A/N: Hey lovelies! Another update! You're welcome! This is only because I'm excited to finish the book and I impatiently wait to publish the ending. So here you go! I hope you enjoy the chapter, and please, don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you and happy reading!

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️

~ 🌸 ~

Flashback: Ten years ago

A nine year old, Park Chanyeol sat beneath the shade of a willow tree. The sky above him was a cloudless blue and the breeze was cool against his skin. He sighed as he turned over onto his back, staring up at the sky through the branches and leaves of the tree. He drifted to sleep.

The willow tree was at the back of Byun Baekhyun's property, half of it stretched over to Chanyeol's side. Baekhyun smiled as he walked towards it, the brilliant sun shinning down onto his skin to create a warm flush against his cheeks. He could see Chanyeol laying in the shade in the distance, and a smile curved to his lips as he ran forward.

"Chanyeol!" he called.

Chanyeol blinked himself out of his nap as he tiredly sat up, stifling a yawn as he called, "Yeah?"

Baekhyun charged into his arms and knocked Chanyeol onto his back as Baekhyun excitedly cried, "Guess what I found?"

Chanyeol tried wiggling out from beneath Baekhyun's arms but gave up in exhaustion when he couldn't move an inch. Chanyeol huffed. "Fine! Just tell me already."

Baekhyun scrunched his nose and rolled off Chanyeol as he said, "You're grumpy this morning." Chanyeol rolled his eyes. "Anyway, Chan, I found....this!" Baekhyun exclaimed as he whipped something out from his back pocket.

Chanyeol eyed it confused before he muttered, "Um.... What is it?"

Baekhyun laughed and clicked it open as he excitedly cried, "It's a swiss army knife!"

Chanyeol pursed his lips and dragged his knees to his chest as he mumbled, "Why do you have that?"

"Because I found it!" Baekhyun exclaimed.

"Where?"

Baekhyun sheepishly bit the inside of his mouth before mumbling, "With my dad's tools . . ."

"Baekhyun!" Chanyeol exclaimed. "You can't take your dad's things."

Baekhyun waved him off as he distractedly muttered, "Don't worry. It's not a big deal. I'm just going to use it for a second and put it back before he notices it's missing." Baekhyun hopped up from his crouched position and turned to the tree as he began to dragged the blade through the bark, chipping it away as he craved something Chanyeol couldn't see.

Once he had finished, he blew the stray wood away and jumped back as he dramatically exclaimed, "Tada! What do you think?"

The words, 'Chanyeol and Baekhyun. Best friends 4ever' were craved into the bark. Baekhyun grinned at his handy work as Chanyeol stood up to ran his fingers along the craved words. He grinned.

"Cool, Baek! Can I try!" Chanyeol cried.

Baekhyun laughed and clicked the blade closed before dropping it into his pocket as he teasingly replied, "Nope!" Then he dart away and began to climb the tree as Chanyeol yelled after him.

End of flashback

* * *

Baekhyun drove to the abandoned lot that use to be his childhood home. He parked his car along the curb and turned it off as he gazed out his window, a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy consuming him. He sighed as he pushed his door open and walked around to his trunk. He pulled out the picnic blanket and tossed it over his shoulder as he made his way towards the willow tree.

He laid it down before settling comfortably with his back against the bark, his eyes eventually closing shut with his wait. He was asleep before he even realized he'd closed his eyes.

When Baekhyun opened his eyes next, someone was laying beside him. Baekhyun smiled as he gently threaded his fingers through Chanyeol's hair and brushed his thumb along his bottom lip. Chanyeol's mouth parted at the touch, a soft sigh escaping his lips as his eyes slowly blinked open.

Chanyeol smiled tiredly and pushed himself into a sitting position. "Hey," he muttered.

Baekhyun smiled. "Hey," he murmured as he leaned over to lay his head on Chanyeol's shoulder.

Chanyeol sighed and wound his arm around Baekhyun's waist as he softly murmured, "I'm glad you're with me . . ."

"I'm glad you wanted me . . ." Baekhyun whispered.

Chanyeol sighed and caressed Baekhyun's cheek as he softly said, "I've always wanted you. I wish I would have had the courage to tell you sooner, but you know what I say . . ."

Baekhyun sighed. "Life's too short to have regret in the heart," he whispered.

"Exactly," Chanyeol murmured as he reached out to cup Baekhyun's cheek, bringing their mouths close together for a chaste kiss. Baekhyun kissed him back and reached his arms out to wind around Chanyeol's neck.

They kissed slowly, hands touching the back of each other necks as fingers slide through hair. Their touches were gentle and never invasive; their kisses only sweet and loving. And they stayed there until the sun dipped below the trees, casting them into deep dark shadows before eventually deciding it was time to go home.

"Do you think your parents would mind if I stayed with you?" Chanyeol asked as they drove.

"You don't want to go home?" Baekhyun asked.

Chanyeol shook his head. "Not really."

Baekhyun pursed his lips in thought. "Um . . . I guess that would be okay," Baekhyun mumbled.

Chanyeol sighed, and silence followed.

Word count: 856