Summer is slowly coming to an end, yet it's nice and warm in Budapest and my dad suggested that we take advantage of this warm day and go to the beach of a famous quarry pond. With white sandy beach and crystal blue water. Thanks to my changes since the ritual, sun and beach are no longer a problem for me and so I was immediately excited about the idea.

We only had to make one stop on the way to LUPA beach because neither Zhan nor I had swim trunks with us. We simply chose the first best one in the store, of course in couple style and we could go on.

The way there was quite long. Longer than I expected. But since we already left in the morning, we didn't arrive there too late. Nevertheless, there were already a lot of people there. Especially tourists who spend their vacations here.

Water sports, surfing, diving, sailing and rowing are offered there. But also all beach ball sports, street workout courses and there is even a gym for bodybuilders. In addition, there is also a variety of food and drinks.

However, the prices here are quite high, which, as beautiful as the quarry pond is, is excessive. Unfortunately, our changing room was dirty and we heard some tourists grumbling about the food. But we didn't worry about the latter, as my stepmom brought enough food to feed us for at least 3 days there.

After changing our clothes, we first looked for a place to lie down and spread out our blankets. After about 10 minutes of searching, we finally found a suitable spot that wasn't so crowded either.

We spread the blankets on the white sandy beach and then Zhan and I went into the water first. My dad and stepmom stayed at our spot for fear that we might get stolen from.

I have no idea when the last time I went swimming somewhere in public was, but it certainly hadn't been as great as that day. The water was warm and is crystal blue and quite clear. You could still see very far, down to the bottom of the lake. We even saw some fish swimming underneath us.

Zhan and I swam almost to the middle of the lake before we paused. My dad waved at us from our mooring. My stepmom was taking pictures with her cell phone. I'm not sure if we're even recognizable on them, but in the last three days we've been here, she's taken pictures of pretty much everything, so it probably won't be too bad if we're not recognizable on these pictures.

My stepmom is trying really hard to show me that she accepts and likes me. I like her too and get along really well with her. She told me how she met my dad and how awkward he was when he first approached her. And the way she told about it clearly showed me how much she loves my dad.

She's also very interested in my brother. In the last three days, we've had two video calls with him and she was totally nervous. Just like with me, she asked him several questions and told him that she couldn't wait to meet him properly as well.

I asked Zhan, "Do you think I should talk to my mom too?"

He replied, "Well, I don't know. I'll support you if you want it, of course. But I don't know if it will do any good. Especially when I consider that she hasn't even called you since we first met."

"Mn. I don't know, I don't expect anything. But I would still want to tell her a thing or two."

"Of course. As I said, if that's what you want, I'll support you in that."

"Well, how about we fly from Germany to the U.S. to my brother's house and see my mother first? She lives in the U.S., too, and that would be convenient."

"Sure. Then that's what we'll do."

"Thanks."

"For what? I'm glad you're taking the initiative to finally work things out. I'm happy to support you in that."

"Yes, and that's what I thank you for, ZhanZhan."

"Yibo, I love you and there's no need for you to thank me."

"I love you too. And anyway, thank you."

"Okay, okay. Shall we swim back then? I'm sure your dad is waiting."

"Mn. I think so, too. But first, one more kiss."

"Sure thing. You can have as many kisses as you want."

"As many as I want? Then we'll never get out of the water here ZhanZhan. Because I want to be kissed incessantly."

"Um..."

"ZhanZhan... do you think we could tonight? Well, you know."

"Yibo, your dad and stepmom are sleeping right next door. Do you really think that would be a good idea?"

"I know. But I want sex!!!"

"It's only been one night without sex. Are you that starved already?"

"One night without is already too much. We said every day! And every day means every day."

"Then we have to find a solution for tonight."

"Absolutely."

"But for now, come on. Your dad's waiting."

"KISS!"

"Oh yeah, sorry." Said Zhan and gave me a kiss.

After a total of about half an hour in the water, Zhan and I swam back. My dad had picked us up from the water's edge with big bath towels. He is really very caring. I remember him being like that back then too, when he was home and had time.

Another hour later, unfortunately, our place had been completely overcrowded and it was really no fun to be there anymore. Especially because we felt permanently observed. Zhan was already covering my body with a blanket because he hated that everyone was staring at me.

We then decided to leave. It had not been nice anymore. Since our swimming trunks had dried in the meantime, we got dressed right on the spot and headed off again. But we didn't drive back. Instead, my dad and stepmom drove us to a river where we spread out our blankets and had a picnic.

That was really nice. There was no one there but us. Everything around us was green and the rushing of the water around river, was really relaxing.

Sometime during the late afternoon, my stepmom asked my dad what it was like when I was born. Apparently he had never told her that story before and I was dying to hear it too.

My dad said, "Back when we found out about the pregnancy, we were really shocked. Because a second child had never been planned and we always paid attention. But then we were happy when we found out about the baby. We were even really excited. When the day of the birth came, everything went very fast. The birth lasted less than three hours. And when Yibo was born, this pleasant smell of red roses spread throughout the delivery room. We couldn't explain it, but everything smelled like it. And then I realized that the scent was coming from Yibo. I held him in my arms and he looked at me with big eyes. And when I gave him a kiss, I noticed the scent of roses on him."

"He still smells like roses." Said my stepmother.

"Yes. But no one could ever explain to us why. He smelled much stronger of it then, though. Because once when Yibo couldn't sleep at night, I put him in his stroller and walked him up and down the street until he fell asleep. And while we were doing that, we ran into an older man who stopped and said that Yibo was special. I asked him what made him think that, and he said he could tell by its scent. He said that the smell of roses was proof that Yibo had a very special destiny. He also said that we should always take good care of him until his destiny is fulfilled."

"Sounds eerie."

"Mn. But somehow I also felt that he was right." Said my dad.

Somehow, the Old Man immediately made me think of Grandpa Xiao. I feel more and more like he has been watching me my whole life. Could that be? When I get a chance, I want to ask him about it. And also how Mira and Oleg knew us. I mean, they even knew our names. And they can't have been written in the book of legends.

More and more I get the feeling that Grandpa Xiao knows or knew more than he told us. Even Zhan thinks so and said we should ask him when we are back in Beijing.

The last time we talked to him on the phone was the night before we left Finland. That's when he told us that the vampires were retreating from the area. And also that the black werewolves have become much quieter. But he also said that he wasn't sure if that was just the calm before the storm.

Zhan and I copied the peace treaty at the airport here in Budapest and sent the copy to Grandpa Xiao so he could show it as proof of the peace treaty's validity. He asked us to do this. In the coming days we will call him again and I am curious if there is any news.

The twins told me that Yizhan is growing and thriving. They bought him a cat harness and leash and go outside with him every day. I miss the little one very much and am looking forward to seeing him again. A few more weeks and we will be back home and I can finally see my baby again.

And when we get back, I want to have another talk with Youn. The twins told me that he still sends a box of blood bags every 2 weeks. He also wrote me a letter explaining himself again and telling me again how sorry he is.

Now after more than 2 months distance from all this, I also had enough time to process all this a little bit and think about it. I have not forgiven Youn. But he is still important to me. We can't undo what happened back then. But we can learn from it and maybe, just maybe, we can be friends again someday.

In the evening as the sun slowly set, we made our way back to the house. It was quite late when we got there. My dad and stepmom went to sleep right away. Zhan and I, however, stayed awake.

We sat down outside in the garden. There is a gazebo there, a little away from the house and still a little behind the garden. I snuggled up to Zhan and we looked at the starry sky. I remembered how a dad once told me that he saw three shooting stars the night I was born. And that night, Zhan and I also saw three shooting stars.

And while we were out in the garden, we also finally found a place where we could make love without being seen or heard. Now I know where Zhan and I can go every night. Hahaha

It wasn't until around 3 am that Zhan and I went into the house. We took a shower and then went to bed. We talked a little more about the day and what we liked the most, clearly the picnic, cuddled with each other and finally fell asleep tired and happy too. That night I dreamed that we were coming home and finally back with Yizhan.

The little guy meowed loudly with joy in my dream and purred while we held him in our arms and cuddled with him. I hope Yizhan hasn't forgotten us already. After all, we haven't been home in two and a half months. Mhhh, I really miss him. He is my baby. Too bad I couldn't take him with me. Because that would have been way too stressful for him.

This is a new and up to date picture of my 2 year old Yizhan and our 11 year old dog Jet.