“i'm not a waitress but i'll take your tip” park jay | mini smau | part iv
where your childhood best friend/crush/only man you ever loved comes back into your life requested by anon
masterlist part i part ii part iii (part iv)
ex bestfriend/single dad! jay x fem! reader. fluff & crack. ex childhood friends! au. profanities. jay is a simp. sunghoon is jealous but also into jay(?). mentions of s**ha, d3ath, lions, wine. implications of (jonah) throwing up pics are not mine.
hello!!! just a quick notice, i won’t be able to update husband diaries (or post any new content) for the next week as i have my finals (PRAY FOR ME EVERYONE)!!! i will see y’all soon though with more content and more babies 😋 until then, stay cutie <3
it was early evening when yn returned home, the faint orange light of the setting sun stretching across the living room floor. her keys clattered onto the console table by the door, sharper than usual, a small hint of the storm simmering beneath her skin.
jay looked up from where he sat on the rug with aiden’s toys scattered around him. their baby boy was fast asleep beside him on the soft play mat, his little tummy rising and falling beneath his dinosaur-print onesie. the peaceful sight should’ve instantly calmed her — but instead, it only made her throat tighten more.
“hey,” jay greeted softly, his voice warm as always. “you’re back early. how was—”
he didn’t even get to finish before she walked right past him, jaw clenched and eyes glassy. her heels clicked against the tiles as she made a beeline for the kitchen. jay frowned, his easy smile fading as he turned toward her, concern etching across his face.
from the kitchen, he heard the fridge door open, then the sound of glass bottles clinking. a moment later, a loud gulp. when she reappeared, she was clutching a cold bottle of water, her other hand shaking slightly as she ran it through her hair, clearly overwhelmed.
“hey, honey,” jay tried again gently, standing now. “what happened?”
she blinked at him once and that was all it took for the tears to finally spill over. “jay, it was awful.”
he immediately closed the distance between them, his brows knitting together. “what do you mean?”
her voice cracked, anger laced through every word. “that baby—that sweet little boy — it was his first birthday, jay. his first. and his parents—” she stopped, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead as she tried to gather herself, “they didn’t even care.”
jay’s confusion deepened, but he stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
“they threw this huge party,” she said, pacing now, unable to stand still. “music, drinks, people laughing — it was more like a college reunion than a kid’s birthday. and you know what the baby was doing?” she looked up at him, her eyes red, voice sharp with disbelief. “sitting in a corner. alone. while his parents were off drinking and talking to their friends.”
jay’s mouth parted, but she didn’t give him the chance to reply yet. she was on a roll now, her emotions spilling like an overfilled glass.
“they didn’t even get him a proper cake! just a single cupcake—a cupcake, jay! and no candle, no singing, nothing. just one of the friends saying, ‘oh we’ll do the big party next year.’” her voice broke on the last word, her anger collapsing under the weight of sadness.
she rubbed at her eyes with the heel of her hand, trying to stop the tears that refused to slow down. “he’s one. he doesn’t understand birthdays, but he understands love. and you could see it—how used to it he was. he smiled at everyone, tried to play, but nobody even looked at him. and when i sat down and played with him, he just—” her lip trembled, “—he just started giggling so much. like it was the best part of his day. and i couldn’t stop thinking, what if nobody ever plays with him? what if that’s all he gets?”
he stepped forward slowly until he was right in front of her. “yn,” he said quietly, his hand brushing her arm before pulling her gently toward him. “hey, look at me.”
she did, reluctantly, her tears still clinging to her lashes.
“you did what you could, okay?” he murmured, his thumb tracing comforting circles against her shoulder. “you gave that baby more love in those few hours than some people do in a week. you made his day special.”
“but, jay…” she whispered, shaking her head, voice trembling again. “how could they do that? he’s just a baby. babies deserve the world. they deserve to feel wanted.”
jay’s hand moved up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “i know. and i hate that some kids don’t get that. but you can’t save them all, baby. you’ve got such a big heart — it’s why i love you so much — but you can’t carry every hurt you see.”
yn sniffled, her eyes softening even as her anger lingered. “i just—i couldn’t stop thinking about aiden. about how he’s so happy and loved every single day. he’s safe. he’ll never feel like that baby did today.”
jay smiled faintly, cupping her cheek. “he won’t. you know why?”
she shook her head slightly.
“because he’s got you,” he said simply. “he’s got his mama — the kind of mama who cries for other people’s kids. who spends an entire party on the floor just to make a baby laugh. that’s the kind of love aiden’s growing up with. that’s his whole world, yn.”
her lips trembled again, but this time it wasn’t from anger. she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest as a soft sob escaped her. he held her tight, his chin resting on top of her head, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounding her.
a tiny whimper, followed by the soft rustle of movement.
they both turned toward the mat in the living room, where aiden had stirred awake. he blinked sleepily, a confused pout forming on his lips as his eyes adjusted to the dim light.
yn immediately wiped her tears and went to him, crouching beside the mat. “hey, my baby,” she whispered, her voice soft again. “mama’s here.”
aiden’s pout broke into a tired smile when he recognised her, and he lifted his arms, making his signature little grabby hands. yn scooped him up without hesitation, pressing a kiss to his warm forehead as he snuggled into her shoulder, half-asleep.
jay watched them from behind, his chest full — the ache of love and awe all tangled up inside him. he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around both of them, resting his chin on her other shoulder.
yn whispered, almost to herself, “he’ll always know he’s loved, jay. always.”
jay pressed a kiss to her temple and murmured, “he already does, my love.”
yn and jay sat in bed now, legs tangled under the sheets, both leaning against the headboard. jay had one arm draped lazily around her shoulders while she rested against his side, phone in hand.
“look,” she said suddenly, her voice quiet but carrying that familiar spark of excitement. “these are the pictures i took with the baby.”
jay leaned in immediately, chin brushing her shoulder, eyes soft as the first picture came up. it was a shot of yn crouched on the floor, smiling wide, holding a chubby-cheeked baby who was halfway through a giggle—eyes scrunched up, one tiny hand gripping her necklace.
“oh my god,” jay murmured, a grin spreading across his face. “he’s adorable.”
“right?!” yn lit up, swiping to the next one — this time, the baby was reaching for the phone, his mouth open in a little ‘o’ of curiosity while she tried to hold back her laugh. “he’s such a sweet little guy. he just… wanted attention, you know? just wanted someone to play with him.”
jay smiled faintly, eyes on her instead of the phone now. “you made his whole day, baby.”
she huffed softly, rolling her eyes but the smile didn’t leave her lips. “don’t say that, i didn’t do anything special. i just… sat with him.”
“that’s exactly it,” jay said, brushing his thumb across her arm. “you gave him what he needed. that’s special.”
she looked up at him for a moment, eyes soft, and then sighed as she swiped again. “okay, now look at this one.”
jay chuckled instantly—it was a blurry selfie of yn laughing while the baby had his hand in her hair, tugging gleefully. “he’s already got taste,” jay teased, smirking. “going for your hair like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.”
she playfully nudged him with her elbow, “shut up.” but her smile faltered when she got to the next clip—a short video she’d taken earlier that afternoon.
in it, she sat cross-legged on the floor while the baby crawled toward her, babbling happily. yn’s voice could be heard faintly in the background, saying something like ‘you’re the cutest little thing ever, huh?’ before she added under her breath, ‘your parents are assholes though.’
jay couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped him, but it was short-lived when he noticed how quiet she’d gone beside him. her jaw tightened slightly, her thumb hovering over the pause button as her eyes stayed on the screen.
“baby,” jay murmured, his voice soft. “you okay?”
she nodded automatically, but her eyes were glassy again. “it just… it’s not fair, jay,” she said after a beat, her voice cracking a little. “he was such a happy baby—and they didn’t even notice. they were so wrapped up in themselves, they didn’t even see him look for them.”
jay’s chest ached at the tremor in her voice. he reached over and gently took her phone from her hand, setting it on the nightstand. “hey,” he whispered, turning back to her, “look at me.”
her eyes flicked up, angry and glossy all at once.
“you did what they didn’t, yn. you made him feel loved, even if it was just for a few hours.”
she shook her head, frustrated tears slipping out despite herself. “but what about tomorrow? and the day after that? what if he grows up thinking that’s normal? that nobody shows up for him?”
jay tightened his arm around her, pulling her into his chest. “i know, baby. i know. but you can’t fix the whole world. you did what you could — and that’s more than most people ever do.”
yn pressed her face against his shirt, her voice muffled and shaking slightly. “i want to text them, jay. i swear to god, i want to text them and tell them what shitty parents they are. like, do they even deserve him?”
jay exhaled softly, the ghost of a smile on his lips even as he stroked her back. “you’d scare the life out of them, baby.”
“good!” she shot back immediately, lifting her head to glare at him even as tears streaked down her cheeks. “maybe they need to be scared. maybe they need to know what they’re doing is wrong. that baby deserves better.”
he couldn’t help but chuckle, brushing his thumb under her eyes. “you’ve got fire in you tonight, huh?”
she sniffled, wiping at her nose. “don’t ‘fire’ me right now, i’m genuinely mad.”
“i know,” jay said softly, kissing her temple. “and i love that about you. i love that your heart works this way. but texting them won’t help. you’ll just get angrier.”
she huffed again, crossing her arms but leaning into him anyway. “still doesn’t feel right.”
jay hummed in agreement, his fingers tracing lazy circles along her arm. “then we’ll make it right in our way. tomorrow, we’ll take aiden somewhere nice. the park, or maybe that play café he loves. we’ll make sure he always knows what love looks like, okay?”
yn looked up at him again, her anger slowly dissolving into a soft ache. “he already does,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “because of you.”
jay smiled, shaking his head. “nah, baby. because of you. you’re the heart of this family. me and aiden? we just orbit around you.”
her lips parted, and a soft, emotional laugh escaped her. “you’re so dramatic.”
“only for you,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her forehead — then her cheek, and finally her lips, slow and tender.
by the time they pulled away, her anger had melted completely. the two of them sat there for a long while, wrapped in quiet and each other, as the rain pattered softly against the glass.
and when yn finally rested her head on his chest again, jay whispered against her hair, “that baby’s lucky you were there, yn. you made sure he didn’t go his first birthday without love.”
her voice was tired but sure. “and i’ll never let ours go a single day without it.”
jay smiled into her hair, his arms tightening around her. “you never could, baby.”
masterlist / prev / next
nessie 🗯️ i’m really sorry that the chapters recently have been just crying and getting hurt but .. it is what it is :D
the morning sunlight spilled soft and golden into their bedroom, dust motes drifting lazily in the air as the day slowly began. jay had already made the decision the night before—he wasn’t going in today, work could wait. today he wanted to stay home, just him and their little boy, to soak up every moment he could while yn tackled her important meeting.
yn, on the other hand, had been up earlier than usual, moving about the room with the kind of focused energy that came only when she had something big to prepare for. her outfit was carefully chosen, pressed and neat, her hair styled just the way she liked for professional settings.
still, no amount of composure could hide the soft tenderness in her eyes when she kept glancing back toward the bed—where jay sat with their son perched happily on his lap, chubby legs kicking, tiny fists tugging at his dada’s shirt.
“are you sure you’ll be okay?” she asked for maybe the third time, fidgeting with her earrings as she peered at the two of them. “you have work too, jay.”
jay only chuckled, one hand rubbing small circles over their baby boy’s back while the other supported him easily against his chest. “we’ll be perfect, love. i told you—today, i’m all his. no work, no calls. just me and my baby boy.” he tipped his head down to nuzzle aiden’s cheek, making the little one giggle, drool shining at the corner of his mouth. “isn’t that right, my love?”
aiden squealed in reply, flailing his arms as if agreeing wholeheartedly.
yn’s lips curved, though she tried to suppress the smile, feigning exasperation as she slipped on her heels. “you two are going to get into trouble without me, i can feel it.”
jay’s grin turned boyish. “the good kind of trouble.” he looked at their son, holding his tiny hand up. “tell mama not to worry, baby. dada’s got this.”
the baby cooed, babbling nonsense, and jay nodded solemnly as if he’d just translated it perfectly. “see? he says, ‘mama, i’ll take care of dada, don’t worry.’”
that made yn laugh, shaking her head. “uh huh, i’m sure that’s exactly what he said.”
still, when she crossed the room to them, her composure melted completely. she leaned down, cupping their son’s soft cheeks in her hands, pressing kiss after kiss to his face. “mama’s baby,” she whispered against his skin, and he squealed again, his whole face lighting up at her voice. “i’ll miss you so much today.”
jay’s arms tightened protectively around their boy as he teased, “and what about me?”
her gaze flicked to him, and she bent lower, kissing jay quickly, softly. “i’ll miss you too.”
“mm, good answer,” he murmured, stealing one more kiss before she pulled away.
then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, jay held aiden closer to yn’s face. “c’mon, baby boy, give mama her good luck kiss.” he gently guided aiden forward and their son planted a slobbery kiss—more of a soft gummy bite rather—on yn’s cheek, followed by a happy squeal as if he’d accomplished something very grand.
yn’s laughter bubbled out, pure and warm. she pressed her forehead against her baby’s for a moment, eyes fluttering shut. “that’s it, that’s all i needed.”
“go knock them dead, mama,” he said softly, his voice steady but his eyes warm, shining with pride. “we’ll be right here waiting for you.”
she gave them both one last kiss each—lingering on aiden’s chubby cheek, then on jay’s lips—and finally, reluctantly, she turned to grab her bag. her heels clicked across the floor as she headed to the door, pausing once more to glance back at the sight of them.
her chest tightened, her eyes stung, but she smiled through it. “i love you, my boys.”
“love you, mama,” jay called back, pressing a kiss to their son’s temple before lifting his tiny hand in a wave. “say bye-bye, baby boy.”
aiden let out a shriek of delight—half a laugh, half a squeal—as if to say goodbye in his own way.
yn’s heart ached at leaving, but she walked out the door feeling held, cherished, and loved beyond words.
breakfast was a mix of chaos and sweetness—jay tried spoon-feeding mashed banana, most of which ended up smeared across aiden’s cheeks chin, and somehow in his hair. jay laughed until his stomach hurt, wiping him down with a warm cloth, muttering affectionately, “baby, you’re supposed to eat it, not wear it.”
after breakfast, jay got the grand idea of dressing his little one up as his “mini-me.” he pulled out one of aiden’s tiny button-up shirts, a soft yellow one yn had picked out and paired it with miniature khakis. but jay wasn’t done.
with a grin, he slipped one of his old leather watches around the baby’s chubby wrist, the strap wrapped all the way to fit. it was way too big, but aiden didn’t care—he stared at it like it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen, waving his arm up and down proudly.
“look at you,” jay cooed, holding him up against the mirror, his heart melting at the sight. “my little man. my love, you’re dada’s twin today.”
aiden babbled back, slapping the mirror with his tiny palm, as if agreeing. jay pulled out his phone and snapped a dozen pictures, already knowing yn would squeal the second she saw them.
by midday, after lunch together, jay decided the weather was too beautiful to waste indoors. he bundled aiden into his bright yellow jumper, brushed his soft hair until it curled neatly, and packed a small bag with baby essentials before heading to the park.
the grass was still damp from last night’s drizzle, so jay spread out a thick picnic mat. but knowing his adventurous little one, he didn’t stop there. he placed bags and rolled towels along the edges of the mat like a protective wall. “no escapes today, baby boy,” he muttered with mock sternness, though his grin gave him away.
aiden, of course, immediately tested his limits, crawling full force toward one corner only to bump into a soft barricade. he squealed in protest before dissolving into giggles, collapsing on his belly with his chubby legs kicking behind him. his little palms left faint prints of drool on the mat as he crawled in circles, exploring every inch like he’d discovered a new world.
jay sat cross-legged nearby, elbows on his knees, just watching. his chest warmed at the sight of his son in the soft afternoon light—yellow jumper bright against the green, cheeks flushed pink from the cool breeze, hair sticking up adorably where jay had tried to smooth it down.
every laugh, every dimpled grin, every restless twist of his body—it was all yn. jay felt it down to his bones. she always teased that aiden was his twin, pointing out his dark lashes, his nose, his expressions.
but jay only saw her.
the way aiden’s laughter came suddenly, bubbling over without reason—that was yn’s joy. the boxy grin that appeared when he smiled—that was yn’s smile. the rosy cheeks, the impatience to sit still, the way he filled the air with life and noise just by existing—that was all her.
jay’s throat tightened as he whispered, almost to himself, “you’re so much like mama, my love. so much like her. and dada’s lucky, because i get two of you.”
aiden looked up mid-crawl, babbled something that sounded like “da-da” and drooled onto his sleeve. jay laughed, reaching over to scoop him into his arms, pressing a kiss to his temple.
the baby nestled into his chest for a moment, thumb going instinctively to his mouth. jay gently pulled it away, replacing it with a kiss on his little hand. “not today, baby boy,” he murmured softly. “let’s try without, hmm?”
aiden only blinked up at him with big, trusting eyes before wriggling to be put back down, eager to resume his adventure. jay let him, watching him crawl and babble against the backdrop of the park, a bittersweet pride swelling in his chest.
jay hadn’t meant to get so lost in the words. the book had been sitting on his nightstand for weeks, begging to be cracked open, and now, with his son happily babbling to himself on the mat, it felt like the perfect chance. he sat cross-legged, book in one hand, the other stretched loosely behind him, palm always brushing against aiden’s chubby leg or the edge of his jumper every few seconds just to reassure himself.
the minutes slipped by, the hum of the park and the smell of damp grass lulling him deeper into the story. he only looked up when his phone buzzed, yn’s name flashing across the screen. immediately, his face softened into that husband smile he reserved only for her and he picked up without a second thought.
“hi, baby,” he said, voice warm, already leaning back with a grin spreading across his lips.
he didn’t even get to say more before yn’s voice poured through, light and breathless and happy. “jay! it went so well—you have no idea! they loved the pitch, and—oh my god—they agreed to sign. another shareholder. can you believe it? another one!”
jay’s chest swelled with pride at the excitement in her tone. to anyone else, he might’ve played the part of boss—serious, collected, businesslike. but right now, he was just her husband, her biggest cheerleader. “of course they did,” he said softly, eyes crinkling at the corners. “i told you, didn’t i? i knew you’d kill it, baby. always do.”
her laugh was airy, and he could picture her smile—the way she probably had her hand pressed over her mouth, cheeks glowing. it was his favorite sound in the world. they slipped easily into chatter, teasing, talking about how she’d celebrated with her team, how nervous she’d been right before, how proud he was of her. jay’s world shrank to just her voice, the cadence of her words washing over him.
so when she asked casually, “where are you two, by the way? you texted you were heading out,” he didn’t even hesitate. he hummed distractedly, ready to answer with some sweet, random detail about how their son had been crawling in circles or babbling at a bird.
except—
his hand brushed an empty mat.
his gaze flicked down and there was no yellow jumper.
jay froze. his stomach bottomed out, the air in his chest suddenly gone. his eyes darted frantically over the mat, the barricades of towels and bags. nothing. the book fell forgotten to the grass as his head whipped left, then right, his pulse slamming in his ears.
“jay?” yn’s voice came through the phone, sharp now, the happy edge gone. “what is it?”
he swallowed hard, trying to keep the terror out of his tone. he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let her hear panic. not when she was still glowing from her big win, not when the baby boy she loved more than life might be—
“i’ll call you back,” he muttered quickly, his voice tight, cutting the line before she could ask anything else. her worried jay—? was the last thing he heard before the screen went black.
and then he saw him.
aiden, his little body low to the ground, crawling with shocking speed across the grass. the barricade had shifted when jay wasn’t looking and the baby had slipped through, drawn toward the bustling sound of wheels and chatter. he was mere feet from the paved bicycle lane, where a stream of cyclists glided past in quick, steady lines.
for one horrifying heartbeat, jay saw it—saw how close his baby boy was to crawling straight into danger, seconds away from a disaster he couldn’t even bear to imagine.
his whole body reacted before his mind caught up. he lunged forward, knees and palms hitting the grass hard as he scrambled across the ground. “AIDEN!” the shout tore from his throat, louder than he meant, his heart clawing its way into his mouth.
aiden startled, twisting his head back, big eyes wide as if he couldn’t understand why dada’s voice suddenly sounded so sharp. his little hands paused on the grass—but his knees were still inching forward, dangerously close to the lane.
jay’s vision tunneled. he reached out, arm outstretched with every ounce of strength and scooped his son into his chest just as the front wheel of a bicycle whizzed past where aiden’s tiny hand had been. the rush of air burned his skin, and the blood roared in his ears.
clutching aiden to him, jay stumbled back onto the mat, collapsing onto his knees, chest heaving like he’d run miles. his son let out a startled wail at the sudden movement, fists clutching jay’s shirt, but jay barely noticed. he pressed frantic kisses to the baby’s head, his cheek, his hair, muttering over and over, “jesus christ, aiden. okay… okay, dada’s got you. you’re safe, baby. you’re safe. i’ve got you, i’ve got you.”
aiden’s cries were muffled against his father’s chest, more from being startled than hurt, his tiny fists gripping tighter like he was trying to melt into him. jay’s hands shook as he held him, rocking back and forth on the damp grass, his heart still racing with what almost happened.
yn didn’t even bother adjusting the mirrors like she usually did; her mind was already ten steps ahead, chasing after jay’s location pinned on her phone screen. they had shared locations with each other since before aiden was born—half for convenience, half for peace of mind—and right now, it was the only thing keeping her sane.
her thumb kept hitting jay’s name, her other hand clutching the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. the phone sat in the holder, glowing with “mr. husband—mobile—calling…” and then straight to voicemail. again. and again. every time it rang out, her chest pulled tighter, like a rope being wound around her lungs.
“pick up, jay, please…” she whispered under her breath, voice cracking with the edge of panic. “please, baby, just pick up.”
she forced herself to inhale, deep and shaky, pressing her lips together. jay was the most careful man she knew, meticulous about aiden’s safety, almost paranoid sometimes. she clung to that thought like a lifeline. he wouldn’t let anything happen.
across town in the park, jay sat cross-legged on the picnic mat, his entire body trembling as he clutched aiden close to his chest. the little boy was fussing, sniffling hiccupy breaths into jay’s shirt, tiny fists grasping at the collar as though anchoring himself. jay rocked gently back and forth, one big hand cupping the back of aiden’s soft head, the other patting his back in slow, shaky rhythms.
“it’s okay, aiden. you’re okay… dada’s got you,” he murmured, though his own voice betrayed him, raw and cracked at the edges. he pressed his lips to the crown of his baby’s head, breathing him in like he was oxygen. the faint baby scent of lotion and drool mixed with grass grounded him for a fleeting moment.
his phone buzzed on the mat beside him again, screen flashing brightly with her name: “yn loml 💛”. he could still picture her face when she first set that contact photo—cake frosting smeared across her nose from their anniversary last year, smiling at him with mock annoyance while he snapped the picture. now, that same image taunted him as it lit up, her call unanswered for what felt like the hundredth time.
jay wanted to answer. god, he wanted to hear her voice, to reassure her, to reassure himself. but his hands shook too badly, and he couldn’t bring himself to let go of aiden even for a second. not after the scare. he could still feel the echo of his heart plummeting when aiden toppled just a little too fast on the slick mat earlier, his tiny body slipping out of reach before jay scooped him up. nothing had happened—just a startled cry, a harmless bump—but to jay, it was enough to split his chest open with guilt.
“dada’s sorry, baby. so sorry. mama’s gonna kill me, huh?” he whispered, kissing aiden’s temple again and again. the baby’s soft sniffles had already turned back into giggles, drool dampening jay’s shirt, as if to prove how resilient he was.
yn’s car hadn’t even fully stopped before she was throwing the door open, her legs carrying her across the grass at a pace that barely counted as walking. her chest was still tight, breaths coming shallow and her brows were furrowed so deeply it almost hurt. she spotted them instantly—the familiar broad shoulders of her husband hunched forward, tension radiating off him even from a distance, and in his lap their baby, rosy-cheeked and… giggling.
for a split second, relief washed over her, loosening the tight grip panic had on her ribs. aiden was okay. her baby was in one piece, safe in his dada’s arms. but then, as she drew closer, she noticed the little details—the puffiness around his tiny eyes, the way his cheeks were damp, red and blotchy from tears that had only recently dried. he had been crying.
her stomach dropped.
“jay,” she breathed out, the sound more like a plea than a word.
jay’s head shot up at her voice, eyes wide, glassy, guilty. he looked like someone who’d been holding his breath for hours, shoulders sagging as if her presence alone was the permission he needed to let it all out. his lips parted like he wanted to say something, but nothing came at first. he just stared at her, holding aiden a little tighter, like maybe he still didn’t trust himself to let go.
but yn was already there, kneeling down on the grass in front of them, hands outstretched. “give him to me,” she said softly, her voice shaking though she tried to make it steady. jay hesitated for only a second before carefully shifting the baby into her arms.
the moment aiden saw her, his little face lit up in a gummy grin, dimples carving into his cheeks as he reached for her. a wet gurgle bubbled from his throat, followed by a squeal of excitement as his tiny hand smacked her chin.
“oh, baby,” she whispered, hugging him close, her hand cradling the back of his head as if he might vanish if she didn’t. she pressed kiss after kiss onto his warm, damp cheeks, murmuring, “mama’s here, mama’s got you,” while her heart tried to untangle itself from the knot of fear and relief.
jay was silent for a beat, watching her. his hands were still trembling slightly, resting uselessly on his thighs now that he wasn’t holding aiden. he finally exhaled, the sound shaky and rubbed at his face with both palms before speaking.
“he—” jay started, then stopped, dragging his hands down his face with a groan. his eyes squeezed shut, his jaw tight. “he was crawling toward the cycle lane, yn. i… i was too into my book and when i looked back—he was already there. he was so close.” his voice cracked on the last word, the weight of it too heavy for his throat to carry smoothly.
yn’s head snapped up at him, her arms instinctively pulling aiden tighter against her chest as if she could shield him from the memory of what nearly happened. “the cycle lane?” she repeated, her tone sharp, disbelief dripping from each word. she glanced at the path just beyond the barricade of bags and towels jay had set up—it wasn’t far at all. one wrong crawl, one passing bike, and—
her stomach twisted violently at the thought.
“i grabbed him just in time,” jay continued, his voice hoarse, eyes glassy with tears he refused to let fall. “another second and he could’ve been—” he stopped himself, swallowing hard. “i can’t stop thinking about it. yn, i can’t—”
yn’s expression softened at the sight of him unraveling. he wasn’t careless; she knew him too well for that. he was careful to the point of obsession when it came to their baby and yet even then, accidents could happen. she could see the guilt tearing him apart, eating at him from the inside out.
she shifted aiden in her arms so she could reach out with one hand, gently taking jay’s trembling fingers in hers. “hey,” she said firmly, grounding him with her voice. “you stopped it. you got to him. look—he’s fine, jay. he’s right here, smiling like nothing happened.”
as if to prove her point, aiden let out a loud squeal and tugged on a strand of her hair, his little face bright with mischief. yn managed a laugh, leaning forward so jay could see their son’s grin up close.
but jay didn’t smile back. his gaze stayed fixed on aiden’s rosy cheeks, the puffiness around his eyes. he lifted a hand and brushed his thumb ever so lightly across the baby’s skin, as if he needed to feel the warmth to believe it. “he cried so hard, yn. i’ve never heard him cry like that. it scared me.”
yn’s throat tightened. she remembered the way aiden’s cries could pierce right through her, the helplessness that came with not knowing how to soothe him sometimes. to imagine jay sitting here, alone, heart racing while their baby screamed—it hurt almost as much as the thought of what could’ve happened.
“you’re not a bad dad,” she whispered, squeezing his hand. “you’re the best dada. accidents happen, jay. we can’t wrap him in bubble wrap forever, no matter how much we want to. you saved him. that’s what matters.”
jay’s eyes finally flicked to hers, swimming with unshed tears. he looked broken and relieved all at once, as if her words had given him permission to breathe again. he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to aiden’s head and then yn’s cheek.
“i'm not a waitress but i'll take your tip” park jay | mini smau | part iv
where your childhood best friend/crush/only man you ever loved comes back into your life requested by anon
masterlist part i part ii part iii (part iv)
ex bestfriend/single dad! jay x fem! reader. fluff & crack. ex childhood friends! au. profanities. jay is a simp. sunghoon is jealous but also into jay(?). mentions of s**ha, d3ath, lions, wine. implications of (jonah) throwing up pics are not mine.
byr. kinda suggestive at the start, aiden gets hurt and there’s a lot of crying :(
the afternoon had slowed into a cozy lull inside jay’s office. papers sat neatly stacked on one side of his massive desk, his laptop screen glowing with spreadsheets, but his focus had been slipping ever since yn slid onto his lap earlier. she’d settled in like it was her rightful spot, legs curled to the side, one arm draped lazily around his shoulders.
for a while, she busied herself with her phone, scrolling through group chat messages and laughing under her breath while jay worked with the same deadly precision he always did. but then, when she finally tucked her phone away and slipped her glasses on, something in jay short-circuited.
god, those glasses.
they always did something to him—made her look even more irresistible, half–intellectual goddess, half–mischievous tease. and now she was sitting in his lap, in his office of all places, her scent surrounding him, her soft weight pressed against him, her lips pursed in focus as she skimmed through documents he’d handed her. he groaned under his breath, eyes dragging down the slope of her neck, over the way her blouse shifted with every inhale.
he should’ve been working. he knew that. but instead, his hand began tracing idle circles against her thigh, sliding just slightly higher every few moments as if testing how much she’d let him get away with.
“jay…” she murmured without looking up, her tone warning but her lips curving faintly.
“what?” he asked innocently, his nose brushing against her jaw as he spoke, his lips ghosting along the sensitive skin there. “i’m working.”
“mmhm, sure,” she muttered, adjusting her glasses and leaning closer to the file in her hand. but her breath hitched when his mouth pressed fully against the curve of her neck, slow and deliberate. he smirked when her fingers faltered against the page.
“you feel better than these contracts are making me feel, baby,” he teased, his voice low, lips dragging down toward her collarbone.
yn bit down on her lip, pretending to focus on the file in her hand even though her pulse betrayed her, thumping loud enough that jay felt it against his mouth. “you’re impossible,” she whispered, cheeks heating.
“you’re irresistible.” he kissed lower, his hands now sliding over her waist as if he couldn’t help himself, tugging her closer against him. she shifted, almost gasping when she felt exactly what she was doing to him, and a flush spread across her chest.
she was just about to scold him—or maybe give in, she wasn’t sure which—when her phone buzzed sharply in her hand, jolting both of them. yn glanced down at the screen.
“ness’ calling.”
jay groaned, frustrated but leaning back as she accepted the video call. he kept his lips pressed against her neck anyway, stubborn, kissing softly while she angled the phone in front of them.
but the moment ness’ face appeared, everything stopped.
her eyes were wet, cheeks streaked with tears, and her voice shook. “yn, jay—”
and then, piercing through the phone speaker, came the sound that tore both of their worlds apart.
aiden’s cry. shrill, pained, unlike anything they’d ever heard from him before.
“w-what happened?” yn’s voice cracked, her glasses nearly sliding off as she straightened, panic flooding her expression. jay instantly stilled behind her, his arms tightening protectively around her waist as he leaned in, eyes dark with fear.
ness’ hands shook visibly on the screen as she tried to soothe aiden, who was screaming, his little face blotchy red, tears streaming down his cheeks. “he—he fell! he tried to pull himself up on the coffee table and he—he hit his head badly when he slipped!”
jay felt his blood run cold, his heart dropping to the floor. “how badly?” his voice was low, terrifyingly steady.
ness’ lips trembled, and she adjusted the phone just enough for them to see aiden’s tiny head pressed against her shoulder, his sobs hiccupping painfully. his cries were hoarse, desperate, nothing like the baby giggles they knew. “he—he won’t calm down, and there’s already a red swelling here,” she choked out, pointing with trembling fingers near his temple. “i—yn, i’m so sorry—”
“don’t apologise, just—” yn’s voice broke entirely. her hands shook as she reached toward the screen as if she could touch her son through it. her chest heaved, panic settling in like ice in her veins.
jay pressed his forehead to hers, grounding her, though his own fear was etched deeply across his face. “yn, we need to go. now.”
she nodded, gathering her things even as her hands shook terribly.
jay’s hand was already on her back, ushering her out of the office quickly. he had grabbed his blazer and her bag without a second thought, his jaw set, moving with sharp urgency even though his eyes never left her.
yn’s hands shook so hard she fumbled trying to grip her phone, the device slipping once before she caught it with a startled gasp.jay didn’t say anything—he just pressed his lips to her temple, steady and grounding, while leading her through the halls.
by the time they reached the parking lot, she was already crying. her breaths came out in shaky gasps, every nerve in her body screaming at her to move faster, get there, hold him. she wrenched the car keys from jay’s hand before he could even open the door and practically dove into the driver’s seat.
her hands trembled so much that she dropped the keys once, swore under her breath, picked them back up, and dropped them again. each time they hit the floor, her panic doubled, chest caving as she let out a sob of pure frustration.
“baby,” jay’s voice was low but firm, calm in the way that shook her even more because she couldn’t match it. “baby, stop. look at me.”
she couldn’t—not really. her vision was blurred, her cheeks wet, and her hands useless as she tried again and again to slot the key into the ignition. but jay reached across, gently covering her hands with his, forcing her frantic motions to still. his palm was warm, large enough to envelop her trembling fingers.
“baby, look at me.”
her head snapped toward him finally, eyes wide and frantic, tears spilling without pause. “jay, he—he fell, he’s—what if—” her voice cracked, the sentence breaking apart like glass shattering, because she couldn’t even voice the worst possibility. she couldn’t even breathe it.
jay leaned across the console, cupping her damp cheeks with both hands, steadying her face as if grounding her to reality. “our baby boy is gonna be okay,” he whispered, steady even though his own chest was heaving. his thumbs brushed her tears away, though they kept falling. “ness’ already on the way to the clinic. we’ll be right there, together. but you can’t drive like this, my love. not when your hands are shaking.”
“i have to—” she started, but her voice broke again, another sob strangling the words.
“no.” jay’s voice left no room for argument, but his tone was gentle, wrapping around her like a blanket. “i’ll drive. you need to breathe. you need to be with me so we can get to him in one piece, yeah?”
her grip slackened around the keys at last and jay eased them from her trembling hand, carefully unclipping her seatbelt. he moved quickly, not wasting a single second—sliding her out of the driver’s seat, guiding her around the car with an arm around her waist, his other hand squeezing hers tightly. she let him move her, pliant, because her body felt too weak to do anything else.
jay opened the passenger door, lowering her carefully into the seat as though she might break too, just like their son had. he leaned in, fastening her seatbelt himself with fingers that shook for only a split second before he stilled them.
“yn,” he murmured, pressing a firm kiss to her forehead, lingering there for a breath longer than usual. “let me take care of this. let me get us to him. you just stay with me, yeah? breathe for me.”
yn nodded shakily, tears still streaming, her hands fisting in the fabric of his blazer like she couldn’t let him go either.
jay shut her door gently, rounded the car, and slid into the driver’s seat, slotting the keys in with precision. his hands gripped the wheel hard, knuckles pale, but his voice stayed low, soothing, as he glanced over at her. “we’re going, baby. we’ll be with him soon.”
the waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and the muted buzz of hospital activity seeped through the closed double doors. the walls were painted that bland, soft beige meant to calm people down, but for yn it was anything but calming.
her knees bounced where she sat, fingers entwined and white-knuckled as she stared at the floor tiles. beside her, jay’s arm was draped across her shoulders, his thumb rubbing a slow, steady circle against her upper arm. he was calm for her, holding himself together so she didn’t fall apart, even though his own chest ached with the same fear.
through the glass door, they finally saw ness coming into view, her hair disheveled, her own shirt marked faintly with dried tears where aiden had pressed his face into her earlier. in her arms was their baby boy—small, chubby, dressed in his soft onesie, his little hands gripping ness’ collar. his face was blotchy from crying, his eyes puffy, his thumb shoved firmly into his mouth.
he wasn’t wailing anymore, just making those soft, uneven hiccup-sounds babies make after a long bout of tears. he was calmer, his tiny body exhausted from crying, but the second his teary gaze landed across the waiting room—across the space where his mama and dada sat waiting—it was like something broke inside him again.
his bottom lip quivered, eyes widening as though he couldn’t believe they were really there. then came the small, broken cry, a whine that stretched into a sob. his tiny fist pulled out of his mouth, reaching into the empty air toward them.
yn was on her feet before she even realised it, tears springing to her eyes so fast her vision blurred. ness barely had a chance to say anything before yn was there, arms already out, heart shattering at the way her baby boy sobbed the moment she came close.
“come here, my baby,” she whispered, voice trembling as she took him into her arms. the moment his small body nestled against her chest, he clung like he was afraid she’d vanish, tiny fingers fisting in the collar of her blouse, his face burying into her neck. his sobs muffled there, wet against her skin, his cries high-pitched and broken.
“mama’s here, baby,” she soothed, rocking gently, pressing frantic kisses into his soft hair. “mama’s here, my love. oh, you’re okay now. you’re okay, mama’s got you.” her hands rubbed his back, up and down, trying to soothe the tremors of his little body as he clutched tighter, refusing to let go.
jay had stood too, heart pounding against his ribs at the sight. his throat burned, but he kept his voice low and warm, leaning close to brush his hand over his son’s back. “hey, baby boy,” he murmured, the endearment falling off his lips like second nature. “dada’s here too, my love. you did so good, you’re so brave.”
aiden pulled his head from yn’s neck just enough to look at jay, face wet and red, his sobs stuttering. his little arm stretched toward him with desperation, fingers opening and closing in a silent plea. jay’s chest cracked wide open at the sight.
yn adjusted carefully, letting jay slide his arms under their son. the moment aiden was against his chest, he whimpered again, tiny hand clutching at jay’s shirt, pressing his cheek against his dada’s collarbone. jay swayed him instinctively, his big hand rubbing circles against his baby’s back.
“there you go, my love. dada’s got you now. you’re safe, baby boy.” he pressed his lips to aiden’s soft hair, lingering there, his eyes squeezing shut as if just kissing him would keep him safe forever.
aiden’s cries softened into small hiccups again, thumb finding its way back to his mouth while his other hand clutched tightly at jay’s shirt. his body was warm and heavy against jay’s chest, as though melting into the security of being held by the people he loved most.
yn stood close, her hand stroking their son’s tiny back while her eyes stayed fixed on him. she whispered soft reassurances, voice trembling with leftover fear. “you scared mama, baby… oh, my sweet boy. mama loves you so much.”
jay glanced at her over aiden’s little head, their eyes locking for a moment that spoke all the things they couldn’t say aloud here in the waiting room—that they’d nearly fallen apart, that the fear had nearly broken them, that they were so damn grateful their baby boy was in their arms again.
yn leaned into jay’s side, wrapping her arm around him and resting her face against aiden’s little hand where it clutched at jay.
byr. mentions of crying, possessiveness (not toxic). aiden (and yn) deals with separation for the first time. jake flirting with yn (jokingly), lots of texting in this heheh.
that morning felt heavier than most. the baby monitor had already betrayed his clinginess before either of them even walked into the nursery—soft, pitiful babbles echoing through the speaker until yn stepped inside to find her son not lying down, not even rolling around with his toys, but sitting upright in his crib. his tiny body leaned forward, pudgy hands gripping the wooden bars, his wide, dark eyes glued to the door as if he’d been waiting.
the moment he saw her, his whole face lit up, cheeks stretching with a gummy smile, dimples popping, his body bouncing up and down like he’d just spotted his favorite person in the world—which, to him, she was.
her chest ached at the sight. god, he’s too little to look at me like that, she thought, but she scooped him up anyway, burying her face in his warm neck as he squealed in delight. he clung like a little koala, fists clutching at her shirt, refusing to let go even when she tried to shift him onto her hip.
and the clinginess didn’t stop there. every time she set him down to change him or grab something, he immediately whined, arms stretching out desperately, lower lip wobbling like the betrayal of not being carried was unbearable. his small body wriggled with frustration if she delayed even a second, little fists rubbing at his eyes until tears threatened.
by the time jay came in, shirt sleeves rolled, hair damp from his shower, yn was already whispering half-exasperated, half-affectionate complaints against aiden’s head.
“he doesn’t want me to put him down,” she sighed, rocking him gently.
jay grinned despite the tug in his heart. walking over, he pressed a kiss to the baby’s soft curls. “what’s wrong, my love? hm? you giving mama a hard time already?” his voice melted into the gentle coo he always reserved for his son, low and affectionate.
aiden immediately wriggled in yn’s arms, reaching for his dad now. the moment jay took him, though, his fussing died into tiny hiccups, his thumb stuffing into his mouth for reassurance as he pressed his cheek against jay’s shoulder.
but leaving him behind, that was the true heartbreak.
by the time their shoes were on and bags slung over their shoulders, aiden was already in ness’ arms, his little face crumpled in worry. he whimpered, not fully crying yet, but his gaze followed them sharply, his head turning as if he couldn’t believe they were actually walking away without him.
and then, the second they stepped out the door, he broke.
loud, gasping sobs tore out of him, his little body trembling in ness’ hold as his fists reached desperately toward his parents’ retreating backs. his cries weren’t the usual hungry whines or tired fussing—these were sharp, raw heartbreak cries, as if he thought they were leaving him forever.
yn froze mid-step, her throat closing up as she turned. she instantly regretted it.
aiden’s tear-stained face was tilted toward her, his tiny arms reaching, fingers curling desperately in the air. his hiccuping sobs rattled his chest, his eyes begging her to come back and hold him, to soothe him like she always did.
her vision blurred with tears, her heart twisting painfully. “jay…” she whispered, her voice cracking.
jay, though steady on the outside, looked just as wrecked. he rubbed her back, grounding her, even as his own jaw clenched at the sight of his son shaking in someone else’s arms. he crouched slightly so yn could look at him instead of at the door.
“baby,” he murmured gently, cupping her cheek. “if we turn back every time he cries, he’s never going to learn that we’ll always come back. he’s okay with ness. he’s safe.” his voice faltered just slightly as aiden’s cry spiked again, his little chest shuddering against ness’ shoulder. “i know it hurts. god, it kills me too, baby. but we have to let him get used to this.”
yn pressed her lips together, her eyes swimming. “he looked so—so desperate, jay… like he thought i was never coming back.”
jay kissed her temple, whispering against her hair. “he knows you’re his safe place, baby. that’s why he reaches for you. but we’ll come home to him tonight and show him again. and tomorrow. and the day after that. he’ll learn, my love. he just needs time.”
behind them, aiden’s sobs had softened into broken hiccups, ness bouncing him gently, whispering soothing words. yn bit her lip hard to keep from rushing back, her hand gripping jay’s as if he were the only thing tethering her forward.
jay had been typing away on his laptop when he heard the faintest knock on his door. his brow furrowed—he wasn’t expecting anyone this early. “come in,” he called softly, already half-distracted, but when the door creaked open and yn peeked her head in, his whole focus shifted instantly.
her hair was a little frizzy from the morning rush, her blouse slightly wrinkled, and her eyes looked heavy in that way that screamed she’d been holding back tears since they left aiden. she gave him the smallest smile, the kind that was meant to reassure but never really reached her eyes.
“you busy?” she asked in a voice so soft he barely caught it.
jay shook his head immediately, shutting his laptop halfway. “never for you, baby. come here.”
she stepped in, shutting the door carefully, then twisting the lock behind her. that action alone made his chest tighten. she didn’t do that unless she really needed him. she hesitated for a second before finally letting the words tumble out, almost a whisper.
“can i… can i just get a hug?”
jay didn’t even respond with words. he spun his chair slightly and held out his arms, and the second she reached him, he tugged her down gently onto his lap, settling her sideways against his chest. she let out a shaky sigh as her arms looped around his neck, her face pressing into the side of his neck. he could feel her shoulders relax by degrees, as though just being in his arms let her unravel.
“i miss him too,” jay murmured, his lips brushing her temple as his hand smoothed circles into her back. “our baby boy will be okay, honey. ness’ with him, remember? he’s safe.”
yn only hummed, clutching onto his collar like she didn’t trust herself to let go. her silence was enough to tell him how much it hurt. he tilted his head and pressed featherlight kisses along her jaw, then down to the crook of her neck where he knew she was most sensitive—not to start anything, but to calm her, to ground her.
“you’re doing so well, baby,” he whispered against her skin. “he loves you more than anything. and when we get home, he’ll be all over you again. our little shadow.”
that earned him the tiniest laugh, muffled against his shirt. “he’s… definitely clingier than you,” she mumbled, her voice still damp with emotion.
“not possible,” jay teased softly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. “i’ve been obsessed with you since day one. he’s just proving he’s my son.”
her lips curved upward, a soft, tired smile that melted him. he cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away the faint wetness under her eyes. then, before either of them could think twice, he leaned in and kissed her—slow, lingering, and gentle. a kiss that wasn’t rushed or heated but meant to remind her: you’re not alone, i’ve got you.
just as he was about to deepen it, there came a sharp knock at the door. they both froze. yn immediately pulled back, startled, moving to stand. she brushed at her blouse and tucked her hair behind her ear like she could erase the intimacy of the last minute.
“i should—” she began, reaching for the lock.
jay caught her wrist gently, tugging her back for one more soft kiss, this time barely more than a press of lips. “stay,” he murmured against her mouth, his tone low and certain. “stay with me if you want, baby. you don’t have to leave.”
the knock came again, more insistent this time, but jay’s gaze never left hers. “your call,” he whispered, his thumb brushing soothing circles over her hand.
she didn’t leave after he attended to one of the associates. instead, she gathered her files, laptop and the pile of notes she’d brought to her own office, then crossed the room and set them neatly on the far side of jay’s massive oak desk. he raised a brow at her, amused, watching her carefully arrange her things like she was moving in for the day.
“you’re really settling in, huh?” he teased, leaning back in his chair.
she didn’t even look up, just muttered, “if you don’t mind.”
“i don’t mind,” he said softly, meaning it more than she realised. having her there, across from him, filling his office with the quiet sound of her typing and the occasional hum, made the space feel warmer. less like work, more like home.
for the next couple of hours, she focused on her tasks, tapping at her laptop and flipping through papers. but every so often, when that ache returned to her chest—when she remembered the way aiden had reached out for her that morning, his little face crumpled in tears—her eyes would drift up. across the desk, jay would be there, head bent over his own work, hair falling into his eyes, brows drawn together in concentration. and every single time she looked at him, her chest eased a little, like just seeing him was enough to tether her back to calm.
by the time the clock struck noon, jay shut his laptop with a decisive click. “come on,” he said, standing and shrugging into his blazer.
she blinked at him. “where are we going?”
“lunch,” he added when she opened her mouth, raising a brow. “you’ve been moping since morning. i’m taking you somewhere that’ll fix that.”
she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she gathered her things. he took her hand as they walked out, their fingers interlacing naturally and led her a few blocks down to the little pasta place she loved—a cozy corner restaurant with checkered tablecloths and the faint smell of garlic and herbs in the air.
they got their usual table by the window, the sunlight spilling across their plates. jay ordered for her without needing to ask, and soon enough, a steaming bowl of her favorite pesto pasta was set in front of her, the scent instantly making her stomach rumble.
“better?” jay asked as she twirled the first forkful.
she hummed, chewing happily before nodding. “much better.”
he grinned, satisfied, and dug into his own plate. between bites, they chatted idly—about work, about small things—until yn pulled out her phone. “should we check on him?” she asked quietly.
jay nodded. “yeah. call ness.”
she hit video call and within a few seconds, ness’ face appeared on the screen. “hey,” she whispered, glancing down at the little bundle on her shoulder.
yn’s heart squeezed at the sight. aiden had just eaten, his tiny body heavy with sleep, his mouth slightly parted the way hers did when she was deeply out. his cheeks were flushed a soft rosy pink, his lashes dark against his skin, and one chubby hand was curled tight around the collar of ness’ shirt as if anchoring himself even in his dreams. his hair stuck up in messy tufts, so reminiscent of jay’s bedhead that yn almost laughed.
jay leaned closer to the screen, his own lips twitching into a smile. “mini me,” he muttered.
“was he okay after we left?” yn asked ness, her tone careful, almost hesitant.
ness shifted the camera so they could see aiden’s peaceful face. “he cried for a while, yeah. kept looking at the door. but he calmed down after breakfast. knocked out right after.” she smiled warmly. “he’s fine. just… really missed you guys.”
yn bit her lip, the guilt flickering in her chest, but jay squeezed her knee under the table. “see, baby? he’s okay. he’s in good hands.”
she nodded, still staring at the screen, unable to look away from her little boy’s sleeping face. “he looks so much like you right now,” she whispered.
jay chuckled. “nah, that pout? that’s all you.”
ness laughed softly, shifting the phone again. “you two can argue over it later. he’s calm, that’s what matters.”
yn and jay stayed on the call longer than they needed to, just watching aiden breathe, listening to the tiny noises he made even in his sleep. it wasn’t until their plates were almost empty that they finally said goodbye, thanking ness before hanging up.
yn sat back in her chair, heart full yet aching all the same. “i can’t wait to go home to him,” she murmured.
jay reached across the table, threading his fingers through hers. “and we will. but until then, we’ve got each other. okay?”
jay had barely settled into his chair after lunch, loosening his tie a little and pulling a stack of files toward himself, when yn rolled her chair across the polished floor with a soft squeak. she didn’t say a word, not even glance at him, just dragged herself across the room until she was right at his side. wordless, determined, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. she plopped down, adjusted her stack of papers on the desk so that it overlapped into his space, and began typing again as though she hadn’t just abandoned her own desk.
jay leaned back slightly, arms folded, watching her with pure amusement. the corner of his mouth curled into a smile that deepened into a soft chuckle. he shook his head slowly, like he couldn’t believe how cute she was, always gravitating toward him without even realising it.
“what?” yn muttered without lifting her gaze from her screen, catching the sound of his laugh.
“nothing,” jay said, leaning over to press a light kiss against her cheek, lingering just long enough for her to feel his smile against her skin. “just… my wife is really cute, that’s all.”
her cheeks warmed, and she tried to suppress the smile tugging at her lips, rolling her eyes playfully instead. “you’re distracting me.”
“i didn’t do anything,” he whispered, returning his attention to his work, though he didn’t miss the way she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye afterward.
they worked quietly for a while, the sound of fingers tapping keys and the occasional shuffle of paper filling the room. every so often, when both of them had a hand free at the same time, their fingers found each other across the desk.
after a while, yn leaned back in her chair with a sigh, letting it tip as far as it would go. she shut her eyes, her shoulders slumping. her body felt heavy, the kind of heaviness that came from not just work but from missing aiden so deeply that it left her chest aching. she folded her arms loosely over her stomach, tilting her head back.
jay glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then turned fully to look at her. her lashes rested against her cheeks, and the faint crease between her brows told him she wasn’t fully relaxed. his gaze dropped lower, noticing the subtle way she shifted in the chair, the small wince she tried to hide.
“baby,” he murmured, his voice soft so it wouldn’t startle her.
her eyes fluttered open lazily, landing on him. “hm?”
“your back hurts, doesn’t it?”
she tried to brush it off with a tiny shrug. “it’s fine. just the chair. i’ll manage.”
jay wasn’t convinced. he pushed his own chair back and leaned over, his hand gently brushing over her knee before moving up to the armrest of her chair. “come here.”
she blinked at him, confused. “huh?”
“come here,” he repeated, tugging her gently toward him until she stood, though reluctant and grumbling softly under her breath. he guided her around the desk and onto his lap without giving her much room to protest, settling her sideways so she could lean against him comfortably.
“jay…” she started, but the protest lost its strength halfway through. his arms were already circling her waist, his chin tucked over her shoulder.
“better?” he asked, pressing a kiss to her temple.
she hesitated, then melted into him with a tiny sigh, resting her head against his chest. “...yeah.”
“thought so,” he teased softly, his hand rubbing slow, soothing circles along her lower back, right where she’d been aching.
she closed her eyes again, this time actually relaxing. his heartbeat beneath her ear was steady, calming, and the warmth of his body seeped into her until the chair no longer felt uncomfortable.
for a while, they sat like that, her doing nothing but breathing him in while he continued to idly massage her back. it felt like a pause from the world, the kind of silence that wasn’t empty but full—full of him, full of comfort, full of love.
when she finally spoke again, it was barely above a whisper. “you spoil me.”
jay chuckled against her hair, his lips brushing her crown. “of course i do. you deserve it.”
he balanced the file on his lap with one arm while the other circled yn’s waist loosely, keeping her snug against him. every now and then, whenever his eyes flicked away from the papers or his screen, he pressed absentminded kisses along her cheek or temple—soft, grounding pecks that made her feel both cherished and distracted. she didn’t complain, though; if anything, she leaned into them like she had every right to soak it all in.
meanwhile, yn had fully abandoned her own pile of work, scrolling through her phone with one leg curled over jay’s. their groupchat was buzzing with daily updates filling the screen. her thumb froze, though, when ness’ name popped up with a picture.
it was aiden. their aiden. his cheeks flushed pink from laughing, his little dimple showing, a goofy, sunshiney grin spread wide across his face. he was holding a toy car in one hand, the other pointing at his red firetruck on the floor.
yn’s heart twisted instantly. all the comments from their friends blurred for a second as her eyes stung—not from sadness, but that overwhelming cocktail of pride, love, and longing that always came when she saw their son.
jake: broooooo look at him 😭😭😭😭
sunghoon: literal angel
ness: he was so excited to show me his toy car <3 he said he’s saving the red one for “mama and dada”
jake: lil bro didn’t say all that but ok wtv
intak: shoutout to yn and jay for making me a son
intak: ill be over soon but get my baby boy ❤️
yn: i will cut your peenie weenie intak
heeseung: jay’s twin for real
heeseung: gonna eat his cheekies
jake: nah i call dibs he’s mine
yn couldn’t help the pout forming on her lips as she turned her phone toward jay, nudging him with her shoulder. “look at him…” she mumbled, her voice thick with both fondness and ache.
jay glanced over, and his hand stilled on the papers. the moment he saw the picture, his whole face softened—his brows loosening, eyes glimmering, lips parting into the gentlest smile. he set the file aside completely, both arms tightening around her waist so he could peer closer at the screen.
“that’s my boy,” he said quietly, pride lacing every syllable. then, after a beat, he kissed yn’s cheek again, this time lingering. “our boy.”
her pout deepened as her thumb hovered over the picture, like she could trace aiden’s tiny dimple through the screen. “i miss him so much, jay…”
“i know, baby,” he whispered, squeezing her a little closer. he pressed another kiss to her jaw, trying to chase away the ache in her tone. “i miss him too. more than anything.”
she huffed softly, dropping her head against his shoulder. “he’s smiling so big… what if he starts smiling like that more with them than with us?”
jay immediately tilted her face toward him, his expression firm but tender. “yn. don’t even go there. he knows we’re his parents. no one’s taking that away from us.” he softened again, brushing his nose against hers before kissing her lips gently. “that smile? he gets that from you.”
he went back to working after that, feeling yn fidget against him as she did whatever. then, absentmindedly, his hand slid from the paper to her thigh, thumb rubbing circles like it was muscle memory. “baby,” he murmured without looking up, flipping to another page, “can you hand me the stapler? top right corner.”
yn’s lips curved into the smuggest smile as she zoomed the camera in closer on him. she passed him the stapler, whispering a cheeky, “yes, sir,” into the video before stopping the recording.
two seconds later, it was up on the groupchat.
yn: [video attached]
yn: working hard or hardly working 😏
it took approximately 0.5 seconds for the chaos to start.
ness: please don’t come back home, aiden and i are fine
sunghoon: i didn’t approve of this
sunghoon: delete immediately
sunghoon: calling hotline rn
heeseung: new drinking game: take a shot every time jay calls her “baby.” we’ll all be dead in 5 minutes.
intak: can y’all stop being nauseating for one day??
yn snorted at the replies, shoulders shaking and jay finally looked over at his notifications blowing up suspiciously. “what did you just do?”
“nothing,” she said innocently, locking her screen and tucking it against her chest.
jake: damn, imagine being jay park rn 😮💨
yn: careful jake, i’m free for lunch dates too y’know
jake: bet. i’ll even buy you pesto pasta and call you baby louder than jay does 😛
“jake is such a flirt, oh god.” was all yn had to say to make jay’s head snapped up. he picked his phone up scanning the messages.
“jay…” she drawled, amused, reaching for her phone. “don’t—”
too late.
jay: bold words for someone who won’t even win a staring contest with me
jay: can’t take it anymore
jay: you were mine first, MINE jake
jake: sorry baby 🥺
jake: lost sight of what’s truly mine for a second
jake: it’s always been you lover
yn: ….what happened to wanting me jake..?
jake: leave me alone lady
jake: but also like
jake: hey 😼 (with the intentions of taking you out on a date)
jay didn’t even type another message—he sent a selfie.
a picture of yn perched snugly on his lap, his arm locked tightly around her waist, his lips pressed firmly against her cheek as she squeaked in surprise. her expression was halfway between laughing and blushing, but jay’s smirk was all smug, all possessive.
jay: she’s not going anywhere lol
jay: end of discussion
heeseung: rip my granny jake
heeseung: died trying to flirt with a married woman 🙏
jake: whatever sunghoon will go out with me
sunghoon: uh sorry i don’t go out with rejects
intak: CLOCKED
that made yn burst into uncontrollable laughter, head tipping back against jay’s shoulder as he rolled his eyes. “unbelievable,” jay muttered, shoving her phone back into her hands before dropping another kiss to her cheek, harder this time, like he was sealing the deal.
“see? possessive,” she teased, poking his chest.
“damn right,” jay said flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched with a smile. “you’re mine, yn park. forever. they can whine about it all they want.”
she softened at that, pressing her lips briefly to his jaw before murmuring, “i like it when you’re possessive.”
jay groaned under his breath, pulling her tighter into his lap. “you’re going to kill me one of these days.”
by the time aiden hit eight months, their little apartment was no longer theirs—it was his kingdom. he ruled it with gummy smiles, loud babbles, and the stubborn determination of a boy who had only just figured out how to crawl yet thought the whole world belonged to him. he was in what jay had dubbed his “tiny rebel era.”
if jay sat down with a sandwich after a long meeting, within seconds, there would be a determined crawl across the carpet, aiden’s eyes locked on the bread like it was a prize he had to win. if yn so much as opened her laptop for a video call with her mom, aiden would wriggle into her lap, grab at the keyboard with his tiny fingers, and shout baby gibberish into the camera like he had business to discuss too.
and if jay dared to lean over and kiss yn when they thought he wasn’t looking? aiden would make a very loud protest noise, arms stretched out dramatically, demanding he be included in the moment.
“you’re impossible, my love,” jay whispered one afternoon, bouncing aiden against his chest as the baby slapped at his jaw with drool-slick fingers. “are you going to let me kiss your mama or are you going to throw a fit again?”
aiden babbled something that sounded suspiciously like “no,” earning a laugh from jay. yn, sitting cross-legged on the couch beside them, smirked and leaned over to kiss jay quickly anyway, just to see their son’s reaction. sure enough, aiden squawked indignantly and tried to push himself between their faces, wedging his little head against jay’s cheek until jay pulled away, grinning.
“you see what i mean, baby?” jay said, looking at yn. “man won’t even let me kiss my own wife.”
“he’s a mama’s boy, what do you expect?” yn teased, brushing her fingers over aiden’s soft hair. but the way she was smiling—mouth forming a rectangle, eyes glowing—betrayed just how much she loved his clinginess too.
it was adorable. it was exhausting. it was everything he ever wanted.
the real challenge came once yn returned to work. she and jay had always known this transition would be tough—working in the same office meant they could steal little glances, share quiet smiles across the floor, even sneak away for coffee breaks—but they both missed aiden so much it was almost physically painful. jay caught yn staring at pictures of him on her phone in between calls, and more than once, she caught him slipping out of a meeting to text ness asking for an update.
luckily, ness had stepped in without hesitation. she was on sabbatical, and when yn shyly asked if she’d babysit “just for a while,” she’d practically scolded her. “are you kidding? i’m his godmother. this is my duty. i’ll happily babysit that little prince.”
and true to her word, ness was brilliant. aiden adored her—he clapped his hands whenever she arrived, shrieked with laughter at her silly voices, and let her feed him mashed fruit without complaint. but even so, the moment yn or jay walked through the door at the end of the day, aiden would drop everything—his toys, his food, even ness herself—to crawl as fast as his chubby legs would take him toward them, arms raised, face lighting up like they’d returned from war.
“my baby boy,” jay would croon, scooping him up immediately and pressing kisses all over his cheeks while aiden squealed. “did you miss dada, my love? hmm? i missed you so much.”
yn would always hover nearby, her work bag barely set down before she reached for him too. “come here, angel,” she’d murmur, kissing his forehead as aiden clung to her with both fists tangled in her shirt, burying his face in her shoulder like he hadn’t seen her in months instead of hours.
and every time, ness would shake her head with a fond laugh. “he’s dramatic. wonder who he got that from.”
“his father,” yn would say instantly, making jay protest while she smirked.
but she knew the truth. aiden’s neediness, his refusal to let them out of his sight, his stubborn “if you do it, i want it too”—all of it was pure jay. and jay never denied it for long, especially not when he had his son pressed to his chest, whispering, “don’t worry, baby boy. dada’s here. mama’s here. we’re never too far.”
even if their days at work were good—smooth meetings, easy hours—both yn and jay found themselves restless, counting down until they could be home again, until aiden’s little hands would reach for them, until his smile would mirror theirs once more. because no matter how chaotic it was, no matter how clingy their baby had become, they adored it. they adored him.
and aiden, in all his rebellious glory, adored them right back.
“i wish i was high” park jay | mini smau | part iii
where your childhood best friend/crush/only man you ever loved comes back into your life requested by anon
masterlist part i part ii (part iii)
ex bestfriend/single dad! jay x fem! reader. fluff & crack. ex childhood friends! au. profanities. mentions of ketchup, eating glue, dick, being high. jake and ness are parents. jake hates jungwon!!! pics are not mine.
the nursery was dimly lit with the soft morning light filtering through the curtains when jay padded in quietly, careful not to wake yn who was still fast asleep. he’d barely reached the door when he heard it—the unmistakable sound of soft babbles, high-pitched and playful, followed by the rhythmic thump of little limbs hitting the mattress. he couldn’t help but smile.
when he stepped inside, his heart just about melted at the sight. aiden lay on his back, wavy hair sticking up in all directions like a halo of chaos, his tiny fists opening and closing as his legs kicked out happily. he was a mess of baby energy, babbling nonsense to the ceiling as if he were having a very serious conversation with it. the moment his eyes landed on jay, though, everything changed.
aiden’s babbles stopped short, his round face breaking into the widest grin, cheeks rounding, drool glistening at the corner of his lips. his whole body wriggled with excitement, his arms stretching out as if he were trying to swim across the mattress to his father. the joy on his face was so pure, so uninhibited, that jay swore it could’ve lit up the whole house.
“good morning, my love,” jay whispered, voice rough from sleep but soft with adoration. he leaned over the crib, brushing his hand lightly over the baby’s round belly, which made aiden squeal and kick even harder, little feet thumping the mattress in protest at not being picked up immediately. jay laughed under his breath, scooping him up in one smooth motion and pulling him against his chest. “oh, i missed you too, baby boy. you’re so happy to see me, huh?”
aiden shoved his drool-wet fist against jay’s jaw, babbling like he was answering him. his gummy smile was wide and earnest, his sweet boxy smile just like his mother’s. jay froze for a moment, staring down at him, and something in his chest twisted almost painfully.
that smile—it was yn’s. the exact same way her lips curled when she was delighted about something, the way her eyes shone when she was truly happy. the little bounce of excitement in his son’s body was the same way yn bounced when she was too excited to hold it in, like when she spotted a new bakery or when he surprised her with something small but thoughtful.
god, he could see her in him everywhere.
and it hit him all at once—the memories of nights when she’d curled into his chest, whispering about her insecurities. about how her boxy grin made her look childish, about how her eyes were too wide and big for the rest of her features, about how her habit of bouncing or lighting up too much when she was happy made her seem silly. she used to call it ugly, tell him it wasn’t “graceful,” that she never looked good when she laughed too big. every time she said it, jay wanted to shake her, put a mirror in front of her and make her see what he saw—the most radiant, unfiltered version of her.
now, watching their son beam up at him with those exact same grin, the same sparkly eyes, the same bright-eyed light—it gutted him. because in aiden, those traits were magic. they were pure innocence, pure beauty. and how could something she hated about herself be so achingly perfect in him?
jay pressed a kiss to aiden’s soft hair, inhaling that sweet baby smell that never got old. his voice cracked with the weight of his thoughts as he murmured, “you’ve got your mama’s smile, baby boy. and i hope you never stop showing it. never let anyone tell you it’s too much, okay? it’s perfect. just like her.”
aiden let out a happy squeal, smacking his little palm against jay’s cheek as if he understood. jay chuckled, blinking hard to keep the sudden sting in his eyes from spilling over. he kissed his son again, gently bouncing him in his arms, his heart swelling with a love so sharp it almost hurt.
yn would never believe him if he told her just how much of herself he saw in their boy. but he did. every single day. and he loved it—loved it more than anything.
he glanced toward their bedroom, imagining her still curled beneath the blankets, probably hugging his pillow in her sleep. “he’s just like you, baby,” jay whispered under his breath, voice breaking into a soft smile. “and i wouldn’t want it any other way.”
aiden babbled in response, drool dripping onto jay’s bare shoulder, and jay laughed quietly, holding him closer, as if by hugging him tighter, he could hug yn too.
the soft murmur of aiden’s babbles filled the nursery, his tiny hand tugging at the chain around jay’s neck as jay absently let him play with it, smiling to himself. he’d been sitting on the armchair with his son tucked against his chest for nearly half an hour, rocking him slowly, savoring the quiet moments that came before the rest of the house woke up. the early hours were his favorite—when it felt like the world belonged only to the three of them.
the faint sound of bare feet padding against the floor made him glance up. yn appeared in the doorway, hair sticking out in every direction like a wild crown, her tank top had rode up a little, showing just a silver of skin. she rubbed at her eyes, groggy and pouty, muttering under her breath about how mornings were “a crime against humanity.”
jay bit back a laugh, his chest squeezing with affection. she always looked like this first thing—soft, rumpled, unguarded. he loved it almost as much as he loved how much she hated mornings while he thrived in them.
she didn’t even notice aiden drooling happily against jay’s bare shoulder or the way his little legs kicked at the sight of her. still half-asleep, she walked over without hesitation, as if her body knew exactly where it belonged. without a word, she eased herself onto his lap, curling into his warmth and burying her face against his neck. her skin pressed into his, her body molding against him like she’d been designed to fit there. the familiar weight of her settled something in him instantly.
“too early,” she mumbled into his throat, her lips brushing against his pulse.
she groaned, nuzzling further into him like that would erase the hour. aiden, delighted by the new addition to their little cuddle pile, broke into a loud stream of babbles, his fist thumping against yn’s arm as if demanding attention. she lifted her head lazily, eyes half-lidded but soft when they landed on him.
“hi, my love,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with sleep as she leaned forward to press a kiss to her baby’s round cheek. aiden squealed, gummy smile stretching wide in response, his tiny drooly gums flashing at her.
jay swore his heart stopped right there.
watching them—mother and son—exchange that smile, almost identical, almost too perfect—it was too much. yn’s grin, tired but radiant, pink tint carved deep into her cheeks, her eyes crinkling despite the messy hair and the scowl she still half-wore at being awake. and then aiden, beaming back at her like she was the sun itself, drool glistening on his chin but every inch of him vibrating with joy.
two of the most important people in his life, smiling at each other in the exact same way. a mirror. a reflection. a living, breathing reminder that his love with yn had created something whole, something beautiful.
jay felt it in his chest like a punch, his throat going tight. he had thought he loved her before—back when it was just the two of them, when he couldn’t imagine loving her any more than he already did. but now, seeing her in their son, seeing them mirror each other so perfectly—it was overwhelming.
“you’re both trying to kill me,” jay muttered, his voice shaky with the weight of what he felt, though he covered it with a crooked smile.
yn turned her head toward him, brows furrowing. “hm?”
he shook his head quickly, leaning in to kiss her temple. “nothing. just… you’re both ridiculous. look at you. same smile. same eyes. i don’t stand a chance.”
she rolled her eyes but her cheeks flushed a faint pink as she tucked herself back into his neck, letting aiden grab her finger with his tiny fist. “you’re dramatic,” she whispered, though her voice carried a smile.
jay didn’t argue. instead, he pressed his lips to her hair, breathing in the faint scent of her shampoo still lingering from the night before. aiden babbled happily between them, gnawing on yn’s finger with his toothless gums, drool running freely down his chin. yn laughed, soft and unrestrained, and jay felt it reverberate against his chest.
“i wish i was high” park jay | mini smau | part iii
where your childhood best friend/crush/only man you ever loved comes back into your life requested by anon
masterlist part i part ii (part iii)
ex bestfriend/single dad! jay x fem! reader. fluff & crack. ex childhood friends! au. profanities. mentions of ketchup, eating glue, dick, being high. jake and ness are parents. jake hates jungwon!!! pics are not mine.
hii when are you gonna update sunghoon daddy diaries no rush I just loved the story
hiii so i actually put out a poll regarding the future of the plot that ends in like 3 days and i plan to start writing after that so soon!!! would u like me to add you to the taglist?
byr. mentions of insomnia, nail biting, anxiety, throw up, crying. yn is still a little emotional (hormones leave her alone🔫🔫)
the quiet of the night was broken by the soft, uneven hiccups of a baby who had cried himself out but still couldn’t settle. jay stirred awake to the sound—not the sharp cry of distress that usually pulled him from sleep, but the softer, broken little whimpers that tugged directly at his heart. he turned, reaching across the sheets instinctively and found yn’s side empty.
it only took a second for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room. the glow of the city outside filtered in through the bedroom window, painting her in muted light. she was standing there barefoot, her hair mussed from sleep, the strap of her tank top sliding off one shoulder. in her arms, pressed close to her chest, was their son.
aiden’s face was tucked against her, cheeks blotchy from earlier tears, tiny chest still shuddering as hiccups rattled through him. his eyes looked heavy, lids drooping with exhaustion, but he stubbornly blinked them open as though sleep was something he had to resist. his tiny fist was balled up against yn’s collarbone and his thumb was halfway into his mouth, slick with drool, as if clinging to it for some kind of moral support.
yn rocked him gently, her voice low, almost a hum. “shhh, my love. it’s okay. you’re safe, baby,” she whispered, brushing her lips across his soft hair.
her words were soothing, but jay could hear the strain behind them—the exhaustion, the helplessness of not knowing exactly what their son needed. she pressed her cheek to aiden’s head, her fingers stroking over his curls, the movement tender and instinctive.
jay pushed himself up slowly, not wanting to startle either of them. he stayed quiet for a beat, just watching—the way yn’s whole body curved protectively around their baby, how her tired eyes still softened every time she looked down at him.
when aiden whimpered again, his thumb slipping deeper into his mouth, yn sighed softly and tried to ease it out. “no, sweetheart. not that,” she whispered, nudging his tiny hand gently away from his lips. he fussed immediately, a quiet cry bubbling in his throat as though he couldn’t bear the loss of comfort.
jay finally spoke, his voice rough from sleep but low and careful. “baby…”
she startled slightly, looking back at him. the light caught her face—hair messy around her cheeks, skin glowing faintly in the silver of the night. there was a tired smile tugging at her lips, though it looked worn thin.
“sorry honey, i didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered. her arms tightened around aiden instinctively when he whimpered again.
jay swung his legs over the side of the bed, padding barefoot across the carpet toward them. “you didn’t wake me. he did,” he said softly, brushing his knuckles across aiden’s back as he leaned closer. the baby made a small noise, a tiny snuffle, and burrowed deeper into yn’s chest.
jay’s gaze flicked to the damp thumb, to the way yn kept trying to guide it away from his mouth. “still at war with the thumb?” he asked gently, managing a quiet smile.
she huffed out a laugh that was more breath than sound. “he wants it so badly. i keep trying to stop him, but…” her voice broke a little as she looked down at their son’s flushed face. “he just looks so tired, jay. and it feels cruel to take it from him.”
jay slid closer, his hand coming up to cover hers where it rested on aiden’s back. he leaned down and kissed the side of yn’s messy hair before murmuring, “you’re not cruel. you’re just trying to help him.”
aiden whimpered again, hiccupping and jay reached to slip him into his arms. yn hesitated, then let him go, watching as jay settled their son against his bare chest. the baby made a faint protesting noise before melting into the warmth, his tiny hand curling into jay’s skin.
“there you go, baby boy,” jay murmured, rocking him gently in a rhythm that seemed instinctive. “shhh, my love. dada’s got you.” his voice was a soothing rumble and even yn felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders as she listened.
she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold without aiden pressed against her. watching them together made her throat tighten—her husband, shirtless and sleepy-eyed, rocking their hiccupping baby by the window. jay’s chin brushed against their son’s hair, his lips pressing feather-light kisses to calm him.
“he’s fighting it so hard,” yn whispered after a long beat, her voice quiet with worry. “like he doesn’t want to give in.”
jay hummed, glancing down at the little fist still twitching toward his mouth. “yeah. but he will. he just wants to know he’s not alone.” he pressed another kiss to aiden’s head, his hand stroking soothing circles down his tiny back. “you hear that, baby boy? you’re never alone. mama and i are right here.”
the words were for aiden, but yn felt them sink into her, too. she exhaled shakily, brushing at her eyes with the back of her hand.
jay glanced up at her, catching it. “come here,” he whispered, shifting his stance so there was space for her at his side. when she stepped closer, he curled his free arm around her waist, tugging her against him. now, the three of them were pressed together in a soft, messy knot of warmth and exhaustion.
aiden’s hiccups began to slow, his breathing evening out as he melted fully against jay’s chest. his little hand went limp, thumb slipping from his mouth at last.
“there we go,” jay murmured, his lips brushing yn’s temple as he held both of them. “see? he just needed a little extra love.”
jay placed aiden gently back in the crib, pulling the blanket snug around his little body before brushing a kiss against his damp hair. he stood there for a moment, hands resting on the rail, watching the rise and fall of his baby boy’s chest and only when he was certain the hiccuping whimpers had slowed did he finally drag himself back toward their room.
he was bone tired, eyes heavy, but when he pushed open the door and saw yn sitting on the edge of the bed, her posture stiff and her gaze lost in some far-off nothingness, the last bit of sleepiness in him evaporated.
“baby?” his voice was low, careful, as though even the wrong tone might make her crumble. he closed the door softly behind him and padded across the room. she didn’t look up. her fingers twisted at the hem of her shirt, knuckles white, lips pressed together like she was trying to hold back something.
jay sat down beside her, not touching her yet, just close enough so she felt his warmth. “what’s wrong?” he asked softly, tilting his head to catch her eyes.
her throat bobbed as if she wanted to brush it off, but then her voice slipped out small, almost guilty. “i’m scared, jay.”
his brows furrowed instantly. “scared of what, yn?”
she swallowed, blinking quickly as her lashes wet. “that aiden’s… got all my worst traits.”
jay’s heart gave a painful twist at the raw honesty in her tone. she finally turned her face toward him, eyes glassy, and his chest ached.
“the staying up late like he does—insomnia runs in me. i used to stare at ceilings until dawn. and the crying…” she shook her head, a shaky laugh slipping out. “i cried for no reason as a baby too. my mom used to say she couldn’t put me down without me wailing. what if he’s like that because of me?”
jay stayed silent, letting her continue, his hand hovering before finally resting gently on her knee.
“and the thumb sucking,” she whispered, glancing toward the baby monitor like she could still hear aiden’s tiny sniffles. “he does it for comfort and won’t let go. just like me—i bite the skin around my nails when i’m anxious. i never grew out of it. what if he doesn’t either?” she pressed her lips together, shaking her head, her voice cracking now. “he’s stubborn too. god, jay, he’ll scream himself sick before giving in—he’s already made himself throw up twice. that’s me. all of that—it’s me. and i hate it.”
her words dissolved into the heavy silence of the room. jay felt his stomach knot at how hard she was being on herself. without hesitating, he pulled her into his chest, his arms wrapping tight around her shoulders.
“baby,” he murmured against her hair, his voice steady and warm. he tilted his head down, pressing a kiss to her temple. “don’t you ever say that like it’s a curse.”
yn sniffled, her hands fisting in his shirt as though holding onto him kept her from falling apart.
he cupped her face, gently coaxing her to look at him. “so what if he’s got your traits? you know what i see? i see our little boy fighting to figure out the world, just like his mama did. he stays up late—okay, maybe he inherited your restless nights—but that just means he’s curious, awake in his own little way. and the crying?” jay brushed his thumb across her cheek where a tear had slipped. “he cries because he feels things deeply, like you. that’s not a weakness. that’s heart.”
her lips trembled, her eyes dropping, but he kept her face steady in his palms.
“as for the thumb sucking—baby, it’s comfort. he’s five months old, yn. he’s allowed to need something soft and safe. and you know what? that stubbornness you’re so worried about? that’s the same stubbornness that’s made you survive everything life’s thrown at you. it’s what made me fall in love with you in the first place.”
she let out a soft, shaky laugh at that, but tears still clung stubbornly to her lashes.
jay leaned his forehead against hers. “aiden’s not broken, baby. he’s ours. he’s messy and loud and stubborn and perfect. and he’s not doomed to every flaw you think you’ve got. even if he picks some of them up—so what? he’ll have us to guide him. he’ll have love. that’s what matters.”
her lips parted, and finally, a small sigh slipped through. she rested her head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat steady under her ear. his hand smoothed up and down her back slowly, anchoring her.
“you always know what to say,” she whispered into the fabric of his shirt.
“that’s because i know you,” jay murmured, kissing the crown of her head. “and i know him. my baby boy’s going to be just fine and so will his mama.”
she clung to him tighter then, her breathing easing against him, the fear still there but dulled under the warmth of his reassurance.
jay was half-watching some mindless saturday-night show when he heard the soft creak of the stairs, followed by the familiar light taps of yn’s steps. he glanced up just as she reached the last few steps, her fingers gently massaging the side of her neck with a slight grimace on her face.
“baby?” he asked softly, already sitting up straighter on the couch. his voice was low so as not to echo—especially with aiden asleep upstairs and his mother crunching numbers at the dining table, her glasses perched at the tip of her nose.
yn didn’t reply right away. instead, she simply made her way over, her eyes droopy and face tired from the long day of parenting. she reached him, and with a small pout that melted him instantly, sank herself into his lap without a word. her arms slipped around his neck as she tucked her face into the crook of his shoulder like it was second nature.
jay immediately wrapped his arms around her, shifting so she could comfortably rest her weight on him, one hand gently holding her waist, the other already playing with the strands of hair near her nape.
“mm… what’s wrong, baby?” he whispered into her hair, pressing the softest kiss against her temple. “you okay?”
“my neck hurts,” she mumbled into his hoodie. “just… right here.” she shifted a bit to tilt her head, and his fingers immediately moved to gently rub the spot she’d been reaching earlier.
“aw, yn,” he said, his voice all pouty and warm, like he hated seeing her in any kind of pain. “you overdid it again, didn’t you?”
she hummed, eyes fluttering shut. “maybe…”
jay let out a soft chuckle, the sound vibrating through his chest where her cheek rested.
“you always do,” he murmured, switching hands so his thumb could press small, soothing circles into her skin while the other hand resumed its lazy stroking through her hair.
she exhaled slowly, relaxing more and more into his touch with each second, the ache in her neck slowly fading under his fingertips. it was quiet—just the soft rustling of papers from his mom, the distant hum of the television, and their slow, shared breaths.
“you feel so nice,” she murmured, fingers curling into his hoodie.
“you always say that when i baby you,” he teased, his voice dipping lower in her ear.
“well… you do it well.”
jay smiled against her hair. “you like being babied, don’t you, baby?”
she lifted her face just enough to meet his eyes, still sleepy and heavy-lidded. “only when it’s you.”
he leaned in, brushing his nose against hers playfully. “lucky me.”
she chuckled, the tension in her shoulders easing as she shifted to curl into him even more. his hand didn’t stop moving—soft, lazy, rhythmic circles along her nape, his other arm wrapped securely around her waist.
“you’re so warm,” she whispered, her voice a barely audible breath.
jay smiled again and pressed a kiss to her hairline. “you can fall asleep here if you want. i’m not moving.”
his head immediately turned at the sound of the baby monitor crackling to life. aiden’s soft whimpering filtered through the speaker—not a full cry yet, but the kind that warned it was coming if no one came soon.
yn let out the tiniest, exhausted groan, her arms tightening around jay’s neck as if silently asking him to keep her there. her forehead pressed into his collarbone and he could feel her body tremble slightly — not from pain, but from the wave of overwhelmed emotion surging through her.
“i’ll go,” jay whispered instantly, already moving to shift her off his lap gently. but yn clung tighter for a second longer, as if torn.
“he might want me…” she mumbled, her voice trembling just enough to let the tears gathering in her eyes slip out.
jay’s heart clenched.
“hey,” he said softly, cupping the side of her face to make her look at him. “you’ve done everything for him today. every hour, every cry. it’s okay to rest now, yn. i got him.”
“but what if he needs—”
“i’m his dad, baby,” jay cut in gently, rubbing his thumb across her cheekbone to catch the tear before it fell. “let me be there for him too. you’ve earned this break.”
he leaned in and pressed a long, warm kiss to her forehead. “rest,” he whispered into her skin. “i’ll bring him down if he needs a cuddle.”
yn nodded, reluctantly letting him go. jay set her down carefully on the couch, pulling a throw blanket over her and tucking it beneath her chin like he always did. before heading upstairs, he reached back and pressed one more kiss — this time to her temple.
“i love you,” he said. “you’re the best mom aiden could have.”
she gave him a watery smile, her lips barely moving. “i love you too, seongie.”
yn only stirred when her ears caught the gentle cadence of jay’s voice drifting across the room. it was low, quiet, almost like a lullaby — not enough to wake her completely, but enough to pull her out of the fog of sleep.
through her fluttering lashes, she saw him.
standing near the tall, arching windows that overlooked the mansion’s backyard, jay’s silhouette was framed by the silver hue of moonlight. he was shirtless, wearing only a pair of joggers, and holding aiden against his chest — the baby nestled snugly into his father's shoulder, tiny fists resting on the skin near jay’s collarbone. aiden’s face was visible only in glimpses as jay swayed gently, walking back and forth in a slow rhythm.
jay’s voice was a whisper, just loud enough for aiden.
“see that, baby?” he murmured, shifting slightly so aiden could glance out the glass. “that’s the pool. all quiet. all boring. you don’t wanna stay up for that, do you?”
aiden let out a soft grunt — not quite a cry, not quite a coo — just a sleepy protest. his wide eyes blinked up at the moonlight, a bit glassy from exhaustion, but still fighting it. yn could tell by the way he kept turning his head slightly, trying to stay alert even as his lids drooped.
jay chuckled softly. “you’ve got your mama’s stubbornness, huh? can’t even rest without a fight.”
at that, yn let out the faintest, fondest sigh.
he must’ve heard it.
jay turned his head a little, catching her gaze even through the dim light. his expression softened immediately, a tender grin stretching across his face.
“hey, honey,” he whispered. “he just wanted to say hi to the moon before he called it a night.”
yn’s lips curled into a sleepy smile, her body still heavy with fatigue but her heart swelling so full it almost ached. she shifted just a little, watching them from her spot on the couch. the sight of jay — strong, patient, shirtless and glowing faintly in moonlight — holding their sleepy baby as if he were made of glass, talking to him like he was the most important little person in the world…
in the quiet stillness of that room, with the moonlight falling on them, her two boys looked like a painting she wanted to remember forever.
jay swayed again, brushing a kiss against aiden’s head. “you gonna sleep now, little prince? mama’s watching.”
aiden let out one last grumbly sigh… then went still, finally giving in.
jay looked back toward yn with a victorious smirk and mouthed, “i win.”
she let out a tired giggle, mouthing back, “show-off.”
jay gently closed the nursery door behind him, careful not to make a sound. aiden was finally, blissfully asleep — limbs slack, mouth slightly open, his tiny chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. jay lingered for a second, just watching, before he sighed softly and padded down the hallway.
he descended the staircase quietly, barefoot and shirtless, his joggers sitting low on his hips. the house was dimly lit, only a few lamps casting golden light against the marble floors. his mother was still seated at the dining table, papers and receipts spread out around her, a pair of glasses perched low on her nose.
“you need help, mom?” he asked softly, tilting his head toward the tax paperwork.
she looked up with a kind smile, but shook her head. “no, i’m almost done. but… yn’s been grunting in her sleep.”
jay’s brows furrowed instantly, eyes flicking to the couch.
“she has?” he asked, walking toward her sleeping form.
his mom nodded. “since you went upstairs. poor thing’s been shifting around and holding her side. you should take her up.”
jay didn’t need to be told twice. he moved over to the couch in three long strides. yn was curled into herself, her cheek pressed into a cushion, brow slightly scrunched in discomfort. her hand was resting near her collarbone, absently clutching the fabric of her tee.
“yn…” he whispered, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face.
she stirred lightly at his touch, a small whimper escaping her throat.
jay didn’t wait any longer. he leaned down and scooped her up slowly, one arm under her knees, the other behind her back. she let out a soft sound of protest, barely awake, head falling against his shoulder.
“sshh… i got you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple as he began walking up the stairs.
her voice was raspy, muffled. “seongie…?”
“yeah, baby, it’s me.” his voice was soft, soothing. “you were hurting in your sleep.”
“mm… my lower back,” she mumbled, eyes still shut, face crumpling slightly. “feels sore… like i’ve been lifting a truck…”
jay smiled faintly, shifting her a little so she was more comfortable in his arms. “probably from carrying our clingy baby all day.”
she let out a breathy laugh, even in her groggy state. “he’s heavy.”
“he’s a mini me,” jay teased. “of course he is.”
“god help me then.”
he laughed again, carefully nudging their bedroom door open with his foot. once inside, he gently lowered her onto the bed, tucking a pillow beneath her head and helping her out of the hoodie she was half-cooked in. she winced again as she tried to shift, and he quickly stopped her with a quiet, “don’t move too much.”
jay pulled the blanket over her, kneeling by the side of the bed to press another kiss to her knuckles.
“let me massage it out for you,” he offered. “you want heat or just my magic hands?”
she cracked one eye open, the smallest smile tugging at her lips. “you’re always so dramatic.”
“say what you want, but you know my hands work miracles.”
“mmm… fine,” she whispered, already dozing again. “but if you hurt me, i’m kicking you.”
“deal,” he whispered back with a grin, and gently started rubbing her lower back with practiced care, determined to make her feel better.
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