[曦澄 | XiCheng]: The Fear Of Falling In Love [~PART 1~]

[48.] In the arms of Morpheus.

Note:

Inspiration for this chapter's title comes from one of my all-time favorite songs! Please, enjoy!

The Tea Party  –  "Lullaby"

****

Lan Xichen woke up early the next day, as everything had to be ready for the arrival of Lan Wangji and his family. 

He cast one last glance at the sleeping Sandu Shengshou  –  his lips were parted and his skin glowed in the pale light of the first rays of dawn. He bit his lips and leaned in to kiss his cheek, and then went about his day.

Jiang Wanyin slept. 

He slept on when the housekeeper came to wake him up for breakfast in an hour. He didn't wake up when his husband came too to try to get him out of bed. Lan Huan tried and tried, but he just turned to the other side and curled up in a ball of skin and bones and slept on. 

Zewu-Jun was extremely worried, as he remembered the awful pain from the way Jiang Cheng mentally collapsed last night. He put everything on hold and stayed in bed with him, observing him, whispering soft words to him, hugging him.

Around noon, the housekeeper knocked delicately on the door and announced that Wei Qianbei and Hanguang-Jun had just arrived. 

He just shook his head, and murmured:

- Tell Wangji to take care of things. I am not moving from this room until he wakes up...  Let them know that my husband is ill and I will see them at dinner the soonest.  And --

She had bowed and was ready to leave, but stopped and turned immediately.

- Yes, Master?

- Please, have someone ready to ride as fast as possible to fetch a doctor, if need be.  –  he said, growing very pale.

***

Lan Xichen could hear the noise now  –  the House was ringing with children's screams and laughter, and one could clearly hear Wei Wuxian's loud yells, even if he could not see him. He suspected that his brother had warned everyone not to disturb him, because no one came to ask questions; he was grateful.

He was holding Jiang Cheng close, keeping him warm, and caressing his face. He felt his body numb, too afraid to even think what might have gone wrong. His husband's body was a mystery to him, and probably also  –  to most physicians. 

It was so amazing to him that he would never feel as Sandu Shengshou felt  –  all the advantages and disadvantages of being a boy, of being a girl.

- Please, come back to me, my love... -  he was whispering.  –  Please, be with me... What do I do without you, Wanyin? There is no point without you... Come back...

He slept deeply. His breathing was shallow and his heart raced madly, but he had no fever, and Zewu-Jun was not too worried. But something was happening inside him, inside his body, and he could not help, as he had no idea what it was. 

At one point there was a knock on the door and Lan Xichen thought that most probably it was the housekeeper calling him for dinner.

- Good evening, Zewu-Jun. May I?

- Master Wei, please, of course.  –  Lan Huan did not move, although the etiquette required him to get up and bow in greeting.

- Your annoying housekeeper told us a little about it.  –  Wei Ying grinned. –  How is he? –  he approached and was very surprised to see them hugging.

- No change. He fell asleep last night and I cannot wake him up... For hours now... -  his eyes swelled with tears, and he brushed them away quickly.

Wei Wuxian frowned, leaning in to look at his brother's face.

- I am guessing you have already checked on his core? A-Cheng likes to give us a scare or two from time to time.  –  he mumbled.

- Yes, of course. I am not sure whether to call for a doctor... You know how...he is. –  Lan Xichen blushed.

- Ah, I see.  –  Wei Wuxian was not too good at masking his surprise  –  he never even suspected that his brother and his brother-in-law would be so close. –  Is it... time? You know?  –  he looked up at his face carefully.

- Yes.  –  Lan Xichen blushed. –  His mood swings have been... interesting. –  he smiled faintly.

- Yes! –  Wei Ying grinned. –  But this is not the worst of it. He could be quite sick during some of the spells. Bed-ridden. And his bad temper is not helping! –  he laughed out loud.

- Wei Wuxian, get out of my room!  -  Jiang Cheng mumbled, opening his eyes. –  Can't you two morons talk some place else?  –  he growled, now turning his face to bury it again in Zewu-Jun's clothes.

- Darling!  –  Lan Xichen exclaimed, forgetting everything else and taking him in his arms.  –  How are you, sweetheart?!? You gave me such a scare, Wanyin!  Tell me, my love...

He was staring into his face, trying to decipher how he was, but now Jiang Wanyin was just flushed and looked terribly sleepy and weak.