b a b y   s t e p s

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” a loud voice exclaimed, causing Chelsea to crack open one eye.

“Go back to sleep Hana, it’s too early for this,” her tired voice muffled in the pillow.

“Aww,” the childish voice replied, her pout evident in the sound.

But Chelsea soon found out that she wasn’t going to be getting any more sleep.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” the same voice exclaimed yet again but this time, was answered with a more friendly response.

“Mmmm,” the exhausted man lying beside Chelsea replied, “Morning princess.”

He hugged her waist and brought her closer to him.

“Are you ready for your first day of day care today?” he hummed into the younger’s hair.

“Yes!” she cheered, “I am sooooo excited! I can’t wait to make friends!”

Jimin chuckled, “That’s the spirit,” his voice, still tired, said.

“Can you two shush,” Chelsea groaned, “I’m trying to savour these last moments I get to sleep before the concert today, I need my beauty sleep.”

“Okay,” Hana replied, dejectedly, and her tone made Chelsea regret saying it.

“Hana,” Jimin whispered, suddenly getting an idea.

“Yeah?” the three year old whispered back, looking to his father.

“You wanna tickle mommy?” he asked her and she smiled, nodding vigorously. “Go,” he pointed to Chelsea who had just rolled over so her back was facing the two of them.

She nodded again and started crawling to her. When she reached her, her small hands started going at her mother’s waist, making Chelsea jump and turn around.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, her nose scrunching playfully.

“Tickling mommy,” Hana replied, innocently.

“No you don’t,” Chelsea grabbed her daughter and started tickling her back, causing them both to burst into fits of laughter.

“Stop!” Hana breathed, “It was daddy’s – idea!”

That stopped her, her head turning sharply at Jimin, who was glaring at his daughter.

“Why’d you tell her that?” he whined and then looked to Chelsea, smiling the smile he knew she loved. “Haha…” he gave a nervous laugh, moving to the edge of the bed, making Hana giggle.

“Ooooh daddy’s in trouble,” she sang and Chelsea nodded, pouncing on Jimin, and ticking his sides while he was helpless.

In between breaths he was begging for mercy, while Chelsea was having none of it, and Hana was watching the scene like she was watching a movie in the theatre.

“What do you have to say to me?” she asked and he breathed out a quiet ‘Sorry’, and finally she stopped, bending over and pressing her forehead against his.

“Love you,” she whispered, giggling.

“Love you too,” he said back, craning his chin up to kiss her but-

“Me too!” a voice chirped, and the two of them remembered they were not alone.

Chelsea laughed and rolled off of Jimin, pulling her daughter into a bear hug.

“We need to get you ready for day care,” she kissed the top of her head and then turned to Jimin.

“I thought you wanted your beauty sleep?” he asked, a cheeky smirk plastered over his face.

“Yeah, too late,” she indicated her face, “I don’t need it anyway.”

She was expecting him to have a sassy comeback, but he didn’t.

“True,” he leaned over and pecked her forehead, before doing the same to Hana’s.

Chelsea smiled and the three of them got off the bed, and while Chelsea carried Hana to her closet, Jimin made the bed.

“We gotta be at her day care in 2 hours,” she informed him as she went to get the clothes Hana had picked two days before to wear today. She was much too excited and couldn’t wait to prepare for he first day.

“Wanna get coffee before we go or something? We have enough time for it,” he asked, head peering around the door.

“Yes! Yes!! I want to get my double chocolate cheesecake before going! It’ll make the day the most specialest day ever!” Hana chipped.

Jimin grinned, winking at his daughter, “Then that’s sorted, let’s get ready quickly so we don’t miss out on Hana’s double chocolate cheesecake or be late to school.”

“Yay yay yay!”

--

“You know,” Hana’s voice from the back seat erupted and her parents in front smiled at how full of life she was. “Aunty Lucy said that I have to be careful of boys, apparently they’re a lot of trouble.”

Chelsea turned around, looking at her daughter as she sat on the edge of the seat, stretching her back to watch outside of the window.

Jimin gave Chelsea a disapproving look.

“All boys except for my Uncles and daddy, obviously.”

“Obviously,” Jimin signalled his blinker to turn into their regular cafe.

Hana was quick to unclick her seat belt and she waited patiently for Jimin to get out of the car and open the door for her, before grabbing her hand and walking up the ramp to the entrance.

Chelsea followed and went straight to the counter while Jimin and