Bittersweet

3

"Hey, hyungs!"

Yoongi turns around to see Jungkook, seemingly fresh out of military service. His hair was super short, though it looked good on him. Everyone else turned, Jimin and Taehyung got up and tackled the youngest in a bear hug, Yoongi smiling at the old familiar sight. Jungkook then set his sights on Yoongi and froze for a second before walking towards him. Memories flashed in Yoongi's mind and by the looks of it, Jungkook's too.

"Hey, Kookie." Yoongi says, standing up to give Jungkook a hug.

Jungkook wraps his arms around Yoongi's torso tightly, thankfully not too tightly. The brunette sniffs as he buries his face in the elder's neck, it quickly becoming wet with tears. Yoongi himself felt a little like crying, but he didn't want to upset his daughter so he held it in. After a while the two let go of each other, Jungkook smiling through his tears. Yoongi couldn't help but smile too, his eyes watering.

"I thought I'd never get to see you again," Jungkook says, his voice akin to a sob. "It's been forever, how've you been? What have you been up to all these years and-"

"Slow your roll with the questions Kook," Yoongi laughs and pulls Jungkook to sit down. "Swear you're worse than a toddler, and I should know, I have one."

"Oh that's right-yeah, yeah you do..."

"Mari, come say hello to Jungkook oppa," Yoongi says and the little girl immediately listens, getting out of her chair to sit on her dad's lap. "Mari, this is Jungkook-ah, Jungkook-ah, this is Mari."

"Hi Mari," Jungkook says, smiling at the young girl. "You don't remember me, but I was there the day you came into this world. I got to hold you second."

"Who held me first?" Mari asks, a confused pout on her face.

"I did silly," Yoongi says and kisses the top of the noirette's head. "You were such the cutest little baby."

"Am I still cute?"

"Of course you are, the cutest actually."

"No, I think you're the cutest Appa." Mari said and poked Yoongi's cheek.

"Oh I beg to differ," Yoongi playfully argues. "You're obviously the cutest one here, I can't compete with that."

"Well how about you both be the cutest?" Jungkook suggests, Mari turning her head sharply to look at him.

After a minute she said "Maybe Kookie oppa is the cutest."

Yoongi burst out laughing while Jungkook's face turned red, the younger still couldn't take compliments well. After their little debate was finished with Jungkook being named the cutest, the welcoming ceremony was officially going to start. As the ceremony went on, Yoongi couldn't help but notice something was missing. Correction, someone and Yoongi knew exactly who. Just like all those years before, Hoseok hadn't shown up.

Yoongi wasn't sure if he felt relieved or disappointed that he didn't show. He, and probably the rest of Bangtan haven't seen him in years. If he showed up now, there's no telling how awkward it would be. The noirette still hated him for leaving without saying anything, leaving him alone when he needed him the most. If Hoseok showed up, he'd see Mari.

Mari would question who he was and Yoongi'd have to introduce her to him not as her father but as Yoongi's old friend. Maybe Hoseok didn't even want to be introduced to her, maybe that was the reason he wasn't there. Yoongi bit his lip and pushed those thoughts away. He zoned in just in time to hear Namjoon thanking everyone for coming and to enjoy their stay. So it was over, everyone stood up and stretched after sitting down for so long.

"Appa can we go back to the hotel, I wanna go take a bubble bath," Mari whined, her voice sounding tired. "Also I wanna wear my bunny slippers, my feet hurt."