**Finally!** I was too keen to upload this chapter that I haven't fully edited it yet, apologies but enjoy!**

Chapter 11

Marley POV

Preschool pick up had been easy, no-one else was waiting when we pulled up; truly the timing Gods had been smiling on us today with the lack of people everywhere. Just in case, Tae slunk down in his seat, keeping his gaze lowered and baseball cap pulled down and didn't pop up again until we were driving away, Sophia telling 'TaeTae' all about her day. She wanted a snack the moment we walked in the door, grabbing Tinky from her room and jumping on the sofa to rest. Once she was settled happily with some finger foods, I walked into the kitchen, Tae following me after dropping his bag in my bedroom. I tried not to dwell on the fact that he'd put it in there instead of the lounge, trying to focus on what we would eat.

"Do you like spaghetti bolognese? That's what we're having for dinner, you're staying to eat with us? Unfortunately with a toddler, we eat super early." I asked, gathering the ingredients from the cupboard and starting to prepare them.

"Italian is good. And I wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon," he finished, a warm feeling flooding through my stomach. He sat at the kitchen bench, his cheek resting in his hand as he watched me start to prepare.

"I'm sure you've eaten in many expensive restaurants that serve amazing Italian," I said as I sliced. "We are not that fancy here."

"Home food is best," he answered, helping himself to some of the cheese I'd just grated with a lift of his eyebrow and a smirk. I watched him move his hand from the board to his lips and swallowed at how sexy he was looking, sitting eating at my kitchen bench. Every movement felt intentional but also he seemed so oblivious to how his actions were affecting me constantly. He caught me watching him and cocked his head to the side, blinking a few times with a shy smile, turning from a hottie to a teddy bear in just a few seconds.

With a laugh, I couldn't help but blurt out "You're adorable."

"Adorable?"

"Cute, you're very cute."

He stared at me for a while without saying anything, just holding my eyes and turning my insides to jelly. "I'm not always cute."

"Oh I know. You can also be a daddy."

He looked a little confused. "A father?"

"Surely you've been around enough to see yourself called 'daddy' by some ARMY?"

"Oh, oh, well yes, I know what you mean. That's always a little strange," his cheeks flushing slightly.

"But accurate," I laughed.

"Accurate?" He went to reach for his phone to translate and I filled him in. "True."

"Ah, you think that's something that I show people?"

"Maybe not on purpose but yes, that is a vibe you give off for sure. Not complaining," I said with a twinkle and feeling brave I finished with, "It's sexy."

The air instantly became heavy again very quickly, neither able to look away from the other and the snap of current in the air flowed around us. He touched his fingers to mine, just enough to make contact and the jolt was electric, startling us both and I realised I'd broken my promise to seize the day as Sophia came careening into the kitchen, holding out her water cup for a refill, interrupting yet another moment. Not that I could blame my 3yo for needing to stay hydrated. I was beginning to wonder though, was this the universes way of telling me it was never going to happen?

"So, dinner," I said turning my back to him after I'd helped Sophia. I attempted to concentrate on food prep as his hand came up to stroke my back while I carried on chopping the onions and it felt very comfortable although I was completely aware of the heat of his hand through my top, immensely distracting.

"Can I chop something for you?" he asked, his hand moving up to massage the back of my neck and I paused mid chop, leaning into the sensation.

"Ummm...," I started, trying to find words, blinking a few times to refocus. Surely this tension couldn't continue indefinitely. It coiled in the centre of my body, waiting to unfurl at any time, making my temperature fluctuate with just a look. Was he waiting for me to make a move so he'd know I was OK with it all given my history? I'd have to make my feelings better known. I still didn't know completely what they were apart from obvious attraction but I knew, at the very least, I wanted to see where this was going. "Can you cook pasta?"

"That I can do," he answered with a smirk and I handed him the packet of pasta and a pot, settling into a comfortable hum in the kitchen as we both got on with our respective responsibilities, catching each other glancing from time to time. I kept an eye on Sophia, she was content playing with her toys, bringing something every now and again to Tae or I to fix or look after. I had missed this kind of domestic vibe that came from two adults working easily together.

I checked the pasta when my dish was just a few minutes away and saw we were going to time it all correctly. Tae gave me a cute little 'told you I could do it," boxy smile when I saw it was looking good and I couldn't help ruffle the hair at the nape of his neck as he turned away, his hand coming up to hold mine in place where it lay. This kind of soft moment was tugging at my heart and now seemed like a good time to let him know something I'd been planning for him.

"OK, so, I kind of have a surprise to go with dinner." I felt embarrassed and was second guessing whether I should've mentioned it but it was too late now so I forged ahead. He had a questioning look on his face and I went to the fridge, pulling out a sealed container I had slipped at the back a few days ago. "I made this a few days ago so it's probably not quite ready yet. I've actually been wanting to make some for a little while but when we met, it seemed like a good time to give it a go, just in case we had another picnic." I placed the container on the bench and he picked it up and looked at the contents. Then exclaimed in surprise.

"Is this kimchi? Did you really make it?"

"I did," I answered shyly. "I followed a recipe that had lots of reviews and 5 stars so I'm crossing my fingers that it tastes good. I thought you might be missing food from back home."

He was silent for a moment just staring at me. Then very quietly he spoke. "I can't believe you did that for me."

"Yeah, well...," my voice trailed off as I took in the way he was gazing at me and it felt like everything slowed down as our breathing changed. Then he leaned in very slowly and I realised that this, now, was the moment, his movements measured and his eyes not closing until he shaped his lips to mine. The air floating around us was palpable, thick with anticipation as they slipped gently across my mouth in the softest of kisses and I surrendered to the moment, lost in how well we had finally fit together.

"Thank you Marley," he said as he pulled away slightly. "I'm continually blown away by you. And I'm looking forward to trying it."

"Don't get excited just yet. I've never made it before, it could be terrible," I said as my heart continued to beat fast, my lips tingled and I reached two fingers up to rest on them, watching him watch me.

"I just love that you did that for me, I don't even care what it tastes like." He reached up to take my hand from my mouth, bringing it to his own lips and then pulled me into him. "I want to keep getting to know all about you Marley," he said, carefully placing another soft kiss on my cheek then my forehead and I was falling for him more than ever before. He was handling me with kid gloves, I know he was aware of how hard this could be for me and it made me adore him even more.

He cleared his throat as we pulled away from each other. "I've been wanting to do that for a few days, maybe even from the day we met. I didn't know if it would be OK."

"Thank you for waiting until I was sure, I've been wanting to do that too. I just didn't realise until today that I really was ready." I blushed under his scrutiny, the smile on his face flooding his eyes. He was holding me close and I had to look up at his face. My eyes were drawn to his mouth, aware of how his full lips now felt against mine, addicted already to the feeling. His hands came up on either side of my face, engulfing me with their size as he gently stroked his thumbs cross my cheeks before leaning down to kiss me again, the sparks continuing between us as the kiss deepened. It was intense but sweet and he pulled away before things became too much. I wasn't sure if he was an expert at body language but he seemed to be able to tell what I needed and when to slow things down. I was feeling a little like I was floating in a dream as he stepped back and cleared his throat.

"That is something I could definitely keep on doing but I guess we should eat before it goes cold and continue that later," he said, reluctantly and I agreed, knowing it wouldn't be the last time tonight that our lips would be tangled together.

KTH POV

After all the interruptions, when she showed me the kimchi, I moved on my own without consciously planning to kiss her. My body was propelled towards her and the way her breath hitched then sped up, I suspected she'd answer my kiss if I was brave enough to try. Still, I took it slowly, waiting for something to prevent it happening again so when our mouths finally slid together, I was caught off guard to have her pressing into me. It was gentle but intoxicating, just like her. In other words, it was perfect and the waiting had solidified an ideal moment. I had feelings I couldn't describe. It was too soon for love but I think I was on the way, falling fast and hoping we'd be able to catch each other.

Marley POV

Sophia was covered in spaghetti sauce by the end of the meal, definitely needing her nightly bath. Tae offered to do the dishes while I got her clean and I was very thankful but taken aback that he'd offer to do such a boring chore.

"It's kind of my job when the band eats together since I can't cook very well," he explained, sheepishly and I was surprised again by how down to earth he seemed. "I'm honestly happy to do it, you've given me such a perfect day, it's the least I can do."

I smiled gratefully as I stood up, swinging the messy Sophia up into my arms and pointing out where all the cleaning supplies were. "Thank you Tae, that will save me time tonight after she's gone to bed."

"Make sure you splash Mama lots BugBug," he called out with a chuckle.

"Sssshhhh you," I called back as Sophia said, "Mama, you say I not splash?"

"That's right Sophia, TaeTae was being silly, we'll keep all the water inside the bath OK," raising my voice so he'd hear, his laughter following us down the hallway.

20 minutes later she was clean, dry and dressed in her pyjamas when I walked back into the kitchen, noting the empty bench with just a few clean things stacked in a pile. I turned as he came into the kitchen, pulling a hoodie over his head.

"I found where most things go but not those things," he said straightening his top as I reached for a cloth to wipe a few water droplets from the counter top.

"Thank you, that's amazing," I replied.

He came up behind me, slipping his arms around my waist like they had always belonged there and it somehow felt more intimate than a kiss. He rested his chin on my shoulder and watched as I paused wiping the bench, turning my head slightly so our cheeks were touching.

"I like this," he said quietly.

"Cleaning?" I joked, flutters in my stomach.

"Quiet. Home. You."

I dropped the cloth on the bench and wiped my hands against my pants, turning into his embrace, my back pressed to the cabinets. "I more than like having you here."

"More than like is a good start," he answered, his nose rubbing from side to side against mine, our lips a finger width apart.

Sophia pushed her way between us, holding a book up, forcing us apart. "Her bedtime book," I said to Tae, taking it from her.

""No, TaeTae do it," she said with a pout.

I looked a him, raising an eyebrow and he picked her up, taking the book from my hand and walking them into the lounge. Settling her on his knee, she started to turn the pages for him as he began to read, his soft, low voice stumbling over the occasional unfamiliar word but that didn't phase Sophia at all. Her thumb drifted to her mouth as she leaned back against him and my heart gave a little twist at the picture they made together as I watched.

She started to get sleepy, her eyes drifting closed while he read. Tae stroked her head a few times and soon she fell asleep in his lap. He noticed the weight go heavy in his arms, gently placing a kiss on her forehead and raising his eyebrows at me in a question of what to do next. I stood up, reaching for her to transfer her to bed but she clutched his shirt in her sleep. I indicated for him to stand up and he did so super carefully, trying not to disturb her and followed me into her bedroom. I turned on the night light as I went past and mimed out to him how to lay her down without waking her. He copied my actions, laying her down gently as I lay my hand on her chest to settle her as she slightly stirred. Brushing her hair out of her eyes and adjusting the covers to keep her tucked in tightly, I kissed her cheek and stood up to see Tae staring at me. He had a sweet look, like he'd caught me doing something amazing and couldn't look away. I raised an eyebrow at him as we walked silently out of the room.

"I liked doing that. It seemed so normal and comfortable," he said quietly by way of an explanation.

I nodded, understanding that the domestic parts of my life were foreign to him. Our nightly routine could sometimes be exhausting no matter how much I loved Sophia but he was viewing it through fresh eyes and I caught his moment of bliss and smiled. "Our life is definitely pretty normal compared to yours."

I walked into the kitchen, pouring a water for myself as he settled onto the couch. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"Do you have another coke? I shouldn't but I do like that drink."

"You could definitely be drinking worse things," I replied as I poured him one.

"Marley, Is it OK to tell me about your husband?" he asked as I sat next to him, turning his body to face me as I sunk back into the couch.

I took a moment, looking down at my hands, not realising I was twisting my wedding rings.

"Yes, of course, what do you want to know?"

"You said you were childhood sweethearts. How did you meet?"

"School. We were 15 and had to do a school project together. He was sweet, a musician who played me his guitar instead of studying together. It was cute, I guess I have a thing for musicians," I finished with a small smile.

He smiled back, encouraging me to continue. "We started dating not long after, he proposed when I turned 20 and we were married when we were both 21. He had a day job but being a musician was what he loved so he travelled a lot for gigs on the weekends." I took a breath and let it out slowly. "He was coming home from a gig when he died. Drunk driver crossed into his lane. I don't drink anymore because of it."

He reached out for my hand, softly stroking the back of it with his thumb as he watched me talk. My eyes had welled but the tears didn't fall. I had cried out so many tears in the last year when I realised the life we had planned out together was never going to happen. Now, I could remember and sometimes not cry. That was progress I guess. And sitting here with Tae, as he waited patiently for me to gather myself, gently offering support, my heart mended a little more.

"First love is hard to forget," he said quietly and I nodded.

"Do you have a first love story too?"

He sighed, continuing to rub my hand. "Mine is simple really. We were also childhood sweethearts, trainees together and our life was too hard to be more than just in love for a while. The secret times we could see each other were not very often and soon we were both too busy and it faded away. I never want to be so busy again that love comes second."

I stared at him, processing his words, realising that's exactly what I wanted and needed too.

"Thank you for telling me, I know it must be hard to talk about," he said, not letting go of my hand.

"It gets easier the more I talk about it. Time does heal too, I know I can't live in the past forever."

"Each of the moments in life shape who we are, happy and hard ones. I'm sorry that you've had too many sad ones already."

"Of my 25 years, only some of them have been sad. That's more than others get so I try to be thankful as I move forward, remembering the good years."

"I like that way of thinking, I could write a song about that."

"I'm not saying it's easy, but it is getting easier," and I truly felt it in that moment. "I keep busy and that helps too. I have a studio out the back where I work sometimes, usually when Sophia is at preschool. It's quiet out there so I'm not as easily distracted."

"I'd like to see it, if you'll show me."

"Really? It's not that interesting but sure," I said standing up and he reached for my hand as he followed.

"I find everything about you interesting," he said cutely, making me blush while he pulled me close as we walked down the hallway towards the back door. Going out into the night made us both gasp in the cooler night air.

"Let's do this quickly," I said, opening up the studio to show him. It really was just a small room we'd had built off the back of the deck, a design station set up with a laptop across one corner and lots of places I could sketch out ideas. I had some of my completed designs pinned to the board in front of my desk to remind me that things I designed could come to fruition and hopefully inspire me to create more. Prints of artwork I enjoyed were framed on some of the walls too.

Tae turned around a few times, taking it all in. "This feels like a good place to get inspiration," he said, leaning in to look at the photo of a few people wearing t-shirts I had designed for a charity event. "And that is a clever slogan, I'd wear it."

"If you wore that, the charity would probably sell out of them many times over," I said, acknowledging the fact he was a brand ambassador to some of the biggest brands out there.

He nodded along as once again I was reminded that he was from a different world to me. I shivered as the cold air came through the door we'd left ajar and he wrapped his arms around me, sharing his warmth. "Shall we go back inside?"

"Yes, I'm turning into a popsicle," I joked, still thinking about the differences between us.

"I like popsicles, a lot," he replied with a smirk as I pulled the studio door closed behind us, earning him an eyeroll. Quickly walking back to the house, he stopped when he heard a hum and walked towards it, triggering the outdoor lights to come on. "Oh, hot tub?" he asked, turning back to me.

I leaned close into him against the night air. "Yes, do you want to have one? It can be beautiful on a cold, still night like this. You can see so many stars."

He chewed on his lip and I watched as colour crept into his cheeks. "I'm trying to say this carefully, please don't take this badly. But I can't."

"You can't? That's OK, it was just an idea," I replied, my fingers starting to go numb so I rubbed them together. He grabbed my hands between his and held them tight, massaging them to keep the cold at bay.

"Please don't think I don't want to. I do. It's just that I can't spend time with you like that. In Korea, men and women would go in a hot tub separately. I would like to go with you but, I am a man after all."

"It's honestly OK Tae, if it's your culture, I understand it would be strange and break the rules."

"Oh, I'm fine with breaking rules. It's just, how do I put it politely? I am a man, you are a beautiful woman, I think it would be too difficult for me to see you in the hot tub when we have only kissed. I might want to do more." Now his cheeks really were glowing, his eyes cast down self-consciously.

My brain was ticking over slowly as he spoke and then the puzzle fit together. "Oh, oh!" I exclaimed. "Do you mean, being in the hot tub together, not wearing much? It might be too intimate?"

"Yes, my hands could have a life of their own," he said ruefully, pulling on his ear.

While that sounded infinitely interesting, I respected that he was attempting to respect me.

"We can raincheck that then," I said, reaching over to kiss his cheek. "Until your hands have been granted full access."

His mouth dropped open and I pulled him towards the back door. "Lets go inside so we don't freeze," and he followed, a slightly dazed look on his face.

KTH POV

The hot tub had to be a big no for now. When she suggested it, hopping from foot to foot from the cold, I was tempted. Very tempted. The idea of Marley snuggled up next to me in a bathing costume was now firmly stuck in my brain. But I was right when I said my hands could have a life of their own. I wanted to touch her, all the time. Holding hands was bliss, beginning to be comfortable to touch her hair, her face, wrap her in my arms was amazing. If we were in the hot tub together, I'd want to go much, much further and it wasn't time for that yet. Still, I'd be lying if I didn't admit to myself that my body wanted something my brain was saying no to for now. Especially when she'd said we'd raincheck until my hands had full access. At that point my brain had completely disconnected, as she'd dragged me out of the cold and back into the warmth of her house.

"Hot chocolate?" she asked, grabbing two mugs down from the cupboard and I'd nodded, words momentarily gone from my head.

The next few hours flew by as we talked and talked, the hot chocolate warming our bodies from the inside out, her warming me with her smile. It sounded cliché to say it felt like only minutes when we noticed 3 hours had gone by but it was true. She yawned and stretched as my eyes began to grow heavy and I rubbed them.

"Are you staying?" she asked shyly, dropping her eyes.

"Yes," I replied simply. I had no plans to leave until a plane was waiting for me and I didn't want to pretend otherwise.

She smiled at my quick answer and stood up, grabbing our mugs. "I'm going to lock up the house and brush my teeth, then I'll head to bed."

I stood for a moment, unsure if, just because I'd stayed in her room the night before, that I should assume it was alright again. She seemed to read my thoughts.

"It's OK with me if you share my room. I'm not ready for more right now but it was nice to have you close to me last night."

"I'll go brush my teeth then while you lock up, got to keep those gimmies at bay."

She laughed and nodded. "Gimmies are definitely a mood killer."

"Well, I don't want to kill any mood," I replied, heading to the bathroom. Once I had washed my face and brushed my teeth, I went to the bedroom, taking off my sweatshirt and swapping my pants for the loose PJ pants I'd grabbed from the hotel room. Climbing into bed, I warmed her side while I heard her in the kitchen, rolling back to my side to plug my phone in after a few minutes. Now seemed like a good time to post some of the photos I'd taken of us earlier in the day while I waited for her to come to bed and I scrolled through, finding ones that perfectly summed up our day.

Marley POV

Turning the house lights off, I brushed my teeth, stopping abruptly when I walked into the bedroom. Tae had fallen asleep, phone in hand against his chest. I leaned on the doorframe, taking in the sight. He looked younger in sleep, his hair flopped partly across his face and I reached for my phone, wanting to capture the moment.

Turning my back, I quickly swapped my clothes for loose pyjamas, checking out the corner of my eye to make sure he was definitely asleep as I did. He didn't stir even when I climbed under the covers next to him, brushing the hair away from his face. I pressed my lips to his neck briefly, savouring the scent of him before I drifted to sleep, my head against his chest, thinking that the feelings I had for him were no longer in question. As scary as it felt, I had definitely fallen head over heels.