since when did things change?

how long has it been since his silent hopes changed path,

from wishing every day would go by a little faster to praying for each second to be an hour long.

as the seasons change, the home decor transformed from sublime to sparkling christmas lights,

sounds of little cries switching to first word uttured- a cooing " 'ma!",

now cautious crawls are thudding little feets that keep the parents on their edge,

cribs upgraded to twin beds,

little giggles turned excited chatter,

yes, can time go by a little slower?

for jungkooks little family picture book is already on its last page,

the "3" birthday candle blown out,

icing on taehyungs nose, party glitter on jungkooks hair,

their precious toddlers sandwiched between them wearing matching birthday hats,

the cries and chaos from three years ago today turned into a perfect picture.

no worries though,

the new picture book is already bought and decorated,

with little butterflies, dinosaurs, doodles and glitters,

the best of it all are four stick figures labelled,

appa!, eomma!, soonie!, woonie!

□□□

taehyung still remembers the day when jimin barged into their home six in the morning smiling so wide that his eyes are two crescents, extending his little fingers showing the giant diamond ring on it to a sleepy taehyung and jungkook.

today as the same omega stands infront of their door, eleven at night, tears glistening in the same eyes and nose rubbed red,

taehyung didn't ask no questions, just hugged his soulmate as jungkook respectfully retracted to the bedroom,

all in time for jimin to start crying onto his friends shoulders.

they cuddled on the couch under blankets, jimin still sniffling as taehyungs eyes lingered on a dot of party glitter stuck on their ceiling,

until jimin finally whispered a "'m gonna divorce both of 'em".

taehyung sighed.

"we both know you love them too much to do that" he said.

jimin then grumbled something unintelligible before sitting up.

"still-- i hate those idiots!" he rubbed at his red rimmed eyes.

taehyung didn't comment, instead gave time for jimin to gather his thoughts.

"i-i fought with yoongi--" the smaller omega then started, "he came to me today 'nd said that he's ready for those invasive medical therapies they do to get betas pregnant--" jimins voice turned to venom near the end.

"you know how dangerous those are, tae?! how could that stupid idiot-- uh-- he shouldn't be suffering 'cos 'm defective" jimins anger again turned to hiccuping cries.

taehyung had a hunch the reason might be centered around that topic again- afterall the throuples married life was rocky for the past few months.

it was no news that taehyungs precious babies gave jimin the baby fever; but all the excitement soon turned into fights and tears as more negative pregnancy results turned up and a month long visit to fertility clinics yielded no results yet.

apparently such infertility issues are common among alpha/beta/omega couples- their biology want them to have a baby with three of their genes, the chances of it thus very rare.

"they shouldn't be loving me so much when i cant even give them--" jimin curled closer to the other as taehyung clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"stop that. you know its not your fault, chim-- besides, they can never love you less" taehyung assured for he sure knows the three idiots love each other so much, its a mess when one of them is sad.

that night jimin slept curled around on the couch and woke up with little hands smothering his face.

"mimi! wake up mimi!! appa made sammich!!"

jimin grunted when little legs clambering on top of him kneed him in the stomach. still he couldn't help but smile at the excited pups and their cute little faces.

"okay i'm up. i'm up!" jimin chuckled, then yawning and stretching his arms before opening his bleary eyes.

what he didn't expect was the sight of his two mates on the other couch, guilty faces now longingly looking at him.

jungkook who was plating the sandwiches on the table supplied a- "we didn't snitch on you. they were here at five in the morning and i didn't want my hyungs to freeze in the cold".

but everything went to deaf ears as jimins lower lip wobbled and he promptly threw himself on top of his husbands.

"we're sorry, lovely"

"never wanted to upset you"

"we love you, baby"

taehyung rolled his eyes, fond, at them.

breakfast was a messy affair and when jimin tried to clear the tables, jungkook pushed him away with a "move, shorty!"

"hey! you're just five centimeters taller than me!" jimin accused.

"the five centimeters you're never going to have" jungkook teased as he collected the plates and taehyung snorted from his chair.

jimin whined throwing puppy eyes at yoongi and hoseok for backup.

"hey now! dont be mean to our omega" hoseok playfully said pulling jimin onto his lap.

"jimin isn't short. he's perfectly sized" yoongi added before pressing a kiss to jimins blushing cheeks.

jungkook and taehyung exchanged fond glances, before going back to making sure their puppies are eating well.

as the weight of the fight mellowed and now the throuples cuddled in the living room, the rest of the inhabitants were busy.

"i thaw miss miyu is bad but she so cool, 'ma!" haesoo said as he jumped on the bed

"yea!!! she haf da pokemon pencils!!" jongwon quipped as jungkook helped him wear the pants.

"really!" taehyung fake gasped to which two little heads nodded excitedly.

the twins had just started their kindergarten last week. the first few days weren't a pleasant experience, lots of tears and crying for their parents until they warmed up to the place.

now a days, they are more than excited to spend those few hours at the kindergarten, making friends and playing, coming back with lots of stories to share with their parents.

"oh! oh!! eomma!" haesoo continued his jumping in the bed as taehyung tried to tackle him down to comb his hair, "aimi's mama godda baby in her tummy!" the little one said patting his own stomach.

jongwon gasped from jungkooks lap.

"how da baby got in da tummy?!" the little alpha asked, wide eyed.

jungkook froze and taehyung met his mildly panicked gaze.

well shit, he thought he wouldn't have had to have this conversation till another eight or ten years!

as an unharmful escape, jungkook was ready to drag in god and his magic powers when haesoo giggled from the bed.

"its when two people love sooo much, they kiss on da lips, silly!" the little omega supplied his theory and the other little one made an understanding 'o' face,

and taehyung muffled his giggles onto his palm.

soon, the little ones were ready and they moved to the living room.

the puppies now played with legos as the parents got ready; taehyung for his new job as the assistant curator while jungkook got ready to teach his morning classes at hopeworld.

haesoo was topping the red legos when, the uncles decided to retire for their home as hoseok decided to tag in with jungkook to open the studio.

"love you alpha" "love you too, baby" jimin and yoongi crowded hoseok in the doorway as they scented and kissed the alpha goodbye,

and seeing this, the little mischiefs met glances, then gasping dramatically,

they love each other...

they just kissed on the lips...

haesoo scooted closer to his alpha brother, lego still clutched in tiny hands and whispered a- "oh ow! now uncle hobi hava baby in da tummy?!"

jongwon gasped, before looking at his uncle hobi with sparkling eyes and a boxy smile.

like this, time kept on running- them filled with smiles, happiness, occasional fights,

and it took a few weeks later for all seven of them to find time together again.

this time, as the jung couples entered the house, yoongi ran to scoop up the babies before spoiling them with the chocolate and toys he bought as hoseok smiled endeared with a protective hand on jimins waist.

soon, namjoon and seokjin arrived, seokjin chuckling as the little figures hugged his legs and his brother suffocated him with a muscled hug.

all of them were huddled around the table eating delicious food and wine, except for the puppies on high chair who sipped on orange juice while jimin too opted for juice today.

as they had conversations and ate, the toddlers kept on glancing towards hobi, them later resorting to placing their own vegetables secretly onto hoseoks plate.

the alpha sure noticed, then playfully scolding a, "no dont do that. growing puppies need to eat veggies",

to which haesoo huffed and sassed a, "aimi's momma eat lodda veggies!".

hoseok laughed and shrugged away their innocent blabbering before going back to adult conversations.

after dinner jimin and taehyung cleared away the tables as the rest entertained the puppies and set up a movie to watch.

while putting the leftovers in the fridge, taehyung kept on side way glancing jimin to which jimin rolled his eyes.

"what?!" the smaller omega finally asked with hands on his hip.

"you're pregnant, aren't you?" taehyung narrowed his eyes then.

jimins eyes widened, before he let out an embarrassed whine.

"tell me! tell me!!" taehyung bounced on his legs as he side hugged his soulmate.

"i got a positive pregnancy test yesterday" jimin finally admitted to which taehyung squealed with hands over his mouth.

"promise you wont tell anyone! i want to surprise everyone after a doctors appointment!" jimin stomped his feets before pushing out his pinky towards taehyung.

taehyung inturn giggled and interlaced the tiny pinky with his own before giggling a, "i promise!"

so, things were nice,

life better than ever they expected, even for taehyung and jungkook.

it had took a happy peak when jungkooks mother finally responded to his desperate calls to amend things between them,

but the women soon closing up when taehyung came up in the conversation.

jungkook had thought his mother deserved to know all the things that happened- on what had happened to her husband,

but the old woman couldn't swallow the fact that her youngest is with the murderer of her husband.

and that day when taehyung found jungkook reaking distress concerningly, eyes misted and sad had the conversation came up,

that led to taehyung discovering the truth.

as both of them sat on the bed as sad balls of distress, namjoon and seokjin had picked up the kids from kindergarten claiming spots for a sleepover over the weekend.

" 'm sorry-- so sorry" taehyung had broke down hours later. even though his relationship with his father was horrible, the omega knew jungkook looked up to his father a lot, mafia leader or not.

"not you fault. it was never your fault" jungkook hugged the omega to his chest as taehyung tremored with memories.

that night jungkook held taehyung through every nightmare that came to visit the omega.

the next day was better,

albiet everything the couples had an event to attend: inauguration of a renowned exhibition at the museum taehyung works at.

jungkook hates those with every bone in his life- the first reason being he wasn't keen on socializing anymore,

the second being this taehyung-

taehyung, who is another level confident in his work space; the omega who is now coming out of the room dressed in a hugo boss suit; the v-neck of the black inner tuxedo low, heels clacking against the floor, diamonds glittering on his ears and neck, silver strands pushed off his face,

jungkook knows other people are going to stare at his omega and he cant even shoot them in the face for it!

"oh you look handsome" taehyung stops infront of jungkook, sultry eyes appreciatively skimming over jungkooks blonde undercut, the form fitted suit, bulging muscles, eyes lingering by the lip ring,

jungkook sure noticed and leaned in for a kiss, but taehyung whined and shook his head,

"cant smudge my lipstick now"

jungkook hummed, hand squeezing taehyungs waist before rumbling a- "later then" before he opened the door for the omega.

the night turned out to be great and jungkook remembered to fulfill his promise.

head thrown back, arms entangled in silk sheets,

eyes glazed over red and blue,

nails leaving a map on the alphas back as lips nip at sensitive neck,

"so beautiful, my love--you take me so well"

the praises makes his toes curl where they are thrown over jungkooks shoulder,

an answering gasping moan falling from cherry red lips when jungkooks hips meets his.

"just like that, baby-- dripping so wet for me"

tears that roll down shine as bright as the diamond on taehyungs neck and the bracelet bracketing his thighs,

each of the salt kissed away as love bites bloom like roses on tanned skin.

"gonna fill you up 'nd mark you as mine- my omega"

a hand press down on his lower stomach as he feel every inch inside him,

feel each of jungkooks breath on his skin,

feel so loved, so free under the hands that melt him like gold,

"eyes on me, love. let alpha see how beautiful you look when you cum on my cock"

under the body that holds him down as he spasms in ecstasy,

a million "i love you's" whispered to him as he floats in the coziness,

jungkook again steals a piece of taehyungs heart.

back in the cozy apartment that namjoon and seokjin purchased an year ago, a ten minute walk from 'epiphany' the flower shop they opened together, the beta-alpha couple watched with gooey eyes as their little nephews slept curled around each other.

"i wish we could have this everyday" namjoon whispers from where he's backhugging his husband.

seokjin turns and meets his understanding gaze,

"i dont think i'm exactly a parent material" he says.

"can we try? we can just look into adoption procedures? please?"

two years since their abrupt marriage, seokjin still cant say no to his husband.

thats how they found themselves at an orphanage jungkook visits by the next week.

seokjin grimaces, not really knowing what to do as babies cried in their crib, snotty toddlers ran around and teenagers gave him the stank eye.

even so, namjoon looked so overwhelmed and so excited as he talked with the orphanage authority as he went around smiling at kids or giving them chocolates,

and shit, seokjins heart might just melt into a puddle.

"they're so adorable! how can people just choose one child?" namjoon genuinely looked sad as he huddles closer to his husband as they watched kids play around.

just then they had heard a cry from the playground.

namjoon perked up and ran worriedly towards a kid who fell from the swing, her now sitting on the mud and crying.

as namjoon stood helpless, seokjin leaned down eye level to the five year old in a yellow dress, carefully checking for any injury. turns out there was none, the kid was just shocked from falling.

as seokjin too sat on the mud, the kid pouted and looked at the adult, sniffling.

"hey, what do you call a bear with no teeth?"

the kid blinked, brows furrowing as she tilted her head and said a "i dunno".

seokjins hands then went to his pocket, a giddy smile on his face as he pulled out a packet and cheered "gummy bear!!" making the kid laugh adorably and make grabby hands for the gummies.

as the little girl soon sidled onto the betas lap excitedly chatting, namjoon too joined them, heart beating fast with overwhelming love.

it didn't took long for them to reach a decision as they met with the required authorities, but they faced them with guity faces.

turns out the little girl has an eight year old brother and a thirteen year old sister- the three siblings is quite a difficult case it seems due to their past that involve alcoholic and drug addicted parents- them having moved constantly from homes as none seems to handle the traumatized kids.

the authorities asked them to choose a different kid. to them seokjin asked permission slips to be filled out to foster the three children.

namjoon however had panicked wondering how they can handle three kids so soon.

seokjin had just turned towards his husband, leaning his head on the others chest and mumbling a,

"if i can get a second chance in life, these kids deserve it too"

thats how a month of procedures later, namjoon and seokjin became foster parents to three children.

the first day went by like a dream so much that namjoon thought they can handle this well- with lots of shopping, new dresses, toys- even the grumby teenager of the three didn't make a fuss.

on the third day everything went to hell; nightmares plagued the kids, they refused to eat, would scream at seokjin later would cry to be hugged,

namjoons laptop is in two seperate pieces, kitchen a mess, dark circles under the adults eyes, scratch marks on their arms trying to hold crying pups,

but still, the pain in those three pairs of innocent eyes made them strive through.

by the end of two weeks with three sessions of therapy, they're still surviving- even if the kids have bad days seokjin or namjoon is there to listen, if nightmares scare them seokjin doesn't mind hugging a kid or three to sleep as namjoon read them a story, schools are scary so education can wait a month or two until they're better- so together they healed.

by the end of seventh month and three years into marriage- at that court room seokjin and namjoon became parents to three children,

his brothers family and their friends, even a heavily pregnant jimin cheering through as five of them hugged and cried happy tears.

they say "nothing is perfect", but this moment may rival that quote.

□□□

i know no one sane would put epilogue in two parts, but i wanted to write all this,

my book, my rules ig ; ;

a short 'real' epilogue coming next and that's it!