Second Chances (Chapter 24b)
Title: Second Chances
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: Main: YunJae; Secondary: JaeMin, HoMin
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chaptered
Summary: After Changmin's death, how are Jae and Yunho going to cope with their grief and their increasing attraction to each other?
The next morning, Jae cursed beneath his breath as he paced the foyer, stopping every five minutes to stare at the clock.
How long did the doctor say he was going to take? He couldn’t remember.
Yunho, he thought angrily, wasn’t always right. He should’ve just listened to himself. Now he had a sick kid on his hands and it was all his fault for not paying attention.
When he’d woken up, he’d wanted to race to HyunJoon’s room to check on him but he saw Yunho off to work first, then waited. And waited. When finally 10:00 came around and HyunJoon still hadn’t come down, he went upstairs to check on him and found the boy tangled in the bedsheets, pajamas damp, face flushed and hot with fever. He looked wretched.
Jae’s heart ached for him. He hated being sick and he was an adult, he couldn’t imagine how the boy was suffering. He’d been healthy as a horse as a child himself, except for one instance that he chose not to think of too often, so he could only sympathize with the child.
Just then, the doorbell rang and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Help had arrived.
Yunho leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest, smiling tenderly at the hunched, sleeping figure at the side of HyunJoon’s sick-bed.
Two days before, he’d come home to a very irate Jae. The way he’d attacked him, you’d think Yunho was responsible for HyunJoon’s illness. He’d eventually calmed down enough to tell him that Dr. Moon had come by, checked him out and left some prescriptions, which he’d filled promptly, leaving their kindly old neighbour to watch HyunJoon while he was out. Yunho had stood there in the kitchen, listening to him carefully, then watched as he walked off, returning to his charge, leaving Yunho to see to his own dinner.
The day after had been marginally better: he hadn’t had to fix his own dinner at least. It had been waiting for him when he got home but Jae was still glued to HyunJoon’s side when he’d gone up to check on them both. He’d brought a cup of juice for the boy and almost had his head snapped off because it wasn’t “fresh-squeezed and the made from concentrate stuff wasn’t good enough, even if it said 100% on the pack.”
Now, as he stood staring at the pair, he couldn’t help smiling at the picture they made. Jae would make a wonderful parent someday. He’d already known that but seeing him be such a mother-hen, so nurting, was an an endearing and admirable quality. Especially since HyunJoon wasn’t technically family to him, although you wouldn’t know that by looking at them together. Which he did, regularly, since it was impossible to ignore the bond they shared. He was happy that Jae had become as much a part of his family’s lives as he had his (Yunho’s).
But he missed him. He’d spent the past two nights alone and restless in their bed since Jae refused to leave HyunJoon’s side in case he needed him, and that was after spending all day at work without him. Even now when he could clearly see that the medication was working since the boy was sleeping peacefully, his fever having gone down and his breathing only interrupted by the occasional cough, Jae wouldn’t leave him alone.
Well…he’d just have to do something about that. He loved his nephew but he needed some TLC too.
Unfolding himself from the door frame, he walked quietly towards Jae, stopping beside him. He wrapped his arm around his back, then slid the other behind his knees and hefted him up, staying still while Jae’s body settled against his. The fact that he didn’t wake was a sure sign of his exhaustion. He took one last look at his nephew to make sure he was okay and was surprised to find two dark orbs peering up at him. He smiled down at the boy and was rewarded with a small smile in return, then turned and made his way out of the room and down the hall to theirs.
Jae would probably be mad at him, he thought, as he undressed his sleeping beauty, who hadn’t made a sound or moved an inch as he laid him down, so deep was his sleep. Jae hated going to bed without a bath but there was no way Yunho was going to risk giving him one and waking him up. He wasn’t sleeping alone tonight dammit!
As he slid under the covers beside him and tucked him securely in his arms, and as Jae unconsciously pressed closer seeking his warmth, he breathed a sigh of contentment, knowing that they were both finally going to get some rest.
“So I’ll call you as soon as we land, okay?”
Jae nodded, the cordless phone tucked between his shoulder and the side of his neck as he folded HyunJoon’s clothes and packed his luggage while the boy played with his trains in the corner of the room. It was the first time Jae had allowed him out of bed since he’d been ill.
“Got it.”
“You don’t sound too happy, dongsaeng,” EunHye commented. “Aww… Are you going to miss the little mutt?” she teased.
He blushed self-consciously. “Of course. I’m very fond of him,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Well, if my plan worked, you shouldn’t have to wait too long. From now on, every time Yunho looks at you, he’s going to see adorable little cherubs with big, dark eyes, pale skin and pretty pink lips floating all around. How can he resist such a picture?”
Envisioning it himself, Jae felt his blush deepen and he mentally chastized himself for being fanciful.
“Oh, I forgot to mention earlier. I should’ve told you when I dropped him off but it slipped my mind, I was so excited. Speaking of which, I have so much to tell you!”
Jae groaned. “Noona…”
“What? I listen to all of your escapades with Yunho: fair’s fair.”
“As I recall, you practically have to pull my teeth to get anything out of me.”
“Potato, potahto,” she said dismissively.
“You were saying…” It was always hard to get EunHye to stay on one train of thought before jumping to another.
“Oh, yeah. There was a flu or something going around the neighbourhood. I hadn’t seen any signs in the kid but I forgot to tell you to look out, just in case. You never know how those things are going to manifest. A drop of rain and bam, they’re down.”
Now she tells me, he thought, mentally cursing her flightiness.
“Anyway, maybe it’s a good that I forgot. I wouldn’t want you to worry over nothing and you are the fussy sort. Plus, you would’ve told me if anything was wrong. Speaking of the kid, is he there? I feel like I haven’t talked to him in a year. Every time I called he was sleeping or off playing somewhere, I was starting to think you’d lost him or something.”
“HyunJoon,” he called, anxiety coiling in his chest as the boy came over and took the phone from him.
He’d managed to hold EunHye off when she’d called but there was no way he could keep her from finding out once she came to pick HyunJoon up. He still had a few more days of medication left, as per the doctor’s orders. Even though he looked fine and was moving around, he still had a nasty, nagging cough and stuffy nose.
He’d just write her a note, he decided. He’d put the note in the little bag with the medication and place it on top of his clothes so she’d see it as soon as she opened the bag, which she would do as soon as they got home, he hoped. On second thought, knowing her as he did, maybe he should tuck it into HyunJoon’s jeans. It was small enough to fit and she was bound to find it there. He knew he was being petty but if she could forget to tell him, he could return the favor. Fair was fair.
“Say thank you for having me.”
“Thank you for having me,” HyunJoon whispered from behind his mother’s skirts, where he clung to her hand and leg.
Jae smiled down at him. “You’re welcome. You can come over any time you want,” he added in a wobbly voice.
“Any time,” Yunho repeated, tightening his grip on Jae’s waist. He could tell that he was getting emotional. He thought it was cute. “We’ll come visit you soon,” he promised.
Grinning at the two, EunHye leaned forward and kissed Jae’s cheek. “I’ll call you later.” Her eyes slid to her brother and her smile slipped, brow arching. “I’ll expect the bill.”
Yunho grinned. “Count on it.”
“I miss him already,” Jae sighed, breath hitching slightly as he watched the pair walk down the drive to the waiting car, his emotions getting the better of him.
Yunho kissed his temple. “He’ll be back. And don’t forget, tomorrow’s Sunday dinner at my parent’s place so you’re going to see him anyway.”
“It’s not the same…”
Just then, HyunJoon looked back at him and their eyes met. He glanced up at his mom, tugging on her hand, said something, then came racing back. Jae’s arms were already open for him and he swept him up, squeezing him tightly.
It was like a scene from a movie, Yunho thought. Corny as hell but unbelievably sweet and moving. The bond between the two was undescribably beautiful.
When Jae finally set HyunJoon down and they watched him go again, he didn’t try to fight the silent tears that slid down his cheeks. He leaned into Yunho’s warmth, unashamed.
“It’s okay,” Yunho soothed. “We’ll get you a pet.” He tickled Jae’s ribs lightly, chuckling as he elbow’d him back. “How about a cat?”
Sighing, Jae watched the Jungs’ car drive off and turned to follow Yunho back into the house.
“I had a cat once. Jiji. I don’t think he liked me very much.”
“Really? How come?”
“I don’t know. I’d have asked him if he could talk. He glared at me a lot and looked so judgmental. He’s probably in cat heaven somewhere nibbling on gold-plated catnip.”
“Hmm… A dog it is.”
A/N: In case you missed it, here's the link to Chapter 23. LJ is being a pain in the ass so I can't add links like I used to unless the post is really short.
Chapter 25
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: Main: YunJae; Secondary: JaeMin, HoMin
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chaptered
Summary: After Changmin's death, how are Jae and Yunho going to cope with their grief and their increasing attraction to each other?
The next morning, Jae cursed beneath his breath as he paced the foyer, stopping every five minutes to stare at the clock.
How long did the doctor say he was going to take? He couldn’t remember.
Yunho, he thought angrily, wasn’t always right. He should’ve just listened to himself. Now he had a sick kid on his hands and it was all his fault for not paying attention.
When he’d woken up, he’d wanted to race to HyunJoon’s room to check on him but he saw Yunho off to work first, then waited. And waited. When finally 10:00 came around and HyunJoon still hadn’t come down, he went upstairs to check on him and found the boy tangled in the bedsheets, pajamas damp, face flushed and hot with fever. He looked wretched.
Jae’s heart ached for him. He hated being sick and he was an adult, he couldn’t imagine how the boy was suffering. He’d been healthy as a horse as a child himself, except for one instance that he chose not to think of too often, so he could only sympathize with the child.
Just then, the doorbell rang and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Help had arrived.
Yunho leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest, smiling tenderly at the hunched, sleeping figure at the side of HyunJoon’s sick-bed.
Two days before, he’d come home to a very irate Jae. The way he’d attacked him, you’d think Yunho was responsible for HyunJoon’s illness. He’d eventually calmed down enough to tell him that Dr. Moon had come by, checked him out and left some prescriptions, which he’d filled promptly, leaving their kindly old neighbour to watch HyunJoon while he was out. Yunho had stood there in the kitchen, listening to him carefully, then watched as he walked off, returning to his charge, leaving Yunho to see to his own dinner.
The day after had been marginally better: he hadn’t had to fix his own dinner at least. It had been waiting for him when he got home but Jae was still glued to HyunJoon’s side when he’d gone up to check on them both. He’d brought a cup of juice for the boy and almost had his head snapped off because it wasn’t “fresh-squeezed and the made from concentrate stuff wasn’t good enough, even if it said 100% on the pack.”
Now, as he stood staring at the pair, he couldn’t help smiling at the picture they made. Jae would make a wonderful parent someday. He’d already known that but seeing him be such a mother-hen, so nurting, was an an endearing and admirable quality. Especially since HyunJoon wasn’t technically family to him, although you wouldn’t know that by looking at them together. Which he did, regularly, since it was impossible to ignore the bond they shared. He was happy that Jae had become as much a part of his family’s lives as he had his (Yunho’s).
But he missed him. He’d spent the past two nights alone and restless in their bed since Jae refused to leave HyunJoon’s side in case he needed him, and that was after spending all day at work without him. Even now when he could clearly see that the medication was working since the boy was sleeping peacefully, his fever having gone down and his breathing only interrupted by the occasional cough, Jae wouldn’t leave him alone.
Well…he’d just have to do something about that. He loved his nephew but he needed some TLC too.
Unfolding himself from the door frame, he walked quietly towards Jae, stopping beside him. He wrapped his arm around his back, then slid the other behind his knees and hefted him up, staying still while Jae’s body settled against his. The fact that he didn’t wake was a sure sign of his exhaustion. He took one last look at his nephew to make sure he was okay and was surprised to find two dark orbs peering up at him. He smiled down at the boy and was rewarded with a small smile in return, then turned and made his way out of the room and down the hall to theirs.
Jae would probably be mad at him, he thought, as he undressed his sleeping beauty, who hadn’t made a sound or moved an inch as he laid him down, so deep was his sleep. Jae hated going to bed without a bath but there was no way Yunho was going to risk giving him one and waking him up. He wasn’t sleeping alone tonight dammit!
As he slid under the covers beside him and tucked him securely in his arms, and as Jae unconsciously pressed closer seeking his warmth, he breathed a sigh of contentment, knowing that they were both finally going to get some rest.
“So I’ll call you as soon as we land, okay?”
Jae nodded, the cordless phone tucked between his shoulder and the side of his neck as he folded HyunJoon’s clothes and packed his luggage while the boy played with his trains in the corner of the room. It was the first time Jae had allowed him out of bed since he’d been ill.
“Got it.”
“You don’t sound too happy, dongsaeng,” EunHye commented. “Aww… Are you going to miss the little mutt?” she teased.
He blushed self-consciously. “Of course. I’m very fond of him,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Well, if my plan worked, you shouldn’t have to wait too long. From now on, every time Yunho looks at you, he’s going to see adorable little cherubs with big, dark eyes, pale skin and pretty pink lips floating all around. How can he resist such a picture?”
Envisioning it himself, Jae felt his blush deepen and he mentally chastized himself for being fanciful.
“Oh, I forgot to mention earlier. I should’ve told you when I dropped him off but it slipped my mind, I was so excited. Speaking of which, I have so much to tell you!”
Jae groaned. “Noona…”
“What? I listen to all of your escapades with Yunho: fair’s fair.”
“As I recall, you practically have to pull my teeth to get anything out of me.”
“Potato, potahto,” she said dismissively.
“You were saying…” It was always hard to get EunHye to stay on one train of thought before jumping to another.
“Oh, yeah. There was a flu or something going around the neighbourhood. I hadn’t seen any signs in the kid but I forgot to tell you to look out, just in case. You never know how those things are going to manifest. A drop of rain and bam, they’re down.”
Now she tells me, he thought, mentally cursing her flightiness.
“Anyway, maybe it’s a good that I forgot. I wouldn’t want you to worry over nothing and you are the fussy sort. Plus, you would’ve told me if anything was wrong. Speaking of the kid, is he there? I feel like I haven’t talked to him in a year. Every time I called he was sleeping or off playing somewhere, I was starting to think you’d lost him or something.”
“HyunJoon,” he called, anxiety coiling in his chest as the boy came over and took the phone from him.
He’d managed to hold EunHye off when she’d called but there was no way he could keep her from finding out once she came to pick HyunJoon up. He still had a few more days of medication left, as per the doctor’s orders. Even though he looked fine and was moving around, he still had a nasty, nagging cough and stuffy nose.
He’d just write her a note, he decided. He’d put the note in the little bag with the medication and place it on top of his clothes so she’d see it as soon as she opened the bag, which she would do as soon as they got home, he hoped. On second thought, knowing her as he did, maybe he should tuck it into HyunJoon’s jeans. It was small enough to fit and she was bound to find it there. He knew he was being petty but if she could forget to tell him, he could return the favor. Fair was fair.
“Say thank you for having me.”
“Thank you for having me,” HyunJoon whispered from behind his mother’s skirts, where he clung to her hand and leg.
Jae smiled down at him. “You’re welcome. You can come over any time you want,” he added in a wobbly voice.
“Any time,” Yunho repeated, tightening his grip on Jae’s waist. He could tell that he was getting emotional. He thought it was cute. “We’ll come visit you soon,” he promised.
Grinning at the two, EunHye leaned forward and kissed Jae’s cheek. “I’ll call you later.” Her eyes slid to her brother and her smile slipped, brow arching. “I’ll expect the bill.”
Yunho grinned. “Count on it.”
“I miss him already,” Jae sighed, breath hitching slightly as he watched the pair walk down the drive to the waiting car, his emotions getting the better of him.
Yunho kissed his temple. “He’ll be back. And don’t forget, tomorrow’s Sunday dinner at my parent’s place so you’re going to see him anyway.”
“It’s not the same…”
Just then, HyunJoon looked back at him and their eyes met. He glanced up at his mom, tugging on her hand, said something, then came racing back. Jae’s arms were already open for him and he swept him up, squeezing him tightly.
It was like a scene from a movie, Yunho thought. Corny as hell but unbelievably sweet and moving. The bond between the two was undescribably beautiful.
When Jae finally set HyunJoon down and they watched him go again, he didn’t try to fight the silent tears that slid down his cheeks. He leaned into Yunho’s warmth, unashamed.
“It’s okay,” Yunho soothed. “We’ll get you a pet.” He tickled Jae’s ribs lightly, chuckling as he elbow’d him back. “How about a cat?”
Sighing, Jae watched the Jungs’ car drive off and turned to follow Yunho back into the house.
“I had a cat once. Jiji. I don’t think he liked me very much.”
“Really? How come?”
“I don’t know. I’d have asked him if he could talk. He glared at me a lot and looked so judgmental. He’s probably in cat heaven somewhere nibbling on gold-plated catnip.”
“Hmm… A dog it is.”
A/N: In case you missed it, here's the link to Chapter 23. LJ is being a pain in the ass so I can't add links like I used to unless the post is really short.
Chapter 25