For the Love of Joon

Chapter 22-Heaven

We had about three hours before we needed to start getting ready for the concert, so they decided to give us some time together. My mom goes to the hotel to relax, and the guys do the same. I am currently sitting on the couch with a still-sleeping Mel in my arms. She was exhausted from the panic attack and didn't even wake up when I picked her up off the floor. I have been watching her sleep so I don't miss her eyes fluttering open as she starts to wake up. She is confused for a minute but then looks like she is afraid of me, trying to scramble off my lap.

"Stop before you fall," I tell her gently.

She immediately goes still and looks at her hands, won't look me in the eyes. I gently push her chin up so that she is looking at me.

"Melanie, baby. I am so sorry. I would never EVER, in a million years, try to take Joonbug from you. I'm sorry I got so mad. I just...well, I already worry that I won't be a good dad and-"

"Stop," She says and then sits up, straddling my waist. "Joon, I'm sorry. I never should have said it that way. That is not what I mean at all. I-"

I hold up my hand for her to stop talking. Placing my hands on her face, I pull her to me and kiss her, trying to bleed every bit of apology into it. When I pull back, I rub her cheeks with my thumbs.

"Are you okay, baby?"

She nods. "Yeah, I feel a lot better now."

"I'm so sorry. I was so worried about you when I saw you here on the floor. I never should have acted like that."

"I have never had a doubt that you'd be a good dad, Joon," She tells me. "You already are. Joonbug loves you more than anything. It's just... sometimes, when it comes to her, I know how to handle her just because I have been her mom so much longer than you have been her dad. And I don't mean that in a bad way."

I sighed, leaning my forehead against hers. "I get it. I do. I've been learning as I go, but I want to be the best dad for her. The last thing I ever want is for you to feel like you're doing this alone."

"You're not alone either," She says, her voice cracking just a little as she speaks. "We're in this together, always."

My grip around her tightened, and I felt a sense of relief. It was moments like this, quiet and raw, that I realized how much we both needed these reminders. Our life together was fast-paced and full of public scrutiny, but at the core, it was about us. This family we'd built will always be the most important thing. Silence stretched between us for a few minutes, and then, as if controlled by one mind, we both let out small, exhausted chuckles at the same time.

"Joon?" She asks, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes.

"Yeah?"

"I think... we might need a proper vacation. Not just a few days off in a new city between concerts or after the tour. A real one. Just us, Bug, somewhere where no one knows us, where we can breathe. We had our honeymoon but we need like a family honeymoon, kind of."

"That sounds perfect," I agree, kissing her forehead. "We'll plan something once the tour is over. Just the three of us."

Before I knew it, it was time to start getting ready for the concert. She got up and fixed her makeup, switching into manager mode. My mom came back, seeing we were okay now, and gave us both a hug before being ushered to the VIP box, where she was going to watch the concert.

Mel POV

As the concert started, I watched Joon in his element, interacting with the other members and laughing and joking in front of the audience. Everything ran smoothly for the show. When they had a wardrobe change, he made sure to stop and give me a kiss each time. The rest of the tour went by fast and a lot smoother.