A week later, Yoongi was awoken by the wails of his toddler. He pushed the bedcovers off himself and hurried into the younger's room, where the toddler sat up in the crib, eyes filled with tears. It wasn't the tears that hurt Yoongi but the fear that reflected in his orbs.

"Hey, buddy," he spoke softly as he lifted the child from the crib, holding him close.

"Mumma," Jungkook cried.

Yoongi swore his heart cracked. Because how do you tell a three-year-old that the woman who gave birth to him and spent every second of the day with him, had left them for good without any explanation?

"Shh, mumma's just gone for the moment."

Jungkook seemed unconvinced as he clung to Yoongi, tears leaking down his cheeks.

"Did my little man have a nightmare?" Yoongi asked and at Jungkook's nod, he gently ran his hands through the boy's hair.

"I'm here now. Don't worry. You're safe with dada."

Jungkook's lower lip wobbled.

"Dada," he whimpered, fear evident in his voice.

"Now hush, little baby, don't you cry. Everything's gonna be alright. Stiffen that upper lip up, little man. I told ya daddy's here to hold you through the night," Yoongi whispered the lyrics to Eminem's song that seemed to hit him real hard at the moment. He rocked the boy in his arms and pressed a soft kiss to the child's forehead.

"I know mommy's not here right now, and we don't know why. We feel how we feel inside. It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby but I promise mama's gonna be alright," Yoongi continued, gradually singing it to the baby in his arms.

"And if you ask me to, daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird. I'mma give you the world. I'mma buy a diamond ring for you, I'mma sing for you. I'll do anything for you to see you smile."

A promise that caused tears to well up in Yoongi's eyes as he sang it to the toddler who slowly drifted off in his arms. Yoongi sat on the floor and rested his back against the wall.

"It's you and me against the world, little one. Dada's got your back till the end."

--
19 March, 2023