Faith / The Great Doctor -

At The End of Dreams

Like ice melting in his heart, from so many nights of wishing, just hoping that she hadn't really gone, Choi Young turned at the sight of her and walked down to look at her more closely. He had seen her, just like this, so many times in his dreams. She smiled at him quietly with loving eyes, brimming with tears, like his own. But then it would end, and he would wake up again in his room in the barracks, and she would be gone, and he would feel the pain of disappointment and separation once more. Eun Soo, his love would be gone. But for now. For this instant, he took her in, putting aside all the battles he fought, all the people he killed… even the loyalty to his king which was so important to him. For a moment, like so many times before, he knew only her. His eyes looked her over and he smiled a deep smile. Just as he was preparing himself to wake up, she reached out to him with a soft hand, and with a jolt, he realized that he wasn't… He wasn't dreaming at all. His eyes widened as he shakily reached for her.

"Eun Soo?"

"I am home, General."

His heart began to pound as his arms flew around her. My God. She was really there!

"How? Just how did you—?"

She nodded, looking down, "I never meant to leave, Choi Young. I was trying so hard to get back to you. Somehow it just all went wrong. I ended up in a different time completely. I always feared that you really died that day."

He shook his head, confused.

"But I should not have doubted you. You have always been strong. I am just so glad… So glad that you are well."

He stepped back and stared into her eyes and cupping a gentle hand to her cheek, entranced with her, "I am alive again. You make me so."

"Yes," Eun Soo smiled as a tear ran down her cheek.

Choi Young nuzzled his face against her cheek, "Do not leave again... Please…"

"There are no more gates to leave through, Choi Young. I took the last one to get back to you."

He leaned back just enough to capture her lips. It wasn't the same as before. The kiss they shared wasn't restrained or proper. His arms circled around her and didn't want to let go. He feared that if he let go of her even for an instant, she would disappear. He feared that if she was more than a couple inches from him, his heart would break. With the top of his robe that stuck out of his armor, wrapped in her fist, she didn't feel like letting him go either.

He broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers, "Eun Soo, marry me. Let me spoil you, and care for you as I could care for no one else. Let me have you at my side always. Marry me."

Eun Soo backed up a couple inches to regard him carefully. There was a desperation in his eyes. There was a pain and a passion that she recalled well from her days in the palace. But it was somehow more now. The expression was clearer than it had ever been, perhaps because now, he had resolved to keep her by his side.

Eun Soo's mouth broke into a wide smile and happy tears dripped from her eyes, "Yes."

Choi Young's heart skipped a beat and she threw herself back into his arms. As he held her to him, happiness and clarity suddenly overcame him and he had a thought.

Just how in the world was he ever going to explain this to his soldiers? Or the kings? He grinned, watching the sun go down. It didn't matter.

I'm doing a series of one-shots. Feel free to say a few words on what you think. I hope you enjoy them. Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!