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It was a normal morning at the Kim household.  Jin was making his two-year-olds pancakes while eleven-month-old Kookie watched from his highchair.  The older set of twins had risen before the sun and inhaled their cereal before catching the bus.  The younger set of twins hadn’t woken yet.  They still slept pretty long nights when they weren’t woken up by Kookie.

Tae was the first to emerge, surprisingly enough.  His short, fluffy black hair stuck out in different directions as he sucked on his pacifier.  He hugged his blanket as he wandered over to Jin.

“Hi, sleepyhead.” Jin patted Tae’s hair down. “Did you sleep well?”

Tae nodded his small head.  He held his hands up to Jin, still holding his blanket in his left hand.  Jin obliged his silent request and scooped him up.  Tae laid his head against Jin’s shoulder and watched him make the pancakes.

“Do you want peanut butter on your pancakes, Tae-Tae?”

Tae nodded into Jin’s neck.

“Ok.”

The kitchen was silent but for Jin’s humming.  Until Jimin came running out into the kitchen a few minutes later.  Jin had just given Kookie his pancake and seated Tae in his booster at the kitchen table with his two peanut buttered pancakes.

“Have cakies?” Jimin asked excitedly.

Jin chuckled.  Jimin was definitely more of a morning person than Tae.  Tae was a night owl.  Jin would enter their room around eleven to find Tae babbling to himself while Jimin slept away.  Then he’d sleep until eight or nine.  Or until he smelled pancakes.

“Yes, Minnie, we have cakies.  You want syrup?”

Jimin nodded enthusiastically as he pulled himself up into his booster next to Tae’s.  Tae was obviously still coming out of his sleep, slowly stabbing the pancake pieces Jin had cut for him.  Then he’d bring them to his mouth and chew them slowly.  Kookie, however, was tearing his pancake apart and only occasionally would a piece meet his mouth.  The pancake was instead all over the table and floor.

When Jin finally got Jimin his pancakes, Jimin insisted he could cut them himself.

“No, I cut cakies.  I’m big boy.”

Jin had just let him do it himself because he had to pick up Kookie’s pancake mess right now.  Eventually, most of everyone’s pancake had made it into their mouths and Jin had the kitchen clean.  Thank God for Pororo to keep them occupied.  Now Jin had to get them all ready.

“All right, time to turn the TV off now.”

“Nuuu want to watch more Pororo…” Tae whined.

“Nope.  We have to get ready to go to the zoo with Grandpa Yoongi.  He’s been wanting to see you guys.”

Tae continued to pout as Jin turned off the TV and scooped Kookie up from the corner of the couch where he had been left.

“You guys need to go pick out your clothes while I change Kookie, ok?”

Jimin was up off the couch and down the hall before Jin could even finish his statement.  Tae, however, was still pouting on the couch.

“C’mon, Tae.  We’ll get to see the tigers and the penguins.”

Tae’s eyes lit up. “Guin-guins?”

“Mmhmm, so go get dressed so we can go.”

“Ok!”

Tae was up off the couch and waddling after Jimin in a matter of seconds.  Now all Jin needed to do was make sure everyone had clean diapers before they left and that they didn’t forget sunscreen and snacks.  And the diaper bag.  Last time Jin had forgotten the diaper bag Kookie had had a blowout, and they’d ended up going home way sooner than expected.

Half an hour later Jin had changed three diapers, gotten all three of his little boys dressed for the zoo and appropriately covered in sunscreen, and gotten the diaper bag packed.

“All right.  Apple juice, check.  Sunscreen, check.  Extra changes of clothes, check.  Banana puffs, check.  Applesauce, check.  Diapers and wipes, check.  We have diapers in both sizes?  Yup.  All right.  Hopefully that’s it.  Minnie!  Tae-Tae!  Are you ready?”

Tae and Jimin came wandering out wearing matching ball caps they had found in the closet.  They had been Joonie and Hobi’s when they had been tiny.

“Appa, we need shoes!” Jimin exclaimed, holding out his tiny sneakers to Jin.  They hadn’t quite learned how to put their own shoes on yet.  Or any clothing article, for that matter.

“All right, couch, you two.”

The twins climbed up onto the couch.  Jin helped them put their shoes on while trying his best to keep an eye on Kookie, who was crawling around on the floor.

“Ok.  I think we’re ready to go now.  Who’s gonna get in the car first?”

Many shrieked exclamations later Jin had gotten Kookie into his carrier and into the car. Then he had helped Tae and Jimin get their seat belts on and they were off to the zoo.

——————–

Usually Tae and Jimin fought over the second seat in the double stroller.  Jin still had it from when his older twins had been tots, but it only fit two little kids, and Kookie had to be in a stroller.  Today, however, Jimin insisted he could walk because he was a big boy, so Tae had happily seated himself in the front seat while curious Kookie peeked his head out from the backseat.  He was still a little too small to sit in the front seat.  Jimin held Jin’s hand as they walked up to meet Yoongi at the entrance.

Once they had all checked in, Tae had insisted they go see the penguins first.  He’d climbed from the stroller and joined Jimin in chasing the penguins back and forth along the above-ground aquarium.  Eventually they had squatted themselves in the middle of the glass wall and watched the penguins swim back and forth.

“Wan’ go see tigers now!” Tae exclaimed as Jin collected the two of them.

“No!  Phantas!  Wan’ see Phantas!” Jimin argued.

“No!  Tigers!”

“Tae, since you picked the penguins we’ll go see the elephants next.  Then maybe we can see the tigers.” Jin interjected.

Tears started to drip from Tae’s eyes. “But wan’ see tigers…”

“You already chose to see something.  It’s Minnie’s turn now.”

“Nu…no!  See tigers!” Tae suddenly exclaimed as tears streamed down his face.

“Tae, get in the stroller.  We’ll see the tigers later.”

“Noooooooooo!  Now!”

“Taehyung Kim.”

Tae’s eyes went wide as he stared up at Jin, tears still streaking his face.

“Stroller.  Now.  If you throw any more of a fit no TV tomorrow.”

Tae sniffed and climbed into the stroller, no more words spoken.  Silent tears spilled down his cheeks as they headed to go see the elephants.

When they got to the elephant exhibit, which was considerably far from the penguins, Jimin bounded up to the ledge to look down at the elephants.  Yoongi held him up higher so he didn’t have to look through the bars.

“Look, Grampa Yoonie, it’s phanta!”

Yoongi chuckled. “Yes.  It’s a phanta.”

“Down, down.”

As soon as Yoongi put him down, Jimin dragged him over to the stand of merchandise that was sold to help save more elephants.  He pointed to the elephant plushie that was on the table.

“Can I have that one, Grampa Yoonie?  Pleeeeeeease?”

Yoongi already had his wallet out of his pocket. “All right.  Let’s take it to that nice lady over there, ok?  She’ll ring it up for us.” He responded, motioning to the clerk.

“Ok!” Jimin picked up the plushie he wanted and took it over to her, Yoongi in tow.

Meanwhile, Jin had squatted down in front of Tae, who was still seated in the stroller, tear tracks shining on his cheeks.

“Tae.”

Tae sniffed, not meeting Jin’s eyes.

“Tae, you weren’t being very nice earlier.  Do you know why it wasn’t nice?”

Tae sniffed again. “Because it was Minnie’s turn to pick…”

“That’s right.  How are we going to act next time it’s someone else’s turn?”

“Not…not be mean.”

“Yes.  Good boy.  Remember that next time, ok?”

Tae rubbed his cheeks as more tears materialized in his eyes. “Ok…” it was silent for a few seconds before Tae spoke again. “Is Appa mad at Tae-Tae?”

“Tae, baby, look at me.”

Tae looked up hesitantly.

“I’m not mad, baby.  But you weren’t very nice to Minnie so you’re in trouble for that.  Ok?  How would you feel if Minnie got two turns and you got none?”

“Not good…”

“Right.  Minnie wouldn’t have felt good, either.  You understand, baby?”

Tae nodded slowly.

“Good.  Do you need a hug?”

Tae didn’t respond.  He simply unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up, instantly hugging Jin. “’m sorry…”

“I forgive you, baby.  But now you need to apologize to Minnie.”

“Ok…”

“Tae-Tae!  Look!  I got a phanta!”

Tae pulled away from Jin to look up at Jimin, who was holding his new stuffed elephant out to Tae.

“Oh…”

“Tae-Tae, do you have something to say to Minnie?” Jin asked.

Tae hung his head. “’m sorry, Minnie…I was mean…”

“It ok.” Jimin engulfed Tae in a hug, and Tae burst into tears.

“’m sorry…I was a bad boy…” Tae sobbed.

Jimin patted his back, a pout overcoming his face.

“Tae…it’s all right.” Yoongi said softly. “Nobody’s perfect.  Even I’m mean to people sometimes.”

Tae lifted his head from Jimin’s shoulder, sniffling slightly. “No… Grampa Yoonie not mean.”

“Sometimes I am, baby.  You just always need to remember to say you’re sorry, ok?”

Tae nodded. “Ok…”

Their conversation was interrupted by Kookie cooing.  He’d fallen asleep at the penguin exhibit but now he was wide awake.  He clapped his hands together, making Tae smile slightly.

“Ok.  Let’s go eat.  Kookie’s probably hungry now, and we all need to sit.” Jin suddenly interposed.

——————–

When they finally arrived at the snack stand, Tae and Jimin had decided they wanted popcorn and Jin decided they all needed water.  Eventually they had seated themselves at a table, and Jin fed Kookie applesauce while Tae and Jimin shared their popcorn.  Jin and Yoongi were sure glad they had made up.  They didn’t need two cranky toddlers on their hands.

After their snack break, they headed to the tiger exhibit, and Tae got a tiger plushie to go with Jimin’s elephant.  Then they headed to the gorillas before finally deciding they had done enough walking for the day.  It was almost nap time for all five of them.

Yoongi bid them farewell at the gate, and Jin piled all three of his tired boys into the car before cramming the stroller in the back.  It had been smooth sailing until all three boys fell asleep in the car.  And they all needed a bath.  Kookie had been easy.  Jin had taken his carrier inside and decided he’d wake him up last.  Then he’d headed back out to the car for the twins.

“Boys, time to get up.” Jin shook Tae gently before reaching across and shaking Jimin.

Tae whined.  Jimin’s eyes popped open.

“Home?”

“Yes, baby.  We’re home.  You two need a bath before nap time.”

“Ok…”

Jimin had started undoing his buckle, eventually getting it off before he grabbed his elephant and headed inside.  Jin decided to start by getting Tae’s buckle off.  Even when he napped he was a deep sleeper.  Once the buckle was off, Jin grabbed the stuffed tiger and scooped Tae up, shutting the sliding door and taking him inside.

“Tae, baby, time to get up.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s bath time.  Then we can go snuggle Minnie and Kookie in bed, ok?”

Tae seemed to understand, nodding slowly but still not opening his eyes.  Jin took him to the bathroom.  Jimin was right behind them, having wrestled his shoes off before coming into the bathroom.

“Tae-Tae, can you take your clothes off while I go get Kookie?”

Tae nodded slowly.  Jin put him down on the floor next to Jimin.  Jin patted Jimin’s head.

“You too, bub.”

A minute later he came back with Kookie, undressing the small boy and putting him in the bath.  Then he finished stripping both twins and piled their clothes in the laundry basket, putting Tae’s shoes off to the side.  Then he set them in the bath and ran the water, making sure it was the right temperature.

Soon all three boys had been washed of their grime and sunscreen and sat on the floor of Jin’s room wrapped in fluffy towels while Jin collected their changes of clothes.  Once they had all been diapered and dressed in pajamas, it was finally nap time.

And that was how Jin ended up cuddled up on his bed with his three babies as Pororo played on the TV.  They all drifted off to sleep slowly, Tae being the first.  Soon after, Kookie slipped off into dream world, closely followed by Jimin.  Jin turned off the TV and looked down at the pile of sleeping angels on top of him.  He smiled.  His boys made his life so much fuller.  He kissed all three of them on the forehead as he muttered.

“I love you, Kookie.  I love you, Tae-Tae.  I love you, Minnie.”