While the rest of his brothers slept peacefully that early morning, Junsu sat quietly in the middle of his bed. Pulling his knees to his chest and sighing deeply, he thought over everything that had happened that night and wondered if his decision to bring Jaejoong into Yunho’s life was a good idea or not. In the beginning, Junsu had not one ounce of doubt but the more things that seemed to go wrong, the more he began to doubt his decision. He never thought how complicated their lives would become nor did he ever think that Jaejoong would become such a force in all of their lives.

While Yoochun slept quietly in the next bed, Junsu rubbed his eyes gently as he tried to fight off that lingering feeling of doubt that had been plaguing him since he woke up from a nightmare an hour ago. His dreams had become more and more worrisome as the months had gone by, causing him to lose sleep regularly, and left him questioning his own beliefs. He was never one to put stock in dreams or visions, but as the persistent and reoccurring dreams continued to torment him, he knew that they had to mean something, perhaps even a warning. So many things had happened over the last few months, and even though he felt that they were on the right path, he couldn’t help but wonder sometimes if this was Jaejoong and Yunho’s true destiny and if his hopes for them would be realized.

Yunho had spent the last fifteen years mourning the death of his first love, and in doing so, had become a ruthless, coldhearted, hateful, and spiteful man that detested and distrusted all women.  The way he treated women even filtered into his relationships with men, never getting to close to anyone, and always being reserved around everyone, even his closest and dearest friends. As the years of their friendship had rolled by, Junsu saw in Yunho a heart like no other and mourned the loss of it from the world.  Those simple and small flashes of Yunho’s true and loving nature would randomly make an appearance in this world but, just as quickly as they would appear, they would disappear behind that cold exterior in the blink of an eye. No matter how much Junsu loved Yunho, and understood how he felt, he couldn’t stand this version of his personality. It broke his heart and he hated it.  

When Jaejoong entered Yunho’s life, the personality that Junsu longed to see once again made its appearance known. Yunho became the Yunho he was meant to be -loving, carefree, protective, appreciative, friendly, and joyful.  Yunho went from being buried under years of guilt and self-loathing to a person that loved life and had a new found sense of purpose. He treated others with kindness, found great satisfaction in a career that he had detested for many years, and found a new zest for life that Junsu had never seen in him. It was glorious. However, this new side of Yunho worried Junsu as well. His attachment to Jaejoong was growing stronger and stronger every day. Even though that was what Junsu had set his sights on all along, he felt somewhat suspicious of how well his plan was progressing.

While the sunlight beamed down on their small oasis and the ocean breeze swept freely through the trees, Yunho and Jaejoong slept peacefully wrapped in each other’s arms. Throughout the night, the two had never moved and Yunho had never let go of Jaejoong even for a single moment. As the sound of seagulls culling from the shoreline wafted into the room, Yunho shifted delicately in the bed and unconsciously smiled at the warmth that seem to surround them. Jaejoong, feeling Yunho move ever so slightly, cuddled deeper into Yunho’s embraced and clung to his shirt softly. The warmth between them and the feel of Jaejoong’s soft breathing against his skin slowly began to stir Yunho from his contented slumber. With a smile, Yunho nuzzled against Jaejoong and sighed deeply as he breathed in his scent. The longer he laid there the more Yunho felt as if it was somehow a dream –a dream he never wanted to wake from. Fighting his urge to open his eyes and look at his reality, Yunho softly tightened his arms around Jaejoong and tried to go back to sleep.

Jaejoong, still fast asleep, shifted again. Sliding his leg between Yunho’s legs, Jaejoong nuzzled into his neck and after releasing his grip on Yunho’s shirt, placed his arm on Yunho’s hip and pulled him little closer. As Jaejoong’s hand landed on Yunho’s exposed hip, he felt a strange but comforting sensation echo through his body. Jaejoong’s loving touch was soft and inviting and made Yunho feel something he had hadn’t felt in years: desire.  That feeling shocked Yunho out of his sleepy daze and as he opened his eyes, he felt a tinge of guilt. Feeling desire for Jaejoong was wrong and he knew it. He had never felt this way towards another man in his life and even though he knew it was wrong, he couldn’t help but feel that it was also right. Yunho knew that he shouldn’t think that way about his best friend, but as he looked down at Jaejoong his sense of right and wrong quickly abandoned him.

As he stared deeply at Jaejoong’s sleeping face, the love in his heart began to swell. Jaejoong was so beautiful. He was so caring and so loving. He was perfect, like an angel sent down from heaven to save weary travelers from their lonely lives. The more he looked at Jaejoong, the more that feeling of desire began to ebb and flow within him, causing Yunho’s mind to race with endless possibilities. What it would be like to hold Jaejoong in his arms forever? What it would be like to sleep next to him for the rest of their lives? How would those lips, those precious lips, feel gently pressed against his own? Yunho’s desire for Jaejoong’s affections quickly clouded his judgment and reason as he reached up and gently caressed his cheek. Sliding his fingers slowly down Jaejoong’s face, Yunho desire swelled as he gently grazed those soft pink lips that seem to torment him every second.

Yunho’s touch caused Jaejoong to shift once more in his sleep. His hand that laid gently on Yunho’s exposed hip, suddenly moved up to his sensitive waistline and squeezed softly before letting go. His touch, ever so soft and gentle, fanned the flames of desire quaking through Yunho’s body and made his heart race. His touch was too much for Yunho to bear as he closed his eyes and moaned softly.  As his desire overtook him, Yunho opened his eyes once more determined to let his feelings be known. Boldly, Yunho threw caution to the wind and leaned in to steal a kiss. As his lips got closer and closer to Jaejoong’s, the last ounce of his restraint faded and just as their lips were about to touch, Jaejoong suddenly rolled over away from Yunho.  

Staring at Jaejoong’s back, Yunho laid there in shock at what had just happened. His desire for Jaejoong instantly disappeared and transformed into a wave of self-loathing, disgust, and guilt. He had tried to take advantage of Jaejoong, after he had been so sick the night before. The confusion, and hate, for himself was too much to bear as Yunho immediately got out of bed and quickly made his way to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind him, he slumped down on the floor. Shocked and appalled by his own behavior, Yunho dropped his head to his knees and began hitting himself on the head.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” questioned Yunho to himself quietly.

“Jaejoong is my best friend and a man!” growled Yunho as he griped his hair and pulled roughly “!”

As Yunho began to calm down ever so slightly, the memory of Jaejoong’s sleeping face flashed before his eyes once more and his desire for Jaejoong’s touch was rekindled immediately.  

As the sound of the shower’s downpour filled the bedroom, Jaejoong slowly began to stir from his slumber. Rolling onto his back and immediately reaching out for Yunho, Jaejoong’s eyes shot open at the realization that he was alone in the bed. Looking around for signs of Yunho, Jaejoong smiled when the sound of the shower registered in his mind.

“He’s up already.” sighed Jaejoong with a smile.

Rolling over to the edge of the bed and sitting up, Jaejoong rubbed his eyes gently before yawning deeply and taking a much needed stretch. He reached over and grabbed a capped bottle of water from the bedside table and took a few sips before placing it back down on the table. Looking over at the empty and undisturbed bed beside his, Jaejoong sighed deeply as he began to remember what had happened to him the night before. He remembered the horrifying dream, the water, and the cold, but most of all, he remembered Yunho’s arms wrapped around him. As the memory of Yunho holding him so softly began to flash through his mind, Jaejoong couldn’t help but feel pleased. Yunho’s love for him was so beautiful to Jaejoong. Until they had met all those months ago, Jaejoong would have never believed that Yunho could be so affectionate and caring with anyone. To now experience Yunho’s heart first hand, gave Jaejoong a sense of accomplishment. He had finally seen the side of Yunho’s he had been looking for all along, but he felt somewhat guilty about the whole situation as well.

“Why am I always getting into trouble?” questioned Jaejoong softly “What am I, a damsel in distress?”

Jaejoong cared for Yunho a great deal. He had always wanted the best for him and strove to do all he could to help Yunho along the way. From supporting him as just his fan to being a trusted friend, and everything in between, Jaejoong wanted to do anything and everything he could to make Yunho happy. With another contented sigh, Jaejoong decided, since he was feeling much better now, that he should at least try and venture out of the room today.  After looking himself over, Jaejoong immediately shook his head.

“I need a shower too.” said Jaejoong as he suddenly heard the shower turn off in the bathroom “I smell like pool water. Gross.”

Jaejoong took one final stretch before he stood up and pulled off his shirt. Tossing it on the bed beside him, he sat back down and waited for Yunho to come out of the bathroom. Moving his head side to side and rolling his shoulders, Jaejoong felt a sense of pain surge through his neck.

“I must have slept wrong.” muttered Jaejoong as he reached up and rubbed his sore neck with his hand and moaned in pain.

Lost in his own discomfort, Jaejoong never noticed the bathroom door open. Yunho walked in the room wiping his face with a small towel. As he pulled it down from his face, he stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes landed on the of Jaejoong. Stunned out of his relentless guilt of what had happened earlier, Yunho stared at Jaejoong and immediately wondered “Dear God was he awake the whole time?” Jaejoong once again reached up and rubbed the back of his neck hard, slumped over, and moaned as the discomfort seemed to be getting worse. The sound of Jaejoong in pain, instantly snapped Yunho out of his contemplations as his concern for Jaejoong’s health over took him. Walking around the bed and standing next to Jaejoong, Yunho looked down at him with concern.

“Are you alright Jae?” questioned Yunho as he reached out and began to rub Jaejoong’s neck “Does it hurt?”

“Yeah.” whined Jaejoong as he grimaced at the pain without looking up at Yunho “I’ll be ok though.”

“You should dry your hair before you get sick.” added Jaejoong as he noticed drops of water landing on the floor at Yunho’s feet.

“My hair can wait.” dismissed Yunho as he sat down on the beside, grabbed Jaejoong by the shoulders, and pushed him so that his back was facing towards him.

 “Let me take care of this first.” said Yunho as he reached up and started massaging Jaejoong’s neck and shoulders.

“You really don’t have to do that Yunnie.” said Jaejoong with a sigh “I’ll be alright.”

“You’re neck is so stiff.” replied Yunho “Sorry.”

“For what?” moaned Jaejoong as he reached out, grabbed a pillow and clutched it to his chest.

“You were curled up with me all night.” answered Yunho “That’s why your neck hurts. Sorry.”

“There’s nothing to feel sorry about.” sighed Jaejoong “I should be thanking you instead.”

“You saved my life last night and kept me warm when I was freezing.” added Jaejoong “I owe you my life.”

“I really don’t deserve to have someone like you in my life.” sighed Jaejoong.

“HEY!” yelled Yunho as he immediately popped Jaejoong on the back of the head “What did I tell you about talking like that!”

“I know, but still, you are just too good to me Yunnie.” grumbled Jaejoong “I don’t think I’ll ever be worthy of your friendship and love.”

“Nonsense, you deserve it more than most.” laughed Yunho as he gave Jaejoong a push “Is that better?”

“Yeah.” whispered Jaejoong as he turned and looked up at Yunho lovingly “Much better, thank you.”

“I’m…I’m hungry.” declared Yunho nervously as the feelings he had felt earlier started to swirl in his mind again. “Get cleaned up and come eat.”

“Alright.” nodded Jaejoong.

Yunho quickly got up off the bed and scurried out of the room. As the door shut behind him, Yunho took in a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves. After his shower, Yunho had concluded that those feelings that had rose up in him while sleeping next to Jaejoong, were simply a manifestation of his lack of physical contact with a woman. After all he hadn’t dated anyone in months, not since he met Jaejoong, and had totally dismiss those feeling as being physically frustrated. Now that those feelings had crept back up, he knew he really needed to go on a date. 

Yunho dropped his head and made his way quietly down the hallway towards the living room. As he passed the opened door of Junsu and Yoochun’s room, Junsu looked up from the edge of his bed and called for him but Yunho just kept walking.  

“What’s up with him?” said Junsu as he looked up at Yoochun “He didn’t even answer me.”

“Do you think Jae is still sick?” questioned Yoochun.

“Not likely. I heard them talking earlier.” answered Junsu.

“Maybe he’s just tired.” dismissed Yoochun

“I hope that’s all it is.” sighed Junsu.

Determined to figure out what was wrong with Yunho, Junsu got off the bed and headed out the door towards the living room. Walking across the room and into the kitchen, he found Yunho rummaging through the refrigerator.

“Good morning Yunnie.” said Junsu but got no reply.

“Yunho!” yelled Junsu causing Yunho to jump in shock.

“What?” growled Yunho.

“Good Morning.” said Junsu, enunciating slowly.

“Oh, good morning.” answered Yunho with a chuckle “Well, err… afternoon that is.”

“You seem a little preoccupied this morning.” started Junsu “You feeling alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” answered Yunho.

“How’s Jae? Is he feeling better?” asked Junsu.

“Yeah…” mumbled Yunho.

“Hey Su, are you still friends with that actress? What was her name?” started Yunho “Oh, Kim Nara. Are you still friends with her?”

“Yeah why?” questioned Junsu.

“Is she seeing anybody right now?” continued Yunho.

“Not that I know of.” replied Junsu “Why?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about her lately.” lied Yunho “I wouldn’t mind seeing her again.”

“Like on a date?” questioned Junsu surprised.

“Yeah.” answered Yunho “Could you give her a call for me?”

“You’re serious about this aren’t you?” asked Junsu perplexed.

“Of course.” nodded Yunho “So can you give her a call for me and set up a meeting?”

“I guess.” answered Junsu as he just shook his head in disbelief “If that’s what you really want.”

“Definitely.” replied Yunho as he walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.

“What the hell is he thinking?” questioned Junsu under his breath “What the hell happened for him to ask me such a thing?”