I groan as Taemin's grip around my neck tightens.

"Taemin, we're there and we're not going to die," I mutter angrily, but he whimpers and his arms constrict around me anyway. I choke under his unrelenting grasp. He hiccups as I make my way through the darkened halls, measuring each step as Taemin's warm skin rubs against mine. Finally, my hand grips the doorknob of his room and I practically fall in, offering him to the bed with relief.

"Minho, bed," he mumbles, the sleepingess covering him like a soft shroud. I pause to look at him, appreciating the moonlight on his face and the silken threads of hair surrounding his smooth, spent expression. Then that expression turns into laughs, and joyful peals of that beautiful sound echo throughout the room as I hover over him. That sweet music graces my ears and makes me smile as he continues, even though there's really no reason. Then I hear that laugh sour, and I feel worry clench at me as he starts sobbing.

"Taemin, what's wrong?" I ask. I sit on the bed, feeling like I need to stay. His sobs grows into wails and I hurriedly scoop him up in my arms. I press his shaking body to my chest. He grips, almost desperately, at my shirt and neck, wetting my body.

"I hate this!" he screams, pounding on me with weak fists. Even so, each blow feels like a stab to the chest and I hold him tighter, trying to bind his muscles so he'll stop.

"Taemin, tell me what's wrong," I beg, my whispers brushing past his ear, unheeded. Finally, his body stops quaking and his tears slow to mere trickles. He looks up and his eyes are bleary and half-lidded, laden with crystal tears.

"I used to dream about having a room like this," he whispers. He draws closer and buries his grief into my body. I pull him to me until he's on my lap, and I inhale calmly as he keeps going on his drunken banter.

"It's alright," I whisper. "You're here now, see?"

"That's just it," Taemin whimpers. I look down and see him bite his lip. "I hate this room." I wince but keep holding him. "I hate this room so much, because it's so damn empty. It doesn't feel like home at all. I hate it!" he screams into my chest. I accept his wails with my body.

"I can do anything to make it home," I whisper. As long as you laugh, Taemin, I can do it all. I hold him closer as he shakes his head.

"You can't do anything," he whispers. "I need..." He swallows and I sigh. I lay him down on the bed. His eyes hit mine and I catch my breath as he keeps looking. Keeps his gaze steady to mine.

"Taemin, I..." My words lose their way and I'm frozen there.

"I need home, Minho," he whimpers. His hand reaches out and grabs my sleeve. I swallow nervously as his eyes glaze over and his hand falls off of my arm. His head tilts to the side and he lets out a sigh before drifting off. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

"I wish you thought this was home," I whisper. I gently nudge him until he's comfortably lying on the bed, and then pull the blanket over his shoulders. He lets out a soft wimper as I brush the hair from his face. I bite my lip and turn away to see Yoogeun at the doorway.

"Is that appa?" the boy asks softly. I smile and nod, gathering him in my arms as I pass out of the room.

"He's tired. Let him sleep," I murmur. I hold Yoogeun and carry him to his room. His conciousness fades on the journey there, and I slump his sleeping body onto the soft bed that I had specially ordered. I look around the room, satisfied with the Power Ranger wall paper and the toys in the corner. I brush Yoogeun's bangs out of his eyes and kiss his forehead.

"Minho..." he murmurs. I smile.

"Welcome home."

My throbbing headache is what wakes me up. I sit up and groan, looking around. , he found me.

"MINHO!" I shout. I stagger to my feet, leaning on the wall for support. "CHOI ING MINHO, GET YOUR OVER HERE!"

"Taemin, what's wrong?" Onew asks as he comes out of his room and steadies me. I scowl.

"I hate that bastard. What happened last night? I need to kill him. I swear, I'm going to ing tear him limb from limb," I mutter. I feel Onew's hands straighten me up, and I force my eyes to meet his.

"Minho found you in a bar and took you home," Onew says slowly so that my numbe mind can comprehend. My temples pound with unwithheld blood and every synapse in me seems to explode with each bursting pulse. I groan and lean on onew, barely believing my own stupidity.

"I'm never drinking again," I snarl. Onew chuckles and pats my back soothingly.

"I'm sure he didn't do anything weird to you while you were drunk," Onew says. My eyes widen as the possibilities flooded into my mind.

"OH HE BETTER NOT HAVE!" I scream, jumping back from Onew's embrace. I streak down the hall, only to trip and tumble a few feet. I scramble to my feet again and continue my charge.

"Yes?" that annoyingly placid voice asks as I smash the office door open. I storm up to Minho's desk, slamming my hands onto the wood.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?" I shriek, leaning into his face and glaring at him unforgivingly. He blinks in surprise.

"N-nothing," he says, his gaurd dropping momentarily. He regains his composure and clears his throat, waving his arm at a chair that I didn't notice before. I sink into the plush cushions, appreciating the comfort absentmindedly.

"What?" I ask annoyed, demanding an answer with my glare. Minho sits forward, his face stony and uncompromising. Professional and cold, looking distant and yet fiercely focused. I feel my fury turn into fear. Is this what he's like when he's doing business? How... terrifying.

"I know why you left, and I'm sorry for what I did to you," he says. He stands and starts pacing, his gaze locked to the floor. Yet, I somehow feel as if he can see me. Somehow, his eyes are still on me.

"You tried to me," I snarl bluntly, putting up my own sheild. He nods, accepting the fact nonchalantly.

"I'm sorry," he says again, his voice flat and void of sarcasm. His sincerity comes as a surprise, and for a moment my jaw hangs loosely off its hinges before I regain composure and clench it again. "However, I think it'd be best if you stay."

"Why?" I scoff. "So you can try again?"

"No," he says calmly, sitting down and crossing his hands sharply on the desk. "I'm willing to make a deal."

"Why do you want me to stay?" I demand, ignoring his "deal."

"For Yoogeun," he says. For a moment, his businessman side dissolves and worry flashes across his face. "I'm not a father. You are. I need you here for Yoogeun." His face hardens again, but his eyes flicker away from mine as he struggles for composture.

"Talk," I say, leaning forward. for my son, I'd make a deal with this devil.

"I will provide full financial support," he says, "in return for your promise that you never leave the premises for more than ten hours at a time unless accompanied by me or Onew."

"Fine, but you don't touch me," I snarl. "You don't touch me unless, for whatever reason, I say you can."

"Fine," he says, pulling out a piece of paper and jotting down the conditions.

"And you have to be home everyday by midnight," I continue. He looks up, raising an eyebrow.

"What are we, married now?" he jokes, a slight smirk on his face.

"I don't want you drinking," I say bluntly. His face shadows over and he writes it down without hesitation.

"Is that all?" he asks seriously. I nod. He pushes the paper towards me. I read it and sign it, hesitating a bit as the pen touches the paper. I close my eyes and swirl my signature out in ink. Ever lasting, cerulean blue ink that settles nicely on the paper.

"Here," I say, shoving the makeshift contract to him. He doesn't waver as he signs it, looking me dead in the eye as he sets down the pen.

"Done," he says decisively.

"FINALLY!" Onew shouts from his hiding spot by the door. "Now who wants chicken?" He dodged the pen that came flying towards him.

A/N - And this is how starts. MORE TO COME! COMMENTS ARE LOVE!

Sorry my life is crazy~ <(^3^)> Am I still loved?