Chapter 42

KTH POV

I started laughing when I heard Abby's voice over the video call, trying to hold it in. Marley had warned me she was loud and bubbly, I could hear that she wanted to meet me and I wanted to meet and connect more with everyone who was important in Marley's life. Abby was easy to like, her outgoing and direct way of speaking a contrast to the women back home but not uncommon of the Western women I had met although it was a struggle not to blush when she referred to me as sexy.

Leaving them to it, I'd gone to the bedroom and rested on the bed for a bit trying not to overhear the conversation, picking up my phone as a distraction. But I did tune in when I heard them talking about how we could make it work, something I knew weighed on my mind too.

"Location, how can we possibly keep this up living and working so far apart," Marley was asking.

"It will work out if it's meant to. That would be destiny right," Abby had answered.

"I guess, I hope it does because you're right, I'm smitten," and my whole body reacted to her words. It was definitely something to hear her talk about us that way and to think that she was feeling the way I was. I remember that word from when we first met and Namjoon had told me I was already smitten. That felt like so long ago and my feelings had been through so many changes since then but I still felt the same flutters when I thought of her and I didn't think I could ever get enough of that.

I'd zoned out for a moment, focused inwards on my feelings for Marley when I heard Abby speak again. "You said love."

"That's what it is and it's only getting stronger. You should see him with Sophia. She adores him and the feeling is mutual," Marley replied and I felt my heart clench. I wanted Sophia to trust me and I did adore her, I more than adored them both. I wanted what they could give me and not just because I always wanted a family. While I was thinking about that I heard Sophia beginning to stir and went out to ask if Marley wanted me to get her up so she could keep talking to her sister. When she indicated that she didn't mind, I went in to see Sophia starting to stretch, her eyes still shut.

Crouching down next to the bed, I lightly stroked her curls and her eyes popped open, blinking a few times, just like Marley did when she woke up. She really was a mini of her mother.

"Hey beautiful girl, did you have a good sleep," and she nodded stretching some more then reaching up to wrap her arms around my neck. I happily picked her up, resting her comfortably in my arms as she leaned against my chest with her sleeping friend. We tiptoed out into the lounge, quiet so Marley could be keep talking but Sophia was content to snuggle against me as we rested on the couch, sleepy warmth still radiating from her body. In these moments, when she was happy to stay with me even though her mother was close by, I was so ready to drop to my knee and ask Marley to stay with me forever because I didn't know how I could ever lose this feeling. I closed my eyes and breathed it all in.

"TaeTae," Sophia said sleepily against my chest.

"Yes BugBug" I murmured in answer.

"Who mama talk to?"

"She's talking to your Aunty Abby," I replied into her curls, lightly rubbing her back.

"Aunty Abby home?"

"Yes she's at home and you'll see her in a few days."

"TaeTae come too?"

"Oh, I wish I could Sophia, more than anything," I replied. Meeting Abby, her mother and father, a few friends she'd talked about with me sounded daunting but I wanted it to happen soon. Family was so important to me and I wanted, no needed, them to like me jut like I wanted her to meet mine. I was going to mention it again, that she could come see me in Korea anytime, it felt like the next big thing we both needed to do to make sure our futures were joined.

"Love you TaeTae," she said softly, rubbing Tinky across her eyes and I squeezed her gently against my chest, whispering it quietly back, the words flowing out as easy as breathing. When Marley finished up her call and came to join us on the couch, she leaned against my shoulder and pressed a kiss on Sophia's head, then my cheek. Sophia didn't make an attempt to climb down for a while and the contentment of the moment made my mind spiral into so many possibilities, all of them including the perfect utopia of the three of us together. If only it could be that simple.

When I came out of the bathroom and saw her sitting there, dress hugging all her curves, I was unable to stop from staring and noticed she did the same to me. The look in her eyes still surprised me. Yes, I had others telling me that I was attractive and I had a particular way I wanted to look in public. But something about Marley looking at me with admiring eyes made me feel shy.

"I will do anything for you nae sarang," I told her as she came into my arms, the confessions of a lover falling from my mouth.

The meal itself was perfect, eyes drifting to her lips as we sat down to order together. And my hands naturally gravitated towards her leg, thinking about what we could be doing together later. I found it amusing when the servers came to bring our food and my hand strayed higher on her thigh, the look in her eyes a caution as my fingers roamed. I looked away as I felt her thighs clench together when my hand reached the top of her leg, trying not to smirk while it continued to climb to rest on her hip. Especially as her legs fell slightly open and cheeks grew pink at the touching, she was enjoying it. There was a look and we both knew this would be continued later, settling for gentle touches and looks above the table for the rest of the dinner.

As we were preparing to head back to the room, dishes long empty but pushed to the side so we could sit together a little longer, my phone disturbed the conversation. Frowning as I saw it was Ji-ho, I answered.

"Taehyungie, Miss Sophia is not well at all. Her temperature is high and I can't seem to bring it down with cold cloths." My eyes flicked to Marley and away as I answered, her head pivoting at the sound of her daughters name. "Is Sophia asking for us?"

"Yes, she's sitting on my knee and asking for her mama. Taehyungie, I'll call down to the hotel reception to ask for a doctor to be sent. I don't think this is just a fever."

"Thank you Ji-ho, we'll be right there," hanging up and filling Marley in as we both stood up. The look in her eyes, flared more concern in mine as we walked quickly to the lifts and all I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms and take the worry away. Sophia already meant more to me than Marley realised, the thought of her tiny, warm body now in pain making me wish for the lift to rise faster.

The next few hours were a blur as Marley went into her role as mama bear, caring for Sophia and letting me help her. The fact that Sophia was so quiet and listless, apart from whimpering, worried me but I tried not to let her see, ready to take them to hospital if needed, no matter what complications that presented. The doctor had been reluctant to let us manage the recovery on our own but was willing to work with us when money talked.

I woke more times in that night that I thought I would, Marley was wiggly even in her sleep and Sophia made lots of small noises in discomfort. A couple of times I helped as we dripped the fluids into Sophia, little by little, feeling helpless that there wasn't much I could do to be useful. So I did the only thing I could, holding them both through the small hours and into the dawn as we dozed, hoping that she could feel the love I felt for them in my touch.

Marley POV

I was exhausted from not a lot of sleep the next morning, even though Sophia had slept OK all things considered. She woke up a few times in the night but I woke up more as she stirred in her sleep. Tae mostly slept solidly but occasionally I knew he was stirring as he pulled me close again or stroked whatever part of my skin he was touching, in reassurance and not in any way leading to something more. He also helped me get medicine into her a few times, his voice so calm that she responded to it, automatically doing as asked. Everything I could've wanted and needed in that moment. Just when I thought Tae couldn't be more than he already had proved himself to be, he stepped up even more.

We both needed caffeine and sipped it slowly as we leaned against each other, willing the heat to wake us up but Sophia seemed to me to have begun to turn a corner and we waited for the doctor to come and deliver his verdict. Her curls were damp and unruly but I was sure she was cooler than last night.

The doctor confirmed that the bottle of fluids we'd managed to get into her as well as the pain relief was helping. The antibiotics were likely killing the infection after the three doses she'd had in the last 12 hours as she was already within a comfortable temp range so he was comfortable with how she is recovering.

"As long as she doesn't travel yet," Tae continued explaining. I frowned. We were meant to be flying out the next day, Sophia and I home and Tae back to Korea. Tae showed the doctor out, passing over some money in the process and there was lots of bowing. I imagined Tae had made it very worth the doctors while to make late night and early morning visits.

I rubbed my temples, not even dwelling on the money, thinking about how we couldn't travel tomorrow as planned. He sat beside me again, gently removing my hands and replacing them with his own as his fingers circled the pressure points throbbing on my head. I relaxed into his touch with a sigh.

"If you can't fly tomorrow, we will just get your flights changed," he said, applying light pressure.

"I can't think right now, I'm so tired," I answered, running my hand through my hair and rubbing across my face.

"I'll sort it for you Marley, I'll just get staff to add an extra day or two onto the trip and you can fly home when she's better."

"It's OK, I can sort it when I've woken up a little more and have time to think about what is best."

"I think it's best to let her rest here a little longer. Sore ears and travel don't go well together."

"You don't need to worry about what's best for her, I have it under control," I answered with a frown, too tired to be patient right now.

"I know you do love but I think, when you're not so tired, you'll see I just want what's best for Sophia and that's staying for a little longer," he said, reaching for my hand.

"Stop please Taehyung, you're not her fath...," and I abruptly stopped the words from spilling freely from my mouth as my emotions flooded out.

"Not her Papa? You don't think I know that?" he said, pulling away, hurt seeping into his eyes. "But when I was holding her, holding you both all night, I just wanted everything to be OK."

"That's my job. When she is hurt, I'm the one that's meant to be there. When she cries, I'm the one to wipe her tears."

"Then who wipes yours," he asked, as they flowed down my cheeks, dripping onto the couch between us as exhaustion kicked in and I dropped my forehead to rest it on his knee while they continued to fall. I felt his hand rest lightly as he carefully stroked my back. "Marley, you have to let me be that for you. It's all too much for you to bare alone."

Our eyes met, mine blurry and wet, his sad and then we reached for each other at the same time.

"I'm sorry Tae, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean my words to hurt you, I'm too tired to think clearly. I just can't, I can't breathe sometimes, it's me, just me all the time. When she was lost, that was because I was careless, not watching her."

"Nae sarang, you are one person. You have to let me help. I want to be yours in that way."

"I can't let you Tae, if I do...," and I gulped again because it hit me all over again.

His voice came quietly. "If you do?"

"If I do, I'll be crushed when my heart is broken again."

His arms held me close. "Baby, I've told you, I'm not going anywhere and your heart is going to stay in one piece."

"But we can't guarantee that."

"No, we can't. There could be an earthquake, someone could get really sick, we don't know about tomorrow. But we can plan as if the world is a beautiful place because we will make it beautiful together."

"Why are you so good to me," I said. "I don't know why I can't live in today because you make it amazing but I keep coming back to the past."

"You're protecting your heart as you've had to deal with a lot on your own. It's OK, I'm here to help you through it all now. You'll work through it when you're fully ready and I'll be here waiting, I'm not going anywhere."

"I know you're right Tae, we probably need to wait at least an extra day here so her ears are OK to travel home. I'm sorry that our last day here is going to be boring. We'll be stuck inside keeping an eye on Sophia."

Tae brushed it off, unconcerned. "We can come back another time aein, I'd love to travel some more with you, it's fine."

I curled into his embrace, grateful that he was so patient with my mood swings and always calm. "Love you Tae," I said in answer. "Thank you, yes, please talk to staff for us," and he pressed a kiss to my lips as he nodded in agreement.

We had a very quiet day, lots of cartoon and kids movies as we finished getting the fluids into her along with more antibiotics and we all napped throughout the day. As was the way of a child, she bounced back incredibly quickly so by dinner she was eating again.

"Kimchi mama," she asked, holding out her plate.

"Do you like the Korean food BugBug," Tae asked and she nodded back, pointing to the ramen too. I'd left the dinner ordering to Tae, always happy with his choices and he had opted for the food he was craving. "She'll like it in Korea," he murmured to me.

"I know she will when we're able to get there," and he nodded, lost in thought for a moment. He was heading home in the morning, a busy schedule of practices for the next 3 weeks before a month of travel. It had been organised for Sophia and I to stay an extra 36 hours in Japan, flying home in a few days instead. I hoped she'd be well enough to go exploring a little before we flew again, there were still many places on the list of Tokyo I'd made that I wanted to tick off. As with the last few times we'd had to say goodbye, I was trying not to think about it.

"Bathtime after food Sophia," I said, thinking bedtime for everyone sounded much needed even with the naps we'd all had that day. I hoped Tae and I could stay awake long enough to enjoy each other before he flew away from me again, getting very caught up in those thoughts for a moment.

"Feeling sleepy," Tae asked, noticing I had zoned out. I instantly blushed and he raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I was thinking about bed but not sleep," I replied. "How tired are you?"

"Very," he answered and I sighed. "But not too tired for your body," he continued softly, leaning into my ear to speak. "Countdown to an hour from now?"

I nodded and with a smile, replied. "Last chance for a while to try a new outfit too," and he froze before a huge smile lit up his mouth, cheeks and eyes.

"Oh baby, I'm wide awake now," he grinned, his tongue tracing over his own bottom lip, my breath stuttering.

"Behave Tae," I said, leaning in to take his lips in mine for a moment. "At least for the next 58 minutes anyway," a light chuckle erupting from his mouth.

We were lying in bed, satin and lace long since discarded and I was tracing his chest with my finger, a kiss pressed to my shoulder every now and again as we talked. It felt lazy and comfortable and our bodies were satisfied for now, flushed from the last half hour of exploring, reluctant to get out of bed and clean up since it would likely not be the last time that night.

"Sweet or savoury," he asked as we played this or that, still learning a lot about each other.

"I've always preferred savoury things. Give me a burger over cake every day. What about you?"

"We mainly have to avoid sweet things so I'd say my tastes have changed since I was a teenager. I do enjoy dessert," he smirked at that, " but I'd rather have meat."

"I would too," I smirked back. He scrunched his face for a moment then realised what I'd said and laughed loudly before smothering his mouth into my hair to avoid Sophia waking.

"My meat is all yours," he replied and I reached up to kiss him with a grin, sinking into him for a moment.

"Glad to hear it. I know you prefer Winter over Summer but what about Spring or Autumn?"

"I love Spring blossoms but there's something about the colours of Autumn with the hint of freshness in the air as it gets cold. So, I think Autumn."

"Autumn has always been my favourite season of all, pictures of New England in Fall look astounding."

"Shall we add it to our travel bucket list," Tae asked and I nodded, smiling at the thought. We had quite a growing list of places we wanted to visit together.

"Speaking of travel, Korea or New Zealand."

He paused for a moment. "Korea if you're with me, New Zealand if you're at your home. I'll go anywhere you are but I would love you to be at my home with me."

"Sounds bliss," I replied, fingers still tracing a path over his skin.

"Marley, come to Korea."

"I will, can't wait," I answered, somewhat sleepily. My body was feeling stretched and satiated, relaxed in his arms.

"No jagiya, listen. Come to Korea now for a few weeks instead of going home to New Zealand."

I propped myself up on my elbows and he rolled onto his side to look at me as I replied. "I can't do that, I have to go home."

"Why? You have your work with you, you have Sophia."

"But, I don't have enough things with me to travel to Korea too."

"We can buy anything you don't have or need. And I've seen your suitcase, you definitely over packed."

"But you have lots of practices coming up."

"Yes but not until lunchtimes so we have the mornings and you can explore Korea in the afternoon. I can send you with a guide."

"That's crazy Tae, Sophia wakes early and you work late. You'll be exhausted."

"I'm always exhausted aein so I'm used to it, I want this."

"But we've only just changed the flights to add on the extra days."

"And we can change them again, that doesn't matter. You can stay on here for the extra time needed for Sophia to be safe to travel and then come to my country. I'll still need to go tomorrow as planned but that gives me time to tidy before you get there," he laughed. "Please say yes," he finished, holding my hand to his chest.

His eyes were puppy dog huge, staring silently at me while I thought about it all. He was right, I didn't actually need to be back home for anything. Some more time off preschool wouldn't hurt Sophia, my work was with me and I had over packed, nice of him to notice. It was fear holding me back, I was truly worried about meeting his family. But if I wanted to be with Tae, I needed to do that at some stage and we seemed to be moving at a much faster pace than a normal relationship given how often we were apart.

"We won't disrupt your work plans if we're around?"

"No, you won't," he answered, looking hopeful.

"And if we come, it's OK to stay for a few weeks so I can see all the things you want me to see?"

"Marley, if you could stay the rest of the year, I'd be happy."

"That's a long time oppa," I laughed.

"A day apart feels like a long time so I'm happy with any extra time we get together."

"OK, if you're sure," I replied and threw my arms around him. We fell back against the pillows again, rolling around until he was looking down at me, brushing my hair back off my face. "I can't believe I'm going to your home," I said, feeling jitters at the thought.

"I can't wait to show you so many things," Tae answered. "I've stayed at your house, it's about time you came and stayed at mine." He eased lower against me, running his lips across my throat.

"We've made out at my house," I replied, thinking of his mouth in that moment.

"We'll more than make out at my house," he answered, breathing the words against my neck.

"Do we have to wait until your house to more than make out," I asked, feeling my body responding to the feel of his hands as they began to roam again.

He let his mouth answer as I closed my eyes, dropping my head back as his lips drifted down my stomach.

"Saranghae Tae," I managed to squeeze out between my teeth as he nipped at the skin on the inside of my thigh.

"Baby, I'm looking forward to a few minutes from now when you say my name in a completely different way," he answered as his hands settled on my knees, sliding up higher as they parted before my brain was thinking of nothing and everything all at once, his name disjointed and breathy on my lips.

**FYI, this book has approx. 50 chapters total so we're hurtling towards the end and are on track for early November completion. Thank you for reading this far. I'm writing for me but I'm liking that others are along for the ride**