Real progress ya'll. Maybe eventually I'll get back into the proper swing of things. Maybe. We'll see.

Current jams: a lot of things

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Li Jie's POV

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"This is wonderful!" Mei Zhen gushed, marveling at all the colorful lights around us. I squeezed her hand a little tighter, feeling pleased. The lights of Seoul sure were pretty, that much was obvious. Even at three in the morning it was bustling with life. People running this way and that, ducking in and out of shops open even in the dead of night. Chatter rose from around us. None of it was distinguishable. It reminded me a great deal of Beijing, actually. It looked and felt different though.

But, standing between streets, nothing looked more radiant than her, face tilted slightly upward, a thousand stars dancing in her irises as she took it all in. I felt privileged to be in her presence. Like she this precious jewel set on display and I was but a simple peasant, granted access very last minute. I wasn't worthy of the smile she shot my way.

I was especially unworthy when she wasn't the only one on my mind tonight.

"It is wonderful," I agreed at last. I scanned the streets, leading her down yet another, passing brightly lit marquis and fully lit storefronts. The hustle and bustle of big city life never ceased to amaze me, even if I'd grown up with it. "But you are more wonderful." She halted on her tracks, turning to face me. I'm sure the florescent light couldn't hide my darkening cheeks, and I mumbled something incoherent, scuffing the ground with the toe of my sneaker. I felt something wet press against them.

"I love you," was all she said, and when I finally mustered the courage to face her she beamed, twining our pinkies together. We walked along. And by all accounts this should have been one of the happiest moments of my life. My girlfriend just told me she loved me. We were having an impromptu date in the middle of the night, strolling the streets of Seoul hand in hand. She swung our arms between us, and I tried my hardest to focus on her, I really did.

But all I could really think about right now was DaeHyun, back at the palace, all alone on his room for the first time after a party...ever. We always sought each other out after these functions, curling together on his too big for him bed together like two puzzle pieces. We fit together. Always had. We'd swap sleepy stories. His point of view from crowned prince at the big table at the front, paraded around like a dress up doll. And me from the sidelines, helping pop make sure every function ran flawlessly. When we were kids it never even occurred to us that anything was different. All we knew were the lived we led, and it never struck us that our friendship was abnormal.

Only as we got older and DaeHyun had begun taking on extra responsibilities did it become glaringly obvious. And when we traveled together now we had to act as master and severant. Because to outside ears that's all that I was, never mind the fact I was in ninety percent of DaeHyun's childhood pictures. I was always just...there. But now thi go were different. I couldn't be there. Not like I used to be. And he certainly shouldn't have been falling in love with me. That was never part of the plan.

"Jie?" I balked when my name was called. I was so out of it I was only a few steps from smacking into a pole. Only Mei Zhen violently tugging on my prevented a disaster. "Are you sure you're okay tonight? You've been so out of it for the last week." I glanced to the ground. I had no good excuses anymore. "Is this about...about the prince?" She said it like the word physically hurt to say, and my heart broke a little hearing it. "Any time you're away from him anymore it's like you can't function."

"I..." But I had nothing. So I hung my head. "I'm sorry." I apologized. "It is true my mind is elsewhere tonight. But." I captured both her hands in mine, forcing myself to face her. "That doesn't mean I'm not having a wonderful time. I am. Very much so. You are a wonderful being."

"Let's go back to palace," was all she said, but I did catch the way the corners of her mouth ticked up ever so slightly at the praise. "I think we're both tired tonight." We fell in step side by side again, our pinkies linked. She once again swung our arms between us, and I flashed back to DaeHyun yet again. I shook my head, ridding the thoughts before they could fully form. Just one night I'd like to not have him invading every thought. Just one night.

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Junmyeon's POV

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"Do you think DaeHyun is okay?" Yixing asked as I came out of our attached bathroom. I cocked my head to the side. He sat at the vanity, but he didn't appear to be focusing on himself instead mirror. Instead he gazed fixedly at the table top. Almost like it personally wronged him. And then I realized why. Jie the stuffed lamb, sitting crookedly in front of him. Or sitting as well as he could sit. Most of the stuffing had been loved out of him over years and years of traversing the globe with DaeHyun. I sidled up behind Yixing, studying his worried expression in the mirror. Not that Yixing never worried about our kids, but I wasn't used to the open display of it. "I don't think it was a stomach ache," Yixing continued, reaching out and patting Jie's no longer fuzzy head.

"I don't think so either," I confessed. But I also didn't have the heart to make him continue to socialize when he very clearly just wanted to be left alone. I also wasn't used to my son being so far out of reach from me. Quite like myself, he wore his heart on his sleeve and was a sentimental soul. I loved him dearly for it. I'm sure this cut him deeper than even he was letting on. I just wished to will away his pain for him. "I think he's lonely," I continued, placing a hand on Yixing's shoulder and meeting his reflection's gaze. He stared steadily back. "And I think he really misses what those two had before he confessed, whatever it was. But he doesn't want to mess things up again."

"Do you think we cursed him?" I hummed in surprise, but Yixing averted his gaze, fingers twitching on the table like they couldn't rest. "Because it's not like OUR road to get here has been paved in gold or anything. In fact it was more like a gravel road. With spikes." He seemed to be rambling now, but I was so stunned I wasn't sure what to do, so I just let him work it out himself. "Dod we just doom our children to the same fate we suffered? I don't wish that upon him. Hell, I don't wish it upon anyone." I finally noticed the tears on his eyes. I kissed the top of his head, halting his babble. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I just worry Jun. So much. And I HATE that we can't just magically make it better anymore."

"I do too Xing," I replied softly. "We just have to be for him when he needs it. That's the best we can do for him right now. You know as well as I do that he's currently at such a tender age. He won't necessarily want our help with his love life, but he will want us to be around, no matter the outcome of it." Yixing heaved a sigh, his shoulders slumping. I slid into his lap, much like when we were first wed, so young and in love we were nearly melded into one person. His arms instinctively circled around me. I pecked his cheek, and the ghost of a smile graced his features. I swiped a thumb under his eyes, clearing the lingering tears from his lashes.

"I wish we could rewind time sometimes Junnie," he said at last. "To when you and I were superheroes in disguse and the only thing we had to fight off was the monster in the closet." He let out a sad sort of breathy chuckle. I sat up a bit, forcing our eyes to meet. He looked...sad. Sadder than I'd seen him in a long time. "Our kids aren't little anymore. We can't protect them from absolutely everything anymore."

"No," I agreed carefully. "But, Xing, you've got it all wrong. Just because we can't shelter them from everything life throws at them doesn't make us any less their heroes. Sure life is tough and they have to experience that. But we're always going to be there with them through it, ready to protect if we need to or catch them when they stumble. They still love and admire us Yixing. So, so much." He visibly relaxed, and I briefly wondered how long this weighed heavy on his mind. "You'll always be their superhero Xing." He twined my fingers with his, bringing my hand to his cheek. An ultimate display of intimate affection. Not something I was used to. But he was more than allowed to feel vulnerable around me. He didn't always have to be the strong one. He could also break down and trust me to help him put the pieces back together again. That's what being partners was about. Helping each other through the bad and celebrating the good.

"I love you King Junmyeon." Now it was my turn for a soft smile. A title I hadn't heard in awhile. I was instantly shot back to when we were eighteen. Just figuring out the world with each other in it. "I always have..."

"And I always will," I answered without missing a beat. That phrase would likely be burned into my brain until long after I'd forgotten everything else. I could lose my mind and still remember those words. I would still remember Yixing.

I would always remember Yixing.

...

"Dad?" I shot awake as a voice spoke, sitting rapidly. "Woah." DaeHyun backpedaled quickly, looking a little guilty. "Sorry," he apologized, dipping into a sleepy, sloppy bow. "I can't sleep," he added, still folded double. "My mind won't settle." He finally straightened, and I took him in. Fifteen year old DaeHyun. Almost as tall as I was. Pushing Yixing's height even (Hyeja wasn't much taller than I). He swayed on his feet, tears brimming in his eyes. Wordlessly, he held his arms out. I lifted my cover and he tumbled in, burying his face in my chest as my arms went around him. I wrapped us both up.

"I wish I knew how to help," I said quietly, listening to hid soft little cries. Both of us were trying to be quiet so we wouldn't wake Yixing. "I'm sorry you're going through this." I simply held onto him as he let it out. Held him as he broke all over again. I held onto my baby boy for dear life, because right now this is what he needed. He needed his dad.

"DaeHyun?" I guess we weren't as quiet as I initially thought. "Hey, what's wrong?" Yixing asked, groggily peering over my shoulder. DaeHyun climbed over me so he was sandwiched between us, and we both hugged him. "We've got you baby boy," Yixing whispered, though wasn't even sure of DaeHyun could hear. But I sure did. Our eyes met, and I smiled.

After a while of laying there, DaeHyun finally drifted off to sleep. Yixing was also out again. But I lay awake, as I so often did, taking it all in. Yes, our children were growing. And yes, moments like these were going to grow further and farther between. Which is why I was going to enjoy every moment that I could. I hugged my boy tight, reaching out with my hand on top to gently pat Yixing's cheek. My little family. My favorite thing.

"Pa is right," I said at last. Of course DaeHyun couldn't hear me since he was asleep. I strained to glance over my shoulder. At Jie the forlorn lamb, watching this all silently. "We've got you pumpkin. Always. We won't let you fall." And finally sleep claimed me.

...

When I awoke the next morning, I found an empty bed. I stretched, then flipped over to my other side, intending to close my eyes. But I caught sight of an empty spot that had definitely been occupied the night before. I smiled to myself, thankful that we still provided comfort, even when all else failed.

And Jie the lamb, who'd gone back to his kingdom to rule once again, for his spot on our vanity was vacant.

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Very sappy Sulay heavy chapter. I felt now we've seen a bit of everyone after the party. And gotten a feel for more of the relationships.