That night, while Jaemin put Jeno to bed, (or at least tried to help him sleep) Haechan brought Renjun to the living room and they had a talk.

"Renjun... What would I have done if I lost you?" Haechan cried as he held Renjun's hands tightly.

"Moved on." Renjun said simply. Haechan looked up and stared into the olders dark gaze.

"Renjun, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself." He said as more tears fell down his face. "I love you so much Renjun.." He continued to cry. Renjun reached forward and took the younger into his arms, holding Haechan as tight as he could.

"I'm so sorry."

And as Renjun heald Haechan as tight as he could, a voice in Haechan's head said something. It was so tiny, but it meant so much.

This is strong.

This relationship, this bond.

This is strong.

We're strong.

🍰

Meanwhile, Jaemin was leading Jeno upstairs quickly. He wanted to talk to Jeno about all this before the olders mind twisted it into something darker than it was.

He put Jeno into their bed (well it might as well be theirs since they've been sharing it for a while) and tucked him in carefully, sitting on the edge of the bed beside the older.

"Jaemin.. W-why was Renjun gonna d-do that?" He asked, looking up at Jaemin with a glittering, saddened gaze, his eyes pleading and desperate. "Was it... Was it my fault?"

Jaemin shook his head quickly.

"No, no baby no. None of this is your fault please don't blame yourself." Jaemin pleaded, reaching out and gently caressing Jeno's face. The older leaned into the touch, a relaxed sigh leaving his mouth as he did.

"Promise me, baby." Jaemin begins, "Promise me that you won't blame yourself for what Renjun just tried to do." Jeno nodded with a sad smile.

"I promise Nana... I promise." He said. Jaemin had a feeling that it wasn't true, but he decided to trust Jeno, ready to stop him if he did try to blame himself later.

"Nana."

"Hmm?"

"Will Injunie be okay?" Jaemin looked up at Jeno who stared back with the stars in his eyes. The younger sighed and moved so he was lying beside Jeno under the covers. He pulled Jeno close to his chest, stopping when he heard a soft whimper escape the boy. He carefully shifted Jeno so that his weight was no longer on his bad shoulder and ran his fingers through the boys hair. Their legs tangled together as Jeno pulled himself impossibly close, clutching Jaemin's shirt in his fists. The younger felt tears wet his shirt where Jeno's face was pressed against him and he moved his hands back to rub circles on his back.

"Jeno, he's gonna be alright. Renjun's gonna be okay. Do you know why?" He asked. Jeno shook his head.

"Because you saved him, baby. You did it. You saved Renjun and now it's all over. We're safe again.."

🍰

It really did feel like it was all over.

The next morning, Jaemin woke up slowly, a sigh of relief and contentment leaving him as he looked down at the boy in his arms. Jeno was sleeping peacefully, his mouth slightly open while his fluffy hair stuck up in every direction.

The younger laid, observing Jeno's sleeping state with a smile of pure admiration. There was nothing to do that day, so Jaemin planned to let him sleep as long as he wanted. It was adorable to watch the boy snuggle closer and sigh happily when he found more of Jaemin's warmth, a gentle smile forming at the edges of his parted lips as he breathed the name "Nana" in his sleep, mouth closing and warm smile growing.

What woke Jeno up was when Haechan came into the room.

"Renjun's making some breakfast downstairs. He figured it was the least he could do. So, if Jeno likes pancakes with strawberries-"

"Strawberries?" Jeno mumbled sleepily, sitting up a bit and rubbing his eyes. His hair was flat against the side of his head that he had laid against, like the fur on the face of a well-rested cat. The two younger boys chuckled at the sight, Jaemin sitting up and pulling him close by the waist.

"Yes, strawberries. But strawberries are only for boys who are awake and ready." Jeno's doe eyes widened and he hopped out from under the covers, running over to Haechan and grabbing his wrist.

"I wanna get dressed!" Haechan chuckled and looked to Jaemin who nodded.

"I'm gonna go talk to Renjun. You go ahead and help him get ready." Haechan nodded and walked off with Jeno, heading to the boy's room to retrieve his clothes. Meanwhile, Jaemin got up, running a comb through his hair before going downstairs.

Renjun was in the kitchen standing in front of the stove where the smell of pancakes was wafting from, the sweet aroma filling the air.

"Jeno loves pancakes," Jaemin remarked as he walked over to the fridge, surprising Renjun with his presence. The older nodded in understanding before going back to the pancakes. Jaemin got whipped cream and strawberries out of the fridge as well as butter before going to the pantry to retrieve the syrup. He set it out on the table before he began grabbing plates, a smile dancing on his face as he began to set four spots at the table.

"You know, the last time I set four spots for dinner was before my parents got their promotion," Jaemin recalled. "I remember Jeno was over, as always. We had been sitting up in my room watching Steven Universe when my parents called me down to set the table. I remember how I groaned and shouted asking if they could do it, saying that we still had homework to do. Truthfully, I just didn't want to leave the warmth of Jeno's arms." Jaemin laughed as he gathered silverware for each spot, placing it accordingly. "I set the table regardless. Jeno helped me with the dishes that night and since it was a Friday he was gonna spend the night." Suddenly a sad look crossed Jaemin face for a moment. He shook it away and placed a glass at everyone's spot.

"That night they called me away from Jeno. They pulled me to their room and told me about their promotion, explaining that they weren't going to be home very often anymore. I yelled at them and ran back to Jeno."

"That night I cried and cried and cried about it. I couldn't bear the thought of being alone in my house at night all the time. But, Jeno told me that he wouldn't leave. He promised he would stay with me and have me over at night and told me he would walk me all the way home, he would help me with dinner, he would wait to pick me up in the morning." Jaemin stopped speaking as he realized he was crying. Renjun quickly plated the pancakes, taking off his apron and throwing it to the counter before walking over to Jaemin. He pulled him into his arms, embracing him in a tight hug.

"Jaem.."

"Renjun I-I want him back! I want my Jen Jen back. My Nono... Jeno..." He cried. Renjun rubbed his back with a frown.

"Jaemin, Jeno is upstairs right now," Renjun said. "The real Jeno is upstairs. The real Jeno cuddled you last night and the real Jeno... The real Jeno saved me. He has never been fake, he has never been anyone else." Renjun said. He pulled away and looked into Jaemin's eyes. "Jaemin, you have to understand that Jeno is still Jeno. His state of mind doesn't change that. And you have to stop thinking like that."

"The chances of him 'going back to normal' are slim. After everything he's been through, that's understandable.." Renjun paused, guilt evident in his expression before he shook his head. "But that shouldn't matter. Jeno is still Jeno, he is still here and he still loves you. I understand if you need a break. If you need to step back and take time for yourself and that's fine, me and Haechan have your back. But this whole thing about wanting him back.."

"Jaem, you have to let it go."

Jaemin looked down at his feet. He realized how petty he was being. He had spent so much time focused on wishing for the old Jeno back that he wasn't taking the time to truly nurture the new Jeno.

The real Jeno.

It disgusted him the more he thought about it. How he had wished and willed for Jeno to go back to normal for selfish reasons, just so he could relax when he wasn't even considering how it must make Jeno feel to constantly be trapped there. He was trapped there because his mind classified that space as safe, so it stayed there. It wasn't truly Jeno's choice to be a little.

Renjun turned and walked back over to the stove, grabbing the pancakes off the counter and turning around again as Haechan walked into the kitchen, Jeno trailing behind.

Jeno was wearing dark ripped skinny jeans and a light pink hoodie that was oversized- wait a minute..

"Is that my hoodie?" Jaemin questioned with a smile and a raised brow. Jeno nodded shyly and rushed over to Jaemin, hugging him tightly. The younger hugged back, running a hand through the boy's raven hair before leaving a soft kiss atop his head.

"Alright. Let's eat." Renjun said as he set down the plate of pancakes in the middle of the table. Jeno detached from Jaemin, his eyes going wide as he saw the pastries. (Are pancakes pastries? I mean, they're sweet and like bread..?)

"PANCAKES!!" He exclaimed excitedly. He knew that there would be pancakes but the sight still made him happy. Jeno quickly sat down, watching Jaemin as he patiently waited for the younger to sit down and serve him.

🍰

Breakfast went by quickly, almost no extra messes made except a bit of cool whip on Jeno's nose. Renjun and Haechan decided they would go home afterward, insisting that they should give nomin the chance to talk about things.

Haechan was sure to add on something about discussing their relationship status, causing Jaemin to sigh and Jeno to nod although slightly confused.

"Alright. Call us if you need anything Jaemin." Haechan said before ruffling Jeno's hair. "You too Jen." The older giggled and nodded at. Haechan's words.

"Okay. Buh-bye!" Jaemin said. He wouldn't admit it but he was ready for them to leave. He wanted some well-earned alone time with Jeno after the events of the last few days.

As they began to walk out the door, Haechan before Renjun, Jeno fumbled with the hem of his hoodie before finally speaking up.

"I-Injun wait!" Jeno said. Luckily, Renjun was barely out the door so he turned back to look at Jeno with a soft smile.

"Yes, sweety?" Suddenly Jeno walked forward, hugging Renjun tightly with a smile.

"I'm really glad you're okay." He said simply. Renjun hugged him back, a warm smile dancing on his lips.

"Thank you.."

🍰

"Jaeminie~ hurry up! I want cuddles!!" Jeno called from the living room.

"I'm coming baby! Gimme a minute.." Jaemin responded as he sneakily slid a cake into the oven. (Shhh, don't tell Jeno it's a surprise.)

He rushed into the living room and sat beside Jeno. The older cuddled into Jaemin's side with a smile.

"Is this all you've wanted? Some cuddles and attention?" Jaemin asked as he cuddled Jeno back and ran a hand through the boy's dark hair. Jeno nodded happily as he laid comfortably in Jaemin's arms.

Jeno played with Jaemin's fingers quietly for a moment before finally breaking the silence.

"Jaeminie.."

"Hmm?"

"What are we?"

Jaemin felt his heart stop for a moment.

What were they?

"What do you want us to be Jen?" Jaemin asked, honestly curious. Jaemin knew that he himself loved Jeno, but did the other return the feelings back? And if he did, was it truly Jeno's feelings for him, or was it just the strong bond that they had formed with each other while Jaemin was taking care of him?

"I... I don't know." Jaemin nodded before watching as Jeno sat up and looked him in the eyes.

"Jaeminie, I love you." Jeno said, his voice soft yet serious. It was so sudden and it caught both of them off guard but it no doubt reassured both of them of something.

"I love you too.."

"No Jaemin. Like, I really love you." Jeno said. His gaze became deep and meaningful as he watched Jaemin's expression, the childlike wonder that normally sparkled within his dark eyes gone, replaced by an undeniably large amount of passion and love.

"I love you like how Haechan likes Renjun. I want you to stay with me forever, I want to be with you forever, I.. I... I can't go through all of this without you Jaemin." Jeno looked into Jaemin's eyes with so much sincerity that the younger began to get lost within them.

"Jeno I-" Jaemin was cut off by a loud sound. The sound of the front door unlocking. Jaemin held Jeno tightly in his arms, tensing up and motioning for Jeno to be silent as two figures walked into the house. One male, the other female. They smiled at the two on the couch.

"Jaemin, Jeno!" The woman exclaimed, walking closer towards where the two sat on the couch. Jaemin glared up at the woman with disgust.

"Mom?"

Maybe it wasn't really over.

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