Irene looked at the group in front of her, her eyes lining with tears as she watched them stand, astonished to see her face after so long; their own eyes becoming moist as the boys ran towards her, huddling her into a group hug as tears ran down their faces. Jackson took a step back, his eyes falling to the floor as he stood there with guilt. He watched as Irene broke in between the boys, as they sobbed along with her. After five minutes they created a small distance, Bambam wiping her tears with his hands as she smiled up at him. Mark, grabbed her hand pulling her into his embrace as he closed his eyes "I'm so sorry." He whispered, her head shaking in a no, as she held onto him tightly, the boys rejoining as the girls and Jay sat quietly watching with sad smiles. "Yah Irene...." began Youngjae as he sniffled "never mind Jackson you have all of us whipped." He said laughing as she slapped his arm. Jinyoung pulled her out of Mark's arms "Don't leave like that again...please." He said his eyes pleading, she nodded up at him as he pulled her into his embrace. Once the family moment finished they led her to the table, engaging her in conversation as they questioned what she had been up to making her laugh every now and then as they piled up her plate with food. She smiled up at them gratefully as she smiled at Jay who returned it brightly.

As she turned to the girls however they watched as her mood turned, grabbing a pillow of the couch, she stalked towards them, as they hastily stood running around the room. "Irene....." they started as her features tensed, "Unnie please..." she heard joy plead as she laughed bitterly. "I gave you guys one job.." she said softly, all of them knowing this was the calm before the storm, as she began sprinting after them, screams filling the penthouse as they tried to hide from her. "How can you lose my child..."she shouted, causing them all to jump, the boys trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to leave their lips, at the sight of the girls faces. "Irene...let's be real Jackson is the dad, he is not a normal child, his iq is too high, it's above average...you can't fight us." Said Joy, trailing off at the look Irene gave her "and who's the adult." She retorted sharply.

Irene sighed moments later dropping the pillow, "And I assume by the way you guys are huddled around him that all is forgiven." She questioned, the resentment heard by all. She shook her head in disgust as she picked Jay up "Well you guys can stay here then." She said grabbing her luggage and making a break for the door, before anyone had a chance to register what was happening. "Irene!" She heard Jackson shout, his footsteps gaining on her as she reached the elevator, he stopped for a second as she got in pressing the button, his eyes locked with Jay's. The tears slipping down his face as he reached out for Jackson, Irene looking away, her own tears shining as jay buried his face in the crook of her neck, wailing bitterly as he wiggled in her arms. Her eyes moved to Jackson's as his feet pulled him forwards as he watched the doors begin to close. "Don't do this."he called out as he reached the doors that finally closed. He slammed his hands against the steel door, kicking it moments later as the boys and girls caught up with him, he looked at the stairs pushing past yugeom who looked hurt for a second as he stumbled for the steps, his legs picking up speed as he missed a couple out, a rhythm formed as he reached the ground floor, he ran out the big double doors watching as she sat in the black cab, he ran up to it pounding on the window, her eyes sauntering up to his for a split second before turning away and pulling Jay closer, signalling the driver to go. "Irene!" He shouted repeatedly as he kept up with the taxi, he watched as her tears fell, but she refused to look at him, his eyes begging as he called out for them continuously. She watched as the taxi picked up speed, Jackson failing to keep up as he stopped moments later, the sweat mixing with his tears as he screamed out her name. Jay looked up at Irene, snuggling up to her before reaching up to wipe her tears. She forced a smile as Jay watched her hands shake slightly; understanding his mother's heart. She was trying to protect both of them by with drawing. He knew how bad his dad had hurt his mum, and the cemented pain he saw in her eyes growing up, he could see it clearly now as her tears shone. He wanted his Dad as much as he needed his Mum, and his heart buckled slightly at the thought of not being with Irene. His union with Jackson would have to wait until Irene's trust had been restored and her heart healed. Jay was okay with waiting until then. He wanted a proper family, and he was willing to wait until the timing was right, because once it was he was never letting it fall apart again, he vowed. "I'm sorry." He heard Irene say, her eyes looking down to meet his. "I know how much that meant to you. I know how bad you've wanted to meet your dad and I'm taking that of you again." She turned away for a second "I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen. Not again." She whispered as she looked back at Jay. "It's okay Mum...I understand." He said back, as his arms wrapped around her offering her the comfort he knew her heart realistically needed from his Dad, which was now going to be harder than before.

/////////////// Two days later///////////

Jay watched in silence for the past two days as his mother made attempts to pick herself back up, failing miserably as she fell over and over again to the point she had given up. It had hit her like a ton of bricks. In no way had her heart been prepared. For all the hurt to suddenly come flooding back in heaps suffocating her. He watched as she made food for him, but ate nothing herself. He watched as she busied herself, immersing herself into work, occupying both her mind and heart. He watched, having no idea what to do.

Irene sat on the floor hours later after she had put Jay to sleep. She saw the pity in her own sons eyes, the pity as he watched  her trying to pick herself back up. She let a frustrated sigh as she looked down at her phone, messages flooding through from the boys and girls but mainly Jackson. She refused to open any, only looking at her phone for work. She took out the alcohol she hadn't touched in years, her lips begging for one drop, her mind giving the all clear as it deflated, fed up. She sat on the floor, her hair in a high pony tail as she poured herself drink after drink, losing count after the first one. She slammed her head back violently as her mind tried to convince her against what she was about to do. She shut of her rationality seconds later reaching for her phone as she typed in:

To Jackson
I hate you.

She pressed send seconds later, her heart  possessing her to type again.

To Jackson
I want to tell you I miss you with no subtext. No guilt. No anger. No expectation that you'll fix this. I don't want you to feel bad or feel anything. This is where we are meant to be right now- me apart from you. My hands a little empty and my heart a bit sad. I just miss you. I wanted you to know.

She pressed send, giggling as she dropped her phone to the floor.

To Irene
Irene where are you. Let me come to you.
Please
Just respond
We are all worried about you
We are worried about you and Jay
I won't come if you don't want me to
But please just tell us where you are.

She squinted looking at her phone as she laughed

To Jackson
Where i am?.....away from you of course.

To Irene
Irene....please
You said you missed me Babygirl.
Well let me come to you then.

To Jackson
No.

She turned her phone off seconds later as his caller identification brightened her screen. Collapsing in a heap moments later.

The sun touched the horizon, the rays of the sun peaking through the blinds waking Irene up as she touched her head, cursing her weak self for giving into the alcohol. She sighed getting up and brushing her teeth before plopping down on the couch. She grabbed her phone turning it on 6AM brightening her screen, eyes widening as she watched the notifications pour in, her mind wandered back, knowing she had done something stupid, her head falling into her hands as she read the messages she had sent to Jackson last night. She swore under her breath as she gripped her hair, suppressing the scream in the her throat. Throwing her phone to the side, Jay walked in, the mother and son duo looking at each other before laughing. "What do you want to do today little man?" She asked "FORT DAY." He screeched fist bumping the air as he ran to his room. She smiled softly as she began constructing their fort. They laughed together as Irene grabbed her laptop the two doing a movie marathon with snacks and drinks in reach. Irene smiled watching Jay.

Four Hours later she was called in for work, freaking out about where Jay would go. She sighed knowing where she would have to go moaning as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Twenty minutes later she reached the penthouse, noticing the smile on Jay's face as he held onto her hand. She knocked on the door, it quickly swinging open, Irene and Jackson making eye contact as she took a deep breath. "I need to go to work.... can you look after him." Jackson looked at her, his features trying to register what was in front of him. Irene rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping from her voice "Seems like Jackson isn't home...let's go Jay." He grabbed her wrist pulling them both into a hug, Jay giving in as Irene fought against him glaring at him seconds later. "That's fine." He finally said. Irene crouched down to jays height "sorry little man I know we were supposed to have fort day. I'll try and come back quickly okay? Then we will go home." Jay nodded kissing her forehead as she smiled her eyes tensing as she made an attempt to look at Jackson as Jay did something he used to do. She kissed his cheek ruffling his hair as they two laughed. "Bye baby." "Bye Mum." She looked at the rest of them nodding as she looked at Jackson. "He needs to be asleep by 8 no later, his clothes are in here and toothbrush and everything else. I wrote you some notes on what foods not to give to him...." she handed him the bag. As he took it their hands brushed accidentally causing her to retreat. "I'll try and be back as fast I can, and then we will be out of your hair." She said "Your not a burden Irene." Refusing to acknowledge that she looked up at him "Bye. Thank you for looking after my son." She took out some money handing it to him, as she watched the fury seep through his eyes "I'm not accepting that. Your trying to pay me for looking after our son...seriously!" He said. He watched as Irene suppressed a smirk, he knew this was to hurt him, watching the silent victory that shone from her eyes. She shrugged her shoulders pocketing the money as she took a step back "call me if anything happens or you don't know what your doing." She nodded at him, waving to Jay, saying bye to the other boys and briefly acknowledging the girls, before leaving seconds later. Jay ran into his arms as Jackson picked him up "I missed you...." jay said as Jackson smiled, he whispered into Jackson's ear as Jackson leaned closer for ease "But Mummy missed you more." He said winking at Jackson who laughed, the two sitting down, the others following as heaps of laughter sounded in the penthouse.

TBC

-Authors notes
Hope you enjoy this one guys....let me know what you think in the comment section. I would love to hear your thoughts. Lots of love and best wishes to you all.