“Are you sure about it?” the beautiful female asked with a bit of reculance on her face; Taeil couldn’t blame her. He too wished he had a choice.

“That damn dog is dead. Of course, I have to respect my part of the deal. Teacher would have wanted it this way.”

The female didn’t respond. Teacher’s best friend had been her sworn sister. Their absence was a heavy gape in her heart, which was healing slowly by the power of time. Of course she was delated about that dog’s dead. But…

“Still…It’s the only thing he had left to you. Won’t you regret it?” She asked as she watched out of her mansion’s windows, the beautiful blue roses blooming in her garden.

“Didn’t you use Sulli’s medicine to those children in the orphanage? Thanks to that, she still lives in their gratefulness. You didn’t regret it did you?”

IU’s eyes were distant, her eyes far away from the reality, not seeing the blue roses anymore before giving him a light glare: “Those children are all innocent ones. Like she was. Is that boy you are using your teacher’s medicine innocent for him to have a sworn brother who was capable of killing that dog?”

Taeil gave her a raised eyebrow: “Was teacher innocent? He was the founder of BlackBlood.”

“The BlackBlood he founded can’t be compared with that cruel worthless organisation that it became now.” IU scowled as she couldn’t help but be angry at those traitors. She turned aroud, away from the garden as she sat in front of her desk, watching one of the few people she considered as family.

“Now that I gave the plans to MonstaX, it won’t be long before those traitors will be teared down. Tell me wouldn’t Teacher paid anything for those dogs to be eliminated? Its their practices that have smeared BlackBlood with innocent blood.” Taeil argued as he saw at IU’s crossed arms that she wasn’t very pleased with his request.

IU rolled her eyes: “MonstaX may be a fine team, but the higher ups from BlackStar aren’t any hair better.”

She may not be part of that world, she had always been well informed, as she had wanted to protect her sworn sister from any harm. But in the end her knowledge hadn’t been enough to do so.

“Their team seems to have the intension to overthrow them by themselves.” Taeil smiled as he saw IU’s surprised face: “How?”

“Why don’t you watch the show and enjoy?” Taeil smiled mysteriously, while IU rolled her eyes.

“If Jonghyun hyung knew you could be that mischievous…the innocent orphan he took under his wing as a student back then is nowhere to be seen.”

“Teacher wanted me to be strong…and to smile in face of any perils. I will fulfil his last wish till the end.” Taeil eyes saddned a bit at the mention of his Teacher’s name.

IU sulked: “But you don’t hesitate to use the last gift he gave you without blinking your eyes. Those needles are priceless! There is no replica in this world! And once the nerves are mended, they will be gone.”

Taeil sighed: “Yes they will be gone…But a child that tried to save his brother will be able to regain the ability to use his leg again. A child who’s sworn brother will probably end my Teacher’s enemies and restore the organisation reputation. Isn’t that a fair price, Noona?”

IU didn’t say any words. She took the sealed box that was well hidden in her desk drawer.

“The password is the day he adopted you.” She didn’t look back at him as she left her room, needing some alone time to herself.

Taeil sighed again. He looked up at the only portrait that was hung in Noona’s workroom: His smiling teacher, with IU’s smiling sworn sister. He missed them too. A lot.

But it was especially because he missed them, that he decided he would live well, smile and enjoy life not only for himself but for them as well. He couldn’t dwell with only them in their minds, he had a precious son he had to protect too.

He would honnor them.

Now that Blackblood couldn’t touch him, he would continue his teacher’s work at a hospital. Kun had already proposed him to work at his hospital, and Taeil had decided he would gift each cured children smile to his teacher Jognhyun and Sulli Noona.

ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER

Hansol eyes felt heavy, as he hugged with one arm his beloved squirrel doll, stretching his other one to snooze the early alarm that kept pestering him. He yawned, sleep way too alluring to resist as he nuzzled back into his pillow, as he wanted to regain back the feeling of darkness as he basked into the warmth of his bedsheets.

His wish however, wouldn’t happen as he heard the familiar footsteps of his dad, opening up his bedroom.

“Sol-ah. Lets go.” The soft shake of his shoulder followed by a little kiss on his forehead still induced a complaining whine.

“Not today dad. Please.” He tried to beg for mercy, as he nuzzled deeper into his cushion, dreading to leave his comfortable bed.

Taeil chuckled: “Who was the one who complained to have weak stamina? Come on Jeno is nearly ready, don’t make him wait.”

Hansol groaned. Who told him to be this crazy to wake up on a Sunday morning, the most beautiful day in the Lee Family – according to his newly gained stephdad -  to go jogging?

And of course the idea had been appealing to the most sportive member of their family- sweet kind Jeno- so now he had no way of going back. He turned around, away from his Dad, and his eyes fell on the empthy bed of Mark Hyung.

Taeil gave him another encouraging kiss on his cheeks: “Come on son, if you go now you will arrive on time for breakfast. I will ask Taeyongie for those pancakes you love so much.”

Hansol dragged himself up, half eyes closed, half of his body stretched as he muttered: “Bribery.”

Taeil chuckled: “Alright, I wont ask for them then.”

“Noooo” he whined as he admitted his wrong, latching on his dad’s arm who helped him to leave his bedroom; giggling as he pushed him towards the bathroom: “Then get ready, and go! Leave the pancakes to me.”

Hansol hummed, still yawning as he entered the bathroom, the cold water finally making him feel awake. 10 minutes later he joined an already pristine ready Jeno, who despite the early 7 o’clock that was displayed on the clock in the living room, greeted him with his usual eye smile.

The television was on, volume very low as a content Chenle watched a re-run of Batman, his usually excited body still as he sat next to Mark hung who had Jisung’s head on his lap (the kid half asleep half awake) watching the television.

Hansol was very happy with his new family.

But they woke up way too early in the morning during the weekends and holidays.

He wasn’t used to this yet, despite his previous training he had undergone when his Dad had been a BlackBlood member- They had done stamina training, no wake up early training.

“Good Morning Hyung!” Jeno, kind and sportive Jeno, had proposed to accompany him on his run, as Hansol who had a very competitive spirit didn’t like the fact that he was lacking in stamina – which he had discovered during the dance classes he attended with his family every Saturday.

“Good Morning Jeno. Lets try to comeback early. Dad told me he would ask for pancakes.”

Jeno smiled, nodding in excitement as they went towards the elevator, while Hansol prepapred himself mentally for the cold wind of outside that would await him in favour of his warm bed that was still calling.

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When Hansol came back, more then satisfied with his improvement he made since last week, he was greeted with the smell of delicious pancakes and hot chocolate, as the soft noise of the television could be still heard from the living room.

Sunday, in the Lee Family, was chill day.

Except for Mark hyung and the maknae line, everyone could wake up at any time given, gathering slowly around the breakfast table which would contain a delicious Western and Chinese breakfast thanks to Renjun, Winwin Uncle, Taeyong Appa and his dad.

“Lele wants choco!” the young one clinged to Mark hyung’s leg who was busy to serve the said drink in cups, reaching towards his dongsaeng’s favourite mug as he poured the drink with Chenle’s fevered eyes on him.

“Lele it’s warm don’t burn yourself.”  Renjun warned his dongsaeng who ignored his Ge in favour of following Mark hyung who placed his mug on the table, before helping Chenle to sit on his place.

Jeno dragged Hansol excitedly to the bathroom, both quickly washing their face and hands before taking place on the table, as they were both starved from their run.

“How much did you run this time?” Taeil who placed Taeyong’s morning coffee asked his son.

“About 7 km!” Hansol smiled with pride while Jeno talked about his early jogging walk to Taeyong who ruffled his hair before asking his son to take a shower after breakfast.

Jisung eyes gleamed as he received his cup, the young one’s energy in the morning being the biggest blessing for their family, as Jisung finally managed to eat breakfast properly without being drowsy or cold.

“Kun told me you had a shift this afternoon?” Winwin asked as he sipped on his tea, which had been made by Renjun.

“Yeah, the hospital called yesterday.” Taeil sighed as he knew he couldn’t really do something about it.

“Organising a family trip will be hard at this rate.” Winwin sighed too as he had tried multiple times to bring the family for a short weekend in China, so that his children could visit their mother’s grave.    

“Kun also took the shift. Maybe next weekend…” Taeil trailed off but Winwin shook his head: “They will still call you or Kun again if there is an emergency, won’t they?”

Taeil gave him a hopeless smile before thinking: “We both arranged to have the week off for Christmas. Maybe after the party we could go straight from Thailand to Beijing?

Winwin eyes shined as he thought this arrangement could actually work.

“I won’t be choreographing for the awards show this year thanks to the world tour. We could actually stay even longer even if Kun and Taeil have to go back. I feel bad for never visiting her all those years.” Taeyong sadly confessed while he served more rice to eye smiling Jeno who was more hungry then usual thanks to his early run.

Winwin smiled brighter, happy to stay even longer while he dismissed Taeyong’s guilt: “It’s not like you could afford it and even if you did my sister wouldn’t have allowed you out of fear for your security as she was still handling some issues. Don’t worry about it.”

Taeyong hummed before Renjun shyly asked: “Fuqin…are you bringing that handsome doctor too?”

Winwin nearly choked on his tea, while Taeyong giggled ruffling his son’s hair, more than amused that his son had asked such a question.

“Doctor YangYang is indeed very persistent huh?” Taeil couldn’t help but smile too, as Kun’s psychologic colleague friend had indeed been smitten since he had caught glance of Winwin ever since Jisung’s trial. It didn’t really help that Kun brought him often over at his house during Jisung’s treatment (With a lame excuse that he was there to monitor the youngest recovery) and while Winwin had been dead set on never getting anyone else then his wife, little Renjun and Mark had awfully helped the persistent men into stepping through Winwin’s barried heart.

“I am going to see your Muqin and you want me to bring him?” Winwin after recovering himself from the shock asked with disbelief to his son.

Renjun looked at him with confusion on his face: “You don’t want Muqin to see you are happy too?”

At the innocent question, Winwin blinked his eyes, wondering why such words left his little baobei’s lips, and Taeyong smiled as he added: “She surely would have liked him. And if he doesn’t treat ourie Renjun and Lele as his own, I will beat him furiously in her stead!”

He gave his swornbrother a playful wink, both of them knowing how YangYang adored every kid of this house, and how Taeyong’s threat was thus merely a reminder that he should try to consider the man’s advances more seriously.

 Winwin snorted as he gave a dry: “I will consider it when you will marry for the third time.”

It was Taeyong’s and Taeil’s turn to both choke on their milk tea, followed by a lightly giggling Hansol and Jeno.

“ya Dong Si Cheng!” Taeyong’s cheeks were redder than any tomato, while his boyfriend Taeil fidgeted by playing with his fork the on the remains of his pancakes.

“Serves you right.” Winwin finally regained his smile as he finished with a last content sip the remaining of his tea.

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When you were a child, the expression: “I would grow up faster” was a regular thought as our eyes gleamed at the thought of doing things that couldn’t be done yet by our current situation.

Yet Herin couldn’t help but think that time slipped so much, and that even a year was nothing compared to the changes that happened in between.

Things had changed so much, yet stayed the same.

At the gates of school, a black sleek car stilled as the front passenger door opened: Mark, who’s brown dyed hair shined thanks to glitters that still remained of his previous photoshoot stepped out of the passenger door, his school attire was as usual complimented with a Cherry’N Jacket and accessories of the brand which he had prolonged the contract with as fixed model.

Lucas, Cherry’N newly promoted model stepped out of the back-passenger door, grinning as he stepped aside to let Renjun, Hansol and Jeno out.

The brothers arrival was as usual not unnoticed by the students, the five of them had retracted their honorary students status since the begin of this schoolyear, as the rumours surrounding them were far too wild for them to continue having such a status.

The five of them, unbothered gave their last goodbye to Winwin who simply reminded them to have a good day.

Herin waited with Koeun at the side, as Jeno and Renjun chattered their last words to their hyungs before leaving for their building, where Moonbyul, Hendery and some of Jeno’s friends were already waiting for them at the front door.

“Good Morning you three!” Koeun smiled enthousistically as the three persons arrived, returning her cheery greeting.

“I will see you later Hyung. Lucas.” Hansol who was the same age as Lucas and (thanks to some meddling of Johnny) also in the same class as the later waved them goodby as he spotted his friend Jinyoung (who despite Hansol’s repetitive assurances, still didn’t dare to mix with the group of non-honorary students) 

Mark nodded, while Lucas gave him a warm grin: “See ya in class”

Lucas preferred to stick with his hyung till the last minute, when the both of them parted to their own classes.

Some of Lucas friends approached them, their group soon being rowdy and very animated; and while Mark stayed quite as usual, he always answered to Herin’s, Koeun’s and Luca’s questions.

“Ge see yah later!” Lucas seeing his wristwatch gave him his sulky puppy look, which disappeared after Mark’s usual soft words of encouragement.

“Noeun Hwayandae! Fighting!” Lucas grinned back before leaving with his friends.

“Lucas-shi is so popular.” Koeun remarked as she saw how he mixed well with the crowd of other students.

Mark nodded: amongst all of his sibilings: charming Lucas, eye smiling Jeno and laughing Chenle were always surrounded by people, no matter where they went.

His cousins Nana and Donghyuck were also those kinds of people.

He on the other hand, just like Renjun, Hansol and Jisung, was far more selective (shy and on guard) with the people he interacted with.

“Let’s hurry up, the bell is gonna ring any minute now.” Herin smiled at Mark’s usual quite response, as she again couldn’t help but think that a lot of things changed yet a lot of things remained the same.

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Hyungwon nearly used the canteen table as his pillow, his eyes nearly fluttering shut as yesterday’s mission had been way too late and exciting, the adrenaline burning any ounce of energy in his body left before letting him finally sleep a mere 3 hours.

He had nearly punched the misfortunate hyung that had tried to wake him up, and if not because Kihyun Hyung would have dragged him out to train, he would have much preferred to skip school to continue his precious sleep.

“Ya, its because you are always like this that they keep calling you the sleeping beauty!” Woojin laughed as he shoved him to get his closed eyes open, and if it