Since the Day We Met

Twenty -Three

Jennifer's POV

The moment HongJoong returned home from his tour, everything in our lives felt wonderfully complete again. Our daughter Harper was over the moon with excitement about the news of having a sibling on the way, and I could see the sparkle of anticipation in HongJoong's eyes too. He was thrilled at the prospect of welcoming a child that was truly ours. As for me, my heart was simply filled with happiness and relief, knowing that he was with us once more.

That night, as we gathered around the dinner table, laughter and animated conversation filled the room. It was a wonderful reunion as a family, and we couldn't help but feel that the next chapter in our lives was off to a beautiful start. Though the future held many unknowns, we cherished the time we had together, and each moment felt more precious with the growing family we were creating.

In the midst of our joyous banter, Harper could hardly contain her excitement about becoming a big sister. She chatted incessantly about all the things she would teach her little brother or sister, from riding a bicycle to enjoying her favorite movies and books. The thought of sharing her world with another child filled her eyes with dreams and aspirations.

HongJoong beamed at our daughter's enthusiasm, openly sharing his own plans for when our second child would arrive. He talked about taking time off from his busy career to be more present and involved in their upbringing. This warmed my heart immensely - after all, he had been away for much of Harper's early years on tour, leaving me with heavy responsibilities as a single mother.While his schedule made those years challenging for us, I knew how passionate he was about creating a loving home and being an active and engaged father in both Harper's life and our unborn child's life.

As our evening progressed, HongJoong regaled us with tales from his tour, vividly recounting exhilarating concerts and incredible moments spent with fans and new friends from around the world. Watching him light up while sharing these stories captivated both Harper and me; it was difficult not to be utterly enthralled by his passion for music and love for his craft.However, even in the midst of our laughter and stories, there were quiet moments where I could see how much he truly cherished being home with us. 

He would gaze lovingly at Harper playing with her toys or steal secret glances at my baby bump when he thought I wasn't looking.That evening, after we had put Harper to bed and were snuggled on the couch together, I rested my head on HongJoong's chest and looked into his eyes. They were alight with so much love and devotion that my own welled up with tears. In that moment, I realized that our bond had only grown stronger throughout HongJoong's time away, as we both treasured the moments we could spend together even more.As the next day began, the sun seemed to rise with a new radiance and warmth, reflecting our own renewed sense of joy in being a reunited family. 

After all, there was much growth ahead of us: Harper becoming a big sister, and us learning to navigate life with two children. We were determined to treasure each day and make lasting memories during this precious time.HongJoong spent the morning with Harper, giving me time to unwind and focus on my own well-being before starting the day's more demanding tasks. Meanwhile, they took up Harper's favorite activities - painting and baking - filling the kitchen with colorful artwork and the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies.

Harper embraced this special father-daughter time enthusiastically, her giggles and squeals resonating throughout the house. Hearing their bonding brought warmth to my heart, making me feel grateful for our reunited family.Later that afternoon, we decided to head outdoors and enjoy some fresh air together as a family. As we strolled down to our favorite park nearby, Harper energetically led the way, her little hand firmly grasping HongJoong's while she chattered cheerfully about all her grand plans for her future sibling.

As I watched them walk hand-in-hand before me, I couldn't help but smile at how blessed we were. We had overcome many challenges in the past – both HongJoong and I had striven to balance parenthood and our individual pursuits while staying connected as a couple. But here we were now, stronger than ever before and eagerly anticipating a new addition to our family.At the park, Harpers exciting energy spread like wildfire; she led HongJoong through a playful exploration of the playground equipment, their laughter mingling with the other sounds of children and families around us. I felt content to sit on a nearby bench and watch them, taking in the perfect afternoon sun and reveling in the joy that radiated through both their faces.

When they finally stopped to catch their breaths, HongJoong guided Harper towards me, her cheeks rosy from their exertions. She raced ahead and leaped into my arms, her excitement still as boundless as ever. I hugged her tight and whispered how proud I was of her. She grinned up at me with shining eyes, then turned to HongJoong and held out her arms for a group hug.

The three of us embraced, our hearts brimming with love and gratitude for each other. It was a tender moment that seemed to capture the essence of our family perfectly: the love we had cultivated over the years had only continued to deepen, expanding now to encompass our unborn child as well.

With the sun beginning its descent towards the horizon, we decided to head back home. As we walked side by side, Harper recounted her playground adventures with HongJoong while animatedly showing him drawings she had made that morning. Their shared laughter was infectious, making it impossible not to join in and add my own small anecdotes to their ongoing conversation.

Once we arrived at home, Harper made a beeline for the kitchen, intent on sharing her freshly baked cookies with us while they were still warm. We indulged in their delicious sweetness together, savoring not just the cookies but also the joy of each other's company.

Before long, it was time for Harper's bedtime routine – bath, storytime and lullabies were what awaited us before tucking her in for a good night's sleep. HongJoong and I shared these duties, taking alternating turns to read aloud from one of her favored books as she snuggled down under the covers.

As HongJoong read the final page, Harper wriggled over to give him a big hug and whispered something into his ear that elicited a heartfelt smile from him. He then leaned over to kiss her forehead tenderly before turning off the bedside lamp.

We retreated back into our own bedroom, discussing again plans for our growing family in hushed tones to avoid disturbing our slumbering little girl. HongJoong mentioned his idea of converting one of the spare rooms into a nursery, and I agreed to begin researching some design ideas that would fit in with our existing home décor. Even as we prepared ourselves for bed, it felt as if everything within our small universe had realigned with HongJoong home.