Chapter Text
Prologue: Taehyun
“Thanks for taking care of Dasom for us,” Soobin said to Taehyun as he watched Yeonjun hug their daughter goodbye. Soobin’s scent was already beginning to grow thick with pre-rut, and Taehyun tried not to wrinkle his nose from how overpowering it was. “Yeonjun has been worried about how she’ll react to being away from us this long for the first time.”
“No problem,” Taehyun replied. “You know Kai and I love watching her.” He glanced over at his mate as the other alpha knelt in front of Dasom, greeting her with a little wave.
“Hi, Dasom! I’m excited to hang out with you this week.” Kai smiled warmly at Dasom, and the girl beamed back at him, revealing the dimples that she had inherited from Soobin.
“Hi, Uncle Hyuka!”
“Dasom-yah, you’ll be good for your uncles while Eomma and Appa are away, right?” Yeonjun asked his three-year-old daughter, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear from where it had slipped out of her pigtails.
Dasom nodded even as she began to tear up. “Eomma, don’t go!” Dasom cried out, flinging herself back into Yeonjun’s arms and burying her face into his neck. The girl rubbed her nose against her omega parent’s scent gland, inhaling the comforting smell of peaches and cream that reminded her of home.
“I know, sweetheart. Eomma doesn’t want to leave you either. But it’s only for a week.” Yeonjun wrapped his arms tightly around his daughter, stroking her hair. The omega tried not to show how nervous he was to be apart from Dasom for such a long time, even though he wouldn’t trust anyone else except Kai and Taehyun to take care of his daughter. “Look, Dasom! Uncle Hyuka has a new plushie for you!”
Dasom turned to see Kai pulling out a large Molang plushie from behind his back, and her face immediately brightened as she stopped crying. “Molangie!” she squealed, reaching out for the plushie, and Kai grinned as he handed it to her. She hugged the plushie tightly, rubbing her face against the soft fabric.
With Dasom’s attention now diverted from him, Yeonjun stood up and felt one of Soobin’s arms wrap around his waist. Yeonjun shivered from Soobin’s close proximity, his pre-heat making him even more sensitive to his mate’s presence than usual.
“Dasom-yah,” Soobin called out to his daughter, catching her attention. “Appa and Eomma are heading out now. Be good.” He detached himself from Yeonjun, kneeling down to give Dasom a kiss on the forehead before straightening and looking at Taehyun and Kai. “Thanks again for watching her, we really appreciate it.”
Suddenly, Yeonjun surged forward, words spilling out of him in a rush. “I packed some of my clothes in Dasom’s bag in case she misses me too much, and her favorite bunny plushie is in the front left pocket. And she can’t handle too much spicy food, and she likes ice cream for dessert, and- and-”
“Yeonjun, love,” Soobin gently interrupted, pulling his mate back to him, “Kai and Taehyun have taken care of her before. I think they have it covered.”
“Don’t worry, hyung,” Taehyun chimed in, nodding at Yeonjun reassuringly. “We’ll take good care of Dasom. This is the first time you’re having your heat in three years, right? It’s not good for you to be stressed out before it.”
Yeonjun sniffled, glancing forlornly at Dasom, but the girl was chattering away with Kai, too engrossed in her new plushie to notice. “You’re right,” Yeonjun sighed. “I just worry, you know? She means the world to me. But I trust you two.” Yeonjun looked at his daughter one last time before blowing her a kiss. “Bye, darling! Eomma loves you!”
Then Soobin and Yeonjun were gone, leaving behind Taehyun and Kai with a three-year-old.
Turning back to the remaining two, Taehyun knelt down beside Kai and smiled at Dasom. “What should we do today, Dasom?”
“Somie wants to play!” Dasom replied. “With Uncle Hyuka, Uncle Tyun, and Molangie!” She raised the new plushie that Kai had given her into the air for emphasis.
Kai grinned. “Should we have a tea party?”
“Tea party!” Dasom repeated, nodding excitedly.
“Let’s go sit down, and Uncle Tyun will bring the tea set,” Kai said, taking Dasom by the hand and leading her to the dining table.
As Kai got Dasom situated at the table, Taehyun went into the kitchen to grab the special tea set that they bought specifically for her. After filling the teapot with grape juice, Taehyun also made sure to grab a box of cookies he knew that Dasom liked. He arranged everything carefully on a tray before making his way back into the main room.
When Taehyun returned, Kai was holding the Molang plushie up to his face, pretending to talk to Dasom through it.
“Dasom-yah, will you be my best friend?” Kai asked, making his voice high-pitched as he waved one of Molang’s arms at Dasom, and the girl giggled in response.
“I’m back!” Taehyun announced, placing the tray down on the table with a flourish. “And I have cookies!”
“Yay, cookies!” Dasom immediately reached out for the cookies, taking one for herself before offering one to Molang.
“Thank you, Dasom!” Kai chirped through Molang, using the plushie’s arm to pick up the cookie and pretend to eat it.
Dasom squealed and clapped, delighted by Molang’s reaction, before she picked up two more cookies from the tray. “For Uncle Hyuka and Uncle Tyun!” she declared, offering the cookies to the two alphas.
Kai’s head popped out from behind Molang, taking the cookie from Dasom and thanking her. Taehyun did the same, patting Dasom on the head with a smile.
“You’re so nice, Dasom,” Taehyun remarked. “Who taught you how to do that?”
“Appa,” Dasom replied, and as if on cue, her dimples appeared.
“Of course he did,” Taehyun chuckled affectionately. “Like father, like daughter.”
The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly as Kai and Taehyun continued to play with Dasom, finishing up their tea party before beginning a game of pretend-house in the guest room where Dasom would be staying.
“Molangie is the baby, I’m the unnie, and Uncle Hyuka and Uncle Tyun are the appas!” Dasom declared as she tucked Molang into the bed.
“Aww, Dasom! Can’t I be the baby instead?” Kai jokingly complained, wanting to play the role where he could lay back and relax while everyone else coddled him.
Dasom shook her head. “No, Uncle Hyuka is too big to fit in the crib!” she protested, and Taehyun had to muffle his snickering behind his hand.
In moments like these, it was so easy to imagine what it would be like if Taehyun and Kai were parents. It was a dream that Taehyun had willingly given up when he became mates with Kai, accepting that they would never be able to have biological children as two alpha mates. Taehyun had never once regretted his decision, but sometimes he wondered what it would be like—to have children of his own.
At times, he thought Yeonjun and Soobin could tell, which was why they were always dropping Dasom off for play dates with Taehyun and Kai. It was always under the guise of a date night or an errand that they couldn’t take Dasom on, but Taehyun knew better. Yeonjun and Soobin wanted to give the two alphas a chance to care for the child that they could never have.
Unintentionally, Taehyun sighed, and Dasom turned to him. “Is Uncle Tyun sleepy?” she asked, her eyes round and wide. “Do you want to be the baby instead?”
Taehyun shook his head, ignoring the way Kai laughed from behind Dasom. “No, no, I’m okay. Molang should be the baby. I’m better as the appa, right?”
Dasom grinned and nodded, happy now that she knew Taehyun was alright. “The best appa!”
And if Taehyun’s heart ached just a little at hearing that, he ignored it.
✿
The next day, Taehyun and Kai decided to take Dasom to the park. Yeonjun had packed denim overall shorts and a matching bucket hat, and as Kai knelt down to help Dasom put them on, Taehyun couldn’t help but think how cute Dasom looked all dressed up—a mini fashionista just like her mother. That was probably why Yeonjun had bought them.
“Are we ready for the park?” Kai asked, and Dasom nodded enthusiastically. “Who’s hand do you want to hold on the way there? Uncle Hyuka’s or Uncle Tyun’s?”
“Both!” Dasom replied, reaching out for both of them, and Taehyun smiled at her, endeared.
“Well, we can’t say no to that, can we?” Taehyun raised an eyebrow at Kai, and Kai shook his head in agreement.
So, with Taehyun holding one of Dasom’s hands and Kai holding the other, they set off for the park.
As they walked down the street together, Dasom started singing a song from a popular children’s show on TV. Kai quickly picked up on the song and joined in, recognizing it from some of the students that he taught, while Taehyun was able to follow along with parts of the chorus.
“Behind the darkness, there’s another great hope~ A new start awaits, so open your closed eyes~”
“Dasom, I didn’t know you liked Armored Saurus!” Kai exclaimed when they had finished singing along to the song. “My students always ask to learn that song on the piano when they see me.”
“Somie loves Armored Saurus!” Dasom chirped. “The mean boy in class says dinos aren’t for girls, but Appa says dinos are for everyone.”
“Your appa is right,” Taehyun agreed. “Anyone can like dinos. Even Uncle Tyun likes dinos!”
“Can we watch Armored Saurus after the park?”
“Of course,” Taehyun said with a smile.
“Your daughter is so cute!” Someone remarked from behind them, and Taehyun’s smile froze. He turned around, catching the eye of a mother who had brought her own children to the park. Her compliment was well-meaning, but for some reason, Taehyun found himself unable to respond.
“Ah, she’s not ours,” Kai stepped in smoothly, saving Taehyun from having to answer. “We’re just looking after her for our friends.”
“Oh, well, you both are so good with her regardless,” the mother gushed, unaware of the inner turmoil she had caused within Taehyun. “You would be great parents.”
“Right,” Taehyun replied faintly. He turned to Dasom just so he wouldn’t have to keep looking at the mother. “Dasom-yah, why don’t you go play now?”
Dasom didn’t need to be told twice, letting go of Taehyun and Kai’s hands as she ran toward the playground. Almost immediately, she found a group of kids to play with, taking turns going down the slide together and chasing each other across the park. Seeing that Dasom was easily fitting in with the others, Taehyun and Kai found a nearby bench to sit on and relax.
They were watching Dasom on the playground when Kai brought it up.
“Doesn’t it make you want kids?” Kai suddenly asked, and Taehyun turned his head to look at his mate. Taehyun was surprised to see how serious Kai appeared, the other alpha’s brow furrowed as he chewed on his bottom lip thoughtfully.
“I thought we had this discussion already,” Taehyun said quietly, a deep-rooted insecurity stinging inside of him. It was something they had discussed in depth when they both presented as alphas and still decided to become mates. Whether or not to have kids. “We knew what choice we were making when we became mates. Are you saying that you regret it?”
“Of course not!” Kai looked back at Taehyun, stricken. “But you can’t say that you haven’t thought about it before.”
“You know it’s not possible, Kai!” Taehyun’s voice grew louder, his insecurity and frustration bleeding through. “We’re both alphas!”
“It’s not impossible!” Kai insisted. “Beomgyu offered once.”
It was true. Beomgyu had offered once, a long time ago when they were still in university. It was back when it was just the four of them—Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Kai—and they were hanging out in the maknaes’ room one night playing video games and drinking. They were talking about relationships because Beomgyu had just broken up with his boyfriend after the alpha said he couldn’t handle the scent of so many other alphas on the omega. Then the conversation suddenly shifted to Taehyun and Kai’s relationship.
“I’ll be your surrogate, you know,” Beomgyu had drunkenly declared. “If you ever want kids one day.”
Taehyun chuckled, taking another sip of his beer as he rested his head against Kai’s shoulder. “Thanks, Beomgyu-hyung, but I think we’re good. We’re happy just the way we are.” He craned his neck upward, pressing a kiss to Kai’s cheek, and the other alpha simply smiled in response.
Now here Kai was. Implying that they were no longer happy with what they were—who they were.
Taehyun refused to think about it. If he thought too hard about the matter, he would have to confront the fact that he did want children—that he regretted not being able to give them to Kai, who Taehyun knew so desperately wanted to have children of his own. Taehyun’s inadequacy was almost too painful for him to bear.
“I just thought… we agreed on this,” Taehyun whispered, looking down at his lap as his hands curled into fists. “That we were happy just like this.”
“I am happy like this, Taehyun.” Now it was Kai’s turn to speak softly, sensing his mate’s distress. He reached out, covering one of Taehyun’s tightly clenched fists with his own hand. “But isn’t there always the possibility for us to become more?”
Taehyun swallowed hard, unwilling to answer. He felt like he was choking on the truth.
“Uncle Tyun! Push me, push me!” Dasom’s voice broke through the silence, and Taehyun’s head snapped up at the sound. Dasom was sitting on the swings, kicking her legs back and forth as she tried to get herself started. Her bright smile was enough to evaporate the tightness in Taehyun’s chest, and he suddenly felt like he could breathe again.
“I’m coming, Dasom!” Taehyun called out, shaking off Kai’s hand as he stood up. Even as Taehyun walked away, he could feel Kai’s gaze lingering on his back for a long time afterward.
✿
They didn’t talk about it again until a few nights later when Dasom came into their room after having a nightmare. Taehyun woke up to the sound of crying, his entire body going on alert as he registered a child in distress. Lifting his head, he caught sight of Dasom standing in their bedroom doorway, wiping her eyes with one hand as the other clutched her favorite bunny plushie.
“Dasom-yah, what’s wrong?” Taehyun asked, sitting up immediately.
“Somie had a bad dream,” Dasom sniffled, rubbing her face even as more tears fell. “I miss Appa and Eomma.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I’m sure your appa and eomma miss you too. Do you want to sleep with Kai and me?”
Dasom nodded in response, coming over to the side of the bed. Taehyun reached out, lifting her into the bed and letting her crawl beneath the covers. From beside Taehyun, Kai stirred, beginning to wake up too. When Kai realized what was happening, he immediately shuffled back and gave Dasom room to snuggle in between the two of them.
“Would a lullaby make you feel better?” Kai asked, and Dasom nodded again, still sniffling quietly. “Alright, I’ll sing for you. This one is from your appa and eomma to you, okay?” He took a breath before beginning to sing, “I can see even if you’re not by my side, I feel you even if you don’t say a word…”
As Kai continued singing softly, Dasom’s eyes slowly fluttered closed, her breathing evening out as she drifted off to sleep.
Listening to the sound of his mate singing to Dasom, a warm feeling bubbled up inside Taehyun’s chest, and he began to wonder if maybe Kai had a point. Maybe it really was time to expand their family.
“You’re so good with her,” Taehyun whispered as he reached out, stroking Dasom’s cheek and feeling the soft warmth of her skin beneath his fingers. “Is this what it would be like if we had our own?”
Kai’s breath caught, and he stopped singing, staring at Taehyun with a tentative but hopeful expression. As if he were afraid that Taehyun would change his mind if approached too rashly. “Do you really mean that?”
Taehyun nodded, and the hopeful look in Kai’s eyes turned glassy. Kai’s lips trembled with emotion as he broke into a tearful grin, and at that moment, Taehyun knew he had made the right choice.
“I love you, Taehyun,” Kai breathed. “I’ll always love you, no matter what. You know that, right?” He reached out, cupping Taehyun’s face in his hand and stroking a thumb gently across his mate’s cheek.
Taehyun pressed his face back into Kai’s palm and smiled, letting his mate feel the shape of it in the darkness. “I know. I love you too, Kai.”
Finally, the tension that Taehyun had been carrying in his chest all week—and possibly even longer—released like a sigh.
✿
They were playing with the doll house together when the front door opened.
“Appa!” Dasom’s head whipped around as she recognized the scent of cinnamon and vanilla in the air, and she ran toward the entrance hall where Soobin was standing. The alpha’s hair was still wet from the shower, and the faint scent of rut lingered on him, although not as strong as the week before.
“Hi, baby!” Soobin knelt down, capturing Dasom in a big hug as she ran into his arms. “I missed you! Were you good for Uncle Hyuka and Uncle Tyun?”
“Uh-huh.” Dasom nodded, rubbing her face affectionately against Soobin’s scent gland and breathing in his familiar scent. Even though Dasom was still too young to have a scent of her own, she liked the smell of her parents and often imitated the way that they scented her. “Eomma?”
“Eomma is very tired so he’s still sleeping. But Eomma missed you a lot too. He can’t wait to see you again,” Soobin replied before glancing back at Kai and Taehyun. “Can you say goodbye to Uncle Hyuka and Uncle Tyun?”
Dasom nodded again, pulling herself out of Soobin’s embrace to run back and hug the other two alphas. “Bye-bye, Uncle Hyuka! Uncle Tyun!”
“Bye, Dasom.” Taehyun ruffled the girl’s hair affectionately. “Thanks for hanging out with us this week.”
“Come play with us again soon!” Kai added before handing Dasom her new Molang plushie. “And don’t forget Molangie!”
“Thanks again for looking after Dasom this week,” Soobin said to Taehyun and Kai. “We really appreciate it. When Yeonjun gets his energy back, we should definitely have a pack get-together soon.”
“Of course, we’re looking forward to it!” Kai grinned, waving farewell to Soobin and Dasom.
With that, Soobin took Dasom’s hand and led her out of the apartment. Then everything fell silent as Taehyun and Kai were left on their own again. But this time, the silence felt just a little lonelier than before, the empty space that Dasom had left behind making them acutely aware of the last puzzle piece they were missing.
Taking a deep breath, Taehyun turned to Kai and said, “Let’s talk to Beomgyu.”