A Sunflower in the Winter - ChanBaek

Epilogue

It had come as no surprise to anyone when Chanyeol proposed to Baekhyun a year after they got back together. What shocked everyone, though, was that it took him so long to do so.

If anything, Baekhyun had wanted to do it himself, and had been planning to buy him a ring when the giant surprised him. Not that Baekhyun minded, of course. Anything his giant did for him was always welcomed with love and affection because, in Baekhyun's eyes, Chanyeol was his salvation.

And it was in that moment, at their wedding reception as Chanyeol walked over to the stage, ready to gift Baekhyun the song he wrote especially for the occasion, that Baekhyun finally realized that, indeed, he was now Chanyeol's husband.

This life has twist and turns
But it's the sweetest mystery
When you're with me
We say a thousand words
But no one else is listening
I will be

Baekhyun felt his heart swell with joy as his now husband stood in that stage, singing his heart out while looking as handsome as ever. With his hair up and his tuxedo in place, his giant belted lyrics of love for Baekhyun, promising nothing but everlasting love and devotion to him.

Every night and every day
No matter what may come our way
We're in this thing together
The dark turns to light
We both come alive, tonight
I'm talking bout forever

The smaller felt tears prick his eyes at the words, Chanyeol's unconditional love for him touching every inch of a soul he'd thought dead at one point. He would never get tired of saying it, but it seemed like only Chanyeol had been able to warm what had been frozen over time by mistreatment, abuse and pain.

Never gonna let you go
Giving you my heart and soul
I'll be right here with you for life
Oh, baby all I wanna do
Is spend my every second with you
So look in my eyes
I'll be by your side

In that moment, Chanyeol looked up and met Baekhyun's gaze, tears of his own moistening his eyes as he smiled brightly at his husband. Baekhyun had no reason to doubt Chanyeol's devotion to him. He never did. Chanyeol had always been honest with him, and kind, and perfect. And now, with his eyes on him, his demeanor and his voice and his words screaming to the world just how much he loved him, Baekhyun knew that no matter what happened, what they had was forever.

The storms may come
And winds may blow
I'll be your shelter for life
This love, this love
I mean it till the day I die

Despite the Parks' constant threats that still flooded them to that day (and actions that had succeeded in breaking several deals for the giant, which he didn't seem to care about), Chanyeol kept his word. The now blond man kept himself strong and resolute in his decision. When he told Baekhyun he would protect him, he truly did. And when he promised to give him everything he ever wished for, he also kept his promise. For every second that they spent apart for those dreaded six years, Chanyeol made up for it tenfold with the smallest of actions, seeking always to show Baekhyun that he was in for the long run.

Oh, never gonna let you go
Giving you my heart and soul
I'll be right here with you for life
Oh, baby all I wanna do
Is spend my every second with you
So look in my eyes
I'll be by your side

Yeah, look in my eyes
I'll be by your side
For life

As soon as the song ended, everyone in the hall started to clap, the emotions the song portrayed having touched everyone's hearts. But none was touched like Baekhyun's had been. Needing to feel his husband's warmth close to his, he ran towards him and threw himself in his embrace, his arms hugging Chanyeol's neck tightly as Baekhyun finally allowed his tears to fall.

"Why are you crying, Baekhyunee?" Asked Chanyeol as he wiped his tears away.

"I'm just so happy right now," he said as he nuzzled Chanyeol's neck, forgetting in that moment where exactly they were. "All I ever wanted was a family to call my own, one I could have with you, and we finally have it."

Chanyeol embraced him tightly as the band started to play another song and guests surrounded them. "You above everyone else deserves this. I promised you I would give this to you, that I would stay by your side through thick and thin, through every high and every low. And this right here, Byun Baekhyun, is me striving to keep that promise. I'll continue to work hard and to give you everything you want."

"Thank you, Byun Chanyeol, for loving me and forgiving me and being the sun I had been looking for all my life," said Baekhyun, still feeling giddy and so incredible touched at the fact that Chanyeol had decided to change his last name to Baekhyun's, officially giving the smaller what he'd always desired: a family of his own.

"I will always be there for you, my beautiful sunflower. No matter how dark the day may get or how many storm clouds may try to come your way, I'll always be there to give you the warmth you deserve," said Chanyeol.

Touched by his words, Baekhyun stood on his tiptoes and kissed Chanyeol briefly, trying his best to transmit all the emotions he couldn't put into words in that one, simple touch of the lips. "Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too," murmured Chanyeol as he rubbed his nose against Baekhyun's, his lips mirroring the adoring smile the smaller was sporting.

"Papa, dad," they heard Mino say. They separated slightly to find their son frowning up at them, a pout on his lips. "You left me alone."

Smiling fondly, Chanyeol took him into his arms and kissed his cheek. "We're so sorry, Mino. We'll make it up to you."

Baekhyun wrapped his arms around the loves of his and smiled. "Want to dance with us, little one?"

Smiling, Mino nodded. And so, the small Byun family started to sway around, joy in their hearts as they finally stood as one. After such a long period of separation and longing, it was finally time to take the next step together, their lives now tied and complete with each other by their side.

Sure, Chanyeol had completely severed all ties with his family, Jongin remaining as the only link that associated the giant to them, but that was okay. He now had Baekhyun and Mino, who would never leave his side and would give him all the love he deserved. Baekhyun would make sure of that no matter what.

And with pure joy, Baekhyun finally felt like his life was set. His giant always called him the sunflower that brought beauty and serenity into his life, and like a sunflower, Baekhyun had always been looking for its sun. It took time, but finally, after all the struggles, Baekhyun could finally say that he had found his source of light and this time around, he wasn't planning on letting it go.

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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it! I still have 2 drabbles to post, next week the first one will be up. Have a nice day/night!