Little Peach *Completed*

Chapter 2

Grace's POV

"Grace, would you be ok to meet my housemates? We're happy to have you here, but we just need a few answers if that's ok?" Taehyung asks softly.

"Mhm, that'd be ok, I owe you an explanation." I'd rather answer their questions than be out there again...

Taehyung sends a message on his phone before getting up off of the floor to sit next to me. I try my best not to, but I can't help but flinch when he's standing in front of me. I really hope he didn't notice that...

Taehyung's POV

Did she just flinch when I walked past her?

I feel my hands clench tightly into fists at the thoughts running through my head. What has she been through if she flinches when someone just walks past her?

I sit next to Grace on the sofa making sure I don't touch her, I don't want to upset her. The others come down and file into the living room, all taking various seats around us.

"Right, everyone, this is Grace. She's still a little shaken, but she said she'll answer our questions." I explain.

"Hey Grace, I'm Jin. I was with Tae when you found us in the park." He offers a kind smile when she looks up at him, my own smile appearing when I see one appear on her lips.

"Hi Grace, I'm Hoseok, or you can call me Hobi." Hobi's smile dazzling her, her own smile growing slightly.

The others finish introducing themselves, and I'm pleased to see she's relaxed a little, she's not holding onto her legs so tightly.

"Sweetheart, why were you running and screaming in the park?" I ask, it's the question everyone wants to get an answer to.

After a little while, she seems to find the courage to tell us. "He...his hand...my mouth...I needed to...it hurt...I didn't want to..." she mumbles, clearly trying not to cry as she tries to explain, not looking at any of us.

"That's fine Grace, you don't need to tell us anymore." Namjoon says softly, but anger flashing in his eyes.

As I look around I see most of the others in various states of anger or sadness at her ordeal. Even if she didn't explain in detail, she didn't need to, we got the picture.

"Would you like to stay with us Grace? We have plenty of space, and there's always someone here to keep you company." Jin offers.

"I don't want to be a burden..." Grace starts.

"Sweetheart, you won't be a burden. None of us want to put you back into a situation like that." I explain. I feel weirdly protective of her...

"Otay..." she sniffles. Otay?

Grace's POV

Grace keep it together, you can't slip now...

It's taking a lot to keep myself big and not slip into my little headspace. I don't want to scare them off with my coping mechanism, a lot of people don't get little space, but it's what helps me, which is a lot better than my other coping mechanisms.

I take a deep breath and look around at the faces staring back at me. Wow they're handsome...

"Grace, how about I show you to your room? You can shower and Jin will make us something to eat." Taehyung says offering me his hand. This time I don't flinch, I look at his kind face, and feel safe. I take his hand, it's big and warm, like a hug for my hand.

I follow him up the stairs to the guest room, he flicks on the light and I'm greeted by the comfiest looking bed I've ever seen. "Wow...I can sleep in that?" I ask amazed.

Taehyung looks down at me confused "Yes of course Grace, where else would you sleep?"

"Usually on the floor with a blanket..." I say without thinking.

I look up at him, my attention drawn by the gasp that just came out of his mouth. I look down again, confused as to why he's looking at me like I've just kicked a puppy.

Taehyung lets go of my hand, kneeling down in front of me.

"Grace, look at me please." His voice sounds sad. I look at him, the sadness in his eyes mixed with all too familiar anger.

"This room is yours for as long as you want it. Anything you want, you ask one of us and we will make sure you get it. This is your home."

Home...

Taehyung's POV

I leave Grace to shower in her new room, leaving one of my clean t-shirts on the bed for when she came out, with a pair of Yoongi's boxers as mine would have been far too big for her.

As I head downstairs I hear chatter in the living room, Jin clattering in the kitchen. I flop down onto the sofa, still not believing what she'd told me about where she slept.

"Tae? What's wrong?" Jimin asked concerned.

"She was so amazed she was going to be allowed to sleep in a bed..." I whisper, my eyes staring straight ahead as I feel my heart break a little.

"Wait, if she didn't sleep in a bed, where did she sleep?" Hobi asks sadly.

"On the floor with a blanket..." my voice cracking as I speak the words.

"What the fuck..."

"That poor girl..."

The sad comments come, but I can't focus on who's saying them, I just think of Grace curled up on some dirty floor with nothing but a blanket.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear footsteps on the stairs. Grace shyly walking into the room, her hair still damp, the T-shirt I gave her stopping mid thigh. I look at her, tears stinging my eyes, my fists clenched so tight my nails are digging in painfully to the palms of my hands.

Her legs are covered in various coloured bruises at different stages of healing, the newest ones a purple so deep it almost looks black. As my eyes travel up, I notice the scars over her wrists, on her forearms more bruising. I force myself to keep looking, she doesn't need anyone turning away from her. My eyes stop next at her neck, a clear bruise in the shape of a hand circling it. I'll kill him...

Taking a deep breath, my eyes finally rest on hers, a green-yellow bruise outlining her right eye, her lip noticeably swollen and red without her makeup disguising it.

"Hey sweetheart..." I finally manage to choke out. Jungkook is staring at me, tears threatening to spill, Namjoon giving his shoulder a firm and reassuring squeeze encouraging him to keep it together.

If that's what I can see, what is being hidden?