A/N: Yes, I'm still here! Sorry for the delay (as usual), but I am even busier now than before. In addition to fanfic, I'm working, taking classes, writing fiction (working on my novels and competing in writing contests), and just living life (I try to fit some sleep in there, too). I was also recently in Mexico and Peru, so that slowed things down. Despite all that, I'm still trying to keep up with my stories as best I can, and again, I promise not to abandon them.

So, I'm updating this story before SHTMH and GGABB because I had written ahead. Thank you all for your patience on this and whatever story(ies) of mine you may be waiting for!

An exciting piece of news: I placed in the top 15 in my group in the NYCMidnight Flash Fiction Contest! The challenge was to write a story of 1,000 words or less within 48 hours given a genre, location, and object prompt (mine was drama, a concert hall, a vaporizer pen). This is a worldwide contest, so I was very excited to place. Basically, I got points in the first challenge toward advancing to Round 2. And the judges were pretty nice to me in their review. They said a lot of good things about my writing; the only critical things were ones I expected and were mainly due to the limited word count. Even the judges understood the shortcuts I had to take. So, I just completed challenge #2 (mystery, an induction ceremony, a coffin). Eek! I'd never written a mystery before or even really read or watched any, so it was tough. I did my best… I also just participated in the Microfiction challenge (250 words or less). That one was tough (to keep it so short), but at least I got romance! The prompt was Romance, picking someone up at the airport, and the word 'owned.'

So, I've enjoyed participating in these contests. They're a good challenge. And here's what I've learned: 1) I hate being restricted to a word count; however if it's not too small of a word count, it helps me to tighten my story and eliminate unnecessary wording. 2) I get too many ideas going and struggle to choose between them (well, you guys must know that from the number of stories I have going). 3) It takes me about a day to sort through my ideas and messy notes, then another day to actually put the story together (for short stories).

Anyway, wish me well! I'll get the results in November. If I did well enough in the second challenge and get enough points to be in the top 5, I'll advance to Round 2. After that, there's one more round, during which you can win cash and other prizes.

So, here we go! I've been waiting to get to this chapter (and the next) for so long! I had long since written a few pieces of it, but I added a lot more (of course). Hope you enjoy!

Lupins (lupines): a New Zealand flower (look it up if you want to see)

Bacchus D: A South Korean energy drink. Also used for hangover relief.

Jinjja?!: Really?!

Jeungjobu: Great-Grandfather (I wasn't totally sure of this, but here's what I found. Anyway, this is what Seok Young (the 2nd) refers to Grandfather (Harabeoji, his father's grandfather) as.

Gwenchanahyo: It's okay, not at all (response to thank you, kind of like 'don't mention it.')

Disclaimers: I do not own BOF or the original characters. I apologize for any errors (on NZ or the medical stuff), and feel free to point them out to me if you see them. As always, I have to take some artistic license, but I try to keep it fairly accurate.

WARNING: There are a couple of suggestive parts in this chapter, but not too bad. If you feel uncomfortable, though, skip them.

Chapter Twenty: Desire and Destinations Part II

Jan Di had to admit that even twenty years later, every now and then, her husband reverted to his high school self. The F4 in Yoon Ji Hoo was rooted deep, but she'd given in to his whim because he hadn't asked for much from her, and his intentions for suddenly whisking them away to a vacation paradise were good. He'd wanted to cheer up their daughter and spend some quality time as a family. And how could she deny him that, whether she agreed with his extravagance or not?

The kids, however, were not so thrilled. When Ji Hoo broke the news, they somberly stared at him.

"Did you hear what I said?" Ji Hoo asked, one part amusement, two parts bewilderment. "Don't you two want to go on vacation? Most kids would kill for a couple of weeks off school."

Seok Young knew why he was not so thrilled about going on vacation‒because he'd miss Eun Jeong. As for Mee Yon, she just didn't get excited about much of anything since Aidan left. She'd sort of snapped out of her zombified state, but she was far from her usual bubbly self.

Seok Young spoke for both of them. "Yes, Appa. We do. Right, Mee Yon-ah?" He looked to his sister, who was staring out. She did that a lot these days. He nudged her arm with his elbow.

"What? Oh. Oh, yes, Appa. Sounds great," she replied, thoroughly unconvincingly.

"But…?" The ever perceptive Ji Hoo asked.

"Well…" Seok Young scratched his cheek. He was considering telling his father he couldn't stand the thought of going two weeks without seeing Eun Jeong, but surely, that wouldn't be enough to change his mind about their family trip. And Appa would probably think it unhealthy to be so attached at his age. Maybe he was. He should be able to go away and have fun without her, right?

Seok Young shook his head and plastered on a smile. "Nothing, Appa," he said, placing a hand on Mee Yon's shoulder. "I was just overthinking it, that's all." Appa nodded, but Seok Young wasn't sure he was convinced.

"Oh, and another thing...," Ji Hoo began. "Your eomma and I would like to keep this between us, so if you could refrain from saying anything to the other families, it would be appreciated."

Seok Young blinked in confusion. "But why, Appa?"

"Well, as much as we love the Goos, Songs, and Sos, we spend a lot of time together. We want this to be a family vacation, just us, and how do I put this delicately…? The others tend to invite themselves along frequently when we go places."

Eomma nodded. "Yeah, like that one time!"

"Exactly," Appa replied, instantly knowing which time she was referring to.

Eomma started animatedly gesticulating about their recent weekend trip to Jeju. Appa had mentioned they were going, and to the other families, that was an invitation to come along. They hadn't bothered to correct them.

It was true. Their families had vacationed together on multiple occasions, and Seok Young had come to expect it. He'd always thought it was the plan, and maybe sometimes it was, but he could imagine the other families doing as Appa had said, especially the Goos. Still, he couldn't possibly leave without a word to his girlfriend‒she'd worry about him.

"I know you must be concerned about Eun Jeong," Appa read his mind. Seok Young nodded.

Of course, he had to say something to Eun Jeong. No good boyfriend would flit off to a foreign land without so much as a goodbye. She would understand, of course, but he could practically see her eyes filling with tears. She'd miss him, and he'd miss her; there was no avoiding it.

"Don't worry," Ji Hoo said. "Your mother and I plan to mention we're going away to Yi Jeong and Ga Eul because of Byeong Ho. And you can tell Eun Jeong since you're in a relationship with her. Maybe just keep it quiet from the others."

Easier said than done, thought Seok Young.

"If they ask, just say we're going on a trip but don't say where," Appa suggested.

Eun Jeong might accept that, but not Jun Seo, Il Hun, and Jae Jin. He could just imagine them browbeating him until he told them. Basically, any information was dangerous in their hands, and too little information was just asking for trouble…

The next morning, Seok Young and Eun Jeong met at the stairwell so he could tell her he'd be leaving. He was having a hard time getting it out, though, and he could see she was starting to worry.

Moisture b behind her eyes, she muttered, "Are you-are you breaking up with me?" And her eyes shot to her feet.

"No! Never. Why would you think that?" He closed the distance between them, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.

She looked up at him and sighed in relief. "Well, you just seemed so serious, and you said we needed to talk. 'We need to talk' is rarely something good."

Seok Young gave her a sheepish smile. "Mianhae. I just wanted to tell you in person that I'm leaving for a couple of weeks to go on vacation with my family."

Eun Jeong's relief over the fact that he wasn't breaking up with her had already worn off, and the weight of it hit her. She was going to be without him for two whole weeks! She squeezed her eyes shut, yet a few tears slipped free anyway.

"Oh, no. Don't cry, Eun Jeong-ah," Seok Young purred. He raised a finger to wipe both cheeks dry, and then he crushed her into his arms.

The goodbye was painful as expected‒Seok Young felt as though he was going off to war. It involved a lot of hugging and gentle reassurances whispered in her ear, that he would be back soon, that he'd think of her constantly and they'd talk as much as possible, and that she wouldn't even notice he was gone.

"I'll definitely notice, Oppa!" she strongly protested.

"That makes me feel good," he said, smiling warmly. He pulled her in close again, pressing a kiss to her forehead and then hugging her as tightly as he could. Okay, so maybe they were being a bit dramatic, but the ache was definitely present.

He held her for a while longer, until he heard her mutter, "Bell's about to ring." He pulled back, and she checked her smartwatch. "Any minute now," she said sadly.

"I'm sure I'll see you later," he assured, squeezing her arm.

Eun Jeong nodded, her lip jutting out a little.

"Oh now, don't do that." He couldn't stand seeing her sad. And the pout...well, it would either break his heart or force him to kiss her. "Come here," he gently demanded. He didn't wait for her to step forward, though, simply pulled her into yet another loving embrace.

When they finally broke apart, he gave her a pearly smile. "Don't forget about me while I'm gone," he half-joked.

"Not in a million years!" To seal her words, she threw her arms around his neck. After they hugged it out again, she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and rushed off through the double doors before he saw her cry.

Wiping away tears with the back of her arm, Eun Jeong snuck one last peek at Seok Young through the window before speed-walking off to her first class.

Why did he have to go away? she lamented. Sure, it was perfectly normal to take a vacation with one's family, but it was so...sudden. She'd had absolutely no time to prepare for being away from him. Not like it would help, anyway. Maybe this was for the best. Less time for her to think about missing him before she actually had to miss him. Now, she was wondering if she'd get another chance to see him before he left. She might catch glimpses of him throughout the day at school, but they no longer had the same lunch, and he'd surely be busy with classes and after-school music lessons. Maybe she could wait for him. But no, she needed to get home to help Eomma… And he'd said they'd be leaving early the next day… She wanted to see him off at the airport, but his family would be there, and she didn't want to interfere. Besides, it would probably be too hard to watch him go. So, she it up, thinking about how she needed to make time to say goodbye to Mee Yon as well.

As for Jun Seo, Jae Jin, and Il Hun, Seok Young decided to keep things quiet as his appa had suggested. The less they knew the better. They'd drive him mad with questions if he gave them anything. So, he said nothing‒they'd get the picture when he wasn't in school for a few days. He'd just avoid them as much as possible today. But why did he feel like this was going to come back to bite him?

The Yoons were at the airport the next morning at practically the crack of dawn. Naturally, they were seated in first class; Appa had insisted like he usually did. Seok Young and Mee Yon shook their heads at one other upon witnessing the classic argument between Appa and Eomma when they air traveled.

"We don't always have to take first-class, you know, Ji Hoo. It's a waste of money."

"I've told you before, Jan Di. My legs are too long to fly economy."

"That excuse is not going to work every time, Yoon Ji Hoo." Even though it usually does, thought Seok Young. "Anyway, the kids and I can fly back there. Seok Young's legs aren't quite as long as yours yet."

Appa sighed. "Don't you want to sit with me? I'd like for all of us to be together. Besides, I've already paid, and it would be inconvenient to change now."

And so on…

Seok Young leaned back in his seat, folded his arms, and shut his eyes, ignoring the bits of the disagreement he was privy to. He knew how it would play out, anyway. Eomma would concede but pretend to be mad for the first twenty minutes or so of the flight, at least until the snacks and hot towel came.

. . .

The pilot wasted no time getting them in the air, and Seok Young drifted in and out of consciousness during the ascent. When he felt a hand on his arm, he turned to look at Mee Yon in her window seat. She'd jostled him awake because the flight attendant was taking drink orders and was on their row. Seok Young glanced up at the smiling, dark brown-haired flight attendant and politely asked for hot tea. Mee Yon proceeded to proudly order coffee, and Seok Young smiled to himself. She liked the stuff, but he knew it was more about her feeling older and more mature when she ordered it.

The flight attendant then offered them each a bag of crackers. "Oh, good. I'm starving," Seok Young muttered to himself. At that, the woman slipped him an extra bag, and he thanked her sweetly before she left their row.

Mee Yon gaped at her brother.

"What?" Seok Young asked while tearing into one of the bags.

"She gave you an extra bag!" Realizing she'd been a little loud, Mee Yon lowered her voice. "I can't believe she gave you an extra bag. She didn't give me an extra bag…"

He shrugged.

"I'll never understand this effect you have on women, Oppa. I mean, you're sweet and all, but you're not that charming." Seok Young pretended to be hurt. "Come on, you barely talk or smile, but when you do, it turns women, old and young, into goo."

"It hurts my face to smile too much," Seok Young deadpanned.

Mee Yon couldn't help but snort. "Ha!" Impulsively, she grabbed him by the cheeks, pushing them upward into a forced smile.

"Yah, yah, yah!" Seok Young protested in a garbled voice.

"There, isn't that nice?" She smirked as she released him.

Seok Young rubbed his tender cheeks. "Don't take your wrath out on my face, okay? Anyway, she probably only gave me extra because I said I was starving."

Mee Yon rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, right. You're soo malnourished." She reached over and pinched a hunk of the flesh of his side.

"Oww." He reared back in his seat.

"Hmm," Mee Yon evaluated his thickness, grinning impishly. "Yeah, you're a bit skinny but definitely not starving."

"Well, I didn't mean literally. I am a growing boy, though."

Mee Yon scoffed. She picked up her coffee and brought it to her lips, first blowing on it then taking a sip like a pro.

"So, is this how it's going to be the entire flight? First, you grab my face, then you pinch me." He eyed her as she took another sip. "I knew it was a mistake to let you have coffee. I should tell the flight attendant you need to be banned."

"Yah." She shoved him and took a big gulp out of spite.

Seok Young shook his head. "Seriously, though, you shouldn't drink that stuff so much. Don't you know it'll stunt your growth?"

Mee Yon swallowed the liquid in forcibly, and her head snapped toward her brother. She looked at him as if he'd just told her that her favorite boy band had broken up. "What?! Really?!"

Seok Young chuckled. "No, not really." He took a sip of his tea. "People used to think that, but there's really nothing to prove it. It's not exactly the healthiest thing for a teenage girl to drink, though, especially one who's an athlete. You could get kidney stones and have all sorts of problems."

"But I drink lots of water."

"And sports drinks, which are full of sugar, and energy drinks with tons of caffeine…" Seok Young went on. "Seriously, you could be the spokesmodel for Bacchus D."

Mee Yon glared at him. "First of all," she wagged a finger, "the sports drinks are good for replacing electrolytes, and if I'd wanted a health lecture I would have talked to Appa or Eomma."

"Yeah…" Seok Young his chin in contemplation. "Maybe you need one; maybe I should say something to them…"

"Oppa, don't you dare," she hissed.

Despite her tugging on his arm, Seok Young grinned and peeked around his seat at his parents, finding that, as anticipated, Eomma no longer seemed upset with Appa and was sleeping peacefully against his shoulder. Appa was dozing, too. Seok Young smiled and leaned back in his seat. "I'll tell them later," he said, more to himself than her.

"I don't need a lecture, Oppa," Mee Yon huffed. "I'm healthy." She took another sip of her coffee.

"Fine." He folded his arms. "Do what you want. Just don't wake me when you're bouncing off the walls of the plane," he teased.

Mee Yon gave him a little shove before settling back in her seat. And Seok Young closed his eyes.

. . .

Seok Young managed to sleep through over half of the eleven-plus-hour flight, either in his seat or on the sky couch Appa had purchased in addition to their seats. Even though Yoon Seok Young could sleep just about anywhere, he enjoyed being able to sprawl out, so he made liberal use of the sky couch. The rest of the time he spent reading, listening to music, or playing games (cards and made-up ones like when they were kids) with Mee Yon. He was thankful for the hours whiled away sleeping or talking with Mee Yon because that meant less time for boredom to set in, and less time missing Eun Jeong. Although, he supposed he had a lot of missing ahead‒two weeks' worth. It wasn't much in the grand scheme of things, but why did two weeks suddenly feel like a lifetime?

Speaking of lifetimes, he also wondered why the last leg of a long trip always seemed the longest, especially that final hour. He tried not to think about it, occupying himself as best he could. Finally, the pilot announced their impending descent, and the flight attendant brought around the immigration forms. Seok Young helped Mee Yon fill out her card, and shortly afterward, the passengers were informed to put their trays up, return their seats to the upright positions, and prepare for landing.

After a brief layover in Auckland and another short flight, the Yoons landed in Queenstown, New Zealand. Outside customs, they met their driver, a tall, light brown-haired man holding a sign with their family name on it. The man was extremely friendly, immediately giving Ji Hoo a robust handshake and clapping him on the back while saying his name was Ryder in a thick Kiwi accent. Ji Hoo introduced Ryder to his family, and he greeted them energetically before leading them to baggage claim. Along the way, Ryder chatted vibrantly with Ji Hoo.

Already, this Ryder was calling Seok Young's appa 'mate' and had just exclaimed that he looked 'skux.' Seok Young knew what 'mate' meant, but 'skux' was unfamiliar to him. Curious enough to search for it on his phone, he discovered that it was New Zealand slang for cool or trendy, also with the connotation of being good at attracting the opposite . Well, it wouldn't be the first time someone had thought that of his father.

Ryder helped gather their luggage and put it on a cart, and he led them out to his car, a silver SUV. He packed the luggage then rushed to open the doors for all of them. When Mee Yon thanked him in English, referring to him as 'Mr. Ryder' and accompanying it with a little bow, Seok Young thought the driver was going to pick her up and swing her around‒he was clearly charmed by her.

They left the airport to head to the villa they'd be staying at; Ryder explained that it wasn't far. Almost immediately, they were in the countryside. The New Zealand landscape was dotted with grassy rolling hills, giving way to mountains. A vibrant palette of earthy tones, vivid blue waters, and even bluer skies, the landscape was absolutely breathtaking. Seok Young wasn't much of a photographer, but he had to snap a few pictures, for he knew Eun Jeong would love to see this. But the reception was spotty with the mountain range so close, so he'd have to wait to send them.

After losing interest in taking photos, Seok Young alternated between watching the scenery flash by and nodding off. Mee Yon was, of all things, counting the sheep that hopped by‒she was seriously like a little kid sometimes, but it was endearing. And hey, at least she was counting in English for practice.

Seok Young continued to drift‒the sheep-counting made him even drowsier, somehow‒while absently absorbing the information the driver was spouting in English about New Zealand's rich Maori culture and his own heritage. Given his practically eidetic memory, Seok Young was sure to retain a great portion of it, aside from the slang, which he'd have to look up later (if it plagued him). But poor Eomma...she couldn't seem to keep up with Ryder's rapid slang-laden English. Seok Young could tell she was perplexed by the look on her face and also the fact that Appa kept repeating it in Korean. This would benefit Mee Yon, too, who was likewise struggling. As for Seok Young, he was getting the information twice, so it was sure to be burned into his brain.

When the driver wasn't giving information, he was chatting animatedly about sports with his new mate. This sparked Seok Young's interest briefly, and he even asked a couple of questions. But inevitably, Seok Young's thoughts drifted to Eun Jeong. He sighed, picturing her pretty face and wondering what she was doing now. He glanced at the clock on the car's front panel. 3:02 PM. Seoul was only three hours behind, so he assumed Eun Jeong would be having lunch. They used to eat lunch together at the stairwell, but disappointingly, their schedule had just changed. He wondered who she was eating with now‒maybe her sister...

They drove along a winding road flanked by mountains and lake, and Ryder pointed out the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range. He talked about the popularity of skiing and snowboarding in winter and water sports in summer. Summer was just ending in New Zealand, but there was still lots to do, according to Ryder. For one, he strongly encouraged them to go bungee jumping, if they were thrill-seekers, that is because Queenstown was the home of it.

The drive was indeed short‒only fifteen minutes passed before their arrival at the villa in central Queenstown‒though it seemed like it should have been longer, given how much there was to see along the way. The villa was large and had a panoramic view of the mountain and lake. Seok Young, Mee Yon, and Jan Di snapped a few pics while Ji Hoo tipped Ryder and discussed some plans for later. Then Jan Di asked Ryder to take a family photo of them; he did so and pointed out the office before leaving.

When the Yoons entered the office, they were greeted by a petite local woman in a black skirt suit. She checked them in and offered to show them around. They accepted. Along the way to their living quarters, the female staff member pointed out the communal and private areas, including the golf course, sculpture park, and infinity pool. There was even an art studio and music and media room, which she made sure to navigate them through. Ji Hoo and Seok Young were clearly in heaven there.

"I think we may not see them again the entire trip," Jan Di teased, addressing her daughter and the staff. Mee Yon laughed, and the woman smiled at them.

They arrived at their living space, and the woman opened the door for them. The place was modern and spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors, and a large balcony overlooking Lake Wakatipu. It had a large open plan kitchen with a breakfast bar; a living room with seating, a gas fireplace, and a 65-inch Smart TV; a dining room; four king bedrooms, each with a private en suite‒all in all, it was perfect for a family of four (or five). The staff explained the amenities and facilities to Ji Hoo and Jan Di while the kids explored further.

It wasn't the fanciest place they'd stayed in but definitely nice. During the limited and short‒due to their parents' schedules–trips they'd taken together as a family, they'd always stayed somewhere relatively luxurious. This was another battle between Eomma and Appa. Eomma always wanted to save money because, even though she had more than she could ever need now, she'd grown up poor, or at least lower-middle class. Seok Young, having grown up comfortably, to say the least, could only imagine what it must have been like for Eomma. But when he tried, he could understand her instinct to preserve funds. This instinct went against the attitudes of his uncles, Jun Pyo, Yi Jeong, and Woo Bin; however, Aunt Ga Eul was always on Eomma's side. Sometimes Appa gave in and selected a less extravagant place, for Eomma's comfort. Other times, he insisted she deserved to stay someplace nice. It was all out of love, Seok Young recognized, and at least Appa knew when to push Eomma and when not to.

Seok Young continued wandering the villa, floating around like a ghost as he imprinted his surroundings upon his brain. For him, it didn't matter how nice the place was‒it wasn't home. Not that he didn't enjoy vacations, but he always got a dull ache in his gut whenever he was in unfamiliar territory. It seemed worse now because Eun Jeong wasn't here with him. Yes, having a girlfriend back in Seoul definitely made him miss home more. And the realization of just how much he cared for Eun Jeong was hitting him hard now. He truly wanted to see her every day, all the time, and it was already so hard being away from her. How would he ever last two weeks? What if someday he had to go even longer than that? He decided to push these thoughts aside and enjoy time with his family; although, he already felt more homesick than his first day at the academy.

Back in the living room, Ji Hoo tipped the staff, and she left. Seok Young and Mee Yon were occupied checking out their rooms, so Ji Hoo took Jan Di by the hand and led her to their bedroom. The master was separated from the rest of the villa, offering extra privacy. Inside was a king bed, two end tables, each with a vase of fresh purple flowers atop it, a brown leather sofa, another large TV, and a jacuzzi in the corner.

Jan Di took it all in. "Wow, this room is nice."

"I'm glad you approve, my love," Ji Hoo replied.

Jan Di nodded and walked over to the bed to sit down. "The bed is soft." She tested it out properly.

Ji Hoo watched his wife press her palms into the bed and bounce a few times. His lips curled up at the sight. She looked like a little kid. Really, at heart, she was still that nineteen-year-old girl he first knew; she hadn't changed much.

"What?" she asked, noticing Ji Hoo staring at her with a little grin on his face.

"Nothing." He shook his head amusedly. "You're just cute."

"Cute?!" Her cheeks unexpectedly heated up. "Ji Hoo-ah!"

Ji Hoo chuckled and approached her. "What?" He leaned down to her cheek with the back of his hand, and she leaned into him.

"I'm not cute," she asserted, gripping the sheets and glancing almost shyly away.

Something about the way Jan Di insisted she wasn't cute and still got shy once in a while awakened something within Ji Hoo. "Yes, you most certainly are." The fervor in his voice seemed to catch her off guard.

Wanting to prove it to her, he took hold of her arms and captured her lips. She made a muffled sound before giving in wholeheartedly and letting him lay her back against the bed. Lying down next to her, Ji Hoo pulled her into his side; he kissed her more insistently and ran his hands all along her back, eliciting small whimpers from her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in the rusty strands of hair.

They finally broke out of necessity. "Ji...Hoo...I-I can't breathe…," Jan Di muttered.

He just smiled and kissed her again, taking his time releasing her bottom lip. "You're not supposed to breathe right now," he teased as he moved on to pepper her cheeks and jawline with soft, open-mouthed kisses.

"Ji Hoo-ah," she gasped as he nipped at her neck. "What's gotten into you?"

He met her eyes, gifting her with that flawless smile she never once could resist.

"I'm madly in love with my wife, that's what's gotten into me," he said, brushing pieces of hair out of her face. He kissed her lips again, and she clutched at his shirt, pulling him tighter against her.

Jan Di didn't know if it was being in this place or actually having free time to spend with one another, but Ji Hoo was insatiable. She wasn't complaining, though‒so was she. Flattening her hands against his chest, she let them roam. His were currently tracing patterns into her back and hips. They traded kisses amidst grasping and for several minutes, and eventually, Ji Hoo's hands began to wander lower. She knew where this was leading, and one of them had to be strong, so she cut it off. Ji Hoo wasn't having it, though, and almost immediately, he moved in again. She stopped him by pressing two fingers to his soft, warm lips. "Ji Hoo-ah…," she said breathily. "We can't right now…" She wasn't sure whose sigh was more pronounced.

"I know." He groaned, and to show her he wasn't angry, just disappointed, he squeezed her arm affectionately.

An unspoken agreement to share just one more kiss turned into more passionate groping and continued until a voice called out, "Hey, Eomma, Appa...uh!"

Seok Young hadn't thought and had just walked into their room. Eomma and Appa were horizontal on the bed, all tangled up, and Appa was practically attached to Eomma's neck, both of them clearly enjoying themselves.

Whoa, whoa, WHOA!

Seok Young felt like a mouse trapped in a snake cage; his head was screaming at him to escape, but he was frozen. He gaped, but his parents didn't move; although, they were no longer touching. It was as if they were as frozen as he was. Eomma was full-on blushing, and Appa was wearing the hint of an embarrassed smile.

"Oh, Seoky," Eomma addressed him with her affectionate nickname for him while toying with a strand of her hair. "Um, hi. Did you need something?"

Eomma, please don't call me that while you're like...that!

They extricated themselves from each other's arms and sat up. Well, Eomma did, but Appa was turned kind of sideways on the bed, one leg crossed over the other, and Seok Young could guess why.

His own cheeks burning, Seok Young shook his head. Finally gathering his self-preservational skills, he spun around. "Uh, it can wait."

He tried to tell himself it could have been worse; they weren't doing anything other than kissing...yet. Thank the heavens he hadn't walked in a few minutes later. Who knows where they would have been at that point?! But still, he felt the need to wash his eyes out, or perhaps exchange them for a new pair. "I'll just...leave you two to…" he stumbled over his words, finally opting for just rushing out the door.

Jan Di and Ji Hoo exchanged a look of embarrassed amusement.

"Well, we definitely owe him one," Ji Hoo commented, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah." Jan Di nodded. And she leaned in to place a chaste kiss on Ji Hoo's lips. "...Later," she said as both plea and promise.

"Later," he promised in a seductive whisper, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. He placed a soft kiss just below her ear, and Jan Di's resulting shiver traveled all the way up her spine. She was definitely eager for him to fulfill that promise, and oh, she knew he would.

With another mutual sigh, they sat up fully. Jan Di left the room, and Ji Hoo promised to be out in a minute.

Back in the living room, Mee Yon had emerged from her bedroom. Seok Young strode toward her, eyes trained on the floor.

"Oppa, what's with the expression?"

He scratched the back of his head and reluctantly met his sister's eyes. "You don't want to know."

"Huh?"

He shook his head. "Nevermind."

"But...what was it?"

Seok Young grinned. "Trust me; I'm protecting you."

"Protecting me? From what? Did you see a giant spider or something?!" Her eyes practically bugged out. Yoon Mee Yon wasn't scared of much, but she did hate spiders.

"No…something worse," Seok Young deadpanned.

Mee Yon looked concerned; he just shrugged and told her not to worry about it, and she finally accepted. Although, she did force him to go with her to her own room to search for giant spiders.

After a change of clothes, the Yoons headed out to explore central Queenstown. Being a local, Ryder was knowledgeable about the area, so he served as tour guide. They wandered around the resort town first and did a little shopping. Along the way, they scoped out other activities for the rest of their time there‒they'd be spending a week in New Zealand and a week in Australia.

Queenstown (and New Zealand, in general) was a very athletic, adventurous place; it seemed that wherever they went there were shops to rent bikes, boats, kayaks, and the like. There were certainly plenty of outdoor options advertised on signs, such as cruises, hiking, rafting, ziplining, and bungee jumping‒as Ryder had mentioned. Ji Hoo also took note of a clay shooting place. He'd enjoyed his days at the shooting range with F4, a rarer occurrence now, and he'd long since wanted to share that with his son, so he made a mental note to do so before they left. Next, they passed the Romer Gallery, which caught Ji Hoo's interest, so they went inside to experience the rarely-seen New Zealand landscapes through photography.

After leaving the gallery, the Yoons and Ryder meandered through a small outdoor marketplace, complete with produce, crafts, and souvenirs-galore. Jan Di had been feeling nostalgic all afternoon, frequently flashing back to old times with Ji Hoo, Ga Eul, and the rest of F4. This place reminded her a lot of New Caledonia‒the landscape, the crystal clear waters...they even passed a small flower stand. The lily of the valley that Ji Hoo had offered her so long ago was not one of the flowers available, but she did see more of those pretty purple ones from their nightstand at the villa. The woman selling them called them lupins. She handed one to Jan Di, telling her in English that it symbolized happiness. An image suddenly appeared in Jan Di's head of Ji Hoo kneeling before the local girl in New Caledonia as she handed him the white potted flowers, and of him observing them carefully. And just like that, Jan Di was 19 again, roaming around a foreign land with F4 and Ga Eul; only this time, she was sightseeing with her F4 husband and children.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Ji Hoo sidled up to her and slipped his hand into hers. He squeezed it gently, and she squeezed back. Words could not describe how nice this was, to actually be able to hold his hand while they walked around rather than cast furtive glances and quietly pine for him from afar as he lamented over another woman.

On the subject of jealousy, and not that she was worried, but Jan Di had been noticing the looks Ji Hoo was getting from many of the women they passed‒of a multitude of ages, at that. But it wasn't just Ji Hoo. Seok Young was getting 'the looks,' too, and that bothered her possibly more than women ogling her husband. The ones 25 and above took notice of Ji Hoo and the ones under 25 focused on Seok Young. Many of these girls were tall, thin, and beautiful, some fairer, others, bronze-skinned goddesses (probably due to sun exposure or the Maori heritage their driver had mentioned); some were clad in skirts, short-shorts, or even skimpy beachwear with light cover-ups; others looked ready for a vigorous hike. The New Zealanders (or Kiwis) appeared to be mostly Caucasian, but there were a fair number of darker-skinned people, too. Honestly, it was tough to tell who was who because there were so many European and Asian tourists. Ryder had said it was a big tourist town.

Neither Ji Hoo nor Seok Young was oblivious to the female attention they were getting from tourists and locals alike. Jan Di knew they were both aware of the women staring at them, but they had such cool personalities that they could easily appear lackadaisical. Like a pair of celebrities waltzing around, they were the image of poise in the face of admiration. And of course, when Ji Hoo spoke, he wowed the locals as the exotic, beautiful Asian man with the melodious voice and the near-perfect English.

When yet another pair, a mother and daughter, possibly, gave Ji Hoo and Seok Young a long, hard look, Jan Di spoke up in Korean. "Are you kidding me?" She said it a bit louder than she'd intended, and they all stopped to look at her. Jan Di quieted, motioning between the females‒now walking away‒and Ji Hoo and Seok Young. "Now I not only have to worry about women checking out my husband, but I have to worry about girls checking out my son too‒girls much too old for him, at that." Jan Di scoffed. It wasn't like it was the first time she'd noticed girls noticing Seok Young, but it was suddenly so blatant. "Do I need to lock you both away in a tower?" she joked.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me, my love," Ji Hoo said, putting his arm around her. "I'm happily committed, and I don't believe our Seok Young has wandering eyes, either." Ji Hoo looked to Seok Young. It was clear to him that his boy was enamored with So Eun Jeong.

Seok Young met his father's eyes, and an understanding passed between them. Blushing a little, Seok Young shook his head. And they all continued walking.

Jan Di knew she didn't have to worry about Ji Hoo. He was far too loyal to ever pay attention to another woman. But she didn't take that for granted. She tried to keep up her appearance with facial creams and a quick workout when she could fit it in. She could no longer swim, but she tried to go for a jog here and there, plus she watched what she ate. She wasn't a teenager anymore, so she couldn't eat the way she used to. She'd managed to keep her soft facial features and her figure, for the most part‒she was still short but slender with decent musculature. Her body had definitely changed, mainly a widening at the hips and weight distribution from giving birth, but Ji Hoo seemed to like that.

As for Seok Young, Jan Di hadn't taken a lot of time to consider his relationship with Eun Jeong. She knew they both liked each other a lot, and she was glad Eun Jeong was the one he'd chosen, but it was still hard to see him grow up. They were both so young, and Jan Di, of all people, knew anything could happen. They might or might not end up together, but she just hoped for the best for her son; she hoped he would end up happy, without having to endure terrible heartbreak as she had. On that note, Jan Di had always suspected something had happened at the academy, but she didn't know what. Seok Young had never talked about it with her, or even with Ji Hoo, but she knew it had involved a girl. He was fine, for the most part, when he returned home; although he also seemed so changed‒older, wiser, and not quite the boy she once knew. That'd always been hard for Jan Di, missing out on a chunk of Seok Young's life, but she'd wanted the best for him, and he'd wanted to go to the academy. Now he was home with his family where he belonged; he had Eun Jeong, and he seemed so happy, and that made Jan Di happy.

Family and tour guide continued their trek through Queenstown, ultimately venturing out into the countryside. It was beautiful and peaceful, but it didn't take long for the kids to get that itch that all teens do, to pull out their phones to scroll, post on social media, and send messages. Seok Young wasn't big on social media, but he did want to message and share pictures with Eun Jeong.

Since the trip was a secret from most, and her brother was already sharing with Eun Jeong, Mee Yon refrained from posting or sharing with the 'F5' girls' group chat, which included Eun Jeong, Yeong Hui, Ju Mi, Hye Mi, and herself. The girls, Eun Jeong excluded, were already getting curious about where Mee Yon was, and she had a ton of missed messages from the group. Oh well. She'd apologize to them later, and hopefully, she didn't accidentally send something to the group meant for Eun Jeong. For now, she popped into a selfie with Seok Young with the beautiful background behind them, which he then sent to Eun Jeong, telling her hi from both of them.

Mee Yon surveyed the message he was about to send to his girlfriend and her best friend. "You forgot to add a million hearts and kissy faces, Oppa," she teased, elbowing her brother in the ribs.

He rolled his eyes at her. "I don't do that stuff."

"Liar!" Mee Yon exclaimed, laughing a little.

"How do you know?" He arched a brow as he slipped his phone into his jacket pocket.

"I just know." He didn't seem satisfied, so she added, "Most guys in looove do that stuff" while cocking her head playfully to the side. "Plus, I've...seen it," she muttered the last part more quietly.

"Spying, are we?" Seok Young wasn't mad, a little embarrassed, maybe, but mostly, he was teasing her.

"No! I've just caught a peek before." Her eyes flitted from side to side. "You're...not exactly secretive about your feelings for Eun Jeong."

It was true, Seok Young supposed. He didn't exactly hide it, nor did he make it too obvious. He was just casually open about it. He did enjoy his private moments with Eun Jeong, though, and he wasn't the type to put his relationship on display for others. Like, he couldn't see himself announcing that he was dating her in front of all of Shinwha. But he certainly wasn't going to deny her, either.

When a response popped up seconds later, Seok Young pulled out his phone and opened the chat log. Smiling, he showed it to Mee Yon, scrolling as far down as he could to ensure she only saw the last response in the thread. And of course, she about.

"Don't want me to see all the mushy talk, huh?" Mee Yon grinned mischievously.

Seok Young scoffed. "That's not it." But his eyes darted to the side like they always did when he fibbed.

"Uh-huh!" she called him out yet again. "But thanks for shielding me, anyway. I don't want to see that. I've already seen enough of you two being disgusting to last me a lifetime."

Well, Eun Jeong and he were nothing compared to Eomma and Appa… She was lucky she hadn't had the 'horror' of seeing that.

"You've barely seen anything," Seok Young retorted, his cheeks instantly heating to a boil as soon as the words left his lips. That didn't sound right at all, and the look Mee Yon gave him didn't help matters. "I mean, uhh," he stammered. "Not that there's been anything to see! Just…" And he shut his mouth. It was true, for the most part. He hadn't done much of anything with Eun Jeong, except for sharing a couple of kisses, lots of affectionate words, and tons of hugs. But he couldn't possibly say anything that wouldn't either get him teased or scar Mee Yon for life, as she would overdramatically proclaim, so he gave up.

He waited for Mee Yon to say something. She was bound to, for the corner of her lip was quirked, and she was eyeing him closely. "Watch yourself, Oppa," she finally said. "I'd hate to see you killed and thrown in a dumpster behind Uncle Woo Bin's nightclub."

Seok Young chuckled, though it was a nervous one. Uncle Woo Bin could definitely be scary when he wanted to be, and he'd be on Unce Yi Jeong's side if Seok Young happened to get on his wrong side.

"Yeah. Remember the way he was with Park Jung Ho?" Mee Yon frowned slightly as she said it. It wasn't like it still bothered her, but his name did leave an unpleasant taste in .

Seok Young pressed his lips together. "Yeah, well, Uncle Woo Bin should have broken every bone in his body. Or Appa or Eomma. I don't really care who, but someone should have." His words were just about as frigid as could come from Seok Young.

"Oppa." Mee Yon released a short gust of air. "It's fine. He was punished, and I don't even think of him anymore. Besides, now I have…" But she stopped short of saying Aidan's name. She'd almost forgotten that she didn't really have him. He was so far away that all she really had was a promise to hold close to her heart. And did she even have that anymore? Aidan hadn't called her since his arrival, and then there was that interview, in which he'd denied having a girlfriend. Since then, she'd been over and over it in her head, why he said that. She was trying to hold out hope that he didn't mean it. Maybe he'd been forced to say it. Maybe he hadn't wanted to mention her name and unleash the media on her. Yeah, that must be it. He was just trying to protect her. That had to be it.

Sensing her mood, Seok Young tugged Mee Yon in, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Little One. It will all get better." He wasn't so good with comforting words, but his embrace seemed to do the trick.

Mee Yon smiled and twisted in his arms, hugging him fiercely around the waist. "Thanks, Oppa," she murmured against his chest.

"Mmhm."

After an extended hug, Seok Young dug out his phone again, which had dinged again a couple of minutes ago. He showed Mee Yon the gif Eun Jeong had sent, and she laughed. They shared his phone, scrolling through gifs, searching for the perfect response.

"Kids, look around you," Ji Hoo chimed in. "You're in another country; take it all in." He waved his hand at the scenery as if painting a canvas. Seok Young and Mee Yon looked up from their phones, whipped their heads from side to side, and went right back to being immersed in the phone screen.

Sighing, Ji Hoo strolled up to them. "Alright, that's enough." Both children's eyes shot up from Seok Young's phone at the sound of their father's calm yet stern voice.

"This is supposed to be family time, so you need to put your phones away now."

"Appaaaa-aa-aaaa," Seok Young and Mee Yon whined in unison.

"No, no 'Appa.' Put your phones away, or I'll take them away. In fact, I'm banning them for the rest of the evening." Mee Yon let out a low groan, and Seok Young sighed and nodded as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Before you go thinking how mean I am, I just want you to experience this. You're missing a lot. Now, when your eomma and I have our alone time later, you can do as you wish; you can use your phones all you want."

Seok Young and Mee Yon exchanged a look, cringing slightly at 'alone time,' for they knew what that meant. Seok Young clasped his hands behind him; Mee Yon's were at her sides. They both bowed their heads and said, "Yes, Appa."

For the next 'surprise' activity, Ryder drove them to the Helicopter Line Base. Ji Hoo had booked a helicopter ride over Queenstown. Once airborne, they took in the gorgeous aerial view of the town they'd just explored and Lake Wakatipu. They were even given heavier coats for an alpine landing, where they got a family photo atop the mostly snow-free mountain.

After that, they took a gondola ride to the top of Bob's Peak for another majestic view. Along the way, Ryder pointed out the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu again, as well as Coronet Peak, some points of interest in Queenstown that could be seen from the air, and part of the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand's South Island. At the top, they enjoyed a large meal of South Island salmon, salad, and roast meats while looking out over the spectacular panoramic view from their window seats at the Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar. Jan Di made sure to snap a few photos of the view and another family shot in front of the windows before leaving.

"It's too bad Ha Joon Oppa couldn't be here," Mee Yon mumbled sorrowfully. "He should be in these photos, too. And Great-Grandfather." They all agreed. Unfortunately, Harabeoji hadn't been feeling up to travel.

"Well," Ji Hoo began, "As for Ha Joon...I'd meant to keep it a surprise, but...he will actually be joining us at the end of the week. We'll take more photos when he arrives."

"Jinjja?!" Mee Yon exclaimed.

Ji Hoo smiled and nodded. This pleased them all greatly, particularly Jan Di and Mee Yon, who both threw their arms around their husband and father for arranging it.

"He's bringing his fiancée, too, so we'll finally get to meet her," Ji Hoo added.

This was yet another pleasant surprise, and Mee Yon practically had stars in her eyes. She'd heard a lot about her and was very eager to meet her brother's bride-to-be.

On the way back to the villa, the Yoons passed an ice cream shop, which excited both Jan Di and Mee Yon. Ji Hoo knew his girls were big eaters, so, of course, they had to stop. How could they be expected to pass up ice cream, even after a buffet dinner?

. . .

Back at the villa, the evening passed peacefully. The family hung out in the living room by the fire while Ji Hoo and Seok Young played guitar and softly sang. They exchanged some conversation over warm drinks, and then the kids went to bed. Once the kids had retired to their rooms, Ji Hoo brought out the alcohol. He poured a glass of the deep red flower wine he'd brought from home for Jan Di and himself; they cheers'ed and took a drink. Ji Hoo found it extremely cute how Jan Di still cringed a bit when she drank alcohol, even the sweeter alcoholic beverages like this one. A few drinks in, they moved closer to one another on the couch. Jan Di finished off her second glass of wine, and Ji Hoo took it from her and set both of theirs on the coffee table. Comfortably, he slipped an arm around her shoulders; she leaned back against his chest and stared up at him.

Fuzzily, Jan Di thanked Ji Hoo for planning this wonderful vacation. He smiled down at her, whispering, "Gwenchanahyo," as he leaned in for a kiss. Their lips met, and he brought a hand up to her face, her chin with his fingertips. And he moved on to twine them through her hair as he deepened the kiss.

They kissed for a while, for as long as they felt comfortable out in the open while keeping ears perked for the footfall of children‒Seok Young moved like a cat, but Mee Yon was much louder. All was still quiet in the hall, but they mutually decided the bedroom would be safer. They didn't want a repeat of earlier. So, eventually, they got up and made their way to the bedroom, fumbling a bit with kisses and touches along the way like a pair of teenagers.

In the sanctuary of their room, they made sure the door was shut tight and locked, and they continued. But things didn't proceed as quickly as they normally would. There was no need to rush like usual; they had all the time in the world now, so Ji Hoo pulled Jan Di back with him, seating her on the edge of the bed. He sat further back behind her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist as he trailed kisses along the side of her neck. She tilted her head to give him better access.

"Would you like a massage?" he offered, his breath warm and inviting against her ear and neck. Jan Di nodded, so he pulled back, placing his hands upon her shoulders. He began kneading her sore shoulders and neck, occasionally sprinkling kisses or nips in the wake of his hands. Jan Di reached back, touching a particularly sore spot on her right shoulder. He tugged aside her shirt to get at it, first placing a kiss there.

"Here. Does this help?" she asked, undoing a couple of buttons and allowing the shirt to slide away from her skin.

"Yes." Ji Hoo cupped her cheek, rotating her neck to place a kiss full on . And he continued massaging.

Jan Di sighed in relief and pleasure as he worked over her muscles. Now and then, she'd tilt her head back and he'd nip at her lips, which had been dry but were rapidly moistening. Eventually, he took off her shirt for her and had her lie on her stomach while he straddled her. Jan Di lay still, stretching her arms out and closing her eyes while Ji Hoo ran his hands over her entire back. She eventually returned the favor for him, but that only led to a sudden burst of boldness when she turned him over onto his back, straddled him, and took off his belt and undid his pants.

After some kissing and touching in that position, Ji Hoo lay Jan Di back against the pillows and covered her body with his. They exchanged slow, soft, deep kisses as he her waist and sides. She, in turn, ran her hands over the contours of his chest and stomach and began undoing a few buttons. When he couldn't seem to take it anymore, he settled back on his heels and took the garment off completely, tossing it aside. Jan Di stared up at him, still in awe of the way he looked, her eyes scanning slowly from his abs up to his face.

Ji Hoo leaned down to hover over her, one arm on each side of her head. He brushed a few strands of hair from her face and stared deep into her eyes, whispering, "Saranghae, Otter."

Staring back, she ran her fingers along the cords of his arms and repeated, "Saranghae."

Ji Hoo kissed her again and slid his hand down her arm to her wrist. Their sweaty hands found each other, fingers interlacing and squeezing. He gave her another slow kiss on the lips before sprinkling little ones across her face, eyes, and nose, moving down to sink his lips into her neck.

They took turns removing each other's clothing, not ripping anything off, but again, taking their time to slowly, sensually undress one another. It crossed Jan Di's mind that she'd brought something to wear for Ji Hoo for just such an occasion, but like usual, it ended up happening with little time for preparation.

Their lovemaking was slow; they took their time‒because they could. Things got a bit...wilder than usual, even playful at one point with some pinning down and tickling, and it was definitely more extended. They'd been on top of the sheets, underneath, and other places in the room, but they ended up tangled up in bed.

Jan Di sighed passionately as things wound down. Ji Hoo her forehead and kissed her bare shoulder, and she hugged him tighter, unable to get enough of the feel of his body against hers.

"Ji Hoo-ah," Jan Di uttered once she could speak again. She breathed deliberately in and out. "This...this was really amazing. All of this. Being here with you…I'm so glad…" She wasn't quite making sense, but he just smiled and wound his fingers through her hair.

Ji Hoo knew what she meant, and he would never tire of sharing every little thing with her, either. He embraced her harder, nuzzling his nose in the dip above her bone. "You make everything in life better, Jan Di-ah," he whispered against her warm skin. He placed a kiss to her chest and looked up at her, and she stared back lovingly before kissing his lips.

After hours at it, both Jan Di and Ji Hoo were sated and exhausted. They'd done things they hadn't in years, and frankly, it was amazing that they still had the energy for this. Maybe there was something to that 'magic elixir' the old local woman had forced them to drink at the market, one that supposedly increased stamina…

That night, they drifted in and out of sleep, holding one another, happening to wake just as the sun was peeking out over the hills. There was no point in wasting such an opportunity, so, wrapped in each other's arms, they watched the sunrise and made love yet again.

Later that morning…

Eomma and Appa were still in bed. They'd slept-in really late‒until nearly 10‒and the kids were getting antsy, so they took it upon themselves to make their own breakfast.

"Okay, what do you want, Mee Yon-ah?" Seok Young asked.

"You're going to cook?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with that?" He looked a bit hurt.

"Nothing." She shook her head and took a seat at the island. "Okay, um...I want Appa's hotcakes."

"Well, Appa isn't here right now. I'm sure I can make them, though. I've seen him do it." Mee Yon stared at him, to which he responded, "How hard can it be?"

Not quite convinced, Mee Yon shrugged.

"Let's see now…" Seok Young thought back to all those Sunday mornings. "I need milk, eggs, flour, sugar…" He rummaged through the cupboards and refrigerator, gathering all the supplies. He managed to find some mixing bowls and a griddle as well, and he plugged it in. Mee Yon offered to help, but Seok Young insisted on doing it on his own, so she sat back and watched, mostly silently scrutinizing his technique. After a couple of 'that's not how Appa does it' s, Seok Young motioned with a finger for her to be quiet and let him concentrate. He finished whipping up the batter, and although it would horrify Eomma and Appa (bacteria and whatnot), he let Mee Yon some raw batter off the spoon.

The first attempt was a complete disaster. The pancakes didn't rise, just limply lay there at the bottom of the skillet. "What happened? I don't get it!" Seok Young exclaimed.

Mee Yon smiled softly. Her brother wasn't used to failing, and he looked about two seconds away from a tantrum, despite his age and calm disposition. She had noticed his error and tried to warn him, but he'd been intent upon going it alone. He finally looked her in the eyes, seeking help, though he wouldn't ask. "Baking powder," she said, holding up a finger.

"Oh. Ohhh!" Seok Young slapped his forehead, leaving a flour handprint there. This sent Mee Yon into a fit of giggles. "Baking powder, of course! How could I be so stupid?"

"Um, Oppa…" Mee Yon pointed to his forehead, but Seok Young was already back in project mode. Ignoring her, he spun around and went searching for the baking powder. "I hope it's here," he mumbled as he tore open cupboard after cupboard. Finally, he found it and made a new mix, this time ensuring he added the rising agent. Mee Yon couldn't resist the opportunity to snap a pic of him with flour on his head. Maybe she'd keep it for blackmail.

Attempt two was no better. Seok Young let one side go too long, and it started to burn, causing the place to fill with a thin layer of smoke and a terrible smell. The scream of the fire alarm brought Eomma and Appa running to the kitchen in their pajamas.

After the smoke was cleared and the alarm was reset, Seok Young started over. This time, Appa assisted, that is, after pointing out the handprint on his son's forehead. Seok Young shot Mee Yon a look prior to cleaning it off. She shrugged, saying she tried to warn him. Appa was in high spirits this morning, whistling or humming the entire time. He didn't seem at all cross about being woken unexpectedly or over the fact that Seok Young had nearly burned the place down, and together, father and son were able to make not just edible hotcakes but amazing, fluffy ones. Appa even shared his own kitchen blunders, including the time he'd done the same thing‒forgotten the baking powder. Fortunately, Eomma corrected him, and he was able to cook them much better the next time.

After some play in the kitchen, including a heated game of 'Top Chef' and some pancake flipping and catching, the laughing and shouting died down, and the Yoons sat down to breakfast. Eating beside Mee Yon, Seok Young glanced over at their eomma and appa seated at the opposite end of the island. Appa had just whispered something in Eomma's ear; she'd giggled and playfully shoved him. Then he put his arm around her, and she snuggled in as they continued to eat joined at the hip.

A small smirk crossed Seok Young's lips. "Appa and Eomma seem really happy this morning..."

"Yeah." Mee Yon smiled brightly. "It's great. They deserve to be happy. They work so hard."

"Mm." Seok Young nodded in agreement. "Guess they picked up where they left off yesterday…," he muttered, stabbing one of the last few bites with his fork.

"What?" Mee Yon asked.

"Nothing."

She was so innocent.

A brief silence passed...

Seok Young watched as Appa took Eomma's plate and returned to the griddle, scooping up another two hotcakes for her. And he glanced back at Mee Yon. He knew he really shouldn't go there; he really shouldn't torment his sister, and it wasn't normally something he would do, but...right now, it just seemed like fun. Perhaps being on an island far away from his girlfriend and buddies brought it out of him. Leaning in toward Mee Yon, he whispered, "I mean, really, really happy, you know…?"

Her nose wrinkled up in confusion. "Yeah, so?" And she continued eating.

"Well, you know what that means, right…?"

"No, wha-?" she asked through a bite. And then she got it. She choked down the bite, and her head snapped toward him, cheeks beet red. "Oh, Oppa, yuck! Be quiet!" She covered her reddened face with her hands. Dropping her hands shortly thereafter, she demanded in a low hiss, "Why, Oppa, why would you say that about Eomma and Appa?!" She scoffed. "And while I'm eating!"

Seok Young shrugged, chuckling a little. And she smacked him on the arm. "Ugh, you're such a boy sometimes!"

"I am a boy all of the time, Mee Yon-ah," he quipped.

This time, she nearly shoved him off his stool. "Yeah, well, you don't have to be gross like one!"

After catching himself, Seok Young sat upright. He turned to apologize to Mee Yon, but before he could, Appa sauntered over.

"What's going on over here?" Ji Hoo smirked knowingly.

Seok Young certainly had the blank stare thing down, and he could often appear expressionless, but he also had quite possibly the worst poker face in the world. He looked up and smiled as innocently as possible at his father; although, it came out more awkward and guilty. "Oh, Appa. I didn't see you there." He hoped Appa had not heard their little conversation.

Ji Hoo scanned his son's face curiously. He had the same look Jan Di got when she was trying‒and failing‒to be sneaky. Rather than calling him out, though, he simply asked if the kids wanted seconds.

"Sure, yeah, uh-huh." Seok Young answered in the affirmative in three different ways. He was definitely guilty of something. As for Mee Yon, she held out her plate to Ji Hoo, but she couldn't even look at him, and her cheeks were tinged a bright pink.

Ji Hoo went to the griddle, scooped up another two pancakes for each, and placed them on their plates. He handed the plates to them, and they began eating, focusing entirely too intently on their food.

Ji Hoo took a seat next to Seok Young and leaned in. "So, what did you do to your sister?"

Seok Young's head snapped upward. "Nothing," he responded immediately, and then his gaze shifted down to his plate.

So guilty.

"Are you sure? Because I thought I heard 'Appa' and 'Eomma' and 'yuck.' Or was it 'gross?'"

That was clearly not all Appa had heard; he was probably just making a joke. Still, Seok Young tried to play it off. "Oh. Yeah. We were just...um, talking about the kinds of things you must see as doctors...you know, yuck."

Pressing his lips together, Ji Hoo nodded.

Seok Young believed he was getting better at lying. Not that it was a positive trait, but he only did it when it was a white lie, meant to spare someone's feelings. He stared into his father's eyes, keeping as straight a face as he could and hoping he bought it, but then that nervous laughter‒that always gave him away‒bubbled up in his throat.

Yes, Ji Hoo might have believed his son if he didn't titter the same way Jan Di did, albeit in a lower, male tone when he got embarrassed.

"Mmhm." Ji Hoo stood. "Alright then." He placed a hand on Seok Young's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. He went to walk away but turned back. "...Oh yeah. Stop grossing out your sister," he said before returning to his spot next to Jan Di.

A gust of air passed from Seok Young's lips, blowing his bangs. Of course, Appa had seen right through him.

As breakfast came to a close, Jan Di started a discussion about what they should do today. They all tossed some ideas around, finally deciding to take a tour on the hop on-hop off bus since it was already nearing afternoon. Sleeping-in was a good recharge for the adults (plus, other things), but it did hinder their plans a bit for the day. A further discussion led to the conclusion that they all wanted to take the cruise of Milford Sound, but it would take at least a day, so Ji Hoo said he'd schedule it for a few days from now.

"And we definitely have to go fishing while we're here, Seok Young-ah," Ji Hoo brought up next. "New Zealand is one of the best fishing destinations in the world, you know?"

"That sounds great, Appa," Seok Young replied.

After checking the weather, Ji Hoo deemed that three days from now was a perfect day for it. "Would you like to go? Jan Di-ah, Mee Yon-ah?" Ji Hoo asked.

Jan Di shook her head. "That's okay. Mee Yon-ah?" Mee Yon shook her head, and Jan Di turned back to the guys. "You two should go and have fun. Oh, but what about Ha Joon-ah? Do you think he'd want to go?"

Ji Hoo looked to Seok Young and both nodded. "Yes, I think he'd like it. We'll go again when he arrives as long as the weather holds up."

"Great. So, father and sons can go fishing, and we girls can make other plans with Ha Joon's fiancée." Jan Di and Mee Yon exchanged little smiles.

"Hm," Ji Hoo ran a finger along his lips. "I don't like it when you two smile like that," he teased. "You're not up to something, are you?"

Jan Di gaped at her husband. "Of course not, Ji Hoo-ah! Why would you think that?"

"I wonder why..." He folded his arms, shooting a glance at his son. "What do you think, Seok Young-ah? Are our girls up to no good?"

Seok Young likewise folded his arms. "Could be, Appa," he said, smirking.

"Really, it's nothing," Jan Di explained. "I just thought you guys could use some father-son bonding time, and we'd like some mother-daughter bonding, too."

It sounded like a good plan.

Changing the subject, "Oh, hey, do you remember when we went fishing together, Ji Hoo-ah?" Jan Di asked, smiling. She was, of course, referring to New Caledonia.

"How could I forget?" Ji Hoo flashed his pearly whites.

The kids were looking on curiously, so Ji Hoo explained. "You see, when we were in high school, F4 took your mother and your Aunt Ga Eul to New Caledonia."

The children nodded.

"How was the trip, Appa?" Seok Young asked.

Ji Hoo pressed his lips together. "It was good, for the most part. Although, it did have its ups and downs." He thought back. "For one, your eomma almost drowned there," he said somberly.

The kids' heads snapped toward their mother, who sheepishly nodded. "Well, the water wasn't very deep, and I was a strong swimmer at the time, but I got a cramp. Thank goodness your appa was there to save me."

This made Mee Yon take pause to consider her mother and swimming. She'd been told that her mother was a skilled swimmer, as good as her or possibly better, yet she'd quit. Eomma had said she quit because she had to‒because she'd gotten injured. Mee Yon always felt terrible about that, even though Eomma loved being a doctor. She wondered how Eomma had gotten so badly injured as to put an end to her swimming career. But she didn't ask. It wasn't a subject that was discussed, ever, and she didn't want to make Eomma feel bad.

But when Mee Yon looked back at her eomma, she didn't look sad but was rather smiling. And she smiled back in relief.

Seok Young and Mee Yon asked about what else they'd done in New Caledonia, so Jan Di and Ji Hoo told of sightseeing, shopping, riding horses along the beach, and playing volleyball. They told of the huge meal Jun Pyo had prepared after Jan Di's near-drowning and about the fireworks. During all this, Jan Di and Ji Hoo exchanged little glances here and there, for many of these stories opened up a can of worms, bringing the drama from back then to a head. And they hadn't exactly told their kids about the triangle between them and Jun Pyo. Neither really knew why, though. It was just kind of an unspoken understanding, but neither had agreed to never tell, so they assumed one of them would one day spill the beans. It wasn't like Seok Young and Mee Yon weren't old enough to understand that these things happen.

The next two days were filled with outdoor activities‒the cruise, ziplining, jet skis‒some down-time at the beach when the temperature was warmer, and of course, lots of eating. By the end of day three in New Zealand, the Yoons were somehow both rejuvenated and wrecked. They all agreed to get plenty of sleep tonight, and Seok Young and Ji Hoo were eagerly anticipating a relaxing day of deep-sea fishing tomorrow.

The sun had set not long ago, leaving the sky a bright orangish-pink, and Ji Hoo and Seok Young were packing gear for tomorrow's fishing trip. Mee Yon and Jan Di were making lunches for them in the kitchen. The lunches didn't take long, and Mee Yon still had energy to spare. She paced the living room, swinging her arms back and forth, ultimately deciding it was still way too early for bed. It was barely dark, after all, so she asked to take a walk.

"Don't go alone," Ji Hoo spoke up. He gave Seok Young a pat to indicate he should go along. "I can finish this up. Go with your sister."

"Yes, Appa."

"Don't forget your jackets," Jan Di called out. Seok Young and Mee Yon grabbed theirs, slipped into them and some shoes, and headed out the door.

It was a short walk to Queenstown Bay Beach, and the kids spent most of it in comfortable silence. Inevitably, Seok Young glanced over at Mee Yon, only to see that her lips were set in such a way as to suggest she was deep in thought. She'd probably wanted to be alone on this walk, but Appa had been concerned for her safety, as he should be. To make up for it, Seok Young tried to remain a quiet but comforting presence at her side the rest of the way. But when she softly sighed, his eyes flitted back and forth between her and the horizon, and he finally decided to say something. Before he could open his mouth, though, he heard her exclaim, "Oppa, look! Out there!"

Seok Young's head snapped toward where she was now wildly pointing. "What...is that?" He strained to see movement on the lake, about midway out. The splash seemed too large to be a lake fish. Was it an animal? Somehow, he didn't think so. Seconds later, the sound of a human voice crying out confirmed his fears. "Oh no…"

"Someone's in trouble! We have to do something!" Mee Yon exclaimed.

"Yeah, okay…" Seok Young's brain began processing the best course of action, but it didn't get far before Mee Yon was off like a shot. She hadn't even thought; she'd just naturally sprung into action, sprinting toward the water's edge like some kind of superhero lifeguard.

Seok Young's lips parted. "Mee Yon-ah, w-wait!" he choked out.

She didn't listen, so he took off after her.

"Wait! Mee Yon, it's not safe! I'll get help!" he screamed at her retreating form.

Her head whipped around. "There's no time! They'll drown!" she called back, and then her eyes were forward, and she picked up the pace even more.

On a normal day, Seok Young could barely keep up with his sister, but now that she had this surge of adrenaline going, she was leaving him in the dust. At the shoreline, she kicked off her shoes, sending them flying in different directions, ripped off her jacket, and ran in. Once the water was up to her waist, she started swimming.

Seok Young wasn't sure what to do. Should he go for help? No. His instincts told him not to leave his sister. Mee Yon was a good swimmer, but it was night, and if this person was much larger than her and in a panic, he or she might drag her down. Or, what if this person was caught in a riptide? She could get under, too. Wait, were there riptides in lakes? Or, was it an undertow? He couldn't think right now. Whatever. Either way, this was bad. He shut his brain off and bolted after her as fast as he could, nearly stumbling over his own feet in his rush.

By the time he made it to the edge, she was already half a kilometer out. He placed two hands alongside his mouth and called out to her. "Mee Yon-ah! Come back!" He tried to sound as stern as possible. "I'll get Appa and..." But he didn't know what he hoped to accomplish. She'd never listen; she'd never abandon her mission and a person in need.

Aish.

Seok Young's neck snapped from side to side. He caught sight of the dock, and hanging from the end of it‒like a beacon of hope‒was what appeared to be some kind of orange flotation device. Lucky! Mee Yon had been too bravely selfless to notice, but he had, and it might come in handy. So, Seok Young bolted out onto the dock; he ran to the edge and bent down to scoop up the floaty. He shouted for help several times, his voice coming out hoarse but loud, and he prayed someone heard. His parents' villa might be too far away, but someone closer should hear. Then he slipped out of his shoes and jacket and went in, the floaty around his arm.

The water was freezing, but he barely registered it, for he had the surge of adrenaline now, too. He started freestyling, making such broad he was sure to be sore tomorrow. But none of that mattered. He only hastened toward Mee Yon and the victim, keeping her in his sights the whole time. He could see her head bobbing out of the water, her arms slicing through it, and seconds later, she reached the drowning victim. Damn, she was fast! Good thing for this person. Through the mists of cold lake water slapping him in the face, Seok Young saw her wrap her arms around the victim, who appeared to be male; he flailed a couple of times and went under. Thankfully, she pulled him up easily and wrapped her arms around him, and he relaxed (either that or he was unconscious now). Thank, God. It was all too common for a rescuer to drown while trying to save a victim because the victim panics and pushes them down.

Seok Young kept going, and he met Mee Yon halfway on her way back to shore. He reached out for her and pulled both of them in, wrapping his arms around her while she braced the unconscious victim, who Seok Young could now confirm was a male about their age, and the flotation device. Seok Young started backstroking, and it wasn't too difficult, for the victim was indeed unconscious, and Mee Yon knew how to relax when being rescued. She let her brother take the reins to pull her in while holding onto the victim around the shoulders and waist. It was perhaps the most perfect amateur brother-sister rescue ever.

When they got to shore, then came the difficult part. Mee Yon and Seok Young separated from the victim, and Seok Young helped her up while bracing the boy against his knees. They silently agreed on how to proceed. One on each side, they hooked the boy's arms over their shoulders, each holding onto an arm and around his waist, and they half-carried, half-dragged him onto the beach. He wasn't heavy‒Seok Young probably could have carried him‒but he was tall and gangly, and that could've been awkward. Graceless as it may be, they got him onto the sand and lay him down.

Again, Mee Yon sprung into action, her swim training kicking in. She cleared his airway and checked him for breath. He wasn't breathing, so she oh-so-officially announced that she would begin CPR. She pumped into his chest repeatedly and then stated, "Beginning rescue breaths." She breathed into him twice before resuming compressions.

Meanwhile, Seok Young watched anxiously, helplessly. Maybe he should go for Eomma and Appa…but they couldn't do much more than this. He'd give her one more round, and then he'd go for them. Seok Young's eyes flitted between the boy's pale face and Mee Yon's, the determination flared in her eyes beginning to dissipate. He watched her face begin to fall, seeing the fear of failure overtaking her, but she clearly wasn't willing to give up yet. He silently chanted for her to succeed.

Finally, the victim's chest moved on its own.

Mee Yon heaved a sigh when the boy's chest rose as he drew in a gasping breath. He immediately started sputtering, so they turned him on his side. Mee Yon patted his back while he spewed remnants of lake water, his face and body clenched painfully. Once he seemed finished, they turned him over to rest on his back.

"I'll go for Eomma and Appa," Seok Young said, and he sprinted off toward the villa.

Along the way, he noticed some people heading down to the beach, so his yells and all the commotion must have gotten the desired attention, though a bit late.

. . .

He made it to his parents' villa and rushed through the door. They stood there staring at him, wide-eyed. "Seok Young, what's wrong?" Appa firmly demanded. Eomma was at Appa's side, also urging him to speak with terror-filled eyes.

Seok Young bent slightly, clutching at his stomach and panting for air. It wasn't that the run was far or that he'd overexerted himself so much as that darn adrenaline again, making him unable to breathe.

"It's...Mee Yon...she...down at the beach...in the water..." He was gesticulating wildly, though he couldn't seem to get a sentence out. But he didn't need to say anything more, for Appa and Eomma were already sprinting through the door. He quickly followed, cursing himself for his lack of ability to speak. He'd probably just scared the living daylights out of his parents. They probably thought it was Mee Yon who was in trouble. Oh well, he'd done his job to bring them.

Back on the beach, Mee Yon looked down into the boy's face. His damp hair was plastered against his forehead, beads of water forming along his cheeks. His brown eyes were open now, and he was staring at her in awe. Probably just disoriented. "You're okay," she soothed, placing a comforting hand on his arm. And then she recalled something. He needed to stay warm. She looked around for her discarded jacket. Seeing it close by, she went to retrieve it, brought it back, and placed it over him.

He simply stared up at her, his lips parting a bit. His body felt like a limp noodle, yet his mind was racing. I must have nearly drowned, he thought. This girl...she...did she save me? Next, he heard himself muttering things in his native language; the girl wore a confused look on her face.

"Are you Chinese?" the girl asked.

He managed to weakly shake his head up and down.

"Oh." She poked her lips out, and he could see the dewy beads clinging to them. "Do you happen to speak Korean? Or English maybe?" She could do her best in English, but Chinese, not so much.

She'd spoken some kind of hybrid Korean-English, but he got it. He nodded and said, "You're Korean?" in Korean.

She was shocked but excited to hear him speak her native language. "Yes!" she exclaimed, nodding gleefully.

He wanted to keep talking to her, but his head felt fuzzy. "Who...are…?" He tried to ask who she was, but he suddenly got a blinding pain in his head, so he just lay there like a beached whale. And that's when the strange thoughts started in…

She's so beautiful…

Who is she?

I feel like I know her…

Is she a mermaid? No, wait. Those don't exist. Do they?

Maybe she's an angel. Yeah, she glows like one…

Wait, what's wrong with me?! Am I hallucinating? Wait, am I dead?!

The boy told her she was beautiful, but Mee Yon barely had time to blush before he went on to ramble about mermaids and angels and possibly being dead. What was wrong with him? This was way outside her area of expertise, and Mee Yon hoped Eomma and Appa would come quickly. She kept a hand on the boy's arm while scanning the area. Thankfully, a couple of people were running down the hill to help her, but still no Oppa, Eomma, or Appa.

She looked back down at the boy as his eyes rolled back in his head. "No. No, no, no, come on, stay with me!" She placed both hands on his face and patted his cheeks. "You're okay. Stay with me." He opened his eyes again and just stared up at her, his lips parted a bit.

Ji Hoo ran a few paces ahead of Jan Di, given his longer legs. Seok Young had caught up with his eomma and was nipping at his appa's heels; he pointed to where they needed to go. They arrived about ten seconds later. Ji Hoo and Jan Di didn't take much time for relief over seeing that Mee Yon wasn't the victim before going into doctor mode. As for the actual victim, he was awake but clearly in need of treatment.

Mee Yon heaved a sigh of relief that her parents were there now. Appa was already kneeling on one side of the boy, Eomma on the other. "Mee Yon-ah, are you alright?" Appa asked quickly. He looked nearly as pale as the boy.

"Yes, Appa," She nodded.

Ji Hoo removed his sweater and threw it over his daughter's shoulders. He didn't need her catching hypothermia.

Then Mee Yon went into the details of what had happened. "...So, we got him out, and I gave him CPR. He woke up and started talking a bit. I put my jacket on him to keep him warm."

Jan Di and Ji Hoo checked the boy's vitals, which were weak but acceptable. Most noticeable was the boy's paleness and trembling. This pallor was common after a near-drowning, but he was almost convulsing.

"He was saying some weird stuff, Appa," Mee Yon added. She didn't know if it was pertinent information, but she'd learned from her parents that in an emergency, any information could be vital and not to leave anything out.

"He's in shock," Ji Hoo diagnosed, to which Jan Di nodded in agreement.

By now, a crowd had gathered. Jan Di asked everyone to please give space, and Ji Hoo inquired in English if anyone knew who the boy's parents were. One guy chimed in and said he did, and Ji Hoo asked if he'd bring them. The man agreed and was off running up the hill.

Mee Yon chewed on her lip. "Will he...be okay, Appa? I'm worried about him."

"Don't worry, honey. Eomma and I will take it from here. You did a great job." Ji Hoo smiled proudly at Mee Yon and patted her on the back. He then glanced over at Seok Young, who was hunched over, breathing steadily, his bangs still dripping. "You too, son." Ji Hoo likewise expressed his pride in his son with a smile.

"Look at this, Ji Hoo," Jan Di interjected. "He's got a big gash in his leg."

"You're brilliant, Jan Di-ah," Ji Hoo said, observing the wound carefully. "He probably scraped it and passed out or got disoriented and began drowning. Seok Young, go for the first aid kit," Ji Hoo instructed. They should have grabbed it and brought it along, but in his panic, he could only think about getting to Mee Yon. "It's on my bedside table. Hurry."

Seok Young took off running again, turning his head back when he heard his father call out after him, "And put your jacket back on. You need to warm up, too!"

It was amazing the kind of speed and energy Seok Young had right now. He made it to the villa in what must have been record time and returned with the kit. After handing it over, he went looking for his jacket. In all the panic, he'd forgotten where he'd dropped it, but then he recalled. The dock. He jogged to the end of the dock and picked up his jacket; he slipped it on and returned to the scene.

Jan Di and Ji Hoo treated the boy's leg wound, and he began to show signs of improvement, even the ability to speak clearly. Ji Hoo asked his name, and he responded with "Lei."

"Lei? You're Lei?" Mee Yon asked.

Still clearly dazed, Lei gazed up at Mee Yon. He nodded then squinted a bit as if trying to recall something. Mee Yon looked to her parents and her brother, who seemed to register what she did, that they knew this boy. Then Appa began asking Lei a series of basic questions as his parents arrived.

And slowly, Mee Yon pieced it together.

It was him! She could hardly believe it, but Eomma and Appa's familiarity with his parents confirmed it. He was the boy who'd attended Shinwha from kindergarten midway through second grade. His parents were diplomats, or something, from China. Mee Yon recalled that they'd been really close for a while.

Lei was improving, but he desperately needed to get back home and out of the wet clothing. Eomma and Appa spoke with Lei's parents briefly, giving clear instructions but ultimately deciding to accompany them back. After a quick examination of Mee Yon and Seok Young, their parents instructed them to return to the villa, get warm, and drink plenty of warm liquids. Then they went along with Lei's parents on some kind of housecall.

Mee Yon watched Lei hobble off with his father's and her father's arms around him, supporting him. And then he looked back at her. Their eyes locked, and he didn't look away for a very long time; in fact, his eyes never left hers until they turned a corner and he was out of sight.

And just like that, he was gone.

Seok Young sidled up to Mee Yon, placing an arm around her. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she responded.

Seok Young gave her a gentle squeeze. "Let's get back."

Mee Yon nodded and went along willingly. She had hoped Lei could come back with them for some hot tea or cocoa. She'd wanted to make sure he was okay and talk to him some more. After all, she hadn't seen him in nearly ten years. And quite frankly, she wanted to yell at him a little, at least demand to know what he'd thought he was doing out there. But she supposed she could do that tomorrow. He'd had a rough night. Yes, she'd visit him tomorrow, and after making sure he was okay, she'd give him a piece of her mind for being so stupid.

"Can you believe it was Lei?" Mee Yon mused on the way back. "You remember him, right?"

"Yeah, I do," Seok Young replied. "I didn't recognize him at first because we were so much younger, but now I can see that he hasn't changed all that much."

"Imagine the odds of running into him here," she mumbled.

"And of you saving his life." Seok Young smirked at her. "And about that…"

Oppa went on to chastise her for recklessness. And Mee Yon thought she'd be the one giving someone a lecture… "What did you want me to do, Oppa?" she protested. "Let him drown?"

"No, but you should have waited…" And Seok Young stopped right there. Because he knew there was really no time as she'd said, and he was not going to win this argument.

"Don't be mad, Oppa. I had to do it. You know I couldn't just let him die."

"I know." Seok Young released a sigh. "I was more terrified than angry."

She gave him a thin smile. "I'm sorry to scare you, but it all turned out okay, right, Oppa!" She clapped him on the back, her smile widening.

"Yeah. And hey, I'm proud of you, by the way," he said, the corners of his mouth upturning.

"Thanks, Oppa." She wrapped her arms around him, and they hugged it out before heading back to the villa.

A few hours later, after plenty of hot tea, another examination from Eomma and Appa, and a shower, Seok Young headed to bed. After all the excitement tonight, he was sure to sleep like a rock, even though Mee Yon had done most of the work. He settled into his bed, already feeling the pinch of strained muscles, and practically as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out.

. . .

The world felt hazy as Seok Young shifted in his bed and opened his eyes. It was dark in the room, but the moonlight shining through the sliding glass doors softly illuminated his bed and the surrounding area. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table; the red digital numbers read 2:56 AM. He stared out across the room, and the sight of a shadowy figure gliding across the floor nearly made him jump out of his skin. He gripped the mattress with both hands, reminding himself he didn't believe in ghosts and hoping it wasn't some murderer. "Who's there?" he demanded.

The responding voice was gentle and very familiar. "I'm sorry to wake you."

"...Eun Jeong-ah?" No, it couldn't be. But when the shadow came into the light, it was clearly her. He sat upright. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I missed you, Oppa," she whispered, low and sensual as she crawled into his bed.

His eyes widened. She'd just crawled into his bed! "Is...it really you?" What a stupid question to ask as she sat on her heels, perched on the edge of his bed. And she was wearing...a nightgown?

"It's me." She smiled that smile that belonged only to her.

"But what...how…when?" Oh, that's good, Yoon Seok Young. Really smooth. Any more vague, one-word questions you want to ask?

"I missed you, so I came to see you. I hope that's okay…"

"Uhh. Yeah. It's okay, but…" Seok Young glanced down, only just realizing he was shirtless. He didn't recall going to bed that way. He must have gotten hot and tugged his pajama top off in the middle of the night. Shyly, he clutched at his comforter and pulled it up to cover most of his chest. Eun Jeong giggled and pretended to look away.

"I've seen you without your shirt before, you know…" She grinned as she leaned forward a bit.

"Yeah, but…" Not like this. In bed…

Next thing he knew, she'd started crawling across his bed on hands and knees.

"Eun Jeong-ah, wh-what are you doing?!" His heart was pounding a mile a minute, and from there down was responding, too, so he drew his knees up and kept the blankets loose. She moved closer, and in his panic, he scrambled backward until his back slammed into the headboard.

"Oppa...what's wrong? Didn't you miss me?"

He tried to prevent his voice from wavering. "Of-of course I did. But…"

She was now leaning over him; he could almost see down her shirt, so he kept his eyes on her face as best he could.

Then she placed both hands on his knees and leaned in. "Kiss me," she said, puckering her lips.

"Eun Jeong-ah, we-we can't...do this…"

Oh great, now he'd accused her of wanting something more and sounded like a ert, himself. Maybe she did just want a kiss. Maybe she was just...no, he was out. She'd traveled all this way and snuck into his room in the middle of the night. What else could she possibly want other than...something...if she was in his bed, practically on top of him like this?

"Just a kiss," she cooed.

He panted as if he'd just run a 5K. How far was she planning to take this? Knowing Eun Jeong, she'd get embarrassed and bolt sooner rather than later. As for him, he'd like to think he'd be a gentleman with her. That he could just kiss her and leave it at that. He should be able to, right? But no, it wasn't a good idea. It was too risky. He should just tell her no, even if she got angry with him. But...it was her. In his bed. And he'd just missed her so much! Being away had really made him ache for her in a whole new way, but not as much as his body was throbbing for her right now. He internally pleaded for strength.

"Don't you want me, Oppa?"

Seok Young's hands flew to his hair, and he gripped it hard. What is she doing to me?! Aigoo, what now?! How was he supposed to respond to that?

"I-I do," he said coolly, doing his best to keep it together. "But...where did this come from all of a sudden? How are you even here?" He thought that if he kept talking, maybe she'd lose her nerve. But did he really want her to? He felt like those little angel and devil characters were on his shoulders arguing with one another.

"I told you. I missed you, so I came here."

"And your parents...?" Oh yeah, what about them? He wasn't even allowed to kiss her, so he was pretty sure her appa would frown upon her being in his bed right now.

"Who cares about them?" she said.

It was such an un-Eun Jeong-like statement.

He sat up ramrod stiff, placing both hands on her shoulders to keep her at bay. "We...really shouldn't." He tried to be firm, but his voice cracked.

"Why not? Don't you love me, Oppa?" She wet the lips he couldn't stop staring at, and he nearly lost it.

When had Eun Jeong turned into such a temptress? Oh, he was so dead. In more ways than one...

Seok Young's body shuddered as he stared into her darkened eyes. "You know I do." And he took in a much-needed breath. "But we just started dating, and besides, if your father were to find out…" His excuses were valid, yet they came out flimsy.

She settled her hands on his shoulders and began running her fingers across and down. "Please, Oppa…" Those big, brown eyes of hers begged, too. "I've missed you so much… Just one little kiss..."

Seok Young's grip and resolve momentarily slipped, and she was able to push him back against the headboard. She leaned in even further. She was actually between his legs now, and he was ready to freak out. Seriously, she had to know the emotional effect she was having on him, though he hoped she didn't notice the physical one.

He knew there was no way this was gonna be one little kiss if he gave in, but he'd stopped caring. How could he ever deny her anything? And what guy in this scenario wouldn't give in...just a little…? He'd never hurt her or push her further than she was ready for, but maybe...just maybe he could take a little…

Deciding this was a dream come true and consequences be damned, he reached out for her, gripping her by the upper arms. He slid one hand down to her bony, silky smooth wrist and tugged gently. In a sudden burst of boldness, he let the blanket fall, and he pulled her in, placing her hand against his chest, right over his heart.

She blushed but kept it there. "Your heart...it's beating so fast, Oppa," she said in the cutest awestricken voice he'd ever heard.

"Yeah…," he said, his eyes boring into hers. "This is what you do to me..."

And he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss persisted, and he wound his hand into her hair. It was so soft and full; he could do this for hours. But he soon realized she couldn't be quite comfortable this way, so he spun her around. She squealed as her back hit the mattress. He took a moment to cradle her in his arms, simply gazing down upon her. And she smiled adoringly up at him as his lips descended toward hers again…

And then…

Seok Young bolted upright in bed, panting for air. Thick, moist beads of sweat were rolling down his forehead. He slapped a hand to his face and dragged it down. Just a dream. But 'just' was inaccurate. It was an incredible, infernal, tantalizingly evil-to-the-point-of-obnoxious dream!

Admittedly, it wasn't his first time experiencing this sort of thing. In the past few years, he'd dreamt of girls, usually nameless, faceless ones, or at least ones who didn't matter to him. But it had never been quite like this. It was always just kissing. Eomma would be mortified to know that he was having these less than pure, more manly thoughts, but of all things, that wasn't the thing to focus on!

Ironically enough, this was his first dream...like this...about Eun Jeong, even though they'd been dating for a while. Not that he didn't think about kissing her constantly, but his subconscious had never conjured such images of her, such a scenario before. It seemed to refuse to think of her that way, until now. And he supposed conscious him hadn't dared to think of taking things further with her either, again, until now.

But now that the idea was in his head, he wanted to. Someday. Of course he did. What guy who loved a girl didn't want to? But So Eun Jeong wasn't just his girlfriend‒she was his girlfriend, his best friend, and his cousin all rolled into one. What if he screwed up? What if he said or did the wrong thing and lost her altogether? He wouldn't be able to deal with that.

As far as kissing her, sometimes Seok Young hated Uncle Yi Jeong for his ban. It was so unfair! He was her father, yes, so he had a right, but really, who was he to be so strict? At his age, Uncle Yi Jeong was already working his way through the girls of Shinwha, at least, according to the rumor mill. But sometimes Seok Young wondered if all that was really true about Uncle Yi Jeong and Uncle Woo Bin. Were they really the legendary womanizers everyone said they were? They seemed so monogamous now. Could guys like that really settle down, get married, and have a family? Sure, he supposed it was possible if the right woman came along, as they had.

Even though Seok Young hated the kissing ban, in a way, maybe it was a good thing. He never wanted to hurt Eun Jeong, physically or emotionally, and if he couldn't kiss her or take things further with her, then there would be no chance of ruining things. But it wasn't easy. How long could he keep this up? He wasn't made of stone! And if the real Eun Jeong ever tried what Dream Eun Jeong tried tonight, he wasn't sure he'd be able to resist…

Coming back to reality, Seok Young noticed the state he was in, particularly the discomfort down below. Appa had long since explained, in his doctory sort of way, that it was a natural male response, but he always felt embarrassed when he experienced it. He couldn't help thinking there was something wrong with him, and he felt even worse now that he'd had one of those kinds of dreams about sweet Eun Jeong. But it had been nice...and he had to admit he wouldn't have minded if it'd lasted a bit longer…

Squeezing his eyes shut, Seok Young berated himself for a couple of minutes. Then he groaned and prepared to hop out of bed to go to the bathroom, but almost immediately, he realized something. He was NOT alone in his bed. His eyes went wide as he felt the warmth of the body curled up next to him‒he'd been so lost in the remnants of his dream that he hadn't noticed it‒them‒before‒and he jerked back so quickly he nearly fell off the queen-sized mattress.

Who was it? It couldn't possibly be…

***To Be Continued***

A/N: Well then, lots going on this chapter (some JanHoo lovin,' finally, sightseeing, a rescue, etc). I've been eager to put this one out for a long time, so I hope you all enjoyed. I'm even more eager for the next chapter. So, what did you think? Who is the mystery intruder in Seok Young's bed? Oh, and I've never been a teenage boy, so I hope I did okay with the dream and reaction, lol. And what of the new boy? Will yet another guy be interested in Mee Yon (haha)? Regarding Lei, I've been wanting to introduce him since I saw Meteor Garden. It's not a crossover, though. I'm just using his name and the fact that he's Chinese.

If you're curious, no, I've never been to New Zealand (although, it's on the bucket list), so all I've written comes from web research, some images, and my imagination. The villa the Yoons stay at is based on both Panorama on the Terrace and Lodge at the Hills in Queenstown, NZ, with a bit of my own creation sprinkled in there. This is usually the case when I write places in my stories. They are often based on real places but with my own added touches.

FYI, my nephew-to-be's name is Ryder, hence the insert for the Yoon's driver (and it's also a common NZ male name from a list).

Lastly, sorry if this wasn't very good. I sort of feel out of practice with my fanfic, especially the love scenes. But I hope it was funny, sweet and romantic, and a little exciting. Thanks a bunch!

LOOK AWAY IF YOU DON'T LIKE TEASERS!

Teaser (next TWO chapters, most likely): Seok Young wakes from his steamy dream to find someone in his bed and is taken doubly aback. After rescuing him, Mee Yon is getting a lot of attention from Lei, who remembers their past vividly, including a promise she had long since forgotten. The Yoons continue their vacation, despite the intrusion, but a little attention from the opposite leads to jealousy on both sides. Upon return to Korea, Jan Di isn't feeling well and tries to keep it hidden from Ji Hoo; Ga Eul has a real problem with Dr. Yu, and the gang prepares to attend Ha Joon's wedding in the United States.