Nada

Epilogue: Graduation

Graduation Day. For both Hoseok and Y/N. The other six were proud as each received their diploma and walked down to join their friends. Both were wrapped up in hugs and Y/N was grinning from ear to ear. She'd done it. She had her degree.

She felt Hoseok's arm slide around her waist and his lips on her temple. It had been over a year now. He had visited the man who had saved her and personally thanked him. Mordecai was in prison where he belonged. After the trial Hoseok had tossed that copy of Love and Respect. He'd decided there were some things he was better off not knowing.
She and Hoseok were still going strong. There had been a few bumps in the road and a few arguments, mostly about whether or not she should re-sign the lease on her apartment, but they had worked through it.

She was going to continue on the university's PhD program. Hoseok was tired of school and was going to open his own dance studio. His sister was running his parents' business just fine so he felt he could go on and pursue what he wanted.

The party was being hosted by Taehyung and lasted into the wee hours of the night. But eventually Hoseok and Y/N were worn out and found an empty bedroom, locking the door and crawling into bed. Hoseok kissed her before wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her breasts.

"Comfy." He mumbled and she giggled, softly running her fingers through his hair. They lay in silence for several minutes but just as Hoseok was drifting off...

"Was it worth it?" He hummed.

"Was what worth it?"

"When we first met. Was it worth it?" That woke him up and he winced as he remembered how painful that had been. It had definitely not been one of his finer moments.

But....

If things hadn't gone the way they had, he wasn't sure they would be here now. He sighed.

"If I had to take it to get you in the end, all over again, I would. If there was literally no other way to get you." She said nothing, just continued stroking his hair. "And you?"

"And me what?"

"Everything. The fear, the stalking, the kidnapping, and attempted murder. Was it worth it?" He asked quietly, shifting his head so he could look up into her face. She had her thinking face on as she chewed on her lip.

If she'd never run. If she'd gone back. The moment Mordecai tossed her away was the moment her life was in danger. If she'd let him have his way, stuck around as a "friend" until he tired of his wife, she would've gotten what she wanted right then, but she would've been miserable. Beaten down. Probably have a couple kids. Trapped. Unable to get away.

And if she'd gone back? She'd be like that, only worse. Because she would've been punished for her defiance. Women like her were not made for situations like that, eventually they either had to break free or die trying.

She nodded.

"If none of it happened he would still be free, I would still be under his thumb, and I definitely wouldn't be with you. So if I had to go through it again....I would. As long as you were at the finish line." He smiled kissed her shirt over her chest before snuggling back down.

"Pain's inevitable." She whispered. "We can fight it and make it worse. Or we can use it to make ourselves and our lives better. Either way it comes."

"You have such a cynical view of the world, Y/N." He teased, closing his eyes again.

"If you could understand half of what I read you would too." She shot back. And that's how they fell asleep. They'd welcome a new day tomorrow. Together. Always.