A/n: i think i said the boys were two at one point, i can't remember, but they're one~ they turn two in january 🥳

~~

December 15th, 2021

"This is too stressful."

"There's no reason to be stressed, Jeongguk. They're one."

Jeongguk runs a stressful hand through his hair as he walks down the toy isle of the fourth store they've been in today.

"They're almost two, they understand Christmas more than they did last year." The ravenette says looking at the toys. "Jaehyung specifically said Spider-Man."

"He was pointing at everything in that catalog, Jeongguk." Taehyung says pushing the cart behind the ravenette. "They're too little to care. As long as they get something they'll be happy."

"I'm still sticking to Spider-Man, just to be safe." Jeongguk says. "Everything says three and up."

"Because two year olds don't understand the concept of superheroes." Taehyung says rolling his eyes. "We should just get Jaehyung a robot like Hanjae's so he won't be jealous."

"If we start getting them the same gifts now we'll be doing it for the rest of their lives." Jeongguk says. "They're individuals, Taehyung."

"They're one, Jeongguk, one years old." Taehyung stresses. "You're so technical about everything."

    "I'm thoughtful, not technical." The ravenette says grabbing a robot storybook for Hanjae and tossing it in the cart. "Why are you going with robots for Hanjae again?"

    "Because it's the only thing he pointed at, unlike Jaehyung." Taehyung chuckles. "And I think he'll actually play with it."

    "Are you sure we shouldn't get them a little tablet? Every kid has one these days." Jeongguk says looking at Taehyung. "I heard kids who have tablets when they're little have higher IQ's."

    "No screens." The brunette says firmly. "They may have higher IQ's but they'll have social and development issues."

    "Saebin's fine."

    "Saebin's not my child."

Jeongguk shrugs before moving on. "Where should we go next?"

    "Home, I'm tired." Taehyung complains. "And it's getting busy in here."

    "We can go." Jeongguk says, he knows how uncomfortable Taehyung gets in crowded public places. "We did enough for today I think."

    "What else do you want to get them? It seems like they have enough between the two of us and my parents." Taehyung says as Jeongguk leads the way to the registers.

    "I don't know." The ravenette says looking at the cart of toys. "It's Christmas, I want it to be big."

    "Their birthday is only a month after Christmas, you don't want to go too big." Taehyung says. "They'll have more than they'd know what to do with."

    "I know, I guess I should be more mindful." Jeongguk sighs. "It's just that I'm in a better place this Christmas than I was last year. Not just financially, mentally and emotionally too. And I want Christmas to feel special to them."

    "It will feel special, Gguk." The brunette says reassuringly. "Regardless of the amount of presents under the tree."

    "You're right." The ravenette smiles. "And it's the first Christmas we're spending together as a family so it's extra special."

    "Yeah." Taehyung nods. "That reminds me, my parents' flight leaves on Christmas Eve so they want to see the boys before then."

    "Okay, I'll bring them before they leave." Jeongguk says making a mental note. "Where are they going again?"

    "Japan." Taehyung says. "They fly out every Christmas Eve and stay for a week. They've been doing that since I was in middle school."

    "You've been to Japan?" Jeongguk asks. "What's it like?"

    "No, I've never gone on the trip with them." Taehyung chuckles. "It's more of a them thing."

    "Wait..." Jeongguk says slowing to a stop in the middle of the store. "You haven't spent Christmas with your parents since middle school?"

Taehyung shakes his head, shrugging a little. "I used to go to my grandparents house until I was old enough to stay home alone. It was never that big of a deal to me."

    "Every kid wants to spend Christmas with their parents, Taehyung." Jeongguk says. "I'm sorry you had to go through that~"

    "It didn't really matter to me." Taehyung chuckles as he continues walking. "It was just another day pretty much."

Jeongguk follows him silently as he stares off in thought.

    "What are you thinking about?" Taehyung asks when he sees his expression.

    "So this is kinda like your first Christmas with your family since you were a kid." Jeongguk says with a thoughtful expression.

    "Yeah, I guess." The brunette says, tilting his head. "Why?"

    "No reason." Jeongguk says as they reach the register. Silently loading their things onto the conveyor belt.

Jeongguk was plotting, he had to give Taehyung a good Christmas. It was his first once since he was, what, twelve years old?

He's probably spent every Christmas since then alone while his friends spent theirs with their family.

Jeongguk had to make sure Taehyung's Christmas was as magical as it should've been all these years.

He couldn't give him Japan, but he give him the best Christmas with his family.

~

"Jeongguk, what the hell is all this?"

Jeongguk follows Taehyung inside after shutting the door, smiling as he goes on to explain the mess in the living room.

"They're Christmas decorations." He says gesturing to the boxes. "I picked them up before I went to get the twins today."

"Why?" Taehyung chuckles as he looks at the excess of decorations. "What do you need all this for?"

"Because, Christmas is in a week and it feels nothing like Christmas in here." Jeongguk says. "How are we supposed to feel the Christmas spirit?"

    "I'm, like, super pregnant right now, Jeongguk." The brunette points out as if it wasn't obvious. "How am I supposed to help you put all this up?"

    "No, I don't need you to help me I just want you here while I do it." Jeongguk says. "So you can spend time with the boys and me. And I called after you were done with tutoring so I wouldn't interrupt."

    "Thanks for that." Taehyung chuckles. "Alright, what are you going to do first?"

    "First I'll get the boys up from their nap." Jeongguk says heading upstairs. "They had recess yesterday because it was warmer but Jae still caught a little cold."

    "Aw, is he okay?" Taehyung asks, his expression shifting to a concerned one. "Does he need medicine?"

    "I gave him some cough syrup before they went down." Jeongguk says jogging up the stairs quickly.

Taehyung walks further into the living room, taking a seat on the couch as he looks at the decorations. Jeongguk was definitely going overboard this year.

Jeongguk returns with the boys, letting Hanjae down at the bottom of the stairs. Jaehyung, clinging to him as he sucks his thumb.

    "Hi, baby." Taehyung smiles as Hanjae tries to climb onto the couch, pulling him up the rest of the way before hugging him. "Is bubba sick, Hanie?"

    "Bubba?" The one year old repeats, pointing at Jaehyung in Jeongguk's arms.

    "What happened?" Taehyung asks Hanjae, he doesn't expect him to give a full explanation. It was just too cute watching him talk.

    "Bubba, dada!" Hanjae exclaims, laughing when Taehyung laughs.

    "You're a mess, you know that?" Taehyung laughs, ruffling Hanjae's hair.

Hanjae pulls away from Taehyung, sliding down off of the couch and onto the ground before walking over to the boxes.

    "Take this one, I'll get the other one." Jeongguk says handing Jaehyung off to Taehyung.

    "My poor baby." The brunette pouts, laying Jaehyung back against his chest and letting his legs rest on his bump. "You don't feel so good, huh, Jae?"

    "If he doesn't start getting better by tomorrow I'm gonna take him to the doctor." Jeongguk says putting Hanjae in their play pin. "He's not himself at all."

    "He'll get better." Taehyung says optimistically as he looks down at the boy. His eyes are shut, his face flushed, and his thumb and index fingers in his mouth. Taehyung doesn't bother taking his hand out of his mouth, he was sick so he'd cut him some slack.

    "So, I was thinking," Jeongguk starts as he opens the first box of lights. "Since we didn't let them choose their fate when they turned one I figured we could do it Christmas Day."

    "You believe in that?" Taehyung asks with an amused smile.

    "I'm mean, yeah. Your parents never made you chose your fate?" Jeongguk asks. "I thought everyone did that."

    "I probably did, I don't remember." The brunette says pushing Jaehyung's hair out of his face, he felt warm. "Do you think they're too old now? They're going to just go after the shiniest object."

    "I don't think so. Either way it's still important." The ravenette says. "I already got some things to choose from."

    "Okay, it should be fun." Taehyung smiles. "You're really excited about Christmas aren't you?"

Jeongguk shrugs. "It's an important Christmas. We're going to spend the day together with the boys, just us."

Taehyung nods. "I hope I don't go into labor on Christmas. That'd be the worst."

    "It would just make the day even more special." Jeongguk says optimistically as he looks around the living room. "I'm thinking lights all the way up the staircase, and all the way around here."

    "Mhm." Taehyung nods along.

    "And the tree can go right there." Jeongguk says pointing to the window. "After I clean out the fireplace I can move this board and we can hang the stockings here."

Taehyung nods biting his lips to hold back his laugh. He found Jeongguk's enthusiasm highly entertaining.

    "I'll probably pay someone to come clean out the fireplace. There's no telling what the hell could be in there." Jeongguk frowns "I'm honestly scared to move the cover. What if the chimney's not blocked off and a bunch of birds fly in?"

    "Totally realistic fear." Taehyung nods sarcastically.

    "Anyway," The ravenette. "I got a big tree, two mini trees, and two trees for the mantle. I couldn't help myself."

    "Five trees, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks raising his eyebrows.

    "You're going to love it when my vision comes to life." Jeongguk promises. "I'm gonna wrap these all the way up the stairs." He says holding up some lights before going. "It's going to be so aesthetically pleasing."

Taehyung rolls his eyes playfully as he listens to Jeongguk go on and on about his vision.

Jeongguk works for a few hours, asking for Taehyung's thoughts and opinions every time he finishes a task. They put the main tree up together, carefully wrapping the lights and the garlands to make it look perfect.

    "Do you want to hang up an ornament?" Taehyung asks Hanjae who reaches for him immediately. "Do you like the tree?" The brunette asks after picking him up.

    "Appa, is me do it." Hanjae babbles out, reaching for the ornament that Jeongguk was hanging up.

    "Oh, well excuse me." Jeongguk says playfully as he hands the ornament over. "Don't let him drop it, Tae."

    "I won't." Taehyung says, holding his hand under the bulb to be sure it didn't hit the ground.

Jaehyung starts kicking up a fuss from where he lays on the couch. "D-Dada~!"

    "Oh, we didn't forget about you, Jae." Jeongguk says sitting the ornaments down to grab him. "You can hang one too."

    "Dada!" Jaehyung continues to cry as he reaches for Taehyung.

    "Switch?" Jeongguk asks.

    "Alright, alright." Taehyung says putting Hanjae down and taking Jaehyung.

Jeongguk picks Hanjae up, holding him in his hip as he picks up the ornaments again. "Wanna do another one?"

    "Me do it." Hanjae says taking the ornament.

    "Be careful." Jeongguk says watching him try hook the bulb on the tree.

    "Do you wanna hang one up?" Taehyung asks Jaehyung.

    "Mm," He responds, laying his head on Taehyung's shoulder as he clings to his shirt.

    "Okay," Taehyung pouts before going to sit back down. "Do you want to go night night?"

    "Hm," Jaehyung hums nodding his head.

    "Okay, baby." Taehyung says patting his back. It was hard to find a comfortable position for him to lay in but he ends up working it out to where they are both comfortable.

    "What do you think, dada?" Jeongguk asks gesturing to the finished tree.

    "Wow, it's beautiful." Taehyung smiles. "You guys did a good job."

Jeongguk chuckles as he puts Hanjae down. "I want the mantle to be a surprise to we're stopping here for tonight."

    "Okay, Jaehyung's sleepy anyway." Taehyung says. "He really doesn't feel good."

    "Okay, I'll put him down after I get this up." Jeongguk says gathering the trash.

    "Up, up," Hanjae babbles following behind Jeongguk and picking up a few tiny pieces of trash, trying to mimic the clean up song they sing at daycare.

    "Do you want to stay?" Jeongguk asks looking at Taehyung.

    "I can't. I'm going to get up early tomorrow so I can pick up a few extra students." Taehyung says smiling fondly at Hanjae. He has been trying to tutor as much as possible these past two weeks to save up for Christmas. He wasn't able to get the boys everything he wanted but he had enough to give them a decent Christmas.

They were getting gifts from him, Jeongguk, his parents, and his friends and their birthday was coming soon after. So they should be set.

Taehyung smiles as he looks at the tree, his parents never put trees up during Christmas. This was the first Christmas since he was a kid that he was actually acknowledging and he had to admit...he was excited.

The day hadn't arrived yet, but it already felt magical.

~

A/n: yes i'm posting Christmas chapters in September, don't mind me 🤡