"I can't believe I just did that," I whisper in shock, settling into the seat of the taxi. My body is shaking from the rush of adrenaline. My leg bounces anxiously and I fear if I stop it, I might explode from nervous energy.

Of all the things I planned for tonight, this scenario was not one of them.

If I knew I would disown my parents tonight, I might have handled it better. But what else could I have done? I couldn't stomach the idea of allowing them to continue their antics. My eyes finally opened when I saw how they treated Taehyung. They treated him like they treat me and I couldn't allow it.

Taehyung hurries into the warmth of the car and squishes his body against mine. He leans on me as he wraps his arm around my tense shoulder. His head tips down to examine my face, his lips barely touching the bridge of my nose. He praises me in a gentle tone, "You did so well... you did amazing back there."

"I still can't believe it," I repeat, staring down at my bouncing knee. "I just... it felt so...good." I scoot away from Taehyung and lean against the car door. I gape at him, "Why does it feel good? Is that a bad thing? I mean..." I trail off and begin to chew on my lower lip. "They're my parents. I... " I am not sure how I'm supposed to finish my sentence. My mind is still spinning from it all. It's difficult to put it into words.

Taehyung rests his large hand on my head causing the snow in my hair to melt. He leans closer and casts me a reassuring look. "If it feels good, then you did the right thing. It's going to be alright."

"You're right..." I let out a loud sigh of relief and relaxed my head back. The ice coating the car window is bitterly cold against my scalp but I don't move. I close my eyes and relish the darkness for a moment.

I don't have to think about them anymore. I don't have to worry about pleasing them anymore.

I'm free.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

I am quiet for the rest of the car ride. Strangely enough, the dinner took more energy than I realized and all I want in the world is to collapse. All I want is to fall asleep beside Jimin and forget the looks on my parents' faces when I told them I had enough.

I should feel more proud. I should feel happier. Yet the lingering emotions of guilt for dismissing my parents from my life fester in the back of my mind. I haven't dealt with a situation like this before.

I don't know how to feel yet.

Taehyung is incredibly kind and took the events in stride, but my heart reaches for my memories of Jimin to seek comfort. It yearns to hear the soft, airy tone of his voice, to feel his hands slide up my arms, to feel the quick flick of his tail against my leg, to know his warmth underneath our shared blankets... I want to hear what he thinks about this. I want to listen to his advice and know his thoughts.

This special connection cannot be ignored.

This love for him.

The car comes to a slow stop outside of my apartment. The driver hardly spares us a look since I already paid for his services through the app. I'm thankful he is minding his own business. Taehyung lifts his head from my shoulder and sleepily gazes out of the frosted window. "It's snowing more..." he comments with soft wonder.

I nod in agreement as I open up my door. I am greeted with a fresh breeze of wintery air and a flurry of thick snowflakes. I step out of the car and gaze up at the dark sky above us. Snow flutters from the sky like butterflies and lightly kisses my cheeks as they fall.

Taehyung exits the car and comes to stand by my side. The pure snow catches in his thick, dark curls and eyelashes. He smiles sadly as he watches the snow. "I can tell you wanted Jimin here tonight."

My mouth clamps shut and I cast him a bewildered look.

Taehyung only nods, putting his hands into his coat pockets. He leans back on his legs to stare up at the sky. "You and him... you have something special with him. I see that. I understand it now."

"I loved that you came with me," I offer in consolation. "I didn't mean to make you feel like that. My parents had no right to say those awful things to you. You were great, you know."

Taehyung turns to face me again with a teasing look, "But not as great as Jimin." He looks up at the apartment levels, specifically at our window. A warm light shines behind the icy glass signifying that the boys haven't gone to sleep yet. "We're family, of course. I don't doubt that and I'm not asking for comfort. I'm only saying that you and Jimin are special together."

I nod slowly, beginning to understand what he means.

"When I met you, I didn't want to believe anything was there. To be honest, I wasn't on board with letting anybody else into our family. I was protective of them and didn't want to let go. But as I explained on Thursday, I started to see you in a new light."

"Earlier, before we left, Jimin was so adamant on protecting you not because you are weak, and trust me that you're not weak, but because he truly cares about you. Not only that, there are other signs as well. His eyes light up when he talks to you, he feels so happy nowadays... you showed him acceptance and gave him peace. You helped Jimin heal from his past and he is doing everything in his power to return the favor."

"So... Do you care for him as he cares for you? Do you love him?"

My heart skips a small beat from his final questions. The type of love Taehyung is asking me about isn't platonic love. It isn't the familial love I have come to know.

It is romantic love. It is the yearning to become Jimin's partner.

I find myself smiling at the thought of him. My gaze softens as I begin to nod. "Yes. I do love him," I admit and the words feel right.

Taehyung chuckles quietly and nods, "I'm happy for you. You need to take good care of him, okay? He's a bit of a handful but you're used to it by now."

"Thanks." I give Taehyung a warm smile, "You know, it feels like you just gave me your blessing."

Taehyung winks and starts walking towards the apartment. "Maybe I did." Then he disappears into the doors.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

"We're home!" I cheer as I open the door wide. Within a matter of seconds, I am attacked with affectionate hugs and nearly tackled to the ground.

Jimin reached me first and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. He stumbles into me and hugs me with all his might, "You're back!" he celebrates, burying his head against my shoulder. His fluffy ears are pressed against his blond hair, almost disappearing under the shiny locks.

Jungkook slams into Jimin's back and hugs us. His tail wags quickly with energy. "You were gone too long!" he complains with a quick shake of his head. "Jimin wanted to go after you!"

Jimin lifts his head briefly to scold, "No! We were calm! Don't lie to her!"

Jungkook snickers quietly and finally releases me. "He was totally panicking."

"Was not!" Jimin argues over his shoulder, still clinging to me. He scoffs dramatically and turns his head to be inches from my face. I am momentarily stunned by the beauty of his eyes. The playful light in his eyes fades and is replaced with sincerity. "Are you alright? How did it go?" he asks, giving me his undivided attention.

I take a few steps forward to usher us inside the apartment. I hold onto him, not wanting to let go just yet. "Let's talk inside."

Taehyung squeezes past us and runs into the kitchen. "I'm making hot chocolate!" he shouts, "Jungkookie, come on!"

Jungkook dashes after him and disappears into the kitchen.

I nudge the door shut with my foot and let it slam behind us. I turn to face Jimin once again and lower my arms around the curve of his waistline. I take a deep breath and begin telling him everything that happened. He listens carefully and doesn't speak until I finish explaining everything.

As I tell him the story, we begin to lightly sway side-to-side in each other's arms. It appears that Jimin is not ready to let go either.

When I finish, he pulls me into another tight hug. I nuzzle my head against his shoulder and start to draw circles around his back. "And that's what happened..." I whisper.

"Eden, you were so brave..." he says wholeheartedly. "That is a difficult thing to do, and you did it well. If you felt good after making that decision, don't question it. You did the right thing."

"I won't question it. I feel better after doing it, but I still can't stop thinking about what if..."

"They made their choices and must face the consequences. They should have never treated you like that. You're free now. When it comes to you, your opinion is the only one that matters. Don't let them into your life if they are going to make you feel otherwise."

I nod in agreement. I close my eyes and begin to memorize the way his touch feels on my body. I take those memories and tuck them away for a rainy day. I want to remember his comfort for the rest of my life. "Though there is another opinion that I do value, next to my own."

"And... Whose is that?"

"Yours." I stand up straight and take a moment to watch his expression. "I value your opinion."

Jimin blinks twice. "Mine?"

"Of course. I..." I smile shyly and feel my heart flutter inside my chest. For a moment I hesitated to speak those precious words. I think the bravery from earlier must have carried into this moment because suddenly, I said the words I believed I never had a chance to say. "I love you, Jimin. I want you." And the words never felt so amazing.

To my surprise, his cheeks reddened with bashfulness. His mouth spreads into a wide smile, though I can tell he's trying to fight it. He bites his lower lip as his eyes start to sparkle with excitement. "I love you too," he replies in an adorable whisper. "I really do."

I giggle and bob my head up and down, feeling giddy as a schoolgirl but for once, I don't care. "Really?"

Jimin finally allows his smile to come freely. It's such a big smile. He nods quickly before crushing me into another hug, "Yes, really. I love you, Eden. Not just as a family, but more than that. I always want you by my side, and I will do anything to remain by yours."

"I love you in that way as well. I can't imagine life without you..." I can hardly contain my happiness. I don't think I will ever stop smiling. "After all... you saved me, so so many times..."

He saved my life in ways I don't think he realizes. He saved me on the night we met and when I was kidnapped. But he also saved my heart from a life of loneliness. He saved me from believing that family doesn't exist. He saved me from falling into my fears with his encouragement and trust that I would make the right decision. He was there for me when I made a mistake and encouraged me to do the right thing. He helps me be a better person.

"Oh Eden... don't you know that it was you who saved me?" he asks with a hint of playfulness. "If it hadn't been for you, I don't know what kind of man I'd be right now..."

"Should we call it even?" I ask curiously.

"I suppose so."

"Guys, look!"

We pull away from each other's embrace at the sound of Jungkook's voice. He stumbles out of the kitchen with the tablet in hand, his eyes are glued to the screen. "The police! They are arresting them!"

Jimin and I hurry over and peek over Jungkook's shoulders. Taehyung jogs out of the kitchen and comes up alongside us to watch the scene play out.

The camera shows an aerial view of the car chase. We watch in shock as a fleet of police cars fly past after a beat-up pick-up truck. A few blocks down, I catch a glimpse of a barricade of flashing lights and barbed wire traps laid out on the icy roads. The pickup truck screeches against the ice and swerves enough to miss the barricade but is forced to come to a stop.

"After a two-hour car chase, the five fugitives have finally been caught by authorities..." the reporter announces. "They have been safely apprehended and are now being held in a secure facility to face charges."

Jungkook grips the edges of the tablet with excitement and screams, "YES! Finally!"

Jimin winces sharply as Jungkook practically yells in his ears. "Yah, that hurt!"

Taehyung is sent dancing to the news. He cheers loudly, pumping his fists in the air, and runs around the room freely, "Yay!!"

I laugh out of relief and lean heavily against Jimin. "Oh thank goodness!"

Jimin rubs his ear, still wincing from Jungkook's voice, but manages a smile. He welcomes my touch and wraps his free hand around my body, pulling me back against him. "We're safe now."

I lift my head to look up at his face. I rest my hands over his hand and give him a warm look. "We're safe," I repeat, and I truly believe it this time.

In the background, Jungkook and Taehyung are cheering and jumping on the couch together. They celebrate the true downfall of the hybrid smuggling ring and the fact the police finally did their jobs.

Jimin gazes down at me. His cheeks are flushed with emotion. His eyes flick to my lips then back to my eyes. "You'll always be safe with me around," he promises. "I will always be there for you."

I open my mouth to respond when he looks over at the window. His face brightens and he unwraps his arm from around my waist. He takes my hand and pulls me towards the window. He peeks out the glass for a moment before unlatching the window lock.

I watch him curiously as he opens up the window, allowing a rush of cold air to flood the apartment. He turns to me with child-like excitement. "Have I ever told you how much I love snow?" he asks.

"I don't think you have," I answer, trying to remember if he did.

In the corner of my eye, Taehyung and Jungkook leap from the couch and run into the kitchen to prepare hot chocolate for everybody. I only heard a snippet of their planned movie night as they left the room.

Jimin turns back to the window and kneels down to look up at the sky better. "It's so beautiful. I really love snow... when I see it, it's like the first time I'm seeing it." He gestures for me to kneel down with him. I settle into the spot beside him and watch the snow fall from the sky.

Jimin sighs happily and leans against my side, resting his head on my shoulder. "The snow looks like falling stars," he comments in wonder. "Sometimes it feels like we should make wishes when it snows. It happens more often so maybe more of our wishes will come true."

"Make a wish, Jimin," I suggest, feeling my heart warm with adoration for his love of snow. Just hearing the way he talks about it makes me fall in love with snow as well.

Jimin pauses and chuckles, shaking his head. "How could I?" He looks at me and rests his hand against my cheek, "I already have everything I could wish for."

I blush fiercely and tilt my head against his hand. My eyes are glowing with love for only him. "I love you," I say with every ounce of my heart. "I don't know if you understand how much but know that you are what I wished for as well. You're the angel that saved me. You're everything to me... and all I ever wanted..."

Jimin blushes as well and leans close to me. He closes his eyes and whispers, "My Eden... my love..."

He never finished his sentence.

Our lips meet softly at first before I melt into him. Warmth builds inside my chest as if a fire had been ignited within me. My hands go limp against his chest and slide down the length of his shirt, stopping short at the band of his sweatpants.

Jimin's soft lips part against mine. His eyelashes flutter against my skin. He places his hand on the back of my back head and runs his fingers through my hair. His body pulls towards mine like a magnet so no space separates us.

The world around us fades away into cold stars falling from the sky. The heat between us pulses like an open flame, warming me to the bone. My head feels light with uncontainable euphoria, thanking the angels above for letting us find each other when we needed it.

Jimin helped me discover the truth behind love and all that it means. It is far more complex than one might imagine. I could have never learned its ways without Jimin. Nobody else could have shown me the light as he did.

Despite the trials and trauma, we have gone through, in all of its stages, we found a way to heal each other. We found a way to stay together and learn to trust one another. We learned how to love.

And finding and knowing such a love like this...

It's ethereal.