In the evening, when little Ben was already asleep, Liliana cleaned up the remaining things and went to the bedroom. Woman sat on the bed, her back against the wall. She glanced at the nightstand and saw Jikyo's favorite book. Lily has read it several times and never ceases to be bored. After a while, woman took out her phone and looked through the photos of her with her husband. At the sight of happy memories, blonde smiled involuntarily.

"Are you recording me? " Jikyo said from the video that Wilkinson had turned on. "Is it so funny?" He asked with amusement.

"Yes, why not?" Liliana's voice was equally amused. "Maybe you should be an actor, you look great in profile." She giggled.

"I'm already a good actor in everyday life anyway. " Park looked at his wife in the video. "You see, I was wrong. " He sighed. "You're just a little beautiful. "

"Oh, you bastard! " Blonde slapped him on the shoulder, which amused her husband even more.

"You see, I deliberately kept quiet about it so that you could marry me." He said, still amused. "You're not getting away from me now." He laughed as he adjusted his sunglasses.

In the recording, a young couple was in the car. While Jikyo was driving, Lily was recording him with her phone.

"And I'm not going to, nae salang. " She said, emphasizing the last words, which caught her husband's attention. "Your face now is priceless! " Woman laughed. "You know, Park Jikyo, you are my love too. " She said, and her words made the man smile.

"Salanghaeyo,* nae salang." Jikyo said happily.

"Mm, nado salanghaeyo.** " Woman replied and after a while the video ended.

Liliana sighed softly and then lay down on the bed hugging the pillow. Before she fell asleep, she softly hummed her lullaby, and memories of her husband flashed through her mind. After several long minutes, blonde finally managed to fall asleep.

~*~

"You know, last time I saw your Lily. " Trent said looking at his boyfriend. "She looked very depressed. " He added worriedly.

Jiho sighed heavily.

"Lily is strong, but..." He began, then turned to the other man. "Jikyo's death killed her. " He said sadly. "I thought she'd never recover from that. Everything pointed to this, seeing her behavior... My heart broke because I couldn't do anything to help her. " He said, and Trent listened carefully. "If only you could see her then..." He shook his head. "Her empty look... She was pale, emaciated and rejected everyone, even Ben."

"Even her own son? " Trent was surprised.

"Mm..." Song nodded. "She didn't want to look at him. "

"Why? "

"I'm not sure. " Man replied. "Maybe because he reminded her too much of Jikyo. " He looked at his beloved. "And since the real Jikyo was gone... You know. " He said sadly.

"So what's changed? " Trent asked curiously. "She's acting different now."

"I don't know what exactly happened. " Jiho replied and sat next to his boyfriend. "She was in this state for a very long time, we were all starting to lose hope... We thought that with Jikyo gone, we'd lose Lily too... And that's how it was at first." He said. "But then, suddenly, something changed. Literally, day by day. Lily suddenly showed up at Andre and Jade's, and the first person she asked about was Ben. " He smiled sadly. "She apologized to her son, the Dubois couple, and even to me..." He glanced at Trent. "Everything changed in an instant. "

"By what miracle? " Man wondered.

"You know..." Jiho pondered. "When Jikyo was alive... Lily always listened to him only. Even Jikyo told me about it himself, before they got here, it was similar. " He said. "It doesn't matter who said anything, Lily only complied with the request when Jikyo asked her to." He smiled involuntarily and then looked at his beloved again.

"You think he's talked some sense into her now, too?" Trent asked.

"Mm. " He nodded. "I think that's exactly what happened." He sighed heavily. "I want to help her somehow, but to be honest, I don't even know what to do. I'll never replace her with Jikyo, no one will. But I want to help her somehow. " He said sincerely. "Since his death, Lily has stopped smiling genuinely. She says everything's fine, but I know it's not. "

"Damn, she must really love him a lot. " Trent interjected.

"He loved her very much too. " Song admitted. "Even just the way they looked at each other... In one moment, you could see everything. "

Trent smiled seeing how his boyfriend shows concern for his friends so charmingly.

"Maybe you should go somewhere with her?" The black-haired man said after a moment. "Go for a short trip somewhere. "

"She'll say she won't leave Ben. " The other man replied immediately.

"Then I'll take care of him. "

"You? " Jiho looked at his companion.

"Oh, come on. " Trent shrugged. "It's not difficult, is it?"

Song chuckled softly.

"Maybe you're right..." He said thoughtfully. "Okay then, let's go." He rose to his feet.

"What? Now? " Man asked.

"Yes, why not? " He dragged his lover with him.

"I don't think she'll like it. Not right away. "

"I have the gift of persuasion. " Song said and with a smile on his face entered Liliana's house.

"Shouldn't you at least knock?" Trent looked surprised, still standing outside.

"Nah. " Jiho waved his hand. "Yohoo?! Lily, are you there? "

"Jiho? " Blonde walked out of the bedroom sleepily. "What are you doing here at this hour?" She asked while glancing at Trent.

"I'm kidnapping you. " Song announced immediately, which caught her off guard.

"Huh? "

"I'm kidnapping you. " He repeated. "Get changed or don't." He waved his hand. "You're coming with me."

"N-no, Jiho. " She replied still panting. "I'm not leaving Bennie."

"Trent will take care of him. " Man pointed to the boy standing behind him.

"Ah..." She sighed. "You really are crazy." She shook her head.

"Nothing new. " Trent interjected, looking around the room.

Lily looked at her friends resignedly.

"Come on. " He pushed her back into the bedroom. "You have a maximum of ten minutes to get changed, then we're on our way. "

"Do you even know where? " Trent asked in a whisper.

"No, I have no idea. " Song shrugged.

After a few minutes, Liliana left the room, dressed in plain gray tracksuits and her husband's hoodie.

"Let's go! " Man called.

"I'll check on Bennie first. " She said and went to her son's room.

Woman silently approached his bed and smiled faintly at the sight of her peacefully sleeping son. A moment later she kissed him on the forehead and left the room.

"But not for long. " She looked at Jiho.

"Don't worry, Ben will be well looked after. " Friend, leading the blonde out of the apartment.

"Has he ever looked after children at all? " Jiho asked as she got into the car.

"Hah... " Man laughed nervously. "Yeah, sure. " He added as if it was obvious, then got behind the wheel.

The truth was that Trent had never looked after children. Sam also approached them with distance, so a difficult task awaited him.

"Oh, what have I gotten myself into. " Man sighed as he looked around the empty apartment.

~*~

A few hours passed, it was morning. Liliana sat in the passenger seat and leaned her head against the window. She was sleepy and tired.

"Where did this idea suddenly come from? " She asked while yawning.

"Just so. " Song shrugged. "You seem to have forgotten a bit that the world is quite big, you know?" He said with amusement. "There is more to this world than your clinic and home. "

Lily said nothing, focusing on the sights they passed in the car.

Song glanced at her in the mirror and then sighed softly.

"I want you to clear your mind a bit." He said after a long time. "To remind you what it's like to..."

"Live? " She finished for him and looked over at him.

"Exactly. " Man nodded. "The world is still here, and life, fortuitously or otherwise, goes on. "

"Yeah..." She nodded. "So what if in one moment your life collapses, the world will continue to do its thing. It won't stop just because someone is suffering. " She said. "I noticed that, Jiho. " She looked at him for a moment and then leaned her head back against the window. "You don't have to prove anything to me. You'd best take me back to... To Bennie. "

"To home? " He specially highlighted this word and surreptitiously glanced at blonde, who didn't answer him anything. "You won't say it?"

"Why should I say that when you know the answer?" She shook her head. "My home was Jikyo. "

"He wouldn't want you to neglect yourself like that, Lily." Man said.

"You don't know what he would want. You can only guess. " She interrupted him.

"Fine..." Song nodded. "But there's one more thing I wanted to tell you." He glanced at her again. "It's about my father... " He added, and with these words he immediately caught Liliana's attention.

"What about him? " She asked rather cold.

"In prison, his condition worsened. " He said and turned at the intersection. "They say these could be his last moments. "

Wilkinson lowered her head, then leaned back against the window. There was silence between them for a few minutes before Lily broke it.

"I'm sorry. "

"No need to. " Man replied. "You don't have to fake it either. I know what you're feeling. " He nodded. "It was because of him that what happened. " He sighed. "We lost Jikyo because of him..." He added sadly. "And maybe even because of me too. "

"Don't say that. " She interrupted him immediately. "It's not your fault." She looked at her friend. "You didn't kill him. You didn't get behind the wheel drunk. "

"But I should've stopped him. " Song said. "If only I had found him earlier and stopped him... Nothing would 've happened. Jikyo would still be here, you wouldn't lose him..." He shook his head, wiping away the tears.

"You couldn't have predicted what would happen, Jiho. " Woman said. "I don't blame you for anything." She assured him. "And your father..." She hesitated. "I won't say he deserved it, but..." She sighed. "You've helped him many times. You pulled him out of trouble and got him straight. It's not your fault he let the addiction take over again. Like everyone else, he makes mistakes... "

"Do you really believe that? " He asked, glancing at his friend, but this time she didn't answer the question asked. "Yeah, me neither... "

~*~

At the same time, little Ben woke up and was surprised to see Trent in his family home.

"Where's mom? " He asked, looking around. "Why are you wearing a pirate suit?" He was surprised.

Trent looked at himself then sighed heavily and set the plate of ready-made pancakes on the table.

"Uncle Jiho took your mom for a little ride. " He replied. "And I'm supposed to take care of you."

Benjamin walked over to the table and glanced at the man.

"I don't like pancakes. " He said looking at Trent's outfit.

"Well, um..." Man sighed. "My pancakes are special, just try it. " He pointed to the dish. "You'll see that you like them."

"When will mom come back? " Boy asked as he sat down at the table.

"Um, soon..." He replied, scratching his head. "Now try it. " He smiled at him.

Boy took the fork in his hand and almost put the delicacy in his mouth, when after a moment he put it back on the plate and looked at the man.

"Why are you wearing a pirate suit? " He asked again.

Trent cursed under his breath.

"Every kid reacts differently. " He shook his head. "It's a fun costume. "

"Fun?

"Yeah. " He replied and placed his hands on his hips. "Today we have an extraordinary adventure full of adventures. " He started gesticulating with his hands. "Like pirates, we'll find some treasure and take it for ourselves!" He laughed.

"Mom says we should share with others. "

Trent snorted.

"This doesn't apply to pirates. " The elder replied. "And then we'll play craps and bet on years of service on pirate ships!"

Ben laughed at Trent's little performance.

~*~

"So where are we? " Blonde asked as she got out of the car.

"Somewhere for sure." Jiho replied and stretched.

"You don't even know where we are, do you? " She sighed as she saw her friend's expression.

"It was an improvisation, okay? " He glanced at her. "But I know where we are." He assured her. "I come here often with Trent. " He led her to the bar. "It has a great atmosphere, people and wonderful country music! "

"Seriously? " She asked, looking at her companion as soon as they crossed the threshold of the pub.

"Come on! You like country. " He shrugged as she sighed. "Oh, come on. " He pulled her along and after a while they sat down at the bar and ordered something for themselves.

"Ah, Jiho, boy! " The bar tender called. "You haven't been with us for a long time. " He smiled pleasantly.

"Yes, well. " Song glanced at his companion. "I'm busy, there's been a lot going on. You understand, Ryan. "

"Oh, yes, I understand. " He chuckled and looked at the blonde. "And we don't know each other, do we? I'm Ryan, Ryan The Kid. "

"The Kid? " Woman was surprised.

"Yes, because you know..." Song explained to her. "Ryan, despite his age, is such an eternal kid. "

"I may be old, but my soul is young! " He laughed cheerfully.

The man had slightly longer gray hair, and a beard and mustache of the same color. He had a round belly and was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. He was also wearing a cowboy hat and boots.

"What's the lady's name? "

"Lily. " She replied and shook the elder's hand. "Lily Wilkinson. "

"A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. "

"Eh, thank you. " She shook her head amusedly.

"At your service, my dear. " He said with a broad smile. "And how is Trent?"

"He's fine. " Man replied and took a sip of his drink.

"Are you getting along, ay? " He asked with a sly smile which amused Liliana a bit.

"Absolutely, Ryan. " Jiho winked at his friend, and this response made the older man even more happy.

"You're passing through, ay? " He asked, wiping glasses.

Song exchanged glances with her friend.

"Something like that. " Man replied. " I'm showing my friend this and that. "

"Mm, I understand. " He nodded. "First time here?"

"Not really. " She replied, which caught the attention of Jiho and Ryan.

"You're kidding? Been here before? " Song asked incredulously.

"Yes, with Jikyo. " She said. "With my husband. " She added seeing the confusion on the elder's face. " When we left Boston after a long time, we also arrived here. There was another man very similar to you. " She pointed to Ryan. "He said there was a town nearby, and that's how we got to Crested Butte. "

"Ah, it must've been my brother, Jackie. " The elder said. "Poor guy died recently. He was old, a little older than me. " He explained.

"I'm sorry. "Lily said.

"Thank you. " Ryan smiled kindly at her. "And your husband? " He asked what Jiho froze for a moment, and Wilkinson answered after a while.

"My husband died not long ago. "

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, my dear, I didn't mean to. " The elder said.

"It's okay, how could you know. " She replied.

"I took her out of town to have some fun. " Jiho interjected. "You know. " He looked at his older friend.

"Of course. " He smiled. "Well, you've come to the right place. " He pointed to the stage where the band was still singing. "For now, leave your sorrows and come! " He waved his hand.

"Lily sings really well. " Song said and the woman kicked him in the leg. "Ouch!"

"Not at all. " she added right away.

"Not true. " Jiho argued. "Come on! " He called. "Sing something. " He smiled at her.

"I'd rather not..." She said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Dance with me? " Woman interjected and pulled Jiho to dance before he could say anything.

Liliana just laughed softly and finished her drink.

"You look exhausted. " Ryan said and put the glasses back where they were.

"I'm fine. " She replied with a glance at her companion.

"Ah, Jiho is a good boy. It's nice to see how he cares about his friends. "

"Mm... " Blonde nodded.

"You're not very happy about this outing, are you?" The elder guessed.

"Not really. " She admitted. "I didn't want to go anywhere. " She sighed. "I preferred to stay in..." She trailed off, then shrugged. "I wanted to stay with my son. "

"Duties have consumed you, don't forget that parents also need a moment of respite. I have six children, I know what I'm talking about. " Ryan laughed.

"I don't need rest. " Woman replied. "I'm doing fine. "

The older man looked at her for a moment, then rested his elbows on the bar and looked at her curiously.

"You miss your husband, don't you? " He guessed.

Lily sighed and looked at her companion.

"I don't want to talk about it. " She said firmly. "Jiho practically pulled me out, I didn't have much of a choice. As soon as he's done dancing, I'll say I want to go back. "

"To home? "

"To my son. " Woman replied and sighed heavily, looking at her dancing friend.

"You know, after my brother died... "

"Oh, please don't. " Blonde interrupted him. "I really don't want to hear it." She added sternly. "Everyone experiences loss in their own way. " She shook her head. "I'm done. " She added and headed towards the exit of the bar.

She went outside and breathed in the fresh air. It was quite chilly, but she didn't mind. Woman preferred days when it was colder.

"Lily? " Jiho walked over to her. "Are you okay? "

"I want to go back. " She said immediately and looked at him. -"Seriously. Thank you for that, but..." She sighed. "I want to go back to my son, Jiho. " Tears welled up in her eyes, which she immediately stopped.

"Lily... "

"No, please, Jiho. " She interrupted him again. "It's a really nice, cool place here, but..." She took a deep breath. "Looking at all of this makes me even more upset. These people are having so much fun, they forget about all their troubles, they live in the moment..." She spoke quickly. "I can't do that." She looked her friend in the eye. "I just can't." She ran a hand through her hair. "I don't want to spoil the atmosphere by how I feel and what's on my mind. "

"Lily. " Song took her hand, after a moment pulled her to him and hugged her tightly.

"Why are you hugging me? " She asked, wiping her tears.

"Because you need it. " He said soothingly stroking her back.

~*~

"We're back! " Jiho called as they crossed the threshold of Liliana's house.

"Mom! " Ben called and ran to woman.

"Hi, my treasure. " She knelt down and hugged her son. "Ah, I missed you. "

"I missed you too. " Boy said, then looked at his parent and stroked her hair. "I had a great time with uncle Trent. " He pointed to the man who was kneeling in front of Jiho at the moment, which surprised both him and Liliana.

"Um, Trent? " Song wondered.

"Come on, marry me. " Man said again.

"Why so suddenly? " Jiho asked confused.

"I lost at dice to Ben, and when we ran out of bets, I had to promise something." He explained. "So, marry me." He repeated. "I promised I'd ask for it as soon as I saw you."

Song laughed softly.

"Well, answer me. " Trent pleaded. "Don't laugh at me. "

"And I'm the one whos an idiot." Song chuckled and then looked at his beloved with tenderness. "I love you, silly."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Salanghaeyo"* - "I love you" in Korean.

"Nado salanghaeyo.**" "I love you too" in Korean