Wei Ying ran after Wei Chang Zu.

"Please, wait!"

She stopped by the stairs to go to her room.

"I'm sorry. I-I just don't know what to do." Wei Ying admitted.

She looked so hurt, and he felt bad.

"Do you know why I chose now to come and find you?" She asked.

"No. I thought about it."

"Nothing good, I bet." She smiled, ruefully. "I'll tell you. I'm going to be married soon, that's why I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted someone from my family to be there. For me."

"Oh. I didn't know..." Wei Ying had the grace to look embarrassed.

"You could have asked me. Not everything is about you, you know." She chastised him playfully. "I need to go back to my husband to be's family. They didn't want me to come in the first place..."

"I have an idea, if you don't mind me suggesting something." XiChen overheard that last part and came closer.

Wei Ying looked hopefully at him, glad for his intervention.

"How long are you staying?" He asked her.

"I have to go back, but..." She looked uncertainly at him.

"If you could stay for a few more days, perhaps you can stay with Brother Wei at Cloud Recesses."

Wei Ying sucked in a breath.

She saw his face. "I don't think that's...a good idea."

XiChen gave him a hard, disapproving look.

"No, XiChen-Ge is right. We can spend some time together...if you can stay." Wei Ying felt ashamed of himself.

"Then that's settled." XiChen looked proudly at Wei Ying. "Let's help her with her things."

******

Wei Chang Zu was shown to the women's guest quarters, when they got back to Cloud Recesses.

"I shall inform Uncle." XiChen left them.

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan?!" Wei Ying whispered urgently, tugging on his sleeve.

"Mn?"

"What should I talk about...with her? I don't know what to say." Wei Ying looked discouraged.

Lan Zhan folded him into his arms, stroking his hair.

"Worry not. Wei Ying will know."

He sighed, defeated. "You have too much faith in me."

"So...you really are married."

Wei Ying reluctantly let go of Lan Zhan, and forced a smile on his lips. He turned to face her.

"How would you like to see the waterfalls?" He blurted out. To Lan Zhan, he whispered, "that's okay, isn't it?"

"Mn. I will be with Brother." Lan Zhan kissed his forehead and left.

Wei Chang Zu came forward. "Ge-ge, I'm happy for you. Both of you are... sweet together."

Wei Ying blushed awkwardly. "It's this way."

She looked around as they walked towards the sounds of crashing waters.

"It's nice here. Very peaceful."

"Mn."

"Do you like living here?"

"Mn." Wei Ying didn't want to sound like his husband. But talking to her was so...hard. "Where do you live?"

"Feng Shin. It's the first town after you leave Yiling. If...if you ever decide to visit." She looked down. "I heard...from people talking in Caiyi, that...that you have two children?"

Wei Ying stopped walking. He did not want her to meet them. His feelings of protection amplified when he thought of his youngest, dear daughter.

"Would it be alright if...if I can meet them?" Curiosity reflected back at him, in her eyes.

No! He wanted to say. But as his answer was not forthcoming, the doubt and pain like changing colours on her face, made him feel ashamed again.

"We'll see." He deflected. "They are also busy with their studies."

"Father!" Two familiar voices called out, as if to refute what he'd just said.

"Well, would you look at that..." Wei Ying had a genuine, if wary smile for his children.

SiZhui was walking towards them, Li XiWang holding his hand. She let go and came running towards him, crashing into his arms.

"I missed you, father." She whispered in his ear.

He beamed at both his children.

"And who is this?" Wei Chang Zu asked, also smiling.

"This is Li XiWang, my daughter. And this is Lan SiZhui, my son." He couldn't help the possessive tone from leaking out.

Wei Chang Zu held out a hand to both children. Wei Ying was proud of them when they looked at him first, before accepting after he had nodded.

"Who is this, father?" Li XiWang asked, her eyes big and trusting.

"This is...my sister." Oh, how he wanted to take those words back! But from the teary eyes of the woman standing next to him, it seemed like the right thing for him to say.

Both children respectfully bowed, questions in their eyes. Wei Ying hoped he would be able to explain to them later, when they were alone. Preferably with Lan Zhan.

"Did you see the waterfall, Auntie Wei?" Li XiWang took her hand and led her into the small bridge to show her.

Wei Ying smiled at her innocent acceptance of this stranger. His daughter was a far better person than he could be.

"Are you alright, father?" SiZhui whispered, concerned.

"No." It came out before he could stop himself, and he regretted it immediately, upon seeing the alarm on his son's face. "That's...that is to say, I will be." He hastily changed it.

SiZhui didn't believe him. "We can talk at dinner time."

Wei Ying nodded and went to join his daughter.

*****

Finally, finally, his family were sitting around the table, and Lan Zhan was looking at him, concerned.

He felt shattered. The effects of having to maintain a positive vibe against his true feelings took it's toll on his body and he felt exhausted from the effort.

They ate in silence, both his children throwing him worried looks. That would not do.

He tried to smile, once they had finished.

"So what do you think of...of my sis- your auntie?" He asked.

"She's nice." Li XiWang said, straight away.

"Mn." SiZhui was non committal.

"She's only with us for a few more days, so we should...we should make her feel welcome."

"Alright, father." His daughter sounded enthusiastic. She yawned and he was glad she was so tired.

Signalling SiZhui to stay, he put her to bed, read her a story, and waited for her to fall asleep. Then he came and sat down again. Facing him, he took SiZhui's hand in his.

"I'm a terrible person." He started saying, but their protests were louder.

Lan Zhan actually growled.

"Wait, wait, let me say it." He wiped his eyes. Why was he so emotional all of a sudden? "She says she's my sister, and I...I can't accept it. I'm trying, but..."

SiZhui hugged him suddenly.

"Father, it's alright." He gave him a further squeeze. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. All we have to do is be polite for a while."

"But SiZhui, I'm frightened. I don't want either of you," he glanced towards the screen in the corner, "to be alone with her. Especially not Li XiWang. She's too innocent, and...and, just no!" He looked miserable and desperate at the same time. "Please, promise me you'll protect your sister, if...if I'm not there?"

SiZhui smiled, trying to comfort him. "I promise. You don't have to worry, father. I will look after our little rabbit."

"Thank you." He breathed out, marginally relieved.

SiZhui hugged him once more before saying goodnight. Wei Ying closed the door behind him, and found himself in a tight embrace.

"Wei Ying must not worry." The deep comforting timber reverberated next to his ear, soothing his agitated heart. Arms, warm and strong, never failing to make him feel safe and protected, tightened around him. He relaxed, melting into the solid chest of his husband.

"Lan Zhan...Lan Zhan?"

"Mn?"

"Am I...am I a bad person? For not trusting her?"

He heard a sharp gasp. Lan Zhan pulled away only to kiss him ferociously, teeth biting as their lips clashed.

Wei Ying was overcome by the fierce emotions rampaging through his body and he moaned uncontrollably.

"Hush." Lan Zhan paused his loving attention to caution him. When he kissed him again, this time, nothing but pure love poured from him.

When their lips separated, Lan Zhan held him close again, rubbing his back.

"Wei Ying. Never bad." He seemed to have difficulty saying the words.

Wei Ying leaned back to see his face and was shocked to see the tears.

"Lan Zhan," he said softly. "Why are you crying?" He kissed his eyes tenderly.

"Wei Ying. Best person. Always good." He kept repeating that while Wei Ying planted gentle butterfly kisses all over his face, trying to soothe him.

"It's okay. Thank you for believing in me." He yawned suddenly.

Lan Zhan whisked him to the bed in a flash, before he could blink. He laughed softly, curling into his husband as they both fell asleep together.