Best of Me

Chapter 41: Before the Fall

"Blow out the candle!" Yoongi laughed, holding out the cheesecake that Seokjin had made with a slight eye roll as he chuckled at Jeongguk's pout.

Jeongguk had just gotten home from one of his later classes- since he was sophomore now and more people to help him take care of Minjun he decided to take on some extra classes to help him graduate early.

What he wasn't expecting when he got home was a bunch of people, including his son that was riding on Namjoon's shoulders, to scream out "happy birthday" as soon as he kicked off his shoes with a tired sigh.

He felt startled, touched, but mostly, in disbelief as he stared at all the faces that were there. Taehyung was grinned, bouncing from foot to foot with Hoseok not any better as he grinned brightly to match his boyfriend's rectangular smile.

Namjoon and Seokjin were in the kitchen, with Jin holding a cake with a lit candle on it and his pink hair glistening to match his sweet smile. Namjoon had his son his shoulders, who was giggling and cackling at the look on his father's face.

But the other face there, was leaning against the hallway wall. His face so warm, soft, as his cat eyes twinkled and his gummy smile out with his white hair covered a bit by his beanie on his head.

He looked breathtaking, just leaning there with that glint in his eye and wearing one of Jeongguk's over-sized hoodies that swallowed his small frame.

"Wow, guys, you... thank you," he breathed, feeling overwhelmed when he saw presents sitting on the table, all wrapped and laid out, with Lamb Skewers already made and waiting to be eaten. The house was clean too- best birthday present ever if he was being honest.

"You're turning twenty! What, did you think that you wouldn't have a party?" Seokjin asked, walking over with his sweet smile and Namjoon at his heels. Minjun squealed, instantly reaching out for his father.

Grinning, he held out his arms. "My baby!" he crooned. Minjun whined as he was swooped up and planted kisses all over. "Stop whining! It's my birthday and I want all your love!"

"But daddy!" he whined and kicked more before he gave up and kissed his father's cheeks and murmured a soft "happy birthday daddy. Mini loves you!" that made him nearly melt before he set him down to see him rush to Taehyung.

Now he was sitting at the dining table with the cake in front of him feeling as if his life was set, staring at all the faces staring back at him. He smiled, closed his eyes, and obeyed the order to blow the candle and make a wish.

I wish for happiness to everyone at this table. For my family.

"Alright, let's eat- Minjun, baby doll, don't touch that plate. You'll get burned," Seokjin said, pulling Minjun back in his seat. Jeongguk laughed as all the food was passed out the table went silent as they stuffed their faces.

"You know what I can't believe?" Taehyung suddenly said, leaning back in his chair as he examined the table with slight grease hidden in the corner of his lips. Jeongguk looked up, cheeks puffed out with food. "That a year ago we call came together," he hummed with a small smile. "We all became friends."

Hoseok's eyes widened at the dark haired's words, amazement flickering in his eyes. "Wow, only that long ago? That's not long at all. I feel as if I have known all of you forever," he mumbled, taking another bite of lamb.

Yoongi rolled his eyes, dark eyes flickering over to the other with a deadpanned look. "Dumb butt. You have known me since before high school," he rebuked with an eye roll. Minjun giggled, repeating a soft "dumb butt Sunny" that caused Jeongguk to send Yoongi a look. "Oops?"

Namjoon snorted. "Great job, Yoongles."

"You wanna fight, you tree?" Yoongi growled, but there wasn't even a lick of hostility in his voice and a smile was blooming over his lips. Minjun was giggling again, Seokjin wiping at the toddler's mouth with an eye roll.