Jongin was waiting for his boyfriend when Kyungsoo got home from his job as an assistant at the university library, sitting on the sofa with his socked feet propped up on the coffee table.

“Hey yeobo,” he greeted his boyfriend with a wide smile.

“Feet off the table,” Kyungsoo replied tiredly, dropping his backpack by the door before toeing off his shoes and reaching for his slippers.

Jongin automatically took his feet off the scuffed coffee table. “Long day?” he asked sympathetically.

“The longest,” Kyungsoo agreed, flopping on the couch beside his boyfriend with a heavy sigh. “I swear, some people should never be admitted into university. And I think all of the stupid ones decided to come into the library today.” He glanced at his boyfriend. “Is it okay if we order food tonight?”

Jongin wrapped his arms around the elder. “Damn, you must really be exhausted if you don’t want to cook.”

“I am,” Kyungsoo agreed, resting his head on the taller male’s shoulder.

Jongin ran his fingers comfortingly through Kyungsoo’s dark hair. “We should go on a vacation this weekend then. It seems like you need a break.”

Kyungsoo scoffed. “We’re poor, Jongin. Remember? It’s all we can do to make ends meet these days. We can’t afford to go anywhere. Besides, aren’t you teaching dance classes this weekend?”

“I asked off,” Jongin replied in an offhand manner.

Kyungsoo sat up. “You asked off? Why?” Then he wrinkled his nose suspiciously. “You’ve got something planned, don’t you?”

Jongin couldn’t help but grin. “You know me so well, don’t you?”

“So where are we going?” Kyungsoo asked with a little laugh. “And how are we going to afford it?”

“We’re going to visit my sister Jaehwa,” Jongin explained, arms tightening around the elder. “She invited us to stay the weekend at her house. She says Donghyun has been asking for us. She wired some money into my account for the bus tickets. I promised to pay her back when I could,” Jongin said quickly when it became clear that Kyungsoo was going to protest. 

Kyungsoo hesitated. “Is it really okay if we go? I mean, won’t we be making it difficult for your sister?”

“She invited us, silly,” Jongin laughed, reaching for his phone to order something for dinner. “You know Jaehwa. She wouldn’t invite us if she didn’t want to. So you’ll go, right?”

“Of course I’ll go,” Kyungsoo laughed, lying down on the couch and propping his feet up in his boyfriend’s lap. “A free vacation? I’ll take that any day.”

So the following afternoon, once they had both finished with classes for the day, they grabbed their duffel bags and caught the bus an hour and a half to the town where Jaehwa lived. She was waiting for them at the bus station, her young son Donghyun holding her hand and hopping about impatiently, waving eagerly when he saw them and shouting to his mother.

Holding Kyungsoo’s hand, Jongin wove his way through the crowd outside the terminal, over to his sister and his nephew.

“Uncle Jongin!” the boy crowed, howling delightedly when his uncle lifted him up onto his tall shoulders. “Uncle Kyungsoo!”

Jaehwa gave Kyungsoo a warm hug and pecked her little brother on the cheek in a familial sort of way. “He’s been so excited ever since I told him you were coming to visit,” she admitted with a laugh, leading the way over to a sleek red car in the car park. “It’s like Christmas has come early for him. How have you guys been?”

“Eh, you know,” Jongin shrugged, relinquishing the little boy so Jaehwa could buckle him into his carseat in the back. “We’ve been busy, working and going to classes. The usual.”

“Not the usual,” Jaehwa said archly, finishing with her son and sliding behind the wheel. Jongin automatically took the backseat so Kyungsoo took the one beside Jaehwa. “I’ve never seen you studying or working before.” She flashed a smile at Kyungsoo. “My brother has really changed since he started dating you.”

“Hey, quit talking about me like I’m not here!” Jongin grumbled, playing with Donghyun and one of his little plastic action figures.

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” Jaehwa laughed, and they accelerated onto the freeway.

The three of them chatted comfortably as the car zoomed towards the large home on the outskirts of town where Jaehwa lived with her husband and son. Jaehwa told them how unbearable hers and Jongin’s mother still was and they in turn told her about how their classes were going, how much they liked living in their own apartment. Before any of them knew it, they were pulling into the garage of Jaehwa’s house and unloading their things from the boot of the car.

The house wasn’t empty when they came inside, however. A pretty girl with long, dark hair and too-high heels was sitting on one of the sofas with a glass of champagne held in her elegant hand.

Jongin stopped in the doorway, Donghyun wrapped around his leg, giggling like a madman. “Jinae,” Jongin said, a cool tone to his voice that hadn’t been there a second before.

The pretty girl on the couch got to her feet, setting down her glass of champagne, and turned to face them. Kyungsoo recognized her as Jongin’s middle sister, the one that he didn’t have much to do with. Kyungsoo had only met her once and it hadn’t been a very pleasant meeting. That had been the time Jongin had been disowned from his family for his alternative lifestyle choices, for choosing Kyungsoo over the parents that had all but abandoned him.

But the girl, Jinae, smiled. “Jonginnie,” she said, her voice soft. “It’s been a while. You look good.”

Jaehwa stepped in to smooth over what surely would have been a sarcastic retort from her baby brother. “When Jinae heard you were coming to spend the weekend with us, she insisted on coming too. To catch up, you know? Jinae, you remember Jongin’s boyfriend, right? Kyungsoo?”

“How could I forget,” Jinae said, extending her hand to Kyungsoo. “It’s good to see you again, Kyungsoo.”

Kyungsoo hesitated before accepting her hand. It was cool to the touch but her grip was firm. He looked for any sign of repulsion, any clue that she hated him or Jongin, but there was none.

“What are you really doing here, Jinae?” Jongin demanded, unable to keep up the friendly façade for long. “Shouldn’t you be at home, kissing Mom’s or something?”

Jaehwa slapped him on the shoulder for that comment.

Jinae smiled briefly, her eyes crinkling into nothingness just like Jongin’s did when he smiled. “I’m not on the best of terms with our parents right now,” she admitted. “In fact, I think I might have gotten myself disowned like you. So we’re on the same playing field, I guess.”

It was obvious that Jongin didn’t want to show any interest, but in the end his curiosity won. “What did you do that got you disowned?”

“I filed for divorce,” Jinae said calmly, gesturing for them all to sit down so they could talk more comfortably. Kyungsoo found Donghyun in his lap before he’d fully sat down in one of the plush armchairs, but he didn’t mind.

Jongin frowned at her. “You’ve only been married for a year, Jinae. How could you already know you wanted to divorce your husband?”

“Because he was never my husband to me,” Jinae said, refilling her glass of champagne and offering some to the others. Kyungsoo and Jongin politely refused, but Jaehwa accepted a glass. “I got married because Mom pressured me. You know it is. You’re just supposed to go along with whatever they tell you because that’s what’s expected of you.”

“I didn’t,” Jongin said, a petulant tone creeping into his voice.

Jinae gave him a flat look over her glass. “Yes, well, not all of us have someone to fight for.” Her kohl-rimmed eyes flickered in Kyungsoo’s direction for the minutest of seconds; it was the first time she had admitted – at least indirectly – that she thought her brother and Kyungsoo had something special, something that defied the standards she and her siblings had been brought up to respect.

Jongin seemed as taken aback by this statement as Kyungsoo was, but, after a moment, he found his voice again. “So what are you going to do?”

Jinae shrugged, admiring the golden liquid in her glass before taking another sip. “I’m not really sure, to be honest,” she admitted. “I have no place to go, really. I didn’t study well in school, so I can’t even support myself. But I’ll manage somehow. I’ll get a receptionist job if I have to.”

“You? A receptionist?” Jongin said sarcastically, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice that hadn’t been there previously. “I’m sure that’ll work out real well for you.”

Jinae laughed, actually laughed. Kyungsoo was taken aback by how catching it was; he almost wanted to laugh himself. “You’ve got a point there,” Jinae admitted. “I’ll figure something out. Jaehwa has so kindly invited me to stay here until I get back on my feet, even though I know I’ll be a huge inconvenience to her and Haewon. It’s troubling, to be sure, but it’s not the end of the world. If you can survive without Mom backing you, then so can I.” She flashed him a smile, and Kyungsoo was surprised by how similar it was to his boyfriend’s. “So thanks. For, you know, inspiring me.”

Jongin smiled back, hesitatingly at first and then more genuinely.

Kyungsoo politely excused himself after dinner, retiring to the nursery to spend some time with Donghyun so that Jongin and his sisters could have some time alone to get reacquainted. Though they’d grown up living in the same house, it was like they were strangers who had to re-learn everything about one another now that they were older and more accepting.

“Do you love my Uncle Jongin?” Donghyun surprised Kyungsoo by asking. They were sitting in the middle of the nursery on the second floor, the wide window overlooking the swimming pool in the backyard.

Kyungsoo stopped making the action figure in his hand dance, gaping at the little boy, unable to find his words.

“My friend Haesoo says that boys aren’t supposed to love each other that way,” Donghyun continued in a matter of fact sort of way. “But I’ve seen the way Haesoo’s parents act. They don’t love each other. I don’t even think they like each other. But you and my Uncle Jongin…” Donghyun nodded decisively, smiling up at Kyungsoo with a cherubic face. “I think you love each other.”

Kyungsoo gathered the little boy into his lap; Donghyun was still just small enough that he fit there comfortably. “There’s something you’ll learn, kiddo,” Kyungsoo said, trying to keep the tinge of sadness from his voice. “Some people don’t see the love. You can see it, and you’re very special that you can, but not everybody can see that love is what’s important.”

Donghyun nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t think Haesoo can see it.”

“No, you’re right,” Kyungsoo agreed. “You’re probably right. But just because she can’t see it now doesn’t mean that she won’t be able to see it when she’s a little bit older. We have to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, you see.”

“I’ll always be able to see it,” Donghyun announced proudly.

Kyungsoo cuddled him close, pressing a sweet little kiss to the top of the boy’s head. “I’m very glad, Donghyun-ah.”

It was late when Jongin finally joined his boyfriend in the guest bedroom Jaehwa had set them up in for the weekend, long past midnight. Kyungsoo was curled up under the blankets, eyes closed but not asleep.

Of course Jongin knew he wasn’t asleep the second he slipped into bed beside the elder. “I’m sorry I’m coming to bed so late,” he whispered, breath warm against Kyungsoo’s lips, which parted for the inevitable kiss that followed.

“It’s okay,” Kyungsoo said sleepily, snuggling up into his boyfriend’s arms. “I know you had a lot to talk about with your sisters.” He hesitated. “How are things?”

“Surprisingly well,” Jongin admitted with a little chuckle. “It’s weird, but it’s like we’re making up for all that lost time when we were growing up, when we were living in the same house but practically strangers. We just got to talking and we lost track of the time. Turns out I have a lot more in common with Jinae that I ever would have thought.”

Kyungsoo chuckled. “Imagine that.” He hesitated, then spoke again. “Donghyun asked me if I loved you. He says we act like we love each other.”

“He’s a smart kid,” Jongin grinned, pulling Kyungsoo even closer. “I guess he gets it from his uncle.”

The weekend flew by in a flurry of playgrounds with Donghyun and cookouts with Jongin’s sisters and Jaehwa’s husband Haewon. Though Jinae retained her slightly superior air the whole time, Kyungsoo was beginning to think that that was all it was: an air, a show she was putting on. He decided that, although he didn’t like her quite as much as he liked Jaehwa, he still liked her.

They were getting ready to leave Jaehwa’s house on Sunday afternoon when Kyugnsoo got a call from his mother.

“What are you doing, dear?” she asked cheerfully, the clang of pots and pans in the background indicating that she was doing what she loved to do best: cooking.

Kyungsoo couldn’t help but smile. “Jongin and I have been visiting his sisters this weekend, but we’re about to head back to Seoul.”

His mother was suitably huffy. “You’re traveling and you didn’t even let me know? You’ll be going right by home on your way back to Seoul! You have to stop by for dinner.”

“Mom-” Kyungsoo began.

“No buts, young man,” his mother said sternly. “I’ll have your father pick you up at the train station and then he can take you back.” And the plans were made without Kyungsoo having much of a say in it.

“Stop by your parents for dinner?” Jongin repeated when Kyungsoo broke the news to him. “Sounds great!”

Kyungsoo glowered at him.

“What?” Jongin laughed. “Your mom is an even better cook than you, and I hadn’t thought that possible. What’s the big deal? Don’t you want to see your parents?”

“Of course I do,” Kyungsoo sighed. “But where will we get the money for the train tickets?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jongin assured him. “I’ve been saving up. I’ve got enough money to get us on the train. We’re not pinching pennies that badly yet.”

Kyungsoo gave in with a nod; there was no use arguing, at any rate, and he did really want to see his parents. He hadn’t gotten to see them since college had started. Both he and Jongin had been so busy with classes and with their part-time jobs that they hadn’t had much time for anything else.

So, after they said goodbye to Jaehwa, Jinae, Haewon, and Donghyun – who wept openly and clung to Jongin, begging him not to leave – Kyungsoo and Jongin boarded the train that would take them to the station near Kyungsoo’s parents’ house.

True to her word, Mrs. Do had made sure that her husband was waiting for them there with his ancient car. He waved happily, gesturing the two boys over. He wasn’t much of a hugging man, but he clapped Kyungsoo on the shoulder and shook Jongin’s hand and then the three of them were on their way to the cozy little home Kyungsoo had grown up in.

Mrs. Do was waiting at the door when they arrived, wearing her usual batter-splattered apron and brandishing a spatula. Kyungsoo could hardly recall a time when she wasn’t dressed for cooking; he’d definitely gotten his love of the art from her.

“How is school going? How are your classes? Are you getting enough to eat? How’s the apartment? You’re keeping it clean, aren’t you? Are you learning anything interesting?” Mrs. Do was on fire with questions, not even stopping to wait for an answer.

Kyungsoo laughed and happily filled her in on everything that was happening in his life – well, not everything; some things needed to be kept strictly between him and Jongin, he figured. Just because his mother was accepting of his alternative lifestyle choices – and a promoter of safe – there were some things he just wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing.

“Will you set the table, dear?” Mrs. Do asked, bending down to check on something that smelled delicious in the little oven. “Six places.”

“Six?” Kyungsoo asked curiously, getting out the plates and silverware. “Are we having guests?”

“Sunho is coming,” his mother replied, a twinkle in her eye. “He’s bringing his girlfriend.” She said the word as if it were magic.

Kyungsoo smiled. “Oh, you mean Dahae.”

He didn’t realize he’d said the wrong thing until his mother turned to give him a squinty, suspicious look. “Have you met her before, Kyungsoo?”

“Ah, no,” Kyungsoo lied quickly, shaking his head. “I just, uh, heard Sunho talking about her before.”

Jongin, oblivious, shook his head. “No, you met her when you went to Busan with your brother for that party, right? Didn’t you stay at her house for the weekend? You took Junmyeon with you since I couldn’t go. Remember?”

Kyungsoo face-palmed.

Mrs. Do was beside herself. “You went to Busan for a party?” she all but roared. “And you stayed at a girl’s house? Unsupervised?”

“Mom,” Kyungsoo tried weakly. “It’s okay. Nothing happened. I’m not even into girls, you know.” He gestured vaguely to Jongin, who seemed to realize he had said the wrong thing and gave his boyfriend an apologetic look.

“That’s beside the point!” Mrs. Do was absolutely furious. “I expressly forbade Sunho to go to that party and he went anyway! And what’s worse, he roped you into doing it with him! Probably asked you to cover him! A fine example that boy is setting!”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Kyungsoo tried again. “Nothing happened. Sunho really likes Dahae. They’re good for each other.”

The slam of the front door interrupted the one-sided argument. “Hi!” Sunho’s voice called cheerfully down the hallway. “We’re here! Where is everybody?” And he appeared in the kitchen a second later, his pretty girlfriend Dahae in tow.

“You are in quite a lot of trouble, young man,” Mrs. Do said sternly, hands on her hips. “Kyungsoo here just told me that you went to Busan for a party after I specifically told you that you couldn’t go!”

Sunho shot Kyungsoo a withering look; if looks could kill, he’d be a charred pile of ash on the floor.

“It wasn’t Kyungsoo,” Jongin quickly came to the rescue. “I’m the one who let it slip. I didn’t realize it was a secret. I’m really sorry.”

Sunho shook his head. “It’s fine. Anyway, we have something we wanted to tell you guys. I’m glad you’re here, Kyunggie.”

Mrs. Do lost her furious air at once. “What’s going on? Is everything alright? You’re not sick, are you?”

Sunho chuckled, but it was a bit forced. “No, Mom. I’m not sick. I’m fine. In fact, everything is fine. But, well…” He glanced anxiously at Dahae as if he didn’t know how to continue.

“I’m pregnant,” Dahae finally blurted out. “We’re going to have a baby.”

Sunho gave his mother a sheepish smile. “Surprise?”

And that’s when all hell broke loose.

Okay, so I feel like there's a lot to say.

First, the chapter. So Jongin is making nice with his sisters and Kyungsoo's going to be an uncle. I feel like a lot happened in this chapter OTL

Second, I'd like to apologize for yet another unannounced mini-hiatus. I had surgery and was indisposed for quite some time. I won't go into detail about it, but you can read my blog post about it here. 

And third, I just want to say thank you for all the congratulations! Like seriously, I was blown away by how excited you all got about me getting engaged! So many of you told me you shipped me and my fiance! Well thank you! So I will take tons of pictures of the wedding, of coruse, but unfortunately the wedding won't be for a while. We're getting married in May of 2016, so about a year and a half away. We're waiting until we get back to America so we can celebrate with our family and friends, and we want to stay in Korea for at least two years. 

But we have been planning like crazy. Like seriously, we've got everything all planned out. And I already have my wedding dress. And it's handmade. And it's gorgeous.

Anyway, sorry again for the hiatus and I'll try not to let too much time pass before the next update lol