"A hopeful heart"

"We're leaving! Jio is leaving!"

Jinyoung hears his son as he goes jumping up and down, holding the strap of the backpack he's wearing. Jio is really excited when he learned that he'll be discharged from the hospital today and that he'll finally be able to go back home. His son is expressing his excitement by being hyper and Jinyoung needed to keep an eye on him while still finishing to pack his other things inside the bag he has brought. 

"Baby, don't move around too much and let appa finish packing." Jinyoung is glad that Jio listened and just sat at the couch while still smiling brightly. He could only smile too, finding his son adorable.

"Where is papa?" 

"He's talking to Nurse Ji-Eun." He answered. Jaebum did leave a few minutes ago to settle some matters for Jio to be discharged. Jinyoung turned to his son again. "Papa will be back shortly. We just need to wait."

"Where is daddy Mark?" 

Jinyoung got reminded of what he needs to do today; of what he has promised Mark he'll do today. After much thinking last night about what he'll do now that his secret is out of the bag and now that Mark knows the truth about Jio, as well as their other friends too, Jinyoung has decided to let his son know about the truth too. Jio deserves to know who Mark really is and he knows Mark deserves to have the right to stand as Jio's father this time.

Heaving a short sigh, Jinyoung zipped the bag close before he answered. "He'll be with us shortly, baby." 

"Okay." Jio then said as he starts to swing his legs while waiting. 

Jinyoung then thought of checking his phone just to see if Mark has replied already to his text which he sent a while ago. Upon opening his inbox, he saw Mark's text saying that he's off to drive his way to the hospital. Jinyoung thought of replying to tell Mark to drive safe but he figured that the older must have been driving already so it's no use to send a reply. Instead, Jinyoung just kept his phone in his pocket again. Just in time, Jaebum returned to Jio's room.

"Papa!" Jio greeted Jaebum and waved his small hands at him. "Are we leaving now? We'll go home now?" 

Jaebum glanced at him first before turning to Jio and tapping his head. "Yes we are, baby." That earned a delighted smile from his son. 

Jaebum then walked towards him and spoke in a low voice. "Have you texted Mark already?" Jinyoung nodded. "And is he coming?" Another nod. "Maybe we can wait for him at the parking lot? Let me take this." He heard him say, pertaining to the bag which contains Jio's clothes and other things. 

Turning to his son, Jaebum spoke again. "Should we all head outside? Baby, come here." 

Jio eagerly followed and jumped off the couch to hold Jaebum's hand. The older looked back at him before heading for the door and opening it to let theirselves out of the room. Jinyoung followed suit, closing the door behind him and walking right after Jaebum and his son as they made their way to the parking lot.

Jio was still skipping happily and even singing ten little indians as they approach the hospital's entrance. Jinyoung is very happy to see that his son is now feeling okay, far better than how he has seen him when he first heard of the accident. Seeing how energetic his son is, it's enough to pacify all his worries.

When they finally stepped outside, Jinyoung caught sight of Mark who is walking up the stairs to get to the hospital's entrance. Their eyes met but only for a short while because Mark's eyes were immediately directed to Jio. His son also have taken notice of Mark which is why he let go of Jaebum's hand just to run towards him.

"Daddy Mark!" Jio exclaimed as he ran with open arms towards Mark who is already sitting down on his knees and has his arms open too. "You're here to see Jio." It's not a question but his son seems to be asking for a confirmation.

Mark nodded as he ruffled Jio's hair. "Yes I am, buddy. I came here to see you of course. Heard from your appa that you'll be discharged from the hospital today so I really want to see you." They hugged once again and Jinyoung even saw Mark kissing the top of Jio's head. Once again, a familiar warmth is wrapping around his heart. Pulling back slightly, Mark held Jio's shoulder as he asked, "How are you feeling? Are you really okay now? Not hurting anywhere?" And the older did a quick scan as he asked that question.

This made Jio giggle. "Jio is fine, daddy Mark. Not hurting anymore. Jio is fine." Jinyoung saw how Mark smiled at Jio.

It's a kind of smile where Mark scrunches his nose up, purses his lips and closes his eyes as he shakes his head cutely. Jinyoung finds it too adorable that he almost want to pinch Mark's cheeks. He could only bite in his smile and avert his eyes from the cute scene happening in front of him but as he does, he saw how Jaebum noticed him. He could see the older's brows creasing before a teasing smile formed on his lips. Jinyoung gave him a what's the matter look and Jaebum answers back with a oh nothing look. He rolled his eyes before directing them back to Mark and Jio.

Mark was ruffling Jio's hair again and his son won't stop giggling. "I'm really glad to hear that, then." Now those eyes were looking at him. "So...?" 

Oh, right. Jinyoung was reminded of what he has to do. He walked towards his son and touched his shoulder. "Since you missed Daddy Mark, do you want us to eat lunch with him?"

Jio's eyes lighted up as he stares at him and nods eagerly. "I want!" Then Jio looks back at Jaebum. "Papa will come too?"

Jaebum exchanged glances with him before walking up to Jio. "Papa has work today, baby." This made Jio pout. "But later this night I'll be home for dinner. We'll be playing cars too. Is that okay?"

It took a few seconds before Jio answered. "Okay." He reached for Mark's hand. "I will go with daddy Mark now." And then reached for his other hand. "Appa will come too, right?"

Jinyoung glances at Jaebum and then at Mark before he nods. "Of course, baby. Appa will come."

"Alright, then. I'll be heading off first. I'll take this with me and take it home before driving straight to the office." Jaebum told them, showing the bag that he's carrying. He bent down to kiss Jio's head. "See you later at home, baby."

Jinyoung sends Jaebum off with a nod and watches him jog towards his car. The sound of Mark clearing his throat caught Jinyoung's attention and made him turn and look at the older who is now getting up on his feet but still holding Jio's hand. 

"Should we all go?" Mark asked him. "Where to, by the way?"

"Jio is hungry. We will eat. Right, appa?" 

Jinyoung nods at his son. "Yes, we are. You miss eating chicken, right?" Jio nods and gave him a thumbs up so he then