it takes everything within yoongi to enter jiah's room, especially after what he just witnessed outside. it's truly disheartening to see the girl he practically raised, this scared and dependent on somebody else, completely something she's never been. even when her parents abandoned her during her pregnancy, jiah wasn't in such a bad condition. she cried for sure, cursed taehyung with all her heart, but it was still okay. at least she wasn't leaning on taehyung for justice, like she's doing right now.

yoongi knows it's not really her fault, rather it's taehyung who forced her into believing him until she couldn't trust herself anymore. it hurts yoongi more than words can describe, standing by the door of her room as he watches with a soft gaze the way jiah stands by jihun's crib. she holds the toddler's hands as he stands up, giggling at her and mumbling something in his baby voice.

"jiah," yoongi calls out softly, approaching the girl and her child, gaining attention from both. jihun reacts first with a gasp, followed by a giggle and extends his arms out, already leaning on the rail of his crib at the sight of yoongi.

"yoo'gi u'cle!" the toddler is restless in his place, struggling against the crib that keeps him from running off to yoongi. the man breaks into a chuckle, taking one large step close to the crib and lifts jihun up in his arms.

"hey champ, long time huh?" he pats the baby's back, who jumps in excitement hugging yoongi's neck with his little arms wrapped around it like he was running away. jiah watches the interaction, smilling a little to herself and sighs softly, stepping back. she fixes her hair, eyes traveling back to the door in search of her child's father, wondering how taehyung even let yoongi, and well jungkook too, come inside.

he's not there. she frowns, eyes looking behind jungkook to see if taehyung was coming, but he never shows up. she gulps nervously, ignoring the men and her blabbering toddler, and walks up to the door that opens in the short lobby leading to the living room. taehyung is nowhere around and then it hits jiah that yoongi might have threatened him to leave. she's about to turn around when a hand is placed on her shoulder gently, making her flinch and twirl around quickly.

"sorry, didn't wanna scare you." jungkook hushes out, removing his hand and smiles a little, "taehyung's gone, okay? relax."

"why?" she asks, frowning at him.

"he's hurting you, baby. just take a look at yourself. he's messing up with you." jungkook steps near her, cupping her face while his other hand holds hers, caressing her wrist slowly. "now tell me the truth, how are you? what did he do?"

jiah stares at him, her head tilted up due to his height and the proximity. she opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out, so she just ends up shaking her head. jungkook's eyes soften at that and he gradually pulls her in a hug, "i missed you," he whispers, "i was so worried that taehyung might... nevermind. i'm so relieved to see you now."

"stop it," jiah mumbles.

"what?" jungkook breaks the hug to glance at her face, not quite catching what she said and waits for her to repeat it.

"stop it, jungkook. you're gonna get hurt," she says, lowering her head, eyes fixed on the floor. jungkook, although, makes her look at him again, holding an eye contact and smiles, leaning closer.

"i don't mind." he assures, triggering some tears in jiah's eyes, despite her looking away, "really. believe me, jiah. what hurts me is you pushing me away when i know all you wanna do is hug me and cry. i guess i know you that much, don't i?" he chuckles softly, stroking her hair.

"tae loves me and i— i need him. jihun needs him. he's jihun's father afterall." jiah says.

"and you guys didn't know that until just a few weeks ago?" yoongi hisses, before jungkook replies. he lets go of jihun and stands near jiah. "you didn't know what raising a kid alone means? you didn't know that jihun would need a father any sooner than taehyung started talking to you? stop lying to yourself, kiddo. taehyung's just playing with your head, you don't need him. you never needed him."

"i— i do!" jiah frowns, stepping back and pushes jungkook's hands away that didn't feel uncomfortable until this moment. "you guys don't know us. we worked it out, okay? he really loves jihun and—" she pauses suddenly, looking down and tugs her hair behind her hair, stopping entirely.

"and what?" jungkook asks.

"nothing," she hushes out, "don't worry about me. i'm okay. tae's working on— on making it all fine. he takes care of me—"

"what are you? a child? what does 'taking care of me' means?" yoongi holds jiah by her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes and speaks again calmly, "you didn't need him or anyone to take care of you before this. why does he matter so much now? what did he do to you, jiah?"

"nothing! why would he do anything to me? he promised that he would never hurt me, while others might do..." she trails off, making sure not to glance at jungkook but fails. the man frowns at that, certainly not liking that reference even if it meant nothing.

"you think i'd hurt you?" he whispers out weakly, getting a hesitant look from jiah as she shakes her head.

"i never said that,"

"but you meant that. why? did i ever do anything to hurt you?"

"no, but—"

"but you still think i'd hurt you." he mutters, glancing down at his feet, then takes a deep breath, turning to yoongi who gestures him to let it slide as jiah probably did not mean that. before he or yoongi say anything further, jiah opens her mouth, her voice coming out laced with hesitation and uncertainty.

"it's not like that, jungkook. you probably won't hurt me, but i might." she looks at him past the layer of tears that seems to have become permanent in her eyes whenever she looked at jungkook, "i... i could hurt you, and i don't want that."

jungkook stares at her with soft eyes, about to reassure her that he doesn't even mind getting hurt if it meant that he got to make sure she was doing okay. he has no idea when jiah became so important to him, but the magic didn't happen overnight. it was all those days he spent trying to talk to her, the nights he spent thinking of her that lead to her being an inseparable part of jungkook's routine now. he couldn't stop himself from wondering what she might be doing, if she was okay, if jihun was okay, and maybe, just maybe if she thinks of him too.

although he doesn't get to voice out anything, for jiah shakes her head, gesturing him to keep quiet, so he listens and keeps his mouth shut. "i'm sorry, jungkook. if i could change one thing right now, i'd want to do something for you. you wasted a lot of your time after me. i'm sorry, you deserve so much better."

"no—" he was so quick in replying that it makes jiah frown, giving him a look of reminder that he's supposed to only listen.

"leave me now, jungkook. you've been a good friend, so let's keep it like that if you— if you wish. nothing more than that. i'm not the one you should go after. i never was."

"don't say that," he whispers, "i love you. i probably never said it before, but i realised that i do love you when you were gone. the whole time that i didn't know your whereabouts, it was killing me, baby. you and jihun, both of you. i was so worried."

"i know," jiah smiles, dropping a tear from her eyes, "but please, listen to me. stop this now. it's been enough..."

"what's been enough?"

"everything," she replies with an ache, glancing at her son, who's now standing by her legs, tapping on her legs for her to carry her. she takes a deep breath, wiping off the tears from her face and smiles for her son, lifting him off the floor. she pats his back, turning around without a word and walks towards the door, waiting for jungkook and yoongi to come as well.

the males follow her quietly, disappointed and concerned at the same time. yoongi pats her back, never looking at her after the first time and sighs, "get ready. we're having breakfast at my restaurant." he says, getting a hesitant glance from the girl. she stared at him for a moment as though finding the right words to reason him that she can't go. "i'm not taking no as an answer. go and get ready."

"i can't," she asks softly.

"why?" the elder male asks. "did taehyung say anything?" jiah shakes her head slowly and yoongi places his hand on her shoulder, giving a subtle squeeze of reassurance, "you don't have to be scared of him, jiah. he can't hurt you."

"i know that," she hums.

"then why are you doing this? did he... what exactly did he do?" yoongi doesn't miss how jiah gets fidgety with the question, growing uneasy as yoongi emphasizes more, concerned himself to know what taehyung actually did to have jiah giving up on herself. "tell me, kiddo. what did he do? you weren't like this before. he sure did something."

"no," jiah mumbles.

"now you're lying for him. did he do so something so bad that you can't even share it with oppa?" yoongi asks, stroking the side of her head, "i promise, he's gonna regret hurting you—"

"he did not hurt me." jiah looks at him with desperate eyes, frustrated at this point that she's again close to crying, "he didn't hurt me, okay? stop saying that."

"then why's there a need to defend him?"

"because you guys keep blaming him!" she raises her voice, but not too much as she still holds jihun in her arms. inhaling deeply, she gathers herself together and says, "please stop it. what he does with me is none of your concern. he is jihun's father and my— my..."

"yeah? what is he to you?" yoongi crosses his arms on his chest and jungkook sighs, shaking his head.

"my boyfriend..."

"is he? so, your boyfriend keeps manipulating you and you're not even—"

"for the last time, he's not doing anything. he loves his son and just wants us to be together. jihun loves him too."

"and what about you? you don't have a life of your own?" yoongi hisses, "please try to see it, jiah. that man is just using you."

jiah glares at the elder, too tired at this point for she just can't get her point across yoongi, who refuses to believe her when she says that taehyung isn't using or hurting her. deep down she knows it too and that he's right, but admitting that even to herself is scary, because she doesn't want taehyung to be upset. an angry taehyung is the last thing jiah wants to deal with right now.

"so what?" she grits out, "whether taehyung uses me, hurts me, touches me or hits me, why does it bother you? what does it have to do with anyone else? it's my life and i have no problem with taehyung being in it, or even controlling it. so just stop saying all that, or don't talk to me at all."

"look at me." yoongi states, getting a frown from the girl as she gulps, holding his gaze for a brief second before looking away, "look at me, jiah, and say it again."

she hesitates and that's all yoongi needs to embrace her, he kisses the top of her head, "you can't hide when you're hurt from me. i can see right through you, kiddo. i raised a strong girl, a fighter, not a quitter. you can be weak at times, everyone has their breaking points and maybe this is yours. that's fine. but know that you're still my strong girl. you're the brave girl i know since, i don't even remember when."

"no, oppa. i already gave up," jiah hushes out, ashamed to even loft up her head and keeps staring down, "i don't wanna fight anyone, oppa. i can't lose my son..."

"what does that mean?" yoongi frowns, "did taehyung say anything about jihun?"

jiah stays silent, glancing at the door and the men confirm it's about taehyung indeed. jungkook steps forward and closes the door, while yoongi makes her sit on the bed, handing her a glass of water from the side table. "relax. take your time and tell me what did taehyung say?"

"he'd take ji away..." she whispers, rubbing her eyes with one hand as jihun slips down from her lap, saying something in his broken language, but it's still understandable that he's calling for his dad. "he was right, oppa. if he took it to the court to get jihun's custody, i stand no chance of winning against him. he was so mad that day— i thought i lost my child. i thought he'd take jihun from me."

"he said he'd take jihun?" yoongi asks.

"if i don't listen to him..."

"that bastard." jungkook grits out, "i knew it was him all this time."

"don't say anything to him!" jiah stands up hurriedly, holding jungkook's arm, "please don't let him know that i told you. he's gonna be mad at me."

"he won't do anything, okay?" jungkook assures.

"no! you don't know him! just don't do anything, please... i'll talk to tae. he's been very caring with me lately."

jungkook massages his temples, inhaling deeply before fixing his eyes on jiah, "i can fucking end him if he lays a finger on you. just give me a word, i swear he'll regret coming back in your life."

jiah watches how jungkook's chest rises and falls as he lets out deep breaths full of anger. she doesn't really look at his face, but steps closer to him for a hug, which jungkook reciprocates within a heartbeat and lowers his head on her shoulder, "let me help you, baby." he whispers, "please,"

"don't." she hushes back to him, "i don't want tae to be mad and do something he'd regret later. and the truth is that if i'm no more, tae's the only family my jihun has..."

"why are you talking like that?" jungkook pulls away, cupping her face in his hands and leans down, coming face to face with jiah and releases a soft breath. "nothing is happening to you. don't get those thoughts in your head."

"i can't help it," jiah mumbles, glancing at jungkook then at yoongi as well, "i feel like i'm not gonna make it. and that's why i want ji to have a good life with tae. i know no one's gonna love him more than his parents."

"why do you keep saying that?" yoongi rubs her back, "try to think with a cool mind, jiah. nothing's gonna happen to you, okay? you'll be here with jihun and like you've been so far."

"but i can't fight taehyung. he's more powerful, he has more money and— and he's not like me..."

"what does that mean?" jungkook frowns.

"i— i have so many men in my life... a child should not grow in this environment."

yoongi falls silent and jungkook's breath hitches at the words, raking a hand through his hair angrily, as he grits, "that asshole said that?" he asks in a deep, raging voice, to which jiah doesn't respond but the answer is clear. "fucking bastard! which men is he referring to? me? jimin? or yoongi or namjoon? that piece of shit doesn't know that we care for you! i couldn't contact you for a few days and felt like somebody ripped my heart out of my chest! do you fucking get that or not?! forget about me, jiah, yoongi hyung has known you since you were a kid right? do you not trust him either? he's been with you and supported you more than your own family, didn't he? are you going to disregard eveything because that kim taehyung—"

"shut up!" jiah yells at him, tears trickling down her face, "i know who i trust. stop making it look like i'm doing everything willingly! i hate it, okay?! i hate waking up in his arms, i hate hearing his voice everytime he tells me that he loves me... i hate it so much. his hugs, kisses, his hands... i—" she breaks into a silent, covering her mouth, "stop it please..." jiah lowers herself, falling on her knees, hands trembling and eyes shut close, "please don't do this... don't make me wanna die more... i told you to leave me alone, i can't keep hurting you and yoongi oppa. you guys— please leave me alone. i just wanna die peacefully. seeing your faces makes it hard for me..." she trails off, breathing heavily, "i wanna die..." her voice comes out as a whisper.

"jiah," jungkook kneels down in front of her while yoongi's right beside her, patting her back and helping her calm down. "i'm sorry. i didn't mean to sound that harsh. it just bugs me that some guy's mistreating you and i... i cannot help you."

"i don't want your help." jiah mutters, pushing the two pairs of hands away and looks around for jihun, who surprisingly isn't there anymore. the door which jungkook probably didn't lock is open now, and jiah sighs deeply, getting up and calls out for her son. yoongi and jungkook follow her to the living room where jihun is driving his car, while talking on his toy cellphone at the same time.

"ji," jiah calls softly, sitting on the couch and jihun instantly turns the steering towards her, colliding his car with the couch and giggles. "you don't talk on the phone while driving, baby."

"ji to'kin' to daddy," jihun says, giving the cellphone to jiah and tells her to talk to his daddy as well. "daddy sayin' mamma goo'girwl."

jiah breath hitches at that, her chest tightens on hearing that from her toddler. is taehyung's dominating behaviour so prominent that even the two-year-old notices it and has started copying it? jiah gulps nervously, ignoring the confused looks from jungkook and yoongi, and lifts jihun off the electric car, making him stand on the carpet, which makes the boy whine to back in his car.

"listen here, jihun." jiah holds his hands, but the baby doesn't listen, and pushes her hands away, going back to his vehicle and sits inside. "that's very bad, ji. you should listen to mamma when she's saying something." she sighs.

"bad mamma! you' bad diah!" jihun cries, huffing at her, "bad girwl! diah no' daddy goo'giwl!"

"jihun!" jiah scolds him, for she can understand what he's saying and it gives her tears, staring at her son. "don't talk like that."

"no!" the toddler huffs, driving away only to be stopped by yoongi standing in front of him.

"is that how you talk to your mamma, jihun?" he says, crouching down near the toddler, stopping him from driving away. "are you becoming a bad boy now?"

"no... ji goo'boy..." the toddler mumbles, pouting as he turns to his mother, "mamma ji' goo'baby,"

"i don't think so," jiah hushes out, "you're copying your dad, ji."

"daddy?" jiah hums, getting off his car and goes to jiah, placing his hands on her knee, "mamma shad? sowwy mamma..."

jiah shakes her head, forcing a smile for him and gives him a hug, "don't ever become like your father..." she whispers.

"mamma?" jihun touches jiah's face and she hums in response, "ji sayin' daddy mamma goo'girwl?"

jiah looks down, taking a deep breath but she says nothing to her son. instead, she glances at yoongi, "you should go now. i'm okay."

"what is he saying?" yoongi asks, "what's this good-girl thing?"

"yeah, that day too, jihun said something like that but i couldn't get it. what is it?" jungkook adds.

"i don't know. he must've—"

"daddy!" jihun chirps excitedly, leaving jiah and runs to the door where taehyung is standing. jungkook hisses at the sight of him, rolling up his sleeves, but is stopped by jiah, as she grips his arm, standing beside him.

"hey, buddy. when did you wake up?" taehyung smiles, carrying his child in his arms, chuckling as jihun keeps giggling and wraps his little arms around his neck, leaning closer to give him a kiss. "there, my boy missed daddy, huh?"

"mish daddy!" jihun nods.

"i missed you more." taehyung kisses jihun's cheek, patting his back. he enters the room with jihun sitting like he owned the place in his arms and leans more onto his daddy as though showing everyone in the room that nobody could scold him now that his daddy is here.

"why are you back?" yoongi growls.

"why not? my son's here, jiah's here, isn't that enough of a reason?" taehyung says, "now c'mon, get going, you've been our guest for long. i'm sure you guys have other work to focus on."

"you—"

"jungkook," jiah stops the raging male, clutching his arm tightly and looks up at his face, as he frowns at her, "just go, please."

"but i—"

"please," jiah pleads, "leave..."

"if i were you, i'd listen to her." taehyung whistles, sitting on the couch comfortably with jihun on his lap. "anyway, jiah, please see them off. i'm sure you're hungry now. it's already late and you also need to take your meds. say bye to your friends."

jiah stares at taehyung, who sends her an assuring smile, which probably doesn't reach her for she doesn't react. so taehyung leaves their son on the couch and stands up, approaching her with a soft look in his eyes, "it's okay, you can see them again." he speaks softly, rubbing her back after draping his arm around her and leans down to kiss her lips, then fixes his eyes on jungkook, failing to hide his smirk. "what?"

"you fucking moron, you're so gonna regret this!" jungkook yells, grasping taehyung's collar again, his arm stretched back to throw a hard punch right on taehyung's handsome face, but then his eyes fall on jiah's quiet figure. she stands still, staring at jungkook, defeated and he realises that him fighting taehyung for her might just create more trouble for her. so, he forces his hand down, letting go of the man, which is also when jihun starts crying.

"see, jiah? this is what i was saying." taehyung mutters, straightening his jacket and glances at jiah. "tell them to get out."

"fine," yoongi says, holding jiah's hand, "you're going with me. you're not staying with this man here."

"what— no—"

"yes. i'm not gonna leave you here with him." yoongi declares, "it'll be okay, trust me. let's go."

"yeah go on," taehyung stares at her, moving his jaw like he was chewing a gum, watching the girl with his head slightly tilted back. it would be a lie if he said he's not anxious watching yoongi convincing jiah to go with him, but even so, taehyung doesn't let it show in his expression and keeps a plain face, "go, leave your son here. but do let me know what to tell jihun when he asks about you."

"no," jiah shakes her head quickly, pulling her hand out of yoongi's grip but he just holds it tighter. "no, oppa. i don't wanna leave jihun. you know i can't live without my child..."

"he'll go with you, jiah." yoongi assures and steps forward to take the child, however taehyung blocks the path, stopping yoongi with a firm hand on his chest.

"not my son." taehyung growls. "you're not touching him."

"he's jiah's son too and she's taking him with her."

"i won't repeat myself, min yoongi. you are not fucking laying a finger on my son." taehyung glares at yoongi.

"oppa," jiah pleads as well, "i'll stay here and i— i promise, i'll call you everyday and i'll be fine. don't do this, i can't lose jihun."

jungkook ignores the commotion, walking past taehyung before the man could grab him and carries jihun in his arms, handing him to jiah, "let's go now." he says, standing in front of her so that he blocks taehyung from reaching to jihun again.

"how dare you?!" taehyung pushes jungkook aside, "you're not going anywhere jiah. and if you do, you know how messy this is gonna get for you."

"finally at your true colors." jungkook chuckles deeply, "threatening her and using her child against her, because you know she wouldn't even consider looking at you again otherwise. you use your own son to get jiah back? way to go, kim taehyung."

"shut the fuck up." taehyung glares at him and motions his hand for jiah to go inside, "go in. i'll come after dealing with this jerk."

"you're so fucking delusional, aren't you?" jungkook mocks at him, "fine, i'm right here. let's see who gets their point across, because i'm so down to give you a taste of your own dirt, kim." he grits out, "hyung, take jiah with you. i'll come when i'm done here."

"jiah, step out and i won't be so nice to deal with."

"yeah, we'll see." jungkook scoffs and glances back at jiah and yoongi, "go. don't worry about here."

yoongi makes an eye contact with jungkook, virtually telling him that he got him covered even if things get a little out of hand. with that yoongi takes jiah out with him, heading towards the elevator, holding jihun tightly in her arms, while he's still crying, confused and scared with everything that he just got to witness.

back in jiah's apartment, jungkook locks the door and cracks his neck, facing taehyung, "not to scare you or anything, but i'm gonna use my boxing skills. i hope you know some defence, or it won't be that fun for you."

____________

a/n: long chapter. phew! did you like it? i was a little bit unsure about this chapter, but here you go. please share your thoughts about the story and keep voting guys. it takes a lot of time and effort to finish each chapter and update. i hope you guys like it, and if you do, one vote doesn't hurt right?