Hey everyone! Last chapter the news of Saeyoung and Saeran's mother's death was passed on to them- this chapter is the next touch on that.

I do not own MM!

I rolled over slowly as I heard a knock on the door, my gaze lazily looking towards it. The light from the morning sun was draping in through the frosted windows, leaving a soft blue glow on everything around me.

"Saeran?"

I sat up slowly, rubbing my forehead softly, letting out a soft sigh.

"Yeah?"

"I called Yoosung."

I shot up from the bed, striding across the room to the door, whipping it open in one fluid motion, Saeyoung's face clearly surprised as his fist that had been resting on the door fell limp, having lost its support.

"Why?"

Saeyoung looked at me sadly- I noticed his eyes had dark circles under them. Clearly he hadn't slept well last night.

"Today we're gonna go to the house and clear it out so it can be sold. I thought it would be easier for you if he came with us."

I let out a slow breath through my nose, my instincts telling me to get angry, my brain screaming at me to get mad- but I refused. I closed my eyes tightly, focusing on my breathing until the anger washed away. I leaned against the doorframe, nodding slowly.

"…You're right.. Thanks."

Saeyoung gave me a forced smile, squeezing my shoulder softly, walking back to his room, presumably to make sure Jade was ready to go. I turned around, heading towards my closet, stripping myself of the clothes I had fallen asleep in last night. I pulled a clean singlet over my head, as well as a new pair of sweatpants, opting for a large hoodie to go above it all, if the windows were any indicator of how cold it was outside.

"Saeran? Are you going to be ready soon, or do you need a bit..?"

I looked back towards the door, Saeyoung staring at me, concern wavering through his eyes. I looked at the floor slowly, squeezing my arm with my hand.

"We're going to pick up Yoosung, right?"

"Yeah."

I nodded, shutting my closet and walking towards the door, shrugging at him gently.

"Let's go, then."

I didn't pay much attention to how long of a drive it was. Part of me felt bad that I couldn't bring myself to say anything at all to Yoosung, just staring idly out of the window, watching the trees and scenery flash by as we drove. He kept his hand laced into mine, his thumb silently running along my knuckles, his head nestled against my shoulder, knowing he didn't need to say anything at all, of which I was thankful.

My stomach lurched as we began to slow down, the disgustingly familiar scenery of the small town coming into view. I subconsciously brought my free hand to my chest, balling up my hoodie in my fist, clenching hard at it. I flinched as Yoosung's hand slid over it, and I turned to him. His eyes were sad and concerned, and I felt some of the anxious tension leave me as I stared into his lavender eyes. I sighed, leaning my forehead against his, closing my eyes, focusing on the warmth emanating from his body, the touch of his hands over mine.

The car came to a stop, and I looked back out the window, the pit of my stomach wider than it had ever been as I looked up at the house at which we had grown up- if you could call it growing up. I released Yoosung's hands, opening the door and getting out, my knees seeming to waver as I stood, my vision swaying as I stared at the house before me.

Yoosung was at my side in a second, one hand placed softly at the small of my back, the other supporting my chest. I looked at him shakily, his eyes wide and worried as he looked me over.

"Are you okay..? That seems like a dumb question, but I don't know what else to ask…"

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. I brought my hand up, lacing it into the one that was on my chest. I squeezed his hand reassuringly, bringing it down to my side.

"I'm… As okay as I can be," I looked back up at the house, watching as Saeyoung fiddled with the keys to the door, "There's a lot of… Awful memories here, as you probably remember from what I told you."

Yoosung nodded slowly, chewing his lower lip softly. I took a few steps towards the house, his footsteps following mine. Jade turned towards us as we approached them, a solemn look on her face. Saeyoung opened the door, looking back at us, his expression unreadable- other than the fact that he was my twin, and I knew that he was trying to hide just how disturbed and pained he was by this situation.

"Jade and I are going to check the first floor. Do you think you can look at the second?"

I nodded, dragging Yoosung behind me towards the stairs, willing myself to move forward. The stairs creaked beneath our feet as we walked, my heart pounding in my chest as I saw the door to our old bedroom. I reached for the handle, opening it slowly, my eyes scanning the room, sickness pooling in my stomach.

It looked so innocent. Two single beds, each one fit snugly in parallel corners of the room. A dresser at the very end, a round rug placed in the middle of the room. I dropped Yoosung's hand, stepping forward without thinking, my fingers tracing the frame of my old bed, my hands shaking as I did so, memories flashing behind my eyes, emotions ripping through my body.

I could feel Yoosung's eyes watching me from the door, unsure of what to do in this situation. I closed my eyes tightly, gripping the bed frame.

"I sat here for two days without moving once… Because I was scared."

Yoosung took a few steps towards me, staying silent as he did so. I opened my eyes, continuing to stare at the bed.

"She tied me up by the leg and I stayed here… That was after Saeyoung disappeared. I still remember trying to be as quiet as I could so she wouldn't come hit me."

Yoosung slid his arms around my waist from behind- it wasn't until he did this that I noticed my body was quaking.

"You'll never go through that again."

Tears stung the back of my eyes as he nuzzled his face into my back. I let go of the bed frame, resting my hand over his arm, my lip quivering as I spoke.

"I always… I always hoped I would die. I always wanted that. I kept wondering, that if there was a God, why was he letting me- letting us- get tortured so much." My breath caught in my throat, my knees buckling under me, causing me to kneel on the floor, Yoosung collapsing with me, his hold on my waist never faltering as sobs began to reap through my body. I hit the bed frame with my fist softly, shaking my head as tears fell down my cheeks.

"We were just kids," I hit the bed frame harder this time, my eyes closed tightly as I shook my head, "We were just kids..!"

Yoosung grabbed my wrists, turning me away from the bed frame, forcing me to face him. He pulled me towards his body, his arms returning to their place around my waist, my head buried into his neck. I gripped his shirt tightly, my tears making his sweater damp as I cried.

"That's… Why I'm terrified of being an uncle. I was treated like trash… I don't know how a child gets treated well- I'm so scared I won't be able to do it… What if… What if I end up like my mom..? What if I'm as bad as her?"

Yoosung grabbed me by the shoulders, his eyes stern as he looked at me.

"No. You are nothing like that. You are wonderful, and kind, and you could never do the things she did."

I pushed his hands off of me, frustration and anger bubbling up inside me.

"Yoosung, I killed someone! I'm a fucking murderer! And you really don't think I can't do that?! You really think that I'm not capable of anything like-" I was cut off suddenly as Yoosung slapped me across the face, my body stunned by the sudden move. I brought my hand to my cheek slowly, turning back to him, my eyes wide with shock.

"Listen to me!" He softly placed his hand over mine on my face, his eyes apologetic, but still sincere as he pressed on.

"You are not like that. You are a beautiful person. You have a big heart- you're going to be an amazing uncle, and even an amazing father someday."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks- this time not from the burning sensation where he had hit me.

"F-Father?"

Yoosung moved closer to me, nodding slowly, a soft smile on his face as he ran his thumb over my hand.

"Yes. Father. With me."

I let out a slow breath, my hand dropping from my face and to my side. My head started to drop, but he tilted it back up by my chin, forcing me to continue looking at him.

"Yoosung…"

"I mean it, okay?" He brushed some of my hair out of my eyes, kissing my forehead softly, "I mean it. We will get through everything- this, you being an uncle, your job, and anything else that comes our way, together. I am never leaving you. I will be here for you no matter what."

I reached out my arms, wrapping them around his chest, pulling him against me. His arms automatically came to wrap around my shoulders, rubbing slow circles between my shoulder blades as I sighed against his neck.

"Thank you… God, what would I do without you?"

He smiled into my hair, nuzzling it softly with his face.

"You'll never have to know. You're stuck with me, got it?" He poked me playfully in the sides, and I couldn't stop the giggle that forced its way out of my mouth. We both froze as I did so, my hand coming up to cover my mouth as he leaned back to look at me, a devilish smile on his face.

"Are you… Ticklish?"

"….No."

"Saeran."

I backed away slowly, his eyes mischievous as he crawled after me.

"No!"

"Saeraaaan!" He lunged for me, and I flipped over, scampering away as best I could, bolting down the hallway.

"NO!"

He laughed as he chased after me, his footsteps pounding down behind me as he desperately tried to catch me. I tripped and fell, Yoosung stumbling on top of me, relentlessly attacking my sides with his fingers, tears forming in the corners of my eyes as I laughed, unable to control myself.

Saeyoung came running up the stairs, his eyes wide in confusion as he held on to the bannister.

"What the HECK are you guys-" He stared at the scene before him for a moment before sighing softly, letting out a soft laugh. "Doing."

I desperately tried to wriggle free from Yoosung's grip- he may be small but he knew how to hold somebody down. I looked over at Saeyoung, smacking the floor in an attempt to get his attention.

"Sa- Saaahah- help- Help! Ah, ha haha-"

Saeyoung smirked as Yoosung continued to tickle me, my body writhing under his attack.

"Nah, this is quality entertainment. I never thought I'd get to see Yoosung pin my brother down."

Yoosung froze, his face flushing bright red.

"Saeyoung-!"

I used this as my chance to escape, sliding out from Yoosung's grip, hopping over the banister and down the stairs.

"Wha- Saeran!"

"Can't tickle me if you can't catch me!"

I could hear both Saeyoung and Yoosung bounding after me as I ran.

"Want me to hold him down while you get him?"

"Worst brother alive!"

Saeyoung's laughter resonated through the house as I continued to run, unable to hold back the smile on my face as I did so. It seemed, with Yoosung there to bring me to my senses, the possibility of making a happy memory in a place so bleak as this, was a reality.

And that's it for chapter 39! I really wanted to touch on this. I feel like it would be an essential part of Saeran's recovery from himself, to address the past of what he grew up with, and come to terms with it. He's still not 100% there, but with Yoosung's support, things have a bright light in the end. Our sweet lil ball of sunshine ;0;

~Pixil-8