When the group of three arrived at the station, everyone was overjoyed. As soon as Mintae saw nanny Doo min, he hurried over to her and hugged her tightly.

"Oh my boy! I'm so happy you are safe!" She whispered tears flowing down her eyes. She looked extremely relieved.

"How about Jungkook? Is he okay?" Doo min asked.

"He's at the hospital with his brother" Jimin answered.

At that moment, Mintae spotted his grandparents and hugged them also. Yoongi and Hoseok also came around and embraced him tightly.

"Glad to see you're back buddy! I hope you weren't hurt!" Yoongi mentioned.

"Not really!" Mintae answered with a huge smile on his face.

Suddenly, the station went completely silent as Detective Chan and his men entered with Kim Cha ha. She stopped and glared furiously at everyone before her eyes settled on Mintae and softened a little.

"You are something else kid!" She muttered.

Everyone was at a loss for words watching as a smile curved on Cha ha's pale lips.

"Taehyung, if there is something you have that is of value, it's that kid" She muttered and nodded her head.

"He was really brave! Really brave I've never seen a kid like him" She said again in a low voice and started rambling incoherently before she was taken away along with her other arrested henchmen.

Everyone turned to look at Mintae each with their own thoughts in their heads. Detective Chan approached them. He stopped to look at Mintae with an impressive smile.

"Young man, you did really good. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have gotten her. Apart from being your relative, Mrs Chan is a very dangerous woman. It's good that she will finally be put behind bars"

Mintae's eyes saddened. "It would have been better if she repented"

Jimin stared at the boy silently. This must have been a traumatic experience for him. He knelt down to him.

"You are right but at least, she did one good thing. Didn't she?"

Mintae nodded in agreement and finally smiled. After thanking Detective Chan, they all dispersed.

When they arrived at the mansion, Mintae immediately ran up to his room leaving Taehyung and Jimin to talk.

"So... what's going to happen now?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung didn't answer. At that moment, he was deep in thought. Jimin stared at him for a long while until he spoke.

"I'll stick around till the court hearing at least"

Jimin sighed. "Yeah... there's that" He said remembering the one thing that brought them together in the first place. Taehyung reached for his hand and grabbed it.

"Mintae is yours. He has always been yours"

"He is yours too Tae...."

But Taehyung continued. "I was selfish and mean when we met again after ten years. I did a lot of things that I cannot truly atone for. Abandoning you...ridiculing you, bringing trouble upon you...."

Jimin took a deep breath trying to reassure him. "It's not your fault"

"It is Jiminah! It's my fault. You have no idea how scared i was when I saw Cha ha point that gun at Mintae. We almost lost him. If anything happened to him, I would never have forgiven myself!"

Jimin knew it was his anxiety talking so he sat him down to talk some sense into him hoping it would sink in.

"Enough Tae.... what happened was in the past. I was Jessica then but I'm Park Jimin now and the me of today doesn't want you blaming yourself. No one is perfect. We both made mistakes when it came to each other but now, we have another chance to make things better"

"I know that time is short but let's make good use of every opportunity we have. Let's look to the future and not the past which was filled with so much pain....Now, we'll do better"

Taehyung exposed his boxy smile that didn't fail to melt Jimin's heart time and time again. "We'll do better" He murmured.

They kept to their word. Spending every available time they could together with Mintae. After news of Kim Cha ha's evil deeds where exposed to the public, Bangtan shoes stocks plummeted. The fact that she  was also responsible for the bomb blast during Jimin's fashion house that killed lots of innocent people fuelled the people's anger but Jimin did as much as he could to salvage the situation. He personally convinced every share holder to retain their shares with the company by assuring a merger between Jm fashions and Bangtan shoes. Everyone was astounded with the way he took control of the situation.

Taehyung was very proud of him. He was convinced that the company was in great hands. Sunmi announced to them that she was dating to bridge the gap between them. It wasn't a big deal and Taehyung wasn't quite sure why she was telling him but nevertheless, he congratulated her but things didn't really get better.

One day, Taehyung and Mintae where playing games while Jimin sat watching them when Taehyung's phone suddenly rang. Since he was so preoccupied with the game, he couldn't pick it up so Jimin did it for him. He looked at the caller ID. It was Jungkook. For some unknown reason, he felt like something terrible had happened.

"Tae.... it's Jungkook"

Taehyung stopped his game, looking forlorn as he collected the phone from Jimin.

"Jungkook..." He said into the phone but then, his body froze and his face paled.

"I'll be there... don't go anywhere" He murmured after a long while and dropped the phone.

Jimin stared at him. His countenance didn't look good at all.

"What happened?" He asked.

"It's Jungsoo..."

Jimin could already tell by the look on Taehyung's face. He closed his eyes and inhaled, heart burning.

Mintae looked at the both of them noticing their grave faces. He dropped his pad and stared at them. "What happened?"

Jimin sniffed. "it's nothing....but i might tell you if you call me mommy!"

Mintae startled and raised his nose in the air. "No way!" He exclaimed and ran off.

Seeing that the boy was gone, Jimin turned to Taehyung with a serious expression and smiled sadly.

"Go be with him Tae. He needs you now" He whispered.

Taehyung nodded and after giving him a peck on his head, he hurried off.

Taehyung arrived at the hospital in record time and was led by a nurse to Jungkook. The latter was in a room staring at an empty bed in complete despair.

"Kookie..." Taehyung whispered to gain his attention. As soon as the other turned his head and looked at him, he started to cry profusely.

"I'm so sorry man!" Taehyung muttered. With long strides, he reached Jungkook and embraced him.

"He still died! He still died!" Jungkook cried.

Taehyung patted his back. "It's alright, let it all out!" He said.

After a long while crying and wailing, Jungkook felt better. He could then have a normal conversation.

"I'm so sorry Taehyung..."

Taehyung smiled. "You hardly call me Taehyung. It was always sir. It's good to hear my name come out from your mouth"

Jungkook forced a smile. "I want you to know that would have never willingly betrayed you. I was at a loss because of my brother"

"It's okay....I understand. You have been tied to me basically since we where fifteen years old. You never had a life of your own between taking care of your brother and keeping me safe"

"I never felt keeping you safe was a burden..."

Taehyung sighed lowering his gaze. "I understand Kookie, believe me, I understand!"

A mutual understanding passed between them. No words could be said because the silence between them was enough. Taehyung cleared his throat.

"If you want to return, there should be no problem...."

"I'm not coming back!" Jungkook blurted. Taehyung smiled as though he expected this.

Jungkook continued "There's no need to. Besides, I don't feel worthy to be by your side anymore. Soon, you'll leave and now that my brother is dead. I have no one else so there's no reason for me to stick around"

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm very sure. After Jung Soo's funeral, I'll do a bit of sight seeing. See what else I can do with my life"

Taehyung laughed. "While you're doing that, Don't forget me. Drop by from time to time. Not just to see me but to see Jimin and Mintae. There are still enemies around so they'll still need protection"

"You can count on it!" Jungkook responded.

One week later, Jung Soo was buried.  Taehyung, Jimin and Mintae attended along with Doo min. It was a very simple and peaceful funeral. After the coffin was put into the ground and the priest said the final burial rites, they dispersed. Jungkook said his final good bye to the group before leaving full of grieve but with slight hope for the future.

"Do you think he'll be fine?" Jimin asked as he dabbed at his eyes watching the retreating figure of Jungkook walk away

"I hope so." Taehyung answered. He had no idea what would happen. All that he was depending on was hope. Even he needed it.

A few days later, Kim Cha ha's trial took place. Due to the overwhelming piece of evidence against her, the disgusted judge immediately sentenced her to life in prisonment with no hope of parole. Kim Taehyung was there to see the defeated look in her haggard face as she was escorted out of the court room but then again, it wasn't enough to stop him from hearing her tortous laughter in his ears. It did not stop him from remembering all the times he almost died in her hands. It did not stop him from seeing her evil face in his mind.

A month later, even when he heard that Kim Cha ha suddenly committed suicide in her cell at the dead of night, he did not feel anything. Rather he felt fear that now, she was a ghost and she would haunt him forever. Jimin couldn't remember how many times he had woken up in the middle of the night to calm him down from his paranoia repeating to his hearing over and over again that Kim Cha ha was dead. She couldn't harm him anymore and there was no such thing as ghosts.

Until finally, he almost stopped speaking and communicating with everyone. There where also times he turned violent. Sometimes, when Mintae saw him in this state, he would cry. Jimin didn't know what else to do. A part of him wanted Taehyung to go but the other part couldn't part with him.

They kept up with it until the final family hearing. Everyone was present. Virtually everyone because this was the final day. Taehyung said he wasn't wasting any more second. He couldn't bear to see Jimin and Mintae hurt any longer because of him so after the hearing, he was leaving with Jin to the psychiatric hospital.

The judge looked at the two people before her sensing the change between them from six months ago when they stood against each other in this very court room.

"So Mr Kim, what you are saying is that you have no problem giving full custody of Mintae to Mr Park"

Taehyung nodded. "Yes! Mintae has always been with Jimin right from the very beginning. I really just came out of nowhere besides I'm not in a good mental state to cater for Mintae"

The Judge simply looked at Jin seated amongst the crowd.

"Dr Kim Seokjin, what do you think?"

Jin stood up respectfully. "Your honor. It is true that Kim Taehyung suffers from severe mental health conditions and would need years to recover if ever he does. This mental problems where caused by trauma he experienced growing up so it's best we keep to his suggestion"

The Judge smiled. "I see...."

Jimin suddenly cut in. "Your honor, can i say something?"

The Judge approved with a slight nod.

"Can you give us joint custody of Mintae?"

He suddenly paused. "By the way, I don't think there's any need for this trial. Mintae is both mine and Taehyung's. He doesn't belong more to anyone else and besides, I love him"

He looked at Taehyung and smiled. Taehyung in turn was speechless as he stared back at Jimin. "We love each other and I don't see any reason why we can't share rights to care for our own child together"

A smile formed on the judge's face. "Are you certain of this Park Jimin?"

Their gazes locked intensely. "More than anything" Jimin whispered.

Everyone began to feel third wheeled in the court room so the judge cleared his throat to bring those two back to their planet.

"I declare this trial dismissed. Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung can keep the child to themselves"

She stood up quickly like she couldn't wait to get out. "Good luck to you both" she said with a smile and was off as fast as a bullet.

The crowd erupted as Jimin, Taehyung and Mintae embraced. Ahjumma Doo min was crying buckets of tears. Hoseok was sniffing uncontrollably. Bam Bam  and Soo bin looked on sadly. There was generally mixed reactions on everyone's faces.

After a while, they where outside and Jin stood beside the car just like that day Kim Taehyung left. Taehyung had called Yoongi over to where they where. The latter looked grumpy.

"What do you want?"

Taehyung smiled sadly. "I'm giving them back to you!"

Jimin frowned at Taehyung. "Taehyung!" He said crossly but the latter ignored him.

"Look after them just like you always have. I came back all of a sudden and caused a lot of problems didn't I?"

Yoongi frowned hard. "Don't talk like this man. Though I don't like you, but I'm man enough to admit when I've lost. They are your family and if you want to protect them, do that yourself by getting back on track"

Taehyung smiled genuinely. "Thanks for telling me that man but please do look out for them"

Yoongi smiled finally. "No need to tell me that, I'll definitely take care of them"

Jimin scoffed. "Why are you all treating me like some damsel in distress. I can take care of myself and Mintae well on my own you know"

His face was red and he pouted his lips.

Taehyung laughed "I know that but it won't hurt for others to protect you as well"

Jimin was quiet for a while before he grabbed Taehyung's shoulder.

"Please just one day. Stay with us for just one day"

"I can't Jiminah even though I want to and you know why"

Jimin nodded. "Okay but promise me you'll do everything in your  power to get better"

Taehyung said nothing.

"Say it!" Jimin shouted.

"Okay...I will! I'll do my best. I'll get better"

"I'll wait for you no matter how long it takes" Jimin squeezed Mintae's arm.

"We both will"

Taehyung suddenly smiled. "If you say so, i'll believe you but I need a guarantee from you"

Jimin arched his eyes brows. "What guarantee?"

"That if I do get better and I ask you a favor, you will have no choice but to say yes!"

Jimin didn't hesitate. "Okay fine! It's a deal. Just make sure you come back in one piece"

Without another word, Taehyung wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed him thoroughly. Mintae blushed. Yoongi wanted to sink into the ground. Why where these two doing this to him? His wounds had not fully healed. He wanted to yell at them but he held it in.

They both finally separated, their eyes shining.

"I love you" Taehyung whispered.

"I love you" Jimin whispered back.

Taehyung turned to Mintae.

"Take care of your Mommy for me"

Mintae widened his eyes. "Why does everyone want me to call him mommy?"

Jimin hid a smile. "You will eventually.... it's only a matter of time" he muttered.

Taehyung kissed Mintae's head.

"I love you so much" He said. Tears began to fill the boy's eyes. Unable to handle the emotions anymore, Taehyung turned and headed towards the car. Everyone watched him as he took one last look at the people he loved the most before entering into the car with Jin.

This time as Jimin watched the car leave, he knew that not only a part of his heart was gone with that man but all of it. In the arms of Mintae, he broke down in tears and cried loudly. He cried like he never would again.

Thanks for reading. The last chapter comes next. Wait for it. Love you all