Hey guys! Sorry this took so long but I made it a little longer to make up for it. So this is the end but I did leave it open in case I decide to write a sequel… No promises since I really did plan on this just being a quick three-shot and it kind of got away from me lol. I also plan on doing the playful kiss epilogue this week and then focusing on some one-shots.

Anyway, I hope everyone is staying safe! This year has been so hard on such a global level and I really want you all to know that I am thinking of you and praying for blessings and gentleness for your lives as we finishes out this crazy year.

Thank you for enjoying The Rescue Move so much and all the support! I have loved reading all your reviews and messages!

Enjoy!

Yi Jeong leaned against the doorframe with a sigh of exasperation. "Are you ever going to talk to me?"

She didn't even bother to turn around as she slammed clothes into drawers and he grinned at the low rattle of her cosmetics. "You can be as mad as you want but I am still not changing my mind."

Ga Eul didn't even turn around and he rolled his eyes. She had been furious with him when he announced his plans to permanently return home. She had argued fiercely with him for hours but finally realizing he had no intention of changing his mind, she had settled into stony silence.

"You know," Yi Jeong said conversationally. "Should I be worried about the idea of me coming home seems to piss you off so thoroughly?"

She shot him a slight glare over her shoulder and he grinned. At least it was a response and he moved towards her. Laying his hand cautiously on her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Come on, Ga Eul." He whispered in amusement. "You've made your point."

"Are you going back to Sweden?" Ga Eul looked at him sternly which made his grin deepen. "No."

"Then apparently you are missing my point." She snapped and tried to step away from him but he simply tightened his grip on her waist. "I know you're upset." Yi Jeong continued with a long stroke of her hair. "But this is no different than when you stayed with me when I was hurting."

"Yes, it is." Ga Eul grumbled and knocked his hand away. "And stop touching me. I can't think clearly when you are touching me."

Yi Jeong chuckled lightly. "Good to know."

"It isn't the same thing, Yi Jeong." Ga Eul told him worriedly. "I'm fine. No-one is hurting me and I am not damaged by the abuse. As long as my mother's safe, I am fine."

"That's my point, Ga Eul." Yi Jeong told her firmly. "You keep saying you're fine and I don't need to worry or take care of you."

"You don't."

"I'm not finished." He snapped quietly. "The fact this is your mindset is the exact reason why I am staying."

She frowned in bewilderment. "I don't understand."

"Getting hit by a father and your mother not caring enough to stop it left a scar." Yi Jeong told her somberly. "Having to protect someone at the age of six by stepping in front of a fist on a regular basis has made you think you always need to stand in front of someone." He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear tenderly. "And it scares you when someone tries to stand in front of you."

"Yi Jeong," Ga Eul stepped away from with a frantic shake of her head. "I know this hard on you. Hearing about my father and learning… What you learned." She finished softly. "But I have been living with this for years. I learned when I was young how to shut off my brain and detach myself when my father was drinking. To enjoy the time when he was sober and just my dad."

Yi Jeong's face darkened warningly but she wasn't finished. "Look at me, Yi Jeong." She spread her arms wide. "I'm fine. He's not touched me in a year. I'm completely safe here. There is nothing for you to stand in front of now."

"All right," He shrugged casually. "Then how about the fact that I simply miss you too much to keep living away from you."

She narrowed her gaze suspiciously. "Don't patronize me either."

"I'm not." Yi Jeong laughed, deeply enjoying her angry flush. It had been a long time since they had bantered like this and he had almost forgotten how cute she looked when she tried to appear intimidating. "I'm being honest."

"Well be honest in Sweden then!"

"No."

Ga Eul growled slightly and snatched up a towel. "I'm going to take a shower. Don't follow me!"

Yi Jeong raised an eyebrow as she stalked off towards the bathroom. "You mean that was an option?"

"It might have been… If you weren't being such a stubborn pabo!"

As she slammed the door shut, Yi Jeong grinned even as he had to remind his body not to react to that tantalizing invitation. Hearing someone ring her bell and assuming it was one of his friends or Jan Di stopping by to see how the fight was going, he opened it without even thinking. And catching the equally surprised stare on the man at seeing him, Yi Jeong immediately stiffened.

"Yes?"

"Is Chu Ga Eul here?"

"Who are you?" Yi Jeong snapped and the kid blinked at the rude bark. "I'm Lee Min Jun. We work together at the porridge shop. And you are?"

Yi Jeong scowled darkly. He knew Ga Eul was still working partially at the porridge shop while she finished getting her teaching degree. It also didn't take a genius to realize the Master must have hired some extra help since Jan Di was no longer waitressing due to her time at the clinic and the demanding hours of medical school.

"So Yi Jeong. Chu Ga Eul belongs to me."

"She's never mentioned having a boyfriend before?" Min Jun said doubtfully and Yi Jeong folded his arms warily. Technically this was probably because they were not officially together nor had he ever specified his exact feelings but this punk didn't need to know that.

"Well she does," Yi Jeong said simply. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"Ga Eul didn't show up for her shift this morning. I just wanted to make sure she was all right?"

"She's fine."

Min Jun gestured impatiently to the door. "May I see that for myself?"

"No."

They stared off thunderously and since Yi Jeong could practically write a book on sex and flirtation, he was easily able to spot the real reason for this particular surprised visit disguised as simply wanting to check up on her. So, he dipped his head to the elevator. "You can go now."

Min Jun rolled his eyes but decided it would be pointless to keep trying he began to make his way out. However right before he boarded the lift, he turned and gave Yi Jeong a slight smirk. "Tell Ga Eul, I enjoyed our night together last week."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Yi Jeong told him softly, his eyes darkening coldly. "I don't like it when someone tries to play games with me normally. But involving Chu Ga Eul into them usually means you simply disappear."

The kid swallowed nervously and scurried into the elevator. Yi Jeong stood at the doorway scowling furiously before slamming her front door and stalking thunderously to the bathroom. He threw it open with a loud yell. "YAH!"

He heard her squeak and the harsh clang as something fell from her fingers to the floor. She peeked her head out from behind the curtain, her hair wet and clinging to her face as she gasped wide-eyed. "Don't do that!" She took a shaky breath and narrowed her gaze. "And I told you NOT to follow me!"

"Who the hell is Lee Min Jun?" Yi Jeong demanded furiously. "And why the hell was he at your door?"

"What?"

"Lee Min Jun," he snarled through gritted teeth. "Who is he?"

"Are you talking about the kid from the diner?" Ga Eul looked at him in confusion. "What about him?"

"He stopped by to check on you and to tell you he enjoyed," Yi Jeong emphasized pointedly. "Your night together last week. What night?"

"The master was home sick and a large party came into the diner. Lee Min Jun was working by himself and asked me for help. " Ga Eul said slowly as though she found him particularly dumb at the moment. "What did you think he was talking about?"

Yi Jeong didn't answer and her mouth fell open slightly. "So Yi Jeong did you think—"

"He came to your apartment! He knew where you lived!"

She snatched a towel and wrapped it tightly around herself before yanking open the curtain and stepping out. Not caring that she was dripping all over the floor and she hadn't even bothered to turn the water off. "He walked me home because it was so late once we finally closed!"

"Is that all that happened?"

"Do you want to die?" Ga Eul shrieked at him. "Of course that's all!"

"Then why did he act like he—"

"I don't know! But do you honestly think I would let him inside? To see or touch me!"

"Well, it was not from lack of trying." Yi Jeong snapped angrily. "He was practically drooling at your door!"

"That doesn't mean he's touched me!" Ga Eul yelled in disbelief. "No-one has!"

He went quiet, his breathing coming so hard and fast at this point, his chest was heaving as though he had just run a marathon. "No-one?"

"Of course not!"

"Why?"

"Because I have been waiting for you!" She shouted incredulously. "That's why!"

They both went still. Her mouth opening and closing repeatedly like a fish. "I mean—"

Yi Jeong lunged forward, his hands plunging into her hair roughly as his mouth slammed down on hers. Ga Eul clung to him with a low moan and he suddenly felt water sliding down his cheek, and he realized he had somehow managed to back them into the shower. Water spraying heavily down on them, soaking through his clothes and probably ruining them forever. Not that Yi Jeong cared at the moment.

Never breaking the kiss, Yi Jeong tugged down the thin towel she had wrapped around herself until he heard it slap onto the floor. Ga Eul pushed on his jacket and he helped her tug the soaked material off his shoulders.

With his arms free, he pressed her into the wall and pulled back long enough to scan her slowly. Her body on full display and she made no attempt to hide herself from his gaze. His eyes burned hungrily, his hands roaming slowly as though he was attempting to memorize every dip and curve of her body.

"Yi Jeong," Ga Eul muttered breathlessly. "Do you honestly think I would let anyone but you do this?"

"No." He answered truthfully, his voice not much steadier than hers. "Because this is mine."

She nodded and clutched a hand into his hair. Her toes lifting her slightly as she strained to reach him. He quickly re-took her mouth with a long moan and he decided they should probably move this to the bedroom while they still could.

He reached above her and turned off the shower before pivoting them out of the steam-soaked bath. He walked her carefully backwards, his hands low on her spine holding her to him as they kissed slowly. Ga Eul legs hit the bed and they did a strange tumble down.

His lips brushed over her throat with a long sensual glide. "Stop fighting me about Sweden… Please."

She stilled and he was surprised by the low flash of fear in her voice. "I can't… Because if you were to stay now, I will never trust it. I will worry forever that you only see me now as one giant bruise. Someone you constantly need to protect instead of someone to love… I don't want to be an obligation, Yi Jeong."

Yi Jeong laid his lips over her flesh with a low hum. "I'm not that honorable, remember?"

"Yi Jeong—"

"Answer me something first." Yi Jeong lifted his head in concern. "Why are you so worried that I will never be able to look at you again without seeing you bruised?"

A tear rolled down her cheek as she choked out a sob. "Because that's all I see."

"Hmm," Yi Jeong sighed in new understanding. "I will just have to make a new visual for you then."

"What visual?"

"Me." He whispered with a smirk as he lowered his mouth to the side of her throat. "Kissing you. Touching every inch of you. And I won't stop until every single mark on you has been replaced by me."

Ga Eul could only lay in fogged-filled pleasure as Yi Jeong made his way across her body. True to his word, his lips and hands traced every inch of her skin until every single part of her burned with heat. Unable to withstand it any longer, she reached for him and as he settled over her, Yi Jeong whispered for her to look at him.

She opened her eyes, his gaze burning down at her with a mixed gleam of desire and possessiveness. "There is nothing obligatory about what I feel for you." Yi Jeong said huskily. "And I am not leaving you."

Ga Eul nodded but he wasn't finished as he glared down at her in annoyance. "So don't ever ask me to again."

"I won't."

At her soft promise, he lowered his mouth to hers with a low growl. "Good."

Feeling free of doubt which had plagued for the past year since he left for Sweden, she sank completely into him. He slowly pushed inside her and for the first time in her life, she felt whole. Once they were completely joined, they both let out a sigh of disbelief.

"Shit." Yi Jeong panted as he laid his forehead against hers. "Ga Eul…"

"I know." She gasped as he held still so she could adjust to the feel of him. "I love you too."

He groaned and began to slowly move. His thrusts long and deep as she clung to him. Their mouths moving gently together in rhythm to their bodies. It could have been hours or it might have been seconds for all Yi Jeong knew. It almost seemed as though time had stopped and the only thing that existed was her.

Ga Eul suddenly quaked underneath him with a surprised cry of his name against his mouth. He shuddered at the feel of her clenching tightly around him and he gripped her hands in shock as his release shot out of him without warning. His whole body surrendering to it with long, hot spasms until his vision blurred.

He collapsed down on her and she immediately wrapped her arms and legs around him. His body still joined to hers as they gasped incoherently. They held each other and exchanged broken up words and kisses until they finally both slipped off into a satisfied and exhausted sleep.

That had been six months ago and Yi Jeong had been surprised by how glad he was to be home. He loved Sweden. He had a good relationship with his mentors that was actually healthy instead of the obsessive standard of perfection he had been raised with by his grandfather. He loved the snowy winters of Stockholm which he couldn't wait to show Ga Eul. He planned on surprising her by taking them there for Christmas and spending at least a month in the apartment he still kept and maintained with a light staff.

However, it was comforting to be living once more in Korea. Where the food was familiar and he was able to see his friends daily. For the first time in their lives, things were calm and they were able to lead their own lives. Not to mention the ability to wake up in the morning next to Ga Eul. Although they had not made a conscious decision to move in with each other, Yi Jeong had spent every night since Woo Bin had called him in her small apartment.

"Yi Jeong… Are you okay?"

He blinked at the question and realized he had been lost in his thoughts and Ga Eul must have been trying to get his attention for the past few minutes.

"Sorry." He reached across the car to take her hand. "I didn't mean to ignore you."

"It's all right." Ga Eul laughed. "You must be thinking of a new pot design."

He grinned briefly but it quickly fell off as the image of the restaurant came into view. "Are you sure about this?"

"It's her birthday, Sunbae."

Yi Jeong cursed furiously and they sat in stiff silence for a minute. Despite his instinct to keep Ga Eul completely away from her family, she still insisted on seeing her mother on a fairly regular basis. Something which grated him since her mother refused to leave or even admit the years of abuse to her daughter.

The F4 kept a strict eye on Chu Dong Soon to ensure he kept his forced sobriety but also make sure he never stepped near Ga Eul. So, her interactions with her mother were always under supervision by one of them or at her place with Yi Jeong scowling darkly in the corner. Expect for her birthday which Ga Eul's mother desperately wanted to have dinner with both her husband and daughter.

At first, Yi Jeong had refused to even let her think about going but Ga Eul refused to disappoint her mother. It had been their first fight since they became a couple. It has lasted for two tense days until she finally crawled silently into his lap after almost forty-eight hours of not speaking.

Yi Jeong threw his watch on to the nightstand. His movements stiff with anger. He saw her out of the corner of his eye but didn't fully register what she was about to do until she was suddenly kneeling in front of him. Her hands resting on his thighs as she stared pleadingly up at him.

"No." He snapped without even bothering to look at her as he furiously ripped out his cufflinks. "I don't care what the reasons are… The answer is no, Ga Eul."

She didn't say anything but only continued to rub his legs. He tightened his jaw, still not willing to look at her. She rose and climbed gently into his lap, his arms encircling her automatically despite his anger and at the feel of her lips brushing slowly along his jaw, he finally turned to meet her gaze.

Her eyes were filled with tears and he immediately felt his irritation shift. "Don't cry, Ga Eul."

"I'm sorry," Ga Eul whispered softly. "I know you don't like this and are mad because I want-."

"That is putting it mildly." He told her sharply but his anger dissolved slightly at her apology. "You're asking me to let you go see a man who hurt you. Who put his hands on you…" Yi Jeong lowered his voice with a sigh. "You can't ask me to do that, Ga Eul."

"I know." She admitted tenderly, her hands brushing along his temple where his muscles quivered from tension. "But Yi Jeong, it is impossible for me to spend the rest of my life not seeing him in some capacity. As long as my parents are together, he will be in my life."

He cursed and tried to move her off but she refused to let him get up. "My mother is the one I always fought for Sunbae." Ga Eul reminded him gently. "I love her despite her being weak. But if this is hurting us, then I will let her go."

He immediately felt the fight leave him and he turned his head to meet her eye. She quickly cupped his face with a fierce gleam. "You're the most important thing to me. And I won't let anything drive a wedge between us. So, if my parents are causing us not to speak, then I will stop my relationship with her."

"Really?" Yi Jeong asked tentatively and she nodded firmly. "Nothing is worth you not talking to me."

Suddenly feeling guilty for the two days of his angry silence, Yi Jeong tightened his hold on her and pulled her into his chest. She whimpered in relief and pressed her lips to the side of his throat. "I love you."

"I love you too." Yi Jeong muttered with an apologetic wince. "I'm sorry for getting mad."

She shook her head and tucked her face into his neck. Not realizing how much not speaking to her had also hurt him, he felt his body ease for the first time in almost two days. The tension expelling out of him a long sigh and he wrapped himself fully around her.

They held each other for a long time before he finally pulled her back so he could see her face. "I don't want you to stop seeing your mother." Yi Jeong told her quietly. "I know how much you love her and worry about her."

Ga Eul didn't say anything but only watched him cautiously as he struggled to let go of his protective instincts. "I know having her in your life means he's in your life but it doesn't make any happier about it."

"What do you want me to do?

Yi Jeong's shoulders sank in relief. He knew this was her way of compromising with him and putting him first despite her misplaced loyalty to her mother. Which apparently was not as important as her loyalty to him and he felt comforted by the knowledge.

"You can go to dinner." Yi Jeong agreed reluctantly. "But I am going with you and except for the rare occasion like this, I still don't want you seeing him. So if your mother starts pushing you—"

"No." Ga Eul said softly with a nod. "I don't want that either. I will only see him on her birthday. No other time beyond that."

Yi Jeong scanned her carefully. "Never beyond that? You promise?"

"Never."

"All-right then. We will go."

"Thank you." Ga Eul whispered. "But I meant what I said earlier, Yi Jeong. If my family starts causing us problems, I will walk away." She leaned up to give him a lingering kiss. "Nothing is worth losing you."

"Thank you," Yi Jeong murmured with a worried stare. "But I am not going anywhere, Ga Eul… You never had to worry about that."

"I know." She assured him with a smile. "But I still needed to say it."

His hands trailed up the silky length of her thigh, enjoying the view of her wearing his shirt, and his eyebrow raised at the discovery it was also the only thing she was currently wearing. "Ga Eul yang?"

"Hmm?"

"Is this your way of apologizing to me?"

"Mm-hmm." She nodded emphatically and he hummed in pleasure, his fingers playing with her until she squirmed breathlessly and he quickly flipped them over with a mock sigh. "Fine. I guess we can make up now."

Ga Eul laughed and hooked her arms around his neck, pressing her lips into her throat. "I'm looking forward to it."

They had agreed afterward not to fight like that again though and Yi Jeong made a conscious effort not to let his temper about her family get to him every-time they were mentioned. It wasn't easy since he tended to be naturally protective anyway but with Ga Eul, he became like a possessive beast but he knew Ga Eul simply wanted them to move on and not feel like someone was constantly watching over her like a bodyguard.

Now, that they were actually here though, he honestly didn't know how he was going to let her out of the car. Understanding, she squeezed his hand. "We won't stay long."

He nodded with a sigh and they climbed out. He spotted her family sitting at a table. Her mother was talking animatedly, her obvious delight at her seeing her daughter evident from even here. Her father was stiff and fiddling nervously. Probably because the last time, Yi Jeong and he saw each other, he had barely escaped with his life.

Ga Eul greeted her mother warmly and softly greeted her father. Yi Jeong was not nearly so gracious. He didn't even bother to look at Chu Dong Soon as they sat down. He was polite to Park Jae Young but basically pretended like her father was not even there. Who seemed annoyed by this and kept guzzling his water in a way that spoke volumes about his desire to still grab the bottle.

Yi Jeong kept a careful watch on Ga Eul but thankfully she never hinted that she was uncomfortable or even tense. Carrying a conversation easily with her mother and speaking to her father when necessary.

Chu Dong Soon was quiet but friendly in his responses to his daughter which made Park Jae Young beam and lean into him tenderly. Something which made Yi Jeong feel slightly nauseated. He hated how her mother simply pretended her husband was nothing but this warm, loving man instead of someone who had a drinking problem he refused to admit and then regularly beat his daughter because of it.

He could feel himself growing more and more bitter with each passing moment and sensing his polite restrain was rapidly fading, Ga Eul told her mother they needed to leave. Yi Jeong could tell Park Jae Young wanted to protest but catching the warning stare on Yi Jeong, she wisely decided not to push it. Seeming to understand that Yi Jeong only tolerated her having contact with Ga Eul because her daughter wanted it. But by siding with her husband, he didn't view her favorably.

As they walked outside, Ga Eul blinked in surprise to find Woo Bin and Ji Hoo leaning against Yi Jeong's Lotus. Obviously keeping watch over the dinner and she gave them a slight smile. "What are you two doing here?"

"We've come to steal you," Woo Bin said simply and threw his arm around her shoulder. "For ice cream and presents."

"I don't need ice cream just because I had dinner with him, Sunbae." Ga Eul chuckled with an eye roll. "I'm fine."

"It's for us." Woo Bin said truthfully. "I tend to get homicidal when talking about your father—"

"Woo Bin—"

"So, Ji Hoo suggested ice-cream to calm me down." He finished cheekily, pretending he had not heard the low warning in her voice. "And Ji Hoo needs something new to snuggle with tonight. Hence the stuffed animal jaunt."

"Thanks." Ji Hoo grinned at him. "But I already have something to snuggle with tonight."

"You do?" Woo Bin and Yi Jeong barked together but the doctor only grinned as he walked ahead.

"Ji Hoo, what are you.." Woo Bin trailed off as he only continued to ignore them and Yi Jeong and Woo Bin exchanged wide-eyed glances. "Is he saying—"

"He's talking about his new dog." Ga Eul told them as she dug into her purse. "He got a puppy over the weekend for his grandfather."

"Why you—" Woo Bin growled as Ji Hoo laughed up ahead of him. "YAH!"

Yi Jeong rolled his eyes as he took Ga Eul's hand as they followed the grumbling Woo Bin and a pleased Ji Hoo. And despite the boys insistent they were actually out for them, they made it a point to go to her favorite ice-cream shop and also bought multiplies of her favorite chocolate.

They were heading back to the car when Yi Jeong stopped to tie his shoe. Ga Eul was laughing with Woo Bin when she heard raised voices across the street. Turning she saw a couple arguing and the man gesturing wildly.

"Ga Eul?" Woo Bin asked worriedly as the color drained from her face. "What is it?"

Her breathing turned labored and at a particularly loud yell, she instinctively tried to run over to them. "NO!"

"Ga Eul! Yi Jeong—" Woo Bin shouted as he frantically grabbed her before she could take off. "Ga Eul, what is it?"

Yi Jeong ran over and quickly turned her away from the scene, cupping her face with a low bark. "Ga Eul look at me…. Look at me."

She turned her gaze, her eyes wide with panic. "Yi Jeong?"

"It's not your mother," he snapped quietly. "It's not her. And that is not your father."

"Are you-"

"It's not them." Yi Jeong said once more and brushed his thumb slowly over her cheek. "I promise."

Ga Eul started to nod but when the man only shouted furiously once more, she leaped back in fright. Her hands automatically coming up to protect her face and Yi Jeong's eyes widened in horror.

"Stop it." Ga Eul trembled desperately. "I won't make you mad, Papa. Just stop now."

Yi Jeong moved cautiously towards her, talking quietly as he gently gathered her back up. Her breathing slowing at the sound of his voice until her senses eventually came back to her. Feeling as though she had just emerged from a strange dream, she looked at Yi Jeong with a whimper of confusion. "Sunbae?"

He groaned in relief and tucked his lips to her ear. She nodded and pressed her face into his chest with a low cry at the continued shouting happening across the street. Feeling her tremble, Yi Jeong threw a dark glare over to the still arguing couple. "Shut them up."

Woo Bin nodded, his face white at seeing Ga Eul like this and he hurried off. Relief flowing through her at the instant halt of the yelling and she decided it was probably best not to see how Song Woo Bin was handling this current situation.

"Don't let him be too rough." She mumbled. "They didn't know—"

"Hush." Yi Jeong whispered, pressing his lips into her hair. His heart pounding at the sight of her wanting to throw herself in front of a fight and how she immediately transported back to a little girl protecting her mother.

"I want to go home."

Yi Jeong nodded, ushering her to the car. He buckled her in and mumbled something to his friends before slipping into the driver's seat. He drove silently, his hand resting comfortingly on her thigh. As they went up to her apartment, Ga Eul contemplated what happened. She had never experienced something like before.

She sat down on the bed and looked at him weepily. "I don't know why I did that."

"Because you just saw him." Yi Jeong knelt in front of her with a sigh. "And then you heard fighting. You're automatically conditioned when those two things align to intervene and take the hit instead." He rubbed her legs with a steady stare. "And let me tell me how I feel about that being your first response."

She nodded. "He never yelled unless he was drinking. So if I walked home and heard yelling, I knew what was coming next."

Yi Jeong watched her steadily as she wiped her cheeks. "I don't want to see him anymore, Yi Jeong. No matter what the circumstances are."

"Then you won't." He whispered but she still appeared worried. "My mother will be hurt by me not—"

"Ga Eul," Yi Jeong interrupted with a shake of his head. "She will just have to understand. Otherwise, she can talk to me about it."

She chuckled softly. She knew Yi Jeong had issues with her mother for not being stronger and simply allowing her daughter to take the beatings. But Ga Eul didn't harbor any resentment towards her for any of that. Park Jae Young was the youngest daughter of an incredibly poor family.

She was emotionally spent on years of scraping for food and despite them also being poor, her father having a steady job was enough to make her mother cry in relief. She loved her daughter and doted on her but to actually face the trauma of her husband's drinking, to leave and feel that kind of fear again of not being able to buy food… It would kill her.

But Yi Jeong's love for her was too deep to see any kind of rationale behind her decisions. No matter what the circumstances, he would never be able to accept anyone who simply stood by and let Chu Dong Soon's abuse happen. Which Ga Eul also understood in a strange way. It was similar to how she felt regarding his family who constantly manipulated him strictly for the use of his hands.

With this thought, she leaned forward and cupped his face with a soft murmur. "I love you."

He tilted his head with a curious glance. "What's that for?"

"For protecting me." Ga Eul whispered with a smile even as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You are the first person to jump in front of me."

Yi Jeong gently gripped her chin. "I will always stand in front of you."

"I know." She pressed her forehead to his. "I would have gone with them to San Francisco. I would have went with him to save her if you hadn't stopped me." She gulped as she finally said the words for the first time. "I wouldn't have survived it. He probably would have either killed me or I would have just shriveled up into a shell."

Yi Jeong's face grew thunderous at the idea and fingers dug into her waist. "For the record, If you ever try to do something like that again, I will kidnap you and keep chained to my side until you're eighty."

She chuckled with a nod. "Deal."

"I love you." Yi Jeong told her firmly. "I'm not going to let anything hurt you so you don't need to worry anymore."

Ga Eul nodded, taking his face once more and kissed him tenderly. "I love you too."

"You're safe now, Ga Eul. He will never come near you again. I promise."

"I know, Yi Jeong." She mumbled with a tiny smile. "Thank you for rescuing me"

"Don't thank me, Ga Eul." He muttered somberly. "I will always come for you." He gazed at her fiercely. "I will do whatever it takes to make you are safe."

"So will I, Yi Jeong." She said seriously. "I promise not to stand in front of my mother anymore but I am always going stand in front of you."

"No," He snapped hotly but she quickly shushed him. "Don't ask me not to love you, Yi Jeong. It's not possible."

"You're not allowed to put yourself in danger for me," Yi Jeong growled furiously. His heart pounding in fear of what his grandfather may try once he learned of their relationship and the idea of Ga Eul just letting So Yoon Hee run over her in order to protect him.

At her continued silence, he dug his fingers into her waist with a snarl. "I mean it, Ga Eul!"

"Yi Jeong," she soothed with a watery smile. "Would you let my father hurt me again simply because I told you it was too dangerous for you to intervene?"

"Of course not!"

"Me either."

Yi Jeong glared at her but catching her set expression, he cursed under his breath. She would not back down over this and despite his annoyance at her for still wanting to run into danger, he couldn't help but feel slightly relieved to know that no matter what his family tried to do or proposed to her, she wouldn't allow them to push her away from his side. And since he had no intention of letting anything happen to her and planned on threatening to remove the old man's head from his shoulders if he so much as breathed Ga Eul's name, he decided to let it go.

"So now what?" Yi Jeong asked her with a small smirk. "Since I won't let you be in danger for me, and you won't agree to listen to me about it."

She chuckled with a shrug. "Why don't we just agree that we love each other and we will figure out the rest later."

Yi Jeong nodded in agreement and kissed her softly. "I like that plan."