind him with a soft click and leaned against the counter, running his hands down his face in an effort to shake off the last of the sleep. Turning on the tap, he rinsed his face, just as he heard Cheol’s voice and Chan’s delighted laughter from the kitchen.
Smiling at the sound, Jeonghan quickly brushed his teeth, washed his hands, and stepped out to join his boys.
“Hi, my sweet angel. What’s Appa making for breakfast, hmm?” Jeonghan asked, raking his fingers through Chan’s hair as the younger sat on a chair at the kitchen counter, legs crossed, playing with some wooden blocks Cheol had set out to keep him entertained.
“Pancakes today, isn’t that right, Channie?” Cheol replied for him, knowing they wouldn’t get a clear response from Chan.
“Anything you need me to do, love?” Jeonghan asked, sitting down in the chair next to Chan and helping him stack some blocks together.
“Nope, I’m all good. You play with Channie,” Cheol answered, mixing the mashed bananas into the pancake batter he’d prepared. He turned to heat the stove as Jeonghan hummed in confirmation and started chatting softly to Chan about the wooden building blocks.
Just as Cheol poured a bit of the batter into the pan, he heard a crash, then Chan erupting into giggles as Jeonghan sighed and bent to pick up the fallen blocks from Chan’s collapsed tower. Cheol smiled to himself as he cooked, his heart full of love for both his boys.
While the rest of the band knew about and supported Chan’s regression, it was Jeonghan and Seungcheol whom he sought out when he was feeling little. Occasionally, he would go to the other maknae-line members if his Eomma and Appa were busy, and Seungkwan and Hansol were always happy to babysit. Still, despite everyone being so supportive, Chan could be shy and quiet around the others, often hiding his regressed state from them.
So, selfishly, Cheol was grateful it was just the three of them in the dorm kitchen that morning. A few members were off visiting family during their short break; Jihoon and Soonyoung were working on projects in the studio, and everyone else was still in bed, not planning on waking before midday if they didn’t have to.
“Are you ready for some food now, darling?” Seungcheol asked, placing two pancakes onto Chan’s plastic plate, decorated with drawings of teddy bears, alongside banana slices and other fruit. He drizzled syrup over the top as Chan untangled his legs, kicked them excitedly, and nodded, babbling in delight.
Jeonghan laughed at his reaction and began clearing the blocks from the table to make space for Chan’s plate.
Jeonghan started cutting up the pancakes to feed the little, but Cheol interrupted, “I can feed him, it’s okay.”
Jeonghan shot him a playful glare and continued anyway, spearing a piece of pancake with Chan’s plastic fork and holding it out for him.
“Mmmm, is that yummy?” Jeonghan asked as Chan hummed contentedly while chewing, his hands flapping with joy. “Ooooh, very yummy?”
Jeonghan continued feeding him small bites as Chan rocked happily in his chair, opening and closing his fists while he chewed. Seungcheol stood nearby at the stove, preparing more pancakes for himself and Jeonghan, plating some fruit for them both as well.
“All finished now, angel?” Jeonghan asked gently as Chan slowed down, eventually refusing the bites offered to him. He nodded and let out a small whine, legs kicking as he reached toward the blocks that were now pushed to the far side of the counter.
“Do you want to go play now, Channie?” Cheol asked, leaning over the counter to take Chan’s hands and gently swinging them side to side. Cleaning the kitchen could wait; his baby came first.
“Appa, Eomma, play!” Chan exclaimed, hands still swinging with Cheol’s across the counter.
“Play time, play time~” Cheol sang, walking around to Chan and tickling his tummy when he reached him. “Ready to go play now, baby?” he asked as he picked Chan up, settling him on his hip and bouncing him gently while sticking his tongue out to make the little giggle.
🦦🫧🍼
Cheol carried Chan into the living area, singing silly songs and bouncing him slightly. Jeonghan followed behind with two plates for their own breakfast, chuckling softly at the scene.
Once in the living room, Cheol placed Chan down on the rug in front of the television and brought over the toy box they kept in the shared space. It held a selection of toys Chan played with regularly, ones they kept easily accessible so they wouldn’t need to bring everything back and forth from the little's room.
“Do you want to play with your safari toys?” Seungcheol asked, sitting down in front of Chan. He was referring to a set of wooden safari animals with a truck and a ranger that Soonyoung had bought for him, mainly because it included a tiger, but it’s the thought that counts.
“Safari! ‘Mma play too!” Chan shouted, already reaching for the elephant figurine from the pile.
“Appa can play first while Eomma eats his breakfast, okay, Channie? Then we can all play together after, yeah?” Cheol said, smiling up at Jeonghan, who was sitting on the sofa, eating his pancakes and watching them.
“Appa play?” Chan asked, slightly confused, handing his caregiver a giraffe toy.
“Yeah, angel, Appa will play with you,” Seungcheol replied, accepting the giraffe from their little. “What do you want to play, sweetheart?”
Jeonghan sat on the couch, eating his breakfast, watching fondly as the two played, though "play" was used loosely. Their game had mostly devolved into Chan walking his toy animals around and lining them up while Cheol watched. Chan had already taken the giraffe back from him to add it to his line.
When he was finished eating, Jeonghan caught Seungcheol’s gaze, silently signalling that they could swap so Cheol could have his breakfast too.
“Channie, can Eomma play with you now? I think he misses his baby,” Cheol said, drawing Chan’s attention away from his toys.
“‘Mmm, Eomma play,” Chan responded, looking up at Jeonghan and starting to crawl over to him. Jeonghan laughed as he stood from the sofa and knelt in front of him.
“Hi baby. Do you want to keep playing with the safari toys, or play something else?” Jeonghan asked, sitting down in front of Chan.
“Shapes?” Chan asked, crawling closer while carefully avoiding knocking over his line of safari animals.
“Yeah, we can play with the shapes, baby,” Jeonghan replied, reaching forward to pull out a set of five wooden shapes, a shape-sorting puzzle board, and a shape puzzle box.
Once he had laid out all the toys, Chan crawled into Jeonghan’s lap and sat down comfortably, reaching for his shapes. Now it was Cheol’s turn to watch fondly while eating his (now cold) breakfast, not that he minded.
Jeonghan sat with his arms wrapped loosely around Chan’s waist as the younger played. He started with the puzzle board, fitting the flat shapes into their matching slots, though he got stuck trying to force the square into the rectangle's space. Jeonghan gently guided him, encouraging him to try another spot and clapping when he got it right, prompting Chan to clap excitedly too.
After finishing the puzzle board, Chan moved on to the puzzle bucket, dropping shapes through the correct slots and clapping joyfully each time they fell into the bucket. Jeonghan clapped along with him while Cheol watched contentedly from his spot on the couch.
Once Chan finished with the puzzles, he took the lid off the bucket to dump the shapes onto the floor in front of him. He also removed the puzzle board pieces and gathered the remaining wooden shapes, grouping everything together in front of him. Jeonghan, sitting behind him, watched over his shoulder with growing curiosity.
Chan began sorting the shapes by type, then lining them up neatly in size order within each shape group.
When he’d finished organizing, he turned around to look at Jeonghan with wide, innocent eyes, slightly hazy in his regressed headspace. “Milk, Eomma. P’ease,” he asked sweetly.
“Of course, my darling. Do you want to wait here or come with Eomma to get the milk?” Jeonghan replied gently, stroking his hair.
“Stay here, love. I’ll get it for you,” Seungcheol said, standing and picking up their empty breakfast plates to take with him.
“Thank you,” Jeonghan said with a smile as he shifted to pick Chan up. He didn’t often carry him, Jeonghan wasn’t as strong as Cheol, and even though Chan was mentally little, physically he was still a grown adult. But he only needed to move him to the couch for his bottle, so it was manageable.
Once they were settled on the sofa, Jeonghan positioned Chan to curl up in his lap, nestled close to his chest.
“Did you have fun playing, angel?” he asked softly. Chan just looked up at him, wide-eyed, tracing little patterns on Jeonghan’s arm with his fingers. Jeonghan held him a little tighter, rocking him slowly as they waited for Seungcheol.
“Channie, look,” he gasped as Seungcheol returned, holding a bottle and a pacifier. “Appa’s back with milk!”
That caught Chan’s attention immediately. He looked up from his cozy position in Jeonghan’s lap and reached out toward Cheol and the bottle. “Appa!”
“Channie!” Seungcheol exclaimed back, he was always good at matching Chan’s enthusiasm when he was regressed.
“It should be a good temperature, just check quickly,” Cheol said, passing the bottle to Jeonghan and ruffling Chan’s hair.
Jeonghan tested the bottle’s temperature on the back of his hand, then offered it to Chan. “Hungry, baby?”
Chan answered with a happy hum, latching onto the nipple and drinking eagerly, his eyes fluttering closed. Jeonghan gently stroked his lower back while he fed, and Seungcheol sat beside them, one arm around Jeonghan’s shoulders, the other softly caressing Chan’s cheek.
The little’s eyes kept slipping closed as he drank, tired from his late bedtime the night before and the excitement of playing that morning. As he finished his milk, Jeonghan swapped the bottle for a pacifier and continued to hold him close. Chan’s eyes stayed shut, his breathing slowing into sleep.
“Shhh, that’s it, my baby. You can sleep now. Appa and Eomma
will look after you,” Jeonghan whispered against Chan’s forehead, pressing a soft kiss there. He leaned more fully into Cheol, who adjusted to hold them both a little tighter.
Jeonghan drifted off like that, his head resting on his boyfriend’s shoulder, his baby asleep in his arms. And if Cheol quietly took a few photos of the moment while they slept, it was only so he’d have something to hold onto during the nights their busy schedules kept them apart.
For now, Cheol’s whole world was right here, asleep on the couch of their dorm, resting in his arms.