To the Moon and Back (Marked Sequel)

Chapter Fifteen: Spring Day

"On this day, exactly one year ago, Jade and Namjoon fucked in Jade's car, and the world (and the upholstery) hasn't been the same since," Yoongi declared, raising his coffee in a mock toast as Namjoon left the dorm.

"We didn't fuck. And thank you, Yoongi, for that rousing declaration."

"She's at the door, Joonie. I tried to invite her in, but ever since last time..." Jin trailed off, looking meaningfully at Hoseok and Jimin, who had the grace to look slightly ashamed of themselves.

"We didn't know that she'd scare that easily!" Hoseok protested, looking to his friend for support.

"Yeah, hyung," Jimin chimed in, "we were trying to scare Jungkook!"

"It doesn't matter, Jimin. Now she's too embarrassed to come into the dorm and that's your fault."

Namjoon sighed, making his way past the boys to reach the front door, shaking his head at the repetition of an argument that had been occurring for the last few weeks.

He greeted Jade with a soft kiss to her temple, then pulled the door shut behind the two of them.

"How was your day?" he asked her, unaware of how quickly she had to walk to keep with him.

"It was fine. Psych is kicking my ass, but in a good way. I have three essays on cognitive development due on Thursday though, so I should probably start working on those."

"Jade, today's Saturday, and this is your final project, right?"

"Well, when you put it that way..."

"Jade," he laughed, shaking his head in mock disappointment and linking their swinging hands together as they made their way down the street.

____________________________________________________________________________

"We've got news," Jin said into the phone, watching as the city passed by,

"Good or bad?" Yoongi asked on the other line.

"Debatable. We have a cure, but there are some unknowns."

"Meaning?"

"They've never tested on a human before. It might work, it might do nothing, and it might kill her. We couldn't get any other information out of him, and he genuinely didn't know much."

"Should I tell Namjoon?"

"Do what you think is right. You're the beta."

____________________________________________________________________________

"They've got the cure," Yoongi reported to the couple sitting on the couch, baby sleeping on Jade's chest as they lounged, enjoying the few precious moments of free time they had.

"Are they bringing it here?" Namjoon asked, working at a crick in his neck with the hand that wasn't currently resting on Jade's shoulder.

"Yes. But there's a problem. They don't know what the effects will be on a human. They've only ever tested on other wolves."

"So, it could kill her?"

"Possibly. From what Jane's read in the notes she and Jin got, she doesn't think Jade would die if we were to use it, but it's a lot of theory."

"Then absolutely not. There's got to be another way. We'll figure it out."

"I want to try it," Jade whispered.

"No. Absolutely not. We aren't doing anything that gives you even the slightest chance of dying."

"Everything has risks, Joon. And don't you think that our daughter deserves better than this. She deserves everything."

"And we can do that without risking your life."

"Mun Ai doesn't deserve to have a mother that doesn't know herself. And I trust Jane with my life. I want to at least try."

"Jade..."

"I know that you're scared Joonie, so am I. But this decision isn't just about me. It's about her."

Both parents looked down at their little girl, sleeping peacefully, cushioned by Jade's chest.

"Okay," he whispered, closing his eyes and trying to seal out the idea that she might not make it if they went through with this.

____________________________________________________________________________

"We have to tell you guys something," Jimin murmured to the room.

The pack stared back at him, some with curiosity, some with concern. Jade watched them with the smallest amount of what could constitute as motherly pride, silently cheering both on with her eyes.

"It's a little bit personal, and you might be a little bit mad that we never told you, but we decided that it was finally time to tell you."

Jimin and Hoseok shared a look, and Hoseok reached his hand out to the younger boy, who intertwined their fingers happily.

"We're mated," Hoseok blurted, because saying something quickly helped make it less awkward to say.

Everyone in the room (other than Jade, who was fist-pumping quietly in the corner) stared at them in silence and shock.

"As in, like, bondmates? And you've been hiding this from us all for how long?"

"Yes. And we've been bonded for about five years? Ever since we met, I think? We didn't want to hide it from you, hyung, we just didn't know what was going on." Jimin replied to Namjoon, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Congratulations?" Taehyung piped up from the floor in front of the couch, (y/n)'s legs swung over his lap in an easy, couple-y position.

"So, what I'm hearing is that you are officially the longest standing bond in the pack," Jungkook said slowly. "Well, Namjoon hyung, you can't win them all."

"This actually brings a lot of things about the bond back into darkness," Namjoon murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "If it isn't meant to increase the likelihood of a werewolf child, then what is it for? How long has it been around? Are there specific factors attached to who mates with whom?"

"Who's the bottom?" Jade joked, poking fun at Namjoon and rolling her eyes at the tangent he was starting to go off on.

"Eomma!" Hoseok cried, pretending to be scandalized at her suggestive words. "Not in front of the maknae!"

Jungkook put his head in his hands, officially done with his hyung's bullshit. "What about Mun Ai? I'm not the youngest here anymore!"

"I'm more curious as to how Hoseok managed to keep this a secret from all of us for five years."

"Oh, shut it Min Yoongi," Hoseok complained good-naturedly, and only (y/n) saw the relieved and happy look that he and Jimin shared, hands still intertwined as they laughed and spoke with the other members of their pack. The members of their family.

Hey guys.

Today was crazy. 

To me, Kim Jonghyun was a driving force in my conversion to k-pop, and I will miss him and his amazing vocals, songwriting skills, and contribution to the genre. I hope that he has found peace, and I am sending prayers for his friends and family during this difficult time in their lives. Please, respect their privacy, and avoid spreading rumors about his passing. 

On a lighter note, we're approaching the end of this fic, and I'm so so so excited for the end to come. It's been almost a year since I began the Marked series, and I want to thank everyone who has been with me since the beginning. Updates will be coming very quickly in the next few weeks.

Always and Forever,

Bastanubis29