"But can't someone help me?
Oh, please, someone help me
I don't care, anyone, anything
'Cause I'm so sick of being so lonely
Miss all my family
I don't care, anyone, anything
'Cause I'm so sick of being so lonely"
Lonely-Noah Cyrus

6 months after Jeongguk admitted to the murder of Kim Mia (sorry for jumping around the timeline)

There are only several moments in life when raindrops make no noise.

The pitter patter against windows can remind one of being alive. Of watching the drop of moisture fall from the top of a window, a gray river as it collects more and more drops along the way.

Celine couldn't hear the rain now, couldn't romanticize the overcast sky and the soft music playing in the car.

Nothing. Everything. All at once, she was undone and whole.

"Celine."

Jimin's soft voice warmed her, filled her with the noise she needed to breathe. To remember that she wasn't caged anymore, without a key to find a way out.

It was all coming back and it hurt.

Because she was finally going to see her mother, her father, and her brother again. The family that had been ripped from her like Mia had.

She stared back into Jimin's darkly concerned eyes, his cream sweater reminding her of home. Cashmere and softness and love that she wanted to sink her teeth into and forget.

But forgetting wasn't healing. The girl knew that now, at the age of 19.

But that 16 year old girl was still inside of her. Waiting for her innocence to be given back. Finding the scraps of a new woman, reborn but surely who would never be the same.

"Celine." Jimin whispered again, this time running his knuckle across her cheek.

He was worried for her. She knew he wanted to whisk her away from here, to protect her.

He would do anything for her, her silver guardian angel.

It made her break out of her daze, Celine didn't want to worry him, "Jimin. I can do this. After what Jin told me, I'm ready."

The man looked at her apologetically, not with sympathy. He knew she was resilient. But one person shouldn't have had to bare that much pain in one lifetime.

When she had found out why her parents let her go, at first she had felt relief.

Celine had been elated that she was abandoned for a reason.

Abandoned.

Then, over the next several months she went through copious amounts of grief and loss. Jimin watched as she refused to eat, had outburst of anger to the point she stayed in an apartment alone for a week just to break her things.

Abandoned. With reason.

The justification of it made her skin burn, her stomach turn to acid.

"Let's go in." Celine said, keeping all emotion or tone out of her voice.

The silver haired man gave her a weary look, taking in her perfectly polished appearance. Knowing that despite all her hardships, she had turned out successful. A diamond morphed from coal by high pressure stakes that life through at her.

Celine would've preferred to stay a messy, unorganized little girl. If only for a bit longer. But that was not the girl her family would meet today.

They would see the girl they created.

She needed them to feel, what she had.

Celine wouldn't hold back to save feelings.

When her own were never considered.

Her fiancé had walked out into the rain, holding up an umbrella so that she could easily get out of the car.

Celine smiled at him, not being able to help herself. He was her family, he had shown her so time and time again.

She began to walk forward, taking in her old Parisian and Moroccan styled home before Jimin pulled her into his embrace.

The brunette gasped, biting her lip to prevent the tears that were threatening to escape. She never knew when to ask for affection or touches, people had taken advantage of her skin.

But Jimin always knew when she needed it.

With his strong chest pressed into her, the smell of his cologne bringing her back to earth, she felt more confident in her ability to find the piece of herself she lost. He shivered underneath her and Celine knew it wasn't cold enough for the temperature to bother her. She pressed even closer to him, a kiss faint on the honeyed glow of his neck.

Jimin let out a shaky sigh, his head nuzzling into her as he spoke, "I know today is about you, and what you need to do. But Celine, if you need to leave at any moment, just say the words. You don't need to be in pain anymore. You can handle it but you shouldn't have to."

Celine pulled back, letting her hand wrap around the back of his neck to soothe him. Her chest swelled with love that she wasn't sure was normal.

His eyes were ringed with moisture, pink from almost crying. The rain falling around him, but still enveloped him. His pouty lips downcast and Celine could tell from his quivering that he was close to breaking for her. He was holding back so that he could be strong for her, to be her one to let go some of her burden.

He held onto fear. Fear that she wouldn't get the family back that she'd hoped.

The 19 year old was scared too.

"Thank you, but I can get through this."

"I love you, Celine. No matter what happens today you will always have family." He nodded before walking her to the door.

Celine paused, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Her heart pounded like she had moved out of the way of freight train. Trauma and memories hitting her forcefully, constricting her throat and head and lungs.

"I love you more than anything this world could offer me."

And with that, Celine opened the door. It was awkward, so her brother had texted her saying they would leave the door unlocked. No awkward run ins with anyone immediately.

But of course, he didn't warn her that they would all be standing in the foyer.

Her foyer.

Sky, her brother, was in a suit. He saw her and smiled widely, not caring how tense the situation. Like a weight finally lifted off her shoulders.

Her father was still tall, and skinny. His hair only slightly more gray. He could barely look her in the eyes as she watched him, the color of shame flashing along his cheeks.

Her mother was still the same half Moroccan beauty she remembered. Her beauty wasn't marred by the expression of horror and sadness on her tear streaked face.

She had smiled with a grimace as she saw Celine, stepping forward and reaching out her hand. As if trying to close the distance that time and pain had created between the both of them.

Celine wasn't focusing on them. It was like the world fell away except the reassuring press of Jimin's hand across her back.

And the thought of her sister.

This was the last place she'd seen Mia alive.

Celine bit the inside of her cheeks tasting blood, looking up and around her family to take in the house she once knew. Had woken up Christmas morning to, sliding around in her footy pajamas. Had kissed her first boyfriend in. Had a little sleepover and got Cheeto dust on the couch, which her mom laughed as she cleaned up. Where her brother had pushed her dad into a pile of pillows, and where they had fought over which movie to watch.

Mia's room was here. Her own room was here.

Had they changed her room? Had they washed her pink sheets? Did they throw away her clothes like they had thrown away their daughter?

That was what had jolted her, the first time she met Jimin. The fated color of her fucking sheets. The ones that had been hers in her family home, on her bed the day she was abandoned. The color once so painful, had soon turned into her only comfort.

And like that, Celine went from ember to bursting flame.

Her voice came out harsh against the silence, "You never told me how Mia got that scar mom. But I'll tell you how I got mine."

Jimin's hand stopped moving in circles up and down her back, frozen.

The merciless girl watched as her mom lifted a hand to her chest, eyes pressing shut as if she could get rid of the pain. Her dad moved to put a hand around his wife's shoulder, his eyes moving up to take Celine, his youngest daughter in finally.

Sky left the room. His shaking breath told her that he was crying.

"No mom, dad, you won't close your eyes. You will look at me and see what happened when I was abandoned. I cannot make you experience it, but you will hear me or so help me god you'll never see me again."

Without another word, her mom nodded her head.

Celine spoke with fervor, feeling chagrined as her family splintered before her, "Mia never felt included in this family. You placed Sky and myself on a pedestal. She always felt discarded because you propped up your other flawless children for the sake of your reputation. And then when she died, you cast the side the one person who could mourn her correctly because I loved her the hardest while she was alive."

Mrs. Kim was shaking now, and her husband looked pale. Like he'd seen the ghost of another child lost.

Celine was not done. But she couldn't handle the emotions anymore. She stepped forward, away from Jimin's touch that grounded her because she needed to feel. All the hate, all the resentment or she'd simply drown in it.

She never looked away from her parents, but this is when the broken sobs started from herself. Heaving as she lashed out at them, "I didn't have time to grieve my sister before I was told I was the reason why she was dead. I was 16. Sixteen fucking years old and you kicked me out because you were afraid for my safety. Well guess what, I was never fucking safe. Sky, who can't even fucking handle he told me to become a sugar baby, which you all know."

"We didn't, not until recently." Her dad shook his head, horror filling his eyes.

His daughter felt like the room was collapsing around them. Her breaths shallow, heart a lifeless thump in her chest.

"And dad? You weren't the last man to put his hands on me. To harm me. And your touch hurt me the most out of all of them." The heart broken girl trembled, never straying because she wanted to see the guilt in his eyes.

I hurt people. So many people. And they hurt me.

A shiver ran through her, as if she felt the hands from before touching her. Gruff faces she wished she could forget, breath mottled with alcohol.

People her father's age touching her when they weren't allowed. When she was a minor.

"I dated older men to get money. In order to make appearances for your work, and reputation. I let sleazy men use me for my looks, and slowly I dwindled into a shell of the person I used to be. I was consumed. It's what allowed me to meet the man who killed my sister. It's what allowed me to stay-" Celine whimpered then, not meaning to.

Her mom fell down to her knees, holding onto her husband for support.

"To stay with a man who viewed me as an object. Because in my little world I was recreating what I had ripped away from me. Everything I lost, i collected like dolls on a shelf. Choosing and creating piece by piece the life I once had, without really living in it. And I needed a home. Even if the home degraded me, hurt me, broke me. I was grateful to be abused. Because at least someone wanted me. Do you not get that? That that's what I thought I deserved? That is was what I thought I was owed for killing me sister?!" It came out as a scream, tears running down her face. She swore her throat bled as her voice echoed around the room like a viper waiting to strike.

Her nails had created crescents on her hand. And still the pain couldn't wake her up from the horrible reality. One where she was back home and nothing changed.

Her sister was still dead. Her parents still sent her away. And her brother introduced her to a lifetime of horror and sleepless nights.

She became a person she hadn't wanted to become. A person who lied to survive. Who didn't know when she was being treated unfairly. Who, without a home, thought that possession was love.

It was all wrong.

This wasn't how her life was supposed to be.

And no one could change that with their tears and apologies and words of regret.

Celine shook her head, "I don't need you to tell me it wasn't my fault anymore. It was all I used to think about, my homecoming. When I was finally forgiven. It used to be what I thought about as I dreamed, as I willed away the nightmares of rough hands pulling at my body. Your voices drowning out the sounds of being called a useless whore, or dumb bitch. But I don't fucking want to hear those words leave any of your mouths. Now, to me those are the words that would prove your cowardice."

She felt Jimin shift behind her. But she wouldn't look at him. Couldn't see the raw pain reflected in his own eyes. But she knew he'd be proud of her.

It was something he'd tried to convince her of for a while.

"I didn't kill my sister. I was the only one to keep her memory alive!"

Celine pointed to the other room, rage clear on her face covered in black tears. Watching her older brother hold his head in his hands, and wish away her voice from the other room.

She had been stronger than that. He couldn't even stand to look at her, for the things she had to do.

Because it hurt too much.

And her parents. Who looked like they had the day Mia died, mourning. Without all the animosity before and for a second she wished they would defend themselves.

To see them a little older, and a lot more fractured dug the knife deep into her heart.

"I risked my childhood to be a sugar baby. I risked my safety to leave Jeon Jeongguk. I risked my life to tell the world of Park Jimin's innocence."

She felt his hand briefly brush hers, a thank you.

Celine's chest was rising and falling rapidly. The explosion of heat in her turning to a soft simmer and she was just sad.

The type of sad that weakened you. That begged for you to let go of everything because it was an exhausted emotion, not because you didn't feel it anymore. It squeezed her neck, it made her tremble, and it wrung more tears from her eyes that trailed helpless to her hands that wrapped around the middle of her torso. Self-soothing, like she had to do when she was a child on the streets.

When she had no one there to dry her tears.

"That's what love is, that's what protection is. I would've rather spent two short years with my family than three long years without you. I needed you. And I didn't survive. I didn't because I'm not who I used to be. And I want to run to you, I want to love my parents like I did. But the memory of you has become more precious to me because I still can't believe you left me to suffer all by myself."

A flower in the fall, she wilted. Drained. Not knowing where her heart stood or if the forgiveness she wished to embody would encompass her family.

"I was so lonely. I don't ever want to be again. I can't be thrown away again, I-I just can't take it." Her voice cracked out, sounding every bit like the child that begged to stay home.

The day she left rushed back to her in stunning clarity. She swore she saw her mother and father reliving it too.

"But, where will I sleep? You're not even letting me take my stuffed animals. This is only temporary right? Right mom?"

Her mother was ignoring her. That sharp look of indifference on her face as she packed a bag for her last loving daughter. Tears streamed down her eyes, and Celine didn't get why.

Her parents were angry at her, she was angry at herself. But they would forgive her one day.

Right?

"You need to leave. You're on your own now that you've disgraced our family." Her father's voice boomed from the doorway. He didn't even glance her way.

Celine flinched, the panic and realization finally settling in.

"Mom. You can't really be throwing me out. I mean I'm 16. We don't even have any family for me to stay with."

"It's not our problem." Her mom's voice was scratchy, as she placed a cold hand on Celine's shoulder.

Forcing her to the doorframe.

This is when Celine started to struggle.

"No! I'm not leaving. I don't care if you and dad don't love me anymore, I can't leave! I don't know what to do by myself. I don't have a job! I didn't graduate!" Her anger and hurt had forced so many tears to come.

As she begged and pleaded with the woman who told her she murdered her sister. Her dad had scooped her up, avoiding her arms that pushed and swatted at them.

Celine took one last glance at her room.

The light baby pink walls, covered in pictures of her friends she had lost. The various trophies she got from her dance recitals. Mia's sweater that she used to fall asleep in.

Her pink, silk sheets.

Her body went into shock. Crying and screaming and heaving as her down took her down her spiral staircase.

No. I can't leave. I won't be able to visit Mia's room. To talk with my brother. To try to win my parent's love back.

Her father placed her on the floor. She had crumbled onto her knees, let her hands touch the floor as she sobbed so hard her stomach went concave. Trying to get words out that would make her stay.

Her mother had turned her back to her. Her form shaking.

Her dad stared down at her, but it was like Mr. Kim was much further away.

"Mommy please, I can't live without you. I love you and dad. I'll miss you. I'll do everything again to be perfect. I can do it. I can make you proud-"

Smack.

The sound echoed around the room, as her father's hand connected with her face.

Celine was shocked into silence, eyes wide as she shook like a leaf. Up at the man who had taught her to never let a man disrespect her. Words or by hand.

It was the first time she learned that she wasn't good enough to have those rules of respect apply to her.

"You're going to leave now. Your mother can't handle this any longer. Leave."

This time, Celine got up. Without a fight. Without a word.

She took one last look at her parents. People she would have to ignore, even when she saw them at public events. This would be the last time she saw them as parents, and not as strangers.

The young girl sniffled, opening the door. Seeing her brother Sky leaned up against his shiny black car. His expression broken and scared.

Celine looked back one more time, this time a smile lifting on her lips, "Mia hated you both."

With that, the girl slammed the door.

It would be the last time she saw herself as someone worthy of defending. Worthy of comfort.

If her own parents didn't love her, no one else could.

Not even herself.

When Celine focused on the present, her mother was before her. Like Celine had been before. On her knees, holding onto her daughter.

The girl's lips quivered, wishing she could fall into the arms of her mom again. Wishing the anger could go away.

Her mom looked up, Amber brown eyes so full of remorse it could fill an ocean, "You want to know how Mia got her scar?"

Celine nodded her head, letting silence fill the room.

"Your sister was a quiet child. Extraordinary. We spent so much time with her as a child. She was intelligent, funny, and witty as a little toddler could get. We spent less time at work and took every chance to be a family. The one day, we took her to our house along the shoreline. It had been a hot day, but rain recently hit the area. We had been playing on a bed of jagged rocks, but your sister usually stayed still. She was like that, she always listened to us. I wasn't paying attention and I-she fell. Scraped into a couple rocks. There was so much blood and me and your father were panicking and your sister calmly waited for ambulance. At the age of 4. She was otherworldly. Like she had known that her time here was short and there was nothing she could do to change that." Her mother was far away, the nostalgia clear in her face. Smiling and crying at the memory of the daughter she lost.

Celine was shocked. Never hearing this story before, because both her sister and her mother refused to tell it. She thought maybe it had been deeper, but it was an accident any child could have.

But her mother looked heartbroken, even as she spoke.

The younger girl took in her form, the expression she had never seen on her mom's face as she talked about Mia. Before it had been one of indifference.

But it was clear now. Her mother had deeply loved her first child.

Maybe too much.

"It scared me. And I know you can relate to this Celine, I know you. When you are scared of losing someone, you push them away. I did it with Mia. I knew deep down in my heart something bad was going to happen. That pit in my stomach every time I looked into her wise face. I regret it every fucking day of my life. She was an amazing daughter, and an even more lovely person and I couldn't be around her. Couldn't handle the pain of one day losing the little girl that handled strife like it was dealt to her by fate. But god, do I wish I could do things over. To spend the time with her that I lost, to know her again. I hurt the only two out of three blessings I was given, and even in the afterlife I'll be sorry."

It was quiet. The room so deadly silent, no one moving. The girl felt her shoulders roll back, as she made a final decision.

To speak.

Or to leave.

"She didn't hate you." Celine whispered out.

Her mom looked up at her, hope filling her eyes. Knowing it was the last thing Celine had said before she left.

And it was the first thing her daughter said to show she was staying.

Hope.

It was all the family needed.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

(A/N): I rewrote this chapter from what the reunion originally was and y'all, I made myself cry. Like I am more emotionally connected with Celine even more now than I initially had been while writing this story. And that was already a lot.

Her pain is one we can all sometimes relate to. Being scared of being rejected, of losing everything we hold dear, and being hurt by those that claim to love us.

so guys before the ACTUAL finale...

There is going to be one more special chapter!

It's a story between two people, that needs to be shared still.

Jimin and Jeongguk.

I hope y'all enjoyed this happy chapter before the waterworks come again!