Epilogue

Marley POV

We'd slipped away to explore nature for a blissful 10 weeks, campervan decked out for the three of us. Tae looking over every tiny detail and exclaiming about how perfect it was before kissing all over my neck in the excitement of our travel plans. And we all loved it, from the cozy, small double bed, to the tiny kitchen, bathroom and little seating area with a sofa that converted into a bed for Sophia. When she went to sleep at night, she fell asleep in our bed, transferring to the sofa when we had finished for the night and were ready for sleep ourselves. Or at least ready for bed. Abby's words had proven to be true, learning new ways to stay quiet, pegging a sheet up for some semblance of separation between the bedroom and sofa so we could continue learning every part of the pleasure our bodies could give each other.

I'd worked a little although Tae would prefer I hadn't worked at all, mentioning he could buy out the contracts and get someone else to do them. But they were long term contracts and I wanted to finish what I had started with the clients I had built relationships with. I just didn't take on any new ones so I could enjoy the weeks we had together and while I worked, Tae played with Sophia, growing closer every day.

It was rare for anyone to react when seeing him here and he usually just bowed and kept quickly moving if they did, too stunned and shocked at Kim Taehyung appearing in their small town to reach for their phones and gather evidence. We partly combated that by going to fairly remote places and word did leak out that he was travelling in New Zealand, resurrecting old photos of his time here with the band touring and speculation flew around about why he was here and if he was buying a house and moving here. There was mention of him being sighted with a female and a child and the connection was put together but no-one wanted to accept it without photographic proof. It helped that Namjoon had announced his engagement, explaining he was going to get married before he left to serve. Some ARMY threw their hands in the air and cried that one of their boys was getting married but most were supportive. Jimin was then spotted with his girlfriend out in Seoul and admitted to their relationship while asking for privacy before he also left to serve. So, Tae and his travels in New Zealand wasn't as widely reported as it could've been when all the members news piled on top of each other.

It wasn't until he asked me one day and I said yes, that he posted a selfie with a beach in the background. We'd spent the day there, swimming, building sandcastles, reading books wrapped in each others arms while Sophia napped in the afternoon. The selfie read "What a beautiful place to dream. Be happy ARMY." and then straight away he'd posted another shot of the beach but with Sophia and I clearly in the foreground. Our backs were to the camera, water glistening as the sun hit it just right but undeniably there and not just accidentally in the shot. "I'm happy ARMY." The responses on all the social media were instant, people saying they knew he had a girlfriend, noticing our matching rings and that, in true Kim Taehyung fashion, he had said we were together without actually saying it. We'd switched off our phones, not coming back to them for a few days, choosing instead to live out Tae's words and just be happy together.

I took him to all the places I could think of in those ten weeks that would make the trip memorable, including a hut in the hilltops not too far from my city where you were slightly above the trees, an outdoor hot tub heated with wood, sizzling as the crisp mist circled round. It was one of the most romantic spots I'd been to, Mum and Dad having Sophia for a few nights so we could celebrate nine months since we met. Not a big anniversary by any standard but we were finding as many things to celebrate as we could while we were together, shut away from the world in our own little moment of paradise and it was perfect.

When he left to go to the military, he left with pride and I swallowed my fears and watched him leave, tucked into a mass of people, having said our private goodbye that morning. I had flown over by myself, having left Sophia behind that time, needing to focus on just the two of us in those devastatingly short days before he went. But we made the most of every minute, much like when I flew to Australia, we hadn't really left his apartment. And I was used to the disguises I had to wear by now to fly under the radar, hats and sunglasses teamed with masks my new best friends so no-one seemed to connect me to him when photos of his enlistment came out even though the photos from our time in New Zealand had been analysed over and over. It was now just a part of life but surprisingly I had never seen my name linked with his online and for that small mercy, I was grateful as it meant our life back home was somewhat normal still.

I don't know when Sophia stopped called him TaeTae instead calling him just Tae and he marvelled that each time he video called us, she was talking in even more grown up sentences. He celebrated her 4th and 5th birthdays with us over a video call from where he was serving and Sophia didn't even seem to notice that it was weird when he wasn't there in person. It was normal for her to see him through a screen. It was just me that missed the feel of him and who yearned to reach through the screen and hold his hand.

Our grasp of the Korean language grew thanks to the tutor Tae had hired to come, weekly, into our home. Sophia was much quicker than I was to pick it up and I knew we'd be alright when Tae started talking to us in English and she replied in Korean and before long, the conversation had changed completely to Korean without any of us noticing. All the while, the calendar in my studio counted down the weeks until his military service was over and we could be together again. We were meant to be moving to live with him in Korea so he could continue with band activities but Sophia and I were going to spend at least 3 months of the year home in New Zealand whether Tae was able to come with us or not. That was all still very unknown but I had made peace with the fact my life was never going to look normal again, the trade off being worth it.

As the anniversary of our two years meeting approached, we had flown into Korea to spend it together. Sophia had now turned five and I had decided not to send her to school, instead opting to homeschool her. We were moving countries soon and it didn't make sense to start her in school here and pull her out after a few months. I relished the mornings spent together reading in two languages, teaching her maths while we went to the supermarket and she was already ahead of her age. We had a lot of free time so often went to the park near our house and every time we did, I stood under the tree where we'd met and smiled. It was either that or feel the overwhelming distance between us and I was choosing to focus on the happy times. But now there was no real distance between us, we were in the same country and Tae was due to meet us at his apartment later that day having a three day leave from the Army.

We hadn't seen each other in person for more than three months and I was feeling the hours until we saw each other creeping past like weeks. Sophia and I had landed earlier yesterday morning and we had both climbed into bed for a sleep once the car had dropped us to Tae's apartment. Gone were the days of Sophia napping during the day but jetlag meant we both slept a solid few hours and woke up feeling a little more human. I wanted to feel more than just a little more human though before I saw him again, I wanted him to see me and remember why he kept waiting for me through all the months since we'd met. So, Sophia and I had headed out to have our nails done and spent a day getting over the jetlag before we saw him today. Looking at my watch, I knew it was only about half an hour until he was meant to arrive and I couldn't stop the smile hitting my face at the thought.

"Mum? When will Tae be here?"

"Soon Sophia, soon."

"I can't wait to see him," she said, hopping from one foot to another, her curls grown long down her back but unruly as always. I still saw so much of Matty in her but she was definitely my daughter and growing into her own person with her own ideas of who she wanted to be. She'd started dancing when Tae enlisted, and he was entranced by the little clips I sent of her dressed in her ballet gear, spinning like she was the pixie he had called her in the park. Now, she was poised when she danced with stage presence and I had to wonder how much of watching Tae perform had rubbed off on her. We had watched countless performances together over the last few years, mostly on the screen and she had always called him 'your friend Tae' when talking to me about him until recently. In the last few months she had started calling him 'your Tae' and it didn't go unnoticed by me or Abby when she overheard it one day, raising her eyebrows.

I reached for my lip balm, applying it again, checking my face in the mirror as I paced up and down the room.

"Why are you walking around the room in circles Mum," she asked and I had to laugh, nerves causing the inability to sit still.

"Because I'm excited to see Tae again Sophia."

"Oh me too mum, it's been soooooo long."

I nodded, grateful to know that the long stints of absences were behind us. The next time he was with me, his service would be over and we'd be able to start the next part of whatever our lives looked like, navigating that together. Those 3 months would fly by as we finally had the end date looming in front of us, the last 15 months dragging by the day but going past faster than we realised.

Putting the lipbalm back in my bag, I tucked a few stray hairs behind my ears, checking my phone to see it was about 20 minutes to go when I heard the lock turn and the door opened and he was standing in front of me dressed in his full uniform, weary but smiling with his whole body.

"Tae," Sophia shrieked, launching at him and he crouched to grab her into a hug, looking over her head at me, his eyes never wavering.

"Hey," I said softly, words stuck in my throat from seeing him after so long, the sight of him in his uniform never failing to strike right to the centre of my being.

"Hello beautiful," he replied, his words just audible over the chatter coming from Sophia but we had both tuned it out, focusing only on each other.

I stepped forward as he unwound himself from Sophia's grasp and we met in the middle, mouths instantly connected, hands sinking into hair and moving to pull each other close. "Hey," I said again and he laughed, low and deep, a sound I'd never get enough of as it swam over me.

"Missed you," he murmured.

"Nah, I was alright," and then I grinned at his large, surprised eyes. "Not. This time felt the longest for sure."

"It was the longest jagiya," he replied, kissing me again before Sophia forced us apart.

"Enough kissing mum and Tae. I want to play."

"I will play soon Sophia but mum and I want to play for a little bit longer here."

"But you're not playing, you're kissing and hugging. Hajima! I have a game ready for us."

"Sophia, Tae has just travelled a long way. You need to be patient and please stop being demanding." She looked contrite and reached for both our hands.

"I'm sorry, I just missed you," she said, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes and he melted like she knew he would.

"Give me two more minutes sweet girl and I'll be right there," and she nodded at him skipping off to her bedroom.

"Make that three minutes Sophia," I called after her as my mouth found his neck, a sigh falling from his lips.

"I'm very tired but also very quickly waking up," he said into my hair.

"Hold that thought. I'll finish dinner while you play, then we'll eat and Sophia can have an early night. She's already pretty tired, we both still have some jetlag."

"Sophia can have an early night and then...?"

I raised my eyebrows at him as he walked backwards towards the bedrooms. "And then."

"Gotcha, that thing you're best at," and my laughter followed him out of the room.


It had been an early night but we didn't sleep until well after midnight, finally drifting off mid sentence, bodies weary but content that we'd been able to wrap around each other again. Now as the day started, I was surprised to find myself alone in the bed when I woke up. Tae walked in holding a mug of hot tea, sitting crossed legs on the bedcovers. "So, 2 years today since we met," he said, handing it over.

"Unbelievable right?" I reached for the mug and sipped it, planting a thank you kiss on his lips.

"I wanted to have a nice evening so I've planned to head out this afternoon with Sophia and give you space. Some staff will come to do your hair and makeup so we can go on a date, is that OK?"

"Do I get to know where we're going or is it a surprise?"

"This one's a surprise," he said, kissing me again.

"Do I know what to wear?"

"I have 5 or 6 new dresses in the closet for you. Try them on and find one you love otherwise I can get more sent over later this morning."

"Thank you oppa. You spoil me too much though, you know I don't need lots of clothes," I replied.

"Remember it goes with my job, these are all gifts and we don't need to keep the ones you don't like although, I have pictured you in each of them and I think you'll look gorgeous no matter which one you choose."

"Do you have a favourite," I asked, snuggling against him as he sat propped up on the headboard.

"I do but I'm not going to tell you. You pick whatever makes you feel beautiful."

"Love you," I answered, closing my eyes as I leaned back.

"I more than love you," he replied.

"Is there such a thing," I asked.

"We have it so yes," he said, cutely and earnestly.

"You are amazing Tae, I'm looking forward to tonight," and I planted kisses all over his face before he rolled me onto my back, setting me giggling as his lips tickled my neck.

When the makeup and hair staff arrived to style me, I was still flicking through the dresses, holding them up against myself. All were simple but elegant, not giving away where we were going tonight, suitable for lots of places. I'd tried them all on and narrowed it down to two. Turning to the staff, Tae having already left the house with Sophia a few hours ago, "the pink one or the blue," I asked them and they both told me I'd looked lovely in both and I should go with my gut. The pink was a soft colour, so close to white that it was just the way the lighting hit it that revealed the light pink sheen but I loved it on and decided to go with that, loving the way it hugged my curves, falling just above my knees. Simple and definitely more of my style than anything over the top.

The staff obviously had a few instructions from Tae about what to do with my hair and makeup but they weren't giving anything away as they tucked the last piece of hair into place and held up a mirror to show me. I couldn't help but smile, my tired eyes looking alive and skin fresh while my hair was partly up and partly still falling around my shoulders. They could do things I'd never be able to achieve on my own and I was grateful for what they'd pulled off. They indicated I should stand up, asking if I'd like a full length photo. "Are you sending it to Tae," I asked and was promptly told that Taehyungie had not wanted to see any spoilers of what I looked like until the date started but they took some so I would see the full effect. Thinking it was better than I could've expected, I thanked them both and they packed up as the car arrived to take me away to the date.

As we pulled up, I realised we were at the beach and imagined a picnic or maybe a stroll, both sounding romantic. The shoes I'd had to choose from weren't tall heels and now I understood the simple footwear, grateful and wondering if maybe I could take them off and walk barefoot at some stage once I hit the sand. The driver opened the door for me and pointed me in the direction of a path which I started towards, excited to see Tae again after an afternoon apart., Tae having told me his Eomma was going to babysit Sophia for us so we could celebrate alone together and all I wanted was to see him again.

Stepping up onto the wooden walkway, windswept with sand, I was surprised to see Namjoon resting on the railing before he quickly stood tall as I walked close. Turning my head with a smile, I went to speak when he pulled a flower out from behind his back, handing it to me with the sweetest dimpled smile. "From Taehyungie," he said with a small bow and I took it from his hand.

"Thank you Namjoon," I replied, still surprised and confused at seeing him there and took another few steps before seeing Jin, my hand going to my chest as my brain started ticking. His face lit up, handsome face breaking out into a smile that met his eyes as he handed me the flower in his hand with another bow. "Your boyfriend wanted to make today special," and I nodded again, thank you falling quietly from my lips as I started to feel overwhelmed. Walking around a corner I saw Yoongi, standing very still. His flower appeared and his cheeks pinked up a little as he looked me in the eye. "Thank you for making our Taehyungie happy, he's one of the good ones" and I gulped as I thanked him back.

"I think I can very easily say, you're all some of the good ones," and his hand came up to rub the back of his neck as he looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

Hobi appeared from seemingly out of nowhere or maybe it was that I was now so distracted by all the effort Tae had gone to that it wasn't until I saw him shuffling from foot to foot, almost like he was practising some choreography that I saw the 4th flower in his hand. As he gave it to me, he took my hand and squeezed it. "You look beautiful," and my heart galloped a little as his charming smile and the kindness in his voice.

"Thank you, this is... all... so... wow," I managed to get out before he bowed with a grin and indicated for me to keep walking. I knew I must be near the end of the path now, the sound of the water much clearer than when I'd stepped onto the path and thinking that he must be close when I saw Jimin standing, waiting. He was much more of a surprise than the others, dressed in his uniform. I knew, along with Jungkook, that he was still enlisted having gone into serve at the same time as Tae. Somehow he was here on leave, giving me a flower he'd pulled from behind his back and I knew, I just knew in that moment that it wasn't just about our anniversary, it was more than just an anniversary date for Jimin to come back and share today with him. But I didn't let myself go there yet even though I was already holding back tears because I needed to just take each step and remember each moment of this walk. As Jimin handed it to me he spoke, sweetly, the normal teasing missing from his voice.

"Tae has always been my soulmate but I'm so glad I can pass that title to you," and he reached out to hug me, careful not to hold me too long or too tightly, smoothing down my hair and checking my eyes to make sure my makeup was still in place before he raised his eyebrow and tilted his head towards the final curve in the path. I smiled at him, unable to speak but I knew he could tell that I was overcome and gave me a reassuring smile back. Each set of brown eyes had been smiling at me as they handed over their flower, causing a myriad of emotions to flutter across every part of me. Jimin's looked wet with unshed tears, his love for his brother evident in his expression.

Taking the biggest breath that I could, filling my lungs as I walked carefully, clutching five flowers in my hands, I tried to steady myself as I saw the sand beginning to rise up before me, the track coming to an end just in front of me. But not before Jungkook turned, the back of his uniform previously all I could see, blocking my view with a huge smile on his face and in his eyes. He pulled a rose from where it was tucked behind his ear, giving me a 6th flower to add to my bundle. Reaching out, he took one of my hands, guiding me over a bumpy part in the track before he released it and pointed. "He's waiting for you, just a few more steps," and as he moved out of the way, I could see petals laid out from where the path ended, creating their own path along the sand, pointing me to where Tae stood, holding Sophia's hand.

She was dressed in a cute new white dress and I don't know when he bought that for her or why I'm thinking of that in this moment or where the music is coming from that is playing somewhere in the distance, my emotions and thoughts churning. The sun was just beginning to set behind them as I walked through the petals, taking in his dark blue suit, thinking how gorgeous he looked as he reached out to take my hand, drawing me into his bubble.

If I'd looked back I would've seen his closest friends, his members, his brothers falling in behind me, gathering together one member at a time until all six hovered at the edge, not wanting to encroach on the moment, sharing looks and huge smiles. But I didn't look back because I was focused on the cocoa eyes in front of me, looking at me like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, love pouring from their depth.

Sophia was grinning at me, Tae holding her hand firmly in his, he spoke. "You did pick my favourite dress, you look stunning," he said, leaning in to place a kiss on my cheek.

"It called to me," I laughed. "Thank you for the flowers Tae, this is all beautiful," I indicated with my hand and he nodded, not watching where I was pointing, focusing only on me.

"Two years is something to remember jagiya," he answered, dropping Sophia's hand to take my free one in his and I nodded back, locked in his gaze.

"I wrote you a song to mark the occasion, can I sing it for you?"

"Of course Tae," my heart galloping at the thought he'd written another song for me. Somewhere different music than before began to play and he swallowed, closing his eyes for a moment before he returned them to me.

"I mean every word," he whispered before he started, his voice soft and sweet, his mouth moving carefully over all the English words.

V1.

It started under Autumn leaves

At the park, a light crisp breeze

When I saw your eyes meet mine

I knew it was the start.

Picnic, concert, kimchi kisses

River dates and sunset wishes

My heart was saying from that day

We should never be apart

Pre chorus/Bridge

So put your hand in mine, forever

Lets go take on the world, together

Chorus

Love found you when I was ready

Touch my heart, the beat is steady

Forever is a long time

I love you now and for all time

Nae Sarang

V2.

NZ, OZ, Japan, Korea

I'd travel far if you could be there

My head is clear, when I'm with you,

There really is no doubt.

Watermelon lipbalm coats our lips

The way that my hands seem to fit to your hips

Each touch, each moment draws me in

until the noise fades out

Pre chorus

So put your hand in mine, forever

Lets go take on the world, together

Chorus

Love found you when I was ready

Touch my heart, the beat is steady

Forever is a long time

I love you now and for all time

Nae Sarang

Outro

Even in the moments where things didn't go right

You were and still are my forever Miss Right

So please be mine, Forever

Won't you be mine? Forever

Won't you marry me

Please won't you marry me?

I watched his hands as he signed the last few lines, tears falling faster than I could wipe them away. This full circle moment from almost two years ago flitted through my mind, when we were still strangers and love was just starting and I knew we'd crossed oceans and fought battles to get to where we were. As he dropped to his knee and Sophia handed him a box, skipping excitedly on the spot, I couldn't stop the smile from spreading, letting the tears fall.

"I still have another three months of military service but then I want us to be together, always. Marley, jagiya, aein, will you marry me?" He sounded so gentle, a little unsure, swallowing as the final words came out and I wondered how he could possibly doubt I'd say yes, the two years together cementing our feelings, even though so much of it had been spent apart.

I couldn't say the words to start with, nodding as I covered my mouth, holding out my hand as he searched for the finger to slide the ring on.

"I think you said yes but I just need to hear it, once," he said, a smile so big his eyes were disappearing.

"Yes, Tae, yes I'll marry you, I love you," I gasped out, heart overflowing in a way it never had before.

"Well, that's a relief," he laughed standing up and took my face in his huge hands, locking his eyes to mine, his also shining with tears. "Is it OK to kiss you in front of Sophia?" He glanced down and she giggled.

"You're going to be my dad, it's yuck but mum's and dad's kiss," she said matter of factly and we cracked up laughing as he pulled me in, sealing his proposal with the sweetest, most gentle lingering kiss while she hid her eyes behind her hands.

When she thought it was safe, she peeped and dropped her hands when she saw we were just smiling goofily at each other, wrapped in each others arms. "So, now I can call you Mum and Appa Tae?" Sophia asked, reaching out to grab both our hands as the members walked down the path towards us, ready with congratulations.

"I would love that Sophia," Tae answered, reaching down to hug her.

"You can still call me BugBug when no-one is around," she whispered into his ear before the group descended on us and then there were hugs and kisses on the cheek, slaps on the back, smiles and laughter. The sound was friendship and love, these were my people now too, not just Tae's. A different kind of family but one that had embraced Sophia and I over the years we'd been getting to know them. Looking between them all and back to Tae, my heart was so full I felt like I didn't have anymore space left in it.

Tae glanced at me, pulled himself away from the others, taking my hand to walk us away for a moment of privacy, just the two of us. "Did you really just say yes," he asked, kissing me again as he reached down to lift me off the ground. "Did you really just agree to be mine forever?"

"I've been yours since the moment we met. Being yours forever feels easy," I replied, breathless in his arms.

"We can grow a family together, lets fill my house with lots of little feet," he exclaimed loudly, his excitement contagious and I was laughing as he set me down on my feet, knowing it was one of his greatest wishes.

"Shall we start with one more," I said softly, placing his hand to my stomach, touching the secret I'd kept from everyone for the last few months. As his mouth fell open, eyes moving from mine to his hand and back to my eyes, he was silent and frozen in place for a few moments. And then he dropped to his knees in the sand, wrapping his arms around my middle as he rested his head on my tummy, closing his eyes as tears fell from them. And as I looked down at him, rifling my hands lightly through his hair, I knew saying yes was the best and easiest decision I had ever made and that our forever was going to be beautiful.