A/N: Thanks so much again for all the sweet reviews! There's a lot of surprises coming, I promise ;) Hopefully there will be one more update before Christmas, but we will see how the holidays go...Not sure if this chapter is what you are expecting, but please enjoy :) Merry Christmas :)

The show opened at 4 p.m. For some reason, when Ga Eul had envisioned the evening, she had imagined high society members decked out in elegant ball gowns and tuxedos, a full orchestra, and one of those glistening champagne pyramids that always got knocked down in the movies. She had imagined swarms of photographers and security details keeping frenzied fan girls at bay. She had imagined feeling small and overwhelmed by the opulence of it all.

Then again, that would describe the last high society event she had attended—a charity ball at Ji Hoo's foundation. Yi Jeong's show, being a university event and not one featuring him exclusively, naturally attracted a more diverse crowd. The décor of the building was polished and professional but nothing extravagant. There were plenty of people, but most of them seemed more interested in the artwork than in the particular identities of the stylishly dressed group of Koreans. Not that Ga Eul minded this. She had never been one to desire the spotlight, preferring to remain on the periphery of the crowd—seen, perhaps, but not particularly noticed except by people who mattered.

She had mentally prepared herself for meeting Yi Jeong's father, who was supposed to be there in lieu of his grandfather, but he never showed up. However, the curators for two of Stockholm's fine art museums stopped by, as well as Yi Jeong's private mentor, who—she was told—was greatly respected in the international art world. As for meeting his professors and some of the other students, Ga Eul wasn't expected to say much simply by virtue of not being able to. She did wish she could understand what everyone was saying, though. At least people seemed to like Yi Jeong's work, judging by their expressions.

As for reporters, Ga Eul shouldn't have worried so much. There was only one Korean news agency represented, and Yi Jeong did a brief, exclusive interview with them while their three friends whisked Ga Eul away to another part of the exhibit. Although she enjoyed standing next to Yi Jeong and being proudly introduced as his girlfriend, she felt glad when the four of them ended up at the refreshments table. Her stomach had been growling for some time despite their late lunch.

It was the F3 again this time. Jun Pyo was stuck at the airport in New York due to 'inclement weather conditions,' something Ga Eul imagined was also happening inside of the airport due to Jun Pyo's temper.

"Aigoo, these heels were a terrible idea!" Jan Di complained, not-so-discreetly kicking off her high heels as they stood along the wall behind a spread of assorted fruit and pastries.

"You liked them in the store," Ji Hoo reminded Jan Di.

"That's because I only stood on them for twenty seconds."

"That's a very specific time, Otter."

"Swimmers know how to time things."

Ji Hoo smiled warmly at Jan Di. "Seriously, if you want me to go get your other shoes from the car, I will."

"Aniyo." Jan Di waved him away. "I think I can stand it a bit longer for Yi Jeong Sunbae." She begrudgingly slipped the heels back on as a few people passed by and glanced curiously in their direction. "But where are all the chairs?!"

"There's some benches outside," Ga Eul offered.

"It's okay. I can stand it." As she said this, Jan Di leaned against Ji Hoo's shoulder and nearly fell over trying to adjust the strap on one of the shoes.

"Give me those," Ji Hoo said, holding out his hand.

"Ani. I'm fine."

"You're going to break your ankle that way."

"Ani."

Ji Hoo snatched one of the offending shoes out of Jan Di's hands.

"I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."

"Ji Hoo Sunbae…Yah, wait for me! I can get them myself!" Jan Di hopped along on one heel as she struggled to catch up with him.

Ga Eul shook her head and watched the bickering couple until they disappeared from sight, then quietly slipped her own shoes off, feeling sweet relief rush through her aching soles as they touched the cold tile. She sighed and turned toward the fourth person in their little group.

"Woo Bin Sunbae, no date for this evening?"

Woo Bin was staring—had been staring for quite some time—off into the distance, sipping on a glass of wine, and completely ignoring the conversation. It was odd to see him so quiet. He was usually the most talkative one in the bunch.

"Woo Bin Sunbae?" Ga Eul waved a hand in front of his face. "Sunbae?"

"Oh…Sorry. What's up?"

"I was wondering where your date for the evening is," Ga Eul said.

"What? I'm not cool enough to hang with you guys?"

"Not at all," Ga Eul replied, eliciting a small smile from the mafia prince.

"But what are you going to do later?" she continued. "Yi Jeong Sunbae told me we are…actually, he didn't tell me what we are doing, but it seems to be something for just the two of us. I wouldn't want you to be left third-wheeling with those two." She jerked her head in the direction Ji Hoo and Jan Di had gone.

Woo Bin smiled. "Don't worry about me. The Don Juan of F4 is never short of options." He spoke louder as Yi Jeong approached them. "Especially since my competition has been eliminated."

"What?" Ga Eul asked.

"Your competition leveled up," Yi Jeong said. "I always was one step ahead of you."

"Ah, but Miss Ga Eul was one step ahead of you."

Ga Eul beamed.

"Thank you, Woo Bin Sunbae."

Woo Bin leaned in toward Ga Eul and beckoned her to do the same.

"If you ask me, you would come out pretty good playing the field."

"Really?"

Yi Jeong grabbed Ga Eul's wrist.

"Hey, don't give my girlfriend any ideas!"

Ga Eul pulled her wrist away and rolled her eyes.

"I've already got plenty of ideas from you. If anything happens, it's all your fault."

"You're not the only who's allowed to have ideas, Sunbae," Ga Eul complained as she clopped along on her heels while Yi Jeong led her by the hands. He had wrapped his tie around her eyes as soon as they'd gotten into the car after the show and was now taking her to some surprise he had planned for her.

"Do you even know what you're talking about, Ga Eul-yang?"

"Apparently, I do. I caught you, didn't I?"

"Yeah, yeah, there's steps in front of you. Be careful. One. Two. Three." Yi Jeong counted out the steps as he tugged on her hands.

"Are we at the house?"

"Be patient. You'll find out soon enough."

"We are at the house! It smells like cinnamon. It smells like those cinnamon pastries Maja made."

"You're imagining things."

"And now we're going to turn to the right and go down a long hallway. There's that board that sticks up."

"You're imagining things," Yi Jeong repeated, irritation creeping into his voice.

Ga Eul giggled. "I'm sorry, Yi Jeong-ah. Am I ruining your surprise?"

He turned her to the left, not in the direction of his workshop but in the direction of the kitchen. She tripped over another raised board and stumbled into him, causing him to back into something, probably one of the kitchen chairs.

"Why don't you quit being smart and concentrate on not falling? And don't roll your eyes at me. I know that's what you're doing."

Ga Eul stuck her tongue out at him.

"That's real mature, Ga Eul-yang."

"I'm two years younger than you. I'm allowed to be immature."

"Country bumpkin."

"Old man."

"You have a thing for older men, don't you? Wasn't that idiot you dated before older than you?"

"Mmm, yes. But I decided I only like older men with money."

"Ah, my country bumpkin has gotten wise."

He led her through what she knew to be the French doors leading into the walled garden, and they stopped. He let go of her hands. The scent of burning candles drenched the cool night air. The tie lifted off of her eyes, and light immediately flooded her sight from every direction.

She gasped.

Greenery inlaid with white roses and entwined with white lights traveled up and down the garden walls, and more white lights had been strung across the open top of the enclosure. Stepping closer, she saw that pictures of the two of them had been strung lengthwise along all three walls, resulting in a panorama of their relationship for the past two years.

Ga Eul hadn't realized they'd taken that many pictures, although she was sure she had instigated most of them.

Two of the iron-wrought patio chairs had been pulled up to a little table in the center of the garden over which a white tablecloth had been draped. A bouquet of white roses sat in the center of the table.

"Yi Jeong-ah," she murmured. "What is all this?"

"This is what I think you would call a 'happy ending.'" He settled his hands on her waist and steered her toward one of the chairs. When she had sat down, he went back into the kitchen and brought out two glasses, a bottle of champagne on ice, and two thick slices of decadent chocolate cake.

While he poured the champagne, she looked up at him curiously.

"Is something ending?"

"Hmm?"

"You said it's a happy ending."

"The day is ending, Ga Eul-yang."

"Oh, I see."

She picked up Milo, who had crept underneath the table, and sat him down on her lap. Stroking him, she surveyed the brilliant decorations with renewed awe.

"I was going to take you the fanciest restaurant in Stockholm," Yi Jeong said. "But I thought you might like this better."

Ga Eul smiled and nodded approvingly.

"If you ever need a job, Sunbae, I think you'd make an excellent waiter."

"Coming from someone who works in the food service industry, I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

"But Ga Eul-yang, don't you think we should talk about this cat situation?" Yi Jeong sat down in the chair across from Ga Eul and looked pointedly at Milo, who only began to purr louder. "That cat still gets more affection than I do."

"You're going to bring him back to Korea, right?" Ga Eul asked only half-jokingly.

"If you want him that badly, but he's staying with you."

"I don't know why you act like you don't like him so much."

"I don't like him. He's trying to steal my girl."

Ga Eul rolled her eyes and set Milo back on the ground.

"Can you imagine?" she asked Milo. "F4's Casanova afraid of a cat?" Remembering something, she added, "Two cats, actually."

Yi Jeong gave her a look, and she laughed.

"All right, if you're so smart," Yi Jeong said, getting us from the table, "why don't we try dancing again? And you're not allowed to step on my toes."

"I won't step on you," Ga Eul protested, getting up and taking his hand. "I've gotten a lot better."

"Your problem is you never trust where I'm going. You always want to step your own way. Try closing your eyes."

"You really want a new pair of shoes, don't you?"

"Just close them." Yi Jeong pulled her closer to him.

She raised her eyebrows, trying to understand what he was getting at.

"Ga Eul-yang, I'm serious." His dark eyes conveyed the truth of that statement.

"This is new," she said, her eyes fluttering shut at last.

"I'm going to start out with my left foot, and after that you just have to sense where I'm going, okay?"

"Okay." Ga Eul nodded and tried to concentrate on the steps she remembered instead of the comforting warmth of his body against hers.

They started out slow, just forming a small circle in the garden. Then Yi Jeong twirled her around and she heard the door to the house slide open.

"Is this another level in our dancing lessons? How many pieces of furniture do I have to hit before I fail out?"

"You're not going to run into anything if you just follow me...And keep your eyes closed. I saw that."

"Keep your eyes closed," Ga Eul mimicked him. "Kind of defeats the purpose of following someone, don't you think?" The truth was, though, that the longer she kept her eyes closed, the more her other senses became heightened, and she found herself better able to anticipate his next move. She relaxed into the pull of his body as they moved through the house, Yi Jeong twirling her around at intervals, and when they finally stopped and she found herself in the middle of his workshop, she realized she hadn't stepped on his toes once.

"See what happens when you trust your partner?" He pulled away from her and leaned back against a table, a rather smug expression on his face.

Too smug for Ga Eul's liking.

"See what happens when your partner is so skilled she can dance an entire waltz with her eyes closed and not run into anything?"

"Yeah. Good job, student." Yi Jeong walked over to the counter along one wall and pulled a familiar gift bag from underneath a cabinet. "When I was learning to throw clay for the first time, my teacher had me practice doing it with my eyes closed. He said I needed to anticipate how the clay was moving instead of waiting until it got out of my control."

He handed Ga Eul the bag.

"You still have this?" she asked, both stunned and amused.

"I found it when I was cleaning out my closet one day."

Ga Eul laughed.

"I thought you threw them away."

"The bag?"

"My chocolates. You had so many," she said, opening up the bag and feeling around for the present beneath the tissue paper. She finally pulled out a tiny, ornately painted white porcelain box and held it up to inspect the painted designs.

"Ah, this is pretty."

"Careful. That's 14th century porcelain."

Ga Eul snapped her arms back down and gingerly set the box down on the table beside her.

"S-Sunbae, shouldn't you keep that locked up somewhere?"

"I'm kidding, Ga Eul-yang. I made that myself." Yi Jeong laughed.

"Quit scaring me like that."

"So you would care more about breaking an ancient box made by someone you don't even know than one of mine?"

"Quit fishing for compliments."

"I don't need to fish for those, Ga Eul-yang…Go ahead. Open it."

Picking up the lid, Ga Eul set it down in laboriously slow motion and laughed when Yi Jeong appeared pained by how careful she was being. She pulled out the bundle of tissue paper in the box and unwound it until she found a gold chain with a heart pendant that appeared to be made from cracked white porcelain with gold shining through the cracks. The heart was encased in two thin gold metal pieces forming a heart shape in the front and the back that held the pendant on the necklace, and a circular diamond sparkled in the very center of the heart.

"The heart isn't cracked. Those are all broken bits of pottery that were mended together to form a heart using a lacquer mixed with gold. It's from this Japanese method of repairing pottery called kintsugi."

Ga Eul nodded as she cradled the pendant in her palm and examined it.

"It's so pretty," she said, her voice tinged with awe.

"Want me to put it on you?"

She smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

Yi Jeong came up behind her and fastened the chain around her neck.

"Don't lose this," he said. "I designed it myself. We can't go to a department store and get a new one."

"You made it?!"

"Not exactly. I drew up a design for what I wanted and took it to some people I know. The pottery is mine though. This is a completely narcissistic present, you understand. Now, you'll have something I made with you all the time."

A witty retort slipped to the tip of her tongue, but before she said it, she looked up into his eyes, and suddenly all the teasing left her voice.

"Thank you, Yi Jeong-ah."

He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek.

"But what is this for? Aren't I supposed to give you a present? It's your exhibition."

"I wouldn't have had an exhibition if it wasn't for you." He brushed some loose hair back from her face. "Thanks for not giving up on me. This is a really belated present when you think about it."

Ga Eul smiled and wrapped her arms around him. It was odd. She remembered when Jun Pyo had given Jan Di her necklace some years ago and how badly she'd wished at the time that someone would give her something special like that one day, something just for her. Now that she'd gotten it, though, it felt like the gift didn't really matter so much. She just wanted the person who gave her the gift. If it hadn't come from him, she wouldn't have wanted it.

She spoke again, her voice quiet and half-muffled by his dress shirt. "I don't need a present, Sunbae. I mean, I really like it, but I already got what I wanted."

Yi Jeong didn't say anything, but from the way he squeezed her she knew he understood.

They stood there for a while, Ga Eul breathing in the comforting scent of the familiar cologne that clung to his shirt.

Finally, Yi Jeong broke the silence.

"So…are we going to stand here all night, or can we do some things that involve lying down?"

"Jan Di told me nothing good happens in a playboy's bedroom at this time of night. That's exactly what she said when you were pulling me away from her earlier."

"Well, then, it's a good thing I don't see any playboys around here."

Ga Eul pulled her head away, looked up at him, and smiled.

He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, "That doesn't mean we can't do bad things, though."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"But Sunbae."

"Hmm?"

"I'm not allowed to get ideas, remember?"

"I'll make an exception just this once." He kissed her gently at first, then pressed her up against the nearest wall and deepened the kiss, driving his fingers into her hair.

Ga Eul closed her eyes and relaxed into the kiss.

Soon, they had both gotten so lost in what they were doing to each other that neither of them noticed another person enter the room until a loud throat-clearing interrupted them.

Ga Eul's eyes shot open, and she pushed Yi Jeong away from her at what she saw.

Turning around, Yi Jeong immediately moved to stand in front of Ga Eul, which she, in her embarrassment, didn't mind. She had known she would run into Yi Jeong's father again eventually, but she had never expected to see him in the middle of the night with Yi Jeong's tongue stuck halfway down her throat.

When Yi Jeong didn't say anything, she finally scooted out from behind him. Bowing deeply, she greeted the elder So. He took Ga Eul's hand and kissed it and must have held on a bit too long for Yi Jeong's liking because he snatched her hand away and pulled her back towards him, clenching her hand in his but not interlocking their fingers like he normally did. Some light of recognition flickered in the elder So's face.

"So she's the one," he said. It wasn't a question. He smiled. "Pleasure to see you again, Miss…Chu Ga Eul, isn't it?"

"Ga Eul-yang, would you give us a moment?"

Ga Eul glanced at Yi Jeong, whose playful demeanor had quickly devolved into stoic rage, and at Yi Jeong's father, who looked rather amused at the situation.

"O-of course. Nice to see you again, Ahjussi." She bowed and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her. Instead of going to Yi Jeong's room, however, she knelt down next to the door at the entrance of Yi Jeong's workshop and pressed her ear up against it.

"Sorry I missed the exhibition," Yi Jeong's father was saying. "Flight delays, troublesome things. Still entertaining the ladies, I see."

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to quit coming around my workshop?"

"Hers?"

"Take your filthy hands off of that pot. And state your purpose in coming here or leave."

There was a long silence. Something screeched along the floor, probably a chair being pulled out.

"All right. Let's get to it then. Your mother is to be put in an institution."

Another silence.

"You know Harabeoji won't allow that."

"Oh, not in Korea. No, he's sending her to Australia. Officially, she'll be visiting her parents. You know they retired down there. Maybe she'll come back with a modicum of sense."

"You came all this way to tell me that? What do you expect me to do here? Cry?"

Yi Jeong voice sounded calm yet tinged with derision the way it did deep in her memory telling her to hold out for the highlight of the night.

"Your grandfather thought you might want to see her before she leaves," his father continued in a rather disinterested tone. "He also thought it would be a good opportunity for you to meet some important people."

"Important?"

"Important as in indispensable to your future…Pretty, isn't she?"

"Tell him I'm not interested."

"You can't avoid this forever, you know."

"Why? You've done such a great job avoiding Omma for the past twenty-seven years. I thought I'd avoid that mistake altogether."

"You can't avoid your fate."

"And what if there's another fate?"

"Then there will be consequences to that one as well."

Ga Eul jumped as something slammed down on a table.

Then the back door banged shut. Twice.

Ga Eul stayed rooted to where she sat for what felt like forever until finally she heard another door slam shut.

The front door this time.

Scrambling up, Ga Eul made fast tracks to Yi Jeong's bedroom and took out one of her textbooks to make it look like she'd been reading. She heard his footsteps approach and pass by the bedroom.

She waited for a long time, but he never came in the room. Finally, she got up and put her pajamas on and tiptoed throughout the house in search of him, unsure of whether or not his father was still there. Finding nothing but darkness, she pulled on a cardigan over her thin camisole and headed for the backyard.

"Yi Jeong-ah," she called out, stepping into the backyard and seeing that a fire had been lit in the bonfire pit that went virtually unused. A figure sat by the fire in one of the patio chairs. When she got closer, she realized with no little relief that it was just Yi Jeong slouched down in the chair—his tie askew, dress shirt untucked, and sleeves rolled up to show off his muscular forearms.

Not that she needed to notice that at the moment.

On second look, the fire seemed to be filled with bits of paper, crumpling and smoldering to death in the flames.

"Yi Jeong-ah, are you okay?"

He looked over at her, and in the flickering light, she could see tiredness etched on his face and under his eyes but something else too, some kind of determination about something.

He said nothing but followed her with his eyes as she stepped in front of him.

"Can I sit down?" she asked.

He nodded and sat up slightly so she could sit in his lap.

"Is your…father gone?" she asked when she had settled down with her head on his shoulder.

Yi Jeong nodded again.

"He went to a hotel."

"What did he want?" Knowing what she knew, Ga Eul was almost afraid to ask, but she knew Yi Jeong would get suspicious if she didn't ask him anything, seeing as how she constantly bothered him with questions about everything in his life.

"My mother's being sent to an institution."

"I'm so sorry."

Yi Jeong laughed humorlessly.

"It's not your fault."

"Maybe she'll really get better this time."

"Maybe."

They stayed quiet for a few minutes, letting that fragile statement drift between them. Then Ga Eul asked, "Anything else happen?"

"Aniyo. He just came to see the exhibit. See what his investment resulted in, I guess. Too late now, though. He'll have to go there in the morning before they take everything down."

Ga Eul nodded against him, and they stayed silent for another moment. She wondered how his father remembered her name and what about his 'future' they were discussing, but more immediately she wondered what was in the fire, churning into black ash.

"Jeong-ah?" she asked, fingering the front of his dress shirt and running her thumb along the buttons.

"Hmm?"

"What's in the fire?"

"Nothing. Just some old papers."

"Oh."

An owl hooted in the distance, and a light breeze blew against them, relieving some of the heat from the fire.

An idea suddenly struck Ga Eul, and she popped her head up and said, "Sunbae! I know what we've never done together!"

"Hmm?"

"Come on. Follow me." She hopped out of his lap and, grabbing his hand, tugged him out of the chair. "Hurry up."

"Why?"

"Hurry up! Hurry up! This is really important." She could tell Yi Jeong still wasn't happy about whatever his father had said, but she hoped she could distract him from that and maybe salvage the rest of the night.

Dragging him with her, she walked the length of the backyard and practically ran down the hill that sloped behind the yard into a deep valley below that always filled up with wildflowers in the spring and summer months.

Pulling him to a space where the grass wasn't quite as tall, she plopped down on her back and patted the spot next to her.

"Ga Eul-yang, do you know how much this suit costs?"

"You can buy another one tomorrow. I'll even pick it out for you."

"I don't like bugs."

Ga Eul looked at him doubtfully.

"Correction. I don't do bugs."

"Aw, come on, Sunbae. You never went camping as a kid?...Really? Never?" Ga Eul placed her hands on her stomach and gazed up at the infinite number of white stars in the blue-black sky. "And they say chaebols have everything. How can you have never done that?"

"Some of us prefer to relax on vacation, not get eaten alive in our sleep."

Ga Eul looked up at him, "Yi Jeong-ah." She pouted and tugged at the hem of his pant leg. "Yi Jeong-ah. Yi Jeong-ah."

"Sometimes I swear I'm dating a five-year-old." Yi Jeong tentatively sat down and stretched out beside her on his back.

She grasped his hand and sighed happily.

"I always wanted to do this with my boyfriend."

"What is this? A romantic comedy?" His voice still had a slight edge to it, but it lightened up as he fitted his hand into hers.

"So Yi Jeong, you're just mad because we got interrupted earlier." She sighed. "All men all the same. One-track minded."

Yi Jeong actually laughed then.

"Ga Eul-yang, don't you think you ought to-"

"Oh, look, Sunbae! It's a shooting star! We should make a wish!" She shook his hand excitedly. "Hurry up and make one!" She shut her eyes and concentrated real hard on what she most wanted. When she had finished, she turned to Yi Jeong. "Did you make one? It's been so long since I've seen one of those! You should make one!"

At Yi Jeong's serious expression, the smile disappeared from her face and she turned back over.

"You think I'm silly, don't you? It's all right. Just wait till my wish comes true. It came true last time. Well, at least, I think it did."

"You think it did? How can you not know?"

"It's...kind of something only the other person would know."

"You wished for me to like you, didn't you?"

"Aniyo...I wished for you to be happy. Are you happy, Sunbae?" She didn't look at him. "I hope you are. It's too beautiful a night to not be happy."

There was a long pause, but finally Yi Jeong replied, "I'm happy you're here."

Ga Eul looked down at their joined hands.

"That's not the same thing."

"Yes, it is."