Xian felt a certain heaviness on his chest, and as he opened his eyes, he realised he couldn't stretch his body to let out the early morning kinks. The reason was due to a sweet, salt-and-pepper-haired man using his shoulder as a personal pillow. 

What surprised Xian was something down south poking him on his thigh, and he could not contain his blush. That poke wasn't his own, and he was sure it was Azure's. 

He might have made subtle moves, because seconds later, Azure stirred and glanced at Xian's and bestowed upon him the most angelic smile he'd ever seen.

"Good morning." Azure's voice was raspy, and Xian could not hide his blush as he felt the poke once again. 

"What's the matter?" Azure's senses became more keen as he raised his right hand to feel Xian's forehead. "Why has your face turned red?"

'Oh! Dear.'  Was that all Xian could think when he leaned into Azure's ear and whispered naughtily, "Someone is excited to see me?"

"Huh?" Azure frowned and asked, "What?" 

Kissing Azure's forehead, Xian once again whispered, "Lan Zhan Jr. is poking me. I didn't know you had such naughty thoughts, Azure."

The innuendo dawned on the older man as he raised his blanket to peek below. With a smirk, he crawled into the blanket, and before Xian could contain his yelp, the man was back, and with a grin, he brought out the culprit for Xian's naughty thoughts.

Fur Ball.

"That someone was your pet, Wei Ying, and it seems he wanted all your attention."

All Xian could do was laugh and take Fur Ball in his arms, who quickly crawled onto his shoulders as he said, "At least someone was interested in greeting me." 

"Hey! I am too." Azure refuted with a small blush, and he commented, "Just that I am being a gentleman at this moment." 

Finding it too adorable, Xian leaned in and kissed Azure's cheeks and said, "Thank you, Mr. Lan, for being such a gentleman, but I don't mind some hide and seek here and there." 

Snaking his hand under the blanket, Xian was ready to tickle Azure when they heard a pair of voices clearing their throats. Glancing above them, Xian and Azure realised they had company, and it was none other than Christian and Jeff, who were sporting the biggest grin. 

"I told you, Chris, let's not disturb the couple this early in the morning, but you didn't want to listen. Now you're seeing something you didn't want to see." Jeff grinned while Christian shook his head and turned the other way. 

"You're right. Let's go back home." 

"Hey! Wait. We're not that naughty." Xian was outright laughing. "After all your lectures about cond*ms, birds, and bees... to say I'm a celibate would be a lie, but nonetheless, I'm not this shameless." 

Xian made his way towards Wei Wei, only to find him sleeping. Caressing Sahara's head, Xian inquired with Jeff, "I'll be heading out for a morning jog. Do you wanna join me?" 

Before Jeff could answer, it was Christian who asked, "Why didn't you ask me?" 

Xian was quick with his reply, "Cause you're a lazy as* and I know you don't like running." 

"I would love to." Jeff interjected, "But I don't have any sportswear."

"No worries. You can borrow mine or Jun's."

By now Azure was all decent—not that he wasn't before, but surely his down south was well adjusted. Patting Christian on the back, Azure smiled and nodded, "Let me take a quick shower and I'll join you here. Let these two go for a run."

With plans made, Jeff and Xian were on their running spree, and as promised, Jun met Christian for a cup of coffee on his deck, overlooking the vast expanse of the sanctuary. 

"It's peaceful here." Christian sighed into his coffee, and Jun couldn't agree more.

Years before he had decided to settle here, Uncle Ren wasn't quite happy but knew this was what Jun wanted. With a bit of convincing, he came and settled here, making this place a home for him and countless other souls.

With a small groan, he adjusted his legs, and this was noticed by Christian. "Is it hurting a lot?"

"A bit sore. Haven't played Ice Hockey for such long hours since I left the team, and now continuously playing for the past few days has taken a bit of a toll."

"Shouldn't you inform Xi about your pain? I am sure-"

"Nope." Jun was quick to shake his head and refute the idea. "This is all I can give him at the moment. These few days with him are all I could have asked for. Every second spent with him is precious. Once he leaves," Jun's heart hurt at the thought of Xian's departure, "I will have time to take all the rest I need. So not now."

Christian ceded to Jun's words and took a sip of his coffee.

"Christian."

"Yeah?"

"Xian informed me about Jeff having recommended a therapist in Colorado. Rather his own therapist."

"Yes." Christian smiled softly at Jun and said, "They helped Jeff a lot in terms of psychological and physical therapy."

Jun couldn't help but notice the pain behind those soft smiles.

"It's not only the patient who suffers, Jun. The people close to the patients, even they suffer too. I won't lie to you when I say that Jeff's time in therapy put a lot of strain on our own relationship."

This was not what Jun expected to hear. "What do you mean?"

"Before joining Dr. Singh and his team in Colorado, Jeff was in another rehab, and both of us assumed he was doing well. At first he was, but then Jeff did befriend a young girl there. She was sweet to him and an amazing friend. But what Jeff hadn't realised was the reason she joined the rehab. She was suicidal."

"Christian -" Jun wasn't sure what to say. He could deduce where this story was headed.

"Jeff's history is known to you. He has shared enough. When he found her in the room next to his, it triggered Jeff, and if I hadn't reached there on time..."

Jun placed a comforting hand on Christian's back.

"We got him out of there and enrolled him in Dr. Singh's home. They were recommended to us, and I believe they did a lot of good. But, when you are in such a self-realization zone, there are various stages patients go through, and that's when Jeff started questioning our relationship. It burdened him, as he felt he was tying me down."

Facing Jun, Christian couldn't stop his tears. "I feared that would have been the end for us, but Dr. Singh assured me that this was his guilt of survival." Jeff had suicidal tendencies and will always have them, even in the future, but we just need to be careful to find out the trigger points and thread carefully. You might face something similar. Xian's own trigger points. The question is, are you strong enough, Jun?"

"I fear our future too, Christian." Jun laid his head on the backrest and took a deep breath as he shared, "To be honest, I fear that once he leaves this place, he'll never come back. He's so young and talented. He has his entire career in front of him. He has so much potential to go further, and I fear this part of his life will become a memory for him. That I might become a mere memory for Xian."

"Have you spoken to him about your fears?"

At Christian's inquiry, Jun shook his head and said, "No. We've had such little time to open up, and with what he might have to face in the future, I didn't wish to burden him with my fears, Christian.

"Before we could start something, it's time to say goodbye. How are we even going to manoeuvre through all these emotions? What little time I have with him, I wish to make it memorable."

"Then do you plan to keep all this to yourself?"

"I'll give him all I have. My happiness and my memories."

"You love him."

This wasn't a question but a statement, and before Jun could give him an answer, Ms. Lee called them out.

"Dr. Ray is here."

Patting Christian's thigh, Jun gestured for him to follow.

It was a good hour, and Dr. Ray had finished examining all the animals when Jeff and Xian entered the house with their t-shirts bunched in their arms.

It didn't take Jun even a second to figure out what had just transpired when he shook his head and yelled, "Nope, not having it. Whatever you have in your arms stays out."

Every single person sought Jeff and Xian's arms, and it was Jay who chuckled. "Boss, seems you're in for more pets."

"Jun..." Xian started when Jun backed away and shook his head. Nope!"

"But-"

"Nope."

"Please -"

"Nope."

Probably Dr. Ray had enough of this moment when she stepped in and asked Xian, "What's in your arm?"

When Jeff and Xian revealed the pair of rescues, even Jun had to agree they were pretty cute.

Wild Bunnies.

"Why don't you get them in and let me run some quick tests. I guess these two are not more than a few days old."

Jay helped Dr. Ray carry them inside while Christian and Jeff followed them.

Jun couldn't help himself from rolling his eyes at Xian, who came to stand next to him. He knew what Xian's request was going to be.

"So..."

"You want them to stay here."

"You know my heart, Mr. Lan."

"Xian-"

"They're babies, Lan Zhan. Tiny sweet munchkins."

"Wei-"

"I want to name them Wu and Ji."

"Wu Ji?" Jun asked, and Xian grinned as he answered, "Wu for Wuxian and Ji for Wangji."

Unable to stop himself, Jun kissed Xian's forehead, and they instantly knew that Wu Ji had found their forever home.

Scoring Chance:

An attempt or chance for a team or player to score a goal.

(A/n: Meet WangXian's Wu and Ji.)