It took him a few minutes to shake himself awake but when his mind cleared and focused Chanyeol had never seen a morning more beautiful. Sunlight streamed in as the curtains blew in a gentle breeze. Baekhyun would never sleep with the window closed when the smell of rain was outside.

The king single was barely long enough for Chanyeol, it was only just wide enough to fit the two men, but with Baekhyun's body close to his it didn't seem small enough. He pulled him closer and closed his eyes and knew he had to make the most of it. Today he had to go back.

The uncertainty, the unknown, and the untested waters of their new dynamic didn't bother him one bit. He felt so relaxed. It was almost as if his repressed feelings, turmultous and torturous inside him, had been transformed. A metamorphisis. The butterflies inside his chest that beat their wings as Baekhyun clung to his body in his sleep were the proof. 

He was finally free.

Baekhyun stirred and opened his eyes, sitting up slowly, before being pulled back down onto Chanyeol's chest. "Not yet. Please. I have to go soon. Just give me a little more time." Chanyeol wound his fingers through Baekhyun's dark locks and closed his eyes again and tried to burn the moment into his mind. He could hear the buzz of his phone and knew it would be Suho. He was booked to promote his new album at a live show tonight and Chanyeol knew Suho would already be in a world of panic wondering if he was going to show up. He knew he had to. His life wasn't over, he couldn't just shirk his responisbilities, and he knew that. 

He just wanted five more minutes.

Finally he had to move. "Baek. I have to go." Five mintutes had turned into half an hour and he slipped out from under Baekhyun's warm body and sat up. Baekhyun sat up too and for what felt like forever they were the only two people in the world, staring softly, neither knowing what to say. Their eyes said what their voices couldn't and Chanyeol reached out and held Baekhyun's hand. "Thank you. Thank you for forgiving me, for giving me one perfect day, for letting me leave again with a wonderful memory." He the soft white hand, slightly tarnished by the soil trapped in the cuticles, before squeezing it tight.

"Thank you for coming back. For giving me the truth." Baekhyun stared at his hand, small inside Chanyeol's big warm grip, slipping it out and moving it to Chanyeol's cheek. "Will you come back?" he asked quietly as his eyes searched Chanyeol's for something he didn't even know he was looking for. "Of course. I'll be busy for a few weeks. But call me, we can always talk, I'll always answer your calls. No matter how busy I am."

"I love you Baekhyun. Never forget that. No matter how far apart we are or what happens next I'll always love you and I'll always be there for you." Chanyeol leaned across the bed and planted a soft kiss on Baekhyun's lips. It was gentle and chaste and warm with soft affection and Baekhyun accepted it willingly.

"I have to go." Chanyeol got up from the bed and Baekhyun grabbed his hand. "Wait. Chanyeol I-I..." he trailed off as the right words escaped him. "Don't." Chaneyol smiled at him and just his hand again. "Last night was perfect. I have to leave now before I can't." "Goodbye." Baekhyun said and let go of Chanyeol's hand. "Goodbye." Chanyeol said and was surprised when Baekhyun jumped up off the bed and fell into his arms one more time. Chanyeol buried his face in Baekhyun's hair and inhaled and soaked up all he could of his warm and wonderful embrace before he had to walk out. He untangled himself from Baekhyun's arms, walked out the door, and headed down the stairs without looking back.

"Chanyeol. I was hoping you would stay for breakfast!" Baekhyun's mum called out to him as he walked past the kitchen. "Sorry Mrs Byun. I really have to get back to the city. I've already stayed too long." He said with a wistfulness that made her smile. "Well we hope to see you back here soon. Don't leave it another eight years." She left her place in the kitchen to give the tall man a hug and he smiled down at the look in her eye. "I wont." He promised as he walked out the front door.

The walk home took him out the back and behind the nursery and past the big tree. Past the school, past the road leading to the creek, into the dirt driveway of his family home. Past his memories, before tinted with a hint of pain, now all aglow in his mind. Memories of how wonderful his life was growing up. Memories of friendship, companionship, and love. His goodbyes to his family were just as warm, hugging his mum, shaking his dad's hand. Even Sehun got a happy and enthusiastic hug despite his initial reluctance. Chanyeol knew better than anyone that sometimes you just needed a little time. Sehun would get over it and they could both move on.

He loaded his cases into his car and took his precious guitar and put it on the front seat. He stashed his pocket knife in the glove box, waved goodbye, and reversed down the driveway and headed for the city. He called in at a few places on the way out and made sure to stop for a big box of those bee stings to take back home and he smiled contentedly to himself as he drove out of town.

Immediately as soon as he hit the open road his mind turned to work. But the heaviness and reluctance of the last few weeks, months, even years had faded. Chanyeol felt fresh and everything felt new. He had an excitement burning within him and he had never felt so alive.  The light of his life had been reignited and he felt like he was drowning in it. The emptiness and darkness always on the edges of his existence for the last eight years had finally been driven out. 

The light had won. It was back.