A Cliché Family sixteen   “I want a baby brother.” Jinki almost chokes on his coffee, Kibum gapes and Jonghyun rolls his eyes.

“You … What?” Kibum asks and Minho nods once to confirm his words. He's very sure of this.

“I want a baby brother. I don't want to be the youngest of us anymore.” He says and exchanges a glance with Jonghyun neither of the two adults can decipher.

“Minho, you can't just get a brother.” Jinki tries but Minho is sure of this.

“Why not? Jonghyun got a brother when he was three. I'm 7 now, don't you think it's on time?” Kibum regrets a little that the boy is so smart. How did he even become that good at math at the age of 7? It's definitely not his influence, it must be Jinki. Jinki still looks a little dumbstruck.

“I … We… Minho, it's not that easy.” The boy snorts but leaves the kitchen table without having finished his piece of cake. Jonghyun just shrugs and eats another piece.

That night when they go to bed Kibum opens the topic again.

“Do you think we could adopt another boy?” he asks silently. Ever since Minho demanded a baby brother in the kitchen earlier in the day, the thought had stuck with Kibum. They're 33 and 35, not very old compared to other parents and maybe they could. How would their family be if they had three sons and not only two? Would it be different? Would Jonghyun and Minho watch out for a brother that much younger than them? Kibum doesn't know but he can't help the curiosity. Jinki drapes the blanket around him.

“I don't know. I don’t know if we'll be too old to raise a baby.” Kibum pushes at Jinki's hidden shoulder.

“Don't say that, we're not that old.” Jinki just shrugs below the blanket. “I sort of want to adopt a third son,” Kibum continues in mutters and Jinki sighs and turns around to meet Kibums gaze.

“Let's sleep on it, honey.” Kibum notices the unwillingness to talk about it so he crawls under the blanket as well and cuddles closer to Jinki.



Minho never forgets his request. He tells them daily. He wants a baby brother. Four weeks in and Kibum considers adopting a son just to get Minho to shut up, but he knows it's not that easy. Jinki, however, seems unfazed by his son's request.

That is until he comes home one November day. Jinki backhugs Kibum in the kitchen while Kibum cooks their dinner. It's been a while since he's gotten a backhug like this so he enjoys it. Jinki's warm lips on Kibums warm skin makes Kibum close his eyes and just lean back into the warm embrace.

“Let's adopt a third son,” Jinki murmurs into his neck and Kibum wakes from his bliss.

“What?”