Leeteuk signaled to the two young men who were anxiously waiting outside the glass doors. It’s been almost two weeks but Leeteuk finally secured a grant from the courts for a visit at the children’s halfway home where their brothers were staying. Leeteuk couldn’t help but smile as he watched Jae talk to Yunho nervously carefully smoothing his hair as he kept rechecking all the things he brought from home for the three young ones.

“Are you sure I look okay Yunho?” Jae asked as he pushed open the glass door into the deserted playroom where Leeteuk was as he fumbled with the bags that contained the stuff for the boys. “My dark circles aren’t that noticeable are they? I wouldn’t want Junsu to worry. I know I should’ve brought Chunnie more manhwas too. He’s become such a fast reader. I just  know he’ll breeze through these ones real fast.” He said as he shifted the bag that carried a half week’s paycheck worth of  new books that Jaejoong brought for Yoochun and some of Changmin’s toys along with Junsu’s favorite blanket.

Yunho just smiled and assured him that he looked fine then reached over to get half of the stuff that Jae carried from home. He was already carrying bags of his own but Jae said that it was best if they brought as much stuff from home for the boys just in case they were really home sick.

Mrs. Yoon, the children’s halfway home administrator told the two young men to wait while their brothers were being called. Leeteuk motioned for them to sit on the white plastic chairs in the corner of the room as they waited. Jae smiled warmly at Leeteuk thanking him for the nth time that morning.

“It’s my job Jaejoong-shii. I’m just glad that they finally listened to reason.” He said smiling at the young man.

Jae smiled back at Leeteuk when suddenly he turned to Yunho saying, “Omo! What if Changmin finds my ddeokbokki too spicy? Should I have brought Mrs. Park’s instead? It’s just that I wanted to bring him something fresh. I knew I should have just brought Mrs. Park’s ddeokbokki. I mean Changmin really likes it and all. I just thought that…” Jae babbled as he dug through one of the bags where he placed the warm dish.

“Joongie…” Yunho said stilling the other man’s hand. “It’ll be fine. I think Changmin’s more excited to see you rather than the ddeokbokki. I’m sure he’ll enjoy whatever you feed him.” Yunho said to Jae tenderly as he fought the urge to fold the other into a hug. It warmed him knowing how much Jae loved his brothers. It was one of the reasons why he fell madly in love with Jaejoong.

Suddenly the door to the playroom opened and a loud whoop followed. Jae stood in time as an excited Junsu launched himself in the air and jumped into his hyungie’s arms. “Hyungie!!!” Junsu squeaked as he began to pepper Jae’s cheeks with kisses.

Jaejoong couldn’t help but laugh as he squeezed his brother into a hug. He couldn’t imagine having survived those past two weeks without seeing his Junsu. “Let me look at you Junsie.” Jae said as he put his brother on top of a table. “Woah, Yunho is this really my Junsu? It couldn’t be. He’s too big to be my Junsu.” Jaejoong said looking at Yunho as he teased his younger brother.

“It’s me hyungie!” Junsu said holding on to his brother’s shoulders his eyes wide with concern.

Jae furrowed his eyebrows and pouted his lips then reached over to squeeze his brother’s cheeks between his palms. “Let’s see,” he said as he began to asses, “He does have the same lips, the same beautiful eyes, that cute little nose, and… aha!” Jaejoong declared when he peered around Junsu, “That cute little duck . It is Junsu!” Jaejoong said as he began to tickle Junsu then pepper him with kisses of his own.

“Yunnie hyung help me!” Junsu shrieked as he laughed and screamed from Jaejoong’s tickling.

Yunho reached over and took Junsu from Jae and gave him a hug. “Has my Junsie been missing me?” He asked smoothing the young boy’s hair from where it stuck out after playing with Joongie.

The little boy rested his palm against Yunho’s cheek and patted him saying, “No hyungie.” He said as he smiled at the older man.

"Eh?" Yunho asked his eyes wide in surprise.

"I didn't miss you because you were always with me." Junsu said with utmost sincerity.

Yunho couldn't help but smile at the lad. He still couldn't understand how his mind worked but Yunho was grateful Junsu didn't seem as sad as he feared.

Jae smiled as he watched two of the four most important men in his life embrace each other. Jae couldn’t wait to see Yunho’s brothers. Turning to Leeteuk, Jae quietly asked, “Is Yoochun and Changmin coming Leeteuk-shii?”

Leeteuk nodded his head when Junsu turned to take a peek at him from under Yunho’s arm. “Who’s he hyungie?” Junsu whispered into Yunho’s ear.

Yunho smiled as he put Junsu down to the floor then formally introduced Leeteuk to Junsu. “Junsu, this is Park byeonhosa-nim. He’s the reason why we got to see you today. He’s helping us.” Yunho said by way of introduction.

The little one first looked at his Yunho hyung then his Jaejoong hyung who urged him to greet the other man with a warm smile and a nod. Junsu then turned to Leeteuk and bowed low, his little sticking out, “It’s nice to meet you Park byeonhosa-nim. Thank you so much for helping my hyungies, sir.” He said to the man formally.

Leeteuk smiled at the young boy. He looked extremely cute and innocent but he could see that Jaejoong and Yunho raised such a polite child. “It’s good to meet you too Junsu-shii. But I think Park byeonhosa-nim is too formal between friends isn’t it? I’d like it very much if called me Leeteuk hyung if that’s okay with your brothers.” Leeteuk told the boy who turned to his hyungs for confirmation that it was alright.

When he got a positive response, Junsu took a couple of steps nearer to Leeteuk, his head cocked to one side as he considered the older man in front of him. “No… I think I shall call you by another name.” Junsu said as he stopped in front of the older man before suddenly climbing on top of his lap. Jaejoong stood in surprise as he got ready to pry Junsu off of Leeteuk but the older man waved him off as he smiled at him then turned his attention back to Junsu who was looking at him seriously.

“What would you like to call me then?” Leeteuk asked the little boy who looked at him with such a seriously cute expression on his face.

Junsu squeezed one eye shut as he tapped his forefinger against his temple then suddenly said, “Oh I know! I’ll call you Teukie hyung! Would you like that?” Junsu said with a big smile on his face.

Leeteuk threw back his head and laughed as Jaejoong stood again to admonish his brother. Leeteuk waved Jaejoong off again signaling that it was alright. “I guess that would be alright. But then what are we going to do? Only my my wife and my family members calls me Teukie.” Leeteuk said as he looked at the little one who suddenly had his eyebrows furrowed much like Jaejoong as he played with Junsu earlier.

But then the young boy just turned to Leeteuk then simply said, “I guess we’re just going to have to be family then.” Junsu said with a shrug as he slid off Leeteuk’s lap and headed back to his Jaejoong hyung who bowed to Leeteuk in gratefulness for the kindness he showed to his younger brother.

Leeteuk could only smile at Jaejoong as he reached over to ruffle Junsu’s hair before he got too far. Looking at his watch, Leeteuk suddenly stood and asked for the three to wait for him as he headed to the front office to check where Changmin and Yoochun were.

After a little while, Leeteuk came back into the room with a grim look on his face. Shaking his head in disgust he motioned quietly to Yunho who left Jae and Junsu playing on the floor.

“Is something wrong Leeteuk-shii?” Yunho asked.

“Ah yes, well, I just found out something that might upset you and Jaejoong.” Leeteuk said lowering his voice.

Yunho turned his head to take a look at Jaejoong but he was busy playing with Junsu so he turned his head back to Leeteuk and walked a couple of steps further away from the two. Making sure that Jae couldn’t hear them Yunho nodded to Leeteuk who took a deep breath before speaking.

“I apologize in advance about this Yunho but they would not allow for Jaejoong to be around when you visit with Changmin.” Leeteuk said sighing deeply then shaking his head again.

Yunho blinked twice unsure of what he heard. “I don’t understand Leeteuk-shii. I thought the court already gave us visitation rights?” Yunho asked.

“Ah yes, well, I was just informed by the head office that to make sure that they strictly follow the court’s ruling, they can only allow Changmin to visit with you and not with Jaejoong.” Leeteuk answered his lips set on a straight line.

“But why? Why would they stop Jae from seeing Changmin? I beg of you Leeteuk-shii, there must be a reason for this.” Yunho said trying to control his voice. Thinking of how Jae would be hurt about not being able to see Changmin was something he didn’t even want to think about.

“Yunho,” Leeteuk started not really knowing how best to deliver bad news but straight to the point, “Changmin’s ear infection affected his hearing. He lost about 70% of his hearing on his right ear. The doctor who treated Changmin is willing to testify to the court that it was due to Jaejoong’s negligence that this happened.”

Yunho gasped. Dropping his head to his chest he felt like he would burst into tears if he didn’t do something really fast. Quickly excusing himself from Leeteuk saying he needed to get some air, Yunho left the playroom and headed outside. His head was reeling from the fact that his poor dongsaeng lost his hearing and it was all his fault.

Yunho walked down the steps of the halfway home’s building and ended up walking to a nearby park. Taking a seat in one of the benches, Yunho watched as kids were playing at a jungle gym not too far away. A little boy caught Yunho’s eye. He had on a pair of cute overalls, his curly hair bouncing in the sunlight. He was climbing one of the higher bars on the jungle gym when suddenly he slipped and fell to the soft ground. Yunho was about to stand up and rush to the boy’s aid when suddenly a woman came and kneeled beside the boy then picked him up and cradled him in his arms. The young lad pointed to his elbow which he apparently hurt and the woman kissed the elbow then wiped away the tears from the boy’s cheeks.

Yunho just watched the entire counter not really thinking of anything when suddenly a wave of guilt overtook him. Feeling extremely distraught, Yunho felt tears flow down his cheeks when he thought of his parents. He failed them. He failed to protect his brothers. Much worse, he failed to protect his brothers from himself, from his own incompetence.

But what hurt him the most was the fact that those people had the gall to blame Jaejoong. Jae who never once complained about having to take care of other people’s children, Jae who loved his brothers as though they were his own brothers, Jae whose love for Changmin sometimes worried Yunho for fear that Junsu would feel jealous. How can he face Jaejoong now?

Burying his face in his hands, Yunho silently sobbed as he prayed to the heavens for forgiveness. Changmin lost his hearing because of Yunho. There was just no other reason, no other reason for why the maknae lost his hearing. He would accept no other explanation.

Wiping away at his tears, Yunho quickly headed back to the orphanage and went straight to the children’s halfway home. Demanding that he see his brothers, Leeteuk had to talk to the staff quickly ordering Yunho to calm down and see Jaejoong first.

Yunho opened the door to the playroom to find Jaejoong softly crying in the corner. Rushing over to Jaejoong’s side, Yunho gathered Jae in his arms softly whispering words of comfort to the shorter man.

“I’m sorry Yunho. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. My poor Changmin. I’m so sorry my poor, poor Changmin.” Jae cried softly as Yunho rocked him back and forth, his own tears dripping down his cheeks.

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That was a crappy chap to write. Unfortunately it was getting too long and so I'm going to have to add another sad chapter right after this one. The next chapter is going to be a turning point for them so please stick around and anticipate that. Poor boys. Even I hate myself for putting them through so much pain. But alas, such is their fate in this story *hides from bricks*. There will be good times soon folks. Until then, comments please!!!