Wen Qing quietly left the small room where she and her youngest didi had moved to. Technically she was in the past now. The time before Wei Wuxian had rescued her and her remaining family. Even then it had been almost six months of living in the Burial Mounds before they had all discussed formal adoption. It was true that probably no one outside their little community would care, but that wasn't why they did it. They did it because Wei Wuxian was family, and they wanted him to know it. They all knew he treated them like they were family and they all thought of him the same way, but there was something about formalizing it. It was like making a promise, a commitment to that relationship and everything it entailed.

The afternoon they had sat Wei Wuxian down to ask him about it was one of her fondest memories of their time in the Burial Mounds. Wei Wuxian had been so excited. He had seemed completely overwhelmed. When they proceeded to tell him that they wished to take his last name, he cried. She remembered Uncle three frantically explaining that Wei Wuxian was their savior and taking his last name would be an honor. It took a few more panicked explanations before Granny figured out that Wei Wuxian wasn't upset, but crying because he was happy. If Wen Qing had perhaps been a bit tearful towards the end of the discussion no one mentioned it. That night they celebrated much like they had when Wen Qionglin woke up. Uncle Four spent half the night talking with Wei Wuxian about wine making. The very next day he had Wei Wuxian assist him so he could teach him how to make it. Even though they had all considered Wei Wuxian as part of their family before, afterwards Wei Wuxian seemed so much more comfortable. It made the Burial Mounds feel a little bit brighter.

These events had not happened yet. They may not ever happen since she was now in the past. Regardless, they were real for her. Even if she and her family were Wen's now. In her heart she had already allowed this name to die alongside the nightmares the main family had brought on the world. As far as she was concerned Wei Wuxian was now, and will always be, her didi. She didn't know exactly how the future would progress from here. She didn't know what they would manage to change. However, she had every intention of making it official again.

Her youngest didi would accept this easily. The last time she studied at Cloud Recesses she had tried and failed to get her youngest didi to stay away from Wei Wuxian. She had wanted to protect him by keeping him away from everyone and anyone. She probably should have known better. Wen Qionglin had always been a good judge of character. Her only hesitation now would be what Wei Wuxian would be comfortable with. It wasn't that she thought he didn't still think of them as family, but she suspected he may be worried how the Jiang's would react. She still didn't know whether he would want to stay away from them or desperately stay close to protect them. The desire for both was probably present. She didn't begrudge Wei Wuxian for his loyalty and affection for the Jiang's. More the opposite really. A large part of her felt the Jiang's hadn't deserved him. Jiang Wanyin was taking the brunt of that from her, but he was not the only one who instilled this sentiment within her.

Wen Qing walked through the dimly lit infirmary. The infirmary had a few lanterns that were kept lit every night. It was meant to make it easy to locate and navigate in the event of an emergency. The room Wen Qing and Wen Qionglin had moved to was a small room attached to the infirmary. It was meant for healers to stay in when they had patients that might need care in the middle of the night. It was exactly for this reason that Wen Qing had requested Lan Xichen permit them to move there. No one knew yet what condition Wei Wuxian would be in when he woke up. They also did not know when he would wake up. That plus the fact that everyone was nervous about the resentful energy made it a very reasonable request.

Wen Qing softly opened the door to Wei Wuxian's room. There was still a lantern glowing faintly beside his bed. It was already past curfew. The room was filled with the soft sounds of sleep. The Jiang siblings were sleeping on a spare mattress, unwilling to leave Wei Wuxian's room. Lan Wangji was sitting on Wei Wuxian's bed leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Wei Wuxian was now mostly laying on the bed. His head pillowed in Lan Wangji's lap as his hands gripped the fabric of the thick white robes. She smiled faintly at the scene before she continued with her task.

Wen Qing expected his condition to be unchanged. Nevertheless she did her due diligence to check on him one final time before going to sleep herself. She hadn't been certain if the Jiang's would stay in the infirmary overnight. Generally having so many people there overnight would have been discouraged. It could be a hindrance in an infirmary to have too many extra people hanging about. Lan Xichen had probably made an allowance given the circumstances. Lan Xichen seemed to feel it was unfair to force them to leave Wei Wuxian's side at the moment.

Wen Qing gently took Wei Wuxian's wrist. She checked his pulse, his spiritual energy, his golden core, and the resentful energy. It was probably more thorough than necessary, but she expected to be asked many questions. It was better to be able to say she had checked. It was also a bit for her own piece of mind. Wei Wuxian had only started using resentful energy after losing his golden core. She didn't know if the introduction of a functioning golden core would introduce any complications. So far there were no noticeable problems. She didn't think there would be, but she would never forgive herself if something happened and she hadn't checked.

A soft groan drew her attention. Wei Wuxian shifted restlessly as his eyes blinked open slowly. Wen Qing smiled softly watching as Wei Wuxian's sleep clouded eyes slowly cleared. Even knowing that he likely wouldn't wake up in a particularly good state. She was still glad he was waking up. She hadn't seen him awake since she had said her goodbyes. As his eyes focused on her he seemed to suddenly freeze.

"Jiejie..." his voice came out in a whisper. A shaking hand reached towards her as his eyes moistened with tears. Wen Qing had debated telling him that she remembered. She had worried it might overwhelm him, or bring his attention to all those things that had hurt him so badly. She had almost decided to hold off on saying anything. Until she heard him call for her with that desperate plea. She took his hand without hesitation and reached forward to stroke his hair gently.

"I'm here A-Ying." She said softly. The tears began spilling over silently.

"Jiejie," His quiet voice cracked. "You're alive? You remember?" His voice sounded rough and painful. She wondered vaguely if he had screamed it raw earlier. Wen Qing wiped the tears from his face with her thumbs. She could feel tears gathering in her own eyes, but she ignored them.

"I'm here A-Ying. I remember," she said softly. Wei Wuxian's tears began to pour harder as he gripped her wrists desperately.

"Jiejie. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His choked sobs barely sounded louder than a whisper. Wen Qing felt her expression shift. Her mouth pressed into a firm line as her eyes filled with gentle disapproval. Freeing one of her hands she swiftly tapped the top of Wei Wuxian's head with two fingers. The strike was harmless, but abrupt. Wei Wuxian's words suddenly sputtered to a halt. Wen Qing had long since learned how to interrupt such spirals of his. If she was early enough, this sometimes quieted him enough for her to be able to calm him.

"A-Ying. You owe me no apologies. My death was not your responsibility. Neither was A-Ning's." Wen Qing spoke in a quiet firm voice. Wei Wuxian still looked like he was on the verge of spiraling into despair.

"I failed. Everyone... All of them... they." Wei Wuxian's weak voice stuttered horribly, but Wen Qing didn't need him to complete the sentence to guess what he was saying. It had long been the known worst case scenario. Though really, by the time Wen Qing reached Koi Tower it had more been an expectation, an eventuality.

"They all died right?" Her voice was flat. While it was a question, it sounded like she already knew the answer. She supposed she did. Wei Wuxian nodded wordlessly.

"Three months after you..." His voice cut off again. Wen Qing's chest felt tight.

'Mine and A-Ning's death only bought them three months?' Wen Qing pulled Wei Wuxian into a hug. She felt slightly guilty as she was effectively pulling him off of Lan Wangji's lap. Wen Qing apologized silently in her mind. With a wordless promise to return him afterwards, she attempted to relieve the guilt in Wei Wuxian's eyes.

"A-Ying, it is not your fault." She whispered softly. "You protected us for two years. That is two years of life we would not have had." She felt Wei Wuxian's body shake with soft sobs. She could only imagine how devastated he must have been. She didn't see them die. For her, now in the past, it was more an abstract possibility. However for Wei Wuxian it was much worse. She had no doubt that he would have defended them until his death. He had probably witnessed many of them die, and she did not want to imagine how brutal their deaths might have been.

"I ruin everything I touch. Lan Zhan should have let me die. If I'm dead, Shijie and Jiang Cheng won't have to suffer." The broken voice began spiraling. Wen Qing hardened her expression. That was more than enough of this.

"A-Ying." Wen Qing's voice was still hushed so as not to wake those around them, but it was scolding and almost angry. "Even without you the war will happen. Even without you Lotus Pier will be attacked just like the other sects. Do you think the sects can win the war without you? If you do then you are either thinking too highly of them, or are again undervaluing yourself." Wei Wuxian seemed shaken by her scolding. He fell silent as he leaned back onto the bed. Wen Qing wasn't sure if he didn't realize he was pillowing in Lan Wangji's lap, or if he was just unconcerned about such things.

"I..." He started, then bit his lip. He opened his mouth as though to speak, but each time he closed it again without a sound. He took several slow breaths as though trying to deliberately regulate his breathing. He cast his eyes around the room and froze when he spotted the sleeping forms of the Jiang siblings.

"Jiang Cheng... Shi-Shijie..." His already quiet and hoarse voice cracked. He seemed to shrink in on himself and turned his face to hide it in the sandalwood scented fabric. He felt a warm hand gently caress his hair and down his back. He automatically shifted closer to the source of the touch. The soothing touch and relaxing fragrance calmed him before he devolved into tears. The scent was so familiar.

'Where have I...' Wei Wuxian suddenly shifted his face and cracked open his eyes to peek above him.

"L-Lan Zhan?" his voice was small and startled.

"Mn." Lan Wangji continued to run his fingers through Wei Wuxian's hair.

'Lan Zhan is here? Lan Zhan is touching me? How much did he hear me say just now? Did he hear all of it? Why is this smell so relaxing? Doesn't Lan Zhan avoid me? Did I force him into letting me lay on his lap? I don't remember doing that. But he's choosing to touch me right now isn't he? Should I get up? I don't really want to. Actually I really don't want to.'

"Wei Ying." Wei Wuxian was suddenly pulled from his frantic thoughts by the low voice. He looked up to see pale amber eyes staring at him filled with concern. There was the sound of a question when Lan Wangji called his name. Wei Wuxian bit his lip then sat up. He couldn't keep inconveniencing Lan Wangji. No matter how much Wei Wuxian himself enjoyed the attention, it wouldn't be fair to force Lan Wangji.

"Sorry, I know you don't like touching others." Wei Wuxian said quietly as he hugged his knees to his chest. He was already missing the comfort from Lan Wangji's touch. Suddenly Wei Wuxian felt a tremendous force pull him backwards. He suddenly found he had been hauled completely into Lan Wangji's lap. Lan Wangji's arms wrapped securely around him, holding him against Lan Wangji's chest.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian yelped. He was so startled that he couldn't get out any more words than that. He stared wide-eyed at Lan Wangji, almost like he didn't recognise him.

"Wei Ying is not others." Lan Wangji's voice seemed to vibrate through his chest and seep into Wei Wuxian's skin. Wei Wuxian felt like his mind had gone completely blank. His face felt hot and he vaguely wondered if perhaps he had a fever. Wen Qing politely didn't comment on the situation. If they handled it themselves great. If not, there was time to forcefully shove Wei Wuxian into Lan Wangji's arms later. Wei Wuxian's flustered expression and reddened cheeks were deeply amusing to witness. Wei Wuxian's mind continued to sputter uselessly for a bit before he finally found his footing again to speak.

"How long have you been awake? How much did you hear me..." Wei Wuxian's voice came out in an unsteady stutter. Lan Wangji automatically began to run his fingers through Wei Wuxian's hair again. As he soothed Wei Wuxian Lan Wangji continued to try and support him with his words.

"You can tell me as much or as little as you are comfortable with." The words were spoken softly against the top of Wei Wuxian's head. A sense of relief poured over Wei Wuxian. He felt tears begin to slide down his cheeks, but for a very different reason than before. That sentence held so much acceptance. It offered support without any demands. Wei Wuxian melted into Lan Wangji's embrace and took deep breaths of his soothing sandalwood scent.

"Thank you." Wei Wuxian's words came out like a soft sigh. There was a long comfortable silence. Wei Wuxian let himself soak in the feeling of relief and the comfort of Lan Wangji's embrace. He wanted to stay like this. Just this, with nothing else in the world. That would be the best.

"A-Ying," Wen Qing spoke softly but it still surprised Wei Wuxian. He had completely forgotten she was still there. The two of them had just been talking. He felt embarrassed and had to resist the urge to hide his face deeper in Lan Wangji's chest.

"Mn?" Wei Wuxian prodded without turning his head. 'I'm not hiding. I'm just not turning to look at her. Completely different.' he assured himself.

"Is there anything you want to tell Lan Wangji tonight, or do you want to rest more?" Wen Qing asked gently.

'That's a really good question. What should I say? How much do I say? Who do I say it to? Will any of them believe me?' Wei Wuxian's mind raced. His prolonged silence prompted Wen Qing to speak further.

"I haven't said anything to anyone else, but Lan Wangji was awake while you and I were speaking just now." Wen Qing pointed out in what she hoped was a polite tone. Wei Wuxian looked up at Lan Wangji then with wide eyes. Lan Wangji's gaze shifted to the side in embarrassment.

"You were upset." Lan Wangji said quietly. 'I didn't want to worry or overwhelm you.' Lan Wangji added silently.

"You should also know that before I arrived one of the healers tried to examine you while you were unconscious. They were thrown across the room by resentful energy." Wen Qing tried to say it gently, but Wei Wuxian still flinched.

"Are they alright?" he asked in a quiet voice. Wen Qing nodded.

"They came around with little effort. A little bruised is all." After a short pause Wen QIng continued. "Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, Jiang Yanli, and Jiang Wanyin all witnessed it." Wei Wuxian visibly deflated.

"If that's the case we won't even make it to the war before everyone wants me dead." Wei Wuxian's tone sounded defeated. It was a depressed and disturbingly accepting tone. Lan Wangji's arms immediately tightened around Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian gasped. Lan Wangji's embrace was so tight that it hurt.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian said breathlessly. Lan Wangji suddenly loosened his grip as though he hadn't realized just how tightly he was holding Wei Wuxian. His gaze was cast downward and slightly to the side in guilt.

"Protect Wei Ying." While he had loosened his grip he was still holding Wei Wuxian tightly. Wei Wuxian's eyes were wide as he stared at Lan Wangji in shock.

"What did you say?" Wei Wuxian asked. 'I must have misheard. There is no way he said that he wants to protect me.'

"Protect Wei Ying." he repeated.

'He can't mean that he would protect me from everyone. Maybe he means he wants to cleanse the resentful energy from me? That makes more sense. He did keep asking to bring me back to Gusu so he could fix me. That's probably what he means now.' Wei Wuxian felt a bit disappointed.

"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji's questioning voice pulled Wei Wuxian out of his thoughts once more. He turned his head away and began pulling himself back.

"You shouldn't bother with me Lan Zhan." We Wuxian said. His voice sounded oddly devoid of emotion, almost hollow. "I was an obnoxious mess before. Now I'm..." he hesitated for a moment. "You know what, I'm everything your uncle thinks I am. I'm a troublemaker. I'm a demonic cultivator. I'm evil. I'm a disaster. I..." Lan Wangji abruptly pulled Wei Wuxian close once more. He pressed Wei Wuxian's head to his shoulder and held him close like that.

"Wei Ying is precious. Protect Wei Ying, always." Lan Wangji said firmly.