Hey Guys! So, I know most of you were expecting an update for the Knight and Shiny Armor of Woo Bin which will be up this week. But I felt like I owed you guys some new SEoul goodness. So, here is this new story for you guys. I'm not sure how long it will be yet. This one is more dramatic since I am exploring Yi Jeong dealing with something happening to Ga Eul and his reaction to the possibility that she may not survive. So, I hope you go for the ride with me and as always let me know what ya'll think.

"I'm not answering it."

"You have too."

"Why me?"

"Because he can't kill you."

"HOW DO YOU KNOW?"

"Aren't you always bragging that you're the best fighter amongst us?"

"He won't try to fight me. He will just club with a bat or something!"

"Well, I am not answering it."

They guys looked at the ringing phone on the table nervously as it started buzzing violently again. Gu Jun Pyo nudged Woo Bin as Ji Hoo shook his head emphatically. Woo Bin glared at them. "I am not telling Yi Jeong we lost Ga Eul!"

"We didn't lose her," Jun Pyo stated arrogantly. "We just don't know where she is right now."

"Oh, much better," Woo Bin snapped sarcastically. He took a deep breath before pasting on a smile. "Hey bro. What's up? How's the weather in Sweden?"

"Woo Bin?" Yi Jeong asked in confusion. "Is everything okay? I've been trying to get in touch with you guys for almost an hour."

"Have you? Must be bad reception out here or something." Woo Bin floundered with a pleading stare to Ji Hoo and Gu Jun Pyo.

"Oh," Yi Jeong shrugged deciding to let it go. "How's the camping trip going?"

"It's… fun."

Yi Jeong laughed. "Sounds like it. Did Geum Jan Di and Ga Eul like the trails and stuff? I know Ga Eul mentioned how excited she was to try out the climbs."

"You've talked to Ga Eul?" The mafia prince quickly broke in hopefully. "When? Today?"

"What?" Yi Jeong asked confused. "No."

"Oh." Woo Bin's voice deflated and Yi Jeong narrowed his eyes, suspicion beginning to sink in. "Why are you wondering if I have talked to Chu Ga Eul? Isn't she with you?"

"What? Oh yeah, she's here."

"Really?" Yi Jeong nodded slowly. "Great. Then let me talk to her."

"Oh, uh… You see—"

"Woo Bin," Yi Jeong cut off impatiently. "What's going on? Why are you acting weird?"

"I'm not!"

"Then put Ga Eul on the phone."

"Well about that, she is um—"

"Five, four, three—"

"What is that for?" Woo Bin broke in alarmed.

"That is how many seconds you have left to put Ga Eul on the line before I take a bat to your brand-new car," Yi Jeong told them in a dangerously calm voice. He glanced at his watch, "two."

"All right," Woo Bin groaned, putting Yi Jeong on speakerphone since there was no way in hell he was explaining this one by himself. "She's sort of…lost."

At the deadly silence from the other line, all the members of F4 grimaced and moved from the phone on the table like it was a grenade.

"What?" Yi Jeong finally growled. "What the hell do you mean she is lost?"

"She went hiking," Ji Hoo told him carefully. "And she hasn't come back yet."

"You let her go hiking alone?" Yi Jeong yelled furiously.

"No!" Woo Bin interjected hastily. "I mean we did but—"

"YAH!" Yi Jeong paced around his suite angrily, torn between murderous anger to rip apart his three best friends and horrible dread. "Quit stalling and tell me what happened."

With an exasperated snarl, Geum Jan Di swiped the phone from the floundering members. "She left before any of us woke up this morning. She wanted to go up the peak and watch the sunrise according to her note."

Yi Jeong looked at his watch again and quickly did the time difference. "So, she has only been gone a few hours?"

"Yes, so I'm sure she's fine." Jun Pyo said quickly. "I bet she just got mixed up on a trail or something."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to regulate his breathing. "Call me the minute she gets back."

"We will," Woo Bin promised. "We're sorry, Yi Jeong. We just didn't want you to panic until—"

"I'm not panicking," Yi Jeong snapped. "At least not yet. But Woo Bin if anything has happened to her, I am murdering all of you."

He cursed violently as he hung up the phone, throwing it hard onto the bed before stalking to the window and looked out of the city but it might as well be a blank screen for all the saw of it.

Yi Jeong twisted his head to gaze at the photograph on his nightstand. It was Ga Eul standing in the middle of the studio here in Sweden where Yi Jeong was currently studying. She was laughing, holding up her wet clay ridden hands to the camera. He smiled at the memory. She surprised him last year for his birthday by unexpectedly showing up here in Stockholm.

Yi Jeong sighed wistfully as he flopped onto the sofa with a lone cupcake he had bought from the bakery down the street. As he took a careful bite, he tried not to give in to an odd depression. So, it was the first birthday he had ever celebrated without his friends. They had each video chatted him earlier today and sent his presents.

Even his parents had remembered to send him a message without their usual manipulative digs. The lack of his living at home and being forced to do their sick bidding had forced them to start dealing with things on their own.

"Aish." Yi Jeong grumbled under his breath as another wave of melancholy washed over him. "What? Are you five?" He was about to take another pathetic bite of his cupcake when the buzzing from his pocket made him jump. He pulled it out with a frown which quickly morphed into a small smile. "Hello."

"Happy birthday!"

Yi Jeong grinned at the cheerful yell from Ga Eul and leaned back into the couch. "Who is this?"

"Yah!" Ga Eul cried and he laughed. "I'm kidding."

She shook her head, "I can always hang up, you know?"

"But it's my birthday," Yi Jeong teased and Ga Eul could almost see his mock pout. "Happy birthday, So Yi Jeong."

"Thank you, Chu Ga Eul." Yi Jeong stretched, settling happily into the conversation. "How are things?"

"Good," Ga Eul told him with a smile. "I had an interview last week for a teaching job."

Yi Jeong smiled proudly. "How did it go?"

"I turned it down."

He raised his eyebrow in surprise. "You did. Why?"

She paused, "the principle was a little too enthusiastic in approach."

"What does that mean?" Yi Jeong demanded suspiciously. "A little too enthusiastic?"

Ga Eul grimaced on the line. She had not really intended on telling him about her uncomfortable encounter. "His hands didn't exactly stay to themselves."

Yi Jeong sat straight up with a growl but Ga Eul rushed on before he could finish his vile curse. "It's fine, Yi Jeong. I left and have no intention of taking the job. Don't worry."

"Did you tell Woo Bin?" He snapped and at her silence, he took that as a no. "Give me his name."

"No." Ga Eul said firmly and he could have sworn he heard a low snicker in her voice. "You are not sending Song Woo Bin on him. I handled it."

"His name, Ga Eul." Yi Jeong insisted but she only pretended not to hear him.

"How's your hand? Is the new therapy helping?" He tightened his jaw at her quick change of subject. "You know I will find out one way or another, right?"

"Maybe. But not from me. At least not tonight." She stated firmly before softening her tone slightly. "It's your birthday, Sunbae. I didn't mean to upset you. Please. Don't think about it now. Okay?"

Yi Jeong sighed but eased back into the couch. Fine, he would just send Woo Bin and Ji Hoo to track the principle down tomorrow. "My hand is better. Hurts like hell still after a long day but it doesn't cramp up on me every time I use it."

"I'm so proud of you." Ga Eul said happily. "I told you."

"Yeah, yeah." He muttered but she knew he was secretly pleased. "Did you get the picture of the—"

As they settled into their conversation, Yi Jeong reflected on easy it was to talk to Ga Eul. When he had first left for Sweden, he stopped contacting everyone except for the occasional message to Woo Bin. And the only reason he did that was because he knew his friend would send men to personally check on him if he didn't.

Thankfully, his friends had understood his request for space and didn't push him. Yi Jeong had arrived in Stockholm only half-mentally healed from the problems he had caused himself after he hurt his hand. For months, Yi Jeong focused solely on his therapies, working out, and his art. He stayed away from clubs and alcohol, along with stopping the revolving door of women.

In truth, it wasn't nearly as difficult as he believed to quit drinking or the meaningless sex. The alcohol had created more problems then relief and the only woman he even thought about was the one he left behind. Although he had not contacted Ga Eul at all since he left, Woo Bin would send him updates. Promising to keep an eye on her and keep her company. It wasn't until he had been living in Sweden for almost six months when Woo Bin called for their annual check-in and casually mentioned Ga Eul had a date set up for that evening which finally forced his hand.

"He's nice bro," Woo Bin assured him after the long angry pause from the other member. "I've personally looked into him, Yi Jeong."

"It's fine, Woo Bin. This has nothing to do with me," Yi Jeong snapped irritably. Desperately trying to ignore the jolt of dread shooting through him, not to mention a murderous desire to run back to Korea and kill the guy. "Chu Ga Eul is free to date whoever she wants."

"I would hope so." His friend huffed sarcastically. "After all you were the one who told her to look for her soulmate while you were gone."

"I did not." Yi Jeong blurted out without thinking. "I only told her if she didn't find her soulmate before I got back—"

Woo Bin sighed as he stopped midsentence. "Well, did you honestly expect guys not trying to get with Ga Eul during that time? She's a sweetheart. Not to mention funny and beautiful."

"I know—"

"And let me tell you, if you weren't my best friend, I would have already made a move." Woo Bin told him flatly which made Yi Jeong grip his phone a little tighter. "What?"

"Unlike you, I am not stupid." Woo Bin shook off Ji Hoo's warning gesture. Despite their plan to push the potter a little, Ji Hoo didn't particularly want to die.

"Woo Bin, I swear if you touch her," Yi Jeong growled furiously. "I will rip—"

"I won't." The mafia prince promised. "At least not yet. But if Ga Eul doesn't like this guy and if you don't make a move soon, I will take it as a sign that you don't want her. Which makes her fair game."

"Like hell!" Yi Jeong bellowed but Woo Bin wasn't finished. "Then I would hurry, Yi Jeong. Even Ji Hoo has started asking about Ga Eul."

"YAH!" Ji Hoo mouthed furiously. "Are you crazy?"

At the sudden clicking of the phone, Woo Bin smiled confidently at the future doctor. "It worked. He hung up. I bet he's calling her now."

"Or getting on a plane to massacre us," Ji Hoo muttered darkly. "Why did you have to drag me into it?"

"Why should I get beat up by myself? Now come on, let's go hide just in case Yi Jeong does decide to show up."

So Yi Jeong didn't hop on a plane although he was severely tempted by the idea. Instead, he gathered his courage and called Ga Eul. He honestly didn't expect her to answer or if she did, he was prepared for her to be cold after his silence after all this time. However, once again Ga Eul surprised him. Not only did she answer but she was warm and friendly. She never even asked him about why he had not contacted her and jumped into the conversation as though no time had passed.

They talked easily for hours that day until she did have to leave for her date. He never asked her about it nor did she give him any details. Except once Woo Bin deemed it safe to contact Yi Jeong again, told him they had never gone out past that. Now, Yi Jeong and Ga Eul messaged each other daily and spoke on the phone at least twice a week.

They never talked about anything relating to his return home or what they might become in the future. They were just friends for right now. Which would have to be enough until Yi Jeong returned home. He needed to heal here and then after the four years, he could go back and focus on changing his status with Chu Ga Eul.

"It's freezing," Ga Eul suddenly cried, yanking his thoughts back to their current conversation. He frowned. "It's late. What are you doing out by yourself?"

"I'm dropping off your birthday present," Ga Eul told him casually and Yi Jeong shook his head in confusion. "My present?"

"Well, I had to get you something." She managed to say through chattering teeth. "It's not expensive but I hope you like it."

"You didn't have to get me anything," he said quietly. "And you especially don't have to go out in the middle of the night to drop it into the mail."

"I wanted to make sure you got it in time."

He laughed, "Ga Eul, I hate to tell you this but unless you plan on sending it through a time portal, I won't be getting it in time."

She only chuckled and hearing his door buzz unexpectedly, Yi Jeong groaned in annoyance. "Hold on, Ga Eul. Someone is at my door." Anxious to send whoever it was on their way so he could get back to her, he didn't even bother to check to see who it was, flinging it open with an impatient snarl. "What—Ga Eul!"

Standing in front of him holding out a single slice of cake, her eyes twinkling brightly was Chu Ga Eul. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday So Yi Jeong."

"Ga Eul?" He breathed in disbelief again and she took a step closer gesturing her head to the unlight candle on top. "Are you going to make a wish?"

He only blinked heavily at her for a moment, like he was trying to make sure she wasn't a dream. Ga Eul met his gaze with a quizzical grin and held out the treat. "Well?"

Without a word, Yi Jeong reached out and yanked her into his arms. "Your cake!" She shrieked trying to avoid smashing it between them. He didn't seem to care though; he only buried his face into her hair. "You're really here."

She gave a muffled laugh, wiggling her arms out so she could hug him back. "I didn't want you spending your birthday alone. Do you mind?"

He tightened his grip in response and she smiled against his shoulder. Remembering they were still in the hallway and feeling her shivering against him, Yi Jeong quickly hauled her inside his apartment.

She yelped in surprise at being lifted off her feet and wrapped her legs awkwardly around his waist to keep from falling, but she didn't try to break away from him. Yi Jeong slammed the door closed with his foot, his heart racing at actually being able to hold her. Not fully realizing how much he had missed her until she was standing right in front of him.

Sensing his anxiety, Ga Eul stroked the back of his neck soothingly. They held each other silently for a long time until he was able to get himself under control. Once Ga Eul noticed that he was breathing better, she tucked her nose into the crook of his neck. "Hi."

"Hi," Yi Jeong mumbled and leaned back to look at her. "How did you get here? Did Jun Pyo loan you the plane?"

She wrinkled her nose, "No. I didn't even tell them about my plan. I was afraid they spill the beans. I took an early flight out of Seoul. I thought I would get here hours ago and actually planned on surprising you at the studio or museum here but we got delayed by the snow."

"How long can you stay?" Yi Jeong asked quietly, his hands brushing her wayward curls out of her eyes. "Just until Sunday." Ga Eul admitted sadly.

He sighed since that meant she would barely able to spend even twenty-four hours with him. He lowered her to the ground but kept his arms around her waist. "So, where's my present?"

Her mouth opened in shock but catching the laughter in his dark eyes, she swatted his arm. "Very funny."

Yi Jeong pulled her into his chest with a happy grin. "Well, since you brought me some cake, I will forgive the lack of present."

"Oh," Ga Eul cried and quickly tore herself out his embrace which made him frown. He wanted her back. He gave an involuntary whine and reached for her but she evaded his grip, making her way to the kitchen hunting for a match. She hurriedly lighted the slightly mushed treat and presented it to him with a dramatic flourish.

"It took me forever to buy this at the shop because I couldn't understand a word they were saying so I will be mad if you don't at least blow out the candle."

Yi Jeong laughed, imagining her trying to figure out enough words in either English or Swedish to buy him the special dessert. At the knowledge of how much trouble she had gone through, he felt a rush of warmth and awe.

Closing his eyes, he made a wish and blew out the candle. She cheered happily, "Good. Now sit down. I will go grab a plate."

Yi Jeong quickly grabbed her before she could move away. "Thank you, Ga Eul."

"It was nothing, Sunbae." She insisted. "Now eat your birthday cake."

Yi Jeong closed his eyes at the memory. That had been almost a year ago. When he had dropped her back off at the airport, he had barely been able to let her go. She had held him tightly and promised in his ear that she would wait for him. The relief at hearing those words had almost made him fall over. He didn't say anything but simply hugged her tighter.

He still couldn't bring himself to speak the words yet. The desire to finish what he had started here before going down that path with her was too strong. But the worry she might misread his intentions had been weighing on him. Yi Jeong desperately wanted to ask her not to see anyone else but didn't believe he had the right.

However, reading him better than anyone, Ga Eul had known what he couldn't put into words and once again pulled him back from the ledge with her simple assurance. Now, though he could feel himself teetering once more on the precipice as he waited for Woo Bin to call him back with news.

Yi Jeong had talked to Ga Eul the other day and she had been looking forward to the trip. Gu Jun Pyo was making a visit home to see Geum Jan Di and had decided to take the whole gang into the mountains for a long weekend.

Ga Eul who had been working at both the school and the porridge shop was completely exhausted. So, she couldn't wait to go stay at the luxurious lodge and hike all the trails. He had told her to be careful but it had never occurred to him that his friends would be so stupid as to let her go off by herself. As he checked the time again and realized another hour had passed, he sat back on his heels, his head bowed low. "Please be all right."

"GA EUL!" Woo Bin yelled loudly, his panic beginning to show. "GA EUL!"

"GA EUL!" Ji Hoo hollered from behind him while team members from the lodge helped them search.

"Where is she?" The mafia prince looked at his friend worriedly. "It's been hours now."

"Do you think she's hurt?" Jan Di asked tearfully and Jun Pyo pulled her comfortingly into his side. "I'm sure she's fine."

Ji Hoo exchanged a glance with Woo Bin who nodded with the same fear. The longer Ga Eul was missing the higher chance she was probably in trouble. "Jun Pyo maybe you should take Geum Jan Di back to the room. We will keep looking."

"No," Jan Di insisted. "I want to help."

"Come on," Gu Jun Pyo insisted. "Let the staff try to track her down. We are probably distracting them anyway. Woo Bin and Ji Hoo will stay with them to ensure they are working on finding her properly."

"All right," Jan Di eventually agreed and allowed Jun Pyo to escort her back to the hotel. But not before shooting the others a worried stare. "We have to tell Yi Jeong." Ji Hoo sighed. "He's probably going crazy with no news."

"I know," Woo Bin sighed, "Except we don't have any news. At least not yet."

He nodded. "We will give it a little longer." They continued searching, trying to think of all the different ways Ga Eul might have walked this morning. They knew the young woman loved hiking and gotten more into it this past year. She went out every weekend for long walks and even talked about taking up mountain climbing but after Woo Bin had forbidden her from even thinking about doing something so dangerous, she had laughingly agreed to stick with her low-end trails for now.

It was why none of them had been overly concerned about waking up this morning to find her already outside. It was not until they discovered that she had left behind her phone and never reported back in for breakfast they started becoming concerned.

Now, it was almost evening and the full rising panic had settled in. "What could have happened?' Woo Bin angrily kicked a rock. "She was only going to watch the sunrise."

"It's not your fault, Woo Bin." Ji Hoo told him, knowing the way his friend mind worked. "None of us should have allowed her to go out by herself. Besides, we don't know anything yet. I'm sure Ga Eul is fine. Probably just a sprained ankle or something."

"I hope so…" Woo Bin began but was cut off by a loud yell. "Hey! I think she's down here!"

Woo Bin and Ji Hoo bolted upright at the call. They hurried over to a particularly steep hill and looked down to where a group was gathered around the lifeless figure.

"Ga Eul," Woo Bin breathed before jumping over the log and skidding down the hill, Ji Hoo hot on his heels. They were stopped by Chang Du Chin though before they could reach her.

"Don't touch her." The older gentlemen barked harshly. His grip tight on both of them revealing a fit strength despite his age. He was also one of the senior climbers and also a former paramedic who was the first to respond in these cases. "She's hurt."

Woo Bin eyes widened as he saw her laying on the ground. Her ankle was swollen, twisted in an odd shape but then he noticed the large piece of wood buried deep into her abdomen. "Oh my god," he cried in disbelief. His stomach dropping in fear. "Is she-

"She's alive. She must have fallen on it when she landed," Du Chin told him, kneeling to assess her more carefully. "We have to hurry though. She's only barely breathing."

"What?" Ji Hoo shouted and leaped forward but was once again grabbed by the elder. "We can't do anything here. We have to get her to the hospital." He narrowed his eyes at the two young men. "You need to get out of the way now. Let us handle this."

"No!" Woo Bin began to protest but Ji Hoo grabbed him. "He's right. The paramedics will need the room to work."

"But..." He stopped with a shaky nod and stumbled backward, his eyes never leaving Ga Eul who was not moving. "We need to tell Jun Pyo and Jan Di."

Ji Hoo took his phone out with trembling fingers, his usual cool composure slipping. "I will do it. Then we have to tell Yi Jeong."

"I can't," Woo Bin whispered, tears in his eyes. "I can't tell him that she's—"

"Don't say it," Ji Hoo snapped, his breathing hitching on the last word. "Ga Eul will be fine."

Woo Bin sank to his knees, his face buried into his hands. "He will never recover if she doesn't..."

"Stop it," Ji Hoo yanked him to his feet, roughly moving forward. "We have to stay positive. Now, get back and tell Jun Pyo what's going on. Tell him to arrange whatever they need for Ga Eul at the hospital. I will handle Yi Jeong."

Woo Bin took a steadying breath and then with another desperate glance to Ga Eul who was being surrounded by people barking orders, turned and ran back to the lodge.

Ji Hoo said a quick prayer as the familiar words floated back to him off internal injuries and bleeding until he had to almost clamp down on his ears so he couldn't hear them anymore. He moved further away in order be able to call Yi Jeong.

"Ga Eul?" The potter answered frantically after it barely even finished ringing and it took everything Ji Hoo had not to sob from the pain he was about to cause his lifelong friend.

"You need to get home, Yi Jeong."

Yi Jeong closed his eyes at the low horror in that one sentence. "Tell me."

"Ga Eul is hurt."

"What? How bad?" Yi Jeong licked his suddenly dry lips, his chest hurting from the pressure of his rising fear. "I will explain everything when you get here." Ji Hoo said quietly. "But it doesn't look good."

"I'm coming now." Yi Jeong rushed into his bedroom and grabbed his bag "I will catch the first flight out."

"Yi Jeong," Ji Hoo took another deep breath as Chang Du Chin gave him a meaningful shake of his head. "You need to hurry."

Understanding what his friend was trying to tell him, Yi Jeong stumbled slightly. "Ji Hoo?"

"Get here." Ji Hoo repeated solemnly and hung up before Yi Jeong could answer. He stared at the phone in shock before he frantically slammed his clothes into the bag. He wasn't even aware of what he is was packing as the roar in his ears increased. He zipped it up with a terrifying nod. "I'm coming, okay. Just hold on a little longer, Ga Eul. "