One Step At A Time

Help Me, Tae

When Jungkook opens his eyes the following morning, he is met by two big brown eyes staring at him. Taehyung hadn't slept well at all, every time he awoke, he thought he was dreaming after sleeping alone for the last six months. He was pleased that every time he'd opened his eyes, his husband was sleeping soundly and he's sure that his sleep was disturbed often in hospital. At first, Taehyung had been allowed to sleep in a chair in the same room but as Jungkook started to improve and was moved into a private room, he had to adhere to visiting hours so spent far too much time alone at home.

"Good morning." Taehyung speaks softly with a smile.

"Good morning. You are a better view than the nurses at the hospital."

Tae giggles, "Reassuring, thanks."

The sound of Taehyung giggling is something that Jungkook is sure he's heard before and it makes his heart feel full because it sounds so familiar. "Is everything okay?"

"It is now that you are home. If you do your exercises, I will make us breakfast."

Jungkook laughs, "You don't cook." He says so normally.

Tae's eyes open wide and he struggles to take the next breath. "No... erm... no I didn't... but I do now... well... sort of."

Jungkook frowns, "Did you stick a pancake to the ceiling?"

"Yes! Oh my God... yes I did! The ceiling is still marked... we haven't painted over it yet."

"It was for my birthday?"

"Valentines, they were heart shaped pancakes."

Jungkook's expression drops a little, "Oh."

Tae gently strokes his husband's cheek, "Hey... even before the accident you probably would've got the occasion wrong. You remembered though... that's a big deal."

"You learned to cook?"

"It's not really cooking but I get by. The canteen food at the hospital wasn't as bad as I thought but I wanted to be able to make you some meals when you came home."

"Can we make dinner together?"

"Yes, I stocked the cupboards so we can make whatever you want. I thought we could go for a walk after breakfast?"

"I'd like that."

Taehyung gives Jungkook a smile and has a moment of hesitation where he decides whether he should kiss him or not. The words of the medical staff are going around his head where he'd been urged to be normal with his husband and Jungkook himself had said the same. But there's a little voice in his head that keeps reminding him that his husband doesn't really remember him so he doesn't want to cross any lines. It's a terrifying prospect to feel like he's doing something he shouldn't with his own husband and he couldn't stand it if he acted out of turn.

It's only a kiss.. That's what he tells himself as he leans in and connects their lips before he instantly pulls back to read Jungkook's expression. He very nearly apologises but the smile he gets in response stops him.

"I'll go and start breakfast. Do you need any help with anything?"

"No, I'll be fine."

"You can call out if you need me."

"I will but I've been getting dressed and washed on my own in hospital."

Taehyung sits up and swings his legs over the edge of the bed and onto the floor. "How about we do your exercises in the park?"

"That would be good."

"That's sorted then."

***