HERMAPHRODITE

▪️▪️▪️CH. 37▪️▪️▪️

The three days leading upto the wedding were a flurry of activity for everyone concerned. Tae made sure to do as much as he possibly could to lighten the load on Kook. He didn't want his lover stressing himself out unduly and tried to give Jungkook the jobs that didn't entail much on the physical side.

Even though Kookie wouldn't admit it, he was grateful to Taehyung for that as he found himself tiring easily. The added weight of the baby made his muscles ache terribly and he tried to work from a sitting position as much as possible. The massages Tae gave him were soothing and relaxing, Kookie becoming putty in his lover's hands. The exercises that Hoseok had recommended he try also helped.

The storm hadn't done as much damage to the estate as Jungkook had feared; some branches had been blown down and leaves littered the lawns but the roses had survived the storm with a little battering. Namjoon assured him that there was nothing there that the groundsmen wouldn't be able to put right in a day. He was doubtful but could only trust that his hyung was right.

Jin and Yuna had disappeared into the kitchen on Thursday and banned anyone from entering. Jungkook had tried once and then rapidly retreated when faced with an irate Jin clutching a rather impressive cook's knife.

Namjoon had been persuaded to have a go at entering and also beat a hasty retreat, he'd come face to face with the blender. Tae tried under the pretense of getting Kook a sandwich and had been lucky to escape with all his limbs intact. Death by electric mixer was not on his agenda.

Hoseok refused to go anywhere near the kitchen.

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"Anything else I can help with, Kookie?" asked Hoseok as he wandered into the dining room and found Jungkook sitting at the table with a box, colored ribbon, some tulle and several packets of what looked like sweets.

"Yeah, if you like," replied Jungkook as he studied the items in front of him.

Hoseok took a seat next to the younger.

"What are you trying to do?" he asked as he studied the items more closely.

"Well, I thought it would be nice to have a little memento for all the guests to take home from the wedding. You know how at a lot of weddings they have those little packets of sugared almonds or packets of matches with the bride and groom's name and date of wedding on them?"

Hoseok nodded.

"I wanted something similar but unique." Jungkook reached into the box and took something out. "I spotted these ages ago in a shop and had Tae look into getting some made with our names and the date on them. What do you think?" Jungkook passed over the small object.

Carefully Hoseok took it and cradled it in his hands. It was a small ceramic statue of a bear and bunny snuggling, but instead of being solid or whole, the back had been hollowed out, the words 'Jungkook and Taehyung. 15th October,' printed in gold on the pedestal.

"Kookie, it's beautiful. I take it you're going to fill the hollow bit with those sweets?"

"That's the general idea, only I don't know whether to put the sweets into the tulle, wrap them and secure it with the ribbon then put them in the back or to simply put the sweets in and wrap the whole thing in the tulle. What do you suggest?"

"How about we do up one of each and see which looks the best?" suggested Hoseok with a smile.

"Good idea," replied Jungkook and set to work.

Ten minutes later, two statue's sat on the table. "Well, which is it going to be?" asked Hoseok.

"I think I like the one with the sweets in the tulle, tied with the ribbon and then put into the back of the statue," replied Jungkook as he picked up the item for a closer inspection.