A-Yuan goes to put the ball back on the porch before they leave, and Wei Ying watches nearby, waiting for him. Heathcliff is nowhere to be seen, and yet he gets a sense of what the owner was talking about before, about the house being semi-sentient.

Not like a spirit as such, but just a presence that doesn't really want things to change, and Wei Ying feels a kinship with it. He thinks the house might not mind small changes that align with its upkeep.

The ball rolls into its spot, tucked away in a coiled green hose.

From this distance, the exterior of the house looks like a face, with the two broad windows resembling eyes, and the main door was like a nose. The porch itself represented a mouth and to Wei Ying, it felt like a warm smile. It was rather endearing.

Wei Ying remembered watching a children's film a long time ago called, Monster House, and this whole situation reminded him of that. This house didn't seem to be malevolent or sinister in any way, though. In fact, one could say the house was reaching out to them.

"We're definitely coming back," Wei Ying murmurs, giving it a little wave with his fingers.

There's a sudden breeze and out of nowhere, one of the vivid pink pansies growing in the hanging basket floats towards him, all by itself.

How cool...

**************

Lan Zhan expertly reverses their car and drives upon that narrow path, immediately noticing how much smoother this exit was than when they had first arrived. Nevertheless, he heaves a sigh of relief when they return to the country lane.

It feels as if they had entered some kind of time warp, where inside that bubble containing the house that had captured Wei Ying's heart, time had been reluctant to move on, and all remained at some kind of standstill, struggling to shift forward. Now that they were back in the real world, everything chugged back into its own space like a wind-up toy gathering momentum.

"So, what did you think of Heathcliff and his house?" Wei Ying asked Lan Zhan, when the children appeared to be distracted enough not to notice what the adults were speaking about.

Lan Zhan takes his time to answer.

"It's a nice house. It certainly has character."

Wei Ying snickered.

"I liked Heathcliff. He was quite straightforward. Honest. I think we should go back soon." Lan Zhan continues. "But we forgot to exchange numbers."

"I think that part was on purpose," Wei Ying says, looking out of the window. "You know how sometimes you can meet someone and instantly, there's a connection? Not like us," Wei Ying hurries to clarify, reaching over to hold Lan Zhan's hand. "And I meant the house, about the connection. I can't explain it, but I think it would be a very good thing to go and live there."

"Mn." Lan Zhan is surprised to find himself agreeing. "Before my change," he keeps his voice low enough so that the chattering children behind them can't hear him, "I would have found it difficult to believe anything of what we just experienced."

"And now you do?" Wei Ying's tone was full of approval.

"Mn. It is good. To have one's eyes opened, to not see things just on the surface but deeper."

While the whole spontaneous meeting of the man and his home had been odd, the strangeness of it wasn't bad, but rather welcoming.

"We should go back soon." Wei Ying squeezes his hand.

"Mn. Maybe tomorrow."

The rest of the drive is uneventful until they park in the underground parking area. Both of the adults are nervous as they walk into the courthouse, parents on either side of the children, all holding hands.

"XiChen-Ge! MingJue-Ge!" Wei Ying calls out when they reach the correct courtroom.

XiChen and MingJue walk up to them, and hugs are exchanged.

"Apparently, the magistrate is running late, so you're on time." The former says, smiling at everyone.

"After this, we have some exciting news to share," Wei Ying says brightly.

But before he can elaborate, their lawyers call them into the courtroom.

Once they are inside, everything is a blur.

From the magistrate speaking, and the questions and answers from the Social services, occasional questions put forward by the lawyers, and then the verdict. Suddenly, they're all standing and cheering and JingYi is being passed around, warmly welcomed into their family.

To see his family celebrating such a joyous occasion makes another crack in Lan Zhan's heart heal over. Wei Ying looks so happy cuddling both children, and his infectious delight shows on their children's faces as well. How was it possible that something like this was missing from his life? How had he not realised that this momentous event was what he needed to feel complete?

His eyes are stinging again, and when he looks over towards his beloved, he can see the same love reflected back at all of them.

"Zhan-Gege!" JingYi extends his chubby arms towards him, and Lan Zhan doesn't hesitate to hold him close.

"I think today is a good day to change that name," Wei Ying says, his lovely silver eyes glittering with unshed tears.

Lan Zhan knows what is coming, and yet nothing can prepare him for this honour.

"A-Yuan, A-Yi, both of you know that we are your parents forever, right?" Wei Ying patiently tells them, his beautiful lips already smiling so widely that it lights up his whole face.

Both children nod, and A-Yuan reaches across to hold JingYi's hand.

"We are going to get married, and that means we all will belong to each other. So, from now on, you can both call me Baba and Zhan-Gege must be called A-Die. Okay?" Happy tears roll down his rosy cheeks.

Lan Zhan steps forward to hug him, and as they are both carrying the boys, it turns into a family group hug, especially when XiChen and MingJue join in, their warmth all encompassing.

They hear clapping and suddenly realise that all those who had remained in the courtroom, including the magistrate, are standing up and applauding them.

Moments like this should be celebrated, Lan Zhan thinks, feeling that space in his chest expanding that little bit more.

****************

Since this is JingYi's special day, they ask him how he wants to celebrate, and he's allowed to pick where they will have lunch. No one is surprised when he picks fried chicken nuggets.

XiChen and MingJue join them in the restaurant downtown, and it's the happiest time.

When it's time for dessert, A-Yuan whispers something in Wei Ying's ear, and he nods, smiling through his tears.

"I don't know why I'm so emotional today, but A-Yuan just reminded me of something." He wipes his face on his sleeves and gets up to go and talk to the wait staff.

When he comes back, he's smiling. He pats A-Yuan on his head.

"My little Radish, go ahead and tell them."

"Today is JingYi's second birfday. First birthday is the one he was born on, but today is another one, because Baba says we're special. We get two, because we have two lots of parents." He holds up two chubby fingers. "First birfday biology parents, second birfday, these parents. Our real parents!"

When he adds that last part and holds his fist out for JingYi to bump with his own hand, Wei Ying has to wipe his eyes again, and this time, Lan Zhan offers him his white handkerchief.

The wait staff, three of them bring over a cake with six candles already lit upon it, and they're singing happy birthday. Everyone joins in, and they make JingYi make his birthday wish.

Wei Ying looks around at his family, and thinks it's a miracle that his heart hasn't exploded yet from all the love bursting out of it.

This is his forever family, and he feels so grateful to the Universe for giving him this gift. He feels like the luckiest person alive, especially when Lan Zhan puts his arm around his waist and pulls him closer. He feels the kiss on his head, and he knows that Lan Zhan is feeling just as overwhelmed as he is.

They laugh, they share birthday cake, packing some up to take home for Uncle Qiren and Da Tuzi, and then it's time to leave the restaurant.

They're walking back to their cars, when Wei Ying feels goosebumps breaking out across his skin. He's already looking around, and Lan Zhan has also stopped, sensing the change in his blood.

"Wei Ying?"

They're just about to walk across the mouth of an alley, and the pungent smell of frying onions takes Wei Ying's consciousness straight back into his prophetic dream.

He had forgotten all about it, this part.

Today is the 24th of November, and this is the alley he had seen in his dreams.

"Just a second," Wei Ying says, moving almost robotically.

He brings both A-Yuan and JingYi to XiChen and MingJue, who also stopped when they did.

"We have to go in there," he explains to them, and their faces are full of confusion.

Wei Ying feels the same way, but he knows with absolute certainty that he has to do this.

Lan Zhan takes his hand, fully aware of what he's about to do.

"I'm coming with you," he says, stating the obvious.

It's happening exactly like his dream.