VHope Fluffshots

Without You (Sequel to I'll Always Love You)

Living without Taehyung has been the hardest thing ever. Jungkook would have nightmares impossible to wake him up from. Jimin became oversensitive and cried way too easily. I stopped being my sunny self for a while. My heart hurt so much and I just couldn't continue. After the funeral, the kids came into my room. "Appa wouldn't want you to be alone tonight," Jimin explained, holding a sad, tired Jungkook in his arms. He was wearing one of Taehyung's old shirts while Jimin wore one of mine. The kids always slept in our clothes. I nodded and rolled over to Taehyung's side of the bed; his scent still lingered on his pillow. Jungkook laid on my chest and Jimin cuddled into my side; it didn't feel right without Taehyung there. After a few minutes, I felt something warm, like lips, touch my forehead and something all-too familiar run through my hair. "You'll be okay, my baby. Go to sleep." Taehyung kept his promise. He's still here.

"Dad, I'm gay." Jimin was about to graduate high school when he told me this. "Does Appa know?" was my immediate response. Taehyung should know; he still listened. Taehyung managed to communicate with us in really subtle ways; every night, I'd feel a weight on his side of the bed, he'd leave notes occasionally, we'd hear his laughter and calm voice tell us that he loves us. It made us feel better and safe. Jimin nodded gently and looked to the floor. "Who's the boy?" I asked just out of plain curiosity, as well as my protective nature. Jimin blushed and said, "Min Yoongi. He graduated when I was fifteen and we've been good friends for a while." I nodded with a smile. "I wanna meet him. Does he know about Appa?" I could tell Jimin's heart hurt at the mentioning of Taehyung. He nodded anyways. "Appa left a note on Yoongi's arm that said, 'Treat my Chim Chim right or I'm coming for you,' " he giggled, making me laugh. "He's right; Yoongi better treat you right. Did Kookie ever meet him?" I asked, finishing up kimchi stew. Jimin nodded, shifting uneasily on his feet. I frowned and took the pot off the stove before placing my hands on Jimin's shoulders. "Chim, tell me what's up," I said gently. He sighed and pushed his hair back. "Yoongi... he isn't the type of boy you'd like me dating. He... you'll see. And it'll be just you and Kookie tonight. Yoongi's taking me to dinner. I'll text you when we get there safely, okay?" Jimin explained. I nodded and kissed the top of his head. "Be home before eleven, keep it in your pants and let me meet him. Now go get ready, love." Jimin smiled and hugged me tight before running up the stairs. Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to see a smallish, skinny boy with ebony hair and cuts up and down both arms. My heart broke, but I hid it under a smile. "You must be Yoongi. I'm Hoseok, but please call me Hobi-da. Jimin's getting ready. Come in." Yoongi bowed and entered with a small smile that widened as Jimin flew down the stairs. "Yoongi-hyung!" Yoongi held his arms out for Jimin, wrapping him in a protective hug. "Hi, 'Minnie. I missed you," he mumbled. By the look on Jimin's face, I knew that he found in Yoongi what I found in Taehyung. I couldn't be more proud of him.

Jimin graduated two months after Taehyung's death day. There were tears in his eyes as he accepted his diploma; the fact that Taehyung wasn't there to see him broke his heart. I sat in between Jungkook and Yoongi, who had on Jimin's Letterman that he got from choir. All three of us smiled at Jimin as he waved and blew us a kiss. We went onto the football field to be greeted by a crying Jimin. He threw himself into my arms. "I love you, Daddy," he sobbed onto my chest. "Appa's proud of you, Jiminine. You know that. I'm proud of you, too," I replied. He nodded and hugged Jungkook, who was lightly sobbing. "I love you, hyung," he said as he hugged Jimin tight. "And I love you, Kookie. Now it's your turn." He lightly punched Jungkook's chest, making both of them laugh. Jimin got out his phone and took selfies with all of us, uploading them to Instagram. Somehow, he convinced Yoongi to take a photo of all three of us together. As we smiled for the picture, I felt a weight on my shoulder. Once the photo was taken, the weight vanished. "Oh my god, Hobi-da..." Yoongi showed me the photo, and I gasped. There was Jimin, Jungkook, me and Taehyung. Taehyung's hand was exactly where I felt the weight press down. A tear escaped my eye, but I wiped it away and smiled. Taehyung was watching over us, just like he promised. When I looked up from my phone, Yoongi was kissing Jimin sweetly. Jungkook turned to me and rested his head on my shoulder. "Appa's proud of all of us, especially you. You're doing great, Dad." I patted his shoulder. "Thanks, Kookie. It really does mean a lot."

"Hey Dad," Jungkook said when I opened the front door. I smiled at my twenty-five-year-old son, but frowned when I noticed the man with a doll face and broad shoulders behind him. "Kook, who's this?" I wondered. The man seemed to be much older than Jungkook. "Um, yeah. That's what I came over to talk about," Jungkook said, nerves obvious. I got nervous, but nodded and let the two into the house. The man seemed nice; he bowed when he passed me and took off his shoes as he came in. He flashed me a smile, but I could tell how scared he was. We all sat down in the living room, tension hanging thick in the air. The man sighed and looked at Jungkook. "If you won't say anything, then I will." Jungkook just shook his head and looked down at his tattooed arms, leaning into the seemingly older man. "Hi, Mr Jung. My name is Kim Seokjin, and I'm thirty-five years old. Please don't freak out. We haven't done anything, I promise. Jungkook just helps me raise my four-year-old. My kid, Jeongja, was from a failed marriage. She really likes your son, and I'm really glad I found someone so great with her. Please don't hate me," Jin explained. I just sat in silence, completely lost for words. Jin looked like he was about to crawl under the floor and Jungkook looked like he was about to vomit. I saw how tightly he was holding Jin's hand. I honestly had no clue what to do. If Taehyung were here, he'd settle this. He always knew what to do. But he's not here anymore. "Baby, talk to our Jungkookie. It's okay."  That  sweet, deep voice echoed through my head and I had to follow directions. "Jungkook, come with me, please." I pointed to the kitchen, and my youngest son nodded. "Daddy, I'm sorry!" Jungkook immediately burst into tears once Jin was out of earshot. I hugged him tight and ran a hand through his hair. "Kookie, I never said I disapprove, but... He's ten years older than you, plus he has a kid. Are you even ready for such a big responsibility?" Jungkook took a shaky breath. "But... I love Jin a lot and... Jeongja calls me Daddy, like me and Chim used to call you. I'm her father now, along with Jin." That hit me hard. Jungkook and Jimin both lost their biological parents and a father. I had the love of my life and the father of my kids taken away from me. Why would I do the same thing to one of my kids? "If you're truly happy with him, then okay. He seems like a good man who treats you well. Be happy, Jungkookie." My son cried harder as he hugged me tight. "Thank you!"

Something went wrong. I don't know what, but something went horribly wrong. At first, I was driving down the road, on the way to have dinner with my kids and their husbands and my grandchild. Now the car is upside down and I'm laying on the ground with glass and blood everywhere. The lights from the first responders' vehicles are blinding, illuminating the night. There's a large hand in front of me, so I take it in mine to be hauled to my feet. Now, I'm staring directly into Taehyung's gorgeous eyes. "Tae Baby," I whisper, pulling him close to me. He kisses me gently, putting in all the want in his kiss. "I've missed you, Hobi." I look around; Our kids, Jin, Yoongi and Jeongja are by the ambulance, surrounding a body. All of them are crying. "Daddy, no! Come back! You can't leave! No!" Jimin yells, choking on his tears. Jungkook holds him back, holding out against Jimin's thrashing. "He's with Appa now, Jimin. They can look after us together, now. Please stop screaming," he says gently. Jimin deflates, putting all of his weight on Jungkook.  His seven-year-old daughter looks at Jin, who's holding her hand. "Hobi-da isn't coming back, is he?" she asks. Jin just shakes his head and picks her up. "No, but he's in a good place now. He isn't lonely anymore." Yoongi wordlessly picks Jimin out of Jungkook's arms, allowing Jungkook to take his daughter from Jin.

Taehyung smiles as he watches our children. "You did so well, Hobi. I'm proud of our kids. I'm proud of you." He kisses my cheek, then pulls me onward with him. "Let's go home."

Aaaaaaaaaah part two is over! Um, so I gotta tell you something. During my last class, my ribcage felt like it was being squeezed by a constrictor, so I went home. I have no clue what is wrong with my lungs, and I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to figure it out. I'm really scared, but I hope it's just inflammation like I think it is. Anyways, Happy Days!

- Tae