Not proof read- we die like real men (aka Grammarly, don't fail me now-)
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"So how's the week been treating you so far?" Jeno played with his fingers a bit as he sat in the booth next to Jaemin, glancing at the strawberry smoothie in front of him. Jaemin was beside him with an iced americano in his hand, his signature death coffee, drinking it slowly as he just sat silently and listened to the conversation between Jeno and the therapist.

It had been about two months since they had visited Chenle, but today Jeno and Jaemin were visiting with somebody else. A man named Doyoung- the therapist that Taeyong had recommended to them a couple of days after they visited Chenle when he had called -sat in front of them now, holding a mug of coffee in his hands and wearing a warm smile on his face. They had gotten comfortable with him by now, meeting every other day for almost a month and a half, and he was very kind to them. He tended to invite them out for coffee during their sessions to make them feel more comfortable, and they normally didn't do too much legitimate therapy until Doyoung had loosened up Jeno a bit, easing him out of his headspace ever so gently with the adamant help of Jaemin so that they could talk genuinely about the past events of his life. Jaemin was more than grateful for the man, trusting in him since Taeyong had suggested him in particular.

"Pretty alright. I had a bit of a breakdown the other night with Jaemin but he calmed me down." Jeno explained softly, already out of his headspace as he squeezed Jaemin's hand softly. Doyoung hummed in understanding.

"I see. Do you know maybe what triggered the breakdown? The more we can hone in on these exact triggers and such, the better off we'll be." He explained. Jeno sipped his smoothie through the straw and nodded slowly, seemingly spacing out a bit.

"I was standing in the kitchen cooking, and I thought I heard a knock at the door and I got startled, and so I went to go check, and then I got startled by Jaemin coming out of our room and freaked out a bit..." He explained carefully, nodding to himself. Jaemin was caressing his hand gently to coax the words out of him, and he let out a soft sigh as he leaned into the younger.

"I can see how that would be frightening. Jaemin, how did you handle calming him down, and how did it go?" Doyoung asked. Jaemin paused for a moment to recall the event.

"Well, I sat down with him and I held him and told him it would be okay. His breathing had gotten really fast though and he started to cry so I just eased him through it." The eldest of the three hummed.

"Maybe you could try some breathing exercises next time if that happens again. Just some calm, slow, deep breaths to try and steady yourself a bit. It might help a little." He instructed. Jeno and Jaemin nodded in understanding. "So Jaemin, what about you? How have you been feeling this week?" Jaemin hummed a bit.

"Good, actually. I did have a bit of a moment on my way home from work. I thought I saw someone from the facility coming down the street but it was just some random person. I freaked out a bit but I calmed myself down and got home." Doyoung nodded.

"I'm glad you were able to calm yourself down. Although always be careful of driving after that kind of thing, make sure you're fully back into things if you know what I mean." The youngest nodded, taking another drink of his coffee. "So, last time we were together, do you remember what we were working on?" the eldest asked carefully, looking between the two boys. Both nodded.

"We were working on finding coping mechanisms for my trauma." Jeno said softly. Doyoung nodded. The therapy was mainly for Jeno, but Doyoung liked to include Jaemin too especially since he knew that the youngest had been through a lot of mental strain as well.

"That's right. And last time we started talking too about when you see it show up, how intense it tends to be, what that might look like for you- has there been anything knew lately that's shown up at all?" Jeno hummed.

"I don't think so. It's mainly just panic attacks, and a lot of times it's like I'm there again. It's like I'm seeing his face, like I can feel the surface beneath me again... The nightmares about my parents have become a bit fewer and further between, but instead, I just have nightmares about the stuff that happened at the facility." Jeno explained, trying to keep himself calm. It was still difficult to even talk about that place, but when he felt safe and was surrounded by people he was comfortable with, it definitely made things a bit easier. It was especially easier at these therapy sessions because he was able to prepare himself for it a bit mentally- he knew in advance that it was a subject that would be brought up.

"It sounds like you're showing common signs of PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Do you know what that is?" Doyoung asked carefully. Jeno and Jaemin nodded.

"I've heard of it before, but that's about it." The eldest nodded.

"Well, PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying, often traumatic event- through either experiencing or even just witnessing it. The symptoms you're showing are all very common signs of PTSD, which is a common thing for victims of the things you experienced." He explained carefully. Jeno and Jaemin listened carefully to what the man had to say. "From what you've told me, you've already come up with your own method of coping which is your age regression. Is that still a safe space for you?" Jeno nodded.

"It helps a lot. Makes me feel safer." He said softly. Doyoung smiled.

"That's great. I'm glad you still have a way to feel comfortable." Jeno smiled. It felt good to see good people in the world. It felt good to hear someone say something caring and nice to him without a trace of cunning or mischief.

It was nice to finally start feeling a little bit better.

🍓

In the time since Jeno and Jaemin had visited Chenle, a lot had happened. Besides them starting therapy, Chenle got discharged from the hospital and was now going out and about with Jeno anytime he got the chance. Jaemin had started going to work again, and so Chenle and Donghyuck had teamed up to take care of Jeno most of the time while he was at work, and while most days they spent with Minjun, taking the kid out to various shops and playing with him when they got the chance, today they were going out just the three of them for some breakfast. Originally they were gonna go to the cafe where Jaemin worked, but then Jeno explained that he wanted to try out somewhere different.

"I'm not tired of his face, I'm just tired of his cafe." Jeno had explained when Chenle asked if they had fought recently.

So, per Jeno's request, they made their way to a cafe a little further away that Donghyuck knew about. He apparently had a friend who worked there and he said it would be nice for Jeno and Chenle to meet him anyways.

So that's how they wound up sitting in a booth together in a cute little cafe, chatting away while they waited for their food and drinks to be ready.

"So, I was thinking," Chenle said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as he spoke. "we've all been busy, or at least if not busy we've been stressed about something, and with Renjun, Jaemin, and Jisung's new jobs, we don't get to see our boyfriends as often either." He said with a pout before brightening again. "So what if we all took a break? A little vacation to ease our minds off things. I would pay for everything, your boyfriends would just need to get a couple of weeks off." Jeno smiled and nodded, but Donghyuck raised a brow.

"Are you good to travel fresh out of the hospital?" He asked skeptically.

"I'll be fine Hyuck, you worry too much." Chenle insisted and the older sighed.

"I'm just looking out for you. Renjun would kill me if something happened to you." Chenle grinned.

"I'll remember that." He said devilishly, and Donghyuck rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from Jeno.

"Well, I think that sounds amazing Chenle. It would be so much fun too!" Jeno said excitedly, his eyes smiling along with him. "Where do you think we'd go though?"

"You should go to Hawaii." A voice suddenly spoke, joining the conversation. The three looked up to see a cute-looking man holding their drinks. "I heard the weather is beautiful down there this time of year."

"Well, obviously the weather is beautiful, it's fucking Hawaii." Donghyuck said, surprising Jeno. It was unlike Hyuck to curse at someone he barely knew- unless this was the man he wanted them to meet? His question was answered when Donghyuck smiled at them. "Guys, this is my friend Jungwoo. Jungwoo, these are my friends, Chenle and Jeno." the choco ball explained with a nod. Jungwoo smiled.

"Oh, you're Jeno! Then you would already know my husband, Lucas. He used to work at the facility." Jeno brightened as he remembered the man who had helped him back then.

But then his expression faltered.

The facility.

The place where he was trapped.

The place where he was hopeless.

Where he was taken advantage of.

"Calm down Jeno, it's alright." Donghyuck encouraged softly when he noticed the way Jeno's breathing had started to pick up. Jeno felt stiff as he swallowed. His hands had gone all clammy and he could feel the stuffy air around him as if he was back in that place again, helplessly laying on that bed, the man hovering over him with dark hair and deep eyes. He didn't want to be there again, he didn't want to remember this, but it was all washing over him like a dark wave. He didn't really notice himself start to shake and sink back into his seat a little until he felt arms wrap around him, a tight, warm embrace pulling him in close to their chest.

"Shh, it's alright Jeno, deep breaths, in and out." The voice was calming and soft, it felt familiar, but it also sounded so foreign. He did as told, breathing slowly in and out with slow, measured breaths. "That's it. You're alright, you're safe." Jeno let out a shaky breath into the person's chest as he finally felt slightly relaxed again. He pulled away a bit and nodded to himself.

"Sorry." He muttered to Jungwoo, who was watching him with concern. The older boy shook his head.

"Don't apologize Jeno, I'm sorry I brought it up." The man said apologetically before brightening. He turned around and walked towards the counter before grabbing something and heading back. "Here," Jungwoo said, handing him a strawberry lollipop. Jeno brightened a bit and took it carefully. "I heard you liked strawberry things." Jeno nodded and began to unwrap the candy.

"Thank you!" He said happily as he stuck the sweet in his mouth. The others around him smiled warmly, Donghyuck cooing and pinching one of his cheeks, making Jeno giggle a bit.

"Well, about Hawaii..." Chenle said, continuing their earlier conversation as Jeno sucked happily on the candy. "I honestly think that's the best idea anyone had so far... Do you wanna come too? You can bring your husband." The Chinese offered, surprising Jungwoo.

"Oh, no, I'd love to, and I'm sure Lucas would be thrilled too, but I don't think we can afford that right now." Jungwoo said, keeping a smile on his face regardless.

"I'll pay for you." The Chinese said happily with a smile.

"No way! That's way too much money!" Jungwoo exclaimed, surprise evident on his face until Donghyuck suddenly spoke up.

"Jungwoo, this is Zhong Chenle. As in rich, wealthy, Zhong Chenle." Junwoo's eyes got wider at that, and he took a small step back.

"Oh... Would you really pay for us though? No strings attached?" Jungwoo asked hesitantly and Chenle admired the man for his hesitation.

"Of course! I have a bit of extra money on the card anyways... And the more the merrier." He said with a grin, making Jungwoo smile happily.

"In that case, we'd love to join you! I'll talk to Lucas about it tonight!"

🍓

"Hawaii, huh?" Jaemin said that night after Jeno explained the conversation to him.

"Yes, Hawaii! Isn't that amazing? It'll be so fun!" Jeno exclaimed as he picked up Bonsik and hugged him. The cat meowed but proceeded to purr contently in his arms.

"That's a long trip... at least a seven-hour flight," Jaemin said, hanging up his jacket. He only brought the jacket because the cafe had been rather cold lately, not because of the weather. "have you ever been on a plane before Jeno?" He asked as he walked into the kitchen to find something to make them for dinner.

"Nope! It'll be my first time on one!" Jeno said with a smile. "Can we please go? It would be so much fun Min!" The older said enthusiastically. Jaemin hummed as he thought. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, it was just the fact that, considering how many days of work he had already missed, he didn't know how allowing Ten would be.

"I'll have to talk to Ten about it."

🍓

"Hawaii." Ten said blankly as Jaemin explained it to him, gaining both Chanyeol and Sehun's attention at the mention of the younger taking even more paid time off just to go on vacation. "Unless you plan to bring me, Johnny, Sehun, Chanyeol, and whoever else wants to come with them, then no, I can't let you take more time off to go to Hawaii. I'm sorry Jaemin." Ten said simply, seeming genuinely apologetic. Jaemin had a feeling this would happen.

That's why he brought it back up.

"Actually, that could be arranged." Ten looked at the other boy who was stood beside Jaemin and raised a brow. "They would just need to tell me how many people they're gonna bring, and I'd be more than happy to take them with us." Chenle smiled as he saw Chanyeol and Sehun stop dead, exchanging a look before hurrying back with their work as if that would help them get to Hawaii faster. "after all, the more the merrier."

🍓

"The more the merrier." Jamin said with a shrug, making Doyoung laugh.

"You're really inviting me and my boyfriend to come to Hawaii with you and your friends?" The older said, obviously amused. Jeno nodded from beside the youngest.

"Yep! And we're serious too. You and Taeil hyung should take a break anyway, it would be good for you to get some fresh air!" Jeno convinced happily, excited to get all his favorite people to go on this trip with them. Taeil, who was sitting on the other couch in the room, (they stayed at Doyoung's office today) shrugged at his boyfriend. Doyoung sighed and nodded.

"Alright, let me talk to my boss about it."

🍓

"But, I am his boss." Taeyong said with a chuckle through the phone. He and Jeno had been calling more often lately, mostly on evenings where Haechan and Chenle dropped him off early and he needed some company. Besides, since Taeyong was Jeno's cousin, he knew it was probably nice for Taeyong to be able to stay updated on the happenings in the youngers life.

"I know Tyongie but please let him come with us, it'll be so much fun!" Taeyong hummed and sighed.

"Alright, I'll let him go." Taeyong said after a moment's pause and Jeno did a little celebratory dance the made Bongsik look at him like he was crazy.

"Thank you! Wait- do you wanna come too? You could bring Jaehyun, I can't remember the last time I got to see him." Jeno said excitedly.

"Really? Are you sure that would be alright? It already sounds like there's a lot of people that Chenle's paying for..."

"Taeyong, this is Chenle we're talking about, he could probably rent out all of Hawaii for us if he wanted to."

🍓

"So how is Yangyang doing?" Chenle asked his cousin. He and Renjun were grocery shopping together since it had been a while since they had talked and Renjun had the day off.

"Better. All three of them are doing better, actually. Yangyang told me they started seeing a therapist too, which is always a good sign." Renjun explained, grabbing bread off the shelf and being sure he grabbed the right kind. "Should we get wheat or whole grain?" Chenle scrunched his nose.

"Neither. Get white bread. Even if it isn't as good for you, at least it tastes good." Renjun nodded.

"Good point." The eldest put the bread in the cart and started to walk down the aisle. "So anyway, how's planning for the trip going?" Chenle shrugged.

"Fine. Turns out even with all the people we have now, we'll only fill up like half of the jet." Renjun laughed.

"Good lord. Guess you need more people then, huh?" Renjun said jokingly, but Chenle paused in thought for a moment.

"See, I tried asking Yuta if he wanted to come, and he said a preemptive yes, but after talking with Winwin, apparently Winwin didn't want to come because he was worried he would scare Jeno too bad and didn't want him to be on edge the whole time. Which, good on him for thinking about that." Chenle remarked before he lit up again. "Hey, what if we invited Yangyang, Hendery, and Xaoijun with us? It's been ages since we all got to hang out, it would be nice." Renjun burst out laughing at that.

"How in the fuck are you so rich."

🍓

"Hawaii? I remember when we went to Hawaii." Baekhyun said, stealing another chip from Chen's bag and earning a displeased 'yah!' from the younger. Baekhyun just stuck his tongue out and ate the chip happily.

"Yes, but this is an opportunity for us to go again, and for free. We don't have to pay for any of it!" Chanyeol explained. Baekhyun's eyes widened and Chen turned his head away from the TV, where Xuimin proceeded to pummel him in Super Smash Bros.

"Free?" Chen asked.

"Yep."

"As in $0.00? F r e e?" Baekhyun questioned.

"That's right, TurboTax Free Edition is free. Free, free free free." Xuimin suddenly spoke up, making the three others look at him. "What?"

🍓

"KYUNGSOO! WE'RE GOING TO HAWAII!!!" Kai shouted, making Sehun flinch and roll his eyes.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Kyungsoo shouted from elsewhere in the dorm. Suho chuckled and shook his head. "Stop joking around." Kyungsoo said, throwing a slipper in Kai's direction as he came around the corner. Kai flinched and laughed.

"I'm serious! I'm serious, Sehun says some guy at his work is gonna take us. Chanyeol and the others get to come too apparently." Kai explained, making the older glance at Sehun. The maknae raised his hands in surrender.

"Don't look at me. Besides, the more the merrier." Suho groaned and rolled his eyes, standing up. "What, that's what the kid said when he invited us!"

So somehow, this vacation that started as just Chenle inviting nomin and renhyuck to come and have a relaxing vacation with the homies, turned into them inviting half of the city in less than two days.

Go figure.

This was going to be one hell of a vacation.

But, screw it. The more the merrier.

They were going to Hawaii.

- TBC -

3420 WORDS-

(ITS BEEN SO LOOOONG-)

Should I just ignore the laws of baby and make the child grow faster or should we keep being realistic-

Also, was Doyoung a doctor before? I think so. Is he a therapist now? Yes. Don't think too hard abt it-

Also also idk if you can legally have therapy sessions in public but it's too late I want them to bond-

also also also uh the therapy session and shit is based on the shit I educated myself on the best I could so if anything is wrong, feel free to correct it in a comment for people :] I'm obviously not a therapist or anything so I don't know 100% what that kind of thing would look like, but this is what I think based on what I saw/read o7

also also also also don't ask how it took like 2 months for doyoung to realize it was PTSD-