Hands on the clock slowly ticked, glancing up at the clock every few seconds, you couldn’t help but feel anxiety building up in your chest. Soft ticking of the seconds seemed to slow down while you couldn’t help but worry where your sixteen year old son, Tanner, ran off to.

“Come and sit down love, you are going to wear a hole through the floor with all of your pacing” Jin chucked while holding his arms out wide for you.

“When is he coming home?” You questioned your husband while moseying over towards him. Plopping down on the couch, you leaned your head against his shoulder allowing your arms to slowly snake around him. “It is past his curfew”

“I don’t know, babe” Jin shook his head while his arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer to him.

“Do you think he is hurt?” You wondered out loud, your hands slowly rubbing your husband’s side.

“He isn’t hurt, he is just running late. I can text him again if you want” He offered peering down at you. Shaking your head against his shoulder, you nuzzled your head against his chest just like you used to do when you two were dating.

“Do you think he is dating someone?” You posed, your fingers absentmindedly playing with the fabric of Jin’s shirt.

“If he did, I hope he is happy with her and he takes good care of her” Jin pressed a simple yet loving kiss on the crown of your head as you couldn’t help but nod.

“I wish he would talk to us. I want to know what is going on in my son’s life” Your heart began to ache, your arm tightened around Jin as he nodded against your hair.

“I know babe, I know” Jin started to slowly rock you from side to side to try and soothe you

“D-Did we do anything wrong?” You whispered as you tried to regulate your heartbeat with his.

“He is his own person; we trained him the best we could. He knows right from wrong, now it is time for us to trust him with our hearts” Jin spoke words of wisdom as his eyes lifted to see your ten year old daughter shuffle into the kitchen for some water.

“Is Tanner back yet?” She looked over at the two of you as Jin shook his head sadly, “He might be out with his friends, they usually stay late at the music club down the street.”

“Alright, thank you Jane, we will look into it” Jin smiled at her, “Goodnight sweetheart”

“Goodnight Mom and Dad, you guys get some good rest” Jane bowed before heading back into her room for the night.

“Why don’t you try and sleep, yeobo, I will wait up for him and wake you when he comes home” Jin offered, his tired eyes gazed down at you lovingly, seeing how this worry is taking a toll on your aged body.

“Alright, but you promise you will wake me up?” Your eyes looked up to his, seeing that familiar look in his eye, you knew he was telling the truth as you just nodded and pressed your ear against his chest without another word.

“That’s my girl” He whispered, rocking you gently and petting your hair, he watched the clock tick another half an hour then another before he started to drift off to sleep too.

Groaning hinges welcomed Tanner home as Jin woke from the odd noise, looking up at the front door he saw his oldest child slip off his shoes. Carefully moving you off of him, he eased you back down against the cushions of the couch as he shuffled into the kitchen while rubbing his eyes.

“Good early morning Tanner” Jin leaned against the fridge with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hey” Tanner’s reply was short as he filled a glass with water and grabbed some chips to munch on.

“I am glad you came home safe, now your mom and I can head to bed” Jin tried to laugh off the situation as his son just shrugged his shoulders.

“You two didn’t have to wait up for me, you could have gone to bed. I know my way home, I am not four anymore” Your son reminded Jin as you sat up from his elevated voice.

“Tanner, good to see you home” You rubbed your eyes and sat up to see him pass you by

“Yeah… whatever” Tanner blew you off as you arose from the couch. The slamming of his door soon followed as Jin walked over to you.

“Let’s get to bed, we can settle this in the morning” Jin pressed a loving kiss on your temple as you nodded, knowing he was just as tired as you were.

Leading you to bed, the two of you fell asleep in each others arms for the remainder of the night. Jin’s alarm woke you up the next morning, he slipped into the shower and you pulled on a robe and headed into the kitchen to make breakfast and to pack your children’s lunches.

“Morning Jane” You cooed as she sat down at the breakfast table and began eating.

“Good morning” Jane bid you while her nose was stuck in a book.

“I packed you a lunch today, I hope that you like it” You placed her lilac lunchbox beside her.

“Thank you, I am sure I will enjoy it” She smiled up at you, smiling back at her, Tanner broke the sweet moment between the two of you.

“I made you a lunch for you too, Tanner” You placed his black lunchbox beside him.

“I’m not hungry, thanks” He sat down at the breakfast table and pulled out his phone and plugged in his earphones. Resting them on his ears, he bobbed his head to the beat of his song as you set the lunchbox there just in case he changed his mind.

Placing some breakfast in front of him, you turned back around and busied yourself with some dishes. Jin rounded the corner and sat next to Jane as he smiled seeing the breakfasts that he always loved.

“Thank you for making breakfast, sweetie” Jin smiled at you with a twinkle in his eye, nodding your head to him, you were grateful that you at least had one member of your family that appreciated all of the work you did to feed and keep your family running.

“Why don’t you try and eat something Tanner? Your mom worked very hard on it” Jin tried to incise him but it didn’t work.

“No, I said I wasn’t hungry” He pushed the bowl away from him, slouching in his chair, Jane quietly finished her breakfast as she carried her finished dishes over to you.

“Thank you for breakfast, I will see you after school” Jane bowed to both you and Jin before she headed out the door, making sure she wasn’t late for the bus.

Standing up, Tanner walked over to the door and slid on his shoes ever so quietly. Opening the door, he paused his actions when he heard you calling after him.

“When will you be home, Tanner?” You questioned, trotting out of the kitchen, you looked over at him standing in the front doorway.

“When I feel like it” He grumbled before slamming the door behind himself.

Rounding your shoulders, you shuffled back into the kitchen approaching the kitchen table, you pulled out a chair and sat down. Your hands covered your face as Jin just watched you.

“He’ll come back, love, we just have to be patient” Jin reached over and rubbed your arm gently, nodding your head to his words; you pulled your hands away from your red eyes.

“If you say so” You stood up and lifted his unfinished breakfast up as you placed it on the counter.

“I do, he will come back, we just have to give him some time and trust him” Jin stood up and walked over to you as his arms slowly wrapped around you and reeled you into his chest.

“Why are you so good with me?” You asked, looking up into his eyes while your hands rubbed his back slowly.

“Because I love you” Jin’s answer was simple yet true, “If you need anything you know where to reach me” He pulled away and pressed his lips against yours, the kiss was sweet yet reassuring as you moved your lips against his.

“Okay love. Have a good day handsome” You patted his shoulder before he pressed one more kiss onto your lips before heading off to work.
Cooking, cleaning and just managing the household kept you busy until everyone started to file home. Jane came home first then Jin followed soon after, having dinner ready for the both of them, you ate with them as Tanner filled your mind.

“I am going to do my homework” Jane announced after she cleaned her dishes and set them out to dry.

“Okay, let us know if you need any help” Jin called before he placed his finished plates next to hers. Standing behind you, his hands slowly rubbed your shoulders, feeling your tense muscles under his touch; you closed your eyes and dipped your head slowly melting under his touch.

“Is he going to come back tonight?” You turned your head to look back as Jin, his arms slowly wrapped around your shoulders, his head rested against yours as he shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know, but what I do know is he is going to come back to us one way or another. Don’t worry too much” Jin reassured you as he took your finished plates. “I’ll do the dishes tonight, why don’t you take a long bubble bath and relax a little.”

“Okay Jin, thank you” You kissed his cheek before you stood up and headed to take your bubble bath.

Coming out from your relaxing bath, you were welcomed with a sweet sight of Jin in a sea of blankets, waiting for you with a bowl of popcorn and your favorite movie.

“You are much too kind” You remarked, settling into the blankets next to him

“You needed to relax baby, this is what you used to love when we were newlyweds” He wrapped his arm around you as he smiled and kissed your cheek sweetly before offering you some popcorn as the movie started.

Once the movie ended it was around midnight and Jin turned off the tv and stood up to help you up. Shaking your head, you denied his help as you continued to lounge around the couch.

“We need to get some sleep love” He wondered around the house and locked it all up as he then came back over to you.

“I want to wait for Tanner before I go to bed” You whisper, looking up at Jin with pleading eyes

“Alright, but if you change your mind I will be waiting for you” He pressed a kiss on your lips then went back to the master bedroom to sleep.

Night after night, you waited up for your son, not getting a wink of sleep you could care less. All you wanted was for him to come home, for him to hug you and say that he wants to be home. Holding onto that hope, you found yourself fast asleep on the third night of being awake.

“Good to see you home” Jin leaned against the doorway of Tanner’s room once Tanner came home.

“W-What are you doing up?” Tanner stammered while slipping off his shoes

“I wanted to show you something” Jin passed Tanner and headed into the living room as he a lamp.

A soft yellow light cast down against your wrinkled skin, the color in your skin was slightly faded from exhaustion as Jin pointed down to you as Tanner’s eyes widened at the sight of you so weak.

“W-Why is mom like this?” Tanner’s concerned tone as he knelt down beside you.

“She has been like this since you left a few days ago; she couldn’t sleep knowing that you were not home. She waited up all day and all night for you to come back.” Jin folded his arms hoping his son would get the message.

“R-Really? I didn’t mean to make her worried. I just… didn’t think I mattered, so I ran away for a little bit” Tanner dropped his head in shame seeing what pain and worry he caused you.

“Why don’t you wake her up, she will like that. Just tell her what you told me” Jin patted his son’s shoulder before he left the room leaving you two alone.

Taking in a deep breath, he knelt beside you and shook your shoulder. “Mom?”

“Hey Tanner” You woke up and smiled seeing your son before you. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m home, for good. I promise I won’t let you stay up late anymore” He rubbed your arm as he wrapped his arms around you.

“Serious?” You held your son back, tears streaming down your face.

“I’m serious, I want to come home for good” He whispers into your shoulder letting a few tears slip from his eyes. “I didn’t mean to make you worry, I love you”