I'm writing so far ahead to make sure I have enough content for a long time. I want to make sure that I always have something ready.

This chapter is the party, and in an hour I get to go work nine hours overnight. Yay.

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Junmyeon's POV

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The party was in full swing at this point. Countless people had already wished me a happy birthday. A table of presents dominated one wall of the ball room. And I'd lost my date for the evening, so I was a little irritable. Baekhyun promised he'd stick by my side tonight.

"Happy Birthday Prince Junmyeon," yet another person said. I bowed in response, transferring my thin flute of something tasteless and sparkling to my other hand. Now that I was eighteen, I was also allowed to drink. And father made sure there was plenty to drink around here. I was starting to get a little light headed though, as I was on my third glass.

"Slow down a bit." I jumped when a voice suddenly spoke right next to me. I glanced sideways to see Baekhyun, acting liked been there the entire time. "Trust me, hangovers suck," he continued. "And I know it's super tempting to continue to please your parents, but please use that brain I know you have. Don't push your limits tonight."

"I won't," I promised, taking another sip of my drink. Did they always burn on the way down? I couldn't even taste anything. Baekhyun seemed skeptical, but he shut his mouth on the matter. I surveyed the busy room, trying to catch a glimpse of the one person I'd been aching to see all night. The party had been going on for nearly two hours, and I'd yet to see him at all. Baekhyun followed my line of sight.

"I'm sure he'll show up at some point, right?" he said, sounding as unsure as I felt. "I saw his parents talking with yours. So he has to be here." At the mention of his parents, I sighed, downing the last of my drink. Maybe he didn't want to come after all. Maybe he didn't want to see me. Maybe he couldn't face me. The thought had me flagging down another butler walking around, replacing my empty glass with a full one. "Don't drink to forget either," Baekhyun scolded gently. "That never works."

"I'm not," I said, taking a drink. I pulled a face, and Baekhyun laughed lowly at me. This one seemed a little stronger than the last drink. "I just wanted another drink."

"Sure," he said, threading an arm through mine. "Just slow down after this, kay?"

"Hey, hands off him." Now it was both of our turns to be surprised. I whirled around, and the sight that greeted me was nearly enough to take my breath away. Yixing smiled his teasing smile, his dimples fully out.

"Yixing," I breathed, stepping forward to greet him. But soon an, admittedly, pretty female found her way to his side, lacing her hand with his. I stopped, feeling like someone sucker punched me in the gut. "It's good to see you," I said at last, bowing stiffly, the room spinning slightly. "It's been awhile."

"It has," he replied. "Happy Birthday Junmyeon." I dipped my head. "And this is Ying Yue, my fiance." The girl smiled. She had a cute smile, I'd give her that. "Ying Yue, I totally forgot I left his present with Luhan. Do you want to go to his room and get it from him."

"Sure," she replied, but his comment caught me off guard. Luhan was in his room, instead of out here enjoying the party? Yixing watched her until she disappeared from sight, and once she was gone he surged forward, wrapping me in a hug.

"I've missed you," he murmured. I felt a lump forming in my throat as my arms snaked around him of their own accord. I wanted to believe that. Fuck I wanted it so bad. But how could I believe him when it was clear he'd moved on? He didn't need me anymore. Hell, he probably never did. "So, Crowned Prince Junmyeon." He pulled away and offered a hand. "Would you care for a dance?"

"You'll have to do better than that, Crowned Prince Yixing," I responded, feeling the corners of my mouth turn up. Yixing grinned as well, and suddenly I was transported back to that night. This very same conversation being exchanged between the two of us. "It takes a lot more than that to impress me."

"I'm sure," he agreed, taking my hand in his and leading me out to the middle of the dance floor. "But remember, I know how to successfully sweep a guy off his feet." I blushed, remembering that corny line from our first real interaction. "Luhan says Happy Birthday by the way," he said as we began to twirl around. "I wish he could be up here enjoying it with us. But it's best if he stays in his room."

"Why though?" I asked. "The last time you were here he was enjoying the festivities with us. I don't see why this time has to be any different." He pursed his lips, seeming bothered by something. A fuzzy thought began to manifest. "Ying Yue?" I asked.

"She only ever sees him as a servant, and you know, since he was born into a life of servitude, that's all he ever thinks he is as well." He sighed. "But we have to make a good impression to her family, and that means I can't interact with Luhan all the time like I'd like to, even if he is being trained to guide me on my journey through life." He laughed bitterly. "Our relationship is strained these days."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said. The music changed from a fast paced song to a slow love song. For a moment, we simply stood in one place, and I feared our night together would be cut short. But then he shifted his hold on me so his arms were settled comfortably on my shoulders. We began to sway to the music.

"Well," he said as the song came to an end. "I should go find Ying Yue. She has your present. And it would look bad if I spent my whole night with you." He released me, and it felt like I was losing him all over again. But I couldn't voice that thought out loud. "It was good to see you Junnie. Thanks for the dance." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" I said hurriedly. He turned back to me, one eyebrow raised. I dashed to a nearby table and snatched up a napkin. I always had a pen with me (don't ask), which I grabbed out of my pocket. I scribbled something down and ran back to him, stuffing it in the pocket on his tux jacket. "Read that when you get to your room," I said.

"Okay," he said. "I'll see you later." He retreated into the crowd. For a long time after, I stood there, staring at the spot he had been, wishing so bad I could turn back the clock so I could relive the last twenty or so minutes over and over.

...

Yixing's POV

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Since it was so late, mother and father decided on staying at the Korean palace once again. It seemed a lot of royalty had the same idea, as the palace seemed to be teeming with extra life this night. I was back in the same room as I had been the last time I was here, and the nostalgia of it all was almost enough to send me to tears. I was already changed into my pajamas and a robe, sitting on the edge of the same bed I had two years ago. I held the rumpled napkin in both my hands, reading the short message over and over.

My dear, my dear, love you.

I had spurts where I remembered it's existence, and then it was gone, and I often forgot its importance in establishing the happiest couple weeks of my life. But it seemed he hadn't forgotten it at all. And those simple words written out said a lot more than he could himself. And it left me feeling more confused than ever. I thought I was over him. I thought I could move on. But now that I'd seen him, now that I'd danced with him and talked with him, I realized I really wasn't. I don't know if I had ever been. I picked up my phone, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Hey, you up? I waited for what felt like an eternity, but finally something came back to me.

Yeah, can't sleep. Junmyeon texted back. Why, what's up?

Wanna go sit in the garden again? I'd like to talk.

Be over to your room in five. I set my phone aside, a smile breaking through before I could stop it. Good thing I was already in my robe. I grabbed the present for Junmyeon off my night stand. I hadn't wanted to throw it on the pile with all the others, only for it to be lost. This was special. Just like the certain someone who was knocking at my door. I rose and strode over, throwing open the door to a familiar sight.

"Hi," Junmyeon greeted. I chuckled at his oversized shirt and shorts, and then realized with a start that it was my oversized shirt. One I'd accidently left here after my stay. But he looked so cute in it, I decided I would never ask for it back. Though a part of me wondered how often he wore it, as the picture on the front was starting to fade. "Shall we get going."

"Yes, let's," I agreed, pulled from my train of thought. I fell in step beside him, winding our ways down corridors all too familiar to me now. We passed artwork I'd seen a thousand times before. "We didn't get to properly talk at your party."

"No, we didn't," he replied. "Though to be fair everyone wanted to talk to me tonight. Tomorrow starts my first day as King." He chuckled. "Crazy, isn't it?"

"Kind of," I said. We emerged into the gardens, and I once again breathed in the scent of grass and fresh air. "I forgot you're not going to be Crowned Prince Junmyeon after tomorrow. Guess I'll have to start calling you Crowned King." His eyes crinkled adorably as a full smile overtook his features. "Hey, about your note..."

"Oh, yeah, forget about that," he said quickly. "I was a little drunk and wasn't thinking straight." I was tempted to say he never thought straight, but now didn't seem to be an appropriate time. I frowned instead. "It was stupid of me to write that anyway," he continued. I slowed my pace and he walked a few feet ahead of me before he realized I wasn't beside him anymore.

"It's not stupid," I argued. "It's sweet. You remembered the song that brought us together in the first place." He blushed and looked away.

"What's stupid is still pining after a taken man." He glanced to me again. "I knew you were coming with Ying Yue. Either you were married or you were close to it. I told myself to not get my hopes up. I told myself that we can't ever be together again, but damn it seeing you for the first time in two years my heart still soared like it did back then." He huffed out a breath. "That's what's stupid. It's stupid that after all this time you still make me feel the way I do, and my stupid heart doesn't seem to want it any other way."

"Oh," was all I could think to say. "Um..." I trailed off. This wasn't the way I imagined this conversation going. I wasn't expecting blunt honesty from him. I couldn't say I felt the same, even if on some level I did, because I didn't share the exact same feelings as him.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he suddenly spoke. "I'm sorry to waste your time Prince Yixing. It won't happen again." He whirled around and began to walk back inside.

"Junnie, wait!" I called, and the nickname stopped him in his tracks. "I'm sorry." I ran to catch up with him. "You just caught me off guard is all," I continued. "I can't say I feel the same way." I watched as his face fell, but he nodded all the same. "But I can say I missed you so much. I'm sorry I didn't make an effort to come see you while I could."

"I never tried to either," he admitted. "And I'm sorry about that. I missed you too." His eyes sought mine. Very carefully, I wrapped an arm around his waist, drawing him close. He gasped, but that quickly faded when my lips met his.

...

I finished this chapter in like four hours how's that for time management.