Daughter's question

Chapter 1

Aerina bounced into the living room, her small feet making quick little taps on the hardwood floor. She had that familiar sparkle in her eyes—one that always meant trouble, or at least awkward questions.

"Appa! Eomma!" Aerina called, climbing onto the couch where Taehyung was reading a book, while Jungkook was fixing a snack in the kitchen.

Jungkook peeked over the counter, already sensing something mischievous. "What’s up, princess?" he asked, setting down the knife.

Aerina wiggled in her spot. "Can I ask you something?" Her eyes darted between both her parents, and Taehyung raised an eyebrow, closing his book.

"You know you can ask anything, angel," Taehyung said with a teasing smile, though he immediately sensed something was brewing.

Aerina grinned. "Eomma," she started, her tone innocent but her expression anything but, "why do you always call Appa 'baby' when he's not a baby?"

Jungkook nearly choked on his breath as his face turned bright pink. Taehyung pressed his lips together, stifling a laugh but equally embarrassed.

"Well, you see, sweetheart," Jungkook began, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "It’s just... a nickname. Like how we call you 'princess,' even though you’re not... um, really a princess."

Aerina furrowed her brow. "But I *am* a princess," she declared confidently. "Appa said so."

"Ah, of course," Taehyung chimed in, leaning forward with a smirk. "You *are* our little princess, that’s true. But sometimes, even grown-ups use cute names for each other, just like how we have cute names for you."

Aerina seemed to accept that explanation but wasn’t finished yet. She blinked at Taehyung, her face all seriousness now. "Appa, why do you kiss Eomma on the lips when you can kiss him on the cheek like me?"

Taehyung shot a glance at Jungkook, who was hiding his blushing face behind his hands. He cleared his throat, trying to think quickly. "Well, angel, when two people love each other very much, they show that love in different ways. Kissing on the lips is one way grown-ups do that."

Aerina tilted her head. "But can I kiss my friends on the lips then?"

"No!" both Taehyung and Jungkook said in unison, making Aerina jump a little.

Taehyung laughed nervously and rubbed his forehead. "Not exactly, sweetheart. That kind of kiss is just for people who are in love, like Eomma and me."

"Ohh," Aerina said, as though she was finally beginning to understand. "So, I can kiss my prince on the lips when I get married?"

Jungkook, who had just started to relax, nearly fell over at that. "W-Who said anything about princes?!" he stammered.

Aerina giggled. "You always tell me I’m a princess, and princesses marry princes."

Taehyung grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "She’s got a point, Eomma."

"Not anytime soon," Jungkook muttered, coming over to sit beside them, still red in the face. He picked Aerina up and placed her on his lap. "You’ve got plenty of time before you think about princes, my little one."

Aerina pouted but leaned her head on Jungkook’s shoulder. After a few moments of silence, she perked up again with another question. "Eomma, why is your tummy flat now? You said I came from your tummy, but where did I go?"

Jungkook froze, while Taehyung looked at him, wide-eyed. There was a long pause before Taehyung decided to step in.

"Well, princess," Taehyung said slowly, trying to craft an answer, "when you were growing in Eomma’s tummy, you needed a lot of space. But after you were born, Eomma’s tummy didn’t need to be big anymore."

Aerina looked thoughtful for a second. "So, if I have a baby in my tummy, it’ll be big too?"

"Not for a long, long time!" Jungkook said quickly, his voice an octave higher. "You’ve got so many things to do before you think about babies, okay? Like school, and playing, and... and... more playing!"

Aerina laughed at Jungkook’s flustered state. "Okay, Eomma," she giggled. "But I’m going to have a baby someday, just like you."

Jungkook sighed, his shoulders relaxing, though his cheeks were still tinted pink. "Someday, but not too soon."

Taehyung chuckled, pulling both Jungkook and Aerina into a hug. "Our little angel is full of questions today, huh?"

"Yup!" Aerina said proudly, leaning into the embrace.

"Just like her Appa," Jungkook teased, finally smiling and shaking off the awkwardness.

"And her Eomma," Taehyung shot back, kissing the top of Jungkook’s head.

Aerina scrunched her nose. "You guys are mushy," she giggled.

Jungkook and Taehyung exchanged glances and laughed, realizing that no matter how many awkward questions came their way, they could handle them—together, as a family.

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