Chapter 31: Fin

As soon as the group got situated in the back, they burst into a flurry of words.

Jimin's defense of why he had been missing. The others had trouble blaming him when he explained the multitude of secrets he was privy to, as well as a few attempts to lure him away from the party.

Seokjin's exaggerated play-by-play of "the scene". Taehyung's enthused interjections as he egged on the older man. 

Namjoon's assurances to Yoongi that he was fine and didn't need coddling. They were ignored the man pulling out a medical first aid kit that he had stashed in the car to treat the man "until he could get to proper supplies". 

Teddy kept quips flying between the groups. 

Hoseok's laughter as he kept his arm slung around Jungkook, the younger man's hands hadn't stopped shaking yet but he was smiling. 

As the drive continued, things started to quiet down but the silence felt comfortable. Something had bonded them tonight that had previously been missing. They were closer now.

"I love you, Teddy." Hoseok stated. When Teddy just stared at him he rubbed the back of his head before continuing, "When I saw that knife coming at you, my only thought was about what if it didn't miss, what if you died. After that I knew I needed to tell you."

She opened her mouth, but Hoseok interrupted. "I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one in this car that does." The others gave their assent carefully watching her reactions, "We can start slow, hold hands, do dates, or hug. Give us a chance." 

"It doesn't matter, I can't" she said softly. 

"The f**k you can't," Hoseok responded desperately. Teddy glared at him.

"Look, I'd be lying if I said I don't like you guys, but I know you don't love me." She held up her hands to stop the interruptions. 

"You guys have been conditioned since birth to please women. You live with me. Heck, according to the law, I own you. There is no way for this to produce a healthy relationship, the power imbalance is too wide, so now I won't date any of you."

Teddy was hardly immune to their charms, most of them she had crushes on at the first meeting, others took a little time to grow, but she always knew nothing could come of it. 

"So that's it?" Yoongi questioned, "You just decided we are beneath you, we don't get a say in this." 

"You don't get it that's the point, you don't have a say. You can't rely on me, you can't trust me. I refuse to cage you like that." Teddy could feel her frustration rising as tears pooled, why couldn't they get it?

One day they would wake up and realize that she wasn't worth it. They would understand that they had just formed an attachment to the first person to treat them with an ounce of kindness. And then wouldn't be able to tell her, they would be trapped. And she would hate herself. 

"So what you're saying is that you need us to be independent? To have the choice of leaving you?" Jungkook quietly asked. Teddy nodded. 

"If we do that, we can date you?" he continued, his voice louder now. She hesitated but nodded in the end, "If you still want to." 

And suddenly Teddy felt an anonymous shiver run up her spine as all of them started grinning like psychos. What had she agreed to? They would just give up right? 

---

Two years and six months later Teddy found out that they would, in fact, not give up. Each one started to stretch into their roles and became very successful. 

Jimin trained hard before entering the modeling world, his natural charisma and beautiful features making him a hit. He worked under the pseudonym "The Siren".

Taehyung often accompanied Jimin and became interested in photography. When he showed a natural talent for it, he was taken under the wings of a photographer. It took time but he gradually made a name for himself in the industry.

Namjoon continued to delve into the world of business, starting his own company that manufactured and cleanly mass produced biodegradable packaging. 

Seokjin branched out away from business instead, venturing into culinary arts, becoming a chef highly sought after by the elite. 

Yoongi fell in love with music and began to write songs, several becoming national hits. In private, volunteered at a local youth center teaching music. 

Hoseok continued to dance, eventually finding a passion in teaching. He now coaches a group of up and coming dancers who have lovingly nicknamed him the "Angel of Death".

Jungkook tried out various sports and became a black belt in both Karate and Tae-kwon-do. He has attended several competitions and has often landed the number one title. 

With time, they grew closer, the men especially, had become best friends, practically brothers. Strangely enough, she was the one with the biggest hang-ups about starting a polyamorous relationship with all seven of them. 

The new dynamics fell into place easier than she could ever have imagined and with the men at her back, she began to take on more at the company and eventually branched out into other fields. 

They never heard a peep from Victoria after that and people had been present at the party tended to give them a wide berth.

The video of the beat down made it to the internet, most likely something to do with Teddy's mother not wanting to advertise the possibility that she had intercourse with such a repulsive man, even if everyone was well aware that he was not Teddy's biological father.