MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【142】

"Noo-na," I sound out, "Noona. You can do it!"

Steadying Hershel on my lap, I repeat, "Noona..?"

"Shouldn't you teach him 'aunt'?" Taeyang questions.

"Aunt makes me feel old," I deny with a shake of my head, "Noona works much better. I've never been a noona."

"Still," Maggie laughs from her seat at the desk, "He probably won't be able to say anything for a couple more months."

"It's fine!" I assure, "He's smarter than we know. He's probably running laps when we're not looking at him."

I could see Maggie and Taeyang trade a smile as I tug Hershel closer, nudging my nose against his that causes him to laugh.

"Isn't that right?" I ask him, receiving a squeal of excitement.

"Since you look so content, could I ask you into doing a favor for me?" Maggie asks.

"What's up?" I ask, resituating Hershel.

"Would you mind watching him-"

"Yes," I answer easily.

"Let me finish," she laughs, "Watching him while I go out on that run later this week?"

"You're going on a run?" I ask.

"First one back," she nods, "Figure I should start getting back in the swing of things out there."

"Want me to go with you?" Taeyang asks her.

"No, I'll be fine. Tina, Enid, Jesus, Daniel, Marco, Sasha, Ken, Alden.. A lot of people are going on this one."

"Ohh, this is that multi-group run, right? To the capitol building?" I recall.

"That's the one," Maggie nods, "And kinda need eyes on everything here while we're out. Just to oversee everything. I'd appreciate it if that was up to you two."

"Temporary presidency? I'm down," Taeyang nods, pointing to me, "Be my first lady?"

"Do I get to boss Kal around?" I point back to him.

"Yes you may."

"Deal," I turn my point to a thumbs up, Taeyang smiling as he winks.

"Hilltop is in trusted hands," Taeyang tells Maggie.

"Awesome, thank you for this. I just wanna get back out there if even for a little," she expresses.

"Tell Michonne and the others to stop by sometime when you're there," I add, "Haven't seen them in awhile now."

"Deal," she repeats my earlier motion with a thumbs up.

--

"He's grown so much in just a few months.. It's hard to believe he used to be so tiny," I muse, leaning over Taeyang's shoulder.

"He's a growing man, what else do you expect?" Taeyang asks, bouncing Hershel on his lap, "He can't stay tiny forever."

I whine, resting my head on his back, "But, I want him to stay tiny forever!"

Taeyang laughs, making a noise to Hershel that makes him laugh as well- I could only pout.

"Great.. You two are already conspiring against me," I sigh.

"It's what boy do, sadly," Beth comments as she walks in the room.

I pick my head up to see her and Noah side by side, sitting down at the table as well.

"But, you love us anyway," Noah reminds, leaning closer to Beth.

"I guess so," Beth scrunches her nose at him.

Noah smiles, giving her a wink before looking back to us, giving Hershel a cute wave.

"You two are good with him," Beth adds with a smile.

I look to Taeyang better, seeing how gentle yet playful he was with the infant. How Hershel looked up at him with twinkling eyes and a smile showing from where he was also biting at his fingers.

A feeling settles in my chest, that familiar admiration and love somehow amplifying to higher extents than I'd ever realized before.

Taeyang was mine and I was his, I've known this for the longest time now.. And yet, I could only stare at him as I realized once again that he was mine.

And in a sense.. I could see my future.

The future we all thought was out of reach and unattainable. But, for me, it was right in front of me.

--

A Beth and Noah took Hershel for a couple hours, Taeyang and I returned to our trailer to return to work. But, my head wasn't working straight as I could only look at him instead of anything I was meant to be focusing on.

"Something on your mind?" he asks, leaning forward and smiling as he saw my eyes follow him.

"I.. really love you," I decipher in my fuzzy head.

"Yeah?" he teases.

"Yeah," I repeat, though my tone was more serious.

"And what is about me that's been running in your mind that you don't even pay attention to work?" Taeyang questions.

"I like your eyes," I point out.

Taeyang laughs, the sound putting a sense of ease in my stomach while a smile grows on my own lips.. My favorite sound, I do believe.

"And I like that when I see your eyes, I see what's most important to me.. That I can see you.. And that when I see you, it means I get to love you."

Taeyang gives one of those gentle looks, eyes sparkling with my favorite stars. He turns in his seat, patting his leg and I laugh under my breath, pulling myself out of my chair to sit on his lap.

"You know that I love you more than you can ever imagine, right?" he asks, rubbing my back.

"I don't know.. I think I might have you outmatched by a bit," I hum.

"I love you enough to let you keep believing that," he nods, one hand patting his pocket.

I scoff, leaning to wrap my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder. That warmth, safety, and comfort that I never got bored of- only wanting more.

I think back to what caused my overwhelming love motion- wondering how Hershel was with Beth and Noah. Then, my mind drifts again as I remember the many sights of Taeyang holding him, playing with him, trying to convince him to say 'hyung'..

I pick my head back up, looking to Taeyang, both of us speaking at once-

"What if we had a baby?" - "Would you marry me?"

--

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

i-
they-