A Cliché Family twentyOne   “Daaaaaad, Taemin is annoying!” Jinki turns towards the sound coming from the living room. Jonghyun is standing in the doorway, fighting to get his new headset back from the small hands that are holding on tight. Taemin is staring offended at Jonghyun while he’s trying to pull the headset towards him and out of Jonghyun’s hands. Jinki squats down in front of his youngest son and reaches towards him. Taemin looks at him suspiciously and makes a dissatisfied sound when Jinki gently pries the headset from his hands and lifts him. Jonghyun sighs deeply before he turns around and walks away. Taemin wails as he loses sight of his older brother. Jinki has been cutting meat for their dinner but with Taemin against his side, he has to take a break so he can comfort the boy.

“We can’t play with Jonghyun’s music,” he says to the toddler and Taemin slowly calms down. Tears are still forming in the corner of his eyes but Jinki reaches up with a finger so he can remove them gently. “Go find daddy, okay?” Taemin points at Jinki and Jinki smiles. “Yes, I’m daddy. Where’s your other daddy?” This time Taemin points into the living room. “Is daddy in there?” Jinki asks and Taemin nods, his finger still pointing towards the living room. Jinki bounces him up and down a couple of times before he elicits a wide smile from the toddler. Jinki goes to find Kibum in the living room. Minho is blowing confetti over the table while Kibum hangs up a banner saying ‘Happy New Year’. Taemin babbles happily when he finds his brother and his father and Kibum turns around to look at his husband and son.

“Hey you two,” he says and Jinki sends him a gentle smile. “Wanna help daddy and Minho?” he asks Taemin and Taemin immediately reaches out towards Kibum with an enthusiastic nod. Minho bites his lower lip so he doesn’t start laughing and then he grabs a streamer so he can hand it to Taemin. The young boy lights up in a grin and a multitude of ‘dadada’s while he waves the streamer around.

“Can I?” Minho asks and Jinki transfers the toddler to Minho. Minho is struggling a little with holding Taemin and it doesn’t take long before Taemin wants to get down. Jinki retreats to the kitchen so he can finish cutting the meat while Kibum decorates the apartment with their sons.



Minho enters the kitchen 30 minutes later and leans on Jinki’s back, hands wrapped around his lower region because he can’t reach higher.

“Daaaaaad?” he asks and Jinki puts the knife down so he can turn around in Minho’s hold and look at his son.

“What is it?” Minho blinks innocently up at him.

“It’s just because … You know … Dad said … Can we light some fireworks?” he asks and Jinki smiles.

“But there’s still daylight outside,” he says and Minho nods a little and looks towards his feet.

“Dad said I can’t stay up to midnight and I want to see the fireworks,” Minho mumbles and Jinki chuckles a little and wraps his arms around his son in a hug. He squats down so he can look Minho in the eyes and with a glint of his own he whispers to the boy that they can light some fireworks after dinner and he can stay up until he falls asleep. Minho looks at him with wide eyes before he turns his head towards the living room. “You sure?” he asks and Jinki nods. The smile that spreads over his small lips is worth every promise that goes against his husband’s wish. Minho runs into the living room to continue decorating.



Dinner is getting ready and Jinki serves the last dish of meat. The fondue is lit and the oil is hot. Then he calls for his family. He has a plate with fruit and vegetables cut out for T