"Hello?" Namjoon answers the call absent-mindedly. 

"Hello? Is this Mr. Kim Namjoon speaking?" A lady asks in an urgent tone.

"Yes, How may I help you?"

"Uh...I am Bae Aera's play school teacher..."

That gets Namjoon's attention, "Yes?"

"Aera had an accident while playing and her aunts' numbers are..."

"I am on my way." He does not let her complete her sentence and grabs his keys to rush to her school.

He may have never driven this fast. He runs into the building and looks around to find her classroom.

"Mr. Kim?"

He turns to see a lady in her thirties waiting for him.

"Where is Aera?!" What has happened?!" He asks in a tensed voice.

"She is fine. Please follow me."

They walk to a room which looks like a small office. It breaks his heart to see their little girl like that.

Aera is sitting with her legs flat on the tiny bed with a bandage on her left knee and there is a bruise forming on her left cheek.

"Aera."

She looks up at him with teary eyes. She must have cried a lot. She looks so scared and hurt.

He quickly hugs her. The little girl puts her head on his chest and sobs. He carefully wipes those tears keeping her wound in mind.

"What happened?" He looks at the teacher.

"Well, she was playing and then fell of the jungle gym. It seems her hand slipped and she hurt herself cuz no one was around her." The teacher adds.

He looks at the little girl and sighs. He will talk to Park Sooyoung about this.

"I need to check her with a doctor."

"Don't worry, Mr. Kim. Our designated doctor has checked her already. We've been trying to call Mrs. Irene and Joy but their phones are switched off. My assistant is still trying."

He thinks about how to get to them. He has forgotten his phone at his cabin. "Are you okay? Does it hurt too much?" He asks softly.

Her tiny face twitches in pain and she nods, still crying.

He hugs her again and kisses her head. He still sometimes wonder how can two small human beings have such effect on him?! 

"AERA?!"

They can hear Irene outside. She enters quickly. "Are you okay, Baby?" She is panting.

"Hello, Mrs. Irene. She is fine now! Aera is a big girl!" The lady tries to encourage her.

Irene caresses her head, "Awww...my baby..." She looks at Namjoon and looks around for Joy, "You...here?"

"Teacher called me here." He looks at the lady standing beside her.

"Yes, after trying to reach you and Mrs. Joy."

"OH!! I was in a meeting. I just left the meeting room and switched on my phone and saw the missed calls." She is very sorry, "Aera, Love, shall we go home??"

Aera shakes her head slowly and murmurs, "Joooyyy..."

Irene sighs in disappointment, "You can be with her at home! Come on! Let us leave together!" She smiles at Namjoon and is about to hold her when a hand stops her. 

Namjoon looks at Irene and speaks in a soft tone, "Ren. Let me take her in my car. You can follow us."

"But..."

"I mean you brought your car and so did I. I will be going to Bae mansion so let me take her." He does not know what made him say that. 

"Oh...ummm...okay..." Irene looks away.

Namjoon slowly takes Aera in his arms, "Okay. Aera, Let's go home!"

They say their good-byes and drive off.

"These look amazing!" The maid comments, "Of course you had to get such nice marks!"

"Thank you!" Joy smiles happily. She has taken a culinary course as her subsidiary subject and she is enjoying it. It is very helpful for her and she can get quite good marks in it. Before, she had to take subjects like economics and computers which had a bad impact on her results. As these were so difficult for her that most of her time was spent studying these. But she was not allowed to choose according to her caliber and likings. Now, her preference is not neglected. This was exactly what she explained to her brother.

"It is almost time to get Aera from school." She checks the time.

"Yes, Mrs. Joy. I shall be going." The doorbell rings and interrupts them.

After a minute or so, another maid runs into the kitchen, "Mrs. Joy! Little Ms. Aera is hurt!"

Joy rushes hearing that and finds them in her room, "AERA!"

Aera sniffs, looking at her and murmurs, "Joooyyyy...." 

She quickly moves to her side and hugs her, "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, BABY?! DID SOMEONE HURT YOU?! DID YOU FALL?!" She checks her wounds and her eyes tear up.

"She fell from the jungle-gym. It was an accident. The school's doctor has checked on her and she is fine.What happened to your phone? The teacher called me when she could not reach you."

"My phone got soaked. It is broken." Tears roll on her cheeks, "I am so sorry, Love. I could not be there when you needed me. Please forgive me." She puts her chin lightly on her tiny head and cries.

Aera looks up at her and wipes her tears, "No Joooyyy. It is ok-kayyy.You not know I'll fall."

Joy kisses her forehead and sighs. 

Namjoon is watching them with a slight smile on his lips. He sighs lightly and shakes his head and looks at them again. Irene looks at the two girls infront of her and then begins to observe Namjoon's expressions. 

"Uuuuhhh..." A soft and sweet sound gets their attention.

"Looks like someone is up from their nap!" Namjoon gets down from the bed and walks towards the cot, "Ahjusshi..." 

Deiji rubs her eyes and stops to look at him when he calls her. Her tiny mouth opens to a little "o" and she blinks seeing him.

"What? I am early today? You can understand that?!" He smiles in surprise and picks her up. She nestles in his arms and smiles widely.

"Baby-ahhhh..."

Deiji turns her head and spots a sad Aera on the bed. She begins to squirm to get to her.

"Okay. Now let's get you to your unnie and you have to make her feel better!" Namjoon laughs and brings her to Aera.

Aera sniffs and hugs the baby dramatically. The hug gets too tight as Deiji begins to squeak.

"Careful Love." Irene smiles.

"Soowwyyy..." Aera loosens her grip and kisses Deiji's round cheeks that bounce at the action.

The baby can understand her unnie is sad. She begins to tremble her lower lip, willing to join her in her misery.

"Oh goodness! I thought she would help her unni and umma! Now how will I manage 3 babies?!" Namjoon huffs and shakes his head.

"Yaahh!" Joy dries her face and sulks and Namjoon smirks at her. 

Irene clears her voice awkwardly and they break their eye-contact.

"These are the ointment and anti-bacterial power the doctor had prescribed. And this pain-killer is suitable for children her age." She gives Joy the small bag. She bought the meds on her way home.

"Oh! Thank you!" She checks the things.

"I shall be going now...I'll be back again to check on her..." She hugs Aera, "Take care Love! Please be careful..." 

"But Unnie, stay back! I've..."

Irene shakes her head and smiles, "No, Joy. I need to wake up early for my psychiatrist's appointment. So I need to go. Bye." 

Namjoon sighs after she left, "I am happy that she is taking some help."

"Yeah...me too." Joy nods. She looks at Aera who is playing with Deiji, "Aera, let me get your clothes changed into something comfy. Then we'll wash up and have some food!" She looks at Namjoon, "You don't have to go back to the office, right?"

Namjoon shows his watch, "I left office an hour before my usual departure time and I forgot my phone there." He shrugs.

"Oh, if you are not going to exercise today, freshen up and have something to eat! The food will be served here so that Aera won't have to move!"

He nods and pecks the little girls before walking to his room.

He comes back and looks at the bed in surprise, "These?" He looks at a smiling Joy.

"Yes! I have prepared all these in my culinary class today! It was a test and I scored an A! The topic was suitable picnic foods for a family with kids!" She moves back to the bed, "I had made much more. The servants are having a portion of these!"

Namjoon smiles and joins them. Aera's sullen mood has disappeared. She is resting her injured leg on cushions and looking comfortable.

"Congratulations!" He eats a kimbap, "Wow! These are really good!"

"Thank you!! What do you say Aera??" Joy asks her happily.

Munching on a rolled omelette, she hums, "Hmmmm....SO TASTYYYY!!!"

Joy takes a bite, "I wish Noel aunty was here. She has taken Cheonsa aunty on a holiday to her hometown. They must be having a great time!!"

"Yeah, they must be." Namjoon nods and looks around, "How much time did you get to make all these?"

"2 hours and it was while washing the rice my phone got soaked. Then I had to put it to repair on the way." She shakes her head.

"Wow! In 2 hours you made kimbap, rolled omelettes, barley tea and dips?? I am impressed!!" He eats the omelette and hums.

"Yes, well all the ingredients are provided so it was not very difficult!!" Joy shrugs and looks at Aera, "Love, after eating, you need to have your meds and it will make you sleepy so you will brush your teeth right after having them and go to sleep. Okay? No playing today."

Aera sulks a little but agrees.

"Good girl!"

Joy tucks in Aera. The girls are finally asleep and now she can rest. The day was hectic and she is quite tired. She rubs her neck and suddenly hears footsteps outside her door. She opens it before Namjoon can knock.

"Oh! Hey." She moves away from the door letting him inside.

"Ummm..." He looks at the little girls, "I want... I wanted to talk to you."

"Yeah, go ahead!" She nods. She cannot understand why he is behaving so nervous.

"I...ummm...I got something for you." He squirms a bit.

"What is it? You...Would you like to sit?" She points at the couch. If he has got something for her, her heart flutters at the thought, then he can be uncomfortable as their relationship is quite unconventional.

"Yeah, thanks."

They sit down.

"Here you go." He opens his clutch and Joy looks at it. She takes the thing with utter enthusiasm and then gasps.

"Namjoon...Did you..." She looks at him with round eyes.

"Yeah..." He shrugs, trying to cover his shyness. Yes! He is shy.

Namjoon has been a good wood craftsman since his childhood. He has made several things for Irene and used to sell these for his extra pocket money. Then after leaving the mansion years back, this skill helped him to get food everyday. But after he began his business, this practice stopped and recently, Joy encouraged him to begin his workshop again on weekends. And as always, her advice works in his betterment.

"I have not practised for long, so it is nothing special. But it is the first thing I made. It is...a congratulatory gift for your good result in your last semester and also...also..." He gulps, "...also a thank you gift for..." He sighs. For what? Everything. But he could not just say it.    

"I know it is nothing exclusive or even expensive." He can still remember how Irene had left his last handmade gift on her birthday. He knows that Joy does not care about prices but that memory still haunts him and he does not want to keep his hopes high.

Joy just looks up at him. She is crying now. She places it back on his hand, "Put it on me, please."

Namjoon blinks and takes the locket. She turns around and he puts it on her.

She turns with tears glistening in her eyes, "I will wear it forever. I promise."     

She did not say thank you, she did not hug him or kiss him like she usually does but she said something that has baffled him. Like always.

"Yeah...I am glad you liked it." He looks away, "I should get back now. Good night." He gets up but stops. He turns to see Joy holding his hand.

"Please stay back for tonight." 

Namjoon gulps once again. There are such hope and intensity in her eyes that he fails to form any word. He just nods and gets on the bed. Joy slowly moves Aera to one side and she lies down between the little girl and Namjoon. She hugs him around his middle and sighs, "Good night, Namjoon."

"Good night." He encircles his arm around her and lies there. He thought he would not be able to sleep but dozes off in a minute.

Namjoon blinks and looks around. He remembers he is in Park Sooyoung's room and she is now hugging Aera. His arm is now around her and he peers at her side. He recalls what wake him up. In his sleep, he felt someone is watching him. He opens his eyes with the thought that it might be Joy but no one is awake. He can still feel someone's eyes on him and he looks around to find the door is slightly ajar. Joy had forgotten to close it after he entered. He can feel the prying eyes from the crack and walks up to it. He opens it and finds no one. He steps out and checks the surrounding. It is all dark and there is pin drop silence. He gets inside and locks the door. He sits on the bed and looks the 3 girls. He had been afraid after the nightmare but it was all gone. But tonight, it has come back,

"Someone was watching us."  

Irene rubs the night cream on her face. Seokjin reached home late and was very tired. He then got worried listening to what happened to Aera but she assured him that she is fine.

"Jin, I was thinking to bring Aera here. Is that okay?"

SeokJin rolls his eyes, "Of course! Why do you even need to ask? This is also her home! You should have done this long back and regularly!"

Irene smiles at him, "Jin, I was thinking since you and Joy are on good terms. Can I invite Joy and her baby Deiji as well? I mean this is their home as well! Deiji's maternal home! Please?"

Seokjin looks at her reflection and sighs, "Yeah, you are right. They should visit as well."