The Long Fall

eleven

"It's a girl! Congratulations." The doctor excitedly announced, placing the small bundle in her arms on my side.

I was so exhausted from the birth, but seeing the little life in my hands made me smile. I looked to Tao with an expression of bliss, and his face mirrored my own.

For the safety of everyone involved, I could not declare this child to not be Tao's, and he could not deny that I wasn't dating him. The press loved that we were together, and made it seem like we'd been dating this whole time that we'd known each other. For Kai's safety, I couldn't deny them or correct them in any way, so I let them believe that the child was Tao's and didn't question it for a moment.

"What are you going to name her?" Tao asked, already fiddling with the girl's hands. He was excited to be a father, even if the child wasn't his.

"Chenying," I replied, making him chuckle a bit.

"'Flower of the Palace'? Really?" He questioned, making me blush a bit from embarrassment. "No, it's cute. I like it a lot. She'll be an important young woman one day, I can feel it."

When I was able to come home, I immediately laid down on the couch, exhausted and worn out. Tao placed the baby carrier beside me, but laid down on top of me, causing me to groan while he chuckled.

"Why are you on top of me?" I asked, punching him a bit.

"Because I missed being close to you." He answered, kissing my cheek. "And I want you to know how I feel about you."

He kissed me from my cheek to my lips, slowly mesmerizing me with every touch. As he moved from my forehead down to my jawline, I even shivered a bit, which earned a smile from the elder. I gasped as he kissed my neck, the chills making it almost unbearable.

"I, I can't. Not yet." I spoke, even though it was hard to ask him to stop.

"I know physically you're still sore from childbirth, so I'll wait. But is there another reason?" He asked, making me look away from guilt. "You still love him, don't you?"

"We were dating for three years. Of course my feelings would run deep." I explained, making the elder sigh a little.

"But you loved me for ten, doesn't that mean a thing anymore?" He questioned, kissing me again.

I couldn't help but respond, even if I didn't want to. Over the past six months, he's cared for me and showed me how much he felt for me. My heart was struggling with being split in two. Knowing that Kai would be upset at me for leaving, but also knowing he asked Tao to take over for him, it was a struggle to pick a side.

"It'll take time, just as I told him," I replied, earning a nod before he kissed me again.

The months passed quickly, and I became a lot stronger once the drugs from the abortion were completely gone from my bloodstream. Chenying grew quickly, showing she was intelligent and loved to dance almost immediately. Tao bought a ring since the company and the press didn't want a child out of wedlock, though it was a little late.

"I'm going to take a shower, I'm so exhausted from today," I told Tao when he got home from his promotions that day. He chuckled and nodded, heading straight for Chenying and taking her from me.

Once I was in the bathroom, I sighed with contentment as the water hit my sore muscles. I flinched a bit when the door opened, revealing a flirtatious Tao coming into the room.

"Who's watching Chenying?" I asked, earning a chuckle as he began to strip.

"Ma is here, she told me to take care of you while she cared for her granddaughter." He answered, getting into the shower beside me.

I blushed as his eyes examined every inch of my skin, not being able to help myself as I did the same. He grabbed my face, gently pulling me to him and locking our lips.

By the time we finished the shower, I had forgotten that Aunty was in the living room. Tao led me from the bathroom to the bedroom, closing the door and then laying both of us down, continually kissing me without a pause.

When I woke up, I could smell food being cooked. And that's when I remembered Aunty was here, the sudden realization making me groan with embarrassment.

"It's okay. She's not going to be weird about it." Tao said, kissing my shoulder. He chuckled at how nervous I was. "She raised us both. She knew this was bound to happen eventually."

"That doesn't mean I'd like to do so in front of her! It's so embarrassing." I replied, making him laugh.

The two of us got dressed and then headed down the stairs to greet her, my face red as she smirked.

"Chenying is asleep now, so I wanted to make dinner for the two of you." She said, still smiling as the three of us sat down at the table.

"Thank you, Aunty," I replied, bowing to her and making her chuckle.

"I've missed us all being together in unity like this." She spoke, smiling softly at the memories. "I'm happy that you two have made up and gotten closer."

I blushed again at her words, her knowing look making it harder to not be embarrassed. Tao just chuckled and nodded in agreement, grasping my hand and squeezing it gently.

"When will you marry me?" He asked, earning a glare from me.

"Is this the right time to ask? Your mother is here. It's not the most romantic way to ask." I replied, making them both laugh.

"He's been asking for a few months now, he can't be romantic every time." She told me, earning a nod of agreement from Tao.

"So, when will you be my wife?"