*Filler chapter*

Irene smiles looking at the Russian nesting doll. Seokjin always remembers to get gifts and souveniors for Aera whenever his tour favours. He always has a good taste and knows what is suitable to buy. The two dresses are also very cute.

"Aera will look so cute in this!!!" She holds up a red and white top-skirt set.

Seokjin hums and sips his coffee, "I thought so. Let's hope the size is fine."

"Oh it is! When are you going to meet her? She was asking about you." She folds them back.

Seokjin smiles. It may seem surprising but he has not been indifferent to that little girl. He has been close to her and she is really fond of him. He used to meet her regularly at the Bae Mansion which stopped after his clash with Namjoon over Joy. But he visits Aera at school whenever he got time. Sometimes he would accompany Irene, sometimes he goes there alone. Then take her for a fun outing.

"Yeah, tomorrow. You gonna join?" He rubs his neck tiredly.

"I wish but need to meet the share holders." She is looking into the shopping bags, "You two have a great time. I'll inform Noel aunty that you are going to get her from her pre-school and..." she stops and looks up at him.

He feels her gaze on him and turns his head towards her. She has a shopping bag in her hands and a questioning expression on her face. He realizes what she has found. He clears his throat awkwardly.

"Jin...this...this is for Deiji, right?" She asks, taking out a white, fluffy bear onesie and a floral frock. 

"Ummm...yeah." He sighs. He has always thought of his niece since he had first heard about Joy's pregnancy but chose to stay aloof. But after seeing and holding her at the Park's wedding, his resolve shook. He wanted to go to her party. He did not as how severely awkward and feel awfully uncomfortable it would be when he is not even on speaking terms with the baby's parents?! He has heard about the evening from Aera and Irene. He is quite pleased to know that Deiji wore the gold rings he had gifted her.

"Okay then, it is quite late now and you must be tired. Get some sleep!" Irene gives him a small smile and keeps the bags in order. She does not pester him about the matter. It will not be wise. If they want to reconcile, they have to do it on their own. 

"Yeah, good night." Seokjin is glad that she did not pester.

They lie down and she switches off the light. He begins to contemplate whether it was wise to buy those clothes for the baby. He sighs and decides that he will ask Aera to deliver them.

"Wow!! Unkeel!!! Look a pony!!!" Aera points out of the car.

Seokjin smiles from the driver's seat. It is so amazing to have her around. The innocence, merriment and playfulness make the depression and anxiety go away. Their "date" has been really fun. At first, they went to the Children's Museum where they got to learn many things and then watched an animated movie. After having their dinner, they are again in their car.

"What will Bae Aera have for dessert?" Seokjin pats the little girl's head.

"I know a place...If ye not mind, can we go dere?" She asks politely.

He is quite impressed with her manners, "Of course love!!"

"Yayyy!!"

"Sweeten up..." Seokjin reads and shrugs. The cafe is spacious. It has a warmth in it and quite classy. They enter and Aera walks up to the counter and bows, "Hullo Ahjumma!!"

He smiles a bit. She must know the owners and employees here.

The lady turns to look at her and smiles, "Oh! Hello there Aera!! How are you??"

And he is right.

"Em fine, thenk you...How you are?" 

"Oh darling!! I am fine as well." She leaves the counter and hugs the little girl. She looks up at Seokjin, "Good evening sir, welcome to our cafe. You are..." She has to know who this man is.

"Good evening. I am Kim Seokjin and I am her uncle." He bows politely, "She told a lot of nice things about the food here and people, of course, so we decided to stop here for desserts."

"Yesh!! Unkeel Jinni is Jooyy's big bratha also!!" Aera adds.

Seokjin purses his lips at her words and the lady nods, "Oh! Please have  seat! Of course I have heard about you from Joy!! Take any table you want and I will get the menu..." She quickly gets back to her place.

They find the place to be mostly empty and customers are buying the food and drinks for 'to goes'. They select one in a corner and sit down.

"Aera, how you know them?" He asks.

"The ahjumma is Eri aunty's umma. Eri aunty is Jooyyy's fren from skool!! So I know cuz Joooyy take me here..." She clarifies.

"School? But..." He cannot finish his words when the chime on the cafe door rings as someone opens it. He looks up and sighs.

Joy and Yeri were done with their study sessions in the library and the later invited her for some coffee. She accepted being too hungry and tired.

"Joooyyy!! Eri Aunty!! Baby-ah!!!" 

They turn around to find them at the corner table. Aera is waving at them and Seokjin is trying to ignore their presence.

"Ova' here!!" Aera asks them to join.

It is such an awkward situation. Joy doess not want to join them as she knows how annoyed her oppa would be. She would have avoided him if he were alone but Aera.... If she would not go, she will have to answer her questions. Yeri, as she knows about everything, is wise enough not to utter a single sound. They just waves back at her and Joy is about to gesture that she won't join them, Yeri's mother comes out of the kitchen.

"Oh! Joy and Yeri!!"

"Hello aunty!"

"Hey umma!"

"Hellooo Deijiiii..." She tickles the baby in the carrier, "Your elder brother is here with Aera!" She looks at them, "Sit together!!" The lady cannot be blamed as she dows not know, "Come!" She walks towards the table with the menu, "I am so sorry Mr. Kim. It took some time to get here. Actually it is almost time to close and all the staff have left. But do not worry! Please order as you wish!" She explains kindly.

Seokjin is in a dilemma. It will be too rude to get up. And he does not want to be here as well. Aera is with him and this kind lady will think that he left as she was a bit late. He smiles tightly, "Oh no! It is really fine. On the contrary, we should be saying sorry that we came at such an odd time! We caused trouble..."

"Oh no! It is totally fine." She waves it off. She notices the two girls are still standing near the counter, "What happened? Come here..."

"Joooyyy!! I've so fun today!!" Aera gets up and hugs her. She hugs her back and smiles. The little girl then kisses the baby.  

"Hey umma! Let me help you in the kitchen!" Yeri quips. She has a vivid idea about how uncomfortable the siblings are feeling. But she believes they need to talk about many things. And this might be the chance. She bows to introduce herself, "Hello! I'm Kim Yerim. I am Joy's classmate and bestfriend."

Seokjin bows back. It seems she has changed her friend circle.

" Aera! Wanna go to the kitchen and see how cakes are made?"

"Yessshhh!!!" Aera cheers and looks at them expectantly.

Yeri looks at Seokjin, "Don't worry she will be fine."

Seokjin finds that Joy trusts her enough to let Aera go with her. So he nods his permission.

" Thanks! I'll be back." She lightly touches Joy's shoulder and leaves. Before entering the kitchen, she changes the "open" sign into "close".

"Okay! So what shall I get you two? Joy! Sit down please..." Yeri's mom nods towards the chair. She does not understand why they are being so formal and unusual around each other.

"Oh aunty! I am no customer or guest! Why I need to..."

"Oh! Your brother is here for the first time! It looks bad. You should give him company."  

Joy, finding no excuse, sits down anyway.

"Yes?" She looks between them.

"I...will have..." He sounds confused.

"Oppa... I think you'll like the cinnamon rolls here..." Joy says softly.

Seokjin jumps a bit and looks up at her. It has been more than a year he heard her saying something to him directly.

"Oh yes! They are great!"

"Okay then... A cinnamon roll and an Americano " He shrugs slightly.

"I will have apple pie and a mocha."

Seokjin smirks a little. Joy and her love for apple and cherry pies...

"Shall be back soon!!" The lady walks back to the kitchen.

The siblings sit there in silence. They have a lot to talk about clear about but they can't. It has been like this always. They love each other very much. They were each other's only support in that toxic, dysfunctional family. So when they stopped talking, both were hurt. This is not going anywhere.

Joy sighs and decided she should begin, "Thank you oppa for getting Deiji the rings." She had cried seeing his gift. So thoughtful and precious.
Seokjin has been looking at the sleeping baby all this while turns his head towards her, "Yeah, well, it is a tradition."  

She clears , "Oppa, I need to say some things to you..."

"Do you now?" He crosses his arms.

"Yes..." She has decided to let it out once and for all.