Wei Ying was distracted.

Lan Zhan pushed the cup of green tea towards him again.

He didn't pick it up.

So Lan Zhan picked him up and settled him into his lap, feeling much better that Wei Ying was this close now. Something warm and just right eased inside of him, and he lifted a finger under Wei Ying's chin so he could look into those beautiful silver eyes.

"What is Wei Ying thinking about?"

His eyes cleared immediately and he leaned in for a sweet kiss.

"I'm sorry...I was just...I was just thinking." He confessed. He glanced around at the tea cup and held it so Lan Zhan could take a sip, before finishing it off.

Lan Zhan poured some more for him.

"About?"

"Rumi." Wei Ying snuggled closer, resting his cheek on the strong shoulder.

Warm arms came around him, holding him nearer, and he relaxed fully, feeling secure.

"What about him?"

"I was wondering about his issues with water...he doesn't even drink milk, and technically that's a food. Won't that be a problem if we all go to the seaside?" He sighed.

"Mn. Did not even drink water in the Nether world." Lan Zhan remembered.

"You're right...at the time, I didn't think much of it...but I think we should find out as much about it as we can."

"Call Hui Gai."

Sparkling silver eyes looked back at his golden ones in shock.

"Really?"

"Really."

Wei Ying laughed out loud in delight. When Lan Zhan wanted to be funny, no one could match him in satire.

"My, you have made an improvement there. Hui Gai told me you hugged him. By yourself." Wei Ying glanced at the gradually pinking ears, wanting to tease him more.

"Only because he led me to you. Tenth hell." The fear of that time returned to haunt his golden irises.

Teasing forgotten, Wei Ying held his precious face gently and slanted his lips over Lan Zhan's. He could never get over how soft they were, even when their kisses turned demanding, bruising in his affections to give more, take more, love more.

Was that even possible? Their love burned brightly like a hot fire on a winter's day, the light that guided in the dark, the illumination in their souls burning only for each other. This feeling was priceless, to know that Lan Zhan would always have his back, and Wei Ying would for him.

"Thank you...I know you hate me saying that...but it's how I feel. Thank you for coming to get me then, and every single time you have."

"It is not needed." Lan Zhan refuted stubbornly, his golden eyes blazing adamantly. "Wei Ying will always be looked for, will always be found. Cannot live without Wei Ying."

"My love, my heart, I cannot live without you either." Wei Ying kissed him again. "But if I continue to sit here, we'll end up not being able to call Hui Gai." Reluctantly, he sat next to Lan Zhan, who pulled him closer quickly.

"Cannot stop touching Wei Ying." Lan Zhan admitted.

"I know, and I love it. But why do you think that is?" His silver eyes searched the those other's, wondering what it could be.

"Need to know Wei Ying is safe...is here."

Those words broke his heart a little and he couldn't resist kissing him again, wanting to reassure Lan Zhan that he was right there.

"It's okay, my love. You can do whatever you want." He gulped when he saw the fiery resolve strengthen in those golden eyes. "Within reason..." He tried to back out.

But Lan Zhan held his hands firmly within his.

"Later."

Wei Ying shivered with anticipation.

"Hui Gai!" He called out, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.

"PengYou!" Hui Gai was there immediately, holding out his arms.

Wei Ying eagerly got up and hugged him.

"Why did you remember this one?"

"Come, sit down." Wei Ying held his hand and made him sit down next to himself. "Actually, we wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"You can drink water, right?" Wei Ying poured him a cup of tea.

Hui Gai made a face.

"Yes...?"

"Can you please drink this?"

"Can I or will I?" He clarified.

"Can you. The first one..." Wei Ying stared at him.

"Tell me why." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Wei Ying sighed and went to retrieve a jar of Emperor's Smile. He poured out a cup for Hui Gai, who made another face, this time wrinkling his nose in distaste.

Wei Ying took one look at him and decided this was a battle not worth fighting and downed it himself, grinning at the relief on his friend's face. Then he poured him a cup of plain water.

Hui Gai's entire face lit up.

"Drink this." Wei Ying told him.

"Gladly." Hui Gai stared at it as if it was the nectar of the gods before drinking it slowly, relishing each mouthful.

"Now, explain."

"What?" Hui Gai stared back, his red eyes gleaming thoughtfully.

"Two things; one, that insane reaction to plain water, and two, how come you don't have a problem with it, but Rumi does? Like the kid hasn't touched a drop since we got here and I'm worried." Wei Ying felt his shoulders sag, the wonder of letting out his problems finally releasing the stress he had been unconsciously carrying.

"Firstly," Hui Gai held up his empty cup. "How can you call it plain, when it has the ability to give life? Filled with many nourishing qualities, this truly is a miracle." He turned the cup upside down, so the one last remaining drop fell out.

Hui Gai  held his hands around that single bead of moisture, suspending it in the air between them almost reverently. He shifted his hands so that one drop turned into a flower first, followed by a butterfly, and then a cat, to finally a stick man. Then he let it rest on his palm and licked it up with his red tongue.

"Not plain."

Wei Ying had been mesmerised, watching him do all of that without batting an eyelid. He raised a brow.

"Oh...that...hehe." Hui Gai looked almost bashful. "I've been on babysitting duties. The children love a show." He grinned with all of his pointy teeth.

"Not just the kids...." Wei Ying remarked with a smile. "When do you get the time? You know, because you're a king...?"

"Ah, that's just a title. I pay it no mind. And as for the kids, I make time. It's the best part of my day. Klem is fully walking and running now, quite the handful. She only sits for story time in the evening."

Wei Ying smiled at the look on his face.

"Being a father suits you."

"I learned from the best." He looked at both of them.

Wei Ying blushed before he remembered. "But what about Rumi? Can you shed any light? And is it just him or does it apply to all demons?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but I can only drink if you offer it freely." Hui Gai revealed.

"Really?" Wei Ying was surprised. "But that first ever time?"

"You asked me what I wanted, and that's what I wanted. I only drank it after you gave me your permission."

"But how did you know that?" Wei Ying persisted.

"I'm not sure, except something inside here," He held his palm over his heart, "told me it was safe. I don't know about anybody else. However," He stood up. "That's easily rectified."

He vanished and was back in seconds with Lor, who looked everything but happy.

"Drink." Hui Gai thrust another cup of water at the poor demon who was now nonplussed at this situation.

Lor made a face and swallowed it down.

"So he's okay."

Hui Gai vanished again with him, this time returning with another demon. This time it was Haitch.

"Can you drink water?" Wei Ying asked him.

"Yeah, no worries." Haitch downed his cup and was returned without ceremony.

Hui Gai came back with a little imp this time. He flung the poor hairy ball on the table. Wei Ying immediately felt sorry for it, stroking it's fur gently.

"Don't do that. He's real clingy." Hui Gai warned him.

But it was too late now, the thing was purring, no, growling, with love. Wei Ying beamed at it first and then a pleading look came into his eyes. He held it close to his chest and pouted at Lan Zhan, who just sighed.

Wei Ying beamed at him, seeing the resigned look and knowing he could now keep this pet. He set out a dish of water for the thing to drink from, which it did while burrowing closer into his chest. It looked up at him with pure adoration.

Hui Gai went to take it away and it bit him, before growling with more love when Wei Ying scratched it behind where he thought its ears might be. It was hard to say, among all that fur...

"It's yours now." Hui Gai sucked on his finger in irritation. "As for Rumi, I can check in our library. My father has all sorts of books on everything."

Wei Ying nodded at him, but his attention returned to the warm brown furry thing in his lap, its big brown eyes full of love towards him.

"What shall we call you, Thing? Actually, Thing is a good name. Do you like that, Thing?" And more nonsense spewed as he amused himself, his soft voice calming the thing into sleep.

The growling did not stop.

Hui Gai left them to it.

*********

A/N

This one is for all of you avid fans...it makes my heart swell happily when so many of you read immediately as soon as each chapter is published. I only wish there were more hours in a day, or I could type faster, either one would do.

This chapter is especially for @saranisett2002 for your patience. It's a longer one too, so please enjoy.

Have a great Saturday everyone with lots of chocolate and fun!