TW: DRUG ABUSE, ALCOHOL ABUSE, NEGLECT

3rd January, 2000

hurt - nine inch nails

It started as a normal evening for Scarlet. The streets of London are busy as she makes her way to her meeting. The weather has a brittle feel this January evening. She can feel the chill in the air as she walks down the cobblestone streets, her breath forming small clouds in front of her face.

The city is bustling with activity, the sound of cars honking and people chattering filling the air. Scarlet has decided to walk this evening, despite the cold, as she knows the traffic will be mayhem. She needs time to clear her head before the meeting, and the walk seems like the perfect way to do so.

She makes her way through the busy streets, she can't help but feel a sense of calm wash over her. The city has a certain energy to it, a vibrancy that she finds comforting. As she walks, she passes by various shops and restaurants, the smell of food wafting through the air. The lights of the city cast a warm glow on the buildings, creating a cosy atmosphere despite the cold. Scarlet can't help but smile as she takes in the sights and sounds of the city she calls home.

As she rounds the corner, her hotel comes into view. The grand building looms before her, its lights twinkling in the fading light. She smiles to herself, feeling a sense of serenity wash over her. But as she continues down the street, her eyes are drawn to a dark alley just off the side of her hotel. And there, lying on the ground is a woman passed out. The calm that is wafting around her soon dissipates as she sees a child, no older than four, huddled in a thin blanket next to the woman.

Her heart lurches in her chest as she rushes to the child's side. He is shaking, his small frame trembling with fear. He clutches a tattered teddy bear to his chest, his eyes wide with fright. And then she sees it - a needle hanging out of the woman's arm. Horror washes over her as she realises what has happened. The woman has overdosed, leaving the child alone and scared in the alley.

She knows she has to act fast, to help the child before it's too late. Without hesitating, she scoops the child up into her arms, his small body limp with exhaustion. She wraps him in her coat, trying to shield him from the cold night air. The teddy bear clutches tightly to his chest, the only comfort he has at this terrifying moment.

Scarlet takes her phone out dialing her childhood best friend and business partner.  "Lucio, you need to get over here.

As the sleek black car glides to a stop in front of Scarlet's hotel, the bright city lights reflect off its polished exterior. Lucio steps out of the driver's seat, his tall, imposing figure casting a shadow over the pavement. Scarlet emerges from the hotel, her arms wrapped protectively around a small, shivering boy.

"Thank you for coming, Lucio," Scarlet addresses, her voice tinged with relief. "I found this boy by his passed-out mother, and he's scared and cold."

Lucio nods in understanding, his dark eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. He gently takes the boy from Scarlet's arms and places him in the front seat of the car, wrapping a warm blanket around his trembling frame. The boy looks up at Lucio with wide, frightened eyes, but Lucio offers him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, little one," Lucio coos softly. "You're safe now."

Lucio's heart clenches at the thought of the little boy's mother, a victim of addiction and unable to care for her child. He goes to the alley of the hotel and sees the woman slumped over, breathing shallowly.  Without hesitation, Lucio carefully lifts the woman into his arms, her frail body almost weightless against his chest. He can feel the bones beneath her skin, a stark reminder of the toll addiction has taken on her.

As he carries her to his car, he can't help but feel a surge of compassion for this stranger who has fallen so far from grace. Gently laying her down in the back seat, Lucio brushes a stray lock of hair away from her sweat-beaded forehead. Her skin is clammy to the touch, and he can see the bruises and track marks that mar her arms. The stench of alcohol and stale cigarettes clings to her like a heavy cloud, a scent that makes his stomach churn with pity.

"We'll take them to my house," Lucio decides, his tone determined. "They'll be safe there."

TW: DRUG ABUSE, AlCOHOL ABUSE & SEXUAL ABUSE

Lilly had always been a troubled soul. Ever since she was a young girl, she had been struggling with addiction. Her drug of choice was whatever she could get her hands on – pills, alcohol, anything that would numb the pain she felt inside. But her addiction didn't start with a desire to get high; it began as a desperate attempt to escape the reality of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Lilly's father was a violent drunk man who would come home from work every night and take out his frustrations on his family.

Lilly was just six years old when the abuse began, and she quickly learned that the only way to survive was to retreat into a haze of drugs and alcohol. Her mother, already numbed by her own addiction, was too intoxicated most of the time to notice what was happening to her daughter. Not that she would have cared much, anyway – she was too busy chasing her next high.

As Lilly grew older, her addiction only grew stronger. She dropped out of school, unable to focus on anything other than her next fix. She drifted from one dead-end job to another, always struggling to make ends meet. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the demons of her past. Lilly never wanted to be her mother. She never wanted to end up like the woman who had neglected her for years in favour of chasing her next high. It was a cycle she swore she would break, no matter what it took. But life had a funny way of throwing curveballs her way.

It was on one of those cold, dark nights on the streets that Lilly met Taehyung's Father. She was desperate for her next fix, with no money or dignity left to her name. And there he was, a drug dealer offering her exactly what she needed in exchange for being with him for the night. And so she made the deal. One night with him in exchange for the drug that would dull the pain. It was a decision she would come to regret for the rest of her life.

That night, in a dingy motel room on the outskirts of the city, Taehyung was conceived. A child born out of desperation and despair, a child who never stood a chance from the moment he was brought into this world. Taehyung grew up in a world of chaos and addiction.

His mother, Lilly, was a slave to the drug, constantly chasing the high that would never truly satisfy her. His father was absent, a shadowy figure who would come and go as he pleased, using Lilly as nothing more than a toy for his own pleasure.

As Scarlet stands at the doorway of the bedroom, watching Taehyung sleep peacefully in bed, she can't shake the feeling of guilt that consumes her. She knows that his mother, is a drug addict and that she and her gang Lobos are partly responsible for enabling her addiction.

They try to avoid selling drugs to parents, especially ones with young children like Taehyung, but in their line of work, there isn't exactly a vetting process for these things. She knows that she and her gang are contributing to the destruction of this family.

Scarlet takes a deep breath and enters the room. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminates Taehyung's face as she sits beside him on the bed. She reaches out and gently strokes his hair, feeling the soft strands slip through her fingers.

Taehyung stirs slightly in his sleep, a small smile crossing his face. Scarlet's heart aches as she looks at him, knowing that he deserves so much more than the life he has been given.

As she looks down at the young boy sleeping peacefully in the bed, tears streak her face. She can't help but think about how this could be the first time he's ever been in a bed, the first time he's felt the warmth of a home. It breaks her heart to think about all the struggles and hardships he must have faced.

The guilt gnaws at Scarlet, tearing at her insides. She knows that she could walk away, leave this life behind and start fresh. But it's not that easy. The Lobos are family to her, the only family she has ever known. They have shown her love and loyalty in a world that offers none.

I can't handle change - roar

After managing to wake Lilly from her drug-induced stupor, Lucio learned the extent of the horrors she had endured throughout her life. She had been through unimaginable pain and suffering, and it was no wonder she turned to drugs to numb the memories.

Feeling responsible for Lilly's addiction, Lucio offered to pay for her rehab and buy a home for her and Taehyung. He wanted to give them a chance at a better life, free from the chains of addiction.

But Lilly was haunted by her past, and the idea of stopping the drugs meant facing the memories she couldn't bear to remember. She was too afraid of the pain that would come flooding back if she were to get clean. So instead, she chose to remain on the streets, cold and alone, with only the drugs to numb her pain.

In a heartbreaking moment, Lilly pleaded with Lucio to save her son. She knew she couldn't give Taehyung the life he deserved, but she hoped that Lucio could provide him with the love and support he needed to thrive.

Lucio didn't hesitate to take Taehyung in as his own. Taehyung quickly became a part of Lucio's family, growing up alongside his son and two nephews. Despite the challenges he faced, Taehyung was welcomed with open arms and treated with kindness and love. Lucio and his family made sure Taehyung had everything he needed to thrive - a warm bed, nutritious meals, and plenty of laughter and love.

Scarlet also had a soft spot for Taehyung. She treated him as her own, making sure he felt loved and cared for just like her own daughters. Together, Lucio, Andrea, Scarlet and Lewis created a safe and nurturing environment for Taehyung to grow and flourish.

As the years went by, Taehyung flourished under the loving care of Lucio and Scarlet. He excelled in school, made friends, and discovered a passion for painting. Lucio and Scarlet encouraged him to pursue his dreams and never gave up on him, even when he faced setbacks and challenges. They never let him forget, that his mother cared deeply for him, she was just a lost soul and couldn't give him the world she wanted to.