Second Chances

~Twenty Three~

There was a soft knock on the door and she heard it creek open. "Y/n? Hobi went to get Aeri." She nodded and sat up from the bed. Jimin walked over and sat next to her. He took her hand in his and softly rubbed the top with his thumb. "I'm so sorry Y/n." He's very careful, nervous what has happened will rehash what he had done all those years ago. She shrugged and chuckled. "It is what it is I guess, right?" "No Y/n. Don't deflect. You're allowed to be upset and hurt. I know you'll hold yourself together for Aeri, but you don't have to pretend that you're heart isn't broken." She smiles a small smile and nods. She slaps his leg and stands. "Let's go figure out what we're going to feed my princess for dinner." It's easy for Jimin to convince her to order takeout, no one being in the mood to cook. She asked Jimin and Hobi to act normal tonight, that she will figure out how to tell Aeri what's going on. Hobi and Aeri walk in a half hour later and Aeri runs to her and hugs her. "Hi Eomma, why are we at Jimin's?" Y/n hesitates and struggles to not tear up. Jimin squats down and boops the girls nose. "Eomma thought it would be fun if you and her and me all had a sleep over here tonight." She smiles and nods. "Is Appa coming too?" Y/n turns away, choking back a sob. "No honey, Appa can't make it tonight. He is super busy with your uncles and won't be able to come home at all-" "at all? Where will he sleep then?" Jimin chuckles. "I think he's going to end up sleeping on the couch in his studio, that's how super busy he'll be. So he asked me if you and your Eomma could have a sleep over here tonight so I could keep you company. So what do you say Ri?" She nods and claps. "YAY!! Sleepover at Jimin's!!" He laughs and stands and shares a look with Hobi before both men look at Y/n who is clutching the kitchen counter.

Two days have passed and Y/n knew it was time to address things with Aeri. She couldn't very well say they're having sleep overs forever. Hobi took Aeri shopping so Y/n could be alone to make the call. She sits on the couch and holds her phone. Taking an uneven breath, she dials Zuho. It rings once and he picks up. "Y/n??!" She sighs and replies "yes" in a small voice. She hears him sigh and then he says. "I miss you baby. I miss you so much. Please come home. I love you." Y/n closes her eyes as tears start to slip out. She can hear how hurt and tired he is. He's not sleeping. "I'm calling about you seeing Aeri and I want to ask that we both sit with her to tell her why we aren't staying together." Zuho is silent but she hears him sniff. "Baby can we talk about this first? Please? Let me explain." She covers her mouth with her hand to muffle her cries. She swallows and clears her throat. "I'm not ready to do that yet. But we have a daughter to think about. You know how smart she is so I think it will be best to say that you and I have been not getting along lately and we've decided to spend some time apart. But she's allowed to come stay with you whenever she wants." Zuho is full on crying now and it's killing her. "Please baby...." She swallows harder. "You're a good dad and Aeri loves you. No matter what's going on between us I would never keep her from you. I'd like for her and I to come over later and we sit down with her and tell her. Will you be home?" She sits and waits for his response, him sobbing into the phone. After a few minutes he softly concedes. "Ok. Yes, I'll be home. Can I...can I keep her tonight?" "We'll let her decide where she wants to stay tonight, but if she wants to stay with you then it's fine with me." "Ok" he says softly. "What time should we come over then?" "I'm home now so whenever you want." "Ok, we'll be there at four then." "Ok." She puts the phone on her lap for a moment and looks at the ceiling to keep herself together. She wipes her eyes and picks the phone back up. "We'll see you soon then." "I love you" he chokes out. She hangs up quickly and throws her phone across the room. She hangs her head and catches her face with her hands, crying into them at how much this hurt.

Hobi brought Aeri back at 3pm and her and Aeri left a half hour later. "We're going home now Eomma?" Y/n told her they were going to see Zuho. "Yes princess. We're going to see Appa." After parking and taking the elevator, she had no energy to walk the stairs, and they reached their apartment. She punches in the code and the door opens. "Appa!!!" Aeri makes a mad dash inside and finds Zuho sitting on the couch. She jumps into his lap and hugs him. "I missed you Appa! Did you sleep because Eomma said you worked a lot and had to sleep in your studio so we had our sleep over at Jimin's. Did you sleep?" She cups his face and he tries his best to smile. "I slept a little angel. But Appa is still really tired." She examines his face and then hugs him. "Appa your face looks hurt." He rubs her head and says, "Appa was so tired that I tripped and fell and I hurt my face. I'm ok though, don't you worry princess." Y/n pushes back her tears watching them together. He looks awful. His face is bruised and his eyes are bloodshot. She heard about what Jungkook did to him. He has bags under his eyes, showing he hasn't slept. She sits on the opposite end of the couch and faces them. Aeri pulls back from Zuho and turns to her mom. "Eomma, Appa hurt his face. Can you kiss it better? Your kisses always makes things better." Zuho looks at the ceiling and she sees tears roll down the side of his face. "I don't want to hurt his face angel, Eomma doesn't want to give Appa more of an ouchie." She pouts but turns back to Zuho and lays her head on his chest. Her wraps his arms around her and then looks over at Y/n. She has to look away, his eyes are killing her. She wipes the couple of tears that have slipped out and took a couple deep breaths. "Aeri? Princess, Eomma and Appa need to talk to you." Zuho closes his eyes as Aeri raises her head. "About what Eomma?" "Y/n...." Zuho pleads. She closes her eyes to try to not look at him and drown him out. She opens them and keeps them locked on her daughter. "About Eomma and Appa. Come here and sit between us." She pats the cushion between the couple and Aeri slides off Zuho and sits on the cushion. Y/n grabs one of her hands. "Aeri.....do you remember when me and Appa argued a few weeks ago and you got out of bed because we scared you?" Her big doe eyes were locked on her mom and she nodded. "I'm sorry you had to hear us argue princess. But.....Eomma and Appa have been arguing like that a bunch of times." She looks between both her parents, Zuho looking down at his hands, crying already. "Then say you're sorry. When you argue you need to say you're sorry. You told me that Eomma." She smiled and nodded. "You're right baby, I did say that. And we did say we were sorry. But then we would just argue again." She looks at Zuho for help but quickly sees she's on her own. "Appa, why are you crying?" Aeri touches his hand and he cries harder.
Y/n grabs her hand again. "Aeri, look at me." She turns back to her mom and she has little tears in her eyes and it breaks Y/n's heart. "Aeri, Eomma and Appa think we need to take a break from being together." Her voice cracks on the last part as she hears Zuho crying harder. "A break?" Aeri looks back and forth between her parents who are both shedding tears. It makes her start crying well.