AN: This story is protected by copyright as this is an original idea that belongs to the author.

- - -

"He looks like he is about to pop a blood vessel every time he tries to talk," grumbled Jungkook as he drove them back to the studio flat after the flop of a karaoke night.

Instead of singing another song after Seokjin had managed to say Aspen's slaughtered name, Aspen had took to trying to get him to clean up his pronunciation and trying to help him with other words. For whatever reason, that was the only word he was able to say. Now - after at least an hour of practice in trying to say it correctly - that was all that Jungkook could hear from the backseat where Aspen and Seokjin sat.

"Aspen," said Seokjin, managing to say it with minimal struggles.

"I...I can't believe you can talk..."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, grateful that the darkness could hide it. It couldn't hide it from Jimin though who sat beside him in the passenger seat.

"Jungkook, be nice. This man hasn't spoken before tonight."

"And how do we know that for sure, Jimin? He could be a good actor."

Their whispered conversation couldn't escape Aspen or Seokjin's ears since they were only in the backseat. Aspen watched as Seokjin wrote in his notebook; the words flashing into view every time they drove under a streetlamp.

- Do you believe I couldn't speak before today?

Aspen read the light streaked words before looking up at Seokjin. She should have thought like Jungkook that this was all an act, but even now she couldn't deny how innocent and hopeful he looked.

"It's crazy, but I believe you. Though...you must have a family that has to be worried about you."

- I have no one.

"That can't be true."

- Well, it's not true anymore.
You, Jungkook, and Jimin are my family, right?

She didn't know why reading that made her heart ache. She nodded her head as she grabbed his hand again. She had never wanted to hold someone's hand as much as she wanted to hold his. Jungkook - of course - caught sight of it in the rearview mirror despite the darkness. The feelings he felt for Seokjin were ebbing and flowing as much as the tide.

- - -

When they got back to the studio flat, Jimin seemed invested in wanting to get Seokjin to make some sort of sound since Jungkook had managed to make him laugh. Jungkook sat on the edge of the couch with his legs tucked up against him as he watched Seokjin at the other end of the couch trying to imitate the placement of Jimin's lips and tongue. Aspen was seated on the middle cushion and was holding Seokjin's hand still as he tried to listen to Jimin's teaching.

"I'm going to bed," said Jungkook after he had sat there watching that circus for a half hour.

A half hour was long enough. The three of them watched him go to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Seokjin moved to write something down and showed it to Aspen.

- Why does Jungkook hate me?

"He doesn't hate you," said Aspen. "He's just complicated."

"Yeah, Seokjin, or Jin? Can I call you Jin?" piped up Jimin.

He looked at Jimin for a second before nodding his head, causing the other to smile.

"Well, Jin, he gets like that once in a while. I mean, the man made you laugh earlier. He does have a heart. He's just...tough at times."

He nodded his head as he looked from Jimin back to his notebook.

- I don't have a family.
But you all must.
What are your families like?
Are they like this?

"Oh Jin's wanting to delve into tragic past territory," said Jimin when he caught sight of what he'd written. "Are you wanting to go into that with Jin?"

Aspen didn't like reliving her past, but she found herself nodding her head. She could give Jin the abridged version at least. Jimin chuckled as he rose from his seat, moving towards the kitchen.

"We need the chocolate then. No talking about tragic things without chocolate."

Jimin began to rummage through the cupboards to try to find the chocolate (wherever it was hidden), and Aspen looked over at Seokjin.

"My past isn't very pretty," she said. "I basically had two parents that were more concerned with their work than me. I guilt tripped them into letting me attend an arts school, and that's where I met Jungkook and Jimin. We've been inseparable ever since."

- Do you not talk to your parents anymore?

"No. They love work, but they never wanted to put any work in me."

"Aspen catch!"

She looked up from Seokjin's notebook just in time to catch a piece of chocolate that was thrown her way. Seokjin leaned back to avoid being hit by it. As she expertly caught it, she unwrapped it to pop it into her mouth. Jimin soon returned with the mini bag of chocolate, holding one out to Seokjin who was immediately mesmerized by the colorful foil wrapping.

"It's chocolate...please tell me you haven't been deprived of chocolate," said Jimin.

- I have had chocolate.
This is just different.

Not being able to think of a better word, Seokjin wrote that down before unwrapping the chocolate and popping it into his mouth. He tapped a question that he had asked Aspen earlier, nodding his head at Jimin.

"I think he wants you to answer the 'why don't you talk to your parents anymore' question too," said Aspen.

"Ah, that's easy," said Jimin as he leaned back. "Mine are both dead. Jungkook's too. At least my parents had a more natural passing. Jungkook's parents died more suddenly, but that's his story to share."

- I wonder what my story is.

"Aspen," said Jimin after seeing what Seokjin had written. "I know Jin didn't want to go to the hospital, but maybe we should take him tomorrow. Maybe he has severe amnesia."

Aspen had been thinking about that too, and knew they probably should have taken him sooner. Her eyes looked down at the question Seokjin had written.

"Don't worry," said Aspen to Seokjin, "Whatever your story is, we'll help you figure it out."