They had kissed until they were breathless, and even then - after taking a moment to breathe - their lips would soon fuse back together. Laylin had no idea how long she kissed Jungkook. All she knew was that when she was done, she felt complete. She stayed seated the way she was on his lap; resting her cheek against his shoulder. Her face laid sideways so that she could look at his neck. Her eyes stared at his neck for a moment before turning her gaze up to look at his face as he looked lovingly at her.

"I feel like you were out having kissing lessons on all those nights you'd come home late to our apartment," she said.

A small grin spread across his face as he leaned to press a kiss to top of her head.

"Was it that good then?" asked Jungkook.

She chuckled as she responded in the affirmative by placing a gentle kiss against his jawline.

"Wasn't it good for you too?" asked Laylin.

"Good is a weak word to describe it," said Jungkook. "I'm just trying not to be weirded out by the fact that I just had that moment while in someone else's body."

Laylin didn't say anything. She didn't know what she was supposed to say to that, so instead she stayed silent. She enjoyed lying up against his chest as she sat there; her pulsing heart rate creating a rhythm with his. Her fingers were still tangled in the back of the homemade sweater he was wearing as if that grounded her and helped her to remember this was all real. Jungkook turned his head back to look at the water as he let one hand absentmindedly run up and down her back.

"I love you, but I can't be doing this in someone else's body," said Jungkook finally. "I'm sure there will be times where I can't help but to kiss you of course, but I want to be something with you. I want us to be a couple. Can you wait for me to get my body back?"

"That's a silly question, Kookie," said Laylin. "Of course I can. I'm here for the long haul, and if you don't get your body back - if you and Taehyung are stuck like this - I will still love you. You and I can just run off together somewhere and disappear from the rest of the world."

"Easier said than done," said Jungkook. "You forget about people like Jimin."

Laylin chuckled, nosing his jawline as she whispered against it, "Just keep in mind that - no matter what - I love you for your beautiful soul."

He smiled at that, turning his head to capture her lips before she could pull away. He kissed her sweetly yet lovingly for a moment before pulling back with a smirk.

"You're going to make this waiting thing really difficult on me if you keep acting like this."

"Don't pretend that upsets you," said Laylin as she matched his smirk.

- - -

"It's a mess though, Taehyung. An absolute mess."

Taehyung had picked his way among the trees as Jimin yammered on and on in his ear about how awful dinner last night had been with his parents. Eventually Taehyung found a semi-secluded spot among the trees where he took a seat on a tree trunk while he tried to think of how to best respond.

"He got to get out of their free of the tirade that was unleashed on Hobi and I," continued Jimin. "I thought we might have just convinced your mother that we had the new album under control, but now she is demanding that the label send in reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?" asked Taehyung as he brought one leg up onto his knee, swatting at a fly that buzzed around his head with his free hand.

"Yes. Reinforcements. The dude they are sending is practically a man of myth. Hobi and I hear his name whispered about the company, but have never actually met him. It seems like he is the grim reaper of lazy, unproductive souls."

"You're being over dramatic as usual, Jimin," said Taehyung.

"You say that now. Just wait until Min Yoongi is sent after Jungkook. The man is like a dog with a bone. Once he catches on to you, he doesn't let go. He's also deadly serious. No funny business when it comes to him."

Taehyung thought he vaguely recognized Yoongi's name from the office, but he didn't want to say anything for fear of setting Jimin off even more.

"You aren't nearly as chatty as usual," said Jimin, changing tracks after a moment of silence had passed between them, "Did something happen?"

"I suppose you could say that," said Taehyung, "But it's not my story to tell."

"Wonderful. You're being just as insightful as Hobi's little psychic friend..."

Taehyung paused when mention of the psychic was made, thinking back on what Jungkook's mother had said. He knew that he had just told Jimin that he couldn't tell the story, but maybe Jimin and Hobi could at least do a little digging until they got back.

"Actually, about the little psychic friend that could..." started Taehyung, "I have a favor to ask of you and Hobi."

"A favor? When Yoongi is being sicced on us?"

"Just...if you can," said Taehyung, "I want you to go see Jin and see if maybe his parents know anything about a woman that left her child behind there several years ago."

Jimin was silent.

"I thought you just said that story wasn't yours to tell," said Jimin finally.

Taehyung didn't say anything, bending down to brush some dirt off his shin.

"I didn't say any names," said Taehyung, "And I need to know...I just...please?"

"Tae..."

"Don't make me turn this into a FaceTime call so I can sic my puppy dog eyes on you."

"Fine. Fine. Hobi and I will see what we can do."

Taehyung could hear the stress in Jimin's voice. Though Jimin got passionate and upset really quickly, Taehyung knew that deep down he cared and that he wanted someone to care about him back.

"You're an amazing best friend, Jimin," said Taehyung. "Thank you."

"Yeah well, I'm not a genie so don't think you get three wishes or anything like that out of me."

- - -

They hung up shortly after the genie comment; Taehyung moving to pick his way back through the trees towards the secluded part of the beach where he had left Laylin and Jungkook. He wondered if things had been awkward between them while he had been gone. He had an immediate answer to his question though as he stepped out of the tree line.

Jungkook was sitting on the blanket with his back to him; Laylin on his lap with her legs wrapped about his waist. Her head was resting off to the side on his shoulder so that her face was turned towards his neck as her hands clung to the back of his sweater. The grip of her fingers was loose though - and as Taehyung picked his way closer to them - he noticed the steady breathing from Laylin that indicated she was asleep.

Jungkook turned his head from the water as Taehyung moved to sit on the blanket beside him. The two of them looked at each other without saying anything for a moment. Taehyung broke his gaze from Jungkook's to take in the happily sleeping Laylin and her messed up hair.

"Something tells me you two might have done something while I was gone," said Taehyung quietly with a small grin.

He watched as Jungkook opened his mouth - and knowing that an apology would more than likely come out - shook his head to stop him.

"Don't even apologize," continued Taehyung. "I told you to not let her get away. I'm glad you listened."

Jungkook nodded with a faint smile on his lips, looking from Taehyung back to Laylin who seemed to be sleeping with a smile of her own on her lips. When he looked back over at Taehyung, he noticed that he was zoning out staring at the lake.

"How did the talk with Jimin go?" asked Jungkook softly.

"Fine. Apparently the label is sending someone out to make sure the job is done. Jimin is freaking out about that," said Taehyung. He broke his gaze with the water to look at Jungkook, "I also hope you don't mind, but I asked Jimin if he and Hobi could do me a favor."

"What favor is that?"

"I asked if they could go see Jin again and ask his family if they knew anything about the woman that left you there. I didn't use any names though."

"I'm sure Jimin connected the dots," said Jungkook as Taehyung nodded.

This time it was Jungkook's turn to say, "It's fine. Don't apologize. I'd like to know the truth just as much as you."

They stayed talking for about another half hour when a chill came up from off the lake indicating that night was getting closer. Jungkook moved to shake Laylin who seemed to protest the idea of waking, burying her face deeper into his neck.

"Laylin, these rocks have made my butt numb," said Jungkook as he huffed a laugh, "And besides, it's getting dark."

She tightened her legs about his waist as she kept her face pressed right into the crook of his neck. Her sleepy response fanned against the skin of his neck, leaving goosebumps there.

"Carry me, Charming..."

Jungkook smirked; Taehyung letting out a low chuckle beside him. Taehyung stood up first before moving over to Jungkook. He helped Jungkook stand to his feet so he wouldn't drop Laylin. Jungkook stood on the rocky shore with Laylin still wrapped about him like a sloth; his arms wrapped together under her rear to keep her securely against him. Taehyung moved to pick up the blanket and basket before following after them to the car and leaving their private paradise behind.

"You're so strong..." murmured a sleepy Laylin which caused Jungkook to chuckle again as he carried her.

"You are acting worse than you did that time you came off the anesthesia from your wisdom teeth removal," remarked Jungkook.

When they made it back to the car, Jungkook gently put her down in the passenger seat, leaning over her to buckle her up. Taehyung moved to get into the driver's seat after packing the picnic basket and blanket into the back. Before Jungkook got into the backseat, he stripped off the sweater that Taehyung gave him earlier so that Taehyung could put it back on. Jungkook moved to put the dress shirt back on, buttoning it up quickly before lying down on his back in the backseat. When they eventually arrived back at the house and pulled into the driveway, Taehyung could see that Jungkook's mother was standing on the porch. As Taehyung moved to get out of the vehicle with Laylin, she smiled at them.

"You two are just in time! I just lit the fire ring out back. I thought we could barbecue some since you two were visiting."

"That sounds amazing," said Taehyung.

Before he could move up the steps though, Jungkook's mother reached out to grab his arm gently.

"Tell your little friend to come too," she said with a soft smile.

"My little friend?" asked Taehyung, trying to play dumb.

"I heard you and Laylin talk to someone this morning," she said. "I want to meet whoever it is. I promise I don't bite."

Taehyung paused for just a moment before leaving Laylin on the porch to go back to the car as he realized that the jig was up. Jungkook was still lying on his back on the backseat when the door opened. He thought that Taehyung was just fetching the picnic basket and blanket. He was surprised to see Taehyung instead staring at him, reaching out to place a hand gently on his shoulder.

"She wants to meet you," said Taehyung.

Jungkook felt the nerves take over him as he laid there in shock for a moment before forcing himself to sit up. As he moved to get out of the car, he followed behind Taehyung with his head down; as if he were a scolded child. With his head down, he noticed that the dress shirt he had put back on was buttoned crookedly and severely wrinkled. He didn't look up even when he was standing on the porch beside Laylin. He only looked up when he felt a familiar hand - softened by years of love - slip under his chin to bring his head up. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked into the eyes of the woman that had raised him.

Yes, he had been upset earlier at the lake when he found out the truth, but Taehyung was right. This woman was his mother. She may not have given birth to him, but she had raised him and given him all the love he could ever ask for. His mother could obviously see there was some sort of emotion brewing there. She gave him a kind smile as she brought her hand away from his chin.

"What's your name?"

"Kim Taehyung madam," said Jungkook as he bowed his head forward afterwards.

When he met her eyes again, he could see the smile was still there.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Kim Taehyung," she said, studying his face for a moment. "You're quite a handsome young man."

"Thank you," he said.

"Just like my handsome young man," said his mother as she looked over at Taehyung. She then turned her gaze back to Jungkook as she asked, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

"Probably Mrs. Jeon," answered Laylin for Jungkook. "He's a famous singer."

"Is he now?" she said surprised. "I'm sorry. Perhaps that is what my brain is telling me. You can never know these days."

His mother studied his face for a moment longer, not being able to figure out why she thought she had seen that face somewhere outside of his celebrity status. She decided to ignore the feeling of familiarity for now though as she unknowingly welcomed Jungkook into a night of familiarity that he needed in the midst of his new insane life.