Junsu continued working his late shifts unnoticed, it has been almost a week since he started, five days to be exact, and Chansung was growing concerned. He noticed that Junsu was groggy, and would stay in bed a lot longer than normal, he was even a bit more impatient when it came to the little ones bickering over little things. He would apologize afterwards but it still made Chansung worry.

“I don’t know Vic, he’s just been out of it, like he sleeps in and gets irritated with the little ones, I mean it’s not like I know him that well, but he just doesn’t seem the same.”

“Huh, that doesn’t sound like the Junnie I know… Where is he now? Can I talk to him?”

“Sure, give me a minute; he’s in the other room.” Chansung walked in to the living room where the kids and Junsu were. “Hey Jun, Vic is on the phone.” He called out but once he was near the other he found Junsu passed out on the floor.

“Sorry Vic, he’s out like a light. I’ll have him call you back.”

She sighed on the other line, “It’s alright, Khunnie and I will be home in a few days. So we’ll talk to him then. We’ll see you soon Chansung. Tell my babies I love them and take care of Junsu.” With that she hung up the phone and Chansung replaced it back on the receiver.

“Channie, is Junnie ok?” Luna asked tugging on his shirt. Chansung just smiled and patted her head, “I’m sure he’s fine. He’s just tired from working a lot. Don’t worry about him, ok?” she nodded and then went to go play with Wooyoung and Amber.

Chansung pulled a fleece blanket from the couch and knelt down to cover Junsu with it. He smiled to himself when he saw Junho and Sulli both cuddled a top of his lap. Looking back at the sleeping boy without really thinking he brushed the bangs from Junsu’s eyes and noticed the dark circles of fatigue. “What’s wrong Junsu?” he softly mumbled.

Releasing a heavy sigh he stood from his kneeling position and made his way to the kitchen, “I guess I’m on dinner duty. Hey kids want to help?” Amber, Wooyoung and Luna happily agreed and entered the kitchen.

-

Junsu began to stir as he heard the clanking and cluttering of kitchen ware in the kitchen. Noticing the two on his lap, he carefully wrapped them in the blanket he was in and placed them on the couch. Junsu stretched his body from side to side and entered the kitchen.

“You’re so noisy… what on earth are you doing?” he asked leaning against the kitchen door frame with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.

“We’re helping make dinner.” Wooyoung happily exclaimed while he mixed something that look like sauce in a bowl.

“What are we having?” Junsu asked curiously correcting Wooyoung’s hand so he can mix the sauce in his bowl without spilling all over the floor.

“We’re having spaghetti and bread sticks” Amber answered as she knead what looked like dough on the table.

Junsu nodded and scanned the kitchen, “where’s Chansung?” he asked once he noticed that he wasn’t anywhere to be found in the kitchen, making a mental note to scold him for leaving the kids alone in the kitchen.

“He’s upstairs with Luna,” Amber began to say only to be interrupted by her brother. “She burned herself while trying to help big brother cook the noodles.” Junsu thanked the two for being so informative before making his way to the bathroom.

He pushed the door slowly; from behind he could hear the small sniffles coming from the little girl, he poked his head in and watched as Chansung gently patted her fingers with a damp cloth speaking softly to calm her down. Junsu fully walked in, “Everything ok?” he asked. Chansung looked up with soft sympathetic eyes, “Yea, it’s only a minor burn, nothing serious, Luna just scared herself.”

“Oh no, what happened sweetie?” Junsu asked as he took a seat next to the other. Taking little Luna’s hand he began to softly blow on her wounded fingers.

“I… I was trying to h-help –sniff- Channie –sniff- add noodles to t-the –sniff- pot, but when I… I did I touched t-the side and –sniff- it hurt.”

Chansung couldn’t help but feel warm as he watched Junsu and Luna. In fact, he was so lost in his own little world that Chansung didn’t realize that he grabbed Junsu by his waist and pulled him closer so that Junsu’s head slightly lay on his shoulder. Junsu noticed and he couldn’t help but turn all pink on his cheeks. Trying to keep his composure so he didn’t sound nervous, he suggested returning to the kitchen.