The first thing Tao realizes when he wakes up is that Kris is still with him.   His arms are around Tao, his fingers brushing the bare skin just below Tao's waist.   He must be really tired because it's already almost 9:00. Kris never slept this late.   Almost on cue, Tao's boyfriend yawns, pressing a soft kiss to his collarbone before pulling himself a bit closer.   Tao smiles, reaching up to curl a hand into Kris's hair,   "You're still sleepy?"   Kris doesn't reply, only groans in protest as he nuzzles Tao's neck, his grip strong enough that the smaller boy can't pull away.   Tao sighs softly in defeat, blowing a stray hair out of his eyes as he turns to press a kiss to the top of Kris's head,   "You're so cute when you're tired....."   Kris makes a soft sound that is nearly a moan, making Tao's heart beat in a way that it surely shouldn't.    Tao adjusts how he's lying, crossing his arms behind Kris's neck and resting his chin on the thick dark hair that was tickling his jaw.    He had to cherish moments like this. Especially now.    With Kris's hectic schedule and Tao spending a lot of his free time with Chen, they were hardly together anymore.   Their relationship had changed so much in the past few months. With limited time came more arguments and less solutions.    With homework and family stuff, exhaustion led them to barely talk on a daily basis.   Needless to say, things had gotten a lot less physical which Tao didn't exactly appreciate.   Not that Tao could blame Kris really. Again: schedule, Chen, sleep more important.   Even still, Tao missed how things used to be. When he couldn't keep his hands off Kris, when he wanted him every day, all the time.   Not like that had lasted.   Good things never do.   Tao pulls himself out of his thoughts, running a finger lazily down the side of Kris's neck,    "I've missed you......"   Kris opens his eyes now, his pupils shrinking at exposure to the light, arching an eyebrow at Tao from where he was still curled against his smaller boyfriend, his head resting in the hollow of Tao's collarbone.   'I haven't gone anywhere, Tao....'   The way he says it is so like Kris that Tao almost wants to smile.   So sassy.   "We barely see each other anymore....I don't remember the last time I kissed you let alone the last time we...."   He trails off, but Kris seems to be enjoying this, a smirk curving his pink lips,   'The last time we what...? Please Tao, finish your sentence....I'm simply dying to know what comes next.....'   Tao rolls his eyes, resisting the urge to blush as he pulls his arms back, resting his hands flat against Kris's chest,   "You know what I mean."   Kris glances up at him, his lips in such a slow sensual way that Tao wishes he would stop.   'The last time we had ?'   Tao clears his throat, avoiding Kris's gaze as he brushes hair out of his eyes,   "Well now that you put it that way....."   Kris is laughing, a warm sound that Tao can feel, his body shaking slightly against Tao's as he glances up,   'You're so shy about it......god, that's cute....'   Tao feels a blush rise to his cheeks as he shakes his head a few more times than necessary, doing his best to sound unaffected,   "I am not shy.....I'm just-"   Kris cuts him off, untangling himself easily from Tao and putting a hand on either side of his head, leaning over his blonde boyfriend.   He seems to be enjoying this, drawing a finger slowly down Tao's cheek,   'You are. You think after all of this, you'd be over it.....but you're not.....'   Tao tries to lean away from his hand but Kris doesn't let him, a dark look coming over his eyes that made Tao feel slightly uneasy.    It feels so weird and suddenly Tao is aware of how alone they are, of every place Kris is touching him, of how strong he is.   But as he leans closer to Tao, he seems hesitant almost, his kisses soft and gentle, coaxing almost.   Tao's eyes flutter closed, his body melting under Kris's touch as he lifts his hand, curving it against Kris's cheek and pulling him closer.   This was probably the first time they'd kissed in weeks and Tao was fully enjoying it.    With everything that had been going on, his emotions had gotten so messed up.   But how could he ever have forgotten...?   He belonged with Kris.   Tao can feel Kris's fingertips running across his hip bones, his touch cold against Tao's bare skin.    Tao's lips curve into a smile as he realizes Kris is hesitating, pulling back just enough so that he can look his boyfriend in the eye,   "Now who's nervous?"   Kris rolls his eyes, sitting back enough so that he can pull Tao's shirt over his head.    But again, he's hesitating, a small smirk curving his lips as he looks down at Tao,   'You're so beautiful, you know that?'   Tao has to resist making any sort of sound as Kris runs his hands gently down his  chest, across his stomach, pausing at the waist of his underwear with a questioning look.   Tao glances the clock and back at the door, wondering exactly how much time they had before someone decided it was a good idea to interrupt them.   But somehow that doesn't seem important right now. Because Kris is looking down at him and Tao can feel his cool fingers rubbing slow circles against his hips.   Heat is rising in Tao's body and suddenly he wants this, wants Kris, wants them to be together.   Kris must see the look on his face because he's smiling, bringing his face close to Tao's, his voice barely a whisper,   'I've missed you too......'     The entire experience brings back so many memories.   It's been so long since the last time that him and Kris were intimate that Tao's nearly forgotten what it's like.   Kris puts himself in charge of course, which Tao doesn't necessarily mind. It's more fun for him that way.   He's so slow, so gentle, so careful not to hurt Tao. And even if it does hurt, Tao doesn't notice. It's a lot more pleasure than pain anyways.   It's not like he'd ever forgotten, but it was nice to remember how much Kris cared about him, how much he cared about Kris.   The other boys are home so Tao tries to resist making any sort of sound, Kris somehow managing to make him moan louder than he should.   Kris seems perpetually amused, keeping his cool even as he rolls his body against Tao's, twisting his head to bite Tao's neck.   Tao gasps softly, the pain quickly vanishing as he feels the gentle pressure of Kris's lips, a warmth spreading through his body as he relaxes under Kris.    Afterwards, Tao is still breathing hard, the unmistakeable feeling of well-deserved exhaustion making his body feel heavy.   Kris is laying on his stomach next to Tao, tracing his collarbone with a lone finger.   Tao tenses slightly at the touch, a shiver running across his skin at the gentle pressure of Kris's hand.   He makes an annoyed sound, pulling away with some difficulty,   "Kris.....don't......"   Kris laughs softly, rolling over and hooking an arm around Tao's waist, pulling his boyfriend's back flush against his chest,   'Oh....but why not...?'   Tao sighs softly in defeat, leaning his head back slightly so that his hair brushes against Kris's cheek,   "Are we finally going to start spending more time together?"   The question seems to catch Kris off guard because he doesn't answer at first, his silence making Tao feel slightly uneasy.   But when he speaks, any doubt Tao had seems to melt away.   'Tao....I can't promise you that we're going to be together more.....but I know that I love you....that I'll miss you every second....and that one of these days, we'll be together every day....all the time....I want to marry you, Tao. I want us to have a life together. Maybe we'll buy a house in the mountains, invite all the boys for Christmas.'   He pauses, letting go of Tao and moving so that he's leaning over him.   The look in his eyes isn't one Tao has seen before.   It's full of a tenderness, of a love so pure that Tao has to resist the urge to blush.   Kris has never looked at him like this, certainly never looked at anyone else this way.   Suddenly Tao wonders if he's going to get down on one knee and propose right now.   But he doesn't.    Kris pauses for a moment, brushing the back of his hand across Tao's cheek,   'I swear, in the time I've been alive, I've never met someone as beautiful as you are....but it's not just that you're gorgeous, you're smart and caring and loyal.....don't ever doubt how much I love you, Tao....because maybe I don't say it everyday, but that doesn't make it any less true...'   Suddenly, Tao remembers the day of Lay's funeral, how Kris had held his hand on the helicopter, stayed closed to him the entire time.   Maybe he wasn't always around, but how could Tao have ever thought that Kris cared about him any less now than the first time they'd said 'I love you'.   All Tao had ever wanted was for him and Kris to be together.   Just the two of them. Forever.   Life's definition of 'forever' must have been a lot shorter than Tao's.   Kris had given him so many memories already, so much to be grateful for, so many reasons to be happy.   But in the end, it wouldn't seem like very much at all.   Tao is silent for a moment, his throat and eyes burning slightly as he resists the urge to cry.   After all they'd been through together, these words were the exact ones that Tao needed to hear from Kris.   He reaches up slowly, curving his hand against Kris's jaw,   "Kris.....I.....I love you....."   Kris smiles softly, leaning down to press a short kiss to Tao's lips before rolling off of him and getting to his feet.   He stretches his arms above his head, forcing Tao to notice new muscles rippling across his back, his abs more defined than before.   All the dancing had really gotten Kris into shape.    He turns back to face their bed so that Tao can see the sharp contours of his hip bones carving a wide 'v' shape down from his waist.    Kris follows his gaze and smirks, his lips slowly as he crosses his arms over his chest,   'Tao.....that wasn't enough?'   Tao blushes a furious red, shaking his head as he sits up straighter,   "I wasn't looking at that! I just noticed that you've gotten a lot more in shape since you started dancing...."   Kris laughs, not replying as he retrieves a pair of jeans from the floor and pulls them on. He leaves them low on his hips, the edge of his black underwear visible.   Ta