Taemin’s gravestone was very simple. Jinki couldn’t afford anything more extravagant at the time. Just a small marble plaque that read his name and the years he graced the Earth with his wonderful presence.

Jinki found it easy to visit the grave now. He came once a month, cleaned away any weeds and wiped away any residue on the headstone. 

He always made a special trip on Taemin’s birthday. It was humid outside but the ground was dry so he took a seat. Instead of singing Happy Birthday to him, he pulled out his phone and played a song called Angel. A few years ago, he was able to contact the school Taemin had been accepted to and they were kind enough to send him Taemin’s audition tape. 

It was the greatest way to remember his brother, watching him abandon himself to the lyrics of the song. It was the greatest thing ever. 

When the song ended, Jinki stood up and dusted off his pants. “You would have been thirty one today. I hope you aren’t getting on Mom and Dad’s nerves with your corny jokes and endless chatter.” He paused and stole a glance at two headstones next to Taemin’s. One read Lee Soojin, the other read Lee Taehyun.

“Are you watching, me Taem? I’m a father now. He’s twenty-two and a menace, but even as he runs me ragged, Yoogeun is a good kid. He keeps asking me to tell him stories about the uncle he never got to meet. He loves you to death. I think it’s sweet. He graduated college last month. Psychology. He wants to go to med school, become a psychiatrist, really help people. His Dad and I are going to move heaven and earth to make sure he gets a chance to follow his dreams. I learned that from you.” 

Jinki bent down and touched the headstone one last time. “I can’t wait to see you again, Taem.”

Silently, he turned from the grave and looked across the cemetery to where his car was. Minho was in the front seat, his head snapping forward when Jinki caught him staring. He smiled. Minho always came with him but never intruded. He loved him for that. 

They’d been married for three years now. The ceremony had been on a beach, a giant grey and blue bluff in the background. Taemin was the honorary best man on Jinki’s side with Yoogeun standing in for him. 

Now they lived quietly in their home, the same house Jinki had learned what it was like to move on into something new, to let the past not be an anchor around his foot, but a stepping stone into true happiness. 

He missed his parents and he missed his brother more than anything, but…and this was the greatest lesson he’d learned from both his husband and Taemin…

He truly believed that he would see him again.

Until then, however, he was going to live life, fully and beautifully, with Minho and with Yoogeun, until life was no more.

 

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A|N: Thanks for reading! 
Whew. That was hard to write. Writing is very theraputic. It heals me in a lot of circumstances. I turn to it. I had threefriends die this year. One from suicide and two from sickness (Cancer, AIDS). It's been a rough year and for a while, I was stuck in this place where I didn't want to deal with the emotions. So, I kind of just...got it all out here. So thank you for bearing with me and all this sad crap and I hope the happy parts made you happy and okay this is turning into a sob fest.

A|N: On a brighter note, if you said CHOI YOOGEUN really loud and really fast, it kind of sounds like HAADOUKEN. No try it! Seriously. I've beem doing it all day. CHOOOOI YOOOGEUN!! *clears throat* Okay. Fine. Don't do it.

A|N: Can you imagine Choi Minho in a figure hugging long-jong shirt with a scruffy beard? I just wanted people to imagine that. GOD. Oh, I realized I never, not once, told you what Jinki was wearing. Think of any causual outfit he wears at the airport. Super causal, everything.

A|N: Yoogeun will forever be Choi Minho's child. Im sorry to the real parents, but CHOI YOOGEUN

A|N: Happy Holidays!