Hello again! Thank you for continuing to read Seoul's Dawning, the sequel to Macau at Night.

Well the in-laws are here, but the flu is gone, and I was able to get most of this done before they got here so you're in luck.

Big shout out to JHsgf82 - can I get a woop woop - who edited this chapter for me as w in-laws here I don't have as much time and wanted to get this out to you guys as soon as possible.

This chapter is extremely fluffy, I think all of our couples get some time and... there's a lemon.

Now two things: First. there are a few scenes in this that are pivotal plotline wise, things that have been hinted at in the past but become clear now. Secondly there will be a trigger warning to go with that.

English

Korean

We pick up this chapter immediately from the last, where JK/JP have the disastrous meeting with MK. The events in this chapter take place over two days. Timeline wise, we are slowing down as the wedding is fast approaching.

So without further ado, welcome back to Seoul!

Perhaps it was silly, but Ha Jae-Kyung had always dreamt of being a bride. She used to look at the pictures of her mother, in her long embroidered red dress, for hours on end. However, when she pictured it, she most certainly didn't expect it to be like this.

Feeling that there was nowhere safe to talk, Jun Pyo and she had gone to a nearby park after the disastrous meeting with his mother. The heiress couldn't bear to open the files before her. It didn't matter what they had to say, she'd seen enough already to know the information inside was dangerous. She wished she could wipe the small part of it she'd viewed from her mind.

Madam Kang made her sick. Finally she appreciated why Jun Pyo didn't trust her before.

"Don't you want to ask me what we're going to do?" the Shin-Hwa heir finally said sarcastically.

A chill ran down her spine at his tone. "No. I don't need to ask. I won't allow her to hurt them, any of them."

Nearly in tears the Shin-Hwa heir cast his face to the sky. "What kind of mother does this? Can I never escape her?"

"Is there anyone you can think of who could stop her?"

"No one alive." Rising up from the bench Jun Pyo immediately sat back down again.

"What is it Jun?"

Bleary eyed, he was starting to feel the effects of all the travel. "I'm too tired to think, maybe I can go to Ji Hoo's. I don't trust going home right now."

"Can I come with you? If I go back to yours I'm afraid I'll get roped into wedding planning."

"Sure." Walking with his hands in his pockets back to the car, the curly haired man stopped short. "Don't tell them. I don't want them to know. If they find out..."

"I was thinking the same thing but what are we going to say?"

"Sheesh, I don't know. I'll think of something.

There is nothing better after a long trip than being home. Sliding on her pink slippers, Jan Di felt a bit wistful for her simple bedroom above her parents dry cleaning store. Ji Hoo slid a hand across her back as he went past carrying his bag, and the Wonder Girl followed after, pulling her pink suitcase behind her.

Seeing him unpacking, she hesitated. "Um, Ji Hoo-yah?" Should she continue to keep her things in the other room? Not that anything she had took more than one drawer...

The golden boy pointed to a shelf of drawers by the window, and Jan Di recognized them as the ones from the spare room. His thoughtfulness filled her heart, and she stared at him with a goofy smile plastered on her face.

"How is it you know what I need before I do?"

Closing the last drawer, Ji Hoo stood and walked towards her. "Do you really need to ask?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as he got closer and closer. Staring up at him wide-eyed, she waited for him to near. "Ji Hoo..." she whispered as he stood before her. The Wonder Girl felt she was falling in love with him all over again.

His hands came up to play with her hair and she shut her eyes, leaning into his touch. "Your hair's getting long my otter." he whispered in a low voice.

"Mmm." she hummed in agreement. The feel of his fingers was heavenly; did he have any idea the spell he could so easily put her under?

"I keep meaning to get it cut," she sighed, "but never seem to find the time."

"I'll do it if you want, but I think long hair suits you."

"You do huh?" she smiled amused. Opening her eyes, she wondered at his serious expression. "I haven't had long hair since I was little kid." she explained.

"That's not true." he mumbled, shaking his head and looking away.

His melancholy tone confused her, "I think I would know." she joked.

With a deep sigh, he moved away and sat at the edge of the bed. Seemingly lost in thought Jan Di followed him; sitting at his side on her knees she reached a tentative hand out to his shoulder.

The golden boy placed a hand on top of her own and cast her a gentle smile. His eyes shined with unshed tears that she couldn't understand. "I seem to recall meeting a beautiful, barefoot woman one day on my way to visit Gu Jun Pyo."

She remembered that day. Having been kidnapped by Jun Pyo and forced to have a make over, she'd stormed out forgetting she was still wearing the expensive heels she'd been forced into. Throwing them back over the fence in a fury she realized, only too late, that she'd forgotten her school shoes. Unsure what to do, she stood there stupidly until she heard the approach of a motorcycle - Ji Hoo's motorcycle.

Still in love with him, she felt mortified by her state but he appeared as calm as ever. She barely knew him, and so hadn't realized how unusual it was for him to even speak to anyone outside of his usual group. Had he loved her even back then?

"I was so embarrassed to run into you like that." she confessed, still blushing a bit at the memory. "I felt a fool."

"The only fool that day was me. I should have told you how beautiful you looked, kissed you senseless and offered you a ride home." When he shut his eyes he could see the moment so clearly in his mind. He'd relived it, and all of his other missed opportunities, over and over again since coming back from Paris.

"I'm sorry I made you wait." he said quietly in a voice that broke Jan Di's heart.

Unable to stop her own tears from falling she launched herself into his chest, finding comfort in his warm embrace. Clinging to each other tightly, Ji Hoo pressed a hard kiss onto her crown. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me Jan Di-yah. Please don't cry." he said, kissing her once more.

Wiping away a stray tear, the Wonder Girl sniffed and looked up at him. She tried to smile but just couldn't. "I can't stand to see you sad. When you're sad, I'm sad."

Softly caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, the tawny haired man leaned in close. His eyes hooded and their lips barely an inch apart, he whispered "Then I shall endeavor to always be happy.". Closing the remaining distance, the golden boy kissed her reverently for several long minutes.

He'd arranged for more than just one dresser to be moved while they were away. Taking one hand, he helped her up and brought her out to the living room.

"Can I show you something?"

They stopped in front of the large, cubic bookcase that divided the living room from the kitchen.

"What is it?" she asked in confusion, scanning the familiar items.

"Look closer."

Doing just that she walked up to a random shelf. There, amongst the delicate pieces of china, was the lotus flower Ji Hoo had given her after their date at the museum. Cocking her head, she went to the shelf over. A half smile curled on her lips when she saw a familiar photograph.

"Where did you get this?" she asked curiously, picking it up from the shelf. Blinking away tears she didn't want the golden boy to see, she smiled down at the beaming faces of the two young girls in the photograph. It was from a school field trip Ga Eul and she had taken a decade ago, but where did HE get it from?

"Ga Eul gave me a copy. Little Jan Di is very cute." he said, walking over to put an arm around her waist.

"Cute? My face is half covered in chocolate."

His cheeks grew warm as a few... less than pure thoughts ran through his mind and he imagined other parts of her being covered in chocolate. Taking the picture back and putting it on the shelf, he showed Jan Di over to a few books he thought she might like. The choices were... eclectic. Clearly guided by Ga Eul, Jan Di saw copies of other... more lighthearted childhood favorites.

"I don't want to be cluttering your perfect shelves with silly books like Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, or the Magic Gem. Everything else you have here is so... fancy."

"They may look fancy, but I've barely touched any of them. They belonged to my parents; I kept them... for sentimental reasons, not practical ones."

She knew what he was trying to do, but she felt silly having her things displayed like this. Yet it was obvious how important this was to him, and that made it important to her.

Placing the novels back in order she noticed the other trinket adorned shelves. Displayed was a medal she won from her last national swim meet, before she quit, alongside numerous awards of Ji Hoo's for his violin and piano performances. Framed and sitting alone in the last shelf on the top was a newspaper article from Jan Di's first fateful visit to Shin-Hwa. Below the title, 'Who is the Wonder Girl?', was a photograph of Jan Di struggling to hold onto the jumper.

"Everything changed that day." Jan Di mused.

"For all of us."

"You didn't have to go through so much trouble Ji Hoo-yah, but... thank you."

A knock on the door stirred them from their reflections. Not expecting company, the tawny haired man shrugged his shoulders at Jan Di's unspoken question. Giving his girlfriend a quick kiss, then another less quick one, he went to open the door just as their visitor's hand was raised for another knock.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, eyes shifting between the two of them.

Hearing the worry in his voice, Jan Di followed after and went to his side to see who it was. "Un-Unnie?"

Woo Bin's impromptu birthday vacation had been an amazing surprise, and those few days away had been wonderful. Ridiculously lavish, it was more than she could have ever dreamt up; which made coming up with something for him that much harder.

Now back in Seoul, anxiety ate away at her. She'd always been confident in her ability and talent; music was something that came naturally to her. Not that it wasn't work. In fact, she'd devoted so much of her time towards practice she was left with little else to show for herself. Or at least she had, in the past.

It was all so different now. With Ryo and her best friends in the same program as her they kept each other on track. Here there were more... distractions. Of course nothing had been the same since Ryo died; she'd changed and music had fallen by the wayside. At first it was just too difficult and then, when she returned to it, it didn't bring her the joy it once had. Part of the reason she'd switched instruments again was to try to recapture some of the joy of discovery, but she'd been lazy and the gayageum was harder than she expected to master.

Still exhausted from their busy holiday, the mischievous duo relaxed in each other's arms. Back at the Song residence they talked about what they would need for their move. Yulina didn't like the idea of moving into another one of his family's properties, but he pointed out the logic in doing so and she agreed to it but just until college was done.

"I don't want to spend my life living off of your father's money. Do you?"

"It won't be like that. I've already started working part-time and, when my course is finished, my father expects me to join him in managing the company."

The Russian girl twirled one long curl around her finger as she thought on this. "The family business... I understand. I just don't like the idea of not contributing and being idle."

"Kukolka, I don't ever see you being idle. You could never be one of those spoiled trophy wives, bored and spending other people's money."

'The exact kind of woman I've always gone for.' his mind offered up, making him blush with guilt.

"What do you see me doing then?"

"Ah." conjuring up various images, he thought carefully about what to say. He saw them making dinner in the kitchen together, dressing up to go out dancing, making love... but those weren't the kind of answers she was looking for.

"I see you working hard at everything you do and being very, very happy." he responded, lowering his voice on the last three words.

Leaning towards her, he gave her a slow but powerful kiss and she responded in kind.

"And would you be the reason I'd be very, very happy?"

"Of course." he quipped.

The Russian girl smirked at his response "Good." Letting out a sigh of relief she chuckled lightly to herself, "I was worried you were going to say something about babies."

"Aish, don't joke." Woo Bin cried out dramatically, throwing himself down on the bed. Looking up at the ceiling, he shook his head. 'Babies, hell no.'

"Then we're both agreed. Ugh, I never want kids, the thought of one of those things coming out..."

"Stop with the visuals, I beg you."

Laughing, Yulina crawled over to his side. "I didn't take you as squeamish." she teased, running a finger along his side. The Don Juan yipped, jumping when the Russian doll touched a ticklish spot. Dodging a few more attempts, he grabbed her wrists and lifted them above her head.

Atop her, he stared down into her eyes. Lust filled they'd become a stormy blue, that held him transfixed as they both panted from their brief exertion.

"Do you yield?" he whispered.

A mischievous smile grew on the lithe girl's lips. "Make me." she said almost soundlessly and she leaned up, pressing a hard kiss to his lips.

The intensity of their love making used up the last reserves of their energy and, spent, they fell quickly asleep. Each riddled by their own anxieties, if you could have looked into their minds you would have found them having less than pleasant dreams.

Resting her head on his strong chest, her hair fanned out behind her, Yulina dreamt of her dreaded recital. On stage she stood in front of a crowded theater ready to perform but, when she tried to begin, her left hand began to tremble. Unable to control her fingers, the notes came out all wrong. The melody disjointed, she was escorted off stage in shame. Tears trickled down her cheeks, wetting the auburn haired man's chest, but he too was caught up in his own worries.

Back in New York, Woo Bin was reliving the moment the random blonde girl had followed him outside. Only, instead of Yulina and their friends there with him, he was alone. Empty inside, he felt the bite of the wind, as the American girl flirtatiously approached him. Her lewd comments infuriated him, and he tried to leave when he spotted someone in the distance. Someone he felt the desperate need to catch up to.

Weaving through crowded streets, and crossing through back alleys, he saw her enter a nearby restaurant. Quickly following her he called out for Yulina; only when she turned around it wasn't her, but the red headed stewardess he'd cheated on her with. The stewardess began undressing before him and he backed off to leave, only he couldn't find his way out.

He spun around to face the woman, but she was gone and he was in the F4 lounge. The others were there but they didn't seem to take any notice of him. Why was he here, he was sure there was something he was forgetting to do.

"Woo Bin, aren't you late?" Ji Hoo asked him.

"Late?"

"Did you forget?"

A baby's shrill cry broke the peace of the moment, and a nurse in scrubs came over carrying a newborn.

"Congratulations, it's a girl." She said before handing him the child.

"What?! There's been a mistake..." He went after the nurse, but she was gone and he was left holding the infant.

"Yuli, what do I do?" His voice laden with panic, he looked around for the Russian girl.

Coming over with the F3 and Jan Di to look at the baby, Yulina cooed at the infant before turning her attentions back to him.

"Yuli, help me." he begged.

"What do you mean? It's not mine," she replied walking away from him.

A vaguely familiar woman stood off to the side watching him darkly. Something about her frightened him and he had to get away.

"It's okay; you go I'll take her." Jan Di said, seeing his distress. Scooping the infant out of his arms, the laundry girl carried the child to the nearest trash bin and threw her in.

Horrified he ran over to rescue her but the bin was empty.

"What did you do?" he shouted, but he was again alone.

The two girls, who were complete opposites yet fast friends, stood in the kitchen together preparing breakfast. Well, Jan Di was preparing breakfast; Jae-Kyung was trying to follow her directions with limited success. Their first batch of porridge had burnt, filling the kitchen with an unpleasant odor. Putting the pot aside to attempt to salvage later, Jan Di started from the beginning.

"Unnie, can I ask... why did you change your mind?"

"About the engagement." the heiress said, remembering the story they'd come up with last night. They'd lied, saying they'd agreed to it after deciding that they could both do worse. Actually, Jun Pyo had lied, she'd just been forced to go along with it... even if it was rather insulting.

"He's not all bad you know. I can do worse." Jae-Kyung replied, keeping her responses simple so she wouldn't be caught out in a lie. "Don't look so sad. It was only a matter of time before my parents forced me down the aisle. At least I've had the chance to get to know Jun; my mother only knew my father for a week before their wedding."

"A week, wow." Jan Di was starting to see where her friend was coming from. Still it made her sad, surely this isn't what she really wanted. Just a few days ago she talked so happily about breaking the engagement and moving on. What had happened?

"I'm happy, I promise. Is it ready, can we eat now?"

Carrying the food in, Ji Hoo leapt up to help. His best friend furrowed his brows at the golden boys show of gallantry, but it was really more to do with Guem Jan Di and her lack of balance.

"A little help Jun?" his fiance called out.

His natural instinct was to complain and refuse, particularly after the little show he'd just been witness to which put him in a bad mood, but seeing the awkward expression on the Chinese girl's face at his lack of response he got up to help.

Still he couldn't not grumble, "Took long enough."

"Don't worry, I'm sure once we're married you'll make breakfast much quicker." she said straight faced as she took her seat.

Begrudgingly amused, he tried not to smile back. "Well I certainly couldn't make it slower."

On the other side of the table Jan Di and Ji Hoo shared a confused glance. Wordlessly communicating, they agreed that something very odd was going on with their friends.

TRIGGER WARNING

With a violent jerk the auburn haired man woke up. It took a moment to orient himself, he'd been upset about something. He was at school and something bad happened... letting the dream fade away he ran a hand through his hair.

The woman to the left of him was making peculiar sounds and he rolled Yulina over a little to see if she was alright. She was crying in her sleep again. The Don Juan supposed it was bound to happen from time to time, but still, he'd hoped she was past it.

"Yuli, Yuli wake up." he whispered gently.

"AH!" She shouted in alarm. "Oh, Woo Bin-ah I had the worst dream about the recital. I need to practice more." Leaping out of bed the Russian girl checked the time. At 4 in the morning the rest of the house was still sleeping.

"You can't practice now, come back to bed." he called to her.

"I can't sleep. I'm going to get a drink, do you want?"

Shaking his head no, he got up as well and threw clean pajamas on. By the time he got downstairs he found his girlfriend had made him a cup of coffee anyway and was headed to the family room at the back of the house. The sunken steps had a bad habit of tripping her, so she took extra care at this early hour. Flicking through one hundred channels of nonsense, Yulina threw on BBC1 and called it good. Nine hours behind them, they were still in yesterday and she halfheartedly watched a dreadful program about halfwit celebrities.

Glad to have company, she shifted over on the couch when Woo Bin came in to join her.

"I think I'm still in yesterday." she mumbled "I get the worst jet lag."

"Mmm" he responded back, not really listening.

"Something on your mind babe?"

He'd been having hazy recollections of the dream, but mostly it left him with the sense of being friendless and alone.

"Yeah it's nothing... I just keep feeling like I'm forgetting something..."

The Russian girl nodded in understanding, "I get that all the time."

Wrapping an arm around her shoulder he gave her a little kiss. "Yeah? What do you do to remember?"

"Distract myself from thinking about it and then 'poof' I remember."

The Don Juan pursed his lips as he cast his eyes around the room. "A distraction huh? Any ideas?"

"You know there are a few new things I've thought of that I'd like to try."

"Right now?" he purred. Leaning over he flicked his tongue and began to suck on his girlfriend's earlobe.

She moaned softly at the feeling and gently shook her head no, "unfortunately, I'll have to wait. The toys I want are at home."

Having gotten his full attention she slid off her thin, black chemise and climbed into his lap. One benefit to being at the Song residence was the size of the place, they'd never been walked in on or intruded upon. Yulina was less bold at the penthouse, although plenty adventuresome in the bedroom.

"When we get our own place..." Woo Bin began tracing his hands up the curves of her body, "...we're going to make love in every room...". Kissing up her neck he slid his hands down her back and cupped her ass. "I'm going to make you breakfast in bed every morning..." he went on, sliding his fingers into her panties. Watching with eager eyes as she moaned against him, he pulled away the wet silky fabric. "...and I'm going to eat you out every night..."

Naked on the couch, the curly haired girl thrust her hips forward as he flicked her clit. As always the things he did were amazing, and she shook as she came into his mouth. Reaching down to clutch at his hair in her throws of ecstasy, she tugged sharply. Although it hurt he didn't fight it and, when her spasms died down, he slowly got her to release him. In that small moment she pulled him towards her and kissing the auburn haired man violently, the lithe girl wrapped a leg around his hip.

"Tell me more about your plans Woo Bin-ah..." she asked while grinding against his hips.

Growling, he rolled on top and began massaging her breasts. "I'm going to have you every which way you can imagine." he said seductively, "and when we're through, we'll start all over again... Mmm Yuli..."

Tired of waiting, Yulina had slid her hand down into his boxers. He was hard, but she'd felt him harder, and she swirled her thumb around his tip while stroking him to help him along. Her touches made him moan and within no time he was ready.

Licking his lips, he slid his cock out and sat back on his heels as he gently stroked himself. The Russian girl's mind reeled with the multitude of things she wanted to do to him. First and foremost, she wanted to make him cum hard.

Approaching him, she flicked her tongue around the tip of his cock and licked up the first beads of cum. Then, reaching deeper into his pajama pants, she cradled his balls in her hand. As much as she enjoyed watching him touch himself, it was her turn.

The rhythm of her stroking was slow and taking him deep into her mouth, just the way he liked it, his mind went blank allowing him to just feel. Blowjobs were one of his all time favorite things, ever since his first one, and he found them more intimate than many of his relationships.

A face flickered into his mind, and he wasn't sure if it was someone he knew or if it was from his dream. There was something sinister in her look though, and he tried to get the image out of his mind as his body sped up the pace. Thrusting with a passion, he ran one hand through his girlfriend's hair and reached down to squeeze her breast with his other. Just as he was forgetting, the face popped back up again. She was a thin woman, her hair pinned up, she wore a low cut top and short skirt.

Yuli's movements were bringing him so close, he moaned with every stroke, but he couldn't shake the image of the woman out of his mind. His eyes shot open as he remembered who she was. How could he have forgotten?

The Russian girl's tongue flicked his tip back and forth and he gave a short shout. Cumming uncontrollably as Yulina pumped him dry he thrust back and forth, but he wasn't there in the moment.

In his mind he was reliving his first sexual experience - 13 years old and studying with his mathematics tutor, a woman old enough to be his mother, who let him touch her breasts in return for allowing her to touch him. She eventually stripped naked for him that first night and told him to touch her. Guiding him in how to please her, she paid him back in kind.

As he trembled against the kitchen counter, she sucked him off for the first time. Over and over again they met and each time she would make him cum; it got to the point where the moment she turned up he got a hard on. It went on like that for nearly a year, but when he went through a sudden growth spurt she lost all interest in him. Furious with her, he didn't understand why she didn't want him, and shortly after she resigned.

Pulling away from Yulina, he felt terrible for allowing his thoughts to drift. Especially to that awful woman, who disappeared after another family brought charges against her. Even though he never told Yuli the exact specifics of what happened, somehow she just knew. It seemed she could read his mind at one point, and he'd teased her calling her a witch.

Then, just before their trip to Macau, he confessed and told her about the abuse; it was liberating to tell someone after so many years of pretending not to care. She didn't say anything, she just let him talk and the experience brought them closer. Yulina accepted him. She always had, she didn't try to change him or get angry about his past affairs. All she said was that 'the past makes us who we are today, good or bad'. Maybe he fell in love with her right then, at any rate they'd been through a lot together.

Helping the Russian doll redress, he laid out next to her on the couch holding her close.

"What is it drakonchik?" he was uncharacteristically quiet.

"Mmm.." Woo Bin replied, burying his face into her hair. "I just remembered a piece from my dream."

"...and it wasn't a good piece..."

"...no it wasn't."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm here then." the curly haired girl said lightheartedly, turning around to face him.

The Don Juan looked down into her gorgeous clear blue eyes, that somehow always saw right through him.

"Yes it is...", kissing her sweetly several times he whispered, "more than you can possibly know."

Wrapped tight in each other's arms, he willed all his bad thoughts away until all that was left was the overwhelming sense of love he felt for her.

END TRIGGER WARNING

He hated the sterile room and bland music. Waiting to be taken in to surgery, an overly chatty anesthesiologist droned on about his upcoming wedding. The So heir wondered at the irony of having such a dull person responsible for putting him under.

Ga Eul had texted him obscenely early to wish him luck. He'd of been annoyed if it was anyone else, but he knew how worried she was. It was strange to have someone so concerned for his well-being they made themselves anxious; his mother didn't even speak to him when he came home last night and he had no idea where his father slept. Texting back and forth all morning, it was easy to tell her not to worry, it was another thing entirely to get Chu Ga Eul to listen.

"Have they given you any idea how long they expect it to take?"

"Around two hours give or take."

"Alright how about I bring lunch then..."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Will it make you feel better if I say yes?"

"Sunbae..."

He could practically hear her blushing. "I'll see you around noon then. Don't be late."

"I promise."

Now, as the doctors came in to talk to him and discuss the procedure, he almost longed for the anesthesiologist to come back. "Doctors, I trust that you are more than qualified for this or you would not be here. If it's all the same to you I have a lunch date. Shall we get started?"

At school the F4 was short one member. It went around the school that So Yi Jeong was in surgery that morning and dozens of groups of girls huddled together alternatively praying for his recovery, or weeping in worry. A few of the more adventurous ones who'd trekked out to the hospital came back with reports that they'd been turned away, and the F4 lounge became crowded with the piles of flowers and gifts the hospital refused to accept.

Around lunchtime Jan Di suggested visiting him, but Woo Bin was quick to shoot that idea down.

"Don't worry about Yi Jeong, he wouldn't want us there anyway." The Don Juan had received a message from his friend, specifically asking him to make sure he wasn't bothered. He had a fair suspicion why, but knew better than to ask. He'd tell him when he was ready.

"Woo Bin-Sunbae, where's Yuli-ssi?"

"Almost certainly practicing for the recital." The auburn haired man pocketed the 8 ball and walked past a scowling Jun Pyo. Putting the stick back he went to sit with his friends. "She's really nervous. She even had a nightmare about it last night."

"Maybe I should talk to her." Ji Hoo pat the Wonder Girl on the hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I've done recital for the last two years, it's not as scary as it sounds."

Trying and failing to squash the urge to be nosy, Woo Bin decided to go too. Not to be left out, the others all came along as well. The Don Juan was pretty sure Yulina was going to be furious with him for interrupting, but worst case scenario he could always hide behind Guem Jan Di.

Awakening with his hand raised in a sling Yi Jeong met with the surgeons. There were pages of post operative instructions to follow and physical therapy appointments to make. He tried to listen to the instructions, but it was all too much to take in.

"I will set up your first follow up appointment for next week. If you follow the recommendations we've outlined, it is probable you will see full recovery within six months."

"Six months... I understand." The So heir's arm was still numb from the local he was given, and he could see the ugly looking marks from the surgery. Accepting that recovery wasn't going to be as quick a process as he hoped for, he let the realty of the situation set in.

The paperwork outlined what he could expect within the next week, but the litany of instructions was too much for him to deal with right now. The hospital planned to keep him in for the full 12 hours to make sure the swelling went down, but he would be released this evening. Pondering his lot in life that had led him to this moment, the famed potter was torn between feeling sorry for himself and being almost appreciative.

If that man hadn't stomped on his hand, if he'd never been injured, would he have continued on in much the same way he always had? In the last several months it felt like the world was trying to give him a wake up call, more than one actually, but he'd ignored them all. First there was Macau. Next there was finding Eun Jae again, only to learn she was engaged to his brother and he'd long since missed his chance with her. Then there was his hand being smashed, and finally being arrested. Was he such an idiot he needed more to tell him to sort his life out?

So Yi Jeong was cynical by nature. He didn't believe in all the mumbo jumbo Ga Eul spoke of about soul mates or the universe. Life just didn't work that way. If you want something you can't wait for life to throw it in your path, and you can't run away and expect another opportunity to present itself.

Of all the F4, he would be the last one you'd expect to be shy or passive. He hid himself so well even he was fooled. It hurt, physically hurt, to confront that fact that most of his personality was a falsehood. Being afraid and protecting himself was such an ingrained part of his psyche it was almost torture to drop the walls surrounding him... terrifying, terrifying torture.

Brooding once again, he felt an indescribable lightness when Chu Ga Eul knocked on his door. He tried to keep himself together and answer her questions, but he just wanted to hold her.

"I'm afraid my mobility is limited for the moment Ga Eul-yang."

The lunchbox she'd prepared at his side, he thanked her for her effort and asked her to sit beside him. Seeing she was hesitant at first, he moved over to give her room.

"This is a bit embarrassing, but maybe you could give me a hand?" he half-joked, moving the fingers he was able to in the sling.

In a flurry of movement, the porridge shop girl apologized for her thoughtlessness. Upset with herself, she kept apologizing for making him worry. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her to his chest and held her in a one armed hug. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, and squeezed his eyes tightly shut; he wanted nothing more than to stay safe in her embrace.

"Ga Eul-ah" he whispered, keeping her close "I'm glad you're here."

His confession eased the worry in her mind, and hugging him back she released a shaky sigh. "I'm glad I'm here too."

As expected, the Russian girl was not amused by the interruption, but the group used it as the perfect excuse to drag her out to lunch.

"Have you seen the paper this morning?" Jae-Kyung asked, pulling out a copy from her bag.

"Aish, that's a rag not a paper." the Shin-Hwa heir grumbled, tossing the offending pages aside.

Yulina snatched it up to find a write-up on the upcoming wedding of Ha Jae-Kyung and Gu Jun Pyo. Passing the paper to the Don Juan, they exchanged a curious look.

"So, did you change your mind or is this that crone's doing?"

Sharing a gigantic portion of Chicken Pad Thai, the heiress' comfort food of choice with the Russian girl, she tried to brush off the question.

"It was a mutual decision."

"...everyone who believes that stand on your head."

"Say what you want, she answered your question. Just drop it."

All through the meal Ha Jae-Kyung was unable to forget what she'd read in Woo Bin's file. Without question she would never reveal the truth to him, but it made it hard to sit there nonchalant beside Yulina.

'Did Yuli know?' She couldn't help but ask herself over and over. It took everything in her not to drop hints; how would she even explain herself? She needed something to get her mind off of it.

"Yuli-ssi, how come you've gone back to the 12 string?" Yoon Ji Hoo asked, tempering his tone so she wouldn't think he was being judgemental.

With a groan, the Russian girl explained her talk with her advisor. If she were to switch back to the smaller instrument she could perform with several of her colleagues, including faculty, for the segment on Sanjo music.

"It's a career move. Professor Yoo invited me to work with her group, I'd be an idiot to say no."

Seeing the looks she was getting around the table, she waved her hands dismissively, "It's fine, it's better this way. If I do well, with the professors' recommendation, it will be much easier to find a mentor. I'm told Professor Clark is coming, so with any luck!"

The Russian girl knew her friend's were concerned she was giving up, but Yoo Ha-Jae had made a strong argument why she should reconsider her choice and that combined with her own doubts about her abilities, led her to agree. It was a risk, but then so was anything.

Although Ji Hoo wasn't entirely convinced, he didn't want to make trouble for the Russian girl and now wasn't the right time or place for a discussion that could quickly turn into an argument. Instead he went ahead with Jan Di, and the two of them took a few minutes to relax together on their bench before she had to head back to class.

On their way back to campus Yulina pulled the Don Juan aside for a more serious talk and waved the two heirs on ahead of them.

"Babe, I'm not going to be around much for the next several weeks... I've got a solo and a two group pieces to learn."

Nodding in understanding he joked, "That's okay, I know where to find you."

"Are you sure?" she asked rubbing his arm up and down tenderly.

"I'm sure I can find something to occupy my time." He said with a wink, making her roll her eyes.

She wasn't sure if it was coming from him or her, but somehow the thought of so much time apart made her feel anxious. "I'll text you tonight, maybe we can meet later okay?"

"If that's what you want I'm sure we can MEET..."

"You're double-ententes need some work babe."

Overall Jan Di would say she was having a great day. She had a wonderful, romantic night with Ji Hoo, aced her math test, avoided the terrible trio all day and got to work in the clinic after school. She was eager to go back and see Grandad Yoon, she had so much to share with him.

"Doctor, it's good to see you. How have you been? Have you been taking care of yourself?"

"All this fussing, I'm not one of the patients... send the next one in."

"Yes doctor." Jan Di was all to happy to return to the patients who greeted her warmly and asked where she'd been. It felt truly wonderful to be back doing what she loved.

The office was, as expected, in dire need of organizing and the Wonder Girl stayed late to get it sorted properly. She was about to go when she heard a crash from across the office. Racing to the back, she threw open the door to find Doctor Yoon hunched over in pain. Tablets were strewn across his desk, and the bottle had fallen to the floor. Clutching his chest, his face pale, Jan Di took his arm and helped him sit.

"Grandpa, grandpa are you okay?!

"Ah, I'm alright. I know what's wrong with me. There's nothing to be worried about."

He grabbed two tablets and took an sip of water, choking a bit as he did.

"You're not okay. What would have happened if I hadn't been here? This happened last time too."

"Yeah...I'm fine, I'm fine, go home." he pushed her away towards the door.

"Doctor you're not fine, you can't live on your own like this anymore." she replied, dodging away from him.

"Which one of us went to medical school?"

"I'm starting to wonder."

"So what is your plan. Do you plan on putting me in a retirement home?"

"Yes."

"Why you!" he said astounded, clutching his chest again.

Worried beyond measure, Jan Di realized what she had to do.

"I'm home." Jan Di called out, pulling a suitcase behind her.

Walking around the corner, hands in his pockets, Ji Hoo went to greet her. Surprised she had two cases with her, he asked her what was going on.

"It's for moving in, I'll just bring these to the spare room."

A confused expression on his face, he asked her again what was going on. "Jan Di-yah what are you up to?"

"Come on in." the Wonder Girl called out behind her, pausing a moment for effect. Turning to find no one behind her she chuckled, a bit embarrassed. "Hold on a moment." she rushed back out the door, waving her hand frantically "Come on in."

"I don't know what you're trying to do here." a gravelly voice called out.

There on Jan Di's arm was the last person on earth he ever wanted to see, the only living relative he still had, his grandfather.

Seeing the fear evident on his face, Jan Di steeled herself to be brave for both of them. Smiling to stop herself from tearing up, Jan Di patted grandfather Yoon on the hand. It hurt to see the look on the golden boy's face, and watching him walk away from them nearly broke her heart. She knew she was doing the right thing, but that didn't make it any easier.

"This is your home now." Jan Di said helping grandfather sit down.

"You, who does something like this? He and I need time to mentally prepare for this."

"How much time does that take? You've had 15 years." she said cheekily.

He grouched a bit at her response, but she wasn't done.

"How much longer do you need? Also if you don't listen to me I might tell him all about it."

"About what..."

Giving him a sharp look she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "That you're sick... hmm should I do that?" She pretended to be considering what to do, making the doctor shake his head at her pantomime.

"Who taught you how to act like this?" he chuckled, lightening the mood.

"I've been told that I'm a good negotiator." she laughed back. "Goodnight grandfather."

As she was about to leave the older man called out to her, "Jan Di, do you think he will forgive me?"

"What are you so scared of? You're his grandfather. If he doesn't listen just give him a smack. Good night."

Not sure what to expect, Jan Di walked slowly out to the garden. She could see Ji Hoo standing there, arms crossed and brow furrowed. She knew this conversation wasn't going to be easy.

No sooner had she come over to his side when he snapped at her, "What do you think you're doing?"

"You and your grandfather both need family; all I did was help." she began, hoping to ease into it.

He wasn't having any of it though. "Guem Jan Di I'm not..."

"Ready for it? He said the same thing." she chuckled a bit at their similarity.

Turning away from her, he was too cross to say anything.

"For something like this, how much time do you need? Isn't waiting forever pointless? You told me before it's impossible to know someone completely, but you can at least know what kind of person they are. The Yoon Ji Hoo I know still loves and missed his grandfather, so he's capable of forgiving him."

This was too much, she'd gone too far. He knew she was trying to positive, but did she have any idea what having him here would mean? Rolling his eyes he sighed and went to her side.

Her smiles so often gave him strength. If she thought he could do this maybe he could. Without words she knew what he needed, and taking his hands in hers, she stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss.

Laying in bed that night, Jan Di curled up against his back draping an arm around his waist. Her fingers threaded through his and in hushed voices they talked about grandpa. Ji Hoo told her about the videos his grandfather sent him and she smiled at the thought of a little Ji Hoo riding on Doctor Yoon's back.

"I don't know if I can do this." he whispered.

She squeezed him tighter to her, knowing what a tremendous risk this was. The golden boy wasn't particularly good at adapting to change, and his own biggest critic, he doubted himself. Pressing a kiss against his bare back, she reminded him he was no longer alone.

"I'm here, lean on me when you need to. I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise me."

"I promise, you're stronger than you know Ji Hoo-yah."

Up first, Yoon Ji Hoo took a moment to look down at the sleeping woman to his side. Her hair had fallen in her face and he carefully brushed it back, taking care not to wake her.

An appetizing aroma drifted in and curious, he threw on a shirt to go have a look. There, plodding around the dining room table, was his grandfather. Ji Hoo watched as he fussed over a plate, and walking closer he saw the older man had prepared numerous dishes for the both of them.

"I remember you liked this as a child." Grandfather Yoon said with a smile.

"I'm.. I'm not hungry." he lied, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Wait, then at least take this." the older man said, drawing the tawny haired man's attention back to him.

Not sure what to do, Ji Hoo panicked and left. Going to his room, he climbed back into bed next to Jan Di and held her tight. He knew he'd handled that all wrong, but he'd completely blanked and had to run away.

"Jan Di-yah, I need you." he said, crumpling up into himself. "It's too hard."

AN:

So what did you think?

Yikes right? I was a little worried the WB scene might be too much, so I gave the trigger warning to be safe.

I really enjoyed bringing Petr back just to annoy YJ. Let's see I did the best I could with Russian birthday traditions, pies seem to the thing and instead of the 'bumps' they pull on your ear. Or at least so the internet tells me so it must be right! LOL Again places in NYC are real

Hope no one is too OOC, I'm trying very hard to not go too far down that road, but as the characters develop personality changes are bound to happen. It would be very dull if they didn't.

I know I said 25 chapters but damn... what can I do? How long does something have to be before it becomes an epic? LOL

In our next chapter

Grandfather Yoon lives with JanHoo, what does he think about their relationship?

Reconciliation

Lemons

Shopping with JK

As always I am a TERRIBLE proofreader, although this time I've had help - woop woop - , still, if you find an error just let me know!

Also as always I LOVE reviews. I live for them, I know it's pathetic so take mercy on me and write me one.

PS: Guest review re: NYC/JH - I figure JH could have traveled for his music studies, performances or as a representative of his family's cultural center. Or even Seo Hyun could have taken him with her on a holiday or for work. Maybe he went to see a specialist there as a child, who knows, be creative I'm sure you can think of reasons why he'd been there before too!

XOXO - until next time mes amies