THIS IS US// JIKOOK FF

12

Areum cuddled in her appa's arms as he laid on the couch in the master bedroom.  She had been pleasantly surprised when her daddy told her that he was back and ran to the bedroom immediately. She had found Jimin seated on the couch watching some fashion news on the TV. She had flown to him and he caught her easily hugging her tightly. Their reunion was tearful. She had missed her appa so much.

When Jungkook had told her why she couldn't see Jimin anymore, she had been hurt deeply. Jungkook had asked for her understanding. She had not talked to him for the rest of the day until she found him in the kitchen sniffing softly as he cried. He was hurting too so she had approached him and hugged him hoping he would know that she understood and would give her appa all the time he needed to heal. Her daddy needed to heal too. Though she had been sad for a while missing Jimin, Jungkook had spent her free time with her filling the void.

"You are not going away again, right appa?" She asked in a small tone afraid he would disappear if she raised her voice. Jimin combed her hair with his fingers and kissed the crown of her head.
"Appa is not going anywhere little gem, I promise. I'm never going to leave you again."
"I was sad. Daddy was sad too."

"I'm sorry baby." Jimin said softly guilt eating at him. If only one had the power to change parents. He never wanted Areum to experience any toxicity that he had while growing up. While his mother didn't know all of it, he still felt bitter that his mother had not paid enough attention to the times his father had began hitting him in the name of discipline. He was staring into space still combing Areum's hair when he felt a finger wiping his tears. He looked up to see his husband smiling down at him and whispered it's okay to him. Jimin nodded and Jungkook tapped Areum on the shoulder.

"Come on little star, you need to shower. Appa will be here when you are done."
"Don't wanna." Areum said and tightened her arms around Jimin.
"It's alright baby. Go take a quick shower then I'll help you with your homework while daddy brings your snacks here."

"Promise you won't go."
"I promise. I'm going to be here waiting for you." Areum finally let him go and stood up, taking her bag and heading out of the room. Jimin sat up and moved his legs creating space for Jungkook on the couch. Jungkook sat and took his hand placing a kiss on the back of it.

"I'm sorry I took a long time to get back here."
"Baby, I told you you don't have to apologize."
"I know but it hurts to know I hurt you both so bad. That I let my carelessness rob us of another addition to our family."
"Oh baby! Come here." Jungkook opened his arms and Jimin went in them quickly. "I'm sure one day even if it's not in this life, we'll meet our little flower again. If you want us to grow our family then we will. We'll give Areum all the siblings she wants. Don't be sad anymore about our flower. He or she would want you to be happy."

"I'll get there my love." He said voice full of determination.
"Tomorrow we have a couple's therapy session with your therapist so she'll be here earlier than your session."
"Couple's therapy?"
"Yes. We need it for how things went down the last time we were together in this house."
"Okay."

Jungkook was right. In order to move forward, they both needed professional help and advice. They sat on the couch in each others arms for the next thirty minutes before Jimin said Areum was taking too long so Jungkook said he would check on her. Jungkook came back without her.

"I think she's downstairs. Let's go down, you need to eat something too." Jimin felt chills on his body as Jungkook spoke. He smiled and took his husband's hand who led him downstairs. As soon as he landed on his feet from the stairs, he felt Jungkook come to an abrupt stop and he collided lighly on Jungkook's back.

"What's wrong Koo?" He asked but Jungkook seemed frozen. He moved to Jungkook's side and looked at where his husband was looking. He felt his world tilt. His eyes widened as he looked as his baby crying silently as the man he called his father held a gun to her temple and one arm around her chest. All the fear he felt for that man went out of the window as his protective instincts kicked in.

"Let my daughter go!" Jimin hissed as he attempted to approach them but Jungkook held his hand tight pulling him behind him. Jungkook moved steadily as Jimin followed.
"That's far enough." Park Shin said and they stopped.
"Let her go." This time Jungkook said in an authoritative voice. Park Shin laughed maniacally.
"I didn't know you had a little brat with you. You managed to hide her well. Aren't you curious to know how I'm here?"
"I don't care. Just release my daughter." Jimin said again widening his stance. He wouldn't let the man have more of his sanity.

"I'll tell you anyways. My boys found a little secret room when they were searching this house up and down looking for your husband. A nice room in the basement. Is that supposed to be a panic room or what?" Park Shin asked with a sneer.

Jimin froze. They had forgotten they had  such a room in the basement. They rarely went down there since the cleaning crew cleaned the place once every two weeks. To think the man they'd been searching for was living with his husband and daughter while he was a coward to come home.
"Now, how about we finish what we started?"

"I swear if you lay a hand on my daughter's head I'll kill you." Jungkook seethed. There was no way he'd let Park Shin hurt his babies again. Their daughter was scared. While his attention was on the man, he saw a blur of movement as Jimin ran to his father who had his attention on Areum. He punched his father on the cheek who let Areum go. Jimin jumped on his father and they fell to the ground as he straddled Mr. Park's chest. He took away the gun and threw it away as he began punching his father on the face.

"You," a punch, "are," another punch, "not going," punch," to hurt my daughter!" Jimin shouted as he continued assaulting him. He didn't stop even when blood came out of Shin's mouth. He wasn't satisfied yet so he continued punching. When he felt Mr. Park was not moving anymore, he stopped. Park Shin had passed out. He got off him and turned to see Jungkook smiling at him while Areum hugged his waist hiding her face. Jungkook had his phone in hand.

"The police are on their way. Proud of you baby, you protected our baby more than I could."

"He has taken enough from me. I draw the line on Areum." He said as he made his way to them. He claimed his husband's lips and they kissed briefly. They had a group hug with their daughter who was still shaking a bit.
Jimin let the police in and the took a still unconscious Park Shin to their custody. Jimin felt immense relief. He could finally breath.

For the first time in almost twenty years, there were no more threats to his life and by extension his small family. Jimin laughed freely as Jungkook and Areum hugged him.