1 year, 6 months and 2 days later... December 23rd, evening...

It had passed that very same amount of time, since when Kyuhyun had finally decleared his love to Ryeowook. It had passed that long since when the young architect had chosen to leave Korea without ever returning to that country, not even once.

He had left his friends, his work, everything that still rooted him there...if not for Ryeowook, who had always lived on the opposite side of the world and was happy beyond any imaginations, when Kyuhyun informed him about his intentions to move to Paris, and live with him as a couple.

Kyuhyun had given up on his own concept of the world, to pursue Ryeowook's and adjust to a totally new lifestyle, without ever complaining. It was unbelievably hard.

Of course, he didn't know the language, he didn't know how to move around the city, he didn't know anything about French traditions, he didn't know anybody who could help him. However, witnessing how much admiringly Ryeowook looked at him every time he showed any sign of improvement, Kyuhyun couldn't help but swallow hard his fears and concerns, grit teeth and keep going on, head up high, embracing Ryeowook's uttermost support.

Therefore, every time he faced it really hard and almost thought to give up, Ryeowook always showed up to remind him why he had chosen to live there. And his heart beat faster and faster, not able to forget that strong love he felt towards the pianist, every day renewing as if it were the very first time... Some sweet words, a few hugs and cuddles, a lingering kiss and a bunch of colorful sticky notes, that Ryeowook filled with his lovingly supportive words, everywhere around Kyuhyun -in his bag, in his wallet, in his pockets- never failed to lift his mood. Cho Kyuhyun found in little things from everyday life his new reasons to keep walking down that path.

He was a genius after all, but, even though sometimes that thought didn't come as naturally as while living in Seoul, he never forgot it. In a matter of time, he reached a pretty decent level of French knowledge, in every field, and finally moved on.

He had set up an important partnership with some French investors and showed his CEO skills when working abroad for his own self-established Korean company. After all, high technology served at its aims: meetings were held through video conference calls, he checked projects and allowed new ones online, he still signed papers and gave out his permission when needed, just to remind his subordinates who the President still was. His words were incontestable and worked as the cherry atop a yummy cake, decorating perfection.

His life couldn't be any better: work was good -and lighter, since he didn't have to plan buildings and work overnight anymore-, his connections through the Parisian society were pretty decent and useful, he even became friend with Zhou Mi in the end, who still lived in the shared apartement with him and Ryeowook...

...and of course there was Ryeowook: his most cherished dream, his brightest life's sparkle, his only reason to live.

Kyuhyun's lovelife was true satisfaction.

Although Ryeowook was away for work most of the mornings, especially upon renewing his teacher contract with the Conservatory, the pianist showered Kyuhyun of all those little gestures, not wasting any time to love his meaningful other. And everything almost terribly recalled their past at school: when the both of them were slowly discovering each other in pure awe, falling under the spell of sweet affecction.

Kyuhyun did the same, not wanting to fall behind: he pampered his lover with all the deserved attention he needed. They were constantly on dates. They swung from attending concerts, to watching musicals and movies, from checking the latest trendy restaurant, to improvising picnics with delicious homemade food on green fields around the French capital. They enjoyed every single moment life could give them. Or when they were simply too tired to do that, their love-nest -their house- was always that incredibly cozy, and comfortably welcomed them back whenever they wanted to be together.

They lazily sat on the couch, profiting of each other's warm embraces while watching TV, or when Kyuhyun wanted to read a good relaxing book, and laid on the sofa, his head was always resting on Ryeowook's lap, enoying the soft and gentle this one diligently gave him on his hair, not failing to attentively listen to Kyuhyun's deep voice while reading the tale out loud. And the musician reacted from time to time to speak his opinions on the matter.

For a change, Ryeowook cooked for him and experimented new recipes. He always wanted to know Kyuhyun's most heartfelt opinions, even though Kyuhyun wasn't much of a help when, sounding almost extremely too boring, the only thing he could do was nodding at how perfect his boyfriend's cooking skills turned up to be.  He tasted heaven through Ryeowook's dishes, and approved every single one of them. Ryeowook let it go and didn't push on the matter anymore though, knowing that he could still use Zhou Mi as his more accustomed taster to get detailed reviews. 

The time of the day that Kyuhyun enjoyed the most, was late afternoon though. It was when Ryeowook came back from school and, despite all his stress and fatigue, he always quietly slipped into their big bedroom and sat on the piano stool, magically playing whatever piece or tune was more suited to his mood.

He relieved himself and filled the house of those heartwarming notes at the same time.

Deep inside he knew that he always succeeded to move Kyuhyun's heart with his playing and didn't want to stop. Kyuhyun looked forward to welcome back his lover and sit with him on the stool, placing his head on Ryeowook's shoulder, while this one focusedly played and let that music create a sort of bubble to surround them, and fill itself of the overflowing affection the two felt for each other.

It was useless to mention why Kyuhyun liked that moment of the day: it was the delicate sound of the piano that made him fall in love with Ryeowook after all, and their love couldn't exist without that tune to constantly accompany them.

However, on that period of the year, Kyuhyun had other thoughts to keep him busy, since it was the day before Christmas' Eve...

"Ryeowook, please tell me once again whose briliant idea was to invite those three over for Christmas" Kyuhyun distressedly sighed from his place on the couch, zapping TV channels with the remote control stretched out in the huge flat screen direction.

Ryeowook briefly went next to the oven and, bending towards the lit appliance, checked a roast roll sizzling in a pan. Slightly nodding in front of the result, Ryeowook giggled and straightened himself up, giving his reply: "Me, Kyu...it was me, who invited them over...how many times do I need to tell you?"

Kyuhyun snorted out, puffing cheeks and turning to look at Ryeowook, who was again approaching and sitting next to him: "Just a few dozen times...I need a reminder because you know that I cannot get angry at you" he opened his arms and welcomed the other man in his hug, feeling the other body softly leaning against his.

Kyuhyun was already too much annoyed because every year Christmas' frenzy seemed to arrive earlier than usual.

Moreover, that year people had decided that, right after getting rid of decorations for Halloween, it was time to replace them with the upcoming Christmas atmosphere...ignoring the little, and apparently meaningless detail, that it was two months away.

Decorations were on the streets and inside shops, hints at Christmas were given during commercials and tv shows...everywhere it had arrived in great advance, and once December had finally come, Kyuhyun couldn't help but growl in disapprovement whenever he listened to those stupid carols and joyful jingles that were supposed to warm people's hearts, but his.

He was kind of the typical grinch and got angrier and angrier. The only positive news that mattered was that Zhou Mi had left for China, to spend some time with his family. Kyuhyun was already victoriously tasting the thrilling moment when he would have spent two full weeks alone with Ryeowook, excited at the idea of sharing intimacy and make plans for short trips with his lover, not making into account the strange and rather unexpected phone from his friends Yesung, Eunhyuk and Donghae.

The three were gladly accepting Ryeowook's invitation to spend Christmas in Paris...and he didn't know anything about it...

Apparently, with the same thought as Kyuhyun's, Ryeowook had decided to invite the three and profit of Zhou Mi's absence to host them at home. He thought of it as a gift to Kyuhyun, who hadn't met his three friends in almost two years. Therefore Kyuhyun needed him to be reminded that it was Ryeowook's idea, in order not to get angry at anybody...he couldn't possibly scold his boyfriend for such a trivial matter, even if it meant renouncing to those sweet moments alone together.

"Why do you need to react this way?" Ryeowook lifted his legs on his side and placed them on the couch, kneeling next to Kyuhyun and entouring his arms around the man's neck. Kyuhyun switched the TV off and tossed aside the remote control, bringing his arms on Ryeowook's waist covered in a warm and fluffy red jumper. He lifted his head in order to meet the other's sweet glance.

He couldn't help but smile and move forwards, tasting Ryeowook's soft lips in a gentle peck.

"It's been so long since the last time they saw you! And Yesung always sounds so nostalgic whenever he speaks with you over the phone...don't think I never noticed that..."

Kyuhyun allowed Ryeowook to place his forehead on his and smiled like an idiot: "You're always that caring towards me. How did I end up being loved by you? It's a true blessing!" he mumbled, earning Ryeowook's giggles and answer: "Indeed, it is..." he confirmed "...but it's coming so naturally for me, though."

Kyuhyun pressed his hands around Ryeowook's waist and pulled him closer, pleased by that answer: "They'll be shortly here, if the flight's on time. Yesung told me that they will be here after taking public transports. I highly suggested them not to ride a taxi, because they'd be stuck into traffic and would get here later, which won't allow us to have dinner together otherwise"

Ryeowook ran his fingers through Kyuhyun's hair and flipped his hair fringe, kissing his forehead as a reward: "You did good". Kyuhyun felt satisfied then, because he was completely aware of Ryeowook's efforts to prepare dinner for five, and he didn't want it to get wasted.

"Shouldn't you be practicing for tomorrow?" Kyuhyun whispered into Ryeowook's ear, after strongly turning him and pulling him in his arms. He made the pianist sit on his lap and tightened the grip around his waist. Ryeowook then rested his head on Kyuhyun's shoulder and lifted his left hand to cup the man's cheek and kiss his jawline on the other side: "I am done with practice for tomorrow, I'll be having a rehearsal at the theater on the afternoon, prior the Christmas concert." he replied.

"Are you leaving early then?" Kyuhyun lifted his chin and felt Ryeowook's lips eagerly tracing his throat skin, humming a silent reply in the meanwhile: "I've told my manager to leave another three tickets for the concert at the theater's front desk, so take your time with them tomorrow, have fun, but tell them to get ready to attend it in the evening." Ryeowook told him, knowing that Kyuhyun wouldn't miss any of his performances, but wanting also that their friends could enjoy that event as well.

Kyuhyun slipped a hand under the jumper Ryeowook was wearing and touched the warm skin of his hip, pressing fingertips there and moving up towards the man's chest, caressing it and tracing every muscle.

Ryeowook let him do and placed his lips on Kyuhyun's in the meanwhile, them shortly after and the lower one right when Kyuhyun was trying to insert his tongue in Ryeowook's mouth. He didn't manage though. "I'll need to go to sleep earlier tonight as well." Ryeowook mumbled after parting from his boyfriend's lips, his own as if to keep on tasting Kyuhyun's sweetness. 

Kyuhyun looked a little bit deceived to know that Ryeowook had to leave the upcoming dinner among friends earlier, in order to take plenty of rest to face the famous Christmas concert, but he sighed, aware that his lover was truly strict whenever it came to his job.

"You're leaving me alone with those three..." Kyuhyun commented, still sad. Ryeowook looked at him deep in the eyes and sweetly smiled: "They'll be tired as well. It's not an easy journey that one, so I can assure you they'll be falling under the weight of weariness right after dinner... Remember! Yesung can sleep in Zhou Mi's room, while you will have to show Eunhyuk and Donghae how to move the sofa and set the bed from inside."

Ryeowook explained, then he teasingly bit Kyuhyun's jaw and resumed talking, this time teasingly whispering: "...and, after getting rid of our friends, you can join me in our bed..." he softly giggled in Kyuhyun's ear.

"You'll be sleeping though! I know your habits..." Kyuhyun complained, this time his busy hand on Ryeowook's warm chest was intently rubbing a thumb on one of the man's s, stiffening it and making Ryeowook himself shiver at the ticklish touch.

"I'll be there sleeping, it's true, but I always need you as my favorite warm pillow, Kyu..." he kissed Kyuhyun's cheek "...and I need your heartbeat as my lullaby..." Ryeowook softly grazed Kyuhyun's light blue jumper and lignered a while over the man's heart was "...and your hug as my blanket. I'll be waiting for you..." he finally whispered out, inserting his own hand under his shirt and jumper to reach for Kyuhyun's wrist. He gently gripped it, pulling it out, in order to combine hands with his and interwine fingers.

Kyuhyun's hand on Ryeowook's back pushed him closer to his own body and he wrapped the older one in a tight hug, just like Ryeowook had been saying.

After a while the doorbell rang and Ryeowook got down from Kyuhyun's lap, encouraging him to go to greet their guests, while he tucked his shirt back inside his jeans and walked to the kitchen to check once again that night's dinner.

Loud screams came from the entrance door and immediately spread around.

Ryeowook couldn't help but laugh at the joyful reactions going on, even if he had to rush and run towards the door soon after, because he had just heard a thud and someone falling on the floor.

It happened that Yesung had just jumped on Kyuhyun, knocking him down. It didn't help that Eunhyuk and Donghae hugged him tight over Yesung's body, contributing to the unbalancing push that the youngest of the trio down. Kyuhyun yelled curses under breath and gave bad stares to each one of them.

He stopped though, when Ryeowook reached the group and knelt down beside Kyuhyun wanting to help him and lift him up.

The three newcomers turned to look at him at the same time and in a few seconds evelopped him in that overcrowded hug.  

Kyuhyun almost furiously wriggled from the grip and tried to push Yesung away from his body and Ryeowook's, crawling to the latter's side to protect him from any other affectionate attacks: "Do not even dare to think of striking him down that way, you three!" he exclaimed, red all over the face. After all, his Ryeowook had always been that fragile-looking, even he himself had the slight fear that the pianist might have shattered like a porcelain doll.

"Kyuhyun!!!" Yesung was about to cry and jumped again on the youngest, not able to let go of his best friend's neck. The five young men were somehow all sitting on the floor then.

Ryeowook had just welcomed Kyuhyun's back on his chest, hands on his hips while trying to block him from pressing him down. It was all because of Yesung's excitement. "Cho Kyuhyun, you little brat! I missed you!" this one was noisily shouting.

Ryeowook threw a glance at Eunhyuk and Donghae, who wanted to join the second hug as well, but stopped when their eyes met the pianist's. He wriggled and heavily sighed: "Do not stay still and help me!" he kinda ordered them, laughing "Kyu! Push Yesung away, somehow! You two combined are so heavy!" 

Kyuhyun was about to sweat, suffocating from Yesung's hug and getting red and hot all over the face; he wriggled again: "I'm trying!" he replied, gritting teeth "Come on, get down you or I'll end up killing my boyfriend!" he spat.

Yesung sighed and let him go, pretty excited and pleasantly shocked, just like Eunhyuk and Donghae, to finally hear Kyuhyun saying out loud that Ryeowook was his boyfriend.

The three exclaimed something about how good it felt to look at them finally getting along together, and Ryeowook drew in a deep breath, fixing his clothes, still sitting on the floor, examining Kyuhyun blushing and getting redder than his own jumper.

This one moved across the floor and sat, crossed-legged, trying to fix his hair with a hand. Upon noticing that he didn't manage to as he whished, Ryeowook moved in his direction and lifted a hand to separate some of his fringe locks and get them back in place. After all, he knew how petty Kyuhyun might become when his hair wasn't perfect.

Donghae smiled at the sight: "It feels so different...you changed so much from last time!" 

Eunhyuk agreed: "Every time they met, they wanted to kill each other to the point that one could feel lethal sparkles gushing out from their stares!"

Yesung was about to leave his comment as well, when Kyuhyun cut him off and said: "It's always been this way, you three just don't know it..." he shrugged.

He entoured Ryeowook's waist pulling him into a hug and lovingly looked into his eyes, smirking.

Ryeowook giggled and extinguished all his boyfriend's excitement by saying: "Look who's talking! You were the one who took pretty long to acknowledge our love, don't make up things!"

Kyuhyun stared him pretty bad, while the other three were laughing hard. "It's even better looking at Ryeowook standing up to you, Kyu!" Eunhyuk said, covering his gummy smile with a hand "Finally a blessed soul who can control your being evil!"

Kyuhyun looked deep into Ryeowook's eyes, laughing hard, grasping the telepatic thought that ran from his to his lover's mind, seemingly in one thread only: "Ryeowook's even worse than me, guys! Seriously, you better not make him angry, or he might kick you out from this house at the first opportunity!" Kyuhyun explained, nodding.

Ryeowook placed his hands on Kyuhyun's shoulders and lightly pushed on to him to get up. Kyuhyun did the same a little while later and helped the other three with their luggage.

"I hope you're hungry guys, because Ryeowook prepared one of his great dinners" Kyuhyun praised his boyfriend's cooking skills while parting from him, and taking one of the suitcases that Eunhyuk was handing him.

Ryeowook was neatly setting last things on the table: "Kyuhyun, please show them around the house, let them settle and come back here, I need you to help me while I'm serving dinner, okay?"

Kyuhyun quietly accepted those orders and did as he was told. When the three friends had finally settled down, put bags aside and refreshed themselves, they reached the kitchen and sat at the table, ready to fill their growling stomachs.

Kyuhyun was explaining how things worked in the house and how they would have split up for sleep, instructing whatever the three had to know about pretty much they needed. He then stood next to Ryeowook, showing his back to the seated guests, who were talking about their journey, and helped passing the colorful round plates on to the chef, who was thoroughly slicing meat and serving baked potatoes.

"Did you notice how Kyuhyun has become more helpful?" Yesung snapped, carefully looking at his best friend's attentive moves next to the other man, who from time to time gave him other orders and reminders such as "check the vegtables on the table", "go and grab the corkscrew in the drawer", "did you even remember to serve wine, Kyu?".

The wine-issue seemed the one which bothered Ryeowook the most, since he wanted his guests to sip a series of the most prestigious drinks during the holiday, and he had told Kyuhyun to place a particular sparkling rosée in the fridge to cool down. Kyuhyun, despite his particular know-how when it came to wines, totally forgot about it and tried to disclaim himself, by planting a quick peck on his frowning boyfriend's lips.

Eunhyuk laughed: "I told you he's changed..." while Donghae elbowed his husband and sighed: "Why aren't you as collaborative at home? You should follow his example!" which made the blond one laugh even more at the idea of following "Kyuhyun's example" and almost fall from the chair.

Ryeowook served dinner and Kyuhyun corrected his mistake while pouring wine, which the group enjoyed right after toasting to their friendship.

The whole group spent some quality time and caught up lost moments, enjoying not only food, which finished in a blink of an eye with many deserved compliments to the chef, but also and more importantly chitchatting about their lives, their jobs.

Eunhyuk and Donghae happened to have boosted their fame across Asia, thanks to the many appealing choreographies the two of them created for singers and performers, and were now considering a learning experience in the USA, next to other big names of their same field. Yesung, instead, had been labelled as one of Korea's most successful attorneys, thanks to his ability to dig up the hidden truth behind cold cases, which was more or less what he did with Kyuhyun and Ryeowook's matter. He couldn't take his eyes off the happy couple through all the dinner, though, feeling especially accomplished for thinking of being the one who finally pushed the two together, challenging Kyuhyun and becoming his personal Cupid, in the very end.

Ryeowook listened carefully to everything their three friends had to say, and in the meanwhile had placed a warm hand on Kyuhyun's thigh from under the table, it gently, and turning to his side in order to stretch out his fork and feed the young man of his last bite of meat.

Kyuhyun carelessly ate it in a gulp, used to those gestures. He looked at Ryeowook who was massaging his tummy and sunk a little bit down in his chair:

"What's wrong?" he asked, moving his own chair closer to Ryeowook's and putting a hand above the man's, accompanying his move in that delicate massage.

"Are you feeling sick, Ryeowook?" Donghae asked, frowning, quite concerned "You gave half of your portion to Kyuhyun"

Kyuhyun brought his other hand on Ryeowook's forehead and flipped the man's fringe to the side, leaning forward to him as he tested his lover's temperature by placing his lips onto that clear spot of skin, shaking head in the end: "It's not fever..." Kyuhyun told him.

"I might have just eaten too much, don't worry..." Ryeowook opened up in a bright smile and tried to reassure the others.

Kyuhyun sighed: "It's no good if you are feeling sick before tomorrow's performance..."

"Performance?" Eunhyuk asked, showing curiousity, as much as the other two. Ryeowook nodded: "It's the annual Christmas concert at the Opera Theater. I've been playing a solo for three years now, and I'll do it tomorrow evening as well"

"It's his most prestigious one..." Kyuhyun lovingly exchanged a sweet glance with Ryeowook and smiled, totally in awe and high admiration. His eyes brightened at the mention of such a famous event, in which his boyfriend starred as the honor guest.

Yesung hit Kyuhyun's arm from over the table, leaning a bit forward so he could aim the target better and strike his light punch: "Stop it!" he smirked, earning a deadly stare from his best friend, which meant something like if you can't stand my being caring towards Ryeowook, then why did you even decide to come here in the first stance?!. It wasn't spoken, but Yesung understood it all the same.

"It'd be great to see you playing there, then!" Eunhyuk exclaimed, with Donghae nodding.

"Kyu came last year as well, and then we moved to celebrate Christmas' Eve with Zhou Mi and some other friends at a pretty famous restaurant. I still don't know what Kyuhyun's dark mind is planning to do this year -he said grabbing Kyuhyun's hand in his and interwining his slender fingers with the other man's- but I made some reservations for you three as well. I'd be really happy if you could attend it!" Ryeowook told them, totally high at the idea.

"Babe, you know that I don't want to send you away, but..." Kyuhyun sadly swallowed hard and looked at the clock, ruining the mood: "It's getting late...you should go to rest now"

Ryeowook checked the hour as well and sighed, standing up and moving to grab the dirty dishes, when Kyuhyun stopped him, grasping his wrist: "Leave it be, I'll clean up. You go on and get ready for sleep" he suggested, his soft voice convincing the man to let go of the plate. Ryeowook smiled back at Kyuhyun and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it lightly: "...thanks..." he whispered with sleepy eyes.

He had just walked away a few steps, when Kyuhyun pulled him into a hug: his left arm almost completely entoured Ryeowook's small waist, while the right hand was tenderly placed on the pianist's nape. The younger one buried his lips right under Ryeowook's jawline and reached for his ear, where he whispered his good night. Kyuhyun received a soft hum as a reply.

"Rest well, guys" Ryeowook said to the other three, waving a hand and walking away "See you all tomorrow evening!" and he disappeared somewhere behind a white door on the right corridor.

Donghae stood up and helped Kyuhyun with the cleaning task. Yesung and Eunhyuk, instead, were already fiddling with their luggage to take out their respective pajamas and get ready for sleep time as well. They all looked too tired to even move one step only and almost crept on their feet, yawning with terribly puffy eyes.

Kyuhyun internally laughed at the thought, because Ryeowook was right: their friends were collapsing after that exhausting 18-hour-long flight.

He left Donghae to rinse the last dishes with lukewarm water and grabbed a mug from the cupboard above his head. He filled it with water from the boiler and brew a little bag of chamomile tea, pouring a teaspoon of honey and stirring it a bit, to melt it.

Donghae kept a close eye on what Kyuhyun was doing, standing by him in front of the kitchen counter. He smiled and patted Kyuhyun's back, after wiping his hands with a cloth from nearby: "Don't take it as a joke, don't think we are making fun of you, Kyu..." he got Kyuhyun's attention, who turned head to face him "...but, you've really changed a lot! Let's say that you changed in better! You improved! Neither of us ever saw you showing your uttermost respect for anybody, except for Ryeowook. You act totally different whenever he's around."

Kyuhyun sighed, but smiled back after a while: "If only you knew the sufferings we both went through..."

"I know." Donghae surprised him...or rather shocked Kyuhyun, who still was convinced that both Eunhyuk and Donghae didn't know anything about what was truly behind his love story with Ryeowook. He threw a pretty bad stare at Yesung, who was in the living room, helping Eunhyuk to set the sofa-bed, but once again Donghae interrupted his stream of thoughts: "Don't be angry at Yesung...actually, we knew everything even before your departure. We insisted that he told us what was your true relationship with Ryeowook, since the both of you acted so strange whenever together in the same place, back in Korea...do you remember?"

Kyuhyun nodded. Even if bad times were finished, he couldn't possibly forget anything that happened on his and Ryeowook's path to get together.

"After your sudden departure, we couldn't understand why you had disappeared without saying much, and in the end Yesung, who suffered the most, missing you so bad, had taken his time to tell us everything, from the very beginning. Therefore, yes Kyu. We know, and believe me, we are sincerely happy for how things turned for you two..." Donghae hugged him tight, not wanting to let go, and causing a certain amount of moving tears in the youngest, which were never shared though.

Holding the hug, Kyuhyun told him: "Then, since he told you everything, you must know that this Kyuhyun you are now witnessing is the same young boy who fell in love with little Ryeowook back at school. I was like this when we confessed to each other, really...and I don't want to hurt him anymore. He's so important to me, and loving him is almost automatic. I couldn't stop for fear of looking at my world crumbling down. He's my world!"

Donghae reassuringly patted Kyuhyun's back again, sligtly nodding "I can see that. I can see it from the small gestures that you two share with each other. How much time has passed since when you first came here?"

Kyuhyun moved a bit backwards and looked at Donghae, frowning, wondering why he needed to know that. He tilted his head onto the side and looked up at the ceiling, briefly counting days in his mind from that June 21st -Ryeowook's birthday- which brought them together again: "Mhm...1 year, 6 months and 2...almost 3 days, if I'm not wrong...why?" he asked.

"You love him ad show him your affection every single day as if it were the very first one, right?"

Kyuhyun nodded at Donghae's question: "I try my best...at least" the youngest said, and the dancer smiled: "Do not ever change...this is what makes your mutual feelings stronger, and I can see that from the way you look at him, or you speak to him, or..." he stopped and briefly glanced at the chamomile mug: "Hurry up and bring that to him, if it cools down it'll be useless for Ryeowook's stomachache." Donghae pushed away Kyuhyun, and waved his hand in mid-air, telling him to vanish, which Kyuhyun did, not before smiling and wishing him a good night.

Kyuhyun hadn't taken his time to step inside his bedroom, when he heard Ryeowook stirring in bed, under the thick duvet cover, and switching on the lamp on the nightstand. He pushed himself to sit against the black velvety backrest and glanced upon Kyuhyun, who sat right beside him on the edge of the bed, after closing the room's door: "Hey...you cannot sleep..." Kyuhyun said, more as an observation than a question, and his hair right when Ryeowook shook his head, letting out a quite sharp and distressed sigh.

His boyfriend gently put the hot mug into his hands and Ryeowook looked at him, questioning that gesture: "I thought it might help you..." Kyuhyun said, looking at the cute half-smile of the other man, who leaned to Kyuhyun's cheek and softly pressed his lips there to peck. "Drink it, I'll go to wash up and reach you in bed, okay?"

Kyuhyun left him for a while, already tasting the moment of sweet cuddles he could enjoy with him under covers.

Once back in his room, he suddenly became gloomier at the sight of the empty mug left on the nightstand and his already fast asleep Ryeowook, curling on his hip, hands loosely fisted on the pillow, eyelashes umperceptibly fluttering and lips slightly apart. Kyuhyun sighed and switched the forgotten lights off, slipping under covers without moving too much, or Ryeowook might have caught chilly air, which could have disturbed his peaceful sleep. 

"Ryeo?" he whispered once, not receiving a reply. "Ryeowook?" he called for him again, this time leaning over his ear, to check how much it took him to fall asleep after drinking chamomile.

"Uhm?" Ryeowook hummed in sleep, answering to Kyuhyun's call for him.

Kyuhyun slipped further inside his bed and laid on his hip as well, close to Ryeowook, feeling his body warmth. He put an arm around Ryeowook's waist in order to spoon him to his body and sleep together, when Ryeowook stirred again and turned to the other side, facing Kyuhyun.

"Uhm..." he mumbled again, half awoken and half asleep "Kyu..." he placed his arm around Kyuhyun's body and rubbed his nose on the man's chest, muffling his hot breath on Kyuhyun's pajama. It hit his chest in the direction of his heart and Kyuhyun shivered a bit. It was at a time like that, that he realized his luck...

"Yes?" he tentatively asked, smiling and closing arms behind Ryeowook's back, protecting him.

"Good night, Kyu Kyu..." Ryeowook finally spoke in another peaceful sigh and completely departed towards dreamland, lightly snoring, too much tired after that day.

Kyuhyun waited until Ryeowook had settled in his embrace, and then tightened his grip around the man's body, feeling safe surrounded by that familiar warmth. He slipped his fingers in Ryeowook's hair and whispered his good night in the room's silence, before eventually reaching the other one in his dreams.