The day after harvest day became picnic day.

Their group did it almost ritually, every week waiting for Mingi to finish his work on the fields and then going on a trip somewhere in the woods. Sometimes Yeosang joined them and sometimes he was too busy to and he and Jongho had to stay behind. Hongjoong was by now able to fly short distances through Wooyoung's tireless training and they were constantly practicing on the way.

So it happened often that Wooyoung and Jongho were hunting down Hongjoong between the trees, their laughter filling the woods with life and making them seem a bit brighter. Yeosang and Mingi were walking beneath them, Yeosang just waiting for something to comment sarcastically on and Mingi being too tall to fly with his fragile wings.

Today too they were going to the lake they frequented and it was nearing the last of their trips. Just one harvest more and then Hongjoong would have to return to Yongguk for a bit.

It was not that he did not miss his friend. However he would miss the fae too. Hongjoong was glad that Yeosang and Jongho had joined them today.

Hongjoong was the first to breach the forest into the clearing, shouting out a cry of triumph as he was faster today. Idly he floated through the clean air, watching the sun twinkle on the clear surface of water underneath him. Mingi and Yeosang stayed back a bit as the other three raced each other again to the other side of the sea, to the group of rocks where they usually stayed. Wooyoung cheated, using his powers and arriving first. Jongho huffed something about being slow because of carrying their basket (a hidden lie).

Hongjoong settled on the heated rocks gently, having quickly adapted to a graceful way of landing as his magic was helping him. He nodded to the basket and it started floating to him by itself, making Jongho pout.

Hongjoong dug in merrily, watching Yeosang and Mingi chat peacefully while walking towards them like an old couple.

"Say. Did Mingi ever make any other advances toward Yunho while I was gone? Except from spilling his drink all over him?"

Wooyoung flopped down next to Hongjoong, searching in the basket for the blueberry tarts he made earlier. While munching already he answered.

"Not sure actually. They visited once again for some annual festivities and he was such a helpless dork again but apart from that? I don't think so."

Hongjoong thought those two would fit very well together. Both of them were far too good for this world.

"Maybe we can help. He is talking so much about Yunho's 'sparkly eyes and broad chest', I think it's time."

"If it makes him shut up I will help." Jongho stole a tart as well and for a moment they shared the silence and just appreciated the view. It was summer now, the trees shining in a vibrant green that blended beautifully with the sparkling blue water. A few deer were grazing not far from them, just shy of exposing themselves to the sun.

It was peaceful and easy, a day Hongjoong would miss, far in the cooler north again so he concentrated on memorizing everything now.

"How long will you be gone for?" Jongho asked quietly so Mingi could not hear, their tall friend a big crybaby when it came to Hongjoong leaving. Wooyoung leapt from the rocks and into the flowers, started picking some.

"Four moons. And then I will come back with Yongguk to help you guys with winter." Hongjoong was beaming at the other, now also tasting once of the delicious tarts. Sometimes one certainly could be jealous of San.

"That's long... But we can do it somehow. You can send us messages, alright?" Jongho elbowed him gently, his big eyes and soft voice always touching a weak spot in Hongjoong's heart. He elbowed the other back just as sheepish.

"I will. I will stalk you folks all the time and sit at home crying when Mingi fails at courting Yunho again." They giggled a bit, then extra loudly hushed each other as Mingi came too close.

"I am getting too old for this. Next time go without me." The redhaired male sat down huffing and puffing next to them, grabbing a tart as if his life depended on it. Yeosang joined Wooyoung in the meadows.

"Shut up, you are like ten."

Jongho and Mingi started bickering with each other while Hongjoong sat between them and protected their basket for dear life, just enjoying the company.

Wooyoung waved at him.

"Hey, Joong! Can you get me one of those?" Wooyoung pointed to the lake where some water lilies were floating lazily on the surface. Hongjoong lifted a brow, turning back towards Wooyoung.

"You have wings too, you know?"

Wooyoung whined, kicking his legs childishly. Yeosang hid his chuckle behind his hand.

"Come on, please? I can make you a crown too!"

A crown in exchange for Hongjoong to flaunt his magic? What was he supposed to do, say no?

He smirked, sliding down the rocks to give the basket to the two boys in the grass. Mingi cheered for him as he set foot on the surface of the water, walking over it with ease. In the middle he crouched down, looking around the flowers to pick the most beautiful one.

The more pinkish one? Or pure white? A hard decision. Hongjoong took his time, looking at everything closely and admiring their beauty from up close. He was not fazed by confused fish underneath him peering questionly up towards him. Neither did he care about the dragonflies hunting each other around him, bumping into his knees with their big bodies.

However he picked up his head as he noticed the deer freezing suddenly from the corners of his eyes.

Everything remained peaceful, the birds singing their happy songs and Yeosang and Wooyoung conversing calmly. Hongjoong however was frozen too, one hand outstrechted to finally pick his favorite flower. He squinted his eyes while peering into the forest. There were voices growing closer.

The deer relaxed again, lowering their heads peacefully but stepping aside as two men emerged from the forest, both laughing with each other. It seemed they were completely unaware of the group already here but Hongjoong damn near fell into the water as he finally recognized them.

It was hard at first. There was so much tan skin to see on their bare upper bodies, maybe he was distracted for a second.

The two newcomers saw Hongjoong crouching on the lake in the same moment he started openly gaping at the shock of blonde hair on a man he was entirely not used to with this kind of looks.

His dark brows however were the same and they furrowed confusedly as their eyes met.

"Who-"

"Mingi!"

"Yunho!"

That was Yunho?!

Hongjoong rose confusedly as the green haired man started running towards their local redhair, both falling into the other's arms without a second thought.

They looked... like a whole strawberry.

The ditched prince looked just as confused by their sudden closeness and in the next second Mingi and Yunho were pulling back already, shyly scratching at their heads.

"I apologize, I-

"Sorry, man, that-

They were talking over each other and now they were blushing at the same time and Yunho's embarassed smile made Mingi's whole face lit up.

Hongjoong believed he heard Jongho cringe somewhere.

He chuckled fondly, inevitably catching the attention of the prince again. Hongjoong was keenly aware of him and his lean body in his peripherals and his stomach did a flip, him acting busy with finally picking Wooyoung's flower.

However instead of returning to his friends he also picked another one and marched straight towards Seonghwa. No time to waste.

Seonghwa only seemed to recognize him completely as he was already closer and his lips parted slightly, eyes going wide with surprise. Hongjoong could not help himself and smirked proudly.

"Hey." He halted in front of the tall elf, balancing on his tiptoes to put the flower behind a pointy ear. It suited Seonghwa well.

The prince was still dumbly staring at Hongjoong's wings, now actually lifting a hand to test their authenticity. Hongjoong let him, shuddering as a feather light touch was delivered to the sensitive skin.

"I'm impressed.", was all he said and Hongjoong chuckled sympathetically, taking up Seonghwa's dark blonde hair and much more healthy skin than when he had last seen the other. Hongjoong's eyes got stuck on his soft looking lips first, then on his pretty collarbones and he wisely refrained from looking more.

"Miss me?"

Hongjoong could not miss the way Seonghwa's breath hitched as he coyly fluttered his lashes at the other but they both pretended that did not happen, keenly aware.

Honestly he had expected Seonghwa to be dead, broken beyond belief by Youjin. Seeing him all prim and proper again made Hongjoong feel more giddy than he had expected.

"Yunho looks like a grape."

"Did you stand on water earlier?"

Hongjoong had learned to hide his little cloud of snow, not giving away what kind of fae he really was. However he also did not know if walking on water was usual for water fae too.

"...no?"

"I saw you."

Great to know that Yunho and Mingi were not the only ones having an embarassing reunification.

******

Happy holidays ^^