Baby Don't Stop

Epilogue aka sum nice taeten Crumbs

Authors notes
You thought you'd had the last of me didn't ya? Jokes on you! But please, enjoy the final FINAL ending to Baby Don't Stop🙏🏻
Q&A at the end

Taeyong clutched Ten's hand tighter in his own. Stay calm. Don't freak out. He could do this. He couldn't let what happened debilitate him.
      Taeyong looked over at Ten, whose eyes were shut as he took a small nap before they boarded the plane.  He found himself reaching up around his neck to grasp Ten's necklace. He had tried giving it back after the performance but Ten had refused. Rubbing the small pendant he gave him small comfort, if only for all that it represented.
     Ten must have stirred awake at some point because his head lolled to face Taeyong. "Did you take your medicine for the flight?" He asked sleepily. His eyes only opening enough to make sure Taeyong was listening before they shut again.
     "Yeah." Taeyong smiled as he looked at his boyfriend. How adorable could one person be? Taeyong shook his head in wonder. "I think it might be starting to kick in but I'm not sure because I'm still nervous."
     "By the time we board you'll be as high as a kite. Not a care in the world and floating on cloud 9." Ten grinned at his jokes. His eyes still closed and his voice still rough from sleep.
     Taeyong wasn't sure. This was going to be their first time leaving Korea since- well, since Ukraine. Settling down after everything that had happened took time. Taeyong still had trouble with noises. Both loud and quiet. Loud noises gave him more of a physical reaction, jumping, ducking, accidentally punching Haechan in the face when he had tried to jump scare Taeyong. But the quiet was more of a mental reaction. Taeyong would start to panic. The fear of his hearing disappearing again was still at large. Hyperventilating, panic attacks, and crying were the most common reactions. The doctors had insisted that he should have no fear of his hearing disappearing again but it wasn't like he could force his subconscious mind to accept that.
     Ten was coping differently. He still got nightmares, some worse than others. But he said that sleeping next to Taeyong helped a lot. But there were times he would still dream about canaries. Not all of the dreams with the canaries were bad. Ten told Taeyong that sometimes if it was a really good dream the canaries would just flit overhead. All Twitterpated.
     Back in the dorm they had just said what the hell and pushed their beds together to make one big bed. They had also installed a lock, although most of the members had learned their lesson the hard way before that.
     Taeyong laughed at the memory of Jeno's face when he walked in to ask Ten to translate something from Thai. And Ten happened to, thankfully have clothes on, but that didn't mean that Jeno's eyes weren't scared from seeing him straddling Taeyong as they made out.
     Back in reality Ten peaked open one eye to glance at Taeyong. "What?"
     Taeyong could feel his giggles bubble into hearty laughter as he thought more about it. Even though it probably wasn't actually that funny. "I think I'm starting to feel the medicine." He spoke between breaths.
     His mind was starting to glaze over the bad parts of flying and suddenly it seemed as if he was very relaxed.
     Taeyong tried to control the giggles but they still came out.
     "Yes, I think you are." Ten smiled, his eyes closed once again.
     Taeyong could feel his mind wandering. "Hey, Ten-"
     "You know I love you but I'm trying to sleep right now."
     "Oh."there was a moment of silence. "But-" he was interrupted by a voice over the intercom. Their flight was boarding.
    Ten rolled his eyes as he stood and picked up their bag. "Let's go silly." He held his hand out for Taeyong to take.
     Taeyong grabbed on and lifted himself up. He leaned in and cupped his hand next to Ten's ear. "Wanna join the mile high club?" He started to snicker as he spoke.
     "Goodness, I hope you fall asleep on the plane." Ten rolled his eyes. He might have seemed already done with Taeyong but he still reached his hand out and wove their fingers together. 
     "Love you tooooo," Taeyong whispered as he put his other hand up in a small finger heart to Ten.
     For the second time Ten rolled his eyes and they hadn't even boarded yet. He looked forward and felt Taeyong's head loll onto his shoulder. This plane ride was going to be nothing but interesting.
     Only a couple of hours ago Taeyong had been freaking out not just because of the plane ride but as he had said 'at the end of the plane ride waited Ten's family.' Ten thought he was mostly nervous to meet them because of the backlash he had received from his own family. Even though Ten had assured him over and over again that his family was just happy that he had found someone who made him happy. It didn't matter their gender.
     Unconsciously, Ten rubbed circles on the back of Taeyong's hand as they finally walked onto the plane.
     Ten felt a hand softly fondle his butt and he jumped forward in surprise. When he looked behind him, Taeyong was smiling back. A cheeky grin spread across his face.
     Ten looked at their seats and then back to Taeyong. There was no way he was letting Taeyong sit by the window. Especially medicated. So he settled himself in and made sure Taeyong was ready for take-off next to him.
     Looking around, Ten noticed that some of the flight attendants were staring at them. But not in the normal 'omg!' way. More of an 'are they okay?' way. Ten tried to give them a reassuring smile but at that moment Taeyong moved his free hand across Ten's thigh and higher. So the expression was probably pretty panicked.
     "Listen, we are surrounded by people. You have to keep the hands in appropriate places." Ten whispered to Taeyong and he moved his hand lower.
     Taeyong just lifted his hand up and started to pet Ten's hair.
     Over the intercom the pilot reported that they were ready for takeoff. The engines started to wine as the plane raced down the runway. Faster and faster. Ten looked over at Taeyong to see his eyes screwed shut and his fists clenched. One of which was clenched around Ten's hand and-  ouch, was starting to get painful.
     Ten could feel the weightlessness that accompanied lifting into the air.
     After they got higher into the air, Ten could see Taeyong relax and sleep start to take over. With his eyes half closed Taeyong brought their hands up to his face and kissed each of Ten's fingers softly. "I love you so much." He mumbled quietly as he clutched their hands to his chest and nodded off to sleep.
     His eyes didn't open again until Ten woke him up right before they landed. When Taeyong woke Ten almost saw just for a split second a splitting sadness before it disappeared. He didn't think anything of it. 
     "Are you ready to meet my family and get stuffed full of food?" Ten asked as Taeyong rubbed his eyes.
     "No. But I guess it's too late now." Taeyong's voice was full of nervousness. 
     Ten could help the small laugh that escaped. "I can see the medicine wore off."
     Taeyong nodded back quickly. His eyes glancing out the window where they could see the landscape getting closer and closer. He started to push his hands through his hair as his breathing got faster.
      Ten could see Taeyong throwing himself into a full blown panic attack. Softly as if it was nothing Ten reached out and laid his hand on Taeyong's knee. This got enough of Taeyong's attention to pull his eyes to Ten's. "Deep breathes. There is nothing to worry about. The plane is going to touch the ground. There will be a little bump and some noise but it will all be okay. You know this."
     As Ten talked he watched as Taeyong's pupils dilated and his breathing started to slow. Ten had dealt with many of Taeyong's panic attacks and knew the best way to calm him down was to talk him through what was happening. He kept talking, "It's going to be strange going back home. I wonder if Term will bring her boyfriend as well. I heard mom doesn't like him, says he is kind of a prick..." As he rambled on and on the plane got closer to the ground until it finally landed. Taeyong grabbed Ten's hand roughly but other than that he did well.
     Slowly they got off the plane and made their way over to the exit where Ten knew his family would be waiting. He heard them before he saw them. His mom was already screaming and shouting his name.
     "TENTENTEN! Over here!" His mom's voice carried over the airport.
     Finally when he spotted them he could see his mom and sister holding a sign and his dad was carrying some balloons. Surely that was his mom's idea.
     Ten pulled Taeyong over to his family by their linked hands. Only letting go so he could wrap his arms firmly around his mom. When they finally let go he looked back to see Taeyong standing there dazed and confused, but a soft smile on his face after seeing Ten's reunion with his family.
     "My dear you are too thin. I will have to change that. I have missed you too much!" His mom grabbed his face and turned it this way and that.
     "I'm fine Mom. I want to introduce you to Taeyong." He reached out to grasp Taeyong's hand. "Mom, Dad, this is Taeyong. My Boyfriend." Ten could feel the pride within him swell as he said the last two words. It still gave him butterflies to say them. Taeyong was his boyfriend. Finally he switched to Korean so Taeyong would understand. "Taeyong, this is my mom and dad."
     He watched as Taeyong took a big gulp and pressed his hands together before giving a short bow, as it was custom in Thailand. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."
    Ten watched as his mom picked Taeyong up from his bow and wrapped him in a tight hug. "You are also too thin! I must feed you both! But it is so good to finally meet you." Ten's mom's smile was spread wide across her face and getting bigger by the second.
     Soon each member of his family was hugging Taeyong and wishing him well. It was a good moment before they finally headed towards the car. As they walked Ten talked with his sister. She told him how when her boyfriend found out Ten was bringing his boyfriend he had acted outrageously and Term had broken up with him on the spot.
     At this Ten's mom looked back and gave him a look that said "See I told you her boyfriend was a prick."
     Ten laughed. It was so good to be back with his family. He tried to translate for Taeyong as much as he could but everyone kept interrupting him and asking him questions. Which only gave him more to translate.
     Once in the car they wasted no time and headed off to the nearest street market to eat. The whole time Ten kept his head rested on Taeyong's shoulder as he talked with his family.
     Ten made sure to keep telling Taeyong but it was almost as if his mind was elsewhere. He kept staring out the car window and replied shortly to all of Ten's translations. But maybe it was because of the plane ride. Maybe he was still feeling the effects of the medicine.
     But even as they got food and talked at a table on the crowded street. Still Taeyong seemed distant and distracted. Ten's parents must have noticed it too because it wasn't long before they were making excuses to drag Term off for more fries.
     "Taeyong?" Ten looked over at him. A sudden nervousness swept him as his eyes stared at Taeyong's distracted face. "Taeyong." He spoke again and this time he finally got Taeyong's attention. "Are you okay? Do you want to go for a walk?"
     "Uh, sure."
     This time Ten was sure that something was wrong. He couldn't stalk it up to circumstances any longer. Slowly they made their way through the crowd and finally into an open courtyard. Some old folks were having what looked like line dancing class in the center but the outer edges were empty.
     Suddenly Ten was too nervous to ask Taeyong what was wrong. What if meeting his family had been too much? What if Taeyong was starting to regret coming or worse what if he was regretting being with Ten?
     A course of emotions poured through Ten's mind in a second. All sorts of crazy thoughts of all his insecurities and stresses. He decided he would wait for Taeyong to speak first.
     As Ten stood watching the old people dance he felt Taeyong's arms wrap around him from behind and the weight as Taeyong rested his head on Ten's shoulder.
     Taeyong turned his head in toward Ten's neck and started to nuzzle the skin behind his ear. Ten could feel his head tip back as Taeyong's cuddles turned into kisses. Taeyong's hands grasped around him tightly, clutching Ten to him.
     "Ten," He heard Taeyong's rough whisper close to his ear. Ten turned himself in Taeyong's arms to face him.
     "Taeyong," He felt a soft smile play at the edges of his lips.
     "Ten, marry me."
     Suddenly all the happy feelings came cascading down around Ten. His first instinct was to get some space to think. Ten took a step back out of the circle of Taeyong's arms.
     "I- I- I need to think." Without another look at Taeyong he turned to start out of the pavilion. But before he made it very far he felt a soft tug on his wrist.
     Staring back at him, arm extended to hold Ten's wrist, was Taeyong.
     "Taeyong I'm sorry I-" Ten tried to explain. He still felt his body aching to get away.
    "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that. I didn't know it would upset you. But will you please let me explain? Please?" Taeyong reached out his other hand to clutch at Ten's fingers.
     Ten sighed. "Of course, but I-" Ten tried to tell Taeyong again but again Taeyong interrupted him.
     "Just hear me out." Taeyong pleaded. "I had a dream on the plane. And in this dream, I dreamt we got married, and we had three kids. Two girls and a boy." Taeyong spoke with a forcefulness. "The oldest was named Hyebin, she was a force to be reckoned with. Always bossing around her younger siblings and we could never get her to do anything if she didn't want to. Then there was dear Dahyun." Taeyong gave a small chuckle to himself. "She was the exact opposite of her sister. Quiet and obedient, and an artist. She created the most beautiful things."
     "And lastly the ever bullied and dressed up Jinwan. He was our little prince. You had photoshoots with them almost every other day of course and we ran a dance studio so they were all enrolled there. But we made sure they learned the classics as well." There was a soft glistening in his eyes as they stared at one another.
     He described everything in such detail that Ten couldn't do much more than just sit there with his mouth nearly to the floor. His hand trembled as he brought it up to his mouth. It wasn't that Ten didn't want it, but for so long he hadn't even let himself dream of it because the possibility was impossible.
     Taeyong spoke again. "I wanted it to be real. I want that life with you, I want to marry you and own a dance studio where we teach and have three beautiful children we can spoil day and night."
     "Taeyong, I- I'm not sure that we will be able to." He couldn't help but think realistically. The likelihood of them ever being able to get married or adopt kids was slim to none. Even if they left Korea.
     Looking down to stare at his hands, still grasping Ten's hand softly, Taeyong blinked and a single tear fell down his cheek.
     "No, no, no. Please don't cry. I want all of that too. I want that life for us. I really do, but in real life it's not likely." Ten took his free hand and whipped away the tear off Taeyong's cheek.
     "We can make it happen. If you really want it then we can find a way to make it happen." Taeyong's voice shook as he continued to stare at his hands.
     Ten brushed his hand along Taeyong's cheek. Pushing slightly to make Taeyong look at him. "I really want it."
     They stared at one another in silence. Slowly Taeyong leaned in and his eyes closed. Their lips met together in a slow but building kiss. Quickly their hands started to wander over each other as well.
     Taeyong broke off the kiss and looked around them. He laughed softly to himself. Ten looked around him too. They had completely forgotten where they were on the edge of the courtyard surrounded by people walking.
     Ten knew it was his turn to speak. "I don't need to marry you to open up a studio together and raise children. I don't need to marry you to know that I would follow you to the ends of the earth and further. I don't need some silly paper to tell me that I love you. Because that's all it is. It's a silly paper and I love you more than I will ever love anything with or without it. So if you want to get married. Sure let's get married. But just because we aren't married doesn't mean I will love you any less."
     They smiled at each other as they wrapped their arms around each other tightly.
     Softly Taeyong whispered in Ten's ear, "I don't need anything more than that."

     And they lived Happily Ever After

Authors notes/Q&A
please expect spelling errors and little to no grammar bc I'm tired 😬

Q: How did you come up with the story line and the OCs?
A: umm. Honestly I was just finishing another fanfic one day and I was thinking about what I wanted to start next and this plot sort of came to me of like accidentally falling in love. From that I started to gather details and things I know needed to happen like how taeyong was going to be put in a position to be "gay" and yeah. From there everything started falling into place. For OC's there was a bit more research bc unlike taeyong and ten who's characters I had a good grasp on. Characters like Eunjin and Jissu took a lot longer for me to get grasps of what they would do or how they would do it. Same with taehee(I know she's technically not origional but we literally know nothing about her I even had to give her a name)

Q: Am I allowed to skin Eunjin alive and put her in a bath of alcohol now?no really this is a serious question
A: yeah sure but you'd have to get into prison somehow. Also idk if Korea believes in vigilante killings or not. Maybe it's best to leave her to the authorities and hope Korea does believe in the death penalty😂

Q: I know I sorta mentioned this to you before, but does Eunjin have a backstory? Something in her past to cause her to become so obsessive and desperate for acceptance/attention.
A:  like all flawed antagonists Eunjin should have a fated and horrible past but alas the character of Eunjin does not have any external reason for doing what she did. Some people are just crazy no matter what their upbringing and Eunjin was just a girl who liked an idol too much. I'm sorry if that was unsatisfactory but it's the truth.

Q: Was it a challenge for you to write about gay characters?
A: yes and no. being a straight female, yes it was challenging. Honestly if I didn't hold so much loyalty to character thoughts (as said above, thinking more how my character would react and less how I want them to react) I would have failed epically at this. But at the same time. Love is love no matter who it's between. mxf fxf mxm. Love is expressed and taken the same basic ways and once I really got a handle on taeyong and ten's personas it was easy to write romantic scenes for them.

Q: Does Ten like TY or fries?
A:ten likes fries but he loves Taeyong ♥️ 🍟

Q: i wanna kno more about jissu
A:not a question but I'll still answer. Unlike Eunjin, Jissu does have a fated and tragic backstory. Which I got a little into in BDS but it's too long to get into here. Basically Jissu is your classic f*cked up teenager trying to make it in a harsh world and she's doing everything she can to survive. She doesn't really care for others and is only loyal when she feels she owes someone something(debt of gratitude).

any more questions can be asked and answered in the comments below!😊♥️