A/N: Third installment for the marathon! Leave comments please! :) I  love them!

"What do we tell Baekhyun?" Amber asked Sehun.

"The less she knows the better." She believed Baekhyun doesn't have to know about her secret life. It will be dangerous for her.

"Alright. I am so stupid to think that my family would allow me here in London alone. I know they were hiding something from me that's why they sent me here and I bowed to know that soon." Amber's voice was determined.

"Don't do anything that will jeopardize my job, okay? And your stay here too. Your brother will definitely kill me this time." Her tone was smug.

"Sure. Anyway, I'm just curious . . . what?" Amber saw Sehun rolling her eyes when she took her eyes from the road briefly.

"You're always curious. Curiosity killed the cat." She retorted while fighting the urge to laugh.

"I am a tiger." She grinned. "How can your family allow you to do this?" She knew the Chois. And who didn't? They were often in the news. Their assets were close enough to what her family has. If not more. Sehun's reaction about the malicious article involving Trinity College had enough bases. She's a princess too, in her own right. And a very rich one at that.

"Well, our parents let us do whatever we want. Um, mostly, I mean." She remembered her mother and felt the rush of guilt. "My mother didn't know anything until I was suspended and came home. I was supposed to resign but my boss didin't allow me to. Not until this mission concluded." She spared her a glance.

"Can I get another person to look after me so that you can leave your job?" She asked. She knew it was not her fault but to think that she was the reason why some people put their lives in danger was too much.

Sehun shook her head slowly. "I wouldn't be here if that's possible." She remembered President Obama himself convincing her to take the job. Well, convincing may not be the appropriate word. Ordering and demanding would be the apt ones. They were already pulling up in a bistro in Mayfair. They spotted Baekhyun waiting anxiously on one of the outdoor tables. Amber honked. Relief crossed her face when she saw the 4.2 approaching.

Amber pushed a button and the roof opened slowly until it disappeared from sight. Some peole dining turned to look. But when Baekhyun climbed up slowly on the backseat, her Levi's accentuating her sinewy legs, they stared. At the car and to the two other girls, too. Sehun sighed and pushed the roof button again as soon as Baekhyun's settled on her seat.

"Don't they know it's rude to stare?" Amber muttered while pulling out of the bistro.

Baekhyun chuckled lightly. "Hey, are you guys doing anything important next Saturday?"

"Um, laundry?" Sehun smiled at her reflection on the rearview mirror. "Not really."

"Want to watch me race?" She asked.

"No kidding?" Amber asked, surprised. Baekhyun shook her head. "Is that why we can't get a hold of you this past week?"

"Sorry." Baekhyun smiled sheepishly. She herself sent the invitation to Choi Chanyeol’s office in Seoul, pretending to be one of the organizers. She knew he won't be able to resist joining and she believed the time is right for their initial meeting. Or last meeting. Depending on how luck will stay on her side. She snickered at the thought.

"Do we get to hear the joke?" Sehun asked.

"No, I don't think so." She winked at her.

"Crazy." Amber muttered.

Sehun was about to join the teasing when her cellphone rang. She saw Chanyeol's number flashing on the screen. She didn't want to take the call with Baekhyun there but the incessant ringing was getting on her nerves.

"You want me to talk to whoever that is?" Baekhyun asked from the backseat. She was annoyed by the ringing.

"No, thanks." She flipped her phone open and greeted her brother. "Ey yo, what’s up?” She had to maintain her role.

"What the hell?" Chanyeol asked. What's up with her?

"My battery’s about to give up. Can I call you right back?” She asked.

"No. I am about to board the plane. See you in fourteen hours." And he ended the call. Sehun paled instantaneously.

*****************************************

Yonghwa made a warning knock before opening the door slightly. Just enough to show his face. The low conversation in the room stopped when the people inside felt his presence. Seohyun was the last one to turn to look as she was the only one facing the opposite direction. She was teaching a few kids how to play cello.

"I think that's all for today guys. Don't forget to study the chords that I gave you, okay? I'll finalize the arrangement before our next meeting so that you'll know early who's going to play which in your first recital." Murmurs of agreement can be heard from the children before they exited the large room. It was almost empty except from the grand piano stationed atop a low platform and a few ottomans and beanbags scattered around.

Yonghwa entered the room as soon as the last child was gone. He kissed Seohyun lightly on the lips. "Ready?" He asked.

"Just a minute, okay?" She winked at him and entered an inner office at the far end of the room. She came back with her purse and medium-sized, intricately wrapped box. "Let's go?"

He followed her silently, his happy expression vanished instantly. Who could have given her a gift? Seohyun talked to the receptionist for a moment before she followed him to the parking lot. He opened the door for her and went to sit at the driver's side. He was about to start the car when she handed him the box. "What is this?" He asked but felt relieved. So the gift's for him. God, I was instantly green.

"Last night, I thought I wanted our relationship to be traditional." She smiled sheepishly. "Open it."

He lifted the lid carefully and his eyes widened when he saw that the box was full of chocolates in different shapes and sizes, white and milk chocolate, with nuts and crispies, plain and with fruits. He was speechless. Yesterday, while they were casually dining out like any other evening, Seohyun popped a question from nowhere.

"How long have we been pretending to date?" He pretended to think but he can definitely tell her the exact number of months, days and hours.

"Seven, I think." He replied casually. And seventeen days and 4 hours, he wanted to say. He cherished those moments that he can be with Seohyun. Regardless of the circumstances. She told him once that aside from Sehun, she treated him as a best friend and that made him more chicken to ask her out for real. "Why?"

"That long, huh?" She ignored his question. "How long do you need still to ask me out for real?" She asked casually that the forkful of spaghettini was suspended in the air. "Sometimes I wonder if you really like me or I am just reading the signs incorrectly." She laughed daintily and he thought that everything around him stopped that very second.

"Thank you." He felt like crying. He leaned over to kiss her again. "You don't have to do this, you know. It's not as if you're my die-hard fan from the beginning." He smiled through the tears.

"I am now." She really felt that way. She was even surprised that it was even more intense than what she felt for Jongin. "I made them myself. So, will you go out with me, Jung Yonghwa? Yikes! I sound like a fan girl." She giggled happily.

"Fan girl or not, I love you." He hugged her. She didn't say anything. "I am sorry. . .Am I being too fast?" He forgot that she loved Jongin for so many years and this was all new to her. She shook her head.

"I was just in shock, I guess. I am sorry." She was afraid to meet his eyes.

He held her face between his hands carefully. "You didn't know how you made me happy last night. I promise that I will take care of you always and I bow to always make you happy. Whatever it takes." He said sincerely and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you." She closed her eyes. She's already sure she loved him, too, but she was too afrraid to say it. What if this was just a dream? And that she will wake up again one morning hurting?

**********************************

"Unnie, I will miss you!" Baekhyun hugged Minseok tightly.

"How about me?" Yesung asked, pouting.

"Of course I'll miss you too, Appa. And little Minkyung too." She cooed at the sleeping angel. "Are you sure you guys do not want to extend your vacation? I mean, it's not always that we have time for ourselves like this." She crossed her fingers behind her. Of course she wouldn't like them to stay longer. She'll be courting death soon and she didn't want them to see it. She just hoped that reverse Psychology would work this time.

"Hyunnie-ah, if we don't go home soon, we won't be able to afford your stay here anymore." Minseok laughed. Even if they stay there for another ten years, they would still live in luxury.

"Okay, okay. We are going to visit as often as we can. Is that fair enough?" Yesung asked. He didn't want to leave either.

"I'll count on that. I'll come home during the holidays." Baekhyun smiled the smile of triumph. "I guess I have to check with the staff if the jet is ready." Their private jet's going to bring her family home but it had to undergo its mandatory check up first. She disappeared through the airport crowd.

"Uncle Yesung?" Yesung looked around the VIP lounging area, searching for the person who called his name. He found a familiar face standing a few feet away from him. He remembered him at once.

"Chanyeol? My, what are you doing here?" He asked and gave the boy a light hug. "Are your parents with you?"

Chanyeol laughed. "No, Uncle. I am by myself." Then he noticed Minseok sitting nearby. And Minkyung too. "Oh, is that your grandchild?" He walked towards the bassinet and studied the sleeping Minkyung. She seemed oblivious to the airport chaos.

"Yes, yes. She's very pretty isn't she?" Yesung sounded very proud. "And oh, this is my daughter Minseok, Minkyung's mother. Minseok-ah, this is Choi Chanyeol."

"Nice to meet you." Chanyeol shook her hand. He didn't know if it's just him or she really paled a bit upon hearing his name.

"N-Nice to meet you too." She smiled slightly.

"Congratulations." He looked at Minkyung again. He was not very fond of children but he didn't know why this particular baby seemed different. She looked like an angel. "And yes Uncle, she looked like an angel." He voiced his observation.

"Thank you. She really is one." Yesung was really happy. "By the way, are you here on business?" He asked.

"No, I am here to race and to visit my sister." He replied. "How about you?"

"We are about to board our plane to Busan. My other daughter just checked the jet. Minseok gave birth here and we stayed here for less than three months." He explained.

"I see. Have a safe trip then. I think I have to go now, Uncle, Minseok-ssi." He spotted their Hyde Park chauffer, Daniel. "And bye, Minkyungie." He gave the baby one last look.

"Thanks. Good luck on your race." Minseok was able to gather herself this time. She really can't believe that Minkyung was able to meet one of her uncles today. She hadn’t seen this one in person until today but she sure had heard of him. Luhan's favorite topic was his family and she'd seen Joonmyeon back in Harvard. She had memorized all of their names.

"Oh. Kamsahamnida." Chanyeol smiled and strode to Daniel's direction.

"Papa?" Baekhyun appeared from another direction. "Everything's ready. Would you like to board now?"

"Sure, sure. You have to take good care of yourself, Baekhyun." Yesung gave her a hug.

"We promise to call you right after touch down, okay?" Minseok spoke before she can repeat her earlier request for the nth time that day. She chuckled.

Baekhyun gave them final goodbyes and went to the parking lot. She remembered to call her coach to confirm the training schedule for today and was fishing out her phone from her purse when she bumped on to someone. "Ooops, sorry." She mumbled without looking up.

"Ouch!" Chanyeol was caressing his chest. A girl elbowed her and stepped on his foot and she didn't even bother to look up. "The world's full of morons." He muttered.

Apparently, she heard him. It was her fault so she let it pass. Baekhyun raised her hand and for a second, she deliberated a dirty finger but decided against it. She made a peace sign instead. "I said, sorry, sissy." She muttered the last word while giggling in her thoughts. You're a mean girl, Kim Baekhyun.

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"Alright. See you at the circuit." Chanyeol was just talking to the head of his racing team. He looked at the limo's glass partition and saw Daniel's anxious face. "What's up?" He asked.

"Are we going straight to Hyde Park, Sir?" He asked in return. He'd been working for the Choi family for almost ten years and this was the first time he saw Chanyeol in a really bad mood. He was always goofing around.

"Please." He saw Daniel close the glass partition again and drove away. He knew it was wrong to take it out on him. He was still pissed with what happened at the airport. He was never rude to anyone. Even to the girls who craved for his attention but he didn't like. And it was foul to meet someone like that girl on the airport. Maybe because she knew how breathtaking she was. You can't have 'em all, you know. Insisted by a teasing voice in his mind. Being pretty isn't an excuse to be barbaric. Retorted by another. He thought he's going crazy. He had a lot of things to do and there he was, thoughts lingering to a bad-mannered female. He decided to call his sister.

Oppa! Where are you? She answered in half a ring.

"I am on my way to the penthouse. Where are you? 'You want me to pick you up?" He asked.

No, no! I mean, I am on my way to Hyde as well. See you there. Bye! And she dropped the call.

"What is up with you, Choi Sehun?" He asked aloud. Well, something was always up with his sister.

True enough, she opened the door herself when he arrived. "It's good to see you!" Sehun hugged him. "Hurry, I made us lunch." She pulled him to the lavish dining room. "And Daniel?" She called. They heard a grunt of response from him. "I made enough for the three of us. Hurry up!" Before long, they were sharing the food Sehun cooked and she was monopolizing Daniel's attention which, again, he found weird. She asked him about his life, his family, his wife and kids and whatnot but she barely talked to Chanyeol. He just arrived and they hadn’t seen each other for months!

After the meal, Daniel asked for permission to leave and the request to be contacted whenever they need him. When he left, Sehun scrambled from her seat and hurried to dish the table out.

"Let the help do that. Come with me." He said. Sehun didn't say anything and swallowed hard. She followed him to his room. "Is there anything you want to tell me before I find out myself?" He went straight to the point.

Sehun was quite surprised. She was half-expecting Taemin to tell his family. Or his brothers at least. But he didn't. She must thank him for that. But hiding everything from Chanyeol won't do anything good either. "Yes. I am working on an assignment here and I can't be seen with you." She hated beating around the bush.

"Oh." He really was not surprised at all. He sat on the bed and looked at her under his lashes. "Who knew?" He asked.

"You. And Taemin-oppa. And maybe Appa. I am not sure." She knew that sooner or later, Xander won't be able to keep it from Siwon anymore. Her father was most supportive of her CIA duties so he may just be waiting for her to tell him herself.

"Can you tell me about it?" He asked even if he knew it was futile. She shook her head.

"What time's the competition?" She asked instead. She was itching to go. Julie's the only one watching Amber. And what happened yesterday wasn't a good omen. "And Oppa, I am sorry but I really have to go. I'll see you when I see you okay?" He gave her a copy of the schedule.

"I understand. Call me, alright?" He got up and kissed her forehead. "You have to promise me that you'll be extra careful." She stuck her pinky out and he laughed but indulged her nonetheless. She smiled the smile meant only for a few people and bolted out the door.

"Eist." He called again.

"Yup?" She made an abrupt turn.

"Here are your meds. Mama was afraid your supply runs out." He handed her a medium sized package. She was gone after she said her thanks and hasty goodbye.

He's was afraid that he’d have to answer to their mother if this continued but whenever she smiled like that, his defenses were always down.

***********************************

Luhan heard a warning knock before the door opened slowly. He was half-expecting it was his mother checking on him. For the nth time. But it was Yifan. He hesitated in the doorway for a second before he walked towards the bed and sat down without invitation. "Gege." He only called Yifan that whenever they’re alone. He was his gege anyway before he became his hyung.

"Mind if I stay here for a few minutes?" Yifan asked. His eyes were on the canvass in front of Luhan. It was a calla lily in vivid colors. It was a spotlight effect in black background. For one moment, Yifan thought he was looking at a photo and not a painting.

Luhan shook his head and turned his attention back to the canvass. "How are you?" He asked him before he could ask him. He didn't have any answer to the same question anyway.

"I'm doing. . .okay. . .I guess." He replied simply. "I wouldn't ask you the same question though." He added dryly and Luhan laughed an empty laugh.

"Thanks. Have you found Noona yet?" He was totally oblivious about the fight Yifan and their mother had.

"I already stopped watching her after seven long years." He said. Luhan stared at him for a long moment.

"Why are you here, Ge?" He asked in a stern voice. He already knew where this particular conversation was heading.

"I just need someone to talk to." He said calmly. Luhan gave him a look that says, Why me, of all people? "If I can't cry, I try talking."

Luhan read the underlying message at once. "If I can't talk, I say nothing." He said firmly and glared at Yifan.

"But sometimes, talking can bring on tears. And tears say everything that we can't." He met Luhan's piercing gaze with a blank stare. He knew how painful it was for Luhan to keep it all to himself. He was doing everything to show everyone a strong facade but he felt he didn't have to pretend in front of him. "C'mon boy, we miss you already." He said sincerely. Luhan was the family's resident joker. He used to goof around like a kid.

What Yifan said last seemed to be what all Luhan needed at the moment. Before he knew it, he was shaking uncontrollably. He told Yifan everything in between sobs. "I am afraid that one day," He swallowed painfully after he was stable enough to talk straight. "I'll meet my child and I wouldn't even know it's them." He looked at his own painting.

"You said you didn't believe her at first that the child is yours, how did you find out?" Yifan asked. Luhan got up and opened a bedside drawer. It revealed a set of buttons and he punched numbers. His bed's headboard parted in the middle and opened up to a safe. He placed the combination and the safe unlocked. Yifan saw a glimpse of some unfinished prototypes of gadgets and Luhan extracted a small white object.

"Here. I found it in my penthouse. I am so stupid." He handed him the pregnancy test stick. “My safe’s password was the day we met.” A couple of years or so ago, Choi Group’s annual physical and medical exam requirement had all executives and rank-and-file employees undergo an extensive check-up and that included Luhan. The results were usually just for filing if none of it interfere with job performance. But in one of the private parties he attended in New York, he met the doctor who facilitated his exam and in between drinks, he jested that Luhan won’t ever have to worry about any kids claiming paternity in the future. At the time, being sterile didn’t even bother him. He didn’t even believe in marriage and he didn’t really think he’s capable of raising a child. And considering his philandering ways, he thought it was rather convenient.

When he met Xiumin, he totally forgot about his handicap. Their relationship started like any other one-night-stand until it developed into something deeper. Xiumin didn’t ask for many things, didn’t ask many questions and didn’t demand for a lot of attention. He became content with what they had thinking that she wanted the same. He just realized how important she was to him when she was gone.

It was his entire fault. He should have had himself rechecked when she said she was pregnant. Instead of begging her to come back, he said mean things to her and worst of all, denied his child. His own flesh and blood.

When he found the pregnancy test stick in between rolls of his unmounted paintings of Xiumin, he had his medical file pulled up and saw how stupid he really was. The typist must have made a mistake since most of the data weren’t even correct. He had himself checked and found out that he was as healthy as bull and can father a dozen children if he chose to.

Yifan stared at the two distinct red lines across the stick. The only proof that Luhan already was a father. Or had fathered a child. His niece. Or nephew. "I don't know what to say." He mumbled. He lost Yixing while Luhan lost two important people.

"That makes the two of us." He grunted.

"Will. . .congratulations be. . .appropriate?" He asked and they shared a ringing laughter. "It's been a long day. I think I better catch some sleep. Wan an!" He got up after a long moment of silence. He was about to open the door when Luhan called him.

"Ge." Yifan faced Luhan again. "Xie xie ni. It felt good to let it all out." He said in a small voice. Yifan smiled.

"No problem, brother."

 ***************************************

"Good morning!" Luhan greeted everyone when he got to the lanai the next morning. He took his usual seat beside Joonmyeon and their mother didn't even bother to hide her surprise. She was watching his every move like a hawk, mouth wide open.

"Morning, son." Siwon was the first one to recover. Yifan smiled knowingly. "Can you lead the prayer?"

Luhan didn't answer and proceeded to say their usual grace. He closed his eyes. He knew his family will be watching him. After Yifan's visit last night, he pondered over things. He finally realized that he was neglecting his family. The only one that's left. He cried for his mother's grief and his father's worries and decided that he'll strive to bring everything back to normal.

He figured that maybe the only way to get Xiumin back was to be his best self. And if someday, somehow, their paths will cross again, she'll see that he already changed. For the better. He vowed to work harder for his unknown offspring. He was hoping that one day, he'll be given a chance to offer him the world. Be the best father that he can be and make up for the lost time.

"Amen." He heard them say after him. He opened his eyes slowly and was able to see six smiling faces in varying degrees of happiness. Even if they didn't say anything, he knew he made the right decision. He ate heartily and got up after finishing his meal ahead of everyone.

"Guys, I really have to go. I still have to sign some papers for Chanyeol. Kaye called me last night and I told her I'll help her." He explained when he saw their surprised expression. Since Han Auto and HanTel were somewhat interrelated to each other, he held a special Power of Attorney for all Han Auto business as Chanyeol held one for HanTel. "Bye, Ma." He kissed Hankyung on her cheek.

"Drive safely, alright?" She reminded before he disappeared through the sliding glass doors. "Thank you God for all the blessings and for all the answered prayers." Hankyung muttered under her breath when Luhan was out of earshot.

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