#bap fluff

Every time Yongguk had to move you to get up, you whined, watching and waiting for him to come back so you could use him as your personal human pillow. He always shot you that gorgeous smile of his as he laughed at you in amusement, saying, “I’ll be right back.”

He would come back with fresh drinks for the both of you, and you’d dismiss them completely just to wrap your arms around his waist again. Your body was curled up against him, basking in the warmth he provided despite the blanket that rested over your legs.

When he tried to get up again, you locked your hands together, pressing your face in his shirt defiantly. “I need to grab the remote, love,” he chuckled. You shook your head. “Leave it. I don’t care what we watch.” Yongguk settled back against the cushions, rubbing his hand gently up and down your back.

“What is it, dear?” Cassie asked once Evie sat down cautiously.

Evie pressed her lips together briefly, hoping her nerves didn’t show on her face -- though she was sure they did.

“I --” she began. “I just... was wondering... what it’s like being married.”

Cassie reached up and cradled her sister’s cheek in her palm, her lips curving into a soft but beaming smile. “You’re nervous for the wedding? It’s understandable. It’s a huge change in your life.”

When Yongguk had somewhat proposed to her on Christmas Eve, right before he’d left to go find Joey and Brian, she had been so excited. She knew Yongguk was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with; there were absolutely no doubts in her mind.

And when he actually proposed to her three days later after bringing the newly married couple home, she had accepted with tears of joy in her eyes.

They’d been planning the wedding for a few months now, and Evie was still excited...

But she was also nervous, as Cassie presumed. Not necessarily in a bad way, of course. She loved Yongguk dearly, and she still knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

But it was a huge change. And Evie had never been the biggest fan of change. She liked reading her favorite books over and over again because they never changed.

She’d lived her whole life at Mistletoe Manor with her two sisters, and now... she would be getting married and leaving.

Cassie had stayed here with Daehyun because she could quite possibly give birth to a son in the future, and he would become the heir to the estate. They certainly could have moved back to Daehyun’s home, but they had eventually decided to stay here.

But Evie had no real reason to stay and had agreed to move into Yongguk’s house.

...Well. ‘House’ was not the correct term. From her future husband’s description, it was even bigger than Mistletoe Manor. And she would become the mistress of the household in just a few days.

So, yes. Evie was just a bit nervous.

Or... terrified.

She nodded in response to her sister’s question, wringing her hands in her lap and furrowing her brow deeply. “Is it normal to be nervous?”

“Of course, dear,” Cassie assured her. “I would like to meet a bride who wasn’t nervous before her wedding. I most certainly was.”

“I just... I thought it would be different since I actually --” But then Evie cut herself off because she didn’t want to sound insensitive.

Cassie finished her sentence for her, though. “Since you actually love him. You’re right, I didn’t love Daehyun when we got married. And our first year of marriage was... not typical. And quite difficult. But now we’re happier than I ever dreamed we would be. Imagine what will happen to you. You’ll fall even more in love with Yongguk, and you’ll be so happy your heart could simply burst, I’m certain of it.”

“You are?” Evie asked meekly.

“Absolutely,” Cassie nodded. “It might be difficult, at first, but Yongguk will be there by your side. He’ll probably be nervous, too, and the two of you can help each other through it.”

Once Cassie stopped talking, Evie let out a shaky breath, though her stomach was not quite as jittery as it had been just minutes ago.

“Thank you,” she whispered to her older sister, reaching to take both of her hands. 

“Oh, Evie,” Cassie murmured, bringing her sister’s hands up to her lips and kissing them. “I feel I have always underestimated you, and for that, I am truly sorry. But I hope you know just how delighted I am that you’ve found someone who loves and appreciates you for who you are and not who you should be.”

Evie simply smiled softly before leaning forward to hug Cassie tightly. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” Cassie replied, her voice becoming choked with emotion. “I will miss you, but I know you’ll be more than content over at Blackmon Abbey. Do say you’ll come and visit as often as you can, though.”

Evie nodded, finding a lump of emotion forming in her own throat. “Yes, of course,” she promised. “As often as we can.”

When Cassie pulled away, she reached up to quickly wipe a tear away and then sniffled. “Thank you for coming to me. I hope I helped, even if just a little bit.”

“Oh, you did,” Evie assured her. “Very much. I -- Why were you alone, though? Where is Lydia?”

Cassie’s eyes were still glassy with tears but at Evie’s question, a sly smirk appeared on her lips. “Lydia is... otherwise engaged.”

Unsurprisingly, Evie knew just what she meant. “Ah, I see,” she murmured with a smirk of her own. “I shall not seek her out, then, and let her enjoy her evening.”

“You should seek out Joey, however,” Cassie suggested. “She certainly has an entirely different perspective on marriage than I do, so she might have some other advice to offer.”

“Oh, yes, you’re right,” Evie agreed, her brow furrowing softly. “I’ll go into the village to call on her tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” Cassie grinned. “I would offer to accompany you, but I have plenty here to keep me busy.”

The look on Cassie’s face was just secretive enough to make Evie suspicious... but she kept her lips zipped. For now.

“Where are we going?” Lydia asked quietly, her lips tugging into a soft, shy smile.

Seo Joon smirked to himself as he held Lydia’s shoulders with one hand and covered her eyes with the other, guiding her to a small room off the servant’s hallway. It was typically used for ironing and shining shoes, but not tonight. Tonight, Seo Joon had conspired with the cook and Anna to...

Well, you’ll find out soon enough.

He bent down as he shuffled along the hall, placing his lips next to Lydia’s ear. “How many times have I told you to just be patient?” he whispered.

“I’ve been patient the whole afternoon!” Lydia retorted with a giggle. “Plus, I’m starving. You know I get more impatient the hungrier I am.”

“Don’t worry, that will be remedied soon enough, my love,” Seo Joon murmured before pressing a kiss to Lydia’s earlobe.

Lydia leaned back slightly against Seo Joon’s chest, bringing one hand up to hold onto his wrist as he kept her eyes covered.

“Almost there...” he said as they approached the doorway.

“Can I see now?”

“Hold on just... one... more...”

Seo Joon stopped walking, letting go of Lydia’s shoulder and reaching out to open the door. As the hinges squeaked and the door swung open into the room, he removed his hand from her eyes and pressed his lips together in anticipation.

Instead of the usual shoes littering the table, there was a crisp, white tablecloth and two lit candles in silver candlesticks adorned the top.

Lydia’s eyes fluttered open, her lips parting slightly in surprise when she saw the scene before her. Also on the table were two plates of Lydia’s favorite meal: roast chicken with mashed potatoes and vegetables.

Seo Joon had thought to ask (plead) the cook to make a fancier meal, one she would prepare for the family upstairs, but... he knew Lydia particularly loved Cook’s roast chicken, and all he wanted to do in life was make her happy.

“Seo --” Lydia gaped, turning around briefly to glance at him before stepping forward toward the table. “You... you prepared this?”

Seo Joon gently closed the door behind him. “I did,” he replied with a very proud grin. “It’s been so busy, and we haven’t had a chance to have any real alone time since the Mistletoe Ball, so I thought I would kindly ask Lady Cassandra to give you the evening off tonight.”

Lydia turned around fully then, her eyes wide and her brow furrowed slightly. She stepped over in front of Seo Joon and took his hands. “Thank you,” she said, squeezing his hands gently. “This is -- it’s perfect.”

Seo Joon’s grin widened, and he leaned down to press his lips to hers. He let go of her hands, moving his arms to circle around her waist and pull her closer.

The corners of Lydia’s mouth turned up into a hint of a smile as she slid her arms around Seo Joon’s neck.

“Have I told you,” Seo Joon murmured in-between kisses. “Just how much I love you?”

“Yes,” Lydia chuckled softly. “But, after all these years, it’s more than nice to hear it as often as you say it.”

To be honest, she was still getting used to everything. A voice inside her head was still telling her she shouldn’t be touching or kissing Seo Joon right now because she was so accustomed to hiding her feelings.

But the door was closed. No one else was in the room with them. Cassie had given her the night off. She could kiss the man she was in love with as she damn well pleased!

“Well, then,” Seo Joon whispered, rubbing the tip of his nose against hers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Lydia replied with a grin.

“I love you so much that... it’s hard to even put into words.”

“Who needs words, anyway?” Lydia’s grin widened, and she stood on her toes to kiss him again. She pressed her lips to his more urgently than before, capturing his bottom lip and tugging on it. Seo Joon held her even closer, even more tightly, and a whole flock of butterflies suddenly appeared in her stomach.

...Oh, wait.

Those weren’t butterflies. Butterflies didn’t growl like that.

She was just still hungry.

Seo Joon pulled away, letting out a soft laugh and gazing down at her with a teasingly adoring grin. “I see it’s not actually me you’re hungry for.”

Lydia’s cheeks warmed at his remark. She pulled away, trying to hide a bashful smile as Seo Joon took her hand and led her over to one of the chairs at the table.

“The food is starting to get cold, anyway,” he pointed out as he helped her sit down and spread a cloth napkin over her lap. Before he sat down across from her, he served her, dishing out the potatoes and vegetables and cutting off some tender pieces of the chicken.

“Why thank you,” Lydia grinned, her eyes widening as she took in all of the delicious-looking food now in front of her.

“Please, don’t wait on my account,” Seo Joon assured her as he began to fill up his own plate.

Lydia, although polite, was also very good at following directions... so, she lifted her utensils and dove right in.

Unsurprisingly, the next ten minutes or so consisted of just a few sentences exchanged between the couple. The two of them were far too busy eating to engage in conversation, and when Lydia finally set down her knife and fork with a satisfied sigh, Seo Joon informed her they weren’t quite finished yet.

“What do you mean?” she asked curiously as Seo Joon took her empty plate away.

He set both of their plates down on a side table behind him and then bent down to retrieve...

When he stood back up and placed a small trifle on the table, Lydia let out an extremely delighted gasp.

“You didn’t think I would forget about dessert, did you?” Seo Joon smirked as he handed her a spoon.

“Oh, I do love you!” Lydia giggled.

Seo Joon’s grin lit up his face as he watched her -- Lydia, the absolute and complete love of his life -- scoop into the trifle with unadulterated glee. 

Even if he didn’t have a romantic walk in the cold moonlight planned after this, and even if he didn’t know he would kiss her until she was breathless later, this would go down in his personal history book as a perfect evening. Just the fact he got to spend this time alone with her, and the fact she was so adorably happy was enough. More than enough.

He would have to plan more nights like this -- as many as he possibly could. One day, far in the future, he would plan a night like this to propose to her.

But, for now, he was fully content with the way things were. No more secret longing, no more hidden glances, no more worrying and fretting over ‘what ifs.’ He wanted to marry her, yes... but one day. Not just yet. 

He’d waited so many years just to get where they were now. He could most certainly wait to take things a step further, and Lydia -- without question -- was worth the wait.

It had taken Seo Joon, Yongguk, and Daehyun almost two days to find Lady Josephine and Brian after their somewhat dramatic escape on Christmas Eve.

Thankfully, when they did find them, the couple was already married and awaiting passage on a boat to America.

Daehyun managed to convince them there was no need to run away to a whole other continent; her sisters certainly wanted her to return, and even if her parents didn’t quite approve of the marriage, they would much rather she stay here than be an ocean away.

Joey had -- somewhat reluctantly -- agreed to come back, and when she and Brian had returned to the manor, her entire family had surrounded her. They’d hugged and kissed her, both Cassie and her mother had been crying, and her father had almost immediately ushered Brian into his study to interrogate him.

The next week, the newlyweds had moved into a house in the nearby village, and Brian had begun teaching at the local school. Apparently, knowing how to read and write was a good enough qualification; Brian did end up rather enjoying the job, though.

And now, just about three months after their legendary departure, they were settled in their quaint cottage and -- much to some’s surprise -- incredibly happy.

Joey smiled to herself as she thought of how Brian -- her husband -- still teased her and got on her nerves. Daily, in fact. As she stuck the needle through her embroidery hoop, she recalled the first snowball fight they’d had -- and the few they’d had since, as well.

When a sudden knock interrupted her thoughts, she let out a soft gasp and dropped her project on the floor. Instead of picking it up, she scurried to the door and practically threw it open.

With Brian being gone at the school all day, Joey’s ideas for keeping herself busy were wearing thin, and she was more than glad to have a visitor.

“Evie!” she cried with delight when she saw her sister standing on the doormat.

She was especially glad to have this specific visitor.

“I hope I’m not interrupt --”

“No, of course not,” Joey assured her hastily, stepping aside to usher her in. “Please, come in. Shall I ring for some tea?”

“Oh, yes, please,” Evie answered, taking off her coat once she’d entered the house. “It’s almost colder than it was at Christmas time.”

Joey popped her head into the kitchen and requested a tea tray from the cook -- the only servant she had now.

“Come, sit down,” she murmured to Evie before leading her to the living room, the room she’d just occupied. 

Joey bent to pick up her embroidery, and Evie let out a soft sputter of a chuckle.

“What is that?” 

“It’s -- it’s my embroidery!” Joey explained with a huff. “Why did you say it like that?!”

“You’ve never embroidered a thing in your life,” Evie laughed.

“Well!” Joey cried defensively. “I can’t think of anything else to do! I’m stuck in this house all day while Brian’s at work!”

Evie’s jaw practically dropped at her younger sister’s ludicrous statement. “Are you quite serious?”

“Yes! I’m bored out of my mind!”

“Joey! There are so many things you could do outside of the house!”

“Oh?” Joey asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Such as? And don’t say planting a garden, you know my thumb is the opposite of green.”

“I can think of any number of things you could get involved in! Like -- the orphanage, for example. They’re always in need of help!”

Joey’s brow furrowed softly, and the corners of her mouth turned down in thought.

Hmm. The orphanage.

...Why had she never thought of that? She hadn’t been around children too much, but the ones she’d met in her adulthood had certainly seemed rambunctious and clever enough to keep her thoroughly occupied. It wasn’t too far from the village, and it would certainly be much better than trying to embroider all day.

“Evie,” Joey said softly. “I believe... you have come up with a wonderful idea.”

For a split second, the expression on Evie’s face was one of surprise. It quickly morphed to one of satisfaction, however, and she tipped her chin into a satisfied nod. “Of course, I have.”

Before Joey’s train of thought could get permanently derailed onto thoughts of the orphanage, she turned back to her older sister.

“Now, why did you come to see me?” she asked directly. Joey had never been one to mince words.

Evie instantly frowned, though, her forehead wrinkling adorably. “Why do I need a reason to come see you?”

“Because... I mean, don’t you, especially, always need a reason to leave the house?”

“...Well, yes.”

Joey simply smirked triumphantly.

“The thing is... it’s rather a... well, a private topic,” Evie replied in hushed tones.

Before Joey had the chance to ask what her sister could possibly mean by that, the door opened, and the cook ambled in with the tea tray.

Evie sat silently as the cook set down the tray and poured tea into two floral, porcelain cups.

“Thank you, Mrs. Whitmore,” Joey grinned before taking one of the cups and handing it to her sister.

Mrs. Whitmore dipped into a curtsy before shuffling out of the room, closing the door behind her.

It took less than half a second for Joey to focus all of her attention back on Evie.

“What could you possibly mean by ‘a private topic’?” she asked in hushed -- but hurried -- tones.

Evie’s cheeks immediately pinkened, and Joey’s mind went right into the gutter.

“I’m just... nervous,” Evie gulped.

Joey waited as long as she possibly could for her sister to continue... which ended up being about three seconds.

“About the wedding night?”

Evie’s cheeks pinkened some more, and her brows rushed down to wrinkle her forehead. “No! I mean, yes, but I’m not -- just -- getting married, in general. And moving away from home and being mistress of such a large estate and -- there are just so many changes, and I’m incredibly anxious about it all.”

“Ohhhh,” Joey nodded in understanding before taking a sip of her tea. “Yes, of course. You would be nervous about that.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Evie murmured with a slight pout.

“You are a creature of habit, my dear,” Joey pointed out. “You like to be surrounded by things and places and people you already know, like books and our family. And you prefer to stay in the background. You don’t like attention -- never have. And now, suddenly, you’ll be in a new house with all the servants looking to you for direction and leadership. I should have guessed! My, you must be quite terrified!”

When Joey lifted her gaze to her older sister, the look on Evie’s face was not one of relief that Joey had just voiced the nagging thoughts in the back of her head.

No. Not one of relief in the slightest.

Her expression was one of absolute panic.

Hastily, Joey set her teacup down and reached over, resting her hand comfortingly on Evie’s knee. “Oh, my dear, you will be all right. I’m all right, aren’t I? And I moved from Mistletoe Manor to this... well, it can only be called a cottage, can’t it? It took a while to get used to, but having Brian with me helped tremendously! Truly, it took hardly any time at all to create a new routine and get settled here.”

Evie softly quirked one eyebrow at that. “But you’re embroidering to pass the time...”

Joey waved one hand through the air dismissively. “Oh, you know me. Always wanting to do things I’m frightfully bad at. I’ve never had a hobby like you, which is why you will be fine. I am much assured that Blackmon Abbey has a very well-stocked library. Does it not?”

Evie nodded, though she still looked just a bit anxious.

“Then you will be more than fine. There are probably an enormous amount of books in there you haven’t read, so if your husband is not on hand to ease your worries, you’ll have your books.”

After chewing on her lip for a moment or two, Evie shot her younger sister a hopeful glance. “It won’t be... too scary, will it?”

Joey shook her head vigorously. “My best advice is to simply talk to your husband-to-be. I know how much you hate talking about your feelings, but it must be done. And I promise you will feel better afterward.”

Knowing her sister was right -- for once in her life -- Evie nodded.

“I will,” she said with quiet determination. “Thank you, Joey.”

Joey, looking entirely too pleased with herself, removed her hand from her sister’s knee and took her teacup again.

“You are most welcome,” she said with a confident grin. For she was feeling quite confident. She had just given her sister some smashingly wonderful advice, and she was currently devising a plan to keep herself occupied.

Things were looking up!