Chapter Text
The next morning, Seokjin finished making breakfast, then realised nobody was emerging from their rooms. He was surprisingly fresh, having stopped drinking comparatively early and drinking water before bed. The others, he suspected, not so much. That, he could work with.
Smirking, he grabbed a wooden spoon and banged it repeatedly on a frypan, shrieking, “Rise and shine, my babies! Hyung has made you breakfast!”
When nobody stirred, he walked around to each of the bedrooms, banging the pan outside their doors and calling their names. “Min Yoongi, get your breakfast! Jung Hoseok! Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung, you'd better not be naked in there because I'm coming in to drag you out of bed!”
On reflection, he decided he'd rather not go in there, if he could avoid it.
Seokjin paused for a moment. Namjoon was a great ally in waking up the others after a heavy night. He knocked on his door and went straight in, as he usually did.
“Namjoon-ah, I need you to help me get the others up,” he said, words drying up as his eyes adjusted to the dim light and he registered Jungkook and Namjoon wrapped around each other, clearly naked, the thin bedsheets doing little to preserve their modesty.
Jungkook opened one eye.
“Oh. Morning, Jin-hyung,” he drawled, stifling a yawn. “My boyfriend is sleeping, he's kind of worn out after last night,” he explained, ignoring Jin's scandalised expression. “Can I help?”
Backing toward the door, Seokjin shook his head, rapidly. “No thanks, just... keep doing whatever you were doing with your... boyfriend?”
Seokjin shook his head, startled. When did that happen? Nobody told him anything, any more...
“On second thoughts, don't keep doing whatever you're doing. Please don't. Anyway, breakfast... Right. Right,” Seokjin stuttered, almost running out the door and closing it loudly behind him, before returning to the kitchen and staring blankly at the wall.
Eventually, Taehyung and Jimin emerged from Taehyung's room, cuddling and adorably sleepy. Seokjin eyed them with distaste, grumbling that he'd let them get away with it this once because they were getting married tomorrow. Hoseok arrived at the table, tiredly scratching his head, and Yoongi stumbled in, grunting at the others and heading straight for the pot of coffee.
“Everyone sleep well?” Hoseok asked, his usual cheer returning after he'd gulped down a glass of water and two painkillers.
“Very,” Taehyung replied, kissing Jimin's cheek and earning an exasperated look from Seokjin.
“Anyone seen Jungkook?” Yoongi enquired, slyly. “The door to his room is open and he's not in there. Better check he hasn't fallen out a window or something, he was pretty drunk.”
“Oh, no chance,” Seokjin drawled. “Joonie's holding on to him far too tightly for that. I happened to walk in on them clinging to each other like a pair of octopuses when I was trying to wake you all up.”
Jimin pumped his fists, giggling, and Hoseok and Yoongi high-fived each other.
“Fucking finally,” Yoongi declared. “Taehyung-ah, you're a genius after all.”
“Couldn't have done it without my beautiful assistant, here,” he quipped, pulling Jimin into a tight hug.
When Namjoon and Jungkook emerged fifteen minutes later, blushing and holding hands, they were met with cheers and whoops from everyone but Seokjin, who grumpily muttered something about disrespect, standards and never being able to sleep comfortably in his own home ever again.
The night before the ceremony, Jimin and Taehyung stayed at their flat, as everything they needed for the following day was already there. Hoseok was in charge of looking after Jimin, and Yoongi agreed to look after Taehyung. The grooms to be would be sleeping in separate rooms, upholding the tradition of not seeing each other on the day of the wedding.
Jimin had asked Hoseok to stay in his room. “You've been there for me through so many emotional times, hyung,” he explained, “and I want you to be with me for this one, too.”
Hoseok smiled brightly and drew his younger friend into a warm hug. “I know you won't need me to comfort you tonight, Jimin-ah, but I'm glad you want me to be there,” he said, eyes shining with unshed tears.
Taehyung opted to sleep alone, Yoongi making himself comfortable in the spare bedroom. “I'm here if you need me, Taehyung-ah,” he said, “no matter how late it is. If I'm sleeping, wake me,” he said, gaze unwavering.
“Wake you, up, Hyung?” Taehyung responded, laughing. “With the number of times you've threatened to kill me if I disturb your sleep? Not likely,” he said, though he squeezed his friend's shoulder in deep appreciation of his gesture.
Jimin couldn't sleep. He wasn't nervous, there was nothing to be nervous about. It was him and Taehyung, after all. It was just the fact that this occasion was so momentous in both their lives, and the beginning of a new way of life together. Something sweet and slightly painful kept bubbling up in him, needing comfort. Hoseok, lovely kind Hoseok, was passed out inelegantly and starting to snore. Jimin didn't have the heart to wake him. He thought about visiting Yoongi, then realised he really just needed his Taehyungie.
Silently, he crept out of his room and gently cracked open Taehyung's door, listening for his soft sleeping noises.
“Jiminie?” came a soft, sleepy voice, “can't sleep? C'mere.”
Registering Taehyung's reaching out to him, Jimin practically ran to the bed, crashing into his arms.
“Oof,” Taehyung grunted, “what was that for? You OK?”
“Don't know,” Jimin mumbled, his face pressed into Taehyung's chest. “Just needed my Taehyungie,” he admitted, burrowing deeper into his embrace. “Can I stay here?”
“Jiminie,” Taehyung warned, teasingly, “you know we're not supposed to see each other on the day of the wedding. It's bad luck.”
“Bullshit,” Jimin shot back, “that's pure superstitious bullshit. I want to be here with you.”
“Is something on your mind, love?” Taehyung asked, gently stroking Jimin's hair, willing the tension to drift out of his fiancé's body.
Jimin let out a massive sigh, allowing himself to melt into Taehyung's soothing touch.
“It's dumb,” he said, hushing Taehyung's protests that he could never be dumb, “I know that tomorrow is special, and I'm not nervous about spending the rest of our lives together. But...” he paused, collecting his thoughts, “we're getting married tomorrow, TaeTae,” he said, a beautiful smile spreading across his face, “and it feels wrong not to be with you tonight.”
“Well, not legally married,” said Taehyung, flinching as Jimin poked him in the side. “But this means everything to me, Jiminie. Promising ourselves to each other in front of all the people we love the most in the world? What could be more significant than that? Screw the law.”
“Yeah, screw the law. Screw superstition, too,” Jimin declared, a defiant look in his eyes. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you and make that promise in front of our family and friends, so I will. I want to wake up next to you tomorrow morning and face our wedding day together, like we face everything else. So I will.”
Taehyung grinned, pulling Jimin closer and leaving a smacking kiss on his cheek. “I have to admit, I was having trouble sleeping without your cuddles, Jimin-ah,” he murmured, “I'm glad you're here. But we have a huge day tomorrow, so how about we get some sleep?”
Jimin answered with a soft snore, already drifting into a peaceful sleep.
Next door, Hoseok stirred, noticing Jimin's side of the bed was cold. “I had a feeling this would happen,” he murmured to himself, heart swelling with how much his dongsaengs loved each other.
Jimin was stressing, there was no other way of putting it. Having woken up in Taehyung's arms, he was suddenly fearful of ignoring superstition and therefore tempting fate. He'd slipped out of their bed before Taehyung woke up, and was insisting that he was definitely not allowed to see him again until the ceremony, ignoring Hoseok's reassurances that it would be completely fine.
“Today is not the time for common sense, hyung,” he hissed, pacing around his bedroom. “If everything goes wrong, it will all be my fault.”
“Nothing's going wrong, Jimin-ah,” Hoseok soothed, surreptitiously rolling his eyes. “But I'll keep Taehyung out of here, all the same.”
“Thanks, Hyung,” Jimin breathed, looking small and vulnerable as he perched on the edge of the bed. “I just want today to be perfect.”
Despite Jimin's nerves, the hours passed smoothly until it was time to leave. Yoongi knocked on his bedroom door. “Jimin-ah?” he called, “Taehyung and I are leaving now.”
“How is he, hyung?” Jimin responded, hoping Taehyung hadn't worked himself up into a state, as he was very capable of doing.
“Completely calm, Jimin, and you should be, too. We'll see you there.”
Jimin breathed a sigh of relief.
Yoongi hadn't been completely telling the truth. Taehyung was dressed and ready, looking even more extraordinarily handsome than usual, but until an hour ago he'd been pacing his room like a caged tiger, worrying incessantly.
“Taehyung-ah, if you don't stop that you'll wear holes in your carpet,” Yoongi admonished, holding back a chuckle.
“Hyung,” Taehyung whined, “what if I get there and Jiminie doesn't show up? What if he gets cold feet, or... noooooooo, what if he gets in an accident on the way there? What if we get in an accident on the way there? Oh, so many things could go wrong,” he worried, finally ceasing to pace as Yoongi put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Taehyung-ah. We can't control everything, but there's one thing you don't have to worry about, and that's Jimin wanting to marry you with every fibre of his being.”
Taehyung blinked, registering Yoongi's words.
“You're right,” he said, “that's the one thing I never have to worry about. Now I'm going to get ready to marry the love of my life, so I'd better look my best.”
The venue was intimate, with only the members, Taehyung and Jimin's families, their inner circle of staff and a few very close friends in attendance. Subtly decorated with flower arrangements featuring baby's breath and delphiniums, symbolising eternal love and the desire to make each other happy, the atmosphere was elegant and welcoming.
Taehyung's mother fussed over him, brushing nonexistent lint from his exquisitely cut three piece suit, his father watching amusedly from a safe distance.
“Mum,” Taehyung said, exasperated, as she straightened his tie for the millionth time, “it's fine. I don't think my suit could be cleaner, or my tie any neater than it is right now.”
His mum stepped back, eyes filled with tears. “My baby,” she said, “if only your grandparents could see you now.”
Noticing Taehyung's eyes fill with tears, she rushed forward to hug him. “Don't cry, sweetheart. They'd be so proud of you, how handsome you are and most importantly, how good.”
Clearing his throat, Taehyung's dad spoke. “I'm so proud that people say you take after me, Taehyung-ah,” he said, eyes suspiciously bright. “and not just because of your looks and talent. I'm proud because of the wonderful person you are, and how much joy you bring to all of us. You and Jimin have always brought out the best in each other, and you deserve all the happiness in the world.”
Taehyung hugged both his parents, only breaking away when Yoongi poked his head in to say they had five minutes until the ceremony began.
“Well, I guess this is really it,” Taehyung said, impatiently waiting as the seconds ticked by.
In another room, Jimin sat perfectly still, staring at the wall and nervously worrying at his bottom lip with his teeth.
“Stop that, darling,” his mother tutted, “you don't want a bleeding lip during your wedding ceremony!”
Snapping out of his trance, Jimin apologised. “Sorry, mum, didn't even realise I was doing it.”
She smiled, reaching out to stroke his cheek. “My beautiful boy, I want you to enjoy every minute of this,” she said, “there's nothing left to worry about. When we walk out there in a few minutes, you'll see Taehyung and everything else will melt away. Trust me on that.”
Nodding, Jimin shot her a grateful look.
“She's right, you know,” his dad said, looking at his wife fondly. “When you get out there and see the person you've been waiting to spend the rest of your life with, everything else ceases to exist except the two of you and your love.”
He patted Jimin on the back. “We love you so much, Jimin, and we love Taehyung, too. This is a truly beautiful day for our family, and we are so, so happy,” he said, pulling his son into a hug.
Hoseok knocked on the door. “Two minutes, Park family!” he called cheerfully, and Jimin felt his heart rate increase.
At last, the moment arrived. Taehyung walked to the back of the ceremonial room with his parents, nervously looking to the right. Of course, there was Jimin, his Jimin, exquisitely beautiful and beaming at him with so much love. As they prepared to walk down the aisle together, with their proud parents on either side, Jimin couldn't resist placing a quick peck on Taehyung's lips. “Here we are, Taehyungie,” he giggled, eyes sparkling as Taehyung laughed happily in response. “Let's do this.”
The familiar strains of “Friends” filled the room. They'd agreed there really could be no other song for this moment, and all the guests smiled with pure joy when they realised what they were hearing. Slowly, they moved towards the front of the room, the guests gasping as they saw the two grooms, dressed in matching purple three-piece suits with a subtle floral design, stunningly handsome and so, so in love.
As they reached the pedestal where Namjoon stood, their parents graciously let go of their hands and went to sit in the front row with the rest of Bangtan, and other immediate family members. Bang PD looked on like a proud father, sneakily wiping away a tear as the two grooms faced each other. Seokjin, Yoongi, Hoseok and Jungkook all grasped each other's hands tightly, their emotions threatening to spill over.
Namjoon's words as officiant were powerful and moving, as they'd all come to expect.
“You all know I'm not a religious man, but what I do believe in is the power of love. We have performed together on some of the most prestigious stages in the world and received so many awards and accolades, but to have the honour of joining these two together for the rest of their lives is by far the greatest I've ever experienced. They have loved each other, unyieldingly, through many years and countless life-changing experiences, and I truly believe they are a living example of what true love means.”
He paused, looking at Taehyung and Jimin, whose eyes glowed with love for each other.
“I now ask them to speak their vows, thereby cementing their promise in front of all the people they love the most.”
Taehyung fidgeted, suddenly nervous.
“We've been on the biggest stages in the world together, Jiminie, and yet I'm more nervous today than I've ever been,” he admitted, as a ripple of laughter went up through the guests.
“One thing I'm not nervous about, however, is loving you for the rest of my life. I've loved you since before I even realised what love is, and I'll love you until my last breath, and beyond. I'm yours, now and forever. Be my husband?”
“Yes,” Jimin breathed, as Taehyung slipped the wedding band on his finger, willing himself not to start sobbing.
“Taehyungie, my Taehyungie. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that I get to be the one by your side, holding your hand as we navigate this life together. No matter what heights we reach as performers, nothing can compare to the Everest that is my love for you. It's always been you, and it will always be you. Be mine, forever?”
As Taehyung said yes, a tear trickling down his cheek, Jimin gently kissed his lips and slid the wedding band on his finger.
“Hey, you're supposed to wait until I say you can kiss him,” Namjoon interjected, as shrieking erupted from Seokjin and Hoseok's direction.
“Bit late for that,” Yoongi shouted, gummy smile on full display, oblivious to an entranced Jungkook beside him, unable to take his eyes off Namjoon.
“OK, OK,” Namjoon soothed, as the guests became slightly raucous. “Park Jimin. Kim Taehyung. I have no legal power to pronounce you anything at all, but I stand here as witness, with all your family and friends, as you join yourselves together for eternity. Now would be a good time for that kiss.”
Jimin reached out and grabbed Taehyung, throwing him into a dip that had the guests whooping in delight, then kissed him deeply as the small crowd continued to cheer. In the midst of the excitement, nobody noticed the significant look passing between Namjoon and Jungkook.
Though small in numbers, the party was enormous in spirit. Instead of formal speeches, a microphone was passed around the Bangtan members and both the grooms' families, each saying a few sentences about what Jimin and Taehyung meant to them. The speakers were mostly well-behaved, Jihyun especially relishing his tale of helping Jimin win Taehyung back. Namjoon had to forcibly stop Jungkook from talking about the laundry room incident, the New Zealand situation and the lengths they'd gone to keeping them apart during their countryside trip. Given this took the form of Namjoon pulling him into his lap and kissing him breathless, Jungkook really couldn't find it in himself to complain about his lack of free speech.
Bang PD asked to borrow the microphone, announcing that he'd changed his mind and “Friends” would now be known as “Soulmates”, with all new copies of the album changed to reflect that. Jimin couldn't help the defiant grin that crept on to his face, nor his rather dramatic fist-pump. Taehyung smiled proudly, looking at him with deep affection.
“Hey, Jiminie,” he whispered, “your husband would like the pleasure of this dance.”
Jimin blushed at the word “husband”, and nodded, allowing Taehyung to lead him on to the dance floor. Frank Sinatra's “Close to you” began, and the newlyweds danced elegantly together, pressed close enough that Taehyung softly sang the words into Jimin's ear. Jimin's eyes fell closed, a dreamy smile on his face as he and his husband (!!!!) melted into each other. As the song ended, the room erupted in applause and wild whoops, the latter mostly from Hoseok, who'd hit the champagne quite hard already. As if on cue, the introduction of Mamamoo's “Egotistic” started up, and Hoseok practically flew on to the dance floor and started twerking, dragging a reluctant Yoongi with him. Soon, the floor was heaving with bodies, the room thrumming with ecstatic energy. Jimin and Taehyung danced the night away with their family, friends, and chosen family, finally seeing off the last guests well after midnight.
Leaning heavily on Jimin's shoulder, Taehyung kissed his cheek.
“Hey, Jiminie?”
“Hmmm?”
“I can say, without a doubt, that this has been the happiest day of my life.”
Jimin grinned, his eyes almost disappearing with the sheer force of it. “Mine too, baby,” he said, “but I can think of one thing that would make it even better.”
Taehyung pursed his lips, raising an eyebrow. “And what would that be, my love?”
Tracing a finger down Taehyung's jawline, Jimin grabbed his tie, yanking him forwards until their lips were a hair's breadth apart.
“Take me home and make love to me. And hurry up about it,” he purred, smirking as he noticed Taehyung swallow, hard.
Never had a short car ride felt like such an eternity. One of their managers was driving them home, so they had to exercise a certain amount of decorum. That was difficult for Jimin, with his husband looking like a four-course meal that was just begging to be eaten. Sneakily, he inched his hand up Taehyung's thigh, pleased to notice that he was already rock hard.
“Jimin-ah,” he hissed, “if you keep doing that, I won't be responsible for what happens in this back seat.”
Jimin removed his fingers from his husband's crotch, taking his hand instead. Taehyung breathed a sigh of relief. Already extremely hot and bothered, he couldn't wait to get Jimin home and out of that suit, and then take him apart completely. Finally, the car pulled up outside their building, and they wished their manager goodnight. The elevator ride was far too long, reminding Jimin of the night they'd confessed, feeling Taehyung hard against his back as they ascended to their floor in the hotel. So much time had passed since then, and yet some things were always the same, Jimin thought with a smirk, as Taehyung pressed his hard length against him.
Quickly unlocking their front door and stepping inside, Jimin pressed Taehyung against the closed door and kissed him hungrily, tongue insisting on immediate access, which was granted all too readily. They kissed desperately for a few moments, hands unbuttoning vests and untucking shirts, fingertips grazing soft skin.
“Wait,” Taehyung said, as Jimin reached for his belt buckle. “It's our wedding night, Jiminie. As much as I'd love to fuck you right here against this wall, I really think this should be treated with a bit more respect.
Jimin whined, reluctantly pulling away. “I guess you're right, TaeTae,” he admitted, "and it's been a really long day. How about we shower first?”
Taehyung only smiled, lifting Jimin up and carrying him through to their bedroom. He removed Jimin's suit piece by piece, kissing every new segment of exposed skin, until his husband was entirely naked and writhing under him with every touch.
“Taehyung,” Jimin moaned, “let me get those goddamn clothes off you already.”
Allowing Jimin to push him back to a standing position, he submitted to being undressed, mewling at the touch of Jimin's hands and lips on his already overheated skin. Once they were both naked, they slipped under the shower, sighing happily as the warm water washed away the tiredness of the day. Taehyung looked down at Jimin, his husband, in awe.
"We're married,” he whispered, so full of feeling he thought he might burst with it.
“We are, TaeTae, isn't it wonderful?” Jimin whispered back, smiling widely and so beautifully that Taehyung just had to kiss him again immediately.
Tenderly, they washed each other's bodies, taking care to pay special attention to sensitive areas. As Jimin shampooed Taehyung's hair, the younger bent his head to lick at a nipple, humming in satisfaction as Jimin's cock twitched in response.
“Two can play at that game,” Jimin murmured, allowing his hand to slide down and rest around Taehyung's already leaking cock, laughing as his husband bucked up into his featherlight touch.
“Just let me wash your hair and then we can go to bed,” Jimin said darkly, eyes glinting with desire. “I need you inside me so badly.”
Quick as a flash, they finished their ablutions and dried themselves. Returning to the bedroom, Jimin arranged himself seductively against the pillows, desire glinting in his eyes.
“Does my husband want to do the honours?” he asked, looking up at Taehyung through his eyelashes.
“Couldn't think of much I'd rather do, sweetheart,” came Taehyung's response as he squeezed an ample amount of lube on to his fingers and teasingly began massaging Jimin's rim.
“Baby,” Jimin sighed, head lolling back against the headboard. “Don't be too gentle with me tonight, give me two to start with,” he instructed, and Taehyung was only too happy to oblige.
Two fingers slid easily enough inside his husband, and he smiled as Jimin gasped in pleasure. Gently thrusting in and out, moving his fingers inside him in slow circles, gradually adding a third and then a fourth, he had soon reduced Jimin to a thrashing, incoherent mess.
“What do you want, Jiminie?” Taehyung whispered, carefully removing his fingers from his husband's nicely stretched entrance. “Do you want me to make you come like this, or...?”
Shaking his head, eyes still shut, Jimin breathed, “No. Want your big cock inside me now, please, Taehyungie.”
“Okay,” he responded, sensually kissing Jimin's inner thigh, moving down until he swiped his tongue teasingly over his waiting hole. As Jimin's rim fluttered and his cock twitched in desperation, Jimin whined, “That's not fair, Tae, stop teasing,” squealing and writhing as Taehyung thrust his tongue right inside.
“Kim Taehyung,” he commanded, breathlessly, “oh God, Taehyung, please, please put your cock inside me right now or I will make you pay.”
Pulling away and licking his lips, Taehyung smiled beatifically at his begging husband, before coating himself with lube and rubbing the head of his cock teasingly on Jimin's clenching rim.
“Taehyung,” Jimin spat, “if you don't fuck me right this second I swear I'll divorce you.”
Laughing, Taehyung slid inside his pouting husband, groaning as they finally connected. “I've got you, Min,” he whispered, nibbling at Jimin's ear, feeling his body relax to accommodate his length.
They moved together like they had so many times before, in a dance they only danced with each other, moans and sighs surrounding them with exquisite music made for them only.
“Taehyung,” Jimin groaned, as his husband circled his hips in a way that hit his prostate just right, “God, Taehyung, you make me so happy.”
Kissing him tenderly, Taehyung pinched carefully at Jimin's nipples, knowing just how much pressure he liked to bring him to the line between pleasure and pain. As Jimin let out a throaty cry of ecstasy, Taehyung's heart couldn't take it anymore, and he started to cry from pure happiness. Noticing wetness on his face, Jimin was startled to see his husband in tears.
“Baby, what's wrong?” he asked, tenderly caressing Taehyung's cheek and wiping the tears away.
“So happy, Min... I'm just so happy,” he murmured, melting even further into Jimin's embrace.
They stayed like that for a while, still connected, tenderly caressing each other until Taehyung slowly circled his hips once more. Emboldened by Jimin's responding deep moan, he snapped his hips back and thrust forward, hitting his husband's prostate dead on, eliciting a strangled cry and pleas for “more, more, more”. Soon, Jimin was meeting his every thrust, both of them crying out desperately as they neared their peaks.
“I'm so close, Jimin-ah,” Taehyung moaned, “what do you need, love?”
Jimin took Taehyung's hand and placed it gently on his cock, already so slick with precum. “Just you, baby,” he said, as Taehyung began to stroke him in rhythm with his thrusts.
The sound of Jimin's breath catching, followed by a loud wail, muscles spasming and hot cum splashing all over Taehyung's hand and stomach sent him barreling over the edge himself, buried as deep as possible inside his husband while his cock emptied itself in thick spurts.
Their lips met in a hot, filthy kiss as they slowly came back to earth.
“Shit, Jimin,” Taehyung said when he'd regained his powers of speech, “married sex is awesome. Should've done this ages ago.”
Laughing, Jimin scratched gently at Taehyung's sweaty scalp, loving the way he leaned into the touch like a puppy. “Nah, sweetheart, I think we did this at exactly the right time. Besides, the sex is awesome because it's us, not because we're married.”
“I guess,” Taehyung said, voice sleepy. “But I really like being married to you.”
“Me too, love,” Jimin replied, squeezing him tightly. “Let's keep going for a long time.”
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Epilogue – 2037
From his vantage point in the kitchen, Taehyung surveyed his husband relaxing in their garden under the cherry blossom, and his heart gave the telltale leap that hadn't lessened in over 20 years. He loved Jimin more than ever, and was immensely grateful for their lives together and the beautiful house they now lived in. In his early forties now, Jimin was still astonishingly beautiful, the sharp lines of his dancer's body slightly softened but no less hypnotic, the few strands of grey in his naturally black hair only adding to his allure. Taehyung knew he was probably biased, but he genuinely believed he'd married the most beautiful creature in the world, and would insist upon it forever.
Noticing his attention, Jimin gave a little wave. “You're staring, love,” he chuckled, “not that I mind.” Smiling that unchangingly beautiful smile, the one that turned his eyes into tiny crescents, he delighted in the way Taehyung's gaze still softened adoringly.
They'd been lucky, Jimin mused. A few years after their commitment ceremony, the law had changed and they'd been able to get married for real. This time there was no party – just Namjoon and Jungkook as witnesses, on the understanding that Taehyung and Jimin would serve as witnesses for their own wedding directly afterwards, with the rest of Bangtan quietly cheering them on in the courthouse. While they had more money than they'd ever need, they had both been able to continue making music successfully, both as members of a slowed-down Bangtan and through other projects. Theirs was a happy marriage, mostly harmonious, despite occasional stress and escalating tempers. One thing they'd always been good at was listening to each other, and they tried to make time to talk properly every day, even if it was only for fifteen minutes before bed.
Taehyung placed two glasses of iced tea on the outdoor table, joining his husband on the loveseat that reminded them of their first holiday together.
“Well, love, I think that's the house all ready for tonight,” he commented, putting an arm around Jimin who snuggled against him contentedly.
“That's great, baby, thank you,” Jimin responded. “Can you believe we've been married fifteen years already? Sometimes I feel like the ceremony was just last week,” he murmured, “and then I look in the mirror and get a bit of a shock.”
Placing a loud, smacking kiss on Jimin's nose, Taehyung said, “What's the shock for? Still surprised at how astonishingly, luminously beautiful you are?”
Jimin snorted, jokingly pushing him away. “No, that's you, idiot.”
“Who are you calling an idiot, Park?” Taehyung demanded, leaning right into his husband's space. “I think you'll find that you're the idiot. That's the only explanation as to why you're still married to me.”
Rolling his eyes, Jimin connected their lips for a swift, soft kiss. “Don't push your luck, TaeTae, or one day I might actually listen to your crap.” His entire being softened as he looked at Taehyung, who seemed to grow even more devastatingly handsome as he aged.
“A few minutes ago I was thinking that we'd been lucky, Tae,” Jimin said, carefully. “But now I realise that luck had nothing to do with it. We fell in love, and we decided consciously that we would keep loving each other no matter what, and that's exactly what we've done.”
Taehyung nodded, a serious look crossing his face. “Jiminie, I chose you, all those years ago, and I promised myself I'd keep choosing you, every day. You do make it a pretty easy choice, though,” he admitted, eyes lighting up at the sound of Jimin's musical giggle, still one of his favourite sounds in the world.
“Taehyungie,” Jimin said, “if you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to kiss you and then I won't stop kissing you, and we won't be ready for our guests.”
Reluctantly, Taehyung got to his feet, extending a hand to help Jimin up. “Okay, love. I'll go shower and change first, and you'd better not join me in the bathroom or we will definitely not be ready for our guests.”
A couple of hours later, Jimin was putting the final touches on a plate of canapés as the doorbell rang.
“TaeTae, can you get that?” he called, then noticed his husband was already at the front door.
Namjoon and Jungkook stood there, hands entwined, still as attractive as ever. Namjoon, especially, had aged well, topping “Sexiest Older Man” lists all over the globe.
“We come bearing gifts,” Jungkook said, holding out a bottle of Dom Perignon special reserve.
“Jiminie's favourite!” Taehyung exclaimed, pulling his friends into a warm hug. “It's great to see you. I know we only saw each other last week, but I still missed you.”
Namjoon patted his friend on the back. “After living together for all those years, Taehyung-ah, we've never really got used to being apart, I guess.”
As they were about to close the door behind them, Hoseok erupted out of his car door with a bright smile. “Namjoon-ah! Kookie! Taehyungie!” he shouted, running to hug his friends.
“Hey, wait for us, idiot,” Yoongi grumbled from the other side of the car, as he opened the back door for Seokjin, who'd been struggling with the child lock.
“Still no respect for the eldest, I see,” he muttered good-naturedly when Yoongi finally managed to let him out.
Once they all got inside, Jimin greeted them with warm hugs and excited chatter. Though they'd long since stopped spending most of their days together, the conversation never lagged. They talked about their various projects, Yoongi especially busy starting up a brand new music company of which he'd be the CEO, and Namjoon and Jungkook excitedly updated them on their impending adoption.
“If all goes well next week,” Jungkook explained, “then we'll be dads. There will be an actual tiny human depending on us to look after her.”
“Oh, God, don't let Joonie drop the baby,” Yoongi deadpanned, the others laughing as Namjoon turned bright pink.
“He hasn't broken anything in years,” Jungkook shot back defensively, covering his husband's hand with his own. “Well, nothing important...” he trailed off, as the others burst out laughing again.
Hoseok and Yoongi were still single, having never found anyone who understood them as much as they understood each other. They shared a house platonically, and the others continually wondered whether one day they'd realise what had been staring them in the face for years. There was no forcing it, though, and for now they were very happy with their arrangement. Seokjin had a string of failed, high-profile relationships behind him, with both women and men. Jimin had a theory that his partners were too high-maintenance, became taken in by Seokjin's debonair exterior and then couldn't cope with the goofy, hilarious person he was beneath that extraordinarily handsome surface. He and Taehyung hoped their hyung would find happiness one day, but it was clear that he didn't help himself...
The seven friends talked long into the night, reminiscing about old times, toasting Taehyung and Jimin's anniversary with the Dom Perignon, and finally ending the night with ill-advised soju cocktails. The house was filled with laughter, and for a while, they felt young again, full of limitless potential. Yes, they'd made it. They'd been the biggest group in the world for a long time, but these things don't last forever. What they still had was a legion of fans who still eagerly awaited every new release, and had followed them down their ever-changing path. Most importantly, they had each other, and those bonds would last a lifetime.
As he loaded the last of the crockery into the dishwasher, Jimin glanced over at his husband. Taehyung had fallen asleep in an armchair after their friends had left, and his mouth fell slack, a tiny thread of drool threatening to hit his shoulder. Shaking his head, Jimin chuckled indulgently, knowing Taehyung would feel terribly guilty about leaving him alone with the cleanup. He didn't mind one bit, though, in fact he relished the time to think.
Gently, he walked over to Taehyung and rubbed his shoulder. “TaeTae, time for bed,” he whispered, inwardly cooing as Taehyung blinked his eyes a few times and tried to focus.
“Oh, Minnie, you did all the cleanup again,” he moaned, “I'm so sorry.”
“Don't worry love, I'm happy to do it,” he insisted. “Now let's get you to bed.”
Taehyung sleepily complied, leaning on his husband's shoulder and allowing himself to be led to the bedroom. He tried to fall straight into bed, but Jimin insisted on removing his clothes so he didn't overheat during the night.
“Take such good care of me, Jiminie,” he murmured, sleepily, as they snuggled together under the covers.
“Tonight was great, wasn't it?” Jimin asked, wondering if Taehyung was awake enough to answer.
“Mmmmm,” Taehyung replied, “so good. Always good when it's the seven of us.”
Sensing his husband was coherent enough, Jimin continued. “It makes me think a lot about our lives. Everything we achieved, the obstacles we met, the fallout when our relationship went public... it's been a heck of a ride, hasn't it?”
Taehyung hummed, thoughtfully. “Yeah, but it's been like the best roller coaster in the world, Min. I wouldn't give it up for anything.”
Smiling, Jimin rubbed soothing circles on his husband's soft tummy. “Tae, can I ask you one thing?”
“Anything, my love.”
“If you could go back and do it all again, knowing how insanely tough it was going to be despite all the money and fame, would you?”
Without hesitation, Taehyung responded, “Yes. A million times yes. Because what we got to share was a one in a billion experience, Min. Something most people could never even imagine. Having you by my side through all of that was the most precious part of all.”
Rolling over, Jimin kissed Taehyung gently, then nuzzled into his neck. “You've always had a way with words, TaeTae,” he whispered, smiling as Taehyung shivered at the sensation of breath on his neck.
“Let's sleep now,” Taehyung said, “so tired. We'll talk more tomorrow.”
Opening his arms, he smiled sleepily as Jimin wrapped himself around him, still fitting perfectly into his embrace.
“I love that you still want to cuddle me at night after all this time,” Jimin whispered, noticing his husband's breath slow and even, knowing he'd be out of it at any moment.
“Always, Jiminie,” came the faint response. as they both surrendered to the lure of sleep.
END.