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Jaeui never considered children a possibility. He's a beta with an alpha as a partner, who hasn't expressed any interest either.
The closest they have to kids are Taeui and Ilay's twins, and there’s something about the two that softens both his and Rahman's hearts.
“Uncle Jaeui,” Hana says, looking up at him from his lap.
He touches the top of her head, looking down at his niece. Her features are all Riegrow– the silver hair and dark grey eyes framed with thick lashes. Thankfully that seems to be the only thing she's inherited from that man, as her personality shines bright like his younger brother.
She beams at him, kicking her legs back and forth.
“Do you and appa have twin telepathy? Daddy says you don't but appa says you do.”
Jaeui hums, leaning back against the couch.
“Do you and Yohan have twin telepathy?” He asks, glancing over at across the room where he watches Rahman being nuzzled by Yohan. The beta covers his mouth, his lips twitching upwards in a smile when he notices the flush that graces his lover's face.
Hana nods seriously.
“I always know what Yohan is thinking and he always knows what I'm thinking! Also, we always get sick at the same time, and we get sad when we're not together. Do you get sad when you and appa aren't together?”
Jaeui strokes Hana's hair gently, tilting his head as he watches her.
“It was like that when we were your age,” He says softly as he toys with silver strands. “Your appa always tried really hard to take care of me, but he's the younger twin like Yohan. It was my job to take care of him like how it's yours to take care of your brother.”
Hana nods again, taking every word to heart.
“Your appa is really strong. He tries to do a lot for me. You do a lot for Yohan too, right?”
“Yeah! Did you know someone was being mean to Yohan at school so I tackled them and started punching! Appa was mad, but daddy was so proud.”
Jaeui bites his lip, patting his niece's back.
“To answer your question, I think we do. Sometimes when I think of your appa he suddenly calls me and vice versa. We also tend to get sick around the same time,”
He pokes the tip of Hana's nose.
“But of course I miss your appa. That's why I call him often so I can talk to you and Yohan.”
Jaeui leans down, pressing a kiss against Hana's forehead. He glances over to his side when he feels the couch dipping, with Rahman leaning against him.
“Uncle Jaeui.” Yohan says quietly, peeking up at him from Rahman's arms.
Jaeui watches as Rahman smoothes out Yohan's messy brown locks of hair, before patting his nephew's back.
“Go on, you can ask him.” Rahman says softly, encouraging Yohan to continue.
Their nephew was soft-spoken and shy, mostly leaning to Hana or his parents for help when it came to talking. But there seemed to be a special bond between him and Rahman.
“Uncle Rahman said Hana and I can visit your house next time and stay over. Is that true?”
Jaeui smiles, reaching over to rub Yohan's head.
“Of course. We already have a room just for you and Hana. But where we live, it's a lot warmer than Berlin.”
Yohan leans against Rahman, looking up at him.
“Is it true we can see a camel too?”
Jaeui snorts when his lover laughs, hugging Yohan tightly. He never struck Rahman as the paternal type, but the role of an uncle seems to come naturally to the alpha.
“A camel, an elephant, even a pygmy hippo if you want. I can make anything happen as long as you and your sister visit.” Rahman says with a grin on his face.
Yohan chews on his bottom lip, glancing over at Hana.
“Yohan's favorite animal is a capybara. Can you also find a capybara where you and Uncle Jaeui live?” Hana asks.
Rahman nods as if prepared for the mountain of requests that were about to come.
“Of course. I can get a capybara too, but what's your favorite animal?”
“Kākāpō,” Yohan says quietly against Rahman's shoulder. “They’re native to New Zealand though, and you don't live in New Zealand.”
Jaeui blinks, somewhat bewildered by the twins' strange tastes in animals. How do they even know about New Zealand wildlife?
Rahman doesn't miss a beat however, patting Yohan's back.
“All of us can go to New Zealand together. We can see a Kākāpō and then go look at the hobbit houses you were telling me about.”
Yohan mumbles, pressing his face against Rahman's shoulder.
“He's happy but also embarrassed.” Hana says matter-of-factly, reaching over to pat Yohan's back. “The Lord of the Rings is his favorite book.”
Jaeui hums, leaning against Rahman as he strokes Hana's hair.
“Why don't we read you guys The Hobbit for bedtime then?”
It's still pretty early in the evening when they've tucked the kids in.
The four of them are seated together in the living room. Jaeui watches Ilay rubbing Taeui's belly with mild irritation.
“So you're expecting again?” The beta asks, raising his cup of tea to his lips as he ignores the heated look Riegrow was giving him. Whatever animosity the other felt, it was absolutely mutual.
Taeui laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.
“We weren't trying, but it's a nice surprise,” His brother admits, squeezing Ilay's knee. “Thankfully it's likely to not be twins this time.” The brunet begins, glancing over at Ilay with a pointed look.
Ilay shrugs before speaking.
“I told you the mother is the one–”
He doesn't get to finish his sentence when Taeui starts smacking him with his palms.
Jaeui snorts, setting his cup down.
“When are you due?”
He watches Taeui's face as his younger brother tries to calculate.
“Late summer, I think. Why?”
Jaeui sits up, reaching for Rahman's hand. He feels his mate lacing their fingers together before squeezing gently.
“We wanted to know if it would be okay to have the twins visit for a week or two while you prepare for the baby.” Jaeui says softly.
There's a brief pause, before he continues.
“You don't have to, we just–”
“Of course, hyung. If you and Rahman want to, I don't see why not.”
Jaeui stiffens. He wasn't actually expecting this response, as he was sure Ilay would protest but he glances at the alpha who's lazily rubbing circles into Taeui's belly.
“We haven't had alone time in years anyway,” Ilay says, leaning over to kiss Taeui's neck. The brunet immediately turns red as he smacks the other man.
“They would be really happy to visit you guys,” Taeui says softly as he tries to push Ilay's hands away. “I really appreciate how you're helping Yohan, Rahman. I… I know we don't get along, but it means a lot that you care about him so much.”
There's something that stirs in Jaeui's heart. It's a mixture of affection and happiness– he feels so proud of both Rahman and his brother.
He feels Rahman squeezing his hand again.
“You don't have to thank me. I should thank you for letting me be their uncle.” The alpha says gently.
Jaeui looks up at the other, a small smile forming on his face. He leans over to kiss the other man softly, closing his eyes.
A few months pass by in a flash.
Jaeui holds Hana's hand tightly, while she adjusts her hat with her free hand. He glances over to his mate who's carrying Yohan in his arms.
“Uncle Rahman!” Yohan says excitedly, pointing at the green, flightless, and slightly chunky parrot.
Jaeui reaches down, picking Hana up as she looks over at the world famous Kākāpō.
He's not sure how Rahman did it, because apparently these birds are nearly extinct and are restricted to sanctuaries that aren't viewable to the public. But his lover managed to score tickets to a famous countrywide tour for the spokesbird of New Zealand.
He glances over, his heart fluttering in his chest when he sees Rahman smiling, kissing Yohan's cheek.
Maybe children were a possibility after all.