A Narrow Bridge

New Life

“I want a baby.”

A loud, out of tune twang came from the guqin on the other side of the room. Wei Ying turned to look at his husband.

“You…” Lan Zhan stared at him, his face mostly blank except for the hint of a raised eyebrow. It was clear from the silence that he wasn’t going to say anything more. Wei Ying smirked.

“I want a baby,” he repeated.

“We have A-Yuan,” Lan Zhan said.

“We do,” Wei Ying got up from where he had been sat by the window and moved to sit in front of Lan Zhan. “But A-Yuan is grown up now.”

“He is,” Lan Zhan said with a measured tone.

“Don’t you want to have children running around the house again?” Wei Ying asked. “Neither of us had much time with A-Yuan when he was little. I’m not trying to replace him; it’s just that I’d like to have children around here again.”

“Are you…” Lan Zhan paused, and Wei Ying could see he was worried about something. “Are you unhappy here, Wei Ying?”

“What?” Wei Ying was taken by surprise. “No!”

“Then…”

“I have loved every minute of being a father to A-Yuan,” Wei Ying said quickly. “And I have loved raising him with you. But, I’m greedy, Lan Zhan. When I like something, I want more.”

“You… you want to raise more children with me?” Lan Zhan asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Wei Ying leaned over the table between them and smiled up at his husband. “You’re a wonderful dad.” Lan Zhan’s ears flushed red, and Wei Ying practically leapt over the table and into his lap. “You’re so cute!”

“You’re not being serious,” Lan Zhan said as Wei Ying gently pulled at his flushed ears and teased him.

“I am,” Wei Ying sat up in his lap, his arms dropping around Lan Zhan’s shoulders. “I promise I am. I want more children.”

“What do you suggest?” Lan Zhan asked as he circled his arms around Wei Ying’s waist.

“We see children who need a good home wherever we go,” Wei Ying said as he ran his fingers through Lan Zhan’s hair. “We should help them.”

“Street orphans?” Lan Zhan asked.

“If Sect Leader Jiang hadn’t recognised me on the streets, what would have become of me?” Wei Ying said. “I was given a new life, and there are so many who deserve that chance too.”

Lan Zhan stared at him for a moment, a warm smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “Wei Ying, you have a good heart,” he said softly. He brushed his knuckles across Wei Ying’s cheek and drew him in for a kiss.

“You’re ok with this?” Wei Ying asked, resting his forehead against Lan Zhan’s.

“Mn.”

“Are you sure?” Wei Ying asked, suddenly worried he’d pushed his husband into doing something he didn’t really want to. “If you’re too busy with your duties-”

“Not too busy,” Lan Zhan said. “Would make time for you and our children.”

Wei Ying felt his heart melt, and he pressed a hard kiss to Lan Zhan’s lips. “I love you, Lan Zhan.”