day in the life | ljn
➸ request from anon; omg i loved the day in the life of jaemin🥰🥰could you do a jeno version maybe?
➸ note; hihi thank u for the request! i have multiple im working on and this is the first one i finished hehe hope u all enjoy <3
➸ word count; 3387 words
➸ moonbyeol; aged 5, sanghoon; aged 2 weeks
➸ warning(s); a lot of breastfeeding
nct masterlist
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Jeno wakes at five in the morning to the sound of wailing through the baby monitor. It’s only been around two hours since he heard the sound last, but it feels like he’s barely had any sleep at all, the way his body aches and his head slightly thrums in pain.
He feels you twisting and stretching beside him, getting ready to roll out of bed and tend to your two-week-old son.
‘Want me to go look at him?’ Jeno hums softly, offering to go and assess Sanghoon’s needs in exchange for your continued sleep.
‘I think he needs to be fed,’ you shake your head, already standing up and making your way to Sanghoon’s nursery. You return with him not even a minute later, tiny writhing bundle laying in your arms. Jeno watches while you get back into bed, sitting up straight against your pillows. Jeno places your breastfeeding pillow on your lap as you pull your shirt down, positioning Sanghoon so that he can easily latch to you.
‘There we go,’ you sigh, partly in discomfort, breath hitching when Jeno gently rubs circles onto the top of your breast, alleviating some of your pain.
‘What should we do today?’ you ask, ‘I don’t know if I can handle another day holed up in the house.’
‘What should we do today?’ you ask, ‘I don’t know if I can handle another day holed up in the house.’
‘What should we do today?’ you ask, ‘I don’t know if I can handle another day holed up in the house.’
Jeno smiles, ‘I’ll take Moonbyeol to school, then we can see if this little one’s up to maybe going on a walk? We can go for coffee or lunch.’
‘How about both?’
He laughs softly, ‘both it is.’
After around half an hour of feeding, Sanghoon finally pulls away, indicating he’s finished eating. Jeno, as per your usual routine, takes Sanghoon from you, laying him over his shoulder and patting his back. You pull your shirt back up, settling back down under the covers, and beginning to doze.
Jeno finishes burping Sanghoon, giving your shoulder a comforting squeeze and taking him back into his nursery.
‘Have a little more of a nap,’ he murmurs, ‘your sister will be up soon.’
Jeno goes back to bed himself, getting just over an hours sleep before his alarm goes off. He set it to be a mild-sounding one, as well as to play relatively quietly as to not disturb anyone else. He quickly scrolls through his notifications, answering a couple of messages, before hauling himself out of bed, making his way down the corridor to Moonbyeol’s bedroom. It’s still very dark in her bedroom, curtains drawn closed. He makes his way over to Moonbyeol’s bed, where she’s still fast asleep, deep under her star patterned duvet covers. Jeno sits on the edge of her bed, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder, and shaking her body softly.
‘Moonie,’ he sings, ‘wake up angel. Time to get ready for school.’
‘Daddy,’ she mumbles, small hands coming up to rub her eyes.
‘Good morning,’ Jeno strokes her hair gently.
‘Morning,’ she sighs.
‘What would you like for breakfast?’
‘Kimchi toast.’
‘Good choice. That’s what I want too.’
Jeno grins, kissing her cheek before flicking her lamp on and leaving the room.
The toast doesn’t take very long, you already had kimchi ready in the fridge, so he just mixes it with the cream cheese to make it a spread.
‘Where’s mummy/mommy?’ Moonbyeol has wandered down to the kitchen at the smell of ready toast.
’She’s catching up on some sleep baby,’ Jeno explains, putting down the plate in front of Moonbyeol, ‘baby brother kept her awake a lot of the night.’
‘Oh,’ she takes a bite of her toast.
The two dig in, crunching sounds echoing around the room.
Once they both finish, Jeno loads the dishes into the dishwasher, before following Moonbyeol back upstairs to her bedroom to start getting her ready to go to school.
Half an hour later, Moonbyeol’s face is washed, teeth are brushed, and school uniform is on. Jeno ties the small bow on her shirt with ease, he’s had a years practice now.
‘Ready?’
Moonbyeol nods, picking up her little backpack, the sun and moon keychains clanging together.
‘Let’s go baby.’
Moonbyeol’s school isn’t that far away from the house. Jeno purposely picked an area where his children would have access to the best schools. Moonbyeol requests her favourite songs during the drive.
‘Alright, we’re here sweetheart,’ Jeno parks the car, getting out and walking around to help Moonbyeol out. He holds her little hand, ignoring the pain of leaning down, escorting his little one into the playground.
‘Have a good day Moonie,’ he kisses her, waving goodbye as she runs off to stand with her class.
When Jeno gets home, he’s greeted by the sound of your soft singing, along with the noise of the kettle boiling.
‘Hey,’ Jeno smiles fondly at the sight of you, stood in the middle of the kitchen rocking your baby boy.
‘Oh, hi,’ you grin back, ‘Hoonie woke up, but he didn’t want to feed so I’m making some tea- do you want some coffee?’
‘Would love some,’ Jeno nods through a yawn, lack of sleep suddenly catching up to him, ‘want me to take him?’
‘Can do,’ he takes the baby from you, ‘good morning Hoonie.’
Sanghoon gurgles a little at the change, but settles quite quickly.
The caffeine wakes you both up.
‘I’ll try feeding him again,’ you sink down into the sofa cushions. Thankfully this time, he feeds. You watch TV and make small talk (mostly about Sanghoon) for around twenty minutes before he finishes eating, Jeno taking him to be burped.
‘God, I need to clean up a bit before we go out,’ you sigh, taking in your appearance through your phone camera.
‘Go take a shower, I got him,’ Jeno insists, ‘I’ll get him ready to go.’
’Thanks,’ you sigh in relief at the thought of taking a shower, you can’t even think of the last time you got the luxury.
Jeno dresses Sanghoon, it’s relatively cold outside, the weather beginning to take a dip in the mid-september. He double checks the diaper bag, making sure you have enough supplies; diapers, wipes, extra clothes, breastfeeding cover, a blanket, and all other possible necessities.
While you’re drying your hair, he plays with Sanghoon, who’s laying on his baby rocker, by lightly tickling the bottom of his feet.
You emerge from the bathroom a few minutes later, dressed and hair done, no makeup on, ready to go.
Jeno holds the heavy bag and you pop open the pram, placing Sanghoon inside and covering him with a blanket.
‘Ready to go?’ Jeno kisses your cheek.
‘Yeah, all set.’
The two of you walk along your street and towards the park, you pushing Sanghoon.
‘Are you alright? Are you sore anywhere?’ Jeno asks, being mindful of how this is the most physical activity you’d done after giving birth not even three weeks earlier.
‘A little, but it’s tolerable.’
‘Are you sure? We can sit down if you’re in pain and-‘
‘Jeno,’ you stop, resting a hand on his chest, ‘I’m fine. It’s been a couple of weeks and I’m not bleeding very much. And you know what all the midwives say, going on walks are great for recovery.’
‘If you say so,’ Jeno lifts a hand to squeeze yours, ‘let’s get to the cafe.’
The cafe is within the park, a cute little quaint building. You sit down, Jeno going to the counter and ordering your drinks and food while you push Sanghoon’s pram back and forth, keeping him settled.
Jeno places your drink down, laughing when you start sipping your drink before he’s even sat back down. Your food comes not long later, and you happily munch away on your toasted sandwich, well, as happily as you could while keeping an eye on your son. The hormones had you feeling quite anxious at times.
‘Please don’t start fussing,’ you murmur as you lift him out of the pram, patting his bottom a couple of times.
‘Does he need changed?’ Jeno asks.
‘Yeah, he’s a little wet,’ you stand up, grabbing the bag from underneath the pram and heading into the bathroom.
‘There you go Hoon, all clean,’ you button up his baby-grow, securing his little mittens and hat, ‘you’re being such a good boy today.’
Jeno grins when you come back to the table, holding Sanghoon in your arms.
‘Can I hold him?’ he asks, ‘I brought the wrap.’
‘You don’t have to ask,; you lean down, allowing Jeno to take Sanghoon from you.
‘Hi baby boy,’ Jeno smiles, kissing his little hand when he stretches, ‘want to walk with daddy?’
Sanghoon looks so warm and cosy laying against Jeno’s chest in the baby wrap, and Jeno loves having his son so close. He savours the moment, knowing all too well that he will soon grow up, and will be far too big for this.
You leave the cafe, you pushing the now empty pram while Jeno walks beside you holding Sanghoon in his arms, the rhythm of walking lulling him to sleep.
‘I’ll have to wake him when we get back,’ you sigh, ‘he’ll need to be fed again.’
‘He’s a little milk monster isn’t he,’ Jeno remarks, ‘your poor boobs.’
‘Tell me about it,’ you shake your head, ‘as much as I love feeding, it’ll be such a weight off when I can start pumping as well as normal feeding.’
‘I’ll be able to help you too,’ Jeno adds, ‘and I loved feeding Moonie.’
Jeno does the hard part for you once you get home. He gently massages Sanghoon’s tummy, which quickly rouses him from sleep. He naturally begins to cry, upset at the intrusion on his nap.
‘You can go back down once you’ve had some milk Hoonie,’ Jeno murmurs, ‘you need to eat.’
Sanghoon thankfully doesn’t refuse when he’s placed on your chest. Jeno cleans in the kitchen while Sanghoon feeds.
‘Jeno,’ you call softly when Sanghoon pulls away and stops trying to drink anymore.
Jeno burps Sanghoon, laughing at the volume. You follow him into the nursery, where you draw the blinds, Jeno silently rocking Sanghoon side to side, eventually lowering him down into his crib slowly. You brace yourself for the protesting cry, but it doesn’t come.
‘Good boy,’ Jeno whispers, the two of you quietly leaving the room and pulling the door half-closed.
‘Wanna help me with ironing?’ Jeno asks you softly, ‘you can sit on the sofa.’
His heart seizes as you look back at him with tired, sunken eyes. You look exhausted, but beautiful to him.
You nod just as he reaches his hand out, resting it on your cheek, before leaning in for a firm but gentle kiss.
‘What?’ you giggle, confused at his sudden affection.
‘I just love you.’
‘Love you too.’
You fold clothes as Jeno irons, and before you know it, it’s time to pick Moonbyeol up from school.
‘You gotta be quiet when you go inside Moonie,’ Jeno warns as the two approach the front door of your home, ‘baby brother might still be asleep.’
‘It’s only four o clock!’
‘Babies need lots of sleep Moonie,’ Jeno explains, opening the door as quietly as he could.
‘Mummy/mommy!’ Moonbyeol runs towards where you’re sitting on the sofa, coming to a stop when she notices the bundle in your arms.
‘Hi sweetheart, how was school?’ you ask her.
‘Good, I had fun,’ Moonbyeol mumbles, ‘what’s Hoonie doing?’
‘He’s drinking some milk Moonbyeol,’ you explain, ‘he needs milk to grow bigger, so he can grow up to be as big as you!’
‘Grandma says milk is good for my bones,’ Moonbyeol adds, referring to Jeno’s mother.
‘She’s right, makes them much stronger.’
Moonbyeol thinks for a moment, before pointing at your chest, ‘but why does he drink milk from there?’
‘Hey Moonie,’ Jeno sings, ‘speaking of milk, I think there may be some strawberry milk with our names on it in the fridge.’
‘Really?’ Moonbyeol gasps, bouncing on her feet before racing into the kitchen with her dad.
You just smile, ‘your daddy is getting good at distractions Hoonie.’
Once the excitement from the strawberry milk dies down, Moonbyeol joins you in the living room, curling up on the sofa beside you, full attention on the episodes of Pororo and Robocar Poli playing on the television. Sanghoon stays in his newborn swing, the repetitive rotation eventually lulling him back to sleep, after which Jeno moves him into a moses basket nearby. You’re so tired that you unintentionally also fall asleep against the arm of the sofa.
‘Daddy,’ Moonbyeol chirps up after an episode finishes.
‘Yeah Moonie?’ Jeno looks up from the now ironed washing he’s sorting into piles.
‘Can we go and play in my room?’
Jeno gives Moonbyeol a dejected smile, ‘we can’t Moonie, I have to stay here and watch Sanghoon.’
‘You always watch Sanghoon,’ Moonbyeol huffs, ‘why?’
‘Come here,’ Jeno holds his hands out, which Moonbyeol walks over to take, ‘you’re a big girl, you know that, right?’
Moonbyeol nods.
‘Well Sanghoon’s only little, he’s not as clever or strong like you, so he needs mummy/mommy and daddy around him all the time. It’s not because we don’t want to play with you or we love Hoonie more, Hoonie just needs us to do most things for him.’
‘But mummy/mommy’s here with Hoonie.’
‘Mummy/mommy’s asleep too, and mummy/mommy works really hard to look after Sanghoon, so she deserves the sleep she’s getting now.’
‘Okay,’ Moonbyeol nods, ‘it’s because I’m a big girl.’
‘Exactly!’ Jeno smiles, his eye-smile coming out, ‘come here.’
He hugs Moonbyeol tightly, ‘don’t forget that I love you, Moonie.’
‘Love you too Daddy.’
‘Now, do you want to help daddy make dinner?’
Thankfully due to the layout of your house, Jeno can see you and Sanghoon from the kitchen as he prepares the Japchae for dinner. Jeno keeps Moonbyeol busy by supervising her washing carrots and peppers, away from the heat of the hob. When the food is a few minutes away from being ready, Jeno suggests that Moonbyeol goes to wake you up.
‘Mummy/mommy,’ she shakes you gently, ‘dinner’s nearly finished.’
‘Oh,’ you murmur, eventually getting up and moving Sanghoon into the crib in his nursery where you can watch him from the monitor.
‘Smells so good,’ you mumble into Jeno’s back as you give him a back-hug, ‘thanks for letting me sleep a little.’
‘Hm, you deserved some rest,’ he nods, beginning to dish out the japchae into separate bowls for you all.
You and Jeno listen to Moonbyeol as she tells you all about the games she played at breaktime and the entire plot of the book that was read at story time.
The dishes thankfully can be put straight in the dishwasher.
‘Bath time, Moonie,’ Jeno announces, much to Moonbyeol’s delight. Jeno was always thankful to have a child who loved being bathed. She didn’t love the actual act of having her hair washed, but loved the play. Jeno quite enjoyed it too, he found it to be a great form of bonding with both of the children.
Sanghoon begins crying again while the bath is running, so you go and tend to him.
‘Mama,’ Moonbyeol drawls as she runs into your bedroom, hair slightly damp from being towel dried by Jeno.
‘Careful of mummy/mommy!’ Jeno runs in behind her, clearly struggling to keep up.
Moonbyeol doesn’t even need to be told, already coming to a stop next to your bed and peering over in curiosity.
‘You can sit next to me,’ you tell her, patting the empty space beside you. She crawls onto the bed, sidling up beside you as close as she could get. Jeno gets on the bed beside her, so that she’s sandwiched between you.
‘Is he hungry again?’ Moonbyeol asks, squirming a little when Jeno wraps an arm around her and pinches her sides lightly.
‘Yes, Sanghoon gets hungry a lot,’ you explain, ‘he eats maybe eight times a day.’
‘That’s a lot.’
‘Yeah, so he takes up a lot of mummy/mommy’s time, huh?’
‘Yeah…’ Moonbyeol pouts, ‘but daddy says its because he needs to grow up.’
‘Daddy’s right,’ you nod, sending a smile to Jeno, who is affectionately scratching Moonbyeol’s head, ‘it’s not because I don’t want to be with you, it’s just Hoonie needs me more, since you’re such a big girl.’
‘I know.’
‘We’ll do something nice this weekend when we go out with grandma and grandad,’ you promise, knowing there would likely be a prolonged period of time where Jeno’s mother would want the baby and you could give Moonbyeol some attention.
‘Okay,’ she smiles.
‘Hey Moonie, wanna hear Sanghoon burp?’ Jeno says as he notices Sanghoon pulling away.
‘Yeah,’ she grins as Jeno takes the baby from you.
Moonbyeol giggles maniacally when Sanghoon loudly burps.
‘I think it’s your bedtime, princess,’ Jeno announces as she calms down, prompting her to whine loudly.
‘Say goodnight to mama.’
Moonbyeol slumps her shoulders, but trudges over to you, throwing her arms around you and kissing your cheek.
‘Goodnight mummy/mommy, love you.’
‘I love you too Moonie. Goodnight.’
Jeno gives Sanghoon back to you before leading Moonbyeol out of your bedroom and to the bathroom so she can brush her teeth.
‘What colour do you want tonight?’ Jeno asks, referring to her nightlight that creates stars of various colours.
‘Pink,’ Moonbyeol mumbles, and so Jeno presses the button for pink stars, that instantly project onto the ceiling above.
‘Goodnight Moonie,’ Jeno leans down to kiss her forehead, ‘see you in the morning.’
‘Night daddy.’
When Jeno returns to your bedroom, you’re still laying with Sanghoon, who’s resting on your chest on his stomach, happily dozing through a milk coma.
Jeno returns to his side of the bed, eyes never leaving Sanghoon.
‘He’s so chilled,’ you lay a hand on his back, rubbing up and down gently.
‘He’s perfect,’ Jeno sighs, allowing himself to relax and settle into the mattress.
‘Mmh,’ you hum, using a spare hand to run a hand through his long black hair, ‘so are you.’
Jeno becomes shy, burying his face into the mattress, ‘that was cringey.’
‘Maybe, but it’s true,’ you smile, ‘you helped me so much with Moonie today. Just want you to know how much I appreciate you.’
‘Sometimes I feel a bit helpless when it comes to Sanghoon, I mean he’s a newborn, you’re his mother, you need each other. So I’m just trying to help you ease that burden a bit.’
‘I’ll… we’ll be okay.’
‘Always,’ he smiles, lifting his head and kissing your bare shoulder.
You yawn, stretching your legs and shoulders a little, trying to keep yourself awake. Jeno rolls over onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow.
‘Can I cuddle him?’
You grin at his innocent request, nodding and helping him with the handover.
The television plays quietly in the background as you watch them. Seeing Jeno like this always made your heart race, how attractive he looked in his white t-shirt and sweatpants, tiny baby on his chest. The sight always reminded you of how much you loved him, how much he does for your family, and how much you love what you’ve created together.
You wordlessly snuggle into his side, and Jeno throws his free arm around you, kissing your forehead.
You watch television together for around an hour or two, you falling asleep not long before Sanghoon fills his diaper (typical, Jeno thinks), and when Jeno returns, he places Sanghoon in his bed-side crib. Although he’s tired, he still deems it too early to sleep, so he scrolls through his phone, answering various work related messages and texts from members expressing their jealousy over his paternity leave. He slips out of the room after a while, taking the fastest shower he possibly can before brushing his teeth, as well as grabbing two glasses of water from the kitchen (you often wake up thirsty) and returning to bed, where you and the baby are thankfully still peacefully asleep.
‘Goodnight,’ Jeno kisses your cheek, although you don’t respond. He falls asleep with you in his arms.
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