Gu JunPyo Born 11/01/1985	Married 11/17/2009	Guam JanDi Born 11/09/1986
F – InHei Born: 8/10/2011	M – InSo Born 5/8/2016	M- InBok Born 10/01/2021
So YiJeong Born:  7/7/1985	Married 5/25/2011	Chu GaEul Born:  9/6/1986
M - JeongYul Born 11/24/2013	F -JeongHee 12/20/2015	F JeongJa Born 3/8/2017
Song WooBin Born 1/3/1985	Married 2/15/2014	Ha JaeKyung Born 4/16/85
F – HaNa Born 11/19/2015	F – HaJin 7/6/2019	F – HaJin Born 7/6/2019
Kim KyuJong Born 2/24/1986	Married 1/1/2017	Emily Wells Born 7/31/1987

  - "Hi!  This is HaYi Anne Yoon reporting from the Contreras-Yoon home in sunny Southern California. ¡Hola!!  Um...ann... yee...hassey-a?"

 - "Umma, chinchayo?  She can't even remember annyeong hasseyo?"  HaEun was the sweetest of girls and patient in most things, except with her little sister.

Ilana laughed at her two girls.  "Gongju, leave her alone or help her, one of the two.  You are all talented in different ways.  HaYi speaks Catalan, do you?"  Ilana didn't even speak the language of her Mother's birth place.  "HaEun can dance on her toes, can HaYi?"  

 - "Mama, I can dance on my toes," KyuHa declared.  He and HaLee used "Mama" to address her while the two eldest called her "Umma".  KyuHa lifted himself as far as he could on his toes, until HaNeul kicked his knees in, making him fall against Ilana's desk.  Her oldest son was quiet, thoughtful, and every bit as mischievous as his Father, should the mood strike him.

 - "Aigoo...aigoo...aigoo...appa will be home soon and I still have work to do!  Ka!"  Secretly she loved when the kids all piled into her office for no apparent reason; she took the opportunity to teach them about ILC and her work.  HaNeul always paid close attention and asked nonstop questions.  KyuHa listened and nodded respectfully, but would rather be off doing something else.  He was a hands-on type of kid.  He loved to play with Appa's medical kit and nurse wounded critters (usually supplied by HaLee), too.

Ilana looked at the clock; she had an hour until Jihoo was pulling into the driveway.  "Ka!  Chinchayo!  I promised to have this report to your tía Mina before I get on the plane tonight.”  There were days, she'd confess, that going into the office a few days a week was a blessing.  It was also nice when their teacher took them out on field trips or excursions.  With their living in Seoul six months out of the year, they couldn't attend a regular school.  Hiring a full-time teacher for the other six months was still less expensive than sending all four to private school.  They attended a private school for pre-school and then were home schooled starting at transitional kindergarten age.  In Seoul, they attended Shinhwa; the only one that really didn't complain was KyuHa.  HaEun was still terribly shy and clung to her F4 cousins whenever walking the halls, HaNeul didn't like wearing the uniform (especially after finding out his dad and uncles never did), and HaLee's Korean was abysmal.

 - "Come on, let Umma finish her work," HaNeul stood and grabbed HaEun's hand, lifting her from her chair.  Sometimes he acted like the Oppa instead of dongsaeng.  Just like his Father, he took charge quietly.

 - "Yeah squirt, let's go," KyuHa ruffled HaLee's hair.

 - "But Mama..."  HaLee pouted.  "Can't I interview you while you work?  One day I'll be a famous author.  I’ll write yours and Papi's biography.”  HaLee was their Maknae and as ostracized by her older siblings as HyungJun had been (and still is) by his friends.  She was four years younger than KyuHa and seven years younger than HaEun.  HaEun was the princess to this day and HaLee was her complete opposite.  HaEun was a musician, singer, model, and ballerina (the only times she wasn’t being shy).  She was sweet, graceful, beautiful, and Appa's little girl (even though she was already 5'7").  HaLee marched to her own drum; she took to horses like a fly, she hated school, but had a keen intelligence for many things outside of her virtual study books and could tumble across the floor like a tumbleweed.  She had no interest in their Korean heritage, but was in awe over their Spanish/Mexican side.  She was into gymnastics, soccer, and she had a higher Taekwondo belt than her sister who has been in it for much longer. Their princess made no secret of hating it.  When at five, she didn’t take to it, at six Appa insisted she take to it.  After what happened to their Mother, he made it mandatory that all his kids achieve black belt.  He renewed his own black belt skills and taught Ilana at home, making her confident in the self-defense skills she once learned.  Ilana and the boys were always play sparring, but since she always played rough with the boys, they didn't realize they were taller and stronger than her.  Their play sometimes ended up with Umma getting knocked down and bruised.  Once Jihoo noticed the bruises, it ended up in a scolding; Ilana for getting hurt and the boys for hurting Umma.  Going in one ear and out the other, they'd be back to torturing each other as soon as Appa wasn't around, regardless of the scolding.

 - “Yah, michin-ah!"  HaNeul called his little sister from the door.  "Stick to one profession a day, deh?  Kaja, Umma has to work or the board will fire her."

 - "Bubby (Ilana had a nickname for all of them), I don't think they can, I have controlling shares," she smiled at her second oldest.  "But still...Mina Imo needs this information to close the proposal for her client."  Ilana was faced with the pouty face on her youngest child and sighed.  "Gwenchana, kids, ka.  HaYi will be good for fifteen minutes and I can finish what I need to do."  The three shrugged and left her office as she turned to the child in front of her.  "Te me quedas calladita si no te echo de aquí (You will stay quiet for me or I'll kick you out of here)," she threatened.  Like Jihoo, with HaEun, Ilana had a soft spot for this firecracker of a kid.  It was hard telling her 'no'.  HaLee zipped and sat on her hands; Ilana looked back to her monitor in order not to laugh.  She really did only need fifteen minutes, but the kids were distracting her.

Though her youngest was quiet, she squirmed, fidgeted and made faces the entire time.  Ilana was immune to her as she lost herself in her research.  Life had been busy with four kids, being a wife, managing a group of employees in Los Angeles and being a CEO of an entire office in Seoul.  There were ballet, Taekwondo, gymnastics, soccer, music and language classes to attend or give (Jihoo and Ilana took part in their children's language and music education).  Just like any other Korean family, they never stopped.

Brendon still worked for them, but was now married and no longer on call 24/7.  He and his wife moved into the cottage.  JungMin, Suzy and their rag of horses had moved into a bigger place not too far.  At age 34, JungMin had to return to Seoul to complete his mandatory military service or resign his Korean citizenship.  He left Suzy pregnant with boy #3.  They had plenty of money tucked away to put a sizeable down payment on a house, and between Suzy's job and his royalties, they could afford the mortgage and insurance while he was gone.  Suzy returned to being a labor and delivery nurse at the hospital, to be home for the kids in the evening.  Gloria helped her out by picking up the Park kids from daycare until their Mom's twelve-hour shift at the hospital was over.  Brendon was the one chauffeuring all the kids to and from their extracurricular activities and if Gloria wasn’t able, he picked up Suzy's boys, too.  Ilana felt it was a blessing that she could work from home, see her kids all day if she wanted, and help her friends when needed.  She never took their wealth or life for granted and strove to be a good steward of the time, talents and resources the Lord had given her.

Finishing her report and attaching it to the company Dropbox, she called Mina.  "I just saved the file to Dropbox, make sure you get that account or don't bother showing up this weekend."

 - "Imo!! She’s kidding!"  HaLee shouted, making Mina laugh on the other end.

 - "Yah, chiquita bonita (pretty little one)!  ¿No que te ibas a quedarte calladita (Weren’t you going to stay quiet)?"

 - "Tia!  I'll see you at my birthday!"

 - "Of course!"

HaLee walked behind Ilana's chair and clung to her neck like a Monkey.  "Yah!! You're choking me..."  Ilana croaked.  Her terrible child and terrible friend laughed at her.

 - "No wonder JaeKyung is her Nina," Mina said.

 - "Deh!  The Lord matched all the kids with the best Godparents.  Arraso, I'll see you in a few days.  Give Oppa and the kids our love."

 - "Deh!  Annyeong!  Chiquita, behave for Umma!"

 - "I always behave!"

 - "Uhu..." Mina teased.

 - "Mama!!"

 - "Annyeong!"  Ilana terminated the call and slid out of the choke hold her daughter had on her.

Mina was about to start breakfast, she was running late having been on the phone with Ilana.  Thinking about her day, she didn't hear her husband's approach until his arms were around her and his face pressed against hers.  "Wae so early?!

 - "It's the same time I get up every day."  Mina turned and gave him a quick kiss.  "Someone came home too late."

 - "Mian...this drama is making me crazy.  I'll look forward to this short vacation.  The kids don't mind missing a few days of school?”

 - “As if?!”

 - “Too bad they can’t stay with Halmoni and Harabeoji,” he slid his hands from her waist down to her bottom.

 - “You...have a one-track mind!”  Mina complained.  “Ka!  You have an interview with your cast this morning and Na have to get breakfast ready so I can get my proposal done and drop by the client.”  She smacked his .  Twelve years of marriage and she hadn’t cured that habit of his, so she had to retaliate whenever possible.

 - “Jagiya wants me to carry her back to our room?”

YoungSaeng was getting ready to pick her up when she took his face in her hand and kissed him with all the urgency she could muster so early in the morning.  “Ka...if you’re good Na will ask Oppa and Emily if they’ll watch the kids one night, while we watch theirs the next night.”

He still had his Otter smile and he flashed it quickly, letting her know he liked that idea.  Not the watching three extra kids, but being alone with his wife for one night.  Their work and the kids afforded them too little alone time.  He was glad they waited to have their first child until they’d had some time to get to know each other under the same roof.  “Arraso,” he kissed her one more time before leaving her alone.

 - “Wake up the kids!”  She called after him.  “And if you’re not in the shower in five minutes our deal is off!”

 - “Deh!”

Mina turned back to the kitchen and laughed.  “Raising a husband is hard work.”

Standing up, Ilana closed her laptop and began to pack it up, while grinning at her little one.  She didn't deliberately misbehave, she was just a curious cat and an adventurer with a huge imagination and lots of spirit.  Ilana didn't intend to give her a western name, it just happened.  HaLee's hair looked bright red when she was born and Ilana couldn't help adding Anne, as in Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, to her name.  Except for not being girly or romantic, she matched the characters chatty, opinionated, and sometimes unintentional troublemaking self.  "Arraso, I'll take this to the door so we don't forget it.  Is your luggage by the door?"

 - "Yes!"  HaLee jumped up and down, excitedly.  "Mama!  I can't wait!"

They walked out of Ilana's office and to the front door.  "Should we wait for Daddy?"

HaLee nodded.  "Mama Tell me about my name?"

All the kids loved to hear their stories, but especially HaLee, as hers was a special one.  "You've heard it a million times!"  They sat on a bench on the front lawn.

 - "A million and one times, please!"

Ilana drew the Chinese character for 'sun' 夏, on HaLee’s arm, with her finger.  "This is Ha, referring to sun.  Papi had been sick with a fever right before we made you and when we found out you were a girl, we jokingly called you Halley, like the comet.  Then Mama was sick with a fever right before you were born.  I was really worried something would happen to you.  HaEun and HaNeul were really worried that something would happen to me, that's why they give you such a hard time.  It wasn't your fault.  We discovered that Harabeoji Yoon left your name in his Bible, as if he knew or expected we’d have one more girl.  Lee or Yi...," again Ilana drew the character “...'力' means strength.  So, ‘Ha’ like ‘sun’, but your brothers and sister are ‘Ha’ like HaNanim...God.  So, HaYi, you are God’s strength.  Pretty cool?”

 - “Cool!”

 - “Mama and you had such a hard time from the beginning.  We needed God’s strength to get you out after someone decided to come early.”

 - “I’m sorry!”

 - “You’re lucky you’re cute or I might not have forgiven you.”   Ilana bent her head to the top of HaLee's and stayed that way.  “I'm afraid we gave Papi gray hair.  I was hardly strong enough after being sick for a few days to deliver you; they almost had to cut you out.”

 - “Mama!  That sounds awful!”

 - “I don’t think it’s that bad, but still I refused; I'd had all my babies naturally and as long as I had faith, you would be born naturally too."  Her poor husband had endured so much at her side.  "You were so much smaller than your brothers and sister."

 - "I still am!"  HaLee took pride in her height challenged body.  Things like gymnastics and horseback riding were so much easier that way.

 - "Well, as punishment for your impatience and being born a month too early you needed to stay in the hospital until your little wings were strong enough to carry you."  Ilana tickled HaLee's arm.

 - "Mama!"  HaLee pulled her arm away and then held her Mama's hand prisoner.  "Tell me about Harabeoji?  I tell him in his picture that he's not nice for not waiting for me."

Ilana laughed.  That was HaLee's complaint at each Jessa (memorial).  "Deh!  He is mean for not waiting for our HaYi."  Extricating her hand, Ilana pulled HaLee against her.  "He probably says:  "Aigoo...HaYi-ah took too long; this old man needs to rest".  They lost Harabeoji the January before HaLee was born.  Ilana could almost say she was a parting gift from the old man, whom had been as dear to her as if he'd been her biological grandfather.  Hardly having shed a tear since before her tenth birthday, the way he gently clasped her hand at their first meeting had almost brought her to tears.

HaYi was conceived the month after he'd left them.  It had been three years since Ilana's last pregnancy and while sleeping through the night and no diapers was a perk, she definitely missed nursing and holding her babies and watching their every development.  Especially, since her boys were perfect text book pregnancies.  She would welcome one or two more pregnancies of that sort.

Although he was 92 on his passing, aside from a short nap each day, he didn't rest.  "He was a Doctor until the very last day; usually walking to the clinic.  He had friends everywhere and spent time with all the honorary grandkids; your honorary cousins and was active at the Church and even had time for a fishing trip or two."  Much to Jihoo's concern, the man didn't stop.

 - "He's enjoying his life," Ilana would tell her husband.

 - “Ara, Sarang.  Nae selfishness would probably take him from us sooner.  At least Nana has us close by to keep her out of trouble.” -

 - “Sarang?  Na think it's the other way around.”

 - “Ah...maja, except when it has to do with nae Anae hiding something from me.”

 - “Na?”  Ilana blinked in mock-surprise.

 - “Deh...Anae,” he took her head, giving it a kiss and then lightly slid his lips down to hers.  Harabeoji and the kids lay momentarily forgotten.

Ilana smiled at the memory.  “He always had a story to tell, whether his own or a folk tale (later HaEun would collect the stories and narrate them to music).  Ask HaEun or HaNeul or any of your cousins, they should be able to tell you some.  He loved to fish and even before he passed away, he made Papi and the boys go ice fishing.  If I can describe him anyway, it would be 'joyful'.  Papi and he were separated for many years.  Once Imo JanDi reunited them and misunderstandings were cleared, he was always smiling.  He worried about Papi when he was all alone in New York and he was so happy when Papi and I became good friends."

HaEun came out with her violin case.  "Are you talking about Harabeoji?"

 - "Mmm."

 - "I wish I could go back in time to meet him," HaLee sighed.

 - "I think he would throw salt at you, thinking you were a ghost come to play a trick on him."

Her girls laughed at the mental picture.  "Mama, bo...bogo-ipayo?"

Ilana gave HaEun a 'keep quiet' look before she picked on her sister.  Like many second third generation kids, HaLee understood Korean better than she spoke it.  "Bo go shi po yo," Ilana broke the word down slowly.  "Deh...nomu and Papi does too.  I know he's with Yesu smiling and happy and his heart and body are young again; but selfish human that I am, still wishes him here with us."

 - "He called me gongju (princess), HaNeul was wangseja (Crown Prince) and KyuHa was wangseje (Grand Prince).  He smelled like anise...black licorice," HaEun translated for her sister, just in case.

Suddenly someone covered Ilana’s eyes.  "Yah!"

 - "Mama is my prisoner," KyuHa said.  He and his brother climbed up onto the roof (just because) and saw the white Austin Martin coming up the hill.  They all took turns teasing their Mother, keeping her from seeing their dad and/or keeping them from kissing.

 - "Yah...Appa is coming, maja?"

 - "I don't think so Umma?"  HaLee was already standing on the bench, waiting to get a glimpse of the car.

 - "Maknae is in on this too?  Tchh...I thought you were my favorite child."

HaLee giggled.

 - "Who needs the squirt when Mama has me?"  KyuHa spoke, making HaNeul roll his eyes.

 - "Am not a squirt!"  HaLee began to argue back.  She didn't mind being short but minded being called names.

 - "Hajima!"  Ilana scolded as she heard the unmistakable sound of Jihoo's car.  "Appa's here!"  HaNeul placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from getting up.  "Yah!"  Next, HaLee sat on her lap.  "HaYi-ah can forget about her birthday and Na can still throw you two boys over my shoulder."

 - "Mama!!  Just kidding!"  HaLee got up from her Mom's lap and the bench.

 - "Mama has to catch us first," KyuHa removed his hands from his Mom's eyes and took off laughing toward the car.

 - "Appa!"  HaEun reaching the car first gave Jihoo a crashing hug.  “I want to show you a new piece I was practicing!”

 - "Yah gongju, this is more your dongsaeng-deul style."  His Princess never just clamored excitedly but waited patiently for her Father’s attention.

HaEun immediately bowed, “jwosongmnida Abeoji jeonha (your majesty).”

Jihoo locked eyes with his wife over their daughter.  He never knew what to expect from these kids.  “I’m not calling you, jeonha, Sarang.”

 - “As long as you call me your Sarang, that’s fine with me.  Annyeong nae Sarang,” HaEun was forgotten as he took his wife’s face and gave her a slow and tender kiss, while the kids looked at each other and rolled their eyes.  Their parents were always kissing.

 - “A-ppaaa!!  I’m still bowing!!”

Jihoo laughed at his princess.  “Geonju should know that Wangbi (Queen consort) is always first.”

 - “Dehhh jeonha...jwosongmnida jeonha.  Look favorably upon your dtal.”

 - “Gongju is dismissed and may play her instrument after appa has changed.”

 - “Your grace is immeasurable, jeonha,” HaEun backed away slowly and then ran to grab her instrument.

 - “Abeoji, there’s something I saw on an online auction,” HaNeul said.  “Ara I can fix it and resell it at a higher price.  May I order it, juseyo?”   HaNeul could sell you the shirt on your back.  Nana had caught him at age ten, selling the produce from the kitchen garden.  He ran an ad and would disappear, on his bike, when no one was looking, to deliver.  After that, all his investments had to be approved.  Just shy of thirteen, he already had a keen business sense and a brain for electronics. 

 - “Na will look at it when we get to the airport, deh?”

 - “Gomawoyo!”  HaNeul ran off with KyuHa.

HaLee was performing flips all the way to the door.  “HaYi-ah!  Don’t break your head!”  Jihoo shouted.  “Appa is a pulmonologist, not a neurosurgeon.”

HaLee finished her series of flips and stood triumphantly.  “Ta-da!  ¡Papi!!  I’m too excited!  Can we leave now?”

 - “We'll leave when it's time.  Are HaYi’s bags packed?”  He watched his little one’s face drop.

 - “They’ve been packed since last week,” Ilana said.  Every year one child could have a special birthday.  They could either go to the destination of their choice or receive anything they wanted (within reason).  It was HaLee’s turn this year and since her first and only visit to Girona when she was four, she couldn't wait to go back.  The kids roamed free there on the large property, only coming in for food (if that) when the need struck.  This time all their friends’ kids would be there too and perhaps their parents will enjoy a nice break as well.

 - “Papi...will I get my own yearling (one-year-old horse) this year?”

 - “HaYi-ah may pick one out but it doesn’t come to California if your grades don’t improve.”

 - “Paaapppii!”

 - “Ya escuchaste (you heard); anda, vete ayudar a Nana (Go on and help Nana).”

HaLee went off pouting.

Each year, the Yoon family spent $45,000 on airfare.  It still wasn’t enough to warrant a private plane.  Ilana and Jihoo wrote off their airfare as a business expense and they used frequent flier miles for vacations.  They didn’t arrive at their estate in Girona until after midnight (only afternoon back home) but the birthday girl hadn’t slept for days in her excitement.  She crashed Hard on the plain and so did the other three.  Still small enough, Jihoo carried her off the plane and into the waiting vehicle.  All their kids were master sleepers, nothing short of a battering ram could wake them.  HaEun and KyuHa only required a few rams, while HaNeul needed the door bashed in before he would regain consciousness. At least in business class, they weren’t crowded in and could be as firm as needed to wake them all up.

Jihoo had tucked in HaLee, while everyone else grabbed a bag to bring in.  Ilana would tumble into the comfortable bed after grabbing the first thing she could find to change into, which was one of her husband's shirts.  Jihoo, only removing his shirt, would follow soon after.  His only plans for the day were taking the boys out, in the afternoon, fishing along the coast.  Until then, he planned on keeping his wife prisoner and sleeping for at least ten hours.  The housekeeper would have fresh sweet bread out for the kids and he and his wife could feed themselves later.

Everything regarding HaLee’s birth brought up heightened emotions.  Ilana had only dozed on the plane, wanting to get a good night’s sleep upon arrival.  Between that and all the extra work associated with their migrations, she slept solid, cuddled up to Jihoo for extra warmth.  Somewhere about midnight back home, nine A.M. in Girona, Ilana began to dream about Harabeoji.  He was with the kids feeding the Koi fish and three-year-old KyuHa, at the time, leaned over too far and fell in.  Harabeoji had to wade in after him.

HaNeul shouted, “pabo KyuHa!” from the bridge.

Ilana giggled in her sleep.  At age six little HaEun was already preoccupied with her wedding day.

 - “Will Harabeoji walk with me when I get married?”

 - “Aigoo child,” he laughed that gruff throaty laugh of his.  “By then I’ll be too old.  Perhaps Yesu will have called me home by then.”

 - “Harabeoji can call him back and ask to stay a little longer…?”

Then there was the time he was teaching three-year-old HaNeul to fish in the Koi pond.

- “When HaNeul is older, Na will show you how to use crickets, but for now we’ll use these nice worms.”  If HaEun was their Princess, HaNeul was their Prince, but also all boy.  He liked to play rough but hated being dirty.  They had to change his clothes even he just spilled water.   The boy’s expression was torn between disgust and fascination.

Ilana was smiling at the memories, until she saw two-year-old HaLee, surrounded by equally young HaEun, HaNa and JeongHee, hugging Harabeoji.  But she knew that wasn’t HaLee, Harabeoji never got the opportunity to meet her.  Silent tears began to leak from her eyes.  At moments like these, she missed the old man with all her heart.  Like Ilana couldn’t bear to remove her parents’ things until she was older, likewise, Jihoo couldn’t touch Harabeoji’s room.  He’d only removed his Bible and if he hadn’t, they never would have found HaLee’s name.  They nearly missed Harabeoji naming their last child.  Eventually, HaEun and HaLee would go through the room and HaLee, just like she promised, would write the Contreras-Yoon family memoirs. 

Jihoo and Ilana learned that they might have made peace with death, but weren’t ready for the very human regret over a loss of a loved one.  Though the loss of Harabeoji should have been expected, he was past ninety and had a weak heart, but other than that, he hadn’t even been ill.  He just decided not to wake up one morning, shattering Jihoo and Ilana’s peaceful existence.  Ilana remembered her old anxiety attacks wanting to resurface.  She immediately prayed for strength and wisdom.  She couldn’t lose it, because Jihoo and the kids needed her.

“Umma...can’t we tell Yesu, we’re not done with Harabeoji, yet?”  HaEun asked with tears in her eyes.

“Will Jesus take Harabeoji fishing?”  HaNeul asked.

“Will Harabeoji’s phone work in Heaven?”  KyuHa asked.

It turned out their kids were her anchor as she was Jihoo’s.  The first twenty-four hours, he only left the funeral home long enough to shower and head right back.  Ilana gently coaxed him to eat, often using the kids or their friends as bait.

“Sarang, come have a drink with JunPyo and JanDi.  JanDi was telling a funny story about Harabeoji’s cane getting stolen.”  The housekeeper and JanDi made many of Harabeoji’s favorite foods, so JanDi had ammunition.

“Sunbae, remember when Na made this fish stew for Harabeoji and you on the houseboat?”  JanDi would get him to finish a bowl of soup while chatting with them.

“Appa!  KyuHa won’t eat!”  HaEun took a turn.  “Umma is walking Nina and Nino to their car.  He only wants to eat with you.”  KyuHa would refuse to eat unless Appa ate too.

Sometimes he would join in on the stories that everyone was exchanging about his grandfather, other times he would stare quietly at his picture.  That’s when Ilana would wrap her arms around him and press her cheek to his back, offering him what little strength she had.  He would silently take that strength, pressing her hand against his chest as if it were a talisman that would make the aching less.  At times throughout the three days, she would escape into the cold January day or night, needing to breathe in the fresh air and/or indulge in a cry before she fell apart in front of Jihoo.  The two eldest kids, twelve-year-old InHei and ten-year-old JeongYul took it the hardest.  InHei sobbed in Jihoo’s arms, Ilana could see his delicate mask wanting to crack but he couldn’t break down.  He wasn’t ready to say ‘goodbye’.  Despite their own grief, the little pair were a comfort to their dongsaeng-deul, engaging them in stories about their honorary Grandfather and coloring.  For the burial on the third day people came from all over to pay their respects:  current friends, Ex politicians or military with whom he had served, students from the conservatory, patients, the F4 families, the rest of the Contreras family, including Kike, all her friends, Jaejoong, his parents and Abigail.  JungMin and Suzy sent their condolences but couldn’t come in person.  He had just started actively working again and she was three months pregnant with baby #4.  Ilana had never been to a funeral, but this had to be the longest procession ever.  Cars could be seen for miles.  The traditional music group from the conservatory prepared an honoring farewell and Pastor Victor gave joyful words:

“Though we’ll miss his earthly presence, we can have hope in the resurrection and be reunited with Harabeoji in Heaven.”

Jihoo remained quiet and dry-eyed through the entire thing.  The only evidence of his grief was the tight grip on Ilana’s hand.  He had a lot of work ahead of him, he was now the official, no longer acting, Chairman of SuAm foundation.  He promoted KyuJong as SanMoo (Vice President) over their brand of clinics.  JanDi was already part of the board and she didn’t want a title, she just wanted to be a Doctor.  Ron HyeSu remained as director and KyuJong’s right hand.  Thankfully, Jihoo and Harabeoji had a great team.  Harabeoji had still handled a few things from the sidelines and now Jihoo had to handle that himself.  It wasn’t a rough transition, just a busy one.  He was putting in twelve, fourteen and sometimes sixteen hour days with meetings and extra paperwork and reports.  With any change the board became nervous and Jihoo had to try and calm their nerves.  They wanted a detailed itinerary for any future changes.  That was the perfect excuse for Ilana to jump in to help and at least ensure he ate, even if only one meal.

 - “Annyeong Hoejangnim.  Na just showed my way back, mian.”  It was past the end of the day, only his president was still in his office, but he couldn’t leave with Jihoo still in his.

 - “Sarang...” he quickly rose and gave her forehead a kiss, while she stood on her toes to reach his lips.  “Sarang shouldn’t be here.  You should be home, resting with the kids.”

Ilana reached up to caress his face.  It was etched with sorrow and longing, but not a tear would he shed.  “The kids are bowling at the F4 rec room with some of the others; Na took advantage to come and see nampyon.”

 - “Mian, Sarang…”  He’d been so busy and only thinking of avoiding his sorrow.

 - “Algesseupnida...hajiman...two heads are better than one.  Sarang will eat, while Na work for you.  We can brainstorm together.”  Ilana placed her hand over his mouth.  “No argument.  Sarang left home without eating and neaga sure he hasn’t eaten all day.”  She knew all about losing your appetite while grieving.  “Na brought your favorite sashimi...hajiman...send President Ka, home, deh?”

 - “Ah...he should have left already…jjamkkanmanyo.”

While her husband left to excuse his President, Ilana reviewed Jihoo’s notes and began piecing together a proposal.  Upon his return, Ilana immediately began firing questions at him.

 - “Sarang, how much gas does the mobile clinic take to fill and what is its mileage.”

 - “Have you researched your target?”

 - “Will you be taking students from Shinhwa Medical with you?”

By midnight, Ilana was half asleep, but they had successfully finished a portion of the proposal.  There was no way she could successfully keep up with his schedule, so other days she used the kids.  Ilana had HaEun insist on her lessons so that Jihoo would be forced to stop working.  HaNeul didn’t quite have his sister’s drive but enjoyed clanking the piano alongside Ilana.  Suddenly, he desired to learn the violin from Abeoji.  Ilana bribed him with extra pocket money.

During that month, they rarely saw Jihoo, if not at the office.  Ilana suspected it was hard for him to be home without his Grandfather.  Sometimes she woke in the pre-dawn to find him not in their bed, but in Harabeoji’s room.  Sometimes having a one-sided conversation, sometimes just standing at the door.  Ilana understood exactly what he was going through and met him in his season, doing whatever she could to offer him comfort.

 - “I woke up cold,” she would say and lean into his back if he was standing by the door.

If he was inside Harabeoji’s room, she would just pray for peace in his heart and go back to bed.  They returned home in February and her husband continued his long hours.  Flu season was at its peak, the Pulmonology clinic was busy with patients being affected by the flu on top of their pulmonary issues.  After, he would immediately help Juan Carlos at the hospital for a few hours and then come home to work on Su-Am items until midnight or later.

 - “Prima, Jihoo se va enfermar al paso que lleva (Jihoo is going to get sick at this rate),” Juan Carlos called her one evening.

 - “Lo sé, pero tampoco lo puedo presionar, solo puedo hacerle trampa para que coma o descanse (I know, but all I can do is trick him into eating or resting).”  Even the kids were starting to worry.

Ilana had to wait for the day that he would eventually break and submit to his grief.  She would absolutely be there to carry him through it.  It happened two weeks after their return, on Valentine’s Day.

“Sarang, it’s Valentine’s day, please don’t work late.  HaEun and I are making your favorites.  Just come home, deh?  We don’t need to go out or have anything fancy or expensive.  Just have dinner with us.  Yaksokhaseyo?”  She made him promise before he left for the day, ensuring he wouldn’t come home until just before the kid’s bedtime.

“Greomyo, Sarang, Na haven’t been here for you or the kids.”

“Algesseupnida...chincha,” she stepped in to hug him tight.  This was their new kind of intimacy.  They hadn’t had ual intimacy since before Harabeoji passed.  Ilana missed him but understood.  She met him where he was, quietly offering strength as he had done for her more times than she could ever count.

He came home as promised and only a little late.  They were all happy to see him home so early.  After their usual boisterous greetings, Ilana took his medical bag and briefcase and placed them in the office.  He washed up and joined everyone in the dining room to pray for the food:  “Kansamnida Yesu for the blessing of this food on a special day.  Kansamnida for our friends that have been supporting us with their kindness during these difficult times, bless their evening.  In Jesus name, we pray...”

“Amen!”  They all responded.

The kids began to chatter as they always did, while Ilana piled her husband’s plate.  “Sarang, everything looks delicious, hajiman...I’m not that hungry.  I’ll just take one stuffed tilapia and some asparagus.”

 - “Sarang...did you even eat lunch?”

 - “Deh...they ordered Italian food from Lascari’s and I ate a little.”

 - “Sarang looks so tired...soak in the tub after dinner.  I’ll give the kids a Spanish lesson and keep them from bombarding you.”

 - “Appa!!  We should serenade Umma!”  HaEun cried out.

 - “Gwenchana...another day.  Let Appa rest.”

Jihoo smiled, he’d missed his family and wife.  He’d been so busy avoiding his grief, he was also avoiding life.  He didn’t understand his actions lately.  He missed being home, but home made his heart ache with missing his Grandfather.  If he let his mind be still, he’d find himself regretting all the time he’d been apart from him.  If only Harabeoji hadn’t felt like he couldn’t face him after his parent’s accident.  If only he hadn’t left for the army and New York after Gu JunPyo and JanDi’s wedding.  The ‘if only’ made his head hurt.  Actually, he’d been dealing with a headache all day.  “The tilapia is masheesuhyo, Sarang.”

 - “I helped!”  HaEun said.

 - “She helped Nana with the crab filling.”  At six, HaEun was already better in the kitchen than her mother.

 - “We have double chocolate brownies for dessert!  And homemade ice cream!”

 - “Wau!  Na should stay away more often to receive such a feast.”

 - “Appa!”

 - “Andwae!  Sarang...we’ll give you feasts every day, don’t work so many hours."

 - “Deh...mian.”  He held his wife’s hand, making her eat left handed.  It wasn’t an uncommon practice for them.  Jihoo took a bite of each thing on his plate and as much as he wanted to eat more, he simply wasn’t hungry.  That and his headache was bothering him.  Setting the fork down, he pressed his thumb to his forehead.

 - “Sarang?  Gwenchana?”  Ilana, having noticed, asked.

 - “Deh, jeogum meoriga apayo.”

Ilana took a good look at her husband.  She’d gotten used to his newworn out look, but today he looked completely washed out and his usually round eyes were hooded.  “Sarang, I’m going to get you some tea, deh?  You’ve hardly touched your food.  Doesn’t Sarang always scold me for not eating during a migraine?”

 - “Mian...ara Nana, gongju, and you made this special dinner, mollah wae na feel so full after only a few bites.”

Before Ilana rose from her chair, she pressed his hand to her lips.  “Sarang…” and then her cheek.  “Sarang feels warm.”

 - “Well, it is warm in here.”

 - “Ara, Sarang is never cold, but even the kids are wearing long sleeves.”  Everyone knew kids were never cold. It was an unusually cool October in Southern California.  They were having the roof re-done, making it ineffective to run the heating and cooling system. 

Ilana stood, “kaja, Sarang is going to lay down and rest.”

“Sarang...this is na first night home early in a month!”  Jihoo tried to protest, while she was trying to pull him out of his chair.

 - “Appa is not feeling well,” Ilana said.  “I’ll come back and tuck everyone in.  Will you play in your rooms?  Deja e yo recojo, (Leave everything and I’ll pick up), Nana.”

“Deh Umma,” HaNeul responded for the three, while HaEun looked worried.

 - “Atienda su marido, yo recojo (Take care of your husband, I’ll pick up).  No soy invalida (I’m not an invalid).”  Nana complained.  Jesse did all the household chores and Nana only did the cooking.  She complained she was bored and Ilana sent her off to the YMCA or the senior center.  Her niña was as stubborn as ever.

Dragging Jihoo out of the dining room, he immediately let her go and headed straight for the bathroom.  “Sarang!”  He didn’t have time to lock the door.  Ilana soothed his back as he emptied his lunch and a little bit of dinner into the toilet.  He’d never been sick other than his tension headaches and perhaps the occasional cold.  But truly, he also never let his body run completely on empty before.  Helping him clean up, they took the lift upstairs.

He protested the entire time, she ignored him and threw his pajama pants at him.  “Sarang, gwenchana!”

 - “Change and get under the blankets, I’ll get Sarang some plum tea.  You don’t want to get dehydrated.”  Ilana left before he could argue.

When Ilana returned with a pitcher of cold plum tea, spoons, and a few cups, Jihoo had dozed off and Joy was curled up on top of him.  “Good job, Joy-ah.  Between the two of us, we’ll keep him warm.”  The cat was the ever-faithful nurse, steadfastly keeping watch over anyone in her family that was sick.  Applying a cold wet towel with a bit of lavender oil to his forehead, Ilana too kept watch.  He vomited twice more during the night, Ilana kept him hydrated with spoonfuls of tea and cold water.  Just like he always did for her, not too much at a time lest he throw it back up again.  The cat only moved when he did and then quickly resumed her post once he was still.  His fever peaked in the early morning.  Ilana escaped only long enough to let the kids know that Appa was still sick.  On her return, he was crying in his sleep.  She dampened the cloth again and cradled his head to her chest, placing the towel on the back of his neck.  The tables were now turned, how often had he cradled her when she was ill?  It was few and far between that she could do this for him.  Humming the ‘Island Baby’ lullaby and holding him tight as he shivered with chills.  It took the fever to finally bring out his silent grieving; the tears finally came in like the rain after a drought.  To her credit, other than a few silent tears, Ilana didn’t lose it; her focus was solely on her husband and his own grieving.

The fever and the crying had finally exhausted him; on top of the lack of sleep from the night before and all the previous nights since Harabeoji’s passing, he finally descended into a peaceful sleep.  Ilana hadn’t slept at all either and with his head still cradled against her chest, she drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

Jihoo woke to his head against his wife’s chest, his fever had broken.  She was still asleep; he’d kept her up all night.  Thinking he should move but at the same time, he didn’t want to.  He’d been an inattentive husband this last month and it finally just hit him; not only his grief but also the desire for his wife.  He moved his head slowly, lightly kissing her s.  She wasn’t wearing a spaghetti strap, but the peach colored sleep shirt was loose fitting.  Her arms still cradled his head, tightly, as if he’d go away if she didn’t hold on to him.  She’d been staying up late with him every night, he felt that knot in his heart loosen again and the tears threaten to fall.  Slowly, he ran his hand over her hip and under the nightshirt.  He did his best to be gentle and not wake her up, but she wasn’t immune to his touch and her body reminded her that it had been over a month.  Ilana woke to her back arching from the pleasure of his fingers over her sensitive area and his kisses through the light cotton of her nightshirt.  He wasn’t completely well, but he needed her.  Not needing to say a word, Jihoo discarded her clothes and she, his.  He entered her quickly, and they made love, not gently, but with hunger for each other.  A reminder that they were one.  Her body was his and his belonged to her; her grief and her joy were his and his grief and his joy were hers.  When he began to tire, she pushed him back and straddled him until they were both sated.  He dried his tears against her s.

“Mian, Sarang...mian.”

“Gwenchana, algesseupnida.”  Ilana would be showing symptoms of the same virus not two weeks later, only to find out it wasn’t a virus, but morning sickness.  She would be pregnant again.

Jihoo thought he’d heard his wife’s laugh in his subconscious, but now he heard her crying.  This immediately shook him from his sleep.  “Sarang?”  She was pressed right up against his back.  He turned and cradled her against his chest.  “Sarang?”  He was relieved she wasn’t feverish, but wouldn’t stop worrying until she woke up and told him what was wrong.  “Sarang...gwenchana?”  He woke her with gentle kisses.

Ilana opened her eyes to her husband’s worried face.  “Sarang!”  She felt the tears on her face and looked around reorienting herself to their surroundings.  She took a deep breath to shake the dream away.  “Mian...did-did I wake you?”

 - “Guhkjung hajimase (Don’t worry about it).  Gwenchana?”

Ilana nodded and inhaled his scent, snuggling into his warmth to bring her back to reality.  “Nae paboya, mian.”

 - “Ah, chincha?”  Smiling, he pressed his lips to each eye, making her smile at his teasing.  “Arraso, tell me what you were dreaming about.”

Ilana let out her breath, it was the same every year around this time.  HaLee was their sun, their strength in the dark and difficult times, but Ilana couldn’t help miss that old man.  Though she’d shed quite a few tears, with her husband, that morning that HaLee was conceived the truth was she still had a lot of them bottled up.  She wanted to be a comfort to her husband and only allowed herself an occasional tear when he wasn’t looking.  “Amogotdoyo, neaga still sleepy,” she trapped his leg with hers and draped her arm around his waist, closing her eyes.

Jihoo swept his thumb under one of her eyes.  “Nado, hajiman Na would rather know wae anae was crying.”

If she told him, they’d both end up crying and she didn’t want that.  She shook her head ‘no’.

Jihoo sat up, dislodging her, “if Sarang won’t tell me, Na will go sleep in the boy’s room.”

 - “Sarang!”

He gave her the “tell-me-or-I-leave” look and she knew he’d make good on his threat.

 - “Lay back down…”  When she was settled against his chest again, she told him.  “Na was dreaming about Harabeoji...again,” she let out her breath in a sigh.

He was quiet for about a minute.  “Tell me…,” he said in a quiet voice.

 - “Just the way he was with the kids...with me.  Bogoshipo...that’s all.  It’s not a big deal, Sarang.”  She sat up with a smile on her face and gave him one of her playful and noisy kisses.

Jihoo realized they never really spoke about Harabeoji, at least not amongst themselves.  Only in general with the kids.  He never comforted her, because he was too deep in his own grief.  He only took from her, never realizing she was also grieving.  “Sarang...mian...Na have let you grieve in silence all these years.”

 - “Ani...you needed me more.”

His eyes were getting shiny with unshed tears and hers were burning to get out again.  He shook his head, “we needed each other and Na let you and the kids down."

 - "Sarang can never let us down."  Her heart ached to see that regret on his face and as a tear spilled over, she bent and kissed him tenderly.  Yes, she had also needed to grieve, but with her husband at her side, that was all the comfort she needed.  Before long, they were both shedding tears as their kisses became more desperate and needy.  They quenched their grief in their desire for each other.  Joining their bodies, their hearts, and their grief together.  Their love and grief melded together until it ran freely in a hot steaming flow.  Tears helped cool the flow, making their love into something stronger and more precious, than it once was.

Friday

Slowly, all their friends began to arrive.  It wasn’t every year they could have a big reunion of this type.  In fact, the last time everyone was all together at one place at the same time was at Harabeoji’s funeral.  The Song family had been in Athens, Greece since a few years after HaJin, their youngest, was born.  They’d established a new state of the art Club Eden there.  Though all their brand of K-Pop nightclubs had the newest technology, this building was a smart building from the ground up.  A living breathing DJ was a thing of the past, a computer was programmed with everything from music to air quality, cooling, and heating.  The doors had enhanced scanning capability to stop anyone from entering without appropriate clothing or catch any would-be troublemakers.  A few cities across the globe boasted ‘Smart City’ technology, where everything from, water, power, and transportation were all connected to one central computer.  Athens wasn’t quite there yet, but close.  Seoul, Tokyo, and New York could boast about it.  The three eldest of all the kids, Isabel, InHei, and JeongYul were missing this year.  Isabel and InHei were at Shinhwa School of Medicine.  InHei convinced her friend to change her mind about studying veterinary science in New York and coming to study with her at Shinhwa, becoming a Medical Doctor.  Jaejoong helped convince Abigail, who really didn’t like the idea of being separated from her first baby.  JeongYul took after his Abeoji and was studying in Vallauris, France with one of the masters in residence at A.I.R. Vallauris.  Kike was unfortunately missing but would join them before they left and stay the month with Nana, before going back home.  The Park family had not arrived yet as JungMin refused to get up or arrive early.  They would be in sometime close to midnight.

Jihoo thought it wise to purchase the property next door, which is what brought them to Girona three years prior.  They built an inn on the vacant land and extended the horse farm into an equestrian school and public stables.  This ensured both properties were well paid for.  The Girona countryside was becoming a popular vacation destination in the technologically advanced world.  People wanted to be somewhat unplugged.  Not that anyone ever could be, the internet extended everywhere, even in your clothing.

 - “Noná (Godmother)!!”  Ilana and HaEun gave everyone ample opportunity to settle in prior to walking next door to visit.  HaNa came crashing into them as soon as they stepped into the lobby.

 - “HaNa-yah!  Annyeong, annyeong!  You're speaking Greek like a native?  Omo!  Jagi, nomu bogoshipatso...you’re so tall!  We pray for you every night and your family too.”

 - “Kansamnida Noná, na think Noná's prayers really helped me not be nervous about starting a new life in Athens,"  HaNa spoke beyond her years; as if the daughter of Song WooBin and Ha JaeKyung could ever not fit in.  "Noná, hajiman HaEun is still taller,” she latched on to HaEun's arm just like JaeKyung's friendly habits.

 - “Jeogumyo!”  HaEun gave her friend a reassuring hug.

 - “Where is everyone?”  Ilana asked.

 - “The namja?  Who knows?  Though, knowing Gu InSo, he’s in front of the mirror,” she giggled.  “So JeongHee & Jeongja are too tired, nae yeodongsaeng, HaJin is afraid of bugs and there is no one else in the room.  Hokshina nae namdongsaeng-deul are glued to their PS (Play Station) Vita 5's, virtually competing against each other.  Hajiman...na wanted to go riding!”

Ilana took in the girl’s apparel.  Her black skirt splashed with many colors, from an app on her smartphone, and Roman style sandals were not quite suitable for riding.  She was always into the latest fashion and was good at creating her own.  With 3-D printers, she designed many of her clothes and was hoping to get her parents to make a pit stop in Milan so that she could tour one of the fashion institutes there.  “Even if HaNa rides side saddle, which is not as easy or as comfortable as you would think, that outfit is completely inappropriate.”

 - “Ara...it's warmer here than in Athens, Na didn't bring any pants.  Na thought to ask the namja, but who to ask?”

 - “HaNeul has some organic denim type pants,” HaEun offered.  “And Na have spray on leggings, will that work?”

 - “Spray on leggings are fun, hajiman, they'll wear off rubbing against the saddle," Ilana said.  "Go ask HaNeul; tell him Umma said to lend you a pair."  Not that he wouldn’t but just in case he didn’t like the idea.

 - "Arraseo, Noná.  HaEun-ah, you'll ride with me after?”

 - “Anieyo, unless Umma will let us take the carriage out.”

 - “Ani, unless you convince Appa to rig it for you.  We don’t need to give extra work to the ranch hands.”

 - “Deh Umma!  Kaja, Unnie, appa will say yes!”  HaEun took her friend’s hand and they ran off.

 - "Not if Appa is still napping,” Ilana thought.  Siestas were still common in Girona and there was something in the air or perhaps the food that lent itself to napping.  Ilana had gone into town just in time before everyone closed for three hours.  The baker/caterer was ready for tomorrow's party and she picked up several piñatas and plenty of candy and other goodies.  They also stopped at the seafood store, as Nana was making paella and Jihoo would be grilling the seafood that wasn’t going into the dish.  They had ordered tapas (appetizers) and a soup from the caterer.  It was a good thing these kids were international.  Their parents were either mixed ethnicities or at the very least they’ve traveled or experienced foods other than Korean.  In other words, they usually weren’t picky, except for Abigail’s boys.  Speaking of which, JaeWook, JaeHyeong, and JaeWon ran past Ilana and nearly knocked her down.  “Yah!”

The boys stopped in their tracks; someone had them well trained.  “Perdónanos, señora (Excuse us, Ma’am),” JaeWook bowed.

 - “Omo!!  You’re the perfect picture of your Abeoji!”  Ilana said.  “And JaeHyeon is like Umma and JaeWon...is just perfectly himself.”

 - “Tia!”  The boys gave Ilana a hug.

 - “Wau!  One thing is seeing your picture and another is seeing you right in front of me!  Ka!  I won’t keep you.  Ara you city kids want to spread your wings.”

 - “By tía!”  JaeHyeon waved.

Ilana smiled and continued heading for the stairs.  “Four kids down and no adults,” she mumbled.  If she didn’t know better, she’d think the kids came alone.  Suddenly an excited voice broke into her thoughts.

 - “Princess!”

 - “Oppa!”  Ilana quickly climbed the stairs to the landing, while HyungJun quickly came toward her, meeting her with his usual exuberant hug that lifted her off her feet.  “Oppa!!  Put me down!”  She playfully protested, but loved this crazy child-man and his hugs.

 - “My turn!”  YiHyun embraced her only a little more gently.

 - “Dasom-ah, DaHee-yah, annyeong.”  Ilana greeted the two young ladies behind their parents.  Surprisingly, unlike them, they were fairly calm.

 - “Annyeong Imo!  Where’s HaEun Unnie?”  Dasom asked.

 - “HaNa wanted to go riding, they were going to see if HaEun Appa would hook up the carriage for them.  If you hurry, you’ll be able to catch up with them.”  The two were at least wearing boots under their dresses.  At ten and thirteen, they were both professional models for their Appa and Dasom was slowly getting into acting.  WooBin had been helping her; even while in Athens, he connected her with the right people and Uee took to mentoring her.

 - “Appa, may we go, juseyo?”  Dasom asked, politely.

 - “Don’t get hurt!”  HyungJun warned.

Hearing feet on the stairs, they looked up to see KyuJong, Emily, 11-year-old Hyuna, their three boys and YoungSaeng and Mina’s 10-year-old AhReum and 8-year-old KyuHyun.

 - “We thought we heard voices!”  Emily greeted them with a wave, before getting swept into a hug by HyungJun.

 - “Annyeong hasseyo!” All the kids greeted the parents with a slight bow.

 - “Annyeong!  Yah, did Umma and Appa abandon you two?”  Ilana gave kisses to AhReum and KyuHyun.

 - “Deh, Imo...”  AhReum pouted, Appa was going to take a nap and Umma was keeping him company. 

 - “They were in their room, being shy and a bit bored; so, we brought them with us,” KyuJong answered.  Not all the kids were well acquainted with each other, especially the littlest ones.  By morning, after being stuck in a room together, they would all be best of friends.

 - “Ah...well, the namja, I’m sure can be persuaded to kick the soccer ball around and HaNa and HaEun went off for a carriage ride.  Dasom and DaHee were just going to find them.  Why don’t you all go to the main house?  Follow the path to the right.  You can’t miss the property.”

 - “Go ahead...I’ll let your parents know,” Emily told the Heo kids.

 - “Kansamnida Imo!”  Hyuna, KyuJong’s eldest daughter, responded.

The adults watched the kids go off.  There were plenty of parks in Seoul and trips to the countryside, with KyuJong and YoungSaeng’s parents were common, but having acres and acres to play in right outside your door was an adventure waiting to happen.  “This place is yippeoyo!”  YiHyun said.  “Na can’t wait to go exploring.  Yeobo?”

Ilana noticed they had their cameras in hand.  “You two are going to work this weekend, deh?”

YiHyun grinned at being caught.   Ilana grinned thinking of her husband who also enjoyed his naps.

 - “Well, we wouldn’t have the kids if they were just napping, would we?”  Emily laughed at her joke and YiHyun joined in.

 - “Ah!!  My innocent ears!”  HyungJun covered his ears and ran off to join the kids.

KyuJong grinned at Ilana’s doe-eyed expression.  “Ilana-yah, don’t mind him.”  He placed a hand on his wife’s back.  “I’ll go visit with Uissa, be good or we take the kids out on our date.”

 - “Aish...sweetie is so cruel,” she gave his cheek a kiss and KyuJong covered it with his hand and left.

 - “Omo, Oppa...Kyopta!”  Ilana grinned at her silly and sweet friends.

 - “So,” Emily said.  “I can’t believe you’ve had four kids and still be so dense when it comes to things.”

 - “Yah, Unnie!”

 - “We’re all taking turns with the kids so that we can have some grown-up time, alone, with our husbands,” YiHyun explained.

 - “As for our Otter couple...,” Emily said, looking up the stairway.  “What do Uissa and you do when you’ve been so busy working, you’ve hardly seen each other?”

Ilana’s face turned bright red as their meaning sunk in.  “Perhaps...we should go outside and just leave them be…?”

 - “Guerae!”  Emily and YiHyun agreed.

 - “Hajiman...has Oppa been very busy still, even though the Drama was over this week?”  Ilana had been busy herself, she didn’t get a chance to watch any Dramas or shows this past week.

 - “Deh, Mina said the last few days of filming were grueling and he was only coming home to sleep, some days not even that,” Emily said.

 - “Then there was the studio after party and several cast parties.  Mina attended a small one, after she was assured there wouldn’t be media there.”

 - “Deh, we babysat for them,” YiHyun said.  Both couples’ kids were in the same schools, babysitting usually meant the kids spent the night.

 - “Oppa is such a good actor, I’m so proud of him.  He’s gotten very distinguished since he got married.  The last few years have been good to him.  He might not be playing the high schooler anymore, but at least he’s not playing a Harabeoji role, yet.”

 - “Maja!” 

The adults slowly made their way toward Ilana’s house, when InSo came running up them.  “Imo!  Imo!”

The three women stopped their walking to see who was calling them.  “InSo-ah!!”  Ilana waved to the teenaged boy.  “Annyeong!”  She inclined her head, once he caught up and he politely bowed to them.

 - “Annyeong hasseyo, Imo.  Are HaNeul and KyuHa in the house?”

 - “With today’s technology, you’d think these kids would message each other?”  Ilana laughed.  “Inso-ah, Mollah, the other namja went to investigate as well.”

 - “Ah...kansamnida...Umma, Abeoji, and InBok are right behind me,” he ran off to find his friends.  InSo was expected to take over Shinhwa from his Abeoji and he didn’t really mind.  He couldn’t think of anything that he would rather do with his life and though right now it seemed unreal, he knew his Abeoji wouldn’t let him take over unprepared.

All the girls had finally found each other, except for the birthday girl; HaLee who was busy inspecting all the new horses and taking notes so that she could pick one to take home with her.  “Wau, my yearling would be Basilico’s great great great great grand foal!”  Her almost seven-year-old brain laughed.  Just then a soccer ball landed right into the exercise ring, startling the yearling, who pushed past HaLee making her fall back onto her rump.  “Yah!!”  Still seated, she took the offensive soccer ball in her hands.

 - “Mianhamnida!  Mianhamnida!”  Kim SeoJun, KyuJong & Emily’s youngest and the Maknae of the boys, was sent for the ball.

HaLee effortlessly lifted herself into a squatting position and then stood to her full 43 inches.  The top of her head came to SeoJun’s lips.  “Mian, nae hyeong slid and the ball went the wrong way.  I’ll take it, juseyo.”

HaLee was not in the best of moods after being knocked down.  She’s the only Yoon child with a temper.  “Why are you guys playing right outside of the stable yard?  These are very valuable animals, you know!  Don’t you and my brothers care?  What if the ball had hurt one of the horses?  No one would want to buy it, or worse!  What if you hurt one of its legs!  And Papi had to...had to…”  HaLee had worked herself into a rage and tears were now threatening to spill over.

SeoJun wasn’t sure what to make of her.  He was just a little frightened of her, but he felt bad too.  They had made her sad and it was her birthday.

 - “Mianhae...na will tell the namja to move further away.”  The girl’s chest was heaving, he wondered if he should run and call her dad or his own dad.  “Gwenchana?  Should nae call Appa?”

 - “No... just move like you said you would.”

 - “Deh...you’re not still angry are you?”  He had a mature sensitivity about him, just like his Father.  He quickly realized while he addressed her in Korean, she spoke to him in English.  In fact, she didn’t look Korean at all.  Well, neither did he, much.  “Hey, don’t you speak Korean?”

 - “I do…, but we’re not in Korea, right?”  She hadn’t picked up the language like her siblings had.  She could understand most of it, but speaking it was a whole other story.

 - “Yah, SeoJun-ah!  Palli!  Palli!”  His brothers and friends shouted, waiting for him to return.

 - “I have to go,” he carefully phrased his English.  “I’ll meet you later,” he was suddenly fascinated by her braid that showed off her natural streaks of red and blonde (yellow, as he called it) perfectly.  Not that he gave much attention to hair, but he’d never seen hair like that.  He almost reached out to touch it, when he heard another shout.  “I have to go!  Annyeong!”  HaLee shrugged and turned to grab another horse.

KyuHa met SeoJun halfway.  “Yea SeoJun-ah, are you flirting with na yeodongsaeng?”  KyuHa threw his arm around the younger boy in his easygoing way.

 - “Andwae!  The mal shoved her down...Na was just making sure she was okay!”

 - “Arraso, arraso, you’re a sweet kid, hajiman...Na dongsaeng is special.  Na don’t think you can handle her.”

 - “Hyeong!”  KyuHa’s words were making SeoJun embarrassed.

KyuHa ruffled the kid’s hair and took off with the ball, leaving the six and half-year-old confused.

After stealing a pair of pants from her brother, HaEun found her father had already gone to the stables to make sure everything was being properly maintained.  Her parents hadn’t been back to Girona since they started the business a few years back.  Not that they didn’t trust the family that was running the equestrian center, but it was a good opportunity to appraise the business themselves.  “Appa!!”  HaEun ran to give her dad a hug.

 - “Since when does nae gongju willingly come near the stables?”  She liked the horses and didn’t mind riding in their Victorian Limo, but everything else about them, she didn’t like.  They had Joy and one other cat and a Golden Retriever that lived in the stables; she groomed them, pet them and sometimes fed them, but that was the extent of her animal care.

 - “Appa…” she gave him her best pouty face.  “Appa, hook up the carriage for us, deh?  Juseyo?”

 - “Mollah, gongju…”

 - “Nonós (Godfather), juseyo…”  HaNa jumped in, then the rest of the girls.

Their pleas were exactly like Joy’s when she wanted something.  Jihoo was looking at a litter of kittens.  He smiled, resigned, he couldn’t say no.  The least he could do is ask.  “No es molestia dejar las niñas usar el...carriage...eh...coche? (it’s no bother for the girls to use the coach)?”  Jihoo pointed to where it was kept.  His conversational Spanish was very good now, but some words that never got used eluded him.

 - “¡Claro que sí, hijitas (Of course, dears)!  ¿Vamos (Should we go)?”

With Jihoo’s help, their ranch hand quickly got a team of two horses attached to a two-benched carriage.  “Appa, gomawoyo!”  HaEun gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

HaNa did the same.  “Nonós is daeback!”

 - “Deh, deh...have fun.  Be careful, stay to the side of the lane.”

 - “Deh!”

Jihoo helped the girls climb aboard and waited to make sure they would be fine before going back to what he was doing.  He smiled as he worked thinking of how easily his daughter and Goddaughter maneuvered him.  "Nonós?"  He shook his head at HaNa's use of Greek.

Once HaEun felt comfortable, she and HaNa began to chatter in English with an occasional Korean word thrown in for emphasis.  More so HaNa, as HaEun was the quiet one.  "HaNa!  Get, Noná and Nonós to let you come to Athens for a semester.  The boys at my school are kyopta!  Nomu kyopta!  I really like Adrian sunbae...Omo...he has sky blue eyes!"  HaNa beat over her heart with her fist.

 - "Anieyo!!  I don't make friends easily.  I couldn't go, and Umma and Appa wouldn't let me."

 - "That's because you don't need to make friends.  Our chingu were born around us and more kept coming!"  HaNa's chatter never failed to make HaEun smile.  "Yah...Alejandro Sunbae would love your smile.  Should I show him your modeling pictures?"

 - "Andwae!!"  The horses didn't like her shouting and quickly clucked her tongue to soothe them.

 - "At this rate, you'll be marrying one of our dongsaeng-deul or InSo."

HaEun shrugged and didn’t change her poker face she'd inherited from her Father; not even the inquisitive HaNa could tell what she was thinking.  "Unnie..."  She wanted to ask HaNa to design her dress for her Quinceañera (Girl's fifteenth birthday celebration).

HaNa knew her friend and saw that her mask had come down as quickly as it went up.  "Guerae, whatever it is, guerae."  HaEun never asked her friends for anything, she would rather they ask her.  "Mollah how you can pose for Ajussi Jun's camera and play your instrument in front of people and still not say a word otherwise."  HaNa was Unnie/Umma, always cheering on or scolding her friends.  No amount of scolding from HaNa would open HaEun's mouth when she wasn't ready.

It took a few minutes for HaEun to get over her shyness at asking for a favor.  "Unnie...Umma and Appa promised I could have a Quinceañera next year."

 - "That's your coming out, right?"

HaEun nodded.  "Will Unnie design my dress?"

 - "Greomyo!!  Something princessy, deh?"  HaEun nodded, glad that her Unnie understood her.  "I've got an idea," already the bodice with delicate long sleeves and a ruffled skirt that lit up in any pattern of her choosing was taking shape in her heard.  "Omo!  Hajiman, who's going to be your ?  You can't just dance with Nonós?"  HaEun shrugged in response.  "What about Valentino or Mateo Oppa...they're dreamy!"  HaNa clasped her hands together.

 - "Anieyo!!  Na might as well just dance with HaNeul and KyuHa!"  HaEun shook her head.  Her two cousins were always teasing her.  She didn't realize that Mateo had a crush on her.  Like most boys, their brain turns to mush around a girl they like and try getting her attention in the most counterproductive ways.

 - "That's your loss, I'll take either of the twins off your hands."  This earned HaNa an eye roll from her friend.  "Ara!  What about InSo-ah?"

 - "Mollah...."  HaEun's eyes focused on the road ahead of her and not at the scrutinizing gaze her friend gave her.

 - "Deh," HaNa concluded.  "InSo-ah it is.  You have to ask him this weekend."

 - "Unnie!!"

 - "Wae?!  He's chingu...or does Na dongsaeng see him as something more."

 - "A-andwae!  He-he's HaNeul's Hyeong and chingu, that's it."

 - "Deh...He sits with you in the cafeteria..."

 - "Unnie, he sits with all of us."

 - "He protects you from the other kids in the halls."

 - "He-he's just nice that way."

 - "Guerae...perfect reason to ask him.  He won't say no."

 - "Unnie...!!!"  HaEun blinked back tears, she hated being teased.  Even when it's her Unnie's good-natured teasing.

 - "Wae...?"  HaNa hugged her friend.  Even though she'd been away from Shinhwa for a few years, she had her spies alerting her of any news.  So JeongHee told her everything.  "Other than HaNeul, he's the nicest namja you know, deh?"

HaEun reluctantly nodded, "yes."

 - "Greon...he won't say no."

This was something for HaEun to consider.  InSo was her best friend, other than HaNa and JeongHee.  If something weighed heavily on her mind and he saw her or spoke to her, somehow, he would know and get her to talk.  At the very least he made her laugh when she wanted to cry or bought her an ice cream, just because.  But, that was just him, her Unnie was reading too much into things.

 - “Yah!!

 - “Appa!”

 - “HaEun-ah!”

The shouts broke into HaEun’s thoughts and she immediately saw the problem.  She hadn’t been paying attention and she’d drifted to the opposite side of the lane.  Her uncle’s KyuJong and HyungJun almost got trampled by the horses, even though they weren’t going faster than a slow trot.  HaEun immediately pulled on the reins, getting the team to stop.  She stood to address her elders.

 - “HaEun-ah, agassi, you should be more careful,” KyuJong scolded with a gentle smile.

 - “DaHee-ah, Dasom-ah, gwenchana?”  HyungJun asked.

 - “Deh Appa,” the two girls were unfazed that they could have had an accident.

 - “Jwosongmnida!  Jwosongmnida!”  HaEun had climbed down and was apologizing profusely, almost in tears.

 - “Gwenchana, gongju, don’t cry.”  HyungJun wrapped her in a hug.

KyuJong pat on her on the back.  “Gwenchana, hajiman what happened?  HaEun-ah didn’t look like she’d lost control?”

 - “A-anieyo...mollahyo...jwosongmnida.  Je...Je…”

 - “Mianhaeyo, ajussi!”  HaNa jumped in to save her friend.  “Na was talking and distracted her.”

 - “Song HaNa-ssi is always talking and our HaEun geonju is always quiet,” HyungJun had seen HaNa grow up behind the camera as he shot the family portraits every year.

 - “Gwenchana, you’re not in trouble,” KyuJong said.  “Will HaEun give us a ride, too?”

HaEun nodded, “yes” and wiped her face.  They traveled to the edge of the sprawling estates and then turned back without further incident.

When Jihoo was done in the stables, the boys playing soccer, looked enticing.  He called the rest of the F4 and moved to a vacant lot nearby.  Soon, an intensely competitive game broke out.  Like old times it was JunPyo and Jihoo on one team and WooBin & YiJung on the other.  The boys sorted themselves by age, with Kim Jaejoong’s sons, JaeWook and JaeHyeon being on opposite teams and Yoon HaNeul graciously chose to play with WooBin and YiJung so InSo could play with his Father.  The F4 dads played a hard and skillful game.  No one could say they’d gotten soft in their forties, together they were still a force to be reckoned with.  Instead of flower boys, they were chiseled men, still impeccably dressed, still as handsome, and as fit as ever.  Not a wrinkle or ounce of fat could be found on any of them.  The teams were evenly matched and the game was tied, but JunPyo still couldn’t bear to lose.  Jihoo drove the ball toward him, making a clear path.  JunPyo took the ball, managing to dodge his other friends and kicked like his life depended on it.  The ball caught the goal, narrowly escaping JaeWook’s fingers.  JunPyo’s team won!  He ran around screaming like a maniac for a few minutes and then dropped on the ground, exhausted.  The rest of the F4 joined him. 

 - “Yo!  That was awesome!”  WooBin’s gangster talk had never gone away, at least with his friends.      

 - “Yah...wae did it take us so long to do something like this?”

 - “JunPyo-ah, no one has had time.  WooBin has been in Athens, neaga back and forth between Seoul and Los Angeles, YiJeong is often in France, visiting JeongYul.”

 - “Maja, if it weren’t for JanDi and Ilana making excuses for all of us to stop being so busy and get together, we’d be back to seeing each other only a few hours a year.”  Both Jihoo and JunPyo wore identical smiles on their faces, as they reaped the blessings that their wives had sewn.

 - “The namja are growing quickly, we need to do this more often.  Another two years and some of them will be going to the university and then they won’t have time for their samchon-deul.”  Time had passed too quickly for Jihoo after Harabeoji left them and perhaps even before that.

 - “We should have an annual tournament,” YiJung suggested.

 - “Deh, nothing like bonding over a soccer ball and sweat,” WooBin’s comments always made everyone laugh.

 - “Guerae, someone needs to tie up nae HaYi or else she’ll want to join,” Jihoo laughed at the picture in his head.

 - “Dude...she’s so not like you or Ilana.  Tell us the truth, she was so cute, you stole her from the hospital,” WooBin teased.

Smiling, Jihoo said:  “According to Nana, she’s the living, breathing image of her Contreras Halmoni,” Jihoo closed his eyes and then the picture of his Mother came to mind.  He realized, other than the darker hair, HaEun really looked a lot like her.  He wondered if her personality came from her Halmoni, which meant that his did too.

 - "Abeoji!!”  The boys had been trading techniques until their stomach clocks went off.  KyuHa walked over with Jaejoong's son JaeWon, Song HaJun, KyuJong's son YoungJin and JunPyo’s youngest, InBok.  "Begopayo!"  InBok sat on top of his dad.

 - "Abeoji...what is Nana and ajumma making for dinner?"  KyuHa knelt next to Jihoo, who had his eyes closed, and was trying to lift him up.  They were used to having dinner no later than six thirty, dinner in Girona wasn't until eight.

 - "Aish, this kid, Abeoji pigonhaeyo!"  JunPyo grumbled at the kid on top of his chest.

 - "Begopayo!  Can we order food?"

 - "Yo, kid, we're not in Seoul, it doesn't work like that here,"  WooBin said.

 - "Aigoo...these kids are spoiled,” YiJung said.

 - "Anieyo!!  Mama makes us clean our room and help Mrs. Esther in the kitchen!"  JaeWon complained.

 - "Wau!!  That's rough, dude."  WooBin teased.  "Should we go beat up your dad for not defending your honor?"

 - "Anieyo!  Mama will get mad!"

WooBin laughed.  "Kyopta.  Were we this cute at his age?"

 - "Greomyo!"  JunPyo said.  "Nomu cute!"

 - "Neaga gwiyowiyo!"  InBok said.

 - "We know who InBok took after," Jihoo teased.

 - "Abeoji...begopayo, chincha!"  Song HaJun also knelt by his Dad, trying to get him off the ground.

Jihoo sat up first.  "Arraso, what if we take the boys into town and have dinner.  I'll call the other guys to join us and the girls can catch up and do any last-minute preparations for tomorrow afternoon.  Kol?"  He looked at KyuHa and made a fist.

 - "Kol!"  KyuHa bumped his fist with his Dad's and took off to call his brother.  "Hyeong!"