Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

PILOT

Tan POV

Tan’s morning goes like waking up, freshening, getting ready, making breakfast and waking Thara. Well, waking up Thara is the mean task as she hates waking up early. After a long coercion, she finally did wake up, and the task of getting her ready for kindergarten started.

“Papa! I want to wear the blue dress today.” Tan and Thara always wear matching outfits.

“Okay, baby.”

By 9 am, the duo is ready for their day.

Fang POV

If there is something Fang hates, it is waking up early. As a sculptor, he is not obligated to wake up early. But his brother dearest decided it was time for him to go on a honeymoon after being married for 3 years.

Flashback

“What do u mean I have to work at your kindergarten?” Fang asks.

“You see, during our wedding, Yak just started his business, and we couldn’t go for our honeymoon, and I think it is high time we go for one,”  Wandee replies.

“But Dee, why should I look after your work?”

“Who else will I ensure my work with? Phum? You know he is a doctor, right? And Sun can’t handle it alone. He already must handle other staff.”

“But you know how I’m with kids.”

“I know, but you see, you don’t have to interact with the kids. Just handle other paperwork. Pleaseee?” Dee gave him his puppy eyes. Fang loves his elder brother too much to say no.

Now, here is Fang in his brother’s office at 8 in the morning. A time he hasn’t seen since his graduation. The kindergarten opens in 30 minutes. Fang doesn’t have a good feeling about it. The only good thing about this whole deal is that he will have Sun, his best friend, around.

“Hey Fang, there is this restaurant which serves all the best dishes mannn, you gotta try it. I loved every single one of them. Wanna go with me today?” Sun asks.

“Nah, man, I don’t think I’ll be able to.”

“That’s sad, coz I wanted to take you there. Let’s go another day.”

Fang couldn’t indulge in the conversation as his anxiety kept rising as time passed. He is not sure what to expect for the day.

Meanwhile, at a hospital, Phum is about to meet his new main nurse.

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Chapter Text

Phum POV

Phum is a little sad to have his main nurse, Sally, retire. She was his favourite, took care of him like a mother, and now she is going. It’s the day of her farewell, and all the staff of his department are there, sharing stories and laughter. He slowly makes it to where Sally is.

“Do you seriously have to go?” Sally looks at him with fondness.

“It is time for me to get some much-deserved rest, and I’m getting old.” Phum pouts.

“You are not that old.” Sally looks at him.

“But I’m gonna miss you.”

“Oh! My boy, I’m gonna miss you too.” She hugs him.

“I heard the one who is gonna take my place is a young and very efficient one. So, I don’t have anything to worry about.”

“But they are not gonna be you.”

Phum is all sad throughout the day. He still can’t accept the fact. He is not sure if he can form a bond with the new nurse. Phum is very reserved and won’t open up to many people.

Sun POV

He is finding it amusing to see that his best friend, Fang, is working at the kindergarten. The Fang who hates children. He can see that Fang is all tensed up. He stands beside him as a support so that he won’t lose it. By far, Fang has not relaxed. So, he decided to distract him with small talk. He recommended one of the restaurants he frequents, which serves the best dishes. But Fang declines, still tensed about the day and the ones that are to come.

So, after work, it is just Sun at the restaurant. Whenever he visits the restaurant, he tries different dishes, and each one is mind-blowing. He is sure that by now, “The Kiatniran Cuisines” is his no.1 on the list. But Sun is someone who loves company. He would love to share his food love with someone. But everyone is busy. He hates sitting alone; he does everything alone (remembers Tan’s line). He wishes to share this experience with someone.

As he sits there with a sad expression, the waiter places a few slices of Castella on his table. Sun didn’t order this. He looks up at the waiter with confusion.

“It’s on the house.” Says the waiter with a smile. His lights up.

“Thank you”

As he was about to take a bite, he saw a small card next to it. It says “Smile”. A smile blooms on his face after he reads that. He looked everywhere for the person but couldn’t find them. He enjoys the dessert with warmth in his heart, the loneliness long forgotten.

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Chapter Text

 Fang POV

Fang stayed away from children for the whole day of working at the kindergarten and avoided any contact. Okay! Actually, He didn’t step out of the office for even one moment. As the day comes to an end, parents line up to pick up their kids. Fang watches through the window, a couple along with their kid, a happy family of three. Fang looks away with an ache in his heart.

Just then, a girl, who looks barely 1 yr, walks into the room. She walks in as if she owns it. As she reaches the sofa nearby, she looks up at Fang and pauses.

“Where is Uncle Dee?”

“He is on vacation. I’ll be in charge until he returns.”

“Are you a friend of Uncle?”

“I’m his brother.”

“That is Uncle Phum.” She knows Phum? Fang thought.

“We are three, and Phum is my younger brother.”

“How come I never met you?”

“I don’t usually visit? Anyways, why are you here?”

“I always wait for my dad in the office.” He nodded.

Fang is a little tense about having a kid in the office. He decides to ignore her presence and focus on the sketch he is working on. She had other plans.

“How long will Uncle be gone?”

“About 2 weeks.”

“What are you doing?”

“Sketching.”

“Sketching what?”

“A figure”

“For what?” God! Does she ever stop?

“For sculpting.”

“What is sculpting?” Fang desperately wants to roll his eyes.

“You make figures or statues.”

“Oh! Why are you doing that?”

“Because I’m a sculptor.” Fang grits out.

“Why do—”

“Can you not speak? I can’t concentrate.” Fang is frustrated.

“Okay fine.” She answers. Did she just roll her eyes? How old is she? One?

“How old are you?”

“Okay, I might look small, but I’m 2.” She held up two fingers.

As Fang got back to his sketch, he still couldn’t focus. He could feel the girl staring holes in him. He decided to ignore her and concentrate on the work, but after a few minutes, Fang gave up.

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop staring at me.”

“I’m not staring. I’m just a kid, I observe.”

“For a 2-year-old, you have so much to say.”

“For a grown-up, you are very childish.” This little shit…

“You have got so much attitude.”

“You too,” they started to glare at each other, neither of them ready to give up. Just then, the door to the office opened.

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Chapter Text

Fang POV

His attention lands on the man at the door. The first thing Fang noticed was his smile; it felt like a ray of sun in spring. Fang was transfixed; they both looked at each other. The moment was broken with a single word.

“Papa!” papa? He is this little menace’s dad? The guy’s attention moves to the little monster.

“Hey, my princess, sorry papa is late.”

Fang watches the interaction, unsure of what to feel. The guy turns to Fang after picking her up.

“You are Khaofang, right? Dee’s brother?” Does he know me? Now that I look, he seems familiar.

“I’m Tan. Yoryak’s business partner.” That explains. Fang had met him at Dee’s wedding; he was Yak’s best man while Fang was Dee’s.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“You must be helping with the kindergarten. I’m stuck with extra work due to Yak. It's hard to take care of everything. Don’t get me wrong, I'm happy they could finally have their honeymoon, but man, the workload. That’s why I’m late.” Fang just nods.

“I hope Thara did not disturb you. She is very talkative.” Fang can see where she gets it.

“Not at all,” Fang answers with a strained smile. Thara gives him a side-eye while lying comfortably on her dad’s shoulder.

“We don’t want to disturb you anymore. See you tomorrow.” Tan says with that beautiful smile.

“See you.”

After the father-daughter duo has left, Fang is still thinking about Tan. Why hadn’t he noticed him at the wedding? Fang can’t blame himself for it, as those days were his worst ones. Fang didn’t have time for anything except to try his level best not to break down at the wedding and ruin his brother’s special day. The day he was broken beyond repair. The day that made Fang this grumpy, unapproachable person.

Fang didn’t want to think about those days. He can feel the pain and negative thoughts rising. He shifts his focus to the sketch.

So, that little menace’s name is Thara? It suits her.

Thara POV

The way her papa looked at Uncle Dee’s brother? It didn’t go unnoticed by Thara. She can’t blame her papa for looking. She felt breathless for a second when she met Khaofang. He was the prettiest being she had ever laid eyes on. His eyes were especially beautiful. He is sassy remarks don’t match his graceful look. It’s a big contrast, but somehow it makes him even more fascinating. Thara felt like she had met her match. This is going to be interesting.

“Papa, how do you know him? I never met him.”

“Who? Fang? I met him at your Uncle Dee’s and Uncle Yak’s wedding.”

“Why wasn’t I invited to the wedding?” Tan chuckles.

“Sweetie, you weren’t even born then.”

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Chapter Text

Phum POV

Phum doesn’t want to go to work. Peem, his new main nurse, is so annoying. If asked, Phum has nothing to say about what makes Peem annoying. It’s the small, subtle things. He is fairly certain that Peem dislikes him. He can feel it with the way he looks at him. The said look is always a side-eye, constant judgments. He could feel Peem’s glare boring a hole in him. Most of his staffs hate him, but Peem’s feelings are more like resentment. Phum is sure that the reason is not something from their interaction because it seems like Peem detested him way before they even met. That leads to Phum’s reluctance to go to work. Peem is making his work-life hard in a subtle but obvious manner. He is pretty sure that Peem adds extra sugar to his coffee.

Phum makes his way to the cabin, by far no Peem. He lets out a sigh of relief, but it is short-lived as here comes Peem.

“You could knock, you know?” Peem doesn’t even acknowledge him.

“You have an appointment at 11, 2.30 and 3.30 along with rounds on the 3^rd floor.” Peem reads out his schedule without even glancing at him. This is what fascinates Phum; Peem doesn’t give him his attention, but at the same time, he is always watching him.

“Okay, didn’t we have a follow-up at 10?”

“They cancelled.”

“You're only telling me this now?”

“I was about to tell you before you asked.”

“Peem, look at me while I’m talking.” Peem looks at him. Yep! He shouldn’t have asked. Now, he is downright glaring at him.

“What?”

“You realise I’m your superior, right? The way you talk to me is anything but respectful.”

“I only respect those who deserve it. Not to those who act respectable.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Those who act very professional but are actually a flirt.” Phum was shocked to give a response. Me? A flirt? Taking his silence as an answer, Peem leaves and not before giving him a death glare. Something is not right here.

Peem POV

Who does he think he is? Asking me to respect him. Peem is enraged. Peem hates people who use their profession to flirt around. He likes people with ethics. Phum has flirted with his best friend and ghosted him. He is not gonna let that a*hole live peacefully without paying for breaking his sweet friend’s heart. Peem has always taken care of and protected Toey. To have a worthless guy hurt his feelings is unacceptable; he cried for months. Toey has always been very sweet, and if he comes to know Peem is taking revenge for him, he will definitely ask him to stop. So, he makes Phum’s life a little hard with small pranks. Like mixing his files, adding more sugar to his coffee (as sweet as his flirty words), stealing the last cookie from the canteen every day (Phum’s fav).

Peem hasn’t seen Phum flirt with his clients since he joined. Some days, he doubts his judgments, but then remembers Toey’s tears. It seems like his staff hates him. That has to mean that he is right.

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Chapter Text

CHARACTERS

The Thanaboon Family

• Eldest- Athit Thanaboon

Owns restaurants, “The Kiatnirans”

• Youngest- Tan Thanaboon

Single Dad

CEO- “Kiatniran Event Management”, and “Kiatniran Motors”

• Thara Thanaboon

Daughter of Tan

Two-year-old version of Fang

The Tharatorn Family

• Eldest- Wandee Tharatorn-Sapol

Owner of the kindergarten, “Little Blooming Buds”

Husband of Yoryak Sapol

• Middle- Fang Tharatorn

Artist

Hate kids

• Youngest- Phum Tharatorn

Doctor

Baby of the brothers

Others

• Peem Peeranat

Head Nurse of Phum

Best friend of Tan

• Sun Thanawin

Works at the Kindergarten

Best friend of Fang

• Yoryak Sapol-Tharatorn

Co-owner of Kiatniran Motors

Husband of Wandee

Chapter Text

Athit POV

The weekends are a big rush at the Kiatniran’s. Nestled on a bustling corner, the restaurant pulsed with energy, its warm glow spilling onto the sidewalk, drawing in passersby like moths to a flame.

Inside, the air was thick with laughter, clinking glasses, and the aroma of spices that danced between tables. Every corner of Kiatniran's told a story. Near the window, a family gathered around a birthday cake, the youngest giggling as candles flickered in front of her. At the centre table, a group of friends toasted to a long-awaited reunion, their voices rising above the hum of conversation. In a quieter alcove, two lovers leaned close, hands entwined, as one nervously reached into a pocket, an engagement ring hidden in velvet.

Kiatniran's was more than a restaurant; it was a stage for life’s most intimate moments. Deals were sealed over espresso and handshakes, dreams whispered between bites of dessert. The staff moved with practised grace, weaving through the crowd with trays balanced and smiles unwavering, as if they too were part of the unfolding stories.

It was the kind of place where time slowed just enough for memories to be made. That’s what Athit wanted, to provide a special moment for someone. A customer once said their food makes breakups a little less painful. These moments were what inspired him to take over his family's restaurant. Now, Kiatniran’s branches are located across Thailand and abroad, including Japan, Italy, and the US. Seeing the customers enjoying his food puts a smile on his face. But the reason for his smile for the past few weeks is solely on one person. Athit doesn’t know his name, but his smile reminds him of the sun. The first time Athit saw the way the boy was enjoying his food made him feel something that he couldn’t quite name. It was the same feeling he gets when he experiments with a new recipe or when he makes his grandma’s favourite dish. Since then, Athit’s attention has always gone to the special customer.

Athit was now waiting for his special customer. He got a new dish he wants the special one to try. As the night came to an end, Athit found his sun in the seat he always occupies. He quickly found a server to bring his dish. He watched as the server explained the dish to his sun. As he tried the first bite, Athit experienced the same feeling again, his sun smiled. Before leaving, he wrote something on a napkin and gave it to the server. Athit couldn’t keep his curiosity to know what was written on it. He took the napkin from the server and looked at the message.

“Thank you! This did bring a smile to my face”, he remembered?  Was Athit’s first thought. He was so happy for the message and named his new dish as ‘Sun’s Smile’.

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Chapter Text

Fang POV

Handling kids is not easy, Fang knew that already, but he didn’t realise it was this chaotic. It’s art day in the kindergarten, and Fang has to facilitate the session. Fang always thought the K.G. couldn’t get any more chaotic, but give the kids some crayons and see the full-blown destruction.

Art day is something Fang couldn’t avoid, as he is the temporary director and an art major. Somehow, the staff thought it would be a good idea to have Fang do a sculpting demonstration for the kids and parents in the evening. Apparently, this will inspire the kids. What kind of inspiration do a bunch of 2 to 5-year-old kids get from this? Fang made his way around the kids, which led him to Thara or as he loves to call her, Little Menace. The days following their first meeting have been filled with evenings of bickering. You might wonder what kinds of disagreements can arise between an adult and a two-year-old child. Surprisingly, a lot. Also, Fang hasn’t seen Tan since then.  Fang can’t believe he is fighting with a kid, but her sass brings out his own. At some point, he starts calling her "little menace," while she playfully refers to him as "princess." Hearing her call him that irks him every time.

Flashback

“Princess is your nickname.”

“I am a kid, you are old.” That’s all she had to say to hit him hard.

Ends

Fang can see that she is doing a good job at her art, but he can't just admit that.

“You got terrible skills”, Fang deadpanned.

“Thank you, princess”, she replied with the same tone. Damn! She is just two, how can she do this? His thoughts come to an end when he notices his drawing. The theme for the art day was ‘joy’. Fang wanted to take a closer look, but his dignity wouldn’t allow that. The art consists of three people whom Fang guessed would be Tan, Thara, and the third one? Is that her mom? In the end, his curiosity got the best of him.

“What are you drawing?” he asked with an uninterested tone. She gave him a side eye.

“Why should I tell you?”

“Forget it.” Fang turns to walk away.

“My family”, she whispers.

“Huh?” He turns to look at her. She points at the drawing.

“This is Thara’s bed, Papa, Thara, bed timey book...” She stops at the next figure.

“This Dada.” Dada? Not Mama? Tan is gay?

“Dada?”

“Hmm…. My Dada.”

“You have another dad?”

“No, I want one like my friends.” She whispers. She looks down at her hands, clenching the crayons. God, she is sad. What do I do?

“I want Papa and Dada to read me stories.” Fang sits next to her.

“Did you ask your papa?” She shakes her head.

“Papa sad.” For the first time, Fang sees her as the child she truly is, not as the annoying brat he once thought. He recognises a child who is yearning for care and attention. It's not that Tan is a terrible father; if anything, his interactions with her reveal that she always talks about how great her dad is. They love each other deeply, but Tan's busy work schedule often keeps him away. His absence when it comes to picking her up speaks volumes. Fang didn’t think there would come a day when he would feel like hugging this little trouble.

Fang slowly picks her up and walks out to the garden. They sit there for a while until she cools down. When her cute, chubby face looks up at him, he feels this strong urge to protect her from this world. He slowly asks,

“How about we find you a dada?” Her face lights up at the offer.

“Really?” Her hopeful expression made him want to turn her dreams into reality.

“Yeah, I’ll help you find someone for your Papa.”

“I don’t want someone like you.” She says with a side-eye. Fang wants to drop her then and there, all caring feelings gone.

“Okay, that’s it, I'm not helping you.”

“No no no no….. PLEASEEEEEEE.” That's much better.

“Okay, fine,” Fang smirks.

Fang takes her hand, “Let's shake hands for our mission.” Thara smiles at him.

‘This little menace has a beautiful smile.’

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