Minsungswife

23 yr | Minsung bias

[minsungswife]

Masterlist

Ot8 skz fic | Kang Hae

The boys find a little girl alone in a park, after discovering that her parents don't take care of her they decide to adopt her. Follow the boys and Hae as they learn navigate through this new adventure together and slowly forming their own little family that feels even more complete everyday.

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15: Part 1 & Part 2

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18: Part 1 & Part 2

Chapter 19: Part 1 & Part 2

Chapter 20: Part 1 & Part 2

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae gets scared and the boys try to calm her down and reassure her that she's safe with them

Warnings: A spider is mentioned (just the word, not describe or anything), lots of fluff/comfort

A/n: Hii, sorry to keep you waiting, I'm so busy with finishing my internship. Soon I'll have summer holiday so hopefully I'll be able to upload more. Enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 23: Big scare

The house had settled into a calm rhythm. Hae was in her room, sitting on the floor with her toys, quietly playing. Han quokka was, of course, right beside her, part of whatever little world she had built. The boys were scattered throughout the apartment, some working, some resting and some just enjoying the quiet.

But suddenly A high-pitched scream could be heard through the apartment. Sharp and terrified. It cut through the entire house, every single one of them froze for a second and then they ran.

Jisung was the first to reach her room, “Hae!”

He stopped dead in the doorway. Hae was standing on her bed, crying and shaking, pointing at the floor. “There!” she sobbed. “There!”

Jisung followed her finger.

A spider.

Not even that big, but Jisung screamed. A full, startled, instinctive scream as he jumped back, pressing himself against the wall as far away from it as possible. “WHY IS IT MOVING!”

That was the worst possible reaction, cause Hae’s panic exploded. She screamed louder, sobbing uncontrollably now, every tiny movement of the spider making her flinch and cry harder. She clutched Han quokka tightly to her chest, almost protectively, even though she was trembling herself. “It’s coming! It’s coming!”

The rest of the boys rushed in, “What happened?”

They took in the scene instantly.

Hae on the bed, hysterical, Jisung halfway across the room, also distressed, the spider.

Felix didn’t hesitate, he went straight to Hae. “Hey, hey, sweetheart” he said softly, scooping her up carefully. “I’ve got you, I’ve got you.”

Hae immediately clung to him, burying her face into his neck, still crying hard. Meanwhile, Chan moved calmly. “I’ll get it.”

He grabbed a cup and a piece of paper, gently trapping the spider and lifting it. “No sudden movements,” he muttered. He walked out and took it outside, releasing it far from the house.

Back in the room, Minho turned to Jisung. “Really?” he said sharply.

Jisung blinked. “What? It was scary…”

“You screamed,” Minho cut in. “You scared her more.”

Jisung frowned, still shaken. “It was creepy! What if it bit…”

“Don’t say that.”

Minho’s tone turned firmer when Hae’s crying got louder at those words.

Jisung froze, “Oh no, I didn’t mean…”

He stepped forward slightly, panicked now for a completely different reason. “I didn’t mean it like that…hey…Hae…”

But she was too overwhelmed.

Felix gently shifted her higher in his arms. “Let’s go somewhere else,” he murmured. “Come on, sweetheart.”

She didn’t protest, she just held on tighter.

He carried her to the living room, where he had been sitting earlier and lowered himself onto the floor, settling her securely in his lap. Hae immediately curled into him, gripping his sweater tightly, face buried into his neck. Felix rocked her gently, “it’s gone,” he whispered. “It can’t come back, you’re safe.”

Her cries slowly softened. From loud sobs, to quiet crying and eventually to soft hiccups.

Hyunjin crouched beside them, his expression soft. When Hae finally lifted her head slightly, he smiled gently. “Hey… there you are.”

He carefully wiped her cheeks, brushing away the tear tracks. “Are you okay?”

Hae sniffled and nodded weakly, “…it fell,” she whispered. “On my toys…”

Her voice trembled, “I got scared…”

Hyunjin nodded immediately, “that’s okay. Anyone would get scared.”

Felix pressed a soft kiss to her hair, “you’re safe now.”

In the background, Chan returned and went straight to her room again with Minho. They checked everything, corners, shelves and under the bed. Minho carefully picked up her toys, wiping them down gently. “No more surprises,” he muttered.

Chan nodded, “all clear.”

Back in the living room, Hyunjin brightened slightly. “Hey,” he said softly, “do you want to color with me?”

Hae hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. She looked up at Felix, “Mom… will you help too?”

Felix smiled immediately, “of course I will.”

They grabbed coloring supplies and Hae stayed firmly in Felix’s lap while Hyunjin sat close beside them. Slowly, the tension faded. Crayons replaced fear and colors replaced tears.

Jisung lingered nearby, clearly feeling bad. After a moment, he crouched down carefully. “…Hey,” he said softly. Hae looked at him. “I’m sorry,” he admitted. “I got scared too… and I made it worse.”

Hae blinked at him. Then quietly said, “it’s okay… Appa.”

And before he could react, she leaned forward and hugged him.

Jisung froze.

Then melted completely.

“Okay,” he whispered, hugging her back carefully. “Thank you.”

Hae returned to Felix’s lap, settling in again like that was her safest place. Between Felix’s warmth and Hyunjin’s calm presence, she slowly relaxed fully. Soon, she was focused on coloring again. The fear was gone, the spider was gone and she was safe, exactly where she belonged.

---

Evening settled gently over the apartment. Lights dimmed, voices softened, the day slowly winding down. “Alright,” Chan said after checking the time, “bedtime.”

Normally, Hae would at least try. But Tonight? She shook her head immediately, “no.”

Minho crouched down in front of her, “there’s no spider anymore,” he said gently. “We checked everything.”

Hae shook her head again, clutching her duck plushie tighter. “No.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm. The boys exchanged a glance.

Hyunjin knelt beside her, soft smile in place. “Hey,” he said gently, “let’s just go change into pajamas first, okay?”

Seungmin nodded, “we don’t have to decide anything yet. Just pajamas.”

Hae hesitated, then slowly nodded. That was enough.

They walked with her to her room, staying close on either side. She didn’t let go of her plushie and she kept glancing around as if expecting something to move. Seungmin helped her into her pajamas, calm and steady as always. Hyunjin kept her distracted, talking softly to her the whole time.

Once she was changed, Seungmin straightened up. “Okay,” he said gently, “go lay down”

“No!”

Hae’s voice came out sharp. Louder than expected.

Seungmin blinked, surprised.

Seungmin’s expression shifted, not harsh, but firm. “Hey,” he said calmly, “don’t yell at me.”

Hae froze.

“You can tell me what you want,” he continued, “but you don’t need to shout.”

She looked down, gripping her plushie tighter.

“If you don’t want to sleep here,” Seungmin added, gentler now, “you can just ask to sleep in one of our rooms.”

Hyunjin nodded softly, “but first,” he said, “you should apologize.”

Hae’s shoulders hunched slightly, “…sorry,” she mumbled.

Seungmin tilted his head, “What was that?”

“…Sorry for yelling…”

“That’s better,” he said, a small smile returning.

Then Hae hesitated again, “…can I… sleep… somewhere else…”

It came out barely audible.

Seungmin shook his head lightly, “say it properly.”

Hae’s brows furrowed. For a second, that little spark of frustration came back, but she caught it.

She took a breath. Then, a bit louder, “…can I sleep in someone else’s room?”

Hyunjin smiled immediately, “good job.”

Seungmin nodded approvingly, “much better.”

“Whose room?” Hyunjin asked gently.

Hae thought. Her eyes flickered for a moment, then she whispered, “…Appa.”

Seungmin and Hyunjin shared a small smile. “I think that’ll be okay,” Seungmin said. “But you have to ask him.”

They walked back to the living room together. The moment Hae saw everyone, she slowed down. Her earlier yell suddenly felt very loud in her memory and her grip on her plushie tightened. She almost turned around. Hyunjin noticed immediately, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay,” he murmured.

Seungmin nodded, “go on.”

Minho, watching from the couch, softened when he saw her hesitate. “You want to ask something?” he asked gently.

That gave her just enough courage. She walked over to Jisung, stopped and looked at the floor.

“…Appa… can I sleep in your room…”

It came out too quiet.

Hyunjin spoke from behind her gently, “a little louder.”

Hae’s brows knit again, that flicker of frustration, but she held it in.

She took a breath and then, “…Appa, can I sleep in your room?”

Jisung didn’t hesitate for even a second. “Of course you can,” he said warmly. “I’d love that.”

Hae looked up at him, relief clear on her face.

“Do you want to cuddle now?” he asked softly. “Or I can come later.”

“…Now,” she said quickly.

Jisung smiled, “okay. Let’s go.”

They walked to his room together, Seungmin and Hyunjin following behind. While Jisung changed in the bathroom, the other two helped Hae climb into bed. They tucked the blanket around her, making sure she was warm and comfortable.

“She’s all yours,” Hyunjin whispered when Jisung came back.

Jisung slipped into bed beside her and Hae immediately moved closer, curling into him.

He wrapped an arm around her gently, “it’s okay,” he murmured. “You’re safe here.”

Seungmin adjusted the blanket one last time, “goodnight,” he said softly.

Hyunjin brushed her hair lightly, “sleep well.”

Then they left quietly.

Back in the living room, the mood was thoughtful. “That wasn’t just about the spider,” Seungmin said quietly.

Hyunjin nodded, “she was scared before bedtime even started.”

Minho leaned back slightly, “…nightmares.”

Chan sighed softly, “yeah.”

They all understood. It wasn’t just fear of her room. It was fear of being alone with her thoughts.

“We keep an eye on her tonight,” Chan said.

No one argued, because if she needed them, they would be there.

Always.

---

Morning light slipped softly through the curtains in Jisung’s room. Hae stirred first.

For a moment, she didn’t open her eyes. She just shifted closer, instinctively curling into the warmth beside her. Jisung. Her small hand tightened in his shirt as if to make sure he was still there. He was.

Jisung woke a second later, blinking sleepily when he felt her move. The moment he realized she was still tucked against him, he smiled softly. “Morning,” he murmured.

Hae didn’t answer, she just buried her face deeper into him. Jisung didn’t push it, he simply wrapped his arm around her a little tighter. “Okay,” he whispered. “We can stay like this for a bit.”

Eventually, though, the day had to start.

Jisung carefully sat up, still keeping one arm around her. “Hey,” he said softly, brushing her hair back, “we should get ready, yeah?”

Hae nodded faintly but didn’t let go, so Jisung adjusted. If she wasn’t letting go, he’d just bring her with him. He helped her get dressed slowly, letting her lean against him the entire time. He talked softly while doing it, pointing out little things, keeping everything calm and predictable.

But something felt off. She was quiet. Too quiet.

Normally, even when sleepy, she would mumble something, or ask a question, or complain a little. But today?

Nothing.

Jisung noticed, “…You okay?” he asked gently.

Hae nodded, but she didn’t say anything else. Jisung didn’t push, maybe she was just tired.

He hoped.

At the table, the difference became clearer. Hae sat between Minho and Felix, eating quietly. She used her chopsticks, slow and careful, but she wasn’t talking. Only answering when spoken to.

Chan explained the plan for the day, “we have practice at the company today,” he said. “You’ll come with us, okay? You can watch or play.”

Hae nodded, “…can Han quokka come too?” she asked quietly.

Felix smiled softly, “of course.”

She nodded again and went back to eating. The boys exchanged small glances, they all noticed, but none of them said anything. Not yet.

Instead, they kept things light. Jisung made a small joke, Changbin exaggerated a story and Hyunjin nudged her plate closer when she got distracted. Little things, trying to bring her back out and when a tiny giggle slipped out of her, the whole table softened.

After breakfast, Jeongin crouched beside her with a napkin. “Hands,” he said gently.

Hae held them out obediently. He wiped her fingers and then her cheeks carefully. “All clean,” he smiled and Hae just nodded.

Soon, everyone gathered their things, bags, water bottles, extra clothes and the toys Changbin had packed the night before. They moved out together, the familiar routine helping settle the morning.

In the van, Chan carefully strapped Hae into her seat between Changbin and Felix.

Changbin immediately leaned closer. “So,” he said dramatically, “did you know Dwaekki almost became a superhero last night?”

Felix gasped, “no way. Tell me everything.”

Hae blinked. Then, just a little, she leaned closer.

Changbin continued the ridiculous story, adding dramatic voices and sound effects. Felix joined in, making everything ten times more exaggerated. And finally, a small giggle, then another. By the time they were halfway to the company, Hae was quietly laughing, clutching Han quokka in her lap.

The boys didn’t say it out loud, but every single one of them relaxed just a little. Because even if she was quiet, she was still there, still trusting and still finding her way back to them.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: The company officialy annouces that the boys adopted Hae

Warnings: Just some mentions of hate comments, but basically cute fluff and comfort.

A/n: Hii, I'm so happy to be able to upload another chapter so soon. Thank you for loving this series so much, it means a lot. Enjoy this new chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 22: The annoucement

The meeting room at the company was quiet, heavy with responsibility. Chan sat at the head of the table, Minho beside him. The rest of the boys were spread out around them, all unusually focused. Management sat across from them, documents neatly stacked, tablets open.

“This announcement needs to be handled carefully,” Chan said calmly but firmly. “Our priority is Hae. Not curiosity. Not publicity.”

Everyone nodded.

Minho folded his hands on the table, “she’s not a story to be told. She’s a child.”

They discussed it piece by piece. They would share, that they had legally adopted a child, that she came from a bad situation and was now safe and that she was loved, protected and part of their family.

They wouldn’t share, details of her past, names, locations, timelines, any explanation of what she went through and photos, videos or appearances without her explicit comfort and consent.

“She doesn’t owe the world anything,” Felix said quietly.

Changbin nodded, “we chose this life. She didn’t.”

They were firm about privacy. They wanted the statement to clearly ask fans and the public, not to take photos or videos of Hae in public, not to approach her, not to speculate or spread rumors and to respect her boundaries and safety.

“She needs to be able to go to the supermarket,” Jeongin said. “To the park. To live.”

Hyunjin leaned forward, “she’s still learning how to feel safe. We won’t let that be taken from her.”

Management listened carefully, taking notes.

They discussed future content as well.

“If she ever appears,” Chan said, “it will be because she wants to, not because it’s good for content or because it’s cute.”

Minho added, “and the moment she says no, that’s the end of it.”

That part went into the agreement too, everything was written down. Every boundary. Every rule. When the paperwork was finished, management signed first. Then Chan signed and lastly Minho. Two signatures, not as idols, but as legal guardians.

While the meeting took place, Hae was far away from conference tables and contracts. She was at Minho’s parents’ house, curled on the living room floor. Soonie was stretched along her side, Doongie was tucked against her back and Dori was curled protectively over her legs.

Hae had played until she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. At some point, she had simply laid down and the cats had followed. Now she slept peacefully, her small chest rising and falling evenly, one tiny hand resting in Soonie’s fur.

Halfway through the meeting, Minho’s phone vibrated. His heart jumped immediately, he quickly checked the screen.

Mom.

For a split second, worry clenched his chest. Then he opened the message and everything softened.

A photo.

Hae, fast asleep on the floor, surrounded by all three cats like guardians. Her face relaxed, her hair messy and her body completely at ease.

Minho’s eyes stung.

He tilted the phone toward Chan without saying a word. Chan’s expression melted instantly, “she’s safe,” Chan murmured.

Minho nodded, swallowing hard. “She’s loved.”

The rest of the boys leaned in quietly, smiles tugging at their lips.

For a moment, the weight of the meeting lifted. Because no matter what the world said, no matter how carefully they had to move from now on, Hae was safe.

Warm, protected and sleeping peacefully, surrounded by love and that was all that mattered.

---

The announcement went live the next morning. A written statement first, clear, calm and firm. Then the video they recorded, simple, seated together and no dramatics. Just honesty, boundaries and love.

---

The apartment smelled faintly of toast and fruit, breakfast dishes still drying on the rack. Sunlight filtered through the windows, soft and warm, like any other morning. Minho sat at the table with Hae, a workbook open between them. He had already noticed her attention drifting, her pencil tapping distractedly against the page.

“So,” Minho said, adjusting the lesson smoothly, “let’s try something else.”

He flipped to a blank page and drew three quick, slightly messy cats. “This one,” he said, pointing, “is Soonie.”

Hae’s eyes lit up immediately.

“And this one is Doongie. And this…” he added, drawing a slightly rounder shape, “is Dori.”

She leaned closer, completely invested now.

Minho smiled, “Can you say their names with me?”

Hae nodded eagerly, repeating them carefully. The lesson shifted naturally, sounds, letters, simple words, all tied back to the cats she adored. Writing their names. Saying what color they were. Counting how many cats there were. She didn’t even notice she was learning.

Across the room, Chan and Felix were quietly cleaning up the kitchen, moving in sync, voices low. “Manager just messaged,” Felix murmured.

Chan nodded without looking at his phone, “We wait.”

They had agreed on that. No scrolling. No reactions yet.

The rest of the boys were scattered around, some on laptops, some on the couch, some just sitting quietly. Everyone was doing something, but no one was fully relaxed.

Not yet and Hae felt it.

She didn’t know what it was, only that something felt different. Not bad. Just… tight. Like everyone was holding their breath. She glanced around once, then back down at the paper.

She didn’t ask. Instead, she focused harder on the lesson, carefully tracing the letters Minho showed her, nodding when he praised her effort.

“Good job,” Minho said softly. “You’re doing really well.”

That helped.

For now, she decided, she would pretend everything was normal. Maybe it would go away, maybe by bedtime everything was back to normal.

And if it didn’t, she would ask.

But not yet.

For now, there were cats to write about, pencils to hold and a quiet morning that still felt safe.

---

Lunch felt warm and noisy in the best way. Everyone was gathered around the table, plates full, the atmosphere lighter than it had been all morning. Hae sat between Jisung and Felix, her feet swinging slightly under the chair as she carefully held her kid-sized chopsticks.

She was getting better.

Not perfect, rice still escaped her more often than not, but bigger pieces of food stayed firmly between the sticks now and every small success made her eyes brighten.

She wasn’t very focused on eating though, she was far too busy talking. “I had Korean lesson today,” Hae announced proudly, pausing mid-bite. “With Eomma.”

Minho looked up immediately, “Oh?”

“At first it was boring,” she continued very seriously.

Minho gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “Boring?”

The boys laughed and Hae giggled too before quickly adding, “But then it was fun! Because it was about Soonie and Doongie and Dori.”

Minho relaxed instantly, “Ah. That makes more sense.”

Hae nodded enthusiastically, then lifted one finger. “And I can count now!”

Before anyone could stop her, she started counting out loud in Korean, her voice careful but confident as she reached higher and higher. When she hit thirty, she looked around expectantly.

The table erupted in praise.

“That’s amazing,” Chan said warmly. “You worked really hard.”

Felix smiled wide, “I’m so proud of you.”

Jisung clapped softly, beaming. “You did so well!”

Hae puffed up just a little at that, clearly pleased with herself. She opened her mouth to start talking about the cats again, but Minho gently cut in, tapping the edge of her plate.

“Food first,” he said with a small smile. “Then stories.”

Hae pouted, cheeks puffing slightly, but she didn’t argue. She looked back down at her plate and resumed eating, concentrating hard on using her chopsticks properly. It took her a while, she was slow and careful, But she finished.

Felix leaned over and brushed a gentle hand over her hair, “You ate really well.”

That earned him a shy smile.

Once lunch was done, Jeongin and Hyunjin gathered the dishes and headed to the kitchen, while Seungmin crouched beside Hae with a napkin. “Hold still,” he said gently, wiping her mouth and then her hands. “All clean.”

Only then was she allowed to hop down and run toward the living room to play. Chan watched her go, then turned to the others. “When we’re all done cleaning up,” he said calmly, “we’ll check the reactions together.”

No one objected.

They nodded, quiet but steady. For now, though, the apartment was filled with the sound of Hae’s soft footsteps, the clink of dishes and the feeling that, whatever the world was saying outside.

Inside, she was safe.

---

The living room felt smaller somehow. Not physically, but emotionally.

Hae was on the rug, completely in her own world, making Han quokka and her duck plushie “talk” to each other in tiny squeaky voices. The two plushies were apparently on a grand adventure involving a block castle and a very serious argument about who got the bigger pillow.

Behind her, the boys sat in a loose line on the couch, floor or armrest with their phones in hand. Before anyone unlocked their screens, Chan spoke quietly. “Whatever we see,” he said, “she comes first. Always.”

Everyone nodded.

No debate. No hesitation.

Then they opened their phones.

At first, the room filled with silence. A couple of frowns.

A quiet sigh from Changbin. A tight jaw from Hyunjin. Jisung exhaled slowly through his nose.

There were negative comments, of course there were. Questions, speculation and judgment. But then, the scrolling continued and the mood shifted.

Seungmin blinked, “…Wait.”

Jeongin leaned closer to his screen, “Look at this.”

Felix covered his mouth.

More and more posts appeared full with support, pride and love. STAY defending them, calling out people being disrespectful, shutting down gossip and protecting Hae without even knowing her.

“They’re already telling people not to take photos if they see her,” Minho said quietly, eyes soft.

Chan scrolled slower now, the tension easing from his shoulders. “They’re respecting the privacy request…”

Hyunjin nodded, voice low. “They’re saying she deserves to be a kid.”

Jisung swallowed, “some of them are saying they’ll protect her too.”

Even the media headlines were gentler than expected. Careful wording, respectful tone and a focus on safety, love and family.

Yes, there were people complaining, but STAY shut them down fast.

“She didn’t choose this life.” “They deserve privacy.” “They’re human.” “Protect the child.”

Felix’s breathing hitched. He turned his phone away, pressing his hand to his eyes.

A quiet sniffle.

Hyunjin glanced over, “You okay?”

Felix nodded, but his voice wobbled. “They’re being so kind…”

Tears spilled anyway and that’s when Hae noticed.

She stopped mid-play, duck plushie still in her hand. She walked over slowly, brows knitted. “Mom…?” she asked softly.

Felix looked at her quickly, wiping his cheeks, laughing through tears. “I’m okay, sweetheart,” he said. “These are happy tears.”

She didn’t fully understand, but she climbed into his lap anyway and wrapped her arms around him. Hugging him tightly, just in case.

Felix held her close, smiling into her hair. “I love you,” he whispered.

The boys watched the two of them, soft, quiet, real and felt the tight knot in their chests loosen. The world could be loud and cruel sometimes.

But today?

Today, the love was louder and Hae was safe, right there in their arms.

The moment lingered, Felix still holding Hae, the room soft with emotion. Then suddenly, Hae slid off his lap. Without a word, she ran down the hallway.

All eight heads turned at once.

Chan blinked. “Uh?”

Seungmin was already halfway up. “I’ll check”

But before either of them could move, Hae came running back. Her arms were full.

She stopped in front of Chan first and held out a plush.

Wolf Chan.

“For you,” she said softly.

Chan took it, confused but gentle. “Oh… thank you.”

Next she turned to Hyunjin, handing him Jiniret. Then Felix got Bbokari. Seungmin received Puppym.

She didn’t explain, she just ran back to her room again and the boys exchanged puzzled looks. Moments later she returned, slightly out of breath, carrying the rest.

Lee bit went to Minho. Dwaekki to Changbin. FoxINy to Jeongin.

Then she walked over to where Han quokka and her duck plushie were lying. She picked up Han quokka and carefully placed him in Jisung’s hands. She kept the duck.

Only then did she look at them, clutching the plush to her chest. “…Maybe we can play?” she asked nervously. Her eyes darted between them. She didn’t know how to explain the feeling in her chest, the tight air earlier, Felix crying and the grown-up tension she couldn’t name.

But she knew one thing. When people felt bad, playing helped.

The boys didn’t say it out loud, but every single one of them melted.

Changbin recovered first, Dwaekki suddenly came to life in his hands. “Oh no,” Changbin gasped in a squeaky voice, “Dwaekki says Hae looks VERY tickle-able.”

Hae squealed and bolted across the living room, “NOOO!”

The boys burst into laughter.

Jisung made Han quokka “hop” dramatically after her. Jeongin had FoxINy dramatically trip over the couch cushion. Hyunjin made Jiniret faint from “too much running.” Felix had Bbokari declare himself “the peace negotiator.” Minho made Lee bit calmly sip imaginary tea. Seungmin’s Puppym announced he was “too tired for chaos.” Chan had Wolf Chan narrating the entire situation like a nature documentary.

Hae laughed harder than she had all day. Real laughter. The kind that made her eyes scrunch and her voice disappear.

The tension dissolved. Phones forgotten, announcements forgotten and the world outside forgotten. For over an hour, the living room was nothing but plushies, silly voices, dramatic storylines and Hae’s bright giggles echoing off the walls.

And the boys understood, she hadn’t just wanted to play. She’d wanted to fix their hearts and somehow, she had.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: The boys take Hae with them to work, there she meets their manager

Warnings: Mostly fluff, brief mention of child abuse and child neglect, mention of someone having traumatic flashbacks but nothing is described just that they have flashbacks

A/n: Hiiiii, so originally this was going to be two parts, but I thought "Why bot upload it as one?" So here it is!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 21: Going to work

A few days later, Jeongin was the one helping Hae get dressed. He picked out a soft pastel outfit for her, something comfy but cute and tied her hair into two neat little braids. As he helped her button her tiny cardigan, he explained with a calm voice, “Today you’re coming with us to work, little duckling.”

Hae froze, “work?” she whispered nervously.

Jeongin nodded, smoothing her hair. “Yes. We’ll be at our company building. You don’t have to do anything scary, you’ll just stay with us. We want you to see where Appa, Dad, Mom, Baba, Papa, Dada, Eomma, and Bubba work.”

Hae’s brows furrowed deeply, “but… so many people…” she whispered.

Jeongin lifted her chin gently, “there will be a lot of people, but listen carefully, okay?”

She nodded slowly.

“One of us,” he said, tapping her forehead softly, “will always, always be with you. You won’t be alone even for one minute.” Hae relaxed a little, but the uncertainty still lingered in her eyes.

When they sat down for breakfast, the boys could immediately tell she was scared. She barely touched her food, mostly playing with her spoon and giving the bowl sad glances. Chan reached over and rubbed her back, “sweetheart, look at me.”

She peeked up at him.

“You’ll be safe. I promise.”

Minho added, “You don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to.”

Felix took her hand gently, “and we won’t let go of you, okay?”

Hyunjin leaned forward, catching her gaze. “And if you get scared, just tell Papa. I’ll help you.”

Jisung smiled warmly, “and if Papa’s busy, Appa is right here.”

Changbin ruffled her hair, “you won’t get lost. I’ll keep you in my arms the whole time if you want.”

Seungmin reached over with his softest voice, “you’ll be okay, Hae.”

Jeongin ended the reassurance circle with a tiny boop on her nose, “Bubba will protect you too.”

Hae looked around at all of them, heart pounding but comfort rising. “…Okay,” she whispered.

---

They all piled into the van after breakfast. Hae sat between Changbin and Felix, holding both their hands tightly. By the time they reached the JYPE building, her little legs were shaking with nerves. She stared up at the large building with big eyes, “…scary…” she mumbled.

Changbin immediately crouched down to her level, “want me to carry you?”

Hae nodded almost instantly.

Changbin scooped her up, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck, her face burying into the warm spot just under his jaw. Her small fists clung desperately to his hoodie, “got you, princess,” Changbin whispered.

Inside the lobby, the noise and bustle of people walking around made her flinch. Even with the boys surrounding her like a protective barrier, she refused to lift her head. She pressed herself closer into Changbin, trembling slightly. Her breath hitched. She whispered into his neck, barely audible, “Dada… don’t let go…”

Changbin held her tighter, hand supporting her back. “Never,” he whispered back.

Felix gently brushed her braid, “it’s okay, sweetheart. We’re right here.”

Hyunjin stayed close on her other side, “No one will come near you, I promise.”

Jeongin glared at anyone who even glanced in their direction. Chan led them quickly to avoid stares and Minho walked behind them like a guard.

They finally reached an empty dance studio. Chan opened the door and motioned for them to go inside. Changbin carried Hae directly to the corner of the room, sitting down with her still clinging like a koala.

She refused to look up.

Refused to loosen her grip.

Refused to even shift positions.

Hyunjin knelt in front of her, “sweetheart… it’s just us in here. No strangers.”

Hae didn’t reply.

Felix sat next to Changbin quietly, gently rubbing Hae’s back in small circles. “It’s safe, my love. You can look around when you’re ready.”

Minho sat beside them on the floor, “no rush, take your time.”

Chan turned on some soft music to make the room feel calmer. Jeongin sat cross-legged in front of them, “Do you want to stay with Dada the whole time?”

She nodded without lifting her face.

Changbin kissed her forehead gently, “okay. Dada won’t move.”

The boys didn’t push her.

They didn’t tell her to look up. They didn’t tell her to relax. They didn’t tell her to be brave.

They just sat with her.

Talking softly. Laughing gently. Letting her listen. Letting her breathe.

They made the room warm, safe and soft.

And slowly, very slowly, Hae peeked over Changbin’s shoulder.

Not fully looking around yet, but no longer hiding completely and that was enough for now.

---

Hae stayed in Changbin’s lap, arms wrapped tight around his neck like a little koala. But after a few minutes of gentle talking and reassurance, she finally lifted her head.

She peeked out first with one eye. Then slowly turned her head to look over Changbin’s shoulder.

The room was big and empty, except for the mirrors and the boys sitting around her.

She looked at the walls, the mirrors and at the corners. She then looked at the ceiling vents because sometimes scary people hid up high. Lastly she looked at the door, checking if anyone could walk in.

Changbin felt her small body loosen just a little, “you okay, princess?” he whispered softly. Hae nodded, still quiet and tense but no longer trembling. Slowly, with careful movements, she turned around in Changbin’s lap so she was facing the room. She clung to his hoodie with both fists, but she was looking now and the boys took that as a signal.

Chan whispered to Minho and Minho immediately got up, going to the speaker. Soft music filled the studio, music Hae recognized. “Do you want to see what we do here?” Chan asked gently.

Hae looked at him for a moment, still unsure, but eventually gave a tiny nod.

So the boys got into formation.

Jisung winked dramatically, “prepare to be AMAZED.”

Hyunjin smirked, “it’s our honor to perform for the princess.”

Felix bowed with flair, “for our beloved baby.”

Changbin turned his head slightly, “tell me if you like it, okay?” he whispered to Hae. She hugged him but kept watching. Then the music started and the boys danced, Powerful, sharp and perfectly in sync. Hae’s eyes grew big, her mouth opened in awe. Changbin whispered commentary behind her ear like a sports announcer.

“Look at Dad’s arms, he’s so strong. Oh, look at Appa, he’s so dramatic. See Bubba? He’s doing the jump he almost fell doing last week, don’t tell him I told you.”

Hae giggled softly.

When the dance ended, the boys struck a silly pose instead of their usual one. Hae burst into giggles, clapping her hands. “You dance SO well!!” she beamed.

All seven of them melted instantly.

Hyunjin approached slowly and knelt beside Changbin and Hae. “Sweetheart,” he said softly, “do you want to dance with us?”

Hae paused.

She looked at Changbin, then at the studio and then back at Hyunjin. “…Will you help me?” she whispered.

Hyunjin smiled so softly it could melt diamonds, “of course.”

She hesitated one more second, then nodded. “I want to dance.”

Changbin softly helped her stand, keeping one hand on her back to reassure her. Hyunjin gently took her small hand, “come on, darling. Papa’s right here.”

He led her to the middle of the room, where Minho crouched down to her level. “Watch our feet, kitten,” he said. “We’ll show you something easy.”

They played a slow part of the choreography. Step–step–tap, slide, hand wave and spin. Hae tried to follow, tripping over her own feet adorably, but she giggled each time she messed up. Soon all the boys joined in, making it more fun than technical.

Felix exaggerated his movements to make her laugh. Chan spun her gently by her hands. Jeongin danced next to her, mirroring her mistakes on purpose. Jisung added silly faces to every step. Changbin cheered loudly every time she did a move correctly. Minho and Hyunjin guided her hands and feet with soft touches. And Seungmin stayed behind her like a safe shadow, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

Soon she was smiling, laughing and dancing freely, with the biggest grin on her face. For a moment, she forgot she was scared.

For a moment, she was just Hae. Safe, having fun, surrounded by the boys who loved her more than anything. She wasn’t doing the choreography correctly at all, but it didn’t matter. She was happy and that was everything.

---

The boys were still dancing around Hae, laughing and enjoying themselves, when suddenly the studio door opened. Their manager stepped in, “hey guys, sorry I’m late! I wanted to…”

Hae froze, her eyes went wide, her breath caught and her tiny body stiffened.

And then she bolted. Not away. But straight to the safest person in the room.

Minho.

She grabbed the back of his pants so hard he winced, then hid entirely behind him, peeking out for half a second before curling into herself. Her little lip wobbled, tears filled her eyes and her shoulders trembled.

Minho immediately turned around, knelt down and scooped her into his lap, positioning his back like a shield between her and the manager. She buried her face in his neck, clutching his shirt with shaking hands. A small frightened sob escaped her.

Chan stepped forward instantly, expression gentle but firm. “Hyung, please… stay there a moment. You startled her.”

Changbin stepped beside him, “she’s still terrified of strangers. We need you to go slow. Really slow.”

The manager looked shocked and apologetic, “I…I didn’t mean to scare her. I thought she’d be playing with you guys…”

Chan offered a tight smile, “she was. Until the door opened suddenly.”

Meanwhile behind them, Minho sat on the floor, back turned fully toward the manager, shielding Hae from view. She clung to him so tightly his shirt stretched. Her breaths came out in short, panicked hiccups. A few tears dripped onto his collar.

Minho’s voice was low, soft and steady. “You’re safe, kitten. I’ve got you. Nobody’s going to hurt you, you’re okay.”

Hae shook her head weakly, “S…s…scary…d…door…loud…flash… flashback…”

She couldn’t say more, not getting any other words out of her throat.

Minho immediately rocked her gently, “you don’t have to explain, it’s okay. It’s okay, deep breaths, sweetheart.”

Hyunjin knelt right beside Minho, careful not to touch Hae without permission. “Baby girl… it’s Papa,” he whispered, “No one will come near you, the manager is far away. I promise.”

Felix sat down on her other side, voice soft as a lullaby. “My love… sweetheart… you’re safe. We’re all right here.”

But Hae kept crying, not loudly, but silently, painfully, like she was reliving something she never wanted to feel again.

Her tiny shoulders shook against Minho’s chest.

Felix’s eyes softened with heartbreak, “she’s really scared,” he whispered.

Seungmin, Jeongin and Jisung shared a worried look. This wasn’t just a normal scare, this was a trigger. Jisung whispered to Chan and the manager “Hyung… she’s not just startled, she’s remembering something bad.”

Jeongin added quietly, “she needs space to calm down, the manager shouldn’t be in the room right now.”

Seungmin nodded firmly, “she’ll only panic more with a stranger here.”

Chan turned to the manager, “I think it’s best if you step out for a bit.”

The manager raised both hands in surrender, “absolutely. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to cause this. I’ll come back when she’s ready or not at all if that’s better.”

He bowed slightly toward the group, “I’ll leave the door gently. No sudden movements.” Just like he said he closed the door slowly and quietly behind him.

As soon as the door clicked, Hyunjin stroked her braid softly. “He’s gone, sweetheart. Papa’s here.”

Felix leaned closer, “You’re safe, my love… no one is angry. No one is going to hurt you.”

Minho continued rocking her, pressing soft kisses to her temple. “We’re right here, kitten. You’re okay, let it out if you need to.”

Hae clung to his shirt tighter, face hidden, breathing slowly beginning to steady. Surrounded, protected and loved. The boys stayed there with her until she calmed enough to lift her head again.

---

It took a while, but eventually Hae’s trembling slowed. Her cries softened into shaky breaths.

Minho, still holding her securely on his lap, lifted one gentle hand and wiped her wet cheeks with his thumb. He brushed away every tear with infinite tenderness. Then he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe, kitten,” he whispered, “Papa, Mom, Dad, all of us, we’re right here. You’re safe.”

Hae didn’t respond with words. Instead she curled deeper into Minho’s chest, one hand gripping the fabric of his shirt and the other clutching the edge of his sleeve as if he might disappear if she let go.

The boys stayed quiet, giving her space to breathe and settle.

After a few minutes, Felix carefully suggested, “Sweetheart… if you want, you can look around the room again. Just to see that it’s only us here.”

Minho shifted his position slightly, turning so they were both facing the dance studio, but on the farthest side from the door.

Hae peeked up.

Her little eyes scanned the room, checking every corner to make sure no one else was there. The boys knew exactly what she was doing. She wasn’t just looking. She was making sure no one dangerous could hurt her. But even after seeing the room was empty, she didn’t move from Minho’s lap. She didn’t even loosen her grip on his shirt.

She stayed right there, curled up, small, vulnerable, but slowly calming down.

Then, barely above a whisper, a sound so soft the boys almost didn’t hear it, Hae asked. “…Is anyone angry?”

Her tiny voice cracked on the last word.

Hyunjin immediately leaned closer, “no, baby. Absolutely not.”

But she wasn’t done. She swallowed, shoulders curling inward, and whispered again. “Is the manager angry… that I… d-danced?”

The boys all froze internally.

Minho tightened his arms around her protectively, Felix’s eyes softened with heartbreak, Hyunjin’s expression twisted painfully and Chan’s breath shook.

Felix crouched down to her eye level, softest voice he had ever used. “Sweetheart… why would you think anyone would be angry because you danced?”

Hae blinked slowly, her small fingers twisting the fabric of Minho’s hoodie. Then in a trembling whisper, “…the mean people… always got angry if I danced, or sang, or hummed…or… laughed.”

It felt like the world stopped. A throb of silence filled the room.

Chan’s jaw clenched.

Changbin’s eyebrows pulled together in pain.

Jisung covered his mouth.

Jeongin looked away, his eyes shining.

Hyunjin’s heart visibly broke across his face.

And Minho?

Minho hugged her closer, one hand cradling the back of her head, as if trying to physically shield her from every memory she had ever had.

“Oh sweetheart…” Felix whispered, tears forming in his eyes. “My love… you’re allowed to dance. You’re allowed to sing. You’re allowed to hum. And you’re allowed to laugh.”

Hyunjin leaned forward too, “We love it when you dance, baby. It makes us happy. So, so happy.”

Minho pressed another soft kiss to her hair, “you never have to hide joy here.”

Hae sniffled, wiping her eyes with her fist. “S-sorry… for crying… and getting scared…”

Before she could finish, Jisung cut in gently but firmly. “No. No apologies, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Jeongin nodded, “you reacted because you were scared, that’s not your fault.”

Chan added quietly, “you never need to apologize for fear, we just want you safe.”

When the crying finally stopped and her breathing was steady again, Felix asked softly. “Sweetheart… would you like to try again later? To meet the manager, but only if you want to?”

Hae hesitated. She looked scared.

But she also trusted them.

So after a moment she whispered, “…okay, but… only in a bit.”

Hyunjin nodded with a gentle smile, “we’ll give you time, baby.”

Minho rubbed her back soothingly, “we’ll ask him to come back in 30 minutes and you can stay right here with me. In my arms or on Papa’s lap, okay?”

Hae nodded against his chest.

Felix reached out a hand, not touching yet, just offering. “And Mom will stay right here too.”

Hyunjin smiled warmly, “and Papa isn’t going anywhere either.”

Hae relaxed, sinking fully into Minho, her head resting against his collarbone. She whispered, “…okay, I feel safe now.”

And Minho held her a little tighter, silently promising she’d never feel unsafe again.

---

Minho was the first to speak once Hae had fully calmed down, “I think it would be best,” he said gently, eyes never leaving Hae, “if she stays in my lap while meeting him.”

Hae tightened her grip on his shirt slightly at that and Minho immediately wrapped an arm around her back.

“We’ll sit as far away from the door as possible,” he continued, “she doesn’t need to move, she doesn’t need to talk. She just needs to know she’s safe.”

Everyone agreed immediately.

They rearranged the room slowly and carefully, Minho sat on the floor, back against the mirrored wall furthest from the door, Hae curled securely in his lap.

Hyunjin and Felix sat close on either side of them, forming a soft barrier.

The couch held the rest of the boys, Changbin, Jisung, Jeongin, and Seungmin, all within Hae’s line of sight.

Chan stood near the door, ready to intercept anything if needed.

The manager would sit near the entrance, keeping his distance.

Chan crouched down in front of Hae, “sweetheart,” he said softly, “you don’t have to say or do anything. He just wants to meet you so he knows who he’s protecting, okay?”

Hae nodded, eyes downcast, fingers twisting Minho’s sleeve.

Minho whispered against her hair, “You can hide as much as you want. Eomma’s got you.”

Chan stepped out briefly and returned with the manager. This time, there was no sudden movement. The manager walked in slowly, his hands visible at all times, movements deliberate and calm.

He stopped just inside the door, then carefully sat down on a chair near it, keeping his body angled sideways rather than directly facing Hae. “I want to say I’m really sorry,” he said gently, “I didn’t mean to scare you earlier.”

Hae peeked at him briefly from Minho’s chest, then whispered so softly the room almost missed it. “…It’s okay.”

Her voice trembled just a little, “I wasn’t really scared of you…just…other things.”

The manager nodded, clearly moved. “Thank you for telling me,” he said quietly, “and thank you for being here.”

She didn’t look at him again after that, instead pressing her cheek back into Minho’s chest.

Chan sat down beside the manager, keeping his body open and relaxed. “We wanted to talk briefly about the statement,” Chan said, “our priority is Hae’s privacy.”

The manager nodded immediately, “we’ll make it very clear,” he assured. “She will not be shown, named or involved unless she explicitly wants to be. Security will be adjusted accordingly.”

As they talked, Minho gently rocked Hae in small movements, Hyunjin softly brushed her hair and Felix kept his hand within her line of sight so she always knew where he was.

After a few minutes, Hae shifted slightly. She tugged lightly on Felix’s sleeve, “…Mom?” she whispered.

Felix leaned in immediately, “yes, my love?”

“…I’m thirsty.”

Felix smiled, “we have water, want me to get it for you?”

Hae thought for a moment, then very quietly, she said, “…I can get it.”

The room stilled.

Minho looked down at her, “are you sure, kitten?”

She nodded, nervous but determined. Minho loosened his hold just enough to let her slide down, his hands staying close in case she changed her mind.

Hae walked slowly to the water station, she poured herself a small cup carefully. Then she noticed the plate of cookies next to it. She stared at them for a moment, her little brows furrowed. Then, with shaky hands, she picked one up.

She turned toward the manager. Every step was hesitant. She stopped in front of him, held out the cookie without a word, eyes fixed on the floor.

The manager’s face softened instantly, “thank you,” he said gently, taking it. “That’s very kind of you.”

Hae nodded once, quickly, then turned around and hurried back to Minho, climbing back into his lap and burying her face against his chest. Minho wrapped his arms around her instantly, “you were very brave,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I’m so proud of you.”

He kissed the top of her head softly, “you’re safe, nothing bad is going to happen.”

Hae relaxed again, safe where she belonged, having taken one small, courageous step and that was more than enough.

After a few more calm minutes of conversation with Chan, the manager slowly stood up from his chair near the door. “I won’t take up any more of your time,” he said gently, “and… thank you for letting me meet her today.”

His gaze shifted briefly toward Hae, who was still curled tightly in Minho’s lap, her arms wrapped around his torso. “You were very brave,” the manager added softly, making sure his voice stayed calm and low.

Hae didn’t lift her head. She stayed pressed against Minho’s chest, fingers clenched in his shirt.

The manager gave a small nod to the boys and took a few steps toward the door. Just before he reached it, Hae peeked out, only a little. Her eyes were still shiny, her face tired. Slowly, hesitantly, she lifted her hand.

A tiny wave.

The manager noticed immediately and stopped. He smiled warmly and waved back just as gently. “Goodbye, Hae,” he said.

She didn’t answer. But she watched him until the door closed quietly behind him.

The click of the door echoed softly through the studio and this time, she didn’t flinch.

Minho tightened his arms around her slightly, lowering his head to kiss her hair. “You did so well,” he murmured softly, “I’m very proud of you.”

Hae relaxed fully into him, her breathing finally steady.

Felix crouched down in front of them, smiling gently. “That was really brave,” he said, “you were scared, but you stayed.”

Hyunjin reached over and brushed her hair away from her face, “you didn’t have to do anything,” he said softly, “but you still tried. That took courage.”

Chan knelt down so he was at her level, making sure not to crowd her. “I’m really proud of you,” he said warmly, “you handled that better than a lot of grown-ups would.”

Changbin gave her a small thumbs-up from the couch, “that was super brave,” he added quietly.

Jisung smiled at her, eyes soft. “You listened to your feelings and trusted us. That’s important.”

Jeongin nodded in agreement, “you did really well.”

Hae looked around at all of them, eyes wide, taking it in. “…Really?” she whispered.

Minho nodded immediately, “really.”

The mood lingered heavy for a moment, until Jisung suddenly clapped his hands loudly. “Alright,” he announced dramatically, “emergency situation.”

Hae blinked, confused.

Jeongin grinned, “she needs cheering up.”

Before anyone could stop them, Jisung dropped to the floor with an exaggerated groan. “Oh no… I’ve been defeated by… FEELINGS.”

Jeongin gasped loudly and rushed over, “APP…” he stopped himself, then corrected quickly, “Jisung! Stay with me!”

Hae let out a small giggle before she could stop herself. Minho noticed instantly. “Oh?” he said softly, “was that a laugh?”

Felix pretended to trip and dramatically collapsed next to Jisung. “I can’t move! The sadness has spread!”

Hyunjin joined in with the worst fake crying noises imaginable, “waaah… she didn’t laugh hard enough…”

Hae burst into real laughter now, covering her mouth.

“Nooo!” Jeongin jumped up and started flailing his arms in the silliest dance possible. “I’m dancing the sadness away!”

Jisung suddenly popped back up, “it worked! I’m healed!”

He struck an over-the-top superhero pose. Hae laughed so hard she leaned forward, almost sliding out of Minho’s lap. Minho caught her easily, steady and calm. “There it is,” he murmured, “that laugh.”

Hae wiped at her eyes, smiling wide, “you’re all silly,” she said softly.

Felix grinned, “Mission successful.”

As the laughter faded, Hae curled back against Minho, tired but lighter. The fear had passed, she was safe and loved and she was smiling again.

---

When it was finally time to leave, the boys didn’t rush. Minho helped Hae stand, keeping a steady hand at her back while Changbin opened the door and Chan checked the hallway first, just to be sure it was quiet.

“It’s okay,” Minho murmured softly, “we’re going home.”

Hae nodded, tired now, the adrenaline long gone. She didn’t speak, just stayed close while they walked through the building and into the parking garage. Once inside the van, she hesitated for a second before climbing in. Then she looked up at Minho and whispered, “can you sit next to me?”

Minho’s answer was immediate, “of course.”

Jisung slid into the seat on her other side without being asked, instinctively placing himself there. Hae barely had time to settle before her head tipped sideways, resting against Jisung’s shoulder. Within minutes, her breathing evened out. She was asleep.

Jisung adjusted carefully so she was comfortable, one arm lightly around her back so she wouldn’t slump forward. Minho pulled the seatbelt gently into place and draped his jacket over her legs. The van was quiet as Chan started driving.

“She did really well today,” Felix said softly, careful not to wake her.

Chan nodded, eyes on the road. “She told us what scared her, that took a lot of courage.”

Hyunjin glanced back at Hae, asleep and peaceful for now. “I hate that she even thinks people will be angry at her for dancing or laughing.”

Changbin’s jaw tightened, “whatever they did to her before… it wasn’t just neglect.”

Minho’s hand stayed steady on Hae’s knee, grounding both of them. “She trusted us enough to say something. That matters.”

Seungmin spoke quietly, thoughtful. “We need to make sure she always knows she can talk. No pressure, no consequences.”

Jeongin nodded, “and if she doesn’t want to talk, that’s okay too.”

There was a pause before Chan spoke again, more carefully this time. “…We should think about a therapist.”

No one reacted badly. No one argued.

“A child specialist,” Chan continued, “someone who works with trauma.”

Felix swallowed, “I think… eventually, yes. But not yet.”

Minho agreed immediately, “for now, we focus on safety, routine and trust.”

Hyunjin added quietly, “she’s already been through enough.”

They all nodded.

For now, she didn’t need answers. She needed warmth, consistency and love.

When they arrived home, Chan parked carefully, turning off the engine as softly as possible.

Jisung shifted slightly, “I’ve got her.”

He unbuckled Hae gently and lifted her into his arms without waking her. She instinctively curled closer, fingers gripping his shirt.

Inside, the house was dim and quiet. Instead of taking her to her bed, Jisung sank down onto the couch, settling her against his chest. She let out a tiny sigh, completely relaxed. Minho tucked the blanket around them both.

“She’s out,” Felix whispered with a small smile. Jisung leaned his head back, already drifting himself. “Yeah… I might be too.”

The house settled into silence again, Hae asleep, safe and warm, surrounded by the people who would protect her from now on.

---

Hae woke slowly. At first, she didn’t open her eyes. She just shifted, burrowing instinctively closer to the warm chest beneath her. Jisung was still half-asleep, but the moment he felt her move, his arm tightened around her automatically, pulling her closer.

“It’s okay,” he murmured sleepily, “I’ve got you.”

Hae relaxed immediately, her small hand gripping his shirt as she pressed her face into his chest. Her breathing evened out again, but she didn’t fall back asleep.

Instead, she stayed there, listening to his heartbeat. After a few minutes, she whispered, barely audible, “…Appa?”

Jisung hummed softly in response.

“You’re not mad… right?”

Jisung’s eyes opened fully. He shifted just enough to look down at her, careful not to startle her. “Mad?” he repeated gently, “No. Not even a little.”

She nodded, but the worry didn’t leave her face completely. “…Today was loud,” she said quietly, “and scary.”

“I know,” Jisung replied softly, “you did really well.”

She stayed quiet after that, but she didn’t pull away.

---

Later that evening, when the house was dim and quiet, Hae stirred again. This time, she sat up slightly, rubbing her eyes.

Jisung noticed immediately, “hey,” he whispered, “you okay?”

Hae hesitated, then nodded slowly. “…Can I go see Eomma?”

Jisung didn’t question it, “of course.”

He carried her gently to Minho, who was sitting nearby, reading quietly. Minho looked up the moment he saw her and opened his arms without a word. Hae climbed into his lap, curling in like she’d done so many times before.

Minho brushed her hair back gently, “you’re safe,” he said softly, “you did nothing wrong today.”

Her shoulders relaxed.

After a while, she shifted again.

“…Mom?” she whispered this time. Felix immediately scooted closer, smiling softly. “Come here, sweetheart.”

She moved into Felix’s arms, resting her head against his shoulder. Felix rocked her gently, humming under his breath. “No one’s upset,” he reassured her quietly, “we’re just proud.”

She nodded again, eyes fluttering closed for a moment before opening again. She wasn’t done yet.

Later, when she padded quietly down the hallway again, Chan noticed immediately.

He crouched down to her level. “Hey,” he said gently, “bad thoughts?”

She nodded, “…you’re not mad, right?”

Chan’s heart clenched. He pulled her into a gentle hug. “Never,” he said firmly, “not for being scared, not for crying and not for anything you did today.”

She sniffed and leaned into him.

“I’m proud of you,” he added softly.

That seemed to be what she needed. She didn’t cry or panic. She just accepted the comfort, soaking it in like she was storing it somewhere safe inside herself.

When it was finally time for bed, Hae didn’t want to be alone and no one expected her to.

She ended up drifting between them, curling beside Hyunjin for a while, holding Jeongin’s hand until she fell asleep, murmuring softly to Changbin when he tucked the blanket around her.

Each time, the boys reassured her.

“You’re okay.” “You did well.” “We understand.” “We’re not mad.” “You’re safe.”

And slowly, bit by bit, the tension of the day faded.

By the time Hae finally fell asleep for good, surrounded by familiar warmth and quiet voices, her breathing was steady and calm. She wasn’t alone and she wasn’t in trouble. She was home.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: The boys take Hae to a cat café

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff in the form of cats

A/n: Hiii, here's part 2 hope you enjoy it <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 20 part 2: Sir Whiskerbottom

After lunch, the boys helped Hae put on her shoes and coat. She looked between them expectantly, bouncing on her toes. “Where are we going?” she asked for the fifteenth time.

Chan only grinned, “you’ll see soon, sweetheart.”

Minho tied her shoelaces tighter, “no running off yet, kitten.”

Hyunjin put her hair in two neat braids, “for maximum adorableness,” he said.

Felix grabbed her hand, “you ready, my love?”

Jeongin gave her a gentle pat on the head, “let’s go, little duckling.”

In the van, Hae sat between Felix and Jeongin, swinging her legs. She had begged to bring Han quokka, but Chan explained softly that he might get dirty or eaten by a cat. Hae gasped at the thought. “Cats eat Han quokka??”

“No, no!” Chan laughed, “just… maybe chewed a little.”

That was enough. She left Han quokka safe at home after she tugged him in and gave him a kiss on his head.

When they arrived, the sign on the window read, “CLOSED — Private Reservation”

Hae blinked up at it, “what does that mean?”

“It means,” Hyunjin said, opening the door for her, “this whole place… is just for you today.”

The moment she stepped inside, her mouth dropped open.

There were cats.

Everywhere.

On shelves, on cat trees, in beds, under tables, atop blankets, on the windowsill and curled in corners.

And all those furry heads turned toward her.

Hae lit up brighter than a sunrise, “CATS!!” and then she ran.

She sprinted toward the nearest cat, a chubby white one curled in a sunbeam. The cat flinched at first, startled by the tiny rocket ship running at it, but Hae stopped just before reaching it, kneeling gently. “Hi baby…” she whispered softly.

The cat blinked, sniffed her hand and then leaned into her touch.

Hae squealed quietly, “He likes me!!”

Within minutes, three more cats wandered over, a long-haired calico, a sleek black one and a ginger tabby with round eyes. They circled her like she was some magical creature.

Felix sat on the floor nearby, petting a fluffy grey cat. “She attracts animals like bees to honey,” he whispered proudly. Jeongin lay on his stomach on a beanbag, playing with a toy wand for two kittens. “Look, Hae! Look! They’re fighting over the feather!”

Minho was already in full cat-dad mode, sitting cross-legged with two cats in his lap, another headbutting his hand and one climbing up his back. He wasn’t complaining.

Chan sat nearby, smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

Hyunjin took photos nonstop, documenting every moment.

A worker brought them small pastries and drinks and little bowls of cat-safe treats. Hae fed treats to every cat she could reach. “You get a snack! And you get a snack! And you! And you! All of you!”

A tiny kitten climbed gently onto her lap and she froze, eyes wide with awe. “Papa… look…” she whispered to Hyunjin, when he looked over he nearly passed out from how cute it was.

Chan leaned over, “you have a new friend.”

Hae nodded very seriously, “I’m his maid now. I have to serve him food forever.”

Felix giggled, “oh, sweetheart… that’s not what maid means”

“It is now,” Hae declared, petting the kitten gently.

The next two hours were filled with Hae giggling nonstop, cats climbing onto her lap, cats trying to steal Minho’s attention, Chan helping her brush a cat gently, Felix letting a kitten sleep in his hoodie, Jeongin teaching her how to use a feather toy and Hyunjin pretending each cat needed an introduction, “this is Sir Whiskerbottom. He is very important.”

At one point, Hae had five cats around her. She held out her arms dramatically, “I am cat queen now.”

“Yes you are,” Minho said without hesitation.

Hae didn’t stop smiling, not once. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright, her hands gentle as she pet every furry friend. The boys watched her and felt their hearts tighten with love. Every laugh she let out, every little giggle, every soft whisper to a cat. It reminded them why they were doing all of this.

To give her a life full of love, safety, and joy. And today? Today, she was pure sunshine.

---

After two hours of pure joy, Chan checked the time and sighed softly. “Sweetheart,” he said gently, “we need to go now.”

Hae froze mid–cat cuddle, “…go?” she echoed, eyes widening.

“Yes,” Minho said softly. “The cats need to rest now and we still need to go home.”

Hae’s bottom lip trembled immediately, “but… but I love them,” she whispered, hugging a kitten who had settled in her lap.

Hyunjin rubbed her back, “we know, angel and we’ll come again soon. But for now… we have to let them sleep.”

Hae took this very personally. She looked around at the cats, like someone just told her she had to leave her entire extended family behind. “…can I say goodbye?” she asked, clutching her little hands to her chest.

The boys exchanged glances.

Chan smiled gently, “of course you can.”

None of them were prepared for what happened next.

Hae walked to the first cat she met, she crouched down respectfully. “Goodbye, Marshmallow. You’re soft and sweet. Sleep well.”

Then she walked to the next cat, “goodbye, Princess Whisker. You were so pretty today.”

Next, “goodbye Mr. Orange… thank you for letting me pet you.”

Next, “goodbye, Baby Socks, I love your tiny paws.”

Next, “goodbye Cloud, you are the fluffiest cat ever.”

Next, “goodbye Shadow, please don’t be scared of me next time.”

Next, “goodbye Blueberry, I hope you get yummy snacks.”

Over. And over. And over.

Every. Single. Cat.

Fifteen minutes later she was still going. Hyunjin whispered to Felix, “We’re never leaving.” Felix whispered back, “This is her Oscar speech for cats.”

Chan finally stepped in, “sweetheart… we really have to go now.”

Hae pouted deeply, “but I didn’t say goodbye to Sprinkles yet…”

Minho picked her up gently, “you can wave from the door.” Hae reluctantly allowed it.

As they walked toward the exit, Hae twisted in Minho’s arms to wave frantically. “Goodbye! I love you all! I’ll come back! Sleep well! Eat snacks! Don’t fight!”

The cats did not respond, but Hae still waved like she was saying goodbye to royalty.

Even when Minho carried her outside, even when they walked down the sidewalk and even when the café was no longer visible. She kept waving.

Hyunjin whispered, emotional, “she really… she really waved until the end.”

Jeongin snorted softly, “she has more dedication than all of us.”

Felix buckled Hae carefully into her seatbelt, noticing how her eyes were already drooping. “Did you have fun, my love?” he asked softly. Hae gave a tiny nod, “…the best day ever…so many kitties…” she mumbled. Felix smiled and stroked her hair.

Within seconds, her head slowly tilted to the side and rested against Felix’s arm. She fell asleep instantly. Peaceful, completely exhausted and a tiny smile on her lips.

Felix carefully rested her head on his shoulder, holding her securely as the van started moving.

Hyunjin turned to look at her, “she looks like an angel.”

Chan smiled from the front seat, “I’m really glad she enjoyed it.”

Minho looked out the window, expression soft. “We’ll definitely bring her again.”

Jeongin nodded, “she deserves every good day.”

The car drove on, quiet and warm, with a sleeping Hae in the back, covered in cat fur, happiness and love.

---

When they arrived home, Hae was still half-asleep in Felix’s arms. Her face was smudged with cat fur, her clothes covered in it and her hair was sticking out in every direction. Felix chuckled softly, “we definitely need a bath, my love.”

Hae nodded weakly, rubbing her eyes. “’Kay… but Bubba stay too?”

Jeongin smiled and patted her head, “of course, tiny. Bubba’s right here.”

Felix carried her to the bathroom while Jeongin filled the tub with warm water and added strawberry-scented bubble soap. Hae perked up a little at the smell. Felix carefully undressed her and lowered her into the warm water. She let out a small sigh and relaxed.

Felix gently washed her hair, Jeongin scrubbed her arms and back with a soft washcloth and Hae quietly played with the bubbles, poking them with her little finger. “You had fun today, hmm?” Felix asked. Hae nodded, very sleepy again. “The kitties loved me… Papa saw it…”

Jeongin smiled softly, “yes, they loved you a lot.”

Felix rinsed her hair, Jeongin wrapped her in a fluffy towel and both dried her together like a tiny assembly line of gentle affection. They dressed her in her softest pajamas and took her to the kitchen for dinner.

Chan and Minho had made a simple dinner, nothing overwhelming, knowing Hae was exhausted. Hyunjin had cut up a large bowl of watermelon for dessert.

When Hae sat down next to Chan, she pressed herself quietly against his arm.

“Tired, sweetheart?” Chan asked softly. She nodded.

But when Minho placed her food in front of her, she still reached for her kid chopsticks.

“Want to try a little?” Hyunjin asked gently. Hae nodded again.

She attempted picking up a piece of meat, but it slipped. She tried a piece of vegetable, held it for two seconds before dropping it. Her brows scrunched, pout forming.

Felix leaned over and adjusted her grip, “here, sweetheart, like this.”

She tried again. Held the food and successfully brought it to her mouth.

The boys cheered softly.

“Good job!” “Look at you!” “You’re amazing, Hae.” “Papa’s proud.”

She offered a tiny sleepy smile.

For the rest of the meal, whenever she struggled, one of the boys fed her gently with their own chopsticks. No frustration, no pressure, just love and patience.

When Hyunjin brought out watermelon, Chan gave her a fork instead. She ate the watermelon without trouble and looked almost proud to have “won” against something.

After dinner, Chan asked softly, “Do you want to play a little, sweetheart?”

Hae shook her head and walked straight to the couch. She climbed onto it, held her arms up to Chan and whispered, “Dad… cuddle…” Chan’s heart melted into a puddle. He sat beside her, lifting her into his lap and wrapped a blanket around her tiny body.

She pressed her cheek to his chest, instantly relaxed.

Felix smiled, “I think she’s done for the day.”

Hyunjin picked a gentle animated movie and turned off the lights except for a soft lamp. The living room became cozy and warm, quiet breathing, soft music from the movie and the presence of the family that loved her.

Halfway through the movie, her breathing slowed. Her hand slipped from Chan’s shirt. Her eyelids fluttered once, twice and then she fell completely asleep curled up against Chan’s chest, Han quokka still tucked safely in her arms from when Felix brought it to her during dinner.

Chan kissed the top of her head, “goodnight, little one,” he whispered.

The boys watched the movie in silence, content and peaceful, Hae’s soft breathing the sweetest sound in the room. It had been a full day, a happy day and Hae ended it exactly where she always wanted to be, safe, loved, protected and Home.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae has a nightmare and looks for comfort by her Papa

Warnings: Mentions of nightmares, Hae talks about a scary shadow, nothing really described much mostly it's just cute.

A/n: Hii, so I really didn't want to make this two parts as well, but I wanted this to be a special chapter for our new Papa. I hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 20 part 1: Papa will keep you safe

The entire house was quiet, all the boys had gone to bed hours ago. The only sound in the hallway was the soft hum of night lights and the faint ticking of a clock somewhere far away. In her room, Hae jolted awake. Her little body trembling, her breaths shaky and uneven.

Her nightmare still clung to her like cold fingers. She hugged Han quokka close to her chest, her small hands trembling around the plushie. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she looked around her room.

The walls felt too big, the shadows too dark and the silence too loud.

She whimpered, then quickly covered her mouth, afraid that even the smallest noise might bring back what she saw in her dream. After a few seconds, she slid out of bed, her bare feet quietly touching the floor.

She needed someone, someone warm and someone safe. So without even thinking, her tiny legs carried her into the hallway. Hae rubbed at her eyes with one fist, Han Quokka tucked close with the other.

She walked past Jisung’s room, past Minho’s, past Chan’s.

She was searching for one person.

“Papa…” she whispered softly to herself, testing the word, as if she wasn’t sure she was allowed to use it yet.

She finally recognized Hyunjin’s door because he had put a tiny Jinniret sticker on the frame for her. She gently reached up and pushed the door open.

Hyunjin was asleep, hair spread over his pillow, breathing slow and peaceful.

Hae padded toward him, eyes glossy with tears, voice barely above a whisper. “Papa…? Papa, can I sleep with you…?”

Hyunjin stirred, his eyebrows twitching at the sound of her voice. He blinked awake, squinting into the darkness until he saw her tiny silhouette. “Hae…?” he whispered sleepily, voice low and raspy from just waking up. “What’s wrong, sweet girl…?”

Hae sniffled, wiping her eyes. “Papa… can I sleep with you? Please?”

The word didn’t register in his sleepy brain yet, what he understood immediately, however, was that she was scared.

He lifted his blanket open without hesitation, “come here, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”

Hae climbed into his bed, crawling into his arms like it was the safest place she knew. Hyunjin gently tugged the blanket over both of them, one arm wrapping securely around her back, the other hand smoothing her hair. “Nightmare?” he whispered.

Hae nodded against his chest, “it was scary… really scary…”

Hyunjin pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “You’re safe now,” he whispered, voice warm and soft and full of love. “I’m right here. No one can hurt you.”

Her tiny fingers clung to his shirt, relaxing only when she felt his warmth fully surround her. Soon, her breathing steadied. Hyunjin’s breathing matched hers and within minutes, they both drifted peacefully back to sleep. Hae curled against him, Hyunjin holding her protectively through the night.

---

Sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting warm gold across the room. Hyunjin slowly woke, feeling something warm on his chest. He looked down and saw Hae curled against him, Han Quokka tucked safely between them.

His heart melted instantly, but then something clicked in his memory. Her whisper from the night before. “Papa… can I sleep with you?”

His eyes widened. He lay there frozen for a moment, then slowly, a smile spread across his face soft, warm and emotional. “She called me Papa…” he whispered to himself.

His heart felt too full, his eyes stinging with happy tears. He gently hugged Hae closer, whispering into her messy hair. “Thank you, Hae… I’ll be the best Papa for you.”

He kissed her forehead softly and held her a little tighter as she continued sleeping peacefully. Hyunjin finally had his nickname and it was perfect.

---

Chan woke earlier than usual, deciding he wanted a little extra time to help Hae get dressed before breakfast. He walked quietly to her room, smiling at the thought of how excited she always was in the mornings.

He gently knocked but there was no response. He opened the door quietly and froze.

Her bed was empty.

The blanket was pushed aside, her pillow flattened from where she had slept earlier, but the room itself was silent.

Chan’s chest tightened.

Okay… don’t panic. She’s probably in the bathroom. Or maybe already with one of the guys…

He checked the bathroom. Empty.

His heartbeat picked up a little. “Where did she go…?”

He moved down the hallway, checking the doors one by one.

Minho’s room? No Hae. Jisung’s? No Hae. Jeongin’s? No Hae. Felix’s? Not here.

Seungmin’s? Not here either. Changbin’s? Empty too.

The last door was Hyunjin’s.

Chan pushed it open, already starting to ask “Hyunjin, have you se—”

He stopped mid-sentence and smiled.

There, curled up under Hyunjin’s blankets, was a tiny Hae tucked safely into Hyunjin’s arms. Her cheek was pressed against his chest, one hand clutching Han quokka, the other loosely gripping Hyunjin’s shirt.

Hyunjin blinked sleepily, hair a complete fluffy mess, eyes barely open. He tightened his arm around Hae protectively the moment the door opened.

Hae lifted her head a little, eyes puffy with sleep. “Dad…?” she whispered, voice small and soft. “You okay…?”

Chan melted instantly.

The worry in her little voice, the sleepy expression, the way she clung to Hyunjin. He stepped further into the room, smiling warmly. “I’m okay, sweetheart. I was just looking for you,” he said gently. “Breakfast will be ready soon and I wanted to help you get dressed.”

Hae rubbed one eye with her fist, “sorry… I had a nightmare…” She leaned back against Hyunjin. “So I went to Papa’s room… ’cause I was scared. Papa let me sleep here. Is that okay…?”

Chan’s grin softened even further. Not only was she safe, she had given Hyunjin his nickname and said it so casually, so trustingly, like she’d been using it forever.

“That’s more than okay,” Chan said warmly. “I’m so sorry you had a nightmare, but I’m really glad Papa was here to protect you.”

Hyunjin, now officially awake, couldn’t stop the proud, soft smile blooming across his face. Hae hugged him a little closer as if demonstrating, “he kept me safe from the bad dream.”

Chan nodded, “that’s what we’re all here for. To keep you safe.” Then he looked at Hyunjin, “Hyunjin, could you get her dressed and ready for breakfast? She clearly feels safe with you this morning.”

Hyunjin nodded immediately, “of course,” he murmured. “I’ve got her.”

He sat up, keeping Hae balanced on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck without hesitation and he lifted her effortlessly.

Hae talked nonstop as Hyunjin carried her, still sleepy and warm. “And Papa… the scary shadow in my dream tried to grab me… but when I came here… it went away… and I wasn’t scared anymore…”

Hyunjin listened with his whole heart. “Good,” he whispered, kissing her head gently. “I’ll always chase the bad dreams away. Always.”

Hae giggled softly, leaning into him.

When they reached her room, Hyunjin set her gently on the bed and knelt in front of her. “Let’s pick out something cute,” he said softly. Hae smiled and reached for his hand, all the fear from the nightmare gone because she knew Papa had her.

---

Hyunjin came into the dining room carrying Hae, her arms wrapped around his neck, her cheek still pressed against his shoulder from sleepiness.

The boys all turned to look, Chan, Felix, Changbin, Minho, Jisung, Seungmin, and Jeongin and every single one of them melted at the sight. They knew Hyunjin never looked this proud in the morning. He practically glowed.

Hae sat beside Felix and across from Hyunjin, her little legs swinging under the table. Chan placed a small plate of food in front of her, “Eat well, sweetheart,” he said. But Hae didn’t even look at the food, she took a big breath and immediately began talking. Like a switch had been flipped.

“So I was sleeping and then the nightmare came and there was this big shadow and it was REALLY big, like this big, Papa” She spread her arms wide.

Hyunjin leaned back dramatically, “Oh! That’s huge!”

The boys chuckled quietly.

“And it tried to GRAB me but I ran and I picked up Han quokka cause he was scared too, he was crying but I told him it’s okay because I’ll protect you”

Felix whispered gently, “Baby, eat a little, okay?”

Hae continued talking, “so then the scary shadow followed me but I went to Papa’s room and then Papa hugged me and then the shadow ran away because Papa is strong and protects me.”

Hyunjin flushed, pretending to brush imaginary dust off his shoulder. “Well, you know… Papa is very powerful.”

Changbin snorted.

Hae kept going, “and Han quokka was shivering! He was SO scared, Mom, he was shaking like this” she vibrated dramatically. “But I hugged him and told him ‘don’t be scared I’ll protect you’ because he is my best friend”

Jeongin giggled into his cup.

“AND ALSO can we buy clothes for Han quokka??” Everyone blinked.

Hae continued, “He always wears the same shirt. I don’t want him to wear the same shirt forever. I want him to have cute outfits. Like how you guys buy cute clothes for me! Then he can have pajamas and shirts and a jacket and maybe a little hat and…”

Felix gently placed a hand on her back, “Hae, sweetheart… baby… you need to eat.”

She blinked up at him, finally noticing her untouched food. “I forgot,” she whispered.

So she picked up her kid chopsticks, mouth already pouting in concentration. She tried to grab a piece of egg, but it slipped. She tried again, but it slipped again.

Her little shoulders sagged.

Felix quickly leaned in, “It’s okay, my love,” he murmured. “Mommy will help you.”

He picked up his own chopsticks and gently fed her a bite. Hae’s face lit up instantly, “thank you, Mom.” Felix melted into a puddle.

Once Hae was done eating (mostly thanks to Felix feeding her), Jisung pulled out a napkin with dramatic flair. “Appa cleaning service! Sit still, princess.”

Hae giggled as he wiped her mouth, cheeks and hands. She always giggled when Jisung cleaned her up, something about his silly faces probably.

When her hands were clean, Minho ruffled her hair softly. “All done. Good job eating.”

Chan clapped his hands together. “Okay, little one,” he said warmly. “You can go play until lunch. After lunch… we’re going somewhere.”

Hae gasped dramatically, “where??”

Seven identical mischievous smiles answered her.

“We’re not telling you yet,” Changbin said smugly.

Hae huffed, crossing her arms. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s a surprise,” Jeongin said, booping her nose.

She turned, spotted Hyunjin, grabbed his hand with both of her tiny ones and tugged with surprising strength. “Come, Papa! Let’s play!”

Hyunjin practically levitated from happiness, “Of course,” he said, following eagerly. “As many games as you want.”

The boys watched them go, Hae dragging Hyunjin to the play area, both of them already laughing.

Chan smiled softly, “she really loves him.”

Felix added, “She loves all of us.”

Jisung sighed fondly, leaning back. “I swear… this kid is going to kill us with cuteness every day.”

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: It's time for Bubba time!!

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff

A/n: Hiii, so here is part 2, I really hope you'll like it. Again thank you so much for all the love, it means a lot. Enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 19 part 2: Bubba time

Jeongin held Hae’s hand as they walked toward the park, her little feet practically skipping with excitement. She clutched Han quokka in her other arm, bouncing it with each hop. “Bubba, are we close?” Her voice was breathless and full of anticipation.

“Very close,” Jeongin said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “We’ll see the ducks soon.”

The moment the pond came into view, Hae gasped so loudly that Jeongin burst into laughter. “DUCKS!” she squealed, letting go of his hand to run toward the water, but only far enough that he could still reach her easily.

Jeongin jogged after her. “Careful, baby! Don’t go too close to the edge.”

Hae stopped right at the safe spot and crouched down, waving excitedly. “Hello ducks! I’m Hae! Look, Bubba, that one has a funny feather!”

Jeongin crouched beside her, matching her excitement perfectly. “WHOA! You’re right! It looks like it’s having a bad hair day!”

Hae giggled, delighted. “And look! That one is so tiny!” she said, pointing at a baby duck. “Awww… just like you,” Jeongin teased gently. She nudged him with her shoulder, “I’m not that tiny.”

Jeongin ruffled her hair, “You’re tiny in a good way.”

For almost ten minutes they watched the ducks paddle around. Hae narrated everything they did and Jeongin reacted to every observation as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. It was simple, but exactly what she needed.

After the ducks swam away, Hae tugged on Jeongin’s sleeve. “Bubba, can we go to the playground?”

“Of course,” he said immediately.

The playground was mostly empty, just a couple of kids playing quietly. Hae ran to the slide first, still checking to make sure Jeongin was watching. “I’m going up!” she announced proudly. “I see you!” Jeongin waved dramatically.

She climbed the steps carefully, using both hands. When she reached the top, she sat down and looked for him. Jeongin positioned himself at the bottom of the slide, “I’m ready to catch you, sweetheart!”

Hae grinned and pushed off. She slid down fast, squealing and Jeongin caught her gently, spinning her once before setting her back on her feet.

“Again!” she shouted.

Jeongin laughed. “Alright!”

They did it at least seven more times.

After that, Hae ran toward the swings and pointed. “Bubba, push me?”

Jeongin lifted her onto the swing, making sure she was holding on tightly before stepping behind her. “Okay, tell me if it’s too high or too scary.”

“Okay!”

He gave gentle pushes, just enough for her to sway back and forth. Her hair lifted with the movement and she let out tiny giggles each time she swung forward. She didn’t need to go higher or faster, all that mattered is that she’s safe and is having fun.

---

After the park, Jeongin asked softly, “are you hungry, sweetheart?”

Hae nodded, cheeks pink from running and swinging.

A small café sat near the edge of the park, warm lights, wooden tables and a display case full of colorful cakes. Jeongin lifted her so she could see all of them, “pick whichever one you want. We’ll share.”

Hae scanned each slice carefully, then pointed decisively. “That one! The strawberry cake with the cream!”

“Good choice,” he smiled.

Jeongin ordered one strawberry cake, one hot chocolate for Hae and one iced americano for himself. They sat at a small booth near the window, Hae swung her legs under the table while hugging Han quokka. Jeongin cut a small piece of cake and held the fork out to her, “for you.”

She opened her mouth and ate the piece, letting out the tiniest hum of delight.

“Mmmm…”

Jeongin laughed, “you’re cute.”

Then he cut a piece for himself. He kept alternating, one bite for Hae, one bite for him. She loved the pattern so much she giggled every time she saw him bring the fork to her.

The warm hot chocolate steamed beside her and she held the cup carefully with both hands, blowing on it before taking small sips. After a few minutes, Jeongin asked softly, “did you like Bubba time so far?”

Hae nodded vigorously, crumbs stuck on her cheek. “I love Bubba time! I like the ducks! And the slide! And walking with Bubba! And cake!”

Jeongin felt something warm and protective swell in his chest. “I’m really happy,” he said honestly. “I wanted to make you smile today.”

Hae leaned against his arm, her voice quiet but sincere, “You made me very happy. Thank you, Bubba.”

Jeongin wrapped his arm around her gently, “I’ll always make time for you, sweetheart. Always.”

And in that cozy café, with cake crumbs on her clothes and chocolate on her lip, Hae felt completely safe again. Her sadness about math fading into the background, replaced by warmth, sweetness and Bubba’s love.

---

When Jeongin and Hae walked through the front door, she was practically glowing. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes bright and she held Jeongin’s hand tightly while Han quokka rested in her other arm.

The rest of the boys were scattered around the living room, pretending not to be waiting anxiously for her return even though every single one of them sat up the moment the door opened.

Felix was the first to notice her beaming smile, “oh my goodness, look at that face!” he gasped dramatically. Chan stood up, “there’s our girl.”

Hae giggled and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Dad! We had so much fun!”

Jeongin stepped inside behind her, proudly puffing out his chest like he had just completed the world’s greatest mission.

Changbin grinned, “looks like Bubba Time worked.”

Hyunjin crossed his arms but smiled softly, “she looks like a completely different kid from earlier.”

Minho nodded with relief, “I’m glad she’s smiling again.”

Seungmin, who had been the most worried, visibly softened and gave Jeongin a thankful look.

Jisung knelt in front of Hae, “so, angel… did you enjoy going out with Bubba today?”

Hae gasped and nodded so enthusiastically her hair bounced.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

All the boys gathered around, eyes soft and expectant.

“Tell us! What did you two do?” Chan asked, lifting her up so she could sit comfortably on his hip.

Hae took a big breath, ready to spill everything in one go.

“WE SAW DUCKS! Lots of ducks! There was a tiny duck and one with a funny feather and I talked to them and Bubba talked to them too!”

Jeongin nodded proudly, “we had a full conversation with the ducks.”

Changbin started laughing, “of course you did.”

Hae continued excitedly, “and THEN we went to the playground and I went on the slide and Bubba caught me!”

Jeongin nodded, “every single time.”

Minho clapped, “that’s so cute.”

“And THEN,” Hae continued, “I asked if Bubba could push me on the swing and he did but not too high cause that would be scary but it was really fun!”

Felix melted completely, “awwwww…”

“And THEN we went to a café and we shared a cake!” Hae added, bouncing slightly in Chan’s arms. “A strawberry cake with cream and Bubba gave me hot chocolate and we shared the cake! One bite for me and one bite for him!”

Jeongin chuckled proudly, “she loved it.”

Hae nodded excited, “I LOVED Bubba time!”

Jeongin grinned so big the corners of his eyes crinkled.

The boys all softened simultaneously.

Felix hugged her tightly from the side, “we’re so happy you had fun, little one.”

Seungmin stroked her hair, relief in his eyes, “you really needed a good day, didn’t you?”

Hyunjin smiled gently, “you look much happier now. I’m glad.”

Changbin lightly tapped her nose, “Dada is proud of you for trying hard today, even when it was tough.”

Minho cupped her cheek, “you’re really strong, kitten. And we’re all here for you.”

Chan kissed the side of her head, holding her close. “We love seeing you smile.”

Jisung hugged both her and Chan together. “Appa is so happy you had a good time.”

Jeongin stepped forward and tapped her nose softly. “Hey, Bubba time is always here. Whenever you need it.”

Hae leaned forward in Chan’s arms and grabbed Jeongin’s cheeks with both hands, pulling him into a squishy-faced hug.

“I love Bubba time.”

Jeongin melted into a puddle on the floor.

The living room filled with laughter, relieved smiles, and warm energy. The boys could all see it, Hae’s sadness had loosened its grip. Her confidence wasn’t gone and her joy wasn’t gone. She was just a little girl who needed reassurance and her family gave her all of it. The day had started hard, but now wrapped in love and surrounded by all her boys, Hae was smiling again.

---

Dinner had gone well. Hae proudly used her kid chopsticks again slow and careful, tongue poking out a little as she concentrated.

She managed to pick up broccoli and even a chunk of meat, but the moment she tried rice, the grains fell everywhere. “Ah…” she pouted softly.

But Seungmin gently corrected her grip, Felix hyped her up and Jisung clapped every time she successfully lifted something.

“She’s getting better every day,” Chan said proudly.

After eating, the boys stayed in the living room, Chan with his laptop, Felix on the floor with his phone, Changbin sprawled on the couch scrolling through something funny, Jisung and Hyunjin reacting dramatically to the TV and Minho, Jeongin and Seungmin chatting quietly.

Hae was in her own little world near the coffee table, building a block castle for Han quokka.

She talked quietly to the plushie, “you live here now… the big room is here… and this is the window…”, but her voice got softer and softer. Her movements slowed and her eyelids drooped lower and lower…

Her tiny body was exhausted from the emotional math lesson, the running at the park, the playground, the cake and all the excitement of Bubba Time.

Still, she kept building. Finally, she placed a block on top, but her tired hands were shaky. The castle collapsed with a loud clatter.

Jisung and Hyunjin both jumped like they had been electrocuted.

“AH!” “Oh my god!”

Hae simply blinked in slow motion at the fallen blocks, then leaned forward and gently rescued Han quokka from the “wreckage,” hugging him protectively to her chest.

“…you okay…?” she whispered sleepily.

Minho’s sharp eyes immediately caught the drooping eyelids, the way her head bobbed slightly and the way she swayed even while sitting. He stood up from the couch and walked straight over to her. “Come here, kitten,” he murmured, scooping her into his arms.

She melted instantly, head falling onto his shoulder, tiny arms slipping around his neck and Han quokka squished safely between them. Her eyes fluttered shut, but Minho gently tapped her back. “Hae… sweetheart… stay awake a little longer.”

She whined softly, eyes cracking open just enough to see his chin. “…just a little longer,” he said softly.

He carried her over toward the boys. She barely lifted her head, mumbling something that vaguely sounded like, “mm…night…”

The boys chuckled.

“Goodnight, little one.” “Sleep well, princess.” “Sweet dreams, baby.” “Night, Hae.” “Rest well, tiny.” “Bye-bye, cutie.” “Goodnight, angel.” “Sleep tight.”

She blinked once, then her eyes closed again.

Minho carried her to her room, Jeongin following close behind, quiet, protective and wanting to help. Minho first laid her gently on the bed, then started unbuttoning her small shirt to change her into her pajamas.

Despite the movement, Hae didn’t wake. Her breathing stayed slow, deep and peaceful. Jeongin held her pajamas open while Minho carefully guided her limbs through.

“Poor thing…” Jeongin whispered. “She played so hard today.”

Minho nodded softly, “and she was very brave.”

They carried her to the bathroom next, Minho holding her head steady while Jeongin holds the toothbrush up.

Minho whispered softly, “Hae… open your mouth, little one…”

Somehow, half-asleep, she complied. Barely. Just enough to swipe toothpaste around her teeth.

Then Minho wiped her face with warm water, drying her cheeks gently. She didn’t stir.

When they returned to her room, Minho settled her into bed, pulling the blankets around her tiny frame, while Jeongin placed Han quokka safely in her arms.

Her head touched the pillow and she was gone, completely asleep, tiny mouth parted, breathing soft and steady.

Jeongin leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart…”

Minho did the same, “sleep well, kitten.”

He clicked on her night lamp, leaving it glowing softly in the corner.

Then the two boys quietly slipped out, leaving the door slightly open, just the way she liked it.

Behind them, Hae slept deeply and peacefully, safe, warm and loved. With Han quokka curled under her chin and a small smile tugging at her lips.

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[minsungswife]

OMG Thank you all so much for 1000 Likes! This really means a lot to me, thank you so much for the love <3

[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae struggles with Math class

Warnings: A bit hurt/comfort, Hae cries and is a little scared, nothing really bad happens

A/n: Hey, I originally planned this to upload yesterday, but something went wrong so here it is now! Enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 19 part 1: Math class troubles

Hae started her morning full of energy. Yesterday’s Korean lesson with Minho had gone great, she had learned several new syllables, written her name twice and even Minho had bragged about her progress to all the boys.

So today, she walked into Seungmin’s room for her first math & science lesson with a hopeful smile, Han quokka tucked tightly in her arms. Seungmin sat at the small study table he had set up, a few math picture books, colorful counting blocks, animal-shaped erasers and a soft blanket folded over her chair.

He smiled warmly when she came in, “good morning, Hae. Are you ready?”

She nodded shyly and climbed into the chair, her feet dangling far above the ground. Seungmin sat beside her, not across, making himself small and non-intimidating. “Okay,” he said gently, “first we’re going to see how high you can count. Just count for me until you can’t anymore.”

Hae nodded, thinking for a moment, then began. “One… two… three… four… five…”

She went slowly, counting on her fingers, sometimes pausing between numbers to recall them.

“…Seventeen… eighteen… nineteen…”. She squinted hard, “…twenty?”. Then she frowned, embarrassed. “That’s all I know…”

Seungmin’s face lit up, “that’s amazing, Hae. That’s already a lot, I’m proud of you.”

She blinked in surprise, she hadn’t expected praise. Then Seungmin spread out some picture cards on the table, little visual math problems like “2 apples + 1 apple,” or “3 puppies – 1 puppy.”

“Let’s try these together,” he said kindly.

Hae stared at the first card, two apples on one side of the plus sign and one apple on the other.

Seungmin asked softly, “How many apples together?”

Hae pressed her lips tight, “…I don’t know…”

He tapped the paper gently, “Let’s count them together. One… two… three.”

Hae followed his finger, “Three,” she repeated.

“Exactly! See? You did it.”

But when they moved on to the next one, her confidence already began to shake. Three puppies minus one, a simple picture. But Hae stared at it like it was in another language, her hands trembled around Han quokka. “I don’t… I don’t know…” she whispered.

“That’s okay,” Seungmin said gently.

But she tried again.

And again.

And failed again.

Soon, her eyes filled with tears she desperately tried to blink back, her fingers fidgeted with her sleeve and her breathing grew quick and uneven.

Seungmin noticed instantly, “Hey… hey…” he whispered softly, placing his hand near hers but not touching without permission. “It’s okay. It’s okay to not know.”

Hae shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I c-can’t do it… I don’t understand… the numbers don’t make sense…”. Her voice cracked painfully, the frustration, fear of failure and memories of being called “stupid” by her past began to swirl inside her.

Seungmin’s heart broke, he lowered himself onto the floor beside her chair, so he was eye-level with her. “Listen to me, Hae,” he said softly. “You’re not doing anything wrong, math is hard for a lot of people. Some people understand words better… some people understand numbers better. Everyone is different.”

She sniffled, hugging Han quokka tightly. “I’m bad at it…”

“No,” Seungmin said firmly but tenderly. “You’re not bad, you’re learning and learning means making mistakes. A lot of them. That’s normal.”

Hae looked away, tears sliding down her cheeks again. Seungmin reached out slowly, “May I hold your hand?”

She nodded weakly, and he gently took her small trembling hand in his. “You know what I think?” he whispered. “I think you’re brave. You’re trying something new and that’s really hard. But I’m proud of you.”

Her breath hitched, “Really…?”

“Really,” he confirmed. “I’m proud of you no matter how many answers you get wrong. I’ll always be here to help.” She finally broke down, leaning forward until her forehead touched his shoulder. Seungmin wrapped his arm around her carefully and held her close.

After a minute, he pulled back just slightly. “No more math today,” he decided gently. “We stop here.” Hae blinked in confusion, “B-But… we only did a little…”

“And it was enough,” he said warmly. “You tried. That’s what matters.”

She nodded slowly, wiped her tears with her sleeve and allowed him to help her down from the chair.

Seungmin carried her to the living room, not because she needed him to, but because she still felt too small, too fragile, too defeated to walk.

He sat down on the couch with her curled in his lap, Han quokka sandwiched between them.

“Baba… I’m sorry,” she whispered. Seungmin shook his head immediately and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. You did your best. I’m so proud of you.”

Hae sniffled again, “I’m… really bad at numbers…”

“You’re not bad,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “You’re just learning and Baba will teach you slowly, okay?”

She nodded against his chest, “I’ll try again later” she whispered.

“That’s all I want,” he whispered back, tightening his arms around her. “Just try. And I’ll be right here every time you do.”

Hae curled closer, tucking her head under his chin, feeling safe again, protected, loved and comforted.

Math could wait. Learning could wait.

Right now, all she needed was to rest in Baba’s arms, knowing she wasn’t a failure.

Knowing she was deeply, deeply loved.

---

Seungmin sat quietly on the couch, Hae curled tightly against his chest. Her tiny body was warm and limp from exhaustion. Her cheek pressed against his hoodie, her small fists gently holding onto Han quokka and the fabric of his shirt.

Her breathing was soft, uneven at first, then slowly settling into the peaceful rhythm of sleep. Seungmin brushed a thumb over her temple whispering, “You did really well… Baba is so proud of you…”

He didn’t dare move. He didn’t dare shift even a little.

She needed this. She needed rest, emotional, mental, physical. She had tried so hard today.

A little while later, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Chan, Felix, and Changbin stepped into the living room, chatting casually until they stopped mid-step, surprised by the sight of Seungmin sitting with a sleeping Hae in his arms.

Felix blinked, “Seung? Why are you… uh… not doing math right now?”

Chan raised an eyebrow, concern already forming on his face. “Is she okay?”

Changbin moved closer, peeking at Hae’s puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. “What happened…?” he asked gently, voice dropping.

Seungmin sighed softly and adjusted his hold on her just a little. “She struggled,” he said quietly. “She tried so hard, but numbers were really difficult for her today. She kept saying she was bad at math… that she couldn’t do it. She cried a lot.”

Chan’s chest tightened. Felix frowned deeply, his heart aching. Changbin swallowed hard.

Seungmin continued, “She got scared she was disappointing me. I stopped the lesson and comforted her… and she fell asleep like this.”

He looked down at Hae’s small form, “She’s been working really hard this week. Maybe… too hard.”

The boys exchanged emotional looks.

Felix kneels beside the couch, gently running his fingers along the top of Hae’s head. “Oh… sweet baby…” he whispered. “You poor thing…” Chan murmured, rubbing the back of her tiny hand. Changbin folded his arms, jaw clenched protectively. “She shouldn’t ever feel bad for not knowing something. She’s just learning.”

Felix nodded, voice thick. “She’s been through so much… we can’t let this tear her down.”

Chan sighed softly, “She had so much fun with Korean, English, art and music… Of course one rough lesson would scare her. Especially with her past.”

The room grew quiet. Tender. Full of worry and love.

Finally, Chan straightened. “Okay,” he whispered, “we’re cheering her up today. I don’t care what we have to do.”

Felix nodded immediately, “absolutely. She is not going through the day thinking she’s bad at anything.”

Changbin cracked his knuckles dramatically, “I’ll make her laugh. I don’t care how embarrassing I get.”

Seungmin looked relieved, “I was going to try to cheer her up too… but she fell asleep so fast.”

“She needs the nap,” Chan said softly. “Let’s let her rest.”

Felix put a warm blanket gently over her, carefully tucking it around her small body without waking her.

“She’s been learning so much,” Felix whispered. “It’s all new to her. So many lessons in one week… I don’t think she’s ever had this much stimulation in her life.”

Seungmin nodded, “and she’s still willing to try. Even after her horrible school experience. That says everything about how brave she is.”

Chan placed a hand on Seungmin’s shoulder, “you did the right thing, Seungmin. You handled it perfectly.”

Seungmin exhaled softly, “I just want her to know she’s not stupid… that she’s not failing…”

Felix squeezed his arm gently, “she’ll know. We’ll make sure she knows.”

The boys silently gathered closer, watching Hae sleep in Seungmin’s arms. Her small hand twitched, her eyebrows furrowed a little, as if she still remembered the stress of math.

Felix gently brushed her hair away from her forehead. “She’s safe,” he whispered. “No more scary teachers. No more yelling. No more shame. Not ever again.”

Chan nodded firmly, “we’re her family now and we’ll teach her with love. Always.”

Changbin leaned in and kissed the top of her head, “she’s stronger than she knows and we’ll make sure she remembers that.”

They stayed like that, quiet, protective and loving. Until Hae’s face finally softened in sleep, her breathing calm, her little hands relaxed.

Surrounded by her boys, who give her love and safety. And when she wakes up, they would be ready, determined to make her smile again.

---

After about thirty peaceful minutes, Chan and Seungmin exchanged looks. Letting Hae nap too long might mess with her nighttime sleep, so Chan nodded toward Seungmin.

“Let’s wake her gently,” he whispered.

Felix and Changbin had gone to the kitchen earlier and prepared a snack, a big bowl of fresh cut fruit for everyone and for Hae, some special cookies she had picked during grocery shopping.

Felix carried the tray in carefully while Changbin followed with drinks. Seungmin shifted slightly, brushing his thumb across Hae’s cheek. “Sweetheart… time to wake up,” he whispered softly, rocking her gently.

Hae’s eyelids fluttered and her little face scrunched up adorably. She blinked up at Seungmin tiredly before letting out a tiny, sad sigh.

Felix smiled warmly, “hi, angel. Look, we brought snacks.”

He held up the special cookies and her eyes softened just a little. Changbin crouched beside her, brushing her bangs away from her forehead. “We missed you,” he said softly. “Come eat with us, okay?”

Hae nodded slowly but didn’t smile. She still felt small. She still felt disappointing.

Seungmin lifted her gently and carried her to the dining table where everyone was waiting.

Hae was placed in between Jeongin and Felix, holding her cookie but not eating it yet.

Felix cut up a strawberry and fed it to her gently. “You worked so hard today, Hae. We’re really proud of you.”

She looked at her lap, “but… I’m bad at numbers…”

Changbin leaned forward, “no, you’re not. You just started. That’s all.”

Jisung added quickly, “yeah! Appa was terrible at math when he was little. I cried so much during math time.”

Hae’s eyes widened, “you cried…?”

Jisung nodded proudly, “like a river.”

Hyunjin made a dramatic splashing noise, making Hae let out a tiny laugh.

Felix scooted closer and kissed the side of her temple. “It’s okay to not understand right away. We’ll learn together. Slowly.”

Minho held up a blueberry, “And you get special fruit for being so brave”. Hae finally cracked a tiny smile, small but real. The boys celebrated it like it was a victory.

“She smiled!” “Yes!!” “Look at that cutie!” “Good job, Hae!”

She giggled again when they all cheered at once.

Suddenly, Jeongin gently lifted Hae onto his lap.

“Hey,” he said softly, poking her cheek. “Do you want some Bubba Time?”

The way he said it so proud, so silly, so Jeongin, made Hae burst into a giggle. “Bubba time…?”

Jeongin nodded enthusiastically, “yes! Just you and me. We go somewhere. Anywhere you want. You choose.”

Her eyes lit up, “anywhere?”

“Yes,” Jeongin said dramatically, lifting her like a princess. “The park, a café… maybe the mall so we can get you new clothes or a toy. Bubba will spoil you.”

Hae giggled again, her sadness thinning like mist under sunshine. “I want Bubba time!”

Jeongin grinned brightly, patting her head. “Then Bubba time it is.”

The boys all softened at the sight, their maknae holding their littlest maknae with so much care and playfulness.

Chan whispered to Felix, “it’s official… she has him wrapped around her finger.”

Felix whispered back, “wrapped, tied, and knotted.”

Changbin chuckled, “she’s our baby… and he’s her Bubba. It’s perfect.

Seungmin watched them with a relieved smile, “I’m glad she’s smiling again.”

Hyunjin nodded, “Jeongin’s good for her.”

Minho added, “they’re both the youngest… maybe that’s why she trusts him so much.”. And Jisung clasped his hands dramatically, “ohhh my heart… someone take a picture right now…”

Jeongin stood up with Hae on his hip, “Alright, sweetheart. Go pick your shoes. Bubba’s taking you somewhere fun.”

Hae bounced excitedly, her earlier sadness almost entirely gone. “I get to choose where!”

“Yes!” Jeongin laughed. “You’re the boss.”

Hae clapped her hands, cookie crumbs flying everywhere. The boys all melted again.

Felix whispered, “that’s our girl.”

Minho nodded, “she’s smiling again. That’s what matters.”

Chan let out a relieved sigh, “good. Let’s make the rest of today really happy for her.”

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: The aftermath from music class

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff

A/n: So at first this chapter was just one part, but then I decided to do a cute aftermath. So here is part 2, also I'll probably upload chapter 19 today as well or tomorrow. Enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 18 part 2: I love you

In the late afternoon, after Hae’s music lesson with Jisung, she bounded into the living room with the brightest grin any of the boys had ever seen. She clutched Han quokka to her chest, practically vibrating with excitement. The moment all eight boys looked up from the couch or the floor where they were lounging, she blurted out. “Appa sang! And we danced! And it was so fun!”

Her voice was high and breathless, happiness pouring out of her so quickly she could barely contain it. Jisung, walking behind her with the proudest smile ever, rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “I mean… yeah… we had a good time”

But Hae interrupted by grabbing his sleeve, “he sang pretty, everyone! Like this!” She tried to recreate one of his dramatic singing gestures, hand lifted to the sky, eyes squinted, and the boys broke into warm laughter.

Chan leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Wow, baby… sounds like you had an amazing lesson.”

Hae nodded rapidly, “and then…we danced! Appa danced like a penguin!”. Jisung groaned dramatically, covering his face while the boys erupted into loud laughter. Changbin slapped his thigh, “a penguin? Really, Jisung?”

“It was a cool penguin dance!” Jisung defended, but it only made Hae giggle harder. The laughter was soft and warm, filling the room with comfort.

Jisung clapped his hands suddenly, “Hae, do you want to show them your dance moves?”

Hae froze for a moment… then looked up at him, shy but excited. “Only if Appa dances too.” Jisung lit up instantly, nodding so fast his hair flopped. “Of course! Appa will always dance with you.”

Felix jumped up to grab the speaker from earlier and placed it on the table. “What song do you want, sweetie?” he asked. Hae thought, tapping her chin dramatically. “…The silly one.”

Jisung burst into laughter, “you got it.”. He played the upbeat, goofy kid song they had danced to earlier. The melody filled the room, bright and bouncy. “Okay!” Jisung announced, offering both hands to her. “Ready?”

Hae took one of his hands, the other firmly holding Han quokka and the two of them started dancing, jumping, spinning, shaking their arms, waddling like penguins and hopping like rabbits.

The boys were instantly done for.

Chan put a hand over his chest, “she’s so cute I’m gonna cry.”

Minho nodded, dead serious, “same.”

Seungmin hid a smile behind his hand, “she dances better than Jisung.”

“HEY!!” Jisung protested between jumps, “no slander during lesson time!”. But Hae was laughing too hard to care about the argument happening around her.

Then Hyunjin slowly stood up and so did Felix and Changbin.

Felix whispered dramatically, “for morale!” Changbin declared, “Dada will show the BEST dance!” Hyunjin simply smirked, flicked his hair and said, “let me bless the room.”

And then… they joined in.

Hyunjin swayed his arms gracefully like a ballerina but with absolutely no coordination. Felix flapped his arms like a baby chick, squeaking happily. Changbin began doing energetic jumps and shoulder bounces like he was performing at a concert.

Hae fell to her knees laughing, her tiny body shaking with giggles. “STOP!!” she squealed, “you’re so SILLY!”

Jisung clutched his chest, “she called us silly, I feel honored.”

Once the song finished, the boys collapsed dramatically onto the floor and the couch. Felix reached for Hae and gently pulled her into the center of their cuddle pile.

Hae was curled in the middle, Han quokka squished gently in her arms. Felix was hugging her from one side. Changbin lay beside her on the other side. Hyunjin lay besides Felix, brushing some hair from Hae’s face. Jisung hugged her from behind like a protective koala. Chan gently rubbed the back of her tiny hand. Minho tapped her nose. Seungmin smiled softly, leaning close.

Hae looked around at all of them.

Her family.

Her safe place.

Her warm bubble of love.

She snuggled deeper into the pile and whispered, “…I love you.”

Every single one of them reacted at once.

“Awwww!” “We love you too, princess.” “So much.” “More than anything.”

Hae closed her eyes, smiling as she tucked herself closer into their arms. Surrounded, safe, warm, cherished and the happiest she had ever been.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: It's time for music class with Jisung

Warnings: None just cute fluff

A/n: Hi, this is a really cute chapter, honestly I am weak for any of the boys being cute with Hae (or any kid lol). I hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 18 part 1: Music class

When music class time came around, Jisung appeared in the living room holding a small stack of sheet music and a speaker tucked under his arm. He grinned at Hae, who sat on the couch hugging Han quokka.

“Ready for music time, sweet pea?”

Hae blinked nervously, “…Do I have to sing?”

Jisung immediately knelt in front of her, shaking his head fast enough his hair bounced. “Nope. Not yet. Not ever unless you want to. Today is just for fun.”

Hae visibly relaxed and slid off the couch, holding his hand as they went to the “music corner” Jisung had excitedly set up earlier. A soft rug, a mini table, some light-up music toys Felix had bought and Jisung’s guitar resting on its stand.

He sat down crisscross applesauce, patting the spot in front of him. “Come here, peanut.” Hae sat, still shy but curious. Jisung pulled out a sheet of very simple music for kids, with little pictures and colorful notes.

“See these?” he said softly, pointing at the round notes. “These tell me what sound to make. It’s like reading a story, but instead of words, it’s music.”. Hae leaned closer, fascinated, “…they’re like… circles?”

Jisung nodded excitedly, “YES! Circles that make sound! You’re so smart.” She beamed a little.

“And these lines help me know how high or low to sing. So if the note is up here…”, He tapped the upper line, “I sing like this…”. He let out a high, soft “La” which made Hae giggle.

“If the note is down here…”, He tapped the lower line. “Then I sing like this…”. Now he let out a much lower “La” and Hae covered her mouth while giggling this time.

“You sound funny!”

Jisung gasped dramatically, “I’ll have you know I’m a professional funny sounding singer.”

Hae laughed harder.

“Can I show you a song?”

Hae nodded eagerly.

Jisung grabbed his guitar, settled it comfortably and began to play something gentle, just a soft melody meant to comfort small children. When he started to sing, his voice was warm, sweet and careful, not loud or showy. He wanted her to feel safe.

Hae’s eyes widened in awe, her lips parted just a bit. She hugged Han quokka to her chest and listened intensely. When the song ended, she whispered, “…you sing pretty.”

Jisung melted instantly, “For you? I’ll sing anytime.” Then he tried very gently, “Do you want to try singing just one tiny sound? Just a little ‘La’?”

Hae immediately shook her head and hid her face in Han quokka. “No… it’s scary…”

Jisung didn’t push, he just tapped her head lightly. “That’s okay. Not today. Not tomorrow. If you never want to, that’s okay too. Music is yours, we move at your speed.”

Hae peeked over Han quokka, “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” Jisung snorted, “I’d only be mad if you didn’t tell me you were scared. You did perfect.”

Hae relaxed again.

“Okay!” he suddenly declared, jumping to his feet. “Lesson change! New rule, we have fun.”

Hae blinked up at him as he plugged in the speaker, “What’s fun?”

Jisung grinned so brightly it could power all of Seoul, “Dancing!”

He played a cheerful kid friendly song full of bouncy beats and silly sound effects. Then he offered her both hands. “You don’t have to sing. You don’t have to do anything scary… just dance with me.”

Hae hesitated, but Jisung wiggled his arms until she giggled. Finally, she placed her small hands in his and Jisung swayed side to side gently at first. Then he started doing goofy dance moves, waddling like a penguin, hopping like a bunny, spinning like a dizzy squirrel.

Hae burst out laughing. She let go of his hands and tried her own little moves like twirling in her socks, doing tiny jumps, shaking her arms. Han quokka bounced along in her grip and Jisung cheered every single time.

“That’s amazing!” “Look at you go!” “You’re a dancing queen!” “Icon! Star! Legend!”

Eventually, he scooped her up and spun her slowly, making her shriek with delighted giggles. By the time the song ended, both were breathless and bright with joy. Jisung set her down gently and ruffled her hair, “You know what, Hae?”

She looked up at him curiously.

“You’re really good at this music stuff.”

Hae blushed proudly and hugged his leg, “Thank you, Appa…”

Jisung melted so hard he nearly collapsed onto the floor. He turned off the speaker and said “That’s it for today! Next week, if you want, we can try little rhythms or little sounds. But only when you’re ready.”

Hae nodded, cheeks still flushed from dancing.

“I like music time.”

Jisung scooped her up into a soft hug. “And music time loves you right back.”

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae gets her first English and Art class

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff

A/n: Thank you so much for all the love, there are some exciting chapters coming so stay tuned! I hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 17: English and Art class

After Hae finished breakfast, Felix winked at her from across the table.

“Ready for English today, sweet girl?”

Hae looked unsure. She tugged on Duckie’s wing a little before whispering, “…I’ll try.”

Felix knelt beside her chair and smoothed a hand over her hair. “That’s all I want. You try. And I’ll help with everything else.” She nodded, comforted by his warmth.

Felix arranged some simple flashcards, pictures of everyday things with English words written under them. He placed them between himself and Hae, who sat cross-legged on the floor with Duckie in her lap.

Felix pointed at a card of a puppy, “Dog.”

Hae stared, brows furrowing. He repeated slowly, exaggerating the mouth movement, “D-aw-g.”

Hae tried, “…Dahk.”

Felix beamed, “YES! Perfect try! Let’s do it again… dog.”

“Dahg?”

“Exactly! That’s really close! Good job!”

He moved to the next card, an apple, “Apple.”

Hae thought hard, “…Apo?”

Felix laughed softly, ruffling her hair. “That’s so cute and that’s a good try. Let’s say it together, ‘Aaaapple.’”

“Aaapple.”

“Perfect little star! See? You’re already learning!”

Whenever she made a mistake, she immediately panicked and looked down like she expected scolding. Felix immediately soothed her every time. “It’s okay, angel. Mistakes mean you’re learning. Even adults make mistakes. Even me!”

She blinked, surprised. “You… make mistakes?”. Felix nodded proudly as if it was an achievement. “Oh yeah! Look, when I learned Korean? I said so many things wrong. One time I said something so silly the boys laughed for an hour.”

Hae giggled softly, the tension leaving her tiny shoulders. That alone made Felix smile brighter than the sun. For the full hour, he kept it slow, gentle, and fun. Simple words, simple sounds, lots of laughter and lots of praise. He wasn’t just teaching her English, he was teaching her that learning was safe.

---

After an hour, Felix clapped his hands lightly. “Okay, baby. English time is finished. You did sooo well.” Hae looked relieved and proud, “What now?”

Felix grinned, “Now? Art time!”

Her eyes sparkled.

Hyunjin arrived right on cue, holding a stack of large blank papers, watercolors, brushes, crayons, and glitter pens. “Hi, little star,” Hyunjin said, sitting next to her on the floor. “We’re going to paint today.”

Hae’s eyes grew wide, “Anything I want?”

Felix nodded, “Anything. Art has no right or wrong.”

Hyunjin added, “You can draw how you feel. Or things you like. Or colors you think are pretty.”

They spread a plastic mat on the floor and set up a mini art station. Hae was given a smock that was slightly too big, making her look even cuter.

Felix dipped her brush in blue paint and made a little dot on the paper. “This is the beginning of anything you want.”

Hae stared at the dot… then dipped her own brush into yellow paint and added a messy sun beside it. Hyunjin gasped dramatically, “I love it already.”

Hae giggled and continued, dipping her fingers into pink and red paint and smearing shapes on the paper. She had absolutely no structure, no plan, no sense of neatness and Felix adored it.

“Look at you, baby! You’re so creative!”

Hyunjin made his own painting, a simple portrait of Hae holding Han quokka, surrounded by sparkles. Hae looked back and forth between theirs and hers.

“…Mine is messy.”

Felix shook his head, “No, sweetheart. Yours is perfect. That’s what art is, feelings on paper.”

Hyunjin leaned over and whispered, “Some people spend years trying to paint with this much freedom. You’re a natural.”

That made Hae smile so big her eyes crinkled. Soon, paint covered her fingers, her arms, and the tip of her nose. Felix had a blue streak down his cheek from when she accidentally poked him. Hyunjin had glitter stuck in his hair somehow. And in the middle of all the colorful chaos, Hae laughed, really laughed.

Happy. Safe. Carefree.

By the end, the living room floor was covered in papers overflowing with color swirls, shapes, suns, stick figures, blobs, and hearts. Hae proudly showed each drawing to Felix and Hyunjin, and each time they reacted like she had painted a masterpiece. When they finally wrapped up, Felix wiped her hands with warm water and a soft towel.

“You were amazing today,” he told her, kissing her forehead.

Hyunjin tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and grinned. “You remind me why art is my favorite thing.”

Hae hugged both of them tightly as she whispered, “Thank you for playing with me.”

Felix hugged her back, “It’s not playing, angel. It’s learning. And you made today so special.”

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Minho starts Hae's homeschooling with some Korean lessons

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff

A/n: Hi, I'm back with a new chapter. Just a small disclaimer I have no knowledge of the Korean language except a few words I picked up by watching Skz, so if I did anything wrong I'm sorry :(

Anyways hope you enjoy this new chapter, thanks for all the love <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 16: Learning Korean

A few days passed after their family meeting. In that time, the boys had gone online and bought every schoolbook they thought Hae might need like Korean basics, writing practice books, children’s math workbooks, reading books with pictures, vocabulary cards, even fun sticker-based learning aids they thought she’d enjoy.

Today was the day they finally arrived.

Minho carefully brought the boxes into the living room and unpacked everything while the others watched excitedly. Hae stood nearby hugging Han quokka, curious but unsure what all the books were for.

Minho crouched down to her level and smiled.

“These are for you, kitten. We’re going to learn together.”

Hae blinked, surprised.

“For… me?”

“Yes,” Minho nodded. “Only if you want to. Learning can be fun, you know.”

She didn’t say anything, but she touched one of the colorful books with shy curiosity. The idea of learning wasn’t scary, just unfamiliar.

The boys had made a schedule so Hae wouldn’t get overwhelmed.

Mondays & Thursdays – Korean with Minho Tuesdays – English & Art with Felix Wednesdays – Music with Jisung Fridays – Science/Math with Seungmin Weekends – Free, with occasional “learning through play” activities.

Today was Monday, Minho’s day.

He sat with her at the dining table, a soft workbook open between them. The other boys were nearby but quiet, letting Minho take the lead. Hae swung her legs nervously under the chair, Han quokka seated beside her as if he too was ready to learn.

Minho smiled, his tone both warm and firm. “Okay, Hae. Today we’ll start easy, alright? Just reading simple sounds and writing simple shapes. No pressure.”

She nodded slowly.

Reading Korean felt like trying to understand clouds. Writing felt even harder. Minho knew that, he could see it in her hesitant eyes. But he didn’t rush, didn’t push and didn’t overwhelm. Instead, he pointed at a simple syllable.

“‘아’. Do you remember this one?”

Hae squinted at it, her lips moving silently. Minho didn’t give her the answer, he just waited patiently. After a few seconds, she whispered “…ah?”.

Minho smiled brightly, “Yes! Good girl. ‘Ah.’ Perfect.”

Hae’s shoulders loosened just a little.

He pointed at another.

“‘바’. Can you try this one?”

She hesitated longer this time, chewing slightly on her lip. Minho watched carefully, but never rushed her. Finally Hae whispered “…ba?”

Minho clapped softly. “Exactly right. You’re doing so well, kitten.”

Hae shyly looked down, a small proud smile creeping out. They practiced reading simple syllables, then they slowly moved on to writing. Hae’s grip on the pencil was awkward and stiff at first, the lines shaky. She frowned and erased more than she wrote.

Minho shook his head gently and moved her hand slightly, not forcing, just guiding. “Try holding it like this. Good. Now slowly… there you go.”

Her next line was straighter. Her next vowel looked almost right. And Minho praised every attempt, not just the perfect ones.

“That’s it.” “Nice work.” “You’re getting better already.” “Look how neat that one is!” “You’re trying so hard. I’m proud of you.”

And with every praise, Hae sat up a little straighter. Every time she managed a correct syllable, her smile grew a tiny bit bigger. By the time one hour passed, she had written several simple characters, read a few syllables and, more importantly, felt confident enough to try more the next time.

Minho checked the time after 1 hour and 30 minutes. “Okay, Hae. That’s enough for today.”

She blinked “That’s it?”

Minho nodded firmly “Yes. Learning is important. But fun is important too. We stop now.”

He closed the workbook gently. “You did amazing. I’m really proud of you.”

Hae felt warm inside, she wasn’t used to learning being something that earned praise or something that felt nice. Minho went to the kitchen and came back with a snack plate, a small bowl of cut fruit and some crackers. “For doing a great job.”

She perked up instantly, taking the snack happily. “Thank you, Eomma.”

Minho’s heart melted a little, then he clapped his hands. “Now… what do you want to play? Blocks? Drawing? Dolls? I’m all yours for the next hour.”

Hae jumped up excitedly. “Drawing! I want to draw with Eomma!”

Minho chuckled “Then let’s draw.”

He let her pull him to the living room floor where she spread out her crayons, and together they drew cats, dogs, flowers and, of course, all eight of her dads. Minho made sure the afternoon ended with fun, laughter, and warmth.

A perfect first day of learning.

A perfect first step in giving her back the childhood she deserved.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Minho and Hyunjin find out more of Hae's past

Warnings: Mentions of child abuse, metion of child neglect, mention of bullying, Hae's biological parents are horrible, nothing is really detailed described.

A/n: Hii, sorry part 2 took some time, but I really like this more angsty chapter. I love Skz when they're written as protective and caring, so I'm happy with this chapter. It's a little heavy, but I mostly just want to keep this series fun for everyone without to many triggers. Hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 15 part 2: Chopsticks, school and mean people

Minho returned to Hae’s room after a while and gently touched her shoulder.

“Hae… time to wake up, sweetheart. Lunch is ready.”

She blinked slowly awake, eyes half-closed, hair fluffy from sleep. She stretched like a little kitten and let Minho help her out of bed. She still clutched Han quokka with one hand as she shuffled down the hallway. When they stepped into the dining room, all the boys looked up with smiles except Chan, Changbin, and Jeongin who weren’t there.

Hae rubbed her eye and asked drowsily, “where’s Dad… and Dada… and Bubba…?”

Jisung leaned a bit closer to her and answered gently, “they had some work to do today. They’ll be back later.” Hae nodded slowly, still waking up.

Minho guided her to her seat between Jisung and Seungmin. Felix passed by, set a full plate of food in front of her and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Eat well, little one.” Then he headed to his seat next to Hyunjin.

Hae peered down at her plate with rice, thinly sliced meat, vegetables and some fruit.

Then she looked around, left… right… no spoon or fork in sight. Just her hands and chopsticks. She started to fidget slightly, unsure. Seungmin noticed immediately. He reached over and handed her a smaller pair of chopsticks designed for children.

“Hae,” he said softly, “try with these. Look, like this.” He demonstrated slowly, moving his fingers.

Jisung leaned in, face full of excitement. “You can do it! Appa believes in you!”

Hae focused. Her tongue peeked out slightly in concentration. She managed to pinch a piece of meat, slowly lifting it to her mouth only for it to fall back on her plate. She frowned and tried again. This time she got it to her mouth and everyone at the table cheered softly.

Jisung clapped quietly. “That’s it!! You’re doing so well!”

Felix beamed proudly. Hyunjin smiled and nudged Minho to look.

Seungmin kept coaching gently “Chopsticks are important in Korean culture. If you practice, you’ll be able to eat anything with them. Even cook with them someday.”

Hae wasn’t super convinced. She mumbled “But… spoon is easier.”

The boys chuckled.

“Yes,” Minho said, “but watching you learn with chopsticks is so cute that we might all explode.”

“Hae-ya fighting!” Jisung hyped, holding up a fist dramatically.

Hae tried again, she got a piece of fruit this time. Then a vegetable. Then some meat again. Her struggles became gentle successes and her mood lifted with each one.

Meanwhile, Minho held up his phone and discreetly started taking photos and a few short videos of Hae concentrating intensely as she used the chopsticks. Her little hand working so hard, her brows furrowed, her lips pursed, her determination adorable. And every time she succeeded, her eyes sparkled with pride and the boys around her melted just a little more.

Minho carefully continued snapping photos and recording videos, capturing each small victory. Every time Hae successfully picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, Jisung clapped softly, cheering, “Yes! That’s my girl!” Seungmin leaned in, whispering encouragements and showing her how to hold them more steadily.

Hae’s little tongue peeked out as she focused on lifting a vegetable, then a piece of meat and finally a small slice of fruit. Even though she still occasionally dropped food, she was determined to keep trying, especially with all the smiles and encouragement from the boys.

Felix peeked at her from across the table, grinning as she clumsily but adorably managed her chopsticks. “Look at you, Hae! You’re doing amazing!” he said, earning a shy smile from her.

Minho leaned closer to whisper, “Every time you try, we’re all so proud. Keep going, little one.”

Jisung, brimming with excitement, kept hyping her up quietly, “Yes! You’re doing so well! You’re learning so fast, Appa is so proud of you!”

The atmosphere was warm, full of gentle laughter, soft encouragement and proud smiles. Hae felt supported and loved, enjoying every small triumph. By the time she had successfully eaten half her meal with chopsticks, Minho had several photos and a couple of videos stored on his phone, each one a perfect memory of her determination and cuteness.

Even though she was still sleepy from her nap, the boys’ encouragement and her own sense of accomplishment made her feel happy and confident. Each bite was a tiny victory, and with each one, the bond between her and the boys grew stronger, full of love and patience.

---

Minho cleared the table with Hyunjin’s help, and then the two of them gently approached Hae. She was sitting on the couch cuddling Han quokka and Duckie, humming quietly to herself. Minho sat beside her, and Hyunjin sat across from her, both with relaxed postures and calm eyes.

“Hae?” Minho asked softly. “Can we talk to you for a minute?”

She blinked at them, curious but not scared. “…Okay.”

Minho reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“We want to ask you something about before you lived with us… but first, we want you to know something very important.”

Hyunjin leaned forward his voice warm and serious, “You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to. If it’s too hard or sad, you can tell us to stop, okay?”

Hae’s shoulders stiffened a little, her eyes dropped and her voice got small.

“…I don’t want to think about those mean people…”

Her biological parents. That’s what she always called them ‘mean people’. Minho’s heart squeezed a little. He immediately responded, “that’s okay. You don’t have to. We promise.”

Hyunjin nodded, “no scary questions. Just something simple… okay?”

Hae hesitated, her plushies were clutched tight to her chest. Minho softened his voice even more, “We were just wondering if you went to school before. And… did you like school?”

Hae lifted her head slowly, the question was… okay. Not dangerous or scary. She nodded, “I… I did go to school. For a while.” She frowned, thinking, “I don’t remember where it was… I don’t remember the name…”

“But I had one friend there! … I forgot her name, but she was nice. But I think she forgot about me… cause I never saw her again.”

Her bottom lip trembled slightly, not from fear, but from old loneliness. She continued, staring into her lap, “but the other people at school were… mean. They laughed at me. They said I was stupid… and slow… and weird.”

Hyunjin’s jaw tightened and Minho looked like his soul physically hurt. Then she added quietly, “then the mean people said I didn’t need school… cause I wasn’t good at it… so it was a waste of time… and money.”

Hyunjin’s hands curled slightly into fists, but Hae kept talking, not noticing their reactions. “I wasn’t really sad I didn’t have to go anymore… cause school wasn’t nice. But then I was more at home… and if they were angry I had to hide more.”

That made Minho’s blood run cold. Hyunjin’s heart dropped.

Still rambling innocently, Hae continued. “So I went outside instead… petting cats and dogs. They were always kind to me. They didn’t hit or yell. And then one day I met you guys outside… but I was scared then… cause so many people had been mean…”

Her words slowed, her voice trailed off…

Minho and Hyunjin exchanged a look, a look of fear and rage and heartbreak.

Then Hyunjin took a gentle risk, “…Hae? What do you mean by hiding at your old home?”

She answered absently, not fully aware of the weight, “I had to hide when they were angry.”

Minho swallowed and Hyunjin’s voice shook slightly.

“And… what happened if they found you?”

Hae froze. Then it hit her. What she was talking about

Her breath hitched and her eyes widened, her body tightening.

She curled inward, hugging her plushies hard and making herself small and silent, slightly shaking.

Hyunjin immediately reached out, but not touching, just placing a hand near her.

“No...hey…shh...it’s okay! You don’t have to answer! It’s okay!”

Minho leaned in his voice barely above a whisper, “You’re safe. You’re safe. You’re safe. We promise. We’re not mad. We are so proud of you for sharing what you did.”

Hae sniffled as tears hit her hands, but she nodded slowly.

Minho gently stroked her hair.

“You did so well. You told us enough. And we heard you.”

Hyunjin smiled sadly.

“And we’ll take care of the rest, okay? You don’t have to do anything else.”

She swallowed. Then peeked up at them, voice broken. “…I don’t… want to talk about the mean people anymore.”

Minho shook his head immediately.

“You won’t have to.”

Hyunjin added, “Not unless you want to one day… and only if you want to.”

They let silence sit for a moment. Then Minho said trying to gently shift topics, “For now… what do you think about learning at home? With us? Instead of a big school full of strangers?”

Hae blinked.

“…with you guys?”

Hyunjin nodded with a smile.

“For now, yes. Either we teach you here… or maybe find someone kind to help. We’ll figure it out together.”

Hae brightened a little.

“…then… I like that. I like learning with you.”

Minho ruffled her hair.

“Good. That’s our plan then.”

Hyunjin clapped his hands lightly and stood.

“Okay! Enough heavy talk. Wanna play a board game? Or Legos? Or draw?”

Hae wiped her tears, sniffed, then whispered, “…draw?”

Minho smiled, rising.

“Let’s draw, angel.”

Soon the table was full of crayons and paper. Hae sat between them, her shoulders relaxing, her breathing calming and her voice returning bit by bit. Behind their soft expressions, Minho and Hyunjin both silently vowed. They would NEVER allow anything to hurt her again. Not at school, not at home and not anywhere else. Hae was safe now and this time, she would stay that way.

---

Chan, Changbin, and Jeongin finally arrived home after a long day at work. It was already late, the dorm quiet except for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional muffled footsteps from one of the boys moving somewhere in the hallway.

The first thing they did almost instinctively, was go to Hae’s room.

The door was slightly ajar and the three of them stepped inside quietly. There she was, curled up beneath a soft blanket, hugging Ducky and Han quokka closely, peaceful and safe.

Changbin softly brushed some hair away from her forehead before pressing a gentle kiss above her eyebrow. Chan kissed the top of her head, whispering softly, “Dad’s here, sweetheart… sleep well.” Lastly Jeongin leaned down and kissed her hair too, resting a hand lightly on the blanket near her arm. “Bubba’s home too. You’re safe.” And even though she’s asleep, Hae seemed to breathe a little easier at their presence.

When they returned to the living room, Minho was already waiting. He stood there with a serious expression and said quietly, “Family meeting.”

That alone made everyone sit up straighter. They all gathered, some on the couch, some on the floor, some leaning against furniture, but every one of them attentive.

Minho began, voice steady but clearly emotional beneath the surface. “Hyunjin and I talked to Hae today. We asked her about school, what it was like before she came to us.”

Hyunjin continued gently, “She said she went to school for a while… but she didn’t remember where. She said she had one friend, but she thinks they forgot about her. The other students teased her and told her she was stupid.”

A ripple of disgusted reactions followed. Felix muttered something in English that was not very kind, Changbin clenched his jaw, Seungmin looked heartbroken and Chan’s eyes darkened with protective anger.

Minho spoke again, voice quieter now. “She told us… that her biological parents decided she wasn’t good at school. Called it a waste of time and money.”

Jeongin immediately sat forward, eyes wide in disbelief. “They said that to her?”

Hyunjin nodded grimly, “She also said she didn’t mind at first… except it meant she was home more and she said she had to hide because her biological parents were angry.”

The room fell silent. You could feel everyone holding their breath.

Minho swallowed before continuing, “When Hyunjin asked her what happened if they found her, she just shut down. Started shaking. We stopped immediately.”

Chan’s fist clenched on his knee. Changbin stared at the floor with blazing eyes. Felix wiped a tear away angrily. Seungmin looked like he wanted to go back in time and fight someone. Jisung’s hands trembled on his thighs. Jeongin’s eyes shone with tears. Hyunjin stared at nothing, jaw tight. Minho exhaled shakily.

Then Chan spoke in his leader voice, father voice, protector voice. “We are never letting anyone hurt her again. Not ever.”

Every single one of them nodded, slowly at first, then firmly. A silent promise. A vow.

Felix said it aloud first, “No one touches our little girl again. We are her family now.”

Changbin added, voice rough. “And those people… her biological parents… they deserve prison. They’re not parents, they’re monsters.”

The agreement was unanimous.

Then Chan took a deep breath and shifted the topic slightly. “We also need to talk about education. She needs it, but not in a traditional school. Not yet. She’s not ready for strangers.”

Seungmin nodded, “home school is the best option now.”

Minho agreed, “I’ll work with her on Korean reading and writing.”

Seungmin added, “I can do science and some math.”

Felix raised his hand playfully, “I can do English and art.”

Jisung smiled softly, “I’ll help with music. And confidence. And fun.”

Changbin volunteered for physical activity, “I’ll take her outdoors. Exercise is good for her.”

Jeongin nodded, “I’ll support wherever needed. And also… I’ll just keep being her Bubba.”

Hyunjin offered, “I can help with emotional support and creative expression.”

Chan finished, “and I’ll handle administrative things with the company. I already told them about Hae today. They weren’t thrilled, but they can’t stop us. They’ll prepare an official statement and reinforce security when we are in public.”

He looked around at his family before finishing, “Hae’s privacy comes first. But if she wants to participate in anything publicly… we’ll let her. On her terms. Always.”

And with that, the meeting ended. No fist bumps or ceremony. Just a quiet room filled with love and determination. They all glanced once more down the hallway toward Hae’s room.

Nothing needed to be said. They would protect her, heal her, teach her and love her.

And one day, Hae would finally understand fully…

That she deserved every single bit of it.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae meets Chan's and Felix' parents

Warnings: Nothing just cute fluff, only brief mention of nightmares like really short just a mention they exist.

A/n: Hii, so I actually thought I had this one already queued up to be released yesterday but aparently not. So it's a good thing that I'm looking on here while I'm at my internship lol. Anyways, I split this one into two parts, cause it is a pretty big chapter and I didn't want to make the next one chapter 16 because it litteraly all happens on the same day. Hope you enjoy <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 15 part 1: A call with mom and dad

A week had passed, and although Hae had experienced several more nightmares during those nights, the boys had become experts at comforting her. The two nights she asked to sleep in Felix’s room and then Minho’s room, she actually slept peacefully. No nightmares, no fear, just calm breathing nestled against someone she trusted.

This morning, she woke up in Minho’s bed, snugly pressed against his side, the warmth and safety still lingering. Minho gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and asked softly, “Hey, sleepyhead… wanna help me make breakfast?”

Hae smiled, rubbing her eyes and nodded.

Soon they were in the kitchen, Minho expertly cooking eggs, bacon, and toast. While Hae stood on a little stool, placing carefully cut fruit into a big bowl. Minho would occasionally lean down and whisper, “Perfect job,” or “You’re getting really good at this.”

When breakfast was finally ready and neatly spread out across the table in bowls and plates, Minho crouched to Hae’s level.

“Your mission is to wake everyone up, you think you can do that for me?.”

Hae gasped dramatically and saluted.

“Yes sir!”

Then she sprinted off.

First door was Jisung’s. “Appa! Appa! I made breakfast!” she exclaimed as she ran into his room. Jisung looked up with sleepy eyes, but as soon as he saw Hae a smile broke out on his face. But before Jisung could say anything, Hae was already sprinting to the next room.

This went on with each room, she would excitedly exclaim for the person to wake up and she was gone before they could respond.

“Mom! Wake up! Food!”

“Dadaaaa! Breakfast is ready!”

“Hyunjin! Come eat!!”

“Bubba! Bubba! Food time!”

“Baba! Wake up!”

“Chan! I helped make breakfast!”

They all shuffled out in sleepy clusters, yawning, stretching, and smiling at her excitement.

At the table, that cozy domestic atmosphere settled over them, the one where they all felt like a real family. Hae sat between Minho and Felix, kicking her legs under the chair while eating melon cubes.

Chan cleared his throat gently and looked at her, “Hae… do you think you’d like to meet my parents?”

Hae blinked and then nodded quickly, “Yes! Are we going there today?”

Chan chuckled softly. “Well… it’s a little harder than that. They live in Australia.”

Hae paused, “…Is that another city?”

“It’s another country,” Felix explained.

Hae frowned in confusion, “…like Busan?”

Chan laughed warmly, “no, Busan is still in Korea. Australia is much, much farther away.”

She tilted her head. “Then how do we see them?”

Chan lifted his phone.

“We can do something called a video call. I can talk to them on this and they’ll see us and we’ll see them.”

Hae gasped, “…they live inside your phone?!”

Everyone laughed and Chan gently ruffled her hair.

“No, sweetheart. They’re on the other side of the world, but the phone lets us see them.”

Felix leaned in, “my parents are in Australia too. If you want… you can meet them today as well.”

Hae agreed, although still slightly confused. But if it made Chan and Felix happy, she wanted to try. Then her face softened, and she asked quietly, “…do you miss your families?”

Felix and Chan exchanged a look, soft, bittersweet. “Yeah,” Felix said. “We do.”

“…Then why do you live so far away?” She sounded genuinely sad, like her heart couldn’t understand choosing distance.

Chan answered gently, “We moved to Korea to become singers, to follow our dream.”

Hae thought deeply, “But can’t your families come live here? Then you won’t be sad.”

Chan chuckled softly, “We would love that. But they have their lives in Australia and we don’t want them to give everything up for us.”

Hae didn’t quite get it, but she felt their pain anyway. She picked up a small piece of food and placed it carefully onto Chan’s plate. Then also placed some food onto Felix’ plate. “I stay with you,” she said softly, “so you aren’t sad.”

The room melted. Every heart.

Chan’s eyes watered just a little. “Thank you, Hae,” he whispered. “We’ll always stay with you too.”

Felix placed his hand on hers, “always.”

The warmth at that table was almost visible.

---

After breakfast, Chan took Hae to her room to get her ready. He picked out one of her cutest outfits, something soft and bright and gently brushed and tied her hair. Hae stayed still, letting him move her head as he needed, her two plushies resting on her lap. When he finished, she looked up at him, eyes a little uncertain.

“Chan… can Duckie and Han quokka come too?”

Chan couldn’t help the tender smile that formed.

“Of course they can, they’re part of the family too.”

Hae lit up, instantly scooping both plushies into her arms and chattering quietly to them.

“You’ll get to meet their families too and a puppy named Berry.”

Chan followed behind her as she skipped toward the living room, her voice excited and sweet.

When they entered, Felix had already set up his laptop on the coffee table and adjusted the camera angle. He had thought ahead, knowing a laptop screen would be easier for Hae to interact with than a tiny phone screen.

Chan and Felix sat down on the couch, Chan working to coordinate the call. Checking time zones and sending connection approvals, while Felix tapped the cushion between them.

“Hae, you can sit here,” he said gently. “I’ll hold your Duckie while you get comfortable.”

Hae plopped down between them, Felix on her left, Chan on her right and she puts Han quokka on her lap. Felix started asking about Han quokka’s hobbies and Duckie’s favorite foods, keeping her calm and giggly.

And then…

Chan’s parents suddenly appeared on screen.

“Oh!” Hae gasped, eyes widening.

Then Felix’s parents joined as well and four smiling adult faces were now beaming at her through the screen.

Hae leaned forward.

Then she leaned even closer.

Then she stood up, walked around to the back of the laptop and froze.

“…They’re not inside?”

Everyone chuckled.

“Oh sweetheart,” Chan said softly, “they’re in Australia. This just lets us see them.”

“But they’re not stuck?” she asked, still concerned.

“No, no one’s stuck,” Felix reassured her. “They’re safe at their homes.”

Hae accepted that answer, even if she didn’t really understand. She toddled back to her seat, clutching Han quokka.

Felix’s mom waved.

“Well hello there, Hae. We have heard so much about you.”

Hae shyly raised her hand and waved back.

“Hi… Felix’s mom and dad.”

Then Chan’s parents greeted her warmly.

Hae was quieter at first, but slowly, comfortably, she began to talk. The distance of the screen made it easier, less intimidating than real life. Soon she was telling them about helping cook breakfast, how Kkami liked her, how she was learning words in Korean and how she wanted to visit Australia one day.

At one point she lit up.

“Oh! I made a drawing! Wait, hold on!”

She stood up, juggling both plushies in her arms, and ran off to her room.

But before she left the room entirely, she turned and asked without hesitation.

“Mom, can you hold Ducky? And… dad, can you hold Han quokka?”

Chan froze. Did she… did she just…

Felix calmly took Ducky, while Chan numbly accepted Han quokka and then she disappeared down the hall.

Chan mouthed silently, “She called me dad.”

His voice cracked with restrained emotion.

Felix gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder, grinning.

Chan’s parents on the call squealed with delight. “Oh, Christopher, look at you, you’re crying!” “No…I’m not…” “Yes, you are!”

Felix’s parents also congratulated him, “That’s wonderful Chan, she loves you so much.”

Chan just stared down at Han quokka in his hands with the biggest and brightest smile. He could swear the plushie was smiling with him.

Hae came racing back in and proudly held up a drawing of all eight boys and herself, with their names scribbled over their heads.

The parents praised her, Hae preened with pride and for two more hours they laughed, talked, listened, and connected.

When it was time to say goodbye, Chan and Felix lifted Hae’s arm gently to help her wave.

“Bye!” “See you again!” “And kiss Berry for me!”

When the call ended, Chan and Felix immediately wrapped Hae in a hug, one from each side.

“You did amazing, Hae,” Felix whispered. “Our parents absolutely loved talking with you,” Chan said.

Hae beamed, stars in her eyes.

“And Berry was so cute… I want to pet Berry…”

Chan nodded.

“One day, sweetheart. One day we’ll go to Australia and you’ll get to meet Berry for real.”

Just then, Minho poked his head into the living room. “Okay,” he said gently, “someone looks sleepy.”

Hae rubbed her eyes. “I’m not…” she then yawned before continuing, “…tired…”

“Mhm,” Minho said knowingly and held out his hand.

She walked over and grabbed his hand. He led her to her room, tucking her in softly. Chan and Felix popped in briefly to return her plushies and kiss her forehead.

Minho sat at her bedside and whispered, “You did so well today. I’m proud of you.”

“I like Dad’s parents… and Mom’s,” Hae murmured. “…and Berry.”

Minho smiled, “I know. Now you’ll sleep a bit and then we’ll play more later.”

“’Kay,” she mumbled sleepily.

Minho pressed a final kiss to her forehead and quietly left. Hae drifted off quickly, a tiny smile on her lips. Her arms cuddled around Han quokka and Ducky, sleeping peacefully in the warmth of her new family.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: Hae meets Hyunjin's parents.

Warnings: The boys have some insecurities they talk about, Hae has a nightmare but nothing about it is described. The rest is just cute, fluff and comfort.

A/n: So this chapter is actually a bit too long, but I couldn't find a good place to split it up into two chapters. So surprise you get a long chapter today :D

I can't say it enough, but thank you for all the love and support. I hope you enjoy this new chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 14: Kkami

Hyunjin had been pacing around the dorm for the last ten minutes, glancing at the clock, then at the door, then at the little girl sitting cross-legged on the couch who was humming quietly while brushing her plushie’s fur.

“Hey, Hae,” he finally said, crouching down in front of her with that soft smile of his, the one that always made her feel safe. “Would you maybe want to come with me to meet my parents today?”

Hae blinked, tilting her head. “Your parents?” she asked curiously, clutching Han quokka in her lap.

“Yeah,” Hyunjin said, his tone warm and hopeful. “They’ve heard so much about you and they really want to meet you. Dada and Mom will come with us too, so it won’t be scary, promise.”

At the mention of Felix and Changbin, Hae relaxed slightly, though she still fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “Will it be far?”

“Not too far,” Hyunjin reassured her. “And guess what?” He pulled out his phone, scrolling until he found the picture he wanted, a little, black and white dog with big dark eyes and a wagging tail. “You’ll get to meet Kkami too.”

The transformation was instant. Hae’s eyes widened, lighting up like the sun breaking through clouds. “Puppy?!”

Hyunjin grinned. “Yeah, that’s my puppy. Well, technically my parents’ puppy now. But he’s super friendly. You’ll love him.”

Hae was already nodding eagerly, her earlier nerves fading away. “Can we go now? Please?”

Hyunjin chuckled, his heart melting at her excitement. “Of course, but first” he stood up, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “We have to pick out your outfit! You need to look extra cute for Kkami.”

With Felix’s help, they chose a little cream-colored dress with small yellow flowers, paired with a denim jacket and white sneakers. Hyunjin of course, couldn’t resist adding his personal touch, two neat space buns tied with soft ribbons, and a little Jinniret hair clip that matched his own Skzoo charm on his bag.

“There,” Hyunjin said proudly as he stepped back to admire his work. “You’re officially the cutest person on the planet.”

Hae giggled, shyly looking up at him. “Thank you, Hyunjin.”

Changbin called from the door. “Let’s go, everyone! Car’s ready.”

They piled into the car, Changbin driving, Hyunjin in the passenger seat, and Felix and Hae in the back. The hum of the engine filled the silence and for a few minutes, everything felt peaceful… until Hae suddenly gasped softly.

“Mom…” she whispered, looking devastated. “I forgot Duckie and Han quokka.”

Felix turned to her quickly, his heart squeezing at her expression. “Oh, love… it’s okay,” he soothed. “They’re safe at home. You’ll see them when we get back, yeah?”

Hae sniffled, leaning into him. “But they’ll be lonely…”

Felix smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You know what? I think they’re probably napping. They’ll be waiting for you, all rested up for cuddles later.”

That earned him a tiny giggle, and he kept her distracted by pointing out things outside the window, trees, birds and even a couple of dogs being walked down the street.

By the time they arrived at Hyunjin’s parents’ house, Hae’s nerves had returned in small waves. The moment the door opened and Hyunjin’s parents appeared, she instinctively reached for Felix’s hand, hiding slightly behind him.

Hyunjin’s mother smiled warmly. “So this must be Hae! We’ve heard so much about you, sweetheart.”

Hae peeked out from behind Felix, clutching his fingers tightly. “Hello…” she said softly, giving a shy wave.

Before the adults could say anything more, a small flurry of black and white fur came bounding toward them.

“Kkami!” Hyunjin exclaimed, dropping to his knees as the dog jumped up to greet him, tail wagging so fast it was a blur. “There’s my boy!”

Hae’s eyes went wide. “Puppy!”

Hyunjin looked back at her smiling. “You wanna come meet him?”

Hae hesitated only a moment before letting go of Felix’ hand and walking toward him. Kkami immediately turned his attention to the new little human, sniffing Hae’s hand curiously before giving it a gentle lick.

Hae giggled, her whole face lighting up. “He likes me!”

“Of course he does,” Hyunjin said proudly. “You’re the sweetest person ever.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the living room. Kkami refused to leave Hae’s side, curling up near her feet as if standing guard. Hae was utterly enchanted, petting his fur, giving him treats, and talking softly to him as if Kkami could understand every word.

Hyunjin, though delighted, tried a few times to gently draw her into conversation with his parents.

“Hae, why don’t you tell my mom about the cookies you baked with Mom and Dada last week?” he prompted.

But Hae, too absorbed in Kkami, only nodded absently. Replying with a distracted, “They were chocolate chip,” before turning her attention back to the dog.

Felix and Changbin chuckled quietly from the couch, exchanging knowing looks.

At one point, Hae looked up at Felix to ask, “Mom, can Kkami come to our house sometime?”

Hyunjin froze for a second, not because she’d said something wrong, but because the word Mom hit him like a little pang. He smiled softly, but there was a flicker of sadness behind it. Everyone had a special name, Changbin was Dada, Felix was Mom, Jisung was Appa, Minho was Eomma, Seungmin was Baba and even Jeongin had Bubba.

And him? He was still just… Hyunjin.

Of course he didn’t forget that Chan also was just Chan, but for some reason it felt like he was left out.

He pushed the thought aside quickly, telling himself it didn’t matter. She’d give him a name if and when she wanted to. He’d wait patiently and quietly like always.

Hyunjin’s mother soon discovered the key to getting Hae talking more.

Kkami’s treat bag

She handed Hae a few small snacks for the dog and suddenly Hae was chatty. Telling little stories about the dorm, about baking with Felix and even about how Jeongin always gave her candy when Chan wasn’t looking.

The adults laughed and Hyunjin’s heart swelled watching her open up.

But eventually, the day had to end. When it was time to leave, Hae’s face fell. She crouched down beside Kkami, hugging the little dog gently. “Bye, Kkami,” she whispered. “I’ll come again, okay?” She placed a soft kiss on Kkami’s head before standing up and waving goodbye to Hyunjin’s parents.

The car ride home was quieter, Hae resting her head on Felix’s arm, clearly exhausted but content. Hyunjin looked out the window, a faint smile on his lips.

He was happy, so happy that Hae had gotten along with his parents and Kkami. But in the back of his mind, that small ache lingered, just enough for Felix and Changbin to notice.

They exchanged a glance in the rear view mirror, unspoken understanding passing between them.

Later, when Hae was tucked into bed and fast asleep with Duckie and Han quokka, they’d talk to him. Gently, lovingly and remind him that her love wasn’t measured in nicknames.

But for now, as the car hummed softly and Hae’s tiny snores filled the backseat, all three of them just smiled quietly, their little family growing closer with every day.

---

The dorm was unusually quiet that night, the kind of calm that only came after a long, full day. Hae was fast asleep in her room, tucked under a mountain of blankets with Duckie and Han quokka by her side. Changbin had carried her there, and Felix had been the one to stay until her breathing evened out. Now, the two rejoined the others in the living room, where soft lamplight painted the walls in warm gold.

Chan sat at the end of the couch, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly. While Jisung was curled in the corner, fiddling with a loose thread on a pillow. Hyunjin was quiet, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. Minho and Seungmin sat cross-legged on the rug and Jeongin leaned back against the coffee table.

Felix sank into the couch beside Chan with a sigh. “She’s out,” he murmured. “Didn’t even stir when I fixed her blanket.”

“Good,” Minho said softly, smiling a little. “She had such a full day. Meeting Hyunjin’s parents, running around with Kkami, it’s no wonder she’s exhausted.”

Jisung chuckled quietly. “She really loves that dog. I swear if we had one here, she’d never go to bed.”

That earned a few chuckles, but soon the laughter faded into comfortable silence. Then Chan spoke, voice low and thoughtful. “So… she’s met most of our parents now, right?”

“Yeah,” Seungmin said, counting on his fingers. “She met mine, Changbin’s, Hyunjin’s, Minho’s and Jisung’s parents. That just leaves yours, Felix’, and Jeongin’s.”

Jeongin perked up at the mention of his name. “since mine live in Busan,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “We could maybe go there sometime, if it’s not too much for her. Or… my parents could come here to visit. They’d love to meet her.”

“Busan could be nice,” Felix said with a warm smile. “A trip like that might be good for her, when she’s ready. I think she would love the sea and the trip is not too far.”

Chan nodded. “Yeah, I like that idea. A small trip, calm and close by.”

Then Minho leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What about you two?” he asked, looking at Chan and Felix. “Your parents are all the way in Australia. Have you thought about how she might meet them?”

Felix sighed softly, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist. “I have, but… I don’t think she’s ready for a long trip yet. She’s still settling in and we don’t want to overwhelm her.”

Chan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. It’s a big step. Flying all the way to Australia would be a lot and there’s still a lot she’s processing.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “But… maybe we could do a video call instead. So she can see them, hear their voices and she can take her time.”

Felix’s eyes lit up. “That’s a really good idea actually. My parents would love that. They already keep asking for pictures of her.”

Changbin smiled. “Same with yours, huh? My mom keeps saying she wants to knit something for Hae.”

Minho smirked softly. “She deserves all the grandmas in the world.”

For a moment, everyone was smiling again, until Felix glanced at Hyunjin, who had been unusually quiet all evening. “Hyunjin,” Felix started gently, “you okay? You’ve been awfully quiet since we got back.”

Hyunjin blinked, caught off guard and quickly set his phone down. “Huh? Oh… yeah, I’m fine.”

Changbin frowned, not convinced. “You sure? You’ve been off since we left your parents’ house. Come on, spill it.”

Hyunjin hesitated, his shoulders slumping slightly. “It’s nothing, really. It’s just…” He exhaled slowly, searching for the right words. “It kind of stung a little today, you know? Hae’s given everyone these special nicknames, Dada, Mom, Appa, Baba, Eomma, Bubba… Chan’s the only other one without one. And I don’t want to sound selfish, but…” He trailed off with a small, self-conscious shrug. “It made me feel like maybe she doesn’t see me the same way.”

Chan gave him a small, understanding look. “Trust me, mate, I get that. I’ve been trying not to think about it too much, but… yeah, it kind of hurts a little.”

Hyunjin rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling weakly. “I know it’s silly. She’s just a kid and she’s been through so much. I don’t blame her at all. It’s just… I guess I thought by now she might have something for me too.”

Felix reached out, resting a reassuring hand on his arm. “Hey, it’s not silly at all. You love her, we all do and it’s normal to want that little connection.”

Changbin nodded in agreement. “But don’t forget, nicknames or not, she adores both of you. You saw how she was with you today, Hyunjin. She followed you around the whole time, wanted to show Kkami every little thing she found. That means something.”

Seungmin added softly, “Exactly. She’s still learning what love feels like, Hyunjin. You’re part of that. She’ll find your nickname when it feels right, just like she did with all of us.”

Jisung smiled faintly. “Yeah. It’s not about the name. It’s about how she looks at you. You’re her Hyunjin, her safe one. That’s already special.”

Jeongin, still leaning against the table, spoke up quietly. “She’ll give you a nickname when her heart’s ready for it. And when she does, it’ll probably mean more than you expect.”

That made Hyunjin smile, a small, genuine curve of his lips. “You guys are right,” he said finally, his voice soft. “I just have to be patient, she’s been through enough. The last thing she needs is pressure.”

Chan leaned back, exhaling deeply. “Same goes for me. I’ll wait. I just… want her to know I’m here, no matter what she calls me.”

Minho smiled gently, his tone full of warmth. “She already knows that, Chan. She trusts you, all of us. That’s what really matters.”

Felix glanced toward the hallway, where Hae’s door was slightly ajar, the faint glow of her nightlight spilling into the hall. “She’s lucky to have all of you,” he murmured. “And we’re lucky to have her.”

The others nodded in quiet agreement, the room settling into a peaceful stillness again.

For a moment, no one spoke. Just the soft hum of the city outside, the ticking of the wall clock, and the comfort of knowing they were all in this together.

A family, imperfect, healing, but whole.

---

The dorm had settled into a peaceful quiet again after their late-night talk. The boys were scattered around the living room, some tidying up mugs and plates, others just relaxing on the couch. It was one of those rare moments of calm that made everything feel normal again.

But that peace didn’t last.

A faint sound drifted through the hallway. At first, it was so soft that no one caught it right away. A muffled noise, barely audible over the hum of the fridge. Then it came again, a quiet, shaky whimper.

Felix was the first to pause mid-sentence, his head turning toward the hallway. “…Did anyone else hear that?”

Minho frowned. “Yeah,” he said after a second, his voice dropping to a whisper. “It came from Hae’s room, right?”

Everyone fell silent, straining to listen.

Then, faint but unmistakable, came the sound of Hae’s unsteady breathing. Fast, frightened, followed by another small, broken whimper. “Stop… please stop…”

All of them froze.

Chan was on his feet instantly. “That’s Hae,” he said, worry threading his voice as he hurried down the hall. The others followed quickly behind, hearts pounding.

When they reached her room, the dim nightlight revealed a heartbreaking sight. Hae was tangled in her blanket, twisting and turning restlessly, her little face scrunched up in fear. Tears streamed down her cheeks even in her sleep and her small hands clutched desperately at Duckie and Han quokka.

Jeongin’s hand flew to his mouth. “Oh no… she’s having a nightmare.”

“She’s terrified,” Jisung whispered, his chest tightening.

Chan and Minho moved first. Chan knelt beside her bed, his voice soft but firm. “Hae, sweetheart, it’s okay. You’re safe now. It’s just a dream.”

Minho knelt on the other side, brushing some hair from her damp forehead. “Kitten, wake up please. You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”

But Hae didn’t wake. She whimpered again, twisting away, her breathing uneven. “No, no, please don’t…”

Then, suddenly, she screamed. A sharp, heart-wrenching cry that made every one of them flinch. Her eyes flew open, wide with panic and she sat up abruptly, clutching her blanket to her chest as if it were a shield.

Felix’s heart shattered at the sight.

Chan immediately raised his hands to show her he meant no harm. “Hey, hey, you’re safe, love. It’s me, it’s Chan. You’re home with us.”

Hae’s eyes darted from one face to another, her breathing still quick and uneven. She was trembling, her small shoulders shaking as tears welled up again.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Minho whispered, staying close but not touching her yet. “You’re safe. You had a bad dream, that’s all. Nothing can hurt you here.”

Finally, her panicked gaze landed on Jeongin, who had quietly sat down at the edge of her bed, trying to give her a calm point of focus. Something about seeing him made her crumble, the panic melting into quiet sobs. She crawled toward him without hesitation and climbed into his lap, burying her face in his chest.

Jeongin froze, wide-eyed for a second. Physical comfort had never been his strong suit, he wasn’t sure what to do or what to say. But when he felt her shaking against him, something inside him softened.

He wrapped his arms gently around her and began to whisper, his voice low and careful. “Shh… it’s okay, Hae. You’re safe now. It was just a bad dream. We’re all here, okay? No one’s going to hurt you.”

Hae sobbed quietly, gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly. “It was so scary…” she whispered between hiccups.

Jisung knelt nearby, his voice gentle. “Do you want to tell us what it was about?”

Hae immediately shook her head, her body trembling. “No,” she whimpered, “it was too scary.”

The boys exchanged a look, worry passing between them silently. Whatever she’d seen in that dream… it wasn’t just imagination.

Felix knelt beside her, his hand resting lightly on the blanket near her knee. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said softly. “You don’t have to tell us. We just want you to know you’re safe now. We promise.”

Minho nodded in agreement. “You’re not alone anymore, kitten. Whatever it was, it’s over. You’re with us now.”

Chan, trying to lighten the heavy mood a little, gave her a small reassuring smile. “You’re stronger than that nightmare, Hae. You beat it. And we’ll make sure it doesn’t come back tonight, okay?”

Hae sniffled, her breathing starting to steady. She still looked shaken, but she nodded weakly.

Then Jisung, noticing her eyes still glistening with tears, decided to try something different. He reached over and picked up Han quokka from the bed, clearing his throat dramatically.

In a deep, silly voice, he made the plushie “talk.” “Hey, Hae, I heard there was a scary dream in here! Don’t worry, superhero Han quokka is on the case!”

Hae blinked at him, caught off guard. Jisung then grabbed Duckie and made it “quack” in an exaggerated tone. “Quack! Han quokka, we’ll defeat all the nightmares together!”

Minho snorted quietly, trying not to laugh. While Hae let out a small, teary giggle.

Jisung grinned. “See? Even Duckie’s ready to fight for you!”

Hae giggled again, this time a bit louder, the sound easing the tightness in everyone’s chests.

“See?” Felix said softly, smiling. “Nothing bad can reach you now, not with all of us here.”

Chan brushed a thumb gently under her eye to wipe away a lingering tear. “You’re safe, angel. Promise.”

Hae’s little body began to relax, her head resting against Jeongin’s shoulder again. Within minutes, her breathing evened out. Exhaustion pulling her back into sleep, but this time her face was peaceful.

They all stayed quiet for a while, just watching her sleep.

Eventually, Minho whispered “We should let her rest, she needs it.”

Most of them nodded and began to slip out quietly, though Seungmin and Hyunjin lingered behind.

“I’ll stay,” Seungmin said softly, glancing at Hyunjin. “Just in case she wakes up again.”

Hyunjin nodded, taking a seat by the bed. “Me too. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”

Felix gave them both a grateful look before turning off the lamp, leaving only the warm glow of Hae’s nightlight.

As the others left the room, Seungmin and Hyunjin sat in silence, listening to the soft rhythm of Hae’s breathing.

Hyunjin looked down at her peaceful face and whispered almost to himself, “No more nightmares, little one. Not while we’re here.”

And for the rest of the night, neither of them left her side.

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[minsungswife]

Ot8 Skz fic

Synopsis: An accident suddenly makes the boys realize that Hae has a serious dark past.

Warnings: Hints towards past child abuse, yelling, lots of crying, hurt/comfort

A/n: So after all the cute fluff things and Hae settling in, I wanted to make a more angsty chapter. Hae has a dark past and there will be revealed a bit more about her past but nothing too graphic. I want this series to mostly be cute and fluffy. Also I can't handle sad endings, so if there is angst in my chapters, there will probably be lots of comforting and fluff to make it all better. I hope you enjoy this chapter <3

Masterlist

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Chapter 13: Tears & Tears

The afternoon sun streamed through the living room window, painting the floor in warm golden light. Hae was sitting cross-legged on the rug between Chan and Changbin, her little hands carefully stacking colorful wooden blocks. Chan was helping her balance the taller parts of the tower, while Changbin was busy building a smaller one next to hers, making sure the towers stood side by side.

“There!” Hae said proudly, clapping her hands when the last block was placed. “Duckie’s castle!”

Chan chuckled softly. “It looks perfect, sweetheart. Duckie will love it.”

Changbin smiled warmly at her. “It’s taller than mine. You’re a natural builder, huh?”

Hae giggled, her eyes sparkling. “Duckie needs to see it!” She looked around, spotting her beloved yellow plushie sitting beside Chan.

Without hesitation, she scrambled up and reached toward him. “Duckie! You have to see your castle!”

But when she pulled the plushie, it didn’t come free. Chan frowned slightly, realizing a moment too late that he’d been sitting on the edge of it. The sound of a light rip filled the room.

Hae froze.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the small tear on Duckie’s side. The soft cotton fluff peeking through looked almost like a wound to her. Her lips trembled, and her hands began to shake.

Chan’s heart dropped. “Oh no, Hae, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean…”

Before he could finish, Hae gasped, clutching the plushie to her chest. Her face twisted with horror and anger. “You…You broke Duckie!”

Her voice was high and sharp, the first time any of them had ever heard her yell. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she backed away, clutching her injured toy. “You broke him!”

Chan reached out gently. “Hae, hey, it’s okay, we can fix it…”

But the moment his hand moved toward her, Hae stepped back, shaking her head violently. “No! No, don’t!” Her little hands clenched, and when Chan instinctively reached out again, she struck out with both hands, hitting him weakly on the chest.

Chan froze in shock, his eyes soft with worry. “Hae…”

Changbin immediately stood up and moved between them. “Hae!” His voice was firm but not loud. “You don’t hit, okay? Not Chan, not anyone.”

But when he gently reached for her arm to pull her back, something in Hae snapped. Her eyes filled with panic.

“Don’t!” she screamed, twisting out of his hold and hitting him instead. “Don’t touch me!”

Changbin’s hands dropped instantly. “Okay, okay, I’m not touching you,” he said quickly, stepping back.

The commotion had already drawn the attention of the rest of the boys. The sound of crying and raised voices made Minho rush into the room, followed by Seungmin, Jisung, Hyunjin, Felix, and Jeongin.

The moment they entered, they saw Hae hit Changbin and all froze.

“Hae!” Minho said sharply, instinctively scolding her. “We don’t hit!”

The sound of Minho’s firm tone made her flinch. She looked terrified now, her tears streaming faster. “I didn’t…Duckie’s hurt!” she cried, holding up the plushie with trembling hands.

Jisung stepped forward, his expression soft. “Hey, Appa’s here, it’s okay, baby…”

But as soon as he tried to put a hand on her shoulder, Hae reacted again. She pushed him away and hit him too, crying out in panic. “Don’t! Don’t touch me!” She then grabbed her Han quokka plushie and threw it at him with all the force her tiny arms could muster. It bounced off his chest and landed on the floor.

Jisung froze, the hurt in his eyes unmistakable. Not from the impact, but from seeing her throw away something so precious to her.

“Stop! Stop touching her!” Seungmin said quickly, raising a hand to keep the others back. “It’s making it worse.”

Minho nodded, his voice calm now. “Right. Everyone stay still. No one moves toward her.”

Hae’s breathing was ragged, her little chest heaving. She looked around wildly, tears blurring her vision. The noise, the scolding, the fear, it all tangled in her mind, pulling up memories she didn’t fully understand. The yelling, the hitting, the fear of hands reaching for her, she felt like she was back there again.

“No!” she cried, shaking her head. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…don’t…”

Then, before anyone could react, she bolted. Her tiny feet stumbled as she tried to run toward her room. She fell halfway, scraping her knee on the rug, but she pushed herself up again, ignoring the sting. The boys called out to her, but she didn’t stop. She ran straight to her room, pushed the door closed, and hid behind it, sobbing into her torn Duckie.

The room fell silent.

Chan stood frozen, guilt written all over his face as he held up the plushie’s missing piece, just a small bit of yellow fabric and a wisp of white stuffing. “It… it was an accident,” he said quietly. “She just pulled, and I didn’t realize I was sitting on it.”

Changbin rubbed the back of his neck, his face pale. “She’s never hit anyone before.”

Minho sighed heavily. “That wasn’t anger. That was fear.”

Felix nodded, his voice soft but sad. “She must’ve gone through something before she came here. Something that made her scared of being touched when she’s upset.”

Jisung crouched down, picking up the Han quokka plushie from the floor. His fingers lingered on it for a moment. “She’s never been apart from this,” he whispered. “She even sleeps with it every night.”

Jeongin looked toward Hae’s closed door, worry filling his expression. “What do we do now?”

For a long moment, no one answered.

Finally, Seungmin spoke quietly. “We give her time. Don’t force her to talk or come out. When she’s ready, she will.”

Chan held the torn piece of Duckie in his hand, his voice trembling slightly. “Then we fix this… for her.”

Changbin nodded firmly. “And we figure out what happened to her before she came here. No more surprises like this.”

Felix looked toward the hallway, his eyes softening. “Poor little thing… she must’ve been so scared.”

The boys all exchanged a quiet, heavy silence. Each of them realizing that Hae’s past was far darker than they’d imagined and that their little family had just taken its first painful step into understanding it.

In her room, Hae clutched Duckie close to her chest, whispering through her tears, “I’m sorry, Duckie… Channie didn’t mean to… please don’t be mad…”

And slowly, her sobs faded into quiet sniffles as exhaustion overtook her.

---

The house was quiet now. The laughter and chaos from earlier had faded into a heavy silence that hung in the air like fog. Most of the boys sat together in the living room, still trying to process what had happened, but Felix and Seungmin couldn’t stop glancing down the hall toward Hae’s room.

“She’s been in there for a while,” Felix finally said, his voice soft, breaking the silence. “Do you think she’s okay?”

Seungmin sighed, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know. But she must be exhausted… and scared.”

They shared a look, both filled with concern and guilt. They silently stood up, walking together toward the small door at the end of the hall. When they reached it, Seungmin hesitated, placing his hand against the frame.

“Let’s knock first,” he whispered. “We don’t want to startle her.”

Felix nodded, and they both knocked gently.

“Sweetheart?” Felix said softly, his voice calm and warm. “It’s Mom and Baba. Can we come in?”

Silence.

Felix glanced at Seungmin, worry deepening in his eyes. He tried again, even softer. “Hae? Can we come in, love?”

Still nothing.

Seungmin frowned. “Maybe she’s asleep.”

Carefully, he turned the doorknob. The door creaked open slowly, and both of them peeked inside and then they froze.

Hae was curled up in the corner on the floor, clutching her torn Duckie tightly against her chest. Her face was streaked with dried tears, her little cheeks puffy and red from crying. Even in sleep, her brows were furrowed, and her lips were pressed in a slight pout, as if the sadness still lingered in her dreams.

Felix’s heart broke instantly. “Oh, baby…” he whispered, barely managing to keep his voice steady.

Seungmin’s jaw tightened as he swallowed hard, kneeling by the door. “She must’ve cried herself to sleep,” he murmured. “On the floor…”

They stood there for a moment, unsure what to do. They didn’t want to frighten her again, but leaving her like that wasn’t an option either.

Felix took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ll try to wake her up. Gently. Just… don’t come closer yet, okay?”

Seungmin nodded, staying where he was as Felix took a few cautious steps forward, keeping his hands visible and his movements slow.

“Hae?” Felix whispered softly. “It’s Mom… sweetheart, can you wake up for me?”

He didn’t touch her, he just crouched a few feet away. His tone gentle, laced with affection.

Hae stirred faintly, a tiny whimper escaping her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, bleary and unfocused at first. When she realized she was on the floor, she sat up slowly, confusion clouding her little face.

Then she saw Felix and Seungmin. And after a brief pause, her gaze fell to Duckie in her arms, the small tear still visible. Her lip quivered, and within seconds, tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Duckie’s hurt,” she sobbed, clutching the plushie tightly. “Duckie’s broken…”

Felix’s heart twisted. He wanted so badly to gather her in his arms, but he stayed where he was for the moment. “Oh, sweetheart… I know. I know it hurts,” he murmured gently. “But it’s okay, love. We can fix Duckie. I promise.”

Hae sniffled, shaking her head. “It’s my fault… I yelled at Chan… and I hit…”

“No, no, no,” Felix said quickly, his voice full of reassurance. “It’s not your fault, Hae. No one’s mad at you, okay? Not me, not Baba, not anyone. We were all just worried.”

She rubbed her eyes with her fists, her little voice trembling. “Is Chan mad? Is Dada mad?”

Felix shook his head firmly. “No, darling. Chan isn’t mad at all. He’s sorry about Duckie, it was just an accident. Nobody wanted to hurt your toy or you. We just want you to feel safe again.”

Hae looked at him, eyes still wet with tears, her voice small and unsure. “Can… can you fix Duckie?”

Felix smiled softly. “Yes, sweetheart. We’ll all help. Duckie will be good as new soon.”

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke gently. “Can I touch you, love? Just a little hug?”

Hae bit her lip, thinking. “You’re not mad?”

“No, angel,” Felix whispered. “Mom could never be mad at you. We just want to help you, that’s all.”

She hesitated, then gave a small, tired nod.

Felix moved closer, slowly and wrapped his arms around her tiny frame. Holding her carefully, as if she might break if he squeezed too tight. Hae immediately buried her face against his shoulder, clutching Duckie between them.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” she whispered into his shirt, her voice shaking. “I was scared. I thought… I thought everyone was mad.”

Felix’s eyes glistened as he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Oh, sweetheart… you don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were scared, and that’s okay. We’re here now, yeah? You’re safe.”

Seungmin, who had been quietly kneeling nearby, slowly approached. “Hae?” he asked softly. “Is it okay if Baba comes closer too?”

Hae turned her head slightly, still leaning into Felix’s chest. She blinked a few times, then nodded again.

Seungmin sat down beside them, his movements gentle, and placed a comforting hand on her back, rubbing small circles. “Good girl,” he murmured softly. “You did so well, sweetheart. It’s all okay now. No one’s mad, and no one will ever hurt you.”

Hae hiccupped softly, her breathing beginning to slow. The warmth of Felix’s embrace and the steady rhythm of Seungmin’s hand on her back soothed her like a lullaby. Her eyes grew heavier with each passing second.

Felix glanced at Seungmin, both of them silently agreeing not to move just yet. They stayed there, holding her until her breathing evened out again, her body finally relaxing against Felix’s chest.

“She’s out again,” Seungmin whispered.

Felix nodded, his chin resting lightly on her head. “Yeah… poor thing must’ve cried herself empty.”

Seungmin looked down at her with soft eyes. “She’s safe now. That’s what matters.”

Felix smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from Hae’s face. “Yeah… safe and loved.”

Hae’s small hand was still gripping Duckie tightly as she slept, but now instead of being curled up in fear on the cold floor, she was warm. Wrapped in Felix’s arms, with Seungmin’s hand still gently rubbing her back.

For the first time that night, the tension in the air lifted, replaced by quiet peace.

A piece that didn’t fully reach the living room where the rest of the boys sat in silence, waiting for Felix and Seungmin to return. Chan, Changbin and Jisung felt their stomach twist uncomfortably, still feeling guilty for making Hae feel threatened. While the other boys felt their stomach twist as they thought about what her biological parents could’ve done to her to cause such a reaction.

---

A few quiet hours had passed since Hae had fallen asleep again. The house was calm, filled with the faint sounds of clinking dishes and hushed voices from the kitchen as the boys prepared dinner. The storm of emotions from earlier had slowly settled into a fragile stillness, like the world was finally exhaling after holding its breath too long.

Felix quietly pushed open the door to Hae’s room, the soft creak of the hinges breaking the silence. The room was dim, the bedside lamp still casting a gentle glow. Hae was curled up under her blanket, her little duck plushie nestled in her arms, now patched and mended with careful stitches courtesy of Minho and Seungmin.

Felix approached quietly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He brushed a stray hair from her forehead, smiling faintly when she stirred at the touch of his hand.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he murmured softly, his accent warm and lilting. “It’s time for dinner, love. You’ve been sleeping for a while.”

Hae’s eyes fluttered open, still heavy with exhaustion. She blinked up at Felix, confused for a moment, and then her face softened when she saw him. “Mom?” she whispered groggily.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Felix said gently. “Dinner’s ready, sweetheart. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Hae frowned, hugging Duckie tighter to her chest. “I don’t wanna…” she said softly, her voice trembling. “They’re mad. I yelled… I hit…”

Felix’s heart ached at her words. He carefully placed a hand on the blanket, not touching her yet. “No, love. No one’s mad at you,” he said firmly. “Not Chan, not Dada, not Appa, not any of us. We just want to see you, yeah? Everyone’s been so worried and you need to eat something after such a big day.”

Hae’s lower lip quivered, and she hid her face behind Duckie. “You promise they’re not mad?”

“I promise, angel,” Felix said, his tone full of quiet certainty. “They just want to make things right and I’ll stay with you the whole time, okay? I won’t leave your side.”

After a long pause, Hae finally peeked out from behind Duckie and gave a tiny nod. “Okay…”

Felix smiled, relief washing over him. “That’s my brave girl.” He helped her sit up, and when she held out her small hand, he took it gently in his own.

Together, they walked down the hall, hand in hand. The living room came into view — all seven boys sitting there, voices low and worried until they saw her. The moment they did, everything went still.

Chan was the first to move. His eyes softened with visible relief, and a small smile tugged at his lips. The others followed, quiet smiles spreading across their faces as Hae hesitated in the doorway.

She squeezed Felix’s hand tighter. “Mom… can I… say sorry first?” she whispered, her eyes flicking nervously to the floor.

Felix nodded encouragingly. “Of course, sweetheart. Go ahead. They’re all listening.”

Hae took a deep breath, her tiny shoulders trembling, and slowly let go of Felix’s hand. Her steps were hesitant, her eyes still downcast, as she walked toward Chan. She stopped a few feet away from him, clutching Duckie close.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m sorry for yelling at you and hitting you.”

Chan’s heart twisted. He swallowed hard, forcing back the lump in his throat. He crouched down so he could meet her eyes.

“Oh, Hae…” he said softly, his voice trembling. “You don’t have to be sorry, sweetheart. I’m the one who should apologize. I scared you, and I broke Duckie, even if it was an accident. I’m so, so sorry, okay? But I promise we fixed Duckie, and we’ll always take care of you.”

Hae’s lip trembled again. “You’re not mad?”

Chan shook his head quickly. “Never, Hae. I was never mad at you. I could never be mad at you.”

Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time they weren’t scared tears. They were soft, relieved ones.

“Can I hug you?” Chan asked gently, holding his arms out but not moving closer.

Hae hesitated only for a second before nodding.

Chan’s smile trembled as he scooped her up, holding her close against his chest. She buried her face in his shoulder, and he whispered quietly against her hair, “You’re okay now, little one. Everything’s okay.”

When they pulled apart, Hae turned to find Changbin watching her, guilt written all over his face. She walked over slowly, stopping in front of him.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you too,” she said softly. “And for hitting you.”

Changbin’s expression softened immediately, and he shook his head. “No, Dada’s sorry, sweetheart,” he said, his deep voice quiet and gentle. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just didn’t want you to hurt Chan. I’m so sorry, okay?”

Hae looked up at him for a moment before stepping closer, wrapping her little arms around his leg in a hug. Changbin smiled, crouching down and pulling her into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

When they separated, Hae turned toward Jisung. He was sitting on the couch, holding her Han quokka carefully in his hands. She approached him slowly, her steps soft.

“Appa,” she said quietly, her voice shaky. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. And hitting you. And throwing Han quokka…”

Jisung’s eyes immediately grew watery. “Oh, sweetheart…” he murmured, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have tried to touch you when you were scared. You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? Appa’s not mad. Not one bit.”

Hae looked at the Han quokka in his hands, reaching out gently. Jisung handed it to her. She cradled it carefully and whispered, “I’m sorry, Han quokka… I love you.” Then she looked back at Jisung. “I love you too, Appa.”

Jisung didn’t even try to hold back his tears this time. He pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. “I love you too, sweetheart. So much.”

The rest of the boys watched quietly, their hearts heavy but full of relief. The fear, the anger, the confusion from earlier had all melted away. Replaced by something gentler, something healing.

This had been a hard day, one none of them would ever forget. But it also reminded them of something important: Hae wasn’t just a child they cared for. She was a little girl with scars, ones they couldn’t see but had to learn to heal with patience, gentleness, and endless love.

As Jisung held her, Hae finally smiled again, small, shy, but real. Felix and Seungmin exchanged a look across the room, both of them feeling a wave of quiet relief.

Hae was safe. She was loved and despite everything that had happened that day, she was still theirs. Their little family, slowly learning how to put broken things back together.

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