"Huli... Wakey-wakey, ma chérie..."

"Ugh... could you stick to one damned language?"

"Alright, alright. Get up first."

"What now, Aria?"

"Oi! Did you forget? It's today!"

"What's today?"

"Argh, mi amore, you're such an idiot at times."

"Oh, right, it's tonight..."

"Come on now, we've got to get ready."

"You're the one going, not me!"

"Right. Then you come after me, yeah?"

"Sure. Now get lost!"

Aria Verduria rolled her eyes and sauntered out the door onto the grass outside. She flexed her arms in the moonlight and brushed down her breezy dress. "Hm... a bit breezier perhaps," she slashed her nails across the gown, ripping the green cloth off to leave a skirt as short as a tutu. Seeng her reflection in a puddle nearby, she gasped in horror. "Good Lord! Rouge, where's the rouge?!" She ran into the room and came outside again in five minutes. "There. Perfetta!" She grinned, smacking her lips and patting her reddened cheeks, before gliding away on the task for the night.

Perhaps the final task. Tonight, the mission shall be completed.

"Let's go see that little wolfie boy and the cute Immortal," she smirked and glided away. 

**********

Lan Xichen peeped out the window of the Jingshi, sighing. "Why has the rain bit started already? Where's the moon?"

"Don't worry," Jiang Cheng laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's better if the moon doesn't show up." 

"True," Wei Wuxian nodded. "God's giving Jin Ling, and us all, time. Precious time."

"Let's hope the rain lasts all night," Jin Xiyi said.

"Yes, it better," Jingyi pursed his lips, watching the droplets dripping down from above.

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded and shut the windows.

"Still, no thunder," Wei Wuxian observed. "Oi, Sizhui! Sit down, for God's sake."

"Sizhui..." Jingyi scrunched up his nose. "You're giving me a headache, you know."

"Sorry, can't help it," Lan Sizhui mumbled apologetically, pacing back and forth at the doorstep, waiting.

"At least pace inside, shut the door," Jiang Cheng shook his head at him. "It's bloody cold, get inside."

"Jiang Shushu... Where's he? Why's he late?"

"Aish, the brat will come, stop fretting," Wanyin rolled his eyes and sat down at the long table arranged for them inside the Jingshi. Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen sat with him. Lan Jingyi and Jin Xiyi sat on the other side, next to the cot that Jiang Cheng had brought along.

Lan Sizhui kept walking up and down the room, biting his nails.

"A-Cheng, the cot?"

"Meilien's one from before. Also the one Jin Ling used to stay in."

"Aww, really? We'll see if he remembers it, hm?"

"Sure. Brat's got a bad memory just like his Daddy so I'm not expecting much."

"You!"

Knock! Rrrrap-tap!

Sizhui was at the door in a flash. "A-Ling!" He beamed bright.

"Sizhui," Jin Ling nodded to him.

"You'll catch a cold, get in," Sizhui made way, opening the door wide.

"Achoo!" He rubbed his nose and cradled his daughter closer.

Sizhui grinned at him and held out his hands. While Jin Ling ogled at him, warning him against touching him, with both hands, Sizhui leant over and picked Mingxia up, walking into the room to lay her on the cot. Jin Ling stared at him and quickly rushed inside, shut the doors. Finally, here he was. The Jingshi. His shelter from the rain, and from the night that was approaching.

"You're drenched!" Wei Wuxian sighed and grabbed him by the collar to take him behind the screen. "Stay there. A-ZHAN!"

"Mn," Lan Zhan stood and pulled out fresh black robes of Wei Wuxian's from the drawer, threw them over the screen. Wei Wuxian caught them and held up his hand.

"Towel!"

Lan Wangji tossed that over too.

Wei Wuxian wiped his son down, ruffled his hair, drying it well, and made him dress up in the black robes. When they walked out, the audience gasped.

"What?"

"Woah..." Jingyi goggled. "Jin Ling... doesn't look bad in black!"

"As handsome as Daddy!" Xiyi grinned.

"Mn," Lan Zhan nodded.

"Oh? If Lan Zhan ever dares to think there's someone who can parallel my beauty, then Jin Ling, you should be honoured," Wei Wuxian winked and shoved his son onto a seat beside the cot.

Jin Ling sneezed incessantly so Sizhui passed him warm tea.

"Ey, she's wet, too," Wei Wuxian groaned.

"I'll change her!" Xiyi beamed and hopped up to remove her little dress and get a towel.

"Erm... wiping her... it won't be good to roll her over, right?" Wei Wuxian pouted. Sure he had three sons but neither of them had ever been with him in their infancy! Even A-Yuan was three at first!

"Let me handle that," Jiang Cheng rose and went over to swiftly change Mingxia's robes into a fresh set Jin Ling had brought, wiping her while carrying her carefully in his arms.

"Oh... it's easy that way," Jin Xiyi cocked her head and nodded to herself. "Sect Leader Jiang's really good at handling babies!"

Jiang Cheng blushed. He actually blushed. Baozhai and Qiao were always teasing him, Yanli was gone. It must be decades since he received a compliment from a girl.

"Erm... thank you," he nodded, scoffing more than thanking, and returned to his seat. Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling were clutching each other's arms to not laugh.

"Someone looks awfully flustered," Wei Wuxian chuckled.

"Oh shut up," Jiang Cheng scoffed and sat down beside them.

And so they spent the next three hours chatting merrily about Jin Xiyi's upcoming childbirth..........

What they'll name the baby.............

Whether it'll be a boy or a girl..............

Taunting Jin Ling to betroth the two children — Mingxia and the unborn child..........

Laughing about Lan Jingyi's future Father Dynamics.........

Purposely haunting Jin Ling's mind by teasing Lan Sizhui about the increasing number of girls in the Lan sect, especially admirers of the young and great Shuijing-Jun..........

The Yunmeng Prides bickering over the littlest disagreements on either of the topics............

Gusu Jades desperately trying to calm them down..........

and the children enjoying the show.

Jin Mingxia managed to sleep for the whole first hour but stayed up for the next two when Wei Wuxian began to sing in an Emperor's Smile-toned voice.

Never had Jin Ling been so much... at ease.

But then... there was something amiss.

Guess it's Sizhui, he sighed.

"A-Ling?"

"Mn?"

"Are you alright?"

"I'm doing great. Especially right now. Thanks, Sizhui."

"For what?"

"I..." Jin Ling gulped. Making sure his father was busy entertaining everyone with some tale of a hilarious night hunt fiasco with Zhao Haoxuan, he turned to Sizhui and maintained their own low-volumed conversation. "I don't know. Just... for being here."

"Ah," Sizhui nodded, not looking at him, sipping his bowl of wine, burning the effects with his core with every jar. "Well... A-Ling, whenever you're depressed and worried and lonely, just know one thing."

"Mn?"

"You aren't the only one hiding things here."

"Mn– Ah!" Jin Rulan's eyes swelled into saucers at the words. "Sizhui? You...?"

"Mn? What's wrong, A-Ling?"

"You... Sizhui, if there's anything worrying you, you can tell me."

Lan Sizhui smirked.

Smirked. A sour and pained grin.

"Oh? And why would I tell you?"

"I..."

"You'll help me?" Sizhui turned to him and asked, looking him straight in the eye.

Jin Ling gulped and returned the gaze. "Yes. Anything to help you."

"Well, in that case... The only thing you can do is to love me. Show some affection, I'm not kidding, that will help." Sizhui raised his eyebrows. "Can you do that?"

Jin Ling....... He wanted to........... But some accursed weird insecurity kept holding him back................. The sects and clans had never been alright with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji getting together since neither cared for their opinion. Lan Xichen had given up his position in the sect to be with Jiang Wanyin, thus the cultivation world accepted them.

But us? Sizhui... Myself... We are both sect leaders... Neither of us can give up our positions... Neither of us will be accepted... Neither of us will get to be with the other in the end... Sizhui, don't you see it's just.............?

"Impossible," Jin Ling bit his lip.

"I knew you'd say that," Sizhui nodded and turned back to his wine. "In that case, I see no purpose in sharing it with you. But trust me, it's not too much of a bother. I'm doing fine, thank you for your concern."

Jin Rulan was merely... speechless. Any words he had to say were swept out of his mouth by Sizhui outright accepting that they might as well give up.

He had wanted Sizhui to understand precisely that... but... but... 

Now that Sizhui did understand that... it just felt... grave.

"Little Rulan?"

"Daddy?" His head shot up.

"You okay?" Lan Xichen patted his head.

"Er... yes, Lan Shushu."

"You looked like you'd throw up or something," Jiang Cheng derided.

"No, Jiujiu, I'm fine–" Something tingled his nostrils. He raised his nose to the air and sniffed.

"Little Rulan?"

"Daddy... I... smell something..."

"What is it?"

Jin Ling stood and followed the fragrance to the window. He opened it wide and looked out the window.

"Hey, the rain's gone!" Jingyi exclaimed. "Jin Ling, get back from that window!"

"No, I won't look up, promise. But this scent..." suddenly, the hairs on his neck stood erect, a shudder running down his spine.

Not a shudder of fear...

But a shudder of sheer contempt and disgust.

"I sense it too," Wei Wuxian nodded and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Miles away, I should say. But I can only sense the creature. You? What is it?"

"Fox. Nine-Tailed Fox."

"Let's go."

"Mn."

"Gege, you guys stay to guard the sect and XiaXia, we'll be back."

With that, Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling picked up their swords, flute, ring, whatever and dashed out the door.

"I thought we're supposed to stay inside instead of risking a bloody FIGHT?" Jiang Cheng shouted into the darkness.

"I thought so too," Lan Wangji sighed. "Sizhui?"

"Father," Sizhui nodded. Both picked up their own Lan swords and chased after the two were beasts.

Lan Jingyi pinched his nose. "We can write a book on this. Pros and Cons of Having a Beast for a Husband or Lover: Tips 101."

"Honestly," Jin Xiyi grumbled.

"What now?" Xichen looked at them.

"We can't go there, not leaving XiaXia here alone," Jiang Cheng shook his head.

"Then?"

"Zewu-Jun, I guess we'll stay back. That's what Daddy asked for, too," Jin Xiyi suggested.

"Mn. Then I propose Jingyi stay here at the Jingshi with Xiyi and XiaXia. Not just XiaXia, Xiyi's under threat, too. Stay here, protect them both."

"And us?" Jiang Cheng looked up at him.

Lan Xichen nodded and turned back to Jingyi. "Wanyin and I will send immediate notice to A-Sang. We'll wait at the compound should we be required."

"Sure, Zewu-Jun," Jin Xiyi nodded.

"Shushu, inform Auntie Qiang and Wen Shushu as well, to guard the sect.."

"Yes, Jingyi. Take care," Xichen patted his shoulder, nodded to Xiyi and walked to the door, Shuoyue in hand. "Wanyin?"

"Ah?"

Lan Xichen spun around to find him gazing into the cot, caressing the sleeping baby girl's locks. "Wanyin...?"

"Oh, nothing, just... I don't know, I felt like having a look. Come on, we'll go," Jiang Cheng took his hand and ran out.

Lan Jingyi gulped when the door shut. "That... didn't sound right."

"I'm anxious too," Xiyi nodded. "They'll be alright, right?"

Lan Jingyi peeked out the window at the bloody crimson moon of the bloody night to come. "Right." 

**********

Jin Ling and Wei Wuxian arrived outside the gates of Cloud Recesses, a wide spot on the road up the hill.

"Little Rulan?"

"She's here."

"Why, hello there!" Aria hopped down from a tree above, swishing her tail in delight.

"Aria, can't leave us alone for a whole week or so, can you?"

"Aww, but why should I? I did miss you," she grinned, spinning around them in a flash of a circle, nails tracing both their cheeks.

But by the time she returned to her spot, she found her right index finger missing.

"Why you!"

"Swine," Jin Ling finished for her, redirecting the insult at her instead, smirking as he spat out the blood and flesh in his mouth.

"Good job, Little Rulan," Wei Wuxian nodded.

"Hmph, let's see who wins. This place is too small to fight."

"We'll kill you either way, Aria."

"Oh, if that is so, might as well put up a fight from my side, hm? Come on, catch me if you can, lovelies," she winked and dashed down the hill in a flash of green, flaxen and white.

"Who is she kidding, she's not the only Immortal with high speed here!" Wei Wuxian scoffed. "Little Rulan, transform, or we'll take too much time. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. I won't allow it. Give me your Clarity Bell, I'll use it to revive you should you spin out of control, like we do in Empathy, yeah?"

"Mn," Jin Ling nodded and tucked the bell into his father's hands before leaping forwards, metamorphosing mid-air, and sprinting down the hill with his father. 

**********

"Where are they?" Sizhui looked around.

Lan Wangji focussed on his core and his ring. A-Ying? A-Ying!

Clearing in forest, edge of the Cloud Recesses hill range.

Noted. A-Ying, please be careful.

Don't worry, love.

"Sizhui."

"Father, I think they went that way, down the hill. There's blood... let's hope it's Aria Verduria's. Also, Father..." He held up a gleaming black hair. "A-Ling's transformed."

"What!"

"Mn."

Lan Zhan winced. "Risky. We'll go, quick."

Sizhui unsheathed his sword and they darted over to the field.

**********

"Xiaolian? You alright?"

"Shhhhh!"

"What?"

"Didn't you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That... horrendous roar............"

"Roar? Haha, Xiaolian, you're terrified of lions?"

"Oh, oh, there it is again! Xiaoqing, shut it and listen!"

"Oh dear... That's no lion..."

"It's... a... dragon?"

"I don't know, it's like a lion's and a dragon's blended together..."

"We'll investigate."

"Are you crazy? We'll go back the way we came, stay at the same inn for another night."

"But... But... AARGH!"

"Green lightning? What the hell is going on?"

"Chang Xiaoqing, listen to me, we need to go investigate!"

"Fine. Inform the others."

"Others? Oh, you mean gege?"

"Wei Wuxian, Second Young Master Lan, all of them. Send Wei Wuxian a letter, they'll all know. But would a letter be soon enough?"

"Teleport."

"Honestly, Wei Xiaolian, you can't just tele– Where did– Wei Wuxian gave you a talisman?"

"All I need to do is ignite it and think of Cloud Recesses. Come on, hold my hand, we'll go."

"Fast." 

__________________________________________________

Quick translations, though the meanings seem perfectly guessable... 

Ma chérie = French for 'my dear/darling'

Mi amore = [as you already know] Italing for 'my love' 

Perfetta = Italian for 'Perfect', feminine version of the word. [Coz the masculine is Perfetto.]