*Donghyuck's P.O.V*

I showed him the letter while he sipped on his coffee. He almost chocked on his drink.

"Stanford? This was what you were hiding from me?" he asked, confused and surprised. Doc stared at the piece of folded paper that I had wedged between a random book for the last few weeks, under the bed so no one would bother to find it - not even me. Part of me not wanting to give this up might had been due to how unexpected it came. This never would have happened if I hadn't wrote that goddamned essay, that goddamned scholarship lottery. 

Looking at his reaction, my feelings were mixed. I could tell he was still trying to process it all, and I didn't blame him - no one and not even me expected the boy who had all the odds against him to score a scholarship. I sat there, silently watching as he read through the letter for what seemed like the fifth time already. There was a long silence, until he broke it. "B-but why didn't you tell us? Did Mark help keep your secret too?"

I shook my head, "Mark doesn't know, considering he had his own problems to deal with..." I trailed off, remembering he had started to act strange again lately. "And I didn't tell you guys about this was because...I was considering on turning it down the moment I received it. Now don't say anything, I know now that I was being stupid and like I said, I know better now." I started off, beneath the table I was rubbing my hands together. This was scarier than admitting everything to him on the street, this was where I was going to talk to him, heart to heart. 

"So it all started when my homeroom teacher gave us this random essay to work on, but she highlighted that it had something to do with a medical scholarship. So obviously I didn't care because I wasn't any good in my subjects either, but then maybe a miracle happened and she somehow spoke some sense into me."

I remembered it all too well, the way she looked at me dead in the eye and told me to stay behind after class. Thinking that this was about me not paying attention in class, I really did not care. When everyone was gone, Mrs. Pevensie, had sat me down. "Mr. Lee, I think you're smart enough to know this isn't about detention." she had said. "Now I expect you to hand in the essay by next week, but I highly doubt you will anyway. And yes, I do keep track of all your assignments."

I had nodded meekly, eager to get the hell out. She knew that too. "Donghyuck, why is it that you're not one bit bothered to care about this? I've been teaching for twenty years, and there's no student I haven't managed to crack; it simply depends on whether I care or not. And you have potential, so I care."

I couldn't hold my laugh, it had seemed like such a joke coming from her. "Mrs. Pevensie, thanks for that compliment but I even if I do my best at this essay but with grades like mine - they'll never pick me."

"That's why this scholarship is special, it values your story rather than a paper with grades. It's not about how many As or Bs you get, it's about why you deserve it because of who you are."

Still, I had shrugged even though she was starting to make me listen, "I don't deserve it, then. There's nothing interesting about me."

It was her turn to laugh, which threw me off. "Mr. Lee, I have you know that I know everything about you because all your information was provided to me when you enrolled since I am your homeroom teacher. I do keep track of my students, especially you. You've experienced more than any of your peers have and ever will." and at that moment her eyes switched gazes, from strict to somewhat sympathetic. It had made me uncomfortable, because this was another person who saw nothing but a sad boy who didn't deserve all the darkness he had dealt with. 

"But I'm still very sure Stanford isn't looking for people with tragic sob-stories either, ma'am." I replied. "And I don't need their pity either, that includes you."

She looked surprised, "I never said you should write something for them to sympathize with you, I'm telling you that from what I've seen so far - you have goals but are just too doubtful of yourself to try at all. I need you to write about who you are." and just like that she had left me alone in the room, slipping an extra flyer for the scholarship in my file. 

"So basically I somehow managed to do an essay," I explained to Doc now as he listened attentively. "And I don't really remember the details, but here's what I generally wrote; That as much as it having a mom and home like mine, to the point that that insanity made me spiral out of control too - I wouldn't have ended up where I am now if none of that had happened. If I didn't try to rob some random guy on the street that one night, which got me arrested too," as I said it, I could see Doc starting to smile. "That guy wouldn't have known of my existence and God knows how much worse things could have gone if he didn't."

"If none of that happened, I wouldn't have met someone whom I now call closer than a brother who drives me up the walls sometimes," I laughed. "And I wouldn't end up in a house with a hyper dog called Fraser, a nagging aunt who cooks the weirdest food and soon a little sister..." I smiled faintly, and I felt a sudden knot in my stomach. I had to continue. "None of this would have happened if that guy didn't save me and picked up my pieces when I refused to - stayed with me from the start and had faith in me when I didn't, he didn't give up on me and I'll be forever grateful that he came into my life."

"And since he became my hero, he made me want to do what he did. That I wanted to be just like him, because he taught me how life can be good, so good when someone is there to pick you up when you fall and wait for you when you feel better. Because of that, I want to apologize as well as say, thank you Doc."

He didn't say anything and just looked at me, his eyes were glassy like mine but that was all there was. I already knew what he was going to say, just as he knew what I had in my mind - because that was how it had always worked. As much as I cared so much about his opinion, deep inside I knew he understood and there was nothing to hide if it was with him. He had seen me at my lowest point, and not even Mark had the privilege to see that. No one except us would understand that night, that was how it was always going to be. 

He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted with a phone call. He cleared his throat and answered, and his face suddenly twisted. I leaned forward, it did not seem good. 

"What is it?" I asked.

"Your aunt called," he said shakily. "And said she's going into labor."

*One week later*

"You didn't have to drive you know," I said while looking out the window, through the forest of trees coated in snow. "Doc did say he could pick us up anyway."

"And leave your aunt at home with the baby alone? Now that isn't good guest etiquette, where are my manners?" he said in an increasingly dramatic tone, I couldn't help but laugh. "Plus, I didn't bring any presents so this is the least I can do."

I rolled my eyes, "For the last time, Tim, no one cares if you bring presents. It doesn't matter, you don't have to bring anything but yourself." I found it oddly amusing that he was concerned over Christmas presents, and had been for the past week. 

He shrugged, "I'm trying to make a good impression, and you're not helping at all. Thanks a lot, Mark." he said sarcastically before turning the volume of the stereo, much to my horror Justin Bieber's 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town' was playing. Timothy grinned and started bobbing his head, "I don't celebrate Christmas, but hey this song is great."

I cringed, "What is this? 2011?" then he started singing, with full-on half dancing in his seat as he drove. I shook my head in disbelief, "When I thought there was no turn-off about you, you had to like this song." I joked.

He grinned crookedly, "What was that? I had no turn-off for you?" 

I shot him a glare, "Now let's not jump into conclusions, okay?"

He continued to grin but nodded, "Yeah, one step at a time right? I know." and he continued whistling to the next song playing. Just like that we sat in silence, the type of silence that felt comforting and peaceful. Watching him from a distance was just like that, and I appreciated him being understanding. He remembered how I said I wanted things to go between us, and he had agreed that was the best way to figure out what we exactly 'were'. There was no point in rushing, since we had all the time in the world to spare we should take it slow, one step at a time. 

When we entered the house, immediately I could feel the drastic shift in atmosphere. The living room table was stacked with Christmas cookies, and a few other things I had never seen before. Fraser was hopping from couch to couch, looking ridiculous with a Santa hat on his head. Even from the doorstep, I could hear the sound of the baby crying. Usually at this time of year the house would have been fully decorated, but the chaotic energy the house had now somehow seemed even better. 

"Make yourself at home, Tim, I think Donghyuck's cleared up the guest room upstairs for you." Doc said as he welcomed us into the house. I could tell he was tired ever since the baby arrived, but it was a good type of a tiredness. "Sorry, the house has been a bit...hectic lately."

"Don't be, I like that it's hectic," Tim answered. "That's how homes are supposed to be, right?"

"Yes, right you are," Doc smiled. "And Donghyuck and I are driving to Larson's tommorrow for the preparations there."

"I can come, it's been a while since we all hung out," I offered.

"And leave Tim here? Now that's not very nice of you."

"I'd be happy to tag along and help, if that's fine with you all," Tim suggested. "Besides, it's the least I can do. Is that okay with you?" he turned to me.

It was a small detail, but I appreciated that he wanted to know whether I was okay with it - by letting him see parts of my past that I never brought up. Remembering what Riley had said, I nodded. "Yeah, it'd be great if you came along. We'll be needing an extra pair of hands anyway, how convenient." I answered.

"So that's settled then!" Doc said merrily. "Now I'll leave you both to unpack while I go check if dinner's ready, and help Donghyuck before he burns the whole kitchen down." and he rushed into the other corridor where the smell of almost-burned bread drifted from that direction. 

I brought him upstairs where the guest room was situated at the opposite end of the corridor from my room, about to help him open his suitcase before he stopped me. I frowned, "You don't have to help me with this, I can unpack myself." Tim told me, as a matter of fact.

I shrugged, "I have nothing to do anyway, might as well." but he was already pushing me out the room.

He sighed, "As much as I like you wanting to be near me 24/7, you can be really fussy at times," he leaned against the doorway as he said that. "Go on, you have catching up to do with your aunt. Plus, there's that little sister of yours you haven't even met yet."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, I can be a real pain sometimes. You got that point across, I get it."

Then he smiled and chuckled, before reaching out his hand to brush his fingers against my cheek.Even with that little gesture, it managed to make me feel smile too. He caught me off guard and ruffled my hair, "See you at dinner." winked and closed the door.