1

Mistakes like what they'd suggested simply weren't supposed to happen.

When Jungkook and Eun-woo had completed the procedures that led to baby Haru's birth four months ago through surrogacy, they'd never thought that the fertility and surrogate clinic could make such a terrible mistake.

Nor did either of them dream that the flu-like symptoms Eun-woo had experienced months later masked a bacterial infection that led to the fatal heart failure taking his life after two weeks of Haru's birth.

Jungkook was now left to deal with this all on his own, the reality overwhelmed him completely.

The paper in his hand trembled, setting it down on the kitchen table that had been used by generations of Cha.

He thought that everything about their home was Haru's by right as Eun-woo's son.

What if he was wrong?

Jungkook smoothed the letter onto the worn surface and wished he'd never gone to the post office to collect mail today.

Jimin's hand came to rest on top ofJungkook, "Don't worry, Jungkookie. Haru's your son, nothing can change that. No matter who the other father is. Write back and request more information before agreeing to any testing. It's not as if they've sent you categorical proof that a mix-up happened at all. This letter is coming from the lawyers of the other guy who is asking a request, not a court-ordered demand."

Jungkook felt his heart lift at Jimin's suggestion, "You're right. I'll write them back, that'll delay things a little longer, won't it?"

"Atta-boy," Jimin looked at the wall clock and sighed, "Sorry, I have to go. School's ending soon."

"Go, get your kids. Don't worry about me. Thanks for coming over."

In a world that had changed so dramatically over the past months, having a friend's loving support had been a godsend.

Jungkook had been a wreck when he'd read the mail., one call to Jimin, his only true friend, had been all it took to drop everything to be by his side.

"Hey, that's what friends are for, right? Call me when you get any more news, okay?" Jimin gave Jungkook a quick hug, "What time is your guest due to arrive?"

"Not until five."

"At least having a paying guest again will help out a bit financially. I still can't believe that Eun-woo didn't leave you and Haru better provided for."

Jungkook frowned at the censure in his friend's voice, "He did his best, Jiminie. Neither of us ever expected he'd die so young. Plus, our medical bills after Haru's birth and Eun-woo's illness.. Well, you know it cleaned our savings out."

"I know, I'm sorry, it's just so unfair…"

Jungkook swallowed the lump in his throat.

Yes, it was so unfair.

After all, they'd been through, all they'd survived.

He felt the familiar depression begin to creep back in and gave himself a swift mental shake.

Dwelling on the past changed nothing.

He had Haru - that was all he needed to focus on now.

After seeing Jimin off, he changed Haru's diaper before feeding him then placing him down for an afternoon nap.

Once he was down, Jungkook grabbed the baby monitor to hear if the baby didn't settle and quickly went upstairs to check on the room for the new guest.

It had been ages since they'd taken guests at Astro BnB, he was still sufferring from sleep deprivation and wouldn't put it past himself to have forgotten something important.

The room was perfect with the sun streaming through the steel-paned windows, fresh lavender-scented linens covering the wide bed, a selection of roses from the garden that was arranged in a crystal vase and the wide-plank flooring gleaming with polish.

The en-suite bathroom was pristine with fresh cotton-soft towels, all thick and fluffy, the robe on a hanger behind the door with its belt neatly knotted, soaps, shampoo, and everything were there in abundance to give a sense of welcome.

He'd arranged for another room across from this one to be converted to a study at the guest's request, he was working on a book and had expressed a desire for privacy during their stay.

Well, there'd be no problem with that, Jungkook conceded, he would be the one and only visitor here for the duration. He would be the first visitor he'd had here in months, his enquiry through their website had come at just the right time.

He'd missed this, the pride in getting a room ready for guests, wondering what they'd be like, whether they'd return..

It was good to be getting back to business.

During Eun-woo's illness, they'd stopped taking guests and let their staff go. It had been too much for Jungkook to handle - taking care of the pregnant surrogate, caring for his ill husband and having to look after everything about the BnB on his own.

Jungkook mentally ran through his checklist, gauging what he still had to do before five o'clock.

Yep, despite Jungkook's mini-breakdown over the mail, he was on track.

And, provided the guest was punctual, he'd have time to get him settled in, and the evening meal warmed and served before Haru woke for his feeding, playtime and bath. 

As Jungkook made his way back downstairs, he found himself feeling happy for the first time in a long time.

Maybe things were starting to look up after all.

~~~

Kim Taehyung let himself out of the car, a sleek black Audi A6, the old familiar pain in his right leg and hip, he straightened, breathing through the pain and slowly stretching out his strained muscles.

Sitting for as long as he had during the four-plus hour drive certainly hadn't done his body any favour. He should have flown in but he had convinced himself he was better off being driven the whole distance. 

Taehyung looked at the imposing old English-style country house ahead of him, the two-storied, concrete exterior hosted multiple vines of some kind of Halloween-creeper, the horticulture-growth was a little unkempt, border lining onto neglect.

He shook his head slightly, it wasn't the house that interested him, he couldn't care less about how well it was maintained.

Kim Taehyung was here with a far more important agenda.

Alone now in the driveway, Taehyung knew there was no going back. 

He bent to pick up his bag, started to walk toward the BnB just then a tall, slender man with short dark hair opened the front door onto the shaded portico.

The private investigator he'd hired to track Jeon Jungkook down had failed to mention just how attractive the young widow was.

"Good afternoon," Jungkook said, "Welcome to Astro BnB. You must be Mr Kim?"

Taehyung stopped in his tracks, his hand gripping the handle of the carry bag tightly it made his knuckles ache. This wasn't happening, he was not attracted to this young man.

He wasn't allowed to be. 

He pushed against the hot scream of desire that beat through his veins, hard, but his traitorous body was on fire. Flames licked through parts of his body that he'd ignored for so long that he thought he'd grown numb. 

"Mr Kim?"

He was caught by the worried look in his younger's eyes.

Eyes that were deep chocolate-brown, he could get lost inside their depths and never care. He gave himself a swift mental shake.

He was not attracted to this man, he tried to instil in himself - Not on any level.

He stepped forward, his gait still uneven after the long car journey and held out his hand, "Yes, I'm Kim Taehyung. Please, call me by my name Taehyung."

Jungkook took Taehyung's hand, "I'm Jungkook, Cha-Jeon Jungkook, your host."

In that instant, a sizzle of awareness started at the point where their palms met and shot up his arm.

Taehyung knew he'd lost the battle with himself.

To his surprise, Jungkook uttered a small 'Oh!' before releasing his hand and taking a step back.

So Jungkook was affected, too.

Great.

Fvcking great, he thought drearily.

This should not be happening.

"P-please, come inside. Let me show you your room," Jungkook said, his voice slightly huskier than it had been before, "Can I help you with your things?"

"No, I'll manage on my own. Thanks."

Jungkook turned and preceded him inside, affording him an excellent view of the other's rigid spine that led in a straight line to the gentle arcs of his hips and bottom that were firmly clad in denim.

Another clench of desire hit him hard and low, forcing him to breathe through it.

It would probably be outlawed in some countries for the way they clung to his curves. 

This was insane.

Jeon Jungkook wasn't even his type, he thought, as he followed up to the old staircase to the next floor. 

He didn't have a type.

Didn't want one, ever again.

And yet, despite Taehyung's silent protestations, there was still that nagging interest.

"Are you visiting from overseas?" Jungkook asked.

He got that a lot, "No, I'm from SK originally, but I've been based in the States for about eight years now."

"Oh? I've always wanted to go there as a Korean-American myself. I hear it's beautiful... Maybe someday," Jungkook said airily as they reached the top of the stairs.

He was relieved not to have Jungkook enticing shape in his line of vision any longer.

He followed his host along the carpeted corridor and into a large, well-lit room. He looked around the room that faced formal gardens to the rear of the property, whatever neglect there was outdoors, it didn't extend to the inside.

"This is your room. I have everything you need here," Jungkook said while moving through the space, across to open another door to show Taehyung's private bathroom, "You asked for an office, so I've created space for you across the hall from your room. If you'll come this way?"

He followed Jungkook directly across the hall to a wood-panelled room, a desk situated near a deep window that looked out across and beyond to the lake.

"I thought you might like the lake view while you're working," Jungkook continued, "I hope that's all right?"

Jungkook's smile faltered as he stood there, just staring at the host like a fool.

"And if there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to let me know."

He forced himself to make some sound of approval and clearly, he succeeded because the host's features relaxed.

"It's great," he answered. 

And it was, even if he couldn't quite infuse his voice with the right level of gratitude.

For what little Jungkook was charging, he'd have been grateful. He made a mental note to ensure he paid the host a generous bonus for the effort he'd gone to for him.

Although he doubted he'd accept it after Jungkook found out exactly why he was here. 

"Thank you," Taehyung tries again.

Jungkook gave him another smile that hit him square in the gut, "You're welcome. We… well, I aim to please," he said, voice a little shaky, "I'll leave you to unpack your things. You mentioned in your email that you'd prefer to dine early, so I have your dinner warming in the oven downstairs. The dining room is on the ground floor, advice me when to serve it-"

"Thank you, Jungkook... But you don't have to wait on me hand and foot."

Jungkook's name felt foreign to Taehyung tongue, yet weirdly right at the Taehyung time.

Had this place cast some strange spell upon him? 

He wondered, then threw the thought away.

No, there was no spell.

If anything, Taehyung's just exhibiting crazy foolishness and the sudden attraction to Jeon Jungkook probably had its roots in something more primitive. 

Something.. that had little to do with sex itself.

Or the unwelcome raw need he felt for the host and everything to do with the fact he believed Jungkook was the man who has Taehyung's son.