a/n:
thanks for reading guys! i hoped you enjoyed it!
also go check out deb at lemonorangelime tumblr for awesome jeanmarco art!
/and the child is not a jearmin lovechild sorry ahaha
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"And so the boy was trapped by the flames and it seemed that all was lost…"
"What happens next daddy?"
Jean smiled down at his son, smoothing back unruly blonde curls, his heart lurching when that freckly face scrunched up. "You know what happens next. I've told you this story a thousand times." He teased. His son pouted, bottom lip jutting out.
"Daddy….."
"Fine fine." Jean settled back into the bed with his son in his lap, flipping the page of the book. "Suddenly, a miracle happened. The boy's ghost friend appeared in a bright beam of light and pulled the boy to safety, making sure not a flame touched his head." He pointed to the picture of the ghost, tiny fingers outlining the shape of feathery white wings. "The boy was saved from certain death, all thanks to his special friend." Jean slowly closed the book, kissing his son on the head. "And they lived happily ever after."
"Don't you think it'd be cool to have a ghost friend?" His son asked, peering up at him with wide brown eyes. "Think of all the tricks we could play! It would be so much fun!" Sensing his son was trying to wind himself up an fight the sleep, Jean dimmed the lights a little more and started to tuck his boy in.
"Yeah. But real life friends are fun too. Which is why I want you to make lots of them when you start kindergarten tomorrow." Jean pulled the covers up to the boy's chin. His son gave a slight shift, frowning.
"But what if they're scary?"
"Remember in the story, how the boy thought the ghost was scary at first?"
"Yeah…"
"Just think of it like that." Jean soothed a few fingers over the troubled brow. "Just because someone looks scary doesn't mean they are." The little boy nodded. As Jean was about to get up and leave, his son reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Can you read me the story one last time?" He begged. Jean gave a mock sigh.
"Fine. But one last time and then it's off to sleep." Jean told him sternly, playfully wagging a finger in his face. Jean sat back down on the bed, enjoying the feeling of his son cuddling up close as he opened up the picture book again.
"Once upon a time there was a very lonely boy. One day, as he was walking through the woods, the lonely boy ran into a lonely little ghost. At first the boy was startled, having never seen a ghost before. But the ghost only smiled and held out his hand. With a sweet voice, the ghost said, 'Hi. My name is Marcus. What's yours?'"
Gentle snoring filled the room moments later and Jean stole a glance down to see that his son had finally drifted off. Easing out of the bed and with one last kiss goodnight, he put the book on the nightstand and flipped off the light. The room was encased in the soft glow of a starry nightlight, allowing Jean to pause one last time to look at his son from the doorway.
"Goodnight…Marco…"
As Jean left the room, the starry nightlight glowed bright before fading. The shimmering form of a teenage boy stood there, a crinkly smile on his face.
"Goodnight Jean…" He murmured with a happy sigh, fading back into the darkness once and for all.
