Epilogue
Kk everyone. Here it is. The epilogue. The final hurrah. We did it. I did it. A year and many setbacks later, and a lot of triumph and pride, here we all are. I hope you enjoyed every chapter, and thank you to everyone who's joined me on this wild ride. It's been a pleasure.
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Junmyeon's POV
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~two years later~
"Byun Baekhyun!" a familiar voice boomed. I smirked at my reflection in my mirror, adjusting my light yellow tie. "Baekhyun, get..." The voice halted and I caught the two boys entering my room in the corner of my eye. Baekhyun giggled, skipping up to me and slinging an arm over my shoulder. "I'm sorry Your Majesty," Chanyeol rumbled, dropping into a small bow. "I told him to stay put."
"It's fine," I said to the giant boy. Honestly I was kind of glad Baekhyun had joined me at last. I felt like I might throw up at any moment. But I also kind of felt like o could leap into the clouds if I wanted. "I expected you sooner to be honest."
"I couldn't not see you!" Baekhyun exclaimed, wrinkling his and my suit. I brushed him off gently, smoothing it out once again. I glanced towards the window, but Baekhyun ran over and closed the curtains. "Don't look out or you'll see him!" he warned. Man he was hyper today. I guess not that I blamed him.
"Are you excited sire?" Chanyeol asked at last, inserting himself into the conversation. "Come here Baekie," he added, sidling up the the shorter male and easily lifting him off his feet. Baekhyun squealed at the sudden action, but all I could do was smile. My best friend was finally happy. What more could I want? I watched in the reflection as Chanyeol stole a quick kiss, and I shook my head, smiling brighter. Not only were things finally looking up for me, they were looking up for Baekhyun as well.
"To answer your question Chanyeol," I answered at last, and they both turned to me. "I'm beyond excited. But quite honestly terrified. This is huge. Bigger than anything that's ever happened here. And it has to be perfect, not just for my sake." Baekhyun nodded solemnly. At least he understood that. I took a deep breath, my stomach doing flips. I swear my heart was also running laps around my ribcage.
"Don't be nervous Jun," Baekhyun piped up. "I mean, it's just marriage right? What changes. Other than the fact you'll call Yixing your husband instead of your fiancè." I wasn't sure if that was supposed to make me feel better or not, but it did calm my stomach some. Right? We already lived together, made joint decisions for our respective countries, ate and slept together. What would change? Nothing really. The thing getting to me was the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people we would face after our ceremony. And the TV crews ready to broadcast the event to every tv around the globe. Suddenly I just wanted to see Yixing. But Baekhyun's hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"It'll be fine." Chanyeol's deep voice rang out across the small space. I didn't know what I'd do without these two. I wouldn't be going through with the day, that was for sure. I'd be running out the front door, completely nerve wracked. "You two already love each other more than anything. All your doing is giving him a ring that means you'll love him forever, and physically saying you love each other, and bam. You're suddenly eating cake and dancing." I laughed at his description. Fairly accurate actually.
"Thanks," I said, focusing my attention back on myself. I wondered how everything was going downstairs. Hopefully okay. Yixing's parents had arrived a few nights ago in a tizzy, worrying over things I hadn't even thought of until they pointed it out. My parents did their best to say we had it covered, but I also suspected they knew more since they'd put together a wedding once before. I adjusted my tie once again. I had to look perfect. Well, almost. I slipped my fingers under the collar of my dress shirt, feeling the familiar cotton shirt that I loved. I smiled to myself. I wouldn't do this day without it.
"Are you ready Your Majesty?" another voice asked. I turned to see Heechan hovering in the doorway. "Everything is almost set. Yixing's already downstairs. Most of the guests are here." Another deep breath in and out. I nodded.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I said. "Let's go guys."
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Yixing's POV
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I gazed across the expansive lawn at everyone who was present. Family, friends, dignitaries and royalty from other countries, and even a couple minor royalty from Korea. Why Junmyeon's palace and not mine? This is the place it all began. It seemed fitting that it would be the start of the rest of our lives together as well. I glanced beside me at Luhan, positively beaming. I smiled to myself. I loved Tao, and he would've easily been my second choice. But I'd asked Luhan this time around. He'd been nothing but supportive and helpful since the very beginning. And he loved Junmyeon like he loved me. He'd be gaining a second little brother today. And he couldn't have been more proud at the fact.
"Are you ready?" Luhan whispered aside to me, plucking a stray sunflower off the arch and twirling it between his fingers. And why sunflowers of all things? They were light. Junmyeon brought all the light into my tiny world. He was the light. He had always been.
"Ready as I'll ever be I guess," I replied, scanning the crowd once again. My eyes caught Ying Yue's, who gave me a warm smile and a little wave. I hadn't expected her to say yes to her invitation, but in her own words "she wouldn't miss it for the world."
"I still can't believe it," Luhan continued as my stomach threatened to empty all over the alter. I tugged at the collar of my jacket, hoping it would cool off as the day progressed. "You're really marrying him after all."
"I told you when I was sixteen, didn't I?" I joked. I hoped the light-hearted banter would keep me distracted until it was time. "I was gonna marry him some day." I chuckled. Even I hadn't believed that at the time. But now it was my reality. In just a few minutes, I would be marrying the man who made me feel complete. It seemed too good to be true. "I kind of can't believe it either," I added, doing another sweep. More chairs were full.
Finally after what felt like a lifetime, the music changed from the upbeat pop songs on the little radio behind me to the soft chords of the piano to the side. A beautiful white baby grand, one of Junmyeon's most prized possessions. Sitting on the stool was a girl I only remembered from our previous encounters. Minji. And beside her was her husband Jisoo, helping her play the intricate song we'd picked. Junmyeon was adamant that it had to be her, and I saw why. She was brilliant.
First was Junmyeon's mother and father, arms linked and smiling so wide it was a shock their faces weren't broken already. Mrs. Kim looked stunning in her simple pale yellow dress. She shot me a wink as the sat at their place in the front row. Next were my parents. Mother smiled warmly. She also looked breathtaking in her light pink dress. Light colors for our wedding day. Everything sunny and warm and welcoming. Everything I thought of when Junmyeon crossed my mind. Then was Baekhyun, his hand clasped tightly in his giant boyfriend's. Chanyeol if I remembered correctly. They separated when they arrived to the front. Chanyeol sat a row behind Mr. and Mrs. Kim while Baekhyun joined me up front. He gave me a thumbs up.
The music changed a second time, and I held my breath I waited. I remembered this from rehearsals last night. But we'd been dressed only semi-formally. Nothing prepared me to see him walk out the set of double doors to his garden, dressed in a soft grey suit and yellow tie to match me, smiling shyly with traces of tears in his eyes. My breath caught in my throat as he walked up the aisle to me. When he reached his place, I reached out and laced my fingers through his.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen," our official began. I was aware there was cameras around, but it honestly didn't feel like it right now. All I could feel was the love radiating off the man beside me. "We are all gathered here today to celebrate more than a marriage. Today we also celebrate the unity of two countries, two families, two groups of people. I hear the grooms have each written their own vows. You may now exchange them." I turned to Junmyeon, and he turned to face me.
"King Junmyeon." My voice was clear and strong, singing out across the space. "The minute I met you I decided I didn't like you." That got some laughs. "And you didn't much like me either. We kind of fought. We did what we had to do and that was that. But you came to me that night on your own time, asking if I wanted to see the gardens. The very place we're standing today. We talked about everything and nothing. In that moment I wasn't sure what I felt towards you. But as the days passed by I discovered firsthand what it was. I loved you. I loved you so much that the mere thought of eventually leaving you was enough to drive me insane." I paused and reached up to brush a stray tear from his eye. "I've made so many decisions since then. Some I regret. Some I don't. One thing that always haunted me was leaving you, not once but twice. Never again. From this day forward, whatever life throws at us, we're in it together. I love you. I always have..."
"And always will," he finished. I could have ended that, but our tradition was to say it together. "King Yixing. You were right. I didn't like you. I thought you were kind of annoying. I quickly found out that you were just kind. And I felt things I'd never felt before. And it terrified me. I didn't want to love you like I did. It would never work." He laughed lowly. "Well, we see how that actually turned out." He stopped to swipe at his eyes. "I never let myself picture this day. I couldn't. I'd get my hopes up waiting for someone who would never love me back. Or so I thought. You mean everything to me Xing. You're the light of my life. And I plan on spending every day until death do us part proving that to you. I love you. I always have..."
"And always will." We exchanged a smile. I'm sure the people at home were eating that up. But right now it didn't matter. All that mattered to me was the happy smile on my soon-to-be husband's face.
"Now Yixing," the official began. I took a quick breath. This was it. "Do you take Junmyeon, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
"I do," I said firmly. I'd never meant anything more in my life.
"And do you, Junmyeon, take Yixing, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
"I do." His words bounced around my skull for a brief moment before they reached my heart. It swelled so much in that instant. We took the rings from the little pillow between us, simple silver things. I slipped one on him, and he did likewise.
"I now pronounce you husband and husband," the official declared. "Go on," he urged. "Kiss him." I didn't need any further prompting. I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close, our lips colliding messily together. The clapping and the happy bells and music once again faded into the background. The only thing right now was him. Always him.
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Junmyeon's POV
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We'd already finished our meal and cake, and were waiting on more guests to finish so we could make room for a dance floor. Baekhyun and Chanyeol sat beside me, and Luhan and Tao sat on the other side of Yixing. I glanced around the spacious room, my head spinning with all the guests floating in and out the doors. A table twice the size of the one I was sitting at rested against the back wall, overflowing with gifts and cards.
"I love you," a voice whispered close to my ear. I jumped slightly, but smiled as Yixing laughed to himself. It wasn't the first time he'd said it tonight. It definitely wouldn't be the last. I glanced down to the ring on my finger, briefly wondering if I'd ever wake up from this dream. I watched staff running back and forth, folding tables and cleaning messes, preparing the dance floor for the first dance of the night.
"Junmyeon." My smile turned fond as Hyeja made her way over to the table. I rose and circled around, wrapping her in a warm hug.
"You came!" I said delightedly, holding her at arm's length. "Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot to me. More than you know."
"Of course Junmyeon," she said, pressing a little envelope into my hand. "And congratulations. You were positively glowing up there. It's clear you love him." I glanced behind me to watch Yixing talk with Luhan for a moment. I smiled and nodded.
"With everything in me," I said, putting her envelope in my pocket. "Please stay as long as you like. We always welcome you with open arms." Over the last couple years, when Hyeja was in the area, she would swing by. The guards all knew to let her through. She smiled and moved off, heading towards Ying Yue. Somehow they'd remained good friends. I was thankful. I wouldn't know what to do without those women in my life.
"You ready?" Yixing asked, joining me in front of the table. I nodded, accepting his offered hand and letting him lead me out to the middle of the cleared space. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I hooked my arms around his waist. He smiled down at me before pecking my cheek. The music began, and with a start I realized it wasn't the song we'd picked out the other night. It was Yixing's song to me. I laughed as tears formed for the hudredth time this night. All he did was smile as we began to sway to the music.
"Care to dance?" he asked, and I immediately knew what he wanted. I smirked.
"You'll have to do better than that King Yixing," I said. "It takes more than that to impress me." Then, before he could react, I dipped him down, causing him to yelp. He grabbed ahold of me. I smirked again. "Luckily I know how to sweep boys off their feet." He laughed.
"That's my corny line!" he exclaimed. I righted him and we continued to twirl around. I pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"I leaned from the best," I responded. He just shook his head, pulling me a little closer. I leaned my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes. This man... He was now my husband. He would be mine after all. For the rest of our lives.
Best night of my life.
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And that's it everyone. This story is now complete. This is crazy. I never imagined it would get to this point. It started as a side project for my bestie based off a picture. And it's turned into this.
Thank you. Thank you to each and every one of you who's ever read, voted, commented, anything and everything. I'm so grateful for all the love. You guys don't understand how happy this all makes me. It's surreal.
Now, guess who already have three chapters written for their next project? Yep. Author Nim. Another Sulay au. If anyone is interested I'll let you know what it's about. I'm working out a way to get another personal cover made, so right now it's slow going. But it is going.
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