So. We've arrived. Almost forty chapters ya'll. Not only does this make this my most popular story, it makes it one of my longest. Thank you to each and every one of you who read, vote, comment, everything. I wouldn't have the drive to keep going if so many people didn't love what I was doing.

Fun facts my stuffed Baekhyun doll is keeping me company as I write. He's wearing his winter pajamas. He's so cute.

So umm.... This is the best friend, I just stole author nims phone to post this as I'm not allowed to read unless it's posted so - your welcome 😘😘😘
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Yixing's POV

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After a few days of pure bliss, it was time to face reality. And be reality I meant my father. I was sure he wouldn't be happy, but it was something I had to do eventually. I was packing my things back into my suitcase, sighing quietly. A pair of arms slipped casually around my waist.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with?" Junmyeon asked for the tenth time, worry evident in his tone. I leaned back so we were more face to face, and he kissed my cheek.

"I would love for you to come with," I told him. "But father would turn his wrath on you, and he'd soon be a dead man. I'm not letting him anywhere near my boyfriend until I can calm him down." Boyfriend. Junmyeon was well and truly my boyfriend now. It kind of felt surreal. I was incredibly happy though. Without his confession, I wouldn't have found the courage to finally admit that I never really wanted a wife to begin with. I wouldn't be here, wrapped up in his embrace and stealing kisses here and there. The kind of domestic life I loved.

"I'm only a call away if you need me," he said at last, stepping away. I turned so I was facing him. He looked a lot better than when I'd first arrived. No bags under his eyes anymore. He was still thin, but he was eating while we were together. "Good luck," he added, reaching out and twining our fingers together, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "Try not to die while you're there. I just got you back." He chuckled, but he still looked worried. I squeezed his hand back.

"I can't promise anything." I tried to keep my tone light-hearted, but honestly I was terrified. Father definitely wouldn't have kind words for me. I was looking forward to seeing Yung Yue though. And telling her that it worked. "I'm gonna miss you," I added, trying my best to distract him.

"I'll miss you too," he said. "You'd better get going. I'll walk you to the door at least." He linked his arm through mine, leading me down the stairs to the front of the palace. Several staff called soft greetings to the two of us. We stopped in the entryway, and he turned to face me. He sighed. "After all of this you're leaving me again, huh?"

"I'll be back," I promised. "I just have some things to sort out first. Nothing is keeping me from you this time around." He cracked a smile, pecking my cheek a final time.

"Good luck," he repeated. I could only nod as Luhan joined us, looking about as happy as I felt. He glanced my way.

"Ready?" he asked. Another nod, and we were both off. I glanced behind me to see my boyfriend standing in the doorway, watching us disappear inside the car. I blew him a kiss. His smile afterwards was burned into my brain the remainder of my ride to the airport.

...

It was strangely quiet when Luhan and I arrived home. The limo pulled into the circular driveway. No guards were outside the doors. No staff came to greet us. Unease gnawed at my stomach as I climbed out and mounted the short steps up to the doors. I pushed them open, expecting something but receiving nothing.

"Yixing." Well almost nothing. For the first time since I stepped back in my own country, I smiled. I met Ying Yue halfway across the room, opening my arms for an embrace. She folded into me. "How did it go?" she asked as we separated. I couldn't stop the larger smile from forming.

"I have a boyfriend," I announced proudly. But then frowned. "And I've lost a wife. I'm so sorry Ying Yue. I should've never put you through this. You didn't deserve it. Any of it."

"You know, I saw you guys," she replied, much to my own confusion. "The night of our wedding. You guys were curled up in his bed together, sleeping away like nothing was happening. You looked so peaceful together. I caught a glimpse of what came before I did. And honestly it kind of pained me to think about. Not because of what you'd done, but because of me. I pulled you away from a happy, loving relationship."

"Not really," I said. "I never once blamed you. And you shouldn't blame yourself either. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for you. I definitely wouldn't have won him over if it wasn't for your encouragement. I'm never going to be able to repay you for this. Because of you, I have found happiness." I gazed at a point behind her, smiling fondly. "I found my forever."

"I'm really glad Xing," she replied, standing in her toes and planting a soft kiss to my cheek. "I only wanted you to be happy." I knew that. I was very thankful for her, but regretful. She was going to return to her home after this with a failed marriage under her belt. And it was entirely my fault. "Don't look like that," she added. "Junmyeon's a lucky guy. Anyone would be. You're sweet and kind." I shook my head.

"To everyone but you," I said sadly. "I couldn't be the husband you wanted. Or deserved. I'm never going to apologize enough for that. I'm sorry for all of this."

"I'm not gonna lie, it stings a little," she admitted. "But I'll get over it some day. I'd better be invited to your guys' wedding. He shared our day with us after all." I laughed and nodded.

"Only fitting and right," I said. "Thank you. Not just for this, but for everything leading up until this point. You've been amazing company, and you have made me a very happy man. I'm afraid I just had another happy place to go to." I shot her a lopsided grin, and she giggled.

"You'd better get going," she said at last. "Your father has nearly torn his hair out with worry over where you've dashed off to." I glanced over her shoulder towards the throne room. She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Go easy on him," she said. "Your mother has been talking with him over what could have happened, so he may have an inkling." I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and marched to the throne room. Conversation halted in its tracks at my entrance. I stood my ground, my head held high. I was not afraid anymore. Mother was right. What was best for me wasn't what was best for everyone.

"Yixing," father greeted with a cold voice. A voice that would once cause me to shrink in my skin. "Do you know how many strings I had to pull to push your party back a few days?" he asked.

"Huh?" I asked, but then it hit me. Party. My birthday. I'd been so caught up in everything I'd completely missed my birthday. I laughed quietly at the absurdity of it all. "Me turning eighteen was the least of my worries," I finally commented. "I saw Junmyeon."

"I figured," father answered. He was strangely calm, and that terrified me more than him yelling at me. "So Yixing, what is he to you. Be honest with me." Another deep breath.

"Junmyeon is important to me," I began. "He was the first person I ever loved, and still do. He makes me happy beyond all measure. He makes the empty pieces full. He's the light of my life." I liked that line. Hopefully he wouldn't mind if I borrowed it. "He's my past, my present, my future. He's my boyfriend, father." Finally I'd said it. The tension in the room was so thick I could cut it with a knife. "I'm sorry," I finally said. "I'm sorry I couldn't be the good little prince you wanted. You should've just let Yifan have the throne. He would've done much better than I."

"Nonsense," a voice spoke. I turned as Luhan strode into the room, taking a place at my side.

"Luhan," I said in a warning tone. I could still save him. He could continue to work at the palace under father's rule, but his glare stopped me in my tracks. He turned to father, giving him a stiff bow.

"For years you told me I had one job," he said. "I was to watch over Yixing, make sure he was growing up happy, healthy, and protected. I failed at one of those. He wasn't happy. He won't be happy as long as those two are separated." He straightened. "If you don't see how much King Junmyeon means to your son you must be blind." I gazed at him, horrified. I'd never heard him speak like that. "They remind me of the way my father looked at my mother. Like she was the reason the earth spun around or the reason the stars hung in the sky. He loves Junmyeon, sire. And you'd be a damn fool to try and keep them apart." I held my breath as I waited for a reaction from father. I expected him to yell or throw something at the two of us. But mother's laughter rang across the spacious room.

"Well said Luhan!" she cheered. Then she turned to father, who was watching her curiously. "Yixing's just in love dear. There's nothing wrong with that." My gaze flicked between the two of them, wondering where this was leading. "Actually Xing, I applaud you," she said, turning to me. "It's not easy to do what you just did."

"It's not," I agreed quietly. I turned to my father. "If you want me to leave I can," I added. "I just thought you guys ought to know what's going on. One day Junmyeon and I will be married to each other. Maybe I'll be a prince of my country, maybe not. Either way, I'm not breaking it off with him. I love him. So much. I have since the first time we visited Korea." Father closed his eyes, and my heart sank to the floor. "I'll be going," I said quietly, turning around. "Thank you for your time."

"Why did you never tell us?" father asked, and I paused. "Why did you never mention this before."

"You would never have loved me if I did," I replied. "You wouldn't have groomed me for the throne. You wouldn't..." Tears threatened to spill as I confessed all my fears. "You wouldn't want me anymore. Look how you reacted when you merely thought there was something going on between us. Now that there is..."

"Stop." Once again I turned in time to see mother rise from her throne, striding to meet me. "Stop saying those things," she said, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I sagged into her. "Nothing, and I mean nothing, would ever make us stop loving you. Nothing would ever make us not want you. You're still my baby, Yixing, even when your old and grey." I dabbed at my eyes, my gaze meeting my father's. His face had softened considerably.

"Maybe I was too rash before," he finally said, rising as well. He walked to where we stood. "I guess I didn't realize that Junmyeon meant this much to you."

"At the time I didn't either," I admitted. "Ying Yue is actually the one who said I should go for it. But she was right. I went for it, and I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. Junmyeon completes me. Yeah, things will never be the same. We can't procreate, so there's that, but who cares? We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now the main thing is being there for each other."

"Does Junmyeon make you happy?" mother asked, even though the question was pretty pointless at this point. I nodded immediately.

"So happy," I agreed. "I was always my happiest with him." Father seemed to be pondering something, and for a moment I wondered if I'd lost him after all. But then his arms circled around me from behind, sandwiching me between my parents. I closed my eyes, drinking it in.

"What are we doing standing here?" father asked at last. "I believe I have a future son-in-law to meet." A laugh bubbled in my chest before I could stop it. I buried my face in mother's shoulders. "All we ever want is for you to be happy Xing," he said at last. "I'm sorry we've made it so hard on you."

"I've made it hard on myself," I responded. "So don't worry too much about it. But you're right on one thing. I'd better get back to Korea. I have a few years of lost time to make up for."

"We'll come with," father decided. "I wouldn't mind seeing the Kims again. Besides, we'll be seeing them a lot in the coming years." All I could do was smile as happy tears made tracks down my cheeks. Finally. Finally things were coming together. Finally Junmyeon would be mine and the whole world would know about it. My parents supported us, even if father had been against it at first. Honestly that was all I wanted.

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A whole chapter in Yixing's POV. I predict one more chapter in Junmyeon's and an epilogue. And that'll be it. That'll be the whole story.