#labrador sweatshirt

[sixminutestoriesblog]

witch balls

When I was a child visiting little tiny New England towns was different than it is today. These days when I walk down a carefully curated Main Street in some wind swept, coastal town you can barely smell the salt in the air anymore and every shop you step into is pristine air-conditioned and smells like a department store used to, all faint traces of new plastic and underlying pungent scent of whatever it is they paint large shipments of clothes with to keep them during shipping. Most of them are still set up to look old, in fact many of them are in old buildings, but the weight of all those years isn't really allowed to show through. It's all ocean cottage core now, neat and white painted and artistic sea glass and sandpipers in simplified wooden statues, wire legs frozen instead of blurring with motion. Don't get me wrong. I love ocean cottagecore. I would decorate my whole house in it if I had the money. And the little shops, pristine and pretty, absolutely have a sweet appeal to them, not willing to give up their personality for the sterilization of 'Big City' box stores. I do miss however, what tourist shops in those same little towns used to be. Less plastic magnets for the refrigerator shaped like whales and sweatshirts of labrador retrievers declaring them a specific colored Dog and more -

half forgotten not-quite-antique shop, hidden down some narrow salt smelling alley where the stones that make up the road are uneven and there's a dusty smell to the cracks of the wood floors that never goes away. As a child going to a 'tourist shop' in one of these towns was like walking into a magic shop, a true magic shop, with books of breathtakingly beautiful paper dolls as detailed as any old fairy book illustration, imitation scrimshawed whale teeth, old time candy, books about lady pirates and clever glass marbles full of painted fish. The things those old shops offered felt local, magical, impossible to find in any other town in the entire world. Childhood colors everything more vivid than it probably was but I still think of longing and a child's minor spending money in a world of treasures when I remember those shops.

In one of those shops, as a child, I saw my first glass fishing float.

At the time it was being sold as a Portuguese fishing ball, a better buoyant for nets and lines than cork or wood. I remember, distinctly, the surprising weight of it when I picked it up. I was used to glass being fragile, light, airy. The fishing ball was none of those. It had a weight to it and a solid feel to it that said it was fit to ride the choppy waters of the icy Atlantic and do its duty, tide in and tide out. Storms weren't going to break and drown this glass. It would ride the waves forever and when it finally broke free of its net, it would find the shore, in itself or in pieces as polished sea glass. These balls were sturdy and I fell in love with them. The first time I could finally afford one was a triumph and the rare times I managed to find them in shops, as the years and the advance of more proper 'souvenirs' advances, I snatched them up even if it meant my spending money for the rest of the trip would be lean. Finally, eventually, the balls disappeared from the last shop and I thought my meager hoard was all I'd ever see of them again, an old relic that was already being phased out before I'd even discovered them as a child.

Imagine my surprise when, years and years later, a friend, helping me fix my bathroom from some water damage, saw one of them where I had it hanging in the window and seemed surprised to recognize it. He called it a 'witch ball'. I corrected him but he was adamant. And so, thanks to the internet, I rediscovered my glass fishing floats - with a new name and a new story to go with it.

Witch balls are hollow glass balls. They can range in size, I've seen some as small as rounded shot glasses and the older ones seem to be about as large as my fishing balls, which is about the size of a cantaloupe. Like fishing balls, they're not made for perfection, in fact, the bubbles and imperfections in the glass blowing process are considered part of their selling points. They tend to range in colors, with modern day witch balls being an absolute riot of colors or a beautiful gradual shift from one color to the next. They've been around for quite a long time as well. There are accounts of witch balls hanging in English houses, especially sea-faring ones, as far back as the 17th and 18th century, though they were often known as 'watch balls' back then and not quite as riotously colorful as modern ones, tending to be more often made of green or blue glass. Sometimes they would have salt or herbs put in them before they were sealed but the main thing witch balls needed were stands. In fact, something I just learned, the way to tell a kugel (friendship) ball and a witch ball apart is to look for the glass strands inside the ball. Witch balls need those strands to be effect. Witch balls are, after all, created to be traps.

The idea was that you hung your ball inside your house, often in an eastern window but sometimes from the rafters or set on top of a stand. Than, when evil things tried to enter the house in the night, they would be distracted and then captivated by the way the light of the moon played against the glass of the ball. Sometimes, the evil had to touch the glass, sometimes being ensnared simply happened automatically once their gaze was fixed on it. Either way, the evil would find itself pulled into the glass, trapped in the maze of the strands inside and unable to escape. There it would remain either until the morning sunrise burned it away or until the glass ball was broken, freeing it to continue its harm. Not all witch balls worked that way. In some cases, the glass was made to be more reflective with the idea that evil things, as we've already read, didn't have reflections and couldn't bear the reminder or that the glass would turn aside the evil gaze and reflect it back on its creator.

There is some speculation that glass Christmas ornaments may be tied into something similar as well, although, humans also simply like hanging sparking objects up for no reason but 'pretty' as well.

Bottle Trees serve the same general purpose and can still be found in parts of the Southern US, a tradition brought over from the Congo during slavery times. The belief is that blue bottles hung on tree branches will entrance and capture evil spirits inside their depths and hold them there where they can't cause any harm until the morning sun burns them away with its rising.

As a last note, I should point out that calling my collection 'fishing balls' wasn't necessarily wrong. While some of my later purchases did have strands in them, my early ones from childhood didn't. Apparently there's a very invested set of people who collect Japanese fishing floats on the West Coast of the US and Canada as well.

[mothgodofchaos]

Freeze

Heist!Mark x GN!Reader, TW: none Words: 430

First time writing him, really enjoyed making him as sassy as possible.

Indigo walks in through the back door, letting in your labrador from the backyard. He walks into the kitchen looking grumpy and a little chilled to the bone. 

“Were you gonna warn me that it was super fucking cold outside? Because I nearly froze my nose off waiting for Thief to get his ass back in the house.” You chuckle, pouring him a cup of coffee and sliding it across the counter to him.

“Seems like it’s the first frost of the year. Although I didn’t realize suddenly I was in charge of the weather. Does your weather app suddenly not work? News channels get canceled from our cable plan?”

“Oh hush, I just… you usually pester me to wear my coat if you know it’s going to be cold…”

“Oh, so you are relying on your partner to take care of you, because you can’t look out a window.”

“Shush. Since when did you get this sassy in the morning?” “Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?”

He groans, chugging down half of his coffee. You notice his nose and cheeks are red from the cold, and Thief is laying out on the vent in the dining room, trying to warm up. All you can manage is a laugh, finishing up breakfast for the three of you. You bring over two plates for yourself and Indigo, placing an egg on Thief’s kibble. 

“So do I need to call your mom and have her text you the daily weather report? You know she’d do it if I asked her to.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

He glares daggers from across the table as you fall back cackling in your seat, clutching your sides. It takes you a second to calm your giggles, wiping your eyes.

“Whoo, oh you make it too easy to tease you.”

“You wound me, love. What has your poor husband ever done to deserve this treatment?” “Being a dumbass.” “It was one time! I was barely awake this morning! I got grumpy!” “You could’ve come inside at any point in time, our back door is glass. Thief would’ve pawed at the door if he wanted back in.”

“Maybe I found it unfair that he was the only one freezing his balls out there!” “...Indi… he’s been neutered for years…” “I can never win with you.” “You love me.” “Unfortunately.”

Maybe this particular morning will remind him to put on his coat more often. Or maybe you should just put a coat rack with one of his sweatshirts on it by the back door. One of the two.

[cerriddwenluna]

Congratz @special-bc-ur-part-of-it!

I really tried to write you a drabble, but this fic just demanded more, and more, and more, up to the point where I even asked the fabulous and talented @datshitrandom to create some fanart because we ALL deserve Klaine Puppy Piles, damn it!

I hope you like it, Iz! ♡♡♡

You can read it under the cut, or on Ao3 and S&C.

“Hi, can I help you?”

Kurt looked up from the brochures that were neatly displayed in a stand next to the front desk. “Oh, yes. I’m here for Puppy Paradise?” 

The man behind the desk beamed. “Oh, that’s great! Are you looking to adopt?”

“Unfortunately not. I’d like to, someday. I just don’t have the space for a pet just yet. College life, you know?”

“Yeah, I do know. That’s why I started volunteering here. There’s never a shortage of adorable animals to play with. My name’s Blaine, by the way. Blaine Anderson.”

Kurt shook the hand that Blaine held out to him. “Kurt Hummel. Nice to meet you, Blaine.”

“You, too. If you’ll just fill this out for me, then I’ll take you to the playroom and you can meet your new best friends.”

Kurt took the form he was handed and quickly filled it in, eager to get started. He and Rachel had discussed getting a pet, but she was allergic to cats, and neither of them was home often enough to properly take care of a dog. They tried fish, but after the first five betta fish went belly up, they gave up on that idea as well. Luckily, the local animal shelter regularly had special days where you could come and play with the animals. 

Kurt had seen the flyer hanging up on the notice board in the lobby of their building as he came home from class, and, seeing that they had one scheduled that day, he had rushed upstairs to throw on some old clothes that he did not mind getting dirty and made his way to the shelter. 

As Blaine waved Kurt ahead of him, he was glad for the foresight. He thought he’d seen Blaine give him a once over in the front office, and he put an extra sway in his hips, glad he chose a particularly flattering pair of yoga pants that did wonders for his ass. 

The first thing Kurt noticed as he walked through the door was the noise. The room was filled with all kinds of puppies running around and yapping excitedly, and Kurt crouched down to give head scratches to the bravest of them, a tiny little chocolate labrador who had come running up to him and Blaine and tried to jump up their legs. 

“Hi there, little guy. Who’s a good boy? Yes, you are!” he cooed to the puppy, doing his best to dodge the overenthusiastic licks hello the puppy tried to give him. 

“His name’s Charlie,” Blaine said as he crouched down next to Kurt and scratched the dog behind his floppy brown ears. 

“How did he end up here?” 

“We always get a few pregnant females a year, but this year we had three at the same time. It was the usual story, people get a dog, fail to get them spayed, and then end up not wanting the responsibility of taking care of them when they get pregnant. So they bring them to us. It’s not great, but we’d rather take in a hundred pregnant dogs than for them to end up dumped in some dark alley, or worse.”

“God, that’s awful.”

“It is, but we do what we can,” Blaine said with a shrug. “C’mon, we’ve got a couple of beanbags in the corner that’ll be a lot more comfortable than crouching all the time.”

*

Thirty minutes later, Kurt was extra glad he had changed out of his normal clothes. After he and Blaine had sat down on the beanbags, the other puppies came running and tried to climb all over them. Bit by bit, Kurt had slid down until he was sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him and his back resting against the beanbag. Blaine was lying next to him, spread out on the floor, and they both had dogs climbing all over them, licking their faces and begging for scratches. 

“So, how long have you been doing this?” Kurt asked Blaine, gently freeing one of the puppies from inside the hooded sweatshirt he had taken off a bit earlier. 

Blaine slowly turned his head to look at Kurt, doing his best not to dislodge the puppy that had decided Blaine’s unruly curls were the perfect place to lie down. “About a year now, I suppose. I started out as a volunteer dog walker, taking the more active ones for runs on the weekends. One of the receptionists recently went on maternity leave, so I applied to be her temporary replacement.

“These play dates were actually her idea, so I’m glad I can help keep them going until she returns. Even if nobody ends up adopting one of them, at least they’re getting plenty of attention.”

“That’s really admirable, Blaine.”

Blaine quickly ducked his head, but not fast enough for Kurt to miss seeing his blush. 

“What about you? What keeps you too busy for one of these adorable balls of fluff?”

“I’m double majoring in Fashion Design and Management at Parsons, and I work at Vogue.com. Just don’t judge me by this very basic outfit,” Kurt laughed as he gestured down.

“I think you look great, Kurt.”

Kurt could feel the blush heating his cheeks. “Thanks.”

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, one of the puppies chose that moment to try and play tug of war with Blaine’s shoelaces, and the moment was broken. 

Blaine grabbed a squeaky ball and successfully distracted the dogs by throwing it across the room, making them run after it frantically. 

After playing with them for a while and wearing them out, Blaine and Kurt ended up lying starfished on the floor, covered in tired puppies. Charlie, the chocolate Lab had curled up on Kurt’s chest, and he had two of his friends lying on his arm and legs, respectively. Blaine had laid down with his head next to Kurt’s hip, and the puppy on Kurt’s leg decided to take advantage of that by lying down with his body on Kurt’s leg and his head atop Blaine’s. 

“I didn’t know how much I needed this until I got here,” Kurt admits quietly, feeling as if speaking too loudly would break the spell that had fallen over the room. 

“I get that. I was the same, to be honest. I was stressing so much, trying to keep up with my classes and making rent, that I was burning out before I even hit twenty. But these animals, they don’t care about what you’re dealing with. They only want one of two things from you, attention or food. Give them a bit of both, and they will be your friend forever.

“Since I started working here, I’ve been feeling so much more relaxed. Whenever I have a bad day, I only need to cuddle a puppy or kitten, or go for a run with some of the older dogs, and nothing will seem quite as bad after.”

Kurt reached down to gently pet the puppy lying on his leg. “I’m glad you have that. I think I might have to make this a regular thing as well.”

“We would be happy to have you, Kurt.”

Kurt ran his hand down the dog's curly head. “Thanks, that means a lot.”

“Um, Kurt?”

“Yeah?” he said absently. 

“That’s not the dog…”

Kurt’s head flew up, and he was shocked to see his hand buried in Blaine’s curls, instead of the dog’s curly fur like he had thought. “I - what? Oh, shit. I’m so sorry, Blaine. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.” Blaine reached up as best as he could without dislodging the dogs napping on him and gently patted Kurt’s arm. “Really, I only said something because I didn’t want you to be unaware. It felt kinda nice, actually. It’s been a while since I had a cute boy play with my hair…” 

“Oh…I - you think I’m cute?”

“I think you’re gorgeous, Kurt. And if you’re not opposed, I would love to take you out on a date sometime.”

Kurt blushed fiercely, but made no effort to hide it this time. He looked Blaine right in the eye as he told him, “I’d love to.”

*♡*♡*♡* The End *♡*♡*♡*

Thanks to @quizasvivamos for the beta! ♡

Title: Puppy Paradise

Author: Cerriddwen

Artist: @datshitrandom

Rating: T

Summary: Kurt has never felt better. The Puppy Paradise play dates at his local animal shelter do wonders for his stress levels, and the eye candy certainly doesn’t hurt either…

Word Count: 1375

Chapters: 1

Status: Complete

Part of a Series: No

Life Stage: Young Adult/College

Other Ships: N/A

Warnings: Some minor and very much not graphic references to people who don't take good care of their animals.

Genre(s): Fluff, Romance

Trope(s): Alternate Universe: Different First Meeting, PUPPIES!

[pixiteai]

👨🏻‍🎨🎨🖼️ What do you think about this unique personalized fashion piece, created through the imaginative prompts of our users? Prompt: A chocolate Labrador pointing a pheasant in a field of sorghum Use coupon code: SAVE20 to save 20% #tshirt #aitools #fashion #sweatshirt

[lilfashiongurl]

#905🐞 “✨ TEA PARTY ✨”.

────────────────

›› ME 👧 :

› Head // ToddleeDoo Baby Mesh Head / EvoX #Cherry › Body // ToddleeDoo Body Fitted › Skin // { Pity Party } Penny Bun TD Evo X › Birthmark // ~:Dudadreams: : Moon Birthmark (EvoX) ›Top //tiptoes – Oversized Moody Sweatshirt / 4 single colors, 2 color packs & fatpack available / Woodland Event ›Leggins // :Papaya: WALNUTS Leggins Applier ›Socks //tiptoes - Toasty Socks FP ›Toast //  #comatosed- Oh! I'm Toast [Strawberry Jam] ›Pillow // tiptoes– Rainbow Plush Pillows at  Roselline Event

›› Him 👦:

› Body: ToddleeDoo – Baby Fitted Body  › Head: ToddleeDoo – Bento Head / Evox › Top: :  tiptoes – Oversized Moody Sweatshirt / 4 single colors, 2 color packs & fatpack available / Woodland Event › Jean: {Lula Belle} Bom Denim Legging / 2 packs available: Classic Denim and Colorful Denim. › Shoes:  .Tippy.Tap.  andrea Sneakers without Socks

›› Decorations:

+Half-Deer+ Lazypuff Bunny II - Lamb (Cauliflower)nani - cherry bloom - labrador A-2 { Pity Party } Tea Party Friends - Cream Sheepie [Commoner] Monogrammed Photo Box / L Tentacion moon notebook black 3 * {.:Little Stars.:} * Teddy - Tea Party - Macarons Tray 8 * {.:Little Stars.:} * Teddy - Tea Party - Teacup - Blue * {.:Little Stars.:} * Teddy - Tea Party - Teacup - Pink (Cauliflower) nani - cherry bloom - labrador C-2 [rez] Tentacion morning coffee

[cloxieart]

Labrador Retriever Owner Sweatshirt

A gorgeous hand-drawn portrait of a beautiful Labrador Retriever. Professionally printed onto a soft, crisp Sweatshirt . Fast shipping. Show your love by buying this Labrador Retriever Sweatshirt today. Gildan 18000 unisex heavy blend crewneck sweatshirt Medium-heavy fabric 50% cotton and 50% polyester Classic fit Crew neck Double-needle stitching at shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband and cuff…

[margo-weatherwax]

Observations from tonight's bike ride:

- an orange cat lounging on an old sweatshirt on a porch.

- a young man teaching a young lady to dance to country music under a bridge. She spun in and out as they laughed together to "Chicken fried."

- a middle aged man in jean shorts and white socks watching a black dog poop. From behind, the dog looked like a Labrador, but when he turned around he had a mustache.

- a woman walking a young German shepherd with those pert German shepherd ears. The dog looked at us with interest but stayed by her side.

- two youths on bicycles who swerved close to a runner but not actually close. Just summer time youth things.

[aurumons]

(via Cute Brown Labrador Retriever Puppy Dog Lover Lightweight Hoodie by aurumons) click HERE  :  Labrador Hoodie

[clositherapi-vintage]

Vintage Black Lab Raglan Sweatshirt Vintage 80's sweatshirt. Black Labrador retriever front graphic. Super soft and broken in fabric. Contrast color palette. Crew neckline. Long sleeves. Ribbed hem and cuffs.  ———————————››‹›‹‹——— details circa | 1980's label | discus athletics material | cotton + polyester ———————————››‹›‹‹——— measurements size | no tag fits like | large  chest | 52 inches length | 27 inches ———————————››‹›‹‹——— condition very good + fabric shows some gentle wear + cuffs show general wear http://nemb.it/p/eGwMs4KU3

[raglan-rose]

Design featuring Black Labrador Retriever, as he watches the sunset on an Irish beach in County Donegal. Available on a white De range of Clothing for men & women, Art, Home Decor, Gifts and much more.

Check my shop for full product range, colours and sizes and many more designs.

[fruitcoops]

Compare and Contrast

Hey folks! This doesn’t go along with an ask, but it’s a tiktok based on the “normal people vs. ___” trend that was just too cute! Sweater Weather credit goes to @lumosinlove <3

TW for dogs

Wind partially muffled Lily’s voice as she started the video and waved to the camera. “Hey, everyone! I’m Lily Potter and I’m here today to do a quick comparison video that I think you’ll enjoy. So, over here we have normal people with dogs…”

She flipped the camera and a red Labrador came into view, leaning against Kasey Winter’s legs as he petted her gently and chatted with the owner. “Oh, thank you, gorgeous,” he cooed when the puppy licked his hand.

“And over here we have my husband and his friends,” Lily said as she turned to the side.

James’ face was completely buried in a massive golden retriever’s fur as it wiggled with pure excitement and snuffled around in his hair, knocking him halfway over. Sirius was flat on his back in the grass, talking to a tiny black puppy in excited French and laughing when it started digging in his sweatshirt. Remus had a full-grown border collie curled up in his lap and it desperately attempted to lick his face as he snuggled it with a beaming smile.

“You guys got permission to absorb these people’s dogs, right?” Lily asked behind the camera.

James shot her an offended look over the ball of fluff in his arms. “Of course we did!”

“They’re loving this,” a young man with a leash in his hand laughed. “Margo is going to want to come back here every single day now.”

“Margo? C’est votre prénom?” Sirius scrunched his nose as Margo trotted up his chest to cover his face in kisses. “Merci, Margo, je t’aime.”

Remus mumbled something into the border collie’s thick ruff of fur on its neck. “What was that, Re?” Lily asked, sounding amused.

“I love him,” Remus repeated, slightly louder; he raised his head and placed a tiny kiss to the dog’s ear. “I would take you home with me, but I think your mom would protest. Yes, baby, I think so.”

Lily shook her head with a fond smile as she flipped the camera back to her face. “Drop a comment about whether you’re normal or…whatever that was! Go Lions!”

[fretshirt-com-blog]

Everyone enjoys a spoof movie poster, especially when it's a horror film, made cute with a lovely dog.

So here's Paws as drawn by our in house artist.

https://fretshirt.com/search?q=paws

Available as t-shirt, hoodie & sweatshirt

[metalheadcowboy]

Currently thinking about trans Tommy. More specifically, Steve "accidentally" leaving his clothes at Tommy's house when he's over so Tommy can wear them. Mainly because Steve just wants to help Tommy out, but also because Steve can be a bit possessive and he likes seeing the other boy in his clothes.

YES,,, especially when Tommy was pre-everything.

Steve is the first person Tommy comes out to, and he does it so non-nonchalantly as well.

See, every Sunday morning since Steve got his license they would go to the diner just outside of town together and get some breakfast. One, because Steve wanted an excuse to escape the dreaded Sunday morning church service his parents went to regularly and Tommy tagged along simply because Steve didn't want to go alone and he enjoyed the guys company. Of course he did they had been best friends since kindergarten.

Anyways, it's a cool winter morning when Tommy breaks the news to Steve in a not so direct way while chewing on his scrambled eggs.

"You ever think you might be a girl?" And Steve gives him the craziest look, a look that quickly makes the freckled boy feel stupid and weird, abnormal. Before Steve even has time to say anything back he speaks again, "Never mind, that was a stupid question."

Then they go back to their regular conversation like nothing ever happened until Steve ends up being the one to bring it back up, "You ever think you might be a guy?" he asks seriously, taking the time to look at his friend across the booth.

Tommy just shrugs, freckles standing out atop burning red skin, "Maybe, sometimes, I don't know. I mean, I guess so, but it's stupid." Suddenly Steve's hand is atop his own, causing him to stop all movement.

"I don't think it's 'stupid'." He speaks and that's kind of it, that's how they leave it for a while, in kind of a grey area between 'what was that all about' and 'I know exactly what that was about but I don't want to question it further'

But on the way out Steve gives Tommy his heavy, navy blue winter coat, draped it over his shoulders with a small, satisfied smile and Tommy thinks the other boy understands.

After that it just kind of snowballs. From Steve 'accidentally' forgetting to take the jacket back when he drops Tommy back off at his house, to leaving sweatshirts at his place, to seeing the way Tommy eye's his pastel Polo's and intentionally leaving them on the back of his desk chair.

It takes Tommy a while to catch on, but even after he does he doesn't say anything, just wears the articles of clothing with pride, even if he gets a few weird stares whether it be because it's obviously one of Steve's items of clothes like his 'Hawkins Swim Team' crew neck or the baby blue and royal blue striped Polo with his initials in small print on the breast. Or because he's wearing more masculine clothes. But he doesn't mind it because the face Steve gives him is 100x more powerful than any other negative expression. The way the brunette's eyes go all soft and his smile gets really wide almost makes him look like a Labrador Retriever in the best way possible.

And eventually Tommy starts getting his own stuff. Once he's out and given his parents time to adjust he gets hand-me-downs from his older brother, so he doesn't need Steve's stuff anymore. And it almost makes Steve sad, no, it does make Steve sad, but also happy that Tommy doesn't have to wear his old, more feminine clothes anymore.

Though, seeing him show up in a yellow and purple striped Polo not owned by him does make him a little jealous, even if it's only his older brothers he can't help but feel his stomach twist in jealousy.

So he starts to be more obvious about it, offering Tommy his sweatshirts when one of their classrooms is a little colder than usual, or offering Tommy a fresh t-shirt after gym so he doesn't put the same sweaty one back on after showering.

And after they start dating it gets even more intense. Steve will make sure to wear the shirt in advance to giving it to Tommy. Loving the way that it smells of himself whenever he leans in to playfully nip and kiss at the freckled boy neck. Loving the way that Tommy's curves feel so different to his own under the same shirt.

And, yeah, he does it to help the guy out at first, then it just becomes a possessive thing :)

[cloxieart]

Labrador Retriever Owner Gift Sweatshirt

A gorgeous hand-drawn portrait of a beautiful Labrador Retriever. Professionally printed onto a soft, crisp Sweatshirt . Fast shipping. Show your love by buying this Labrador Retriever Sweatshirt today. Gildan 18000 unisex heavy blend crewneck sweatshirt Medium-heavy fabric 50% cotton and 50% polyester Classic fit Crew neck Double-needle stitching at shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband and cuff…

[writersrealmbts]

Tangled Hearts

Description: Hybrid!ot7 x reader: You have seven hybrids and life with them can be both good and stressful. Some days are better than others, but in the end, you know that they’re always there for you, in more ways than one.

Angst/Fluff/Suggestive Stuff/SFW

Posted: 10/18/2019

Tags: poly!bts, multi, ot7, hybrid bts, Monsta X cameos

Wordcount: 22,844

A/N: Hope y’all are ready for this. It’s a long one. A really long one. And it is pretty angsty, so sorry about that, also I used Monsta X characters in this as well. I hope you guys like it since I finished it for the celebration of 2,000 followers I reached a while ago. It was also a sort of request/suggestion from months and months ago about the quirks of hybrids. I really hope this doesn’t flop like most of the rest of my works.

You woke up, frowning as you tried to figure out why, then groaning as the rapid thumping occurred above your room once again. “Kim Taehyung would you stop scaring Hoseok!” You heard rushed footsteps as Taehyung tried to get away before you could catch him in the act.

You caught him by the tail on the stairs, and dragged him back to Hoseok’s room, where the bunny-hybrid was hiding under the bed, foot thumping against the bed again. “Apologize now,” You ordered, releasing the tail and crossing your arms.

Taehyung snatched it and held onto it with a strangled sound. “But—”

“Taehyung! I would like to remind you that you were both the person who kept me up until two in the morning and the person who woke me up when the sun wasn’t up yet,” You warned. “And I swear to God if you still have whatever bug or creature you scared him with in my house I won’t get you any frogs for two weeks.”

His eyes widened, and his cute ears twitched. His gray and black ringed tail was still held in his hands. “S-sorry, Hoseokie-hyung.”

Hoseok just made a squeaking sound that was the closest he could get to coherent.

You took a deep breath. “Get whatever it is out of my house, you will be apologizing later. No frogs for a week.”

Tae slumped, but rushed out.

You crouched down and held out your hand, waiting for Hoseok to register it, then letting out an “oof” and falling on your butt as he slammed into you. “Hey, it’s okay, Hobi. I know, he frightened you. Woke you up with a snake, didn’t he?”

He nodded, his heart beating so rapidly and he was still so upset, foot thumping against the air. “Sorry. Waking. Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind being woken, I mind that it was Taehyung doing it for the fifth time. I’ll have a serious talk with him later, okay. Just breathe. You want some carrot juice this morning?”

He nodded again, finally starting to calm down.

The two of you stayed that way until he looked up at you sleepily.

“There we go,” You said softly, smiling down at him.

He relaxed completely and grinned up at you. “Better check on Seokjin-hyung. Tae was in his room first. He might kill Tae.”

You groaned. “Head downstairs. I better get everyone moving.”

He got up and nabbed a sweatshirt as he exited his room, checking the hallway before going out just in case.

You headed into Yoongi’s room, stripping the blankets from his form in one quick movement and calling for him to get up.

He groaned. “But it’s morning…”

“And you didn’t eat anything after dinner tonight and your doctor wants you to gain at least ten pounds. If you’re going to embrace being partially nocturnal, eat accordingly. You can go back to bed after you’ve had some food,” You told the mink-hybrid, ignoring the groaning and the grasping for blankets. “Don’t make me dump water on you. I already had to deal with Taehyung this morning.”

“That raccoon is going to be the death of all of us. Let me kill him first.”

“Play nice and get up. Don’t forget to make your bed.” You headed to the next room, humming softly as you entered so you wouldn’t startle Jungkook.

He rolled over and looked in your general direction. “They’re loud.”

“Sorry, pup,” You helped him get up and laid out an outfit for him. “I’ll send Jimin in to help you?”

He nodded, feeling the fabrics and starting to unbutton his pajama shirt.

You went to Jimin’s room across the hall and easily woke him with some pets and the promise of bacon if he was a good boy and helped Jungkook change. Dogs were definitely the easiest.

Namjoon was already awake, but his nose twitched and pulled out of his book to look and acknowledge you. “Morning.”

“Morning,” You replied, both aloud and with your hands, signing as well that it was time to head downstairs for breakfast.

He nodded and closed his book. He ducked and rubbed his head against your hand, then against your arm, purring as he did and heading downstairs.

You headed to the last room, noting it was open and that Jin wasn’t inside.

You hurried downstairs to find a sulky Taehyung getting a glare from the fox-hybrid.

“It was just a joke, hyung.”

“Did anyone laugh?” Jin snapped back, a growl lacing his words.

Namjoon looked at you, completely lost.

You signed “snake” and pointed at Taehyung, then Hoseok and Seokjin.

Namjoon shook his head and took a seat, hitting Taehyung’s arm. “Be nice. They’re always nice to you.”

Yoongi slunk in and dropped into a seat as well, head on his arms and snarling slightly when Hoseok bumped into him on accident. He muttered an apology that he wasn’t awake yet.

Hoseok looked more amused than anything and started poking and prodding the sleepy mink.

“Morning!” Jimin called, leading Jungkook to an empty seat.

You started throwing breakfast together: Carrots into the juicer, bacon into the frying pan, and frozen waffles into the oven. “Someone sign for Joon while we go over today’s agenda?”

“I’ll do it,” Jin agreed.

“Okay, so, we need to weed the garden and I need to go pick up more plants for it, so that’ll be two different teams. Jungkook, can you empty the dishwasher and wash the dishes from breakfast?”

“Sure,” He replied, his tail slowly thumping against the chair. He sounded nervous and determined. He emptied the dishwasher fairly regularly (you hand-washed sharp knives so that he would be safe), but didn’t usually wash the dishes that didn’t fit himself.

“Someone dry the dishes for him to make sure they’re clean and refill the dishwasher. We’ll do hot-dogs and grilled vegetables for lunch, so I’ll need the veggies washed and ready for cooking when I get back from the store. I need someone to inspect the rooms before breakfast is ready—”

“I’ll do it,” Hoseok volunteered.

You nodded. “You know where the clipboard is. After lunch, we’ll rest during the hottest hours of the day, then we can head out to pick berries. Come back, eat dinner, go swimming. Sound good?”

There was a chorus of agreement from the boys.

“What’s my night-time chore?” Yoongi asked, rubbing his face.

“Clean the kitchen, eat another meal, fix the door to the shed. It’s getting stuck.”

He nodded and slumped back over.

You put his plate in front of him first since he had to have very specific portions as well as extra supplements.

Hoseok started to dart upstairs for room inspection, but you stopped him and gestured for him to eat.

Jin took over and told you to go ahead and go take a shower and get dressed since your morning routine had been disrupted yet again.

You showered and dressed, made your bed (which wasn’t that hard since you barely got to sleep in it), and went back out to find all of them gaping as Taehyung stared bleakly at the waffle he had impulsively “washed” in the sink.

“It’s alright, I put extras in the oven. Here, wash an apple,” You intervened, smiling gently and opening his hands, putting the fruit in instead. That was why you had a garbage disposal installed.

He washed the apple thoroughly, then hurried back to his seat where Jin had put waffles and bacon, buttering the waffles for Tae so that he wouldn’t be tempted to try and wash them again.

Namjoon patted Taehyung on the shoulder. “It’s okay. We all do strange things.”

“Jungkook, you’re about to put your hand in the syrup,” You warned, guiding his hands to the silverware and then taking over from Jin so that he could eat since they all ate twice as much as you and you honestly just had a smoothie in the morning lately. Strawberries, blueberries and banana with orange juice and some protein powder and you were good to go. Though Jungkook always insisted on smelling your breath. It was weird, but no weirder than when Jimin would lick you when you had worked up a sweat.

Speak of the devil, he was giving you the side-eye, an evil grin on his face. “No boyfriend today? It’s been a while.”

It had, but the last time your boyfriend had been over had been…disastrous. They had all behaved like little monsters and it took you four hours to clean the house afterward.

“Well, I have these hybrids that don’t know how to behave when I have company over,” You replied, giving him the eye. “My trash-panda trashed the house with the help of my normally sweet and loving Labrador. My sweet kitty pretended that nothing existed if he couldn’t hear it, and he can’t hear anything. My Malamute decided that he was going to be hostile. The mink I so lovingly rescued absolutely demolished my couch and my fox ran away and hid. And my bunny, my sweet, lovely clean bunny, decided to come down with a sickness that doesn’t actually exist and scare the bejeebers out of me. So no, my boyfriend won’t be coming here until you all learn to behave better around strangers. Which is why after we’re done swimming tonight, I’m going to his place.”

They all froze, staring at you.

Then they started protesting all at once.

“He scared me! I can’t see him and the smells were all over the place! But you can’t go there! What if he’s a serial killer?”

“What if his hybrids attack you?”

“It was a good book!”

“Yoongi started it!”

“I am not a trash-panda!”

“I really didn’t feel good!”

“I am always sweet and loving!”

You rolled your eyes.

“They could hurt you!” Yoongi added as they all started to quiet down.

“They haven’t hurt me before,” You countered. “And I work with my boyfriend, we go through a ton of different background checks. If he is a serial killer, he’s a very good one if he can pass those tests and have hybrids trust him. Now, who’s coming with me to the store?”

Namjoon raised his hand quickly, reading your lips.

The others raised theirs a split second after, but you were pretty sure Jimin had been first.

“So, Namjoon and Jimin. Yoongi, enjoy your nap. Taehyung, you help Jungkook. Hoseok, and Jin, get to work in the garden?”

Taehyung perked up at the prospect of not weeding right away with the others. “Yes, ma’am!”

The others nodded their agreement.

You nodded. “Let me do my makeup. Brush your teeth and get your shoes on.”

“Okay!” Jimin signed the instructions to Joon, then hurried upstairs.

Jungkook looked slightly nervous with Jimin leaving his side, but he’d been getting better about it with every week he lived with you. He trusted the others now, especially Hoseok, Seokjin, and Namjoon. He was still a little jumpy around Yoongi and Taehyung, the latter of which tended toward spontaneous sounds and actions that Jungkook couldn’t see coming.

You tried to push him as much as possible, gave him more responsibilities, brought him into new situations, and reminded him to use his other senses. He’d relied on Jimin for years, unable to do anything else because he was told constantly that he wasn’t able to in his former situation. It was hard to get Jimin to not protect and care for Jungkook.

Then there was Namjoon, who’d been in an accident with his former owner, the result of which left him deaf and abandoned by his owner’s family. The betrayal had left him so broken, and yet your little kitty had quickly warmed up to you as you taught him again how to use sign language and worked with him on reading lips. He’d been with you longest.

Jin was your most recent addition to your household, and he’d been with you for two and a half months now.

“Y/n, are you sure…” Hoseok started, setting the clipboard down. “Are you sure that you’re happy with your boyfriend? You never seem happy when you come back from hanging out with him. And his hybrid’s scent…I know it really bugs Jungkook, and Yoongi…and Namjoon. Especially Namjoon.”

You looked over the room inspection sheets, not surprised by Hoseok’s findings. “I take care of all of you all day, I organize your days, I make sure you all eat properly, and I try to love you all as much as I’m able to. My relationship isn’t perfect. I know that. But…” You sighed as you struggled for the words to say what you needed to.

“You…need to get away from us?”

Your eyes widened. “No! I just…I need someone to take care of me sometimes. I would never try to burden you all with my problems. You all have so many of your own, and sometimes there are things that I just can’t share with you guys. Well, I could tell Namjoon as long as he wasn’t looking at me.” You ran a hand through your hair, feeling even more frazzled. This day was not going as you planned.

Hoseok was tugging on one of his ears, thoughtful but sad. “I understand.”

You looked over his face. “Do you?”

He met your gaze, then looked down. “I think so.” He leaned forward and nuzzled your shoulder affectionately.

You quickly welcomed his affection, kissing his temple and stroking his hair.

“We’re…ready…” Jimin announced, looking worriedly between you and Hoseok.

Namjoon came over and pet the bunny’s head, gaining Hoseok’s attention before signing something over your shoulder.

Hoseok nodded and pulled away. “I’ll go make sure Taehyung doesn’t get Jungkook hurt.”

“He’s not completely irresponsible,” Jimin pointed out.

“He had a snake in my house, he’s not entirely responsible either,” You argued, folding your arms. “Thank you, Hobi. Also, could you check on Jin. He seemed…quiet.”

“That is a problem.” Hoseok hurried off to find the eldest.

Namjoon hugged you from behind, nosing at your hairline so lightly it sent chills up your spine. “We’re ready when you are.”

You nodded, grabbing your purse and extricating yourself. You looked through and then groaned. “Who took my keys?” You yelled.

You heard a lot of scampering sounds from multiple offenders as they hastily retreated in different directions.

“Y/n?” Jimin said hesitantly.

You took a deep breath and then dropped your purse. “I’m going back to bed. One of you get the keys back. We’ll get groceries tomorrow. Tell everyone lunch is whatever the hell they can scrounge up.” You headed upstairs, ignoring Jimin’s whimpers and Namjoon’s worried and confused call of your name.

Yoongi’s head snapped up guiltily as you came into your room.

You marched over and grabbed your pillow and favorite blanket and marched back out, ignoring his inquisitive looks.

You went down the hall to Jin’s room, going in since you knew he’d already taken off for the garden and curling up in his bed. You pulled the covers over your head, hugged your blanket and pressed your face into it to release the scream of frustration and anxiety that the day had already brought you.

It wasn’t even 8:30.

They left you alone, Jin only slipping in a few hours later, sitting on the edge of the bed and petting your back through the blankets before leaving you alone again.

It was around 11:30 that Jungkook came.

“Y-y/n? Um…Jin-hyung and Yoongi-hyung made us lunch…do you���want someone to bring you something?”

“I’m not hungry,” You replied softly, cursing your voice for wobbling.

“Oh…okay…” His footsteps retreated hesitantly, a whine evident in his voice.

You pushed your face into the pillows, reaching for your phone in your pocket only to realize it wasn’t there. You’d managed to nap in between the bouts of frustrated tears.

But now you were angry, because there were only two that could have taken it.

You got up, roughly making the bed before going downstairs. “Jung Hoseok, if you or Namjoon have my phone, you need to give it back right now.”

Hoseok looked startled. “I don’t have it, y/n.”

Jimin had translated for Namjoon, and the way he seemed to get interested in the food on his plate said it all.

All of them shrunk away from you.

You took a deep breath, trying desperately not to have a meltdown on them. “Why?”

Namjoon seemed to be shrinking by the second, despite not knowing what you asked.

“Y-y/n?” Yoongi said, looking nervous. “I…I’m sorry I took your keys.”

“Why did you take them? You knew I was going to the store. We just discussed it.” Your eyes were tearing up, and it made you even more upset because you didn’t want to cry. You were angry.

“Because we could live without groceries, but I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving us tonight to go visit that stinking—”

“Yoongi,” Hoseok hissed, punching the mink.

Adding hurt to your list of feelings, you knocked on the counter in front of Namjoon.

He finally peeked up at you, then pulled out your phone from his pocket.

You signed “why”.

His gaze dropped back to the counter. “I just…I wanted to know what he talked about that was so special….”

“Happy with what you found?” You asked aloud as he glanced up at you. You shook your head and looked away from him and Yoongi. “I am beyond frustrated right now. Do you think it’s easy taking care of all of you? Doing all of this, and working? Can’t you guys just make some days a little easier? Maybe follow the rules for once, or eat of your own volition? Maybe try not to destroy what little bit of sanity I manage to maintain on bad days? Maybe stop antagonizing me over trying to have some sort of love life?”

It wasn’t fair to some of them. It wasn’t fair for them to be getting these words when they had done nothing wrong.

But you were crying now and the words just didn’t want to stop.

But you had to stop them, so with a choked sob, you turned and fled back upstairs, locking your bedroom door and pulling the dresser in front of it for good measure.

You left your phone down there again.

You stripped the sheets because they were covered in mink and malamute fur, quickly remaking your bed before sliding between the taught blankets and sheets, hugging one of the extra pillows. You shouldn’t have gone downstairs while you were angry. They were all in various stages of recovery, and outbursts like this were the equivalent of two steps forward and five steps back.

“Y/n?” Jimin called through the door, voice wavering. “Please let me in. Please?”

You squeezed your eyes shut.

“It’s okay, y/n. They know they messed up. No one is mad at you, or hurt. Well, you’re hurt, so please let me in?” His voice became plaintive, stronger now and yet still soft.

You would probably regret it.

But you moved the dresser and unlocked the door.

He slipped in, growling at whoever tried to follow him and locking it again. He pulled the dresser in front of the door for you and then turned and opened his arms.

You hugged him as tightly as you dared, and he hugged you back. “I’m doing everything wrong.”

“No you’re not.”

“Then why doesn’t anything ever go right? Why am I so toxic?”

“You’re not toxic, y/n,” He quickly corrects you, thumbs on your lips to keep you quiet so he could talk to you. “You’re not. It’s just…a bad day. It started out on the wrong foot, and then someone greased the floor.”

You snorted, recognizing your own words. You’d said them to him a few months back, the day after Jin had arrived and Jungkook was struggling and Jimin had a bad day that he accidentally took out on Jin.

He smiled, then pressed five kisses all long your forehead before carefully kissing/licking the tears from your cheeks. “You know, Yoongi felt so bad about it once he realized why you were…initially upset that he ate a whole lot. Because he knew that if you were mad at him, you’d at least be happy that he ate a proper meal. Even if he is disrupting his natural sleep-cycle.”

You groaned. “Oh god, he’s going to be a zombie until we get him back on his schedule again.”

He quickly shushed you. “Don’t worry about that.”

You kept bonking your head on his shoulder. “How can I not?”

He chuckled. “See, this is why you’re perfect. Even when you’re mad at us, you still worry about us.” He nuzzled into your hair.

You heard a car door and flinched. “What was that?”

He looked just as bewildered as you, but went to the window. “Uh oh.”

More car doors.

“What uh oh?”

“I better go tackle Yoongi. Your boyfriend is here. And he brought his hybrids.”

You felt your heart drop to your stomach and you and Jimin rushed downstairs to prevent bloodshed.

The boys all looked warily out the front windows through the blinds.

You rushed to the front door and outside, hearing protests from Yoongi and Jungkook (who heard the front door open) and ignoring them as you rushed up to your boyfriend. “What are you doing here?”

He smiled down at you. “Wow, some greeting. Hi to you too.”

“Hi, what are you doing here? And with your hybrids? Are you trying to get someone hurt?”

“Look, the only way they’re going to accept me is if they know everything about me, including my hybrids. I told them to be on their best behavior, so don’t worry.”

“You do remember what happened the last time you were here, right? And it’s already—”

“Have you been crying?” He asked, gently wiping at your face.

His one hybrid, Jooheon, whimpered a bit. “Y/n? You smell sad and angry, and scared? Is everything okay?”

You groaned. “I’m fine, it’s just a bad day here. Which is why this is an especially bad day for you all to be here.”

He folded his arms. “Are you sure it’s not just an excuse?”

“Excuse me?” You folded your arms.

“Are you sure you’re not just using your hybrids as an excuse to push me away?”

“Y/n!” Yoongi called out in a growl.

You closed your eyes. “Do you really think you’re not already in enough trouble?” You asked, turning to look at him.

He nodded toward the house. “Jin-hyung’s having one of his attacks.”

“I swear to god if you’re bluffing I’m gonna wring your furry tail,” You warned, hurrying inside, your boyfriend only steps behind.

Jin was spasming on the ground, definitely having a seizure.

“What’s wrong with him?” Wonho, one of your boyfriend’s other hybrids, asked softly as you and Shownu rolled Jin onto his side as the spasms stopped.

Shownu checked his pulse, watching his watch while you timed how long it took Jin to start to come out of it.

“What’s going on?” Jungkook asked worriedly.

“He’s out of the seizure, we’re just waiting for him to recover,” Shownu answered.

You saw Jungkook shrink away more. “Jungkook, Hoseok, could you go make sure Jin’s bed is ready for him? He’ll want to rest. Yoongi, Taehyung, take Namjoon into the backyard. I’ll send Hoseok out to get you when you can come in.”

There was some hesitance from all of them, but slowly they murmured their assent and left.

Jimin crouched beside you, glancing sidelong at you as if he would see the explanation.

You just shook your head slightly. You should have known Jin would have a seizure. You’d suspected he wasn’t okay that morning. But no. You were so self-centered that you neglected one of your main duties as caretaker of all of them.

Shownu met your gaze as you looked away from Jin, and sort of held onto it. “So…really bad timing?”

“The worst,” You agreed, sighing in relief as Jin started to come out of it. “You should back off so he doesn’t freak out.”

He backed away, waving his hybrids closer to the front door.

Hoseok came back with a blanket, one of Jin’s. “For the smell.”

You nodded, carefully tucking it under his head. “When he’s recovered enough, can the two of you help him to bed?”

They both nodded, but Jimin caught your wrist.

“You couldn’t have prevented it,” He reminded you.

“But I should have seen it coming. It’s my job to see it coming.” You pulled out of his grasp and headed past your boyfriend and outside.

His hybrids went and got into his van, but he stayed beside you. “They’ll never accept me.”

“We don’t know that—”

“Yes, we do. I do. I get it now.”

“Please don’t do this to me today,” You whispered.

He nodded, turning and pulling you into a hug. “Okay. But how much longer are we going to keep kidding ourselves?”

“You can break up with me tomorrow. Just…leave it for today.”

“I…still need a date for the wedding this Saturday. Why don’t we call that our last night? End it on a high note?”

You nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, okay.”

“And I’ll still be around if you need me. We work together, after all. It would be awkward if we…”

“Yeah. Might take a while.”

He nodded, petting your hair a bit before heading toward his van. “Jin might want to scent you. It’s comforting to them.”

You nodded, waving as he drove off.

You went back inside after a few minutes to try and compose yourself, heading upstairs to where the boys had already moved Jin.

He tiredly reached out for you and you obliged, crawling under the covers and into his arms. “Y/n.”

“You want to scent me?” You asked softly, smirking slightly has Jungkook huffed jealously.

Jin did it instead of answering, he was obviously exhausted and in a bit of pain, but his body seemed to relax a bit more as he breathed you in and covered you in his scent. His hands gently rubbed your back, and he curled around you, head in the crook of your neck. “You smell so nice now.”

“I didn’t before?”

He hummed, not committing either way.

You sighed, and ran your fingers through his hair. “What did I smell like before?”

He breahted in carefully and then seemed to press a kiss to your neck. “Anxious. And depressed.”

You let out a little scoffing breath and curled up slightly.

He wrapped around you a little more. “Are you okay?”

“We’re breaking up. After the wedding on Saturday.”

He stiffened. “What?”

You just nuzzled into his body.

“Y/n?”

“It’ll be amicable. Has to be.”

He tilted your chin up. “Don’t break up with him because of us.”

“He’s breaking up with me,” You told him. “We just aren’t the right fit.”

He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry, y/n.”

You shrugged, shivering and grabbing at the blankets. “It’s just the way things go sometimes. How are you feeling? Headache? Muscle soreness?” You rubbed your hands on his back and sides, massaging his shoulders.

“I’m just tired. A little sore.” He sat up, nose twitching. “Also restless. They’re arguing.”

You sighed. “How bad?”

“It’s pretty hushed, so I’d say it wasn’t too bad.” He sighed. “Do you…do you think that I’ll ever…fit in with them?” He whispered, sounding so sad.

“You do, you do fit in. They love you.” You pushed yourself up so that you could rest your head on his shoulder. “I love you.”

He started petting your hair. “I love you too.”

——

“Y/n? No boyfriend tonight? It’s been a while,” Jimin asked teasingly, leaning on you with his arms draped over your shoulders. “His smell isn’t on your clothes as much as it usually is.”

You ignored his questions and teasing, guiding his arms to hold you instead of dangling and blocking your view of the book you were attempting to read. It was honestly the first time you’d found any of them getting on your nerves ever since day a couple weeks ago and you were determined to just ignore it as long as you could.

“Don’t you want to go see him? Cuddle up and smooch him?” Jimin kept teasing, ignoring the grumpy looks he got from Taehyung—who preferred to be your cuddle partner if at all possible.

You sighed and started to reread the page.

“Leave her be, Jimin,” Jin said softly.

“Oh, come on! What? Are you preparing to bring him over here again?” He asked, rubbing his cheek on your hair and giggling at the way your hair tickled his face. “I know we’ll need to be on our best behavior. You could make your homemade bread, and we could clean the house really nicely. Though, no promises on enduring the mushy-gushy stuff.”

You hummed and tried to refocus on your book, shifting slightly to bear his weight more comfortably.

“I mean, at least he’s not clueless about things like how to take care of hybrids. And he makes you happy, right?”

“They broke up Jimin, leave her alone,” Jin said, shoving Jimin off of you and then cuddling up next to you in a way that prevented the others from touching you. Very protective.

They were staring now, and you heard something drop to the ground.

“Y/n…when?” Namjoon asked, coming over to stand in front of you, then crouch when you wouldn’t look at him.

You flipped back to the page you had been trying to read the whole time when you realized you hadn’t absorbed it. Again.

“After the wedding they went to together. Now leave her alone.” Jin signed it as well, then nuzzled up to you again.

“He’s pretty bossy for the new guy,” Tae muttered.

You looked up at that. “Tone.”

“Sorry,” he immediately apologized.

Namjoon looked confused, but also resigned to being out of the loop. “What happened?”

You shook your head. “It wasn’t working. We both agreed. We’re still attempting to be friends, especially since we work together. Now, can we not talk about this anymore? Guess I’m done reading. Guess I better get ready for work. Jungkook, are you still coming into the office with me?”

He nodded, scrambling to his feet and tripping over Hoseok’s legs.

Jimin caught the malamute, setting him back on his feet.

“Thanks hyung.”

Jin hummed getting up with you and holding onto you still. “Do you have to go?”

You wrapped your arms around him and hugged him tightly. “You can come too.”

He perked up. “Really?”

You nodded. You were worried about him. He’d been lethargic all week and if he was going to have a seizure, you’d rather he be with you. At least at the clinic he could get taken care of should anything go wrong. Maybe he was getting sick-sick. Besides, you had your own office and you thought it’d be nice for Jungkook to have someone from home. Like a security blanket. And you wanted to try and get Jin to bond with at least one of them a little more strongly. So far the only sign of attachment you’d noticed was both him and Yoongi finding solidarity in their need for some quiet. But Jin still struggled with sign language so he couldn’t really talk with Namjoon. Taehyung was so unpredictable and Jin so easily startled that things had been sort of touch and go. He was okay with Jimin and Hoseok but still so quiet.

But you’d noticed that he’d naturally look out for Jungkook and seemed comfortable around the Malamute, and Jungkook seemed comfortable around the fox.

Jin was bounding toward the stairs, guiding Jungkook who for the life of him couldn’t figure out how he wasn’t to the first step yet in his excitement.

“How come they get to go? Why are you playing favorites?” Taehyung asked, and you didn’t think anyone could have a more heartbroken face.

“I don’t think Jin’s feeling well and I want to be able to keep an eye on him. Besides, you get bored at my work and end up causing me trouble. You and Jimin can play video games since all of the chores are done. Someone make sure Yoongi wakes up at dinner time and eats a good meal?” You shoved a few things into your bag and headed for the front door. You were already ready for work, you just needed shoes.

“Yeah, we’ll make sure he eats,” Jimin said, following you.

So were the others.

Honestly, ever since that day a couple weeks ago, the boys had all been acting a little strange. They were more cuddly, got along better, broke the rules less….

You looked them over, noticing that Taehyung was still pouting. “Come here, trash panda.”

He made an indignant sound even as he hugged you.

“It’s not even a full shift. I’ll be home in six hours, and then I have the next two days off. We can watch that foreign film you wanted to. I do need to do some canning on one of the days, though. Hoseok, are you still taking Namjoon down to the farmer’s market?”

He nodded. “We’ve got the list of things you wanted us to see if we could get. I’m just glad we can go there without getting in trouble.”

“Take a phone with you, just in case. Mrs. Taylor said she’ll keep an eye out for you, too. Tae, release, I need to give them money.”

“How come I can’t go to the farmer’s market?” Tae pouted as he released you, watching your every movement as you pulled out your wallet and got the money you had withdrawn for the farmers market.

“Because you can’t abandon Jiminie and you know he can’t do the market.”

“I’ll take you next time, Taehyungie, I promise,” Hoseok said, lovingly hugging his younger brother.

Tae snuggled up to the older easily, pout turning into a bit of a smile.

Jimin hugged you. “I’m sorry I teased you,” He whispered. Then he was sniffing you, nose pressed against your skin.

“Jiminie?” You asked, because he sniffed you more.

He pulled back and tilted his head, brow furrowing. “What’s wrong?”

“Um…nothing, you were just getting a little zealous with the sniffing.”

“No, you smell…what do you smell?” He muttered, smelling you again. You ignored the answer your mind supplied of “depression, anxiety and residual teen angst”.

Namjoon leaned in to sniff as well, curious about what the dog was doing, and he sort of flinched back nose wrinkling.

Sure, they’d sniffed you before (especially right after showers) but…the only time they’ve ever flinched away like that was when you were rank and you really knew it (curse fitness day, and your boss for coming up with it). Or that one time when a skunk-hybrid came in and he was one of the rare ones that still had the glands that emitted that foul, foul odor. They didn’t even flinch away when you were sick.

You gently shoved Jimin away, feeling a little insecure now.

But Tae was behind you and he sniffed you too, and made a weird noise.

And Hoseok’s nose was twitching now.

Jungkook came stumbling down the stairs. “I’m rea—” He froze, nose scrunching cutely. “Y/n?”

“I’m fine. I don’t know what you guys are smelling, but I’m fine. I’m gonna be late. Seokjin! We need to leave!”

“Sorry, coming, sorry.” He came down the stair more gracefully than Jungkook, and headed straight for the door.

You took the chance to follow him out, despite the boys protesting.

“Y/n, that smell,” Namjoon said, looking worried as he caught your hand. “I don’t like it. It…it scares me.”

You rubbed your forehead. “There’s nothing I can do about it right now. I’m going to be late. If I still smell like it tonight, then I’ll go to the walk-in clinic after I drop Jin and Jungkook back here. Okay? Stay safe at the farmer’s market,” You told him, making sure to mouth it clearly as you tried to escape his hold.

He finally released, but he still looked worried.

You were climbing into the car when your phone rang with your work coming up as the contact. You groaned, expecting to get scolded or something, then quickly answered.

“Y/n? Hey, you better not come in. The skunk hybrid is back. We’ve had to close the clinic. Boss said if you can finish those files and presentation and send them in before your shift would have ended he’ll still pay you for the time you would have been here,” Shownu gagged. “Oh, no. He got Kihyun.”

“Okay, good luck.” You rubbed your forehead again, as if it would make that hint of a headache disappear. “Thanks for calling me.”

“No problem. Oh! I gotta go!” He hung up after a strange sound in the background.

“So…we’re not going?” Jungkook asked, sounding a bit disappointed.

You started the car. “Why don’t we go out for lunch and then to the park?”

“Seriously?” He perked back up and you could hear his tail thumping against the seat.

“If that sounds okay to Jin.”

“Can…we get ice cream?” Jin asked carefully.

“Sure!” You pulled out of the driveway. “And to make it up to the boys we’ll stop at the regular market and pick up some of their favorites since I have the next couple days off.” Thankfully some of their favorites were the cheapest things you could get.

“You do a lot of canning?” Jin asked.

“Oh, yeah. Same with the garden, it just helps cut costs which allows me to take care of you better. Besides, some things are better homegrown, especially for you guys. And then we get whatever else we can from the farmer’s market.”

“Didn’t your father help you get the garden started? Back when you first took in Namjoon?” Jungkook asked.

You nodded. “He did. Told me I’d need a bigger garden than I had planned, helped me figure out what to plant where, and helped me set up the indoor herb garden. I should go visit him. I just need to candy some of those peels before I go so I can trade with him.”

“Candy peels?” Jin asked, sounding lost.

You looked in the mirror and smiled. “Lemon, orange, grapefruit, a few others. If the boys manage to get strawberries I’ll candy some of those as well. I think you’d like those.”

“You don’t make that much at the clinic, do you?”

You shrugged. “Enough to set some aside into savings. Besides, Hoseok had so much crap given to him when he was little that if he has too much he gets sick, and Yoongi basically lived off of what he could find to eat in the forest. I lived this way with my parents too. Plants grow. Might as well use what nature is growing for us.” Plus when you started you definitely weren’t able to put any into savings, and you still had that slight fear that it would happen again. Especially with so many hybrids. You had a better paying job now, at the clinic, but you still sometimes dreamed that you couldn’t afford proper meals for you or your hybrids and had to call your dad to bail you out. Again. And of course your dad was always angry in the dreams, even though you didn’t think he knew how to be angry in real life. He’d turned really zen after he started keeping bees.

He hummed thoughtfully. “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten that you’ve foraged?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Your weird and my weird are probably very different.”

“Okay, something you think Jungkook would think is weird.”

You shrugged again. “Nettles.”

It was very quiet, and your head decided to remind you that it was resolved to develop a headache.

“How?” Jungkook asked breathily, sounding horrified.

“I mean, if you prepare them properly they don’t hurt you. I would only eat them as a last resort though.”

“Okay, what’s the weirdest preserve you’ve ever made?” Jin asked, sounding more comfortable asking questions.

Your mind glossed over all of the things you made from the time you could remember to today. “Um, maybe the Queen Anne’s lace jelly. It was good, but strange.” You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment at the red light. It’d been a long time since your breakfast at 5 a.m. and your stomach was really telling you about it.

“So all those canned goods we were using up in March and April were things you preserved?”

“Yeah, and weren’t they so good?” Jungkook asked, grinning. “I really like her pickled carrots.”

“That’s because you should have been born a bunny instead of a dog.”

Jin laughed, and it was a wonderful sound that had Jungkook laughing as well.

You pulled into the parking lot, feeling…weirdly shaky. You slowly pressed on the brake.

“Y/n? What’s wrong?”

You stared at the steering wheel, then shakily reached over and put the vehicle in park as your vision went wonky. “Can’t…need to park…”

“That smell,” Jungkook whimpered again. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Y/n?” Jin climbed over the console and cupped your face in his hands. “Her heartbeat is really fast…and I don’t think she was sweating this much at home.”

Someone behind you honked.

Your headache was getting much worse now.

“Can you pull into that parking space?” Jin asked.

You looked at it, and you knew you could, but you also didn’t know how you could. “Not okay.” You’d never felt like this before.

Jin disappeared again just before you closed your eyes, but Jungkook very quickly took his place, fumbling to find you and then nuzzling up to you.

Your door opened and you heard Jin talking to someone, but your vision swam when you opened your eyes and you were shaking more than you did when you were shivering from the cold. It was tremors, tiny but so widespread that you felt you wouldn’t be able to even pick up your phone.

You knew you faded in and out, remembered Jin murmuring that you fainted again, probably telling Jungkook, who was whimpering every time you came to.

“See, she’s looking better already,” Someone really cheerful said nearby.

“Actually, I can’t,” Jungkook answered dryly.

“Don’t be rude,” You murmured, rubbing your eyes and looking around you. “Um?”

“Don’t worry, your blood sugar got a little low. We’re running tests to see what could have caused it. When did you last eat?” The nurse said, and you could see now that you were in some sort of medical facility.

“Uh…about five this morning? How did I get here?” You sat up, despite her coming towards you to hold you down. You definitely felt better than before. “What happened?”

“You fainted after your blood sugar dropped, someone at the restaurant called an ambulance and we got you here as quickly as possible. You’re very lucky it wasn’t something worse.”

You frowned, looking over to Jin and Jungkook.

Jungkook seemed to share your opinion about the overly cheerful nurse, but he stayed beside Jin, one hand clutching jin’s shirt. You were sure he was probably terrified.

Jin looked relatively calm, comparatively. “When will she be released?”

“As soon as we know she’s stable, and the doctor gives her the okay. I’ll go see how we’re doing on those tests,” She gave you a smile that was just a touch too big and exited.

Jungkook darted over and was wrapped around you in a couple seconds, licking your cheek in his stress. “We didn’t tell the others yet. The doctor said you’d be okay and Jin said you’d probably want them to stay home and the only way to keep them there was to not call them. Because I know if we told them, they’d all come here and they barely let us in. She’s not happy about us being here but the others said it was fine and that you’d probably recover better with us here.”

You curled into his strong arms. He’d taken to working out about a month before you took in Jin, saying that if he was going to be unable to see things he might as well be strong enough to take care of anything else that came at him and you were proud of him for it. Even if he hadn’t shown any other signs of stepping out of his comfort zone or detaching from Jimin as much. Hybrids were naturally pretty strong, having slightly higher metabolisms and energy that led them to exercise.

“Sorry about lunch,” You murmured, lovingly rubbing your nose against his jaw.

He smiled softly, and a hand came to find your face before he pressed a careful kiss to your forehead. “I’m just happy you’re okay. That smell is gone now, too.”

Jin climbed onto the foot of the bed, sitting attentively.

“They’re going to know the moment we walk in. Oh, crap, the car!”

“It’s in a parking spot at the restaurant. Will you even be allowed to drive?”

“I better,” You moaned. “I’m going to have to ask someone to take us there.” Which meant either calling your father, or your ex.

Jin handed you your phone.

You sighed, staring at the screen for a second, and then texting Shownu to call you if he wasn’t busy. “I don’t even know when I’m getting released. I just want to go home. And eat something. I’m still hungry.”

Jungkook pressed another kiss to your forehead, then your temple, then your cheek. So soft and careful.

You smiled at him even if he couldn’t see it.

Then your phone was buzzing as the call came in.

“Hey, Shownu,” You murmured.

“Y/n? What’s up?” He sounded worried.

“Um, first, how are things at the clinic?”

“Fine, we got it mostly cleaned up. I managed to avoid it, and all of the hybrids that were hit are…still bathing. What’s wrong?”

“So, I’m okay, but I’m sort of at the hospital. It’s nothing serious, I just fainted because of low blood sugar or something, but my car is at this restaurant and—”

“Whoa, back up! Low blood sugar? Hospital? Y/n, what happened?”

“I’m not really sure. I was taking Jungkook and Jin out to lunch because the others were acting weird and I was already in my car to come to work when you called last time and I just didn’t want to deal with it, so I drove to the restaurant but my head was hurting and my vision went all wonky and I knew I needed to pull into the parking space but I couldn’t figure out how to do it, and I was shaking, and then I guess I fainted or something and I woke up here, and I’m going to get discharged eventually and I need my car but it’s on the other side of town and my dad lives two hours away.” You sighed, leaning onto Jungkook again. “You’re only person I knew I could call.”

“Are you going to be allowed to drive?” He asked.

“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to? The nurse seemed pretty convinced that I was fine.”

“Okay. I’ll bring Wonho just in case you can’t.”

“That’s right, he got certified to drive…I should look into that for one of the boys.”

Jin looked away from you, ears turning red.

You arched an eyebrow and then listened to the quiet on the other end for a second. “Are you sure you okay doing that?”

“Yeah, y/n. I’m sure. We’re…friends. I care about you. Even if we’re not dating. Even if you’re clueless.”

“Hey now, don’t insult someone in the hospital.”

“Which hybrids were with you?”

“Jungkook and Jin.”

“Alright. I’ll be there in about half an hour.” He hung up after you thanked him again.

Jungkook huffed slightly, sniffing your hair.

You looked over at Jin. “What was that about?”

“Oh, um, I finished the first part of the certification…” He looked at the ceiling. “But then the seizures started.” Being a hybrid made the process twice as difficult, but a hybrid with epilepsy? Out of the question.

“It’s okay, Jinnie. It’s a thought for later anyway. Have to budget for it.” And then decide who was the best choice for it. You thought Hoseok would be a good choice.

“Alright!” A doctor came in with that, making both hybrids jump.

Jungkook’s grip on you tightened.

“Whoops, sorry, forgot to knock. So, we ran some blood tests and it looks like it was hypoglycemia. It causes your glucose levels to drop to low and can result in various symptoms, such as blurred vision, vision changes, dizziness, lightheadedness, shakiness, fatigue, weakness, rapid or pounding heartbeat, excessive perspiring, headaches, nausea, hunger, anxiety, irritability, or confusion.” He looked over a chart as he listed the symptoms.

“Sounds familiar,” You murmured.

“Indeed. Now, we’re looking into the causes but from your bloodwork I’m going to guess it’s hypothyroidism.”

“My mom had that,” You replied, mostly hoping he wouldn’t try to go into excessive explanation. “Well, she had Hashimoto’s.”

He nodded. “Alright, I’ll order another test. Hopefully we can catch it if that’s what it is. But otherwise, I’m going to have you finish that I.V. and then give you a prescription for a low level thyroid medication. You’ll have to follow up with your physician to see how the medicine is doing and to check your thyroid again. As for the hypoglycemia, try to eat very regularly. Maybe five small meals instead of three a day. If you can’t do that, then carry around some snacks or drinks with high carbohydrates: bread, rice, cereal, fruits, juice, or milk. Eat when you’re hungry. And pay attention to what your hybrids say, then can smell when the chemical balance in your body changes and can alert you to lowering blood glucose.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

He nodded and headed back out.

Both boys were quiet.

Shownu got there just as they removed the I.V. He stayed back, quiet as well. He didn’t say much other than a quick hello to all of you.

When you finally were released from the hospital, you followed him to his car.

Wonho sat on the roof but he dropped to the ground and gave you a smile, patting your head. “Glad you’re okay.”

You nodded, then made to climb into the backseat but the boys took it and left the passenger seat. They had picked up some food for you and the boys as well.

Halfway to the restaurant, Shownu sighed. “Your other hybrids don’t know?”

“Not yet. Didn’t want them trying to get to the hospital.”

“Are you cleared to drive?” He asked, but then he glanced at you. “Nevermind. You still look exhausted. Just let us drive you back. Otherwise I’ll worry.” Too kind. You had liked him because of how kind he was. But the two of you were just…wrong for each other. It wasn’t a good fit. You may never know why.

“I’d appreciate it,” You replied softly, leaning your head against the window.

You must have dozed off because you woke up to Wonho carrying you inside.

The other boys were standing around worriedly, waiting to get to you.

You rubbed your eyes as you were set on the couch. “Thanks, Wonho.”

He gave you a pinched smile. “Shownu said not to forget the project for work.”

“Right, I’ll get that submitted. Thank him again for me? And say hi to the other boys?”

He nodded and headed back toward the door after nodding to the boys and whispering something to Jin, who was at the entrance of the living room, far away from the others.

Probably because Yoongi looked livid.

Jungkook was wrapped in Jimin’s arms.

The front door closed and there was a ten second silence that followed, broken by Yoongi’s growl.

Feral and furious.

You met his glare calmly. “Yes, Yoongi? Would you like to comment on the fact that something happened that was out of my control? Or was it the fact that I had to ask Shownu for help since I couldn’t very well ask any of you?”

A snarl. Too upset to speak.

“Or maybe it’s because neither Jin nor Jungkook told you all that I ended up at the hospital, since they knew it was a bad idea? Or maybe you’re mad because I left even though I didn’t have to go to work?”

A hiss. So you were still wrong.

“Okay, then it must be the fact that my ex-boyfriend and I broke up because he knew my hybrids wouldn’t accept him. Now, I’m still not sure why he got that impression, perhaps you’d like to enlighten me?”

He looked shocked.

You arched an eyebrow at him. “You didn’t know. Now you do. Care to guess?”

None of the others were looking at you now. Even Jungkook was facing away.

Namjoon was angled so he could still read your lips but it didn’t look like he was looking.

Yoongi slowly came over and sat beside you.

You waited silently.

“What did the doctors say was wrong with you?” He finally asked.

“They think I have thyroid issues that caused me to get non-diabetic hypoglycemia. I just need to make sure I eat regularly, and carry snacks around. Once the tests come back, they’ll decide if I need a prescription for thyroid medicine. He thought the smell you guys caught was actually an indicator that my blood sugar dropped, so if you smell it again I should eat.” You were glad the question game had worked. You’d found that if you threw questions at Yoongi when he was upset beyond the point of words he would calm down enough to work through what was bugging him. And it also gave him an idea of your thoughts on the matters, things you thought he might be upset about but would upset you if discussed.

Hoseok always murmured that it scared him, because the first couple times he thought you and Yoongi would get extremely hostile with one another, but now it just made him uncomfortable because it wasn’t the tactic for him and he knew it worked exceptionally well for Yoongi.

Yoongi turned his head slightly your way.

You stroked his head, then his ears, smiling as he flopped onto your lap, curled up. You stroked his back. “I’m okay, Yoongi. Just a little tired. Not tired enough that I won’t wring the tails of anyone who snapped at Jin or Jungkook.” You grabbed his tail.

The sound that came out of his mouth was a clear indication that he had, in fact, snapped at one or both of them.

You squeezed slightly.

He flipped over. “No, no, no. I’m sorry! It just scared me to see you like that!”

You let his tail run through your fingers. “Apologize to those you snapped at.”

He pouted.

“Properly,” You added, for good measure.

He deflated and rolled off of your lap, trudging over to Jin with a bowed head. “I apologize for snapping at you. I regret that I jumped to the conclusion that you didn’t look out for y/n like we would, and I’m sorry for saying that. I know you looked out for her, otherwise Jungkookie-ah would be mad at you too. You probably handled it better than I would have.”

Jin just dipped his head slightly.

You bit your lip, looking away and meeting Namjoon’s steady gaze.

He signed he was glad you were okay, then he glanced over at Jin and Yoongi before nodding to you and heading over. He took Jin’s hand. “Oh, hyung, could I sleep with you tonight?”

Jin brightened up slightly and he nodded.

Yoongi trudged back to you as they headed upstairs. “I don’t think Seokjin-hyung likes me.”

“I think he’s shy,” You replied. “But I did expect him to integrate more by now. Did I miss something?”

“I’m…I’m not really sure how to approach him,” Taehyung said, quickly cuddling up on your other side. “I scared him last time. Actually, I’ve scared him every time.”

Jimin was rubbing his hands together, staring at them while Jungkook clung to him instead. “And I didn’t want to scare him with my hugs. I remember what you told us about his other home.”

“Jimin, he loves hugs. Taehyung, he loves hugs. Yes, he is easily startled, but he’s also very strong. It’s hard for him. You all had been together for at least a year when he came here, most of you longer.”

“He has big shoulders,” Jungkook murmured, smiling a bit. “He let me hide behind him at the hospital. He knew a lot too.”

“I try to always tell him that his cooking is good,” Hoseok said, looking guilty with his long ears fully back against his head and neck.

You sighed. “So you do want him to stay?”

They all regarded you with looks of surprise.

Jungkook looked panicked. “Why wouldn’t he stay? He’s staying, right?”

“Of course he’s staying,” Yoongi growled, but then he sighed. “We just have to make sure he wants to stay. The first month we couldn’t help, he was in and out of the clinic because of his seizures and he barely was awake. But Namjoon was right, we need to up our game.”

“Namjoon?” You asked.

Hoseok nodded. “He said he was worried about Jin because he’d noticed that Jin was starting to smile more, and then he pulled away again. He didn’t know what happened, though. We just noticed that he was even quieter and he stuck closer to you. But part of that might have been because he knew about you and Shownu breaking up.”

You nodded a bit. “Some of that was me seeking him out, yeah.”

“Why did you tell him?” Taehyung asked, a little pouty.

“I knew we were breaking up before the wedding. Found out on the day that shall not be discussed. I just needed to tell someone, and I felt safe telling him.” You sighed, letting your eyes close. “Who’s going to help me up to my room?”

“My turn!” Jimin shrieked out before the others, quickly abandoning Jungkook (who looked pretty disgruntled that he wasn’t really able to help you to your room because of the whole “seeing” issue) and wrapping around you.

You squeaked as he actually picked you up to set you on your feet before nuzzling into your neck, giving it a subtle lick.

“Need to scent you,” He murmured, then pulled you toward the stairs. “My turn to sleep with you.”

You sleepily thought through the list and realized that you’d slept with a different hybrid cuddling you each night, but that it had been over a week since Jimin got a turn. “You’re right, it’s your turn. You’re overdo for a turn. Thank you for being patient, Jiminie.”

He leaned in and kissed your cheek, arm around your waist instead of pulling you by your hand.

“Why’d I get a house with stairs?” You grumbled.

He just laughed softly, but stopped when you stopped him by your door so you could quickly check on Namjoon and Jin.

They were both asleep, Namjoon purring a little in his sleep as he spooned Jin. Jin looking surprisingly small in the cat-hybrid’s arms.

You closed the door again, going back to Jimin, who had his pajamas now, and heading into your room. You changed in the bathroom while he changed in your room, then you crawled into bed with him, all cuddled up.

“Hey, y/n?” Jimin whispered as you were feeling your sleepiest. “What Shownu said…we know what he meant, but…it might take us a while to show you or explain it. Please be patient with us. We love you so very much.”

You hummed back, unable to respond any other way because you couldn’t even summon the energy to part your lips.

He pressed a light kiss to your forehead, then shifted so your head was on his shoulder.

Even better.

———

You stared as your mind tried to process what you were seeing.

Namjoon shifted, smiling shyly as he held a rose out to you.

You smiled back, stepping forward to take the rose from him. “Thank you, Joonie. It’s lovely.”

He grinned, dimples appearing as he looked to the ground.

You looked to the table that was set for two. “Did you cook?”

He shook his head quickly. “Jin-hyung made most of it.”

You nodded. “Probably for the best.”

He looked at the table. “It’s not the fanciest dinner in the world….”

“But you prepared all of this for me, and I’m sure it will taste just fine,” You reassured him, signing as you spoke just to make sure he got the whole message.

He purred loudly in response, pulling you into a hug and rubbing against your cheek, a hand just below your throat to feel any vibrations that would alert him to you talking to him instead of giggling.

You let him rub against you for a while, then gently pushed him back. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

He nodded enthusiastically and pulled your chair out for you, eager to please, apparently.

You sat watching as he hurried, and tripped, and then managed to sit down across from you before also serving you.

The two of you made had small conversations, but he seemed nervous and shy, despite knowing you for the last four years. It’d been a long time since you’d seen him this shy.

You signed that he looked handsome tonight and he started getting a tinge of red to his face as he looked down at his plate. You felt a twinge in your stomach, watching those delightful dimples, the way he bit his lip and covered his mouth as he laughed shyly. Just one of the many things you loved about him.

He seemed so anxious to make sure you enjoyed yourself, which mostly amused you but also made you slightly wary.

You didn’t dare to ask until the credits were rolling from the movie the two of you watched after dinner. “Can I ask why?” You asked with your hands.

He tilted his head, sleepy purr slowly stopping in confusion.

“Dinner? This, all of the other boys being mysteriously quiet, it’s a little suspicious,” You explained.

He looked down at his hands, then hesitantly signed, asking if you hadn’t enjoyed it.

“Of course I did,” You replied aloud, then turned his head so that he could see you sign it with a smile. “I always enjoy spending time with my kitty.”

He smiled again, but he still looked nervous.

You watched him, seeing him debate with himself, the internal conflict evident in the way his ears kept twitching and swiveling and the restless flick of his tail-tip.

He scowled after a moment.

You reached up and stroked his head, and he melted, leaning into your touch. You shifted closer, rubbing his head with both hands as he basked in the attention.

His eyes opened again after a few moments, and he looked at you so softly you thought you would melt. It really had been forever since you’d had any real time with your kitty, your first hybrid.

He leaned in and suddenly his lips were on yours, softly and barely brushing, but a kiss none-the-less.

You looked at him, surprised.

He looked a little scared, but also…without regret. His hand rested gently on your neck as he leaned in again, lips more firmly in contact with yours this time.

You closed your eyes. Those questions from back when you first took him in coming back to you now that you could answer them. And yes. Yes, he was a very good kisser.

His arm slid gently around your back, pulling you just a little bit closer as he kissed to your ear. “I love you, y/n. But not the way we’ve been pretending. I love you in a romantic way, I just never knew how to tell you. I didn’t know if you’d accept me still, even if you didn’t return my feelings. Then you brought more people for me to love as well.”

You breathed in sharply, but didn’t make a sound so that he could keep talking.

“We were all upset when you started dating, and we realized we were all in love with you. We weren’t sure about Jin-hyung because he was still new when you started dating, but we found out that he loves you this way too. And you act as though you’re ours, y/n. You act like our mates. Can you tell me that you’ve never admired us?” He whispered, his voice stronger now. More confident. “I’ve seen you. The way you blush when Jungkook doesn’t have a shirt on. The way you seek out Yoongi’s embrace when you’re feeling uncertain. How Taehyung brings a smile to your face when you’re feeling sad. The way you watch Jimin and Hobi when they’re dancing. How upset you got when you didn’t think we were getting along with Jin. How you look to me when you need someone to support the choices you’re making. Even Jungkook knows how much you love us, and he’s blind.”

You turned your head slightly away from him.

His voice got gentler. “I bet that’s what Shownu saw. He saw that you were our mate. Because we weren’t trying to hide it, and maybe we should have. Or maybe his hybrids smelled it. The way we coated you with our scents. The claiming scent Yoongi gets the moment your boyfriend is ever mentioned. You even let me kiss you. Would you let the other boys kiss you too?” He was teasing you now.

You signed into his hand. ‘Would you?’

“We started kissing each other a while ago,” He answered, deliberately changing what he knew you meant. “Consoling one another because you were off with someone that wasn’t one of us. Jin was the only one I hadn’t. Wish I had done that earlier. Foxes are good kissers, not as much tongue as the dogs and not as nippy as minks. Still as shy as bunnies, though. And a little playful like raccoons.” He placed playful little kisses on your neck, giving little examples of what he said as he said it and making you shiver under his touch. A playful purr rumbled through his chest.

Then his lips were pressed to yours once more before he met your eyes again. He was calm and confident.

You stared back, still unable to form words.

“What do you think of that, y/n? Of all of us loving you, romantically?” He asked in a low voice. God, that voice. “What do you think about the fact that Yoongi would love nothing more than hold your hand everywhere? Of Jimin’s not-so-innocent hugs, desperate to feel your body against his? Of Jungkook working out just to get your attention? Hoseok knowing exactly what he does to you when he’s dancing? Taehyung purposely causing trouble so that your attention will be focused on him 100%? Jin so desperate for you to love him as much as the rest of us that he studied all of your cookbooks? Of me watching you, not always so that I can see when you look at me or speak to me, but because you look so damn attractive no matter what you wear? Or that we’ve all imagined you carrying our offspring?”

You met his gaze, unwavering. You were a little too shocked by all of this new information. You sometimes wondered if Hoseok had been teasing you on purpose (you weren’t blind), but always dismissed it.

“Carrying kits,” He murmured, cupping your face in his hands, “Or pups.”

You swallowed hard.

“That’s the funny thing. You have six different breeds in this house, and if you were bear any offspring of the five that aren’t dogs they’d still be called kits. Would you like that, y/n? To be full of our kits and pups? I’ve read some scientific studies, and I bet you were attracted to all of us because you can bear all of our kits and pups.” He started kissing at your neck.

Your fingers tangled into his hair.

“Still nothing to say?” He chuckled, sucking at your skin. His hands unabashedly touching your waist and stomach, roaming your back.

You turned your head to mouth a word into his skin.

He pulled away to look at your face, uncertain of what you said.

But a loud thump caught your attention, and your head snapped toward the door as a low groan was heard after the thump.

Namjoon growled, probably guessing what it was you heard from the look on your face.

You took the moment to catch your breath and pull away from Namjoon, going over to the door and opening it after hearing the whispered scolding going on behind it.

They froze, staring at you.

Jungkook winced. “Told you she heard us.”

Even Yoongi’s eyes were wide at getting caught.

Hoseok and Jin weren’t with them.

You folded your arms, looking over the youngest three and your second oldest. “So only Jin and Hoseok were the smart ones?”

Jungkook grabbed Yoongi’s shirt, looking nervous.

Jimin and Taehyung were still on the floor, staring up at you in alarm.

Namjoon was growling at an increasingly louder volume, like he was worried he wasn’t doing it audibly.

You got a weird gut-feeling at that moment.

You looked over the boys, then stepped over Taehyung and walked down the hallway, knocking on Hoseok’s door since Jin’s was open and empty.

He called for you to come in.

You poked your head in and saw him watching a timer on his phone, crouched next to Jin who was placed in recovery position with a blanket under his head.

He spared a glance your way, looking somewhat relieved. “Hey, it’s a quick one, I think. Just waiting for him to come out of it.”

You nodded, stroking his ears once before sitting on the floor beside Jin to wait for him to come out of it.

The others were watching from the doorway.

Well, Jungkook was asking them what was going on.

Jin started waking up, and Hoseok sighed in relief, stopping the timer.

You smiled softly, proud of your bunny for being able to take care of Jin on his own.

Hoseok softly kissed the top of Jin’s head. “Hey, hyung. How are you feeling?”

You got up and left Hoseok to take care of Jin, surprising him and the others. Normally you took care of Jin after, mostly because none of them seemed comfortable doing so. But you could tell Hoseok was capable of doing the job. And you bet Jungkook would be more than willing to help, which was why—”

“Jungkookie, can you help Hope-ah take care of Jin?” You asked softly, reaching up and brushing the hair from his eyes.

He nodded, eager to please.

“Thank you.” You kissed his cheek, using the information Namjoon had given you as a little bit of a weapon. You could see the switch in the other’s eyes as jealousy over the tiny kiss manifested.

“I could help too,” Taehyung said, pouting at you.

“But I need you to do something else.”

He brightened up. “Oh?”

You nodded. “I need you to help Namjoon get to sleep, because I’m sleeping alone tonight.”

All of them deflated, and Namjoon looked utterly defeated.

You pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I have some things to think over.” Like how you were going to wrap your mind around all of your hybrids being in love with you. The jump felt natural with Namjoon, four years of being together just seemed to naturally culminate. But every other thing that came out of his mouth needed time to ruminate in your head. Man.

Jimin caught your arm. “What about me? Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Keep Yoongi out of my room,” You ordered, kissing his forehead. “Goodnight boys.”

You got murmurs and grumbles in return.

You closed your bedroom door, and locked it for good measure.

You looked at the loveseat that you and Namjoon had been sitting on just a little while ago, his little tease about you carrying kits or pups echoing in your mind and making you shiver.

The more you thought about it, the more obvious it was that they were in love with you. That they never knew how to tell you. All those “I Love You”’s that weren’t as platonic as you had convinced yourself. It made sense why they started acting out more, causing more trouble. They had no way of telling you, they barely had any legal rights and given most of their backgrounds they may have been hesitant to make a move.

They probably all agreed on Namjoon telling you. Namjoon, who was hopeless in most things, except in reading you and knowing what to say to get them all on the same page again. Who had been with you the longest and knew you best.

But even he had been scared. He told you as much. That he was scared you would kick him out if you didn’t return his feelings.

You spending tonight alone probably scared all of them more. But you didn’t want to rush into anything. Because once they knew you accepted them and their feelings, you’d be thrown in the deep-end.

Wait. Were you really thinking that you were going to accept all of them? All seven?

You felt like you might be losing your mind. How would a balance ever be achieved? How would you ever find time for yourself with seven needy hybrids? Were you even in love with all of them? Sure, you loved them, and you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t ever admired their natural godliness and physique, which then was paired with wonderful personalities. Jimin’s sweetness and understanding, Taehyung’s loving and bright nature, Yoongi’s thoughtfulness and willingness, Jungkook’s perseverance and protectiveness, Hoseok’s determination and nurturing, Jin’s humor and consideration, and Namjoon’s mediation and intelligence. Honestly, all of them had everything you could ever dream of putting on a checklist.

You head snapped up and toward the door just as you were about to flop on the bed when a soft knock met your door. You looked at it in surprise and disbelief. Hadn’t you just asked them for the night to yourself?

You opened the door, meeting the worried gaze of Yoongi.

“I just want to talk to you for fifteen minutes, and then I promise I’ll head back to Jimin. He’s in the shower right now.”

You bit your cheek and opened the door a little wider so he could duck in. He seemed nervous and upset, and if he was showing it outwardly, then you were a little worried too.

He paced a bit, obviously wide awake since this was the time of day that he was most active usually. “I just…” He stopped and met your gaze, and he looked so heartbroken that you quickly hugged him.

He nuzzled into your shoulder, unusually forward and open. Normally he was sort of distant in his affection, caring for everyone without looking their way and getting all shy about holding someone’s hand or sharing a bed even though you all knew he secretly loved cuddles sometimes. He was breathing like he was trying not to cry, and you knew he was stressed about something.

“What’s wrong, Yoongi?” You whispered, lightly rubbing his back.

“I just…I wanted to make sure…” He was lisping a little now, stumbling and stuttering as he tried to pick up the words he wanted to say. “Is everything okay with us? I feel like we’ve been fighting for forever and I know we’re not really fighting but I just feel so…”

“Yoongi,” You said firmly, pulling away to cup his face in your hands. You knew this was partly his trauma speaking, too much stimulation mixed with doubts and worries and anxieties that he hadn’t dealt with or voiced. “Yoongi.”

His glazed eyes focused on you instead of the floor after a few attempts to focus on you.

“Yoongi,” You whispered softly, not wanting to say anything important until he was grounded more.

His eyes flicked to your hair, then your hands. He squeezed them shut as his head tilted into your hands just a little more.

“Yoongi,” You murmured, seeing his tail go still finally, his ears flick a couple times before focusing on you.

He finally met you with mostly clear eyes, breathing.

“Everything is fine with us, baby,” You whispered, smiling softly. “We haven’t fought since I came home from the hospital. Remember? And I understand why we fought before that. I’m sorry.”

He blinked a couple times, then his gaze dropped to the floor. “I shouldn’t have acted that way no matter what. I knew it then too.”

You hummed softly, stroking his hair. “I love you, you know.”

His gaze came up, and he looked over your face before his entire demeanor relaxed. “Love love?”

You leaned in and gently kissed his adorably pouty lips. “Love love.”

Which was how you earned a squishy Yoongi with the makings of one of his gummy smiles that you adored, trying to hide the smile and his pleasure by tucking his head against your neck.

You giggled softly, contenting yourself to pressing softly little kisses to his head, hoping that all of this would help him stay out of another lapse.

Jimin’s head appeared through the door, and he was most definitely pouting. “Hey…you said…”

“Yoongi needed me. You know the rules don’t apply then,” You answered easily, gently prying Yoongi from your shoulder so you could really check on him.

His eyes were clear and soft, sleepy.

You nodded softly. “Come get him, Jiminie. He’s a little sleepy from it.”

Jimin quickly entered and went to Yoongi’s side, arms wrapping around Yoongi, who was getting hit with the after-effects of his panic. He’d probably sleep clear till tomorrow night. “Y/n, I think he’s too far gone.”

You nodded. “Alright, let’s get him onto my bed.”

“Could we…could we have a big cuddle session instead of you sleeping alone?” He asked hesitantly.

You thought a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. Don’t wake anyone though. If they’re asleep, let them sleep.”

He nodded and left once Yoongi was on the bed.

Yoongi was barely conscious, but he definitely knew the moment you crawled into bed next to him.

Hoseok helped a tired-looking Seokjin into the room, with Jungkook clinging to the back of Hoseok’s shirt as a sort of guide.

Taehyung rushed in and quickly cuddled up to Jungkook’s back.

Namjoon and Jimin came last, making sure everyone had enough blankets before getting comfortable yourself.

You used your phone to bump up the heat a little bit so that they wouldn’t catch a chill (because they would, and then you’d be dealing with sick hybrids), then whispered goodnight, which was only returned by a few people before leaving the burning questions of your relationship with these men for another time as the broken purrs, little sounds, and the soft sounds of sleep started appearing all around you. You didn’t let them all sleep with you often because you usually ended up overheating and having nightmares, but sometimes you could get away with it and it was honestly one of the most peaceful things you’d ever experienced, if not a little crowded.

You woke up to a mouthful of fur, which startled you enough that you fully woke up, but somehow managed not to wake the source of the fur—Hoseok. He was splayed out where Yoongi used to be sleeping, with his head on your shoulder and ears across your face.

You smiled to yourself as you carefully stroked his ears and moved them from your face. “Weird bun.”

“No nightmares?” Taehyung asked, snuggling up to your side now that he knew you were awake.

You smiled at him, closing your eyes. “No nightmares. Probably because everyone was fairly spread out this time.”

He nodded against your shoulder. “Yoongi went to take a long bath before going back to sleep. Jin’s in the bathroom with him to make sure Yoongi doesn’t fall asleep in the tub. He said he was feeling better. Jungkook and Namjoon went out to the garden, and Jimin is getting out the extra baskets and buckets because it looks like a bad storm is rolling in.”

You nodded. “What’s wrong with Hoseok?”

“Food last night didn’t agree with him.”

You winced. “What did you guys eat?”

He looked at the ceiling. “Pizza. He even stuck to the vegetarian pizza, like last time.”

You sighed. “We’ll have to have him detox again.”

He pouted. “But he gets so sad on the detox.”

“But he could get really sick without it. I’d rather have short-term sadness and health than long-term sickness and short-term happiness. Besides, I found some new recipes for it and tasted them and they taste much better, and we did discover that he can use honey as a sweetener. I should go help the others. You going to nap since you were up comforting Hobi?” You brushed his hair from his forehead as he blushed lightly.

“I can help.”

You shook your head. “You really look like a raccoon right now. Really dark circles. We can take care of it. There probably won’t be that much.” But if Namjoon thought it was important to harvest as much as possible, then it must be some storm coming through. You and Taehyung carefully moved Hoseok so he was resting on Taehyung instead and you hurried downstairs.

Jimin had the TV turned to a news station, and they were talking about an extreme cold front. He glanced at you. “It’s forty-two degrees outside (5.5 C).”

Frost was a whole different beast.

You went digging into the closet to get to your coat, grabbing a stack of your buckets and following Jimin out to where Namjoon and Jungkook were already working.

Jungkook was feeling through the green beans, picking mostly on instinct.

Namjoon saw you and stood straight for a moment, signing that there was an ice warning. Asking what should and could be salvaged.

You looked over the garden. It was July. You signed you’d get back to him with a plan and he nodded before going back to harvesting the lettuce.

Jimin was making quick work of the strawberries.

You took a deep breath, and starting working through the zucchini and the other summer squashes. You’d leave some that were completely unripe to chance, but you were grabbing the almost ripe ones as well.

Jin, Taehyung, Yoongi, and Hoseok all came and started helping, followed shortly by your father, who seemed to have given them all jobs already as Taehyung, Jin and Yoongi headed for the trees and Hoseok hurried to the carrots.

You looked up at you dad, surprised and more than a little stunned.

He just smiled at you. “Got mine in yesterday. Had a feeling. Tell Joonie-boy to pick the unripe tomatoes too. Jimin, green strawberries are edible as well. I’ll start digging up some plants to move inside. Hopefully won’t kill them. You keep working.”

You nodded hurrying to convey your father’s instructions and then darting back to your squashes. You were worried about at least three of your boys, but the idea of losing all of your harvest, especially with Hoseok’s conditions, made you a little panicky.

“I think I finished the green beans,” Jungkook called out.

You quickly guided him to the peas. “Just pick all the pods you feel. We’ll be picky later.”

He nodded and started feeling along the plants.

You moved on to the cucumbers.

“It’ll be okay,” Hoseok said, not looking up.

“Are you okay?”

“A little queasy, and my stomach hurts, but I’m more worried about what will happen if we don’t get enough from the garden before this cold kills it. The news station said snow and ice. In July. That’s crazy.” He started packing some straw over some of the carrots to try and let them brave the cold snap. “Will there be a chance to grow more after things warm back up?”

“I don’t know right now. Might have to do a lot of indoor gardening.” You might have to budget more for groceries.

“Glad your dad is here.” He glanced toward your father as the man re-entered the garden and started collecting buckets that were either full or couldn’t hold more without damaging the other contents (Jimin’s berry bucket) and replacing them with empty ones. “He came in probably five minutes after you went downstairs.”

“I believe it,” You wouldn’t have woken Hoseok or Taehyung for anything. “Is Yoongi’s hair dry?”

“Mostly. He’s wearing a hat.” He leaned over and kissed your cheek, rubbing his nose against it as a comforting gesture before moving to a different section of the garden.

By noon, you all had harvested as much as you could and you ushered your shivering hybrids back inside while you and your father spread some straw over some plants in a thick later to try and help them through the cold so that maybe you’d have something after all of it has passed.

“I’ve got some squashes in my greenhouse this year,” He said casually. “And Pumpkins. My hives probably won’t produce much more this year though. Probably be a long winter this year. I brought your share over, though. Went foraging the other day with a couple buddies too. Found more mushrooms than I need and I know some of your boys love them. Catmint by the shed went wild too, but we’d best not tell Joonie-boy.”

You laughed a little at that. “Probably not.” You looked up at him now that there was nothing left to do. “Thank you for being here.”

He smiled and gave your head a pat. “I know how important it is to you, to make sure those boys get the healthiest food possible. I know how important this garden is. I know it allows you to keep all those boys. You’re doing a good job, y/n. I’m proud of you. Now let’s get inside. Your boys were thorough. Let’s get the things I brought from the trunk and I’ll help you make a plan for all of that. Even help you start canning. Just finished the last jar of pickles you gave me last year and they were good, bumblebee.”

You relaxed a little more, heading inside where Jin was passing out mugs of hot chocolate to everyone—including you and your father—except Hoseok, who got an herbal tea that was easy on his stomach.

Your dad went out to his car, pulling Jungkook and Seokjin to help him since they seemed to have warmed up already and apparently looked strong.

Taehyung was looking at everything, looking absolutely dead on his feet.

Hoseok looked like he might be sick.

Yoongi looked grumpy and tired.

You took a deep breath. “Taehyung, when you finish that, why don’t you go sleep with Yoongi? Hoseok, you don’t have to drink the tea if you don’t feel good.”

“It’s helping,” Hoseok almost whispered back, taking another sip.

Yoongi looked a little less grumpy, and more just tired. He managed to gulp down the rest of his hot chocolate. “Hurry up, but don’t burn yourself. I’m gonna dry my hair the rest of the way.”

Taehyung nodded, taking another careful sip of his hot chocolate.

Jimin had himself cocooned in the throw blankets, practically hugging his mug.

Namjoon helped you take off your coat so you wouldn’t have to set down the mug. He asked if you were okay.

You signed back that you were only a little stressed, adding that you were glad your father showed up when he did.

He nodded, smiling. “Dad’s a lifesaver.”

Namjoon had called your dad his own since his second year of living with you, but it still made you feel warm and fuzzy. Your father wasn’t always the easiest man, he had quirks by the dozens, but you loved him so much and his acceptance of your boys meant a lot, but their acceptance of him meant even more.

Jin led Jungkook in, both of their arms fulls. Jin had a cooler while Jungkook had a large box and a couple bags hanging off his arms as well.

Your dad came in with a box as well, looking amused. “Alright, you’re definitely capable, kiddo. Sorry for doubting you.”

Jungkook nodded feircely, determination and pride still clear on his face.

Jin looked like he wanted to laugh. Probably because both men totally just tricked Jungkook into taking the majority of the burden.

Still, seeing Jungkook that confident was kind of worth it.

Your dad clapped his hands together and then rubbed them, making Jungkook jump in surprise. “Alright, so—”

Sleet started pelting the windows.

You scrunched your nose. “It’s July. How is this happening in July?”

“Uh, bumblebee, I might be staying tonight,” Your dad murmured, looking out the window in concern.

“Yeah, I don’t want you driving that far in this. Roads will be nasty.” You closed your eyes, then went over and closed the curtains.

“Alright, you have your canning equipment in the basement?”

You nodded. “Jars too. I got some more when they were on sale.”

“I’ll start getting everything cleaned up and set up, you make a plan for what you want to make, okay?”

You nodded again, heading over to the desk in the corner and getting your notebook and personal recipe book before cuddling up to Jimin to try and ignore the freak-storm outside.

Jimin was on his phone. “I could plant some squash seeds, we had some extra earlier this year and there’s room in our garden-room. It’ll take longer, but we should be able to harvest in September if we do.”

You peeked over and saw him looking up information on things to grow indoors. You had a veritable garden in the downstairs bedroom as it was. Growing some things in water—like cabbage, lettuce, celery, leeks, and green onions—and others in pots—like carrots, and various cooking and medicinal herbs that had a home in a nice growing rack that your dad’s buddy made for you one year after you canned his tomatoes for him. You weren’t sure how your father always managed to meet these people that are perfectly happy bartering, but you weren’t about to argue.

“If we plant green beans now we could have those too,” Jimin murmured, shifting so his head was resting on the arm of the couch.

Too bad. You’d been right about to kiss his cheek for being such a wonderful, thoughtful pup.

Instead you squeezed his arm, and focused on making a quick plan for what to do with what had been salvaged.

“Y/n?” He whispered.

You looked up.

He was looking at you sadly. “How much do we depend on the garden?”

You dropped your gaze. “It’ll just make things a little more tight. I was ahead before the trip to the hospital. I’m still ahead. I’ve got a nice little savings account set aside. But the garden…it’s really important for Hobi’s health, and it makes it so I can take better care of you all. Have treats every now and then. It’ll set us back next year as well, because a lot of the plants will be killed before we can harvest seeds from them. But we did get quite a lot, and it’s not too late to grow things indoors. The root vegetables will probably survive, which will help. Dad apparently moved the potato barrels into the mud-room for now, so that will help.

Jimin nodded. “Taehyung said that’s why he and the others came downstairs. They heard him cussing at the barrels.”

You felt your eyes widen slightly. “Must have landed on his foot.”

“Probably. I’ve never heard him cuss. He’s too chill.” Jimin studied your father from across the room as he prevented a disaster from happening with Namjoon, Jungkook, and a package of new jars. “Electricity bill will go up if we start growing more plants indoors.”

“I’ll compensate somewhere,” You replied softly, leaning on his shoulder.

Hoseok sat down on your other side. “So, would now be a good time to tell you that last month, when I started my turn taking care of our indoor plants, I also kind of sort of added a pumpkin plant just to see what would happen?”

You made a mental note (that would probably get lost, let’s face it) to check on the garden room more often. “Um, yeah. That’s good to know. Can you two help me can while we set Jungkook and Namjoon to the task of planting stuff in there?”

“Yeah, I think Jin is planning on helping with the canning too, which is good since he seems to know his way around the kitchen.”

“He’s been reading my books,” You murmured, smiling a little. It was so nice having so many people to help you through all of this. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“I really like this tea,” He chuckled. “Makes me less nauseous. Helps with the pain too. I think Jin added honey too, and you know how much I like honey.”

“A lot,” You agreed, nuzzling his head. “If you’re tired you can go rest.”

He shook his head. “Yoongi said he’d come down later. I’ll go rest when he does.”

You nodded, thinking that sounded fair. Hoseok did look much more awake than either of the other two.

“So, why did he have me pick the green strawberries?” Jimin asked, changing the topic as it came to mind. Both dog-hybrids did that sometimes. Just jumped ship and ended up on a different one. “Or green tomatoes?”

You smiled a little.

“He also had us pick the unripe blueberries,” Hoseok pointed out. “What’ll we do with them?”

“Well, probably pickle them.”

Both hybrids looks extremely perturbed at that thought.

————

You groaned as Jungkook carefully massaged your neck and shoulders. You were super sore from all of the canning, pickling, jam-making, candying, and every other sort of preservation method you and your father could think of for most of the produce.

He placed a barely there kiss to your hair, something you would have missed if you hadn’t been looking up to say something to him.

You smiled, relaxing even more into his touch.

Jimin was bouncing around with Taehyung, somehow finding the energy to play despite working so hard right alongside you.

Namjoon was curled up with Jin, going through a sign-language textbook with the older.

Yoongi was sleeping on the footstool, a light blanket thrown over him.

“It’s raining again,” Jungkook whispered, moments before you were able to hear the rain yourself. “Whats the temperature?”

You looked at your phone. “30 degrees (-1.1 C).”

He whimpered slightly. “Do you think yo-da—do you think he made it back alright?”

You father had braved the roads about an hour ago, having been trapped at your house for two nights in a row and wanting to check on his bees.

“Well, we’ve got another hour at least before he would arrive at his home. I’ll give him half an hour leeway for slow driving, and then if he doesn’t update me, I’ll try calling.”

Hoseok came out of the bathroom, looking pale and exhausted, coming over to curl up next to you. “Hurts.”

You bit your lip, quickly pulling him into your arms and trying to comfort him. “We’ll start another cleanse. Okay?”

He nodded, looking only a little more miserable. “Now?”

“We can do it later.”

He shook his head. “Now.”

You nodded. “Kook, let me up?”

His hands slipped from your shoulders, where they had been holding on, gently but firmly.

You and Hoseok headed into the kitchen, Jungkook hugging onto Hoseok.

You pulled down different jars. “Alright, I want to start you out with some dandelion tea, tonight I should be able to make that one veggie drink that you liked last time as well. Maybe add in some red clover to the tea?”

“Can I use honey too?” He asked softly, curling toward Jungkook.

“Yeah, we can use a little bit of raw honey, bunny.” You got that out as well, waiting for the tea to start boiling. “One to ten?”

“Five,” he replied, ears completely drooped, and eyelids following a bit.

You nodded, letting your fingers drum on the countertop for a moment, before checking the water. “I can bring this up to you, Hobi. Why don’t you go get comfy in your room?”

He shook his head, getting a little pouty.

You went around and stroked his hair and ears. “Words, baby.”

He looked a little embarrassed, but finally whispered, “Your smell helps the pain.”

Your hand paused, then you shook off what he said and kept carefully stroking his head. “I’ll be up with the tea when it’s ready. For now, can Jungkook keep you company?”

He nodded, but was a little reluctant.

Jungkook nuzzled his hyung. “Come on, I’ll rub your tummy.” He shuffled along with Hobi toward the stairs, hugging him from behind and probably slowing the process.

“I’m not a dog.”

“No, but you still like tummy rubs,” Jungkook said victoriously.

You smiled to yourself, watching them go before engaging in a rapid conversation with Namjoon while Jin spent a good five minutes just rubbing his eyes and bemoaning how there was so much to learn.

Namjoon was calling Jin cute, and you were agreeing, but he was also inquiring after Hoseok.

You shrugged a bit, giving him what little you knew.

He shared your worried look, then rubbed Jin’s back as Jin became slightly more animated in his complaints.

Taehyung went and plopped in Jin’s lap, putting a finger to his lips. “You’ll wake Yoongi-hyung.”

Jin seemed slightly startled by the appearance of Taehyung, but made a cute noise before wrapping his arms around the raccoon and squeezing him.

Taehyung laughed, trying to escape.

Jimin flopped onto one of the couches, energy gone again, but tail wagging as he watched Tae and Jin.

You finished making the tea for Hoseok and headed upstairs as Yoongi woke up, softly complaining that they were too loud.

Namjoon followed you, eyes a little hazy. “I…I wish I knew what they sounded like.”

You nodded, understanding. He knew what you and your father sounded like, he’d met you just before he permanently lost his hearing. Before the damage really set in. He said that he could still hear your voice sometimes, in his head. The same as he could hear the songs he used to listen to, before. His previous owner’s voice. But when the boys were all laughing and talking and he just couldn’t keep up, sometimes it really got to him.

You leaned over and gave him a soft and very brief kiss. You couldn’t sign anything with your hands full, but you mouthed “I know.”

He nuzzled your shoulder, then took the tray from you. “Jungkook’s feeling guilty about not being able to sign. Especially now that Jin is starting to learn more.”

You nodded. “I’ll ask Hobi to work with him on it.” You signed as you spoke, walking backwards so that you could talk with him. “And I’ll talk to him about it.”

He nodded. “He forgets sometimes. I know that makes him feel bad, but I understand. Sometimes I forget that he can’t see. He’s so functional sometimes.”

“I know.”

“Have you adjusted the budget yet?”

You lokoed away, turning back to face forward.

“Y/n?”

You signed that you wanted to look at your records for last year and find out how bad the damage to the garden is first.

He nodded slowly. “Okay. Whatever happens, we’ve got your back.” He kissed your cheek.

You gave him a tight smile and headed into Hoseok’s room.

He looked like he was in a lot of pain, so you hurried to his side.

Jungkook was gently rubbing his back, but looked concerned. “He’s really cold, y/n. I tried covering him up but he won’t warm up.”

You felt Hoseok’s face, worry rushing through you. “Jungkook, go get Jin.”

“Why?”

“Do it. Tell him to come up here. Tell Yoongi to start the car.”

He hurried off, Namjoon helping him navigate without knowing what was going on.

Hobi opened his eyes, looking at you weakly. “Sorry, it got worse just a little bit ago.”

You shook your head, stroking his hair. “I’m going to have Jin carry you to the car.” You helped him sit up, wrapping the blankets around him and grabbing one of his warm hats from the nightstand drawer.

“The roads—”

“We’ll be careful,” You cut him off. “But the doctor said you need to come in when it gets this bad, so that’s what we’re going to do. Who do you want to go with us?”

“Yoongi,” He whispered, letting his head fall to your shoulder as he groaned in pain.

You pressed a kiss to his head, feeling him shivering in pain as well as cold.

Jin came rushing up, looking worried.

“I need you to carry him to the car.”

He nodded, coming over and scooping him up. He frowned at the weight, but quickly exited.

You ran to your room, grabbing better shoes and your own hat and sweater, plus your backpack and hurried downstairs. “Jin and Namjoon are in charge. Yoongi, Hobi wants you to come with us. Get your coat. Jimin, bump the heat up a bit, I don’t want any of you getting catching a chill. Stay inside.”

“Call us the moment you can,” Taehyung instructed in return, quickly hugging you and looking worriedly after Hoseok.

You hurried out to the car.

Jin and Yoongi had Hoseok buckled into the backseat, and Yoongi was buckling in next to him.

Jin hurried back inside.

You got on the road as quickly as possible, calling ahead to let them know you were on your way and why you were coming in when the roads were so dangerous because your boss thought that personal safety was important. You blasted the heat as soon as the car was warm enough, silently cursing the monster responsible for Hoseok’s delicate health.

“He fainted,” Yoongi said softly, worry coating his words.

You started cursing aloud, hating that the roads were bad enough that you really couldn’t hurry any more than you were. “I hate them. I hate them for this.”

“I know. I think we all do,” He replied calmly. “Except Hoseok. I don’t know how he can forgive them so easily. How he can forgive those bastards when they poisoned him for years. I remember when we first got him. How he was so confused about why he was taken away and what happened. How he would cry for his owners that tried to kill him. The withdrawals.”

You shuddered. It had taken you, Yoongi, Namjoon, and your father to take care of Hoseok as he went through the withdrawals of the myriad of drugs, and alcohol that he had been fed. He didn’t remember much from the year before you rescued him, but you knew that he sometimes dreamed about what happened, because he wouldn’t let anyone touch him when he first woke up until he realized it was you and he was safe. Nowadays, he didn’t react to those dreams as much. Usually just got up and took a shower. He hadn’t realized what he was like when you got him until he saw Taehyung on a withdrawal from the drug his owner had only given him for a week. He told you that he couldn’t imagine what he must have been like coming off of several drugs and alcoholism.

You never let him dwell on it, though. And as time passed, and he found out about his new health condition that came from the poisons that they had given him alongside the drugs, he seemed to finally understand what he’d been through.

“Because it led me to y/n,” Hobi murmured, barely conscious.

“Shh, save your strength,” Yoongi quickly admonished, and you could see him holding tighter to the bunny. “This isn’t a time to get sappy.”

“Eight,” Hoseok sniffled.

You felt your jaw clench, tightly gripping the steering wheel as if that would help the roads be more clear and get you to the clinic faster.

Time continued to drag, even after reaching the clinic, your coworkers hurrying out to rush Hoseok—who’d fallen unconscious two miles back—into the clinic to get his treatment started.

Yoongi held your hand while both of you waited. “It’s going to be bad this time, isn’t it?”

You nodded.

“Y—” He broke off and hissed a moment. “Dad said something the other day about knowing someone who employs hybrids. I could see if they’d hire me.”

“I can’t ask—”

“I’m telling you. Not asking,” He quickly amended, changing his tone. “I know how bad things are going to get without an extra income. And Taehyung said something about the neighbor by the trails asking him if he would help out because he was having trouble with regular raccoons. Taehyung’s good with them. He just hasn’t had a chance to talk to you about it. I’m going to tell him to do it.”

You looked at the floor, eyes filling with tears.

“And if you need to take more shifts, we’ll make sure that we’re fed and that all the chores get done. You’re not in this alone, y/n. We’re here. This is what we do for those we love.” He wrapped an arm around you when he saw your tears, holding onto you. “It’s a bad week. I’m sorry.”

You just turned and sobbed as quietly as you could into Yoongi’s shoulder.

Minhyuk came out from the back after an hour or so, hesitantly approaching. “Y/n?”

You gave him a bit of a smile. “Hi, Minhyuk. How are you?”

He shrugged. “Okay. Missed seeing you. So have the others.”

“Um, this is Yoongi. Yoongi, this is Minhyuk. He’s one of Shownu’s.”

Yoongi nodded curtly.

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes at the way Yoongi had tensed up. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, the heat went out in our place, so your boss said we could stay here while it’s fixed.”

You nodded, then studied his worried face. “You can just tell me what you need to, Min.”

His face dropped to the floor. “They had to take him to surgery. They think his kidneys are failing.”

You felt sick.

“What does that mean?” Yoongi asked, voice barely more than a whisper.

“He’ll need a transplant to live. They think they have one, but they’re testing now. Otherwise, he’s going to get put on a waitlist and…” he looked at the floor.

“He doesn’t have enough time left to be on a waitlist,” You finished the sentence, voice feeling raw.

“I’ll let you know if the donor is a match,” He said after a moment of silence.

“Thank you, Minhyuk,” You whispered, knowing he heard.

Yoongi’s grip on you was tight, and you could see he was beyond words.

It was another three hours before Shownu came out instead of the doctor or Minhyuk, which scared you. It scared you a lot.

“Y/n?” He said, waiting for you to respond.

You drew in a shaky breath. “Yeah?”

“The donor was a match. Hoseok got the transplant. Everything looks good. It’s only one, so he might need another transplant later, but we’ll get him on a list. They’re both recovering well.”

You felt like the breath had been knocked out of you. “Wait, did Kihyun…?”

He nodded. “They’re the same type of bunny hybrid.”

No wonder Minhyuk seemed so worried. No wonder Shownu was telling you. He would have had to give permission. He probably spoke for you when it came to the surgery too.

You hugged him, then pulled away. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

He nodded, smiling a little. “He’ll be awake soon. Kihyun’s already awake and doing really well.”

“I have to thank him.”

“He still likes your chicken soup best.”

You laughed a bit. “I’ll bring some next time.”

He smiled a little more and nodded. “Go see Hoseok.”

You looked back at Yoongi, who seemed frozen with relief. “Yoongi, come on.”

He finally looked up and hurried to follow you and Shownu back to where Hoseok was laying in a bed.

The bunny hybrid’s ears were quirked funny, and he still looked pale, but he at least looked like he wasn’t in terrible pain like before.

You kissed his forehead, and ran a hand over his silky ears. “Precious bun.”

He sighed softly in his sleep, turning toward you ever so slightly.

There was still so much to figure out. If you hadn’t been able to even let Hoseok know that you were in love with all of them the same way they were in love with you…

You shuddered, and squeezed his hand. “Too close. Way too close. I’m going to be so paranoid.”

“I think we all are,” Yoongi murmured in agreement. He was holding Hoseok’s other hand.

You ran your fingers through Hoseok’s hair, thinking about your boys at home. “We should tell the others he’s okay.”

“After he wakes up,” Yoongi agreed, leaning down to sniff Hobi’s wrist. “When he’s awake, then we’ll call. Probably be soon.”

And it was. Only ten or fifteen minutes later, Hoseok’s eyes started to flicker open and shut as he stirred. He made little sounds of discomfort and grogginess, but blinked sleepily up at you before smiling a bit. Then at Yoongi, broadening his smile.

“Pretty people,” He murmured deliriously. “My pretty y/n and my pretty Yoongi-hyung. Where are my other pretties?”

“They’re at home, warm and safe, and worried about their pretty bunny,” Yoongi said in an adorably gentle voice, standing to stroke Hobi’s ears.

The bunny melted under the touch. “Pretties safe and warm. I’m a pretty bunny?”

“A very pretty bunny,” Yoongi agreed. “A Sunshine bun. A sun bun.”

Hobi giggled. “I’m a sunny bunny?”

“A very sunny bunny,” You confirmed, kissing his cheek. “That we love very much.”

He looked at you adoringly. “Am I your sunshine?”

“My only sunshine,” You agreed.

“Wow,” He breathed.

Yoongi was grinning, pulling his phone out to video tape this.

“Am I the best sunny bunny?”

“The very best. Very pretty, very sunny, my one and only bunny,” You told him, rubbing your nose against his and earning his brightest smile.

Also tears because a drugged up Hoseok is an emotional one, and he was crying happy tears because he was the best bunny in your world.

You carefully wiped every tear away, still smiling at him. “Yes, Hobi. My charming, handsome, sunny bunny.”

He sniffled, and looked at Yoongi. “Pretty? Am I still your pretty?”

“Yup, my carrot loving bun-bun. Do you know where you are?”

“The not-home place,” Hoseok said gravely, nodding slowly, then made a cute noise before giggling again. “Hobi hobi?”

“Hobi hobi,” You agreed, kissing showering his face with kisses. “My hobi.”

He leaned forward just a little to rub his cheek against yours, and you quickly met him and moved closer so he wouldn’t strain his body or hurt himself.

Yoongi handed him a cup of ice chips. “Start with these, Hobi.”

Hoseok pouted, but slowly started eating the ice chips as Yoongi fed them to him. “Where are my other pretties?”

You smiled at the repeat in conversation. “What are their names?”

“Well,” he swallowed. “There’s Joon-joon. He’s a Raccoon hybrid.”

Yoongi adjusted his phone (which he had positioned on the table to film Hoseok) while holding in his laughter.

“And there’s Jiminie, he’s a blind kitty.”

You bit your lip, barely containing your laughter.

“TaeTae is a Labrador retriever, and Jungkookie is a bunny.”

You squeaked as you held in the burst of giggles.

“Seokjinnie-hyung is an Alaskan malamute and he’s deaf,” Hobi was looking at the ceiling thoughtfully, but his gaze came down and he smiled at Yoongi brightly. “And yoon-yoon is a mink!”

“Well, he got one right,” Yoongi muttered, obviously holding in his laughter.

“Hobi, you’re the bunny, not Jungkookie,” You managed to squeak out.

His eyes got huge. “Oh yeah. Oh! Jungkookie is a fox!”

You finally let your giggles out, stroking his head. “Okay, we’ll go with that for now. Are you sleepy, bun?”

He drooped and nodded, like the mention of sleep drained him.

You kissed his forehead. “Then get some sleep. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

He nodded, dropping into sleep faster than you’d ever seen before.

Yoongi stopped video taping. “Keeping that for a rainy day. And to tease him endlessly.”

“Send it to me,” You told him, still stroking Hoseok’s hair. “I’m going to go see how Kihyun is doing. Thank him.”

“Y/n? Thank him for me too?” Yoongi’s voice was soft, and you felt like there was a hint of shame there.

Sure enough, he had shame written on his face.

You went around to him and cupped his face in your hands. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I…I used to think that Shownu’s hybrids would hurt you. They really care about you though, don’t they? So I was wrong, and I was really mean about it too, and the way I behaved around Shownu—”

“Yoongi, it’s okay. Really. No one can blame you for being wary of other hybrids, and the way you’ve welcomed every hybrid I’ve ever brought into our home is more than I would ever ask from you.”

“I didn’t really welcome them,” He murmured.

“No, you gave them space. Except Hobi because I needed your help with him. And Taehyung because he just wouldn’t let you give him space. And once you felt more comfortable, or they felt more comfortable, then you started interacting with them. You’re so considerate, baby. And a lot of that was jealousy. But there’s nothing to be jealous of now, is there?”

He finally met your gaze and shook his head. “Nothing.”

You kissed his lips, watching him turn pink afterwards. “Stay here with Hobi. I’ll be back.”

He nodded, taking Hoseok’s hand again.

Yoongi stayed at the clinic with Hoseok while you went home.

The boys were camped out in the living room, surrounding the fireplace and listening to Namjoon reading aloud from some novel or other.

Taehyung greeted you first, not interrupting Namjoon’s reading, but coming and hugging you after you got your coat off.

You sighed and leaned into his embrace, then pulled back and pecked his lips, leaving him stunned as you went and joined the rest of your boys, sitting beside Namjoon and leaning on his shoulder.

“Y/n?” Jungkook said, perking up as he smelled you.

“Shush, Namjoon is reading,” You admonished softly, grateful that Namjoon had been turning the page when Jungkook had tried to interrupt instead of in the middle of a sentence.

Jungkook dipped his head sheepishly, managing to make it over to your side at least and rub his cheek against your knee.

Namjoon kept reading, able to tell that you were listening even though you came in in the middle of the story. He shifted when you put a pillow in his lap and curled up there, one hand resting on your arm, but he never faltered from his reading. His voice soothing and full of the character’s emotions.

You looked over your boys, noting how Jin met your gaze, eyes flicking to Namjoon, then Jungkook who was enamored with the story again, before meeting your gaze again with a shrug.

You smiled then looked to Jimin, who was listening, but also drawing.

Taehyung finally came back and sprawled over Jin, looking euphoric. He was just grinning hugging his tail, glancing up at the elder now and then and receiving pets in return every time.

Namjoon finished the chapter with a soft sigh., a satisfied smile on his face and he watched Jungkook rub his face against Namjoon’s legs, verbally complaining about stopping. He managed to reach over you and stroke the pup’s ears, causing the boy to go still and then climb up next to Namjoon to get better ear scratches.

You laughed softly and got up so that they could cuddle better.

“Hoseok-hyung?” Jimin asked softly, finally coming to greet you now that story-time was over.

You cupped his cheek and pecked his lips, eliciting a similar response as Tae had had. “He’s doing fine. And the roads are better, so we can all go visit in the morning.”

Jimin was staring at you in shock, then stood up completely straight as he pointed at you with that same surprised look. “You kissed me.”

“She what?!” Jungkook fell from Namjoon’s lap.

“Are you complaining?” You asked softly.

“I am!” Jungkook cried out, looking utterly betrayed.

“She kissed me too,” Taehyung chirped, hugging both his and Jin’s tails for some reason.

“I’ve also kissed Yoongi and Namjoon before, and I intend to kiss Seokjinnie next, followed by my precious Jungkookie,” You piped in, smirking at the gaping pups.

Namjoon chuckled as Jin finished catching him up from across the room.

“Why am I last?” Jungkook asked, pouting.

“Because you’re neglecting Namjoonie.”

His face turned toward where he knew Namjoon was, hands finding Joon’s legs. “I am?”

“Mmhmm. Joonie cares about you spending time with him too, you know.”

Namjoon was looking embarrassed as he quickly grabbed Jungkook’s hands before they could slide up any farther.

You giggled and got up, going over to Jin, who leaned up and met your lips in a gentle kiss.

Taehyung was in awe.

“Besides, Kookie, you’re not last. Hobi is. Because I want him to remember being kissed.”

He grinned, glancing your way. “It’ll make him so happy.”

“By the way, apparently all of us are his pretties,” You told them, signing as you did so Namjoon understood as well.

“Show me the video,” Taehyung said, looking ready to beg if he felt he needed to.

You shook your head. “No, I want to get subtitles onto it for Joonie. I’ll show you guys before we leave in the morning. And I do have to work tomorrow, but a friend is going to bring you guys home after our visit, okay? Hobi will stay at the clinic for a few days.”

Namjoon signed behind the other boy’s heads, asking about the budget.

You signed back a simple, “Later.” Which confused the others, but they knew that sometimes you and Namjoon talked about things that they didn’t know about. “Alright, I’m ready to conk out. Joon, you and Jungkook spending the night together?”

Jungkook blushed furiously, but Namjoon nodded, pulling the boy up onto his lap.

You looked at the other three boys.

Taehyung looked between you and Jin, then sheepishly turned and pressed his face to Jin’s chest, surprising the fox as Taehyung hugged onto him.

You nodded and held out your hand to Jimin. “You and me, pup.”

Jimin took it shyly, letting you lead him upstairs. He parted to get his pajamas, coming back and finding you already in bed and quickly wrapping you in his arms. “So, Yoongi told us that he had to have surgery, but it felt like there was more.”

“He had to have an emergency kidney transplant,” You whispered, trying to find the best spot to rest your head. “Thankfully there was a donor that matched and was willing. But we’re going to have to be really careful from now on.”

Jimin nodded. “And money?”

You didn’t answer, finally finding the right spot.

“Yoongi told us about the money issue, y/n,” He admitted softly. “We know things are going to be tight. I only really brought it up because I want you to know that Yoongi and Namjoon are really doing their best to try and help and take care of you as well. Taehyung already called the neighbor and said he’d help out tomorrow since the weather is supposed to warm up a bit. And Yoongi said he was going to call Dad after you left the clinic. I’ve got a lot of stuff planted in the green-room. And Namjoon said he had something that we could do, but he didn’t specify, just said it was an idea he’d had a couple weeks ago when he and Hoseok were at the farmer’s market. And I saw that the orchard needed some help, and I bet Jin would go with me as well.”

You were crying again, but not as violently as earlier. “I love you guys so much.”

He pressed a kiss to your forehead, squeezing you a little tighter. “We’re family. You’ve done so much to help us, it’s only right that we help you help us.”

“You’ll have to learn how to take care of Jin if he has a seizure.”

“I know how, I just haven’t done it yet. Haven’t needed to. But it might leave Jungkookie here alone…”

“I can take him into work with me. He can work on reading braille.” A skill he should have been taught years ago, but was only just learning and very slowly.

Jimin nodded. “Then after your friend brings us home tomorrow, we’ll head out.”

You kissed him again. “Thank you, Jiminie.”

He licked your cheek, too sleepy and happy to combat the strange instinct, and did it a couple more times when he could taste the tears on your cheeks. “Mine,” He grumbled in a happy sort of way and then sighed softly.

———

Bringing Hoseok home had been one of the best things. It was a week after his surgery, and the weather was still crappy, but it wasn’t below freezing. Your boys had been working odd jobs, Jimin and Jin at the orchard (they had somehow managed not to lose most of their apples), Taehyung helping the same neighbor with a few other things after convincing the raccoons to move to a different area, and Yoongi working a night-job that he seemed to like.

Namjoon had gotten a bunch of quails from a neighbor lady who had wanted to stop taking care of them (she said she was getting too old for the hassle), and between him and the other boys, they had set up a pen and shelters for the quails. So you had lots of fresh eggs and Namjoon was incubating more already, and the lady had been nice enough to give the feed she had (which was the healthiest kind available, and you were grateful since that was the brand that had the best quality) as well as the incubator. He paid for it by fixing the fence to her garden and helping her with some of the heavy digging for her garden.

Your garden had taken a huge hit, but the root vegetables made it. Some of your trees had been killed by the sudden freeze, and your berry bushes looked pretty sad. It messed up most vegetation, and every farmer at the farmer’s market had increased their prices a bit because of of the damage to the crops.

Hoseok was just glad to be with you at the market, two weeks after his surgery.

Namjoon and Jimin were selling some of Namjoon’s eggs.

You knew Hoseok loved the farmer’s market. He knew most everyone by name, and they’d somehow heard about him going through surgery and were all so kind to him, especially the older women who told you how he’d always help them with any heavy lifting. They also tended to give him little get-well gifts. So, without purchasing anything you got a large jar of fresh, organic lemon juice,  a can of peaches, a bag of green beans (a few of which he was already munching on, healing made him extra hungry), a small thing of maple syrup (jackpot), and a couple scones by the time the two of you reached Namjoon’s table.

He grinned, dimples appearing, and signing that he’d made twenty dollars so far, and there was someone who wanted to buy a couple of the birds for meat at the next market.

You smiled back, proud of him.

Hoseok sat with Namjoon and Jimin started walking around with you as you checked to see what was there and what you could get. You managed to get some corn that had been picked just before the freeze, a bunch of baby cucumbers that you’d make into pickles, broccoli (at a discount because you purposefully chose the stemmiest ones and the man thought you were crazy), and some peppers that were deformed (not that it affected taste at all).

Hoseok came over and took Jimin from you, and when they reappeared, Jimin was carrying a watermelon and looking very pleased.

Hoseok was talking with the person who had all the watermelons, a bright grin on his face.

You shook your head a little, going over and looking at her cantaloupe as well.

She grinned at you. “You have such sweet boys.”

You smiled back. “The sweetest.”

“It’s so nice to see someone letting their hybrids have independence, and letting them go to the market for the house. They need the responsibilities, they’re meant to be hunters and foragers. It’s not natural to have everything provided for them. And your boys are all so well adjusted, even the grumpy one.”

You grinned at her description of Yoongi. “I wish I could take credit. They’re just sweethearts naturally, I guess.”

“How bad was your garden hit?”

You shrugged a little. “We managed to salvage most of it and a lot of my root vegetables survived. But it sort of messes up some of the later harvest.”

She nodded knowingly. “My husband and I barely got all of this in before the cold hit. We managed to save some of the garden beds with some straw and a tarp though. I’ve seen your boys going round and helping folks out ever since the storm, made me proud like they were my own boys.”

Hoseok made a squeak of pleasure.

Jimin had gone back to help Namjoon.

You nodded. “I’m proud of them too. They work so hard and I never really asked them too, either.”

Hoseok took your hand, looking at you adoringly.

“Well, except this little bun, he’s been stuck in bed,” You squeezed his hand and kissed his shoulder.

He chuckled softly.

“Well, I hope we see him more often now. I heard that old greybeard has some grapes if you’re interested, sunshine.”

Hoseok perked up and nodded. “Thanks halmeoni!” He pulled you toward the stall that must have been “old greybeard”s.

The man regarded Hoseok, then turned and picked up three bags from behind him. “Was wondering when you’d make it here. Five bucks.”

You looked at the bags, then him. “For all three?”

“Yeah, your boy here helped me unload my wares while my leg was broken.”

You just smiled and paid him for the large load. “Are you sure?”

“Go on, it’s mostly the grapes that came off the stems anyway,” He scoffed.

You dipped your head in thanks and headed back towards Namjoon and Jimin. “See, you didn’t need to get a job like the others, Hobi.”

He had a pleasant glow about him, but he also looked tired. “I think I need to be done for the day.”

“Okay,” You agreed, getting Namjoon to help you carry everything to the car since Jimin was talking with someone for him.

Jin, Taehyung, and Jungkook were playing in the front yard, but hurried to come help with whatever you might have gotten.

Taehyung hugged Hobi, nuzzling him lovingly. “Tired baby.”

“You’re the baby,” Hobi said, chuckling. “Let’s go sleep, baby.”

“Yay!”

Jungkook and Jin were playfully bickering as they carried everything but the watermelon (which you had) inside.

Yoongi was up, and he took the watermelon from you with a smile. “They must not have noticed this.”

You shook your head, knowing how big of watermelon fiends they were. “Put it in the garage for now.”

He nodded and headed that way while you headed inside.

Hobi and Taehyung were curled up together on the couch already, turning on a show.

Jin was looking through the takings, handing the bag of scone to Jungkook and telling him to take them to Hobi. He had a little bit of authority in the kitchen nowadays, making sure that everyone gets when you were at work and quickly picking up on different canning methods, which he was using for pickling some quail eggs recently.

It was warm enough today that all the windows and doors were open, letting the house air out.

Jungkook hugged you, kissing you multiple times. “Seokjinnie is being mean.”

“Yah, that’s hyung to you!”

“Seokjinnie-hyung is being mean,” Jungkook amended, kissing at your lips but missing and kissing your chin instead. “Stay still, y/n. This is hard enough.”

You laughed, and gave him a nice, long kiss.

He relaxed a bit, looking past you blindly, but his thumb caressing your cheek ever so gently. “Your skin is so soft. And I love your voice.”

You fondly tugged at his hair. “Your hair is getting long. Did you want to cut it?”

He shrugged. “Not yet.”

“Okay.”

“Does it look bad?”

“I don’t think you know how to look bad, Jungkook. Any of you boys, really.”

“Are we still spending tonight together?” Jungkook asked. “All of us?”

You nodded. “Yoongi doesn’t work tonight. We’re going to play a game as a family, then then we’ll go to bed. But right now, it’s lunch time.”

The boys had easily taken to you being theirs romantically, only insisting that if you were theirs that you also had disclose financial information and let them actually help and know how things are.

It was nice being able to let them take care of some things instead of only you. To share the burden.

Even though things weren’t really stable yet when it came to finances, especially with Hoseok’s medical bills, it was already starting to get a little better. And next week Jimin and Namjoon were house-sitting for your dad while he went on a road trip with some buddies (promising to bring back unsprayed oranges, so apparently they were going somewhere warm) to go hiking and such and he was paying them pretty well to keep a close eye on his bees.

Yoongi loved his night job, and it worked well with his need for a mostly nocturnal schedule. He’d only had one issue with another hybrid, one who had tried to pick on him due to his small size, not realizing that minks were ferocious predators when angered. Especially when they’d been abused before. It was cleared up and that employee had been fired. Now he was really happy.

Jin had started teaching Jungkook how to play the guitar, and was already doing better with sign language.

Taehyung’s mischief was oddly constructive the past week. No snakes in almost a month. Or frogs.

“Oh! Tae, did you tell her?” Jin asked, suddenly, looking into the living room.

Tae looked back, then abandoned Hobi as he scrambled toward you with a grin. “They asked me if I wanted to teach!”

You blinked at him, a little lost. “Who wanted you to teach what?”

He shook his head as if to get his thoughts straight. “Jin, Jungkook, and I were at the park and this school group came and they had kids that were deaf and blind and all that and I was trying to give them space but they realized Kookie was like them and then that we knew sign language too and I ended up playing with them for a while and the teacher said that they often hire hybrids to help in the classroom and since I already know sign language they wanted to know if I’d be interested and I said I was because I really liked playing with the kids and we went back to the school and the principal said that if you gave written consent then I could start on Monday!”

You grinned. “That’s amazing, TaeTae!” You hugged him tightly.

Hoseok was making a happy shrieking sound, but was too tired to get up, but Taehyung quickly went back to him wrapping his arms around the bunny happily.

The six of you sort of celebrated over lunch, and told the last two the good news when they arrived a few hours later.

You wondered if you’d ever breath properly after today. Between kisses and long hugs, lingering touches, and heated looks, you barely had time to breath and once they got you to bed…

“She’s look great full of our kits,” Yoongi agreed with a statement you hadn’t heard, but quickly spotted the tell-tale lip-bite of Namjoon’s.

Taehyung nodded.

“Nah, she’d look better with pups,” Jimin argued cheekily.

“I wish I could see her with either,” Jungkook complained.

“You’ll have to see her with your hands,” Hoseok said calmly. “Which could be even better.”

You arched an eyebrow. “You all know that we’re at least a year away from any impregnation here?”

“But we’ve been together for five years,” Namjoon objected calmly, smirking.

“Four years,” Yoongi said.

“Three and a half.”

“Three.” Taehyung piped in.

“Two for us,” Jungkook chirped triumphantly, holding his hand for a high-five with Jimin.

Jin looked sad. It hadn’t even been a year for him.

“Doesn’t change anything,” You told them, getting up and wrapping your arms around Jin’s neck from behind, resting your cheek on the top of his head. “We’ve still got to get used to being together before we take a completely different step and you guys don’t get any time with me. Besides, we can’t afford any children right now. Maybe after we manage to get our savings account back. We can start a kit slash pup fund.”

They all seemed to exchange glanced and you suddenly worried about what you might have just done.

“You know, having pups and kits is much cheaper than having human babies,” Yoongi said just a little too casually. “If we all starting making a little bit each day, we might be able to save up for it by Christmas.”

“Especially if we can cut the food budget even more,” Hoseok said, but he sounded more skeptical.

“The rest could eat more rice, and then we also have the quails and we should have our first hatchlings in a week or so,” Namjoon pointed out.

You looked between them all as they all started legitimately planning how to save money for babies, then sort of started laughing. Leaning against Jin, who glanced up at you.

“They’re still underestimating everything,” he whispered.

“Think they’d notice if we went upstairs?” You asked back, as the boys gathered to start doing the math.

He shook his head and both of you snuck upstairs, already kissing before you heard the shout of surprise from downstairs at finding you gone.

“Better hurry if you want to show them that you have just as much right to me,” You whispered.

He grinned and lay over you on the bed. “You’re okay with me touching you first?”

“I’m here with you, aren’t I?” You asked.

He quickly kissed you again, hands wandering.

“Oh damn,” Yoongi muttered from the doorway.

“You going to stand there all day?” You asked as Jin kissed down your neck.

All of the boys piled in and hurried to yours and Jin’s side.

A chaotic mess of a family, but filled with so much love, that you knew you’d never regret letting them all have part of your heart.

--

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