The generator had stopped working again.

Wei Ying trudged outside, taking the little key with him to the back shed and opened the padlock. The owners had told him to wind up the motor and the generator would start, but so far this was his fourth attempt to keep it running.

It was colder now than in the morning when he'd arrived, and already it was becoming dark at not even three in the afternoon. He made a note to remember that for the next day, because if daylight was limited, he would have to do all his chores earlier.

This cabin was just the break he needed; surrounded by peace and quiet and uninterrupted time where he could just write to his heart's content...the words would be sure to flow, right?

Lan Zhan, his beta reader, his willing ear to listen to all his problems, though there weren't that many, and all round encouraging assistant was joining him later, after hearing that Wei Ying intended to come here alone, and Wei Ying wanted to be ready.

The generator was making reliable sounds now so maybe this time, it would keep running by itself. Having sorted that out, Wei Ying trudged back to the cabin. Snow crunched under his feet, his breath almost crystallising in the frigid air.

Just on the side of the cabin, there was an alcove where ready chopped wood was easily transportable into the main house, and he could slug it onto the fire, so he added a couple of them into his arms to take inside.

Stopping for a moment, he looked around the area. Tall ferns and oak trees stood high and unyielding, the leaves covered in stale snow. The bare branches of the oak trees had icicles hanging down and he shivered from just seeing them. He had no idea if more snow would fall tonight, and hoped Lan Zhan would be alright driving to him. It was in a secluded part of the forest too, but Wei Ying was confident of Lan Zhan's abilities.

His lucky stars had been shining upon him, that summer day, when Lan Zhan applied for the job. Wei Ying had complained to the publisher that his work wasn't being published fast enough, and in this day and age of fast consumerism, the company needed to get its act together. Lan XiChen had calmly told him that he had someone in mind already, someone who could start immediately.

Wei Ying had been in their substantial library at the time, and accidentally dropped a book (or three) and gone to pick them up, but long, elegant, and pale fingers had reached for the same books and beaten him to it.

He had looked up into the most gorgeous golden eyes, amber with a touch of fire, and for the first time in his life, he didn't have a clue what to say. Any and all thoughts flew out of his head like birds finally freed from a cage, and he didn't know how to get them back, either. All he could see was a beautiful man standing in front of him...talking?

Wei Ying had to really concentrate and pay attention.

"Are you looking for an assistant?" He had asked, in a delicious voice that reminded Wei Ying of hot chocolate, deep, sweet and velvety.

He could only nod, especially when Lan XiChen had come looking for him.

"Master Wei, I have fou-" he'd started to say, but somehow the books - all three of them - had landed on his foot, and Lan Zhan had taken over the conversation smoothly.

"Master Wei has found me." He had replied to Lan XiChen, who had nodded slowly, smiled and limped away.

That had been three years and five books ago. Now Wei Ying was about to commence writing the sixth one...and all of a sudden, he couldn't.

His problem started slow and unassuming. He would sit in front of his computer, his fingers hovering over the keys, waiting to think of something, anything interesting. And come up with zilch.

Nada. Nothing.

The first day it happened, Wei Ying thought it was a fluke, and flukes are accidental by nature...so he let it go and played on his phone instead. After all, it was good to give yourself a break now and again, right?

But the same thing happened the next day and the next, until a week went by. Normally, he would have submitted his first chapter to the publishing House already...but this was just a temporary delay. It was going to fix itself.

Lan Zhan was extraordinarily supportive. He never told him off, or said anything negative, instead he took Wei Ying out. They visited art galleries and museums, Lan Zhan took him to music concerts and even a kite festival. They went to watch movies because Lan Zhan said his brain needed to be stimulated.

And all the while, Wei Ying wanted to tell him how much stimulation it was getting, because Lan Zhan was sooo hot!

He liked to think they were friends now, even if technically Lan Zhan was sort of working for him, and Wei Ying really should have said something about his crazy hot attraction to his assistant, but now he was scared to.

Lan Zhan had become irreplaceable.

Wei Ying could not imagine any one else being there for him, not like Lan Zhan was. Any time Wei Ying needed something, it would magically appear and Wei Ying would smile because no one knew him like Lan Zhan did.

However, this writer's block was getting him down. He was starting his second month with nothing to show for his efforts...and it was depressing.

So when he mentioned that he was thinking of getting away to somewhere quiet, somewhere he wouldn't be disturbed, Lan XiChen had mentioned this place. Idyllic, serene and just the tonic to set his spirits right, Wei Ying had jumped at the chance to spend two weeks here all alone.

Lan Zhan had looked upset when Wei Ying had told him.

"Alone?" He had asked. Twice. And then added, "I will come. Wei Ying will need me."

As it was mostly true, Wei Ying hadn't bothered to correct him, too busy being excited about what he was going to write about. There was an idea floating around on the peripheral of his brain, just itching to get out there, and Wei Ying was going to be cured! Finally!

Lan Zhan wanted him to wait so they could travel together, but the thought of finally being able to create something...it was too good to pass up, so Wei Ying had told him to catch up.

Lan Zhan had looked at him all serious, and given his favourite answer. "Mn."

Now Wei Ying was sighing at the ever darkening sky. There was still no sign of Lan Zhan's SUV, and Wei Ying was feeling a little bit funny. He had noticed it in the morning, foregoing breakfast because he'd rather not throw up in a brown paper bag on the freeway whilst driving, if he could help it, and after a while the feeling that his insides were systematically folding in on itself went away.

In fact to his utter relief, the further Wei Ying got from home and the big city, the better he was feeling. Once he had found the cabin, after shoving away thoughts of wolves and serial killers, he had tried working the generator. Now that it was on, he tried to feel better about everything.

Maybe he was hungry? He wasn't at all sure, but what harm could it do? In his haste to leave, Wei Ying had forgotten to pack any food, and now he was kicking himself for this. Serene, quiet, and tranquil were synonymous for out-of-the-way, no pizza delivery, and inconvenience, he was finding.

He remembered his half-eaten chicken sandwich he'd left in the car, and hurried out to retrieve it, still hoping to see cheery car headlights to signal Lan Zhan's arrival. The sandwich was there, but Lan Zhan was not.

Wei Ying was too hungry to pay attention to the slightly weird smell of the bread, and ate it anyway, sticking another log on the fire just because he could. It had started snowing again; he had been right, and the cold was real. He stood by his window, too anxious to write, and too jittery to sit still. He had picked up some Christmas decorations in the store where he'd bought the sandwich, and he decided to put them up so Lan Zhan would have to do less.

The first thing his fingers brushed against was the plastic mistletoe, and he giggled, imagining Lan Zhan's face when Wei Ying would pause right there and show him. Maybe Lan Zhan would kiss him then...

He wasn't too sure which way Lan Zhan swung, but his own mind had gone into overdrive imagining scenarios that could totally happen...if only Lan Zhan looked at him that way.

Wei Ying had done his best to flirt...but he didn't think he was all that great at it, from judging Lan Zhan's reactions...and then again, Lan Zhan was famous for his stoic expressions.

Maybe here, maybe some time during these two weeks, finally, Wei Ying would confess and tell Lan Zhan how he felt. Maybe....

The chicken sandwich had been a bad idea...he realised this after puking his guts out for the fourth time - seriously, where was all this fluid coming from? - and now Wei Ying just wanted to lie down.

But Lan Zhan hadn't arrived yet, and Wei Ying...Wei Ying wanted to wait for him.

Christmas in the Jiang household was a merry affair. Wei Ying remembered another fireplace, much bigger than this one, in another house where tempers frayed along with the decorations. Wei Ying had signed a book contract at eighteen, and Madam Yu had never let Jiang Cheng forget it.

Unfortunately for Wei Ying, that company had turned out to be bogus, and it had filed for bankruptcy not too long after...the ensuing scandal too much for Madam Yu to take. In her furious ire, she had kicked Wei Ying out of her home and onto the street.

He had three manuscripts left and so he went to find an agent first. He had bumped into Lan XiChen literally, and the rest was history.

Now, as he looked into the mesmerising fire, the orange flames that danced and cast shadows on the ceiling, reminding him of a certain pair of intense golden eyes, Wei Ying could feel his eyes closing. He tried to fight the feeling, wanting to stay awake, but his tired body succumbed to rest at last.

The lights flickered and went out, not long after that.

******

Lan Zhan wanted to curse...but Lans never did that, and he was a stickler for rules. Just when he was getting ready to head out, his Uncle Qiren had decided to ask him for a summary of their accounts.

Even though it was XiChen's department.

And even though he was putting his coat on at that time.

So Lan Zhan had dutifully taken it off and gone inside again to do what his uncle wanted.

All throughout, he was making a mental checklist, thinking about what he would need, because Wei Ying was notoriously bad at preparations. Lan Zhan had already invited himself, because this was Wei Ying...and how could he not? But he was becoming more and more anxious as the minutes slipped by. Uncle Qiren threw in a lecture for free, because why the hell not? And now he was two hours late already.

It got worse when he went to say goodbye to his brother.

"I'll see you in two weeks, Xiongzhang."

That was all he had to say, for XiChen to give him a pep talk.

It was embarrassing to say the least, but ever since Lan Zhan had dropped those books on his feet to get him to just shut up, because Lan Zhan had found the man of his dreams, XiChen had decided to be his one and only cheerleader.

That day, Lan Zhan being the gentleman he was, stooped to pick up the books that a slight man had dropped, and he was hit with the mother of all thunderbolts, straight to his heart.

Beautiful silver eyes, like starlight in a midnight sky, were looking into his soul, and Lan Zhan wanted nothing more than to kiss those pink lips, wanting to taste them just to see if they were as good as he wondered. The faintest floral scent had wafted into his personal space and Lan Zhan had wanted more...more of everything. And wasn't it just a gift from the universe that this author was looking for an assistant?

Lan Zhan had recognised him from the picture Lan XiChen had stuck on the noticeboard with a sign promoting a new opening, and now that Lan Zhan had fallen in love, how could he let someone else take that job?

Reading for Wei Ying became precious moments together, and as time went on, Lan Zhan spent more of it with him. How could he help it if he picked up Wei Ying's favourite drink, just because he happened to drive past - okay it was the longer route - to pick it up? Was it his fault if the bakery across the street sold Wei Ying's beloved cinnamon rolls? And how could he be blamed for trying to make this hard-working man feel better, after a particularly vicious bout of writer's block? No indeed, he had thought as he rushed towards his car. He still had to go shopping because he knew Wei Ying would forget something as important as that.

The cabin was situated right in the middle of the woods, and rural meant whatever they brought with them was what they'd have to make do with, that much he knew.

So Lan Zhan already delayed by three hours, still went shopping. He picked up necessities and lots of junk food because, Wei Ying, and saw a miniature Christmas tree ready decorated, and wondered if Wei Ying would like it. Before he could answer the question in his mind, the boxed tree was sitting in his cart and he was fighting last minute shoppers all of whom were hell-bent on buying the same things as him.

A forty-five minute job took double the time before Lan Zhan was able to escape the city. Thoughts of Wei Ying, tired and hungry filled his mind as he thought about his amazing plan to seduce the lovely writer. The prickly mistletoe in his shirt pocket was proof: Lan Zhan was head over heels in love with Wei Ying.

The problem was, he wasn't sure how Wei Ying felt. There were times when he questioned it, but Wei Ying was naturally a tactile person, and whenever he touched Lan Zhan, even by accident, Lan Zhan was too busy trying to get his heart under control to pay attention to anything else.

He loved the way Wei Ying lived his life, the openness he shared with everyone he came across, so when the writer's block struck, Lan Zhan was filled with inspiration,  wanting desperately to make Wei Ying feel better. Through all those carefully constructed dates, Lan Zhan found out so much about his love interest, that now and only now, did he feel confident enough to approach the subject.

Would Wei Ying accept him?

That question alone was opening the gate to a minefield.

There were definitely moments when he wondered what that mysterious emotion was, lurking behind mercurial depths. Something funny would happen, or Lan Zhan would come out with a word or phrase unintentionally bitchy, and Wei Ying's surprised laughter would ring out, making him feel all kinds of warm inside, and he wished...how he wished he could take this wonderful man into his arms and kiss him senseless.

His attraction was getting out of hand too. Wei Ying would only have to sigh, to capture his full attention. His sooty eyelashes framing those animated silver orbs, so beautiful to look into...he would wink and Lan Zhan could feel his heart stuttering as it struggled to recover. One day, it was all going to be too much and he was going to-

Lan Zhan had to break sharply, narrowly missing the deer that had run out of the woods. Google was showing him there was a turning he had to take coming up and soon after that, he would have reached Wei Ying.

The cabin. He would have reached the cabin....

He nearly missed it, for the snow was falling thick and heavy. He had already passed a few accidents along the hard shoulder of the freeway, and each time he was glad that it wasn't Wei Ying, and each one was a reminder that he had to be extremely careful.

Snow was thicker on this dirt road into the forest. Any tracks Wei Ying would have made with his car were long since covered up, and Lan Zhan had to turn up the full brilliance of his lights, expecting the warm glow of the cabin to show him his way...but there was nothing. His SUV tackled the snow and the bumpy ground like a pro, and pretty soon, he was able to make out the shape of a building amongst the trees. His headlights cast tall shadows in the night, the fall of snow becoming a show of mesmerising beauty, sparkling in all the right places.

But...why was the cabin shrouded in darkness? Where was Wei Ying?

Fear sat like a scorpion in his belly, ripples of panic ebbing and flowing up to his chest. It settled only slightly when he saw Wei Ying's car parked across from the cabin, but he parked the SUV as quickly as he could and hurried out.

The front door was unlocked...something he could tell Wei Ying about later...but right now, he was tremendously relieved about. At least the fire was still on...but it needed more fuel. Lan Zhan could see a couple of logs in the carrier nearby, and was glad Wei Ying had thought about that. He tossed a few on the low flames, stoking the fire until it was a cheery blaze.

He tried the light switches and found them not working, and he remembered Xiongzhang mentioning the generator at the back...but where was Wei Ying?

A low moan caught his attention and as his eyes adjusted to the semi darkness, he could make out a figure lying on the couch. For a second, he was really happy.

Wei Ying had simply fallen asleep.

Lan Zhan went closer. In the light of the fire, he could see Wei Ying restlessly moving...and why was there beads of sweat on his forehead? The cabin wasn't cold, but it wasn't hot either. Lan Zhan put the back of his hand against Wei Ying's temple and was shocked at how hot he was.

Wei Ying moaned again, his hands coming out from the couch throw he had tossed upon himself, to clutch at Lan Zhan's hand, holding it more securely for it's coolness, because Wei Ying was burning up. Luckily, Lan Zhan had picked up a medi-kit from the supermarket; it was in the car with the rest of their supplies.

Lan Zhan tucked the blanket carefully around his shoulders, trying to ignore his whine of protest...but he had to get the generator started first. Everything else would follow after he could see what he was doing.

He marched out in the now blizzard conditions, fighting his way to the shed. Thank God Wei Ying had left it open; the door was closed but the padlock and the key were left inside...which meant that Wei Ying had to try starting the generator more than once.

Lan Zhan made a note to tell his brother to complain to the owners about that. For now, he got the motor running, and saw that he had to replenish the fuel...that's why it had stopped working!

Quickly and efficiently, Lan Zhan got it working and locked the door behind him. Deep in the woods, a coyote called, long and eery. His boots crunched, the soft snowfall a blanket that muffled his footsteps as he returned, taking things in from the car on his way.

Now that the lights were working, there would be hot water too. Maybe even a kettle for boiling water.

Wei Ying looked worse in the yellowish light, his skin a pale sickly pallor. In the kitchen, Lan Zhan filled a kettle with clean water and put it to boil. Then he found a bowl and filled it with clean water, and taking a rag, he went back to Wei Ying.  He sat next to him on the couch and began to wipe away the excess moisture from his face, memorising the high cheek bones, the ridge of his brows and the shape of his nose.

Now that he had a moment, he could fully assess Wei Ying's condition without spiralling into wild panic.

The kettle whistled, and Lan Zhan opened the medi-kit, removing the paracetamol. He went back into the kitchen and crushed a couple of tablets with the boiling water, blowing on it to make it cooler, and then he sat Wei Ying up slightly, so he wouldn't choke when Lan Zhan spooned the mixture down his throat.

Wei Ying could feel someone trying to rouse him, but all he wanted to do was remain lying down. It annoyed him, this persistent...touching...lifting him up. And then something foul tasting entered his mouth and he wanted to gag...but his his nose was held and now Wei Ying had no choice but to open his mouth, only for more of that horrible liquid to go in. He grumbled...trying to open his eyes.

"Lan Zhan..." He breathed out.

Lan Zhan was enormously happy that Wei Ying recognised him, even in this delirious feverish state. But Wei Ying kept closing his eyes, and rest was the only cure right now.

Lan Zhan wished he had something a bit more substantial, like a soup he could feed him...and then he realised he could make one...all the ingredients were in the car...while the medication took effect, he could use the time wisely and cook something delicious for Wei Ying to eat.

The next few hours were spent unloading the car and preparing the soup. Lan Zhan had found the empty sandwich wrapping, and it definitely smelled dodgy...his gaze drifted to the man lying down on the couch and he put two and two together.

At least it was nothing serious...but it could have been. If Lan Zhan hadn't come, or even come in time...anything could have happened to Wei Ying.

When the soup had cooled enough that Lan Zhan thought he could feed Wei Ying, he went to prop him up again. Wei Ying was shivering this time, and Lan Zhan thought the soup would be just the thing.

He was still beautiful in that ethereal way of his. Lan Zhan was reminded of when he had first seen him and been blown away by his looks. Those intelligent silver eyes flickered open for a second...and held his wrist, Wei Ying's thumb resting on Lan Zhan's out-of-control pulse.

Lan Zhan thought he was alright...but his eyes were not focusing properly. Where he was touching Lan Zhan...all of his concentration burned to that touch...but he made himself wait patiently.

"Lan Zhan..." He spoke as if it was too much effort to do so.

"Mn?"

"Love....you....."

His eyes closed again.

But Lan Zhan was frozen in shock.

There was no way....

It must be the fever. That was the only explanation. It was making him delirious.

Wei Ying let go of his hand then, and Lan Zhan had to concentrate on not covering them both with the food. When Wei Ying finished eating, Lan Zhan tucked him back, lying him on the couch so he would be more comfortable. This was the only fireplace in the cabin, so he couldn't move Wei Ying to the bedroom, at least not yet.

The couch seemed comfortable at least, and Lan Zhan could keep an eye on his patient while he ate and cleaned up after them. There was more soup leftover; it could still serve as their evening meal later on.

While Wei Ying slept on, Lan Zhan began tidying up, and decorating the place so when Wei Ying would wake up properly, he would have something nice to look at. Lan Zhan set up the tree, it even had lights, and made the cabin look friendly and inviting. Lan Zhan had a few candles too, and he had bought lengths of LED lights which he hung everywhere. When he finished, the end result was spectacular.

The whole cabin looked warm and cheery, the fire cozy and just right.

Now, he was only waiting for Wei Ying to wake up.

Lan Zhan must have fallen asleep, because he woke when someone called his name. He sat up suddenly, disorientated, rubbing his face free of sleep.

And then he remembered. His eyes shot to Wei Ying, who was awake and certainly more lucid than before.

"Lan Zhan?" He called out again.

Lan Zhan went to sit by him, testing his temperature again.

Wei Ying grabbed his hand and held it to his face, his warm, soft cheek leaning into Lan Zhan's fingers.

"You came." He whispered, sounding so happy about it.

"Mn. How does Wei Ying feel now?" It felt strange to talk now after so long of not using his voice.

Wei Ying shivered, his eyes almost black.

"Like I've been run over by a Mack truck." He laughed softly, closing his eyes again...but he did not let go of his hand. "Lan Zhan..." He tried again. This time, those silver eyes pierced him with their intensity. "Don't sleep over there..." He shifted, trying to make room for Lan Zhan's lankier frame. "I'm scared...I don't want to fall off..."

Clearly, even that was too much effort for him and he closed his eyes, still shivering.

Lan Zhan waited, his body tingling at what Wei Ying wanted him to do...but had to think about it. This would be only about Wei Ying and keeping him warm.

That's all....he told himself.

He went into the bedroom and grabbed the blanket, and then stuck some more logs on the crackling fire and went to lie down next to the beautiful man. The blanket covered both of them, warm and cozy...but then Wei Ying turned towards him and snuggled into his chest, and Lan Zhan forgot how to breath.

His chest was hammering away, pulse skyrocketing into another orbit, and he was fighting for control.

Wei Ying had fallen asleep now and his even breaths helped calm him down. His warm breath on Lan Zhan's neck, and those soft heartbeats against his own chest gradually lulled him into slumber and he closed his eyes thinking how perfect this was.

The next morning, Wei Ying woke up staring at the most beautiful sight. Lan Zhan was in kissable distance, right next to him, still asleep. His hand raised itself so his forefinger could trace those beautiful eyebrows, those high cheekbones...

Lan Zhan looked so soft in this natural daylight. Wei Ying wished he could wake up next to him every day like this.

And then his stomach rumbled loudly, waking the other up as well. Those gorgeous golden eyes, matching the flames in the fireplace, opened to stare at him.

Wei Ying held his breath....waiting.

Lan Zhan also seemed to be waiting...and neither could look away.

"Lan Zhan....I...I like you....a lot..." He whispered. Why was it so easy to be honest and open now?

Lan Zhan smiled.

These smiles were rare...but oh so precious!

Wei Ying smiled back...after all...he hadn't said no...

Lan Zhan could feel something prickly in his pocket and his fingers reached in as he tried to remember what it was. His golden eyes widened even as his ears were tinged pink when he saw it was the mistletoe.

He had not even a second's warning because Wei Ying crashed their lips together, and then that was all he could taste, see, smell, hear was WeiYing WeiYing WeiYing...

Tingles of fiery electricity raged through their veins as Wei Ying sought for purchase, finding this...this sudden sense of belonging light up his insides. Teeth clashed and kisses bruised, an awakening of long buried passion needing to escape. Somehow Lan Zhan shifted so he was lying on top of Wei Ying, who welcomed the weight, wrapping his arms around Lan Zhan's neck to hold him in place and never let go.

Lan Zhan could not believe kissing his Wei Ying could feel so good. He felt alive, vibrant with joy, as if all of his pores were singing out loud, singing the name of the one...until Wei Ying broke away, because they both needed to breathe.

"Lan Zhan...are you crying?"

That soft voice made the tears run faster and Lan Zhan hid his face, burying it in the crook of Wei Ying's neck.

"Lan Zhan...we've just found each other..." Wei Ying was saying gently. "It's okay to cry...nothing to be ashamed of. I may as well tell you the truth, even if you don't feel the same way. I love you. I have loved you from a distance for such a long time that this...this feels like coming home. Do you hear me?" He held onto the shaking shoulders, just murmuring softly, trying to soothe the other.

Lan Zhan was just glad that he was speaking...and what he had said was lifting away all the weight he had been carrying in trying to hide away what he felt. Who knew that fifty cent cheap plastic mistletoe would turn out to be priceless?

He lifted his face just so he could look at Wei Ying some more. Those wonderful silver eyes were shining with kindness now and Lan Zhan realised that was what he needed most right now.

"How long?" He asked.

As usual, Wei Ying knew exactly what he meant.

"When you picked up those books. I saw our whole lives stretched out before us...but I didn't know how to tell you." He replied honesty. "You?"

"When you smiled." Lan Zhan told him without hesitation. "Can I kiss you again?"

"You never have to ask." Wei Ying said, eyes sparkling with love.

"You said I don't feel the same...but I love Wei Ying." Lan Zhan said. Slowly, he angled his face so they were kissing some more, this time sweeter with the promise of a future together.

The End

A/N

Merry Christmas lovely readers!!

I thought of this story yesterday and was torn between writing this one or the next chapter in book 7... these are such hard choices, don't you agree?

What do you think? I hope you liked it.

My best wishes are always for you all, I hope this Christmas you can spend with people you love the most, just enjoying this time.

The Universe wants us to be happy, we just have to open our hearts to the magic.

Eat lots of chocolate because it's always a great time for it.

See you guys later...

Charlie.