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This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you.  You are not alone.  You are infinitely precious.  And the trauma you endured is not your fault.  Know that you are so loved.  And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you.  You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.

Rated M for Mature.  This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.

“No,” Tia spoke from the doorway.  “We nine.”

Julieta smiled. “I’m sure Breeze would take exception to that.  You’ve got at least ten of us behind you.”

“Eileen would be the first to defend you.  If only she were here.  But she’s still in Paris,” Jimin added.

Hobi was pretty sure Sakura would be sympathetic too if she were here.

Jungkook stayed silent.  Tae was still the only one who knew about Hyejin.

Stasia smiled at them all.  “Thank you,” she whispered.

Yoongi’s arms were still surrounding her.  He noticed that she was looking tired.  “Do you want me to take you home now?”

She nodded.  She was exhausted.  She turned toward the others.  “It was wonderful to meet all of you tonight.  Truly.  I haven’t felt so accepted since I came to South Korea.”

They all smiled at her.

Julieta stepped forward.  “I meant it, you know.  You are welcome to move in with me and Tia.  We’d love to have your company.”

“That’s really generous of you.  You’re not worried that Eun might make bail and try to find me at your house?”

Julieta glanced at Yoongi.  “Well, Yoongi did say he’d given you a bodyguard, so I think we’d be pretty safe.  Besides, I’ve been threatened before.  I’m not about to let that stop me from helping you.”

“I agree,” responded Tia.

“Thank you,” murmured Stasia.  “I’ll think about it.”

The girls nodded at her.  

“Go home.  Get some rest.  You’ve had three nerve-wracking days,” Julieta opined.

Suddenly, the world came crashing back down on Stasia.  She remembered her fears.  Pregnancy.  STDs.  Intimacy.  Testifying before a crowd.  Telling her mother what had happened.  The last one might be the worst.  She couldn’t put it off much longer.  She didn’t want her mum finding out through a news report.

Yoongi felt the weights falling onto her shoulders.  “Come on.  Let’s go.”  He turned around and waved at his friends.  “Thank you, guys.  You too, ladies,” he threw a grateful glance at the sisters before turning back to Stasia.  As they walked through the doorway into the hallway, he murmured, “Do you mind if I stay with you again tonight?”

She glanced up at him, and her heart turned over.  “Are you sure?  My couch can’t be comfortable.”

He shrugged.  “It’s fine.”

“Okay.”

“Let me just grab a few things.  You’re welcome to come to my room with me, or you can hang out in the living room.”

She was curious.  She wondered what Yoongi’s room looked like.  But part of her was wondering if she was nuts to consider going to his room with him.  After the week she’d had.  But Yoongi had spent the night at her apartment last night and come nowhere near her.  

Guys were so hard to read sometimes.  They still made her uneasy.  But she felt like she had to choose to trust somebody.  The alternative – going through life fearful of everyone – just wasn’t acceptable.  She didn’t want to spend the remainder of her life terrified of everybody.  

There were evil people in the world.  But there were also good people.  And then, there were a lot of people who fell in between, maybe doing the best they could yet still falling short sometimes.  She was going to have to do her best to discern the good from the bad.  But she felt like she could truly trust the nine people that had surrounded her tonight.  As far as she was concerned, she couldn’t see what Yoongi was getting out of a relationship with her.  It seemed to her that she had brought him only trouble.  Yet he was considering cancelling concerts for her.  That was mind-blowing.  

So she took a risk and followed him down the hallway.  She stood in the doorway to his room and watched him toss some clothes into a bag.  Her eyes roamed around his room.  It reminded her of him.  Solid.  Steady.  Quiet.  Sweet.  Not ostentatious or over-the-top.  Simple.  Yet orderly.  His bed looked really comfortable.  It reminded her that she was tired.  She yawned.

Yoongi looked up and smiled at her.  He headed for the bathroom to grab a couple things.  When he returned, he reached out to gently take her by the elbow and steer her towards the front door.  “Let’s go,” he whispered in her ear.

She shivered as his warm breath slid over her skin.  She felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.  So long, in fact, that she’d forgotten such a feeling was possible.  Or wanted.  

She turned towards him in the hallway.  His fingers still embraced her elbow.  She gazed up into his eyes.  Eyes of solace.  Eyes of faithfulness.  Eyes she could trust.  

“Come on,” he whispered.  “You are so tired that you might fall asleep on your feet.” 

Gently, he led her out to the car.  Their bodyguards piled in behind them as Yoongi chose to drive.  A few minutes later, he escorted her into her apartment, once again leaving the guards outside.

She turned towards him.  “Yoongi?”  She interrupted herself by yawning.  

“Come,” he murmured, grasping her by the arm and turning her towards her room.  “Let’s get you to your room.  You need sleep.  A lot of it.”

She nodded.  She was so tired that she could barely put one foot in front of the other.  It had been an exhausting day.  She stopped walking when she reached the bathroom.  She turned towards him.  “Thank you, Yoongi, for everything you did today to help me.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled.  Then a mock serious cast covered his face.  “Now.  Time for you to go to bed.  Away with you.  No more stalling.  No arguing.  Go sleep.  You’ll feel better in the morning.”

A spasm of sorrow crossed her face.  “Will I?  Truly?”

He nodded.  “I think so.”

“Okay.”  She leaned against the doorpost.  “Goodnight, Yoongi.  Sweet dreams.  I hope my couch doesn’t swallow you.”

He laughed.  It nearly had last night.  She didn’t know it, but he hadn’t slept one wink last night.  She wasn’t the only one exhausted tonight.  He headed to the couch and was out cold in under thirty seconds.

She went to bed shortly thereafter.  She found herself feeling grateful.  She remembered all the events of the evening.  And the unexpected welcome she’d received.  She lay awake for a few minutes thinking of her new circle of friends.  And pondering the offer Julieta had made her.