With his glasses perched atop his nose, he gazes through the lenses, scanning the book's pages he cradles in his hands. As he turns the page, there's a gentle rustle, the room enveloped in a tranquil hush. The lamp on the desk table illuminates the words on the page.

"For there are little feet that follow me around; little feet I never wish to lead astray."

He reads the line again.

It warms his heart.

It's a line he imprints in his memory. He's impressed with those words and the message it leaves him with.

Honestly, Seokjin's transition to fatherhood has been anything but smooth. He welcomed his baby boy into the world and said goodbye to his wife as she left for her heavenly abode the very same day.

He rejoiced for the little boy in his arms, so beautiful and fragile, as he mourned and grieved over the loss of his love and the mother of his child.

At first was born within him a bitter feeling as he held the baby boy responsible for the rapidly declining health of his wife as he watched the doctors rush about the room, frantically. But the second the little boy was transferred to his arms, gone was the bitterness, and what stayed was guilt.

Guilt over the fact that he could even think to place blame over the tiny, innocent being he held in his arms.

The longer his eyes raked over the baby, taking in his button nose and beautiful chocolate brown doe eyes, his tiny feet, toes curling and uncurling, little fists, Seokjin felt a sense of protectiveness wash over him.

He vowed right then and there to be the best father he could be to his son, and to protect the little one.

Fatherhood never came easy to Seokjin but he was thankful to his pals who supported him through the years. When Seokjin fell short on cash, Hoseok pitched in money and refused to allow Seokjin to pay him back.

When Seokjin had to leave for work, Taehyung and Jimin would step in to babysit and while the two otherwise had a reputation as troublemakers, they were responsible, attentive, and nurturing when it came to little Jungkookie.

Seokjin would always grumble about them being immature brats on other days, but on days like these, they were a complete opposite and it took Jin by surprise at first to see this side of them.

When Seokjin was frustrated and couldn't get Jungkook to stop crying, Yoongi stepped in to help, seeing how Jin was on the verge of breaking down himself. Once Jungkook had successfully fallen asleep, Yoongi had slid in bed beside a crying Seokjin and held him, assuring him that all would be okay, and that he was a great dad.

His mother would fly to Seoul to help once in a while. She'd help Seokjin with the household chores as well as look after the little one, giving Seokjin a much needed break whenever she could.

It wasn't much, but that little support meant the world to him. Because it was moments like those that kept him from crashing down.

His protectiveness towards Jungkook only strengthened when his in-laws viewed the little one as the "cause of their daughter's death."

Seokjin understands, of course.

He's been there too after all and he'd be one hell of a hypocrite to judge them for it.

But he doesn't appreciate it.

Doesn't appreciate how they completely disregard their own grandson, like he isn't worthy of that title.

It's the soft footsteps approaching his room that ends his train of thought. He looks up from his book expectantly and just as he predicts, the door creaks open and Jungkook slips in.

His eyes are teary, and his cheeks stained. Little sobs escape him as he rushes to Seokjin's side and the older wastes no time in dumping the book to one side, so he can lift the distressed toddler in his arms and hold him protectively against his chest.

"Nightmare?"

"Scary," Jungkook sobs, "Appa."

"Appa's here, bub. Appa's right here. You're okay."

Seokjin rocks him gently till the boy's sobs die down. Even after that, he holds the little one close.

His hand cradles the boy's head, and Jungkook is calmed by the soft beats of Seokjin's heart.

"Wan sleep here," Jungkook says, pleading eyes piercing Jin's soul.

"Of course, baby. You can," Seokjin whispers, "Sleep, baby. Appa's right here."

"No one would dare to hurt you when your appa is here," he adds with a chuckle, but there's truth in his words.

Minutes pass and a light snore fills the room. Fondly, Jin brushes the stray strands of hair off Jungkook's forehead and places a soft kiss to the child's forehead after he tucks him in bed. Seokjin places his reading glasses on the bedside table. He folds the page of the book he's reading, and once it's bookmarked, he places it beside his reading glasses.

It's a routine.

Every night he reads till the little feet find their way to his bedroom. He remembers his mom saying he should probably break the habit of Jungkook sliding into his bed each night, but he disagrees.

While independence is something his mom thinks is important to be taught to a child at such a young age, Jin wishes for Jungkook to know that he can rely on him; that whenever he needs Seokjin to be the father he needs him to be, he'll be right there.

Independence is one thing and it can be taught side by side. But independence doesn't mean loneliness, it doesn't mean relying only on oneself and not seeking out a hand for comfort when needed.

Besides, Seokjin also knows that once the teenage phase sets in, his young boy isn't going to pad down the hallway and sneak into his bed for cuddles.

He knows that, and he wishes to cherish these little moments as they come. His life as a single-parent is hard but it's moments like these that he clings to. The sound of little feet running down the hall and into his bed during a thunderstorm, or a nightmare that leaves his child distressed, or just because he wants to cuddle.

Each time, Seokjin is more than willing to welcome him with open arms and hold him close.

To his mother, it may seem like the act will only cause Jungkook to be dependent on Seokjin, but to him, it's a kind of nurturance; an assurance of his presence. It's what gives Jungkook a feeling of security and comfort and allows him to sleep better.

Seokjin made a vow back then, the first time he held Jungkook in his arms and it's something he sticks to.

The words ring back in his head and he closes his eyes with a satisfied smile.

"For there are little feet that follow me around; little feet I never wish to lead astray."

The end
24 Sept, 2023