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Ji Hoo looked up from where he was eating when he heard a noise at the doorway. Jan Di was standing under the arch, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and smiling absently at him.

"Did you sleep well?"

Jan Di nodded before coming to sit next to him. Ji Hoo moved to serve her some breakfast, and they talked easily while eating. Both were able to ignore the elephant in the room until Jan Di took a sip of her juice. She was smiling at him around the glass when her face twisted and dropping her glass, she rushed away from the table. Ji Hoo was too surprised to do anything for a moment but let the juice drip on his pristine white clothes. Shaking himself out of his stupor, he got up quickly, followed her, and stood uselessly outside the door to the bathroom listening to her nausea.

Testing the door he opening it slowly and saw her breathing heavily as she gripped the porcelain. Moving swiftly he wet a small hand towel and kneeled next to her, setting it on the back of her neck. One of her hands unclenched and she moved it to grip his hand, "Thank you sunbae."

"Is it always this bad?"

Jan Di shook her head, "If I stick to bland foods in the morning. It's not too bad, even if it's been a pain to convince Ga Eul that I don't want to eat as much as I usually do." She turned her head and gave him a weak smile.

Nodding to acknowledge to her statement, he got up, rewet the towel, and put it back. "I'll be right back."

A few minutes later Jan Di was feeling well enough to leave and like magic, her firefighter was there as escort. He led her back to the table, and Jan Di protested, "Sunbae I don't think it's a good idea to try eating again right now."

Looking down to meet her gaze, he titled his head toward the table. Instead of the elaborate meal that had been there previously, now there was simply a cup of weak tea and plain cookies.

"Thank you sunbae."

He sat next to her again, apologizing, "I didn't know if this would be appropriate but it was the best I could do on short notice."

"This is perfect." Jan Di nibbled on the cookie to show him she meant it.

"You need to keep your strength up," he said looking at her intently, before changing topics. "I texted Ga Eul to let her know last night that you would be staying here."

"Oh thank you Ji Hoo sunbae! I can't believe I forgot."

"You were exhausted."

She ate in comfortable silence, ready to jump up again if her stomach threatened to revolt but luckily, the food settled well. Noticing she was finished with her meal Ji Hoo asked, "What are you doing today?"

"I need to go to work, but I thought I would try to visit my mom first. My dad is still on the boat, but my mom has had a week to think things over." Jan Di worried her lip with her teeth, trying to tamp down her hope.

Ji Hoo wanted to protest that Jan Di was in no condition to go to the porridge shop today, but knew that it would be pointless. "I'll drive you."

Ga Eul slowly turned her head in the mirror, wondering what Yi Jung sunbae saw when he looked at her. She could admit that she was pretty, but some of the women she had seen him with were simply gorgeous. Probably educated in the finest schools with an impeccable pedigree, but in the end Yi Jung is going to come back to her. Four years is a long time to wait for someone, Ga Eul mused as she brushed her hair. Yi Jung had said that he would be by her side if she didn't find her soulmate by then, but would he be surprised to learn that she had already found him? Probably not. That is what made him worth waiting four years. Ga Eul blushed; thinking about the kisses they had shared after Yi Jung made he would return to her. Four years would not go by quick enough for her.

Turning she quickly got dressed for the day before she turned to her closet and pulled out one of the boxes Yi Jung had given her when he had invited her to Jan Di's graduation.

***Flashback to the previous afternoon***

"Ga Eul."

She turned and saw him standing a few feet away leaning again his car. Her breath caught at how gorgeous he looked. Looking down she gave a rueful smile at her dirty work clothes.

She gave a short bow, "Sunbae!"

"I wanted to invite you to the graduation party at Shin Hwa."

Confused, she hesitantly asked him, "but didn't you already graduate?"

"Yes, but we are going to be there for Jan Di, of course."

"Ah." Thinking it over asked, "How can you invite me if you aren't graduating and besides that, I don't think Jan Di is planning on going." Looking up she saw him lift his aristocratic nose in the air.

"I'm So Yi Jung of the F4, who do you think would stop me? If Jan Di isn't planning on going the you need to figure out how to get her there." Yi Jung smiled as he caught her hand, pulling her hand closer she felt the smile as he nuzzled her palm. "See how easily I can solve these problems?"

***End Flashback***

Ga Eul sighed over the memory of his warm tongue flicking delightfully on wrist before shaking herself out of the reverie. Pulling out two dresses from the box she thought, these will do very nicely. She settle back to plan how she would get Jan Di to the graduation.

Biting her lip she looked at the suitcase propped next to her closet door, she had been surprised when Jan Di had shown up seeking a place to stay but she had welcomed her.. She didn't know what was going on with her friend but she had been on edge, even more so than usual, since she had arrived. Even Jan Di's appetite was waning, a clear sign to Ga Eul that something was seriously bothering Jan Di. Ga Eul sighed as she thought of all of Jan Di's troubles, they all deserved a nice night out.

"Yo."

"Yo," Yi Jung returned the greeting. They were meeting in their lounge, waiting for Ji Hoo to show up. He had texted that he had to make a couple stops first but they were in no hurry.

Woo Bin had a trouble expression on his face that caused Yi Jung to worry. "What's going on?"

"My father is sending me away for awhile."

"Where?"

"No idea, man."

"How long?"

Woo Bin shrugged, "It can't be too long, I still have university in the fall."

Yi Jung wanted to ask why, but there are still some things Woo Bin did not like discussing; not even with his closest friends. He had the sense that this was one of those things.

"If we are both leaving, it is just going to be Ji Hoo and Jun Pyo left here." Normally Woo Bin would have been okay with that, given the fact that Ji Hoo had always been able to handle Jun Pyo, but the bad omen that had been plaguing him was even worse now that he found out he was leaving.

"I'm not leaving for Sweden until shortly before their new term starts. It's possible you will be back before I leave."

Relived at Yi Jung's reasoning, Woo Bin nodded.

They played pool while idly trading gossip.

After Ji Hoo dropped Jan Di off he headed straight to Jun Pyo's home. He had wanted to stay and wait for Jan Di but she had pointed out that it was a short walk to the porridge shop and she didn't know how long she would be. Even though his instincts told him to stay in case she needed anything, he acceded to her wishes and left her with instructions to call him when she needed a ride home.

Nodding to Butler Lee as he entered the grand estate he headed straight to Jun Pyo's room. Opening the door, he saw that Jun Pyo was still in bed sleeping. Not wanting to deal with him while he was in a mood from being woken up he walked to a shelf and pulled off a novel and settle down in the sitting area to wait. Glancing at his watch before he opened the book, he calculated he could get through at least a couple of chapters before Jun Pyo would wake.

Deeply interested in the plot he didn't notice that Jun Pyo had woken up until he sprawled in the chair next to him. Closing the book he looked at Jun Pyo, silently assessing his friend.

Jun Pyo didn't acknowledge him outside a brief glance. He was tempted to wait until Ji Hoo gave in first but he knew his friend and Ji Hoo would be able to sit there silent for an indefinite period of time.

"What brings you here?"

"You know why I'm here."

"What?" Jun Pyo decided to play dumb until he figured out how much Ji Hoo actually knew.

"Goo Jun Pyo!" Ji Hoo spoke sharply, "now is not the time to play games."

Jun Pyo tensed and tersely replied, "Who is the one playing games? If you want to know something then just ask me!"

Ji Hoo remembered what Jun Pyo was going through and softened towards his friend, asking softly "What I want to know is, what are you going to do about Geum Jan Di's pregnancy?"

The silence stretched between them before Jun Pyo let out a soft, "Ah… so she told you." More silence.

Ji Hoo filled the silence, "After I drove her home last night. You didn't tell Woo Bin or Yi Jung."

Jun Pyo shrugged, "If she wanted them to know the girl-"

"Jan Di," Ji Hoo interrupted.

Jun Pyo shrugged again, "Jan Di then, would have told them."

The silence returned before Jun Pyo turned and looked at his friend, looking so serious and upset. Jun Pyo was surprised that he could tell; usually Ji Hoo kept his feelings close and for them to be showing this much had to mean something, but Ji Hoo wasn't actually communicating what he was thinking.

"I don't like this."

Looking startled at Jun Pyo's abrupt statement, Ji Hoo replied, "What?"

Jun Pyo gestured between them, "This, it is feeling very forced. What has occurred between us that we can no longer speak freely?"

Ji Hoo started to deny it, "Nothing has happened, it is… no, no you're right. This is not the time for easy or half truths." Ji Hoo tried to align his thoughts so he could verbalize his feelings clearly to his friend. "I will speak my mind then, as I've been holding back. I don't want to cause you upset or a relapse, but you now know the truth about your previous relationship with Jan Di. What are you going to do to remember it?"

Jun Pyo reached for the anger that had been an almost constant companion since he woke up but felt strangely calm. He had the feeling that these conversations about the girl were something that had happened often. "I don't know. I know what I should do, but when I see her, I feel too much. I get angry, sad, frustrated, guilty, and even… even happy. It's very confusing to feel so much for someone I don't know."

Ji Hoo watched as he rubbed his head as if even talking about her was overwhelming him.

"The pregnancy… it surprises me," Jun Pyo admitted, "She doesn't seem like that type of girl. Oh I see you biting your tongue in holding back your defense of her, but I don't know her, Ji Hoo, and while I can't deny I feel something about her I'm not sure I want to remember."

"The fact that you feel so strongly about her, doesn't that show you the depth of your feelings?" Ji Hoo quickly asked, this calm and cool Jun Pyo was both familiar and foreign to him but he didn't know how long it would last. At any moment he could revert to the often cruel Jun Pyo that woken up a few short months ago.

"It might," he admitted, "but the feelings are no longer there."

Ji Hoo reached over and gripped his arm, "Please believe me, if you don't try to remember you are going to regret it. You are going to regret it more than you've ever regretted anything in your life."

Jun Pyo felt his stomach drop at Ji Hoo's words, but shook his head.

Standing Ji Hoo, pulled on his coat. "Tomorrow is the graduation for Jan Di, we are all going to be there at the party for her. Try to come, it might help if see her in a familiar situation. "

Jun Pyo considered his friend, "What is this change in you, Yoon Ji Hoo? You have never shown this level of interest in my actions before, and I wake from a coma to see an almost completely different Ji Hoo.

Ji Hoo ignored his friend's questions and started to leave.

Pausing at the door, he stated without turning around, "The child, your child, changes things. Jan Di can no longer stay in stasis hoping for you to remember. If you aren't going to fight, how can she?" With that, he left.

Jun Pyo stared at the space where his friend had just stood, thinking carefully.

Jan Di took a deep breath before knocking sharply on the door of her childhood home. She felt like weeping when she thought how she no longer felt welcome to freely walk in. When no one came to the door, she knocked again. Pressing her ear to the wood paneling, she heard no movement inside. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned slowly, surprised when it opened easily.

Pushing open the door, she gripped tightly when she saw that the rooms were mostly bare. Walking in she quickly checked each room before accepting that her family had left.

She rushed downstairs and questioned the landlord who informed her that her mother had left quickly a couple days ago.

Ignoring the curious looks that she received for asking questions she should already know the answers to she gave her thanks for his help and left.

Feeling numb, she walked slowly toward work she mumbled under her breath, shocked.

Yi Jung nodded to Ji Hoo as he walked in and continued his conversation with Woo Bin, who always knew the latest gossip because the girls he kept company with refused to shut up around him. They continued their game while Ji Hoo sat in the seating area next to them.

Ji Hoo was silent, as he usually was, but he was actually paying attention to what Woo Bin was saying. If he was accurate, there were already rumors of a pregnant student from Shin Hwa, though no one had revealed whom it was yet. He listened as Yi Jung and Woo Bin idly speculated on the identity of the girl.

Breaking into the conversation Ji Hoo related parts of his meeting with Jun Pyo. He couldn't tell them everything that had been discussed, but he told them what he was able.

"He seems different," Ji Hoo revealed. "More like who he was before he met Jan Di. He was upset, but there was a coldness to him that hasn't been there for awhile."

"Coldness?" Yi Jun inquired curiously.

"Previously, when he would issue a red card, he didn't do with fire but with a cold determination. This person wronged him, or us, and they deserved to pay the consequences. After Jan Di he would still get mad, but he wasn't icy about it," Ji Hoo explained what he meant. "Now it seems like he has lost the fire and is like he was before."

Woo Bin nodded, indicating he agreed with Ji Hoo's observation.

"He's not sure he wants to remember, but I invited him to the dance."

"Is he coming then?" Woo Bin asked as he settled on the couch.

"He didn't say, but I hope he is." Sensing he had more to say they waited. "Jan Di is going to give up if something doesn't change."

Surprised and upset at the revelation, Yi Jung exclaimed, "But she never gives up! How can she do this to him?"

"I have to admit I'm surprised as well, Geum Jan Di doesn't run from her problems," Woo Bin added.

Understanding his friend's upset, nevertheless Ji Hoo defended Jan Di's position, "It's not so much as giving up as accepting the new reality."

Yi Jung felt guilty for his censure of Jan Di, remembering how much she had been through since she met the F4. He firmly believed that Jun Pyo needed Jan Di if there was to be any improvement, but he couldn't blame her for wanting a change.

Echoing his thoughts, Woo Bin said, "Man I can't blame her. Sometimes I look at her situation and think that she would have been better off if she had never met us. Yeah we helped her out, but look at how many problems being around us has caused her."

Ji Hoo's stomach clenched at the thought of not knowing Jan Di, but remembering the look in her eyes when she talked about wanting her child he disagreed, "no matter what happens, I don't think Jan Di regrets knowing us.

When Ji Hoo indicated that he was ready to leave, Woo Bin and Yi Jung accompanied him to the porridge shop. They decided to go earlier than closing so they could get some dinner. Once there Ji Hoo could tell Jan Di was in some kind of shock, so he assumed that the meeting with her mother didn't go well. Seeing that she wasn't going to fall apart at the moment he wasn't going to push her. Yet.

After they started eating, Woo Bin revealed that he was leaving Korea for awhile.

Ji Hoo curiously asked, "and you really don't know what is going on?"

"No clue man," Woo Bin answered.

"Sunbae, you're leaving too?" Ga Eul asked as she leaned against the table next to them.

"Only for a short while, I'll be back soon."

Yi Jung noticed that Jan Di had stopped cleaning and was staring blankly at the table in front of her, getting up he moved to speak to her. "Jan Di, you look upset. Business looks slow and it's almost closing, why don't you go home?" Shooting a grin at The Boss watching them from behind the counter, he asked, "That would be okay, yes?"

Happy that he wasn't being ignored, he nodded quickly, "Yeah sure, go home!"

Ga Eul looked confused, "but she is going home with me so she has to wait."

Ji Hoo smoothly stood up and answered as he walked over to Jan Di, "I will take her home; Yi Jung will stay and drive you." He quickly untied Jan Di's apron and got her things as Ga Eul flushed and looked at Yi Jung who grinned back at her.

"That would be okay, I guess."

Pulling her out the porridge shop, Ji Hoo opened the back door to his car waiting at the curb.

Sliding in next to her he gave instructions to his driver before turning to Jan Di, waiting for her to be ready to tell him.

"Ji Hoo sunbae… my family is gone," Jan Di whispered before burying her face in her hands. Ji Hoo reached over, laying his hand on her shoulder in support.

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Thank you for taking time to read and review:)

Disclaimer: I do not own Boys Before Flowers or Hana Yori Dango

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