~time skip~

    "They already ate lunch so they're going to go down for a nap in about thirty minutes. Jaehyung's going to make a huge fuss about it, just let him cry himself to sleep. Don't let them sleep for over an hour. Wake them up and give them a bottle. Put them back down for another nap after a couple hours. If you don't they'll be up all night. Again, don't let them sleep over an hour. Get them up and give them their other bottle. Feed them the food I packed after a couple hours then get them ready for bed. They're going to scream their heads off but they'll fall asleep eventually. Don't pick them up if they cry. Okay?"

    "Got it." Jeongguk says taking the diaper bag from Taehyung. "You didn't have to pack clothes and diapers, I've got all that."

    "I did just in case." Taehyung says squatting down in front of the babies car seats. "They wake up at seven every morning. They each have plenty of milk, make sure you put it in the refrigerator or it'll go bad. I'll be here for them at twelve on Sunday."

    "Are you sure you don't want me to just bring them to you. I don't mind." Jeongguk says looking down at the brunette as he says goodbye to the twins.

    "I'll come get them." Taehyung says standing with a sigh. He still wasn't letting Jeongguk know where his apartment was. He felt like letting him know was somehow letting him step further into his life. And he didn't want that. "Are you sure you'll be okay."

    "I'm positive." Jeongguk says. "I'll call if anything happens."

    "Okay...okay, I'll go then." Taehyung says looking at the boys with a sad look in his eyes. It was his first time leaving them overnight. "Let me know how they're doing every now and then."

    "Sure thing." Jeongguk says walking him to the door. "I'll see you Sunday."

    "Right." Taehyung says with a small smile. "Make sure you call if anything happens."

    "Will do." Jeongguk says before Taehyung finally leaves the apartment. He sighs as he turns back to his boys. Smiling as he puts the diaper bag down. "Do you wanna get outta there?"

Hanjae makes a squealing noise as Jeongguk unbuckles him. His eyes focused on the toys swinging on the handle of his seat.

    "I have to show you guys your room. I put it together by myself." He says, using one hand to unbuckle Jaehyung before scooping both of them up. "I know you don't give a shit but I actually put in some effort."

The past five months has been the hardest period of Jeongguk's life since he graduated.

For the past five months he's been working fourteen hours a night nearly every single day. His mental health suffered, his physical health suffered, and his emotional health suffered. But he had an end goal in mind that he was determined to meet.

And after so many sleepless nights he was finally seeing his goals coming full circle. He was in his own place with his children. He didn't have to depend on anything or anyone but himself. Nothing felt better than waking up and not having to worry about tomorrow, or the next day.

Jaehyung coos, squirming in Jeongguk's arm as he carries him into the nursery.

"Look, what do you think?" The ravenette says in a baby voice. Looking down at the twins as if they'd actually react. "It's just for you."

"Ba-ba~!" Hanjae giggles with a smile.

Jeongguk chuckles as he walks them over to twin bassinet sleeper he got them. It was expensive but it was worth it for them to have a decent place to sleep while they were here over the weekends.

"I should put you down for your nap now." He says laying Jaehyung down first. And then Hanjae. "Dada's gonna hate me if I get you off schedule."

"Da-da," Hanjae babbles from the bassinet.

"Yeah." Jeongguk chuckles as he switches the bassinets on so that they sway from side to side. "I'll be back in an hour."

Jaehyung whimpers softly as Jeongguk walks away, his small cries quickly escalating as he walks to the door.

"Don't cry, Jae." He says walking over to the baby. "What's wrong, huh?"

Jaehyung continues to scream, his small hands curled up into tiny fists as he cries crocodile tears.

Jeongguk is tempted to pick him up but he knows he shouldn't. "Don't cry, Jae. Just lay there. I'll be back."

The ravenette sighs as he leaves the room. Being sure to turn on the baby monitor before he leaves.

The doorbell rings as he's unloading the baby bottles into the refrigerator. He checks the time before going to answer. Finding Jimin standing in the doorway. "Hey," he says letting him inside.

"Oh god, they're here." Jimin says jokingly as he walks inside. "And they're crying."

"Shut up. What do you want?" Jeongguk asks walking back to the kitchen.

"I came to make sure you were still alive." Jimin says sitting down at one of the stools by the island. "A simple text back would be nice every now and then, I'm just saying."

"I've been working." The ravenette says opening the fridge. "If whatever you texted was that important you could've called."

"Whatever." Jimin says looking around the house. "I still can't get over how nice this place is. How much are you paying on it?"

Over the past several months Jeongguk has found a friend in Jimin. Of all people he could've predicted that he'd lean on in his times of trouble, Jimin was definitely the last person on the list.

It was random how they started talking. Jimin was trying to get in contact with Seokjin after not hearing anything from him for a few days. Afterwards they just started checking in on each other here and there.

Since Jeongguk was no longer welcomed in their friend group, and Jimin felt a bit awkward hanging out with everyone, they started hanging out with each other. They were polar opposites in a lot of cases, but in some they were more alike than either of them liked to admit.

"I put down 20%." Jeongguk answers. "It was about $4,000."

    "Flat out?" Jimin asks in shock. "Why didn't you just rent a place for starters?"

    "I don't want to move around. I want to stay right here." Jeongguk answers with a shrug. "It's in a nice neighborhood. And it's not far from Taehyung's place, so he doesn't have to drive that far."

    "He still doesn't let you come to his apartment?" Jimin asks. "Why?"

    "I don't know, but I don't really care. As long as I can see the twins." The ravenette says closing the fridge. "I want them to have some kind of stability in their life, y'know? I know they're little now but it still matters to me."

    "I get that." Jimin nods. "Well, it's a nice place. I'm glad it's not a shithole."

    "Me too." Jeongguk says before falling silent. Listening for a second and realizing that Jae wasn't crying anymore. "He stopped."

    "He did." Jimin says standing from the stool. "Let's eat, I'm bored."

    "Why aren't you working? It's Saturday." Jeongguk asks following him to the living room. "Did your shitty boss finally put you out of your misery?"

"I didn't get fired, jackass. I took the day off." Jimin says plopping down on the couch with Jeongguk. "I needed a break."

"Right. Because decorating cakes is such a hassle." The ravenette says looking through his phone. Earning a punch in the arm from Jimin.

"Don't say it like it's nothing. I would say sitting at a desk for fourteen hours sounds like nothing~"

"I actually do a lot more than you think. I'm a manager now~"

"Try getting paid minimum wage to be treated like shit on a daily basis~"

"I rather be waterboarded in my own piss."

"You're fucking disgusting."

Jeongguk laughs, shoving Jimin playfully. "Don't catch an attitude, I'm kidding."

"I don't have an attitude. You're just fucking aggravating." The older says, his expression saying otherwise as he searches for a place to order food from.

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you that you're too good for that shitty bakery, Jimin." Jeongguk says. "You've got real talent, and I'm not just saying that. You should go into business for yourself."

"I could never do that~"

"You could. You'd just have to start small." Jeongguk says. "Get a permit, start selling from home, then expand. That's how everyone's doing it now."

"You make everything sound so easy." Jimin says rolling his eyes. "I think I'm doing pretty good for myself. I don't want to struggle anymore than I already am."

"Whatever, keep that mindset then. I'm just trying to help." Jeongguk says with a shrug. "Let's order something spicy since it's not that hot outside."

"What?" Jimin asks with a confused expression. "How does that even correlate?"

"It just does." Jeongguk says before continuing his search.

He was grateful that he had Jimin. Especially after losing the two people closest to him, his mother and Taehyung.

Though his mother tried to reach out multiple times he always avoided her. He blamed it on his custody agreement but it was just too emotionally taxing to see her.

He was so attached to her and the only reason she took him in was to protect her biological son. And that hurt too much. Especially after all the shit that family put him through.

He couldn't change his last name, but he could change his life to better suit who he wanted to be for his children.

~

"It's been three hours and I haven't gotten an update."

"I'm sure they're fine. Relax."

Taehyung sighs as he checks his phone again. His leg bouncing nervously when he still doesn't see a message from Jeongguk. He was supposed to be updating him every now and then and he hasn't messaged him once.

"What if something's wrong?" He asks looking at Namjoon for reassurance. "What if something happened and he doesn't want to call me?"

"Tae, you're freaking out over nothing. It's your first Saturday without the boys and you're gonna spend it worrying?" The older asks walking over to him with a glass of wine in his hand. "Here, just relax. They're fine. Jeongguk wouldn't let anything bad happen."

Taehyung takes the wine but he can't bring himself to drink it. He couldn't think about unwinding when his kids were in a strange place. Sure Jeongguk was their dad, but they weren't used to being there for more than an hour. "I'm calling."

"Of course you are." Namjoon chuckles softly as he takes a seat next to him. Sipping his own glass of wine as he watches the drama playing on tv.

Taehyung dials Jeongguk's number with shaking hands. His anxiety always got the best of him when it came to the twins. Ever since they got here it's been worse. He's always so afraid something bad is happening or going to happen.

"Hello?"

"Jeongguk, what's wrong? Why haven't you sent me an update? You said you would." Taehyung says quickly. "I've been worrying myself sick waiting for~"

"Calm down, Taehyung. Jeez, they're fine~"

"Don't tell me to calm down when it comes to my kids." Taehyung snaps, earning a look from Namjoon. Who motions for him to take it down a notch.

"They're my kids too, and they're fine. I'm their dad, Taehyung. What makes you think I can't take care of them just as well as you can?"

Taehyung sighs, closing his eyes as he takes a deep breath. "You were supposed to send an update."

"I forgot. If something was wrong I would've called you."

"I know, I just...I've never been away from them this long, alright? So I'm a little on edge." The brunette sighs. "I'm sorry, I'm just anxious."

"I know you are. But they're fine, I promise. I'm doing everything you said."

"Okay." Taehyung says releasing a tense breath. "Okay, fine."

"You should really see a doctor about your anxiety, Tae. You keep ignoring it and it's getting worse."

Taehyung wanted to argue with him but he was right. "I'm fine. Take care of my kids. And call if you need me, I mean it."

"Alright. Bye."

Namjoon looks over as Taehyung ends the call. "Was the house burning down?"

"Don't say shit like that." He says tossing his phone to the side and grabbing his glass of wine. Sipping it with a sad gleam in his eyes. "I don't know how I'm gonna sleep without Hanjae crying every two hours. Or Jaehyung screaming when I put him down."

"Have another glass of wine. It'll put you right out." Namjoon says earning a glare from the brunette. "You need to relax, Taehyung. It's the only way you'll feel better."

Taehyung sighs before downing the rest of his wine, standing to pour himself another glass.

He did need to relax. It was just hard when his babies weren't here.