Hongse was right, this path led to a narrow channel, which opened out onto a wide river. Boats were moored on the sides and warehouses sprung up on either sides of its banks.

"These are cargo ships." Chihong explained.

"When they bring in goods which can't be collected immediately by the owner, the ship owners store the cargo in these buildings until the owner can get here or delivery can be arranged. Meanwhile, the ship is free to carry on and move onto the next mission." Hongse added.

"So all we have to do is find a nearly empty warehouse?" Wei Ying surmised. "What a great idea."

"Preferably one that is at least half full, because then, Dunshi can be hidden in the back and even if someone needs to use it, they probably won't bother with the back part." Hongbaoshi said.

"Alright, sounds like a plan."

They walked along the river bank for a while, checking out several warehouse. Some were bigger than others, some emptier, and they avoided those ones for obvious reasons.

And then, just as the sky began to change colour, they found what the Flowers of Venus had been looking for. This building looked like one of the biggest ones, yet it was only half full, and the back seemed to be empty.

The doors were tall enough that if Dunshi bent down, he could easily fit inside. And once inside, he was able to walk to the back with only a slight crouch.

"Me like." He said to Xiao Zei, smiling as he sat down.

"Yeah, me too, big guy. Me too." He watched as Dunshi pulled out his little box with the leaves and put one in his mouth. He chewed softly and then curled into himself, falling asleep.

Xiao Zei covered him in the blanket he had stored in his own qiankun pouch before settling in to sleep right beside him.

"Aren't you scared he's going to roll over and, you know...crush you?" Wei Ying asked, genuinely curious.

"No. He sleeps better if he knows I'm this close. And maybe something tells him that I am, because so far, he stays like that." Xiao Zei shrugged, smiled, and closed his eyes.

The Flowers of Venus began getting ready for bed too, laying down blankets to sleep on, so Wei Ying looked expectantly at Lan Zhan, who smiled warmly at him and took his hand.

Hongse settled Master Dashi down before sitting in a lotus position right next to him.

"Aren't we getting ready for bed, my love?" Wei Ying whispered, a little confused as to why Lan Zhan wasn't doing anything.

Lan Zhan brought his hand up to his lips and softly kissed the back of Wei Ying's hand.

"We're not staying here."

"We're not?"

"No. Too many people here will draw attention. Hongse will create an illusion wall that should prevent curious eyes, but we are leaving." Lan Zhan turned to Hongse. "See you later."

She smiled and waved.

Outside the warehouse, Lan Zhan drew forth Bichen and climbed on, holding Wei Ying tight.

"But the children?"

"He knows to bring them. Don't worry." Lan Zhan pressed a kiss to Wei Ying's nape, making him shiver.

"When did you all decide this?" Wei Ying wondered, feeling happily excited now.

"When Wei Ying mentioned hotels...and bathing. Need Wei Ying." Lan Zhan flew faster.

They stopped at a nice hotel that was just opening its doors for the day. Lan Zhan paid for two rooms, and as they were shown to the two adjacent doors, Hui Gai teleported there with Oge and the three children.

"Auntie Oge promised us a real bed!" Li XiWang crowed excitedly, beaming at her parents.

"You can sleep with us." Wei Ying offered, smiling back at her enthusiasm.

So far they spent weeks on the road, and travelling like this, well, no blanket, however thick compared to an actual bed.

"The children want to sleep together." Hui Gai told him. "Happy anniversary, PengYou."

Oge smiled at them and the children, even Klem came to kiss their cheeks good night, before disappearing into the room with Hui Gai and Oge. As Hui Gai shut the door in their faces, he winked at Wei Ying, whose face was bright red now.

Lan Zhan took his hand and led him towards the other room, and once they had entered, placed silencing talismans all around.

"My love...you're so sweet to me." Wei Ying hugged him.

Lan Zhan held him tightly, one arm wrapped around his waist and the other cradling his head.

"They all wanted to do something nice for us."

Wei Ying breathed in the beloved scent of sandalwood, feeling like he was back home in the Jingshi. This right here, this was what he had been missing for so long.

Lan Zhan felt his robe becoming wet, and he began humming their song, both to soothe them and to calm Wei Ying's mind now. He rubbed a warm hand over Wei Ying’s back, his touch promising safety and love.

Wei Ying didn't know why he was so emotional now, except that Lan Zhan was all he ever wanted, and for so long. His lips found that small patch of bare skin, and he kissed it warmly, affectionately.

Lan Zhan suppressed a shiver and patiently let him, as Wei Ying's lips travelled upwards, fixing around his Adam's apple, his teeth grazing the hardest part.

"First, does Wei Ying wish to bathe?" His voice came out deeper, hoarse with feeling.

Wei Ying wasn't the only one who had missed this, this connection.

"Bath?" Wei Ying asked, his head snapping up with interest.

"Mn." Lan Zhan showed him the copper tub not far from them, already filled with hot water and keep hot talismans on the outside.

Now that he had noticed it, Wei Ying sniffed appreciatively, taking in the fragrance of rose petals and lavender. A bottle of oil stood by next to a bar of soap.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" He gave Lan Zhan a wicked grin, and was just about to start stripping, when Lan Zhan placed his big hands over Wei Ying’s smaller ones, stopping him.

"Wait. My Wei Ying must wait. Today is a special day...and I wish...I wish to show him something."

Wei Ying eyed his red ears and smiled, plastering himself against Lan Zhan's hard body. His fingers tangled in Lan Zhan's headband ribbon, and he gave it a small tug, enjoying the way Lan Zhan's golden eyes darkened, his pupils becoming bigger as he concentrated on his husband.

"And what exactly, my dearest husband, would you like to show me?" Wei Ying raised himself up to kiss Lan Zhan's cheeks, first the left one and then the right.

"That Wei Ying is mine, and I belong only to him." Lan Zhan kissed his forehead, his lips lingering softly as Wei Ying closed his eyes, loving this much missed attention.

"Yes, my love. As you are mine, and I belong only to you." Wei Ying smiled gently at him, and watched as Lan Zhan took off his headband and wrapped it around his wrist.

"This belongs to you too. It has always been yours." Lan Zhan tied it securely and finished with a kiss to white strands.

"You are so hot..." Wei Ying whispered breathlessly, seconds before Lan Zhan captured his lips.

Both of them had waited too long, needing this contact, and they sighed into this kiss, a better form of communication than just words. Lan Zhan worshipped his mouth, something he had fantasised about since the very beginning of his infatuation with this man, so wild and carefree, so filled with vitality and love.

Wei Ying was dizzy with love, his lips seeking more and more, following the eager ones nipping at his flesh. His fingers tangled in the long silky strands, and he remembered how much he had wanted to tug on Lan Zhan’s hair in the library, when they were younger. Now, feeling the weight of that luxurious hair between his fingers, Wei Ying couldn’t resist gently yanking a little and felt satisfied because Lan Zhan growled.

His kisses became fierce, more pressing and harder, as he fought for control, but desire snapping at his restraint, until both of them were panting, chests aligned and heaving.

Lan Zhan's deft fingers unclasped his belt and then Wei Ying's, his hands slipping under the soft silk to push away the layers from his smooth shoulders. Wei Ying shivered as his bare skin came in contact with the coolness of the room, but as Lan Zhan pulled him closer, he was warmed by those wandering hands.

Lan Zhan undressed his husband and carried him to the tub where he lowered Wei Ying gently into the warm waters, loving the way he moaned with pleasure. Wei Ying caught his hand and brought it to his lips, tugging it slightly.

"Are you coming in?" He looked up at his husband.

Lan Zhan thought Wei Ying had never looked more beautiful, his silver starlight eyes sparkling with anticipation. There was a pink flush across his cheeks and Lan Zhan thought it wasn't just the water temperature making him shy.

"Mn." Lan Zhan undressed and climbed into the water, happy that this was a bigger tub than the one they used in Cloud Recesses.

"I believe I promised you something, my love." Wei Ying said, his voice softer now.

Lan Zhan stared at him knowing what it was, even before Wei Ying unfurled his beautiful wings. He watched as those transparent luminous wings wrapped around the both of them as Wei Ying climbed onto his lap.

Lan Zhan couldn't resist stroking the top ridge of the left one and then the right, his absorption in this task turning on some sort of switch in Wei Ying's heart. He shivered and waited impatiently for Lan Zhan to finish touching them, but Lan Zhan couldn't stop.

Lan Zhan had been fascinated with these extentions of his Wei Ying since the very beginning, ever since Wei Ying had asked him to push him over the edge of that cliff, and while he understood the reasoning behind it, at the time he had been horrified. Yet in return for his trust in his husband, he had been rewarded with these miracles, and he loved them.

He loved the way they wrapped around them both, the way they were big enough to overlap, and how sensitive Wei Ying was to his touch.

"My love..." Wei Ying simply couldn't wait any more. He lifted his wet fingers and brought his husband's face back to him, trembling at the amount of need reflected back towards him. "I want you to know...you don't have to be the only strong one here now. For so long, even when my body was weaker...before...you always looked out for me, but now...but now I'm so much stronger. And I want to take care of you too. I promise to protect you for always, my love...my heart...I cannot live without you." He crashed their lips together in a searing kiss, fiery with desire.

Lan Zhan kissed him back, holding his hips hostage and sure his fingers would leave marks. But the way Wei Ying was kissing him with so much desperation, Lan Zhan could taste the hot tears as they fell, filled with his conviction.

Water splashed out, and neither cared, too caught up in what they were doing. This oneness had been missing for so long now, that neither was aware of anything outside of their connection to each other, and this love that only seemed to grow bigger and wider, stronger and deeper.

Wei Ying could feel his core beckoning to Lan Zhan's as his vision became filled with a white light, as their souls rejoined in a mating dance. All around them, bright white light encompassed their bodies until it was over, and Wei Ying melted against his Lan Zhan now.

Lan Zhan lifted them both out of the water and dried them, dressing a now tired Wei  Ying in new under robes ready to sleep. He drawled into bed next to his husband, pulling him into his embrace again, and smiling when warm lips kissed his neck, just before Wei Ying fell asleep finally.

"Happy anniversary, Wei Ying." Lan Zhan kissed his silky hair, and closed his eyes, content at last.

********

A/N

As a tribute to the Manhua artists who finally got around to the bathtub scene, I hope you guys liked this soft and fluffy chapter. As for me, I always love these ones...hehe.

Happy Wednesday everyone and I hope you enjoy a nice piece of chocolate today. Joy is ever present in the little things, the small moments in between having to be brave.

May the Universe bless us with an easy day, today.

Charlie.