Cycles [ChanBaek]

[Cycle 4- Happiness]

2 years later

Baekhyun felt a sudden stirring next to him that woke him up from his deep slumber. Slowly, he opened his eyes as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"Ch-Chanyeollie?" He asked, his voice thick as he started to raise his head.

"Hey love, sorry I woke you up," whispered Chanyeol as he leaned down and kissed Baekhyun's lips gently. "Go back to sleep. I'll prepare breakfast."

Baekhyun nodded and puckered his lips. Chanyeol chuckled and kissed him gently again.

Baekhyun closed his eyes as he heard Chanyeol leave, but he didn't go back to sleep. Instead, he sighed and smiled softly as he took Chanyeol's pillow and buried his face in it.

Life had a funny way of making things happen, something that Baekhyun had come to realize with time, especially ever since he met Chanyeol again.

When they met again, they hadn't been in love with each other. Chanyeol had once been in love, sure, and maybe Baekhyun too, but time erased that slowly. The affection, though, and the sweet memories of their earlier days were still very much present. As such, they slowly started to rebuild their friendship, getting to know each other again because, after all, twenty three years is a very long time. Surprisingly, though, at their core, nothing had changed.

It wasn't hard to fall in love again. If anything, it was as easy as breathing. And sure, maybe previous feelings were involved, but they both knew it wasn't just that. If anything, the new changes in them, the maturity and growth they'd both gone through was irresistible.

Neither said anything, though, following the bad habit of doubting the other's feelings.

This time around, though, they got some help.

Emma had taken an instant liking to Baekhyun and had become very close to him. There was a knowing glint in her eyes whenever she looked at him that made him nervous. Baekhyun always ignored it, of course, but her actions told him she knew who he was to Chanyeol and obviously, she was the one to notice first when their feelings changed.

It didn't surprise him when Mia, Chanyeol's older daughter, visited and, just like her sister, she saw him like she knew something he didn't.

They joined forces with Baekhyun's nephew and pushed Chanyeol and Baekhyun to go out and to spend more and more time together. With this, the teasing comments started until the pair realized what was going on.

One day, during one of their setup "dates," they walked to the park they always frequented. It was late at night, but that didn't matter, not when they had each other's company.

They discussed their feelings, they were honest about them as they also spoke about the fear, the uncertainty, and the lingering guilt and pain from so long ago. They opened up like they should've many years before and when they were done, they decided to give each other a shot as partners this time.

And maybe they kissed for the first time too.

With that, they started to get to know each other again, but this time as lovers, and once again, they discovered they very much loved that aspect too.

Time passed and they fell even more in love each day and with that, they became more touchy until they found themselves making out in Baekhyun's apartment on week days before Chanyeol returned to his house, or getting each other off on the weekends when Emma stayed with her grandparents or at a friend's house.

Eventually, though, the need for more arose and the couple sat down once again to discuss the matter. They wanted to be completely sure the other was ready. And when it finally happened, it was beautiful.