So I was going to go with my original idea for chapter four but that can wait until any time. I want to do this one. Now.

Throwing it back to the past again because these chapters don't make sense in the publication order I've chosen but OH WELL.

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Yixing's POV

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"Sire?" I turned, motioning Luhan into the room. He clutched something in his hand, which he passed along to me. I peered inside, my heart rate speeding up slightly when I saw what was inside the small bag. I set it down carefully like it might explode if I handled it roughly. "Is that..."

"Yes," I interrupted. "It is." Luhan squealed behind me. I heard his feet tapping against the hardwood. I turned back to my vanity mirror, combing my longish hair to the side once more. Nerves gnawed at the belly for no reason. It was just like any other day. Any other date. But at the same time it wasn't. It wasn't a special date on the calendar. There was nothing grand going to happen. But today would turn into a special day.

"Alright Luhan let's get going," I said, snatching my backpack off the floor beside my feet, clutching the tiny bag in my hands. "You know my boyfriend gets a bit clingy when we're away for a long time." Boyfriend. Even now, a year after everything had hit the fan and we finally confronted each other, it still felt so sweet to say. Junmyeon was my boyfriend, well and truly.

Balancing life between two countries was somewhat of a challenge, though we were getting it down. Obviously one of us couldn't just uproot and leave our respective country behind. For the most part, we remained where we grew up. Though the longer our relationship stretched, the more time we spent at each other's palaces, until our homes were nearly indistinguishable from each other. The Korean palace now felt so, so welcoming.

Though it was Junmyeon who felt like home.

Luhan and I boarded the jet and settled into out seats, across from and facing each other. We kept the jet permanently on standby now, it being used at least once a week. Luhan and I conversed back and forth as it lifted off. Luhan kept me up to date with palace life at home, always filling me in on what the staff said since his room was still down there, though I was working on a surprise for him. One of the guest rooms that we never used was being gutted and reworked to be a permanent room for him, where he'd always be close to my room, just down the hall.

"You really do love him huh?" Luhan's latest question caught me off guard. I blinked a couple times as it comprehended. "I think you love him more than I've ever seen a person love another person. Here we are, on the way to Korea once again just so you can see him." I cracked a tiny, shy smile.

"Of course," I replied. "Of course I love him. So much. And this is a small price to pay for our happiness together." Last year such words were nonexistent. I never actually thought my future contained him, even if I fantasized about it. Shut your lips and do as your told. But Luhan was right. He we were, off to Korea for the hundredth time so Junmyeon and I could go out to dinner together. And so I could do something that would either bring me unimaginable happiness or crush me completely. I leaned more towards the positive though. I didn't want to picture the other outcome for this.

"Yixing, hello." I smiled at another familiar face. Heechan. He greeted me at the gate as he always did when I arrived in Korea, escorting me to the palace without a fuss. He practically raised Junnie when he was a young teen. Junmyeon loved this man, even if he didn't outright say it. "You guys ready for your date tonight?" Heechan asked as he led the way to the limo. He waited while Luhan and I crawled inside, then swiftly followed, closing the door behind him. As it swung shut I heard the faint click of cameras. I stifled a sigh. I'd have to pick up a paper tomorrow before I returned home.

"Oh yes," I finally responded, settling against the plush seats of the limo. "More than ready." Now Luhan and Heechan swapped stories as they always did when they met up. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and scrolled a few social medias before opening my texts.

Almost to your place. See you shortly. Love you.

I put the phone on the seat beside me and gazed out the window. I watched the countryside pass by. Watched as the clouds, once blanketing every bit of the sky, cracked and shifted so patches of blue were easily visible. I sighed contently to myself as Heechan and Luhan's voices droned in the background in a comforting harmony. This past year had been the happiest I'd ever felt, hands down. Not only did mother and father finally approve of me, so did the general public. Stories of Junmyeon and I together frequently topped the columns, and every time they did we were the most talked about topic.

That wasn't to say we were entirely without hate. It would be impossible to ignore the anti fans entirely. Blog posts diminishing us, stories about our romance being deeply flawed, and directly after my marriage, the divorce. I shielded Junmyeon best I could from that wrath, but of course everyone had their tall tale about why it happened, and I kept my lips shut so as to not add fuel to the fire. I knew as long as we were together we would always be criticized. But loving him was so beyond worth it in my eyes. I would do anything to keep him by my side.

My Junmyeon. My best friend. My happy place. My forever. My home.

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Junmyeon's POV

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A soft grey suit and a crisp white undershirt, with a grey tie to match. I styled my hair down and parted it to one side, sweeping the mass of it to the right of my face. I'd already showered and brushed my teeth and put on some nice cologne. All in all, I was ready for the night. I was ready to see my boyfriend.

Boyfriend. Even now I loved the taste of that word on my tongue. A word that was once so taboo I scolded myself for even thinking it. But now I uttered it freely and often. It was liberating in a way. To have someone that I could finally show off. To be able to wake up every single day and lay down every single night and know, without a doubt, I'd have someone waiting for me. I had someone to be proud of and in return that someone was proud if me.

"Junnie." I grinned ear to ear as a voice spoke behind me, but made no move to turn, silently counting to ten. A pair of arms circled my torso, drawing me back a step. I gazed up to Yixing, feeling a bit choked up all of a sudden. This man... How could I ever picture a life without him? Yixing pecked my forehead oh so gently, his eyes shining with a million stars. I reached back and cupped his cheeks in my palms. He chuckled, the sound rumbling in his chest as his hold on me only tightened. "You look dazzling tonight." Again his expression danced with the light, and I marvelled at how truly beautiful he was in that moment.

"So do you," I complimented, taking in his purple button up and black vest. No tie and no jacket. Black slacks. Though in all honesty he could've been wearing a plastic garbage bag and he still would've looked stunning to me. We stayed in that pose for a few minutes, holding onto each other and gently swaying back and forth to a melody only he could hear. I closed my eyes. My back felt warm from his touch, and my heart felt warm from just him. I wasn't lying when I told him he was my everything. I meant it wholeheartedly.

"We'd better get going," he said at last, breaking the tranquil quiet. He kissed my temple and gave my middle one last squeeze before releasing me, capturing my fingers in his and twining them together. Our gazes met briefly, and in that instant I saw my future, bright and clear. And he was the largest, brightest, most brilliant piece of it. "Junnie?" he asked quietly. I snapped out of it.

"Sorry," I apologized with a quick little bow. "I'm just...so happy right now." And then his gaze softened. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled and squeezed my hand. He led the way downstairs as I practically floated behind him, my footsteps light and gliding. I was so in love I thought I might burst. I hoped this feeling would never go away. That in twenty or thirty years down the road I would still be crazy about this man.

The drive to the restaurant was quiet and uneventful, with the news vans actually losing sight of us at some point on the way there. As much as I enjoyed reading about my date in the papers... I didn't. We didn't speak to each other on the way there, but we didn't need to anymore. The silence between us was welcoming, comforting. The kind of silence that wrapped around you like an embrace, leaving you warm and fuzzy. I hoped this never ended. I wanted him by my side for as long as I was breathing.

"I love you." I started as his voice sprang up from the quiet, but soon my insides melted into putty at his words. "So, so much." His fingers captured mine again. "More than I ever thought possible."

"I love you too," I replied, the phrase slipping out so easily after saying it over and over to him. I would never tire of that phrase though. I could say it, shout it, proclaim it until my throat felt raw and my voice failed me. I loved this man. So fucking much.

"Ready?" Yixing asked as he parked the car near the restaurant we'd chosen. I nodded, and he swiftly reached acrossd me and opened my door. I couldn't help but giggle as I climbed out of the car. I waited until he circled around the vehicle and held his arm out to me. Another little giggle as I accepted it, letting him lead me inside. "Sir," he said with mock seriousness, pulling the chair out from the table.

"Why thank you," I said with a fond smile, settling into my seat. I expected him to sit across me, but he remained standing, looking a little sickly all of a sudden. "Are you okay?" I asked, concern creeping into my system as I watched him take several deep breaths and close his eyes. "Xing?"

"Junnie." My eyes widened as he suddenly dropped onto one knee, fishing a little velvet box from his pocket. He opened it with careful fingers, showing off a simple silver band, engraved with tiny petals. "You've made me the happiest man I've ever been. I've made mistakes in this life, but you are never one of them. I love you so much, and know for certain that I want my future with you in it. So what do you say King Junmyeon? Will you marry me?"

"Oh my god," I gasped, my hands flying to cover my mouth in shock. Yixing rose to his feet again. "Yes, oh god yes Yixing. A thousand times yes." I leapt from my seat and wrapped myself around him as his laugh floated around me. I kissed him feverishly, desperate and needy. When we pulled away for oxygen he simply smiled at me, taking one of my hands off his neck and slipping the ring on my finger. "What are the petals?" I asked.

"Sunflower petals," he replied, and instantly tears welled in the corners of my eyes. "As a reminder that you, Junmyeon, are all the light in my life. You're the biggest and brightest and best light of my life. I was so stupid to never see it sooner." I laughed lowly, swiping a hand under my eyes to prevent the tears from falling. "I love you," he murmured. "In this life, in the next life, in every life after. I love you so much Junnie. I'm so, so lucky to have you in my life."

"Oh stop," I whined, burying my face in his chest and feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "I love you too." He kissed the top of my head, giving me a squeeze. We sat down after that as light applause finally filled the space around us. But all of that faded into the background as I gazed adoringly at my now fiance. I glanced down at the ring on my finger, feeling my heart swell all over again.

The biggest and the brightest and the best light of my life. Always, Yixing. I promise you.

...

Pure. Fluff. So sweet it hurts. But oh my god I had to do the proposal. How could I not?