Donghyuck doesn't remember falling asleep.
He woke up to warm arms wrapped around his waist and a chest pressed to his back.
"Oh love," A soft voice whispered before he felt a kiss being placed on his forehead.
Donghyuck scrunched his nose before opening his eyes.
Taeyong was looking down at him with shiny eyes and a hand running through Donghyucks hair.
Donghyuck furrowed his brows before realizing Mark was fast asleep behind him.
"Hi," Donghyuck said while blinking up at him.
Taeyongs chin wobbled but a giggle covered it.
"Hi sweetheart," Taeyong said before cradling Donghyuck's cheek in his palm and kissing his forehead again. "Dinner is done but I want to talk to you for a minute."
Donghyuck swallowed the tension in his throat before nodding.
"Markie," Taeyong leaned over and slightly shook Mark's shoulder.
"Whaaat?" Mark groaned sleepily before burying his face in Donghyuck's shoulder.
"Dinner is done, baby," Taeyong smiled at the action. "I need to talk to Donghyuck for a minute."
"No," Mark whispered as he laid his forehead on the back of Donghyuck's neck.
"Markie... I know you missed him but I need to-" Taeyong stared again gently.
"No," Mark stared at Taeyong with a sleepy glare. "I'm not leaving him."
"Mark-"
"Mark, it's ok," Donghyuck said laying his hand over Mark's. "I'll be down soon."
Mark leaned over him to peer down into his caramel eyes.
Donghyuck stared up at him before squeezing his hand. "I promise."
"Ok," Mark whispered as he ducked down to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.
Donghyuck's cheeks felt inflammed and were probably as red as he imagines they are.
You are a mystery, Mark Lee.
Mark slowly got out of the bed before walking out and closing the door.
Donghyuck sat up, although a bit more slowly due to his injuries to face Taeyong.
"I'm sorry for everything that-" Donghyuck stared but was cut off by arms around his neck.
"You- you're awake," Taeyong whispered.
Taeyong's eyes were filling with tears but he wasn't going to let them go.
Donghyuck shouldn't have to see him crying when he was the one in pain.
"I'm sorry," Donghyuck said as he slowly hugged Taeyong back. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"Don't ever be sorry about this," Taeyong said as he pulled back and cupped Donghyuck's cheeks in his hand.
He let his fingers lightly run over one of the bruises on his cheek.
"My friend he's a doctor," Taeyong said carefully before sitting on the edge of the bed. "His name is Kun. He checked you out when you got here. He only examined what he could see over your clothes."
"Mark said that," Donghyuck nodded, keeping his gaze on his blanket covered lap.
"Is there any other pain your feeling?" Taeyong tried to peer into his eyes. "Under your clothes? Or are you still feeling cold due to the hypothermia?"
Donghyuck swallowed roughly again before hesitantly shaking his head.
"O-oh uhm ok," Taeyong gave a small smile and nodded his head. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
Donghyuck tensed before his hands turned into fists and he violently shook his head.
"Ok, not yet," Taeyong said quickly before reaching out and stroking Donghyucks knuckles. "It's alright. We won't talk about it yet, okay?"
Donghyuck pulled his legs up to his chest and hugged them.
"Hyuckie?" Taeyong went to touch him but he quickly flinched away once Donghyuck spoke.
"I don't want to talk to you anymore," Donghyuck's voice was muffled into his arm.
"Huh? I'm sorry if I offended you! I didn't mean to make you upset sweetheart-" Taeyong profusely apologized.
"Please...please leave me alone for now," Donghyuck whispered into the air.
What went unseen was how Taeyong's brows and wet eyes dropped while his bottom lip quivered slightly.
Another thing that went unseen was the painful face Donghyuck was making. His brows pulled together in pain and his eyes screwed shut.
Taeyong slowly got up and left the room without another word.
Donghyuck felt instant regret pooling in his stomach at the thought of how his words sounded.
It wasn't that he wanted to make Taeyong upset.
He cares about him.
He cares about this family and he isn't sure why.
He doesn't understand how this family works so perfectly when his own beat the shit out of him.
"I'm sorry..." Donghyuck felt tears pooling in his eyes.
However what went unsaid was...
You should listen to someone who deserves to be listened to.
...
Taeyong entered the bathroom and shut the door gently.
He leaned back against the door before sliding down and screwing his eyed shut.
'I don't want to talk to you anymore'
Taeyong frowned gently as he thought about the young boy.
Donghyuck was a sweet boy.
He might not think that he was but in Taeyong's mind he has been nothing but a joy to have around.
He thought that the time he has spend with him for the last couple weeks were finally paying off.
Donghyuck called him in the middle of the night and he thought he had finally gotten through to the younger boy.
"What did I do wrong?" Taeyong whispered as he ran his hand through his hair.
Taeyong rolled his eyes when he felt his phone buzz before pulling it out to look.
The top notification peeking his interest.
He instantly clicked on it only to freeze.
Taeyong felt his whole world stop in place and his heart got caught in his throat
A picture from 5 years ago today!
------------------------------------------------------------
Flashback...
"That dance was so sexy~" Ten smirked at him as soon as he got off the stage.
His dance company had held an annual party to celebrate the achievements at the end of the year.
"I'd say it was probably more pretty than sexy," Taeyong winked before shoving Ten away with his hand.
"Speaking of pretty sexy," Ten looked around the ballroom curiously. "Where is Jaehyun?"
"Oh," Taeyong smiled softly but Ten didn't miss the downcast of his eyes. "He stayed home to watch the babies."
"I can't believe you still call those two babies," Ten rolled his eyes. "You two adopted them over a year ago at this point. I'm sure Mark and Jeno would've been fine without their 'Dad' for one day. I mean I'm sure that idiot Johnny could of-"
"It's not that he didn't want to come!" Taeyong pouted at Ten before crossing his arms.
"The kids wanted to spend time with Jae. I'm not going to take that away from them. Jae never got a lot of attention from his parents and the boys never had a real connection with theirs."
Ten's gaze softened as he watched Taeyong explain.
"Plus there isn't exactly anything special about-" Taeyong went to speak but was cut off by the lights dimming.
"Can I have everyone's attention?" The owner of the studio said into the microphone on stage. "I was asked to play this song by one of our guests. So if you love slow songs. Grab a partner and dance!"
Taeyong felt himself stop breathing when he heard the first few bests of the song.
It was the song that was playing when he first met Jaehyun.
Taeyong went to look at Ten but the shorter boy was already gone.
"Hey Angel," A deep familiar voice said in his ear causing him to spin around.
"Jae!" Taeyong squealed in disbelief before throwing himself into his arms. "I thought you were at home? Wait what about-"
Jaehyun pointed to the side of the room where Mark was running around with Jeno on his back.
"They wanted to see your performance," Jaehyun smiled cheerily as he leaned in. "And I wanted to dance with the love of my life."
"I love you," Taeyong smiled before he wrapped his arms around his neck and nuzzled his nose against Jaehyun's.
"I love you too," Jaehyun smiled back before he pressed his lips gently against the others.
From there they swayed from side to side basking in their love.
By the song came to an end Taeyong sighed and clung to Jaehyun a little bit tighter.
Their moment was gone.
It was soon to be replaced by the reality of the world around them.
"Hey babe?" Jaehyun said gently as one of his hands pulled away from his waist.
"Hm?" Taeyong hummed before pulling back too look at his boyfriend.
Jaehyun took a step back before sticking his hand into his jacket pocket.
Taeyong felt his eyes widen and fill with tears when he saw Jaehyun get down on one knee.
"Bubu, you mean the absolute world to me. You've stuck by me through all my hard days and loved me unconditionally...even when I was definitely a pain in the ass," Jaehyun chuckled to himself.
"You are helping me to become a better person. You are amazing with Mark and Jeno and all of our friends. You are the sweetest thing in every room. You make people love you instantly and I am no exception."
"I am in love with you. I want to kiss you and hug you for the rest of my life. I want us to keep raising our family together. I want to be by your side for the rest of my life."
Taeyong was already sobbing at this point as he stared into Jaehyun's sparkly eyes.
"So, Lee Taeyong, will you marry me?"
Taeyong felt his heart explode as he nodded his head frantically.
Jaehyun smiled so wide his cheeks hurt before he scooped his sobbing fiance into a hug.
"Yes, yes, yes," Taeyong cried into his shoulder as he kept repeating his awnser. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
"I love you too, Jung Taeyong," Jaehyun said as he gave him kisses all over his face.
"Hate to ruin the moment but i got the best picture for the wedding card!" Ten screeched from the sidelines.
"You see that," Yuta said from the table where he was sitting. "Your parents are getting married."
He had been told (threatened) to watch Mark and Jeno while this all played out.
The two young boys looked at each other clearly thinking the same thing.
"They aren't married already?!"
End of Flashback
Taeyong felt the tears stream down his face as he looked at the picture.
Ever since you left...
I am no longer a good person.
A good friend.
A good parent.
Taeyong tightened his grip on his phone.
I am failing.
I want to help but without you im lost.
I'm useless.
Taeyong took a deep breath before sobs took over his body.
"I'm falling apart!" Taeyong yelled as he chucked his phone across the bathroom.
Hoping the phone would shatter and the picture would no longer be there.
Silence took over the bathroom when there was a small knock on the door.
His sobs coming to a hault when he heard a soft voice on the other side.
"Hyung..." Donghyuck's sweet and broken voice drifted through. "My....my back hurts."
Taeyong's eyes widened at the rush of emotion being let through the door.
However so small...
Donghyuck just told him the truth.