"So then, you did it." Haechan remarked after a long silence between them. He had followed Jaemin into the kitchen, quickly figuring out what the younger was making and putting himself to good use by cutting vegetables. Jaemin nodded as he stirred the noodles, having put them back on the burner.

"I did.." He said. Haechan nodded and continued to cut vegetables. His eyes suddenly turned to a soft sadness as he began to remember things. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

"You know, Mark wasn't always a monster. I remember him before everything happened." Haechan remarked, a nostalgic smile gracing his lips. "He used to be so sweet and kind. We always dreamed of graduating and starting a family." Jaemin nodded.

He had been friends with Mark before Jeno was changed. In fact, towards the beginning of Jeno changing, Mark was still there. He remembered always taking the older's advice. Thinking back to it, he realized that Mark had been behind everything that whole time.

He remembered that day when he went back to the library to find Jeno, the librarian told him that the older had left. Jaemin decided to go after him, but before he left he had told Mark where he was going...

Was he part of the reason they got Jeno?

"I would like to believe there's still a small part of my Mark in there... That he's just trapped by something. But, even if he is, that doesn't make what he did forgivable." Haechan said sadly. He couldn't be blamed though. Mark was his first love and he would always care about him... Always.

"Well, at least you have Renjun now." Jaemin remarked, sending a smile to the older. Haechan scoffed.

"Just because someone kisses good doesn't mean that they're a good person." He sneered. Jaemin's eyes widened as the older turned to him. "What? Did you think I would forget?" He asked. Jaemin shook his head.

"No! No... But, is everything alright with you two?" Haechan sighed and stopped cutting the food, placing the knife down and shaking his head. He crossed his arms tightly across his chest.

"No. No, it's not." Haechan sighed. "To be honest I don't know what part of me thought starting a family with him would be a good idea... He used to be so sweet, but maybe I should give up on him... Like Mark." Jaemin was taken aback by that. His eyes widened as he turned to stir the noodles.

"What happened Hyuck?" He asked softly.

"Nothing.. Renjun is making stupid decisions. He's not even thinking about how they will affect his family. His son.." Jaemin nodded slowly, taking bowls out of cabinets and beginning to plate everything. Haechan added his vegetables to the salad and mixed it before he turned to look at Jaemin with a smile. "You're a very lucky man Jaemin. Jeno isn't keeping anything from you... Don't fuck this up." Haechan warned before heaving a sigh and heading off to the room. He knocked on the door a couple of times and came in to see Minjun was sitting in Jeno's lap, asleep while the older gently ran his fingers through his hair, smiling warmly and humming to himself. His eyes were closed, head resting against the wall, but Haechan knew he wasn't asleep.

"Jen Jen. Baby, it's dinnertime." Jeno opened his eyes sleepily and nodded, looking down briefly before looking up again at Haechan who was walking over to pick up the sleeping boy.

"He said he was sleepy and he didn't wanna move.." He whispered to the younger. Haechan nodded a smile on his lips and picked go the sleeping boy carefully. Jeno stood and followed drowsily, watching Minjun sleep easily in the younger's arms.

Was that what it was like to have a child? Would they trust you no matter what? Know their parent just by touch?

Jeno didn't notice Hyuck heading for the door with Minjun, saying something to Jaemin that he didn't pay attention to. Instead, with a small pout, he placed a hand on his stomach and sighed. He didn't want to wait anymore. He wished that the stupid baby would grow faster. He shook his head. Baby isn't stupid.. Just needs time. He nodded to himself, hand still on his slightly swollen stomach. He sighed happily and smiled, lifting his head to see Jaemin standing in the kitchen, bowls of food in his hands. He sent a loving smile towards Jeno and nodded.

"Hungry?"

Dinner went by quickly, the conversation filled with Jeno's giggles and cute pouts when the younger would tease him playfully. Jeno still wanted his cuddles really bad though, so when they were finished eating he made that clear.

"Do you have to do the dishes?" He whined as Jaemin cleared their bowls. The younger chuckled and set them in the sink.

"Well, I would like then to get done now, but if my baby needs his cuddles that bad then I would gladly give them." Jeno gave a fast nod.

"He does. Needs cuddles real bad." He answered with a pout. Jaemin laughed again before walling over to the older.

"Then lead the way." Jeno's face lit up. He pulled Jaemin to their room, getting onto the bed and under the covers excitedly. His smile was wide as he made grabby hands towards the younger. Jaemin heald up a finger.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom first. That way we can have uninterrupted cuddles. Does that sound okay?" Jeno's smile faltered a little and he gave a tiny nod. With that the younger went out of the room and to the restroom.

Jeno stared up at the ceiling, contentment settling in him for a moment. For once, he wasn't thinking about Mark, or Renjun, or Minjun, or Haechan, he was only thinking about Jaemin, the baby, and himself. He actually realized that he didn't really think much about himself anymore, and when he was thinking about himself it was more negative and worrisome then positive. He sat up and got onto his knees, crawling over and lifting up the blinds covering the window by the bed.

He looked outside at the neighborhood, now bathing in the golden glow of the setting sun. The trees green leaves swaying ever so gently in the breeze outside, the occasional person walking their dog or mowing their lawn below, the empty street that had always been blessedly quiet. His smile was genuine as he looked at it all. When their child was born, he wanted to take them outside to play, show off his toy collections and tell their stories, take them to all the places that were special to him and Jaemin. He was so excited.

But he was also so caught up in his thoughts and anticipation about their future son or daughter, that he wasn't thinking as much about himself. He wasn't giving his mind and body the time and attention it deserved.

So someone had to.

Jaemin closed the bedroom door softly behind him as he entered, the sight of Jeno kneeling on the bed and looking excitedly out the window being adorable to him. He walked over and sat down on the bed, gaining Jeno's attention. The older beckoned for him to come and look out the window, so he did, crawling over and kneeling beside Jeno to look out at the neighborhood below. Jeno lifted a finger, pointing out the window with a smile.

"It looks so warm.." He said cutely. Jaemin couldn't contain a giggle at his sentence, nodding his head.

"It is warm out." He said with a fond smile to the older. Jeno turned and looked Jaemin in the eyes.

"Nana.."

"What is it, sweetheart?" Jeno's eyes fell as doubt filled him. He swallowed thickly and met the younger's gaze again.

"Can I try to kiss you?" He asked softly.

The words broke Jaemin's heart.

The idea that Jeno was going to try to kiss him.

The idea that Jeno didn't think he could anymore without remembering him..

It was heartbreaking.

"Of course.." He said. Jeno nodded and took a deep breath, scooting closer to Jaemin (if that's even possible) and taking hold of one of the other's hands. He was shaking slightly, his breathing growing slightly heavier. He leaned forward until their lips connected, trying as hard as he could to let himself get lost in the feeling.

But everything in his being was screaming.

He wanted to get out.

He pulled away quickly, Jaemin briefly following his lips from habit before realizing what was happening and stopping. Jeno sniffled a bit and swallowed, leaning his head on the younger's chest. He took a shaky breath.

"Did he... Did he kiss you.. A lot?" Jeno took another deep breath and nodded slowly.

"Yes."

He wished he could've said no. He wished Mark had never known him, never seen him, never touched him.

He felt a little better as Jaemin rubbed soft circles onto his back, slowly scooting closer until he was straddling the youngers waist, arms wrapped tightly around his body. He hoped that they could stay like this forever, just in each other's arms happily until the end of time. He took a deep breath and inhaled Jaemin's sweet scent, hugging him a bit tighter.

"I'm s-sorry Jaeminie.." He whispered. Jaemin shook his head.

"No Jen, it's alright its not your fault baby." Jeno nodded into his lover's chest, smiling gently at the boy's words.

"I love you so much Jaem."

"I love you too Jeno. And I promise I always will." Jeno closed his eyes and let himself melt into the boy's hold, feeling his body beginning to slip away from reality a bit.

"Jaem Jaem.." He whispered. Jaemin hummed. "Can you give me kisses?" The younger tensed a bit. Was that really a good idea after what just happened?

"If you're sure that's what you want, beautiful." Jeno nodded again.

"Let's just try. Just some soft kisses on my head n' stuff.." Jaemin hummed in acknowledgment before he put his head down and briefly, kissed the top of the older's head. Jeno leaned back and looked up at Jaemin with sparkling eyes. "Forehead?" He asked softly. Jaemin nodded and did as told leaving soft pecks on either side of the other's forehead. Jeno looked a bit shy now as he asked "face..?" Jaemin gave a warm and loving smile, leaning forward and leaving small, delicate kisses all over the older boy's face. His nose, his cheeks, back to his forehead, everywhere. He smiled into them when Jeno started to giggle softly, the joyous sound ringing out around their bedroom. It made Jaemin so happy to hear that noise, finishing what he was doing and leaning his head against Jeno's.

"How was that?" He asked. Jeno just nodded his head, leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss onto the younger's lips. He pulled away with a smile.

"Perfect." Jaemin chuckled.

"Just like you baby." The younger said softly, reaching up to caress his cheek gently. "Perfect."

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