Hey guys! I hope everyone is well and safe during this crazy time we are living in. Writing has helped me keep my sanity which is why you are seeing so many new things from me recently.

Actually, I wasn't even planning on publishing this fic yet. I had a few other stories I wanted to work on first but this one just kept bouncing in my head and wouldn't leave me alone lol. So, here we are! This one is more of drama similar to the Protective Power of the F4 or the Long Hike.

But I decided to write it from the perspective of Yi Jeong and Ga Eul already being in an established relationship. I am not sure yet how long it will be yet but at least probably four or five chapters.

Also, for anyone who like my Playful kiss fics, I am still planning on writing my Playful kiss one-shot and hope to have it up this week too. And thanks again for everyone who has been following me and reading my stories. I deeply appreciate all of you.

Ga Eul smiled as Woo Bin twirled her dramatically. His over-the-top movement earning more than a few bemused stares from the crowd.

"Sunbae," she chuckled softly. "You are attracting attention."

"So?" Woo Bin grinned as they moved together. "Besides, I think it's mainly because of how pretty you are in that dress."

"Oh sure." Ga Eul shook her head at him with a grin. She looked around the light-up room with a sense of wonderment. The room at the Shinhwa hotel was dazzling and full of things she had only ever dreamed of being able to see. Despite the four years of friendship with the F4, she still had moments of amazement at actually being able to attend the parties or events hosted by some of the biggest stars of Korea.

"Gu Jun Pyo really outdid himself tonight."

Woo Bin nodded with a laugh. "Ji Hoo never asks him for help or favors. But honoring his grandfather was a big deal for him. With the hospital opening a new ward in his honor and all the work he has done over the years… Ji Hoo wanted a big explosion and asked Jun Pyo for help."

Ga Eul smiled. Despite his self-absorbed nature, Gu Jun Pyo loved the people in his life. But especially Yoon Ji Hoo who had been dealt with a lot of pain in his life. So, the boys tended to be even more protective over him. The new doctor never asked for much and so the few times he did, the F4 would go out of their way to ensure it was taken care of.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a few women giving her mocking stares as Woo Bin twirled her again. Their scornful laughter of her wardrobe choice obvious and she looked down at her long white gown which hung off one shoulder and showed off her curves. Her long black hair raining sleekly down her back and the delicate butterfly clip which was one of the few pieces of jewelry she allowed Yi Jeong to buy for her but everything else was blaring simple. Following her gaze, Woo Bin narrowed his eyes at them with icy contempt.

"It's all right." She hurriedly intervened since she knew his temper was about to flare. "They just can't understand why you are—"

"Don't pay them any attention. They are simply jealous." He said loudly and scanned them in disgust. "Because you look ten times better in a simple dress than they do in all their fancy designer wear."

The girls flushed angrily and hurried away but not before sending Ga Eul one last sneer. "That was not nice, Sunbae. They didn't mean anything by it."

Woo Bin was not pacified by this. Geum Jan Di who was now officially engaged to Gu Jun Pyo and one of the main doctors for the Yoon clinic was fully accepted now by their members of society. However, Chu Ga Eul was not so lucky. She was still only seen as the best friend to the future wife of Gu Jun Pyo and a lowly kindergarten teacher.

Her relationship with the F4 might be well known but most deemed it as a pitying relationship. And no matter how much Woo Bin, Ji Hoo, or even Gu Jun Pyo intervened to show that Chu Ga Eul was securely under their protection, people still looked down on her.

He lifted her chin with a firm snap. "Don't ever let them make you lower your head, Chu Ga Eul."

She nodded but he caught the flash of concern in her eyes. "Maybe I should go. I don't want to create any kind problem for Yoon Seok Young tonight."

"Don't even think about it." Ji Hoo broke in sternly as he sent his own glare over to the group of smug women. "It's my party and I will consider it a personal insult if you leave. Besides," he put down his champagne glass and held out his hand. "You still haven't danced with me yet."

Ga Eul smiled as Woo Bin handed her over to Ji Hoo with a mock scowl. "Some friend you are… Stealing my date."

"Your date?" Ji Hoo raised his eyebrow at Ga Eul. "What are you talking about? I asked her first."

She laughed as the two boys bantered back and forth over claiming her for the evening when her phone suddenly dinged with an incoming call. "Hello?"

"Hey." Yi Jeong said softly and she immediately relaxed at the sound of his voice. "Hi."

"I'm sorry for being late." He apologized and she heard the deep sound of the lotus engine roaring in the background. "My grandfather tends to be long-winded."

"It's all right," Ga Eul moved to the corner for some privacy. Her heart skipping at the idea of seeing him soon. "Ji Hoo and Woo Bin are both claiming me as their date tonight instead though."

Yi Jeong chuckled. "Well, they can fight as much as they want. You are still coming home with me."

"Hmm," Ga Eul agreed happily but hearing the weak sound, he lowered his voice soothingly. "Sweetheart, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Just tired."

Yi Jeong sighed in concern. Ga Eul had been working a lot lately and helping Jan Di plan her wedding to Jun Pyo. Not to mention the constant back and forth to Sweden and home since they had agreed never to go more than four months without seeing each other. She was probably exhausted and he decided she was doing nothing but laying in bed for the rest of the week even if he had to sit on her.

"I need to stop and change first but I will be there as soon as I can."

Despite landing back in Korea yesterday, this would be the first time he would actually be able to lay eyes on her since he arrived. His plane had come in so late that Woo Bin had dropped him off at the studio around four in the morning. Then he had to report in with his grandfather which ended up taking most of the day. Since the old man needed to confirm the progress on his hand by asking him endless questions over his treatment.

Ga Eul made a noise of contentment at being with him soon before asking the question she had been worrying about all day. "How did the meeting go with your grandfather?"

"Fine." Yi Jeong grinned in amusement. "I think he is beginning to like you more than me. He mentioned a dozen times how much my work has improved since we've started dating."

She laughed, her body sagging with relief. His family had not been happy when Yi Jeong had finally told them off their relationship after he had been living in Sweden for a year. They had tried to pay her off but once she had thrown the money back in their faces and per her promise immediately reported it back to Yi Jeong, they had quickly learned their lesson in approaching her.

Especially after they discovered once and for all that Yi Jeong was not his father. He was not going to allow anyone to dictate who he loved and his grandfather surprisingly respected his firm stance rather than his father's weak spine.

Now, So Yoon Hee was slowly becoming to deeply care for the gentle woman who had stopped his grandson destruction. Which was a huge weight off for Ga Eul since she never wanted to be another issue in Yi Jeong's constant battle with his family.

The public still was not fully aware of their relationship because Yi Jeong didn't want her hounded by reporters or vicious gossip until he was no longer living abroad and couldn't protect her. "And tell Woo Bin and Ji Hoo the only date they are allowed to have with you is the fruit."

"Yah!" Woo Bin and Ji Hoo yelled in mock annoyance through the speaker as she relayed the message. "You can't claim her tonight. We got here first."

"Too bad." Yi Jeong replied with a smirk. "She is mine. Now stop trying to steal my girlfriend."

"Pabos." Ga Eul laughed at all of them but catching Jan Di's eye as she frantically held up her shoe and seeing that her heel had broken off, and she quickly ended the call with a weary chuckle. "Girl emergency. See you soon." She paused to listen for a moment with a grin. "I love you too."

As she hurried off, Woo Bin and Ji Hoo watched as the room scrutinized the young woman rushing to help an embarrassed Jan Di.

"I swear if one more person looks at her tonight like she is some sort of bug, I am knocking heads." Woo Bin grumbled darkly. "Or makes a snide comment about her status under their breath, I am buying their entire company and showing them exactly what 'poor,' looks like."

"Me too." Ji Hoo agreed in annoyance at the behavior of his guests but Jun Pyo joined them with a shake of his head. "No need. Yi Jeong has already decided to handle things. He is going to announce their relationship to the press before he leaves again."

"I thought he didn't want to let people know yet." Woo Bin said in confusion. "Not when he couldn't be here to run interference."

"She is getting talked about either way." Jun Pyo reminded them in frustration. "But he's hoping once they know Chu Ga Eul officially belongs to So Yi Jeong and he won't tolerate any more disrespect, they might start thinking twice before commenting."

"Good." Woo Bin rubbed his eyes. "Otherwise, I was going to sic my boys on them."

"That was plan B." Jun Pyo said as he took a long drink of his whiskey and his friend laughed. Ji Hoo looked around proudly at the display for his grandfather. "Despite the snobbery, I think it went well."

Woo Bin clapped his shoulder. "Your grandfather loved it."

Ji Hoo nodded. "The hospital opening the new children's ward in his honor meant a lot to him. More than any of the accolades he received even as president." He shuffled slightly and looked at the ground. "He is offering scholarships in my father's name for families who can't pay to receive medical aid."

"Your father would be proud of that." Woo Bin said quietly, the three men lost in the few memories they had of the one set of loving and gentle parents who were taken much too soon. "He would be proud of you too."

Ji Hoo didn't respond and Woo Bin gently nudged his friend with a low murmur. "He would have loved to seen you become a doctor like your grandfather."

"I know." The musician smiled sadly. "He would be proud of all four of us… I don't remember much but I do remember how badly he didn't want us being shackled to a life our fates simply dictated. He wanted each of us to find our own way."

"And so we have," Gu Jun Pyo muttered with a smile. "We stopped living by our parent's rule a long time ago. I think if we accomplish nothing else, that would be enough for him."

"Hmm." Ji Hoo agreed and clasped Jun Pyo hand in gratitude. "Thanks for coming in for New York to set this up. It means a lot to me."

Jun Pyo only stared at him coolly and Ji Hoo grinned. Knowing his friend didn't want thanks since the F4 never let one of them go through something alone. It was the main part of their code and the reason they had survived everything they had gone through in life.

"All right." Ji Hoo looked around with a satisfied nod. "I think that's enough for hobnobbing for one night. Let's grab the girls and go eat some real food."

"Sounds good to me." Woo Bin agreed. "I will call Yi Jeong and just tell him to pick Ga Eul up at my place." He smiled to the young girl who was approaching with a tired but happy Jan Di.

"Ready to go? We can have Yi Jeong meet us instead of him going home to change and then coming here."

"That's fine. Besides, I want to get these shoes off." She winced slightly. "They are too small and are pinching my toes terribly."

He made a noise of amusement and rubbed her arm. "I think you have an extra pair of sneakers in my car."

They began to walk out when Ji Hoo remembered his coat and they stopped in the lobby to wait. "Hold on, Ga Eul." Woo Bin called over to Ga Eul who had moved ahead of him outside. "Ji Hoo forgot something."

She nodded as she slowly made her way to his car. Her feet really were killing her. This was the last time she borrowed shoes from Jan Di who had feet the size of a fairy. She hissed at the red blister which was forming on her heel. "Ow."

Noticing a van moving quickly, she backed away from the curb with a scoff at his manic driving. "Jerk..." she trailed off slightly as it slammed to a stop next to her and weird clenching tightened in her stomach. She hastily began to back away but as the door slide open and a masked man jumped out, her eyes widened in fright.

She turned to run but he caught her too quickly, his hand slamming over her mouth. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to scream but no air was able to form. With a desperate cry, she bit down hard on the hand and was pleased to hear a grunt of pain as his grip loosened slightly.

"Woo Bin!" She managed to screech before a hard blow landed on the back of her head. A vague wave of nausea floating overhead before the world went black.

Woo Bin was hovering in the doorway of the hotel when he heard the muffled scream of his name. He whirled and his heart slammed in his throat as he noticed a man struggling to hold onto Ga Eul who was fighting wildly. He took off in a mad run, horrified by the knowledge he was too far away to reach her. "Ga Eul!"

At the loud roar, the man knocked her out with a hard blow and simply threw her like a rag doll into the back of the van. He bellowed something at the driver before they skidded away with a loud squeal of tires.

Woo Bin screamed for his friends as he frantically ran after them. "Guys! Someone is taking Ga Eul!

Jun Pyo shoved Jan Di back inside and bellowed for his team to take her back to his house and not let her out of their sight. "Gu Jun Pyo, what's going on?" Jan Di cried.

"I don't have time to explain!" Jun Pyo pointed furiously to his assistant who hurriedly stepped protectively in front of Jan Di. "Get her out of here. Now!"

He raced after Woo Bin who was running after the van with all his might and somehow managing to keep up with the speeding vehicle. "Keys," he shouted and Ji Hoo threw the car keys through the air as he jumped over the hood and slid through the open window into the passenger seat. "Go!"

Jun Pyo floored his accelerator, barely pausing in order for Woo Bin to jump into the backseat. "Where did they go?"

"Down the alley," Woo Bin gasped, his phone already up to his ear as he yelled for his men to meet up with them.

"Who are they?" Ji Hoo demanded and Woo Bin shook his head as he desperately tapped into the GPS he had attached to Ga Eul's phone. "They are heading towards the docks."

"There." Jun Pyo snarled as the dark blue van raced ahead of them. He quickly changed lanes, roaring up beside them and it swerved in an attempt to run them off the road but Jun Pyo managed to avoid the hit. With a curse, he jerked the wheel hard but the driver must have anticipated his move of side-sweeping them into the ditch because he hastened his speed and roared out of the way. Both groups oblivious to the beeps and yells from the other drivers as the two cars battled over the road.

"Ga Eul is inside," Woo Bin reminded him harshly as the van only barely managed to stay upright from Jun Pyo's last attempt to maneuver in front of them. "If they crash—"

"I know." Jun Pyo snapped. "But we can't let them get away either."

"Turn here." Ji Hoo instructed sharply, knowing the streets better than anyone from all the nights on his motorcycle. "We can cut them off at the next intersection."

The F4 leader nodded and made a sharp turn into the narrow road. His car bouncing over the rough bumps and trash. All three men desperately holding their breath until the van holding Ga Eul was visible once more and they managed to pull out only a few seconds behind them and seeing the sports car gaining dangerously on them, the driver made another erratic swerve.

Sensing the driver was losing control, Gu Jun Pyo growled under his breath and slammed down on the accelerator. Understanding they needed to stop the car now before it crashed into the river. "Get ready."

The men braced for impact but just when Jun Pyo was about ram them, Ji Hoo shouted. "No, wait!"

"We can't wait," Jun Pyo snarled back but the doctor shook his head, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the vehicle in front of them. "This is the wrong one."

"What?" Woo Bin yelled and Ji Hoo quickly shouted for Jun Pyo to turn around. "They did a switch. This is not the right van."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Ji Hoo bellowed furiously. "The license plate is wrong."

Knowing of Ji Hoo's ability to instantly memorize numbers and details, Jun Pyo quit questioning him. His breath catching in his throat with dread over how long they might have been following a decoy and he spun his car around with a dark curse. The smell of burning rubber filling the air.

"Woo Bin, please tell me you have her."

"Her phone is still dinging around here." The mafia prince jerked his head towards the water. "Go down the next street and turn right."

As they sped down the empty road, new distress filled them at no sign of her kidnappers. "Stop." Woo Bin said sharply. "Her tracker is showing her to be close."

"There." Ji Hoo pointed to a small bridge where something glittered in the lamplight. They hurriedly jumped out and the mafia prince ran over to where his scanner said Ga Eul should be and held up her smashed phone, his expression dark with fury.

"They must have thrown it out the window. They knew I could find her and let me track her just long enough to send the decoy van. It's the only way they could outrun us."

The F4 stood in horror at the perfectly executed plan to get them off course and Ji Hoo sank to haunches, his face buried in his hands while Jun Pyo stared off into the distance, his fist clenched at his sides.

"They planned this." Jun Pyo said quietly. "They knew exactly what they were doing…" He looked over to Woo Bin with a low growl. "And exactly who they were taking."