(This chapter actually takes place before Kook goes to give the news to Tae)

Third Person’s P.O.V:

“Lit’tle frr-end is sleep” Minjae spoke placing his ear to Jin’s extended bump and he couldn’t help but smile seeing him softly pet it believing he was caressing his ‘little friend’.

“Yeah, she’s asleep” he assured petting the child’s head and he beamed at him, displaying his tiny front teeth. Jin gazed at the boy who now got busy in waddling about while he thought to himself what an adorable little gift he was, who had arrived in the middle of such difficulties and what a a wonderful job Jimin and Namjoon had done in keeping him safely away from all that has been going around.

He sighed, silently telling himself that he too will have to learn the same from them and try his best to not let his baby feel Taehyung’s absence.

He knew that he has people around him to help me through it all and yet he wasn’t really sure about how much stronger he’ll need to be to pull through this situation till Taehyung could come along.

“What are you thinking hmm?” Jimin came to sit beside him, handing him a plate of sandwiches and fruits as he got busy in feeding Minjae.

“Nothing much…just how are things going to be when she finally joins the family” “Jae’s gonna be delighted I can tell you that…aren’t you Jae? Aren’t you excited about meeting your li’l friend?”

Jin giggled seeing him speak in baby voice to the child and Jae jumping and giggling at the words.

“Relax Jin, we’re all here…don’t stress yourself thinking about this, although I know it’s very difficult. Truly speaking, I have no idea how I’d go through it all if Joon wasn’t by my side” he spoke as he carried on feeding Jae "children are sensitive, and to think that he's going to grow up to live carrying within everything we teach or whatever he learns everyday makes me feel utterly responsible about every single step I take" and Jin felt worry grip at him again.

“She is gonna be fine, I know…I have all of you by me” he spoke while his hand went to settle on his heavy bump in its own volition. He felt Jimin’s hand gently caress his shoulders, assuring him as the other tried to cheer him up “so, it’s Saturday tomorrow…you wanna tell him about what the doctor said?”

Jin nodded, agreeing that it’d be better if Taehyung knew that he was very close to the due date and the doc expects it to be soon enough. He thought that at least knowing that would help him not to worry too much, especially because he was sure it’ll take him some time to get back to the routine of going to visit Taehyung again.

For Jin the last few months had been tough, there was no doubt about that but somehow hopeful as well, he had lived in utter fear during the time of Taehyung’s trials and had freaked out when he had learnt about the way he had been hurt and put into seclusion. It was when Hobi, Kook and Namjoon had gotten Taehyung shifted to this new prison that Jin could finally breathe in relief, grateful in knowing that Byun or Jin-Young couldn’t hurt him anymore.

Although it wasn’t all happy and golden but Jin knew he was better as he listened to Taehyung sharing bits of how he had people here he could talk to, called his cell mate an absolute jackass yet he could trace the hint of fond friendliness as he spoke about how Bogum would irritate him everyday to tell him about himself and the family.

Over the months the one significant change he had seen in Tae was that he slowly looked less ashamed and more hopeful, and Jin just couldn’t feel more happier.

He had been trying his best to make him understand that it wasn’t his fault, things had been twisted and difficult from the very beginning and they were finally heading towards a more secure and happy time, and urged him to be glad about it because he assured he was. He told him again and again about how hopefully he was waiting for his time in prison to end, how restlessly he was waiting to see their child and how excited he was for the future to finally live their dream.

Nothing looked more beautiful to Jin than when he had seen the same emotions reflected in Tae’s eyes, the same hope and the profound love assuring to make it all better as Taehyung smiled reciprocating the zeal.

That is all Jin had ever wanted, to make him smile and believe that he deserved good things in life as well.

And Jin went to bed that night unknown to the fact that the next day the best of what they deserved and the one who’d rewrite their stars would arrive.

It was almost about time when Jin would go to visit Taehyung when Yoongi received a call from an anxious Hobi, with Kook yelling in the back about an emergency when Jimin snatched the phone from them to inform him to get Jin’s doctor because they suspected he was going into labour. He cursed at the two for acting like a bunch of freaked out good-for-nothing shitheads as he disconnected the call, silently veiling the fact when he had been in the same situation and how freaked out he had actually been.

It was a gruelling time for all of them as they waited since the doctor had told them that although Jin was almost healthy enough by now it’d still be better if they went for a surgery. This added to their tension, Namjoon often questioning if it was normal for it to even take so long and every time Hobi and Kook lost their cool Yoongi would tell them to trust the doctor because there wasn’t much they could do anyway.

And Yoongi watched them haste impulsively the moment the doctor told them that they were both well and had been moved to a cabin where they were allowed to visit him and the baby.

The sedatives had not yet worn off and they saw Jin peacefully numbed as he slept, and in a cot not far away from him lay the sleeping child wrapped in a soft pink blanket. The first glance at her made all of them feel awfully teary and affectionate to see her adorned with most of Jin’s flawless features. The same blushing ivory skin, the plush cherry mouth that formed a tiny pout as she slept and the similar chubby cheeks.

“I’m so glad she got Jin’s features” Hobi whispered “I literally had nightmares about her having those intimidating brows and glaring at me”. He comically fake shivered making Jimin bust a lung by his side since he couldn’t hold back his laughter while Namjoon told them to keep their voices low, fearing they’d wake her up.

And as if in cue she mewled and writhed, tossing in her little cot with an angry frown on her brows and opened her eyes to glare at them for disturbing her sleep.

“Holy shit” Hobi clapped a palm on his mouth in reaction.

Although she had inherited most of Jin’s soft adorable features, it was now that they traced the curious trait of Taehyung’s eyes that she had inherited as well, one mono and another double eyelid and even the darker shade of his irises. They stared entranced till her soft mewls became louder sobs and soon she was screaming and beating her tiny legs.

Jungkook found himself instinctively reacting as he went nearer and picked her up being extremely careful as he held her and saw her peculiar eyes instantly set on him, assessing him as her weeping softened. He watched her with a blank face, although he had been very glad having Minjae around, right now he wasn’t sure about what he felt. It was as if a thousand splendid suns beamed on that little face as he felt an overpowering emotion crash on him.

He had told himself not to dream about it so many times, he had tried to make himself realize that it was not to be…but right now, as he held her his heart couldn’t  help but make him imagine what it’d be like if Jin was his. He now knew what it’d feel like to hold such a precious product of love between two people, and although he told himself again and again that he didn’t care about Taehyung at all, right now he pitied him knowing what he was missing.

Yes, he’d love it if it was the other way around, but then again Jin came first…and despite a world of regrets and wishes that sat before a dead end, if Jin was happy so was he. So, he made another silent promise to himself that this little bundle being a part of Jin's happiness was equally included to acquire his full care, attention and affection from this day onward up till the day he dies.

He was broken from his thoughts as he found her keenly focused on trying to grasp his shirt in her tiny fist and instead gave her his little finger, which she instantly grabbed and pulled it with all her might close to her mouth, and Jungkook found himself giggling stupidly as he watched her try again each time he tugged it away making everyone gush at them.

“She’s a tough one” Jungkook voiced fondly smiling down, watching her not give up as she held tightly to his wrist now.

“Have you not seen her parents? Of course she is a tough one!” Jimin scoffed, gently playing with her fuzzy brunette tresses.

“My turn Kook, hand her over now” Hobi demanded and Jimin protested saying it was his turn while Kook tried hard to think of an excuse to not let her get taken away from him. Namjoon and Yoongi just sighed and gazed at them, eyes flickering time and again to see Jin still passed out.

It was a few hours later when Jungkook found himself sitting by Jin, the little one still cradled in his arms as he proudly smiled and watched her sleep while Hobi sat glaring at him from the other end of the room.

She had denied leaving Jungkook’s lap, crying aggressively the moment Hobi and Jimin had tried to hold her too. Eventually Jimin and Namjoon had to leave because of an inconsolable Minjae at home and Yoongi had to attend emergency duty.

“Lucky bastard” Hobi cursed at him, and Jungkook grinned louder “don't take it personally, kids like cute people” he taunted.

“It’d be the joke of the century if anybody called you cuter than me” Hobi grumbled angrily “I swear she got it from Taehyung, our hatred for each other goes back a long way” he joked to which Jungkook suddenly fell silent.

“Good thing she doesn’t see that in me…my enmity with her dad goes far deeper” and before Hobi could even begin to assure him that those were all in the past and he had mentioned it only as passing joke their attention was drawn to Jin who muttered in his sleep, uncomfortably shuffling and wincing in pain as he did so.

Jin woke up with a clouded vision, his eyes slowly registering two figures hovering about him and Hobi’s familiar voice asking him how he was feeling, and the other was Kook, his intense gaze boring into him and as his vision cleared he caught sight of his little girl sleeping comfortably in his arms.

Jin couldn’t define the boundless joy he felt as he caught sight of her and simply extended his hands, silently begging to be able to hold her as tears rushed to his eyes.

That was when Jungkook realised that Jin had been sedated through the surgery and that he had actually been the very first person to have held the little girl, and she had probably mistaken him for her parent. Thinking that had possibly been the reason why she had cried and yelled not wanting to be held by others.

They helped him to get to a comfortable position as they adjusted the bed.

It pained Jungkook's heart to see the same reaction from her when Jin pulled her to himself as she broke out into a fit of sobs.

However, settled down a minute later when Jin pushed his face into her bundled up chest and pressed soft kisses, her little hands instantly coming up to caress his head and gave a beaming smile when Jin smiled at her, calling her his little angel and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“She’s such a moody little cracker” Hobi spoke caressing her head as she giggled and played in Jin’s lap “another stubborn addition eh?” He smiled at Jin, hugging and pecking at his head this time “I’m so proud of you, I promise you that she won’t feel any less loved just because Taehyung isn’t here…we’re gonna give her everything” and rubbed away the tears Jin spilled to hear the words.

“Please, Kook” Jin implored suddenly, gulping down the emotions raging inside him “please let him know that she’s healthy, he must going crazy since I missed yesterday’s visitation. It’s Sunday right? So, he’ll be allowed to have visitors in the afternoon/evening, just tell him-“ “It’s okay Jin , calm down. I’ll let him know” Jungkook assured him with a smile “anything else you want me to tell him?”

Jungkook cold see him get thoughtful as his gaze fell back on the little girl who now caressed his face “can you ask him if he has thought of a name for her?”

“Sure” Jungkook was about to head out when he was stopped again.

“I was thinking about naming her Soohee, it was his mother’s name” the soft silence in the room took over Jungkook’s heart as he listened to him, realizing how deeply Jin loved Taehyung, and how utterly and selflessly entwined they were in their bond. He couldn’t help but agree that what they had was beyond beautiful…it was unique.

Jungkook couldn’t speak and gave a hasty nod before stepping out of the room to finally breathe and settle his heart down.

It had always been difficult, and it had become such a routine for him that difficult had turned out to become his normal…that’s what life had always been for Jeon Jungkook, and he didn’t expect miracles or dreamed with a hopeful head, he had learnt at an early age that life is a struggle…what he hadn’t learned was that for him trying to love someone would become a struggle as well.

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[A\N] Borahae 💜