Indebted...

Part-35

Jungkook's pov

Eight years later

"I don't like what this time of year does to you."

Dropping my paper plate into the kitchen trash can, I looked over my shoulder at Tae. "You don't like to see me happy?"

"I don't like to see you regress. Or to see the downstairs of our home looking like a spooky crypt."

"I didn't go that far." Okay, maybe I did. There were pumpkins, foam tombstones, synthetic spiderwebs, and fake skeletons all around. Rubber bats and strings of ghost lights dangled from the ceiling. I even had inflatable props like scarecrows, witches, and grim reapers. My favorite thing was the bubbling cauldron that occasionally let out a wicked cackle or other spooky sound.

The truth was ... I went crazy with the decorations every Halloween after chuseok festival. Turning to fully face him, I said, "I regret nothing."

"Was the smoke machine really necessary?" he griped.

I tilted my head. "You sure you're not just being whiny because you've spilled red juice all over your shirt?"

"I didn't spill it. Our daughter poured it on me because she thought it would be 'awesome' if it looked like I was covered in blood."

I clamped my lips together to stifle a smile.

Our four-year-old daughter Aera wasn't the most placid of children. She insisted she was a princess, fought with the soul of a reincarnated MMA fighter, and had a mischievous streak that seemed embedded in every bone.

"She just wants you to look, you know ... Halloween-y," I defended. "You never dress up."

"Because I'm not seven."

"Adults dress up, too," I reminded him, gesturing at my Iron-man styled outfit. I crossed to him and slid my hands up his chest. "It's a shame you won't. You'd look hot as a fireman." I hummed as he kissed me, curling his arms tight around me. "But this particular holiday has grown on you-I'll take that as a win."

He grunted. "Come on, you're missing this party you insisted on throwing."

"It's good to see you're enjoying it," I said dryly.

Taehyung kept one arm looped around my waist as he led me out of the kitchen. Walking into the living room, I had to smile at the sight of the kids dancing to the Ghostbusters theme song while playing Musical Statues.

Taehyung might not be too pleased by the effort I'd put into the party, but the children were sure enjoying themselves. They particularly liked the spread. Many of the foods were made to look like Halloween decorations

Drinking a glass of punch, Eomma frowned at the stain on Taehyung's shirt. "What happened to you?"

He sighed. "Aera."

"Ah, I see," eomma said. Because, to be honest, no further explanation was needed-the kid got up to all kinds of shit.

"It's a shame Jun didn't come," I said.

"He's thirteen now," she reminded me. "He considers himself too old to celebrate Halloween."

"You can never be too old to celebrate something." I slid a meaningful look Taehyung's way, but he missed it-his gaze was on our two babies.

I wouldn't say fatherhood changed Taehyung-he was still cold, ruthless, and calculating. But when around his children, those traits fell away. I'd initially worried that he'd struggle to allow himself to love and bond with them-such a thing wasn't reflexive for Tae. But I'd worried for nothing. He'd taken one look at them the moment they were born and fell hard each time. He was a protective, hands-on dad who never let his children feel second to his job.