Finding Fortune; His Grandmother's Lineage

*

           Everyone was looking through recipe books when Chansung came to the kitchen. He hadn't even known that there were so many in the house. Setting Kaiden down, he watched him run up to Yong-Sun. He never would've imagined that he had red eyes. None of his other siblings presented with the double-hybrid gene besides himself and Ae Cha. If Kaiden had a second one--he immediately shook his head; he wouldn't dwell on his mother's schemes. Instead, he walked over to Wooyoung and slid his hand across his back. Wooyoung stood upright and looked at him.

           "You okay?" He asked with a soft smile.

           "When we first got here...you said you felt something from Fortune was here."

           Wooyoung's expression went neutral but he nodded.

           "Help me find it."

           Wooyoung smiled briefly, "you already know where it is though, huh."

           Chansung sighed, "maybe."

           "Take me there, then." Wooyoung said.

           Chansung took a deep breath and led him towards the stairs. Together they ascended and turned towards his mother's room. He came to the door and felt anxious.

           "If you need a little bit of courage, Chansung, whatever I was feeling when we first came...it's definitely coming from in there." Wooyoung said and rubbed Chansung's back.

           "I don't like this, Wooyoung. If it's in there, whatever it is--if it's the jewel charm, she's..." He sighed and looked at him. "This is going to change everything. There would be no turning back."

           Wooyoung hugged him close. "I'm scared, too." He admitted, eyes now trained on the door. "A part of me doesn't want us to go in. I don't want you to find it." He laughed sadly. "I don't want it to be true. Because it's going to hurt you and so many others."

           Chansung gripped the handle and opened the door. The scent of his mother washed over him and he tensed. As he took the first step inside, memory after memory of being a child as he watched her get ready for a night out, reading stories by her window, and so many more came to him as he made his way inside. Much of what had been in the room was gone already, and only a spare few things on her vanity remained, including a box.

           "May I, Chansung?" Wooyoung asked, looking at him.

           Chansung hesitated but then he nodded. He watched Wooyoung walk to the vanity. The fox trailed his fingers along the top of the jewelry box and rested his hands on it, but he paused. His lover turned to him then.

           "Do you want to open it?"

           Chansung walked forward and rested his fingers on the cover. So many times he had looked inside, admiring a charm he had never known was a part of his past. Lifting the cover, there it sat innocently, with the same brilliance as the first time he'd seen it.

           "That's it." Wooyoung said as he pointed to the very jewel charm Chansung had felt an attachment to since he was young, and it made him sit down.

           He reached in and took it into his hand. The nostalgia of this charm brought tears to his eyes.

           "What made you sure she had it, Chansung?" Wooyoung asked as he knelt down beside him.

           "She was here just now." He said softly, not wanting to speak too loudly, never taking his eyes off the jewel charm. "It wasn't that she was asking for her things, she was pushy about it, but...it was Kaiden." He swallowed hard. "Kaiden has red eyes." He finally admitted and looked up at Wooyoung. "No one on dad's side has red eyes, and my grandma Serenity has always said that she never knew who her father was. Her mother kept it a secret until she died, and my grandmother was an only child. My grandfather also has silver eyes and is a snow leopard, so I think my mother inherited the red eyes from my great-grandfather."

           Wooyoung sighed and gripped his hand, "it's sounds like something she's self-conscious of and never wanted anyone to find out."

           Chansung snorted and couldn't help but speak bitterly, "yes, because it would mean she isn't the "purebred" she's always wanted to be."

           Wooyoung got back up on his feet. "Well, it seems it is time for your mother to share her story, and why she's done all of this."

           "What if she doesn't say anything-?"

           "She will, I know she will. You have too much information now. She can't hide anymore."

           Chansung worried his bottom lip and gripped the jewel. "I wouldn't put it passed her to do something after this - what if she never stops, Wooyoung? What if-?"

           "Chansung, look at me."

           Slowly, he turned his gaze upwards, and Wooyoung cupped his face tenderly. "She has driven wedge after wedge between herself and everyone, and she tried to do it to others. Too many people know and are going to continue to piece it together eventually. She has an opportunity to come forward, and quite honestly she owes answers to you and your father as well as your family; she needs to come clean." Wooyoung said calmly and smiled. "She better come clean."

           Chansung could feel and hear the subtle desperation. "I can only hope so."

           "The fox spirit told you that you needed two things, and you have me and the charm now."

           The realisation dawned on him and he bolted onto his feet faster than necessary. "If this really...can bring my memories back ..."

           Wooyoung nodded, "well, you have the card of being able to say 'what will you do if I get my memories back of that day', and see what happens?"

           "Exactly." Chansung couldn't help but grin.

           "Although, knowing you as much as I do now, I don't think you would. But, this gives you something that will hopefully be able to push her to get the answers you need." Wooyoung pulled him closer. "I know...I'm being cold, but I really do hope you and your family get justice. It doesn't matter how it happens I just...I don't want her to have any chance of being able to hurt you again. She's done so much to you, your father, Yong-Sun, and your sweet brothers and sisters."

           Chansung hugged him tightly. "Same for you, Min-Jun and Taecyeon. If she was in Fortune when everything happened...I don't even want to think of how involved she was with the Catchers or the researchers. That's...that's twisted and unforgivable."

           Wooyoung ducked his head under his chin and was trembling. "Are you sure you want to remember?"

           "I need to." Chansung said without hesitation. "Somehow she managed to convince the fox spirit to make this charm, who knows what else she has done and to who? I know she didn't act alone, she could put Baron away forever if what he said is true. If she hired him..." Chansung gripped Wooyoung's shoulder. "She will pay, because that day changed everyone's lives, and some for the worse." He tilted Wooyoung's head up. "If she assisted with the death of your mother, Wooyoung, I don't know how I'll be able to...redeem my family, or be worthy of being with you."

           Wooyoung looked alarmed and held his chin. "Don't think like that, this is not going to drive me away. It won't stop me from caring about you, your father, or anyone else. She has done everything imaginable to hide this, Chansung." Wooyoung became more and more emotional. "I know you won't stop until you've uncovered everything, and I assure you, I'll be there to...to make sure we continue on this path towards healing, towards reclaiming our lives. I want to do that with you."

           Chansung buried his face into Wooyoung's shoulder and cried. "How can you be so selfless? You should hate me..."

           "You saved my life." Wooyoung said quietly as he smoothed his hands over Chansung's neck. "You helped my mother, and you didn't even know what it meant, Chansung. I'm here today because of you, because somehow you remembered me in that tree. I don't know how, I don't know how it was possible, but here we are and we are finding answers together now. We are doing this together, as it should have been since that day, and I'm thankful for it. So please," Wooyoung lifted his head and was looking over him with the most serene expression, "I want you to believe in me, too. You gave me something back when you came to Fortune. Something I didn't know I was missing, and that was courage. Let me be yours now, okay?"

           Chansung couldn't hold back his emotions anymore. They cried together in his mother's study. Something he never imagined would have ever been possible. So much had been taken from Chansung, he didn't know how to accept Wooyoung's selflessness and love, Min-Jun's kindness and compassion, Taecyeon's assertiveness and bravery, Yong-Sun's unconditional love and hope. This was what he had only dreamed of. He never wanted to lose it, but he had fears about Aurora and what she was capable of doing.

           "I know you're still not okay, but one day this will not be able to haunt us, okay?" Wooyoung said. "And yes, I'm saying this to convince myself, too."

           They shared a laugh together and then a very tender kiss. "I love you, Wooyoung."

           Wooyoung's lip trembled and he rested his hands against Chansung's cheeks. "I know you do. I love you, even more."

           Chansung closed his eyes as Wooyoung kissed him once more. "I'm going to show you how much."

           Wooyoung whimpered and brought their foreheads together. "Just how much do you want to overwhelm me, Chansung?"

           "Hey, you overwhelm me all the time. It's only fair." Chansung said and kept him close. "I wanted to tell you I loved you in Fortune."

           Wooyoung blushed hotly, but then he was smiling. "Oh, well, I kind of like that you did it in this room." He said cheekily.

           Chansung couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, I don't want to stay in here longer than we need to."

           "Mm, yes, plotting and other things..." Wooyoung hummed as he brushed his thumb across Chansung's cheek. "She won't win anymore."

           "No, she won't." Chansung said, and he spoke his words with a promise.

*

           By the time Chansung and Wooyoung made it back to the kitchen, Min-Jun and Yong-Sun were preparing to leave. Taecyeon was settling Ae Cha and Kaiden on the couch for a nap.

           "We're going to go and pick up a few things for the Christmas party." Min-Jun said as they came near. "Oi, are you both alright?"

           They shared a look and Wooyoung turned back first, but Chansung spoke before he could. "We'll be fine, just...uncovering more secrets that are heavy, that's all."

           Yong-Sun frowned and tightened his hands together. 

           “Alright...this ominousness needs to be vaporised with celebration. Some things have to marinate for 24 hours, so need to get on that asap.” Min-Jun said as he was once more looking over the list. He could have taken the opportunity to press them for answers but he didn't.

           “You really never stop, do you?” Chansung couldn’t help but ask.

           “Imagine what he’ll be like after he hibernates.” Taecyeon said as he neared and winked.

           Min-Jun slapped him in the chest and, if you believe it, pouted at the wolverine.

           “I can’t wait to see it.” Taecyeon shrugged and looked over Min-Jun.

           “Stop flirting with me in front of the babies.”

           “Ah! Not a baby anymore.” Wooyoung stepped in and pushed Min-Jun with his foot.

           “Shh, you’ll always be my baby.” Min-Jun hauled Wooyoung into his arms.

           Wooyoung of course put up the facade of resistance but his tail and ears totally gave him away.

           “I imagine there are some troubling things on the horizon. To be honest, I feel relieved that it is, I just want it to all come out.” Min-Jun said and slipped on his hat.

           Chansung looked upon Yong-Sun.

           “When you’re ready.” Yong-Sun said and then waved to them.

           Just as they were leaving, Chansung watched his father enter. "Oh, heading out?"

           "We're picking up some groceries." Min-Jun all but beamed. "You may regret letting me throw a party in here, Chung-Hee."

           The delight and wonder on his father's face made Chansung purr softly. "I'm looking forward to it even more now. It's been a while since I've been treated to a Kim Min-Jun celebration."

           "Darn, now I have Hwang Chung-Hee's expectations to live up to." Min-Jun laughed looking every bit of sheepish. "Wooyoung, I left ingredients for you to make cupcakes."

           "Beauty, I'll wait for Kai and sweetpea to wake up. They'll have fun with that."

           "Aw, that would be lovely." Chung-Hee said fondly. "Is there anything I can do, Min-Jun?"

           "No, you old cat, you've done enough for a lifetime. Besides, you need rest. Let me throw you a party. Bye!" Min-Jun left without Chung-Hee being able to get in another word.

           Yong-Sun smiled and followed the bear out.

           "Well...perhaps I'll...oh, Ae Cha and Kai are sleeping." His father looked lost.

           "You honestly don't know what to do with yourself, huh?" Taecyeon teased. "Min-Jun is right you need rest. How about enjoying yourself and reading a book, I know that's what I'm going to do."

           "Or just sleep, sleep would also be an excellent choice." Chansung offered.

           His father sighed. "Well - oh, I know. I'll be in my study." He said and raced up the stairs.

           Chansung watched him go. He then turned to Wooyoung who was looking down upon his own list.

           “Don’t you think he’s going a bit overboard?” Chansung asked as he tried to snag the paper.

           Wooyoung smirked and rested his hand on Chansung’s stomach.

           Frozen in place, Chansung watched as he stepped closer.

           “Too much doesn’t exist in Min-Jun’s world. You should know that by now.” Wooyoung’s voice was deep. When he finally slid his hand up Chansung’s chest to his shoulder, Chansung released a shuddering breath. “Yes, this is going to take some time.” Wooyoung chuckled.

           “Okay, listen, it’s like when you put a onesie on a cat.”

           Wooyoung burst into laughter.

           “I’m serious! I’ll show you with Kaiden, so we should get him one. Actually let's get both Kai and Snow onsies.”

           “This I need to see.” Wooyoung brushed at his eyes still laughing. “I’m going to do some prep.”

           “Just remember this is for family and friends, it doesn’t need to be perfect.” Chansung said as he smoothed his hand over Wooyoung’s hair.

           “Go do what you need to do and then come and join me. When the kittens wake up we can all make cupcakes together.”

           Chansung smiled and kissed his cheek, “sounds good.”

           The front door opened and they both looked upon his aunt.

           “Hello my small ones. You look happy.” Mei said as she she removed her winter wear. “Fei is also doing lovely.”

           “How wonderful, I hope she’s able to come to the party.” Wooyoung said.

           “Oh! Min-Jun’s party, right? Well it would mean sookie pants will come and make the air stuffy but that’ll be okay.” She said and looped her arms with theirs.

           “Okay if he ever caught wind we were all calling him sookie pants, I need to be there to see it.” Chansung said with a bit of cheekiness. It earned him a poke in the side.

           “Are you kidding? We need to record it,” Mei laughed and gripped his side. “Your siblings are full of it sometimes and I love them for it. What's say we start making lunch?”

           "I like this plan." Wooyoung said. "Show me Hwang Mei's cooking secrets, pretty please?"

           Chansung stopped at the stairs and stepped towards them. “You both have fun, I’ve got to speak with dad.” He said and then made his way up.

           Walking slowly until he made it to his father’s study, he paused outside the door. Slowly he raised his hand and then he knocked.

           “Come in.”

           Opening the door, he found his father sorting through some documents, glasses on, and books strewn everywhere. “Sheesh, it's like it hasn't changed since I left." He mumbled. "Working in a mess as usual...”

           “I heard that.”

           Smiling, Chansung skirted around and leaned against his father’s desk. “I need to talk to you about...Aurora.”

           His father sat down in his chair and looked over the top of his glasses. “Okay.”

           “She dropped by to pick up the last of her things just after you left. I want to see her and be the one to hand the stuff over.”

           His father paused and looked over him carefully. “Are you sure?”

           “Yes; I need to do this for me.”

           “If you feel you should, then you must.”

           Chansung looked down at the books on his father’s desk. “What's so important that you can't rest?”

           “Now that the Bills are passed, I want to organise and purge my office. I've spoken to realtors already about selling the house and have closed sale on a new home.”

           “What?” Chansung looked over him in surprise.

           “Yes, when the triplets are finished with this school year I'm planning on moving us all to Silver City.”

           Chansung couldn't help but smile. "Grandpa's hometown? That's not far from Cherrybrook or Fortune, and close to the mountains and the sea."

           His father shared his smile, "exactly. We need a new homebase."

           "Auntie Mei probably factored into this decision. She's going to be over the moon."

           "I haven't told her yet."

           "Waiting for things to be finalised?"

           "Yes." Chung-Hee sighed. “Chansung,” his father leaned forward, “I can tell you want to tell me something.”

           Frowning, Chansung looked away.

           “Together, remember?”

           Chansung began to pace.

           “What happened when she was here? What happened after?” His father said as he rose from his chair.

           “Just promise me after I tell you that I can still speak with her alone.” He was becoming aggravated. At his father’s heavy sigh, Chansung stopped pacing and faced him.

           “One person must be here, you get to choose who...”

           Chansung remained tense but nodded. “Alright, but she won't talk if they're present.”

           “They will need to be impartial and they don't need to be in the room.”

           “Fine, but that's it. I need to do this for me so I can move forward.”

           “Well, what day do you have in mind? I’ll take everyone out for a trip.”

           Chansung smiled, “tomorrow.”

           "So soon, are you sure you don't want to wait until after Christmas?" His father asked with concern.

           "This cannot wait, dad." Chansung leaned against his father's desk. "Kaiden has red eyes."

           At this, his father looked at him with shock. "But...Ae Cha is..."

           "I was surprised, too. I don't think it would've happened if he wasn't there when she was here, at least, not so soon. When did I start showing my silver eyes?"

           Chung-Hee motioned for him to sit and Chansung did so. "I think you were about four years old. With the amount of research we did on double-hybrids, that was about the time. So he is maturing normally then. As for the second hybrid, usually it occurs at about nine years old."

           Chansung looked at the ceiling in thought. "So...you and Yong-Sun never saw my second hybrid?"

           Chung-Hee shrugged, "we thought perhaps you were going to be a late bloomer. And then, the incident happened. We always assumed it would've been a snow leopard like your mother, but your colouring is so unique I have had my curiosities."

           "Grandma and grandpa Hwang always said our family only has gold eyes. You know the lineage on mom's side, there is a possibility that great-grandfather could've been a red eye."

           Chung-Hee nodded, "yes, I would say there is a strong possibility now, especially since Kaiden's second hybrid has red eyes."

           "What is the story of the Rose family?" He asked as he made himself comfortable.

           Chung-Hee raised a hand, "I think we best know who to speak with."

           Chansung waited as his father dialed a number. He knew who he was calling, but it made him anxious.

           ~Hello?~

           "Hello Madam Serenity."

           ~Oh Chung-Hee, I've been so anxious since our last call. I've been so worried about the kittens. Are you all alright?~

           "Quite alright, Serenity. I've got someone special here who has some questions. Are you busy?"

           ~Well I've ignored her five other calls, make my line busy for a while, please.~

           Chansung smiled.

           "Chansung is here with me."

           ~Oh! Chansung! I've missed you so much my sweet grandson.~

           "It's good to hear your voice, grammy."

           ~Spirits, it's more wonderful for me to hear yours. I've missed you so much. Are you well? Are you okay?~

           "I'm...I'm not okay. It's been really hard the past little while." He admitted and brought his chair so he could sit beside his father.

           ~I saw you on the news on the day the bills were passed. You looked so tired and hurt. You're so tall now, my sweet grandson.~ She said softly. ~I'm planning on coming in a couple days. I want to see you all, it's been so long since I've been allowed to visit.~

           Chansung shot his father a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

           ~Your mother forbade me from visiting last year. She said I was not welcome to come and see everyone.~ His grandmother began sniffling. ~I don't know what I did, I was becoming worried for her, so I asked her about seeing counselling. She kept talking about bad dreams and having panic attacks. I just wanted to help her, come and help with the children, but she wouldn't allow it.~

           "Did she talk about her dreams?" Chung-Hee asked before Chansung could.

           ~The only thing she said was that they were about Chansung. She so desperately wanted you to return home, she kept harping on about Catchers and said she had received a threatening letter.~

           Chansung gripped his father's hand. "Did she say what it said?"

           ~No, I told her to report it to the police but she wouldn't listen to me, so that's when I became concerned and recommended counselling. She didn't want to, so I asked for a friend to check up on her. That's when she told me she could no longer trust me. I was just looking out for her. Was that so wrong?~

           Chung-Hee sighed and returned the hold on Chansung's hand. "She never told me about a letter, but I do believe I know of what you speak. For many months she had been agitated and I had tried to get her to seek help. Then, one day, she seemed perfectly fine. I wasn't sure what to do. Then around three months ago she became anxious again."

           Chansung turned to his father with wide eyes. "Three months ago...when I got to Fortune?"

           His father nodded, "it would seem so."

           ~Why on earth were you in Fortune, Chansung? That's where the attack happened.~

           "I know grammy, but I didn't know that. No one told me about that."

           ~What do you mean? Your mother always said you were having nightmares about that day, about what happened there.~

           Chansung exhaled heavily through his nose. "She lied, grammy. She's been lying to all of us about many different things."

           Silence met his statement.

           "Grammy, I want to ask about our family heritage."

           ~Okay, I will do my best to answer them.~ She said with shaking voice. Chansung knew she was crying.

           "Your family name is Rose, right?"

           ~Yes, that was the last name your great-grandfather, of my father. That's all we knew.~

           "Did great-grandmother ever talk about her family?"

           ~No, she never wanted to talk about it. She told me that we were never welcome back to that family because of who my father was. I barely remember him, he left when I was young. I remember when my mother fell ill, someone paid her medical bills, but I was never able to find out who. It didn't matter, she grew worse. When she was on her deathbed, she only gave me a last name, Hale.~

           "Hale? As in the famous Hale family?" Chansung asked.

           ~Yes, I told your mother...I believe it was shortly after your 9th birthday.~ She answered.

           "Did she ever tell you what happened?" Chung-Hee asked.

           ~She asked me if it was okay to make contact with them, and I believe she did, but I don't think anything came of it. She never spoke of them again afterwards.~

           "No, but she began to care more about status then." Chung-Hee said with scorn. "I had never known any of this, Aurora has always told me it was a sensitive subject for you and to never bring it up. I never knew you were related to the Hales."

           "Would anyone else have known?" Chansung asked.

           ~Only if your mother spoke about it. I never liked how she went about parading around and talking about the double-hybrid gene. It brought so much attention to her, to you, and I knew it would bring trouble. She didn't care. She said she had something to prove, and I knew it was for the Hale family. I believe it was the day they were asking about other double-hybrid families in some interview and they mentioned the Hales, and she said they could never compare in lineage. To this day I don't know what possessed her to do that. The Hale patriarch sent me an angry letter telling me to keep my unruly daughter under control. They called her an embarrassment.~

           "I find that very interesting because the Hale family has supported me immensely over the years, especially Laura Hale." Chung-Hee said with disbelief. "They have always spoken highly of our work, commended it even. I had no idea that you were related."

           ~Well, they deemed your work worthy, and they should have. Everything they did to my mother, to me, and my daughter...I cannot stomach them, but at least they supported you, Chung-Hee.~

           "Well, here's the kicker, Serenity is good friends with a daughter of theirs, Myra Hale. Isn't that...your mother's second name?"

           First their was silence. ~This can only be coincidence, Chung-Hee.~

           "Oh, I don't know, Serenity. I will look into who paid for your mother's care, but I think we both know who did it."

           Chansung was leaning against his father now.

           "I don't know why they haven't been able to come forward and help you, support you, or welcome you back. Perhaps it is their own prejudice, because if Aurora is a red eyes, we know what the public thinks of red eyed hybrids." His father spoke gently. "Not only that, the past patriarch was extremely homophobic. I don't think he knew about Yong-Sun because we kept our union very private. However, I do believe that when the current matriarch took over, things changed immediately. She became the head of the family about two years ago. Perhaps she thinks that too much damage has been done."

           For a long time neither of them said anything. Chansung felt the only person left to speak now was Aurora. She had been carrying things, and had likely been burned by the Hale family. What that drove her to do, however, was unacceptable and it likely burned the Hale bridge permanently.

           ~So, what do we do now, Chung-Hee, Chansung? What does this have to do with Aurora?~

           Chansung swallowed hard. "I..." His father tightened his hold and nudged him with his shoulder. "We believe that Aurora was involved in the first attack on the family 20 years ago." Chansung said as calmly as he possibly could. "I've...I've been trying to find information about what happened, and the more I have found...the more my road leads me back to her. I don't think she orchestrated the whole attack, but she did provide information to Catchers, one named Baron in particular, and also Salvatore Porta."

           By the time he was finished speaking, his father was crying. Chansung's own eyes were watery. He cuddled against his father and kept him close.

           ~How dare she! How dare she have done this!~ His grandmother all but screamed. ~Chansung I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Chung-Hee. What have I done...~

           "No grammy, no, it wasn't you." Chansung cried.

           ~I'm coming.~

           The line clicked.

           For a long while, Chansung sat with his father.

           "Actually hearing it...makes it worse." His father whispered. "I've been so blind all these years. Never knowing anything. I should have seen all this, now that I think about it there were so many signs. So many, Chansung. I should have known."

***

Next Chapter...Humouring Aurora