Arcadia 11

Forty-Eight

Markie couldn't sit still. He was so excited, his bestest friend Joonie was coming over today and Markie couldn't wait to show him the new blanket fort, it was a gift he'd gotten from all his Hyungs. He'd heard Jungkook and Yugyeom talk about one while Big and couldn't get the idea out of his head. Now the entire lounge was covered in soft blankets, pillows, and all his stuffies. The fact that he'd woken up from a nap to find the room transformed was even better!

"Kiddo, you haven't touched your water. Remember you have to drink all your water after your meal to keep your tummy happy." Jaebum said, bringing Markie's green and red sippy cup into the fort. As soon as he sat down Markie jumped into his arms and snuggled close. He loved spending quiet time with his Appa. They would often listen to music or Jaebum would read to him, when he got over stimulated. There wasn't anything better than his Appa's smooth voice. Well, maybe his 'Nyoungie-hyung's voice... but don't tell anyone else that.

Jaebum chuckled, pulling Markie closer and making sure he had his water next to him when he pulled out his phone and began playing a composition he'd put together. He'd been struggling with lyrics for it, but knew Mark would help once he was Big again. They'd found a nice balance between work, Little Mark, Big Mark, and downtime. It took a few months and a lot of errors, the younger boys still had a hard time differentiating between Hyung and Baby, but they were learning.

"Baba?" Markie asked, slipping into a younger mindset and curling closer to his Caregiver. Markie had been trying to stay in an older mindset waiting for Joonie, but his Appa always made him feel so small and relaxed.

"He's working with his Team right now. He should be back tonight for bedtime." He replied, running his hand over the Little's back. Receiving a nod in response as the tired Little began to drift to sleep. "Have a good nap, baby." His Appa whispered.

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Markie woke up sprawled on top of Jaebum, his mind reminding him that Joonie would be coming over and he smiled widely. "Oh, look who's awake!" Appa cooed, petting Markie's hair. Helping the Little into an upright position. "Did you have a nice nap, baby?" He asked, he would never admit he loved when Markie clung to him after waking up, it was always his favorite. He especially loved when his baby would look up at him with those big brown eyes as if he were the only one he ever saw.

He looked up when a gentle rustling came from the front of the fort. Looking over he saw Jinyoung peeking in. The younger having worked on snacks while waiting for the other band. The maknaes had gone off to who knows where, but they promised to be back in time for BTS coming over. Yugyeom and BamBam had told the others they would bring dinner if they came back too late. Jaebum almost wished they'd be late, he was craving chikin today.

"Good morning." Jinyoung teased, eyeing Jaebum's bedhead. "Good nap?" He teased. Markie curled closer to his Appa and gave a small nod. His eyes slipping shut before opening wide once more. Both men cooed, sleepy Mark truly was adorable.

"Baby, I thought you were excited to show Joonie your fort." Jaebum said, poking his baby's side in am effort to wake him up. Markie simply whined and buried his head in Jaebum's neck. Looking at Jinyoung he mouthed 'Call Jackson', knowing that the Little would wake up from Jackson's voice alone.

Ducking out of the fort and heading back to the kitchen Jinyoung presumably to grab his phone. Jaebum simply tightened his arm around Markie and ran his hand up and down the Little's back. He wouldn't mind if the baby took another nap, he'd only been sleeping for 30 minutes before he was woken up. Sadly, both Big and Little Mark had issues when it came to sleeping.

With Markie still recovering, it was even harder to get the Little to sleep or even relax. It had been a constant struggle, so when Mark haf suggested (shyly, while blushing and fiddling with his fingers, rather adorably) a blanket fort to get his mind relaxed, the other boys jumped at the opportunity. Markie had squealed so happily whole clapping his hands when he'd seen it they all knew he'd never leave the space designed for him. When he'd waddled to his bedroom and returned with his stuffies and pillows the younger boys had jumped at helping Markie find a place for it all.

Jaebum had to admit, it was a pretty great fort. They'd turned the couch and chair around. The backs being used as walls, while also still being able to sit on the edge of the cushion outside. They'd brought spare mattresses from the manager's bed ("But Hyung he never sleeps there anyway!" Bam had whined after being scolded for taking it), and the maknae's room (Jackson's ideal punishment would have been using both mattresses but couldn't leave Yugyeom with out something comfy). All the decorative pillows and blankets were used on the boarders and to fill any gaps, while dark gray sheets hung over the top. Youngjae had found a string of white lights and attached them to the ceiling to give the fort light even at night. The softest and warmest blankets were used for the top layer of the floor in the hopes of promoting relaxation and sleep. Each member had been caught napping in the fort, none had spent a whole night however.

Markie shuffled closer, breaking Jaebum from his observations. The Little shivering at he tried to get closer than he was, if that was possible. Smiling down at his adorable lap full of Markie, the leader grabbed the first loose blanket he found and draped it wrapped it over the two of them. Giving his warmth to the elder. "I love you, Markie." He whispered, kissing the Little's head.

"Lub Apa." Markie replied, falling back to sleep.