"Jaemin! My dear!" 

The caramel haired had barely made it to the door when it was thrown open and in less than five seconds, he was wrapped in a hug. A hug that he used to adore. One that he would’ve normally melted into but now, he felt like he was just on the surface.

One where he was suffocating and distanced, only the surfaces of their bodies touching. Nothing like one where he could hug and feel as if they just fused into one entity.

No. Now he felt those hugs with Renjun and Jeno. Hugs with them were his comfort and if he thought he could pretend things with his Mother would be alright, he could see now that it'd never be the same.

"Hello, Mother. How've you been?"

"Oh, just fine, but enough about me! Bring them in! Hope you guys are hungry. Your Father even returned early from work."

Slowly they emerged from the vehicle, Jaemin watching fondly as Renjun and Jeno stuck together closely, almost scared to approach him which he thought was adorable.

They'd be there for a week. One week and that would be the only time they'd have to hide their relationship. Then the moment they'd be back on the road, they could hug and kiss and cuddle all they wanted. Hold hands and be morbidly affectionate. Jaemin would take countless pictures and keep them as his memories.

Day one and it was stiff but hey, Jaehyun was home and he was great at making everything seem normal. Taeyong was there, to Jeno's surprise, but he was delighted to see his brother and to add on to Jaemin’s immense surprise, his Mother knew Jaehyun and Taeyong were dating.

He had found out in the most surprising of ways. Not knowing his parents were aware in the first place.

They had been there two days already, the third day just arriving when Jaemin awoke to see the ceiling of his all too familiar room, sandwiched between his boyfriends as he smiled.

It had taken very subdued convincing that they could sleep in his room on his bed with him and that the other five could sleep in the guest room. Taeyong seemed to just automatically be stationed in Jaehyun's room and that should've been enough for Jaemin to be suspicious but he didn't say anything, simply assuming his brother had done the same type of convincing.

Jaemin had said Renjun and Jeno were his best friends and they roomed together, that they helped him study and that them not staying with him would be sad because he thought they were good friends and liked their company. He threw in a whole whack of bologna to make it convincing and finally, his Mother said it was okay and there was no need for an extra sponge if he could find a way to make them fit.

Internally, he cheered victoriously but externally, he simply nodded with a tiny smile.

That third morning he had woken up and headed to the bathroom to wash up, his boyfriends following behind shortly after and together they made their way to the kitchen to cook themselves food.

Mrs Na wandered in shortly after, followed by a sleepy Jaehyun who originally just wanted water but remained after Jaemin offered him food.

It was simple. Pancakes and some fruits but it was a classic and that was all that mattered. Quietly they ate their food, eyes still waking up as Jaemin took a seat between his lovers.

"Jaehyun, why don't you get your boyfriend to eat as well?" Mrs Na commented from the sink where she was washing an apple.

"What?!" Jaemin exclaimed, coughing on his deadly coffee.

Whether he was coughing at the bitter taste or at what his Mother said, it was understandable why he was sputtering but to which reason, no one knew.

"He didn't tell you?" Mrs Na asked, her eyebrow raised as she glanced at Jaehyun.

"Yeah, he did. I just didn't know you knew," Jaemin explained, realizing the way he said it could've been really bad.

He held his breath nervously, Jeno looking at him subtly as Renjun refused to look anywhere altogether.

Mrs Na looked at him wearily and suspiciously, slowly nodding as she pretended she was being normal.

"I see what you mean, Jaemin. I hope I know of any relationships you might have if you thought Jaehyun was hiding his. You'll find one soon. You go to an all boys school, no? Mayhaps when you're finally out of there your time will come."

"I hope so, Mother," Jaemin muttered stiffly, Jeno and Renjun's hands moving to squeeze his thighs in reassurance under the table.

He was reminded of the times they would have their study sessions and he smiled, slowly sipping his coffee as his Mother looked at him suspiciously a few more times before continuing what she was doing.

Realizing the situation would be okay, Jaehyun went to fetch his lover and the five sat at the table together, the other five still deeply asleep.

There were four days left.

In the first two of those four days they walked around, visited Jaemin's old primary school and played in the playground like actual children and headed to the high school where they only walked around the parking lot before getting kicked out by the security for being obnoxiously loud─ Jaemin had to apologize on their behalf with an embarrassed bow before being reassured that he was fine since the he was known while attending but it was the others, specifically Kunhang, who caused the ruckus.

But the last two of the four were what really set the rest of the days apart.

It was the sixth day, everyone staying at Jaemin's house instead of going out.

Kunhang, Dejun, and Yangyang did remarkably well on keeping their relationship on the down-low, Yukhei and Jungwoo tried but it was technically a fail since Yukhei didn't know what the hell keeping his hands to himself was and they had been together for so long that pretending wasn't even an option on a regular day.

They gave up after the first day and just flat out acted as usual which wasn't a problem by the third day since that's when they all found out the parents knew about Jaehyun and Taeyong.

Jaehyun, the traitor for never telling them that not only did his Mother know about their relationship, but also knew of Taeyong being Wiccan which was horrible of him to keep them unaware and panicked.

The sixth day. That was where things got spicey.The night before the sixth, Jaemin had laid in his bed thinking about what Jeno had said on that fateful day.

“Did they really love you if they could throw away their son?”

Did they? Did they really raise him and take care of him, cherish, laugh, protect, and keep hidden if they could easily throw him without any form of hesitation? That wasn’t ever love, was it? Had he ever even experienced love if that was the case? All his parents had ever done didn’t mean anything if getting rid of their son would be so easy.

He really had never experienced love, he thought at first and suddenly, his mind was flooded with images of his boyfriends and mayhaps, he had experienced true love but never the one a parent should supply to their child.

He had experienced unconditional, patient love that even when he had been someone his partners weren’t actually proud of, they waited for him to change and accepted his flaws. He had been raised to be a goody-two-shoes and Jeno and Renjun knew that. He had grown with a layer over who he truly was, a layer he could be embarrassed at and no longer had. 

Jaemin was confident. 

He was certain.

He’d definitely get kicked out but that didn’t seem too bad when he had two boyfriends on his side. And not only two boyfriends but their entire families as well. Hell, it’d only be his parents because Jaehyun was already on his side before his life changed. Sometimes, the love of an older brother couldn’t even compare to a parent and really, Jaemin had always felt that way.

Mayhaps it was a sign from back then that Jaehyun would always be on his side. The whole world could be against him, everyone could hate him, and even if Jaehyun more or less agreed with the hate of the world, he’d always take Jaemin’s side because it was his duty as the eldest to ensure that the baby was safe.

He’d tell them in the morning, Renjun, in that moment as he lay there thinking, was asleep peacefully on his right and Jeno on his left. It’d look like a normal bestfriends type of sleep to any other person if they spotted the three piled on the same bed but Jaemin, only Jaemin would know that that moment, he felt more loved than any other time.

The two were asleep but that didn’t stop the love surge Jaemin felt within.

“I love you two so much,” Jaemin had whispered into the night, an all too familiar shatter over coming him.

He had only felt it once before but the shatter of a Matryoshka layer was very distinct. Mayhaps that was the final layer needed so that he could have them without the fear of others. Mayhaps that was the layer that he could rip off and be free because lord knows, Jeno and Renjun deserved to be loved openly after going through so much for him.

And by god he’d do anything for that to happen because he loved them.

All together along with Mrs Na, they bonded when the morning of the sixth arrived, Jaemin's Father having gone to work that morning which left one woman with ten men. Renjun was situated snuggly between his boyfriends, speculating his brothers create most of the entertainment as Jaemin watched happily but quietly.

They all laughed and talked, the moment beautiful and never before did he think his Mother would get along with Taeyong due to his religious status but there she was. Talking and laughing easily as if she viewed him as her own already.

Mayhaps he was just charming and delightful or mayhaps she was trying to get used to the thought of him being her son-in-law. Either way, Jaemin hoped that that easy talking could be applied to his boyfriends as well. He longed for his Mother to love his two boyfriends as much as she at least pretended to love Taeyong and even if it was fake, he could live happily if she at least regarded them as regular people.

He loved them, and his family's acceptance─ his parents to be specific─ was the only problem that he needed to overcome.

But as the saying went, 'He who is not happy with what he has, will not be happy with what he would like to have.' And that told him that although his Mother wasn't aware of who he was now, he had to be grateful because sure enough, the time would come where she would know and he would regret never being thankful for her civilized treatment while they were still in the dark. He wouldn't be happy especially because it was a near given that she wouldn't accept him then.

"I’m sorry boys but I'll be leaving. I have to get groceries if I plan to sustain all of you," Mrs Na laughed lightly, eyes gentle as she looked at all of them.

Oh how Jaemin longed for that emotion he knew she felt within to never dwindle.

A series of goodbyes were called, Jaehyun and Taeyong walking her to the door to make sure she was off safely before they were left alone again.

In the living room they remained, suddenly possessed to play a game of charades.

Kunhang was the star, having the boldness within to act as the most appalling things ever as Dejun joined in every now and then once he managed to figure out whatever the hell his boyfriend was doing.

Seemed to be a fun benefit if at least some bold extroverts were in their friend group.

The game continued, they laughed loudly─ the loudest noise that house had ever heard─ and after a while, they settled down as Dejun and Jungwoo helped Jaehyun and Taeyong prepare small snacks. Renjun there with his camera as he snapped their moments.

"Nana? I wanna see your baby pictures," Renjun suddenly stated, looking at a wall where a tiny Jaemin sat on a bench in a park beaming brightly at the camera.

Jaemin followed his gaze, Jeno's one also looking as he nodded his agreement with their tiny boyfriend.

"Okay. Wait here I'll get an album."

In the moment Jaemin disappeared, the others headed to Jaemin's room for some unknown reason, simply using it as their hang out place. Jaehyun remained behind to tell them to go up with them but they refused, settling down to look at pictures.

"Jaem, come up, please? I dont want you to do something stupid and get in trouble."

"Don't worry. We won't be idiots, okay?" Jaemin reassured, Renjun already flipping through the pages as Jeno held onto one of Jaemin's hands.

"Okay."

Jaehyun left with a weary glance over his shoulder, going to the room with the others as the couple sat on the floor together.

Renjun kept squealing at Jaemin's adorable pictures, pointing with expressions that Jaemin couldn't help but to laugh at.

"That's you!"

"Yes, my love, it's me," Jaemin smiled, looking at Renjun instead of at the picture, Jeno looking at the album with a small smile.

"Oh dear hesus, you were the most adorable baby I’ve ever seen. Call it favouritism but it’s the truth," Renjun sighed happily.

The end of the album came and with a slam shut, it was set on a nearby coffee table. Their legs were stretched and as they stood, Jaemin pulled Renjun into a hug, pressing a kiss against his lips lightly. His reactions just set happiness in him and that was the only way he knew he could convey it. Jeno stood behind Renjun, wrapping his arms forward and in a giant sandwich, Jaemin leaned forward to press a kiss against Jeno as well, the eldest of the three sandwiched between them.

They stood in peace, happiness encasing them which resulted in them failing to hear the front door open and close which also meant that they had somehow previously missed the hum of the vehicle engine switch off outside.

The only things they heard were the thumps of their hearts and the breathing that came in slow rhythmic paces, relaxation on their bodies as they lazily kissed each other between giggles.

"Jaemin?!" Mrs Na gasped, her eyes widening as the three sprung away, eyes wide.

It was too late. Damn, they had only needed a day more to go but whatever. This was exactly the part they needed to get over and if it meant that they could get it done now, then it seemed as if it'd be time.