Everyone returned in time for dinner. Though Wooyoung was difficult to part from Mulberry whenever they met, he heeded the whispers of the birds relaying Seonghwa's message. Soon, his wings rushed past the windows as he made his way inside through one of the many open balcony doors. In spring, Seonghwa liked their breeze wafting through the lofty halls of quartz. He was the last to join them in the dining room, and his face lit up when he found everyone assembled.

Since Hongjoong wasn't there, Yunho took the place right by Seonghwa's side. Even more than before, he looked at him like his personal moon.

Seonghwa's pie was baked to perfection. It sat in their midst, luring everyone with its sweet scent and the golden brown of its baked decorations. Seonghwa and Mingi formed flowers from the dough to put on top of the jam, and they stood out sweetly against the red.

With a grin, Wooyoung pressed a kiss to Seonghwa's cheek before he rounded him. He dropped into his chair and dug right into the main meal.

"Did everyone have fun today?" Seonghwa asked, satisfied with their hurry to fill their stomachs. San's hair was wet from his recent shower, and Yeosang gained inspiration from the forest to sprout blue mushrooms. They matched Jongho's crystals today.

"Mulberry bids you his greetings! He looks forward to seeing you again sometime," Wooyoung chirped. He had worn the scarf Seonghwa had gifted him, stubborn about it even in the warming temperatures. Even now, it hung open around his neck, ruffled by the wind.

"I will join when you visit him next time," Seonghwa promised.

"We saw a fox," Jongho illustrated their side of things. Interested, Seonghwa glanced at their group over his chalice.

"A white fox. I told him they are rare out here," Yeosang helped when the golem was satisfied with this much information. Seonghwa contemplated the rare sign.

"They are, indeed. They seldom thread from the north all the way here."

"Jongho learned something new," San smiled. The sun's glow lingered on him, rivalling Seonghwa's in an equal beauty. His skin tanned so easily, gaining an attractive honeyed tone that complemented his white clothes and wings.

Seonghwa shared their enthusiasm.

"I'm glad. Tell me if you want to read more about the local animals. The elves dutifully document the friends they make in the forests."

Meditative, Jongho nodded as he paid the eating folk his company.

Wooyoung came scooting over on his chair, screeching across the floor. His sweet, attentive eyes studied Seonghwa. The mole on his lip stretched when he grinned.

"What about you, Your Highness? What did you do?"

"Mingi and I enjoyed some baking," Seonghwa said with a graceful beckon at the cake. Immediately, it got showered with attention. Everyone tried to finish their meal as fast as possible to get a bite. Mingi snickered. Seonghwa gently nudged Buddy away when he pressed his nose into his crotch. With a whimper, the dog walked his round for crumbs, confused about the change of scent.

"And you? You were suspiciously not in your room last night. I heard the dog run around," Wooyoung asked, mouth now full of cake. His narrow eyes fixed on Yunho and no sheepish glimpse to the side could save the human.

"Ah, we..." He looked at Seonghwa for aid and the elf gave an elegant nod.

Wooyoung gasped, swallowing just in time not to choke.

"Oh, how scandalous! How is that going? You better be treating him well, or else..." Wooyoung threateningly swung his cup of mead about, not caring what type of meal he drank it with.

Though pale with the same concern, Yunho hastily defended himself.

"I'm taking good care of him! I swear!"

San studied him with a risen brow but didn't step up. Instead, he took another sip of his water.

The sweet, plotting face of his best friend warned Seonghwa that more questions would come his way in due time. Submitting to his fate, Seonghwa promised himself to make time for him soon.

"Did it work already? Is that why you baked a cake? Are you with child?" Wooyoung never stopped his string of questions. Then, with another gasp, he clasped his hand over his lips. "Is that why Hongjoong is gone?! He jumped off the roof in envy?!"

Seonghwa couldn't help his laughter.

"Not at all. Hongjoong provides his aid as he promised. For now, I noticed no change. We elves carry our offspring for fifteen moons, so it takes time until things come into motion. As soon as a new magic core develops, I will be able to tell. Then we also know if our child inherited my celestial descent."

By his side, the father sat with a deep blush. One of his hands was buried in Buddy's fur, the other clutched to his cup to avoid everyone's envious stares by gazing at its bottom. He had yet to catch up with the understanding he was the one Seonghwa chose.

"That's so long," Wooyoung whined, upset not to get a play partner sooner. At the same time, he seemed pleased about the time he got to spend as Seonghwa's one and only sweetheart to be pampered.

"Golems come into existence within a day," Jongho agreed, baffled by the difference. Seonghwa didn't have the heart to tell him he was just a spell of magic in a rock.

"Celestial elves are incredibly difficult to breed. During his entire reign, Seonghwa's father had only two sons. Sometimes it takes hundreds of years," Yeosang elaborated on Seonghwa's rarity. Everyone muttered in awe, and the reverent glow in San's eyes blazed brighter.

Shy from the topic, even when they treated it with such delicacy, Seonghwa waved it off. His left hand rested on his abdomen, just as curious as the others. Once more, Buddy had to be told off from exploring where he shouldn't explore.

"That's what we chose Yunho for, and why Hongjoong's magic helps us be more fertile. The crown needs our celestial blessing to be inherited, but as my descent is much more ancient and powerful than Yunho's human blood, it should dominate the pair. Though we will welcome a human child just as much," he assured them. Hongjoong was the mightiest sorcerer in the empire, perhaps the world. So long as he saved them some years of trying, Seonghwa trusted his lineage.

"What if it didn't work yet? You would only know in a few weeks," San brought up. The answer was simple.

"Then we try again. This means no change to our routine, just to my intimacy with Yunho."

The human in question tried to sink through the floor, becoming a mouse under their stares. Since the topic was so specific, anyone could imagine.

"The imp will be so cute," Mingi muttered under his breath. "I want to see them."

Yeosang snickered in good will, and Seonghwa beamed.

"We will get there eventually. My father promised to hold out until then, so there is no rush."

"Does Hongjoong have an idea of how difficult it might be under the aid of his magic? How much does it help? I can imagine you still have to try lots," Yeosang pondered. He stroked his chin with a hand of bark and moss. Occasionally, Buddy tried to chew on it when Yeosang sat still, but they gradually taught him not to.

"So often," Yunho replied before Seonghwa could share Hongjoong's theories. Back to his regular soberness, Yunho nodded at the assembled men with grave reassurance. "It will be strenuous, but I fully intend to keep my vow to Seonghwa. Leave everything to me."

San raised a brow at him. Wooyoung pointed a vindictive hand.

"You're enjoying this too much! Just because he chose you-"

"You didn't want to! Who wouldn't enjoy holding him so intimately to create offspring? I saw things you can only dream of!" Yunho yelled back. Seonghwa soothed his glowing cheeks with his cool palms. Though he didn't intend to, he had to smile at seeing them so agitated over him. Their adoration for him was palpable in their harmless jealousy.

"Some of us aren't so arrogant about it! Hongjoong never lost in his life, you better don't speak too loudly before he takes this matter into his own hands!" Wooyoung squabbled back, ignited from the fight and the alcohol.

Yeosang merrily clapped his hands, cheering at them to fight. Mingi petted a bewildered Buddy.

"As if! Seonghwa picked me because he knew I would put genuine feelings over a competition and take better care of him and the child!"

"You think San couldn't?!"

"Whoa, leave me out of this," the seraph muttered. Already, he looked mightily perturbed to be involved in this conversation. His gaze kept flicking to Seonghwa to search his face for discomfort before they overdid it. Whenever his mind strayed, he hastily glanced away.

"You can do something else to accommodate him! Cook for him! Carry him on your hands!" Yunho claimed, gestures growing grander. Yeosang giggled with joy and Jongho watched, entertained by the heat.

"I will! I will bring him breakfast, lunch and dinner! I will bathe him and I will carry him everywhere because all you do is put your weapon inside him!"

Now, San properly grimaced.

"Wait. You aren't carrying him. I'll carry him. He is safer with me."

Wooyoung ruffled his feathers to loom threateningly.

"Are you saying I can't take care of him?!"

"I'm saying one of you just wants to get his rod wet and the other is an ill-mannered ruffian. You will startle the baby," San explained, matter-of-fact.

Wooyoung almost sprung from his chair. Similarly offended, Yunho turned to look at San with a judgmental stare.

"And what keeps you from doing my job? Some messed-up moral when I know of your hidden desires?"

San balled a hand into a fist.

"You don't dare-"

Seonghwa interrupted them before feathers would land in their food.

"Everyone, please. We settled on this so we will figure it out together and I will keep you informed of the progress. For now, let's celebrate in peace and relish the cake Mingi baked for us. There is no life to argue about yet."

That calmed Wooyoung, but he kept sending Yunho glares. Yunho stuck his tongue out at him and Jongho's jaw crunched when he tried to make one for himself.

Sad that no fight broke out, Yeosang leaned back in his chair.

"As usual, you know to rule them. When will Hongjoong return?"

"He said he had to do a count on rogue mages outside the spire. I imagine it will take some days," Seonghwa replied, glad for the topic that had nothing to do with his changing body.

He missed Hongjoong, as always when he left for his duties. The sorcerer was never away for long, but Seonghwa noticed the gaping hole he left in their circle.

Would he be lonely? Would he take his tentacled beast along to replicate the bliss of Seonghwa's hold on him? Or would he run into his father, perhaps? They might not recognise each other by face, with his father being a stray mage outside the spire whom Hongjoong never met, but their magic might resonate in each other.

Ever so worried for him and his dutiful responsibility, Seonghwa watched as the others distributed the cake. Mingi tasted the finished deal for the first time and he hummed in satisfaction. He enjoyed the food here, though elven cuisine was often too bland for him. Since his sense of taste was so keen, Seonghwa had great fun having him guide their baking.

"This cake is marvellous, Seonghwa. I hope a certain someone doesn't wear your magnificent hands out," Wooyoung sighed dreamily. Then, mood changing instantly, he glowered at Yunho.

Yunho bared his teeth like Buddy did when he felt threatened. Both happened equally rarely.

"Tell us if you change your mind because everyone is so immature about this. If Hongjoong was here, his possessiveness would fit right in," San addressed Seonghwa with a hearty fork full of cake.

Endeared, Seonghwa watched them eat, full by their merry grins alone.

"I think this is exactly what I wanted. Your care for me tells me I made the right call," he replied. Instantly, everyone calmed down to wave off their shyness. Even Jongho's crystals blushed a faint pink hue he copied from the others.

Seonghwa glanced out of the window into the starry night.

When Hongjoong would return in a few days, things would get messier, but they would figure it out. In their bubble of safety and care, it was exactly the right time and space to invite new life into his body.