JingYi was worried.

Both of his friends were acting weird and he didn't know quite what to make of it.

He thought they were over the awkward silences, the looking, but not looking glances, the looking away, when they really just wanted to look at each other.

JingYi missed them being normal.

He missed his babies too, and since that time on the beach, he had found a way to call them whenever it got too much. So it was in the middle of the night, past curfew and the worry about his friends making him dodge the people on night duty, as he made his way up the mountainside.

Summer in Gusu was a precious time, just as beautiful as the first snow in Winter.

Warm, scented air caressed his face as he walked, revelling in the quiet solitude of the night, like a comforting blanket. Once the canopy of over hanging trees were left behind, the night sky opened up in all its splendour, bright twinkling stars lighting his way. He climbed to the very top, and sat upon the ledge, his feet dangling off the stone shelf. And he whistled, low and long.

Soon, the familiar flapping of elegant wings, three sets in all, came close until his babies arrived. Little hoots and squeals greeted him as he rushed to hug and kiss each one, their beautiful red faces licking him eagerly. He didn't realise he was crying until the youngest of the three licked his eyes again and again, making him laugh instead.

The three babies curled around him, cocooning him from the rest of the world, instinctively knowing he needed their comfort like his next breath. Another nuzzled into his neck, whining.

"Why am I sad?" He asked her.

She nodded, pushing her snout into his palm.

"I miss my friends."

Another whine. The other baby breathed hot air onto his neck, and he relaxed, body warm and comfortable.

"There's nothing really wrong with them, exactly. It's just that they're both being really weird. Like they want to say something, but they won't. It's frustrating, that's what it is." He sighed. "I thought we were over whatever they were going through...but...I don't know now. Do you think they want to break up with each other? After everything they went through...it's just sad, is all." His eyes were getting heavier.

One of the babies started crooning, a lulling rumble in his chest, making JingYi yawn. He stopped talking, unable to keep his eyes open now...

*****

SiZhui couldn't sleep either. He tossed and turned, tears dried before he had slept, even now, it had only been an hour or so since he put himself to bed.

The last few nights he had suffered the same, wishing to give into the sweet oblivion of sleep, but failing spectacularly instead, thinking of why Jin Ling had changed.

No longer were there sweet kisses, or stolen touches, or hot gazes designed to make his heart gallop out of his chest...no.  Those were but sweet memories now. Jin Ling could not stand to touch him any more, and it broke SiZhui's heart with every second of rejection.

He tried to figure it out by himself, as to why or how this drastic change had happened, but he was at a loss to explain it, even to himself.

The changes had been gradual, slow, and at first, not at all noticeable. The awkward smiles of Jin Ling trying to take his hand back, especially when they were in public, hurt him more than he liked to admit. Jin Ling avoided being alone with him too, and that hurt the most. They both were using JingYi as a buffer, and he didn't know why.

Jin Ling was coming over less and less, and since SiZhui needed permission to keep going to JinLinTai, he hadn't seen the need to go, especially if he was going to be given the cold shoulder for all his effort.

The thought, the one that had his heart racing in an utterly painful way, floated to the surface of his mind, causing unimaginable agony.

Did Jin Ling want to break up with him?

Tears fell, hot, heavy and fast, as SiZhui tried to hold back. He couldn't make a noise here, in the dormitory with eleven other people sleeping just fine. Always light on his feet, SiZhui raced out and made his way to the one place that comforted him without fail.

Out here in the open, with nobody to hear him, he cried openly and without reservation, letting go of all his hurts until his chest heaved, freed from the pressure of holding it all in.

A warm arm came over his shoulders and he was pulled into a tight hug.

"There, there, my child." Wei Ying soothed, his own heart hurting at this boy's pain.

SiZhui was, and always would be, his first child. His son, the recipient of so much love, the vessel into which Wei Ying had poured all of his heart and soul, an innocent child who needed nothing else.

SiZhui had never asked anything from him, except that one time, when he'd asked Wei Ying not to go. That guilt, would never go away, but Wei Ying had promised himself that if he had ever hot the chance again, he would make it up to him a hundred fold.

Right now, his baby boy was sad. Sad enough to cry, and Wei Ying vowed to get to the bottom of it.

When the boy had calmed down, Wei Ying kissed his forehead warmly, wanting to comfort his aching soul.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly, hating to see the liquid brimming in red eyes, puffy with exhaustion.

Wei Ying had woken in the night, something pulling him outside, and he'd found himself walking towards the bunnies out of habit. Then, as he neared closer, the sound of heartbreak spurred him on, his feet gathering momentum when he realised just who was crying so pitifully.

Vengeance would be swift and final, he thought to himself. Best delivered in person...

"N-No. I...I don't think I can." SiZhui mumbled.

Wei Ying wiped his face tenderly.

"My boy, my beautiful son, please tell me. You are making this hurt too." Wei Ying put his palm over his own heart.

"How...how do you fall out of love?" He whispered, instead. More tears fell, breaking Wei Ying's heart all over again.

Wei Ying was shocked. What did he mean, out of love? Just what had happened?

He voiced his thoughts, keeping an arm around his waist.

"It's Jin Ling. I don't think he loves me anymore." SiZhui broke down again.

Wei Ying wished he had some water for his boy, and then he remembered. Out of his sleeve, he produced a flask. It wasn't water, but close enough.

"Here, drink this. It will make you feel better." At least that wasn't a lie...

Wei Ying tipped back SiZhui's head and poured in a generous amount, hoping his tolerance exceeded his other father's.

He didn't have long to wait.

SiZhui giggled.

Oh well. Wei Ying sighed. Maybe it was to do with the bland Lan Clan diet that made them particularly susceptible to alcohol.

If nothing else, it would definitely loosen his tongue.

"Jin Ling hates me." SiZhui moaned, holding his head.

Wei Ying doubted that, but something must have made him think that.

"Why?" He inquired.

"Because...because he doesn't..." SiZhui blushed.

Wei Ying also blushed, not really wanting to know more. He had no idea how far they had progressed in their relationship, and quite frankly, did not care at all for details, but SiZhui would have to do better than that if he expected Wei Ying to be able to help.

SiZhui stared at him, his blush deepening, even if he was feeling the effects of whatever his father had made him drink more now.

"We haven't...I mean...it's not what y-you t-think!" He blistered out, face completely crimson now.

"I'm not thinking anything." Wei Ying told him truthfully. "But why don't you talk to him? He can surely explain himself? Right?"

"It isn't as easy as that!" SiZhui wailed, hiding into his shoulder.

Wei Ying smiled at his cuteness, reminding him of another time, another place. SiZhui was his ball of sunshine, ever a source of delight.

"Give yourself a break, my dear." Wei Ying told him softly. He rubbed his back, soothing his woes. SiZhui relaxed enough to feel his eyelids drooping.

Wei Ying kissed his forehead and picked him up, thrilled that he could. He was walking back to the Jingshi, feeling, rather than knowing, that Lan Zhan would have woken by now.

True to form, a scantily dressed husband, white robes flying behind him as the ties loosened, revealing a broad and muscular chest, was running towards him.

Wei Ying nearly dropped his son at the sight. Focus, he told himself sharply, otherwise he was going to lose their bet. Lan Zhan did not have a mischievous bone in his body, otherwise Wei Ying would have thought this was a deliberate attack. He forced himself to concentrate on his son's face, admiring the peaceful way he slept.

Lan Zhan came up to him then, glorious and half naked. Wei Ying bit his lip so hard, he was sure it was bleeding.

"What's wrong with him?" He asked, completely seriously as if unaware of the effect he was having on his husband.

"Um...I had no water, but it's okay, it will wear off soon." Wei Ying made the mistake of looking into beautiful golden pools.

He lost his train of thought, forgetting everything but the golden flecks shining from within. He was not even aware of Lan Zhan taking their son from him and walking towards the Jingshi.

"Aren't you coming?" Lan Zhan stopped and turned back to say.

I wish I was, Wei Ying thought, meaning something else  entirely.

*****

A/N

So this one went in another direction completely but it's fine. Just let them do what they want, right? Who cares what I think? Who cares about my carefully laid out plans that they were going to be doing something else entirely,  but that's FINE, RIGHT????

Anyway, *deep breath. It's fine. I'm fine.

I hope you all have a great day/night wherever you are, especially Soul Sister RovenaNatasha

This one is for you. It was supposed to be mushy and sweet, but women plan and God laughs. Hysterically, in my case...