Hey guys! So this will be around three chapters. It's just a quick fic that popped into my head one night. Now, I am forewarning that this story deals with some heavy themes regarding physical abuse. It will not be graphic in terms of details but it will be a central part of the story.

I know I tend to dive into hard storylines regarding Ga Eul's family but one of the things I love to explore is the way she seemed to understand the men of F4 even better than Jan Di. She didn't struggle with being afraid or surprised by their parent's harsh treatment. So, I tend to explore that with her having her own issues with her parents.

I also love writing protective, possessive Yi Jeong. And after watching him in his new show, which I AM LOVING! I wanted to portray him with a little bit of darkness and mischievousness.

"She's what?" Woo Bin's eyes widened as he spun to face Ji Hoo who wore an unusual expression of mild panic.

"She's quitting school." Jun Pyo sighed through the speaker. "Jan Di has tried everything but Ga Eul refuses to budge."

"But why?" Ji Hoo asked in bewilderment. "Ga Eul loves school. She can't wait to become a teacher. Why would she just randomly—"

"Something to do with her family." Jun Pyo said impatiently. "She insists they need her right now but…"

"Damn it," Woo Bin growled before frowning. "Wait. How does her needing to live at home again equate to dropping out of school? Her parents live in the city."

Jun Pyo paused for a minute before finishing with a low rush. "Not anymore. They want to move to the States. San Francisco to be exact."

"What—" Woo Bin's jaw dropped. "But-but—"

"It gets worse."

"How could this get worse?" Ji Hoo wondered in disbelief.

"There is something you two don't know," Jun Pyo said quietly. "About Ga Eul's family."

This made Woo Bin stiffen slightly, not liking the tone in his voice. "What?"

"Her father tends to be…abusive." Jun Pyo thickly. "He gets drunk and it doesn't end well. For Ga Eul, I mean."

They froze in horror and Woo Bin sank into the table behind him. "Are you telling me he—"

"Yeah," Jun Pyo snarled quietly. "I found out about a year ago. Right before she moved into her apartment."

"What-Jun Pyo!" Ji Hoo barked furiously. "You knew this whole time and didn't tell us?"

"No! Well yes but," Jun Pyo snapped defensively. "Ga Eul made me swear not to tell you!"

"Since when the fuck do we—"

"Look, I only know because I happened to be home when she called Jan Di one night when she needed a place to go." Jun Pyo yelled over him. "So, I had her to come to my house instead. Ga Eul was badly shaken but kept insisting she was all-right." Jun Pyo shook his head. "Never mind. I handled it. I made sure her dad knew if he ever touched her again, the attack from my mother would look like child's play."

"Jun Pyo," Woo Bin gasped in both fear and outrage. "How could you not tell me? Ga Eul is my responsibility right now!"

"I know. I'm sorry." Jun Pyo groaned. "I just didn't want you to do something… harsh."

Harsh would be putting it mildly, Ji Hoo thought to himself as Woo Bin paced manically around the room.

Song Woo Bin tended to be overprotective of the people in his life on a normal basis, but Ga Eul was like a sister to him. She was the first woman in their lives to simply love them. Love all of them. She wanted to be their friend with no strings attached. Which meant more to the F4 than any of them could say.

And although her relationship with Yi Jeong might be complicated and she rarely brought him up, he knew Ga Eul still cared for the potter. Despite even the pain of him basically ignoring her right now. He had left for Sweden over a year ago and from what Ji Hoo understood, he had not called or messaged her but kept tabs on her from Woo Bin.

"So, I will simply kill him." Woo Bin said with a nod. "Then we won't have a problem."

As he went to grab his jacket, Jun Pyo barked at Ji Hoo to grab him. "The last thing I need is Woo Bin in jail for murdering Chu Dong Soon."

"Let go of me, Ji Hoo!" Woo Bin growled and glared at the phone. "And the next time you are home, we are having a chat, Jun Pyo! How dare you just let Ga Eul get—"

"Don't." Jun Pyo's voice whipped out like a whip. "Do you honestly think Chu Ga Eul means more to the two of you than me? After everything she has done for Geum Jan Di? After the way she stayed on our side when every-one else told us we couldn't get past our differences?"

This made Woo Bin stop fighting as he jerked his arm from Ji Hoo. His eyes still sharp with anger but he was at least willing to listen again.

"Ga Eul asked me for discretion." Jun Pyo continued harshly. "She didn't want people looking at her strangely or worrying about her. So, I gave her my word and my loyalty. In exchange, she let me set her up in her apartment to get away from him."

"Then why is she doing this?" Ji Hoo asked quietly. "Why is she going back?"

"She worries about her mother." Jun Pyo sighed. "She thinks his drinking will only get worse away and she doesn't want her mother alone. He doesn't touch Park Jae Young but Ga Eul still worries."

"Damn it." Ji Hoo rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And you can't get through to her?"

"I've been on the phone yelling at her since Jan Di called me in hysterics yesterday." Jun Pyo grumbled. "But she won't listen."

"Well, she will listen to me." Woo Bin bite out sharply. "She will be here soon for our weekly dinner and I will make it clear she is not going anywhere, even if I have to sit on her for the next six months."

"Woo Bin," Jun Pyo said softly. "I know you're worried. But please handle this delicately."

Ji Hoo and Woo Bin exchanged glances which must have transported continents because Jun Pyo's roll of his eyes was obvious even through the phone.

"Yes, I know it's me saying it but Ga Eul will be horrified when she finds out that we all know. So, please don't make this worse for her. That's all."

"I won't," Woo Bin grumbled. "But I also can't let her—"

"I know. Look," Jun Pyo groaned. "I can come home if I need to but it will take some time to arrange my schedule. And it might only make Ga Eul dig her heels in more if she thinks we are all ganging up on her."

"We got it." Ji Hoo told him with a sigh. "If we need you, we will contact you but let us try by ourselves first."

"Fine."

After they hung up, Ji Hoo and Woo Bin stood in stunned silence. Attempting to come to grips with the knowledge of poor Ga Eul growing up with a drunk, abusive father without any of them noticing.

"Do you think Yi Jeong knows?" Ji Hoo asked quietly. "About her family?"

"No," Woo Bin shook his head slowly. "Her father would already be dead if he did."

Ji Hoo gave a nod of agreement. Yi Jeong would lose his mind if he ever found out about this. His love for the simple country bumpkin obvious to all of them. Even if he wouldn't admit it. To himself or to her.

"Jun Pyo said he didn't beat her mother." Ji Hoo whispered, his voice revealing his bitterness. "Just Ga Eul. Her mother didn't stop it but Ga Eul is still willing to put herself at risk again to protect her."

Woo Bin closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "I am going to kill him. And then we should all have our asses kicked for allowing this to ever happen."

"Jun Pyo got her out."

"A year ago!" Woo Bin snapped furiously. "We have been friends with her for almost three years, Ji Hoo! We didn't notice!"

The student doctor flinched with a horrible wave of guilt before tightening his jaw stubbornly. "Well, we know now. Which means we going to fix it. For good this time."

Ga Eul walked into the F4 lounge where she met Woo Bin every Thursday for dinner. And whenever they could get away from their studies, Jan Di and Ji Hoo would join them. They would laugh, play games, or just have some time away from the pressures of their lives.

As she walked down the steps though, she was surprised not to smell Woo Bin's cooking or any noise. Her confusion increasing when she turned the corner and saw Woo Bin and Ji Hoo waiting for her. They were sitting in chairs facing the door, their arms folded and obviously unhappy by their current expression.

It was like coming home late after a date or something, Ga Eul mused in confused amusement. "Hi."

They didn't respond but only continued to glare at her making her shoot them a confused smile. "What's going on?"

"I had a very interesting phone call from Gu Jun Pyo this afternoon," Woo Bin said tightly. "Who told me some very interesting news about your travel plans."

Ga Eul stiffened as she set her bag carefully down to the floor. "I asked him not to say anything."

This only made him glare at her more with a low growl. "Well, I am glad someone did before I just got a postcard in the mail."

She flinched and shuffled uncomfortably. "I was going to tell you, Woo Bin."

"When?"

"I meant to tell you last week..." Ga Eul whispered with a sad smile. "I just didn't know how."

His eyes softened slightly before straightening his shoulders. "You're not going."

"Yes, I am."

"Chu Ga Eul." Ji Hoo barked in a rare flash of temper. "You are not dropping out of school. You are—"

"I don't have a choice, Sunbae." Ga Eul spoke quietly over him and somehow her lack of anger at being told what to do made him nervous. This wasn't her being stubborn or obstinate. This was her simply being resigned to a decision.

"I'm not letting you move all the way across the world!" Woo Bin snapped. "Ga Eul, you can't even speak English!"

"I will learn."

He gaped at her before leaning forward with a low growl. "You can't go if I buy out the airport and refuse to let any of the planes leave Ga Eul."

Her eyes narrowed with a low snap. "You wouldn't?"

Woo Bin flashed her a cold smirk. "Try me."

"Ga Eul," Ji Hoo rushed to interject before Ga Eul could respond to that particular challenge. "We know you want to… be with your mom." He finished delicately. "But you can't just pick up and leave Korea. Your whole life is here."

Ga Eul studied him for a minute before smiling sadly. "Thank you for putting it so kindly, Sunbae. But it's not that simple and you know it."

She turned her gaze back to Woo Bin before adding softly. "I assume Jun Pyo also told a few other things about my family?"

Woo Bin glared at her with a strange mixture of anger and hurt. "You should have told me."

"Why? So, you could bear even more pain?" Ga Eul whispered tearfully. "You all have been through so much with your own families. You bear so many scars. I was not going to add to them by telling you about mine."

Woo Bin stilled in horror. "You let someone—" He quickly stopped, not able to speak the words. "You were trying to protect us?"

"Of course," Ga Eul wiped her cheeks. "You guys have been through so much than more me. I saw what Jun Pyo's mother is capable of… I wasn't about to tell you all my burdens just when you were finally free from yours. Besides," she shrugged. "It wasn't terrible. I survived it once. I can survive it again."

"Ga Eul—" Woo Bin choked out and Ji Hoo heard the tears building in his throat. Probably because he was too. "I'm so sorry."

"No." Ga Eul snapped furiously. "You have nothing to be sorry for. This wasn't your fault Sunbae." She shook her hair back and cleared her throat awkwardly. "My father has not drunk anything in a long time. Not since Jun Pyo… talked to him. He's fine when he's sober." She hastened to assure them. "He's sweet and loving even. It's just the bottle makes him—"

Woo Bin stood up and yanked her into his arms before she could finish. His arms tightening around her with a low murmur as she burst into tears. Deep, racking grief spilling out of her until she was not capable of standing on her own. Woo Bin closed his eyes at the sound as he held her firmly so she wouldn't just fall to the ground.

Ji Hoo's own tears falling steadily now as he watched the kind girl break apart. She pressed her face into Woo Bin's chest with a whimper. "I don't have a choice, Sunbae. I have to go with them. I have to make sure she's safe. If he drinks again, I need to know he won't take it out on her. He can hit me but not her."

This made Woo Bin curse and he leaned back to cup her face. "No."

"Woo Bin," Ga Eul whispered earnestly. "You don't understand. My mother is weak. She won't be able to fight back. He has never hit her. Not once but I can't take the chance. I know how to survive it. It won't affect me but it will her."

Woo Bin shook his head but she grabbed him, forcing him to look at her. "She's my mother, Sunbae." She looked over to Ji Hoo firmly. "If it was your mother, what would you do?" She looked back to Woo Bin. "Or you?"

He stiffened, his jaw tight with anger as he turned away from her and she nodded with a low sniffle. "See… You couldn't walk away either."

"It's different, Ga Eul." Ji Hoo pleaded frantically. "It would be different for us."

"No, it's not." She smiled at them, her eyes still swimming with tears. "I can't abandon her."

"No! I am letting you do this," Woo Bin yelled but she simply rose on her tiptoes and laid her lips over his. It wasn't a romantic or passionate embrace but Ji Hoo saw his friend crumble at the gesture. Of her telling him goodbye and asking him to let her go. She leaned back and cupped his face with a smile, her thumbs brushing over his cheeks.

"Stop it, Ga Eul." Woo Bin whispered painfully. "You don't have to…Please, just let me handle your father."

"No." She told him before clapping her hands with forced cheer. "Now come on. This is my last dinner here and I don't intend to waste it." Ga Eul squeezed Woo Bin's hand. "Please."

He stared at the ground for a minute before clearing his throat awkwardly. "Fine," Woo Bin said huskily. "Tonight we will go wherever you want. Just tell me."

"Hmm," Ga Eul thought about it for a minute. "I think I want lobster."

Woo Bin smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Lobster it is." He gestured for Ji Hoo who quickly cleared his own tears away with a nod. "Lobster sounds great actually."

"Thank you," Ga Eul said tenderly before grabbing her purse and walked steadily ahead of them. And despite his frustration, Ji Hoo was struck by the hidden strength of Chu Ga Eul.

"What do we do now?" He mumbled to Woo Bin as they grabbed their coats. The mafia prince shook his head with a shaky breath. "I don't know. But we have to do something."

He played with his keys for a minute before looking at Ji Hoo. "Let's leave it for right now. Take her dinner and think about what to do next tomorrow."

"All right," Ji Hoo agreed with a sigh. "I will message Jan Di. Tell her to give us a few days."

Woo nodded thoughtfully and Ji Hoo briefly wondered what he was thinking but before he could ask, Ga Eul poked her head down the stairs in concern. "Are you two all right?"

"Yeah, Ga Eul." He whispered thickly with a small smile that fooled no-one. "Everything is fine."

When his phone rang, Jun Pyo decided to ignore it. He was home for the weekend and the last thing he wanted was to take phone calls about business. Surely, his people could handle things for two days without him so he could spend some time with his fiancé.

But when it only automatically rang again, he snatched it with a furious growl. "What the hell do I pay you for?"

"Jun Pyo?"

He frowned at the tearful call. "Ga Eul?"

"Is Geum Jan Di with you?"

"What? No." Jun Pyo looked at his watch. "She is still at the hospital. Her shift doesn't end for a few hours."

The girl let out a quiet whimper which made the hair on the back of neck prickle. "Ga Eul, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she gasped, her easy tone overly forced in a poor attempt to hide her distress. "I just needed to talk to her."

"Are you sure?"

She went quiet before letting out a soft sob. "No. I-I'm in some trouble but—"

"What kind of trouble?" Jun Pyo demanded and she sniffled. "Things are a little tense right now at my house. I went to Jan Di's but she wasn't home so—"

"Why don't you come here?" He kept his voice light since he didn't want to spook her when she sounded so strange. In all the years of knowing Chu Ga Eul, he had never heard her like this before. "I will send the car."

"No, I'm-"

"Really, Ga Eul." Jun Pyo said smoothly, already sending his assistant out to fetch her. "I wanted an excuse to avoid having to talk to New York for a few hours anyway."

"Okay," she chuckled tearfully before letting out a shaky breath. "Thank you."

He hung up and quickly messaged his driver to hurry. He debated telling Jan Di something was going on but he didn't want to alarm her until he knew exactly what he was dealing with.

Thankfully, it didn't take long but as Lee Jae In walked in ahead of Ga Eul, he sent Jun Pyo a significant stare which made him frown but before he could ask him about it, he saw her and his stomach dropped to his knees.

She was soaked from the rain, her hair plastered to her face which was currently sporting a black eye that was rapidly beginning to swell shut and a split lip.

Jun Pyo's mouth dropped in shock as he breathed her name and hurried over to her. "What-"

"It's not as bad as it looks," Ga Eul told him with a pained smile. "I'm fine."

"Not that bad?" Jun Pyo barked and grabbed her chin tilting her face up to scan her furiously. "Why are you all just standing there? Get some ice. Now!" He yelled over his shoulder to Jae In who immediately took off with new haste. His entire staff jumping at the sound of his temper flaring for the first time in a long time.

"Jun Pyo," Ga Eul quickly squeezed his hand. "Really, I am fine. I promise."

"This is not fine." He slowly helped her to his study and sat her down in a chair, kneeling in front of her as Jae In returned with the icepack. He placed it on her eye and winced as she hissed. "I'm sorry but it will help with the swelling. If we don't get it down, you won't be able to see tomorrow."

"I know."

He stiffened at the idea she might be familiar with this kind of injury. He threw a glare over his shoulder to Jae In who took the hint and quietly excused himself.

"Who?" Jun Pyo demanded quietly as Ga Eul looked away ashamed. "My father."

He cursed darkly but she quickly shook her head. "It doesn't happen often. Only when he forgets himself and drinks a little too much." She shrugged as though it was not a big deal. "He can go months without taking a single drop but every now then, he slips."

"What about your mother?"

Her eyes blazed hotly for the first time. "He's never touched her. Not once. It's always been me. And once I was old enough, I made sure it stayed that way."

"Shit, Ga Eul." Jun Pyo said shakily and seeing the usually stoic man so obviously distressed about killed her. "I'm—"

"You're staying here tonight," He snapped over her. "You're not going home again. I will take care of it."

"Jun Pyo, please don't tell anyone," Ga Eul begged tearfully. "I don't want anyone else to know. Especially Woo Bin."

"Ga Eul—"

"I couldn't handle it, Jun Pyo!" She cried loudly. For the first time since she arrived her emotions getting the best of her. "Having them worry or look at me with pity. The constant guilt they would feel for not knowing about this! Just…" Ga Eul wiped her cheeks with a deep breath. "Please don't tell them."

He studied her for a minute and realizing she could not handle anything more tonight; he gave a stiff nod. "Fine."

"Thank—"

"On one condition," The Shinhwa president added sharply. "You will stay here until I can find you a place of your own."

Ga Eul shuffled her feet nervously. "My mother—"

"You said he doesn't hurt her." Jun Pyo snapped since he didn't care much for her loyalty to her mother. Not when the woman allowed her daughter to get hurt like this by her drunk of a husband and never did anything to protect her.

"You can keep an eye on her without having to stay there and be your bastard of a father's punching bag."

Ga Eul winced at the harsh wording but he didn't back down. "I mean it, Ga Eul. You either move out or I am calling Song Woo Bin."

She nodded and sank back into the chair. "All right, Jun Pyo." She raised her glassy gaze to him with a low tremble. "But if he hurts her—"

"He won't," Jun Pyo told her with a shrug. "I will make sure of it."

Ga Eul didn't know quite what to make of that particular statement but she was too tired to worry about at the moment. Her adrenaline wearing off so there was nothing left but deep-bone exhaustion. "Thank you."

His jaw was tight even as he smiled at her. "Get some rest now."

Ga Eul nodded but as she began to leave he stopped her with a low call. "I don't like hiding things for Jan Di though."

"She knows," she whispered with a shrug. "I normally stay with her until things settle down…. He will be sober by tomorrow."

His eyes went instantly cold but his voice was oddly warm as he dipped his head to the door. "I'm sure he will. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow we will find you that apartment."

Ga Eul blinked herself out of the memory as she looked around the small home Jun Pyo had bought for her the very next day. It was small compared to the lavish space he originally wanted to get for her but she loved it. She loved the open windows overlooking the water and a nearby park where she could watch the birds.

She loved the peace and quiet where she could still walk easily to her mothers or school. It had been a small little haven.

"Now I am packing it all up." Ga Eul whispered to herself with a heartbreaking scan of the boxes laying at her feet but not wanting to show her distress, she quickly sprung to her feet with a smile to the two scowling members.

"This can go," Ga Eul cheerfully placed the vase into the box but Woo Bin who was sitting cross-legged on the floor simply reached over and took it out.

"Woo Bin," Ga Eul scolded. "This is going to take forever if you keep unpacking me!"

"I already told you that you weren't going," Woo Bin said dryly, not bothering to look up from his phone. "So, there is no reason to pack in the first place."

She ignored this which made Ji Hoo fold his arms in frustration. Three days of constant talking, threatening, and even begging had gotten them nowhere. Leading to the Woo Bin unboxing protest which was currently taking place.

"Ga Eul—"

"I bought my plane ticket." She told them bluntly, her gaze firm as she continued to box up her items. "I am leaving Friday night."

This made both of them freeze as Woo Bin rose shakily to his feet. "You already bought your ticket?"

Ga Eul nodded. "My parents want us there for my aunt's birthday." She looked down at the photo of all of them on their last ski trip. Her thumb brushing over the face of one whom she missed so badly it almost made her ill.

She hurriedly set it back down with a shake of her head, casting them an exasperated smile. "So it would be great if you two would actually help."

"Ga Eul," Ji Hoo snapped, "What will it take to get-"

"I've made up my mind, Sunbae." Ga Eul said over him firmly. "So please stop this."

As she made her way to the kitchen to begin packing up there, Ji Hoo cursed. "We need help."

Woo Bin nodded and slowly pulled out his phone. "I know."

"Who are you calling?" Ji Hoo sighed. "Gu Jun Pyo?"

"No," Woo Bin told him quietly. "Because he is not the one needed right now. There is only one person who can actually make Ga Eul listen to him. The only one who won't care about hurting her feelings in order to protect her. No matter what it costs him."

"Who is—" Ji Hoo eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Are you sure about this?"

"Do we have a choice?" Woo Bin sighed as he hit the number. "I kept hoping we wouldn't have to do it but there is no other way."

Ji Hoo nodded in agreement. They had tried everything but in this situation, they weren't enough. Ga Eul cared deeply for them but it wasn't enough to get through to her. To stop her from putting herself in danger to protect someone she loved. They weren't enough to keep her from the ledge.

They needed him.

It was late when Ga Eul finally headed home. She had spent most of the evening simultaneously comforting a heartbroken Geum Jan Di and arguing with Gu Jun Pyo on the phone who was threatening to come home and lock her in a closet to keep her from going. But it was no use, she refused to be swayed and Jan Di knew it.

It was hard to witness her best friend so devastated but she didn't have a choice. She couldn't abandon her mother. Not now anyway. Maybe in a year or two when she was convinced her father was able to control himself, she could return home but for right now she would simply do what she needed to do to keep her mother safe.

"A year, Ga Eul." She whispered to herself firmly as she stuck the key in her lock. "Just do a year at a time."

Feeling better about having some sort of timeline, she stepped inside her apartment for one last night in the little net she had created for herself. It was slightly depressing since all her belongings were currently boxed up or being stored at Geum Jan Di's but it was still nice to have one more night in the first home she ever felt completely safe in.

Except as she walked inside, she was surprised by how dark it was. "That's strange," Ga Eul muttered in confusion. "I could have sworn I left the lamp on?"

She flipped her switch and gasped. Her bag dropping to the ground with a loud clang as she took in the image of him just sitting in the middle of her living room. His arms folded casually as he openly perused her with a knowing smirk.

"Hello, Ga Eul Yang."