(Y/N) POV:

I sat there on the sofa, my brain processing all that had happened and trying to organise it, to figure out the sequence of the events ruining my life at the moment. The headphones were snug and there was a soft music melody playing- it was calming but so powerful in each note. I didn't notice the boys had started to wake up until I felt the sofa sink next to me with a newly added weight and I turned to see Jiminie sitting there, half-awake as he smiled blearily at me.

His hair was sticking out in tufts, my hand reached out to straighten his hair, and his eyes slowly closed under the gentle sifting. He dropped his head onto my shoulder, falling into a light sleep. I could only smile at the sight. I felt an additional weight drop on the other side of me, I turned to see that it was Hobi oppa looking uncharacteristically serious and void of his usual sunshine energy.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I could be better, just not at my prime oppa." I said wryly, desperate to make him break out into a smile.

"You're not in any pain, are you?" his voice was still serious.

"A little, but I can only take painkillers after eating something, otherwise the dosage might be too strong and make me woozy." I explained, growing painfully aware of the throbbing that the music had distracted me from. The question had me conscious of the pain again.

"Breakfast is ready." Yoongi oppa said entering the living room, wiping his hands on a small towel.

He looked at the sleeping figures and sighed, moving over to flick them with the towel.

"Wake up brats. I went to the effort of cooking so the least you can do is not let it go cold." He lectured to the rousing figures whose eyes snapped open at the sound of their hyung and the mention of food.

They clambered to their feet, but I hesitated. For two reasons. One, I didn't want to wake or disturb Jiminie by getting up, he looked relaxed as he slept. Two, if I got up my legs would be exposed and I didn't want them fussing and worrying, most definitely not before they had even eaten.

So, I decided not to get up. However, Yoongi oppa came forward bearing a tray. He placed it down on my lap gently, fussing slightly as he straightened the cushion behind me.

"Thank you oppa." I whispered to him, he continued to straighten my blanket, but I knew when he straightened up he had heard- because he left the room with a soft smile on his face.

As appetising as the food looked, I generally didn't have much of an appetite in the mornings- it was something I couldn't fix, I only ate something light like fruit or nothing at all and just downed a cup of caffeine before going anywhere. I lifted the chopsticks and stared listlessly at the bowl of rice and stew- my stomach churned at the thought. Nope, couldn't do it. I put the chopsticks down, going instead for the fork and eating the cut pieces of fruit instead.

Next to me Jiminie stirred, I finished up the fruit and gently nudged him with the shoulder he was resting on.

He sat up slowly becoming more alert with the smell of stew wafting towards him. I placed the tray on his lap gesturing at him to eat. He woke up, becoming energetic and his usual self as he ate, letting out a hum of approval at the taste.

He got up to take the tray back, and I heard the sound of people getting to their feet. Chairs scraping back, hums of chatter, utensils and crockery being picked up, a brief argument about whose turn it was doing the dishes. It was the sound of a home, not a house. Filled with people, bustling about as they went about life. I preferred that sound over the quiet solitude of my own apartment.

Jinnie oppa came striding in, an air of importance and purpose surrounding him, and he came in bearing something I dreaded. A first-aid kit. Behind him, Hobi oppa was holding a glass of water and I saw the disaster happen as though in slow-motion. Joonie oppa was rushing behind him and in his haste he tripped over his own feet, arms stretched out and mouth open in alarm and then he went barrelling straight into Hobi oppa whose hand flew open in shock and the glass went flying before landing with a soft thump on the carpet- soaking it instantly.

"I'm so sorry Hoseok-ah!" Joonie oppa was frantically apologising who was staring at the glass in shock before he burst into laughter.

"Aish Namjoon-ah, why didn't I expect that?" he teased.

Behind them Yoongi oppa came out ushering forward the two maknaes carrying another glass of water with him. He had somehow foreseen this unfortunate incident and bore a replacement.

Jinnie oppa knelt in front of me, eyes swimming with concern, that made me feel guilty. It seemed like I couldn't make him feel anything except concern and worry- I was being such a burden on him. I frowned at the worry I could see knowing I was the root of it all.

"Hey (Y/N)-ah. Yoongi told me you could only take medication after eating. How's the leg doing?" his hands coming forward to take the blanket off, my hand darted out to clasp at his wrist stilling his movements.

"I'm fine oppa, I don't...." I fumbled with my words; I didn't want to alarm them but Yoongi oppa saw right through me. I hadn't realised I was that transparent.

"(Y/N)-ah you're not fine. You've been wincing and limping since this morning, now let hyung put the medicine on." Cutting me off.

Jin oppa withdrew his hand from my loose grip and pulled off the blanket before gasping and swearing. That was bad. Whenever he swore, it was bad.

I heard muttered curses and gasps from around the room. It wasn't a pretty sight.

The shorts only exposed the extent of the bruises, blues and greens and purples scattered across my left leg more prominent the higher up it was and closer to my hip. Right now, medicine sounded like heaven.

A large hand reached out to tentatively touch my leg, flinching as it contacted my leg as though feeling the pain himself.

The hand withdrew but came back again holding a numbing cream and a pain relief patch. I watched as his hands tenderly squeezed out the cream before massaging it into my skin, I didn't mean to wince, honestly I tried to keep it in but when he massaged it in, it brought the pain and burning sensation in my leg to flare up.

Jin oppa let out a gasp too, as though he was experiencing the pain first-hand before whispering an apology. After he was done, he was about to place a pain relief patch but I knew I needed one on my hip so I took it from him and angled my body away from them, lifting my jumper and slightly lowering the shorts to put it onto my hip.

I straightened out my clothes when I realised what the time was. And the fact we were running late. Extremely late.

I jumped to my feet, hissing slightly, before staring at them wide-eyed.

"We're late. You guys should've been in the studio ten minutes ago! And, I've got so much paperwork to finish and Adam to babysit. Oh god!" the words spilling out my mouth.

"Calm down (Y/N)-ah, Seijin hyung already said we could start late today, and are you sure you should be straining your body at the moment?" Tae spoke up, deep voiced steeped with concern and a touch of amusement.

I sighed in relief, but I knew I still needed to babysit Adam. My brother and Lia had a full-day conference to attend and Adam needed to be cared for.

"Yes, but Adam...and paperwork...and work" I stressed out.

"(Y/N)-ah, why don't you ask your brother to drop Adam off at the company? And you can do the paperwork on the sofa at work, but you're not to move a muscle." Jiminie suggested, I knew they knew I wasn't willing to mix my personal problems with my work life.

"And I'll help you choose an outfit!" Jiminie beamed bounding over to help me walk, more hobble, to my room.

----

I sat on my sofa, legs stretched out ahead of me, filling in the paperwork to process all the work schedules for all the staff during the boys' holiday series. I had barely looked up since the boys had dropped me off, insisting I was more than comfortable before they left loitering as much as they could, if I didn't know any better I would've melted under their puppy eyes and aegyo but instead it made me laugh knowing they were doing it intentionally to get out of vocal lessons and dance practice.

My hand started tiring and I looked up to see that a few hours had flown by and my phone dinged with a message from Seijin oppa saying Adam was being brought up.

I sat up eagerly, having missed Adam since the last time I had babysat, he was just an adorable sweetheart who never failed to make me smile just by existing. The door swung open and the receptionist let go of Adam who darted forward on seeing me. I called out a thanks as she left, smiling at her in gratitude.

"Aunty!" he said as he barrelled headfirst into my stomach.

"Oof, come here baby. How've you been?" as I pulled him upwards to plop him down onto my lap, peppering his face with kisses.

He giggled and squirmed from the ticklish sensation, snuggling down to nestle into my body contentedly.

"I missed you auntie, you didn't call me." He pouted.

"Awww baby, can you forgive me? I'll give you anything." I bargained desperate to make Adam smile.

"I just want your cuddles and kisses auntie." He said so firmly, but my heart melted.

I put aside the finished pile of paperwork, content to take a break, it wasn't everyday Adam got to visit me.

I opened up my phone so I could play an animated film on for him, Lady and the Tramp, a true classic.

Adam grew engrossed into the film, wiggling around to nestle properly in me, squirming as he tried to find a comfortable position.

I placed a soft kiss on his head, reclined on the sofa as we watched the film.

At some point during the film Adam dropped off to sleep and I gently retracted the banana milk he was holding onto, wiping his hands clean from the stickiness. I slowly got to my feet, mindful of the lapful of baby I had, gingerly stepping up, I sighed when the pain didn't flare- it just stayed as it had been, a dull throb. I glanced at the time, the boys would be finishing soon so I got up and made my way to their dance studio- they had an intense day of practice today.

I stepped into the studio, watching as the boys executed each move powerfully, sweat dripping down their faces, hair plastered to their foreheads. They were so in sync and in tune to each other.

The beat thrummed and reverberated through the studio, and I feared that Adam would awake but the song was reaching the last hook and soon it tailed away leaving the room silent save for the harsh pants of the boys as they gasped for breath.

"Well done boys, hard workers as always. I'd offer towels but my hands are full." I called out from where I stood, next to the door leaning slightly against the wall to keep the weight off my leg.

"(Y/N)-ah!" several voices cried out.

They came charging forward but I threw a hand out stopping them.

"Towels first. As lovely as it is to see you, I don't want Adam drenched, his nose is very sensitive you know." I defended as I teased the boys.

Jinnie oppa came from behind them already having the foresight to dry his sweat off with a towel before he approached me.

"Are you sure you should be carrying a child, when you're not in your prime at the moment?" he questioned noting the way I was favouring my right leg and leaning against the wall and his eyes narrowed as he raised them back to look at me.

Busted.

"It's all good oppa, besides it was easier for me to come down to the studio than you all having to trek upwards especially when you're all exhausted. There's no need." I rationalised.

I turned around knowing we were all heading home together, calling out over my shoulder.

"Hurry up, I've ordered dinner, it'll get cold." And thus commenced the flurrying of bodies as they hurried at the promise of food.

I sat in the car trying to sit comfortably. I knew I couldn't drive, wouldn't be allowed to, so I had already seated myself in the middle row next to the window, but for some reason I just couldn't get into a comfortable seating position. The others entered the car, Jin oppa slipping into the driver seat with Yoongi oppa next to him. The maknaes got in next bickering about who had to sit in the back; Jiminie, Kookie and Hobi lost to a gleeful Tae and resigned Joonie oppa.

Tae slid in next to me, eagerly reaching his arms out for Adam yet again.

"He's asleep Tae so be careful." I said, gently transferring his sleeping figure to Tae's lap with a little difficulty, he had a habit of bunching my top in his fist as he slept. He whimpered slightly and I hushed him, whispering soothing words to him in French.

He settled again in Tae's lap, who looked ecstatic to finally be holding Adam and he tucked him securely against his chest. Tae was great with kids, but for some odd reason Adam didn't warm up much to him despite his warm and bright personality.

The journey home was silent until Adam woke up. His eyes met mine and he realised he wasn't being held by me but a potential stranger and started tearing up, big eyes filling with tears as he whimpered, arms reaching out for me to take him. I was going to lean forward but Tae withdrew slightly.

"(Y/N)-ah pleeeease. I can calm him down. Adam, it's me! Taetae, we played together remember. When you came to play." He tried appeasing to him, but Adam's eyes only widened with distrust and he promptly started bawling struggling to get away.

Joonie oppa was watching with exasperation before he reached out to take Adam from Tae who whined in protest at the loss of having a child in his arms.

"Stop it Tae, you're scaring the poor boy. Hey Adam, I'm auntie's friend. Do you wanna play a game?" Joonie oppa spoke, his deep voice reassuring and soft as he opened up a game for Adam to play who took it with tentative hands as his cries quietened.

Tae huffed, crossing his arms and pouting.

"Hyuuung, no fair. I wanna play, why does he like you and not me?" he protested.

Joonie oppa just smiled.

"The last time he saw you, you were hugging (Y/N) and he tried to get you off. Yeah, he doesn't exactly love you Tae." He explained, ever the observant one.

Yup, now Adam's actions made sense. He was protective by nature and he saw Tae's hugging as a threat.

The sobs had stopped, and Adam was giggling as Joonie oppa tried to help him.

I ruffled Tae's hair in apology and consolation.

"You can always cuddle with me." I offered, laughing when he launched himself at me with a boxy grin on his face.

-----

"Bye Adam, come visit me soon, yeah? Auntie misses you lots and lots." I said as my brother stood at the door watching Adam latch onto me in goodbye.

I tried to detach myself from him, but he squirmed further into the hug.

"I don't wanna leave you." He argued, latching onto my midriff as I tried and failed to straighten up.

In the midst of Adam's tantrum, my phone rang. I looked at the screen, Vick. My attention was immediately centred onto the phone call, but I needed to send Adam off.

"Jinnie oppa, a little help." I called and rushing footsteps sounded behind me.

"What is it? What's wrong? Does your leg hurt?" he scanned me top to toe.

"Can you help get Adam off me, my leg is paining me, and I need to take this phone call." I said, I didn't mean to associate Adam with my leg pain, but as much as I loved and adored him, I needed to answer the call so I could get rid of this danger in my life, and by extension-anyone who was associated with me.

Jinnie oppa hurried around and bent to coo at him, his face mushed against my chest as he looked up at him.

"Adam, I'll give you...this lollipop. I was gonna give it to another boy, but you've been so good. If you let go of auntie, you can have it- and more when you come over next time." he bribed, Adam lit up and his chubby fist reached out to grasp it, nodding eagerly.

"Thank you ahjussi, bye auntie. Love you." He said pressing a big kiss on my cheek.

I kissed him in return.

"Bye Adam, see you later." Waving off my brother and nephew who was appeased with a sweet bribe.

I quickly shut the door, answering the phone and pressing it to my ear, walking slowly back into the apartment.

"Hello. Yeah Vick, I'm good. Well, could be better but I know that you didn't call to just ask me how I'm doing..." I spoke into the phone, Jin oppa walking behind me arms outstretched just in case.

He spoke up on the other end.

"(Y/N), our suspicions were right. Your ex was behind the damaged harness. He was the one who was strapping you in. Listen, I know you're not gonna like it but there's no other quick solution to this, you're going to have to...." He explained the plan, ice began to seep through my veins, I felt like my body was treading through water as I envisioned what I would have to do.

Taking every step was like treading through treacle, it was like everything had slowed down. I didn't realise I had stopped walking or that the phone fell from my hand as Vick finished speaking. I couldn't make out what the words being shouted through the phone were, it felt like I was falling. Further and further.

An arm grasped my waist, a warm solid presence anchoring me. I tried to make out the voice, someone was calling me. Who was it, why couldn't my mouth make the shape of the words to respond?

A large hand cupped my face, tilting it upwards and I stared into deep warm pools of brown. Those eyes were Jin's.

I focused on his eyes; they were grounding me. I focused on my breathing, trying to match it with the rise and fall of Jin's chest. I focused on his lips making out words, finally my ears being able to process them.

"Breathe (Y/N). That's right, focus on me." He uttered; voice warm.

I realised that the falling sensation had been my knees buckling and Jin oppa who had caught me before I fell.

He helped me back onto my feet and guided me into the living room and onto the sofa. The others were all there, film now paused as they stared at me.

Jin oppa handed the phone to Namjoon oppa who spoke briefly into it before hanging up.

"Vick said he'll call later and swore that you'll be safe." He informed me; the lack of context somewhat puzzling for them but they figured it was something to do with my ex.

"I'll do it." I whispered and then repeated louder to myself.

"I'll do it." I said, hands shaking but now that the fog had left my mind and the fear no longer poisoning my thoughts. I felt clearer than I had before my meltdown.

It was the only way, and to end this all I was ready.

To protect them all, I was willing to walk back into his arms.

VICK POV:

I ended the call, dropping the phone and sinking my head into my hands. This had to work. It had to. It was so risky. But it was the only way. I felt toxic thinking about the plan. About the danger I was sending (Y/N) back into. But it was no or never. It was do or die. (Y/N), I swear I'll help you.

UNKNOWN POV:

As time passed by, each second, each moment seemed to drag. Until I was going to be reunited with her, time seemed to freeze trapping me in this moment of pure need and want.

I needed her with me. There had been enough play. Enough chase. Enough of the game of cat and mouse.

I had enough of her toying with me, luring me in but darting away.

(Y/N), it's game over.

(DUN DUN DUNNNNNN! THAT'S IT, NOT MUCH ACTION BUT I SWEAR I JUST END UP FOLLOWING HOW THE PLOT GOES. LET ME KNOW AS USUAL, LOVE READING EVERY COMMENT, IT MAKES ME SMILE! THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR THE READS, VOTES AND COMMENTS- I ESPECIALLY LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW YOU THINK THE BOOK IS GOING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE CHAPTERS ARE LEFT BUT IT'S IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF WRAPPING IT UP! YOU GUYS HAVE GOT ME PUMPED FOR STARTING THE SOULMATE AU THAT INSTEAD OF SLEEPING I'M THINKING OF IDEAS. I NEED SOME HELP- FOR THE SOULMATE AU, SHOULD EACH PERSON HAVE A POWER/ABILITY AND IF SO DO WE WANT (Y/N) TO BE AN EMPATH, SEER OR HEALER? IF YOU HAVE OTHER SUGGESTIONS, LET ME KNOW PLEASE, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT! 🥺 ALSO! AN ANGSTY, FLUFFY, SOFT ROMANCE OR JUST A SOFT ROMANCE?? I'VE GOT SO MANY IDEAS BUZZING AROUND, I CAN'T WAIT TO START WRITING IT! MAYBE THAT'S WHY THIS FIC WILL BE ENDING SOON. 18K READS??? YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING, I WISH I COULD TELL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE ME THAT INFO! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT TOWARDS THIS FANFIC, POP UP WHENEVER! LIKE IT, LOVE IT, HATE IT?? I KINDA FEEL REAL BAD FOR PUTTING (Y/N) THROUGH ALL OF THIS BUT I SWEAR IT WAS ALL UNPLANNED, SO DON'T KILL ME!)

Let's stay hopeful for our future, I can't wait for the post-pandemic world, I'm ready to go back out into the world!

BORAHAE ARMY! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3