Andrea Fabiola

The sun warming her skin woke (Y/N) in the morning. She'd remained in the same position as she had fallen asleep. Her knees and her back ached. No amount of stretching lessened the discomfort—not when it wasn't her body that truly hurt.

Flashes of the night before bombarded her mind, making the anguish grow. Laura was gone, she remembered. Killed at the hands of the uncle who had walked through fire to save her. Peter was gone as well, slaughtered by Derek as retaliation for what he'd done to their sister. Her family had almost completely disappeared for the second time in a single night.

Rustling caught her attention, but it didn't scare her. Her brother's scent reached her before she could see him, and his steady heartbeat set her at ease. "You didn't have to disappear, (Y/N)," he said. "I was worried about you."

"Well, forgive a girl who runs away when she sees her brother slash their uncle's throat and learning right after that the same uncle who saved her life had taken her sister's," she answered. Against her desires, tears started forming in the corners of her eyes, and she turned away from Derek as though that would stop him from knowing she was crying. "Why didn't you tell me what was wrong?"

"(Y/N)..."

"I asked every day for over a month, Derek. I was worried and terrified, and you wouldn't tell me the truth," the girl cried. "Not once did you think to tell me that Laura was gone? That she had been killed by Peter."

"Of course I did, kid," he sighed, tentatively taking a seat next to her. "I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out the truth. I wanted to tell you that you had been right all along."

"Then why didn't you?! What possible reason could you have for keeping such a big thing from me?"

"I thought I was protecting you, (Y/N)," he admitted. "Laura was dead, and I didn't know why or how. The last thing I wanted was to bring you here and put you in danger. I thought I was doing the right thing, okay? I don't know how to handle all this, kid. I'm not good at it."

"You could have started by answering the damn phone," (Y/N) scoffed playfully, her heart finally easing. "What was I gonna do if I lost you, too, Derek? What was I supposed to do when I was across the country, and I found out you guys were gone?"

"I didn't... I guess that didn't cross my mind," he said, pulling her close to him in a hug. "I should have done things differently, (Y/N). I'm sorry. Things got complicated here and I thought keeping you in New York was the best thing for you. I wanted you to just be a kid after everything."

"I haven't really been a kid since I left Beacon Hills," she sighed, melting into her brother's embrace. He was the only comfort she had left in the world, and being angry at him would only break them apart. "Things have changed, D. I'm not the same girl from the fire."

"I know," he said. "I wish I could have protected you better from all of this. I should have been a better big brother."

"You've done good enough with the tools you had, D," the girl smiled. "It really wasn't yours or Laura's job to raise me. I was just the load that you guys were left with after the fire."

"Hey, don't say that," Derek scolded. "You have never been a burden, (Y/N). You're the only thing I have left and the only one that matters."

She didn't push. Arguing with her brother would get her nowhere, and she was tired of fighting. Instead, she settled into him, exhaustion taking a hold of her body as her entire world caved in.

"Have you eaten?" Derek mumbled after a beat of silence. Though he'd worded it as a question, he already knew the answer. The last time she ate had to have been hours before she got on a plane. "I can take you out to get some breakfast."

"Given that you found me asleep in the middle of the forest, I think it's safe to assume that I have not eaten anything."

"You know, I could just leave you here," he huffed. "You were the one who ran away last night."

"As my newly appointed legal guardian," she said, "I think you'd you would go to jail if you did that."

"Yeah, not doing that again."

"Excuse me?"

"Long story."

After getting her rental car back and a much-needed breakfast, Derek took (Y/N) to his loft apartment, a stark contrast to the home they had grown up in. The place was empty save for a couple of chairs and a couch, making the place colder than it already seemed. A concrete box was the only way the girl could describe it, and it was seriously lacking in the homely aspect. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought her brother had just moved in.

"I know there's not a lot here," Derek said, almost like he could read her mind. "I haven't really put much thought into making it a home—with the Argents and everything being so close, I don't really stay here."

"Have you been staying at the house? There's barely any walls up."

"An abandoned train station, actually," he shrugged. "We're going there tomorrow. I'm sure with Kate's death, the town will be crawling with hunters, and I can't let them find you here."

(Y/N) didn't fight him on it. She knew the ruthlessness of the hunters; she had lived it firsthand—her hand was living proof of what they could do. If her brother thought they would be safer in a train station, then that's where she would go.

The tour took less than five minutes. With more empty rooms than anything, (Y/N) found her way to the bathroom in no time. Derek fetched her a towel and the only hygiene products he had on hand—a bar of soap and 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.

"He's such a dude," (Y/N) muttered under her breath as she turned the shower on. While she waited for the water to heat up, she checked that the door was unlocked. One time, then two, then three, until she felt like she could breathe; like there was a way to escape if she needed it.

With a grimace, the girl stepped into the steaming shower, forcing herself to step into the hot stream. A minute had been her record—the most she could handle before the fog made her lungs tighten, and she had to fight to be able to breathe again. Every day, she forced herself to try just a little more time, but there had been moments when she couldn't even turn the handle all the way. Just the feeling of the hot water brought her back to the roaring flames. It made winter unbearable, but the cold water wasn't that bad if it kept her sane.

That afternoon, she turned the dial back as soon as she stepped inside. The heat made her think of Peter, and thinking of her flashed the image of him bleeding out on the ground. She couldn't handle it, not even for a second. The start of a panic attack made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on point. Her hands flew to the tile in front of her, needing anything that could keep her stable. Her breathing came out in wheezes, strangled and thin, and her heart hammered against her chest so strongly she thought it would burst. The smell of blood clung to her nostrils, mixing with the scent of singed flesh.

Conflict weighed on her mind once more as she thought of the man who had given her a second chance at life. The very man who had taken her sister from her for power. Realization dawned on her once more, weighing her shoulders down and putting unmistakable pressure on her chest. Peter was dead, and so was Laura, and she never got a chance to say goodbye to either of them. Tears fell faster than she could stop them, and the little breath she could muster was squeezed by her sobs. Her limbs had started to go numb, leaving only a tingle that hurried its way to the rest of her body. She was paralyzed, her head held hostage by her emotions, and no way out.

"(Y/N)!" Derek exclaimed as he knocked loudly on the door, his voice frantic and dripping with fear. "Are you okay, (Y/N)?!"

His presence snapped her out of her state, allowing her to take in a big gulp of air. "I-I'm fine," she managed to croak out. "I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine, (Y/N)," he muttered. "You're having a panic attack. I need to open the door, kid."

"Seriously, it's passing now," the girl replied, rubbing circles on her chest with her fist as her pulse started to settle. "I'm seriously fine, Derek."

"O-okay. Just call if you need help."

She could tell he didn't believe her, but he wasn't about to barge into the bathroom while she was in there. Not without her permission. "Will do."

Once (Y/N) was able to breathe again, she finished as fast as she could in the shower, ignoring the sting of the freezing water against her skin. There was no comfort in the drops that fell on her body, but she did not mind. She didn't deserve relief, at least she thought she didn't. Too many people had gotten hurt around her, and somehow, she was the only one who was still standing.

After washing away all signs of dirt and blood from her skin, she slipped on a pair of sweats and tied her wet hair into a loose ponytail. Exhaustion clung to her bones like a second skin, but being back home meant there were far too many things she needed to discuss with her brother.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah," she smiled weakly as she joined Derek on the couch. "Just feeling a bit tired."

"Well, before I take you where you'll be sleeping," he said, "we need to talk about your new life in Beacon Hills."

"What do you mean?"

"School, for a start," Derek mentioned. "We need to get you enrolled, deal with the house in New York—tie up loose ends."

"Oh, I start school on Monday, actually," (Y/N) shrugged. "I've been taking cat-up test for about two weeks now. The house is being rented by a lovely couple and their cat—ironic, I know. And all our things should be arriving this week or the next. Anything else I missed?"

"Other than telling me you were coming, I think we're good."

"Well, you didn't exactly tell me what happened here, so I think we're even."

"Touché," he chuckled. "I guess all that's left is asking if you're ready for your new school?"

"As ready as I can be," she sighed, pulling her knees to her chest. "I mean, it's high school. How bad can it really be?"

Starting school wasn't the scariest thing (Y/N) had gone through. She had lived through fire. She could handle the gawking stares and the obvious whispered chatter. It was expected. There was one thing she was sure of. Wherever she went, endless gossip would follow. She was a Hale. It was in their nature.

The high school wasn't unfamiliar. She had walked their halls once or twice. She knew of the secrets their walls held. Beacon Hills High School was not another monster she had to face. The students, on the other hand, were a completely different ball game. Given how small the town was, (Y/N) was sure she would be amongst the same people she had shared her elementary and middle school classrooms with. People didn't really leave Beacon Hills. Most were born and died there, and even the ones that left, sooner or later, ended back there.

It wasn't enough that she was the new kid in the town, but the fact that Derek had returned her rental and forced her to ride with him to school had everyone's eyes on her from the moment the black Mustang stopped in the parking lot. The murmurs started the moment she opened her door. People gathered in small groups as they talked about the girl getting out of Derek Hale's car. She could feel heat pooling on her cheeks, growing from her neck and inundating her ears as her eyes rolled involuntarily.

"Hey, (Y/N), come here," Derek called as she started walking away. He couldn't help as the girl groaned and dropped her shoulders—she seemed like a normal teenager. "It'll just take a second."

"Ugh," she complained. "What do you want now?"

"I was just gonna wish you good luck today," he mused. "Remember what I told you about the kids that were at the house Friday night. You don't have to avoid them, but just..."

"Be careful, I know," (Y/N) said. "I wasn't really planning on making friends. What's the point?"

"(Y/N)..."

"It's fine, Derek," the girl sighed as she pushed herself off the car. "I'm used to this life. Don't worry about me."

"Well, uh, have a good day, I guess," he muttered as she began to walk away.

Eyes followed her everywhere she went, committing to memory her steps as though she were an enemy walking amongst them. She kept her head down, only speaking when needed—an 'excuse me' here, a 'sorry' there. It was exhausting, and she still hadn't made it to her first period yet. The principal's office was empty save for a helpful secretary and a stack of papers that had her schedule and the documents necessary to integrate into the already running school year.

By the time she reached her locker, the bell rang, and (Y/N) had to sprint toward her first class. The voices of students filtered through the door, loud and boisterous. After a minor detour in directions, she had made it just in time for the second bell to ring. With a steadying breath, she placed her hand on the doorknob and braced herself for the usual barrage that came with being the new kid.

Thankfully, the teacher didn't care much for introductions. She signed her papers and sent (Y/N) toward the only seat available. Right behind one of the boys she had seen at the house on Friday night. His eyes followed her every move, joined by the gaze of his friend who sat right next to him. They were obvious in their staring, unable to refrain from their curiosity about the girl who had stumbled into the killing of her very own uncle.

"You're Derek Hale's sister, right?" the kid with the buzzcut asked, ignoring the morning announcements that blared through the loudspeaker. "The one who was in the fire."

"Stiles," the one who smelled like a werewolf reprimanded under his breath. "Sorry, he doesn't have much of a filter. I'm Scott. You're Derek's sister, no?"

"(Y/N). And you can't tell?" she asked him, her tone dripping in the silent mockery the Hales loved so much. "Your senses should be keen enough that you smell it on me."

"Charm runs in the family, I see," Stiles chuckled. "So, this means you're here for good, then? Another Hale back in Beacon Hills?"

"It is my home, after all. Not that I need a reason to live here."

"Right. Of course, no, we're just..."

"Trying to gauge if you can trust me in the way you couldn't trust my brother," she said. "I get it. He's not easy to get along with. Lucky for you, I'm only as bitchy as he is, but I did learn to be just a bit more social."

"Cool," Stiles smiled. "So, you won't threaten to rip out throats with your teeth or kill us every two seconds?"

"Unfortunately, I can't make those promises," the girl grinned. "I'm still a Hale, at the end of the day."

"No, yeah. Cool. Of course, makes sense," the boy chuckled dryly. "I guess, uh, stay on your good side then?"

"That would be advisable."

Scott and Stiles didn't say much after, choosing to err on the side of caution with her. She seemed harmless enough at the moment, but Hale blood still ran through her veins, and her brother was still Derek. They knew they couldn't judge her on the sins of her family, but it didn't mean they would instantly treat her as an ally. She was a new acquaintance, a friendship on trial, a to-be-determined case. When the time came, they would have to learn whether she was a carbon copy of her brother or if she made decisions of her own volition.

The moment the bell rang, students scattered through the halls toward their next class. They filtered out of rooms, squeezing past each other to make it where they were meant to go. It was noisy and cluttered; the air filled with chattering and laughter, and far too little space. Her heart raced as the loudness blasted in her ears, and her limbs stiffened as she thought about even setting foot into the crowd.

But school didn't care about her anxiety or her aversion to deafening places. She had to get to class sooner rather than later. The boys had warned her Mr. Harris wasn't exactly the understanding type. (Y/N) sprinted through the crowd as it thinned, making her way down to the Chemistry lab. One way or another, she had to make it before the second bell—not that it would be any problem given her nature.

Slightly out of breath and worried someone may have noticed her supernatural speed, she reached her next classroom. "Uh, excuse me, hi," she said as she handed the teacher the corresponding folder for the class. "My name is (Y/N) Hale. I'm starting today."

"Hale," he muttered as he looked over the papers in his hand. "Any relation to a Derek Hale?"

"Yeah, he's my brother." The man stiffened, and she could hear the way his heart accelerated. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and she saw red crawling up his neck. "What? Was he a bad student way back when?"

"Uh, no," Harris cleared his throat. "Just curious. Uh, it seems everything's in order here."

"Yup. Should be."

"Right, um, well, let's get you settled, right?" He signed what he needed to and looked over the class seating chart. "It seems the only seat available is next to Ms. Reyes. Erica, raise your hand, please."

(Y/N) took back the folder and stuffed it into her bag before her eyes found the raised hand at the back of the room. The girl's face was covered by other students, and all she had to go on was the arm in the air. People either smiled or stared as she walked by, unsure what to make of the new kid in town. But she didn't pay them much mind. Not when her eyes finally met a pair of brown ones that had her heart racing.

"Hi, I'm (Y/N)," she said, extending her hand toward the blonde girl. "I guess I'm gonna be your partner this year."

"I'm Erica," the girl smiled weakly as she shook (Y/N)'s hand. "It's nice to meet you." 

A/N: this fic is dedicated to @sapphicwriternearby🤍 in all me fashion, it took forever to update. I lost the story, and had to start over 🤭 but hope you enjoy it If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story: click hereMake sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

Sleep was hard to come by that night. Though her father had settled into a deep slumber, (Y/N) couldn’t help but pace around on the balcony. Her entire body was buzzing, filled with too much nervous excitement. She couldn't prove it, but she was almost certain the clock was ticking more slowly, laughing as she counted down the seconds until it was seven in the morning.  

The girl couldn't help but allow her mind to flood with uncertainty. She didn't want to get her hopes up too high if it wasn't Raina. Even if everything inside her told her it was, she had been disappointed one too many times. She couldn't allow herself to believe until her mother was right in front of her, until (Y/N) could confirm she was real.  

There had been a time when the scariest thing that happened to her was losing her favorite stuffed animal or forgetting to plug in her nightlight. There was even a moment where what frightened her the most was admitting her feelings for someone. Yet at that moment, (Y/N) was terrified of not being able to find her real mother or getting so close for it not to be her. She had gone seventeen years of her life living a lie, and the past couple of months had felt like an eternity as they searched for Raina. Believing she was only hours away from meeting her didn't feel real—she couldn't allow herself to let it feel real.  

As time passed, her mind continued to spiral down a road she did not want to find herself on. (Y/N) knew she could have woken up her dad and hope he could talk her down from the mental whirlwind she was creating for herself. But meeting Raina wasn't just a big event for her. Her father had also been devoid of her presence for seventeen years, forced to leave the woman he loved and raise their child without her. Henry had his own expectations for the morning, and she didn't want to cloud him with her turmoil.  

Still, she knew she needed to let out everything she was feeling. Dread clawed at her throat, and she needed to listen to a voice that did not belong to her. With shaky hands, she fished for her phone, looking through her phone calls to find who she could call. Isaac came to mind, of course, but she didn't want to burden him again with the same conversation they'd had a few hours before. She couldn't talk to Scott or Stiles without first explaining a past she didn't know she'd had. And well, Allison was out of the question. Every time she saw her name flash on her phone, (Y/N) could feel her leg pulse.  

At the end of the day, there was still one person... 

(Y/N) sat on an armchair, pulling her knees close to her chest as she pressed the phone to her ear. She started biting her left thumb as the rings blared, tears already forming in the corners of her eyes. There was a chance he wouldn't answer, and she couldn't be angry with him. Not when... 

“Hello?” his voice croaked through the phone, heavy with sleep. “Is everything okay, (Y/N)?”  

“Hi, I, uh,” she stammered quietly, “I'm not sure.”  

“What happened? Are you hurt?” He was alert now. Even if his voice betrayed him, he was awake.  

“I'm not hurt. Don't worry, Derek,” she chuckled softly. “I, uh... we think we might have found Raina.” 

“Really?” he exclaimed. “Where? How?”  

The girl recalled the story, starting from their arrival on the island two weeks before. As she spoke to him, she felt her heart settle. Even as she talked about her frustrations, her pulse slowed every time Derek would react or make a supportive comment. It made her miss the days she had spent talking about nothing and everything to him; the way his eyes would never falter from hers, even when all she said was nonsense. She could see him smile clearly in her mind, bringing to the surface the comfort she always felt around him. Forgetting how he'd hurt her was easy when he made her feel so at ease.  

“But I'm scared, Derek,” (Y/N) muttered at the end. “I'm scared of getting my hopes up, and then it's not her. I don't think I can keep doing this if it's not my mom.”  

“And what if it is?” he responded softly, the warmth in his tone somehow reaching her through the device. “You're in the right place, (Y/N). You know she's been seen in that town, and that man recognized her in you. What makes you think it's not Raina?”  

(Y/N) sighed, blinking away the stray tears that had remained even if she didn't feel like crying. Her thoughts didn't have a reason. They simply existed and controlled her, twisting her reality into an anxious mirage. “I don't know,” she shrugged. “Everything that has happened points to it being her, but I can’t stop the thoughts from coming. I just feel like it's too good to be true.”  

“I think you're just not used to good things happening to you,” he said. Not to offend her, but simply because it was the truth. “Let yourself be hopeful, (Y/N). If your gut is telling you that it's her, listen to it.”  

But how could she? (Y/N) had listened to her gut about Derek, and he'd broken her. She trusted her cousin, and she stabbed her. She believed in her parents, and they lied to her. She wasn't sure her gut knew right from wrong. “I'm just scared,” she sighed. “It's my first time going through this kind of situation.”  

“Well, I don't think many people go through a phase where their hunter mother is not really their mother, and they end up being half-werewolf,” Derek chuckled softly. “But it's all gonna work out, (Y/N). You're gonna meet your mom in a few hours, and everything's gonna be fine.”  

“Is it?” (Y/N) pushed. “Erica and Boyd are still missing. There is a pack of alphas in Beacon Hills. My cousin still hates me. And I don't even know if I'm gonna like my own mother. How will anything be fine?”  

“Hey, don't worry about things back here. We're handling it,” Derek assured. She could picture the softness in his eyes, knowing he was still worried about her. “You just focus on meeting up with your mom and spending time with her. We are holding out the fort back here.”  

A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment. She focused on his breathing, closing her eyes to see the rise and fall of his chest. The more she concentrated, the easier it was to imagine she was in his arms, her head resting against his chest and listening to the beat of his heart. Her arm tingled as she felt the ghost of his touch drawing shapes on her arms to comfort her. “I miss you,” she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want to be done with you, but I just miss you so much.”  

“(Y/N)...”  

“No, just... I do, Derek,” she confessed. “I miss you. I miss what we used to have, who we used to be. Why did you have to ruin everything?”  

“I...” He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to say. “I didn't want to. I just...”  

“You can't tell me why,” (Y/N) scoffed quietly, finishing his sentence. “How bad could it be, Derek? What could your reason be that you have to keep it so guarded?”  

“I just don't want you to get hurt, okay? Not because you're close to me,” he admitted. “I won't let you become a casualty of my life.”  

“Derek, you can't protect me from the entire world,” she said. “Need I remind you, my family put me in danger long before I was even born. If they couldn't shield me from everything that's out there, why do you think you should?”  

“Because being with me is a lot more dangerous than a few hunters, (Y/N),” he sighed. “The people in my world are far worse than your family.”  

“And why is it your responsibility to protect me?” (Y/N) kept pressing. She knew the conversation would end the same as all the others, but she couldn't help herself. Maybe one day he would crack and tell her the truth, and maybe then they could start working to get back what they had. “Why can't you just let things happen if they're supposed to? Why can't you just forget this savior complex and let it be?”  

“Because I will never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me,” Derek confessed. “I can't do it, (Y/N). Not to you.”  

“So, you're the only one who gets to decide that? I don't have a say in having you in my life?” His silence was answer enough. Once more, the same ending to the same conversation. And (Y/N) wasn't sure how much of that she could take. As much as it truly pained her, the only way she could start feeling better was by cutting Derek off completely.  

The pain she could get over. She had gone through worse heartbreaks. But his absence was what bothered her. Cutting him out of her life would mean cutting off his warmth, his comfort. She could never again rely on him again for anything, much less for solace. “Okay, fine,” she said, letting out a trembling breath. “I guess this is it, then.”  

“W-what do you mean?”  

“I won't call. I won't visit. Nothing,” (Y/N) sighed. “I can't do this anymore, Derek.”  

“(Y/N), wait...”  

“Thanks for the talk,” she said, gripping the phone tightly, almost to the point of breaking it. “Have a nice life, Derek.”  

Before he could say anything else, she hit the red button to end the call, placing the phone in her hoodie pocket before hugging her knees tightly. The night breeze cooled her face as it made contact with her tears, filling her with a coldness she didn't want to feel. She had never wanted someone as much as she wanted Derek. But his need to protect her from a danger she wasn't sure existed kept pushing her away. So, she would give him what he wanted. If Derek truly wanted to keep her at arm's length, then (Y/N) would help him by staying away from him entirely.  

Hope was a fragile thing. So easy to build up, yet just as easy to break down. (Y/N) wanted to trust that the universe was only giving her what she could handle. That the deep ache in her chest she felt would one day loosen, and she would trust and care for someone else. But the thought of falling for anyone other than Derek filled her veins with dread. It terrified her to think that the feelings that had bloomed in the time she had known the alpha could ever be replicated for someone who wasn’t him. He was it for her, but it seemed she was not enough for him. 

The girl didn't know how much time she had spent on the balcony until she heard the door slide behind her. “What are you doing out here, kid?” Henry asked. “It's four in the morning. You look like you haven't slept a wink.” 

“I haven't,” she muttered, her eyes focused on the forest that was her view. “Too much in my head.”  

“Is it about Raina?” he inquired, kneeling in front of his daughter. “Are you worried about meeting her?”  

“A little bit, yeah,” she smiled sadly. “But it's something else.”  

The look on her father's face urged her to keep talking. She could tell it pained him to see her hurt, and she was too tired to keep secrets at that moment. “I called Derek,” (Y/N) admitted. “I finally ended everything. Won't even speak to him as an acquaintance.”  

“What happened between you two for things to end like this, kid? It seems like you really cared for him.” 

“I do,” she whimpered. “That's why I've been holding onto him for this long. But he says he doesn't want to put me in danger. That he doesn't want me to be a casualty of his life—whatever that means.” 

“Sounds to me like he's just trying to protect you, and maybe he doesn't know the right way to do it,” her father offered.  

“That's not the way he ended things at first, dad,” the girl sighed. “Remember when I told you he said something he couldn't take back?”  

“Yeah, the night of the police station attack.”  

“He told me he wanted to break things off because he couldn't be sure I wouldn't turn out like Kate,” (Y/N) admitted. “More than once, I told Derek how scared I was of that, and he reassured me every time that he knew I wouldn't. But that night, he said he had never been sure of that, and that seeing how Allison turned on Scott, he couldn’t be certain I never would.”  

“There is not a single word he said that is true. Okay, sweetheart?” Henry stated, placing his hands on both sides of his daughter's face. His thumb wiped away tears, but they kept falling faster than he could clean them. “He's an idiot, (Y/N), and he definitely does not deserve a girl as amazing as you. Forget him, okay? He isn't the first person you've loved, and he doesn't have to be the last.”  

“I just wish it didn't hurt this much,” she muttered. “I wish I could just forget him and start over; pretend none of this ever happened.”  

“Munchkin, it's gonna hurt, I'm not gonna lie. And that's okay,” Henry sighed, wrapping his arms around her. His chin rested on the top of her as he drew soft circles on her back like he’d done since she was a little girl. “As long as you don't let that hurt stop you from living your life. If he can't see that pushing you away is him missing out on the best thing that could've happened to him, then it's his loss. But there is something better waiting for you out there, kid. One day you'll see this as just another lesson.”  

“Can't that be in a few hours instead of years away?” 

“Oh, kid,” he chuckled, “if it was that easy, there wouldn't be a million songs, poems, and movies about heartbreak. But sleep makes time go faster. So, why don't we head inside and try to get some shut-eye? We have a very long day ahead of us.”  

“I guess we do,” (Y/N) smiled, finally feeling her chest just a little lighter. “Ready for our lives to change tomorrow?”  

“More ready than you think.”    

(Y/N) wasn't sure when she had finally succumbed to sleep. She didn't remember getting to her bed, much less when she closed her eyes and allowed darkness to take over. But the alarm blaring beside her jolted her awake, pulling her from a dreamless void she wanted to remain in. After only four hours of sleep, the sheets clung to her body, and her eyelids were heavier than she felt. Still, morning had arrived, and it was time to face the reality that her life would never be the same. Somewhere, minutes away, the woman who had given her life was about to receive more than her usual bakery delivery, and she had no idea.  

A stampede formed in her stomach as the seconds passed. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, echoing endlessly in the girl's skull. The air around her felt too heavy, too warm. Whatever wind had been blowing the night before had died with the morning light, humidity seeping through the windows. Everything was overwhelming her, and (Y/N) couldn't help but start taking it as a sign of what the day would bring.  

Her anxiety didn't die down when she followed her father to the car. Her heart did not stop hammering against her chest as they drove toward the bakery. Her hands did not stop trembling as Yadier offered them a cup of coffee and a sandwich. And her pulse certainly did not steady as they drove up the main street toward where her mother most possibly was. Still, there was no turning back. (Y/N) decided to embrace the nerves. They weren't there to warn her about disappointment. Instead, they were the sound of a different tune—the sound of a page finally turning in her story.  

Her father and her had driven up and down that street countless times in the two weeks they had been on the island. They had toyed with the idea of turning into entrances that didn't seem to lead anywhere, walking into the forests with nothing but their intuition and the hope that somewhere in those mountains, Raina was waiting for them. But they had never listened to the beat of their heart in those moments, fear overruling their every move and shadowing their every decision. They were walking in unknown land, searching for a woman who had not been seen for close to two decades. Instincts had been squandered by the weight of life's asperities and by the sheer amount that had occurred in such a small fraction of time. Their guts terrified them, and they couldn't be sure how right they could be.  

Yet it seemed their subconscious had not been wrong. Yadier's car turned into the very entrance Henry and (Y/N) had stopped by every day since they had gotten to Jayuya, and the duo shared a small chuckle as they realized just how close they had been the entire time. All they had to do was take a leap of faith. But being an Argent faith was fickle, and it often left them hurt, disappointed, or both.  

The cars rolled to a stop in front of a two-story house, hidden by foliage as tall as the home. There was a certain air about the place—warm, inviting. It felt like community, even when there was no one in sight. Yadier was the first one out, walking up to the front doors like he belonged there. He carried a big bag full of fresh loaves of bread and various pastries. The smell alone could get even a human to the entrance. But it wouldn't be a human who would open the door, not in that house. Raina had not been the only one to disappear. Once she had gone into hiding, so had her pack.  

Standing behind the man, (Y/N)'s heart picked up its pace. Yadier's fist rapping against the wood echoed in her skull, forcing the oxygen to get stuck in her lungs as she waited for whoever would appear on the other side of the frame. Henry placed a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder, the soft squeeze reminding her she was not alone. She was not the only one hoping that was the end of their search and the beginning of a new journey.  

It took an eternity—two minutes—before any movement was heard behind the door. The sound of the lock disengaging froze her veins, a knot forming as the doorknob turned ever so slowly. One second, two. The door squeaked as it was pulled inward, revealing a figure she did not recognize.  

“(Y-Y/N)?”  

A/N: goddamit, derek, stop messing things up! i say as if i'm not the one typing 🤭 like i've said on the past updates, sorry for being so inactive. my health took a toll on my energy and i was not able to write for quite some time. but im slowly rolling out some chapters i have written and i hope i can continue to do so! If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story: click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

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There had been a time when (Y/N) would have crumbled under Beth's questioning stare. Her legs would have trembled, and the truth would have slipped from her tongue like water. But she wasn't the same girl as a year before. She wasn't even the same girl as a week before.  

“I don't really owe you an explanation, Beth,” (Y/N) answered. “I was out. My phone was dead. I'm an adult. That's that.”  

“(Y/N), Dean was shot last night,” the woman said, clearly expecting the news to shock her sister. “I thought you were in danger. I didn't know where you were, and you weren't answering your phone. And now, you come in here and lie to me. I was worried about you.”  

“So, gang friend shot Dean?” the younger woman asked, feigning uncertainty. Beth was quick to agree. The expression on her face was meant to mislead (Y/N) into thinking she had no idea why Rio would do such a thing. “Well, why would I be in danger? I don't think he'd just shoot someone for fun. It seems he was trying to send you a message.”  

“He was, (Y/N),” Beth sighed. “We are all in danger right now.”  

She wanted to laugh at that moment. Maybe Beth thought (Y/N) was more oblivious than she let on. Maybe she believed (Y/N) wouldn’t question her. “The only way we'd be in danger is if you guys did something to make the guy angry,” she said. “What did you do, Beth?”  

“Why would you assume I had anything to do with this?” Beth gasped. “That man is a criminal, (Y/N). I don't think he needs a reason to do what he wants.” 

“Beth, I'm not stupid. A man like that doesn't do things without reason.”  

“Oh, met a lot of criminals, have you?”  

Another laugh bubbled in her throat as anger built inside her. “Well, just Rio, my sisters, and Ruby,” she replied with a cold smile. “But that's not why you're angry, is it? You did something that put us all in danger. You thought you were in control, but you're not. Just like you're not in control of me anymore. And you don't like that.”  

The look on Beth's face would have scared anyone. Her stare was pointed and carried a fire that would surely force anyone else to submit. But (Y/N) had not only outgrown Beth's scorching gaze, but she also resented it. It was one thing her sister wanted to look out for her and keep her safe, it was another that she wanted to keep her under her thumb. As grateful as she was to Beth for giving her opportunities her parents had stolen from all three of them, she would not allow herself to owe her sister for the rest of their lives. 

“We're not criminals, first of all. We are doing what we have to do to take care of our families. And second, how dare you, (Y/N)?” Beth scoffed. “After everything I've done for you, you treat me like this? You live under my roof. If I ask you where you have been for an entire night without letting anyone know, then you tell.”  

“I was out fucking a stranger at a bar. I let him take me back to his place. My phone died while we were having sex. I left this morning and charged my phone in the car, where I saw your messages,” she spat. “And as for living here, you don't have to worry about that anymore. I'll be gone soon enough.”  

The younger woman turned around, leaving her sister calling for her. She tried to close the door to the guest house behind her, but Beth stopped her.  

“What the hell are you talking about, (Y/N)?” Beth demanded. “What do you mean you'll be gone soon enough? Where are you going?”  

“That's really none of your business, Beth.” (Y/N) ran around the place replacing her worn scrubs for a fresh set, switching out the clothes in her bag for new ones, and pulling out a protein shake from the fridge. She was doing everything and anything but meeting her sister's gaze. But she could certainly feel Beth burning a hole in the back of her head. “I gotta go. I'll be late for rounds.”  

Before she could leave, Beth grabbed her arm, keeping the girl in place. “Why are you doing this, (Y/N)?” she asked. “This makes no sense.”  

“Let go of me, Beth,” (Y/N) said through gritted teeth. “I already told you; I don't owe you any explanation. Just like you seem to owe me no explanations either.”  

"You're acting like a brat, (Y/N),” the woman said. “Where would you be moving to? With what money?” 

“I said let go of me, Elizabeth,” she spat, finally meeting her sister's gaze. Her jaw clenched as her eyes met Beth's, her expression scaring the older woman into lowering her arm. “I'll be gone before you know it. That's all you have to know.”  

“(Y/N)...”  

“I'm done, Beth,” she sighed. “It's time you look back and think why you three are in so much trouble after you'd gotten things square with the gang. There's only one person to blame in all of this, and believe me, it's not the guy who shot your husband.” 

(Y/N) left her sister speechless as she headed back to her car. It had been the first time in her entire life that she had ever spoken to Beth that way. She had learned to keep her mouth shut, to take what she was given because she knew how much harder things could be. Seeing Beth's relationship with Annie as they grew, she was determined never to seem inconsiderate. Her sisters had gone through enough with their parents, and Beth had taken her out of that environment as soon as she could.  

But as grateful as she was, she wasn't the little girl who needed to be saved from their neglectful parents. Beth had dug herself into a hole she now couldn't escape, and had dragged Annie and Ruby with her. (Y/N) would be damned if she went down with them. She had her own problems now, her own secrets. Beth wanted her to grow up, but not enough that she wasn't under her thumb. Beth wanted her to make her own decisions, but only if they were the ones she deemed correct. Beth didn't want (Y/N) to simply be her own person; she wanted her younger sister to be the perfect rendition of everything she could have been.  

At the hospital, (Y/N)'s mind strayed toward her plans of moving. She had wanted to take things slowly over to Rio's place, emptying out the guest house without Beth knowing. A part of her wanted to avoid the conversation she'd had with her sister, to continue the farce that their relationship was as strong as ever. But the earth under their feet had shifted. They were standing on different islands now, separated by a sea neither could cross. a 

The more time that passed, the more evident it was that they had grown apart, and Beth was going to take Annie and Ruby with her. There was a chance (Y/N) would end up alone by choosing Rio, by choosing herself for the very first time. It scared her, of course. All she had known was her and her sisters. The only thing she'd had for a very long time was them.  

But things were different now. She was different. Not only had she grown up, but she wasn't alone. She had Mike and his kids, she had Christopher, Francis, and even Twitch. (Y/N) had people she could turn to, whom she could trust. Maybe she was naïve, or she was jumping into the ocean blind. But the steady beat of her heart, the calmness in her stomach, and the easiness of her breath had her believe it was the right decision. Even if everything changed the next day, at that moment, she felt content.  

“You look happy,” Mike said as he set his tray in front of (Y/N), teasing the grin on her face. “You get laid last night?”  

“I won't say no,” she laughed. “But it's something else. Something a bit more... reckless, you could say.”  

“You're moving in with the guy, aren't you?”  

“Maybe.” 

“(Y/N), that's...” Mike couldn't quite find the right words. As he stared at his best friend's eyes, he could see the glint of hope in them. He could tell her all the responsible things she should do, everything he knew she had already thought of. But he couldn't squander the happiness that painted her face, not after everything she had gone through. She deserved to feel young, even if it was once in her life. “You know what, it's something I would have done back in my day.”  

“Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot how ancient you are,” she laughed. “I honestly thought you were gonna give me a lecture about it.”  

“I've moved in with strangers before because I was short of money,” he shrugged. “What difference does it make if you move in for love?”  

(Y/N) choked on her food as Michael said the word she and Rio were doing their best to avoid. She hadn't said it to him. She sure as hell wasn't going to admit it to Mike first. “It's nothing like that,” she coughed. “It's just convenient. I mean, if I'm already spending all that time there, I don't see why it would be such a bad idea to make it a bit more permanent.”  

“I know you, (Y/N),” he said. “I can see it in your face, kid.”  

“I don't...”  

“Let me ask you this,” he interjected before she could deny anything, “would you be moving in with him if you didn't?”   

She knew the answer, of course. It had been staring at her for weeks now, breathing down her neck every second that passed. “I can't really say, Mikey,” she sighed. “But I know it's what I want right now. Even if things go south in a few months or even tomorrow. I want to give it a try.”  

“Well, try to hold on at least past tomorrow,” her friend grinned. “I'm still painting the kids’ rooms, and the guest room is a mess. I'd need some time to get the room ready.”  

“And what makes you think I'd go running to you?”  

“Because it's clear you want nothing to do with Beth right now,” he chuckled. “And it doesn't seem like you're gonna stop being angry with her anytime soon.”  

“I don't know how I feel that you know me so well,” (Y/N) pouted. “It's like you're inside my head most times.”  

“You're lucky to have such an observant and caring best friend.”  

“More like obsessive and stalkerish.”  

“Don't forget smart and devilishly handsome,” he smiled. “But seriously, if things don't work out like you're hoping, you know there's space for you at my house.”  

“Right,” she grinned. “Babysitting duties included?”  

“It's only logical.”  

The day felt longer as thoughts continued to barrage her mind.  It was evident that moving out would cause a rift between her and her sister that would probably never be repaired. The relationship had been fracturing slowly over time, the crack spreading violently in silence. If (Y/N) was truthful, the distance had begun long before Rio, long before the grocery store robbery. As time passed, she could feel herself growing apart from Beth. She couldn't separate the woman who had raised her from her sister. There was no distinction anymore; there was only Beth, the one who would do anything in her power for her little sister not to turn into herself or Annie. 

Speaking to Michael had only made (Y/N) more certain of her choice. She had to leave Beth's house, try to find her own voice, and create a space for her and Rio. As scared as she was, as nervous as she felt, she wanted to give herself the chance to try. If she failed, at least she would have the certainty that she gave it her all. 

In her almost three decades of life, (Y/N) hadn't accumulated much. She'd learned how to survive with the bare minimum, and her biggest and most expensive collection was the stack of medical books she kept on her desk. If she truly wanted to, she could have had the entire guest house packed up in a night, making it seem like she had never been there at all. And Rio had already offered... 

(Y/N) was startled when her phone rang in her pocket, breaking her out of the thought spiral she'd been stuck in since the night before. “Hey,” she smiled. “I was just about to call you.”  

“Look at that,” Rio chuckled. “We're more in synch than I thought.”  

“You know how you told me you could move me out in a night?” 

“Yeah,” he said. “Why? Thinking 'bout hiring my moving services? Thought you wanted to let Beth down easy. Take shit out slowly.”  

“I guess I forgot who she was,” (Y/N) sighed. “If I'm serious about this, I have to do it fast. Beth doesn't want me out of her sight. Especially now that she knows she messed up with you.”  

“Ey, that better not be you worrying 'bout their business. You're supposed to stay out of that.”  

“I am,” she chuckled. “That's why I need to get out as soon as possible. I think she believes I'm in danger. That you'll come for me next after what happened to Dean.”  

“Well, she ain't wrong,” he laughed devilishly. “I'll come for you anytime you want, mama.”  

“This is supposed to be a serious conversation, Christopher,” she joined in his laughter. “But seriously, can you help me?”  

“Start packing up your clothes,” Rio instructed. “I'll deal with the rest tomorrow. A’ight, (Y/N)? Come home right after, yeah?”  

Home. It was such a small word, yet it held so much weight. She could feel the way it made her heart flutter, tightening a coil deep in her abdomen. Hearing those four letters come from his mouth made her feel warm, a feeling she hadn't felt in years. Her excitement didn't come from a change in scenery or the spacious loft that was waiting for her, it was who she was going to.  

(Y/N) couldn't explain it. Rio was still a stranger to her. A criminal who had blackmailed her into performing medical practices in exchange for money she hadn't technically stolen. A lover she shared her bed with. A man she was undeniably falling for. “Alright,” she said. “I'll call you when I'm done.”  

“Let me know if Elizabeth gives you any trouble,” he added. “I'll set her straight, real quick.”  

“Don't worry. I can handle her.”  

“A’ight, mama,” he chuckled. "I'll see you later.”  

“See you soon.”  

With Dean in the hospital, it was easy to avoid Beth at the house. She'd left the kids with their grandma since the robbery, leaving the place quiet and desolate. Kenny, Emma, Danny, and Jane were the only reasons her chest ached as she folded her clothes neatly into all the suitcases she owned. (Y/N) had been with them from the moment they had been born to that moment, a decade after the oldest first made his appearance on earth. 

There was a selfishness to the way she was leaving. Disappearing from their lives without a word or a goodbye. But (Y/N) didn't know how else she could unshackle herself from her sister. Not only was Beth spiraling with criminality and riddled with the burden of her decisions, but she was also staying by Dean's side out of guilt. Her kids didn't deserve the situation they were being raised in, even with how shielded Beth kept them. They deserved a loving home where their parents’ decisions didn't put them in danger, physically or emotionally. She had been that place for them while they grew, and she wanted to continue being it. But she couldn't continue to minimize herself for her sister's sake. Her only chance to grow was to leave, and Rio had given her that option.  

Four hours, five suitcases, and five letters later, (Y/N) was ready to go. The guest house seemed almost bare with her essentials packed away. Other than some things in the kitchen, artwork, and her bedding, all signs that she lived there had been erased. That guesthouse had been her safe space for years, the only place she had been allowed to call hers. But for some time, it had stopped feeling that way. Instead, it had transformed into where she most felt like a burden, an inconvenience Beth couldn't shake. And it was time to leave it behind.  

Still, she’d already drawn up a plan. Even if Rio had not offered, she would have gone to Mike while she found a place. Her work with the gang had given her enough money to live on for some time. But even if she didn’t, she was used to living with close to nothing and dedicating her time to school and work. If she had to juggle med school and a job, she would have. Hell, she would have even drowned herself in loans as long as she was able to navigate her life on her terms.  

A giddy thrill filled her as she headed downtown. Every red light made her groan, and every green one made her foot heavy on the accelerator. The hammering in her chest didn't want to die down. She could feel her heart all the way in her head, pounding in her eyes at a steadfast rhythm. Her fingers tingled and her legs numbed as the distance got shorter.  

There was a deep ache inside her that only grew the closer she got to the loft. A need so intense it made her head hazy. It had been years since she had craved someone, yearned for their closeness, and sought out their presence. There was a part of her that feared how intense the feeling was. She was terrified of getting hurt, of giving her heart away so freely. Much more, she was scared of hurting someone else. Her last serious relationship had ended right after college, and they had been together since middle school. It had ended amicably, and she'd had other connections through the years, but none that could ever compare to the way she felt then and definitely not the way she felt now.  

As the apartment building came into view, she could feel the knot in her chest loosening. The light of his place shone through the windows and (Y/N) could only chuckle as her mouth stretched into a shit-eating grin. She quickly texted Rio that she was there and needed his help with the suitcases. And the second she parked, he was already waiting for her.  

“Hey, roomie,” (Y/N) laughed as Rio lifted her off the ground in a tight hug. “Ready to haul all these bags up some stairs?”  

“Actually...”  

“What happened? Is everything okay?”  

Rio scratched the back of his neck as he let out a sigh, an apologetic smile tugging the corner of his mouth. “Um, Rhea came over,” he said as he squeezed (Y/N)'s waist comfortingly. “She wants to talk.”  

A/N: a thousand years later and heartbeat is getting an update. sorry for keeping y'all hanging. i'm slowly rolling out updates after a few months of bad health and just life getting in the way. i'm still 1000% excited about this story and want to see it finished If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story: click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

The tears had started sometime between when Paul left the room and when she finally managed to zip herself out of the dress. (Y/N) avoided the mirror at all costs, knowing her face was streaked black from the mascara and still stained from the dirt when she hit the ground. The girl didn't want to face the aftermath of what was supposed to be a memorable night, much less the marks that made her skin ache.

The day had started perfectly—normal, in fact. She had shared a special moment with her sister, her hair and makeup had been done beautifully, and for the first time, she had been able to wear a gorgeous designer gown. Everything had been going smoothly after that as well. Paul got to spend time with the friends he had neglected, and they welcomed (Y/N) as if she had always been part of the group. The night had gotten her to believe they were capable of having a sense of normalcy even when thrust into the whirlwind world of vengeful vampires and angry werewolves.

Yet, all it took was a few words from Victoria to crack the unsteady foundation Paul and (Y/N) had built for themselves. The base wobbled and settled askew, setting them on separate sides. They were still reaching for each other, but distance had started to grow in the way.

With a wet washcloth, (Y/N) wiped her face as best as she could. She could hear a car engine nearing the house, and there was no way she would miss a single second of the conversation. The red gown was replaced by a pair of sweatpants and a sweater, and her curled hair was wrapped in a messy ponytail. Some strands were pulling at her skull, and she had tied it slightly to the side, but all she cared to know was what they were planning to do to protect her and Bella from Victoria's wrath.

The vampires were already inside the house when she got downstairs, and she could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Paul stood on one side of the room, his face frozen in a deep, angry scowl. On the other, the Cullen family stood as still as marble. Then there was Bella, sitting on the couch, wishing she could be anywhere but there.

When (Y/N) finally made her way to the first floor, a “thank god” left her sister's lips as she joined her side. “So,” she started. “Can we finally talk about what happened here tonight?”

“Alice,” Edward called. His stare was threatening, his tone demanding. “Anything to say?”

“I have no idea,” she answered defensively. “I didn't see anything.”

“How can that be possible?” he seethed.

“Edward,” Bella hissed under her breath. The boy was angry, frustrated over the fact that the girl he loved was once more in the front lines of danger. But she could not stand being misdirected to the wrong person.

In that moment, he didn't really care. “He was in here, Alice,” he argued. “He could have still been here when they got home.”

“You already have me watching the Volturis’ decisions, watching Victora's return, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another?” Alice offered, resentment lacing with her words. “You want me to watch Charlie, or this house? Might as well watch out for the whole street while I'm at it. If I do too much, things start to slip through the cracks, Edward.”

“Looks like they already have.”

“They would have been fine, leech,” Paul scoffed. “I was here with them.”

“And look how well that's worked out for (Y/N).”

Before he could do anything, (Y/N) got between Paul and Edward, stumbling as he collided with her. The mocking scoff that left the vampire did not go unnoticed. And as right as he technically was, everyone knew it was the least opportune moment to say it. “How about we keep all the insults and jabs for another time?” she offered. “I, for one, would love to keep the house standing for when dad comes back.”

“(Y/N)'s right,” Bella added. “We won't get anywhere by fighting amongst each other.”

“Of course,” Edward sighed. “We have to think about this logically. Here's what we know. Someone came into the house while Charlie was home. He was left unharmed, and all they did was take personal belongings from both Bella and (Y/N).”

Everyone seemed to calm down then, taking a seat wherever they found space. Names were being thrown around—Aro, Caius, Victoria—but (Y/N) couldn't quite catch all that was said. Her head hadn't stopped spinning since she had left her bedroom. The situation was overwhelming, and her fight—if one could call it that—with Paul had left her feeling rather vulnerable. The Cullens spoke of vampires with personal vendettas, dragged anger, murderous revenge. The girl felt she'd been thrown into the middle of a bad fantasy movie.

If she had stayed in Florida, she thought, the hardest thing she would have been going through would have been which college she would go to. There would be no wolves or vampires, no imprint bond or natural-born enemies. If she had stayed, maybe her sister wouldn't be staring at a life-long death. Maybe if she had chosen to stay behind, Bella would have brought herself out of her depression. Maybe if Renée had been able to take back her older daughter, they could have found a way out for her back in the sunny state. Instead, they were facing death every day their eyes opened again, being hunted by creatures far beyond comprehension.

(Y/N) looked around the room, and suddenly everything felt strange. A year before, none of those people meant anything to her. The Cullens were just her sister's in-laws, Edward was her weird boyfriend, and Paul was a forgotten memory of her childhood. Now, they were discussing what mysterious vampire had been written into the story. A curious traveler passing through? An angry Volturi checking on Bella's immortality? Another vampire thirsty for some Swan blood?

The kitchen door slamming snapped the girl out of her thoughts. Emmett and Jasper walked in, an exasperated look on the former and a grimace on the latter. “Well, he's long gone,” the dark-haired boy said, disappointed. He took his place next to Rosalie, draping his arm around her shoulders like it had always belonged there. “Trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Seems like he had a car waiting.”

“Tough luck,” Edward muttered. “Would've been good for the dogs to make themselves useful.”

“Edward,” Bella reprimanded. “We agreed on no insults.”

“It's not really an insult. I'm just saying it would have been good if the wolves could have tracked the vampire into their territory,” the older boy shrugged. “It'd be nice if they made themselves useful.”

“Funny how we wouldn't have any of these problems if you and your family had never shown up,” Paul grumbled. His neck was slowly starting to turn red, his anger bubbling slowly and loudly under his skin. The boy was using every ounce of his energy to keep it at bay, fighting his explosive nature to keep himself under control. “If only you had steered clear of Forks as well as you did from Bella all these months.”

The laugh that left Edward's throat was mocking, laced with a secret only he seemed to know. He took his time to let the chuckle die, allowing Paul's ire to fester for a little while longer. “As much as you hate us and the fact that we live here,” he grinned, “you wouldn't have reunited with (Y/N). Matter of fact, all of the things you're most proud of in your life would not have happened if we had not come here. I mean, you’re a wolf because of us. (Y/N) is here because of us. I think you should be a little more grateful that we’re here.”

“You're giving yourself far too much credit,” the wolf growled. “(Y/N) and I have been destined to each other for far longer than we've known any of you exist.”

“Are you sure about that?” Edward pushed, and he knew exactly how to keep pressing those buttons. “Do you really think (Y/N) would have chosen you had it not been for the imprint bond? Think of the life she could’ve had if she hadn’t gotten stuck with you.”

The shaking started instantly, and there was almost no time to get the boy outside. (Y/N) pulled him by his blazer, pushing him out through the kitchen door. The wolf ripped through his suit, sending pieces of black fabric flying onto the grass. He growled toward the house, his mouth trembling and slobbering with rage.

(Y/N) was trying her best to lead him toward the woods, keeping a safe distance while keeping him away from the street's view. But nothing she did worked. Her words fell on deaf ears, silenced by the sound of his snarls. The girl pleaded and cried for him to disappear into the woods, but his gaze never left the figures trickling onto the back porch.

“You just had to keep going?” Bella scoffed at Edward as she made her way through the Cullens. “Look at what you did. You just can't help yourself, can you?”

Edward remained quiet as he watched her move toward her sister. He knew teasing Paul would wreak havoc in the house, but something in him snapped whenever he was near one of them. Maybe it was their incessant and rampant thoughts that drove him crazy; maybe it was their scent that made him insane; maybe it was the fact that Bella kept defending them every chance she got.

“Paul, I know Edward fucked up, but you need to go,” Bella said, pulling (Y/N) behind her. “You won't be helping anyone if one of the neighbors sees you. So, please, just go.”

“Please, Paul,” (Y/N) cried. “Don't make tonight worse than it already is.”

Those words snapped something in him, stopping his growls immediately. His eyes snapped to hers, finally realizing what he was doing. A small whimper left the wolf as he tried to take a step toward the sisters. But seeing (Y/N) recoil into herself as he walked closer broke something in him. In the myriad of mistakes he had made, losing control had been the worst.

“Just go home,” Bella instructed once more. “We'll call you with whatever we decide, but you cannot stay here in this state.”

The boy was in the wrong; he knew that. Even if Edward had been taunting him, it was his responsibility to keep his wolf at bay. He'd spent months controlling his rage, finding ways of keeping his anger from (Y/N). But those months had been devoid of any Cullens, and any interaction with a vampire had warranted a shift. Control had been easier to master because the obstacles were gone.

He tried to get closer to (Y/N) once more, lowering his head in an effort to show his regret. But all it did was push her another step farther away. Her cheeks were stained with tears, her shoulders shaking with the strength of her sobs. She was overwhelmed, weighed by the array of events she'd already lived through that night. She wanted him to go, and he was sure of it.

“Paul,” Bella repeated, her tone stern and menacing. “Go. Home.”

“You can call later if you're that worried about her,” Edward called out. “But it's obvious you can't stay here in that state.”

“Thank you, Edward, but I've got this,” she interrupted. “Go home, Paul. You can call once you've calmed down and we can talk next steps, okay? Matter of fact, everyone should go to their respective homes. The night's been long enough.”

After a beat, the mind reader vampire spoke again. “We'll be around if the vampire decides to come back,” he said. “We've been keeping an eye out every night.”

When a menacing growl left Paul, (Y/N) finally stepped in between. She wiped away her tears and stared the wolf down. “Just go already, please,” the girl stated. “They will stay guarding the perimeter of the house like they've been doing for a while—you know that. We're safer with them being here, and you know that. But you're not safe while you're like that, so go home.”

“He says he'll come back as soon as he's calmed down.”

“Just come back for your truck, and that’s it,” the girl sniffled, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’ll tell you when you can come over later.”

“He says…”

“I don’t really care right now,” (Y/N) argued. Frustration was growing in her. There were too many people around, too many things shifting at the same time. It was too much to process. “Just go!”

Without another thought, the younger Swan backed into the house, the kitchen door slamming shut behind her. At that point, she didn’t care if anyone found them out. She was exhausted, stressed, angry, confused. Emotions flooded her all at once, forcing her under and keeping her from staying above water. Her perfect—normal—night had been ruined, and all she wanted was to sleep it away.

Edward’s words played in her head. Everything he’d said had been to anger Paul, dug from the deepest corners of the younger boy’s insecurities. He’d carefully picked the vocabulary, slowly piecing together the ticking bomb that he was. Yet, they had been sewn with a truthful thread. The rewriting of their story had been entirely started by the Cullens. From the moment they had come back to Forks, they had chafed the very fabric of their reality and staged a new narration.

The vampires’ presence had triggered the shifter gene in the reservation boys. Bella’s breakup with the Cullen boy had prompted (Y/N) to visit the town that had seen her be born. Before that, she had been more than happy staying in Florida with her mom, working as hard as she could on her studies to get into a good university. Before Forks, she’d had the next few years of her life planned out. Now, she wasn’t sure if she would even make it to her senior year.

“Oh, (Y/N).” Bella’s voice mixed with the sound of her sister’s cries. The bed sank where she sat, the hinges of the old bed creaking as she did. Gently, she moved the girl’s head onto her lap, running her fingers through her hair in an effort to calm the younger Swan’s sobs.

“When did everything go to shit?” (Y/N) whimpered. “It was all going so good.”

“Well, honey, you know things going good is not in our DNA,” she chuckled softly, trying her best to lighten the mood. “What really happened tonight, (Y/N)? I don't like seeing you like this.”

Truth clung to the walls of (Y/N)'s throat. She didn't want to worry Bella even more and push her to immortality even faster. After her trip to Italy, the days left of Bella's humanity were numbered, and she wanted to do nothing to shorten that timeline. But secrets had been the detriment of many of their relationships, and she didn't want to add another to the list.

But at the end of the day, she cared more about having her sister by her side than a threat that may never come to fruition. “Everything just got away from us,” she sighed. “One minute we were having fun and feeling like we were just normal kids, and the next, Jacob was running in saying Victoria was there. Then, after she was gone, Paul got very short with Jake for trying to help and the whole vampire thing here... it's just too much!”

“What do you mean Jake tried to help?”

“Victoria dropped me on the ground, and he tried to help me up. Paul didn't like that,” (Y/N) shrugged. Her cries had begun to settle; the soft caresses from Bella's hand were slowly lulling her to sleep. “I know what he's done and that Paul's angry at him, but he just took it too far.”

“Like Edward did tonight,” Bella said, her eyebrows raised in amusement. “How did we manage to find the most intense men in existence?”

“Being Swans?” The sisters laughed for a moment, still finding a sliver of happiness in the middle of the chaos. But it didn't last long, not when too much weighed on them. “Do you think he was right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think the only reason Paul and I are together is because of the imprint bond?”

Bella felt a chill spread through her spine, forcing every move she was making to freeze. “Do you think that?” the older girl asked. “You were just saying last weekend that you were close to telling him you loved him, (Y/N).”

“I do love him, and I told him that today, but...” (Y/N) breathed deeply, mustering every ounce of courage that she could to say what she was going to. “I can listen to him reassure me until we die, but I will never know what he's really thinking. I have to just trust that what he's telling me is the truth. But Edward has an insight I will never have. He can read Paul's thoughts, and it's clear that everything he used to push him over the edge is just things that are running through his mind.”

“So, you think he still believes the only reason you two are together is because of the imprint link?”

“He has, too, right? I mean, just this morning I really thought there was absolutely nothing or no one that could drive a wedge between us,” (Y/N) exclaimed, straightening herself out as she spoke. “Then Victora shows up, and everything got in the way, and now I don't even know where we stand.”

Frustration built inside (Y/N) once more, and she couldn't stop herself from muttering more. “What would you do if I were turned into a vampire?” the girl blurted. “Like, how do you think you would react if that were to happen?”

“Whoa, where is this coming from, (Y/N)?” Bella questioned. “Is this something you've been thinking about?”

“It just sort of came up,” she muttered. “But that's not the point. How would you feel about it? Actually, how do you think Edward would have reacted if you had told him you wanted to stay human?”

“That's an entirely different conversation about an entirely different person,” Bella argued. “Edward always wanted me to stay human. I was the one who kept pushing him to turn me into a vampire. But I wouldn't want you to be one, as hypocritical as it may be.” The older girl studied her sister's face, finding the words (Y/N) wanted to keep hidden. The more time passed, the easier it became to read the unsaid, learn the subtitles of the younger girl's silence. “Is that what you were fighting about with Paul? About what would happen if you were turned?”

(Y/N) sighed, wanting nothing more than to hide from the conversation she had started. “It's part of it, yeah,” she said. “It just made me question how much love can actually withstand. Like maybe there are limits. And if that's true, how can I believe that what Paul and I have is meant to be for life?”

“This isn't something you should be questioning right now, (Y/N),” the older Swan cooed, wrapping her arms around her sister. “You should be head over heels in love right now, not wondering if forever is a possibility for your relationship.”

“And you shouldn't have to turn into a vampire. And we shouldn't be hunted by them. And my boyfriend shouldn't be a werewolf, and yours shouldn't be a vampire, but here we are.” (Y/N) let out a sigh of frustration, slumping her weight onto Bella. “We are literal walking fantasy stories. Remind me to be born as a house cat in my next life. Their lives seem a lot simpler.”

“I can’t really talk about a next life, but I’m hoping that after we've dealt with Victoria, things start to fall into place.”  

A/N: *cough* *cough* it's a bit dusty here after months of inactiveness. i honestly wish I had a better explanation other than life and my health have gotten in the way, and the brain fog has been fogging. almost 80% of this was written under the effects of cold medicine so I'm not sue just how coherent it might be, but i hope you guys like it 😅 and again, so sorry for being gone for so long. my head could only take so much at a time If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

Friendship was not something Yeon Si-eun was used to yet. He knew he had friends, in theory. But he didn't understand why. There wasn’t anything in particular that he did to attract the people who surrounded him. Somehow, they seemed to know when he needed them the most, and they just stayed.  

His record of solitude had been broken the moment Ahn Su-ho decided there was something in him worth keeping close. After, Park Hu-min, Go Hyun-tak, and Seo Jun-tae decided he simply had to be around. Si-eun didn’t really make friends. He was simply thrown into situations that gave people the opportunity to slide their way into his life.  

For a long time, he believed he was better alone. That all he needed to get through high school was keep his head down, and somehow, he could make it to college without anything going wrong. No one thought the way he did, and after some time, neither did he.  

Especially after he met (Y/N) for the first time.  

After what had occurred with Oh Beom-seok and Su-ho at Byuksan High School, Si-eun had given up on any type of fraternization—not that he ever cared for any in the first place. He had lost himself in the very first friendships he had ever encountered, and it had ended in Su-ho fighting for his life in the hospital and Beom-seok disappearing to another country without another word. Sleep had been overtaken by gut-wrenching guilt, and he carried the weight of both of their endings on his shoulders. As a boy of logic, every equation gave him the same result—had they not met him, they would both be okay.  

Si-eun kept his head down after he had to move schools and cities after the incident. The last thing he wanted was to attract the wrong kind of crowd, much less the right kind. All he wanted was to get out of his house one day and find whatever his purpose was meant to be. Somewhere, drowned in a river of never-ending work papers and the sharp smell of ink, he believed he could find it.  

Yet, try as he might to go unnoticed, (Y/N) saw him. It wasn’t hard when he walked past her door every single day since he moved with his mother into the new apartment. With his head down and eyes focused on anything but the ground, he didn’t see the girl who waited until he was at the end of the hall to go outside. Si-eun was not in a position to care about anyone, not after Su-ho. Yet, that didn't mean others did not care for him.  

The first thing that caught his attention was the plastic bag filled with under-eye patches, a hand warmer pillow that reminded him a little too much of his friend, and a chamomile and chrysanthemum tea, followed by a note detailing techniques to help with insomnia. There was no name attached to the letter, and a part of him thought his mother had finally seen him. But the handwriting was too neat, and it showed they cared. He took the bag with skepticism, unsure what person could have known what he was going through, but thankful for the attempt at aiding what was weighing him down.  

After the first bag, every Friday night, he would find some kind of care package hanging from his apartment door. From magnesium pills to a blackout eye mask, someone he didn't know was leaving things tailored to his self-care. And when trouble found him again, he found a bag filled with first aid and medications. Every package was filled with essentials, but not a single word about who his guardian angel was. 

He never saw the girl who peeked through her apartment's peephole as she waited for him to disappear down the hall. Never witnessed her pressing her ear against the thin walls as she listened to him pace or scribble away when he should have been sleeping. Si-eun never caught (Y/N) hanging a plastic bag on his door handle before he got home.  

Well, until one day he did. 

It was a Friday afternoon, and (Y/N) had gotten out of school later than usual, and the line at the convenience store had been particularly long. By the time she made it home, the sun had already lowered on the horizon. She tried her best to run home, knowing Si-eun was most likely on his way home already. All she had to do was hang the bag on the handle and sneak back into her place. The girl knew nothing of the boy she kept leaving gifts to, but from the moment she had seen him, she'd felt the need to care.  

The hallway was clear when she arrived, and she quietly cheered as she hung the bag on the door. But the celebration did not last long. “So, it's you,” a voice startled her, the bag dropping to the ground. “You're the one who's been leaving bags on my door.”  

“Oh... I-um...,” she muttered, scrambling to the floor to pick up the scattered items. “I didn't.... I'm sorry.”  

“Why are you sorry?” He didn't sound mad, not even annoyed or disgusted. He was simply asking a question.  

“I don't know,” (Y/N) mumbled. “I guess for being stalker-ish?”   

“Stalker-ish?”  

“I just... well, I've been leaving bags on your door, and I don't even know your name,” she said. “I think some people might attribute that to stalker behavior. But I swear I'm not a stalker.”  

“I never said you were,” he answered matter-of-factly. “But why?”  

“Why?”  

“Why have you been leaving all this stuff? You don't even know me.”  

(Y/N) stayed quiet for a moment, slowly considering her words. The last thing she wanted was to scare him away before she even got a chance to know his name. “From the day you first moved next door, I thought you seemed... I don't know, you seemed sad,” she mumbled, staring at her fingers, too afraid to look him in the eyes. “You pace in your room at night when you're supposed to be sleeping. You leave really early in the morning and get home really late; you barely have any time left to actually sleep. And lately, you've been coming home all beat up. I just thought you needed someone who cared.”  

Si-eun studied her face and ruminated on her words. She seemed genuine, someone who just wanted to be kind—definitely not from the Union. “Well, thank you,” he answered after a beat. “I’m Si-eun.”  

“(Y/N),” the girl smiled as she shook his outstretched hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” 

“Likewise,” Si-eun answered, trying his best to surpass the smoke that was threatening to stretch across his mouth. “What did you bring today?” 

That night was the first of many where he invited her into his space, and they shared whatever snack she had decided upon. That time, it had been rice balls and carrot juice; other times, it was canned coffee and honey butter chips. And every single occasion she would bring something useful—more bandages, antibiotic ointment, a heating pad, pain killers.  

Their friendship grew in those shared moments, simmering quietly under the surface, transforming into something they couldn’t quite name at first. It burned slowly, building in the nights they shared doing homework, on the days (Y/N) mended Si-eun's wounds, on the weekends the boy spent sequestered in his home, on the afternoons she spent making sure he ate something other than pre-packaged food, on the midday he decided to talk to her about his past.  

Si-eun was a logical person. The feeling that was bubbling deep inside his chest for her was new to him—being most comparable to what he felt when he allowed himself to grow closer to Su-ho. All he knew was that he found himself thinking about her when she wasn't around, his chest tightened and fluttered whenever he was with her, offering parts of himself he had never shared with anyone else, and most of all, he wanted to protect her from everything and everyone.  

When the situation with Na Baek-jin and the Union took a turn for the worse, he pushed her away, too afraid of putting her in harm's way. Si-eun didn't know who was watching or for how long, but the last thing he wanted was for her to become another casualty of his existence. So, he did what he knew how to do best and retreated, cutting contact and avoiding (Y/N) at all costs. Yet, she did not take a step back.  

Instead of getting angry at him and demanding answers, she simply went back to leaving care packages on his door, reminding him that she was only a wall away whenever he needed her. Guilt gnawed at him every time he brought the bag into the apartment, especially after he had waited at the end of the hallway every time to make sure her door was locked, and she had walked deep inside her home. He thought that after a few weeks of his absence, she would have given up on him, walk away from his life, and the ticking time bomb that he was. But she stayed, a constant reminder of whatever good was left in his life.  

What Si-eun didn't know was that (Y/N) knew exactly why he had disappeared. The whispers on the street about the Union and the new kid in Eunjang High School had traveled through the entire city. The moment he tried to disappear from her life, she knew he was doing it to protect her. The same feeling that had begun to sprout in the boy had taken life in herself. She craved his companionship, she worried over him when he wasn't around, and her heart beat just a little faster when they were together. She knew exactly what the sentiment was, but she didn't dare to mutter it until he did, afraid that too much emotion would scare him away. Instead, she remained in the background, caring for him in the only way he allowed her, and she waited. Waited until he felt safe enough to come back to her, safe enough until he was able to admit how he felt.  

The bags she left were always picked up. There had never been a Friday when Si-eun left the plastic bag hanging on his door—she made sure of it. Except one. (Y/N) had left a restock of sterile bandages and triple antibiotic ointment alongside a still-warm kimchi jjigae. By the next morning, it was still on the handle, the stew freezing cold and leaking. Worry gnawed at her chest, and the worst scenarios flooded her mind. Her fingers trembled as she fished her phone out of her pocket, dialing the number of the boy who had done everything in his power to push her away.  

She called once, twice, what felt like a thousand times before the call was finally picked up. “Si-eun?!” she exclaimed through the phone, tears falling from her eyes. “Are you okay?”  

But the voice that answered was not his. “Who is this?”  

“Oh, um, I’m (Y/N),” she stammered. “I was looking for Si-eun.” 

“Ah, (Y/N),” the woman on the other end said. “You’re the neighbor girl my son has mentioned before.” 

“He’s talked about me?” 

“Well, he doesn’t really talk much,” she chuckled softly, a silent sadness underlining her words. “But I remember your name.” 

“I’ve been looking for him,” (Y/N) mentioned. “He didn’t come home last night.” 

His mother’s next words made the girl’s heart sink. “He’s in the hospital,” she told her. “In a coma.” 

(Y/N) didn’t prolong the conversation much before she was sprinting toward the hospital. Her lungs ached and her legs burned, but all she could think about was Si-eun lying on a hospital bed and her waiting at home, imagining the worst things. Even if his mother had told her he was okay, that he was simply resting, she couldn’t stay away.  

It felt like an eternity before she finally reached the hospital. By the time she arrived at his door, she was covered in cold sweat, her chest heaving as she tried to regain her breath. With shaking hands, she slid open the door, biting her lip to hold back the tears that threatened to spill once more.  

Si-eun looked peaceful. Had it not been for the scratches on his face and the bruises on his arms, she would have believed he was simply sleeping. She took tentative steps toward him, unsure if she was even allowed to be by his side. Her movements were slow, afraid that if he was sleeping, she would wake him. And sleep was one thing he needed.  

Her hand reached for his once she had finally closed the distance between them. His skin was cold from the air conditioning, and she had to remind herself he was still breathing. The monitor told her his heart was beating steadily and he was stable. He’s only sleeping, his mother had said. She had to believe her or else she would spiral.  

Tears fell from her eyes before (Y/N) could stop them. If she had realized anything from looking at Si-eun on a hospital bed, toying with staying under forever, it was just how short life was. It was too fragile, too fickle to keep her feelings stored deep inside her chest. “You need to wake up, okay? You just have to,” she whimpered quietly. “I won't let you stay sleeping, Si-eun. Not without being able to tell you how I feel.”  

As she softly begged him to wake up, the door behind her slid open, startling her quiet. “Sorry,” the boy said before bowing slightly. “Hi. I didn't mean to startle you. Si-eun's mom said I could come inside.”  

“Y-yeah, of course,” she sniffled, wiping away her tears as she bowed in response. “Hi, I'm (Y/N). I'm Si-eun's, uh, neighbor.”  

“I'm Park Hu-min, but my friends call me Baku,” he smiled. But she could tell the stretch of his mouth was forced. There was weight on his shoulders that did not belong to him. He carried it proudly, like it was his life mission to do so, but she noticed how heavy it was. How it had begun to slow him down, to hurt. She saw a boy trying to stop a storm of bullets from hitting the people he cared for—the same way Si-eun had tried.  

Baku pulled a chair for her before doing the same for himself. They remained quiet for a beat. Not because they were uncomfortable, but because silence was the only thing they could share at that moment. It wasn't until a shaking sob escaped the boy that (Y/N) finally spoke. “He's going to be okay,” she muttered. His teary eyes snapped to hers, a glimmer of hope shining in them. “His mom told me he's just sleeping. The truck didn't hit him too hard. It's just his body shut down after so many days without sleep. It's up to him now.”  

“You care about him.” It wasn't a question. 

“Yes,” she smiled sadly; her eyes focused solely on him. “Too much, he says sometimes.”  

“He's never, uh, mentioned you.”  

“I know,” she said. Her thumb caressed Si-eun's hand, drawing lazy circles she thought would draw him out of his sleep. “He said he didn't want anyone to know about me if he could help it. Not for a while, at least. Never really felt settled enough here, you know?”  

“He cares about you, then,” Hu-min smiled. “That's good. He deserves someone who's not as messed up as the rest of us.”  

“This world you were all born into is messed up,” she retorted. “It's not any of you.” 

After the strangled cry Baku said in response, she continued. “He talked to me about guilt a lot, and about a friend who branded himself with it just like he did. None of you deserves this. You're just kids. Kids playing grown-ups, but still just fucking kids.”  

At some point, Si-eun's mother joined in their silence. They listened to him breathe, quieting their tears in the hopes they could catch even the slightest change; any sign that he was waking up. It took what felt like the entire night, but he finally stirred.  

After the woman ran to get a doctor, the first word out of Si-eun's mouth was Su-ho, worry dripping from every word. Hu-min had to hold him down, assure him that his friend was okay—they were all okay. Yet, as hard as he tried, the hurt boy could not desist from the idea that something was wrong. He had to see him with his own eyes.  

“I'll take him,” (Y/N) interjected in their slight struggle. She placed a hand on Baku's arm and guided him away from Si-eun. “Get your friends. Meet us at the hospital. I'll get him there safe.”  

Hu-min left with a nod and a kind smile, knowing her sentence wasn't just a fact, it was a promise. In the quiet, she searched for some clothes for the boy. As she pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a jacket, she could hear him fiddle with his IV. “Don't do that,” she called out, rifling through a cupboard for gauze, tape, and some gloves. “At the very least, let me. You know my mom’s a nurse.”  

“(Y/N),” he muttered. His eyes tried to find hers, but she would not meet his gaze. She focused on the task at hand, carefully extracting the needle from the boy's hand. “(Y/N).”  

Ignoring his call, she avoided the answer he wanted. “You shouldn't be getting up yet,” she grumbled. “You should at least finish the bag. The pain is gonna sneak up on you.”  

“I'm fine,” he said. “Could you look at me, please?”  

Finally, with tears in her eyes, she looked at him. The breath she had been holding escaped her in staggered exhales, the streams falling down her cheeks ugly and heavy. “I was really scared, Si-eun,” she whimpered. “I didn't...”  

“I know,” he sighed. “I'm sorry for disappearing. I thought I was doing the right thing. I always think I'm doing the right thing.”  

“Don't,” she chuckled sadly. “Don't apologize for caring, okay? I was just worried about you. I don't like when food goes to waste.”   

A twitch of a smile tugged at Si-eun's lips. “What'd you bring this time?” he asked as he slipped on the pants. “Tuna jumeokbap?”  

“Kimchi jjigae, actually,” she sniffled. “It's been getting cold out, and I thought a stew would sit better. But it’s spoiled now. I’m even gonna have to clean your apartment door since it spilled.” 

“I’ll do that when I get home,” Si-eun said. He slid his arms into the hoodie and walked toward the door. “You coming?” 

Silence reigned between them in the first half of the walk. Fifteen minutes where all that was heard between them was the shuffle of his feet against the pavement and their heavy breaths. Unspoken words hung between them, humming to the same beat. They fluttered under the surface, trying their hardest to claw their way out.  

“Are you…,” Si-eun started at the same time (Y/N) muttered, “How are you…?” 

“You go ahead,” she chuckled softly.  

“I just wanted to know if you were okay,” he mumbled. “I haven't, uh, seen you in a while.”  

“And whose fault is that?” the girl reprimanded jokingly. “You know, I don't need you to protect me from whatever's out there, Si-eun. I've lived here my whole life. I know about the Union, I've had my phone stolen, and I've gotten into my fair share of fights. What I care about most is having you by my side, and I don't care what I go through because of it.”  

“But I do. The last thing I want is for someone else I care about to end up like Su-ho.” His voice broke as he spoke, even though there were no tears. The words were laced with the pain he carried, sewn together with the guilt that lived deep in his chest. “The farther I stay away from you, the safer you are. I can't have anyone using you against me, much less letting you get in harm's way to help me.”  

“You don't get to decide that, Si-eun,” she sighed. “That's not the way life works. Pushing me away won't make me care less, and it won't keep the dangers of the world at bay. My safety is not your burden to carry.”  

What happened to Su-ho had rewired Si-eun's brain. Every synapse was accompanied by culpability and worry, and a belief that history would repeat itself. It was that concern that made him push everyone away; that renewed his disinterest in interpersonal relationships. Still, everyone else seemed not to be able to stay away. And he didn't want her to do so. “I won't push you away again, (Y/N),” he said. “But it won't stop me from worrying something might happen to you.”  

“And it could.” The boy's gazesnapped to her. He stopped in his tracks right in front of the hospital, his eyes widening at her words. “Anything could happen to me, Si-eun, and it doesn't make it your fault. I mean, a car could hit me right now. I could catch a deadly flu. I could have a heart attack and die. And just because you're here, it doesn't make it your fault. Life isn't fair, but it's easier when you have people around who care.”  

Si-eun's eyes finally softened, changing back to their exhausted state. Without another thought, he reached for her hand, finding it warm even in the chill of the night. “Okay,” he whispered. “Then, are you ready to meet one of those people?”  

“Yes.”  

“Maybe one day he'll be able to meet you as well.” 

That day didn't come until many months after that night. In that time, many things occurred that brought them closer. The fight between Eunjang High and the Union, Baek-jin's death, the start to their senior year, and the summer night Si-eun decided to finally make (Y/N) his official girlfriend. By that point, the weight on his chest had lessened. When he walked, air filled his lungs completely, and his body felt lighter. Blaming himself was slowly killing him, and he finally understood that.  

(Y/N) started joining him on his weekly visits to Su-ho's hospital room. Sometimes they were joined by Hu-min, Go Hyun-tak, and Seo Jun-tae. It was in those moments that he realized loneliness had not been serving him. It wasn't that he wanted to be alone, but that he wanted to be around the right people. And, somehow, in the middle of all the chaos, he had found them. But there was still something missing.  

Everyone had met Ahn Su-ho, but he had yet to know of the people who had saved him while he slept. Their laughter filled his hospital room from time to time, but the timbre of his friend's chuckles had yet to mix with theirs. They had all known the boy longer than the two of them had been friends, and yet the boy still slept.  

Until the day he didn't. The second he knew Su-ho had come out of the coma, Si-eun made a run for the hospital. That day, he felt his heart mend itself, as though the piece that still remained shattered had fused itself back on. And all he wanted was for both his worlds to finally become one.  

It took a few months, many physical therapy appointments, and the holidays for the moment to finally arrive. But when Christmas time rolled around, everyone had the time to finally meet up. Si-eun had never hosted a party, much less asked to have friends over. And his mother didn't know how to react. She overloaded the apartment with decorations. She bought food and age-appropriate drinks—hinted toward the liquor cabinet she never locked. She even helped her son buy his first gifts. A part of him knew she was overcompensating after years of barely acknowledging his existence. But the other part was simply happy she was turning into a parent he could possibly depend on.  

Si-eun spent the night pacing his room. Something he hadn't done in months. He knew the Eunjang group liked (Y/N) and they meshed well with Su-ho, but they had never been in one room all together. They all liked Si-eun, but he didn't know just how well they would like each other. By the next morning, he was a nervous wreck, and (Y/N) knew so. She was there long before the time his mother had said she'd leave the apartment, hours before the gathering, and earlier than he had expected.  

At some point, he'd drifted to sleep, though not deep enough to actually rest. The sound of the door unlocking startled him awake. He heard her voice first as she talked to his mother. They shared short pleasantries before the older woman said she would head out earlier so the two could have some time alone. It was surprising and certainly unexpected, but Si-eun preferred the silence of his mother's absence over her recent continuous presence.  

“Si-eun-ah?” he heard her say after a soft knock on his bedroom door. “Are you awake?”  

“Yeah,” he answered groggily, still rubbing sleep off his eyes. “Come in.”  

The light from the hall attacked him as (Y/N) slowly opened the door. Normally, that sort of thing would have irritated him. But seeing her in her red dress walking into his room made his chest swell with happiness. “You didn't sleep well last night.” It wasn't a question. He knew she could hear him from the other side of the wall. Try as he might to keep quiet, she was too in tune with him by that point. “What's going on in your head?”  

“It's nothing,” he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist, laying his head on her lap as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Just overthinking.”  

“Mm,” she hummed. “Does this have anything to do with Su-ho coming here today and all of us sharing a space?”  

“How'd you know?” 

“Because I know you,” (Y/N) chuckled as she ran her fingers lazily through his hair. “And I know you're worried we won't get along. But I know we will.” 

“Yeah?” Si-eun muttered, turning his head to look up at her. “How do you know?” 

“Because we already have something in common that unites us,” she smiled before placing a quick peck on his nose. “We all love you. How could we not get along?”  

“What did you say?” 

“You heard me,” (Y/N) responded. “I love you, Si-eun. And I’ve been wanting to tell you for a very long time now.” 

“I… I love you too, (Y/N),” he beamed, his eyes turning glossy as he stared up at her.  

“Right,” Si-eun chuckled softly, still not used to being happy. “I guess that's true. I just can't help but think of everything that could go wrong.”  

“And what about everything that could go right? It's Christmas, Si-eun,” she smiled. “It's the happiest time of the year.”  

After a few more minutes of lazy lying, the pair finally got up. While Si-eun took a shower and looked over the sweater he'd gotten to match (Y/N), the girl stood in his kitchen baking cookies while a stew started simmering on the stove. Everything was so domestic, so unbelievably normal, unlike everything that had occurred in the past two years. But had it not been for the nightmare he had lived through, then he wouldn't have what he didn't know he had craved for so long.  

Jun-tae was the first one to arrive, but he remained in the hall until Gotak and Baku arrived, too nervous to go inside on his own. Hu-min was the first to make fun of the situation, filling the quiet apartment with his boisterous laugh and teasing commentary. It was a scene straight out of a movie. Everyone dressed in Christmas garments while they laughed and ate around the living room. There was only one person missing, and the one Si-eun most cared about.  

The boy couldn't stop looking at his phone as he waited for his friend to arrive. Every minute that passed was another beat added to his pulse and another moment that his head filled with worst-case scenarios. His fingers started to pick at each other, his index digging into his thumb as anxiety bubbled in his veins. It was a small thing, a movement no one really noticed. No one but (Y/N). Without breaking her stare from the group or stopping the conversation, she snaked her hand into his, squeezing it in an effort to settle him. Everything was okay, everyone was okay.  

Maybe a few hours had passed, maybe an eternity, but finally the doorbell rang, and Su-ho's face was pressed against the front door's camera. “Ya, Si-eun-ah,” he exclaimed, holding up two plastic bags in his hands. “Open up, will ya?”  

With a smile he only reserved for special occasions, Si-eun walked to the door and received his friend with a tight hug. Even after months of having him back, there were instances where the what-ifs flooded his mind. Maybe Su-ho had never woken up, maybe Si-eun was the one still lying on a hospital bed, maybe everything had been a dream. But when he could feel him, when he could actually put his hands on Su-ho and feel him, he knew he was awake, and everything was okay.  

“Good to see you too, buddy,” Su-ho chuckled as he walked into the apartment, handing off the bags to Si-eun. “So, who's the one who stole my first love away?”  

“Su-ho-ya,” the boy reprimanded under his breath, elbowing his friend on the ribs. “Be nice.”  

“It's okay, Si-eun. I can handle a little competition,” (Y/N) grinned. “Pleasure to meet you, Su-ho. I'm (Y/N).”  

It took him a second to look her up and down before shaking her hand with a grin on his face. “Okay,” he chuckled. “I like her. Good choice, Si-eun-ah.”  

(Y/N) found it almost comical when Si-eun let out a breath of relief. She could see the tension leave his shoulders, and his limbs finally relaxed. The worst part was over for him; now all he had to do was enjoy the rest of the night.  

They ate the kimchi stew (Y/N) that they had made, ordered some chicken when hours had passed, they sang Christmas songs on the TV, and finally got around to exchanging gifts. Gotak got Jun-tae a special edition of his favorite manga. Jun-tae gifted Hu-min a pair of Nike Dunks, apologizing a thousand times because they were used and not his usual shade of red. Baku excitedly took them with him and stood by the entrance for a few minutes just to have them on. Then, he gave Si-run a couple of new hoodies, claiming he couldn’t keep wearing the same grey one he had. After, Si-eun handed Gotak a pair of boxing gloves, telling him they could take up the sport, even if it was just for fun.  

“Well, it looks like we’re the last two,” Su-ho said as he got up from the ground. “Wanna hand them over at the same time, (Y/N)?” 

“Yeah. Sounds good.”  

Each of them grabbed their gifts from under the tree, making a show of handing them to each other. (Y/N) motioned toward the boy to open his gift first, her finger fiddling with the heavy box in her hands.  

From a neatly wrapped package, Su-ho pulled a black and red leather jacket, his name embroidered in the back. “I think it’s time for a new one, Su-ho,” she said. “The last one did its job.” 

For a moment, she thought he hated the gift. That maybe she had insulted him or that his jacket was still perfectly fine. But the smile that spread across his face eased the nerves inside her instantly. “Yo! This jacket is sick!” he exclaimed, throwing the one he was wearing to the ground to slip the new one on. He wrapped (Y/N) in a tight hug, still jumping with excitement, his Santa hat plopping against his head every time he hit the ground. “I fucking love it, man! Damn, we should’ve done something like this months ago.”  

“I’m glad you like it, Su-ho.” 

“Like it! I fucking love it!” Su-ho beamed. “Told you, Si-eun. Good fucking choice, man.” 

“Yeah,” Si-eun chuckled. “You did tell me.” 

“I guess it’s my turn,” (Y/N) said.  

“Wait, now I’m not sure my gift is that good,” the boy mumbled, scratching the back of his neck as she started peeling the wrapping paper. From a re-used beer box, (Y/N) pulled an opal chrome bike helmet. “It’s, uh, for you and Si-eun to use the bike whenever, you know? He’s got his, and now you've got that one. For safety or whatever.” 

“I love it,” she said, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. “Although you’re gonna have to teach Si-eun how to ride that thing before I even think about getting on it. Not that I don't think you’re capable of controlling a motorcycle with no previous experience, but I do value my life.”  

“That is something I can definitely do,” Su-ho laughed, draping an arm around his friend. “But I'm sure Si-eun-ah will pick it up fast. This guy's a genius or something.”  

At that moment, Si-eun felt warmth spreading in his chest. As he watched his girlfriend and his friends laughing and showing their presents off to each other, he realized he'd found the people who he wanted to walk beside in life. He understood he no longer had to do everything by himself and that it wasn't his responsibility to protect everyone—they protected each other. There was power in community, in family, and he had been picked to join a rather good one.  

“Hey,” (Y/N) broke his train of thought as she joined him in the kitchen. “You're thinking too much again. What's going on?”  

“Nothing bad,” he smiled softly, sliding his arm around her waist. “Just happy.”  

“Today was good, huh?” the girl chuckled. She melted into his touch, fitting beside him like she was made to be there. “I told you so.”  

“You really did,” he said. “All that pacing for nothing.”  

“Well, it's always good to get your steps in,” she teased. “Although I don't recommend doing that in the middle of the night when your girlfriend is trying to sleep on the other side of the wall.”  

“Don't worry,” he grinned. “I won't be doing that tonight.”  

“Oh yeah? And what will you be doing?” 

Si-eun leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. “Enjoying my Christmas present.” 

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: so sorry it took so long, but worry not. more holiday writing is coming 😬😬 If you’d like to be tagged in anything or leave a request: click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know everytime I post!

Bella getting married at eighteen had devastated Charlie Swan. Then, finding out he was living amongst supernaturals and that his daughter was now one of them had sent him down a whirlwind spiral. For a man who craved normalcy, he never expected to be thrown in the middle of a fantasy book, much less that the main characters were so close to him. His tranquil small-town life had been transformed in the blink of an eye, and he wanted nothing more than to hold onto just a little piece of who he was before he knew of vampires. And the universe answered his prayers in the form of (Y/N).  

He hadn’t given dating much thought in the twenty years since Renée had left him. His heart had been in his ex-wife’s hands for so long, he wasn’t sure he was able to get it back. But a rainy day had it beating right back in his chest to the rhythm of a different tune.  

Outsiders were not used to the sudden changes in Fork’s weather. Even if the morning started with blaring sunshine, there was always a high probability that the day could turn into a downpour. In a day such as that, (Y/N)’s car had slid off the road and crashed into a tree. The moment she lost control of the car was a complete blur, but one second, she was driving back home after a successful trip to an antique furniture store, and the next, she was watching her car smoke through hazy vision.  

She couldn't be sure how much time had passed since the crash, but as she attempted to reach for her purse, a knock on her window startled her. Her head was still spinning as she tried to make up the form of whoever was trying to call her attention, but she could make out a black windbreaker and a face with a perfectly trimmed mustache. By the time she felt the drops of water on her face and the wind nipped at her skin, her vision went blank.  

When (Y/N) woke up again, she was surrounded by white walls and a beeping sound that made her head pound. She winced when she tried to open her eyes, the fluorescent lights of what she assumed was a hospital room making the headache she was sporting an even bigger nuisance.  

“The lights bothering you?” she heard a voice say, and she groaned in response. “Alright. One second.”  

After she heard the click of the light switch, (Y/N) fluttered her eyelids open, squinting to adjust to the amount of light that still filtered in through the window. Once her vision finally focused, she was able to make out the owner of the voice, and her heart started beating faster, the beeping of the monitor intensifying.  

“Whoa, everything alright, ma’am?” the man asked. “Let me call the doctor.”  

“N-no,” (Y/N) croaked. Her throat felt like fire as she spoke, but the last thing she wanted was for the handsome stranger to leave her room—a man in uniform always had her heart beating a little faster. “I just... I'm sorry. W-what happened?”  

“You took a turn too hard, and your car skidded off the road into a tree. Someone else called it in. You were barely conscious when I got you out of the car,” he explained. “I'm guessing you're not from around here. That turn there is always tricky for outsiders.”  

“Yes, I moved here a month ago,” she chuckled softly. “I haven't gotten used to all the rain just yet.”  

“Well, give it some time,” he said, and the smile he gave made her heart skip another beat. “It's not as bad once you've finally gotten the hang of it.”  

“Coming from a state like Nevada, I think it might take me longer than most,” (Y/N) responded. “But I guess what I really should be doing is thanking you for pulling me out of the car, Officer…” 

“Swan. Uh, Charlie,” he stammered. “And it’s Chief.” 

“Chief,” she grinned. “I would like to repay this kindness in some way.”  

“Oh, there’s really no need, ma’am. I was just doing my job.” 

“(Y/N),” the woman offered as she extended her hand. “But I still want to thank you in some way, Chief Swan. You saved my life today.” 

Charlie was growing flustered. Red heat spread from the back of his neck to his ears, slowly spreading toward his face. “Well, um, (Y/N), i-if you insist,” he chuckled. “I should, uh, get the doctor now that you're awake. Make sure everything's okay.”  

“Sure. But don't run off.” 

That moment was the start of something... inevitable. Charlie tried his hardest to stay away. There were too many things standing against them. He knew the moment he decided to pursue her, all eyes would turn to them, and the whispers of the town would follow. (Y/N) was young. Far younger than he was. Her life was only beginning while his... well, his had remained the same for years, much like his heart.  

Charlie had spent too long keeping his feelings chained up, and the only person who had owned the key was the one woman who didn't care she had it. He had forgotten how to feel, how to allow himself to feel. All until he met (Y/N). And as scared as he was about the rumors that would follow, terrified of opening himself up to someone new, he decided she was worth everything that came with being with her.  

And the following months proved him right.   

After years of romantic solitude and emotional avoidance, he had found himself in a relationship with a woman almost half his age, and it was the happiest he had been since Bella had said she wanted to move to Forks with him. (Y/N) had brought out in him a part he thought had died many years before. She made him feel alive, hopeful for a better and happier future. By her side, he saw forever. This made the upcoming holidays a stressful situation for him.  

It had been over a year since his daughter had become an immortal vampire and had a half-vampire child. And, although he was still getting used to the idea, he was glad she was still around. Given their nature, he knew sooner or later she and the Cullen family would have to leave town, and it would be one of the last times he could see Bella. For now, he treasured every moment he was able to spend with her, and he wanted her to meet the woman who had given him a new lease on life. And what better time to do than during one of the most stressful holidays?  

Christmas was just around the corner, and Charlie had become a walking ball of stress. He had gotten more decorations than he knew how to use, he had too big a turkey for the number of people who could consume food, and he had bought more gifts than his budget could afford. With the amount of things he had to do and what little time he had, he had overwhelmed himself to the point of procrastination. Days kept passing, and everything he had to get done kept piling up.  

“Darling,” (Y/N) called out as she entered his house. “You know Christmas is a week away, right?”  

From under a pile of inflatables, Charlie peeked his head out—sweaty and out of breath. “I know,” he sighed. “I think I've bitten off more than I can chew.”   

“You could have called me earlier,” she laughed, offering a hand for him to stand. “This would have been easier with two people.”  

“Yeah, have to get used to that,” Charlie chuckled. “But, now that you're here, think you could help me out?”  

“Of course,” (Y/N) responded, pecking his lips. “We'll get this house straight in no time.”  

It took the entirety of the weekend for the house to be transformed from a decoration warehouse to a Christmas wonderland. By the time they were done, the couple was exhausted but proud of their work. There were instances Charlie believed he was overcompensating for the Christmases he had missed with his daughter, or that maybe he was going too far to have the perfect holiday with his new girlfriend—a word that still felt so foreign to him. The more decorations he put up, the more he believed he was going too overboard. Between the inflatables in the front yard and the tree he had to saw the top off because it was too big for his home, Charlie definitely believed he was trying too hard to make up for the times he had not.  

Yet, (Y/N) didn’t see it that way. Instead, she saw a man wanting to give his daughter a memorable experience. Even if Bella was already married and out of the house, she was still his little girl. She saw love, care, attentiveness. She saw a father who valued his position as a dad. And that made her fall for him just a little bit more.   

With certain loose ends still needing to be tied, (Y/N) stayed at Charlie’s house for the remainder of the week. There was food to be prepared, gifts to be wrapped, and an entire house to be cleaned. She couldn’t leave him alone with so much to do. Not that either wanted her to leave much.  

After years of an empty house with a two-year interlude of Bella, Charlie was starting to get used to the company. There was a warmth that couldn’t be replicated by a crackling fire or artificial heat. It came from her. From a light that shone deep within her. (Y/N) brought to his house the one thing he had been missing. And after experiencing it, he didn’t know how he could go back to not having it.  

The days passed slowly but rapidly all at once. One instance, they were staking a snowman inflatable in the front yard, and the next, they were dancing in the kitchen waiting for the turkey to finish cooking.  

“Now, what’s going on in through that pretty head of yours?” Charlie asked, his eyes focused entirely on hers. “I can tell your head is running a million miles an hour.” 

“I guess I’m just worried,” (Y/N) sighed with a soft smile. “What if Bella doesn’t like me? What if she thinks I’m too young for you? What if…?” 

Charlie chuckled before cutting her ramblings with a kiss. She couldn’t help but melt at the touch, all worries dissipating with the simple kiss.  

“I’m usually the one worrying about these things,” he said, his hold on her waist tightening. “I don’t like seeing you concerned about these things, baby. I know she’s gonna love you.” 

“How can you be sure? Aren’t I the first woman you’ve dated since her mom?” 

“I’m sure because I love you,” he beamed. “And there is not a person who has met you that doesn’t love you too. I mean, you won Billy over before his first beer was over.”  

“But this is different. This is your daughter and her husband. Your daughter,” (Y/N) worried. “She is a part of you. I want her to like me. I want her to believe I am the right person for you, Charlie.”  

“She will. Because I know you are the only one for me, (Y/N). I love you.”  

A big smile spread across her face before she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you too,” she said. “Now, go get changed while I check on the turkey. People should be arriving any second now.” 

Charlie left (Y/N) in the kitchen, but not before taking a look back on how well she fit there. It almost felt as though she had always been there, like that was her place. And if she agreed, he wanted it to be. Slowly but surely, she had replaced all the heartache he had experienced in that house, replacing it instead with the love he had yearned for his entire life.  

By the time he was done showering and changing into fresh clothes, people had started to arrive. He could hear laughter coming from the first floor, followed by chatter and the mouth-watering smells of the food (Y/N) had made. Downstairs, he was met by a scene that stretched his mouth into a proud smile and made his chest fill with a warmth that had been frozen for two decades.  

(Y/N) was dressed in a simple red sweater, her hair tied up into a ponytail—nothing particularly special. She walked around the living room, handing out drinks and snacks. He watched her move with such ease that it seemed she was floating. A literal angel in their midst.  

“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” Bella’s voice broke through his staring. “Here I thought this was your party, dad. (Y/N)’s been the one running the show.”  

“God knows I’m not the one who should be handling anything in the kitchen,” Charlie laughed as he finally reached the living room, snaking a hand around (Y/N)’s waist. “One thing I can handle are the drinks, though. So, who wants a beer?”  

Charlie disappeared for a moment to the kitchen, pulling out a few bottles from the fridge, and he couldn't help the smile that seemed to be glued to his face. As he uncapped the bottles, he heard footsteps behind him.  

“I'm guessing the smells here are not your doing, dad. Especially since there is not a hint of burnt in the air.”  

“Hey there, Bells,” he chuckled, wrapping an arm around his daughter and kissing her head. “You're right about that. (Y/N)'s been cooking since four in the morning. I don't know how she's still standing.”  

“She's a real keeper, dad,” Bella said, the corners of her mouth pulling into a grin. “You're lucky to have found her.”  

“I really am,” Charlie smiled. “So, you like her?”  

“Even Edward does,” the girl replied before gifting her dad a comforting smile. “Said her thoughts are gentle and warm. She's good for you, dad. Alice mentioned a happy future in store for you, too. You deserve this.” 

“I hope so,” he admitted. “I really love her, and I can't see myself without her.”  

“Then maybe you should do something about that.”  

“Don't you think that's too soon, Bells?” the man worried. “We've known each other for less than a year, kid. Marriage is... very heavy for so little time.” 

“I'm not one to talk about fast,” Bella chuckled. “But there are other things you could do. Like asking her to move in with you.”  

“You think so?” When his daughter nodded, a sheepish smile crept onto his face, and he could feel warmth pooling on his cheeks. “I can't say I haven't considered it.”  

“Then do it tonight,” the girl exclaimed. “You literally have nothing to lose.”  

“I guess that is a good first step. We'll see if she doesn't go running for the hills when we let her in on your little secret,” he chuckled. “Don't know many people who would stick around after something as heavy as that.”  

“Something tells me she will,” Bella grinned as she grabbed half the beer bottles her father had taken out. “Now, let's get this Christmas party going. Some people are starving out there.”  

The afternoon went on without a hitch. The people who could eat ate. The people who couldn't, pretended. Everyone exchanged presents and pleasantries, filling the house with familial warmth and a closeness that hadn't been shared in years. And all Charlie could think of was how perfect everything finally fit. There was no piece of his surroundings that was forcing itself into the puzzle, rearranging its shape to force the picture to work. It was the first time he had a Christmas he wanted to remember.  

As the night started to creep in, people started to trickle out of the house, gifts and food in tow. The Cullens had been the first ones to leave, claiming an early flight to visit family members the next day. They were soon followed by the Uleys and the Clearwaters. Billy and Jacob were next. One by one, everyone exited until the only ones left were Charlie, (Y/N), and Bella.   

“Now, (Y/N), you can call me anytime this one doesn't behave,” Bella teased with a chuckle. “He can be quite stubborn when he wants to be.”  

“Don't you worry, Bella. I can handle him,” (Y/N) chuckled, placing a hand on Charlie's chest as he pulled her closer by the waist. “Even figured out how to sneak vegetables into his food without him knowing.”  

“He's lucky to have you,” the girl smiled. “You two are good for each other. I'm glad you found one another.”  

“I truly am the luckiest man in the world,” Charlie said, his eyes focused on the woman in his arms. “Now, you get on home safe. The kid must be exhausted.”  

“Renesmee is probably already passed out in the car,” she chuckled. “Merry Christmas, guys. I'll see you soon, yeah?”  

“See ya' soon, Bells.”  

It wasn't until Edward's silver Volvo disappeared that the pair finally crashed onto the couch, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to them. (Y/N) had not slowed down from the moment she had woken up to that moment. Only then could she finally take in the fruits of her arduous efforts. The house looked like a scene out of a movie, painted an orange hue by the light of the fire and the lamps. Some would say it looked magical.  

“You know, I don't think I thanked you for all your help this week,” Charlie muttered sleepily. They had cuddled up on the couch with (Y/N)'s head on his chest as the man drew lazy circles on her back. “I truly could not have done this without you.”  

“We're a team, Charlie,” she said. “And there is no one in this world I would want to do this with. Tonight was a success because we did it together.”  

Bella's words popped into his mind at that moment. He truly had nothing to lose. His daughter was out of the house, he had no ties to his ex-wife, and, for the first time in a long time, he was excited for the future. There was no need for him to squander his desires, not with her. “Well, I was thinking we could make that a bit more permanent,” he started. “You know, the team thing. At least, move it up a level.”  

“What're you saying, Charlie?”  

“Move in with me.” His eyes were fixed on hers. His tone was calm, and his mind was made up. He wanted her forever, and living in the same space was just the first step. “You already spend so much time here; it doesn't make sense that you keep going back to that tiny apartment when you could be here. With me.”  

“Charlie...”  

“I know you might think it's too soon. But if you think about it, does it really matter?”  

“Charlie...”  

“I don't think it matters. Not when it feels so right,” he continued rambling. “It'll save you on rent, on commute. Hell, it'll even save you on your groceries. It just...”  

(Y/N) crashed her lips onto his, forcing him to swallow the rest of his words. He could feel her smile into the kiss, drawing a gentle groan from him. “If you'd let me speak, you'd hear my answer,” she chuckled as she rested her forehead against his. “I want to move in with you, darling. And I don't think it's too soon. There is no one who can determine the timeline of our relationship but us. Not when it just feels right.”  

“I'm so happy you said that.” He sighed in relief. “I've been wanting to ask you for over a month now, and I didn't know if I was allowed to.”  

“Darling, you are allowed everything. If there is something you feel in the moment, I want you to feel comfortable enough to talk to me about it.” 

“So, we’re really doing this, huh?” Charlie grinned, pulling her swiftly onto his lap, circling his arms around her waist. She nodded with a chuckle, placing her hands on his chest to stabilize herself. “I think this is shaping up to be the best Christmas ever.”  

“Mmm, and what would make it better?” (Y/N) grinned. “What would make this the best Christmas ever?”  

“I have a few ideas...” 

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: i can't believe it took me so long to write for Charlie. the way I devour anything out there regarding him 🫣 if you enjoyed the story, just know, there's something else coming soon for thisIf you’d like to be tagged in anything or leave a request:  click hereMake sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

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❅day 1❅

Best Christmas Fandom: Twilight Pairing: Charlie Swan x Fem!Reader Summary: Charlie Swan had not given much thought to dating until fate had him meet (Y/N). Putting aside the whispers of the town and his own insecurities, he finds love in a woman almost half his age. Now, with his daughter busy with her own family, the best time he can find for Bella and (Y/N) to meet is during a very busy holiday.

❅day 2❅

One second, Victoria was standing in front of Jacob and Paul, and the next, she was standing a few yards away from the school. She held onto (Y/N) tightly, chuckling as the girl struggled in her grasp. It was all a game to her. There was no way the puny human could escape her unless she wanted her to, but the struggle was delicious—intoxicating even.

“What do you want?” (Y/N) asked, her voice cracking under the weight of Victoria's hand. Oxygen was difficult to take in as the vampire tensed and released her throat as she saw fit, and fear coursed through her body, making her limbs feel numb. “If you're not gonna kill me, why are you here?”

“I just wanted to have a little fun in forbidden land,” the woman chuckled. “Imagine my surprise when I smelled you so close. I couldn't really help myself.”

“You're still not saying why you're here,” she struggled. “Shouldn't you be planning your revenge on the Cullens or something? You have nothing to do in the reservation.”

“Well, toying with the pups is fun. Keeps me on my toes,” Victoria grinned. “But if I had known I'd be crashing such a beautiful party, I would have dressed in my Sunday best. Maybe I could have brought out the same dress I wore for your sister's dance last year.”

Her heart hammered against her sternum, hitting her chest at a punishing pace. The woman had never left Forks. Even when Bella thought she had been safe, the red-headed vampire had been lurking in the shadows. Safety had been a mirage while danger was breathing down their necks, taking its sweet time until it was ready to attack.

“You know what would be hilarious?” the immortal mused, an amused chuckle leaving her lips. “Maybe I don't kill you. But I could turn you. Make you into something the pups can't stand, give you the one thing your sister most wants. Wouldn't that be exciting? All it takes is one simple bite. What do you say, little Swan?”

“Don't you dare put your teeth on her!” Paul exclaimed as he reached them, Jacob following close behind. (Y/N) could see the trembling in his limbs, anger oozing out of every pore on his body. He was itching to phase, to sink his canines into the pale one's neck and rip it apart. But he couldn't. Not when she was holding onto the only person he was destined to always protect. “Get your claws off her and I'll let you go on your merry way, leech.”

“Boo, that's not fun,” she pouted. “I could make things a lot more interesting in seconds. What would you do, mutt? What would you do if I turned your precious little girlfriend into your natural-born enemy? Do you think you two would last if she were one of us?”

“Turn her and it will be the last thing you do.”

“Bold of you to assume you could kill me, pup,” the woman grinned. “I mean, your only backup was more than happy to let little Swan die a few months back. What makes you think he won't do it now?”

The muscles in Paul's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists that dug into his skin. He wanted to fight, to chase the woman until he either got her or he lost her to the water once again. Her smell made his nostrils burn, and the sight of her made his rage build. But, most of all, he hated that she was right. He couldn't trust Jacob, even if he had come to warn them about Victoria—not after everything he had done. And the thought of (Y/N) being a vampire made his stomach churn. There was no way to know what he would do if she became one of them.

“I don't have to kill you,” the boy said. “Matter of fact, I won't. Not tonight, at least. I will be taking (Y/N) and going, though.”

“Yeah? And how do you plan on doing that?”

Behind Victoria, the bushes started rustling, and a low vibration growl echoed through the forest. She turned suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise as a jet-black wolf walked out, baring his fangs. He wasn't threatening her or even announcing himself. The wolf was warning her. Closely behind, four more wolves appeared, two on each of the alpha's side, slowly circling the vampire and the girl. The woman had nowhere to go, not while she held onto (Y/N).

“Well, I guess that's my cue for tonight,” the vampire sighed. “I really wanted to test out my theory. But I guess it will have to wait. Until we meet again, little Swan.”

Without another thought, Victoria pushed (Y/N) to the ground, sending her directly in front of Jacob's feet before leaping into a tree. The wolves took off behind her, leaving the other three on their own. Jake was quick to try to help the girl up, but Paul's hand swiftly grabbed his wrist. “Don't you dare touch her either,” he seethed. “Today doesn't change what you've done.”

“Paul,” the girl called him in a reprimanding tone. “He was only helping me up.”

“I don't care,” he growled.

“Paul.”

“It's okay, (Y/N),” Jacob said, taking a step back and raising his arms. “I understand where he's coming from. I'll go join the hunt now. Just glad you're safe.”

The boy disappeared into the darkness of the forest, and reality finally sank in. Once more, (Y/N) had been knocking on death's door, and Paul was almost too late to stop it. With trembling hands, he helped the girl to her feet, wrapping her in a tight embrace once he'd deemed her unharmed enough. “You're never leaving my side,” he muttered into her hair. “Until that leech is dealt with, you're not going anywhere without me.”

“That's not feasible, Paul,” she chuckled softly, masking the shakiness of her voice as adrenaline started to drain from her. “School's not over yet.”

“I'll transfer if I have to. I don't care.”

“There's only a couple of weeks left of school,” she said. “The Cullens can look after me during that time.”

“They're of her kind,” he spat. “They couldn't even protect your sister correctly. How could they protect you?”

“Paul, you're not thinking straight. You're still shaking.”

He let out a loud sigh then, taking a moment to gather his bearings. There was no imminent danger, yet his body still reeled with anger. His limbs trembled, the wolf aching to rip through his skin. Paul wanted nothing more than to join in the chase now that he was sure (Y/N) was safe. Wanted his chance to sink his teeth into the immortal leech. He wanted to kill Victoria, and she could tell.

“Take me home, Paul,” (Y/N) whimpered. “Please, I just wanna go home.”

“Yes, of course,” Paul muttered as he wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Let's get you home.”

The ride toward Forks was quiet. The girl was fighting the sleep that threatened to bob her head against the window, and Paul drove with white knuckles on the steering wheel and a jaw so tense (Y/N) thought it would shatter. Neither spoke of the fear that had slipped between them that night, much less of the possibility that hung above them like a dark cloud.

With Victoria lurking in the shadows, planning her revenge, the possibility that she could turn (Y/N) got higher by the minute. There was no treaty that could stop her; much less enough wolves to overpower her. The redhead had enough years under her belt to surpass even Sam. If she truly wanted to, she would have bitten the girl that very night and disappeared, leaving them to deal with the unforeseen consequences. No matter how hard they tried, they had to accept that the vampire was stronger, faster, and more cunning than they had expected.

The driveway was empty save for Bella’s truck when the truck finally rolled to a stop. The silence in the cabin turned uncomfortable as the seconds passed; the unspoken words scratched angrily at their throats. It made the air around them unbearable and quite choking. Sentences threatened to spill, yet they weren't fully formed, unthreaded and messy.

“Paul,” (Y/N) said. At the same time, Paul mumbled, “Ella.”

They shared a soft laugh before Paul motioned to (Y/N) to speak first. “Paul, tonight,” she sighed, “everything could have ended up differently. I could've...”

“Don't say it,” he begged. “Please. Don't even think about it.”

“It was a very possible outcome,” she said, her gaze falling to her lap. “If Victoria had truly wanted to, I would be turning into a vampire right now, Paul. As much as I hate to say this, she has a point. What would you have done? Is there any world out there where we could have survived this?”

“We don't have to talk about it, Ella, because it didn't happen and it's never going to happen.”

“How can you be sure?” she exclaimed. “She had me exactly where she wanted me. If she didn't enjoy the theatrics so much, she could have turned me from the moment she took me away from you. So, I need to know what you would have done, Paul.”

“I don't see how that could be productive,” Paul sighed, running his hands across his face. “It didn't happen, and that's that. We don't have to imagine things that won't happen.”

“Yet, tonight proved that it could. I don't understand why you're so opposed to talking about it,” the girl groaned. “Is it because she was right? We wouldn't survive it.”

“(Y/N)...”

“If I had turned into a vampire tonight, that would have been the end of us,” (Y/N) scoffed defeatedly.

“Of course not! I just...”

“You just wouldn't even be able to stand the sight of me if I turned into one of them. It's not that hard to piece everything together.” Before Paul could say anything, the roar of an engine killed the words that wanted to escape. (Y/N)’s van rolled to a stop behind the Rabbit, a curious Bella glancing at the couple. “I guess we'll table this conversation for later. We'll only tell my sister what she has to know about Victoria—nothing about her threat.”

“(Y/N)...”

“Enough,” she muttered through gritted teeth, watching as Bella walked closer to the truck. “Victoria was there. She grabbed me. The pack scared her off. That's that.”

“Okay,” Paul answered defeatedly. “Yeah. Let's go with that.”

By the time Bella reached them, Paul was helping (Y/N) out of the passenger side. “You guys are here early,” she chuckled. “Was prom that bad?”

“You could say that,” (Y/N) winced, feeling tears forming she didn’t know she was holding. “I just want out of this dress, out of this makeup. And I just want tonight to end.”

The girl walked past her boyfriend hurriedly, ignoring the calls from him and her sister. In that moment, she didn’t want more questions; she didn’t want pity or worry. She simply wanted to sleep the past few hours away and wake up when everything was over.

But she forgot she was the protagonist of a never-ending nightmare. The next day only brought another flurry of problems. One second inside the house, and the next dilemma erupted.

“Stop,” Paul exclaimed, forcing both Swans to stop in their tracks. “A bloodsucker has been here.”

“Well, Edward and Alice have been around the house a couple of times,” Bella explained. “You’re probably smelling them.”

“No. This scent is different,” the boy muttered, his face contorting in disgust. “It’s not a Cullen, and it’s not Victoria. Someone else was here.”

The girls followed Paul slowly up the stairs, their hands tightly grasped as though they could lose each other on the way. They were terrified, not just that a vampire had broken into their home so easily, but that they could have done it when their father was by himself. The sisters didn’t care about themselves; they knew the danger they were in, but Charlie did not deserve to be thrown in the middle of a world he didn’t know existed.

Once the boy did a walkthrough on the second floor, each girl went to their room. They weren’t in disarray, but it was clear things weren’t right.

(Y/N) remembered the way she had left her room that morning. She had thrown her pajamas on the ground after she’d gotten dressed, along with a pair of slippers. Her laundry basket had been filled halfway, but now only a few items were left at the bottom. The jacket she had slipped out of on Friday that she had left hanging on her desk chair was gone, along with her pillow and her favorite sneakers.

Yet those things weren’t what bothered her. Instead, it was the dreamcatcher that no longer hung above her bed. Now, it lay in the middle of her room; the wooden wolf was cracked in half, and the colored beads were strewn across the floor. The broken dreamcatcher should not have sent her into a spiral, but after the night she'd had, it was enough to have her break down.

The girl fell to the ground as gut-wrenching sobs left her throat, her dress pooling around her in a sea of red. She held the pieces of the dismantled gift in her hands, wanting nothing more than the barrage of thoughts to stop. A voice echoed in the back of her mind that the broken dreamcatcher was a sign. Her relationship with Paul was flawed, and a crack had begun to form that night. They had already built themselves onto unsteady foundations, and she was terrified of how easily it had started to shake.

Paul and Bella rushed to (Y/N)’s room at the sound of her crying, falling to their knees on either side of her as they noticed the item in her hands.

“It’s broken,” she croaked, looking at the pieces as though staring at them would magically restore them. “They… they broke it.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Paul cooed, wrapping his hands over her shaky ones. “I can always get you a new one. It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. It’s…” The words died in her throat as her eyes snapped to the spindles of her headboard. “No, no, no, no…”

The word came out of her mouth like an incantation as she rose from the ground, stumbling over her dress and leaving her sister and boyfriend dumbfounded. She was a madwoman. She ripped away the sheets from her bed, shifted her mattress, unloaded her bedside table drawers on the ground, and even dropped to the ground to check under her bed. (Y/N) ignored the worried calls of Paul and Bella as a new stream of tears opened its floodgates.

For years, she had held onto that leather bracelet, making sure it was safe and intact. She had never let anyone touch it, afraid it would become damaged or somehow snap. Years of care and protection ended in an instant. “It’s gone,” she whimpered. “They took it.”

“Took what, (Y/N)?” Bella questioned. “What’s going on?”

“The bracelet!” (Y/N) exclaimed, looking at the pair with red-brimmed eyes. “It's gone! It's gone!”

She didn't want to believe in signs from the universe. That a stolen bracelet and a broken dreamcatcher could have any meaning to her connection with Paul, but she couldn’t deny the coincidence. The very night she had her first argument with him as a couple and the most priceless gifts he had given her had been torn apart. It was easier to think it had no meaning than to admit the tension that had begun to grow in the past hour.

Bella didn’t know how to comfort her sister. She simply wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. That’s when she noticed the scratch on her neck, the dirt smudges on her arms, and the slight rip at the bottom of her dress. “What happened tonight, (Y/N)?” the older girl asked quietly as she started to connect her sister’s reactions to the situation. “What’s got you like this?”

“Victoria showed up again,” (Y/N) sniffled. “She went to the school and grabbed me. I was alone with her for like a minute, but Sam showed up with the pack and chased her away.”

“H-how… why is she going after you again?” Bella worried. “It’s me she wants. Maybe I should just…”

“Don’t you dare,” the younger Swan argued, tightening her grip around her sister. “Don’t even think it for a second. We’ll get rid of her. Somehow. Just… don’t do anything stupid.”

“I wouldn't dare,” Bella chuckled softly. “I just wanna make sure you're okay. I'm sorry you have to deal with Victoria because of me. If I had known any of this would happen...”

“Stop, Bells. It's not your fault,” (Y/N) assured.

“What's not her fault?” a sudden voice interjected, startling the girls apart. Edward stood by the entrance, Paul staring him down like he had been the vampire who had broken into the house while they were away. “What is that scent?”

“Another leech like you broke in,” the werewolf spat, taking a few steps to stand right next to (Y/N), acting like a wall between her and the vampire. “You guys sure have a very messed-up view of privacy.”

“Do you recognize the scent?” Bella interjected, knowing there wouldn't be any resolution between the two boys. “Paul says it wasn't Victoria or any of you guys. They took a lot of our personal items—I can’t be sure for what.”

“They had to be looking for something.”

“Looking for us,” she said. “Victoria attacked (Y/N) tonight.”

“Again?” Edward asked in surprise. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” the younger girl said. “I'm fine. Just more scared than anything.”

Edward muttered a hm before surveying the room. It was clear he noticed things Bella couldn't, especially about (Y/N)—the way her heart raced when she spoke of Victoria, the bruise forming on her neck, the scent of the redhead all over the girl. “Could be the Volturi,” he muttered. “Although I don't see why they would involve (Y/N) if they were the ones who came here. It doesn't make sense.”

He fished for his phone then, calling his brother Emmett and arranging for him and Jasper to do a search in the surrounding woods. The visitor could have been long gone already, but a small manhunt couldn't hurt, especially to keep the Swans safe. “You guys shouldn’t stay here,” he said as he ended the call. “Especially since we still don’t know if the vampire is going to come back. I’ll take you to the house while Jasper and Emmett sweep the forest, and we can ask Alice if she's seen anything.”

“Like hell you’re taking (Y/N) to your place,” Paul seethed. “I can keep them safe.”

“Right. Because (Y/N) hasn’t gotten hurt under your watch—what—three times now?” Edward retorted. “You’re lucky we’re willing to amend the treaty and allow you to be here, don’t push it.”

Ire bubbled in Paul, growing in bone-shattering tremors. This wasn’t a simple dig at the boy; it was a threat to him. In his eyes, Edward was just another leech trying to get between him and (Y/N), and he couldn’t have that.

“Do you really think it’s necessary to go?” (Y/N) interjected, placing a hand on Paul’s arm in an attempt to calm him down. The touch snapped his attention toward her, but under her palm, he was still shaking. “Do you think they’re really coming back?”

“We can’t be too sure,” he shrugged. “For the moment, we have to assume you two are still in imminent danger.”

“Then I’m taking them to the reservation.”

“The very place (Y/N) was just attacked?” Edward threw kindling to the fire. “Great idea, pup.”

“Say that again!” Paul exclaimed, only held by (Y/N)’s futile attempt at stopping him. “You’re just begging me to break the treaty.”

“I won’t stop you,” he pushed. “Go ahead and give us the green light to cross territories.”

“Are you threatening us right now?”

“I'm not the one who started this fight, mutt.”

“Yet you're surely looking for one, bloodsucker.”

Paul and Edward had taken steps closer with every word they spoke until they were staring each other down, so close their scents were surely burning their nostrils. The vampire was composed, his anger simmering quietly under the surface while the wolf trembled under the weight of his irritation. The boys were only moments away from breaking a decades-long treaty over inflated egos and the fear that the person they loved the most was in danger.

“Okay, that's enough,” Bella said, getting between them both. She motioned toward her sister, and (Y/N) pulled Paul back while Bella did the same with Edward. “If you two want to break the peace and fight, you can do it outside.”

“You're both taking this a little too far,” (Y/N) added. “Edward, why don't you call Alice here. We can think of the next steps here.”

“I don't like this, but if I must,” he conceded with a sigh. “I'll let her know.”

Bella followed Edward out of her sister's room, but not before throwing the girl an apologetic glance her way. Only a few months before, silence reigned in the Swan household. The older girl was stuck in a depressive spiral, and (Y/N) had just come back to Forks. If someone had told them they would be in the middle of a turf war between vampires and werewolves while being hunted by a revenge-hungry vampire, they would have definitely laughed. Now, they had to do their best to mediate between the two worlds that pulled them apart.

“What is up with you?” (Y/N) grumbled in a low voice as she turned toward Paul. “He's just trying to help.”

“And what are you trying to say? That I'm not?”

“You getting angry is not helping, no,” she argued. “We all want the same thing. Why can't you just put your feelings aside and work with the Cullens instead of against them?”

“Are you serious right now, (Y/N)?” he exclaimed, his anger clouding his judgment. “Why the hell are you defending him? Of all people, why him?”

“All I’m saying is that we all want the same thing, Paul,” the girl sighed loudly. While Paul grew angrier, (Y/N) grew more and more frustrated. The dress felt too tight, the pins in her hair felt like they were ripping the strands, her makeup felt like plaster on her face. Everything was just too overwhelming. “You can work with them just this once, instead of letting your anger fly off the handle like that. It won't help to find whoever it is that broke in tonight.”

“I can't believe this,” Paul scoffed. “You know, it's starting to sound like you're on their side. Almost like you wanna be one of them.”

(Y/N) wasn't able to respond before Bella announced that the rest of the Cullens had arrived. In that split second of silence, realization dawned on the boy, but it was too late. She was already at her wits' end, and the last thing she wanted was to keep arguing. “You go down first,” she said. “I want to get out of all of this.”

“(Y/N)...”

“Just go, Paul. I'll be there in a second.”  

Next ->

A/N: so sorry it took so long to update 🫣 back pain came back with a vengeance and the exhaustion with it. but i do hope you guys like the update. things are starting to heat up, and not in a good way If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click hereMake sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

Brick walls. Insulation. Wall panels. None of it was thick enough. At least not enough to drown out the horror that could live behind them. Broken dishes. Slammed doors. Razor-sharp words. They were the loudest melody that came from (Y/N)’s house every time her father decided to find comfort at the bottom of a bottle.  

He had been kind when she was younger, back when she couldn’t argue back or make decisions on her own. Her father had loved her then. His little princess, he used to call her. He had promised her to protect her from the monsters that roamed the earth. She had believed him, of course. At that moment, she couldn’t have known the monster already lived under her roof.  

There were days she thought about running away. She didn’t have much to pack, and she was sure no one in the house would notice her absence. Her presence had become a ghostly whisper in the space, only noticeable in the quiet of the night, where even the smallest creak would send the older man into a frenzy. (Y/N) tried her best to resign herself to the only space in the house she felt safe, but there were times when that wasn’t enough. Darkness was able to sneak in, to drown what little light she had left.  

But as much as she wanted to go, there was one person who kept her coming back home.  

Park Hu-min had decided from the moment he had laid eyes on (Y/N) that it was his job to protect her. He'd lived in his neighborhood his entire life, as did most of his neighbors. It was rare for anyone new to move in, much less a family that looked like (Y/N)'s.  

A young couple and two kids, an older boy and a girl around Hu-min's age. On the outside, they seemed perfect. And for a moment, he envied the doe-eyed girl who looked as though she had never been met with the unkindness of the world. That was until he heard the yelling. All it took was a week for the façade to shatter, gone after a night her father drowned in soju bottles and questionable company. There was no question that her family was far from perfect.  

The boy had heard it all. With his ear pressed against the wall, he had witnessed every insult, every crash, every sob. He'd heard fights before. Wives scolding their husbands for reeking of alcohol, husbands yelling at their wives, kids screaming about unfairness and frustrations. What he had never heard was a daughter yelling at her father for his wrongdoings and her mother scolding her for doing so. Hu-min heard as her mother ushered the kids to their respective rooms, telling them to keep their doors shut and not to come out until the morning. That was the first time he heard her cry through the walls.  

Hu-min knew the layout of the apartment. The entire block was built the same. The only difference was that conjoined buildings were flipped. He knew the exact room (Y/N) had locked herself in. He was standing on a replica of it.  

What took over him that night, he didn't know. One second, he felt tears well in the corners of his eyes as he listened to the girl's sniffles. And the next, he was climbing through the open window of the living room. The house had quieted by then. He snuck a glance to the side and noticed (Y/N)'s father passed out on the floor, wincing as he was reminded of his own dad and the nights he would find him sprawled on the ground. But Hu-min wasn't there to compare; he was there to help.  

Hu-min thought he knew what he'd find, but he was still surprised. Unlike his room, hers was neat, her walls covered with books and string lights. There were no bundles of dirty laundry on the ground, at least none that he could see. Her bed was made and riddled with stuffed animals and pillows. It looked safe, warm, inviting, unlike the scene he had to walk through to get to her. 

 He rapped softly on the window of her room, trying his hardest to make his presence as unthreatening as he could. Still, she yelped at the sight of him, her sadness quickly transforming into surprise. “It's just me,” Hu-min whispered as he maneuvered himself through the opening. “I came to see how you were.”  

“W-why?” (Y/N) sniffled as he sat beside her on the ground. “W-we barely know each other.”  

“We've been friends for a week, no? That's a lifetime in my books.”  

“S-so, you heard all of that?” Her eyes fell to her feet as she pulled her knees closer to her chest. She wasn't used to people knowing about her situation, much less caring. “I... I'm sorry, Baku.”  

“Why are you apologizing?”  

“I don't...” 

“It's not your fault that this happened, (Y/N),” he said. Baku wanted to bring her in, to comfort her through a physicality that wasn't natural to them yet. But the itching under his skin was unbearable, and without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, taking note of the way she flinched as he neared her body. “I just... I've been there, okay? I know what you're going through. And I'm not letting you go through this on your own.”  

“I'm not really alone,” she muttered. “My brother is right next door.”   

“Oh, well,” Hu-min cleared his throat, “I can go, if you want.”  

“No!” (Y/N) exclaimed quickly, holding onto his arm to keep him from moving. “Stay. Please.”  

You ask me what I'm thinking about I tell you that I'm thinking about Whatever you're thinking about

A smile pulled at the boy's mouth. He slid back down to the ground, stiffening as she curled up to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She was searching for warmth, for anything that could take her mind off what had happened that night. “Distract me a little, yeah?” she sniffled, trying her best to hold her tears back. “What're you thinking about?”  

Hu-min chuckled, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug, allowing her to take whatever it was that she needed. “Whatever you're thinking about,” he smirked. “What is it?”  

Tell me something that I'll forget And you might have to tell me again It's crazy what you'll do for a friend

“Baku, please,” she whimpered. “Tell me something, anything. Something I'll forget and you'll have to tell me again. I just don't want to think about tonight.”  

“Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'd do anything for a friend,” Hu-min said, pulling her closer to him, ignoring the way her tears drenched his t-shirt. “Why don't I tell you about the best anime in existence?”  

Nights like that became routine over the years. Even when it was his own father the one who came home with liquor in his system and hate on his tongue, Hu-min would sneak into (Y/N)'s room and they would comfort each other. Before her, he would have escaped to his best friend's house, and Go Hyun-tak would receive him with open arms. After her, his trek had come down to minutes as he slammed the door of his father's apartment and climbed into hers.  

He was always careful. The last thing he wanted was to create more trouble for (Y/N). But there was one night he threw caution to the wind—one of the worst nights he had ever witnessed.  

Baku had heard (Y/N)'s father arrive that summer night. He was loud and impudent, yelling for his wife's help long before he even reached the front door. His steps were unstable, making him trip over every move he made forward. Hiccups took over his throat every few words, interrupted only by the sound of his dry heaving. The boy watched from his window as the man gripped the handrail tightly, walking up the front stairs clumsily. 

(Y/N) hurried outside to help, her father screaming in her ear that she had taken too long. Hu-min's fist clenched at his sides as he saw the defeated look on her face. She had lost her bite in the years she had lived there. The girl who used to fight back had withered away, hiding somewhere deep inside where she could be protected. He understood why she stopped fighting back. Survival was the top priority in her head, and with her brother gone to college, she needed to ensure she lasted, too.  

As she struggled to help the man up the stairs, Hu-min wanted nothing but to run and help her. But he knew the second he did, her situation could turn worse. So, he listened as the inebriated man cursed at the girl, calling her weak and useless as he crushed her under his weight. He flinched at the slam of the door, knowing there was nothing else he could do until he simply had to intervene.    

“Where the fuck is your mother?” her father yelled. “I called her.”  

“S-she went to bed,” (Y/N) whimpered. “Her head had been hurting all day, and I told her I would stay up to wait for you.”  

“And what could a good-for-nothing freeloader do for me?” he spat, stumbling over his own feet as he tried to move to the couch. "Wake your mother up. Tell her I want some kimchi-jjigae.”  

Anger bubbled inside the girl. Her mother's words swirled in her head. “Don't anger your father,” she had said. “You know how he gets when he drinks.” Yet, it wasn't just the alcohol that made him a bad man. It was his blatant disrespect for his wife and his family. Long gone was the little girl who wanted nothing more than to make him smile; make him laugh. Her happiest moment with him had been when she had graduated from elementary school with the highest marks, and he'd said he was proud of her. But years had passed since then, and the father she had known was now the monster she had to survive.  

“Are you stupid?” the man exclaimed as (Y/N) remained frozen in her place, tears of rage brimming on the corners of her eyes. His gaze had turned scorching, taking her resistance as defiance. He crossed the distance between them, poking harshly the healing mark he had left on her face a week before. “I said, are you fucking stupid? Wake your mother up. NOW! I'm hungry.”   

“Why don't you ask that bitch you were seeing to make you some food?” The words came out of her mouth long before she could process them or even stop them. They burned her tongue, scorching their way into existence and setting off a reaction she had no control over. “Matter of fact, maybe you should just go and be with her.”  

The slap echoed inside the house, reverberating against the walls as (Y/N) fell to the ground from the force. The taste of iron filled her mouth as her teeth vibrated from the strike. She was frozen in shock, unable to distance herself from him before he landed a kick on her stomach. “Say that again, you ungrateful brat,” he spat. “Should have never let your mother keep you. You and your brother are just disappointments. At least he'll make something of his life. You will always just be a burden.”  

(Y/N) wasn't sure what stung more, the words her father had said or the subsequent kicks he landed on her side. She didn't get up from the ground or cover herself from the attack; she couldn't. Her mind had seemed to shut down, freezing under the realization of just how deep her father's hate went.  

He had raised her once to believe in fairytales. In a world where love was given by the spoonful. It didn't have to be earned or demanded; it didn't harm or destroy. But somewhere along the line, that love had run out, replaced by a deep-rooted disdain that had lain dormant until it had taken over. (Y/N) knew her father hated her; she just never knew how much.  

At some point, the hits ceased. Her mind was hazy, blurred by the thoughts swirling in her head and the tears that clouded her eyes. She could hear her mother begging the man to stop, pulling him away toward the kitchen to create distance between her husband and the girl. The woman tried everything to diffuse the situation, to simmer the man's anger until it singed quietly. It was a dance she had done for too many years, too many times. It was second nature. It was survival.  

Once she saw the opportunity, (Y/N) ran out of the house. Her body screamed with every step she took, begging her not to move. But her brain did not let her stop. She had to get away. That wasn't the first time she had run away when her father had come home reeking of booze and bad decisions. She often put distance between herself and that monster, unable to withstand his anger and disdain. She'd even gone with Hu-min to Gotak's home after some particularly loud and violent arguments.  

Yet, there was something different in the air that night. His words stung a little more; his hits were a little more determined. There was a certain air of conviction emanating from the man, as though he'd been contemplating his choices for a long time. Deep down, (Y/N) knew if her mother had not been there that night, her situation would have turned dire.  

The girl didn't stop until she was blocks away from her home. She reached the park she frequented, leaning against a tree as her lungs burned for air. As her body settled, the pain started to bubble to the surface. Her ribs were in agony, and the taste of blood made her stomach churn. With her tongue, she felt the gash her teeth had left on her lip. The cut was deep, still oozing as she dabbed it with her t-shirt.  

“Here,” Baku said breathlessly as he handed her a handkerchief. “Try to dry it as much as you can. I'll clean it after.” 

She hadn't realized he had followed her. Too focused on getting away, her brain had not registered the boy calling for her as she sped down the hill they lived on. She allowed her legs to carry her until she couldn't run any longer, then, and only then, was she able to register anything other than her escape.  

Hu-min led her to a bench where he inspected the cut on her lip. Silently, he got to work. He started with the red mark on her cheek. It looked angry, so pooled with blood it already looked bruised. Gently, he spread ointment on her skin, his heart wrenching as she flinched at his touch. It was instinctive, but it hurt him. He couldn't stand the way she cowered from his hand, even if it was for a second. The mere thought of ever being the reason she was scared made his stomach drop. “Let me know if it hurts too much,” he whispered as he finished. “I can go get a compress or something.”  

“No,” she whimpered. “Don't go.”  

“Never,” the boy promised. His hand cradled her cheek, softly wiping away the tears that fell down her skin. “I’ll always be here for you.” 

The corners of her mouth pulled into a small smile, stretching as far as they could without ripping the wound open again. “Thank you,” she sniffled. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I didn’t think tonight would be this bad.”  

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Hu-min cooed. “I just can’t believe your mom doesn’t get you out of that house.” 

“It’s not that simple, Baku,” she sighed. “She hasn't lived an easy life.” 

(Y/N) narrated her mother's story. She spoke of the poverty she grew up in, the lack of opportunities, and just how hard she had to work to give them what little they had. The girl related the stories of the woman's first husband, the man who had been a half of her brother—a man she only knew of from her mother’s words. He had died when the boy was only two, leaving his wife with a mountain of debt and a young child to take care of. She told Baku about the cold winter they had spent on the streets, hiding in café bathrooms and curling up together in apartment stairwells to keep warm. The bills had gotten too high, and the money coming in was simply not enough for the two of them to survive. The spring after was when her mother met the man who had given her life.  

Daddy stuck around but he wasn't present Cheated on your mom but she never left him First I didn't get it, now I understand He broke her heart, left money in her hands So everything got paid for

At first, she had been told, he was an exemplary man. He took care of her brother as though he were his own and had given her mother something she had not had for a long time, a warm bed and a roof over their heads. The man was a provider, the one thing her mother had yearned for while she did her best to keep her child alive. There had been nights when he would come home drunk and get too physical—the way her mother had phrased it—and maybe the thought of leaving him had crossed her mind. But when that feeling popped into her head, the woman had found out she was pregnant with a new ray of sunshine, her little (Y/N). She had gone through the worst situations with one of her kids, and she would do everything in her power to never let it happen again.  

She made sure you and your brother had way more Than she ever had growing up But when you told me the whole story, I felt like throwing up

When the girl was born, her father had seemingly become a changed man. He was over the moon with the thought of having a daughter, going as far as proposing to his partner so their child could be raised in a united and loving home. And they had a good few years together after she was born, where they had been fed love in the form of grandiose promises and kindness so sweet they didn’t know it could be real.  

“Little did we know it wasn’t,” she sniffled. “He married my mom when I was six years old. After that, he slowly started to change. He started staying out late almost every night, coming home drunk. One day, I was helping her with the laundry, and there was a red lipstick stain on the neck of his shirt—my mom never wore red lipstick. I told her to confront him, that he had no right to be with other women.”  

Her eyes stared off at the distance, her mind forming an image as clear as the day she had witnessed it. She didn't notice Baku beside her. The way his chin trembled as he took his lip between his teeth, trying his best not to cry. She spoke of her past as though it was normal, like she deserved the hardships she'd gone through simply because she had been born. It made his stomach turn to think of all the things she had been through from such a young age, how she had become used to the pain and the abuse because it had begun so long ago.  

I could see it on your face, it was rough Left a bad taste on your tongue And she didn't even take any drugs She would rain all day, couldn't wait for her sun to shine And you made it shine There when she cried, you saved her life

 “I still remember the look on her face when I said that,” (Y/N) sighed. “Her eyes were so sad, but ultimately, she seemed resigned. It wasn't new information for her, clearly. She told me to ignore it, to never bring it up in front of him. Back then, I didn’t get it, but I do now. He gives her the one thing she wasn't able to have—financial and housing stability. I just can’t help it sometimes, and I always end up making him mad. Maybe I should just learn to keep my mouth shut.” 

“It’s not your fault,” Baku quickly stated, his voice breaking as it escaped his mouth. She let out a tearful chuckle, sure to object to his words. But they died the moment Hu-min cradled her face between his hands, his thumb wiping away the tears that stained her skin.  “None of it is your fault, (Y/N).” 

“I should have kept quiet,” she argued quietly. “I have to.” 

“Listen to me, (Y/N),” he said. “You do not have to fear that man—not while I'm around. I promise I will do everything in my power to get you out of there, okay? You and your mom.”  

“No, Hu-min, don't put that on yourself,” the girl cried. “We aren't your responsibility.”  

“You became my responsibility the moment I realized I was in love with you,” he admitted, the confession rolling off his tongue faster than his brain could process it. He only realized when (Y/N)'s eyes widened and her cheeks turned a deep shade of red. “I... uh, that's not...”  

“Y-you're in love w-with me?” she stammered, her voice breaking as new tears formed in her eyes. “S-since when?”  

“From the moment I met you,” he sheepishly answered, his signature smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “It's okay if you don't feel the same way. I've been wanting to tell you how I feel for a long time, but I've never been able to find the right time. I'm sorry it came out this way. I...”  

His rambling was interrupted as a burst of confidence surged inside (Y/N), and she crashed her lips onto his. Instantly, the boy melted into the kiss, ignoring the taste of antiseptic cream and iron and focusing solely on her. He pulled her in gently, finding the small space between them far too big for the moment. Every move he made was soft and deliberate, too afraid of hurting her more than she already was. The kiss was perfect—slow but passionate. Hu-min did not want it to end. Not when her hands snaked around his neck to pull him in. Not when she let out a small whimper, and he was able to sneak his tongue past her lips. Not when his hands kneaded the skin of her hips.  

Unfortunately for him, they were still human, and they needed to breathe. “That was...” he grinned goofily. “Wow.”  

“If it wasn't clear,” (Y/N) smiled, as she panted between words, “I feel the same way, Baku. I honestly don't know where I'd be without you.”  

“And to think I came out all this way to comfort you,” he said. “How is it that you're the one who's made me happy?”  

“I am happy, Baku,” she replied. “You have no idea how happy I am right now.”  

“Good,” the boy mused. “Because I'm planning to make you happy for the rest of our lives. I hope you're ready, ‘cause you will never be able to get rid of me.”  

At that moment, Hu-min had meant it. Truthfully, he did. But he hadn't expected life to get in his way, much less that he would find himself working for Baek-jin and the Union. The boy had known exactly how to get Baku to comply with his demands. He went after his father—having the man thrown in jail was only a warning. He went after his friends after—hurting them seemed to be his go-to. Once that wasn’t enough, he pulled the one card he knew would send him straight to the Union.  

Getting suspended so quickly again was not in his plans. But Baku could not handle the rage that filled him as his ex-best friend’s minions sent his father to jail. His legs and his fists moved before his head could process what he was doing, and before he knew it, the boys were beaten almost unconscious. Getting suspended for defending his family didn’t hurt, but his father’d had enough. Without knowing he’d been forced to stay at home, the man thought his son was skipping school for no reason.  

Go ahead and cry, little boy You know that your daddy did too You know what your mama went through You gotta let it out soon, just let it out

As the boy read yet another menacing text from Baek-jin, the man slammed open his door, chastising him over missing days. Being sick wasn’t a good enough excuse for his father, and he let him know through threats and insults. For a moment, Baku even believed he would slap him. Anger bubbled inside him, rising to the surface as everything he had swallowed threatened to escape. Everything he was doing was to keep him and his friend safe, but his father made him question just how worth accepting Baek-jin’s demands was. Si-eun, Jun-tae, and Gotak were big enough reasons. His father? The boy still wasn’t sure.  

But (Y/N)? She was his biggest incentive. Baek-jin had not mentioned her at that point, but Hu-min could feel it in his bones that it was only a matter of time. He just couldn’t know how quickly it would happen.  

He stormed out of his room as his father finished insulting him, forcing the boy to rethink the protectiveness he still felt toward the abusive man. Rage made his limbs tingle, forcing his hands into fists as he made his way out. Yet, something stopped him before he could make it down the steps. A certain someone who was rushing up the concrete stairs, her face tinted red and her chest heaving from a lack of breath.  

“(Y-Y/N),” he stammered, his eyes widening in surprise. “What’re you doing here?” 

“I h-heard your dad yelling at you,” the girl responded, panting. “I wasn’t sure what was happening; all I heard was yelling. I thought… I didn’t know what else to do.” 

“Were you just gonna barge in there? Alone?” Hu-min said, an amused smile tugging at his mouth as he led her down the steps with an arm around her shoulders. “My girl is so brave.” 

“It’s just… you’ve been a little distant these past few days,” she muttered. “I thought something bad was happening at home, and I couldn’t bear the thought.” 

“You don’t have to worry about that, (Y/N),” he said, but his voice betrayed him. There was a tone pitch that did not go unnoticed by her. Accompanied by the slight furrow of his brow and the tiredness in his eyes, she knew there was something weighing heavily on his shoulders. “There are just a couple of things I need to handle.” 

“Baku…” 

“I’m okay,” the boy smiled before placing a kiss on her forehead. “You should go get some rest, though. I think I’m gonna go out for a walk to clear my head.” 

“I’ll go with you,” she offered.  

Panic filled his mouth with bile. Baek-jin was growing restless as he waited for his answer, and the closer she was, the easier a target she became. “Your dad’s still out on his business trip,” he said. “You should use this time to rest. Enjoy the peace and quiet.” 

“Are you sure? I don’t mind keeping you company.” 

“I’m sure.” He forced himself to smile as he cradled her cheeks and softly pecked her lips. “Dream pretty things, yeah?” 

“Alright, fine,” she smiled brightly, looking up at him like he’d put the stars in the sky. “Will you come over tonight?” 

“I’ll try.” 

As much as he wanted to, Baku didn’t sneak into her room that night. Instead, he spent that time beating up a kid under strict instructions of the boy he had once thought of as a brother. He had found Hu-min’s weakness, sticking the knife deeply in his back and twisting. Everything he had vowed to protect hung by a thin thread, and Baek-jin took a knife to it all through a phone call. 

“Make your decision. I won’t ask twice,” Baek-jin had threatened. “Your dad, your friends… ah, and that girl. What was her name? (Y/N)?”  

Her name slipped too easily from his tongue and Baku’s grip on his phone tightened. Baek-jin knew who she was and knew just how important she was to him. The boy knew Hu-min better than anyone else in the world. Sometimes he believed he was inside his mind. Using her was his last Hail Mary, and it was exactly what he needed to make his resolution shatter. “I’m the only one who can give you what you want,” the boy stated. “No one else. You said you’d do whatever I want. I’ll do whatever you want, too.” 

Baku had started skipping school then, too exhausted to focus and too ashamed to face his friends. It was easier to face his father; he was used to the man’s wrath. But he couldn’t handle the look of disappointment in any of his friends’ eyes, much less in hers. In those days, he was riddled with shame and guilt. At night, he was forced to be anywhere but home, where he could protect (Y/N). Hu-min couldn't even bring himself to see her the next day for fear of her anger, much less her discontent. He had failed her, and he had broken, yet again, another promise.  

He thought he was doing the right thing. Pushing the people he loved away to keep them from getting in the middle of his never-ending war with Baek-jin. He couldn’t bear making them casualties in their unresolved business. But he forgot he couldn’t control everything.  

Si-eun, Jun-tae, and Gotak did not accept Hu-min’s disappearance. They were physically unable to stay away while they knew Baku was under Baek-jin’s control. They got in the way, they got hurt. Still, they did everything in their power to help the boy realize protecting them was not his responsibility, at least not one he had to carry on his own. He still had to be strong, but he could do it with his friends by his side.  

After a long, defeating night, Hu-min made it back home. Si-eun’s hospitalization weighed heavily on his mind, but he tried his best to keep his guilt at bay. His accident had nothing to do with Baek-jin and the Union; he kept reminding himself. It had simply been an unfortunate accident. The heaviness of the past weeks dragged him down, and all he wanted was to lie on his bed and sleep for as long as he could.  

But (Y/N)’s father had other plans. 

“Why the fuck do I keep finding these goddamn cigarettes outside?” the man yelled as he threw used buds at (Y/N)’s face. “Who gave you permission to have that good-for-nothing guy hanging around?” 

“Do you hear yourself? Are you crazy?” the girl argued. “I don’t hang around anyone who smokes. And the last thing I would do is bring them here.” 

“Yeah? And what about that boy?” he pushed, his voice slurring as the alcohol coursed through his veins. “The one with the glasses and the tracksuit.” 

“Who? I don’t even know anyone like that.”  

“Don’t you fucking lie to me, you brat!” her father exclaimed, pushing her hard toward the wall. The bookcase next to her rattled, sending a picture frame to the ground. “You’re just a useless slut like your mother. Better not get pregnant like she did, or you’re out of here.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the girl yelled, holding the shoulder that slammed against the surface. “I haven’t done anything!” 

“Stop lying!” the man spat, slapping her across the face. As she stumbled from the force, he grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. “I have enough with having to pay for you to live. I won’t waste my money on another useless mouth to feed.” 

“Then maybe you should go live with that other woman,” the girl muttered. “Or maybe you should get rid of me for once. It’s not my fault I was born, and it’s not my fault you hate me so much.” 

(Y/N) could see anger building on her father’s face, painting it a deep shade of red. She knew she shouldn’t have egged him on; her mother had asked her as much. Agreeing and apologizing was an easier way to survive the rest of the time she had to live in the home. But she couldn’t help herself—not when all he could do was bring out the worst in her. 

“You really are an ungrateful brat,” he spewed, raising his hand as far back as he could. “I’m gonna show you how to respect your father.” 

She braced herself for the blow, squeezing her eyes shut as tightly as she could before he sent her to the ground. But the slap never came, and the fall never happened. Slowly, she fluttered her eyes open, her breath hitching in her throat as she witnessed Hu-min grabbing her father’s wrist with a gaze full of wrath she had never seen before.  

“Who the fuck do you think you are, kid?” her father yelled. “Let go of me!” 

“I’m the one stopping you from hurting your daughter for the millionth time,” Baku spat. “Not that you even deserve the title of father, and much less to claim (Y/N) as your daughter.” 

“Are you the one then, huh?!” the man slobbered. “You’re the one who has been smoking in my front door and sneaking into my house to see my slut of a daughter?” 

“Don’t call her that.” His tone was pointed, the words escaping through gritted teeth and a tense jaw. There was fire in the boy’s eyes, and he didn’t care to not let it burn.  

“Just be careful with girls like her,” he chuckled. “She’s the kind to get pregnant and keep you stuck for the rest of your life.” 

The next thing Baku did wasn’t talk. He towered over the man already in stature, but once he was on the ground, the young boy looked like a giant. Hu-min had pushed the man back, making him lose his footing and collide against the floor. Her father's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't dare to fight back—not when Baku looked the way he did. He dug into his pockets, pulling out a few stray bills and throwing them at him. “Why don't you go out and get yourself another drink?” he spat. “It's the only thing you can do right.”  

Without another word, Baku grabbed (Y/N)'s wrist and led her to her room, quickly locking the door behind him. Once inside, he let out the breath he was holding and turned to the girl, cradling her face as he inspected her for any injuries. “Are you okay?” he worried, trying his best to wipe away the tears that wouldn't stop. “Where does it hurt?”  

“It doesn't,” she cried. “I just... you're here.”  

“I’m sorry I haven't been,” he said sadly. “I promised I would protect you and I...”  

“It's okay,” (Y/N) smiled, tears still falling rapidly from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in for a tight hug. All she cared about was that he was back and, more importantly, that he was okay. “You're here now. That's all I need.”  

Baku stared at her in disbelief. He thought he was in for a reckoning. At the very least, he expected her to push him away. But she simply brought him closer. “But I...”  

“Your friends came by,” she muttered against his chest. “You have nothing to apologize for. You were protecting everyone, even if it isn't your job, Hu-min. There is nothing for you to feel guilty about.”  

Tears fell from Baku's cheeks then. He circled (Y/N)'s neck with his arms, pressing her as against him as he possibly could. Instantly, the cold that had settled in his bones for the past weeks melted, replaced instead by the warmth he'd always felt in her presence. His heart steadied, and his breathing evened. In her arms, he was at peace.   

“Has it been hard?” the boy asked in a whisper. “The time I've been away, has he done anything?”  

“He hasn't been home as much this week since mom left to visit my brother,” she sighed. They sank to the floor, using her bed as back support. Instinctively, Baku wrapped an arm around her shoulders, resting her head on his. “Most of the time, I've been locking myself in my room. I've even started using the dresser as a barricade since he's weaker when he's blackout drunk.”  

“I should have been here. I should have...”  

“Stop, Hu-min,” she said as she placed a hand on his chest. “This is not your responsibility. Sometimes you forget, but you're also just a kid. Going after my dad is not gonna change who he is. What you did tonight was reckless, and you could have gotten hurt.”  

“(Y/N)...”  

“It was,” the girl affirmed. “But thank you. You didn't have to save me, but you did. So, thank you.”  

And if you were my little girl I'd do whatever I could do I'd run away and hide with you I know that you got daddy issues

“You don't have to thank me,” he smiled, kissing the top of her head. “I just don't understand how any parent could do that to their kid. If you were my little girl, I wouldn't let the world touch you. Nothing and no one would ever be able to cause you pain or harm. You would only know the good things in life.” 

(Y/N) smiled then. The tears had finally stopped, and she allowed herself to close her eyes. She pictured the life Hu-min spoke of. A world where she had not cut herself on the knife her father had called love; where her mother had seen a better path for herself, one where she didn't have to walk in fear; where she had never known the sting of the palm of a man who was supposed to protect her. It was the same world Baku deserved, even if he wouldn't admit it. A life without knowing the pain of having to grow up because the adults around you refuse to. A life where he could simply be a kid—not a provider, not a protector, not anything other than a kid.  

She wanted that for them. A world where happiness wasn't simply an idea, but a given right. Yet, she didn't know if in that life they would have gotten the chance to meet. (Y/N) had found her happiness in Hu-min, a boy who didn't know how not to carry the world on his shoulders. He was one of the only people who showed her that love did not have to be earned through blood, sweat, and tears; that it could be given without asking much in return.  

As she listened to him talk, the tears finally stopped, stretching a satisfied smile across Hu-min's face. “That's what I like to see,” he mused. “That beautiful smile.”  

Go ahead and cry, little girl Nobody does it like you do I know how much it matters to you I know that you got daddy issues (And I do too)

“I bet you're tired of me crying every time you see me,” she chucked sadly. “And it's always about the same thing. I'm sorry you have to deal with me.”  

“Don't ever apologize for that, (Y/N),” Baku said. “Go ahead and cry all you want. Heaven knows just how much I have cried about the same things. I love you, jagiya, and I promise I'll never leave you alone in this ever again.”  

“I love you too, Hu-min,” (Y/N) beamed, her eyes glimmering with something other than tears. “I still can't believe it's our daddy issues that brought us together.”  

“I'd like to believe we were always meant to meet,” he smiled. “Regardless of who our parents are, it was always gonna end up being me and you.”  

That night, he rested. Even if it was only a few hours before the sun shone brightly on his face, forcing him to blink himself away, he rested. Waking up with her in his arms, watching as her chest rose and fell with her even breathing, he finally understood what he was fighting for. And there was no way he would allow the Union or Baek-jin to take anything from him, especially not her. 

Everything had shifted. Time and space had transformed Forks into something unrecognizable, something that terrified me.

My brain betrayed me. My heart had as well. I couldn't find another solution, a way out that could keep everyone safe. There was a determination, a resolution in their eyes that terrified me. But not more than the fear in my chest for their lives.

I had to know danger would come for me once more. It was in the very fabric of how I was created.

Walking away was not an option; I knew that. Whether I survived it all wasn't even up to me. I didn't want to stand on the sidelines and watch as everything wasted away to nothing. It was all a game. There were winners, and there were losers. I just didn't know which side I was on.

I was prey—a piece in a game of chess that only had one ending. A checkmate so deadly it would disrupt the fabric of existence once more. And instead of being able to stand in the front lines, I had to stand behind the pawns and watch as they fought to keep us safe.

Not knowing my future scared me. Not knowing if I would be in control of it terrified me.