Chapter 4

Timeline: 4th of September 2012 (Evening)

After explaining what happened to their future self to everyone, Tao felt like he had just poured a bucket of cold water in their faces. They were obviously not taking it well. But telling them might get them a chance of surviving and most probably live longer. Surely, after hearing what he said, they'll be able to avoid those misfortunes, right?

Some things were left out here and there. He did not feel comfortable sharing some of the information with them. Hopefully, they would understand once they found out later. The only person he felt that he could share fully with was his Papa. Although this Papa was only three years older than him but yeah, both of them were acting like father and son already. For a moment, he wished that he could stay here and never go back to his own time but he quickly squashed that thought away. How could there be two 'Tao's in one timeline? He felt that the next baby Tao deserved to live to see the world. If he was around, then baby Tao would not get born, no? And this Papa would not have the joy of giving birth. He chuckled at that thought. He never got to ask his Papa whether he inherited his female bits. He hoped no because he's just too manly and he had no interest in giving birth. No offence to the female population and his Papa. Thank you.

Then, there was the fact about his Daddy. Funny how no one thought to ask him that but he had the suspicion that his Uncle Xiumin knew from the time-to-time glance he gave him. He wanted to tell his Daddy outright that he was his future son but at the same time, he was frightened at that thought. What if his Daddy rejects him now? Of course, he knew that in the future, his Daddy would not do so but this Daddy was a complete stranger to him. Not the Daddy he knew from all of his Papa's stories.

Yes, he was a complete coward. He admitted that when it came to things like that. Maybe he should ask for his Papa's help to get close to his Dad. But it seemed like it would be the wrong person he was asking because his Papa had his own problems too when it was concerning his Dad. Something tells him his Papa was still denying his feelings. He hoped that they would get together soon so they could really take that stroll along the beach as a family. How he longed for that. Maybe if he stayed long enough, he could see how his Dad propose to his Papa. It would be so romantic.

He should confront his Dad on his own. Yes, he should. With that said, he felt a boost of confidence. He could do it. Even if it meant taking a risk.

But there was the fact that his Daddy seemed to hate his guts. Every time, when he clung to his Papa or was being too close to him, he would see something flashed by in his Dad's eyes. It looked like anger, hatred and perhaps... Jealousy?

Ohmigosh. His Dad was jealous of his own son! How he laughed at that. Poor said son was a victim to all of his glares. All that angry looks and his Papa and Daddy weren't together yet? They needed some help. And Tao was determined to give it.

He deflated a little once he realised that he had zero experience about romance. Sure, he read lots of novels; fantasy, sci-fi, crimes and especially the romance genre. Hey who said that guys cannot read romance novels like most girls do? Sure, it was rare to find one who enjoyed that genre. But yeah, he was one big fan of romance novels. He was sure he was a sap too.

Well, no matter. First thing for him to do was to talk things out with his Dad. Jealousy or not, he was going to make his Daddy listen to him. He was the fearless and perfectly spoilt Kungfu Panda Tao. Anything he wanted, he would make sure he got it. He would wrap his Daddy around his little pinky.

He saw his Godfather made his way towards him from the corner of his eyes. He took a seat beside Tao on the grass patch without waiting for an invitation from him. Both of them were facing the beautiful sunset behind the house. Did Tao mention that the sunset was the prettiest things? But of course, sunset by the beach with his Papa and Daddy would really be a plus.

"Hey..." Luhan greeted him.

"Hey back, Godfather. I can call you Godfather, right?" Tao's expression was hopeful so Luhan let him have his way. Somehow, he knew this future Godson of his could easily worm his way into his heart.

"Is something bothering you?" Luhan asked, making small conversations first. He would read his mind later, he told himself.

"Lots of things. Especially about my Papa..." And my Daddy.

"What about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Nah. You're my Godfather. You were sort of like my second father whenever my Papa seemed really upset.

"I'm just worried that me being here was a wrong thing to do. I was desperate at that time. I felt like I should do something about the past so that I can have a better life. Hopefully, when I return to my own time, my parents would be alive. Sounds a bit selfish, doesn't it?"

"You're always welcome back if things are bad over there." Tao shook his head.

"Tao Number Two and I cannot coexist in one timeline. I would have to return someday though that would be after the Red Forces is defeated."

"What happened to your Mother? I wonder if you inherited her looks or something. She's probably Kris' long lost cousin." Oh, so everyone had assumed when he said he had no mother that his mother was probably dead. They never thought of his Papa giving birth. No wonder no one asked.

"Godfather, maybe you should see through my memories right now." Luhan sighed. So much for small talks now. Although Tao did say that he only felt comfortable sharing his memories with his Papa, he felt that his Godfather should know too. A second person knowing everything of his past would not hurt, right?

Luhan nodded and closed his eyes. "Sorry for intruding." He could see Tao's aura. It was surprisingly pinkish and here he thought his aura would be grey or something dull due to all the war happening in his childhood. But his aura was still pink of all colours. Totally unexpected. Aura was the first thing for him to determine whether one had good or bad intentions.

Luhan swam through memories and more memories. He dwelled longer in some, like how intimate he got with Sehunnie. Blushing, he quickly went through other memories.

He discovered many things and most of them were of the war. He cringed when one of them contained how Tao had escaped from an almost death. He moved on to one of the memories which had been attracting him like a magnet towards it from the beginning. There, he listened to Lay explaining about the Twelve Stones and whatnot. He decided to store that memory in the back of his mind to be told to the others later so they could get an early start on things.

The most interesting discovery was Lay had given birth to Tao and that Kris was his other parent. Oh, now he had found something that he could tease his best friend with endlessly. That would be so much fun.

"Godfather?" Tao had just witnessed his Godfather came back into reality. It was simply fascinating.

"So, you're their son?" He wiggled his eyebrows and laughed when Tao's ears turn beet red till the tips.

"Godfather!" Tao sulked as Luhan continued laughing. Tao was definitely one adorable kid when he turned as red as a tomato. Who knew he could blush like that? Who knew he had such an insanely cute streak like that? Nobody! Excluding Lay, perhaps.

"Godfather. I have a request. Please help me to get closer to my Daddy. It seems like he hates my very existence." He pleaded the elder man.

"Now, why would he do that? I'll kick him for you."

Tao laughed and told him, "More like you would kick him but he won't feel a single thing."

Luhan pouted. "Hey, I'm not that bad. I'm good at soccer too. Your Daddy will rue the day he hates you without knowing you."

"You'll help me then, I meant, to get closer to my Dad?"

"Sure. I don't see anything wrong with that request, Panda Tao." OhGosh. He teared up. Did he hear that wrongly? His Godfather had just called him Panda. He gave the elder boy a hug. Luhan petted him awkwardly on the back.

After some odd minutes, Tao looked at Luhan, telling him seriously, "I don't want him to know he's my Dad yet. I don't want him to like me because he had to, as a father. I want him to like me as I am now. So, he would fall even more in love with the second 'me'. Then, Second Tao would live a happy life with both his parents. Maybe he could get siblings too?"

"I'll try to help." Luhan promised.

"Thank you so much, Godfather!" He squeezed Luhan a little too hard, almost suffocating him. This kid should be reminded of his strength someday. He could easily crush a bear with those muscles.

"Well, let's get back inside or your Pops would worry about you like some mother hen." Tao chuckled at the image of him being a chick, chased by a mother hen.

Luhan held out a hand to Tao to pull him up and both of them stared at the sunset until the Sun disappeared to who knows where.

"First thing first, we need to get you to start talking mindless stuff to your Daddy."

"Mindless stuff?" Luhan shrugged. "Pick a topic which is easy for the conversation to continue for a longer period of time. Don't worry, I'll try to help." Tao nodded uncertainly, doubt clouding his mind.

"You know, he's jealous of me 'cause I was clingy to my Papa even though I am a stranger. If looks could kill, I would long ago be dead right now." Luhan raised an eyebrow. Kris? Jealous of his own kid? That was ridiculous but of course, there were sometimes sides of Kris he had yet to seen. But Kris being jealous when matters are related to Lay. Yup, he could definitely see that.

Both of them entered the house with Tao following a step behind. He seemed to have a habit of walking a little behind others rather than walking with people. It was like he was studying everyone around him. Suddenly, an idea appeared in his head as he saw Kris making his way to the backdoor.

"Hey, Kris. Would you mind showing Tao around the house so he could make himself at home? Show him the cellar where all the weapons are too. I'm sure he would like to start training with us tomorrow. He needs to get prepared just in case."

Tao's face was panic-stricken and Kris' expression was one of pain but those looks were quickly replaced by their own masks. How he wanted to laugh at the scene. They were pretty much alike in many senses but at the same time, they were two complete opposites of each other.

"I thought you were showing him just now." Kris asked, his face expressionless.

"Nah. Got side-tracked and we never got to tour around the house. Listen, I really need to check on Sehunnie. I'm sure he's dying of boredom right at this moment. Bye. Have fun." Luhan whispered a soft good luck to Tao and he was gone before both of them could protest.

"Looks like you're gonna be stuck with me for another hour before dinner is going to be served." Tao would not mind, of course. It meant more time with his Daddy. More time with his Daddy meant, he got to know more about him. But his Daddy did not know that he did not mind and he was going to keep it that way for a little while.

Someday, he promised himself, his Daddy was so going to be at his mercy. That sounded creepy. Well, whatever.

Everything is going to turn out okay in the end. Second Tao will have a bright future ahead of him. He'll have a normal childhood like any other kids. With that, he followed his Daddy who was leaving from his spot by the backdoor.

To be continued...

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I'm terribly sorry, everyone! I forgot to add that Tao recognised his Daddy Kris besides Godfather Luhan, Uncle Chanyeol and GrandUmma D.O. My mistake. I've corrected it. Thank you, dcyseokyu for pointing that out. *bows to everybody*

Well, chapter 4 is finally published. Thank you so much for reading, reviewing and subscribing. XD

Please don't cry anymore, dear readers. Smile. :-) I promise to make it better. How soon? Who knows? I'm not telling. I'm heartless like that. Shoot me. *evil laughs*