I watch from my window as Taemin mills around the garden again. It's the fourth time this week since I gave it to him that he's been in it alone, and each time I have to fight that urge to be with him. Not that I don't want to join him, seduce him, him senseless and win the competition, but...

I glare at the pile of papers that clutters up my desk mockingly.

" you, multi-billion dollar business," I snarl under my breath as I swivel around and get started.

"First time hearing that," a familiar voice jokes from my doorway. I look up and roll my eyes at Onew.

"Shouldn't you be down there around with Taemnin or something?" I snarl as I scribble numbers into the margins of the new deal, signing it with loopy handwriting before grabbing the next sheet of paper.

"Tsk tsk. Where's the fun in that when I know I'll win?" Onew asks cockily. I scoff.

"Excuse me? Is there anyone that I haven't succeeded in sleeping with?" I ask haughtily before going back to my reading.

"Well, they were all women that were after your money," Onew points out. I scowl but keep reading.

"How do you even know he'll want to sleep with us?" I ask as I sign this new contract. "I mean, he doesn't seem gay."

"Trust me, he is," Onew says. "You know, you might want to actually talk to him every once in a while."

"I don't like my ears bleeding, thanks," I retort sarcastically. Even though if he would laugh, that'd be nice...

"Dude, you're so obssessed," Onew taunts. I pause as I try to figure out what he means. I quickly realize that I said that last part out loud. I snarl as I slam the next contract onto my desk.

"I mean, if he's laughing instead of making me listen to his y little voice," I cover up clumsily, but I know that Onew's heard me.

"Yeah. Right," Onew scoffs unbelievingly. I roll my eyes and chuck a pen at his head. He catches it and places it back on the desk with annoying coolness.

"Get out!" I order, pointing to the door. He laugh loudly and leaves, but not before forming a small heart with his hands at the doorway. I growl and chuck a pen at him. It hits the wall as he scurries off.

"Minho, why are pens flying?" a small voice asks as a head peeks around the door frame. I can't hold back a chuckle as I hold out my arms.

"Because they love Onew so much," I growl playfully as he hops over. I scoop him up and place him on my lap as I keep working. I turn back to my papers and peer past his head as I read each word carefully. I must disect them, find their real meaning. There are too many tricks and turns that lawyers will use to swindle millions from your company and....

"Pig!" Yooguen announces, doodling over the figures with a pencil. I hold in my laughter as I erase his drawing.

"Yoogeun, don't draw on those papers," I scold gently, patting the top of his head. He pouts up at me.

"I'm bored," he whines. I chuckle.

"Go play with Key," I suggest.

"But he always tries ot make me dress funny," Yoogeun complains.

"Never play with Key again," I revise quickly. "Um... Wanna go for a walk with Taemin?" , why did I suggest that?

"Appa!" Yoogeun cheers, hopping from my lap and tugging on my hand. I follow, stumbling in an effort to keep up with his enthusiasm. We scorch past Onew, and I give him a smirk as Yoogeun reaches for the doorhandle. I open it for him and he runs out. I sprint to catch up with him and scoop him off the ground as the door closes. I have that nerve-wracking "back of the neck" feeling, but I ignore it as I spin my son in the air.

My son. I laugh as he plays with my hair, grasping it dizzily. He laughs even louder when I dip him and let him hang there, suspended. I pull him back up and he screams with delight. I repeat the process, and each time his laugh only gets louder and happier.

"Appa!" he exclaims, and I freeze. I pull him back up slowly and my eyes widen.

"Did you just call me appa?" I ask. He nods and throws his hands up estatically.

"Again!" he screams. My emotions go dead for a moment with shock before I spike up in happiness.

"Alright!" I shout, spinning him around and dipping him again.

"Yoogeun? Minho?" a voice asks, and I turn to see Taemin standing at the entrance of the garden, looking confused. I smile sheepishly.

"Yoogeun missed you," I explain softly as Taemin comes forward. He reaches forward and I hand him the boy in my arms. He half-smiles appreciatively before looking away.

"Why are you here?" he asks. I shrug.

"Too stuffy in the office," I say nonchalantly. I look at Yoogeun as he tugs Taemin towards the maze.

"I wanna go there!" he announces, pointing. I smile and look at Taemin. He glares back.

"What are you looking at me for?" he snaps. I struggle to keep my temper as Taemin walks away with a huff.

"So much for trying to be nice," I grumble as I follow.

I've been confused for a week now. I hate being confused, but not as much as I hate him.

Or wish I hate him. I clench my fist, crushing the flower I had absentmindedly observing. A thorn digs into my palm and I hiss in pain, ripping it out. Blood pools lazily, and I lap it up before tearing some flimsy fabric from the hem of my shirt. I wrap it around my wound as a makeshift bandage and begin to head to the house.

The house, because it's not a home. I advance through the groves of green, rich bushes and take a leaf into my fingers, watching the light play softly with the green. The branches around me scrabble to cling to the wind like I scrabble to cling to my hatred. I clench my fish again and the juices from the leaf stain the fabric on my hand green. I look around and see all the leaves reflecting the same light, but it suddenly seems glaring and blinding.

" this," I snarl, turning angrily. I head for the exit, desperate to escape as the light seems to get brighter. I break through and hear peals of laughter. For a moment, I stop and smile for no reason. Just a pensive happiness that floats form the scene before me. I don't even bother to interperate, just standing there and feeling serene for the first time.

Then my eyes begin to function and I see Minho and Yoogeun playing. Minho's face is an unrestrained portrait of joy, mirroring Yoogeuns' pleasure as they spin around. Yoogeun's voice is stretched into miles and miles of shimmering laughter, while Minho underlays it with his own throaty rumble.

"Minho? Yoogeun?" I ask subconciously. Minho turns and I stuff my hand into my pocket to hide my wound from him.

"Yoogeun missed you," he explains hastily, placing my son in my arms. There's something like joy in his voice, akin to the afterthought of an emotion. I look away with a small smile.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"Too stuffy in the office," he explains carelessly. Yoogeun pulls my collar and points towards the maze that I've never been in, despite my curiousity. He looks at me so brightly that I can't refuse.

"I wanna go there!" Yoogeun requests. I smile and begin walking towards the wall of clipped hedges and bright leaves. I feel eyes pricking at the back of my neck and I turn, irritated and fearful of Minho seeing my bandage.

"What are you looking at me for?" I snap as I spin around. What might had been a smile immediately fades as he frowns, and I tear myself away before I can say or do something utterly stupid. I hear him walk after me, mumbling to himself.

"If we get lost in there, will Minho-appa save us?" Yoogeun asks as the maze's entrance nears. I look at him, appalled.

"Minho-appa?" I half-shout. Yoogeun winces and nods shakily.

"A-appa...." he whispers. I swallow my seething rage and nod, accepting the fact.

"Yeah... appa..." I hiss before starting into the embraces of the confusing bushes. The light clutters through the branches and makes a dappled spiderweb on the grass. I look down and watch the patterns overlap my feet as I step forward, each foot in front of the other. Minho's breath ghosts over my ear and I spin around to see him, hands in his pockets and eyes shielded by his hair.

"Turn left," he murmurs. I obey, albeit begrudgingly. The scenery changes to the same tall hedges, but now they're dotted with small blossoms of buttery yellow and snowflake white.

"Impressive," I whisper, watching the stems woven through the branches of the hedges.

"Is it really?" Minho asks in a soft, masked voice. I look up, searching for arrogance, but it's that same gaurded expression. I look forward awkwardly. Even Yoogeun is half-silent.

"Pretty," he utter every few steps, but he's mostly caught up in the tangible tension.

"Right," Minho says. I trun with him, our shoulders almost touching. I hear the rustle of a leaf somewhere, but it's strangled by the electricity shooting between Minho and I.

"You know this maze well," I murmur.

"Minho-appa's smart!" Yoogeun jumps in, grateful for the sound.

"I suppose so," Minho murmurs. "Left." We turn again, and I see Minho's arm twitch at his side.

"Thanks for guiding us," I say sincerely, watching Minho's face for change. It doesn't change in expression, but as we walk I notice the way Minho's face is dotted with golden patterns that slide comfortably over the contours.

"It's no problem. We're almost at the end," he informs. I notice other paths linking up with the one we're walking now, and I can't help but wonder if it was designed like this.

"Oh," I say softly. I look up as the path spreads out, and I see the center of the maze.

Oh my...

A/N - SO WHAT'S AT THE CENTER!?

More to come! Comments are love!