Schedules without Wendy felt like you were missing a part of yourself. Unfortunately, you still had to be strong in front of everyone. You hated the feeling but you knew you had to be strong for Wendy, your members, and the fans. You were just grateful that Wendy had her parents as an extra source of support alongside you five. 

The first schedule without her was KBS Gayo Daechukje where Irene was the MC and had a special performance as well as Joy. You were originally scheduled to perform but due to the accident, Red Velvet would limit group performance as much as possible. 

It was all six or nothing.

"Eli-ah," Irene looked up at you with a smile on her face but you could see the sadness buried deep within, "you can stay with Seungwan-ah, I'll be fine." 

You shook your head. "Nope, I want to come with you," you came up to her and looked at her with soft eyes. Irene's expression softened, defence falling.

"Besides, Wan-unnie will have Yeri and Seulgi-unnie with her, watching you and Sooyoung-unnie's special stage!" your excitement made her laugh which in turn made you grin, "She has people that support her and you should too, Unnie." 

She looked up at you silently before stepping closer and putting her head on your chest, arms around your waist in a hug. You put your arms around her in response and placed a kiss on top of her head. 

You loved how your bodies fit together. "Thank you, Eli-ah. I appreciate you coming with me." 

"Anything for you, Unnie. I won't let you be lonely because you're not alone." 

You pulled back from the hug. "I know you want to be strong and I admire that about you, but that doesn't mean you can't have support, right?" 

Before you talked to Irene you already talked to Wendy, wanting to make sure that she would be fine with you leaving her side for a few hours. You knew she would understand and wouldn't have a problem with it but you just wanted to make sure she knew that you left not because you were bored being by her side but it was because you wanted to be there for your leader. 

"Seungwan-unnie," Wendy turned towards you from the TV, gaze questioning, "are you going to watch tomorrow's KBS show?" 

She gave you a warm, reassuring smile. Well, as best as she could anyway. "Of course. Irene-unnie is the MC, right? And Sooyoungie has a special performance!" 

You laughed at her enthusiasm. "Correct," by the tone she knew you weren't done so she kept her eyes on you, encouraging you to continue, "will you be okay with Seulgi-unnie and Yeri? I think it would be best if I accompany Joohyun-unnie," you looked down for a bit before looking back at her again, "I don't want her to be alone." 

Wendy knew how you felt; you didn't want to let her be alone by accompanying Irene instead of her and didn't want her to think that you were choosing Irene over her. However, she'd be just fine. Her parents and the rest of the members would be there for her, watching the whole award show with her.

"I agree with you, Liza, don't worry too much about me," she gave you a genuine smile, "I know it would be hard for her because they'd be playing my VCR tomorrow, right?" she heaved a sigh, already envisioning how hard it would be for the leader to face the audience, Luvies, and the general public, and had to keep a strong front when all she wanted to do was be by her side at the hospital. 

"You being there, even though not right next to her, would at least brighten her up a little. I know it would." She would grin if she could but she gave you the widest smile she could give nonetheless. 

You smiled at her, standing up and going over to stand beside her bed. You wrapped an arm around her and gave her head a kiss, already missing her energetic self. 

You couldn't wait until she's fully healed, and you were sure she was too. 

"I love you, Wendy. Please be healthy and be strong, okay? We'll always be beside you on your recovery journey, we promise." 

She honestly wanted to tear up but she was tired of crying. "I know you would be, Liza. Thank you." 

"You deserve everything good in this world, Unnie. Remember?" 

She laughed lightly, smacking you on the arm which made you laugh. "So cheesy. Whose daughter are you again?"

You smirked. "Yours."

You looked at the pacing figure in front of you, waiting for the moment she would stop. When after a while she didn't you sighed and stood up to stand in front of her, hands on her shoulders. At the intrusion she looked up from the trance she was in, eyebrows furrowed in confusion and slight agitation. 

"Talk to me." 

She sighed. "I'm just nervous. I haven't MC'ed in years, at such a big event too, and I'm nervous about my performance and Sooyoung's performance." 

You raised an eyebrow. "You've practised with all you've got, Sooyoung-unnie as well, and you're a natural in front of an audience," you reassured her with a  smile, "what are you nervous for, hm?" 

You knew she was afraid of other things, you just had to coax it out of her; and with you being this persistent, she knew she couldn't deflect any longer. 

"I'm scared that my facade would break once I hear Seungwan's VCR, okay? I know I would." She ended her statement with a frown, already thinking of how she would fail the fans and her MC partners if she did. 

You sighed before bringing her figure into your embrace, careful of her intricate dress. You didn't want to be yelled at by her and Stylist-unnie for ruining it.

"Hyun-unnie, being scared is human. I know you definitely look waaay beyond human but bear with me here," you rambled and Irene giggled, slapping your back due to your teasing, "I know it would be hard but if your facade breaks, so what? Everyone knows Red Velvet is grieving and Luvies will definitely understand if you don't smile or look put together for one second." You pulled back slightly and waited for her to look at you, wanting her to know how you meant every word. 

"If your facade breaks, if you look sad and like you want to cry, you won't disappoint anyone, okay? Your MC partners understand the staff understands, the whole world understands." You her hair slightly, her closing her eyes in relief. She was glad you pushed for you to be by her side; she didn't know how she would cope if it wasn't for you.

"I'm proud of you, Wan-unnie is proud of you, the girls are proud of you, and Luvies are very proud of you for being the best leader and carrying out your schedule. Be confident, okay? I will be right here waiting for you to get back, and once you do," you gave her a grin and she couldn't help but smile too, "I will give you the warmest, biggest hug you would ever have. How about that?" 

She just stared at you with this soft look in her eyes, feeling like she wanted to say a lot of things but didn't know how to say them. You understood though, you could read them well. "Thank you, El. I don't know what I would do without you." 

You gave her forehead a soft kiss. "You'd be just fine, just not this fine, you know?" 

She scoffed then slapped your arm in response, making you smirk. You were glad that she was feeling better. 

"Just enjoy your time and remember, once you're done we can go back straight to Wendy-unnie, okay? Don't worry."

She just nodded in agreement. "Got it. Wish me luck." 

You smirked, cupping her face in your hands lightly. "You don't need it." 

She pouted, glaring at you. "What a charmer," to which you just winked back. "I meant what I said." 

After Joy's special performance, she immediately went back to Wendy's side whilst you stayed, waiting for Irene. After she was finished and changed, you made your way to the car holding hands with your guardian. The fans that saw you both went out couldn't help but scream and document the whole thing which you would find everything online later. 

They didn't know you came along so it was a nice surprise. 

"Should we get something for Unnie?" You ignored the chaos, occasionally waving and smiling at the fans.

Irene hummed in thought, slightly swinging your hands back and forth. "Seulgi already got her Gongcha and she has to eat the food from the hospital. Maybe we can bring her something for breakfast tomorrow." 

You giggled at the thought. "I just remembered Wan-unnie's reaction to Seulgi-unnie's juice earlier."

Hearing that Irene laughed too, making the fansite masternims around the area record and take pictures in frenzy. Later the fans commented on how it was good to see you two laughing amidst all the chaos.

It gave them hope that everything would be okay. 

-

"Seungwannie, I got you Gongcha!" 

Wendy visibly lit up, making her parents and the members laugh. "Thank you, Seulgi-ah!" She proceeded to drink her favourite drink but her expression changed halfway. 

"Seul, where are the pearls?" 

Seulgi frowned. "You can't chew yet so you can't have them." 

Wendy pouted in genuine sadness. "But Gongcha is all about the pearls..." 

Her statement made everyone either laugh or snicker. You came up beside her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Unnie. After you can chew again I'll treat you Gongcha whenever you want it, okay?" 

Hearing that her pout was replaced by a smile. "Really, Eli-ah?" 

She was honestly adorable. "Of course, Unnie. I wouldn't want to get between you and your Gongcha," you couldn't help but and that made everyone laugh. 

"Yah!" Wendy moved to shove you but you dodged it, already predicting what she was going to do. 

"Love you, Unnie. Gongcha should really make you their model!" 

That invited another bout of laughs but everyone nodded in agreement nonetheless. She was perfect for the role. 

You were glad that everything wasn't as bad as it was predicted to be and you couldn't wait for Red Velvet to be whole again, performing in front of everyone. 

It was all six or nothing, right?