In Between the Years
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The echo of the crying made Choi Young run through the castle, it was the same nightmare where he could do nothing for his dear child as he attempted to reach him before the sobs became too loud and heart breaking for Choi Young to bear. About to go insane, the general turned in a corner and shoved furniture aside, desperate to reach his boy's chambers…
The sobbing lost intensity and instead of breaking the door open as he'd done every night Choi Young was suddenly hesitant of even touching the sliding door. The boy was still crying, but as the general finally gathered enough strength to move the door away, the soft lullaby reached him.
A Yuan lullaby.
The image presented to him was very sweet, loving; and it clouded his sight with tears.
There was Nogook, with Young Jae in arms, her voice soothing the baby's tears as she rocked the crying child, eyes closed and kissing from time to time the messy hair of the child Choi Young had so hard raised. He wasn't wearing the Prince's robes, but the simple hand-me downs Eun Soo had brought from the Capital City; he was wrapped around her neck listening to her… hiccupping.
Tears trailed down her cheeks, quiet tender tears…
"General, you made it in time." She said softly, and stood, kissing the boy one last time, before handing him over to Choi Young. "You have done a wonderful job."
Choi Young couldn't talk, cradling the boy against his shoulder, shielding him from the world. "I just wanted to see him for a bit, thank you for having raised him so well." She said smiled, as tears of gratitude slid down her cheeks.
.
.
Eun Soo had become quite sensitive at her husband's waking up through the night. So when Choi Young sat up, gasping for breath and wouldn't lay back down, her hand reached to caress his tense back, making him turn. "Lay down, it's been a couple of stressful days for you."
Choi Young breathed in several more times, and swallowed hard, this time turning towards Eun Soo and resting against her collarbone. Instinctively she wrapped around him, and kissed his hair, her arms tightened and she asked what was wrong. He didn't answer but just leaned against her. He covered her, hiding against her, and just held on to her, desperate for her comfort. Her hand soothed his hair, moving down to his back where she rubbed softly, continuing her kisses over his hair and face. Eun Soo was oddly aware of how fragile Choi Young was at the moment; "What is it? Tell me."
There was a moment of silence, in which Choi Young sat up and breathed in deeply, one last time. Eun Soo sat up and took his hands, suddenly fearing what he was about to say. He was so serious, yet… still so fragile.
"I've been a good father; I've raised him well. I have honored her memory, right?"
Eun Soo's eyes filled with tears, she didn't understand from where this was coming from, or exactly why, but she understood whom he was talking about. She'd dreamt of Nogook, sometimes approving, sometimes disapproving her actions, but always with a smile. She seemed confident and glad of having placed her beloved child under Eun Soo's care, and the doctor had wanted to always honor her. She'd never told Choi Young about these dreams, because after all this was her responsibility; as surrogate mother, and pledged sister. Speechless for a minute Eun Soo was only able to swallow hard and clear her throat where a tight knot kept her from talking. "I should be the one asking that."
"She's come to my dreams and thanked me." Informed Choi Young softly, Eun Soo nodded. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You love him, like your own and he loves you back. If not for you, I don't think I would have felt I had the right to be his mother. This child needed a strong father more than anything and you gave it to him."
Choi Young's eyes shot and a tear slid on his cheek. He leaned to rest on his wife's shoulder, like many years ago, the comfort of her small width accommodating him perfectly.
"I've been a good father." He repeated.
"The only father he knows and the only father he ever needs to know."
.
.
The children were called out for breakfast. They were glad to finally be out of their rooms, they played on their way to the dining area, where Choi Young was sitting and sighing. His waist pain was rearing its ugly head, and he'd been forced to rest. Eun Soo moved around the house doing most of the work, frustrating him terribly. So they had to get a maid to at least cook and clean, while Eun Soo continued to work with the clinic.
The children stopped playing around, and bowed to him, "Good morning," They both said together, and moved to their sides of the table. Eun Soo sat on the floor close to Choi Young and served him some soup and offered a small amount of herbs for his pain, then got up and walked talking to the maid to help her bring out their meal.
Choi Young looked at his children, while Chung Hei was bigger and apparently healed much faster, Young Jae seemed to be still in pain, he still couldn't sit on his behind. Choi Young's heart filled with guilt but it was useless to feel that way; so he just acted, as he usually did. He pulled the boy onto his lap and since Choi Young sat cross-legged, the boy's behind was on the air.
"You should have let me sit like that too! I'm your baby girl."
"You are big enough." Said Choi Young, while Young Jae stuck his tongue out to Chung Hei, and breakfast was delivered. Eun Soo brought a large pillow and sat beside Chung Hei.
"Here, Honey, do you still hurt?"
"No," Said Chung Hei softly, but accepted her mother's ministrations, getting comfy.
While he'd been embarrassed; his son had no need to feel so. Choi Young had felt his father's love while sitting on his lap, even when too old; yet he now understood. There was no way he would deny Young Jae to sit in the safety of his lap.
.
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Epilogue
The month passed by quickly, his children had learned their lesson and were aching to go out, yet they waited patiently for their punishment to end. Unlike before Chung Hei wasn't the first to go out, it was Young Jae. Very early in the morning he asked permission to go to the market, to buy some ink, and ask the seller to hold the box a little longer while he found a final job to provide the last five coins; Choi Young said it was alright, and he hurried out, while Chung Hei helped her mother with the basket full of remedies they had been making through the week, so it could be delivered to the clinic. Choi Young had offered to help carry the basket, but Chung Hei was adamant in taking it, so he could rest at home. His waist was hurting again and both his ladies didn't want him out of the house, or carrying heavy items.
"Daddy, we are going!" Called Chung Hei, as she stood in the door with her mother.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? It is a pretty heavy basket."
"No! You stay in and rest, Omma can help me carry it around."
"I will," Eun Soo turned and smiled at her husband, who bend to kiss her lips. "You should be in bed resting."
"I will."
"Daddy." Called Chung Hei, and was kissed on the forehead. "We'll be back with rice cakes."
"Don't take too long then."
"We won't." Called Chung Hei, as the girl fixed the shoes on her feet.
"Daddy!" Called Young Jae's voice, making everyone turn. The boy was running up the road, hurrying as best as he could while carrying the really large box he had in arms. "Daddy!" He called again, tripping, and falling; but that wouldn't deter him. He quickly got up, not bothering to clean up, and picked up the box, unharmed, and resumed his run towards his father. "Daddy! The Ajhussi gave me the box! He said it's all paid for!" His voice was excited, happy, his big eyes full of joy.
"Is it?"
"He said you paid for it!"
"No, I delivered the last of the money; but it was Chung Hei who paid for the last of it. She kept her promise to give you the last five coins."
Young Jae turned to Chung Hei, whose eyes were wide, her cheeks red.
"Well I promised…"
"Noona!" Cried the boy, jumping and wrapping around her, thanking her loudly as they fell to the ground.
"Jae Jun stop it you are getting me dirty!" But the boy wouldn't stop kissing or hugging her.
