The moment Wei Ying's eyes opened, he jumped out of bed and ran out of the Jingshi when he saw Lan Zhan wasn't there. Clutched tightly in his hand was the solution to all their problems, and he couldn't wait to tell him.

He ran towards the library, past an irate Uncle Qiren, who shouted after him, "running is prohibited in Cloud Recesses."

"Sorry, Uncle, it's an emergency!" He shouted back, not at all looking as if he was, pausing to run backwards just to answer and then resume his initial direction.

He burst into the library, pouncing on Lan Zhan when he saw him. He planted a big sloppy kiss on his lips and beamed at him, out of breath.

Lan Zhan gave him a once over, staring pointedly at his lack of clothes. In his haste to find his husband, he neglected to put an outer robe on. In fact, he mused, more than a few rules had been broken just then.

"Sorry, I was in a rush." He replied, sheepishly.

"Shoes?"

"Oh. Um...next time?" He raised his eyebrows, hoping it was accepted.

"What was so urgent?"

Wei Ying opened his palm to reveal the Soul Stone. And then he told him all about his dream.

Lan Zhan took a moment to process, tidying the desk with one hand. He stood up with Wei Ying still in his arms and walked back to the Jingshi.

He never spoke a word, all along the path, even when they entered. He walked to the bed and sat down amongst the crumpled bed sheets. Wei Ying cringed internally, berating himself for not making the bed.

"Um...Lan Zhan?" He moved Lan Zhan's jaw so he could look at him. "You can put me down now."

But Lan Zhan turned him instead so he was straddling his husband, pulling him closer until no space remained between them.

A deep silence descended on the room as they listened to each other's heartbeats.

"Do you want to tell me what you're thinking?" Wei Ying asked, finally, pulling away slightly so he could see his face.

He was met with such a look of desolation, despair and anguish, it sucked the air out of his lungs.

"Lan Zhan!"

"I...I need this. Give me a moment."

Wei Ying gently pressed his lips against his jaw. "Take as much time as you need. I'm here."

*****

A long while later, he voiced his concern.

"I don't want to lose you. I can't!"

Wei Ying tried to speak but Lan Zhan placed a finger on his mouth.

"I need to tell you. You can't spend a long time in there. Just do what you have to and leave. In and out."

Wei Ying nodded, promising with his eyes.

"I will give you ten minutes."

"That's not enough! We don't know what's there! What if I have to look for these people?" He spoke around a tightening finger.

"Alright, thirty minutes. Then I'm getting you out."

"But-"

"No." Lan Zhan cupped his face, wishing there was some way he could convey his desperation better. "That's my best offer."

"Alright. I just have a question."

"What?"

"If...just if I can't persuade them-"

"I do not care about those people."

"At all?"

"Not at the risk of your safety. If you're asking me to choose, I choose you."

"Well, I'll just have to be fast."

"Mn."

"Anything else?"

"When do you want to do it?"

Wei Ying snuggled closer, thinking.

"Maybe the day after tomorrow?"

"Mn."

"I would like to visit with Wen Ning too."

"Mn. I shall come with you."

"Thank you."

They spent the rest of the day holding each other close until they fell asleep.

*****

The next day, Wei Ying forced his doubts into a box inside his mind and threw away the key. They left the Jingshi together, parting so that Lan Zhan could go to the library while he visited Uncle. By himself. He took a deep breath and knocked.

Uncle Qiren was surprised to see him. Wei Ying never visited.

"Um, Uncle, may I speak with you?" Wei Ying asked after bowing.

Uncle Qiren poured him some tea.

"So...I just wanted to say thank you. For...well, for looking after us, and...um...you know. I appreciate everything." He finished, awkwardly.

Uncle Qiren simply stroked his beard, watching him get more and more flustered.

"And, we were thinking of doing the thing with the mirror tomorrow. Would you mind... would it be possible if you would be there?" He looked at him hopefully. "Just in case Lan Zhan needs you."

"Why would my nephew need me?" He asked sternly.

"Um, no reason." Wei Ying said, hurriedly. "But if you can?"

Uncle Qiren nodded. "I will be there."

Wei Ying wanted to throw himself over the table to hug him, had it not been the fear that something nasty would have happened to him. Uncle was not ready for hugs. Yet.

The next stop was XiChen. Wei Ying found him painting in his room. He put down his brush and waited patiently for Wei Ying to tell him the reason for his visit.

"So we're thinking about doing it tomorrow." He added after explaining everything.

"I will be there."

This time, Wei Ying did throw himself.

The bunnies were next. He knew SiZhui often came to feed them around this time, and he wanted to find a way to talk to the boy without freaking him out.

"Father?" SiZhui called, when he saw him.

Wei Ying put down the rabbits on his lap and bounced towards his son, enveloping him into a hug.

"You know I love you, right?" He told him, after a while.

"I love you too, father."

They fed the bunnies in silence, SiZhui staring at him often throughout. He waited for Wei Ying to speak, but today, his father was unusually quiet.

"Is something bothering you, father?" He asked after a while.

"No. I just wanted to spend some time with you."

But he looked sad, and SiZhui felt there was definitely something he was keeping from him.

"We're visiting Wen Ning after. Would you like to come with us?" He asked, breaking the silence.

SiZhui nodded, a little on edge at this side of a person he thought he knew well.

Lan Zhan found them sitting in a sea of white fur, later in the afternoon. SiZhui hadn't wanted to leave his father, given his strange mood, and he hoped his other father could shed some light. He would ask him when his father would be talking to his Uncle Wen.

*****

Hey everyone, we're at chapter 50. I can't believe it! What started out as a smidgen of a thought escalated into this.

Thank you for reading! We are at 4K and I am in shock. I never thought this many people would do me the honour of reading what I write. Bless you all!