Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was discharged from hospital a week later after birth. Jungwon came to pick him up with baby Solon which Riki was thankful for. Jungwon really was such a great help for him both during and after his pregnancy. He often came to visit them at the hospital although Riki told him its not necessary because there was nurses who took care of him. He recovered after birth rather quickly and nurses taught him how to make infant formula so he could feed his baby. There he learnt how to change diapers, wash his child and many more things that are important. 

The first few days at home with Solon were a whirlwind of emotions for Riki. He felt overwhelmed and scared at times, but mostly he felt an immense love that filled every corner of their small apartment. Jungwon had helped set up the nursery before the baby arrived, and now it was a warm, cozy space where they could bond. The little noises Solon made, the way he smelled, the feel of his soft skin – it was all so new and precious to Riki. He was doing his best to be a good father, even though he was learning everything on his own.

Jungwon was a constant support and present in his life.  He would stay overnight, helping with midnight feedings and diaper changes, allowing Riki to catch some much-needed rest. Riki was grateful for his friend's dedication, and they grew closer than ever. But Riki would often refuse his help because he knew Jungwon needed his own rest and he cant dedicate all his free time to him and Solon. Jungwon is still young and Riki thinks he need to find a partner and not focus all his attention on him. He is grateful for the help but he really thinks the older male needs to focus more on himself. 

Riki had to navigate the challenges of being a single parent while juggling work and baby duties. He started working again after few months of being alone with his baby and resting from delivery, but it was a tough adjustment. He had to prepare formula each time Solon would wake up crying from hunger and attend to him whenever he would start crying. It was such a hard take because most of the times he didn't even know what bothered his baby. He spent nights sleepless because he was so worried about his baby who would sleep a little and wake up crying again. But every time he felt like giving up, he would look into Solon's eyes and find the strength to push through. Those little moments of connection between them were worth more than any amount of sleep he missed out on. 

He usually worked from their bedroom except when he had to do meetings than he left the room and went to living room so he could easily talk without disturbing Solon's sleep. Those months were the hardest to adjust but once he got the hang of it he could find time to rest in between working and taking care of Solon. Thankfully his manager was understanding woman and she let a lot of things slide. 

Solon grew quickly, and with each passing day, Riki felt more and more connected to him. He watched him discover the world around him, his tiny hands reaching for toys and his mouth forming the beginnings of a smile. Riki felt a fierce protectiveness that surprised him. He had always known he wanted to be a father, but experiencing it was something entirely different.

One day he had a lot of work to do so he kindly asked Jungwon to help him and since it was weekends Jungwon agreed easily. He loved spending time with Solon and they shared a special bond. He was like a second father for him. As the meetings ended it was already evening when he came back to the apartment finding Jungwon playing with Solon on the floor. Riki smiled seeing his baby and went to hug him. 

"Thanks for everything, Jungwon," he said, sinking into the couch. 

Jungwon waved it off. "It's nothing, really. I love spending time with him."

"How was he today?" he asked kissing Solon's cheeks and ruffling his black hair. His big eyes stared at him and he smiled squealing happily. Riki felt like his heart would burst from so much love towards his child. 

"He was good. We played and i fed him a few times, than he napped and we took a bath as well, i was planning to put him to sleep", Jungwon said gathering the toys scattered around living room. 

"Ahh, who is a good baby?" Riki cooed and kissed Solon once again making baby happily giggle. "You are, yes", he hugged him closer standing up from the sofa. "Thank you for everything Jungwon, i will put him to sleep and than we can have dinner together if you want", Riki suggested but Jungwon shook his head. 

"There is no need, Ki. You are tired from the work and i have some things to do in my house. So we will see each other another day", Jungwon said heading towards the main door. Riki nodded and bid him goodbye, closing the door and locking it. 

"Now lets go to sleep, shall we?" he said going towards the bedroom with Solon. 

Solon was already showing signs of being tired, his eyes half-closed and his little body growing heavy in Riki's arms. He laid him down in the crib, making sure to tuck the blanket around him securely. He sang a soft lullaby that his mother used to sing to him, watching as Solon's eyes grew heavier with each note. Soon, the baby was asleep, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm that soothed Riki's nerves. He sat in the rocking chair next to the crib, just watching his son sleep. It was moments like these that made all the hardship worth it.

The quiet of the bedroom allowed Riki to reflect on his life. He had always dreamed of becoming a parent, and now that it had become a reality without Sunghoon by his side, it was bittersweet. He missed his partner deeply, but he knew that one day they will meet up. He will tell his son about Sunghoon and who he is, show him his photos and when he is old enough and want to meet him Riki will do it for him. His heart still harbor the love he had for Sunghoon and he will keep it there. He took a deep breath and whispered a promise to the sleeping child, "I will do my best to give you a good life, Solon."

As the weeks turned into months, Riki and Solon formed a strong bond that grew deeper each day. The baby's laughter was the sweetest sound he had ever heard, and he found joy in the simplest of moments – watching Solon discover his toes or learning to grasp onto his finger. The challenges of being a single parent were numerous, but Riki faced them head-on, determined to provide a loving and stable home for his son.

Jungwon remained a steadfast presence, offering support and companionship without overstepping. He had become an uncle figure to Solon, playing with him, taking him for walks, and even babysitting when Riki had to work late. Despite the occasional sadness that washed over him when he thought of Sunghoon, Riki felt incredibly fortunate to have Jungwon in his life.

In a blink of an eye Solon turned one and they threw a small party to celebrate his birthday. Riki invited Jake, Jay and Heeseung and of course Jungwon came and helped him organised everything. They decorated the kitchen with a few balloons and flowers and Riki baked a cake for his baby and with the help of Jungwon they made tasty and enjoyable food. The doorbell rang and Riki hurried to meet his friends who brought him flowers and gift for his little one. He was so happy to see his friends come to visit after such a long time not seeing them. 

"Ki! I missed you so much", Heeseung hugs him as he lets all of his friends inside small house. "Look at you! You are glowing", he compliments Riki who laughs shyly and accepts the bouquet of flowers. 

"I am happy to see you too, hyung. Sorry that i disappeared all of a sudden without saying much about my whereabouts", Riki apologies and Heeseung shakes his head and gives him another hug. 

"Its okay my dear, you know we support you always no matter what", he says before taking off his coat and going towards living room. 

Jay and Jake hug Riki tightly and kiss his cheeks like he is a baby and Riki complains (of course) but secretly he is happy with love and attention he gets from them. He accepts the flowers and leads them into the living room decorated for his son's birthday. This is the first time they will meet both Solon and Jungwon.

"Guys, this is my friend Jungwon", Riki points at Jungwon as he puts the flower into the vase. "And Jungwon this is my friends Jay, Jake and Heeseung", he points at each and they all give a small nod.

"Its nice to meet you all, i am Yang Jungwon and as Riki said i am his friend and Solon's uncle", he smiles showing his adorable dimples and their hearts melt. Jungwon surely is adorable with his cat like eyes and dimple smile. 

"He is so adorable", Heeseung blurt out before blushing and scratching his neck while others laugh at him.

"Thank you", Jungwon gives him a shy smile and Heeseung smiles back still blushing. 

Riki smirks and giggles before Solon whines and he have to tend to his son. "You guys get to know each other i have to feed Solon and then we will come back to you".

While Riki is away the guys decide to get to know Jungwon better so they bombard him with questions. Jungwon seemed to be a little bit nervous but he answers their questions honestly. 

"So how did you and Riki met?" Jake asks as they sit down on the big sofa and the living room. 

"I work at the store and Riki came to buy seeds and some equipment for his garden and that's pretty much how we met", Jungwon answers honestly as he looks at Jake who nods his head and smiles at him. 

"Riki told us you have been helping him a lot, thank you for that Jungwon. We live a few hours away and cant always come to help him", Jay says gratefully.

"It's my pleasure. Riki is a great person and Solon is such an adorable baby, I'm happy to help them and be a part of his life", Jungwon replies with a warm smile.

Jake looks around the room, admiring the small touches that make the place feel homely. "This place looks great, Riki did a good job with the decorations i assume with your help?"

"Yeah he wasn't that far pregnant when we met but i helped him as much as i could", Jungwon nods. "We kept it simple, just like Riki wanted."

"Thank you for being there for him," Heeseung says seriously. Jungwon nods his head. "We've been friends with him for a long time, but Riki is the type of person who won't ask for help unless it's really needed. He's mostly reserved and prefers to take care of his own problems by himself," Heeseung explains, and Jungwon agrees.

"I wanted to help him because he seemed like a genuinely nice person. When I learned he was pregnant, I was surprised. But then I felt an even greater need to support him after seeing how lonely he was," says Jungwon, remembering the time he first met Riki and learned the truth.

The conversation flows easily as they discuss Riki's new life as a single father and Jungwon's involvement in it. They share laughs and stories, building a bond that transcends the initial awkwardness of meeting for the first time. The scent of the freshly baked cake fills the room, mixing with the aroma of the food Riki and Jungwon had prepared.

Solon's whimpers grew louder, and Riki reappears with the baby in his arms, looking for his bottle. Jungwon quickly jumps to his feet and grabs the bottle from the kitchen counter, gently warming it before handing it to Riki. The sight of Jungwon's attentiveness doesn't go unnoticed by Jake and Jay, who exchange glances filled with curiosity and approval.

Riki sits down in the rocking chair, cradling Solon and feeding him the bottle. The baby's eyes wander to the new faces in the room, looking at his fathers friends. It is his first time meeting them so he stares at them with great curiosity. 

"Thank you for coming all the way here, guys. I really appreciate it," Riki says, his eyes never leaving Solon's face.

"We just couldn't miss our little buddy's birthday," Jay replies with a wide grin. "Plus, we wanted to check on you and make sure you weren't turning into a hermit."

Jake laughs and adds, "And we wanted to make sure this little rascal is growing up to be as cool as his dad Sunghoon."

Riki smiled at him, although he felt a slight pain in his heart. The years passed, but his feelings for Sunghoon remained strong. Hearing his name didn't hurt as much as it used to, though. Besides, he wouldn't stay upset about his breakup with Sunghoon forever. He had accepted it, learned to appreciate what they had, and moved forward.

Heeseung, who had been quietly observing the exchange, speaks up, "We've all been worried about you, Riki ever since your break up with Sunghoon. It's not easy doing this alone. But seeing you here, with Jungwon by your side, it's clear you're doing great."

Jungwon blushes slightly at the praise, feeling a sense of belonging among Riki's friends. "Thank you, Heeseung. Riki is an amazing father, and it's been an honor to be a part of this little family."

The room falls into a comfortable silence as they all watch Riki rock Solon, the sound of the baby's content sucking echoing through the room. After a few minutes, Solon's eyes begin to droop, and Riki gently lays him down in his crib. He turns to his friends with a sigh of relief, "Alright, now that the little birthday boy is taken care of, let's get this party started!"

They all move into the kitchen, where the table is set with the food they've prepared. The vibrant colors of the dishes contrast with the simple white tablecloth, creating a festive atmosphere. The chatter picks up as everyone helps themselves to the delicious spread. Jungwon had made his signature kimchi fried rice, which was a hit among the friends, while Riki had baked a small, but perfectly decorated, cake for Solon.

Jake grabs a plate and starts piling it with food, his eyes gleaming. "Riki, this smells amazing," he says with a mouthful.

Riki laughs, "Thanks, but Jungwon did most of the cooking."

"Don't be so modest, you both did a fantastic job," Heeseung says as he serves himself a generous portion of rice.

Jungwon blushes, ducking his head shyly. "Thank you, Heeseung. It's nothing special, just something I enjoy doing."

"It smells and taste delicious, Jungwon. I love kimchi fried rice thank you", Heeseung says as he digs into the food and Jungwon is still blushing from the praise. 

As they eat and talk, the conversation naturally shifts towards Solon's birth. The trio of friends listen intently as Riki recounts the challenging yet beautiful journey of becoming a father. They share in his excitement and concerns, offering words of encouragement and admiration. Jungwon remains mostly silent, his eyes often drifting to Riki with a look of admiration and affection that doesn't go unnoticed by the others. They are happy Riki has someone by his side who is such a reliable friend to him and takes care of Solon as well. They cant imagine how hard it is for Riki to raise a child alone but at least he has someone to help him.

They all gave their gift to Solon mostly its toys, but Jay brought him a set of useful things that can help Riki out with his child. He was so grateful to have such amazing friends that he cried scaring them. But Riki laughed it off with them and thanked them for coming. The laughter subsides as Riki brings out the cake. The room is filled with the sweet scent of vanilla and the flicker of the candle's flame. Everyone gathers around the crib to sing "Happy Birthday" to the sleeping Solon. Riki's heart swells with joy, feeling the warmth of friendship and family around him. 

***

It felt like just yesterday Solon was a small baby that Riki held in his arms and now he is already going to the nursery. Riki feels like crying because his baby grew up too fast for his liking. He enrolled him in the kindergarten and now he is helping his baby who is four to dress up for the day. Thankfully the kindergarten is just a few blocks away from his house, today Jungwon has an early shift so he couldn't help him but Riki was fine with it. They walked together, Riki holding his son's small hand, his fingers wrapped tightly around Riki's. His eyes filled with pride and love as he looked down at Solon, his baby's curiosity for the world was contagious, and Riki can't help but smile at every question Solon asks.

The nursery is a bright and cheerful place, with colorful murals of animals and shapes adorning the walls. As they enter, the sound of children playing fills the air. Solon's eyes widen and he shies away from the noise hugging his father's legs as a safe place. Riki finds his reaction adorable and coos. 

"Its okay baby, don't be scared. You'll make many friends here", he says as he crouches down to his height. Solon looks at him with his big eyes like his father's and Riki feels a pang in his heart seeing so much of Sunghoon in him.

Solon nods shyly, and with a gentle nudge from Riki, he starts to loosen his grip and look around. A kind teacher with a warm smile spots them and approaches. She's Miss Kim, who had been introduced during the orientation. She's wearing a blue apron with yellow stars, the same color as the balloons from the party. 

"Good morning, Riki and Solon," she says, her voice as welcoming as the first rays of sunshine. "Ready for your first day of adventure?"

Riki nods, trying to mirror her enthusiasm. "As ready as we'll ever be." he looks back to his son and kisses his cheeks before saying goodbye to him. "I am going to work, baby. Have a good time and enjoy your first day, okay?" he asks and Solon nods.

"Yes, daddy." Riki smiles at him and kisses him again before standing up and miss Kim approaches him taking his hand and with a gentle tug she leads him towards the room where group of children is playing with building blocks.

Riki watches as Solon's eyes light up with curiosity, his fear gradually giving way to excitement. The teacher encourages him to join in, and soon he's giggling with the others, his shyness forgotten.

Riki feels a mix of emotions - pride at seeing his son take the first step towards independence, and a slight tug of sadness knowing he can't protect him from the world forever. He takes a deep breath and decides to let go, reminding himself that this is a part of growing up. He waves goodbye, and with a final reassuring smile, he leaves the nursery. His thoughts travel to Sunghoon as he walks back home and how would he react to his son first day at nursery. How he would support him and fill his face with kisses. Riki does miss his ex lover and Solon was asking about his father one day so he promised to tell him once he is a little bit older. 

His son is a very intelligent and smart boy so he didn't complain, although Riki showed him his father photos and told him about him. But his son is just four years old so there isn't much he can understand yet but Riki is sure he will one day. Days turned into weeks and soon enough Solon was looking forward to the nursery every morning. He had made friends and was learning so much. Riki felt a sense of relief and happiness watching Solon grow and thrive.

One evening, after work, Riki picked Solon up from the nursery. His son's face was a canvas of excitement, smudged with paint and glitter from an art project. "Guess what we did today, daddy!" Solon exclaimed as soon as he saw him.

"You tell me, baby," Riki said, bending down to match his son's height. Solon took a deep breath and began to recount his day with such enthusiasm that Riki couldn't help but be swept away by his tales of new friends and the games they played.

As they walked home, Solon's grip on Riki's hand grew tighter as he shared his latest discovery - the concept of sharing. "Miss Kim said it's important to share, daddy. Like when you give me your phone to watch videos," he said, looking up with bright eyes.

Riki chuckled. "Yes, exactly like that. It's good to share with friends, but remember to keep your toys safe too."

Solon nodded, his thoughts racing. "But what if someone takes my toy and doesn't give it back?"

Riki's heart melted at the innocence in his son's question. He knew that navigating the complexities of social interactions was tough, even for adults. "Well, Solon, sometimes people make mistakes. If that happens, you should tell Miss Kim or the friend that you'd like your toy back. They'll understand, and if they don't, then it's okay to stand up for yourself gently."

Solon's brows furrowed in thought. "But what if they're bigger than me?"

Riki ruffled his hair. "You don't have to be big to be strong, Solon. Sometimes, asking nicely is all it takes. And if that doesn't work, Miss Kim is there to help."

Solon considered this and then beamed. "Okay, daddy. I'll ask nicely."

The walk home was filled with more chatter about nursery and the friends Solon had made. Riki felt a warmth in his chest listening to his son's excitement. It had been a long day at work, but seeing Solon so happy made it all worthwhile.

***

As the years passed, Solon grew more curious about the man in the photos. When he turned six he had started to ask more questions about his father, Sunghoon. Riki knew he couldn't put it off forever, so one evening after dinner, he decided to sit Solon down and explain. He took a deep breath and began to tell the story of how he and Sunghoon had met, fell in love and started living together, eventually they broke up. He talked about Sunghoon's kindness, his love for animals and friends, and their shared dreams.

Solon listened intently, his eyes wide with wonder. "So, where is he now, daddy? Why he never came to visit us?" he asked when Riki had finished speaking.

"We broke up before you were born, Solon and since that time i never talked to him", Riki said gently, his voice laced with a hint of sadness. "I have never told him about you, my love. But that doesn't mean he won't love you. Even though we're not together, i want the best for you and i am sure he is as well. Especially after he will see you in person".

Solon looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "But why you never told him about me, daddy?"

Riki knew this question will come one day. "I will explain it to you better once you are old enough, but know one thing it was never my intention to hurt you or leave you without a father. Believe me Sunghoon would be there from the day one if i told him about you, but the circumstances made me make this decision. I am not proud of it, but it was my choice", he explained calmly hoping his son will understand his decision.

"Okay, daddy, i understand. Although I wish i could meet him", he pouts and Riki's heart ached at the innocence in his son's voice.

"You can meet him my dear," he said, ruffling Solon's hair. "But remember one thing, you have a lot of people who love you. Your uncles Heeseung, Jay, Jake and Jungwon. We're a family of two, and that's pretty amazing too."

Solon nodded, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I know, daddy. I love my uncles as well. But it's okay to want to meet him, right?"

Riki's eyes filled with warmth as he pulled Solon into a tight hug. "It's perfectly normal to want to meet your father. "It's okay to talk about him, so you don't have to worry. You can ask me any question you have."

Solon snuggled closer, feeling the comfort of his daddy's embrace. "Can we visit him, please?" he asked hopefully. "I really want to meet him".

Riki hesitated, unsure of what to say. He hadn't spoken to Sunghoon since before Solon was born, and the thought of reaching out after all this time was daunting. "I'll think about it, Solon. It's a big decision, but I'll see what I can do about it."

The days turned into months, and Solon continued to grow, his questions about his father becoming more frequent. Riki knew he couldn't put off the conversation forever. One day, after a particularly poignant question about Sunghoon, Riki decided it was time to find his ex-lover. He discussed it with Jungwon who supported him and helped him move back to the city. He called Jay and Jake who found him an apartment and he asked Heeseung about Sunghoon knowing that the two still talk.

Of course, his friends helped him with everything. He learned that Sunghoon was still working at the same company, but now lived in an elite part of the city. Riki never doubted that Sunghoon would have an amazing career, and he was happy for him. Yet, he feared the moment when he would meet Sunghoon again. What would he say? Especially since Riki hid Solon from him. Would he be angry? Or refuse to have anything to do with Riki? Riki knew that Sunghoon wouldn't abandon his son, but the news of his hidden pregnancy would surely hurt him. Riki was consumed by guilt as he walked through the park with Solon. It was the same park where he and Sunghoon used to stroll after school or on dates. Riki smiled to himself when he saw Solon run toward someone he couldn't see from there. Solon shouts, "Daddy!" Riki's heart stops beating for a second because he knows who the tall man in the dark coat is.

As he walked closer, he saw the man's shocked expression and his child's happy voice. He knew that in front of him was none other than Sunghoon.