The piercing sounds of his phone alarm yanked Sunggyu out of lalaland and into reality. Groaning, he blindly reached out towards the bedside table for his phone, patting around until he finally found it and swiped to snooze it. With eyes still closed, he rolled over, his hand searching for another body next to his. His hand met air.

He opened his eyes, blinking at the empty and cold sheets in front of him. Disappointment settled in. Woohyun must have gotten up early to make breakfast, leaving him all alone.

Pouting slightly, he finally forced himself to get up and stretch. He sat in bed for a few moments, blinking and thinking of nothing in particular. His phone alarm rang a second time and he turned it off now before heading to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

The cold shower woke him up, completely.

Feeling a bit more energized, he dressed properly in a white shirt and pinstriped suit ensemble. He left the suit jacket out for now so he could be comfortable for breakfast.

When he was ready, he headed for the kitchen for food. He could already smell what his husband had made: pancakes.

Woohyun was just placing a plate of the sweet treat on the table when he entered.

“Morning, yeobo,” the younger greeted with a smile sweeter than the pancakes.

“Appa!” the little toddler on his high chair piped.

Sunggyu laughed as he walked over to kiss Woohyun’s cheek and Donghyun’s head.

“Why are you awake so early, Donghyunnie?” he asked the baby as he sat down.

Donghyun babbled something in response.

Woohyun chuckled as he placed a bowl of oatmeal and a baby spoon on Donghyun’s little tray. “Your son is a morning person. He was wide awake before Myungsoo was!”

Donghyun had been with them for a week and a half now. And, sure, he had stayed with them for a few days before, but never this long. At first, Sunggyu had been nervous that Donghyun would start looking for his mother and throw a fit, but the baby was perfectly content being left with Woohyun and Mrs. Wang (who now came to their place a couple of times a week).

He should be used to seeing Woohyun dote on Donghyun like he was his own by now, but sometimes, it still felt surreal to him. He still couldn’t help the tug of longing in his heart. He wished, more than anything, that they could keep Donghyun at their place until he grew up, but he didn't want to burden Woohyun with a child that wasn't even his. His husband had been nothing but kind and welcoming to his son.

His heart warmed when Woohyun affectionately squished the little cheeks. Woohyun loved Donghyun’s cheeks as much as he loved Myungsoo’s.

And speaking of Myungsoo, the 8-year-old just entered, dressed in his uniform. Donghyun shrieked in delight when he saw him, waving his hands.

“Hung!’

“Hi, Dongie-ah! Morning Appa!”

“Good morning, baby,” Sunggyu greeted as Myungsoo took his seat.

The boy frowned at him. “Appa, I’m not a baby anymore!”

Sunggyu raised an eyebrow. “You’re not?”

“No. Donghyun is the baby now.”

Donghyun squealed, as if agreeing with his brother.

Sunggyu smiled in amusement. “So, Myungsoo is a big boy now?”

Myungsoo puffed up his chest, proudly. “Yes!”

Woohyun chuckled as he filled up Myungsoo’s plate with pancakes. “You may be a big boy now, but you’ll always be Papa’s little baby,” he said before finishing it off with a teasing ruffle of the boy’s curly head.

“Papa!” Myungsoo pouted, unamused as he fixed his now somewhat ruined hair.

But Woohyun just chuckled and said, “Let’s eat!”

Sunggyu and Myungsoo began to dig in. Meanwhile, Woohyun was keeping a close eye on Donghyun, who was just learning how to eat by himself. His motor skills were developing normally but he still needed help sometimes. Woohyun, who had gone through this before with Myungsoo, was as patient as can be. He knew when the little boy needed help and when he could be left alone.

Like, right now, Donghyun had dropped his spoon and attempted to eat his oatmeal with his hands, so Woohyun had taken the spoon away and fed him, instead. When Donghyun refused the oatmeal, Woohyun replaced the bowl with a plate of cut up bananas. These, Donghyun managed to eat on his own.

Sunggyu was fascinated every time he watched his husband and younger son together.

“You’re heading out today, right?” he asked Woohyun.

“Yeah, I’m meeting Kibum after lunch.”

Sunggyu nodded. “I’ll call Mrs. Wang to take Donghyun for the afternoon then.”

Woohyun didn’t even pause from cutting his pancakes. “It’s fine, I’ll take him with me.”

Sunggyu blinked, his fork halfway to his mouth. Woohyun looked up at his silence and raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Sunggyu swallowed. “Are you sure?”

His husband furrowed his eyebrows. “Yes? You don’t want me to?”

“No, it’s not that. Just… Never mind… Thank you.”

“O… kay then.” Woohyun was still looking at him oddly as he went back to his food.

After breakfast, Sunggyu and Myungsoo were given their designated lunchboxes. With Donghyun in his arms, Woohyun walked them to the door and bid them goodbye and to have a nice day.

Donghyun was comfortably perched in Woohyun’s one arm, his little body leaning against the hard chest of the adult as the man expertly held him with one arm. The baby was giggling as he waved his little hand.

“Say bye-bye to Appa and Hyung, Donghyunnie!”

“Bye-bye!”

The sight of the two waving at them as they left for the day brought an indescribable kind of warmth in Sunggyu’s chest.

In the car, Myungsoo sang along to the radio, kicking his little legs. Sunggyu watched him in the rearview mirror, amused.

“Myungsoo-ah, you seem excited today. Anything fun happening at school later?”

The little boy shook his head as he continued to smile, brightly. “No, Appa. I’m just really happy.” He sighed. “I hope Donghyunnie stays with us forever and ever.”

Sunggyu felt his heart grow ten times larger the words of his son.

“Me too,” he replied.

His mood for the entire day was officially high.

“Here are the list of suppliers and their terms. I’ve set up a meeting with three of them this Friday so make your entire day free,” Kibum said as he handed Woohyun a folder.

“Got it.”

Woohyun took it and immediately looked over the papers, his brows scrunched in concentration as he read them. Meanwhile, Kibum looked through his calendar for the rest of the week, double-checking his tasks.

Both were sitting at their usual coffee shop in their usual spot in the corner, going through their business plans.

Kibum had tomorrow dedicated to poring over resumes and scheduling interviews with potential staff – he was in charge of the restaurant staff while Woohyun had the kitchen. Then, they were meeting with an accountant next week to discuss the books.

A soft whine interrupted the blonde’s train of thought and he looked up to see Woohyun pause from his own task. He watched as the other switched his attention to the little bundle of joy in the stroller next to the table, just waking up from a nap.

“Donghyunnie, you're awake already?” Woohyun cooed, the baby’s head. “Are you hungry?”

He dug into the baby bag hanging from his chair and took out a bottle of formula. He placed the at Donghyun’s lips but the baby whined again and pushed it away with a hand.

“No? Okay, then.” He replaced the cap on the bottle, put it back in the bag, and dug around some more before taking out a little Tupperware box filled with dry cereal. “How about this? It’s your favorite.”

Donghyun squealed with happiness and reached for the box. Woohyun simply chuckled and poured a few on the little tray attached to the stroller’s front. Donghyun immediately grabbed for one, shoved it into his mouth, and chewed happily.

“Aigoo, you’re such a good baby.”

Woohyun then took his phone out. Almost immediately, Donghyun smiled, showing his little teeth as Woohyun snapped the photo.

Kibum raised an eyebrow, wondering how many pictures the other had already taken of the boy that the little guy was smiling on instinct at the sight of a camera.

When Woohyun turned his attention back to Kibum, he noticed the latter’s look.

“What?”

Kibum chuckled in amusement. “You remind me of how you were when Myungsoo was a baby. Always armed with snacks, cooing at him with praises, and taking so many photos.”

Woohyun blushed. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Oh no, not at all! It’s just… it’s not really something you expect for someone who has to take care of their husband’s child with another woman.”

“I don’t mind,” Woohyun replied and Kibum could see that he really didn’t. “Donghyun is a good baby. Right, baby?”

He turned to smile at the little one who giggled at the attention.

There he was at it again. Woohyun practically had stars in his eyes as he fed Donghyun more cereal. It amazed Kibum how at ease the baby was… as if Woohyun was his father. Kibum, himself, couldn’t help the smile that formed at his lips as he watched them.

“By the way, how’s the search for that woman?” he decided to ask.

His friend had told him everything that happened. It appalled him that a mother would leave their own child for the sole purpose of living without him. Kibum’s own parents had left but that was to provide him with a better life. They already had plans of returning to South Korea permanently when the café finally opened.

Woohyun reverted his attention back to him with a bit of a melancholic look. “The P.I. can’t find her in Seoul,” he replied in a low tone. “So he’s planning on visiting her home in Busan. We’re thinking maybe she went back home to her family. Or if she didn’t, maybe she at least went to see them or told them where she is.” He sighed. “We still can’t believe she did this.”

Kibum could sympathize with that. “What happens if they don’t find her? Or if they do but she refuses to come back?”

Woohyun shrugged, nonchalantly. “I guess we keep Donghyun. Sunggyu has custody anyway.”

Kibum tilted his head to the side. “But, what about you?”

Woohyun blinked, confused. “What about me?”

Goodness, Woohyun was innocent sometimes. Kibum had always adored that about him.

“Is that okay with you?” he asked. “Taking care of him?”

The other furrowed his eyebrows. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it?”

“Well…” Kibum didn’t really want to say it. But, he also knew that Woohyun needed to hear it. Besides, he was also somewhat curious. “He’s sort of… a reminder of what happened in the past, right? Isn’t it difficult?”

Woohyun paused with a frown marring his features, contemplating. “I said it before once. That if I continue thinking of Donghyun as a mistake, Sunggyu would see him as one. And I don’t want him to grow up that way. He’s innocent in all this. If his own mother doesn’t want him, then I’ll make him feel wanted.”

There was a short pause, as the words sunk in and Kibum felt his heart swell with pride at his friend. Honestly, if that had been him in Woohyun’s position, he wouldn’t know how he would feel or if he would even accept a child wholeheartedly. People like Woohhyun were rare and they were meant to be cherished. Once again, he concluded that Sunggyu was a lucky man.

Meanwhile, seeming to notice the sudden tension, Donghyun whined. Immediately, Woohyun turned to him with a bright smile. “Besides, Donghyunnie likes me, right? You like Bo, right?”

Donghyun giggled. “Papa!”

The two of them froze, staring at the excited baby.

“Did… did you hear that?” Woohyun whispered, his eyes wide. “Did he… call me Papa?”

Kibum was sure that his ears were working. He had perfect hearing, thank you very much! And that baby definitely called Woohyun “Papa”. It was clear as bells.

“Did you call me Papa? Can you call me that again?” Woohyun coaxed but the baby’s attention had returned to his cereal. The man sighed. “I guess it was just a fluke.”

Kibum highly doubted it and he couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in Woohyun’s face. His eyes had lit up when Donghyun said the word.

Right then, he knew that Woohyun was too far gone to come back. He had already fallen in love with the baby. And when Woohyun loved, he never let them go.

Kibum smiled to himself as he took a sip of his tea, watching Woohyun carefully give Donghyun some water and wiping his mouth right after with such care and tenderness.

It wasn’t just Sunggyu and Woohyun who were lucky. Donghyun was too.

“Oh, which reminds me.”

Kibum raised an eyebrow at the grin Woohyun was sending him. “How was your last date with Jonghyun-shii?”

Flashes of a pink head with a smile that could rival the sunshine and a voice as smooth as red wine flashed in his memory, making his heart beat quicken in his chest. It was the blonde’s turn to blush.

Screams, squeals, and shrieks of excitement filled the air as children of all ages ran around the kids’ cafe, some dragging their parents and others leaving them behind. They were scattered throughout indoor jungle gym, a room full of various toys and games, a ball pit, and tables littered with art supplies.

As soon as they stepped in, Myungsoo grabbed Sunggyu’s hand and dragged him to the jungle gym.

“Have fun!” Woohyun called out after them before turning to the mellow baby in his arms. “So, Donghyun-ah, what should we do?”

Donghyun tilted his head to the side in curiosity.

“Do you want to follow Appa and hyung to the jungle gym?”

He pointed at the two, who were climbing up the plastic but sturdy ladder of the contraption. Donghyun appeared to contemplate before turning in Woohyun’s arms to snuggle into his neck with a displeased whine.

Woohyun chuckled. “That’s a no then.”

In the end, he ended up taking Donghyun to the ball pit, putting him in amongst the ocean of plastic blue and pink balls. This, the baby appeared to enjoy as he picked up balls and threw them around, squealing in delight.

At first, Woohyun played with him in the ball pit until Donghyun’s attention went to the other young children in the ball pit. Soon, he was playing with them and Woohyun ended up sitting cross-legged, at the edge of the pool, watching and taking photos.

It was wonderful and heartwarming to see Donghyun interact with other children. Aside from Myungsoo, Woohyun didn’t think that Eunseo had gotten him to mingle with others. Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t even sure if Donghyun had socialized with any other children in his age group.

Woohyun swore to himself that when Donghyun was at the right age, he would enroll him in kindergarten so he could make friends like Myungsoo did.

The thought suddenly surprised him. He was thinking of Donghyun’s future. He didn’t even know if Donghyun would be staying with them, if Eunseo would come to her senses and come back to take him again. Yet, he was already making plans.

The thought of Donghyun being taken from them made his heart twinge with a familiar ache and fear that he had only ever felt with Myungsoo, his son. But… Donghyun wasn’t his son, he was Sunggyu’s. He shouldn’t be feeling that way, right? Just because he had gotten close to the baby and formed a bond with him, it didn't mean he had a right to the child.

As he was deep in thought, he felt a tug on his pants leg, breaking him out of his reverie. He looked down to see Donghyun, babbling in his baby language with his arms raised, wanting to be picked up. With an affectionate smile, he obliged.

“Are you tired of the balls already?” he asked him.

"Mmm," Donghyun answered, his hands clutching at the collar of Woohyun's shirt.

He chuckled. “What do you want to do now?”

“Omo, your son is so cute!”

A woman, who appeared to be picking up her own daughter, was smiling at the two of them. It took Woohyun a few seconds to realize that she was talking to him… and Donghyun.

His heart exploded with warmth. He couldn’t find it in himself to correct her so he simply said, “Thank you.”

“He has your lips,” the woman continued. “I’m assuming he looks like umma, hmm?”

At that, Woohyun couldn’t help but laugh a little. Look wise, Donghyun didn’t have much of Eunseo in him, if anyone was to be asked. He was a mini Sunggyu.

“Actually, he really looks like his Appa,” he replied, good-naturedly.

The woman, probably believing him to be joking around, simply laughed as she continued to compliment the baby. They made small talk, exchanged baby care tips, and finally parted ways.

As soon as she and her baby were out of sight, Woohyun sighed in relief.

“She was rather chatty, wasn’t she, Donghyunnie?” he asked the baby, who looked at him with indifference. “But, she was nice. Her baby was pretty too.” Donghyun scrunched his nose. Woohyun laughed and pecked it. “Don’t worry, you’re prettier.”

Next, they went to the playroom where Woohyun plopped him into a mini car and pushed him around, pretending that they were driving to see Nam halmeoni. He made “vroom vroom” and “beep beep” noises for effect and took a few selcas along the way.

Soon enough, Myungsoo and Sunggyu had come to join them. Myungsoo took over the pushing and car noises. Sunggyu stayed at their side, pretending to be a cop chasing them for kidnapping the Dooly doll in Donghyun’s lap.

Woohyun, once again, used this time to fill up his phone gallery of the two brothers and their fathers’ photos. They were just so cute! He sent a few to his mother and mother-in-law.

They played for God knows how much longer until Myungsoo complained of hunger. It was already lunchtime and  a lot of parents and their children were beginning to leave the play areas to head to the café.

While Sunggyu lined up for food, Woohyun and the kids went looking for a table and found an empty one just as a family of six were leaving.

“Myungsoo-ah, are you having fun?” Woohyun asked as he settled a squirming Donghyun into a high chair.

Myungsoo nodded, enthusiastically. “After lunch, can Donghyunnie and I go back to the jungle gym?”

But, Woohyun shook his head. “You know you’re not supposed to play too soon after eating, baby.”

“Papa, I’m not a baby!”

The man chuckled. “Forgive me, little man. But, the point still stands. You can’t take your brother to play after eating, he might throw up. That’s not good.”

Myungsoo pouted.

“I heard there’s going to be story time later. The two of you can go and listen. Or you can go to the art room and draw pictures,” Woohyun tried to compromise.

The 8-year-old appeared to contemplate for a moment and nodded. Such an obedient son. Woohyun was proud of him.

Right then, Sunggyu arrived with food. Pizza, French fries, pasta noodles, and milkshakes were laid out in front of them. There were also some mashed potatoes for Donghyun.

As they were getting ready to dig in, Myungsoo tugged at Sunggyu’s leave. “Appa, I need to go to the bathroom,” he said with a pout.

Sunggyu’s eyes widened. “Now? Why didn’t you go earlier?”

“I didn’t want Papa to leave Donghyunnie alone,” he replied.

Chuckling, Sunggyu acquiesced and got up. “We’ll be back,” he said to Woohyun.

“We’ll be here,” the younger replied as he cut up the pasta noodles on his plate.

Taking Myungsoo’s hand, Sunggyu led him through the crowd of people in search of the restroom.

Woohyun turned to Donghyun, who was watching him in anticipation, eyes on the food. “Hungry?” he asked, raising a spoon with some mashed potato on it.

Donghyun giggled, his hands reaching for the spoon. Playing airplane, accompanied with noises for effect, Woohyun fed him, praising him after each bite. At some point, the toddler reached for the spoon and Woohyun let him try eating by himself for the moment.

He took bites of pizza in between while Donghyun tried to finish his potatoes. The toddler already had most of his baby teeth growing in and Woohyun was slowly introducing him to various types of food so he could grow out of baby food.

“Donghyun-ah, you have to eat lots, okay?” Woohyun said as he placed a small amount of cut up noodles on a plate and placed it on the high chair’s tray. “So you’ll grow up big and strong.”

The toddler wasted no time in ignoring the potatoes and attacked the pasta with his hands despite the presence of the baby fork next to the plate. Woohyun allowed him to, knowing that he would pick it up when he was ready. At least the pasta had the white sauce so it wouldn’t be as difficult to clean up as opposed to tomato sauce. 

As Woohyun chewed on a French fry, he noticed Donghyun watching, following the movement of his chewing with his own. Chuckling, Woohyun cleaned the little hands with a wet towel and took the almost empty plates of pasta and mashed potatoes away. Then, he took another fry, broke it in half, dipped it into the milkshake, and held it towards the toddler.

Donghyun slowly took it with his hands, stared at it with his face scrunched up, before slowly putting it into his mouth. Woohyun could practically see the wheels turning in his little head as the explosion of flavors made itself known to.

Donghyun’s eyes brightened up as he chewed.

Woohyun laughed. “You like that don’t you?” he asked the baby, taking another piece of French fry dipped in milkshake and giving it to him. “Do you want some milkshake too?”

He took the glass and placed the straw near the baby’s lips. Donghyun immediately latched on to it, drinking, enthusiastically. Woohyun slowly pulled the straw away so he wouldn’t drink too much of it; he didn’t want Donghyun’s stomach to be upset later.

He patted his head, affectionately. “Good boy,” he praised, putting the glass back down.

Donghyun giggled. “Papa!”

Woohyun froze, his heartbeat picking up pace. Were his ears deceiving him? Perhaps, it was another fluke?

“W-What did you call me?” he asked the baby, the blood pounding in his ears as he anticipated to hear the word again.

Donghyun didn’t fail him. The toddler giggled before piping another, “Papa!” before reaching out to him again with his hands.

Right then and there, a familiar bloom of paternal love and affection blossomed in Woohyun’s heart. He never thought that hearing that one word, “Papa”, come out of little lips other than his son’s would make him feel so… overjoyed and… complete.

“C-Can you… s-say it again?” he stammered, practically begging Donghyun.

Did the baby even understand him? Understand his heart?

“Papa! Papa! Papa!”

Woohyun felt the sting of tears at his eyes and before he even realized, he was already saying, “That’s right, Donghyunnie. I’m your Papa… right? Can I? Can I be your Papa too? Is that okay, baby?”

His face had somehow moved closer to Donghyun’s until they were nose-to-nose. Donghyun reached up with his little hands and squished his cheeks, just like Woohyun himself would often do. A sign of affection.

The chef finally felt the tears fall.

Sunggyu and Myungsoo returned to their table and were shocked to see a crying Woohyun and a happy Donghyun.

When they asked what was wrong, Woohyun simply smiled through tear-filled eyes.

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m just… happy.”

That night, at home, Woohyun gave both kids a bath together, playing with bubbles and several bath toys. He dressed them in matching footsie pajamas that Myungsoo had once insisted on getting. Tucking himself into the bed with Myungsoo at his side and Donghyun on his lap, he read them a bedtime story.

Tired from the exciting day he had, Myungsoo had immediately fallen asleep. Woohyun kissed him good night, covering him with a blanket. But, when he tried to put Donghyun in his crib, the baby refused to let go of him, his little fist tightly clutching the man’s shirt.

The door opened and Sunggyu popped his head in. “Yeobo, are you done?”

Woohyun pointed with his head towards the baby in his arms. “He won’t let go.”

Sunggyu nodded. “Just bring him into the living room. I… I need to talk to you.”

His husband sounded worried so Woohyun nodded and grabbed Donghyun’s blanket so he could cover the baby with it before following Sunggyu into the living room. They sat side-by-side on the couch, Donghyun tucked into the crook of his arm, covered with a blanket. The baby’s eyes were fluttering and Woohyun knew he would fall asleep soon; he would just rock him until then.

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?” Woohyun finally asked his husband.

For a moment, Sunggyu’s gaze flashed to Donghyun then back to Woohyun. He swallowed.

“The private investigator got back from Busan yesterday,” he said, slowly. “He called me just now while the kids were in the bath.”

Suddenly, Woohyun’s throat was dry and he subconsciously held Donghyun closer to his chest. “W-What did he say?” he said in a soft voice.

Sunggyu sighed. “It turns out that Eunseo never told her family about Donghyun… at all.”

Woohyun’s heart broke at that but then again, he also wasn’t surprised. Eunseo never told her family about her pregnancy and she kept putting off telling them about Donghyun. In the end, she never did.

“And what’s more is that…” Sunggyu took a deep breath. “Eunseo is no longer in South Korea.”

Woohyun’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Where is she then?”

“It appears that she applied to an agency for overseas work months ago and was accepted. The family wouldn't tell the P.I. much info, but they did tell him the agency name. He went there this morning to confirm. They wouldn't tell him exactly where she is, but he found out just enough to conclude that she may be in America. That's why he couldn't find her before. She's not in the country anymore.”

“She… she had planned to leave. Even then… she was going to leave.”

Sunggyu could only nod. "Even if we chase after her, I don't think we can convince her to come back."

They sat there in silence, the information sinking in.

Donghyun had finally fallen asleep so Woohyun took him back into the bedroom. For a few moments, he stood there by the crib, holding the baby in his arms to his heart, humming him a lullaby and hoping fervently that the toddler knew that he was loved. He tucked him into his blanket and kissed his forehead.

And, suddenly feeling very sentimental, he went to his own beloved son, also kissing his forehead and whispering an, “I love you” in his ear.

Then, quietly as he could, he closed the door.

He made his way down the hall to the master’s bedroom where Sunggyu was waiting for him. His husband was standing by the window, deep in thought. Woohyun joined him and at first, both were silent.

The light from the moon up in the sky shone down through the window panes, casting them in its light.

“Woohyun, I’m sorry,” Sunggyu finally said.

The younger turned to him in surprise, wondering what he was apologizing for.

Sunggyu turned to him, looking sorrowful. “I’m sorry. I’ll call my mother tomorrow and let her know what happened. She offered to take Donghyun if Eunseo refuses to come back and-.”

“Wait. Why?”

Woohyun was shocked. Take Donghyun? What for?

Sunggyu looked worried. “You don’t have to take care of Donghyun anymore. He’s not your responsibility, he’s mine. And… I’m sorry if I made you take care of him these last two weeks.”

Woohyun blinked. “Made me? What do you mean? Gyu, if I didn’t want to take care of Donghyun, I wouldn’t even allow him into our house. What are you talking about, Kim Sunggyu?” The realization of what his husband meant then dawned on him. “Are you… Do you think that you’re forcing me to take care of your son?”

Unable to look him in the eye, Sunggyu nodded.

At that, Woohyun knew he should feel a bit insulted (and he kind of did) but then he also couldn’t help but laugh because Sunggyu was silly. He should have known that his older husband would be worried about something like that. He couldn’t help his affection for him growing at the concern.

“I wouldn’t take care of him if I didn’t want to, you know,” Woohyun explained. “He’s your son. He’s as much my responsibility now as he is yours.”

At his answer, Sunggyu’s eyes widened in shock – probably the widest Woohyun had ever seen them.

“But-,” he started.

“Do you love me?” Woohyun interrupted, gently.

“Of course!” was the immediate answer.

“Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

Woohyun took his hands in his. “Then, trust me when I say that you don’t have to give Donghyun to your mother. He’s doing fine here… with you, Myungsoo, and… well… me.”

Somehow, Sunggyu still looked worried.

“Did you know that Donghyun called me ‘Papa’ today?” Woohyun said.

“He… he did?”

A nod. “Several times, in fact. He probably heard Myungsoo calling me that many times in the last two weeks. So, he followed along. And… you know how I felt when he did?”

Sunggyu tilted his head to the side in wonder.

Woohyun smiled. “I felt happy. A happiness comparable to the day Myungsoo was born. I was so happy Sunggyu that I cried.”

For the first time since the conversation started, Sunggyu smiled. “R-Really?”

Woohyun nodded. “Really.” He placed his hands on the older’s cheek, caressing them gently with his thumb. “Why do we need to waste time looking for someone who doesn’t want him… when we want him already? Hmm? I want him. What can I do to prove to you that I’m serious, Kim Sunggyu? Should I adopt him? I don’t mind. That way, he can be legally mine too. Just like what you did with Myungsoo. I’ll never stop being thankful to you for that. For being his father.” He took a deep breath. “Will you allow me to be Donghyun’s father too?”

In the midst of his little speech, Sunggyu’s eyes had begun to water but like the manly man that he always proclaimed he was, he refused to let the tears fall (but Woohyun knew he would cry later when they were in bed. He would be there to hold him when he did).

Instead, he wrapped his arms around Woohyun’s waist and pulled him in for a kiss. A sweet kiss full of love and adoration. A kiss of gratitude and promise.

When they pulled away, Sunggyu pressed his forehead to Woohyun’s. “I love you,” he said to him.

The words embedded themselves in Woohyun’s heart. “I love you too,” he replied, flashing his husband a grin. “So is that a ‘yes’?”

Sunggyu kissed him again. “It’s a ‘yes’.”

With a shout of joy, Woohyun leaped into his arms, his own arms looping themselves around Sunggyu’s neck, and saying, “Thank you” over and over again. And he just knew that Sunggyu wanted this too. He wanted them to be a family.

Snuggling with each other in bed, Sunggyu pulled him close to his chest, wrapping him in his warmth.

“Two kids,” the older stated, his voice holding a tone of disbelief before he looked down at Woohyun. “We can do this, right? We can raise them both? Together?”

“Together,” Woohyun replied with a nod before grinning again. “Your family just grew, Kim Sunggyu. Congratulations.”

“And you, Nam Woohyun, just became a father again.” Sunggyu kissed his forehead. “Congratulations.” He then flashed the younger a saucy smirk. “Should we celebrate?”

Woohyun didn’t say a word as he pulled the older down on top of him and covered them both with a blanket.

In the other room, the two children slept through the night, peacefully and with no care in the world for they knew that the next morning would be another day filled with fun with the two men who loved them the most.

A/N: Ahhhh, the very last chapter! It's so bittersweet! A good chunk of this is Woohyun/Donghyun moments. I wanted to show how close Woohyun had gotten to Donghyun and vice versa. As you can see, Donghyun clings to him and already loves him. He even called him "Papa". 

Sunggyu still had his doubts because he probably didn't think that Woohyun would so willingly accept Donghyun into their lives. Honestly, who would? It's such a difficult thing to accept because you will always be reminded of that one huge mistake.

But, there are people like this in real life, trust me. I've met one of them! She is my friend's mom who took in her husband's illegitimate son for an entire year while the mom was out of the country taking care of family business (according to my mom, anyway. They are friends too). Although my friend and her brother couldn't wholeheartedly accept their youngest sibling (as opposed to Myungsoo here, but then again, they were older than he was when they found out about their half-brother), their mom accepted him, even taking him to family events. I met the little boy briefly once and I can already tell that at 5 years old, he knew that he was being treated differently. (Poor kid. I hope he's doing well.)

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who read this story from beginning to end! It was quite an experience for me, as this is a different aspect of infidelity that I never thought to explore before! I learned quite a few things along the way as well.

I know it was quite a rollercoaster, and with everything that happened, I was so unmotivated to continue writing, but you guys have helped me through it. I'm still not fully healed but I'm getting there. After this fic officially ends, I might actually take some time off from writing fanfics. Hopefully, it won't take too long and an idea will come to me and I could write again. 

So, again, I just want to say thank you... thank you... thank you... thank you!

The title of this chapter was inspired by Infinite's "Begin Again". I thought it was appropriate since they are beginning again, as a family.

Don't fret! There's still an Epilogue coming up next, so stay tuned!

Oh! And Happy Birthday to our, Woohyunnie, my life ruiner whom I secretly adore!

Heart from JongKey!