Wooyoung and San ate together with Wooyoung's parents and his brother on the morning of their trip to Florence. They had barely slept last night, too busy breathing the ocean air and having deep conversations about the world while they cuddled with each other. Their tiredness in the morning had Wooyoung's mother wink at Wooyoung conspiratorially and he had waved it off with red cheeks.

San felt right at home with Wooyoung's family. They had complimented his Italian multiple times when he had cheekily told them his entire skill was kudos to Wooyoung. He paid extra attention to Wooyoung's dad, making sure they connected between men even if that was long since unnecessary to societal rules. Since Wooyoung's mother swooned over San's chivalry all the time, she was already smitten enough that she didn't dispute their relationship.

"So, you two will spend two days in Florence?" Wooyoung's dad asked over their breakfast. His thick brows rose in Wooyoung's direction when he nodded first.

"Yes, San loves that place a lot; he has some memories he wants to revisit. Afterwards, we will come back to spend the rest of my holiday at the beach here," Wooyoung smiled. He took a sip from San's cup, tasting his coffee without overdosing himself on it so he wouldn't jump from the walls later. Thrilled, Wooyoung's mother watched them over the table. Wooyoung's disinterested little brother just shovelled his food into his face.

"Good, then have fun there, we will await you back soon," Wooyoung's father had grinned. He allowed them to leave the table early so they could catch their bus on time.

As soon as they were seated for yet another trip through Italy, San ran his fingers through his hair with a bright smile.

"Your family and friends are very kind. I rarely felt so at home."

Wooyoung beamed at him and snatched San's hand to hold it in his lap.

"You deserve it! It has been a long time since you had parents and the way parents are has changed a lot since then. I'm sure my parents will love to regard you as their own son."

Wooyoung had never seen his parents so smitten before. Granted, San was special, but both Wooyoung's mother and his father got along with San wonderfully well. Wooyoung's brother had even gone out with the two of them to try out his kite even if he was in the phase where he found Wooyoung boring and uncool.

Happily, San played with Wooyoung's fingers and looked out of the window on their ride. The landscape reflected in those eyes that had seen immeasurably much already and still drunk up everything with the fascination of a foreigner. Time and time again, San learned to see the world with fresh eyes. Wooyoung had offered yet another way to look at it.

They arrived in Florence at noon. After checking into the hotel and dumping their things there, the two of them went out to visit the places they had explored six hundred years back. This time, instead of horses, they rented bikes to make their way down to the ocean in a dreamy recreation of their last visit.

As they rolled over the plastered sidewalk next to what had become an official street, Wooyoung glanced at San. Other than Wooyoung, who sat relaxed and without his hands on the handles, San concentrated on the ride and watched out for Wooyoung, as well.

"Same road as back then, do you remember? What do you think?"

San hummed as he looked around. The landscape had changed with modernity, making space for cars and car loading stations, but most of it hadn't got out of shape. The same villas perched on their hills with their grand gardens and fancy facades. The same fields stretched with the first green blush of spring and its flowers.

"I think you make me remember the most beautiful of things. I would forget them without you," San smiled in response. Wooyoung grinned before he looked ahead again, at the ocean that glittered in the afternoon sun and that neared them progressively. Other people were drawn to its brilliant blue shine, but not too many that Wooyoung and San wouldn't find a spot for themselves.

They left the bikes tied to a tree offshore and walked the rest of the path. With their hands swinging between them, they found back to the same sand they had sat in so long ago. Back when their relationship really kicked off.

They walked alongside the water, letting it lap at their feet while they carried their shoes in their hands. The wind danced in San's hair, ruffling the black locks in whatever direction it pleased. Wooyoung also reached to play with them some from time to time, and each time he did, San threw him a bright smile that shone in the sun.

"San... What are our plans? After this, I mean? Will we travel together while I grow old and you stay young and beautiful forever?"

San lifted his hand that was holding Wooyoung's and kissed the back of Wooyoung's hand. His lips lingered as if leaving a mark for Wooyoung to remember.

"I won't love you any less as you grow older. Your beauty will still shine in my eyes."

It was a pure promise that moved Wooyoung's heart, but it wasn't the answer he sought.

"I've been thinking about it as well. Now that we know what burden I inherit to anyone who tries for my life, I want to end it even less. At the same time, I never met someone whom I so desperately wanted to grow old with."

Wooyoung understood the trouble. San had no complaints about his eternal existence; he was used to leaving his loved ones behind as they wilted with life.

"What do you want?" San turned to look at Wooyoung. Pensive, he stared out over the ocean.

"I also want to grow old with you, but I know it's impossible in the way we imagine. So perhaps neither of us needs to change. With modern medicines, the average lifetime is already longer than normal and we have the means to push out age even if we can't stop it. We can just spend many years together and make them count. If I find a way to either make me immortal or you a human until then, we can still figure it out then."

San squeezed Wooyoung's hand gently.

"I also like the thought of neither of us having to change. If you can die after a long life and say I fulfilled your every dream, I wouldn't be happier to let you go. Spending eternity with someone can be maddening."

"I believe you. I just wouldn't want to leave you behind alone. It would mean I wouldn't come back for once."

"With all the precious memories I made with you in that time, it wouldn't be so bad to live on. I get to relive them and hold them dear in my heart until the day death snatches me. We know it might happen again, but I don't fear it. Living on means remembering you. Dying means meeting you again," San said. Despite the weight of his words, he said it with such faith. With such love for everything, Wooyoung had to give him.

Wooyoung slowed them to a stop at an unoccupied area of the beach. The rocks to their right protected them from the sight of curious onlookers as the two sunk to the ground together.

The first thing Wooyoung did once they were seated was to stem his hands onto San's shoulders and kiss the man. Deep and with all the emotion they shared between them. San held him at his waist, reciprocating with the same sincerity.

"Let's figure it out as the time comes. We have so much to do, so many places to visit. The last thing I would do after spending my life with you to the fullest would be to complain about it. I already get so many gifts," Wooyoung whispered against San's lips. San kissed him again, a loving peck under the warm sun.

"I feel the same. Let's not spend our time fretting after we waited so long for it to arrive."

They sunk to sit next to each other again and looked out over the ocean together. Both of them dug out seashells of the sand around them to show them to each other and tried to find the prettiest ones.

This time, there was no need for an exciting water splash moment. Wooyoung was pleased with them sitting in their romantic bubble and kissing from time to time as if that was what the gods had intended for them to do.

The sun moved its trail over the sky as it had done two thousand years ago and would still do two thousand years from now. They watched it together, never tiring of its trot and the colours it painted the sky with.

When it became night and Wooyoung shivered by San's side, the two men loosened the roots that trapped them to the ground to go home. Both of them wanted to linger, not quite ready to leave yet.

"San," Wooyoung said after a while, no specific goal in mind. San's arms wrapped tighter around his frame, cradling Wooyoung close.

"Yes, dearest?"

As usual, Wooyoung didn't respond, already happy with the reply he got. Tender, he nuzzled against San's neck, storing the warmth between their bodies.

After another minute, San called out to him.

"Wooyoung?"

"Hm?" Wooyoung had closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep in the peace of San's presence.

"I love you," San added. Dazzled by the sudden cuteness, Wooyoung's lips jumped into a smile. He angled his head to kiss San, drowning in the sea that the other man was.

"I love you, too, San."

Affectionately, they leaned their foreheads together. Wooyoung shivered in the cold ocean breeze in the night.

"Let's go home," San suggested with another tight embrace. When Wooyoung nodded, San stood first and pulled the man to his feet.

Under the stars, they wandered over the empty beach. The rushing of the ocean accompanied them and waved them goodbye as they found their bikes again and made their way back. Few cars were on the road. All people had retreated to their houses to have a late dinner and enjoy the evening.

Wooyoung and San returned to their hotel in Florence in peaceful tranquillity. They left the bikes at the station and Wooyoung checked them out with his app before the two of them got some light food from the hotel for the evening. They ate in their room, seated at the open window to let the noise of the city in as they fed each other the fruit and cheese.

After taking a shower together, they fell into bed to cosy up and get some rest. Tomorrow, they had a lot to do. They wanted to visit the church to see if Leonardo's tracks remained, wanted to try tracing back Seonghwa's family tree and see his distant descendants if possible, and they wanted to relish in their sweet time together without a single worry.

Yongguk had texted Wooyoung nothing more but an 'enjoy your holiday', but Wooyoung felt it was meant. After so many unpleasant experiences on his missions, he deserved some time off with his lover.

Seungyoun and his family had texted more, mainly inquiring about San. When Wooyoung scoffed about it, San asked him what bothered him. Upon learning what it was, San had to giggle into Wooyoung's nape.

"There is no helping it. I can't help but charm the people around you."

Wooyoung put his phone away with a grumble to kiss San goodnight. After they parted, Wooyoung put his head against San's shoulder with a huff. The necklace pressed against his temple.

"They can't have you. You're all mine," Wooyoung huffed. San pressed his lips to Wooyoung's forehead.

"All yours."

San fell asleep soon after that while Wooyoung still thought about their plans in Italy. They were all sweet and basic, things normal couples without an immortal involved would also do.

As his lids became heavier, his thoughts also became more obscure. Thinking about their lives, time and how it had changed Wooyoung's story, and what San meant to him.

He came to one relevant conclusion, and it was about an unexpected topic.

After all this time, Wooyoung had found his answer on what home meant.

It didn't mean his house in Prague and neither did it mean his parent's house. It didn't mean this time, and neither did it mean the past, as he had thought for so long.

Home was where Wooyoung wanted to be and felt the warmest.

San was home.

***********

Hi! Did you all enjoy this book? I hope you did!

This is the longest book I ever wrote in one piece, so I was overwhelmed in the beginning, wondering if I could do it. Turns out I can and I had a lot of fun! I'm sad to see this end but I feel its length wrapped it up well~

I plan no second part for this since Woosan deserve the peace they have now. Yet, I will miss reading everyone's comments and reactions to them! I looked forward to the drama of San's death from the very beginning, but I also enjoyed resolving the matter and seeing everyone happy for Woosan ^^ Thank you for being here to not tire in the two thousand years of this fic going on and for making it until this very note.

Since this is one of my more original idea books with potential, I would like to offer you this short survey I made for some feedback! If you have a few minutes on your hands, here is the link~

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBo1UK5YUZVRbEubVmf0UIdh_Y6omvJVj0ggnJ1RR7efBTOQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

As usual, I also offer to join me on my Twitter Susimau_s for story updates and insights.

As for my next project, I plan to come back to Seongjoong yet again. After a short one-shot break (2 of them), I will greet you again with Victorian Hongjoong, who has to dress up as a girl to pretend for a relationship with Seonghwa. The catch? Seonghwa doesn't know he is a man. Stay tuned for updates; I will start it by the end of November for sure!

Once more, thank you a lot for all your support and love; I appreciated it greatly. I hope to see some of you again in the future and wish the rest a happy reading time!