It was such a pleasant dream that he hoped not to wake up from. Underneath the softly closed lids, his lips slowly curled upwards into a goofy smile. He was a fully-grown man, yet dreams like these ceased to leave him even as his subconscious was aging. Everything in his other world was vibrantly colourful, everything was smiling back at him as he walked on puffs of clouds and rainbows. He felt almost ten years younger, like an innocent child. It lasted for a while, until he finally saw who was waiting for him at the other end of the rainbow. The sound of the cheerfully singing birds slowly began fading as his fantasy decided to dissolve to welcome the reality of his life.

“Haeri!!” His body suddenly shot up from his bed, his eyes wide as if he had just woken up from a nightmare. The last image that he saw in his dream was of her, wearing the white gown from their wedding, with a frown on her forehead and hands on her hips. There was a faint pout underneath her piercing gaze. The vision instantly snapped a wire in his mind and he immediately remembered. “Oh , it’s tomorrow!” He checked the clock on his bedside table and his face turned horror. “It is today!”

Quickly he shuffled from the bed and dived into his duffel bag in search for his phone. He managed to stumble and nearly kissed the floor when his feet got tangled with the duvet. His curses were endless as he began punching the numbers and waited while pacing the darkened room.

“Yunho!” he nearly screamed into the phone after he heard a lazy ‘hello…’ from the other end. “Yunho, Yunho, Yunho!!” he repeated out of anxiousness. His thoughts were running everywhere. “Yunho, help me!”

He didn’t notice the small jumps he made until he started to feel a little bit dizzy. “Yunho, are you there? Man, don’t sleep on me! This is an emergency!” he called out desperately, looking at the clock every now and then.

“Fifty dollars for every minute you take off my sleeping time,” Yunho muttered annoyingly. “It’s 2 in the morning, Jaejoong. What do you want?”

“I totally forgot!” Jaejoong continued with his exclamation tone. “It’s our anniversary tomorrow, Yunho, and I totally forgot! She’s coming back in a few hours. My God, what should I do? What should I do?”

Jaejoong heard him huff and then there was a momentary silence before Yunho said, “She is your wife, it is your anniversary, why are asking me?”

“I know, I know…” Jaejoong bit his lips. “But I can’t think properly when I’m panicked like this.”

“Then calm down-”
 

“Give me some ideas. Please, anything,” Jaejoong pleaded. “Wait. You know what, I’m coming over right now. I need to hear something from everyone.” He immediately dashed into the bathroom with his phone still clumsily attached to his ears. He heard Yunho groan and the line went dead.

~~~

It felt as if Yunho had just got off the phone with Jaejoong when there was a knock on their apartment door. He groaned louder and pressed onto his sleepy eyes to get them awake before shuffling to the bed next to his like a grumpy drunken man. “Yah, Yoochun, wake up. Wake up, wake up!” he patted the lump on the bed more harshly with each word. He then left the sleepy bum of his friend when the knock on the door became louder. Yunho tried not to hit with anything as he made his way through the living room to open the door.
 

“I will not forgive you if-“
 

“Where’s everyone?” Jaejoong asked, far from acknowledging that Yunho was about to threaten him again. He will deal with any needed compensations later. What was more important was not to appear utterly hopeless in front of his wife who had been all kinds of wonderful in his life thus far. He immediately walked towards the first bedroom and switched on the light mercilessly and patted the lump still curled underneath the blanket. “Yoochun, up up up!” He smacked Yoochun’s bum and pinched on his sides, causing the poor man to gasp and consequently fell off the bed.
 

“What the- YAH!”
 

“Emergency. Don’t go back to sleep,” Jaejoong told him and strolled off to the next bedroom, waking the other two up the same way as he did Yoochun. Changmin in particular didn’t take it well and subconsciously sent a punch flying towards Jaejoong, which Jaejoong managed to dodge out of familiar reflexes. Yunho didn’t bother to do anything and just watched by the door with his arms crossed and his eyes heavy. “Come on, living room, meeting, now!”
 

It took Jaejoong ten whole minutes to get everyone gathered, with Changmin still dozing off even as he walked. The energetic person in the room was solely Jaejoong.
 

“So Yunho,” Jaejoong began as the last of them took his seat, “have you thought of anything?”
 

“Wait wait, what’s going on here? Fire practice?” Junsu cut in groggily.
 

“Look, I’m sorry to wake everyone up at this hour like this,” Jaejoong was sincerely apologetic, “I know it’s my fault that I let it slip my mind, but right now I really need help on this. I don’t want to look like a total failure in front of her. And I want this one to be the best anniversary ever for us so that we can have even better ones in years to come. So… please?”
 

“What do you want help with?” Changmin asked grumpily without opening his eyes.
 

“Ideas,” Yunho answered for him.
 

Changmin sighed and opened his eyes just slightly, still annoyed. “Flowers, candle-light dinner, a romantic stroll, all those antiques… Why can’t you just choose one from those, hyung?”
 

Yoochun and Junsu agreed to it immediately, wanting to go back to bed soon.
 

“But that’s too common,” Jaejoong’s eyebrows furrowed. “I’d like it to be different and special. Just like she is.”
 

“Well in that case, for one, we don’t know her like you do. We have no idea what her favourites are. We can’t just come up with some special ideas when we can’t even imagine what she’s like, you know, underneath it all?” Yunho muttered. He was the only other person awake enough to be able to utilise his head.
 

Jaejoong looked at his watch and it was already half past three. He sighed desperately. “I’ve made a song for her and I was planning on singing it to her on our first anniversary. But now that I thought about it again, it sounds so lame.”
 

There was a light chuckle from somewhere.
 

“I say you should just go with what you have,” Yoochun immediately told him, earning another eager nod from the sleepy Junsu. “You don’t have much time anyway, and what comes from your heart should be the most special to her.”
 

Jaejoong pondered over Yoochun’s words. He let his gaze stare at nothingness as his mind began to contemplate. Then out of nowhere he smacked himself in the head and groaned, “How did I even let this slip? I’m so hopeless! Sometimes I wonder what did I do to deserve someone like her.”
 

They guys looked at him sympathetically. “We really wish we can be of better help, hyung. If only you asked us a week prior, or at least when our minds aren’t too foggy from discontinued wonderful dreams,” Changmin voiced monotonously and stood up, walking back to his room.
 

“He’s right, Jae,” Yunho patted his back supportively. “But if you need help with something you already have in mind, then you can count us in.”
 

He pursed his lips and looked at the rest of the remaining guys, “I’m sorry to have troubled you guys in the middle of the night. I just-”
 

“It’s okay, hyung. Because it’s you, we’re already used to it,” Yoochun added with a lazy smirk.
 

If it weren’t for the fact that he had other more important issues to think about, Jaejoong would’ve smacked him in the head for saying them out loud.
 

“I think I know what to do, something quick and something sweet,” Jaejoong said after a while, though his eyes lacked confidence. “You said you’d help me prepare, right?”
 

Junsu’s eyes turned horror.
 

“Of course,” Yunho assured, giving a warning look towards Junsu who then hid his face behind Yoochun. “Tell us what we can do.”
 

“She’s coming back at noon today,” Jaejoong began to explain the plan he had in mind after a quick brainstorming. The overall plan sounded pretty good, but to Jaejoong 'pretty good' is never good enough, and it was his own fault. He'd have to settle with what's left and make the best of it.

~~~

Jaejoong waited patiently by the high windows of his large home. His mind was working in all sorts of directions as his eyes were trained along the driveway waiting for a particular car to arrive. He kept on glancing at the grandfather clock at the far corner of the room. A sigh left his lips everytime it showed that it's not yet noon. He was told that Haeri would arrive at around noon, and that only made him that much more anxious.
 

He checked on his reflection countless times, making sure that he looks more than dashing when he welcomes her home. As he was fixing a few strands of his already perfectly styled hair, he heard the roaming of an engine approaching the front porch. He grinned instantly and took an immediate peek through the curtains before rushing to take his place on the piano bench. It's time.
 

He waited, figured that his wife was bidding her usual thanks and goodbyes to her manager for dropping her off. He listened intently to her faint footsteps from the other side followed by jumbling of keys. His heart was pumping hard in anticipation.
 

"Jae? Honey, I'm home!" she broadcasted her vocals, which echoed through the entire house. She knew her husband would be home, unless he broke the promise he made before she took off from Japan earlier that morning. "Jae?" she called out again when there was no response.
 

All she needed to do was turn around the corner and walk into the room where their grand piano was. He didn't wait any longer though, counted to three and pressed on his first note, earning a short gasp from not far away. He chuckled and began playing the welcoming piece, eyes fixed at the doorway waiting for her to step in so that he could finally serenade her properly.
 

Soon enough, there she was, looking at him wide-eyed while putting her baggage down at each sides of her. She frowned. "Jae, what are you doing? You scared me."
 

He only smiled at her, taking her breath away.
 

"Is it a new song?" she queried softly, only loud enough for him to hear over the sound of the beautiful instrument. She walked closer, slipping right next to him on the bench and watched his fingers dance upon the keys. He soon started humming into her ears, looking into her lovely hazel eyes affectionately.
 

A few more verses, and the song came to a sweet end. He glanced at his side, looking at her who had been resting her head on his shoulders since a while ago. He waited for her reactions to the song.
 

"What was your inspiration for this one? It's beautiful," she spoke, still resting on his shoulders.
 

He brought his arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer. "You."
 

She giggled and lifted her head to look at his smiling eyes. "I'm flattered. But seriously, Jae."
 

He pulled her to face him properly, cupped her cheeks and stared deep into her eyes when he spoke, "Haeri, you are the most amazing woman I've ever met. You complete me. And that song is really for you, inspired by all the love that you've given me."
 

Her cheeks instantly blushed and she struggled to look away to hide them, but he won't let her.
 

"Baby, happy anniversary," he continued, followed by a very tight embrace. She could immediately recognise the scent of his cologne, the one she gave him on the night of their wedding a year ago. She could feel her heart leap at the thought that it's been a year since they took their vows for each other.
 

"Happy anniversary, Jae," she whispered breathlessly. She had missed his embrace. She had gone a whole week without his warmth and it has made her desperate for more. "I've missed you so much."
 

He kissed lightly behind her ears and cooed, "I've missed you more."
 

"Thank you for the song," she added shyly. "It's the most beautiful I've ever heard. I can't decide if I should ask you to include it in your next album to brag to the whole world, or if I should selfishly keep it to myself inside my Jaejoong Treasure Chest."
 

He laughed heartily at that. "My wife, the song is already yours, so you think about it and decide. You can even use it as your next title track, my melodies accompanied by your lyrics and your voice," he grinned. "And just so you know, this isn't the end yet. I bet you're hungry, right? People never serve good enough food on flights nowadays. Come..." He pulled her up and guided her towards the dining room.
 

Along the way, she could almost catch a stumbling noise from somewhere. "What was that?"
 

"What was what?" he repeated her question, almost purposely.
 

She looked at him once and decided that it could just be her imagination. She smiled, "Never mind."
 

"I haven't cooked for a while, but..." she turned the corner and the sight of the fully occupied dining table caught her breath away yet again.
 

"Jae, did you make all these?" her eyes wide at the side of numerous dishes that instantly made water and her stomach grumbling. "Just for me?"
 

"Just for you, baby," he grinned. "I did get some help from the guys, though. I hope you don't mind them thrashing your kitchen," he laughed, and she followed.
 

"They better know how to clean everything up. I want my kitchen spotless."
 

He pulled out the chair for her and laid the napkin on her lap. She insisted on doing it herself, but he wouldn't let her. "Let me treat you to everything. You just sit tight and enjoy the ride, baby."
She pouted. "But it's not my birthday. It's our anniversary. I don't want you doing all the work."
 

He took her fingers and laced them with his. "Baby, trust me, you've been doing all the work. Your job today is just to enjoy." He kissed her temple and proceeds to take his own seat opposite from her. "What would you like to have first?"

~~~

From behind  the curtains, some of the guys were peeking at what Jaejoong and his wife were doing. They worked unnecessarily hard to listen to the couple's conversation, until a hard slap landed at the back of their heads.
 

"Didn't Jaejoong tell you to give them the privacy? Get a wife," Yunho lectured.
 

Yoochun and Junsu who had been peeking whined at rubbed the back of their heads furiously. "Aish, we were just looking!"
 

"And hoping that you could catch a glance of your hyung kissing?" Yunho retorted. "Get your bums up and let's get back. Our tasks are done."
 

This time Changmin was the one who resisted. He insisted that they should be there to finish any leftovers from the dining table. Junsu and Yoochun agreed and Yunho had no other choice but to give in. And so they waited in that little corner in the kitchen hoping that Haeri won't notice that they were around.
 

After an hour of giggling and continuous spoon-feeding by the couple at the dining table, they were finally finished with their meals and the guys knew that Jaejoong will now proceed to stage three. Changmin peeked to see if there was anything left for him, but frowned when he saw that the only things left there were empty plates and empty bowls.
 

"I thought we made extra just in case..." Changmin whined and cross his arms.
 

"Come on, we should really go now, Jaejoong would get mad if he knows we're still here," Yunho advised as he watched Jaejoong leading Haeri out of the room and upstairs, taking her baggages with them.

~~~

Jaejoong helped his wife unpack. He offered to do her laundry and demand for her to just rest the whole day. Of course she wouldn't let him, she was the wife! She was supposed to be the one to get everything back in order, just like how she had always done after she got back from a long work trip overseas. She didn't like the idea that just because it was their one year anniversary, she should enjoy and just receive. 
 

She stared at the back of her husband who was still busy with her clothes. She stood up from her spot on the bed and walked towards him, crouched down behind him to slip her arms around his waist. "It's should be my turn to love you now, Jae," she whispered into his ears, her chin resting on his shoulders. "Don't you want to know what my gift for you is?"
 

He chuckled softly and turned his head slightly. "What is it?"
 

"I'm pregnant," she simply said.
 

There was a wide smile on his face at first. Then it immediately disappeared, the expression replaced by an absolute surprise. "SAY WHAT?" He quickly turned around, taking hold of her shoulders and looked into each of her eyes in turn. "You're what? When did you know?"
 

"It's been a while. I wanted to wait for today to tell you," she smiled cheekily. Slowly, she pulled his palm and placed it right above the slight bump near her stomach. "Earlier, it used to be flat and hard. But now you can actually feel the bump."
 

His breath hitched. Now it made sense to him why she was so excited to come back after she was done with the promotions in Japan. She had been carrying the most important news for a week and more just to make him happy on this day. "You're sneaky, you know that?" He started caressing the bump and pulled her even closer. "I love you."
 

She smiled and wrapped her hands around his shoulders tightly. 
 

Out of nowhere, he started to laugh, mirrorring his utter happiness of the moment. "I had planned to surprise you, but it ends up you're the one who surprised me."
 

"Who says I wasn't surprised? I thought you were working from home when you played the piano. I thought you forgot what day it was," she continued to grin into his neck, recalling the scene just a few hours ago. "You used to be too busy you even forget about my birthday."
 

"That won't ever happen again, baby," he cooed. He pulled back a bit and planted his lips on hers briefly. "I promise."
 

Her eyes were suddenly pooled with tears. "Jae, we're having a baby."
 

His hearty laugh erupted once again. "I know!! Isn't that just the coolest thing ever?" He pulled her and kissed her again, this time it's longer and more passionate.
 

Jaejoong ended up forgetting about his plan of stage three.

THE END