Chapter Text
Biyoo has a fever, and Kim Dokja cradles her in his arms, gently rocking her back and forth, soothing her as her cries gradually subside into soft sniffles.
"I’m so sorry you don’t feel well, baby. But, we are going to make it all better. I promise," he coos to her and kisses the top of her head.
Biyoo's skin still feels hot to the touch, her eyes clouded with sickness. Nightmares plague her, causing her to cry herself to sleep a few minutes ago. Kim Dokja lets out a sigh as he rubs her back and continues to rock the toddler until her sniffles cease.
Seeing his usually bubbly daughter so unwell breaks his heart.
And he blames himself for this situation.
Last week, Kim Dokja got caught in the rain when returning home from his publisher's office. That downpour left him with a cold and fever, forcing him to keep a distance from his daughter and husband to prevent them from falling ill.
The worst part of it all is keeping an energetic three-year-old cooped up in the apartment. The toddler is restless because she wasn't allowed to be near his Papa for a while.
As a young pup, Biyoo still requires the scent of her parents. Initially, Yoo Joonghyuk tried his best to handle it alone— but the toddler remained fussy and distressed because naturally, a pup needs their omega parent's pheromones more than their alpha parent's.
So Biyoo, however, is next to fall ill.
She catches the same cold and fever the day after Kim Dokja scented her.
Kim Dokja never imagined this scenario would happen to him. He panics and is on the verge of tears, blaming himself until Yoo Joonghyuk finally calms him down.
"None of this is your fault, Dokja. Don’t stress too much about it. All she needs is rest and hydration. We'll keep an eye on her, and then we can settle in for the night."
After that, the alpha sets an alarm for the next dose of medicine, reassuring Kim Dokja that he'll take care of her while the night passes.
"You're so good to us, " Yoo Joonghyuk reassures, planting a kiss on Kim Dokja's head.
So that night, Kim Dokja gradually loosens his panic and nods obediently.
And there it is, he thinks— the reminder why he doesn’t have to do it alone. That, since he has his husband, there's no rhyme or reason to go about it alone. Yoo Joonghyuk's support is invaluable and Kim Dokja is glad that his husband is much calmer in dealing with situations like this.
So, after his cold fully recovers— Kim Dokja takes a turn by taking time off work to take care of his baby.
Kim Dokja wishes he could move heaven and earth if it meant that his daughter would get better and get rid of this damn flu.
Around six in the morning, Biyoo finally stays asleep, and her parents get some shut eyes as well.
Between Biyoo's crying and his paranoia, Kim Dokja himself hasn’t slept well in the past two days. Last night, Biyoo still kept both her parents up dealing with her. Her short black hair is messed up from tossing and turning, her normally bright eyes clouded over, and her complexion flushed.
He finds out rather quickly just how light of a sleeper he has become after being a father— it only takes one tiny whimper to wake him in a second.
On a normal day, Biyoo always has boundless energy that doesn't wane until the sun sets. She adores animals and books with all her heart, is remarkably intelligent for her age, knowledgeable in the subjects she learns, and loves solving puzzles.
Now, she barely has enough energy to sit up, her attention focused on coughing or finding another blanket to cover her shivering figure. The little girl breathes heavily, curled into herself, looking as fragile as the day she was born.
Cradling her with the gentlest tones he’s capable of, Kim Dokja brushes long wet bangs out of her face, doing his best not to scowl at how worryingly hot to the touch she is. Biyoo is barely lucid, shivering and curling up further at how undoubtedly cold his hands must be to her senses. Her throat is tight from keeping the tears at bay, and she coughs pitifully into her blankets.
She also mumbles something unheard, saying something like there is stuffed cotton in her mouth, because her voice coming out is muffled due to the congestion in her airway. She pleads silently for her father to stay; a request Kim Dokja could never refuse.
Kim Dokja had propped up two pillows under his head, but Biyoo remained restless, unable to sleep comfortably. Now he feels utterly powerless and longs for his husband to be by their side. Yoo Joonghyuk can't be with them right now due to an unavoidable schedule related to his upcoming national esports tournament. His manager didn't allow rescheduling, but the alpha insisted that Kim Dokja should not hesitate to contact him about Biyoo's condition at any time.
So, without much thought, Kim Dokja grabs his phone and informs his husband about their daughter's current situation. In less than two minutes, Yoo Joonghyuk replies to the chat and suggests making her sleep in a half-sitting position to ease her breathing.
This leads to the omega lying on the rocking chair with Biyoo sleeping on his chest while he reads his journals. Following Yoo Joonghyuk's advice, Biyoo becomes more comfortable and sleeps a little bit longer. It's also the best way to monitor her condition, as Kim Dokja realizes his presence keeps the nightmares at bay for his daughter.
Kim Dokja sighs softly, smiling down at his daughter curled up on his chest. He holds his finger between the pages of his book, looking at the warm tiny head resting across his heart. He knows he's become sentimental since his daughter was born, but Kim Dokja can't bring himself to care.
Biyoo is the most precious thing to him. She will always be.
He pulls his daughter closer, resting his chin on top of her head and wrapping both his arms around her, soothing her with gentle circles on her back. Biyoo begins to relax, her shivering slowing down, and her breathing improving.
Somehow, Kim Dokja feels at ease after seeing how safe she feels with him.
A comfortable silence passes between them, broken only by Biyoo's gentle snores. Eventually, exhaustion catches up with Kim Dokja, and he can't help but yawn and rub his eyes.
"Get well soon, sweetheart," he whispers, leaning down to kiss her temple lovingly. He listens to her soft, deep breathing before allowing himself to drift off to sleep.
They stay in that position for a good few hours before Kim Dokja feels Biyoo's sleeping form move against him. He carefully tucks the blanket closer around her. Biyoo quietly snuffles against his chest, her tiny fingers scraping over his skin as he flexes her hands. She yawns, whimpers softly, and then snuggles back into sleep. Kim Dokja strokes her back, bending to press a kiss on the top of her head.
He runs his fingers through her hair and softly says, "Try to sleep again, hm?"
"No," Biyoo croaks, gripping her father's long sleeve. "No, Papa…"
“Should we head back to bed then? Maybe we can watch a movie if you want?” Kim Dokja suggests, and Biyoo nods, making grabby hands. He smiles and carries her to the living room, setting her under the blanket.
“What movie, baby?” He asks, setting up the movie before settling into bed beside her. The Disney castle appears on the screen before the singing starts.
"Papa…"
"Hmm? What is it?" Kim Dokja turns to give her his full attention.
Biyoo snuggles up to his side, her half-lidded eyes still glued to her favorite scene when Elsa sings the phenomenal song 'Let It Go'.
"I want princess hair…" Biyoo squirms against her father. "Like Elsa's hair, I want to be like her."
Kim Dokja looks at her messy bun, her hair tumbling down past his shoulders. He gently combs through it, the gesture soothing and tender. He raises an eyebrow but decides to grant her request, smiling and giving an affirmative nod.
"Okay, Elsa's hairstyle it is. I will braid your hair when you get better later, how does that sound?"
Biyoo squeals in delight, jumping at her father and murmuring a sweet thank you. Kim Dokja's heart swells, and he makes a mental note to ask his husband about braiding her hair later.
They continue to watch the movie in a comfortable silence.
Kim Dokja jolts awake slightly some time later when Biyoo shifts, clambering onto his chest. A warm cheek presses to his chest, little hand curled into a fist, seeking comfort.
Kim Dokja smiles sleepily, setting his hand on Biyoo's back, thumb rubbing small and soothing circles. Music plays from the TV, the 'Frozen' movie still rolling, but he doesn’t have the energy to switch it off.
It takes much less time than he thinks it might as he sits there on the rocking chair, petting her hair and pressing a tiny kiss into her black locks. Once she is pretty much asleep again, Kim Dokja turns off the TV and goes to sleep with his tiny daughter in his lap.
It really doesn’t take long for him to fall back into a dreamless sleep.
Yoo Joonghyuk is used to finding Kim Dokja asleep when he returns home. It had become almost a routine, one that Yoo Joonghyuk suspected might be intentional on Kim Dokja's part. He starts to think that maybe Kim Dokja is doing it on purpose, making sure he stumbles upon him being a sweet and doting father with their daughter, to make him fall even more in love with him.
It's not surprising to find Kim Dokja dozing off, though, while it's early in the evening, the sun is still on its way to being tucked in for the night.
It's been a busy and tiring day for both of them.
The rocking chair has become Kim Dokja's go-to spot for short naps. It is quite large, long, and wide enough even for Biyoo to sprawl out comfortably on top of his chest.
Kim Dokja's head is tilted, highlighting his fair neck. He is in a plain white t-shirt, one that goes a little sheer in the way it stretches over the width of his chest, and a pair of well-fitting black sweats, the shirt tucked in to make the casual outfit look dressier than it is.
Most notably though, Biyoo is curled up to Kim Dokja's chest with her face tucked into his neck, sleeping soundly. One of Kim Dokja's hands is resting securely on her back, the occasional twitch of Biyoo's tiny legs causes Kim Dokja's hand to unconsciously move with her, holding tighter even in his sleep, keeping her safely tucked in on his lap.
She looks tiny under the width of Kim Dokja's palms, and Yoo Joonghyuk's cheeks hurt with the force of his smile. The pair of them like that alone is enough to make his chest ache with love after a long day of work, endless interviews for the upcoming brand deals.
Yoo Joonghyuk has never been this emotional, but ever since becoming a father, he feels like he's become extra soft and more gentle. However, he would defend getting teary-eyed over this, having his whole family tangled up together being the first thing he comes home to after a massive day.
Yoo Joonghyuk watches the two for a few more quiet seconds, letting his eyes wander this for a moment, knowing the years of them being like this are fleeting. He blinks heavily and hushes away the thoughts of his daughter growing older, for now, he focuses on this evening, the rest of this night, on every minute he is blessed with them.
Part of him wants to leave them be, let them sleep a while longer, but he knows that the longer they sleep now, the harder it will be to get Biyoo back to bed, and for Kim Dokja to sleep later on. Besides, the way his husband's neck is bent can't be good for his back, and Yoo Joonghyuk knows the man has been in the same position for several hours.
Still within the clutches of unconsciousness, Kim Dokja hears a soft clicking of the front door and approaching footsteps. He can feel a cold hand run through his hair, making him shiver.
Yoo Joonghyuk steps closer to his mate, crouches down slightly, and gently lays a hand on his shoulder, giving a firm squeeze.
“Nhh?” Kim Dokja attempts to speak, eyes still not cracking open, but everything is blurry.
Yoo Joonghyuk mumbles something lightly, gives another squeeze of his hand when Kim Dokja stirs slightly. He moves his hand to fit on Kim Dokja's soft cheek, thumb rubbing back and forth as he watches the man's eyes flutter, fighting to wake up.
He leans over a bit to pepper kisses along Kim Dokja's cheeks and nose. He smiles into his skin when he feels the sleeping man let out a heavy sigh. Yoo Joonghyuk slides his hand up Kim Dokja's cheek to his hair and scratches through the length of it gently, presses more kisses to his temple before he pulls back to look down at him.
Kim Dokja groans, rolling his head to the side. His lashes flutter in quick blinks before his eyes finally open, black orbs gazing back at Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly.
"Hi, I just got home," Yoo Joonghyuk runs his fingers through Kim Dokja's hair, watching the man lick his lips with sleepy eyes.
"Joonghyuk?" Kim Dokja grumbles, looking at the alpha with a dazed expression, still foggy with sleep. He tilts his head up into the petting of Yoo Joonghyuk's hand, letting out a wide yawn, face scrunching up.
"What time is it?" he asks, looking down, eyebrows raised as he takes the sleeping Biyoo to his chest. He mutters a single "oh" after feeling his daughter's weight still on his chest, sprawled and curled up into the warmth.
Yoo Joonghyuk keeps running his fingers through Kim Dokja's hair, watching the man lick his lips, eyes still blinking sleepily.
"Biyoo is just like you. Your nose scrunches up exactly the same as hers," Yoo Joonghyuk murmurs and crouches down by the sofa. He strokes his fingers over the top of his daughter's head, smiling at the way her little nose scrunches up.
“Dada?” Biyoo mumbles, noticing the familiar cedarwood scent from his other father. Her sleepy, soft little voice strikes a chord in Yoo Joonghyuk's chest, making him go warm.
His little princess.
Even just a day away, he misses the little one so deeply, aching to see her, talk to her, hear her voices and laugh, see her happy smiles. Biyoo has truly become his whole world.
Yoo Joonghyuk reaches out to scoop up Biyoo from Kim Dokja's lap as she holds out her chubby little arms. He carefully tucks her into his arm, now happily resting on his chest.
Biyoo is quick to lay her head on Yoo Joonghyuk's shoulder, still half asleep but happy to see her dad, her tiny fingers tugging at the strings of his black shirt. The taller man cuddles her tighter, closes his eyes for a moment, and takes a deep breath in, happy to finally be with his beloved daughter again.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes stay closed as Kim Dokja's arms wrap around his waist from behind, easily coaxing them into his embrace. The taller man sighs and lets his husband bundle them all into his hold.
“You must be tired,” Kim Dokja whispers into his husband's ear, his fingers beginning to massage at the low of Yoo Joonghyuk's back and shoulders, right where an aching knot had formed throughout the day.
There is nothing Yoo Joonghyuk loves more than being home with his family, Kim Dokja and his daughter, where he can just relax and be himself.
“Was she still cranky? How is her fever?” Yoo Joonghyuk whispers, taking a few more moments to enjoy the feeling of being in Kim Dokja's arms before he pulls back and turns to full attention.
"Her fever's gone down, but she needs to take the medicine again in an hour. She just fell asleep again, not too long ago, so she'll probably be out again until then."
Yoo Joonghyuk nods solemnly, "I believe she should start feeling better soon."
He heads toward the nursery, and Kim Dokja follows his slow steps. Yoo Joonghyuk rocks her in his arms for a few more minutes to make sure she falls asleep again. Once he is sure she is drifting back to sleep, he kisses her forehead and gently lays her down in the crib.
The two of them stand there for a moment, just admiring their little love. The worryness in their faces now melted away.
"Upstairs?" Yoo Joonghyuk falters, his good mood fizzling.
Kim Dokja nods sheepishly, "Come along, you,” he says, standing and tugging his husband up along with him.