The Red Thread of Destiny

Epilogue

The cliffs at Chiang Mai, ten years later –

A tall, slim man stood at the edge of a cliff. Dressed in funeral black, his long hair flying in the wind, he stared unfocused into the deep abyss. He jerked at a sound, as if coming out of a trance. He took one step towards the cliff and dropped a lily, and stepped back.

"Da-da-da-da," a child's giggle could be heard as the man turned around and smiled, moving forward with open arms, to hold the two most precious treasures in his life. "All done Phi?" Rain asked, his smile blooming at his handsome husband. "Of course! Time to go back to the resort. I am sure the grandpas are missing this little troublemaker!" Phayu said. "Phiiiii! Yut! He is your son na? Can't call him troublemaker na," Rain said sternly. "Well, who was it who got into the cake on New Year's Eve? Who was it who put Nong Sky's brand new Hermes slippers into the pool? Who was it who stole Papa K's glasses? Who was the one..." "Okay, okay Phi! I concede defeat. He is a troublemaker. He is your son after all, can't completely blame him na khap!" Rain said, giggling.

As they left the cliffs to go back to the resort, Rain couldn't stop thinking about the day P'Phayu had come to his rescue. Lhong had pulled a gun on them, and would have shot them, if Uncle Kim had had not shot him from behind. And Uncle Kim had not taken any chances and directly aimed for his head. Lhong had died right in front of them. In the outer room, the fight had also come to an end as, fed up Tawan's taunts and him taking a shot at Papa K, P'Pai had shot him as well. He had been smarter than his father and his uncle, and like his Uncle Kim, had aimed for the head.

They had returned safe and almost sound. The rest of the vacation had flown past in taking care of Papa K, and enjoying to the utmost. It had been wonderful, and they had made a pact to do this every year. And they had held on to that. Every year, the number of people joining the group had kept increasing, as one by one families of their friends had started showing up with their kids, and P'Phayu and P'Pai's friends had also started showing up. It had come as no surprise that P'Cho and Yihwa had ended up together, but the surprise had come when Sig and Por did. Nut had asked Ple out, and she had said yes, making their group a beautiful lovely one.

At the end of Rain's 4th year, Phayu had proposed to him in a grand style, after taking permission from his fathers, and 2 years later, exactly 6 years after they had started officially dating Phayu and Rain had tied the knot in a traditional Thai ceremony at their new resort in Korat, surrounded by their closest friends and family. Rain had continued his career as professional dancer, but he had decided to give it up when Chula had asked him to join as a teacher. He had loved his new role, and it had made it so much easier, when last year, he and P'Phayu became parents to a beautiful baby boy, whom they had named 'Akkhi (Akk)', which meant fire.

Rain had watched as P'Phayu had blossomed without any burdens in his heart. He had become more open and even more loving. He had seen their son wrap his Dad around his finger, especially since his first word had been 'Dada', upsetting Rain considerably. "Why is it that I am the one who takes care of him and you are the one he calls first? Not fair Phi!" he had pouted. Phayu had kissed his adorable lips. "For me, you will always be my number one little one. Always and Forever, okay?" Rain had nodded and hugged his husband.

They spent every waking moment together and their bond had grown stronger and stronger. Sky had also flourished in his time with P'Pai. He had shared his past horrors and his boyfriend had stood by him. They had gotten married around 6 months after Phayu and Rain and Phayu had teased Pai mercilessly. "You are always 6 months late brother of mine!" Which had become a standing family joke when Pai and Sky's son 'Nam' had been born 6 months after Akk. Dao was also grownup now, and was dating his classmate Kleun, whom he had fallen in love with in high school, and they had been together since.

Tharn and Type doted on their grandson, just as Leo and Fiat on theirs. Often all the grandfathers would steal their grandsons, leaving theirs sons in peace to do other activities which had become a bit harder to do since the babies had come along! And this pleased Phayu and Pai to no end!

As they neared the resort, Phayu looked at Rain. "You are quiet little one. What's running through that head of yours?" he asked. "Thinking of the past Phi. Thinking of our journey, and how blessed we have been with all this love that we have received," he said. "And that would not have been possible without my little one," Phayu said, his love shining through his eyes. "Why do you say that Phi?" Rain asked, puzzled. "Well, if that small boy of 6 years had not forced me to make a promise, and had not the red thread of destiny tied us together then, how would I have met my most beautiful little one all over again?" he said, as he stroked the hair of his best friend, his lover and his husband, a beautiful 3-in-1 package who had changed his life forever!

"God only makes happy endings. If it's not happy, it's not an ending."