A/N: Okay Raven don't freak out. You're writing the first official Jimin PoV for the Adrift sequel. Okay, don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't frea- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-

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ONE MONTH LATER

Jimin stares at the screen in front of him, but the colors of the movie don't process in his brain. His wife is asleep on his chest, her hair sprawled out on his clothes. Normally the sight would bring butterflies and make his heart stir. This time, it brings nothing but regret.

He turns the movie off, figuring he won't care about the ending anyway, and picks her up. On instinct, he pecks her head, setting her down in bed and tucking her in. Jimin glances at her beautiful face and sighs. She deserves better. He kisses her forehead, lingering on her skin before pulling back. He puts her hair behind her ears, turning on his heel and quietly exiting the room.

As usual, he's still in his uniform, striding down the halls with his hands tied together behind his back. There's a few moments of silence. Although they don't really have a 'day' and 'night', they have a system set up by Aurora that acts as that. They run on a 24-hour clock like Earth, and right now it's about 00:30, or 12:30 a.m. in Earth time. Everyone's asleep, curfew was half an hour ago. He's the only one out of his room this late, but again, that's the usual for Commander Park.

The bags under his eyes show in the lighting, as do the wrinkles slowly forming on his cheeks from the years he spent smiling so brightly. Where did the time go? Jimin sulks down the corridors until he reaches the bridge, entering to see the night shift pilots inside. They stand at attention, Jimin half-heartedly raising his hand.

"At ease."

They sit again, going right back to piloting. Some spare him concerned glances, but he ignores each one to instead approach the individual in the corner of the room.

"How are the systems holding up?" he asks.

"Jin's been running around like crazy trying to fix them. We might need to land on Earth to get a replacement core. It's been years since we've had one, after all," Jungkook replies. Jimin nods but doesn't utter another word. The two of them are always thinking the same thing. How can they not? They experienced a terrible event. Jimin, his wife, Jungkook, and his husband. None of them knew how to react to it.

The silence between them isn't silence at all. Jimin's speaking a thousand words, as is Jungkook. The problem is both sound foreign to one another right now. Jimin's crying for help while Jungkook's confused. Jimin wishes he could say something to alleviate the pain.

The Park's and Jeon's haven't said a word since it happened. Jimin's kids would ask where Namjoon went, but he would always reply with "he went to follow his dreams" and drop it. Deep down, Jimin knows that's not true. Is it? He wouldn't do that to Jimin, no, he wouldn't. At least not without saying goodbye. Although, the fight they had...

"We need to go to Pluto," Jimin says.

"Jimin..."

"The Ring must be back. Come on, you know it's not like our kids to run away like that. There's no way in hell they just disappeared onto another planet and are living a normal life there."

Jungkook turns to him with tears in his eyes. Jimin closes his mouth. "Jimin, they're gone. It wasn't the Ring. You really think our radars wouldn't pick that up?"

"Well our radars meant jack shit when Jihyun went missing," Jimin says. "Eighteen years, Kook. It's been eighteen fucking years since he went missing. Not a single sign that he's anywhere out in the universe, not a glimmer of hope for me. My whole life I wanted to have a happy ending. I wanted peace, even if it was just for a moment. Why do I feel like when I die, I won't get my closure? I won't get my peace?"

"I'm sorry Jimin, I wish there was something I could tell you. They're safe, you know they wouldn't get into trouble."

Jimin wipes a stray tear away. "I promised my wife that when we raised our kids, we'd make a new generation free from the past. I promised her we'd correct the mistakes our parents did to us. Now look where that led us. I'm not sure which option sounds better, Kook. The option where my own son ran away from me, or the option where the Ring is back and took him like it took Jihyun."

"You ran away," Jungkook reminds him.

"I don't want to wait two years to hear from my child again," Jimin whispers. "Not him, I... Joon is special to me. He's so special."

"He's not Namjoon."

"He looks and acts just like him. And it's more than that. He's my firstborn child. My first son."

"Jimin, I know you're a wreck, but you're the leader of the solar system. We have meetings. We have peace to keep. The entire Earth counsel has noticed how dead you are. I know exactly what you're going throu-"

"No, you don't." Jimin stares at Jungkook, the two quietly letting tears run down their faces. "You think you do, but you don't. Imagine facing your wife every day knowing you failed her. You couldn't do the one thing she asked you to do: keep her boy safe. Now he turned out exactly like me."

"You went on to save millions. You're the hero of the solar system."

"I sure as hell don't feel like it right now. I didn't want him to be like me, I wanted him to be better."

"Isn't that putting a bit too much on him?" Jungkook asks.

"It doesn't take much to be better than me," Jimin mutters, averting his eyes. He gazes out the window, the stars filling his vision. Despite all these years of space travel, he'll never get used to the sight of them. The color they add to his life was astonishing. Was.

The two don't bother saying anything for several minutes. It's a quiet night on the Tokyo. It always is anymore. Jimin glances at Jungkook's side profile, wondering if now's the time for a spirit booster. They sure as hell could use one. Jimin sighs, shifting his attention fully on the younger man.

"Walk with me?" he offers. If Jungkook's surprised by the question, he doesn't show it. Instead, he agrees, the two of them departing the bridge. Not a single crewmember bothered looking at them.

Jimin and Jungkook stride side-by-side down the emotionless corridors, Jimin making sure no one's around before slowing his pace. Jungkook mimics him. "I wanted to tell you something. I've been meaning to do it for a while, but I wasn't sure when it would feel right."

Jungkook casts his worried eyes over to Jimin. "Does it have to do with the Ring?"

"No. It has to do with you," Jimin says. Jungkook closes his mouth, motioning for Jimin to continue. "How long have we known each other?"

"Oh gosh, too long to tell. Maybe twenty-three years? Definitely over twenty."

Crazy to think that even though Jungkook and Jimin have known each other that long, the one with the longest relationship is Jungkook and Jimin's gorgeous wife. They knew each other for a couple years on Ganymede. He wonders if Jungkook and her still talk about the good old days. Reminiscing their lost partnership due to unavoidable obstacles. A horrible part of Jimin's brain wonders if Jungkook and her would've been married instead of her and Jimin if Mars hadn't come and kidnapped Jungkook. He pushes the thoughts away, pretending they were never there.

"You're my best friend," Jimin says, slowing so much that they're barely moving anymore. "And it's been nearly nineteen years since we got this job, maybe twenty. We've been on a spaceship exploring the solar system, back and forth, for around two decades. We've had kids, marriages: life. So much life." Jimin stops to shake his head. "But my dumbass didn't give you the one thing you deserve more than anything."

"And what's that?"

Jimin shifts his gaze to him, this time halting completely. Jungkook follows albeit confused. "Ruby Executive Officer Jeon Jungkook, Ruby Intelligence Officer, whatever you call yourself." Jungkook catches on, leaning back on the balls of his feet. Jimin's a little surprised he's not protesting, but he certainly isn't about to ask him for his thoughts. "I'd like to promote you to Diamond Executive Officer Jeon Jungkook."

"Got tired of leading the solar system by yourself?" Jungkook asks. There's no smile on his face, but Jimin can hear it in his tone. It's the closest thing to a smile they'll probably get.

"Only took twenty years, but yeah, I did. What do you say? Will you accept this promotion?"

"You think Earth will be upset you're out here promoting me to Diamond? You're supposed to be the only one in existence."

"What are they gonna do about it? Lecture me?" Jungkook doesn't answer. The silence he gives Jimin isn't painful or awkward, rather it's that of acceptance. "I quite literally outrank them. If they're really upset I'm promoting you after twenty years, then that's on them. I'm not going to hold what's right back because it might make some Earthies mad."

Jungkook places a hand on Jimin's shoulder. "If you're doing this as a spirit booster, I appreciate it."

"You deserve it and it's a spirit booster, I'd say it's a pretty good idea."

The younger of the two doesn't reply for a moment. Jimin fears he'll turn down the promotion, then, the bunny smile Jimin loves blesses his eyesight. "Okay. I trust your judgement, sir. Thank you for this. I really appreciate it." Jimin places his hand over Jungkook's, the two sharing a look of respect before continuing down the hall.

They turn a corner, hearing a stream of curses. That can only mean one thing. "God dammit, fuck this piece of garbage," the grandpa himself says.

Jimin approaches, kneeling next to him. He's not surprised the older of the two doesn't jump. The training he got as a kid must still be in there. "Jin put you up to this? Does he not have a whole team of engineers?" Jimin asks.

"He does, but he likes seeing me suffer," Yoongi replies in a huff, going back to repairing one of the floorboards. "Where's my Muffin, by the way?"

"Sleeping, I didn't want to wake her."

Yoongi nods in acknowledgement, the sparks from the tool luckily not too bright that they need gear. "How's she holding up?" Jimin knows what Yoongi's referring to, but he chooses not to address the elephant in the room. At least not yet.

"Oh you know how she is, she's a fighter. Determined."

Jimin's beautiful wife will never not be determined. Ever since the day they met. Looking back on that day all those years ago has his stomach swarming with butterflies. Ah, there they are. The feeling he gets whenever he thinks of her. The woman he'll gladly spend the rest of his life with. He didn't even realize he was rubbing his fingers over his wedding ring until Yoongi hands his tool to Jimin.

"You're an engineer."

"Were."

"I'm sure you still have some of it in you. Get to it, Captain," Yoongi says with a yawn, scooting back.

"It's Commander, and are you really giving me orders?" Jimin asks, raising both his brows. On any other day, he wouldn't be offended. Any other day before the fateful night he lost his son. Now, he feels a strike of anger flash inside him. Not on purpose. He adores Yoongi with all his heart and knows the man didn't mean to show disrespect, but in Jimin's emotional state, he's looking for excuses to lash out.

"I have a wife waiting for me, she never sleeps until I do," Yoongi replies, motioning down the hall. Jimin glances up, not surprised to see Sapphire leaning against the wall, half-asleep. "Well, she tries not to anyway."

Jimin shakes him off. "Go ahead. Jungkook and I will handle this. Tell Jin to ask one of his teammates next time." Yoongi doesn't pick up on the annoyance in his tone, or if he did, he doesn't comment on it.

"Right away boss. Oh, I hear Baekhyun was looking for you."

"Jesus, even after midnight I can't catch a break. Doesn't anyone in the Moonchild crew sleep?" Jimin asks, not expecting an answer.

"We learned from the best," Jungkook says, pointing to Jimin. Jimin snorts but doesn't reply, not entirely sure if the snort was from humor or the pure irony of the situation. The one time Jimin wants to be left alone.

He continues his work on the panel, Yoongi already gone with Sapphire while Jungkook leans against the wall. The silence is interrupted in brief moments when the tool sparks, the panel slowly but surely getting sewn back on. Jimin averts his eyes from the sparks, peeking up at Jungkook here and there. The man doesn't look back. His eyes are on the ceiling. Jimin would do anything to know what he's thinking right now. Luckily, that answer comes soon.

"Maybe it was the Ring," Jungkook whispers.

Jimin freezes, the tool freezing with him. The scorch marks beneath him remind him of the flames he saw on Ganymede all those years ago. The flames he saw in the Ring, when the Yuri exploded. He ponders for a beat what would happen if he had to go through that again. Would he do anything different? The crew suffered massive consequences thanks to that whole fiasco. Jimin is mentally scarred from... her. Baekhyun is physically scarred from Jace, a Martian defector they somewhat trusted. Namjoon is-

Gone.

Namjoon is gone.

"I think I've been up too late. You mind if I sleep?" Jungkook asks.

Jimin tilts his head in what he hopes is a 'no' motion. "Go ahead. I'll look for Baekhyun and whoever the fuck else needs me tonight." Jungkook hesitates for a few seconds, then, he bows and departs the area. Jimin gets back to work, finishing the panel in mere minutes. He finds himself striding down the halls, his eyes scanning over the area. Baekhyun is probably in the observatory with Aurora as usual. Those two get lost in the stars almost as much as Jimin gets lost in his wife's eyes.

However, Jimin's escapade is cut short by the pattering of footsteps against the metal ground of his ship. He halts his movements, the pattering stopping as well. "I'd recommend you come out. It's after curfew, identify your rank and position," Jimin says, his voice booming out and echoing down the walls.

"Dang it," a small voice replies. Jimin sighs, knowing who it is based on that.

"Irene." His daughter rounds the corner, a pout on her face. Ah, she's Jimin's daughter for sure. He comes over, kneeling in front of the young girl. "What are you doing out after hours, princess? You know daddy doesn't like it when you break curfew. You can stay up in your room, but not out of it, okay?"

The girl nods, gnawing on her lower lip. Jimin raises his brows expectantly. This makes her give in. "I was waiting for Jaemin."

Oh.

Jimin's heart stops, and that's when he realizes it: he really is a dad. The mention of a boy's name has his heart stirring with unwanted emotions, even though Jaemin is the son of two of Jimin's most-trusted friends, Yoongi and Sapphire. He picks Irene up, the girl wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist as he does so. "What did I tell you about men?"

"They ain't shit?"

"Park Irene!"

She laughs, hugging him while he carries her tired self down the hall. "But daddy, I like Jaemin a lot."

"You're way too young for dating, missy. Wait until you're eighteen."

"That's so long!"

"Exactly!" Jimin teases, kissing the side of her head. "Now come on baby, let's get you back to bed. Jaemin can wait for another day, yeah?" Irene keeps her pout but agrees, Jimin chuckling. Deep down, he's glad she's here. He needed an escape, even if it's just for a few minutes.

As they're walking down the corridors, she ends up falling asleep in his arms. This is why kids shouldn't stay up this late. Jimin smiles and kisses her head again, unable to help himself. He takes her through the observatory, Baekhyun there as he predicted, but no signs of Aurora.

"No redhead tonight?" Jimin asks.

Baekhyun jumps, turning with a groan. "Jesus Park, you scared me." He lowers his voice upon seeing the sleeping Irene resting in Jimin's arms. "Yoongi tell you I was looking for you?" Jimin nods. "Nothing serious, I was just going to tell you Aurora and I are leaving next week to go to Earth."

Jimin's grateful Irene's sleeping. "You're going back to that shithole?"

"That shithole is where you and your girl got married," Baekhyun reminds him. Jimin winces, Baekhyun either not noticing or not mentioning it. "We want to visit Aurora's family, send our regards to the Jung's too. Hoseok might come with, he's still teetering. I'll visit my parents out in California while we're there. It's been almost a year since I've seen them. Think you can handle the ship without us?"

"I don't know what I'll do without your sense of humor, but I'll try."

"I'm sure you'll manage, you have Jin's dad jokes after all." Jimin grimaces, Baekhyun chuckling. "Okay on second thought, I see what you're saying. Seulgi and Anya are pretty fun to be around."

"They've turned into wine aunts."

"You're proving my point."

Jimin laughs for what feels like the first time in years, keeping his daughter close and shaking his head. "Thanks for telling me, and for the laugh. I have to put her to bed, but come tell me the details later, okay?" Baekhyun is quick to agree, the two saying their final goodbyes before Jimin departs, going to Irene's room and tucking her into bed.

He stares down at her, brushing her thick black hair. Jimin leans down and kisses her forehead, placing his against hers after he's done. "Not you too," he whispers. "Please don't leave me too."

When he realizes he won't get a response, he backs away, stroking her hair one last time before turning off the lights to her room. Jimin keeps his eyes on her sleeping form as he stands in the doorway. His lips twitch into a frown. Here he is, taking care of his little girl. His princess. But his first son is gone. Gone for good. Jimin sniffles, exiting the room.

Where did he go wrong?