"Good morning, love." Jeno smiles widely at the greeting, kissing the blue haired man on the lips as he buckles up his seatbelt.

"Sorry the kids couldn't join us this morning, Johnny picked them up literally a few minutes before you arrived." Jeno smiles sheepishly.

"It's all okay." Jaemin rests his hand on Jeno's thigh. "But I have a question, you don't have to answer it if you don't want to of course."

"I'll try, ask away."

"Why doesn't Johnny just drive you around if he's going to come over to drive the kids to school?" There's a beat of silence, but Jaemin is patient so he waits for Jeno's response.

"Like I know you two are not together anymore and all, but just a curious question..."

"Honestly, I don't even know as to why either." Jeno exhales and shakes his head to himself.

"If you need to say something or get it off your chest, you can go for it. I will listen and won't immediately get mad, okay?" Jaemin squeezes his thigh gently when he notices Jeno's face.

The brunet man purses his lips, "I don't know where Johnny stands... Like– I'm not sure if he has moved on like I have."

"Sometimes he says these things but then twists them later on. Like when he says he loves me." Jeno tilts his head up to meet Jaemin's eyes. "I know he's usually saying that for other reasons."

"He says those things but doesn't really do anything to prove it." Jeno clicks his tongue, "it would've been nice if he offered me a ride as well, I mean I'm no stranger to him."

"And having a mutual platonic bond with him would have been nice as well, for everyone. Get it?"

Jaemin nods his head quietly, "I understand where you are coming from. You want things to be simple and balanced, you give other people many chances."

"Especially Johnny who captured your heart from the past, has been with him through many years and formed a strong bond with him."

"But I have moved on," Jeno smiles a little. "I'm just worried of him and what he does. Whether it is because of or for me, or the kids..."

"Yeah I get that," Jaemin rubs circles on Jeno's inner thigh with his thumb. "That is why I try to befriend him, to help things work out too."

"But honey, I just want to say this in advance." Jaemin inches closer to Jeno's space, fingers under his chin. "Both of us shouldn't feel forced at any way... Including keeping someone in our lives."

Jeno blinks slowly, inhaling a breath before nodding. "Yeah... Yeah, I understand."

"Let's try our best okay?" Kissing him on the lips, Jaemin smiles sweetly at him. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

"I actually have not..." The elder man raises a brow, "I was too busy preparing," Jeno scratches the back of his neck sheepishly.

A chuckle escapes Jaemin's moist lips, "okay... Where do you want to eat?"

𖢻

"Dad, can I have some lunch money?" Chenle asks, immediately getting approval from Johnny.

"Here, have some as well, Sungie." The little boy furrows his eyebrows at the given cash.

"Dy... This is too many..." Jisung pouts looking up at his father.

"What are you talking about?" Johnny raises a brow at him as Chenle rolls his eyes.

"Papa doesn't give us this much money..."

Hearing his youngest son's words, Johnny snorts sarcastically. "Don't mind your Papa, he is being selfish."

"But Papa also prepared us lunch so we wouldn't have to spend too much..." Jisung mumbles.

It's obvious that the little boy is conflicted about the situation. He isn't sure if what his father and elder brother are saying are true.

There's a faint voice in his head telling him to go by Jeno's words instead. Recalling his Papa's instructions every morning before school.

"Don't spend too much money on useless things."

"If you're hungry, go buy food and eat, but be careful with what you buy okay?"

"Don't be too greedy, get enough and come back for more if you're still hungry."

"Don't show off your money to other people."

"Always keep your wallet with you, be extra careful. Money isn't easy to get, even a penny."

"If someone asks for your money, don't immediately hand it out... Learn from the situation first."

"Practice saving money, it's not everyday I can hand them out... Because I'm saving money for us too."

Jisung clutches the given money in his hand and makes a decision. Growing quiet as he is also getting uncomfortable.

"Quit complaining Jisung and be grateful Dad isn't selfish unlike Papa. Do you really want to eat nasty ass vegetables at lunch today?" Chenle speaks up harshly.

All Jisung could do was shake his head quietly, shrinking from the unfair situation.

Johnny pats Chenle's knee. "Go easy on your brother now, Lele." Turning to Jisung, he flashes him a smile. "Keep the money, son. And don't tell your Papa about this."

"Would never." Chenle mutters with a small bitter chuckle before stepping out of the vehicle.

𖢻

"Do you want to go somewhere or like, stay over for a bit?" Jaemin tilts his head to the side at the question.

"Oh?"

"Johnny said he's taking the kids out for a bit longer to bond with them because he has a night shift in a few hours." Jeno explains briefly.

"Ahh, I see." Jaemin hums attentively, "well, where do you want to go?"

"You always ask me where I want to go," Jeno whines playfully, his lips are twitching as he does so. "How about it's your turn to choose?"

"Eh, I don't really do the decisions when it comes to dates." Jaemin replies with a shrug of his shoulders.

"How ironic, a successful businessman is being indecisive." Jeno quips, crossing his arms.

Jaemin snorts at that, "I just don't want to make my partner feel forced and uncomfortable. Besides, I'm fine with anything really, as long as my partner is smiling."

"Hm, what a gentleman." Jeno bites back a smile, "well right now your partner is not smiling. What's your solution now?"

"Probably spoil him." Jaemin replies in nonchalance, Jeno glares at him. "Where shall I take my partner? Got any ideas?"

"You should surprise him." Jeno is trying his best not to smile, but it is actually difficult even when Jaemin is just looking at him.

"I hope he doesn't mind."

"I'm sure he won't."

"How would you know?"

"Because your partner is in love with you, date locations aren't the main priority."

Jaemin grins this time, "in love with me?" He parrots, teasing a little as Jeno's cheeks slowly turn crimson red.

"Yeah." Jeno's voice cracks although you could barely even hear it.

"I feel the same way." The grinning elder man leans in to plant a kiss on Jeno's forehead. "I'll keep your words in mind, partner."

𖢻

Thoughts????

What a busy week wtf–

Again, Sorry for making some characters bad, especially when it's your bias.

It's a fanfiction– I mean no harm. It's for the story, okay?

"Trust The Process."