AN: Spoilers up until the After Ending. Based on the last conversation between Zen and Jumin before the party where Jumin asks Zen to take care of MC if something happens to him. Also, I decided to call the character MC, though I mostly write this in a first person POV. I just didn't want to limit the main character or make her sound like a Mary Sue. This way, it's more relatable to anyone who reads this. Lastly, I do not own the brilliant game and story line writing that of Mystic Messenger though I wish I was part of the team that brought it to fruition, even just a little.

Chapter 1: Dying and Defeat

Larger than life. That's how he's always been. It wasn't because he chose to be that way. It was just because he was born extra-ordinary. As the eldest son of Chairman Han and next in line to manage C&R International, he attracted constant national interest. This reached its peak when the two of you met. Embroiled in a sudden engagement to someone he didn't know and his decision to end it through the most public means possible ensured that the both of you were hounded by paparazzi all the time. You still remember the day you had to cling to bodyguards, head down with his arm tight around your waist, as you waded through the airport and the relief you felt seeing Jaehee, Yoosung, Zen and Seven's faces.

Eventually, as time passed, a slow peace enveloped your married life especially since you aren't as ostentatious as Jumin is and preferred to organize the RFA parties quietly. You would have gotten a job or started a business but your sudden fame significantly hindered your work life. Not to mention the fact that Jumin just insists you travel with him everywhere which would naturally infuriate any boss. Not that it was anything to resent Jumin for. He has given you so much love and care that you can barely be angry at him for anything. Besides, you know he means well and is just trying to give you his world. Nonetheless, you enjoy being his house wife, making sure there was a warm meal on the table, greeting him as soon as he gets home and easing the tension he was feeling brought about by a stressful day at work. You brought about normalcy in his otherwise surreal life and at home, he can let go of his mask and his loneliness and just feel.

All of that, however, is in the past. It hurts to be reminded that Jumin Han, the love of your life, is now just a memory. Your heart constricts at the renewed thought and a fresh round of sobs escape your lips which you muffle through the white handkerchief in your hand. You are thankful that tradition dictates that you can cry during the funeral because you certainly can't suppress the tidal wave of emotions enveloping your body. Actually, you haven't stopped crying since you got that phone call.

You were on the groomer's table, brushing Elizabeth's fur, when the phone started ringing. You absently grabbed it, not even glancing at the screen, before you answered "Hello?". You expertly balanced the phone between your head and your shoulder as you try to multi task with Elizabeth.

"MC, hello? It's Jaehee…." You blink. Jaehee's voice sounded….solemn.

"Are you okay, Jaehee?" You ask, concerned. You care about every single person in the RFA. They're your family.

"I…well, I couldn't say I'm completely okay." Jaehee was talking slowly and her nose sounded stuffy so you stopped brushing Elizabeth to give her your full attention. You have never remembered a conversation with Jaehee where she's upset in the three years you've known her.

"What's wrong?" Your voice was gentle, prepared to comfort her.

"Mr. Han is…his private plane crashed and…Mr. Han is….he's dead, MC." You expected the worst to come out of her mouth but this wasn't even in the realm of possibility for you.

This is unbelievable…and no, no, no, this can't be real. "Mr. Han is dead, MC. I wouldn't be calling you about it otherwise." You acknowledge this. Neither Jaehee nor Jumin are prone to doing pranks. No one in their right mind, really, would joke about something like this.

"No…it can't be. I was talking to him last night. He was fine. He was excited to go back home. He sent me blurry photos of his dinner. He…" Your voice broke as you started crying which triggered Jaehee's own crying and then you were both sobbing on the phone with each other in your grief.

You don't remember when Jaehee's phone call ended. But you do remember that your phone never stopped ringing after that and yet nothing….nothing…could get you to move. Instead, you're curled up on Jumin's side of the bed, soaking the pillow with your tears, wishing this was a bad dream. That you'd wake up to his deep, soothing voice comforting you, calling you princess, reminding you how much he loves you. And when you're reminded that he won't be here to ever do that again for you, the pain restarts and so do the tears and the longing for him to just be here intensifies.

Where was a Start Over button when you need one?

It was Seven who first arrived at the Penthouse. He found out almost as soon as Jaehee did through the regular tabs he keeps on all RFA members via hacking. He's been through so much pain and grief and loneliness and had an idea what to expect but he still stopped at the doorway, deeply unsettled when he saw you. You were always so cheerful, so positive, that the image of you so devastated jars him a little. He bites his lower lip as tears creep into his eyes. This day, he decided, he won't be cold and he won't keep his distance. So he crawled over the bed and gently tapped your shoulder. You flinched at first, and you turned around with your hair clinging to your wet cheeks, your nose red and your eyes blurry from tears.

Seven's red hair registered in your conscience and you whimpered, "Saeyoung…." You barely got his name out before you buried your face into his chest. He started patting your head in comfort. He didn't know what to say because the pain you felt was also his.

The RFA members started trickling into the penthouse one by one shortly after Seven arrives. First was Jaehee who, though puffy eyed, stood and kept on the phone handling announcements and arrangements and trying to keep control of the press. Though technically Chairman Han would be the Sangju, he certainly can't handle the logistics, so Jaehee volunteered. She never thought, even in her wildest dreams, that her last project with Jumin Han would be this.

Zen and Yoosung came together and, similar to Seven, paused at the doorway to watch you clinging unto Seven. Yoosung exited almost immediately, his tears restarting once he saw your grief. Unfortunately, hearing him cry made you cry that much harder. Zen locked eyes with Seven, conveying with a look what he wanted to say. Seven nodded his head imperceptibly and Zen left as well to the kitchen. He's back a bit later with a glass of water, tea and porridge.

He reached out and touched your back, "MC, you need to eat."

You hid yourself deeper in Seven's chest. "I…don't want to." You didn't have an appetite and wasn't that understandable given the situation?

Zen frowned. "You have to. Given your condition. Please. You have to take care of yourself. That's what Jumin would want."

At the mention of his name you started crying again which prompted Seven to glare at Zen. "Way to go." He hissed.

Zen shook his head, sorry for the mistake, but sat down on the bed regardless of your sobbing. "MC, please. You can't do this to yourself. Not as you are."

You knew that he was right but you glared at him as you slowly (and with much difficulty) sat up anyway. You don't say a word to him but he seemed fine getting the brunt of your anger if it meant you were eating.

They were all watching you intently as you ate, with Yoosung finally calming down enough to be back in the room. None of them were hungry either but none of them needed to eat and are content with just watching you act a little normal. Once you were done, however, no one knew what to do. You were just staring into space, clutching at the pillow, before the tears suddenly started falling from your eyes again. Before you knew it, you felt all of them together. Seven with his forehead pressed against your back, Zen with his arms wrapped around your shoulders, with Jaehee stroking your hair, and with Yoosung and the side of his head leaning against your left knee as he sat on the floor with his back against the bed.

The RFA is family and you've just lost one of your own.

You probably would have languished to nothing without the support of the RFA. They made sure you were never alone throughout that first night and during all three days of the funeral. Every time you were feeling lost and too consumed by your grief, you just needed to lock eyes with one of them inside that room so you could feel grounded again. And they never left your side. Zen and Seven took turns being near you as guests poured into the funeral home. It was Yoosung's hand you clutched during the eulogies on the third day. It was Jaehee you sat with in the car towards the burial site. And all four of them stayed behind as the mourners trickled away from the grave. The tears have stopped now, but mainly because you were just so dried up. The sadness, however, remains.

"I still can't believe this is happening." These are the most words you've spoken to anyone outside of pleasantries you've exchange with the many guests that came to the funeral home.

"Me too. It still feels too…unreal." Yoosung reaches out for a Chrysanthemum, brushing a petal gently with a finger.

Seven, hands stuffed in his pockets, says sadly, "You'll heal. In time." He knows this by experience and you know he's right. You have to move forward. There's no other way.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but we've talked to his lawyer and naturally, everything is left under your name."

Jaehee was right. You don't want to bother about money now. You've never loved Jumin for his money anyway. But you nod your head and gave Jaehee a small smile. "Thank you Jaehee. For everything." She nods before averting her eyes, embarrassed. "Chairman Han and I spoke and I mentioned that you have been a more than capable assistant to Jumin. He's recommending you to be the Department Manager of Marketing and Sales. He mentioned that it would be a shame to lose someone as talented and hard working as you from the company."

Her eyes snap back to yours, wide. "I….MC, thank you." You also know that though this wasn't her major concern, it was bothering Jaehee anyway.

"Will you be alright?" She asks and everyone is now attentive for your answer.

You nod your head, rubbing your swollen tummy. "I have to be." They're worried and you think they have a reason to be. Grieving for Jumin is bad enough but they know it's so much worse when you're thirty weeks into your pregnancy.

To be Continued

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End Notes: This chapter is a prologue, of sorts. Just laying the groundwork for what this story should be. In the next chapter, we delve into emotions rather than just scenes so I'm excited for that.

I have never been to a Korean funeral and have written here based on research alone so I hope I did it justice. Also, to explain since I couldn't fit it anywhere in the story, but Zen's cat allergy has been improving. Part of it was cured psychologically (like the one where he gets allergies just seeing photos or mentioning the word) and part through the allergy researcher at the party. Though if he touches Elizabeth, he still gets hives and itchiness and would still need to drink antihistamin.

Also, I have this story fully outlined and planned out since I haven't written a multi-chapter fic in years. So hopefully I'm able to post a chapter every week. I did kinda miss writing and though I know I'm not good enough to write books, I do enjoy writing fanfiction and getting feedback. Do tell me how it goes and what can be improved so I can do better in the other chapters. :D