The pair leave at an ungodly hour, partly to miss the holiday traffic as well as to maintain anonymity. His agency had warned him about taking two separate cars, but he was insistent on making things feel as normal as things could be (despite being two of the country's most popular idols). Hence, it's 4AM and Jeon Jungkook can't help but feel the sides of his lips spreading into an adoring smile as they stop at the red light, seeing his girlfriend snuggled on the passenger seat with a warm blanket. She had promised to stay awake and keep him company for the morning drive, but as was often the case, she'd fallen asleep as soon as the seats became warm enough.

He doesn't mind though.

Jeon Jungkook knows that she'd slept late trying to finish packing, and in the morning, woke up early to prepare coffee and got ready so that he could get extra sleep.

And then there was the fact that she looked absolutely bewitching, all cozy and hidden in one of his oversized hoodies.

He swears, he could be with her for another thousand years and wouldn't get bored of the visual of her face.

That was why he was so certain, that he'd wanted to get married.

Jeon Jungkook had always known that he wanted to get married young.

His friends used to tease him about being a hopeless romantic, seeing him as the type who'd just choose one girl and won't look back for the rest of his life. When he set his eyes on her, he simply knew. He knew that she was the only woman he'd ever want to be with, and somehow, he was lucky enough that she liked him too (at least, enough to actually give him her number, the rest was his hard work wooing her over). And so, he knows that she's the one who'll fit hisas the final puzzle piece perfectly, and even if she hadn't, he'd go through hell and back to make room for her to fit.

She was his everything.

And yet, it wasn't until he was about five minutes till her family's holiday home did it occur to him that perhaps, he didn't fit into the piece in her life.

What if she says no?

Or worse, what if her parents don't give him their blessing?

Early on in their relationship, she'd told him explicitly about how pivotal it was for her future husband to get along with her family, and how her family was her absolute world. She'd also told him that she didn't want to settle down quickly, but wanted to just go with the flow, and wanted to wait till her career really was stable before thinking about marriage or children.

Was he rushing things?

Before he could even think, the sound of her phone ringing wakes her up.

He can't help but chuckle and see her blinking her eyes in confusion as she answers the phone.

"Mhmm, yes we're on our way," she begins before looking at the GPS, "... we'll be there in three minutes. No we haven't eaten yet, hmmm, okay love you."

As she hangs up, Jeon Jungkook turns to look at her, seeing the way she pouts in disapproval.

"I fell asleep didn't I? Why didn't you wake me up?" She questions him, crossing her arms against her chest, "... I feel bad. You've been driving the entire time alone."

"It's okay," he whispers, one hand reaching for her thigh as he squeezes it gently, "... I know you were tired."

"Still..." She sighs, "... I'm sorry."

He finds it cute.

His girlfriend was the most considerate woman in the world.

Jeon Jungkook has no choice but to make her his wife, as soon as possible.

-

Over all, he feels his first impression with them goes well.

After a gift exchange and her mother fawning about how he's much more handsome in person, he finds himself sitting on the couch with her as her parents quickly get ready so that the family can go out for breakfast.

"We were meant to cook but the grocery store was too packed, we figured eating out would be better," Alice Park informed him as she sits beside her sister, "... don't worry we were able to make reservations and requested private seating."

Jeon Jungkook had met her sister a few times before, and was thankful that she was there considering how it'll help with his nerves about meeting her parents.

"Unnie, I was so excited for mum's cooking," she complains.

Before anyone could speak, Park Chaeyoung is called by her mother.

She looks to him, and he nods.

"Go to your mom, I'll chat with Alice while we wait," he gives her a reassuring smile and look that says I'll be fine! which must've worked because she quickly dismisses herself.

But suddenly, the energy goes cold.

Which is strange, because up until that point, he'd actually gotten along with her sister.

"Look, I want to be frank, Jungkook," Alice's voice is quiet, but loud enough for him to hear, "... I think you're a great guy, and a good idol but... my parents, don't approve. They don't like your tattoos, your busy schedule, and the fact that you cancelled last year's Christmas because you were fighting with my sister... we just, don't think you're the right man for her."

Jeon Jungkook feels paralysed, completely frozen in time.

Was it true?

A sense of guilt hits the pit of his stomach, realising that he must've left a bad impression when he failed to come last year.

"Don't take it the wrong way," she continues, before taking out an envelope from her pocket, revealing a check for a very substantial amount, "... of course, you're welcome to stay for this trip, but please leave her alone after this."

Jeon Jungkook is too shocked to even speak especially so when his girlfriend returns with her parents, a smile glowing from ear to ear as they wore matching Christmas earrings.

"Let's go, I want to show Jungkook the place we used to always have pancakes at whenever we stayed here!" She speaks excitedly, not knowing of the conversation that happened in the living room seconds before.

Still shocked, he turns to Alice Park who simply gives a lined smile and as she passes him, she whispers, "... you know it's the right thing to do."

-

"Are you okay babe?"

Jeon Jungkook turns to see his girlfriend looking at him with innocent eyes as she stares at his plate.

To be honest, his body feels like it was in pilot mode and he doesn't even remember the car ride to the resturant or even ordering food.

"Yeah," he manages to fake a smile, "... sorry, I'm just tired from the drive."

She nods before holding her hand out to him from under the table, "... eat the pancakes, they're the best in town."

"So Jungkook," Mr. Park makes conversation, "... should my wife and I make preparations for wedding bells anytime soon?"

Jeon Jungkook almost chokes on his food at the comment.

Was he serious?

From the side of the table, he can see Alice Park glaring at him.

Perhaps, he's a little annoyed, that her family can pretend that all is well when secretly they're hoping for him to leave.

All he manages to do is to nervously chuckle, adding, "... maybe in the future, Mr. Park."

But even so, he feels uncertain.

At the end of the night, as Park Chaeyoung showers, he decides to go downstairs to talk to her sister.

"Alice..." he greets before taking out the envelope that he didn't know he'd even kept (probably from the shock) before placing it on the table in front of her, "... look, I know you and your parent's concerns but I can't. Chaeyoung's the one I love."

Alice Park looks expressionless as she takes the envelope and puts it in her pocket, "... look Jungkook... I don't think my parents will budge on how they feel, you're a good guy, just not for my sister."

Jeon Jungkook wants to argue, but he knows it's not the right place.

"Even so, if I have to, I'll earn you and your parents trust. Even if it'll take some months, I don't care, because I'm serious about her," he promises.

Alice Park simply sighs before getting up, "... this is all great with words, but you know... we're only saying this because we know her best, and we just want someone else for her."

Just as he was about to speak, Park Chaeyoung's voice can be heard going down the stairs.

"Jungkook, you can shower now, there's still hot water," she smiles in oblivion.

Later that night, he's sitting on the couch with her.

"I think my family really love you," she comments, taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

Yeah right!

He manages to chuckle before looking down, wondering how he could change the subject.

"What's wrong?" She notices, "... you've been acting strange since we went to the resturant."

Should he tell her?

He thinks she should know and wants her to know of the injustice he felt.

Yet, on the other hand, he knows that she loves her family more than anything.

"It's all good," he smiles at her, "... are you glad to be here?"

She nods, "... it's been a while since I've spent quality time with my family."

Seeing her face, and the joy she felt made him sure that it wasn't the time to cause tensions. It had been a hard year, for the both of them.

"Theoretically speaking..." he brings up later on in the night, as she has her head buried onto his shoulder as they watch Home Alone, "... would you break up with me if your parents didn't approve of us?"

He looks at her eyes carefully, as though he were searching for the answer.

At first she seems perplexed, before a light switch comes.

"They told you to break up with me didn't they?!" She exclaims, putting the pieces together.

"Y-you know?" He asks.

She knew they didn't approve but played dumb anyway?

Why?

Instead of replying she calls out "Alice!" and moments later, her sister joins, as well as her parents.

"Is everything okay?" Her mother questions worried.

"You guys stressed out Jungkook with your prank," she complains.

Alice and her father break out in laugh.

Jeon Jungkook's eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Prank..." He asks.

"My dad started it, in my defence. I'm just the messenger. But every time I brought a guy over, dad would always test them to see if he was serious about being with me," Alice Park explains, "... sorry Jungkook, I wanted to tell you, but you're just so funny when you're scared."

Park Chaeyoung gets up and playfully hits her sister on her arm, "... no wonder Jungkook's been so tense today!"

Mr. Park adds on, "... hope there's no bad blood Jungkook. We think you're great, really. We just are protective over each other... it's not every day that my daughter's introduce someone special to us, so when they do... we want to make sure they're serious."

"He's lying, he just loves playing pranks," Mrs. Park chimes in, "... but we're really sorry if we traumatised you. When you have a daughter of your own, you'll understand."

Jeon Jungkook sighs a breath of relief, which causes for Alice Park to chuckle.

"So?" Park Chaeyoung turns to her, "... did he pass?"

"With flying colours."