❝Maybe home is nothing, but two arms holding you tight when you're at your worst❞ - Yara Bashraheel.

∞

♫ The Icarus Account - Oceans Between Us ♫

6:40 pm

"You're already here?" 

Gayoung questioned, with a confused tone behind her voice as she pressed the phone against her ear closely with a frown. "I thought you said you might get late?" 

"Yeah," 

She heard him mumbling before hearing a sound of the door closing as if he had closed the door of his car and heard him speaking again. "But I clocked out pretty quickly than I thought so I'm here, outside, waiting for you." 

"Oh, okay, give me a few minutes, and I'll be there." 

"Take your time, baby." 

Gayoung hung up with a hum, and shoved her phone in her purse before feeling the gaze on her to which she looked up only to lock eyes with Ji-hu, seated on Soo-Ah's chair in front of her as he gave her a teasing smile where she raised her eyebrows. "What?" 

"Baby, huh?" He teased, letting out a chuckle with a fake shudder. "Oof, never thought this day would come." 

"Shut up," She rolled her eyes, standing up from the chair to flick his forehead with a harsh force. "And who said you could eavesdrop on our conversation?" 

He hissed, rubbing his forehead before glaring at her. "So that's how you change after getting in love?" 

Soon he felt a shadow over him as he looked at his side to see Soo-Ah with a done look standing by him. "And that's how a single person talks." 

He scoffed, standing up. "You were single not long ago, ice-lady." 

"But I'm not." She gave him a tight grin before moving him aside to take her seat with Gayoung shaking her head with a sigh. "You guys never stop but I have to go!" 

Soo-Ah shot her a smile. "Yeah, we'll talk later." 

Gayoung reciprocated the smile before glancing at Ji-hu. "You'll get one soon, dumbo." 

Both of the ladies chuckled, as Gayoung waved at them while walking out, leaving the guy in confusion. "Get what?" 

"Common sense." 

"I have it." 

"You lack it." 

"And you're horrible." 

"Get out." 

Gayoung let out a laugh as she heard them till she had crossed the hallway with a smile until she was walking outside the entrance gate to see his car with him leaning against it while a bunch of female students were gawking at the sight, yeah because the sight was hard to resist including for Gayoung except, she had the right to gawk at her husband. 

An unpleasant churn erupted in her stomach which awakened the grumpy mood of hers as her eyes gazed sharply at them but shrug her unpleasant feelings almost, immediately because the person whom she was feeling grumpy and jealous for was already hers and because that person was here for her only and it was the thought had her dropped smile grace back again on her lips. 

Taking a few steps toward him, Baekhyun was quick to look in her direction to have his lips curve in his beautiful smile at her presence, bringing a wave of pleasantness around him. 

"Hey, baby." He straightened himself, stepping closer to her as he reached out, fixing her muffler around her neck before brushing his fingers through her bangs softly to open the door for her. "Let's go." 

Gayoung was quick to comply and he took his seat swiftly to drive off to their home. 

"So, how did your day go?" 

He questioned, placing a quick kiss at the back of her knuckles as their fingers threaded with Gayoung unconsciously fiddling through it as he rounded the corner as he heard Gayoung's ramble about her day after a week of leave and from her tone he could tell how excited she was and how welcomed she felt by the staff and her students and how hectic it got at the examination hall but all from her constant blabber, he could feel how happy she looked right now. 

And it was enough, more than enough. 

"But how did your plan change though?" 

She asked, leaning her head against the headrest with her eyes gazing at him, focused on his task of driving and her on him and Baekhyun surely could feel her strong stare enough for him to smile with his thumb caressing the back of her hand as he began to tell how hectic it was at hospital since there was an emergency where his presence was needed as usual but it would get this much hectic he didn't know yet he was glad to help, because that's what he does, and that's what he wants.

Gayoung could tell how his profession makes him happy even after the hectic day and he didn't have to voice it out because his relieved expression could tell the way he talked about it, and it relieved her to see him happy, more than relieved to be precise. 

"Oh, I heard Yoora's boyfriend is coming back." She paused, as she tried to recall his name, "What was it, Kim Junmyeon, and I heard he's also your senior." 

A frown plastered on his face as he gave a quick glance at her. "How do you know about that?" 

"Yoora told us in the group chat." 

"Us?" 

"Soo and me." 

"You three have a group chat?" He halted the car by the red signal to look at her confusingly and Gayoung nodded. "Yeah, we have, and Yoora told us about him coming in a few days so we wanted to know but she wants it to be a surprise like not even a picture of him." 

Baekhyun sighed, shaking his head. "Women." 

She rolled her eyes before giving him an expectant expression and he raised his eyebrows. "Now what?" 

"Do you have his picture or something like I wanna see how good looking he is?" She shrugged, tilting her head and Baekhyun his lips, annoyed as he rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you're asking your husband to show you another man's picture." 

She leaned her arm against the window with a playful look. "That's not something I expected from someone who was flaunting his good looks a minute ago." 

"And you're jealous." He snapped back, dodging her words perfectly and Gayoung squinted her eyes. "I'm not jealous." 

"And, I'm Cinderella." 

Gayoung let out a laugh. "That's funny to imagine." 

"Shut up." 

"Oh, you imagined it!" 

"You made me!" 

He huffed, but laughed along with her the next moment he saw her laughing wholeheartedly. 

The car started again and till then the sky was greeting the dawn as it was striking 7 when Baekhyun took a glance at his wristwatch with his fingers drumming as he rounded the corner as they were just fifteen minutes away from reaching home until the car came to a halt by the side and it was not by him. 

"Should I act surprised?" Gayoung questioned, and Baekhyun sighed, "Definitely not," And their hands detached with him stepping out of the car to check while slightly shivering at the cold breeze brushing through his face and Gayoung followed suit, pulling her muffler close to her with her hands in her thick jacket as she stood beside him. "Why is your car acting again?" 

"Because my car likes to act." He replied, with a sarcastic tone as he opened the bonnet to check, leaving her wife to roll her eyes at him but stayed silent before checking through the tires as he couldn't find any problem in the former one but the latter surely did, and a dejected sigh left his lips. "Tire's flat." 

"Now?" Gayoung leaned against the car by the backseat door, and he stood beside her with his hands shoved in his pocket as he fished out his phone. "So, we call a mechanic." 

"Lucky man." 

She mumbled, looking around since Baekhyun got busy in his task while Gayoung roamed her eyes around the area which was neither crowded, nor was it empty as she saw some people walking back and forth, or some running for their urgent schedules while the street was lit up by a few shops around where she found a Café a little far from they stood. 

Tilting her head down for a moment, she found their feet beside each other, with her head tilting up to his side to find him still talking but upon hearing Mrs. Tae from his mouth, she knew he was telling her about them being a little late because of the sudden yet not a surprised commotion and somehow her eyes stared at the way his eyes were looking around while conversing, or how his head kept bobbing as if agreeing to something until he hung up the phone. 

The next second, his eyes met hers and a wave of warmth rushed into her face and his forehead creased, in a questioning manner but Gayoung could just smile with a shake of her head. "So?" 

"Might take him five to ten minutes to arrive." He shrugged, shoving his phone back in his pocket as he leaned closer to her as if feeling cold as their shoulders brushed, and Gayoung nodded with a hum. "But we can just walk home, no?" 

"Yeah, but we can't just leave the car here, baby." 

"We can sell it, because it's always acting weird anyway." 

"Good suggestion, but let me reject it." 

"Your loss, because my suggestions are always good." She shrugged, giving him a confident look and Baekhyun tilted his head, a teasing yet knowing smile gracing his lips. "I have a gain of you having in my life so hit me up with other suggestions later, baby." 

Gayoung stared at him for a moment to chuckle behind a disbelieving scoff as she looked away. "Stop flirting." 

He just laughed, staring at her with her eyes gazing up at the sky and her eyes twinkled, watching the stars and he couldn't help but smile at the sight, his eyes gazing at the way her lips were tugging in a beautiful smile or the the way she was trying to snuggle into her muffler because she likes the soft fabric against her skin which she had told him about in the morning but somehow, it made her look more warmer than the muffler itself. 

Until, he found her smiling face turning into a confused frown. "Where did the stars go?" 

And the next second, a soft yet cold snowflakes began to pour down with a swift way, immediately soaking them with the snow on their heads and the road around them and Gayoung let out a gasp of amazement. "Wow, it's snowing!" 

"And it's cold." 

"And you're no fun." She gave him a look to which he just laughed, hugging her shoulders in a side way as he felt cold, while Gayoung had her palm stretched ahead facing the sky as the snowflakes fell into her palm, then melting onto the water yet the moment had her smiling before turning to him to see him staring at her but her eyes caught his red ears. "Are you cold?" 

He gave her a nod, and the next second, Gayoung pulled away from him to take off the muffler around her neck but he stopped her. "It's cold." 

"You're more cold." She trailed off, taking it off not before earning a narrowed look from him and wrapped it around his neck which brought a warmth through him immediately while fixing it properly. "And you don't like the cold that much." 

His heart warmed up, the way she'd reached out to him at the most unexpected moment, or ways, be it her knowing about his little habits, or her wrapping the muffler around him because he doesn't like to be felt cold yet it was enough for him to feel secure and safe the way she would hug him, like right now. 

"Aren't you feeling cold?" He questioned, his eyes soft yet concerning and Gayoung smiled, stepping closer to make him lean against the car to have her arms locked around his neck as she tilted her head. "We can do this." 

A smile curved on his lips, as he nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer enough to feel warm and she did, as their eyes met with a soft smile, their happy smiles. 

"So now we wait?" She asked, and he nodded, before his head tilted. "But we can do so much more than waiting." 

Her brows furrowed. "Like?" 

"Like?" His eyes bored into hers intently, and a soft yet adoring glint behind them but enough to send a warm through her heart with a rapid beating heart behind her chest but in a pleasant way until she felt him leaning in, his warm lips brushing her forehead softly and she liked the way he would kiss her forehead ever so warmly, enough that she felt safe and secured in his arms, like right now. 

Their closed eyes met again, an intent yet an intense glint behind them, something so evident nowadays but enough to feel pleasant with their warm smiles toward each other. 

His forehead leaned against hers, his eyes gazing at her lips sending a warm chill through her spine yet it made her close her eyes as she felt herself leaning in, and it was enough for his lips to grace in a soft smile as his head tilted, slightly nudging his nose against hers erupting a ticklish sensation in her stomach but before she could have enjoyed that feeling, she had felt his lips against hers in ever gentle yet warming way. 

Her arms tightened the moment she responded, as his arms tightened around her waist holding her safely the moment he felt her nervousness against him, and it made his heart jolted up, even more the moment he felt her palm against his nape, enough for her breath to hitch the second she felt his palm against her back pulling her closer. 

The cold snow pouring over them had never felt so warm, like this, their own moment did, or it still was because they didn't feel cold anymore, but felt the rapid beating of their hearts and the pleasant warmth as it brought something intense in its own way, but beautiful in their own way. 

Soon enough, their foreheads were against each other's, their eyes closed, but still in each other's arms as he leaned away a little to take a look at her and a warm smile graced his lips the moment her blushy cheeks were at his sight, and her adoring eyes meeting his own loving ones and feeling herself heating up more under his gaze, she was quick to hug him with her face buried in the muffler around him where his face snuggled in the curve of her neck. 

She held her breath the moment she felt his lips brushing her jawline in the flow as it stayed still against her skin warmly as she bit her lip. "Do we have to wait more?" 

Before Baekhyun could have answered him, his phone rang as they leaned away for him to answer his call only to know about the mechanic not coming anymore as the snow was pouring rapidly and the traffic was too bad since he was driving his scooter. 

"He can't come." 

"I know." 

"You're not laughing." 

Yet Gayoung couldn't help but laugh and Baekhyun rolled his eyes. "Seriously?" 

"No, but we literally waited for ten minutes like we could have just walked home." She stated, crossing her arms and he gave her a knowing look. "Well, then we wouldn't have kissed too." 

"Or you were just waiting for that." She squinted her eyes and his forehead creased, with a teasing smile. "What if I was, baby?"

The next second, she reached out, ruffling his hair to dust off the snowflakes as his nose scrunched. "You just have to ruin my hair." 

"Every style looks good on you anyway." She shrugged, running her fingers through his hair and a smirk curled his lips. "You should keep doing this." 

"What?" 

"Flirting." 

"This is flirting?" 

"Yes." 

"And why should I?" 

"Because It makes you look y." He paused, tilting his head with a smile. "ily beautiful." 

A laugh left her lips. "Seriously?" 

"What?" He chuckled, threading his fingers through hers as he locked the car before both of them walked down the street slowly and Gayoung turned to him. "Then you should keep doing this too." 

"Because you like it?" 

"Because it makes you look hot." 

"Aha," He tilted his head, raising his eyebrows with a playful grin. "Oh, I know that." 

And both of them burst out laughing with Gayoung speaking. "Let's have some coffee, and I saw a Café just a little bit far from here." 

"I thought you liked yours more." 

"I do, but it's cold." 

"Okay, baby." 

And their talks continued while walking hand in hand, close to each other with their nothings of everything. 

___________

9:01 pm 

"I caught you!" 

Seojun exclaimed, hugging whoever was embraced in his arms but the way the person felt just the same as his size, he knew it could be only his sister as he unfolded the blindfold off his eyes to beam. "I caught Areum!" 

"You cheated!" She exclaimed back, stepping back with a huff and Seojun just stuck out his tongue, pestering her even more as she huffed, immediately shouting at him. "I'm not playing with you!" 

"I won't do it again!" 

"You say it every time but you still cheat!" 

Their shouts were echoing in the garden, erupting through the living room as well as they were gathered after the dinner to play blindfold game and the blindfold was Baekhyun's black necktie which was given by him after their constant whines and puppy eyes of theirs as he was in the room doing his work while Gayoung was in the living room watching her drama but their loud shouts kept distracting her. 

Hence, she was quick to stand by the door frame of the garden with a serious expression. "Okay, what's happening?" 

Both of them turned and Areum was quick to pout. "Seojun is cheating!" 

"I did it only one time!" 

"Three times!" 

"Okay, quiet." She uttered, and seriously which was enough for them to obey their mother as Gayoung tilted her head. "And where are your sweaters?" 

Since it had snowed earlier, Gayoung had quickly made them wear a sweater to make them warm enough as they were playing in the garden, but both of them were standing without it as she followed their gazes to find the sweaters lying on the fort with Mongryong beside playing with a ball, literally in his own world. 

"Because it was hot." 

Seojun gave her a sheepish grin and before Gayoung could have lectured the hell out of them, Areum quickly gripped the hem of her shirt with a smile. "Mommy, play with us." 

"Me?" 

"Yes, please." 

Ah, that please again. 

Gayoung imitated Areum's pouty look as she peeked through both of them. "You have to give me lots of kisses then."

"Then catch me and get it." She shrugged, a naughty smile on her face leaving her jaw drop as Seojun giggled. "Come on, mommy, catch us if you can." 

"You little beans!" She exclaimed, before crouching down as Seojun began to tie the blindfold over her eyes with Areum helping him tying the knot behind her head. "Just wait!" 

Both of them held her hand, carefully leading her to stand in the middle of the garden before twirling her around a few times with her yelping as a dizziness hit her head by the continuous twirls to stop. "Okay, I'm coming." 

She could hear them giggling and laughing where Gayoung took her steps toward the sound of it, but ended up almost tripping or holding the leaves in her hands as a huff left her lips before taking a few steps backwards the moment she heard Seojun's low gasp, his always almost getting caught gasp as she turned around holding him but her arms had locked around someone else, and that someone's warmth was felt so familiar to her. 

"Baek?" She voiced out in confusion, as she reached out taking off the blindfold only to lock eyes with him as he was already looking at her intently. "Yes, baby?" 

Seojun and Areum were quick to squeal the moment they heard him calling her 'baby' and it wasn't the first time they heard it but it still made them happy enough to squeal. 

"What are you doing here?" 

"Not expected question." He frowned, and Gayoung took a step back with a frown. "I was so close to catching them." 

"But you caught me, isn't that a good thing?" He raised his eyebrows and she rolled her eyes as Areum giggled, taking their attention. "Oh, mommy wanted kisses so she was catching us." 

"Aha," He trailed off, tilting his head as he met her eyes with a teasing look and Gayoung shook her head with a warning look. "Don't go there." 

"Where?" 

"Whatever you are thinking." 

He nodded, stepping closer to her as he leaned his head close enough to whisper. "And what exactly am I thinking, baby?" 

"Whatever." She grumbled, turning away with Seojun looking at Baekhyun expectantly. "Dad, play with us!" 

Baekhyun gave him a guilty look. "I'm not good at this game." 

"Yeah, yeah, he's just scared that he'll lose." Gayoung said, scrunching her nose at them with a nod. "Let's play among ourselves." 

"Oh really?" He gave her a look and Gayoung shrugged with a playful grin on her lips and he squinted his eyes. "Are you challenging me, baby?" 

"Think whatever you want, doctor." 

"Okay, get ready to lose." He concluded, as the kids squealed in happiness with Gayoung smiling at them before motioning Baekhyun to come close as he bent over his head a little for her to blindfold his eyes as she waved her hands in front of him. "Can you see my hands?" 

He frowned, shaking his head as he lifted up his hands with her stifling her laugh but her actions were probably too evident for him as he huffed. "You're not laughing." 

"I'm not though." 

"Yeah sure." 

"Yes." 

She immediately kissing his cheek as she backed away leaving him stunned for a second to smile afterwards before the kids gave him a twirl a few times and the game begin with Seojun and Areum tugging his shirt to run away laughing leaving him huff with Gayoung poking his waist as he yelped, but knew who could do this as he shook his head, almost catching her hand but Gayoung was quick to retreat it back. 

Not long before, she found him walking towards the tree as his face had almost collided with the leaves but she had taken a long strides and held him by her arms around his waist as he flinched with her voicing out. "There's a tree." 

And Baekhyun was quick to smile with a turn of his figure as he held her back with his lips smiling. "Caught you, baby." 

"Yay!" 

The kids cheered, and Gayoung's jaw dropped with Baekhyun taking off the blindfold to meet her eyes with a smirk. "Who's going to lose now?" 

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" She squinted her eyes at him and he shook his head innocently as she tilted her head peeking through him seriously making him smile and her eyes widened. "Then why are you smiling?" 

"I really didn't." 

"I don't believe you." 

"Yeah, lost ones always say that, come here now." He quickly turned her around, blindfolded her eyes before tilting his head as he peered through her shoulder while waving his hand in front of her and seeing no movement, he smiled, pressing his lips against her temple. "Let's play." 

And so, the catch me if you can started yet again, with the little giggles and laughter of the trio having fun by teasing Gayoung wholeheartedly leaving the woman with nothing but an annoyed huff yet was quick to catch Seojun as she placed some kisses on his cheek leaving him whining but kissed his mother back along with Areum until it was his turn, and somehow his target was his dad who kept tickling him and he peeked through his blindfold to immediately tackling Baekhyun down the next moment and the latter was left with the laughter behind the yelp of falling on the grass. 

Areum and Mongryong joined the duo having fun on the cold grass and Gayoung was left with a sigh of worry yet she couldn't contain the warm smile gracing her lips at the sight of them. 

And their laughter echoing in the home. 

_______________

6:08 pm 

A grumpy Gayoung walked out of the bathroom, and let out a hiss as she felt an unpleasant knot in her stomach due to the arrival of her periods with her palm colliding her stomach with a displeasing feeling of the pain yet she couldn't help but sigh to walk out of the room to find her little beans seated on the couch doing their homework from the school but the excitement was of their little assignment. 

And it was a drawing they had to prepare, as Areum, who loves drawing was already almost done doodling as the colors were remaining to fill to make it completely beautiful, and Seojun was yet to even start, as he was busy doing his mathematics which he likes to do totally opposite of her mommy but so like his dad with Areum kept reminding her of completing his assignment like, and being an older sister of his while Mongryong was standing by the table, watching them doing their things without feeling bored since he enjoyed this sight. 

Baekhyun had an urgent surgery to operate, and that's why he had yet to arrive home since his work was already done yet it somehow kept him back there with Gayoung coming home quickly as possible after she was done checking through the exams papers and she could only do half of them as her stomach was hurting to come home soon. 

Just as a smile had graced her lips, a pang of pain had hit her hard enough to have her eyes squeezed shut, as a grimace of hurt was visible by her scrunched face with her palm pressed against her stomach as her torso immediately crouched down with an unconscious gasp of wince, while trying not to brim her eyes with tears since the kids were right in front of her and she didn't want to worry them. 

However, her actions were probably too loud, or the sight felt too strange for them as she found them running towards her with the same position as her as Seojun had his hand on her knee with a worried face. "Mommy, are you okay?" 

Gayoung peeked through them to weakly smile at them. "Yes, just a little tiny stomach ache." 

"Does it hurt a lot, mommy?" Areum questioned, pressing her palm over her cheeks and her heart warmed at their concern to melt right away as she scrunched her nose shaking her head. "Not a lot." 

"Dad is a doctor, mommy!" 

"Yeah, then he'll know about the stomach ache, let's call him!" 

Seojun was quick to stand up to walk through in their room to get her phone leaving Gayoung dumbfounded, as she attempted to stop him but all in vain when he walked out, her phone pressed against his ear as his eyes rounded while waiting with Gayoung sighing to standing up as Areum had her small hand clutched into hers with her worried yet innocent big eyes staring at her patiently. 

Yeah, she had the best kids in the world. 

She led her to the couch, putting aside the stuff of theirs to take a seat while getting sandwiched by them until Baekhyun had answered the call after a few minutes indicating that he was back from operating but before he could speak up, Seojun was quick to exclaim. "Dad, mommy is hurting!" 

Baekhyun, who had just taken a seat on his chair for a rest, immediately sat up straight with a worry in his system. "What happened to mommy?" 

He heard some shuffles until he heard Gayoung's voice while talking to them as if asking them to continue their assignments with them complying obediently and he heard her softly. "Hey." 

"Are you okay, baby?" He voiced out, worry dripping from his tone and Gayoung hummed, "It's just period cramps," She paused, as a chuckle left her lips. "Kids got worried." 

Baekhyun bit his lip, not knowing what to say at this as he knew about it but couldn't really understand how hard must have been for her to handle the pain so he couldn't even say that he understood, but still uttered, carefully as he leaned his arm forward on the table. "So, what can I do for you?" 

"Except for your presence at home," He heard her yet he could imagine her lips smiling to which he smiled as well, until she spoke up again, this time with more enthusiasm. "I'm craving chocolate and ice-cream!"

"Me too!" 

"Me too!" 

A chuckle left his lips, as he heard his little ones joining in. "Okay, consider it done." 

"Then, consider us waiting." 

"I'll be home soon, rest well, baby." 

He hung up, not before chuckling at the cheers on the other side of them including Gayoung as he stood up to walk to his locker to change his scrubs into his casuals quickly to grab his stuff and walked out of his cabin to meet Yixing on the elevator again. 

"Going home?" He asked, and Baekhyun nodded before raising his brows. "You have a date, don't you?" 

"Yeah, wait-" He paused, leaning back against the wall. "I should ask Gayoung for some quick suggestions about Soo-Ah." 

"Stop bothering my wife." Baekhyun stated, and Yixing gave him a look. "I'm