I laughed at her, shaking my head. "Not hardly. But I think you'll like this just as much. Come on, I'll help you down the stairs."

~♡~

You had wanted to know more about him, and you had decided to ask him why he had moved from South Korea to the US. You weren't sure what kind of response you would get, if any, and at first, he seemed reluctant to answer. But you were also pretty sure that he had mentioned knowing what it was like to be treated badly earlier, because he wanted to help you, so deciding that maybe that was safe, you decided to ask him about it, and if that was why he'd moved from the place he called home.

But now that he was telling you, your heart was breaking. He'd had a girlfriend, one he had apparently loved very much. Enough to plan to propose to her. But she had changed, for reasons he couldn't figure out, and it had caused him to end the relationship.

You didn't expect him to ask you how you'd ended up here, on his property, because you'd already shared a little of your past. But he had asked. You thought you'd be okay opening up to him, but when asked, you hadn't wanted to answer, or say anymore than you'd already said. But he got you to talk, somehow.

All the memories of your past came flooding back. You told him, because he made you believe that he wanted to help you. You actually believed him. So even though it hurt, you told him everything, from when your mama had gotten sick and died, to your daddy dying, how you'd ended up with your boyfriend, and finally left after he'd hit you.

You had to admit, you felt a weight lift off your shoulders after you told him. But then, he had spoken of things that made you almost question the resentment you had for your boyfriend. He said things that...made sense. Things that you never would have even considered. And after hearing him talk about it, you felt understanding seeping into your heart. Not that you would ever forgive him, because his words, and his actions, had damaged your self confidence so much. But you could say that you understood now.

He'd also talked more about himself, and the reasons behind the problems he'd had, why he'd ended his relationship, and then why he'd felt the need to leave, and move so far away. You felt as if you had been selfish, because you'd left a relationship that as far as you were concerned, held no love. At least not where your heart was concerned. Your ex had made it impossible for you to love him. But Tae, he had loved his girlfriend, he had planned a future with her, and he had to let it all go.

He  did seem to be okay, but part of you wondered if he really was. You wanted to be okay. You wanted to let go of the past, and start with now. Tae had invited you to stay thru the winter, and you were happy to be here. You enjoyed spending time with him, and you were going to work on gaining your self confidence back, and smiling more.

He'd asked you if you wanted to come downstairs, and said he had something to show you. You couldn't imagine what it might be, But you let him help you down the stairs, and into the kitchen. You felt much better, and really didn't think you needed him to help you, but you liked the feel of his arm around you, his hand on your waist, so you kept quiet, for now.

He had set the plate with your barely eaten toast down on the counter, and was going towards the laundry room, and your face registered confusion, because you couldn't figure out for the life of you what he could possibly have to show you in the laundry room.

"Are we going to the laundry room?" You asked awkwardly.

He chuckled. "We are, close your eyes."

You hesitated, but then closed them, knowing you had nothing to fear as he led you into the small room..

"Okay, you can open them now."

You opened your eyes, and there in front of you, in a laundry basket, was Gucci, and two cute little tiny kittens, nursing like their lives depended on it.

"Oh my God..." you squealed, stepping forward and kneeling down to get a closer look. "They are so tiny. When..." you looked up at Tae, to see him smiling at you.

"I'm guessing earlier this morning, maybe when I was out taking care of the horses."

"Did you know?"

"I had no idea. I found them when I came down to make your toast. I noticed that she had been keeping to herself lately, but I really didn't think anything of it. I thought maybe she knew you weren't feeling well, but I guess it started even before that. Now I know she was just getting ready, looking for a place she thought was safe to have her babies."

"Oh no, she can't keep them in a basket full of dirty towels. We have to make her a bed."

You reached in, petting Gucci, and she purred, and rubbed her head against your hand.

"I kind of figured you were going to say that. I think we can probably fix something up for her."

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

I brought Y/n down, and guided her to the laundry room, making her close her eyes before going in. She was so excited over the two little kittens Gucci had had, and as I'd assumed she would, she insisted that we fix her a bed.

I'd already planned to figure out something for her, but I wasn't sure what yet. I didn't have any boxes lying around, and I didn't think this called for me to actually try to build something. I didn't have that kind of wood lying around either. I could just wash the towels, and put a few clean ones back in the basket, and let her stay there, but somehow, I didn't think Y/n would allow me to do that.

Just then, there was a knock on the front door. I told Y/n I'd be right back, having an idea who it was. She was perfectly happy sitting there watching the kittens, so I left to answer the door.

As I opened it, I saw the UPS truck driving away, and a decent sized box outside the door. It was the stuff I'd ordered for Y/n. Thank goodness, I really wasn't sure UPS would find me. Well, now I was no longer box-less, and Gucci would have a bed.

I picked up the box, and brought it inside, taking it into the kitchen and putting it on the table.

"Y/n, there's something here for you."

She came out of the laundry room looking surprised. "For me?"

"Mhm, come see."

I opened the box, and took out several packages, putting them on the table. She stood there looking at them, but made no move to open the packages.

"Aren't you going to open them?"

"Is this...the stuff you ordered for me?" Her cheeks were tinted pink, and she had pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

"It is." I tried not to smile at her embarrassment.  "Would you rather look at it all later, in your room?"

"If...you don't mind..." she mumbled.

I smiled to myself as I reached for the packages I'd removed.

"Okay, I'll take the stuff upstairs and leave it in your room" I picked up the packages and put them back in the box. "I'll  bring the empty box back down though, because it's going to become Gucci's little house for her and the kittens."

She nodded, still looking a bit flustered.

"Are you feeling okay, Y/n? Do you need to go back upstairs and lie down?"

"No, I'm fine. I feel much better."

"Okay, well, let me take this up to your room, and then I better check the woodstove, and make sure it isn't burning out. I'll be right back. Why don't you curl up In the recliner, and read or something. I'm sure some more rest will do you good."

She nodded, and I picked up the box and took it up the stairs. I placed the packages on the bed, smiling again at how she had blushed. I couldn't blame her, since it was a box full of women's undergarments. But her reaction was cute, just the same.

I made my way into my room, grabbing a blanket from my closet, and placing it in the box, fluffing it up a bit. Then I carried the box down, and stopped in front of Y/n so she could inspect it.

"Will this do for a bed for mama and her babies?"

She was sitting on the edge of the recliner, and leaned forward to peer into the box. She smiled happily, and nodded.

"That's perfect, I think they will be very happy in there. You're blanket may get ruined though..."

"I'm not worried about the blanket. It can be replaced. As long as Gucci and the kittens are warm and happy, that's all that matters."

She smiled at me, and it was the first time her whole face lit up like that. I'm pretty sure it was the biggest, most beautiful smile I'd ever seen. Her eyes sparkled and crinkled cutely at the corners, and the corners of her mouth turned up, pushing her cheeks up so that they looked like ripe apples. She wrinkled her nose at me, and got up, grabbing my hand.

"Lets go put the box in there for her right now, so she can have a clean area, instead of laying where she gave birth. I'm sure she'll like it much better in this box."

I had to shake my head to snap myself out of the state of surprise I was in at her sudden giddiness. She pulled me along to the laundry room, and I just followed behind her, looking at her with curiosity. It was like she became a happy, carefree child in an instant. I liked it. She was cute. She was growing on me. I was going to have to keep that from happening.