After an hour of seemingly non-stop sex, Chanyeol and Baekhyun snuck into the kitchen later in the night to grab some food. They both assembled themselves a sandwich, playfully bumping the other or flicking chips back and forth as they ate, then running back upstairs like two children afraid of getting caught raiding the kitchen after hearing a noise from Baekhyun's parent's room. They spent the rest of the night teasing and kissing each other, before sinking into a deep sleep embraced in the others warm arms.

The next morning the sun shone brightly through the blinds and turned the inside of Baekhyun's eyelids a reddish color. He stretched and released a heavy yawn before slowly sitting up. He could hear the shower running which accounted for Chanyeol's side of the bed being cold in his absence. Baekhyun yawned again as he rolled off the bed and picked his clothes off the floor from the night before and put them back on.

He ran a hand through his messy hair as he grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste from his backpack, before slipping inside the bathroom. "I'm coming in Chanyeol!" Baekhyun called as he opened the door.

Chanyeol peeked his head outside the shower curtain and frowned as he asked, "Can't you wait?"

Baekhyun shook his head. "Nope! I really have to pee so . . . look elsewhere."

Chanyeol rolled his eyes before releasing the curtain and continuing to wash himself. "You better not flush the toilet!" Chanyeol yelled.

Baekhyun's hand froze halfway to the handle and he pursed his lips before calling back, "Don't worry, I wasn't going to!" Baekhyun laughed to himself, finding it funny that Chanyeol knew him that well. He grinned as he washed his hands, before wetting his toothbrush and running the toothpaste across the bristles before getting it slightly wet again, and placing it inside his mouth to brush his teeth; he hummed to himself as he did.

After he finished brushing his teeth, he swooshed water around in his mouth before spitting it back out, and wiping away the excess water.

Once Chanyeol finished with his shower, he walked into the bedroom rubbing a towel through his hair with another towel wrapped around his waist.

"Hey, babe?" Chanyeol muttered.

Baekhyun glanced up curiously. "Yeah?" he asked.

"When are you wanting to go see . . . my dad and sister?" Chanyeol asked.

He hung up his towel on the back of the door and started to pull out clean clothing as Baekhyun watched him from the bed. Baekhyun pursed his lips. "Chan . . ." he muttered.

"Yeah?" Chanyeol asked without glancing up.

"I know you're nervous, and I . . ." Baekhyun sighed. "And I don't even know what to say to reassure you. I mean, not to freak you out or anything, but it could go either way . . ."

Chanyeol stopped what he was going and stood up as he looked at Baekhyun. His face was expressionless, and then he rolled his eyes and curtly retorted, "Maybe you should stop talking, because you're not helping in the slightest."

Baekhyun opened his mouth to say something, then closed it before falling silent. Chanyeol sighed and secured his towel before sitting down opposite of Baekhyun on the bed. He ran his hand through his hair and exhaled heavily before muttering, "I'm sorry, Baek. My nerves are . . ." Chanyeol trailed off.

Baekhyun sighed. "It's okay. I get it," he mumbled before getting up to go into the bathroom.

Chanyeol mental face-palmed before falling back on the bed. Baekhyun's intentions were good, and Chanyeol knew that, it's just not something Chanyeol had wanted to hear. And now his boyfriend was upset or hurt for merely trying to offer comfort and reassurance. Chanyeol sighed again, honestly not even in the mood to apologize he was so stressed about his day.

He was afraid. He was so afraid his father wouldn't be able to accept his return, and the thought of rejection was heartbreaking.

* * *

Chanyeol and Baekhyun didn't stay too much longer at the Byun's before they had to leave. The drive to Chanyeol's high school home from his pass life was a hard journey for him to travel, and every mile that was conquered only added to Chanyeol's growing unease. The only thing that was able to keep him from jumping from the moving car was Baekhyun's hand holding his on the seat between them. The warmth and support that Baekhyun offered through a simple touch was monumental to Chanyeol. That small ounce of warmth was what kept him grounded to himself; and it got him through his dark musings and he found himself able to breath easier.

When Chanyeol pulled onto his old street —- being careful to park three houses down —- he was hit with a river of emotions that he had been suppressing for so long. And every emotion was attached to a memory both painful and joyful.

Coming home to Korea for the first time after six years, only to tell the love of his life that he was slowly dying and that a future together was impossible. Discovering that the friendship they use to share had been buried beneath the years of pain and abandonment, until there was nothing left to remember. Learning the one he loved was in love with some else; then having to carry the burden of knowing he destroyed two lives merely because he wanted to be selfish and love someone he had left behind before he died. Losing his mother to a monster and revealing his own deadly secret and selfish desires. And ultimately, leaving his lover all over again just to repeat the cycle of heartache.

And now he was going to drag his father and sister into his hurricane? That went beyond selfish....

"May–maybe this isn't a good idea," Chanyeol mumbled as his knuckles began to whiten from gripping the steering wheel so tightly.

Baekhyun glanced at Chanyeol and immediately picked up on his state of mind. Baekhyun sighed and gently laid his hand over Chanyeol's as he softly said, "Chan, you know this has to be done. We can't avoiding this forever," Baekhyun whispered as he unbuckled his seatbelt before scooting across the seat to Chanyeol.

Baekhyun gently caressed Chanyeol's cheek with his thumb and whispered, "I won't leave your side. I'll be with you, Chanyeol, and when all of this is over . . . marry me." Baekhyun spoke gently, his words drawing Chanyeol's attention. Baekhyun softly smiled and chastely kissed the corner of his mouth as he whispered again, "Marry me, Chanyeol?"

Chanyeol nodded and threw his arms around Baekhyun's neck, hugging him close as he whispered, "Of course, I'll marry you."

A small smile crept over Baekhyun's lips as he hugged Chanyeol back.

Word count: 1,118

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A/N: 😌

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, and have your tissues prepared for the next update! Things will be rough for awhile. 🙁

Anyway, thank you so much for reading, and please, don't forget to vote and comment! Thank you! Hugs! 🤗🤗

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️