Taehyung leans against the front counter after taking care of another customer.

His eyes feel tired and his feet were killing him from standing up all day and he was worried about the kids.

Even though he trusted Yoongi and knew that he'd never let anything happen to the children he was still a bit of a helicopter parent.

    "What's going on with you, sweetheart?" Jin asks appearing beside him, wiping his hands on his apron.

"Nothing." The younger sighs, pulling his phone out to send Yoongi a quick message.

    "You sure?" Jin asks, his expression concerned. "You seem tired."

Taehyung chuckles. "I guess I am."

    "Wanna talk?" Jin asks, leaning next to Taehyung against the counter.

The younger shakes his head as he finishes his message to Yoongi. "There's nothing really to talk about."

    "Yoongi's been telling me about Jihae's behavior lately." The older says with a sad smile.

Taehyung sighs again. "Yeah. Everything I've read online says it's normal for a child her age to behave this way when a new baby comes along. She just wants attention."

    "Are you sure she isn't trying to tell you something else? Articles aren't always right." Jin says with a shrug. "Have you tried talking to her?"

    "Of course I have. She doesn't listen, hyung. When Jungkook is with Jiseok she wants him and when I'm with Jiseok she wants me. But when it all comes down to it, I'm the bad guy in her mind." Taehyung explains, his frustration showing through his words. "Yoongi and Jungkook cater to her all the time and when I come along and lay down the rules she thinks I'm being mean."

    "I wish I knew what to say, Tae. I'm sorry, sweetheart." Jin says sympathetically.

The bell chimes signaling the front door being opened, making both of them stand up straight to greet the customer.

    "Oh, Jungkook." Jin smiles when he sees the younger walking into the bakery. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Taehyung turns around in confusion. "Jungkook? What are you doing here?"

    "Hey." Jungkook smiles as he approaches the front counter. "Hey, Jin-hyung. "

    "Hey, Kook. What brings you here?" Jin asks, leaning forward onto the counter.

    "I actually came to pick Taehyung up." The younger responds, making Taehyung's confused expression grow more confused.

    "Ah, that's right." Jin says, nodding his head and looking at Taehyung. "You can go, Tae."

    "What? Jungkook, I'm not off until~"

    "I know, baby. But Jin-hyung can take care of the place while you're away." Jungkook says, looking at Jin who nods.

    "I got it, Tae. Go on." He says to his confused friend. "Have a good rest of your day."

   "What are you guys up to?" Taehyung asks suspiciously.

    "Thanks, hyung. I'll call you tomorrow." Jungkook says, grabbing Taehyung by the wrist and leading him from behind the counter.

    "Bye guys." Jin chuckles as the two leave the shop.

    "Jungkook." Taehyung says as he is lead to the car. "What are you doing? I was supposed to be letting Jin-hyung off early today, not making him close."

    "Tae, baby." Jungkook says as he opens the passenger door. "I'm taking you out. Okay? We haven't had a night to ourselves in so long. I thought it'd be nice for it to be just us for the night."

    "What do you mean the night? We need to get the kids from Yoongi by~"

    "Yoongi's keep the kids." Jungkook sighs, leaning against the car door.

Taehyung's eyes widen. "Jeon Jungkook~"

    "Jeon Taehyung." Jungkook cuts him off. "I'm doing this for our own good. Trust me. Okay?"

    "No, not okay. Did you seriously think I'd be okay with leaving them overnight? Jiseok doesn't even sleep through the night yet, Kook. Seriously, what are you thinking?" Taehyung says back, his voice frustrated and tired.

    "I was thinking that we needed some time to ourselves every now and then." Jungkook responds honestly, his tone matching Taehyung's. "Our marriage is going to fall apart if we don't make time for ourselves, Tae."

    "The kids come before everything. Even this." Taehyung says gesturing between them. "And I don't feel comfortable leaving them Yoongi overnight so I won't. And if you can't understand that then maybe there's a bigger issue."

    "Why are you fighting with me?" Jungkook says, his patience wearing thin. "I just wanted us to be us again for a night. We've been being parents 24/7 for the past three years, Tae. It's tiring and it's affecting our marriage. We haven't had a conversation about anything other than the kids in months, months, Taehyung."

    "We are parents, Jungkook. That's who we are, that's what we do, we parent. And if this isn't what you want then what exactly do you want?" Taehyung asks, his eyebrows drawing together in anger.

    "I love my kids, I do. Honest to god I do. But I don't want us to be so busy being parents that we fall out of love with each other. We don't even talk anymore unless it's about the kids. We haven't touched each other in months~"

    "Because the kids come first. And if you're seriously that afraid of us falling out of love or whatever maybe you should think about where your heart is. Because I love you and nothing will change that." Taehyung says, he didn't understand where Jungkook was coming from. "I have to close tonight so you're going to have to get the kids from Yoongi."

    "Taehyung." Jungkook says as the other starts to head back towards the bakery.

    "We have responsibilities, Jungkook. As parents and as people, our kids are our number one priority and responsibility. I thought you understood that, but I guess I thought wrong." Taehyung sighs, his frustration turning into exhaustion. "Just, get the kids. I'll see you later tonight."

    "Taehyung." Jungkook says again, but it's no use as Taehyung continues back inside the bakery, leaving him alone.

Jungkook thought Jimin was right about them needing time away from the kids, he genuinely believed that Taehyung would agree as well.

Maybe he came off wrong by basically saying he was tired of being a parent.

Taehyung didn't understand what Jungkook wanted or what he was talking about, but leaving the kids unexpectedly at with Jimin and Yoongi was unacceptable.

Maybe they both just misunderstood each other.

__

"I think Jungkook is right."

Taehyung groans, running his fingers through his hair in frustration as he and Jin sit and talk together after closing up the shop.

"Honestly, Tae he has a point." The older continues. "No matter how much you love your kids if your life becomes routine and boring you'll want to seek out fun elsewhere leading to all kinds of marital issues in the future."

"Why are you guys thinking like that? Jungkook and I love each, I'm not going anywhere and if he gets bored of me then he can leave." Taehyung says, his voice aggravated.

"But you know that you don't want that and Jungkook doesn't want that. You guys are still young enough to make changes for the better." Jin says making Taehyung think about what Jungkook had said.

"Now I feel like a jerk." The younger admits, sighing softly.

"I understand where you were coming from. But this lifestyle of just work and kids is going to become tiring, more tiring than it already is, if you guys don't even have time to confide in each other. Understand?"

"I understand." Taehyung says, he understood but he didn't quite understand, shouldn't love override everything, even the fear of a routine and boring life?

    "Are you happy, Tae?" Jin asks after a moment, making Taehyung sigh.

    "I don't know." The younger answers honestly, tears pricking his eyes. "I don't know, hyung."

Jin sighs, a sad smile on his face. "You need to go home and you need to talk to Jungkook."

Taehyung nods, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. "Okay."

    "Come on." Jin says, both of them standing from the table and leaving the empty bakery.

Taehyung walks into the house after getting dropped off by Seokjin.

The lights are all off downstairs so he figures that the kids have already been put down, he creeps quietly up the stairs as to not wake the kids.

When he gets up he finds his and Jungkook's bedroom door open, Jungkook not inside.

    "Kook?" He calls softly, walking to Jihae's room, also finding it empty. "Jungkook?"

He rushes to Jiseok's room, empty.

    "Jungkook!" He calls as he rushes downstairs to get his phone from his jacket pocket.

He pulls the device from his pocket and dialing Jungkook's number.

He walks into the kitchen to get some water before he literally loses his shit.

His foot pats angrily against the tile floor as the phone rings.

He hears the front door open before the call goes through, he drops the phone and rushes back to the front door.

    "Jungkook, what the f~"

    "Shh, sh." Jungkook shushes him as he carries Jihae in his right arm and Jiseok's car seat in his left.

Taehyung bites his lip in frustration as he goes and takes Jihae from him. "It's almost eleven o'clock."

Jungkook nods silently, carrying Jiseok towards the stairs.

    "Where were you?" Taehyung whispers, almost shaking in annoyance as he follows behind with Jihae.

    "Please, Tae." Jungkook whispers tiredly, walking towards Jiseok's room.

Taehyung takes Jihae to her room, taking off her shoes and changing her into a big shirt before laying her down.

When he leaves he finds Jungkook in their room changing his own clothes.

    "What's the matter with you?" He asks, closing the door behind himself. "It's nearly eleven o'clock at night and you're just now bringing them home? Where the hell were you?"

Jungkook sighs as if Taehyung's questions were inconveniencing him. "I was at Yoongi's, Tae. It's not a big deal."

    "Not a big deal? It's eleven o'clock!" Taehyung exclaims. "The kids were supposed to have been put down hours ago."

    "They slept at Yoongi's." Jungkook says, his attitude still nonchalant. "If you're worried about them being cranky tomorrow I'll get them up."

    "Have you been drinking?" Taehyung asks, finding no other explanation for his behavior.

Jungkook chuckles. "No."

    "What's the matter with you?" Taehyung asks, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's~"

    "Nearly eleven o'clock. I heard you, Tae." Jungkook sighs as he pulls the covers back on his side of the been

    "Why are you acting like this?" Taehyung asks.

    "I apologize." Jungkook says as he lays down. "I understand that the kids' needs come first and my needs to socialize and talk one normal human being to another comes second to that. It won't happen to the kids again."

Jungkook lays down with his back to his husband, Taehyung still practically fuming.

Taehyung leaves the room without another word, wanting to slam the door shut but not wanting to wake the kids.

He goes downstairs after grabbing an extra pillow and blanket from the hall closet.

He didn't care if Jungkook was trying to make a point, coming home after ten with his children wasn't acceptable.

Taehyung makes himself as comfortable as possible on the couch before trying to get some sleep.

Despite being exhausted his anger and frustration keeps him up until nearly three in the morning, leaving him only three hours or so to get some sleep.

He wakes up before their usual alarm, tension making his back and neck hurt as he goes upstairs to get Jiseok up.

He lifts the sleeping back from his crib before grabbing his diaper bag and walking back downstairs to change him.

Jiseok stirs after a few minutes, squirming and crying as Taehyung dresses him into a green onesie.

    "I know, baby. I know." Taehyung coos, buttoning the last button before lifting the baby and bouncing him.

Jiseok calms down once Taehyung gets his bottle up to his lips, the small baby guzzling it down

    "Mommy."

Taehyung turns to see Jihae waiting at the top of the stairs.

    "Jihae, babe. Come down carefully, like daddy showed you." He says to the girl, smiling softly as she scoots down the stairs on her bottom.

    "Mommy, up." Jihae whines, holding her arms up to Taehyung.

    "Let me put the baby down." He says, placing Jiseok on the couch beside the pillow he used before picking Jihae up.

The little girl wraps her arms tightly around Taehyung's neck, her legs hugging his torso.

    "Mommy?" She says, her voice still whiney from being asleep.

    "Yes, baby?" Taehyung asks, hugging her back.

    "I is sorry for being meanie to mommy." The little girl says. "Yoonie says I needa be nice to mommy because mommy is very a lot stress. A-And tryna make JiJi a big boy. Like I is big girl."

Taehyung pulls away from the hug enough to look at Jihae, tears forming in his eyes. "You're just a baby, Jihae. I know you didn't mean to hurt mommy's feelings."

Jihae's eyes well with tears when she notices her mommy's tears. "I made a mommy cry."

Taehyung chuckles, shaking his head. "No, sweet pea, you made mommy happy. You're such a big girl now, apologizing to your mommy."

    "C-Can mommy be nice to Jihae?" The little girl asks.

    "I only want the best for you, princess. Everything I do is to make sure you grow up to be like me one day." Taehyung says, smiling softly.

    "Old?"

Taehyung's smile drops. "I'm not old, you're just really young."

Jihae nods, laying her head on Taehyung's shoulder.

Taehyung sits down on the couch next to Jiseok who is staring up at the ceiling calmly.

It was the weekend, so they didn't have to get the kids ready to go with Yoongi right away but they were still in a sleep schedule sadly, even on the weekends.

    "Wanna help me burp the baby?" He asks Jihae, who nods excitedly. "Okay. Just sit beside me."

The little girl crawls off of Taehyung and sits down as he picks the baby up.

    "Here, we'll take turns. You pat his back first." Taehyung says, letting Jihae pat Jiseok's back for a little bit, he takes over after a while, burping the baby for real. "All done."

    "All done." Jihae giggles before jumping off the couch. "I wanna eat."

Taehyung stands and puts Jiseok in his bouncer before carrying Jihae to the kitchen. "Do you want cereal or pancakes?"

    "I wanna pancakes!" The girl squeals, throwing her hands up enthusiastically.

    "Sh, baby. Daddy is sleeping." Taehyung chuckles softly as he sits her down in her high chair.

Taehyung mixes up some instant pancake batter quickly, keeping an eye on Jiseok and Jihae as he cooks.

He breaks up a small pancake for Jihae to eat with some syrup before making some for Jungkook, he wasn't in the mood for breakfast right now.

Taehyung puts Jiseok's bouncer next to his chair and sits at the kitchen table as Jihae eats and babbles on about something he doesn't understand.

Jungkook makes his way downstairs as Taehyung is helping Jihae wash her hands in kitchen sink.

    "Daddy!" The little squeals loudly, immediately trying to reach for Jungkook, resulting in water splashing onto the floor.

Taehyung let's her go and she runs to Jungkook who picks her up despite her soapy hands.

    "Hey, baby." He says sleepily, completely unbothered by the soap wetting his shirt.

    "Daddy! I wanna pancakes and I is puts it like a sticky on my hand and other hand but itsa okay cause a mommy puts a water and bubble on and itsa gone!"

    "That's good, Jihae." Jungkook replies, sitting down at the table.

    "We have to get you dressed, Jihae." Taehyung says standing from the table.

Jihae reaches for him and he takes her from Jungkook.

    "We have to talk." Taehyung says to him before leaving the kitchen and taking Jihae upstairs.

Jungkook sighs, he really didn't want to talk, he just wanted forget about it and move on. 

Taehyung comes back down almost fifteen minutes later and puts Jihae down with some toys and Jiseok in his bouncer in the living room.

He sits down at the table across from Jungkook.

    "Look, Tae~"

    "No." Taehyung says holding his hand up. "I want to apologize, Jungkook."

Jungkook isn't shocked or taken about, he knows Taehyung enough to know that he'll always take the blame even if he isn't at fault.

    "I should have heard you out. I understand, I do. I know that we're still people and we're still young and I know that our relationship hasn't been at its best as of lately." Taehyung sighs, the tension in his neck easing. "I understand that we need time for ourselves, it's true. The kids are our everything but if we don't take care of ourselves and our relationship then they will suffer in the long run with us. And I don't want that."

    "I'm sorry too, Tae. I shouldn't have stayed so late at Yoongi's. I shouldn't have behaved the way I did last night. It was really immature of me." Jungkook admits. "I was just so frustrated with you and myself and everything, I thought you'd be happy about getting some time to ourselves but you just got upset. Which makes sense, now that I think about it. I'd probably get upset too."

Taehyung nods. "I shouldn't have gotten upset. You were right."

    "You don't always have to take responsibility for what's wrong, Tae." Jungkook says. "I was equally as wrong."

    "If I had been more understanding you wouldn't have had a reason to be upset and stay out late." Taehyung says, a frown tugging at the corners of his lips.

    "Can we agree that we were both wrong?" Jungkook asks.

Taehyung nods. "Fine."

    "Are you still mad me?" Jungkook asks.

Taehyung shakes his head. "I'm not mad at you. I wasn't mad at you."

Jungkook pouts, opening his arms for Taehyung to come.

Taehyung chuckles, standing and walking into Jungkook's arms, sitting on his lap.

They share a sweet kiss, Jungkook's arms around Taehyung's waist.

    "I love you." Taehyung says, meaning every word.

    "I love you more."

    "Impossible."

    "Possible."

    "Prove it"

    "I'm doing it right now."

————