UGH. FINALLY. I AM SO SORRY, DEAR READERS. I feel like I've betrayed you all. But I kind of fell out of the fandom for a while, because I was getting older and dealing with all that real life stuff, but now I'm back and tumblr has reintroduced me to this beautiful fandom. So I'm back and stronger than ever! I really, really, really hope I can keep up with you all. I really want to join a DW fan forum for inspiration, but I don't know which ones are still active. Any help is appreciated!

Once again, I am so sorry for being on such an intense hiatus. I will have this story finished soon! Only one chapter left! And then after that, I'll be fine tuning my Guo Nuwang/Cao Pi/Zhen Ji story. UGUUU, thank you beautiful readers. Thank you so much.

And disclaimer: Koei owns most everything here. I own Jia.

"I hate to say it, but Lady Bian has wonderful taste," Jia chuckled as she took a good look around the small estate Dun had been awarded by Cao Cao. Lady Bian herself had ordered the furniture and decorations, and it looked absolutely lovely.

Dun gave a gruff sigh. "There are too many curtains."

Jia had to roll her eyes. Men. "This coming from the man who wears gold pants."

She continued on her way, passing three maids and a chef. Jia knew there were more servants somewhere in the humble estate. Three maids would've been sufficient for her but the Xiahou and Cao clans seemed intent on over-staffing their estates, and Jia wasn't about to argue with them.

"I want to look at the bed," Dun said, suddenly and sharply, making Jia burst into laughter. "What's so funny?"

"We've been in the place for five minutes, and you already want to get down to business?" She continued to laugh. "You're such a man."

He pulled her close, a look of false agitation on his face. "You love it. Now let's go look at that bed."

The bed itself was slightly larger than the one Dun had at the main estate, but it lacked the worn-in comfort of the old bed. Jia unceremoniously plopped down on the duvet, enjoying the plush blankets and furs and the silken curtains flowing around her.

Dun followed in next to her, not so enchanted by the plushness or flowy-ness of the room. The bed was too soft, and there was an obnoxious draft coming in from somewhere, but he couldn't tell where exactly it was coming from. But seeing Jia like this, so happy and carefree, finally able to keep her relationships out of public eye, was enough for Dun to overlook the room's downsides for the moment. All he wanted to do was stare at that lovely face.

Without realizing it, he had been tracing a hand up and down her thigh, and Jia was squirming under his hand, eyes looking up at him wantonly. He felt the silk of her robes beneath his fingers, and realized he never really thought about the effort she put into dressing herself every day. He gave a quick count in his head of how many of her robes he had trashed. How many of those did she actually like? How many of her favorite outfits had he destroyed?

He proceeded gently, taking the time to untie her sash, complicated as it was, instead of just cutting it free. Her skirt was next to go, and once again Dun found himself untying a complicated knot. Jia seemed to be enjoying his attention, enough so that she reached out to touch his face. She found the coarse hair of his beard inviting and pulled him up for a kiss.

Jia pulled the furs up as she curled into Dun's body. They were sticky with sweat, but the room had a strong draft. Dun's eyes were closed as she gazed up at him, and she opened her mouth to say 'I'd say this bed passes inspection', or some other witty remark, but he had a strange vulnerability around him. It was rare to see him like this, completely content and off guard, and she didn't want to spoil it. So she curled in close to him, enjoying his warmth and silent company.

Two months ago she would've been curled next to Cao Cao. She would've been in his room watching him redress himself before he sat down to finish some paperwork. She would've left in a hurry, lest Lady Bian come knocking. But that seemed so far away now it seemed so strangely foreign to think about. She shook her head and purged her mind of all the distracting drama. Right now she was happy, and that was more than enough to be thankful for.

Dun woke, groping at the too-soft spot next to him. Dusk was sparkling through a foreign window. Pushing himself from the bed, he took a look at his new surroundings. When he spotted a woman coming in with new linens from the antechamber he shot her a dangerous glare.

"Good morning, Master Xiahou," the woman chimed. "Mistress Hou is having her dinner."

Right. The new house came with servants. "Thank you."

The maid dutifully lay the linens down at the foot of the bed before giving the warrior his privacy. This could take some getting used to.

He fumbled his way through the corridors of the estate, getting lost only once before he found the dining room. She seemed completely at ease as a maid rushed to refill her goblet. She seemed to be reading a pamphlet, popping food into her mouth at random intervals. It was strange to finally see what she did in her down time, but it made her seem more solid, more real, to him.

"Care to join me?" She hadn't even bothered to look up at him, but he knew she was smiling into her pamphlet. "The servants tell me that there's an untended garden on the grounds. I'd like to renovate it."

Words flew from his mouth before he could even sit down. "Do what you like. I've no interest in that sort of thing."

She waved her hand and a few servants ran off, most likely to relay her orders.

"You seem like you've got this whole house-managing business under control."

Jia looked up from her reading, a touch flustered at the comment. "When I was younger I used to think about how nice it would be to manage my own home. But I never thought..." she trailed off and suddenly she looked ten years younger. "Well, you know, the only way a woman can manage an estate is to get married, and I've never been marriage material."

Dun scoffed. "Not marriage material? You're usually so cocky."

"Dun, I'm a whore," she snapped. "The best I can hope for is to not get kicked out when I grow old, or to die young and beautiful. No man marries a whore. There's nothing to gain. It's as simple as that."

"Marriage doesn't have to be about politics," Dun countered. He was clearly perplexed at her sudden change of mood. Perhaps he'd brushed upon a sensitive subject?

She laughed, but it wasn't a nice laugh. It was full of spite and ill-humor. "It doesn't? Then why did Mengde marry his first wife?"

"Mengde is a bad example. Look at Cao Pi, he married Lady Zhen because he thought she was beautiful. He fueled a war for her, there wasn't any gain there."

"She wasn't a whore, Dun. She's a well-bred lady with a lot of money backing up her pretty face."

"Lady Bian-"

"She's a wife and queen in name only. She has power over the harem, but do you think she holds power anywhere else? No. Anytime someone wants to speak with Lord Cao's wife, they are shown to Lady Ding." The room was tense for a moment before Jia spoke up again. "Listen, I didn't mean to get into an argument with you, it's just that I can't- I want to enjoy being the lady of this house while I can."

"What? Do you think I'll kick you out?"

"Well, you were married once, weren't you? And don't wives get all pissy when concubines hold power outside of the bedroom?"

Dun gave a loud, throaty laugh. He knew Jia was getting upset, but he couldn't contain it. Him? Married? "Hold on, I've never been married. Jia, you're the first woman I've been able to stand longer than a few hours. Why would you think I was married?"

"You have a son, don't you? His name is Mao. Your brother's wife told me about him."

"Mao's mother is one of the girls in Mengde's harem."

Jia thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head. "What? His mother is... She's one of the girls? How did you... but Cao Cao's always been so... He doesn't share well."

"He can't possibly keep them all entertained. When the more ignored girls get antsy he just kind of... well, he let's us take our pick."

"Us? There's an us in this?" She looked completely bewildered. "How come I-"

"What? Oh, don't tell me you're upset because you weren't as harem-savvy as you thought," he laughed again.

"No, I just... I thought it was something special that Cao Cao was giving me to you. Like, a distinguished award or something. That's the way he's always treated it."

"It was special," he softened his speech a touch. "You were one of his favorites. The favorites are strictly off limits."

The moment was getting too soft; Jia was supposed to be angry, wasn't she? "That's beside the point, anyway. You're bound to get married one day, and when that happens your wife won't let me pick the curtains anymore."

"Hah! I didn't know you thought so poorly of me," he reached over and grabbed her hand. "Tell you what, I'll just go ahead and marry you. To prove a point, if nothing else."

"Dun, you are so—Wait, what? You can't be serious."

He deadpanned. "I'm as serious as I'll ever be. Besides, if I marry you I don't have to deal with dowries and awkward family dinners. It'll be fun. An adventure, even."

Jia burst into tears, but the ceased quickly. Dun moved to comfort her. She curled into the circle of his arms before looking him square in the eye, disbelief written all over her face. "That was the worst proposal ever."

"What? We're you expecting flowers and wine?" He pat her head, like one might pet a cat. "Do I get an answer today?"

And hearing that, Jia knew there was no other man she could be with. "Gods help me, but I will marry you, Xiahou Dun."

Is it possible to say 'I'm sorry' too much? I don't think so. I am so sorry. ;-;