Sunlight filtered in through the windows of the little cottage, causing the sleeping man to seek shelter in the warmth of his husband, little whines of protests escaping from his plump pink lips.

Lan Zhan kissed the top of his head, holding him tighter. He lifted their blanket so it covered his husband's head, letting the darkness soothe his slumber.

Waking up next to his husband.

This was a dream come true for him, something he had been sure was not going to be possible for him any more...and yet the Gods of Fate had other plans.

Lan Zhan loved this early morning quiet time. Had they been back in Cloud Recesses, he would already have been up hours ago, and missing these precious moments.

But then, had they been back in Cloud Recesses, it was doubtful if Wei Ying would have been with him.

Just that thought alone had him holding his husband closer, pressing his cheek to the wonderfully soft and fragrant hair and counting his blessings.

Today was a special day, after all.

Today was Wei Ying’s birthday.

That last day, leaving the ruins of the GuanYin Temple, leaving death and destruction in their wake, Lan Zhan had come to an understanding.

On the one hand, his life stretched out before him, living it as he had done before the arrival of this beautiful man. Adhering to the three thousand rules, day in and day out, putting his love and his peace of mind to one side and living for other people.

On this same side was his brother and his uncle and the rest of the clan.

But on the other side, was his love.

Wei Ying in all his glory, a sight for sore and thirsty eyes, and thoughts of whom brought forth the delightful beating of his heart.

Wei Ying was his life and Lan Zhan felt as one newly woken from a coma.

The choice was an easy one.

Wei Ying was all he wanted, and would ever want.

And so with Wei Ying alight on Lil Apple, they rode away.

For the first time in his life, Lan Zhan made a choice to live for himself.

The first temple they came across was more of a shrine, but he decided it would do. There was a monk sitting outside making garlands and Lan Zhan realised that while he wasn't looking for a sign, a bigger one would not be found. He purchased two beautiful peony garlands and then as an after thought, bought one more.

All the while, serious but sparkling silver eyes watched his every move.

Lan WangJi was burning from the heat visible just under the surface. Those silver eyes were molten.

"My precious Wei Ying...let us be married. I love you. For me, there is no other, there will never be any other, than you."

Wei Ying had kissed him then, and agreed.

To others, it may have seemed casual, but Lan WangJi knew the truth. Wei Ying was a simple soul, never good with being tied down to any place or any one. But he had agreed so easily to stay with Lan Zhan, to stay by his side.

They made their bows, prostrating before the Heavens, and then to their ancestors,  and finally to each other. Lan WangJi placed a garland around his precious neck, soft against the shallow wound caused by the golden silk string of Jin GuangYao. Those pretty pink peonies looked wondrous against that beautiful tanned skin.

Lan Zhan wanted to kiss him there, lick away any traces of pain or hurt on his Wei Ying. This man had suffered far too much.

He bent so Wei Ying in this new body, for Mo XuanYu was slightly shorter than Wei Ying had been in his original body, could place the second peony garland around his neck. The third one, they offered to the diety of the shrine.

It was a request for them to be allowed to finally remain together.

Lan Zhan offered his hand and Wei Ying placed his palm inside. Another kindness, another kind of love, to be able to trust so openly.

"So...Lan Zhan my love...what shall we do now?" His mischievous silver eyes held so many questions, yet he asked none, content to follow where Lan Zhan would lead.

"We can go back to Cloud Recesses." Lan Zhan had said, not missing the swirling uncertainty which swelled in those beautiful eyes, so clear and happy a moment ago.
"We do not have to stay." Lan Zhan had added.

Perhaps it was some sixth sense of premonition which warned him of what kind of welcome awaited them, or maybe it was the still aching scars, all thirty-three of them reminding him of how much his choices would be respected in that cold, cold place.

"I do not think I would be welcome in your home, my love." Wei Ying said softly, again not giving a voice to the many doubts hidden in his heart.

"Then it would no longer be my home either. I will not stay where you are not welcomed." Lan Zhan was surprised at how calm he felt, saying those words.

More so, because they were true.

"I would feel bad if I made you leave that place." Wei Ying said, as gently as the softest breeze dancing among the green leaves of the willow tree next to them. "Or if they said something horrible to you because of me. I think that would hurt me the most."

Lan Zhan remembered turning to him then, holding his precious face in the palm of his hand.

"Home is where the heart is, and mine lies with you. If we go back at all, it is only to inform family because those are the last ties. And I wish them to know it is my decision and mine alone. I would not want them to slander your name further." Lan Zhan bent his lips to Wei Ying's, kissing him softly.

Wei Ying was smiling, a soft smile of happiness.

A gift.

And Lan Zhan wanted to make sure he spent the rest of his days feeling like that.

"We should make some plans." Wei Ying had said, taking the reins of Lil Apple and holding his hand as they walked.

"Mn. What kind of plans?" Lan Zhan asked him, feeling curiously unburdened now.

"What shall we do in case such and such happens...in both scenarios."

Lan Zhan heard the tremor in his voice and understood the weight of the courage he was using.

"If we are welcomed and asked to stay, then that is certainly one option." He replied carefully. "But I would like to know what Wei Ying would like to do."

It was apparently the right thing to say, because Wei Ying had practically bounced up and down.

"I always thought I was a restless soul...you know, never happy in one place..."

"And now?"

"Now...I feel as if you are my anchor, my love. The thought of buying some land and tilling our own fields...it makes me happy. Would you be happy, being married to a farmer?" Wei Ying had looked at him anxiously, when all Lan Zhan wanted to do was sing and shout.

Which he did, but internally.

Outwardly, he smiled at his Soulmate.

"What would you like to grow?"

Wei Ying smiled at him then.

A real smile, one that stole his breath away, and made every drop of blood in his veins sing with rebounding joy.

"You are so beautiful. My Wei Ying." He said just before capturing those lovely pink lips once more.

Wei Ying was like a flower, just learning to bloom. Every time Lan Zhan complimented him, or said something nice, he was embarrassed but happy. That growth was healing for both of them.

Wei Ying let go of Lil Apple's reins and pressed himself closer to Lan Zhan, wrapping his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck. One of them moaned, this kiss so heated, it was bringing up more emotions to the surface.

Lan Zhan deepened the kiss, suddenly not caring who saw them, or what they could say.

Wei Ying was safe, here in his arms and nothing else mattered.

His taste was simply exquisite.

Lotus flowers sweet and ripe and something else, intoxicating and tremendous, lifting his soul. Lan Zhan twisted his hands in Wei Ying's beautiful long hair, his fingers tangling in his gorgeous red ribbon.

He could kiss Wei Ying for hours.

Now that he had a taste of what it could feel like, Lan Zhan didn't want to let go. This heavenly feeling was worth every thing he had suffered, what they had both suffered to be here now, kissing as if their lives depended upon it.

"Potatoes. And...radishes..." Wei Ying gasped out, when his mouth was free.

"And carrots for bunnies." Lan Zhan added, as they resumed walking.

"We could keep a few chickens too, company for Lil Apple. Maybe a couple of goats for milk." Wei Ying was really getting into it now.

Lan Zhan walked beside him feeling a warmth begin to bloom inside his chest. The more Wei Ying spoke and chatted about all the things they could do, about their life as it could be, the more this feeling grew, spreading all over his body. And just as they entered Gusu, he realised what it was: happiness.

Not long after that, they found a plot of land.

Lan Zhan paid for it straight away, smiling when he saw the foundations already dug and ready to begin building their home. And it was worth it for every shining sparkle shimmering within silver starlight eyes.

They were so happy.

But they still needed to go back.

Lan Zhan usually carried a fair bit of money on him. It was always enough to suit his purposes and since it only ever needed to pay for a night's stay at an Inn, and some meals, he always had more than enough left over.

But as they climbed the lonely road up to Cloud Recesses, he had a feeling that he would not be returning. Not for a long while, if that.

Wei Ying was tense as each step fell away and they passed by so many landmarks.

Who knew that one year, not even a whole one at that, would have changed his life forever?

This was the place he, Jiang Cheng and his Shijie had camped with the rest of their Yunmeng Jiang disciples and then he had gone back to Caiyi Town to retrieve their forgotten invitation. And these were the pale ivory pillars where they had been refused entry, and Wei Ying had seen Lan Zhan for the very first time in his life.

"I think it was love at first sight." He teased, to mask his growing discomfort.

"For me, it was fighting on the roof. You did not unsheathe Suibian at all. I was impressed." Lan Zhan told him, his heart overflowing now with joy that honesty brought him.

"To meet my match...in more ways than one." Wei Ying had said, that mysterious smile playing on his lips, the one that made Lan Zhan fall even deeper in love with him.

They passed through the wards and continued on to the Jingshi.

Wei Ying looked around, his silver eyes full of bittersweet nostalgia.

"It hasn't changed much." He remarked, going to where WangJi would have normally been resting.

Lan Zhan walked to the hidden floorboard, under which his precious things lay. He pulled out the jars of Emperor's Smile, all thirteen of them. The rule book copied out in messy writing, the peony flower preserved forever, gifted to him by this admirer. The tattered remnants of a red ribbon, ravaged by time and sorrowful fingers too distraught to use more care. And the gift of a portrait by this very man.

Wei Ying watched him take each item out, store it with infinite care within his qiankun pouch and pick up numerous purses, before Lan Zhan was ready to leave.

"Uncle is not yet returned from YunPing City. Neither is Xiongzhang. I will leave a letter for them." Lan Zhan said, and did so.

In his short, to the point way, he explained what they had done, and where they intended to live together. And he also left an open invitation, should they wish to visit. Perhaps it was being overly optimistic, but manners had been bred deep into his soul, and Lan Zhan wanted to start his married life well.

Then he had taken the hand of his husband and walked out of the Jingshi, silently saying goodbye to his mother too.

In that last second, Lan Zhan had felt a presence, whispering around him like a blessing before it was gone forever. He rested his forehead against the deep cherry wood door, and said his final goodbye.

But it seemed, they were not to leave so easily.

Just as they reached the gates of Cloud Recesses, a group of white-robed disciples entered.

Right in front of them was Uncle Qiren, Lan XiChen and a few elders.

Silence descended for a few minutes, before XiChen walked forward. He saw their garlands and smiled genuinely at both of them.

"Congratulations Didi...A-Xian. Welcome to our family." But there was a hidden pain lurking in his eyes, one of humiliation and betrayal, confusion and uncertainty.

Still, he did not leave them to face Uncle Qiren alone.

Uncle Qiren was busy turning into every shade under the rainbow. Fuming and clearly upset, he ignored Lan Zhan and stared with deep disapproval at Wei Ying instead.

"You have truly shown your colours now. How dare you-"

"Uncle. Shifu. We are leaving now. Wei Ying and I are married, and we will not be returning." Lan Zhan had never in his whole life, ever interrupted Uncle Qiren.

The adrenaline rushing through his system was unreal. He knew he was shaking right now, but his first priority was the man standing right next to him, and Lan Zhan was damned if he was going to let anyone, even his uncle, make Wei Ying feel as if he was less in any way.

"Wangji!" Uncle Qiren thundered. "If you leave now with him, you are never to return here again."

Words meant to cut deeply, glanced off his skin like drops of dew.

"As you wish, Shifu."

Lan Zhan bowed for the last time and pulled Wei Ying along.

They passed that ominous cloud of hatred unscathed, Uncle Qiren too shocked to do much else.

And the further away they got, the better the both felt.

At the base of the mountain, Wei Ying paused, digging in his heels and forcing Lan Zhan to stop.

"Mn?"

"Lan Zhan...Lan Zhan...are you sure?"

The pain in his voice had something twisting in Lan Zhan’s gut.

He pulled Wei Ying closer, looking deeply into those beautiful silver eyes to make sure that Wei Ying understood.

That there would be no mistake, no misunderstanding, no false ideas running around in his head from now on.

"I love you. I love Wei Ying. I fancy you, I want you, there can be no one else but you. I do not care where we live, as long as we are together."

Wei Ying nodded, eyes suspiciously wet.

Lan Zhan crashed their lips together, tasting the salt of his tears. He obliterated them and the reason behind their existence, choosing to pour all of his love into this kiss, making it last until they were both panting.

"I love you, Lan Zhan...so much." He smiled through his tears, and Lan Zhan pulled him closer.

It was already a marvel to him that he was allowed to do this, to hug his husband whenever he wanted to. But a deep, slower hunger was building, and Lan Zhan knew there was so much more he wanted to do with Wei Ying.

They had consummated their marriage in a nice hotel, not far from where they wanted to build their home.

A hot bath, a hot meal and an even hotter love in all its parallels.

If there were any doubts left, Lan Zhan scorched them away with the passion of his kisses, blistering a new path ahead, one just for the two of them.

**********

A few months later, SiZhui and Wen Ning had visited them. They brought news from Cloud Recesses.

Lan XiChen had come out from seclusion and resumed his work. The cultivation world was choosing its next leader, and he was in favour. Uncle Qiren was as he always had been, and they had passed over any discussions about him. The nights were spent with Wei Ying drinking his wine and the other two drinking their tea, a quiet peacefulness that warmed their hearts.

Wen Ning had chosen to live near the place his ancestors were buried, looking after their burial grounds.

He too came to visit now and again, sometimes with SiZhui, sometimes when he felt lonely.

SiZhui would bring the other ducklings with him on occasion. JingYi and the Zizhen boy were lively breaths of fresh air, even getting Lan Zhan to produce the closest thing to a smile now and then. Things were still tense with Jin Ling but Wei Ying hoped time would heal the barriers made from pain.

Only one person did not visit.

His absence was conspicuous and not discussed, but it was apparent from the way Jin Ling spoke about him that Wei Ying was talked about...but no one wanted to elaborate.

So the days passed quickly.

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan meditated in the mornings, and the benefits of their cultivation began to show slowly, but surely. During the day they worked in their fields, growing what they needed, selling what they did not, and buying anything else which they could not grow.

Nights were spent in ardent passion, showing each other the love that burned so fiercely within their hearts. Each kiss, each touch that served as fuel to make the flames reach higher.

Last night had been one such of many, and today, Lan Zhan decided to indulge his lover by staying next to him for longer.

Today was Wei Ying’s birthday and Lan Zhan intended to celebrate it fully.

He blinked, and Wei Ying shifted, stretching away his slumber.

"Good morning, my love." He whispered, not wishing to disturb the peace of the early morning.

"Good morning my Wei Ying. Happy birthday."

Lan Zhan pressed his lips to his, revelling in the sweet taste of his husband.

Soft, slow and languid, this ease of showing their love to each other was in a language as old as time. Gentle caresses which stoked the fire of their passion were banked for now, as they relished this honey time together.

Only sweetness remained, a happy acknowledgement of their unity, a joyful basking in each other's presence. To be here and to be together at last, it was something to be grateful for, to appreciate.

They rolled in the bed clothes, and Wei Ying lay on top of Lan Zhan, looking down into his face. His eyes were full of that kindness, and overflowing with love again.

"Sometimes I can't quite believe we're married." He said, softly. "I am scared that I'll pinch myself and wake up, and it will all have been a dream. And if that's the case, I would really rather never wake up than face the alternative."

He snuggled closer, humming in satisfaction.

Lan Zhan held him tighter, his fingers stroking Wei Ying’s back, feeling each knot in his spine.

"I too am especially glad we are married. And together." He murmured, feeling the truth of his words.

They rose some time later, extremely relaxed and happy. Breakfast was hot congee made with love and chilli oil added for flavour. They still had some ripe peaches to finish off their meal and they were just getting ready to take their dishes to the Riverside, when there was a series of sharp knocks on their door.

Wei Ying skipped to the opening and threw open the door, watching in delight the dust motes dancing in the light.

But his smile faded, when he saw who was standing there.

Jiang Cheng.

In all his purple finery, he stood like an avenging angel, ready to battle for justice. Zidian crackled excitedly on his wrist, recognising the recipient of its attacks in the past.

Lan Zhan was standing in front of Wei Ying within seconds.

He had no idea his body was shaking with...rage? Fear? Righteous morality?

He wasn't sure which one it was, or even if it was a mix of all three.

Jiang Cheng scowled at both of them, before turning his back towards them and going to sit on a small barrel of hay, the one they were going to use to feed their little animal family when the winter came.

"Lan Zhan...my love?" Wei Ying came around to stand in front of him, his silver eyes full of worry.

Lan Zhan could not speak.

Not right now, when all he could see was Wei Ying feeling at the wetness at his nose and seeing all that blood, and then passing out.

He hugged Wei Ying, not wishing to let him go. He needed to know that Wei Ying was alright.

Wei Ying understood him.

After all, how could he not?

Wei Ying could feel the weight of a gaze behind him...but right now, Lan Zhan was his immediate concern. So he hugged him tightly, kissing his hair, and stroking it gently.

"My love...Jiang Cheng has probably just come to talk. That's all."

Lan Zhan stayed silent, hating this conversation.

"Do you want me to send him away? We can do that, you know." Wei Ying continued to speak him, soft words meant to reassure, to give strength.

Minutes passed by.

When Lan Zhan was ready, he stepped back, a little embarrassed now. His ears showed Wei Ying how he was feeling.

"My love...you know we should not be scared of him." Wei Ying continued.

"I am not scared." Lan Zhan tried to explain. "I know I can take him. I know you can take him. But those memories..." He shuddered, closing his eyes.

Wei Ying knew how that went.

Even in this second body, he could perfectly recall what the Burial Mounds were like, how each second passed of his first three month stay. How alone he felt, abandoned and bereft, and what he had to do just to survive.

Memories were the true enemies, eating away at your confidence. Just when you thought you were over their influence, BAM! They would invade your subconscious, throw you back into your trauma with merciless glee.

"Well, you know what they say, my love." Wei Ying leaned in and kissed his soft cheek. "We have to face our fears head on. Why don't you come with me? We can see what he wants. Together."

Lan Zhan looked for any sign of vulnerability on his face and found none.

Wei Ying looked as beautiful as ever.

His complexion had greatly improved over the last few months, his body still slim but at least not malnourished. The sun had given Wei Ying’s skin a golden glow, and a natural pink blush dusting across his slightly rounder cheeks. His silver eyes were shining with a wealth of love and care, worried about him when it should have been the opposite.

Jiang Cheng had tortured many an innocent person up till now. Lan Zhan remembered tales of travellers coming to Gusu, reporting on the Jiang Sect Leader, how he scoured the lands looking for anyone displaying even the slightest skill with resentment energy, how he never failed to take them back to Lotus Pier to "teach them a lesson".

Had the Sect Leader changed so much?

He had been in such fiery denial that the golden core thrumming inside his body was Wei Ying’s, and that too brought with such undeniable proof...how humiliating could it have been to know that his every success in the cultivation world was only possible due to the brother he had renounced?

Though that fact gave Lan Zhan a little perverse joy.

He did not like not knowing what the reason was as to why the Jiang Sect Leader was here, now.

And his trusting, darling Wei Ying was going to meet with this man? How awful was that?

Wei Ying possessed the levels of forgiveness only wielded by saints and those who had ascended.

And while it was a solid reason to love him even more, Lan Zhan was loathed to let him face the Leader alone.

Never again would he let Wei Ying put himself in danger.

Not while he, Lan Zhan, was around.

So he did not protest when Wei Ying took his hand, curling them naturally together.

They walked to the second barrel of hay opposite Jiang Cheng and sat down together.

For a few moments, no one said anything.

Wei Ying studied the man from Lotus Pier.

Jiang Cheng looked older than a man in his thirties. His hair was tied up in a harsh bun, held together by his mother's hairpin. His eyes were harder than Wei Ying remembered, the creases tight and unforgiving. He too was tanned, evidence of his spending more time outdoors than in.

His purple robes were immaculate, suggesting he had travelled straight here from his home.

What was so urgent that he had come to visit like that?

But Wei Ying was in no hurry.

That time had long gone when he thought he owed the Jiangs anything any more.

He did not want to offer words of advice to someone who clearly thought he didn't need them. He didn't want to reassure someone who was already so self-assured, it would have been the same as water off a turtle's back.

Wei Ying was content.

He no longer desired to make Jiang Cheng feel anything other than whatever he felt of his own volition. Jiang Cheng was old enough to do as he pleased, and Wei Ying discovered now, that he was okay with that.

"So...we have a situation in Lotus Pier." Jiang Cheng began by saying.

"What kind of situation?" Wei Ying asked, out of politeness.

Jiang Cheng recognised but did not understand his tone. Nevertheless, he continued.

"There's a rumour, a Huili Jing..."

Wei Ying waited for him to say more...but evidently Jiang Cheng was done with his explanation.

"Surely the Jiangs can cope with a little fox?" Lan Zhan said, trying not to sound incredulous.

Wei Ying squeezed his hand, taking it into his lap.

So it wasn’t just him then...Lan Zhan was also of the same opinion as Wei Ying.

A Huili Jing was wily, to be sure. And any unsuspecting cultivator would be sure to fall prey to their whims, perhaps even lose their memory...but it was not something to need help in dealing with, especially from outside.

"Do you really need our help?" Wei Ying asked, at last.

The facade cracked slightly then, before Jiang Cheng replaced it quickly.

"Shouldn't you want to help? You are after all, the Yilling Patriarch and the Great Hanguang-Jun. You have a reputation to uphold."

Wei Ying detected a snarky tone, one which implied Jiang Cheng was mocking them, however unintentionally.

"We take care of local night hunts." Lan Zhan informed him.

"And I do not believe you really want our help. So why have you come here, Jiang Cheng? What's the real reason?" Wei Ying asked him outright, tired of playing games.

"If you're not going to come, just say so." Jiang Cheng stood up, ever the petulant child.

But for the first time in his life, Wei Ying was not affected.

In the past, he would have done anything, said anything to get Jiang Cheng's mood to improve. Yet...right now, he couldn’t bring himself to care about any of it. The only thing that bothered him was the open disrespect Jiang Cheng had shown to Lan Zhan just now, by first not bowing in greeting, and then not taking them seriously. It was a bittersweet irony.

"Does Wei Ying wish to go?" Lan Zhan murmured, not taking his eyes off the intruder, who so far had done nothing to warrant any kindness.

"Actually, no. I don't think he needs our help. Not really." Wei Ying said, honestly.

Jiang Cheng glared at him.

"My mother would have wanted-"

"A lot of things, I'm sure." Wei Ying interrupted him. "But my help ended on the day I gave you everything. As far as I am concerned, I have paid any debts I might have owed the Jiang family, in my first life. I kept my promises. That is the end of that matter." Wei Ying also stood up.

Lan Zhan too, stood next to him in an act of solidarity.

Wei Ying smiled at him, understanding it for what it was.

"But...are you...Happy?" Jiang Cheng persisted.

And there it was...the reason he had come to see how they were living now.

Perhaps for an ambitious man like himself, having his duty as Sect Leader shoved down his throat since he was able to walk, their simple life really was a mystery. Maybe he really didn't get why Wei Ying was so happy, living his dream life, with his husband.

"How would you describe happiness, Jiang Cheng? What to you, defines happiness?" Wei Ying asked him.

Jiang Cheng remained silent, a look of utter confusion on his face.

"I guess for everyone it is something different each time." Wei Ying said, after waiting a long time. "But for me, this is it. You are looking at my source of happiness." Wei Ying shuffled closer to Lan Zhan. "For me, it is to be near and with my husband. It is to know that he is happy and just as content to live with me as I am to be with him. We are happy because we are content, it's as simple as that. Life does not need to be complicated, any more than it already is. And everything I need is right here."

Lan Zhan’s face was full of adoration. His eyes were filled with love for this precious man who had so eloquently defined their life. In so few words and without a trace of bragging, Wei Ying had spelled it out succinctly and truthfully.

"It is the little pockets of happiness that are waiting to be discovered, Jiang Cheng. And for us, we are each other's pockets of happiness. We don't need anything else."

With that, Wei Ying turned and went back inside their home.

He sat on their bed and looked around the room, feeling quite satisfied.

In one corner, there was a pile of dry wood waiting to be burned. Next to it was a pile of potatoes, their latest crop harvest. Potatoes grew throughout the year, and it was one of the reasons why Wei Ying wanted to grow them personally. Plus, they reminded him of a certain doctor, his other sister who had been opposed to growing them at all, preferring to grow radishes instead.

They had a little table carved by Lan Zhan’s own hands, lovingly created so that they could eat and work in comfort. Bamboo sitting mats that Wei Ying had learned how to weave from a few ladies in the village, charming them to pass on their knowledge.

Three plates, three bowls and three sets of chopsticks, although these days, they used only one.

Everywhere in here was evidence of their united efforts to make this place into a home. Little touches of love that came naturally, flowing into the river of time.

Wei Ying was proud of their lives and the way they lived so peacefully. He was proud of their home, the way they both endeavoured to look after it, together.

How they gravitated towards each other as naturally as magnets, each too far involved in the other's happiness to sort out their own.

And wasn't that evidence of their great marriage?

Wei Ying definitely thought so.

The door opened and Lan Zhan closed it behind him.

Wei Ying looked up at him, as he came to sit next to him on their bed.

"Mn. He's gone." Lan Zhan told him.

They were quiet for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lan Zhan reached for his hand, bringing it to his lips in a fond kiss, full of affectionate love.

"Wei Ying did not want to tell him?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"About my core?" Wei Ying smiled when Lan Zhan nodded. "It's none of his business. Not any more, my love." He reached over to kiss Lan Zhan’s cheek. "It is enough for me that you know. I don't need anyone else to know."

Lan Zhan smiled back at him.

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a box of sweet haws.

"Happy birthday, Wei Ying." He handed it to him and kissed his forehead gently. "I love you."

Wei Ying blushed and opened the box. He took out a piece of the sweet treat and rested the sticky berry on Lan Zhan’s lips, insisting that he take the first bite.

These were their little pockets of happiness, unexpected but no less precious nor undervalued.

And as long as they were together, they could do anything.

The End.

**************

A/N

Dear beautiful (and patient) readers,

So what do you think? I wanted to imagine how WangXian would live, away from the cultivation world and on their own, with no one to tell them anything. And it needed to be on their own terms, completely independent of anyone else.

I would like to think that they are living like this somewhere still, in the universe.

Good night and sweet dreams, lovely people.

Charlie.