$ s e v e n t y t w o $

Jongin and Jiyeon had talked things out after their first lovers spat in which she told him she didn't want their future children growing up around criminals. She understood that it was the only life he knew and that it was a difficult life to leave. As he had told her, he never hid anything from her and she willingly agreed to stay by his side. She just couldn't stomach the thought of her children growing up to become people who stole and killed others for a living. She would try to teach them differently--them and the other children of their gang.

It was their family, and the only life these boys knew currently. But she would try to teach the other generation otherwise.

She had already talked with Junmyeon--the current alpha--about starting a home school for the gang children. He thought it was a perfect idea, as he thought about the future as well, and he knew he wouldn't like sending his kids off to some place where they might be in danger from other gangs. Having them in a home school with Blitz was a pleasant alternative.

But at the moment, no one in the pack had children. The only one was Baekhyun, whose son was three years old, but was living with his mother in Jackals territory. Things were bitter between them and the pack at the moment, and Minha would never allow her son to visit his father anymore, if only to spite him. Baekhyun continued to fight to see his son, as he didn't get to see him for three years because he didn't even know of his existence. He was going to have another child, one with his love Miran. But that was the end of the Pack's children. 

Jiyeon had learned of Jongdae and Mariel planning to adopt children from different parts of the world. But they were mostly active in China despite being in Korea already for an extended period of time. Still, Jiyeon didn't mind taking the children in as her students. The older members of the Coven--Lu Han and Minseok--were also already trying for babies with their wives. But that would probably take years for the children to be old enough for school. Jiyeon wanted to teach and she wanted something to do as soon as possible.

"What I can do for you is put you in contact with our allies from the northern part of Seoul." Junmyeon mentioned to her one morning over breakfast with the family. Jiyeon had once again brought up that she was bored and wanted something to do. Jongin had already begged Junmyeon not to give her any gang jobs because she was faint hearted and their jobs scared her easily. He didn't want her fainting on the job and putting herself in danger. "I'll call up Leeteuk today and see if he can meet up with you so you can talk about it. They're older and used to run most of Korea before the Jackals and before us. They keep down low for the most part now, and usually make a couple of deals through me or Jinki. They have children for you to interact with and teach."

Jiyeon grinned and nodded her head gratefully. "Thank you, alpha. I really appreciate what you're doing for me."

Junmyeon smiled back at her warmly. Even though they'd had a lot of recent additions to the pack, he truly cared for all of them. They were his family, his siblings, and he was like an older brother to them. "Family helps each other, and you're trying to do something good for the family. It can only benefit us all."

-

Jongdae had gotten permission from Yifan to take some time off from gang activities. Duizhang had given him two weeks to do whatever he wanted. With that time, he and Mariel were going to four different places--Korea, China, the Philippines, and Mexico. They would adopt four different children through clandestine means, and then they would return to Korea with the rest of the family. Jongdae had assured Yifan that if something were to come up, he could call him and they would return as soon as possible.

Their first stop was Daejeon, which was Jongdae's hometown, the place where he grew up before he moved to Seoul with the Pack. On the car ride into the poor neighborhoods, he explained to Mariel that he had lived with his family in the rich part of town, like most of his other brothers. His parents wanted him to be a lawyer, a doctor, someone important who helped out the community.

"Yet I turned out like this." He gave a small shrug of his shoulders as he gestured to himself at the same time.There was something of a sad smile on his lips. "The complete opposite of what they ever wanted for me. My family isn't as bad as Light hyung's. They don't like what I am, but they occasionally still try to contact me and steer me in the right direction. They don't know that I'm not here because I was badly influenced by alpha or duizhang. I'm here because I want to be. They're my brothers and I love them."

Mariel bit down on her lip nervously. "Do you want to visit them?"

She wanted him to see his family. But what would they think of her? Their son was a criminal, and their son's bride to be was a woman who sold her body to countless men for money. How warped his life must have looked to them.

He gave a shake of his head. "I don't like visiting them in person." He told her. When she shot him a look of confusion, he explained. "I don't want people to know where my blood relatives live because I don't want them to use them to hurt me. They can't defend themselves, and I'm not around to protect them. At least if anyone attacks the Pack, my brothers know how to fight back and we'll go down fighting."

They stopped at a rundown building that was the orphanage in an ugly, trash littered part of town. Jongdae parked their car, one that was way too nice to even be there, and they entered the building. Jongdae mentioned to her that he had already talked on the phone with one of the caretakers and that he had arranged for them to adopt one of the children in a clandestine way for a high amount of money. For Jongdae, money was not a problem and he paid the fee easily. He had even gotten Yixing to investigate the facilities to make sure it wasn't a trap set up by the police.

The caretaker greeted them with a handshake and then led them into the rooms. They had rooms for infants, toddlers, children, and even a few pre-teens. Mariel almost felt like she was at an animal shelter, picking out a new pet. The children all looked so unhappy, and some of them malnourished. She wanted to adopt all of them and take them with her. 

Their cribs and beds looked more like cages, and when they entered the room with the toddlers, there was one baby that caught her eye. A little boy with kitten lips just like Jongdae's. It warmed her heart and she reached for him to pick her up in his arms. He didn't look older than three and was delighted to see someone taking an interest in him. 

"His name is Hyun-ki." The care taker informed them.

With the child still in her arms, she leaned in to whisper into Jongdae's ear. "Papi, I want to take this child with us. But I don't feel comfortable leaving all these kids in the condition they're in."

Just being there made her want to cry. She couldn't have children of her own, yet there were people out there who essentially threw their children away like they were nothing more than trash. Something useless in their lives--a burden. 

"We'll do anything you want." He whispered back to her. "You just say the word and I'll do it."

"Can we drop by once a month and bring them food, toys, and supplies?" She asked of him, practically pleading. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing we sleep comfortably at night, while these children suffer."

He nodded his head.

-

i think i'm getting back into the swing of things with this story. and now i brought in one more gang. i think this is the last one because i have expanded this gang universe so much that its difficult to keep up with everyone. and its hard to give everyone a chance to talk, and it also makes it difficult to develop all the side stories.

but this was necessary in order to develop jiyeon and jongin's story. she needed something to do with her life, or else her presence in the gang was pointless.

i hope you all like the update.

-clary