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Jungkook rolled over and sneezed.  Then he opened his eyes.  What was that smell?  Was Namjoon trying to cook by himself again?

Jungkook sat up and glanced across the room.  He froze.  His gift was sitting on his dresser.  Did one of the guys find it then?

A huge grin suddenly wreathing his face, he jumped up off his bed and flew across the room.  He picked up the little box.  He shook it, but it didn’t make any noise.  It weighed almost nothing.  He smiled down at the crimson ribbon adorning the top of the box.  He reached down and pulled on one of its ends, undoing the bow.  When the ribbon had fallen away from the box, he lifted the lid to reveal a rolled-up piece of paper.  It had been tied shut with another red ribbon.

He set the box on the dresser and pulled the scroll from it.  He slid the ribbon off one end of it and unrolled the paper.  Then he began to read it.

“A quarter of a century has passed.

I remain the youngest, the very last.

Golden, brilliant, and true all of my days.

Darling, lovely, and sweet in all my ways.

“I am the favorite.

I’m the beloved one.

Really should savor it,

Being the darling son.

“I am the little prince,

The magnificent king,

Fabulously royal,

Fantastically loyal,

“With a wide heart that sings,

Delights in everything.

I am the darling son.

I’m the beloved one.

“I’m the beloved one,

I’m the beloved one,

The beloved one.

“I am golden, golden, golden, golden

Like the brightly shining sun; their little one.

But the widest of hearts beats in my chest.

With a deep living love for all the rest.”

“I am the favorite.

I’m the beloved one.

Really should savor it,

Being the darling son.

“I am the little prince,

The magnificent king,

Fabulously royal,

Fantastically loyal,

“With a wide heart that sings,

Delights in everything.

I am the darling son.

I’m the beloved one.

“I’m the beloved one,

I’m the beloved one,

The beloved one.”

Jungkook smiled.  Yoongi had written him a song.  A beautiful song.  To remind him of how loved he was.  And to wear it as a badge of honor. 

He read through the song again and wondered at the melody.  He already had one playing in his head, so he began to sing in his pure, sweet voice.  The second time he sang the chorus through, his voice had strengthened, and it drew the attention of his brothers who had been congregating out in the living room.  One by one, they made their way to his room. Thankful that the wait was over.  They had all been chomping at the bit to begin celebrating the birthday of their precious maknae.

Yoongi was the first to wander into Jungkook’s room.  Jungkook was facing away from his doorway, so he was unaware when Yoongi joined him.  He simply continued to sing his heart out.  A wide smile slowly spread across Yoongi’s face, lighting it with his pleasure in Jungkook’s song.  In that beautiful voice that always sang with such passion.  When Jungkook ceased to sing, Yoongi spoke up.

“That was perfect.  Just perfect.  Exactly as I imagined it.”

Jungkook spun around.  Surprise illuminated his countenance as his eyes met those of his revered hyung.  “It’s a beautiful song, Yoongi.  Thank you!  I love it!”

“Are you ready to record it?” Namjoon queried quietly from the doorway.

Jungkook glanced at him in surprise.  “Record it?”

“Mm-hmm,” Yoongi responded.  “We’ve all been waiting all day long to hear you sing it.”

“You have?”  Jungkook’s eyebrows were now threatening the ceiling.

“I’m ready to play the piano for you.  I had a melody all picked out, but I think I like yours better.”

“You do?” Jungkook breathed in wonder.

Yoongi smiled as he nodded.  “I do.”

“Can I hear yours?”

“After you record yours.”

“All right.  Let’s go.”

“Maybe we’ll release it both ways,” Namjoon suggested.  “We’ve never done that before.  Released the same lyrics with two different melodies.  I rather like that idea.”

“Sounds like a fabulous way to start an ARMY war,” Tae remarked dryly.

“Yeah,” responded Jimin.  “I can just see it now.”  His voice went up an octave as he impersonated a girl, “Yoongi’s rendition is the best!”

Hobi caught on immediately with a gasp of mock horror.  “How dare you?!  How could any version be better than Jungkook’s?  He is the golden maknae after all!  Jungkookie’s melody is the prettiest!” Hobi crooned in a high-pitched voice.

Jin fell dramatically against the wall as his hand flew to his heart.  “How can you say such a thing?  How can you choose between them?  They are both the best!” he exclaimed in his best feminine tone.

Jungkook grinned at them all.  “Perhaps we won’t release this one to ARMY.  Wouldn’t want to start a war or anything.”

“I’m sure this song feels pretty personal too,” Tae murmured.

“When has that ever stopped Jungkook-shi from sharing anything with ARMY?” Jimin queried.

“Too true,” Hobi agreed.

“Decalcomania?” Tae offered an example.

“You never did finish that one,” Yoongi pointed out.

“Yeah, your ARMYs are still waiting with bated breath for the rest of that song, Kooks,” murmured Namjoon.

Jungkook grinned at the affectionate nickname.  But he didn’t respond.

“Then there was My Time,” Tae listed another song that had unveiled Jungkook’s heart.

“Don’t forget Samgyeopsal,” Jin quipped with a laugh.

“Oh, that was the most personal one of all.  You know how passionate Jungkookie is about his food,” Tae grinned.

Everyone laughed.

“Jungkook, we have another present for you,” Jin informed him softly.  “Come on.”  Then he disappeared through the doorway.

A few moments later, Jungkook was the last of the group to enter the kitchen.  On the island sat a stunning cake.  It was covered in chocolate frosting.  Someone had planted little Choco Boys in the top to form two huge letters: JK.  When Jungkook saw them, he began to chuckle.

“You’re our little Choco Boy,” Yoongi murmured as he reached out to flick Jungkook’s hair.  “It’s not quite as long as last year, but I’m sure within no time at all, it will be again.”

Yoongi turned to glance at the little chocolate-covered cookie stubs on the cake.  “They look just like you, Jungkookie.  When your hair is longish.”  A puff of amusement left his lips as he stared affectionately up at Jungkook whose grin had come out to play.

He peered up at Jin.  “Is this your masterpiece?” he asked.

Jin nodded.  “Just the cake, though.  I can’t take responsibility for the Choco Boys.  That was all Jimin.”

Jungkook met Jimin’s eyes and shook his head. 

Jimin’s lips spread in a wide smile.  “Happy Birthday, JK.”

Jungkook grinned, but he actually preferred it when Jimin called him Jungkook-shi.  “So the song is from Yoongi.  The cake is from Jin and Jimin…”

“Hey!  It’s from me too!” Tae exclaimed.  “I helped make the frosting.”

Jin nodded.  “He did.”

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.  “Alone?”

Everyone chortled.

“Is that what the smell is?” Jungkook continued, causing another ripple of laughter to cross the kitchen.  “What is that?”

His third question revealed a couple of guffaws.  But no one answered him.

“Uh,” Hobi responded, “I made that smell.  Creating your present.”

Jungkook’s left eyebrow popped up.  Rather than elucidating, Hobi handed him a package. 

“You can open it now.”

Jungkook’s lips curved into a sweet smile.  “Thanks, Hobi.” 

He unwrapped it to reveal a flat wooden plaque in which a few words had been etched with a woodburning tool.  “Ah,” his sudden realization escaped his lips as a breath.

Jungkook’s eyes slid across the plaque absorbing its message.

JUNGKOOK

Our Golden Favorite

Our Little Prince

Our Darling Son

Our Beloved One

Jungkook blinked back tears as he stared down at Hobi’s handiwork, the sentiments of six of his closest friends.  The smile had faded from his face.  He cleared his throat as he closed his eyes, and several tears slipped down his cheeks.  Much to his embarrassment.  He hid behind the plaque as his brothers all surrounded him.  Namjoon threw his arms around him from behind.  He was followed by five other young men until a group hug was being enjoyed by all to a raucous chorus of oohs and ahs and several renditions of “Jungkookie!”

Everyone’s heart had bent towards their youngest and the tender moment they were sharing with him. 

Finally, Namjoon shattered it with, “Don’t forget.  I sanded it for you, Hobi.”

Hobi grinned. “Yep.  And you stained it too.”

Namjoon grimaced.  “Let’s forget about that.” 

But only he and Hobi knew that he had accidentally knocked over the can of stain.  Thankfully, he’d been fast on his feet and the can had been only half full, so very little had spilled onto the table.  They had cleaned it up with none the wiser.

Hobi changed the subject to draw everyone’s attention away from Namjoon.  “So…is it time to eat cake?”

Several voices raised themselves in agreement.

But before they cut into that luscious cake, Jungkook glanced around at them all.  “Thanks, guys, for making my birthday special.”

“Little Prince,” Yoongi murmured affectionately as he ruffled his dark hair, “your birthday is always special.”