How Did It End Up Like This?

Chapter Twenty-Two

"And danger will follow me now everywhere I go
Angels will call on me and take me to my home"

The loud ringing of Taehyung's cell phone woke him and Jungkook up from their slumber. Taehyung's back and ass ached from their intense moments last night. Jungkook reached for the phone, passing it to Taehyung, who answered it without checking the caller ID. "H-Hello?" He had to clear his throat to get any sound to come out.

"Is this Kim Taehyung?" It was a woman's voice that Taehyung did not quite recognize.

"Yes this is. Who is calling?"

The woman cleared her throat nervously. "This is your mother."

Taehyung felt his whole world stop. His chest became heavy and his palms became sweaty. "Who is it?" Jungkook mouthed, earning a shake of the head from Taehyung.

"Why are you calling me?"

The line was silent for a moment before the woman sighed. "I received a call last night. Y-Your father broke out of prison. I thought you would want to know."

Taehyung's breathing became heavier as his worst nightmares flooding his memory all at once. It all made sense now. It explains the strange feeling of being watched. It explains the recurring nightmares he had been having, the nightmare he hadn't had in close to a year. Jungkook immediately noticed the older's state and held Taehyung in his arms. The younger took the phone out of his fiancè's hand, putting it to his ear. "Yes, excuse me, who is this and why are you calling?"

"My name is Kim Soo Jung. I am Taehyung's mother, and who are you?"

"Jeon Jungkook, Taehyung's fiancè." He made sure to emphasize the word fiancè so that she understood the situation. "Why did you call and make him so upset?"

Ms Kim immediately noticed the anger in Jungkook's tone. "Do not hurt me, I am only the messenger. His father broke himself out of jail. I don't know where he is or where he is going but I want Taehyung to be safe."

Jungkook put the phone on speaker so Taehyung could listen, even if his sobs made it difficult to speak. "Why the hell do you want him to be safe after you abandoned him?"

The other line went quiet again, but faint cries could be heard. "I have kept an eye on him all these years. I have seen t-the bruises. I'm a nurse at the same hospital Taehyung was checked into a couple of times. I know what his father did and I have regretted leaving ever since."

"Bullshit!" Taehyung's pent up anger finally released itself as burning hot tears continued to fall down his face. "If you really cared you would've saved me! You virtually left me for dead!"

"The problem right now is not between you and me, Taehyung. We can deal with that another time. The problem at hand is your father. You have to protect yourself from him. I will be keeping an eye on you, but please be careful."

Jungkook hung up the phone without another word and buried Taehyung's face in his neck while the older sobbed even harder. "I will protect you, Taehyung. No matter what. I will never leave you, and he won't lay a hand on you, got it?"

Taehyung nodded into Jungkook's neck. He could feel the younger's racing pulse. He could tell Jungkook was fuming on the inside, but he still held Taehyung so gently. Taehyung couldn't help but smile at how much Jungkook has tried to become a better man for Taehyung.

"I love you, Kookie."

Jungkook chuckled, sending vibrations through Taehyung's body. "I love you more."

Taehyung giggled as he pulled away, poking Jungkook on the nose with his index finger. "I love you the most."

"I love you the mostest of the most."

Taehyung smacked the other's arm, both males had large smiles on their faces, despite the tears shed only moments before. "You're so cheesy nowadays. What happened to you?"

Jungkook shrugged before climbing out of the bed. It was only 6:17 AM, but he figured they wouldn't be able to go back to sleep anytime soon. "You bring out the cheesiness in me, babe. Chocolate chip waffles for breakfast?"

Taehyung shook his head before looking at his lap. "I-I'm not hungry." The obnoxiously loud growl from the older's stomach contradicted his words, and Jungkook felt his heart sink as he could already see the road Taehyung was headed towards. He couldn't let his baby be hurt anymore.

"Well, too bad. I'm making you some chocolate chip waffles. I will even fry some chicken and make some fresh syrup." Jungkook forced a smile before pecking Taehyung's lips, rushing into the kitchen to make Taehyung his favorite meal.

•••••••

The couple remained couped up in their apartment for a week straight. Taehyung was too afraid to leave the safety of their home. Jungkook made Yoongi deliver food to them a few times, but he knew he couldn't keep that up for too long. Yoongi's patience was already wearing thin, despite putting on a positive appearance.

Jungkook had chosen to distract Taehyung by planning out their wedding. They decided to move the wedding up so that they could finally be legally bound together, despite what happened with Taehyung's father. Taehyung had always dreamed of a Christmas-themed wedding, so that's what the two decided to do.

"We can have mistletoe above the altar where we'll share our first kiss as husbands. Won't that be adorable?"

Jungkook felt a smile creep up to his lips as Taehyung's vision finally made sense to him. Jungkook was never much of a wedding person, but he knew that it was important to Taehyung. "That would be fantastic, baby."

"And and and we can have Christmas trees set up for people to put their wedding presents under!" Taehyung has been bouncing excitedly at the idea of wedding planning on Jungkook's lap for the last two hours. The older's mind had completely forgotten about the situation with his father, and Jungkook felt relieved that Taehyung was able to have some relief. "And Yeontan can be the ring bearer!" At the mention of his name, Yeontan jumped onto the sofa and curled up on Taehyung's lap. Jungkook admired his boys sitting on his lap as he noticed Taehyung's eyes growing heavy from lack of energy and sleep. Jungkook guided the other's head to his chest and a moment later he could hear soft snores being emitted from Taehyung's slightly-ajar mouth.

"Cute."

••••

{edited}