"Hwa..." A soft voice whispered, gently shaking the sleeping blonde. He just grunted in response. "Hwa, please, I need to show you something."

"Hm? What is it?" He said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Look." The other pointed slowly at the sleeping girl on the couch.

In her sleep, she had shifted just enough that her hoodie was pulled down, revealing the side of her neck.

Seonghwa gasped and placed a hand over his mouth, the ugly purple skin sent chills down his spine. "What... what could have caused that?"

"I don't know. I noticed it for the first time when San and I walked her home, but I thought I was just imagining it." Wooyoung said, rubbing the back of his neck. "No wonder she's always wearing this hoodie..."

"Her wrist is bruised too."

"What?"

The older nodded. "When I was putting the new brace on her today, I saw finger-shaped bruises, like someone had grabbed her."

Wooyoung felt his lip tremble slightly as he glanced at the girl. Even in her sleep, she looked troubled. Her eyes moved back and forth under her lids, as if searching for something.

"What does this mean, Hwa?" He asked as he leaned forward, brushing a few loose strands of golden hair out of her face. She shifted at the touch, leaning into it for a second before curling up into a tighter ball, whimpering slightly. Wooyoung withdrew his hand quickly, fearing he had woken her.

"I don't know, Youngie. But I'm worried. Has she revealed anything about herself to any of you?"

Wooyoung shook his head slowly. "Yesterday was the most she had really talked to any of us. She did seem different though. Happier." He paused. "Hwa, you don't think..."

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." He quickly left the room to grab his laptop.

Wooyoung stood there for a long moment, just staring at the girl. She still seemed troubled. He made a split-second decision and leaned over the back of the couch, gingerly wrapping one arm behind her back and placing the other one under her legs to pick her up.

When Seonghwa came back into the room, he nodded in agreement and led the other to his room. The movement cause her to stir in her sleep, but she didn't wake. Instead, she leaned into Wooyoung's chest and started muttering. He thought he heard her say things like 'come back' and 'I miss you' before the last one made him pause. 'Help me'. She started shaking in his arms, and even in sleep, a tear ran down her cheek.

Seonghwa ushered for him to hurry, pulling back the covers on his bed. The younger placed her carefully on her back, but she immediately curled up into a ball again, as if trying to protect herself from something.

The two exchanged worried looks before the older gently ran a hand over her forehead. Again, she seemed to lean into it for a second before retreating into a tighter ball.

Biting his lip, Wooyoung took one of her arms and slowly pulled back the sleeve of her hoodie. He gasped and whispered, "Hwa..."

Dark bruises and healing cuts covered the arm. Seonghwa managed to coax her into laying on her back before he did the same with her other arm, hissing as he saw the same.

Her head started shaking back and forth. "No..." she muttered, pulling her arms to her chest. "No. No." She started shaking, violently, and lashed out. Her hand connected with Wooyoung's jaw, sending him stumbling back. "NO!" She screamed as she sat up. Her eyes were wide, and she looked around the room, starting to panic.

Lily felt her chest tighten as she saw the two figures standing above her. In her panic, she couldn't make out their faces. "NO!" She cried again as she backed away from them. They reached for her as she pushed hard enough to send her flying off the other side of the bed. Her heart pounded as she swung her head around, looking for an exit.

She thought she heard her name being called, but as her vision started to blur, all she could think about was getting away.

"Please, I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I won't do it again. P-p-please." Tears flowed endlessly down her face and she backed away. Her panic rose when she backed into a wall. "I'm sorry." She crouched down, bringing her hands to her head, clutching it tightly before rocking back and forth on her heels. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She said over and over again, pleading with them.

Wooyoung felt his heart break as he looked at the panicking girl, not knowing what to do. Seonghwa on the other hand, ran to her and pulled her into his chest. He placed one hand on the back of her head and let the other arm wrap around her waist, shushing her.

"No! No! P-please." Lily cried trying to pull out of his grip. But he didn't let go. After several minutes of struggling, something clicked, and she finally realized that the person holding her was not going to harm her. She visibly crumpled, crying into his shoulder.

"It's ok, Hun. It's ok. We aren't going to hurt you. Shhhhh." He looked over his shoulder at the still frozen Wooyoung, tears running silently down his cheek. "It's ok. It's ok." He cooed softly, then shifted so Lily could sit in his lap as he leaned against the wall. She didn't move her head from his chest, his shirt slowly getting wetter from the salty tears. But he didn't mind.

Wooyoung slowly walked over to join them, crouching so he too could run a comforting hand down her back.

They stayed like that until light crept into the room.

When the sobs had finally stopped, Seonghwa shifted so he could look down. "Are you ok now Baby?"

Lily gulped before looking up to meet his blue eyes. She felt a fresh wave of tears coming, but she did her best to force them down, before nodding slowly.

He hummed in response and kept running his hand through her long hair.

"What... what happened to you?" Wooyoung's voice asked from behind her.

She tensed, then turned to face him. Deep brown eyes stared back, reflecting the worry running across his entire face.

When she didn't answer, he placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed softly.

Both men waited patiently for her to answer, knowing it would take time.

Lily chewed on her bottom lip for a long time, not looking at either.

"Baby, we..." Seonghwa hesitated, looked at Wooyoung, who nodded quickly. "We saw your arms, and your neck." He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "Who did this to you."

Lily tensed, knowing that if she said anything and he found out... She shook her head and quickly buried her face in her hands.

"No what?" Seonghwa cooed. "You can tell us."

"I c-c-can't."

"Why not."

"He'll hurt me again. He would hurt me now if he knew I was here." Her words were muffled against her hands, but the two still heard them. Their eyes widened in shock.

"Who would hurt you?" Wooyoung asked, gently cupping Lily's chin to lift her head so she could look at him. The action caused her to pull away and whimper slightly. He held his hands up in surrender, regretting is action.

Lily felt bad after seeing the hurt flash across his face and muttered a quiet apology. Wooyoung just shook his head and sat back.

They sat there in silence.

Until San burst into the room yelling, "I FOUND THEM!"

"Where are they?" Another voice called.

"IN HWA'S ROOM!" San yelled back before turning to the three of them. His smile instantly left his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, San." Seonghwa said, patting Lily's head.

"Just a bad dream." Wooyoung said, backing up his elder and glancing at Lily again. He smiled when he saw the gratitude flash in her eyes.

San tilted his head, not believing them, but before he could speak another boy burst into the room.

"Hwaaaaaa, I'm hungry!" Jongho whined, clutching his stomach.

Seonghwa scoffed and shook his head. "Go make breakfast then!"

"But Hwaaaa, no one cooks like you do." The youngest whined again, sticking out his lower lip in a pout.

San giggled and ruffled the others' hair, causing him to growl and he chased San from the room.

"Oh man, I'd better go stop them before they break something." Seonghwa said quickly, shifting Lily off his lap so he could chase after them. Voices could be heard calling through the house asking for food, or for someone to stop. Lily could have even sworn she heard Seonghwa call for help from Hongjoong, telling him to get his children under control.

Wooyoung smiled slightly as he listened to the chaos, but he didn't move to join them.

Neither one looked at the other, but for some reason Lily was ok with him staying. The silence was comfortable, at least until she said, "I should probably get home."

"Do you have to?"

No...

"It's Saturday. Why don't you stay for a bit? We can get in some extra rehearsal time too. I intend on getting top marks on our routine." He winked at her.

I'd like that...

Instead of speaking, Lily nodded, smiling. She didn't have to go home, after all. No one needed her there right now, why not stay with friends?

Friends... she thought to herself as she played with the charm on her wrist. I have... friends.