“Quit laughing! Is not funny!” - Yesung was starting to get mad at his family - “I’m serious!”

“Mice?” - Heechul repeated as he did the dishes - “Seriously? Do you think all this chaos was caused by mice?”

“Yes!” - Yesung grunted - “I already explained it to you! Mice carry a lot of diseases! They are like rats but less violent and smaller! That’s why no one have found them!”

“You are saying that those officers haven’t seen the guilty mice because they are good at playing hide n seek” 

Even Kangin laughed. Yesung went away feeling upset as his family was making fun of his theory. Ryeowook was the only one that followed his brother. 

“Did you come to laugh too?” - Yesung was just trying to defend himself - “If you are going to laugh, you can go away” 

“Mize” - Ryeowook showed his new toy to Yesung - “Lotz f mouze” 

“Yes” - Yesung sat on the floor. He was tired after such a long day - “Mice is the plural of mouse. It means that there are many many many mouse around” 

“Many Mickey” - Ryeowook tilted his head before yawning

“How come you are so cute?” - Yesung’s bad mood drifted away - “Give me a hug~ Your brother needs a hug” 

Ryeowook rubbed his sleepy eyes and hugged his brother. Even after the hug, the toddler leaned on his big brother and his thump. 

“Teuk is going to scold you~ You promised you wouldn’t your thump” - Yesung spoke softly as he Ryeowook’s head - “I think is funny how you are so smart but still behave like a baby~” 

Ryeowook didnt reply. He was busy dozing off. In just a few minutes, the tired toddler fell asleep in his brother’s arms. 

“You have gotten heavier~” - Yesung said proudly as he carried his brother carefully - “You can sleep here~ Just dont wet my bed, ok?” 

Yesung got startled when he realized they weren’t alone. Heechul was smiling to him in a silly way. 

“” - Yesung muttered 

“I heard you~” - Heechul chuckled - “Anyway, I’m taking the sleeping beauty with me. He is going to wake up any minute and if he realizes he is not in his bed next to Kyu and Kiki, he will cry” 

“Why you don’t believe me?” - Yesung asked sadly - “Just because I’m young it doesn’t mean—“

“I never said that” - Heechul shook his head - “and I’m sorry if you thought I was mocking you for it. I actually think is amazing you could have thought of something like that~ You are very smart boy” 

“But...?”

“But there are things that doesn’t seem possible with that theory” - Heechul shrank his shoulders - “I took your idea into account and did some research. People and cats can’t infect someone else with hantavirus” 

“Yeah... but Mice can” - Yesung insisted 

“Excepting that no one has seen a mouse in the last few weeks” - Heechul looked around - “Unless you want to explain the police that a Pizza Hut toy—“

“Just because you haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean is not real” - Yesung folded his arms

“It’s alright. Let’s say I accepted this weird theory of yours” - Heechul sighed - “How did get Jun infected? Do you think a five years old would play with mice? Do you think his mother wouldn’t have realized they had mice in their house?”

“No” - Yesung pouted - “It must have been differently” 

“Well, tomorrow you don’t have school” - Heechul bit his lips - “But you have to promise me that you will quit playing detective. If not, you are under house arrest” 

Next day, Yesung woke up thanks to his brothers crying. The twins were upset as their sleep got disrupted and their dad was just too busy to hold them. 

“Aw aw aw” - Heechul was trying his best - “Don’t get so fussy~ Dada will spoil you after he finish cooking breakfast!”

“UHUUUU” - Kyuhyun whined louder as his plastic mouse fell from the high chair - “MICKEEEEEY” 

“Here” - Yesung reached for the toy first - “Don’t cry, Kyu. You are going to wake the whole neighbourhood”

“Oh no, that already happened” - Heechul teased - “That stupid dog woke them up with his loud barking” 

“Dog? The only dog that lives next to us is Mr Kang’s German Shepard And is actually pretty well behaved” - Yesung tried to get the cereal box but Heechul stopped him - “What? Do you think I’m also making that up?”

“No” - Heechul smiled pleased as he pointed at the frying pan - “I’m cooking breakfast! I don’t want you to get full with that sugary stuff” 

“It will be edible?” - Yesung glared - “Im glad that we are under medical vigilance” 

“Ha ha. Very funny” - Heechul stuck out his tongue - “Be useful and go wake up the others, ok?”

“Kiwy!” - Ryeowook chirped as he got down from his high chair - “Kiwy pway!!” 

“Ryeowook, what are you talking abo— Oh! That must be Garfield” - Heechul stopped in his tracks as he spotted the fat orange cat drinking from Batman’s plate in the backyard”

The orange cat stared at Heechul when the busy adult tried to get a better look of him. 

“Hi Garfield~ I just wanted to check on you~ Yesung told me you were h— Oh he ran away” - Heechul sighed when the cat ran and jumped back to the roof - “I’m guessing he is not that hurt after all” 

“He didnt touch Batman’s food” - Kangin commented from behind - “That’s weird” 

“Maybe he was full” - Heechul tried to get the kids back in the house 

“He usually eats Batman’s food and they fight for it” - Kangin explained - “Speaking of food... don’t you smell something weird?” 

“” - Heechul ran back to the kitchen where he found his new creation. 

“Bwack bwead!” - Ryeowook was fascinated with his dad’s last culinary attempt

“No yummy” - Kyuhyun did a funny face after trying to eat a corner of it 

“Oh no no, don’t eat that” - Heechul retrieved the burned bread from the twins’s hands - “I will give you another. One that isn’t burnt” 

“I will give this scrambled egg a six” - Kangin ate cheerfully - “It won’t kill us, but it could be better” 

“And prettier” - Yesung teased - “But at least you can eat it” 

Heechul felt guilty when he saw how well the kids ate despite not having the proper meal they deserved. He never thought he would feel so bad for lacking cooking skills. 

“I like it, papa” - Sungmin was eating well just like his twins - “Minnie thinks is tasty” 

“Do you think so?” - Heechul worried his sons would eat for making him feel better- “You can have cereal if you want. You don’t need to eat it if you don’t like it” 

“Tasty tasty” - Donghae chirped as he fed himself a big spoonful of scrambled eggs- “Yummy yummy” 

“I think you are getting better” - Siwon commented as he spread butter on a toast - “This is my favorite breakfast. You made it for us” 

Leeteuk was finishing breakfast when he listened to the commotion. Unable to keep himself away from troubles, his curiosity made him open the door of his room and walk right to the centre of chaos. He almost crashed with a pair of nurses that seemed to be in a hurry. He could hear people yelling at the other side. He walked down the wide hall until the voices were clear enough to understand. 

“... he is our son!”

“Stop lying to us! You obviously have no clue of what is going on!”

“Please, you have to remain calm” 

“We shouldn’t have bought that stupid house! My husband has been sick ever since!” 

“How you expect us to be calm when someone else died? What if our boy dies too?” 

“You are lying to the whole city. This outbreak already went out of control! The number of deceased just increased last night and still...” 

Leeteuk lost count of how many different voices he recognized. He was sure he had listened to Jun’s parents and the woman that lived in the other street. He also tried to remember where he has listened to the other female voice. 

“Mr Kim” - a nurse shocked him - “Are you alright?”

“Y-Yeah... I just... I wanted to stretch my legs” - Leeteuk lied. Right now his only wish was to get away from the hospital and run back to his house - “Don’t worry. I will go back to my room” 

“Sure” 

“Excuse me... before you leave... do you think you could get me my things? I mean, I was told that nothing suspicious was found so...” 

“Yeah, of course!” - The nurse smiled sweetly- “Just wait in your room. I will go look for them. I bet your wait time will feel shorter if you have your phone” 

“I don’t understand” - Heechul sighed as the medical team was again checking them - “We already had our check up today. This must be a misunderstanding”

“Say ahhhhh” - a Doctor was trying to make Kyuhyun open his mouth - “Cmon, kiddo. Ahhhh” 

“We are double checking all houses. Just in case” - another one replied to Heechul - “It’s just a safety—“

“Someone died” - Yesung glared at the medical team - “That’s why you are checking on us again. You don’t want more—“ 

“Sorry. The kid is a little shocked with all this” - Heechul was covering Yesung’s mouth - “It’s been a long wait” 

The medical team finished their job and left. Yesung was sure he had earned an scolding but unexpectedly, Heechul just pulled his hair. 

“Alright brat” - Heechul nodded - “Here is the deal. You and your brothers will stay inside this house until quarantine is over. After it ends... I promise I will take you wherever you want but right now... please” 

“Someone did died, right?” - Yesung understood it right away. His uncle knew he was right and tried to protect them - “a neighbor?” 

“Probably” - Heechul whispered so the other ones couldn’t hear him - “So far, three people have died. This virus is getting out of control” 

“It mutated” - Yesung bit his lips - “Virus do that all time. That’s how they survive and vaccines need to be updated...” 

“How come you turned out so smart?” - Heechul smiled a bit - “Sometimes I wonder where did you and Ryeowook get it” 

“From mom, obviously” - Yesung said cheekily - “Kidding. It probably came from our dad’s side” 

“Oh sweetie, you are giving my family too much credit” - Heechul shook his head - “We are not that smart. Definitely, Hani’s side” 

“But you are smart too” - Yesung tried - “And Ryeowook takes after you, right? Like me and... all of us...?”

Heechul didn’t know what to do. He only smiled again and ruffled Yesung’s hair. 

“Uncle” - Yesung got to ask him before Kyuhyun spilled a whole glass of juice over the table - “Are you our real dad?”

Heechul pretended he didn’t listen to the question and used Kyuhyun’s mess as an excuse to ignore the boy’s inquisitive mood. 

“Hey Yesung” - Kangin was chewing a piece of bread - “Have you seen my new soccer ball?” 

“Ehm” - Yesung exchanged a quick look with Siwon. The young boy shook his head and went to hide right away - “Not really. Have you checked in your room?”

“Of course dummy” - Kangin pouted - “That was the first place I looked in...” 

“We will find it, don’t worry” - Heechul patted Kangin’s back - “Go look for another ball. One that won’t make the younger kids cry if they get hit” 

“Ok...” - Kangin ran upstairs again. 

“He won’t find it” - Yesung whispered - “Remember The day Kangin went to play to his friend’s house? Well, the babies wanted to play with the new ball and Teuk borrowed it. They were supposed to return it later but Siwon kicked it really hard and it ended in the haunted house—“ 

“You know that’s a lie, right? That house is not haunted. I just told your brothers that so they wouldn’t play there. It’s full of dust and who knows what” - Heechul scoffed 

“Anyway, Teuk jumped the fence and recovered it but... it had an hole” - Yesung shrank his shoulders - “He said he would buy another one later” 

“I would have bought another one from the very beginning” - Heechul got the chills - “I don’t think is haunted but... ew. Just thinking about getting inside that filthy place...” 

“Dad! I found this oneeeee!” - Kangin was returning with a big plastic ball that got the triplets’s attention - “Are you going to play with us?” 

“Of course I am” - Heechul grinned - “Its playtime!” 

“YAAAAAAAY” - The triplets ran around Heechul happily. Yesung was busy watching them play when he realized one of his younger siblings seemed busy on his own. 

“What are you doing, little buddy?” - Yesung held Ryeowook like he was used to do - “What are you holding? Is that Batman’s food? Kangin is going to scold you if you overfeed him!” 

“Kiwy comez Pway!” - Ryeowook chirped merrily - “Kiwy pway hewe! Kiwy & mouzeee” 

“What? A mousse of kiwi?” - Yesung teased 

“Nuuuuuuuh! Mew mew mew! Ki— ‘Kitty’ pwayz ‘here’ - Ryeowook did his best 

“Sure” - Yesung kissed the young boy - “But dada said you couldn’t go out, remember? You can’t go outside to feed the kitty nor Batman nor any other animal you are thinking of” 

“Uhmmmm” - Ryeowook pouted - “Yeye go?”

“I cant go either” - Yesung giggled at his brother’s idea - “Don’t worry. I bet those two have enough food~ also, Daddy will take care of their food for the next days” 

Heechul was exhausted from the early play when he the tv and listened to the news. Nothing good. 

“... that increases our number of deceased to...” 

“When is this nightmare going to end?” - Heechul stretched - “Oh. Wait. Those are our neighbors” 

“Wow! They even shook a doctor!” - Kangin pointed at the tv amused - “Look! They are fighting!”

“I don’t blame them. If any of you were sick, I would be killing those stupid doctors” - Heechul twisted his lips - “I bet Jun’s parents must be desperate. And not only Jun’s family... the family of the deceased people...” 

“Hey, Yesung! Isn’t she that woman that almost crashed with us?” - Kangin scratched his head - “She got as scared as us” 

“Yeah, I think she is. Her husband was kinda nice to us, remember? He even got us lemonade” - Yesung smiled - “I think they were happy to know kids lived in this neighbourhood” 

“She said something about a baby” - Kangin recalled - “She said they were moving here soon” 

“Who?” - Heechul got interested in his children’s conversation- “When did you meet them? I haven’t seen them” 

“Uhm... about a week ago? I think they wanted to move to this neighbourhood” - Yesung explained - “they said something about buying a new house” 

“I don’t remember any house being sold here” - Heechul yawned - “I wonder who is moving out” 

“Well, There has been one empty house since long ago” - Kangin teased - “But I doubt anyone would ever want to buy a house people say is cursed” 

“The haunted house” - Siwon got the chills - “Ghosts live in there! And and and... monsters!”

“Monsters made of dust that will give you an allergy attack” - Heechul scoffed - “But not the monsters you are thinking of” 

“Wait. That’s right” - Yesung ran to the board and erased all Heechul’s notes - “That’s it!” 

“HEY BRAT” - Heechul complained - “I had important stuff there!”

“Look. This is our neighbourhood right?” - Yesung was drawing a little map to sketch some ideas on it - “This is our house... and These are the ones across the street over there...” 

“Grandma lives here~” - Kangin marked one of the houses - “and this is Jun’s house” 

“Yeah, Jun’s house is this one. Mr Kang’s house is here. The Jung’s live—“

“Yesung Yesung Yesung” - Heechul interrupted - “I think I know where our neighbors live” 

“Don’t you see it? They all live around the haunted house” - Yesung connected the houses and drew a circle - “All the neighbours that got sick... live around that house. That means that whatever is causing this, must be in there” 

“That’s Actually A good idea” - Heechul started to realize Yesung had a point - “But still, they have lived there for ages and nothing of this—“

“And That’s why our new future neighbors are the key. They probably bought that house” - Yesung drew an ‘X’ on the haunted house - “It makes sense! The mice probably lived there all this time but only got out when our neighbors started remodeling the house!”

“Well” - Heechul bit his lips - “That would be easy to know. I only have to make some calls~” 

“Heechul! Hi! I miss—“

“I miss you too, my love” - Heechul teased his brother - “Would you do me a favor?”

“Do you want the recipe again? Did you lose it?” - Leeteuk laughed on the phone - “I told you that is not difficult to learn. Also, that stupid board isn’t a good place to—“

“Did you watch the news? There was a young woman complaining about her sick husband” - Heechul interrupted - “We think she could be our new neighbor. Can you talk to her?” 

“I’m not getting her number for you. She is pretty but she is already taken, Heechul” - Leeteuk hissed - “What kind of man are you?”

“One that wants to save your ” - Heechul retorted - “Look, I don’t care about her number. I just want to know which house they bought and if they found anything weird inside” 

“Anything like what?” - Leeteuk wasn’t going to bother that poor woman for nothing - “Can’t it wait? She must be worried now” 

“Something like mice living there...?” - Heechul tried - “I know is a weird question but, if Yesung is right, her house is the nest and those little bastards that spread this stupid virus come from there” 

“Oh” - Leeteuk scratched his head - “Why didn’t you tell me before? I have seen mice around neighbourhood” 

“WHAT?”

“Yeah... And now that you mention it, I saw them around that house. We were playing with a ball and Siwon kicked it too hard...” - Leeteuk recalled that day - “I had to go inside their garden and I swear I saw them there. Garfield is often chasing them, though” 

“Why didnt you tell me earlier?” - Heechul felt his head burning - “Did you get close to the mice? Teuk, if those—“ 

“I did not. I hate those creatures” - Leeteuk sighed - “I cant go near them. I start to sneeze the very moment I get close to mice. Some kind of weird allergy reaction, I think” 

“You stupid swine” - Heechul did such an expression, Yesung lamented his uncle wasn’t doing FaceTime  - “How couldn’t you not connect the dots earlier?” 

“What dots? Do you want me to knit something?” - Leeteuk was totally clueless - “I’m not knitting anything for the mice. I haven’t done clothing for a mouse...” 

“Its a pity you can’t see his face now” - Yesung commented - “I think uncle’s blood must be boiling” 

“I swear there is smoke coming from his ears” - Kangin teased 

“How do I find one mouse? I only need one” - Heechul calmed down after meditating for a few seconds - “If I could find one of those little bastards, the team in charge of controlling the outbreak would go away and the doctors would have something to work on” 

“Kiwy!” - Ryeowook chirped cutely - “Kiwy pwayz wi mouzeeeee!” 

“Yeah, Honey. Dad is thinking, not now” - Heechul ruffled Ryeowook’s hair and ignored the boy - “Go play with Kyu, ok?”

“Mouze” - Ryeowook pulled Heechul’s sleeve - “Mouze pwayz hewe” 

“Ryeowook” - Heechul used his warning tune - “Go play with Kyu” 

“Uhum” - Ryeowook wasn’t going to allow Heechul had a reason to scold him - “Bye” 

“Cant you ask a cop to catch the mouse?” - Siwon asked innocently

“Do you know the number of the police?” - Heechul found cute Siwon’s innocent suggestions- “I don’t know anyone in the forces...” 

“Call 911! If you have an emergency you should call 911!!” - Siwon jumped excited and took the phone. Heechul laughed as he retrieved the poor phone - “No?”

“You cant just call 911 and tell them to catch a mouse” - Heechul giggled - “Lets just wait for the medical team to come over and do our check up. Once they are here, they can’t run away” 

“You are wasting time” - Yesung shook his head - “The medical team won’t believe us” 

“Why you Say so? We haven’t tried yet” - Heechul played with a soft ball Sungmin gave him

“Well, If a father cant trust his son, why would they?” - Yesung had zero bad intentions but his remarks pierced Heechul’s heart like an arrow. 

“I swear I trust you” - Heechul held Yesung by his shoulders - “I swear I do. For the last time, even if I found that theory ridiculous at first, there is no way I would feel like that towards you” 

“Relax~ It was just a comment” - Yesung shuddered - “Do you think they will believe us?” 

Heechul sighed. His biggest worry wasn’t that stupid mouse now. Yesung had just slipped one comment that showed his true feelings. Coming from his firstborn, Heechul found the accusation really hurtful. 

“Before... you said that I probably didn’t take into account your theory because you were a kid” - Heechul scratched his head - “Do you feel like that sometimes? Like if I let you out just because I think you are little?”

“All time” - Yesung didn’t understand why Heechul seemed so serious - “But is not big deal. Adults are like that when it comes to children” 

“Yeah but... I’m not any adult. I’m your... your Uncle” - Heechul refrained- “Your stupid uncle that takes care of you and loves you the most” 

“You are cooler than most adults” - Yesung smiled. He was playfully teasing his uncle not knowing that Heechul suffered - “I’m fine even if you leave me out of some stuff” 

“But I’m not” - Heechul finally pouted - “I didn’t know you felt that way. Now I feel stupid because I didn’t notice it earlier...” 

“Are you going to write on your diary again? You always write about how you feel on that thing” - Kangin teased - “But you won’t let us read it” 

“Because there is some ‘things’ that kids shouldn’t read” - Heechul felt cold - “That doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. It just means I’m trying to protect you” 

“From what?” - Kangin worried. Somehow, now his face showed concern unlike before

“From the fact we are his real sons” - Yesung said quietly - “He tries to keep the secret but he started struggling when he had to take care of us” 

Heechul’s heart stopped. He was in panic. Did Yesung read it somewhere? 

“Are you our real dad?” - Kangin asked Heechul calmly. The kid still had no idea of what it meant - “Wasn’t our father Kim Gunhee?” 

“Kangin, I... I really don’t know how to explain it” - Heechul realized he couldn’t keep ignoring the boys’s needs. Even if they were too young to understand everything, they still deserved the truth- “But Yesung is right. I’m your father” 

“Cool” - Kangin only giggled and went back to play with his videogame. 

Heechul looked at Siwon. The little boy was staring at him with confused eyes. He wondered if he had messed up by telling the boys the truth. 

“So... you are not our uncle?” - Siwon approached - “You are our dad...?” 

“Yeah” - Heechul bit his lips. How did he explain it to young kids that didn’t know about reproductive biology? 

“Why?” - Siwon shook his head - “You weren’t married to mommy. Did you love her?”

“Of course I did” - Heechul sighed - “But not in that way. I loved her as a friend and a sister in law. You can’t understand it now, but I swear there is a good reason why you are my son” 

“Uhm ok” - Siwon nodded - “But should I change my last name?” 

“You Can keep it the same way” - Heechul found Siwon’s logic funny - “We have the same last name” 

“Oh” - Siwon scratched his head - “Then there is no problem, right?” 

“No” - Heechul smiled a bit - “Nothing changed” 

“Should I call you dad?” - Siwon’s last question caught Heechul off guard 

“Only if you want...?” - Heechul dreamed about it but there was no way he was putting pressure on his young son for that - “I don’t care if you keep calling me Uncle” 

“Uhmmm” - Siwon did a funny expression - “I have been thinking of it. Most of my brothers call you ‘Dad’ . I think I will try that too” 

Heechul thought his little talk was over when he spotted Yesung waiting for him. 

“Is there anything you want to know?” - Heechul knew what was next. 

“If you are our real dad... why did you give us away?” - Yesung asked softly - “Were we accidents?”

“NO” - Heechul shook his head frenetic - “For God’s sake, Yesung. You and your brothers were more wanted than any other child in his city” 

“I dont understand” 

“I’m not hoping you do it now” - Heechul held Yesung’s hand - “You are still young and there are many things you ignore about the ‘adult’ world. However, what you can understand now, is that I wanted you. Gunhee, my brother loved you and wanted you too... but couldn’t have you. That’s why I had to do it” 

“He couldn’t...?” 

“Not Everyone Can have children... Gunhee wanted to be a father so badly... but he had bad luck and was one of the bunch that couldn’t have kids no matter what he tried” - Heechul did a pause - “That’s why he asked me to do it for him. I would ‘share’ with him, so he could be father” 

“Wasn’t it weird?” - Yesung leaned on Heechul - “I felt weird because I wanted to follow you all time and turned sad when you weren’t around. Didn’t you feel like that too?” 

“It was the hardest thing I ever I had to do” - Heechul confessed - “But at the same time, I don’t regret anything. You brought us so much happiness” 

“Uhm... I don’t really understand at all but... if you say so” - Yesung smiled sweetly - “I’m just happy to know you are our dad. Our real dad” 

“MOUSE!” - Kyuhyun’s scream made the others shocked - “MOUSE! DADA! MOUSE!”

“Oh dear God” - Siwon closed his eyes when he realized what his brother meant - “That’s horrible” 

“Kiwy kiwed mouze!” - Ryeowook found it funny much to Heechul’s concern - “Dead” 

“Well, that’s what cats do. They chase after mice and... kill them” - Kangin raised his eyebrows when he spotted Ryeowook dancing happily - “My brother is a psycho” 

“Kiwed mouze! Kiwed mouze!” - Ryeowook was dancing like if he had completed a ritual from an indian tribe 

Garfield was playing with his tail from side to side. The fur ball stared at Heechul with pleased eyes as the adult approached to check on the victim. 

“A dead mouse” - Heechul gulped down as he saw Garfield’s paw covered in what seemed like blood - “I think I know where the blood came from, Yesung. This buddy has been hunting the mice down”

“Yeah, but did we have a mouse here? How did it get here?” - Yesung was beyond disgusted by the idea - “How many has he killed?”

“I once read that cats like to ‘gift’ things to their owners” - Kangin pointed at the dead mouse - “maybe this is some kind of present for us” 

“That’s... weird” - Yesung flinched when he saw Ryeowook running to pet the cat as soon as Heechul opened the backyard’s door - “I didn’t know you liked to read” 

“I actually don’t” - Kangin shook his head - “But I like to learn how to raise animals” 

“Kiwy di’ we’ !” - Ryeowook was petting the proud cat - “Vewy goo!” 

“I find funny how Ryeowook praises Garfield. I could swear the cat looks proud of his doing” 

“KITTY SCARY! SCARY! SCARY!”

- Kyuhyun was having a panic attack when he realized his twin brother was next to what he considered a murdered and a potential danger - “WOOK! COME HERE!”

“Buddy, stop bothering the cat” - Heechul rescued the poor animal from his son’s deadly hug attack - “Lets wash your hands” 

“Meowwwww~” - Garfield held the mouse and showed it to Heechul. 

“He is offering it to you” - Kangin seemed excited - “Dad! You should take it! It’s a gift!”

“Ehm... thank you?” - Heechul tried to smile as the cat placed the dead mouse in front of his feet 

“Who you gonna call?” - Siwon worried when he saw Heechul searching for his phone - “If you call the police they will lock Garfield. He killed someone!”

“No!!!” - the triplets protested 

“I will send a picture and ask them to... take the body” - Heechul couldn’t believe he was actually talking about a dead mouse as if he were in an episode of Hawaii 5-0 or CSI. 

And that’s how, in a very strange way, the mystery got solved. Yesung turned out to be right about the mice being the culprit of the outbreak. The inspectors found a nest in the haunted house’s basement and made sure of eliminating any trace of it. Leeteuk was finally back home. He was feeling way better than before since he had time to rest. He even knitted a cute sweater for Henry... with a mouse on it. Heechul kept receiving gifts from the orange cat. Apparently, the cat took a like on them and wanted to make sure to express his appreciation towards the family by sharing his treasures. 

“So... this morning, I have received another gift from him” - Heechul commented during breakfast- “I swear I don’t know where he finds such a huge cockroaches. Not to mention this last one seemed to have some kind of armour—“

“Heechul” - Leeteuk warned as he spread jelly on a toast - “Not a good discussion for a family breakfast” 

“Yesterday I did a big poop!” - Eunhyuk chirped happily. Sungmin and Donghae clapped and congratulated him. 

“And that’s a good one?” - Heechul teased as Leeteuk stared at the boys with concern - “by the way, our new neighbors are expecting. They invited us to their baby shower” 

“Whats a baby shower?” - Siwon asked confused - “are they going to bath their baby?” 

“It’s a party for the upcoming baby and the parents” - Heechul tried to ignore the fact his son had such an imagination - “Specially the mother. Sometimes they even reveal the gender of the baby” 

“I hope it’s a girl” - Siwon commented - “Girls are cute. I would have a liked a sister” 

“Then you will love your new cousin” - Heechul smiled sweetly 

“EHHHHHH?!” - several pair of eyes looked at Heechul 

“Aunt Mina is pregnant again” - Heechul kept eating like if nothing had happened - “Didn’t you know?”

“WOAAAAH” - Henry’s shocked expression summarized the whole family’s. 

(For a moment I thought he was talking about himself...) Leeteuk relaxed 

(Is it a bad time to tell them I have been considering to have my own daughter?) Heechul sipped from his juice only to spit it really quick. 

“ITS SALTY” - Heechul turned to the guilty triplets that tried to make his dad’s morning a lot sweeter without success

(Nevermind. I don’t think I would survive to ten children) Heechul puffed his cheeks when he realized Kyuhyun ate all corners of his precious sandwich. 

“Teuk, do you know something? Dad said he is our real dad” - Kangin chirped 

“Did he?” - Leeteuk tried to look calm - “That’s nice” 

“He said our other dad couldn’t have children” - “Kangin continued - “I think we are lucky. We have two dads” 

“Our friend also has two dads” - Donghae said carelessly- “They live together. Like Daddy and uncle” 

“Yeah, but I’m not having s— whatever”

- Heechul cut himself after Leeteuk cleared his throat - “What is important, is that there is lot of types of families out there and all of them can live happily” 

“Teuk, when are you going to have kids? If you had a daughter it would be cool because she would live here but wouldn’t be our sister” - Kangin’s ideas sometimes worried his dad 

“But we would love her as our own sister” - Yesung smiled to his uncle - “I would take care of her too” 

“Me Too!” - Siwon raised his hand - “I would protect her from monsters!”

“Minnie will share with her!”

“Hae will feed her!”

“Hyuk will... ehm... I don’t know” - Eunhyuk shrank his shoulders and smiled softly 

“That would be actually nice” - Heechul stared at Leeteuk with sparkling eyes - “I could be her—“ 

“That’s not happening” - Leeteuk sighed 

“Why not? You even changed your last name to ours” - Heechul folded his arm - “Just like you have no problem of helping me raise my kids, I don’t have any problem helping you—“

“I can’t” 

“You don’t need to be married” - Yesung shrank his shoulders 

“It’s not... I just can’t” - Leeteuk scratched his head - “I’m like your other dad... I can’t have my own children” 

Heechul froze. He stared at his brother with sad eyes. 

“It’s ok, you still have us” - Kangin patted Leeteuk’s back 

“Ung!” - the triplets hugged Leeteuk. 

Leeteuk seemed to be just fine... but Heechul wasn’t. Somehow, even if it was for a short moment, he had pictured Leeteuk with his own family. 

“Did something happen? You look like if you have seen a ghost!” - Leeteuk teased as he played with Henry - “Whats wrong? What did the teachers tell you?” 

“N-nothing... I just...” - Heechul tried sound normal - “I didn’t know you couldn’t have kids” 

“Oh” - Leeteuk pouted a bit - “Yeah... I learned it after a medical check up. I was a little sad but, you know, I was an orphan most of my life. I knew that there were others ways of being a father, so~ I didn’t care that much” 

“You are right” - Heechul smiled - “I guess is not big deal, then” 

“Just wait until I marry” - Leeteuk stuck out his tongue - “I will ask you for your ‘help’ so my kids turn as pretty as yours!” 

“Oh no, that’s out of discussion” - Heechul

Shook his head - “no” 

“Why not? Can’t you picture my daughter actually being yours? It would be your chance to have a daughter” - Leeteuk chuckled - “Only that she would call me ‘Daddy’ and you would suffer. Gosh, I hope she is at least as half cute as Henry” 

“That ain’t happening!” - Heechul ran upstairs - “I’m not giving you my !” 

“What do you say Henry? Would you like a little sister?” - Leeteuk asked the baby 

“PFFTTTT” - Henry did his favorite fart sound and laughed 

“I thought so” - Leeteuk chuckled 

————————————————————————————- 

Hi! Long time no read! How are you? 

^-^ I’m in a little vacation right now. Running away from the second heat wave ~ 

Be careful of the heat ~ Next chapter will

Be filled with summer love!