Eternal Love of Dream: The Aftermath

Saying Goodbye, Part 4

Author's Note:  the night is finally over and it's finally time to say goodbye. This is what I imagine is happening each time they're about to part, since they're so smitten with each other.

********************************************
"Xiaobai, you and Gungun will remain in Qingqiu while I'm in deep sleep."   Donghua said it as a soft command, somehow looking imposing as only he could do while lying on the bed in the Tai Chen Palace's innermost Yang Shu chamber.  Gungun had hugged his father goodbye already and headed off to find A-Li.  Gungun knew his parents wanted to hold hands a little more since they had looked so obviously unwilling to be apart all morning during breakfast. 

"I promise."  Fengjiu said, tucking the blanket on him and nuzzling her chin against his palm.  She couldn't bear to part from him for three months.  These last nine months with him had been like a dream.  Having spent every day as a family of three, she didn't know how she could go back to days and nights without him.  But Fengjiu didn't want him to worry, so she said, "Sleep well, Dijun.  No danger will come to us with my family around.  When you wake, I will make you all your favorite dishes."

He couldn't bear to be apart from her either, pulling her closer and looking up at her brave smile.  "I love the way you dote on me,"* he said, kissing her birthmark.   

"I love doting on you," she said with a teary smile. "I will make you so many sweets, you won't be able to finish it all."

He raised an eyebrow. "You cooked me a banquet before our fair adventure...did your husband fail in eating everything you made?"

"No, that's why I will make you even more.  You'll become so fat from it." She giggled at the cute image of an expanding Donghua.

"Do you know the consequences of fattening your husband?" He whispered against her ear, making her shiver. "I will have to bother my dear wife even more with a certain type of exercise."

She blushed. Images from last night flooding her memory. "Dijun, you're being so..."

"Naughty?" He asked, nibbling her earlobe, making her moan.

"Dijun, you're supposed to go to sleep," she sighed, as his lips trailed down her neck. 

"Kissing you will help me sleep," he reasoned.  He expected her to protest but was surprised when she cradled his jaw and kissed his lips sweetly. There were tears in her eyes as she nuzzled his nose, before giving him a tender kiss.

"I will miss you, my dear husband."

She rarely used that endearment, since she still was so accustomed to calling him by his title.  The sound of the words brought tears to his eyes. "I will miss you too, my dearest wife."

"Can I hold your hand until you go to sleep?" Fengjiu asked, reluctant to let go. She gasped as he flipped her onto the bed. 

He turned on his side to face her, holding her hand to his heart. "As you wish." He said with that sweet, happy smile that utterly melted her heart.   "It's time for your present today."

Fengjiu blushed a deep red from thinking of his present last night. "P-p-present?"

Donghua laughed and pulled her close to his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry, it's not that kind of present. I can't have too many replicas of me...otherwise, you wouldn't want me anymore."

Fengjiu hugged him tight. "I could never stop wanting you." But reassured that the present wouldn't be so demanding on her body, she whispered excitedly, "So what is it?"

Donghua laughed again and transported a bundle into his hand. Fengjiu sat up so she could open the sack. It was one of his signature purple robe.

"It's the robe I tried to gift you when I saved you from that beast and you rejected it. But I enchanted it so my sandalwood scent remains even if you wash it." He kissed her hand.  "I was worried it'll be hard for you to sleep without me holding you.  This way you can wear it and pretend you're in my arms."

"Oh Dijun..." she wrapped her arms around him and promptly started crying into his chest.

"What's wrong, Xiaobai? If you don't like it, I'll burn it."

"No, I love it. I just can't believe I ever doubted that you loved me. You're always thinking of me and what I need.  I'm sorry for wasting so much time apart."

"It was my fault, Xiaobai." He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. 

She started to trace a circle where his heart was. "How about we both stop blaming ourselves?  I promise to let you know when I'm sad about something so there will be fewer misunderstandings."

"It's a deal." He smiled and kissed her lips.  "I used to think protecting you meant hiding you from dangerous things. But you are strong and capable.  I promise to never hide anything from you again out of concern for protecting you."

"It's a deal." She repeated his words and kissed him to seal their pact.  She hugged him and smiled into his chest, just enjoying being in his arms. Not before long, Fengjiu yawned and fell asleep.

Donghua continued holding her.  It seemed like a lifetime ago when she had fallen asleep on him after her fight with Miao Luo in Fanyin Valley.  He had known then that he wanted her as his Empress.  There was never a shortage of people who wanted his protection, but she had been the first person in the history of the world who wanted to protect him.  Having lived for 400,000 years, he had gone into deep sleep countless times to recover his cultivation and, sometimes, just out of boredom.  It had never been difficult for him to take a break from the world until her.  Yet here he was delaying in casting a sleeping spell because he couldn't bear to be apart from her for a mere three months, barely a blink of an eye for a God as old as he.  He knew he was only capable of such love because she had made him so.  He kissed her hand softly and thought proudly, Xiaobai was indeed so capable.

______________________________
*Ep. 52 when she tells him of all the plans she had to plant fruit and veggies so she could make food for him and calls Bihai Cangling their home.  Donghua is filled with love and tells her she dotes on him the most and she hugs him and says she does.  The sweetest scene!

Thanks for your comments and votes! ❤️