Yoon leaned against the door to his mother's study. He watched her polish off a glass of Glenlivet, then pour another. She stood staring out the window watching So leave with that girl, her arms folded protectively about herself while she nursed the alcohol.
"You should have known better than to push So-ya." Yoon said casually as he wandered over to the Baccarat decanter. Won Sung turned at the sound of ice tinkling in a crystal glass.
"You're the only one I can count on, Yoonie." Won Sung sighed, sitting the glass down on her desk. "We have to prepare for you to replace your father when he retires. I've been in contact with CEO Park Young Reom and his daughter will be returning to Seoul. She's a lovely, well bred girl who just graduated from Harvard Medical School. She's perfect for you."
"If you think I will marry just any woman you throw at me, then you are mistaken, Eommeoni." Yoon appeared nonchalant while swirling the ice his glass. "And I am not going to replace father as CEO when he retires. Do you think I'm stupid enough to put myself under your thumb?"
"Hwang Yoon!" Won Sung glowered at her eldest.
Yoon sipped the whiskey slowly, amused by her reaction to his revelation. "Actually, Eommeoni, I'll wait for you to retire before taking over the reigns of Hwang. And, although it's been amusing to see who you will throw at me next, I'll marry when I choose, to whomever I want."
Her eyes went wide at his announcement, then the glare turned speculative. "Is that so? You want to be chairman." She mentally waved away her pique at him. He would marry well; his style was too high class for him not to marry a woman she would approve of unlike her middle child.
Getting up, he walked over to his mother and placed his glass down next to hers. "Only if you stop trying to control us. We're not pawns, we are your sons. It's up to you to decide your place in our lives." Placing his hands on her shoulders, he kissed her cheek then turned to leave. "I think I've said enough."
Won Sun felt goosebumps rise up on her arms. Something deep inside told her to tread carefully or she could lose all if she didn't listen to him. "Yoonie." Her quiet voice stopped him on his way out the door.
"Have some faith in us, Eommeoni. You might not know it, but we do love you. All of us." Yoon gave her a small smile before giving a sardonic laugh. "I think I should congratulate my brother on his marriage."
"I'm sorry about my mother, Jinnie." Worried, So glanced over at his exhausted wife. Jin opened her tired eyes.
"I have faith she will come around, Gi So." Jin placed her hand on his forearm giving a reassuring squeeze. So let his hand drop from the steering wheel to thread through hers. He raised her hand up, kissing her wedding band. "I don't think she's the same woman. She cares about you, you know."
"I know." So sadly acknowledged, reluctantly letting go of her hand. "When we were little, she used to tell us bedtime stories and fix porridge for us when we stayed home sick. Sometimes she would even treat us to omurice for dinner when father was away. Everything changed after Tae-hyung died."
"She lost a child and her husband." Jinnie nodded, her hand unconsciously drifted down to her flat stomach. "It seems her circumstances from the past are repeating themselves in this time, but she doesn't have to repeat the same mistakes."
"Uhm, Jin, you don't have to worry about our finances." So coughed, casting an awkward glance over at Jin.
Jin's lips curved into a tired, but happy smile. Her heart melted, he was the same sweet So who charmed her with his boyish honesty and playfulness. She married the man she fell in love with in the palace. "It's okay, So-ya. I know we will be fine."
"Halabeoji set up trust funds for each of us. We couldn't access it until after we completed our mandatory military service. Needless to say we all got that over with quickly. I enlisted when I graduated high school. Yo and Jung did the same." He explained further.
"I'm glad he did that for you and your brothers, So-ya, but you know I'm not worried about the money." Jin sighed, then stifled a yawn. "We can set some aside for our children's university fund. I'm good with savings accounts. I even saved enough to put a down payment on a house while on a sales clerk's commission." She trailed off dreamily. "We'll be fine. I don't need a wedding."
"Jagiya…" He began then stopped when he heard a soft snore from the passenger seat. His wife. He grinned, silently promising to give her the wedding of her dreams.
"Good evening, Hwang Gi So-ssi."
So noticed the cordial older man holding the elevator door. "Thank you, Professor Kim." He adjusted Jin's slight weight in his arms and hurried along.
"Dr. Hwang-ssi." The professor's wife waved at him, her eyes widening in curiosity at Jin. "Is there something wrong with the young lady? We couldn't help but notice that she's living with you. There have been all sorts of women around your condo lately. But I told Kim Dong Joo you must have gotten married."
"Yes, this is my wife. We've had a long day and I didn't want to wake her." So answered with a polite smile.
"Oh, this is fabulous!" The woman squealed with delight poking her elbow into her husband's side. "So romantic. Just like in the dramas. Too bad you're married now, our niece is moving to Seoul and I was thinking of introducing her to you."
"Kang Sun Ja!" Her exasperated husband rolled his eyes, then gave So an apologetic bow of his head.
Ha Jin snuggled into So's warmth. The woman's voice slowly filtered into her awareness. "So-ya?" She opened her sleepy eyes, blinking up at her husband. She turned her head when she heard a giggle coming from in front of them and noticed the little old couple standing in the elevator with them. "Omo!" She scrambled like a cat to get down, ignoring So's chuckle. "Put me down, Gi So!"
Once on her feet, Jin bowed to the older couple. "I apologize. I'm Go Ha Jin. You must be our neighbors."
"Why, yes, dear, we are…" The woman began but was interrupted by her husband when the elevator doors opened to their floor. "It was nice meeting you, Go Ha Jin-ssi. Congratulations on your marriage. Good-bye." So and Jin watched the couple fussing down hall as the doors closed.
Jin gasped in surprise when So swept her back up into his arms again. He gave a low growl her ear that made her stomach flip and feel weak in the knees. "You belong to me. My person."
Her arms tightened around his neck. "You haven't changed a bit, Pyeha." She narrowed her eyes at him.
So chuckled as he marched out of the elevator. Jin punched in the access code to the door, then giggled when her stomach growled. "Somethings never change." So groaned, leaning his forehead against hers. "I guess I'll have to feed you first."
After polishing off the last of the leftover dukbokki, they settled on the couch. So wrapped his arm around Jin while she cuddled closer, resting her head on his chest. "So-ya, when exactly are you scheduled to go back to China?" Jin peered up at him.
"By March of next year. I won't know the exact date until late January." He brushed his lips against the top of her head. "What are you thinking, Jinnie?"
"Busan." She replied. "We have to inform my parents now."
"Don't worry, Jinnie." He assured her. "We can head out tomorrow after my meeting at the museum."
"Okay." She nodded. "I don't think we will have a problem with them. You charmed my father which is hard to do." She yawned, rubbing her cheek against him. "When would be the best time for our wedding ceremony."
Jin pulled away, frowning at him when So didn't answer. He smoothed her hair behind her ears, then asked. "When would you like it to be, Jin?"
"December 1st." Jin answered seriously. "I want to keep our original anniversary date."
"Jinnie." So breathed, pulling her onto his lap, his arms held her close, tenderly kissing her warm responsive lips. Then he slid her back onto the couch and leaned over her while she curled up against the pillow. "Rest, jagiya. I'll be right back." He whispered in her ear, kissing the nape of her neck. Jin nodded, drowsy.
A few minutes later, Jin felt So slide his arms under her, lifting her off the couch. "So-ya…" She mumbled softly, holding onto him, not wanting to open her eyes. She blinked in confusion when So gently set her on her feet before him. "What is it, So-ya?" It took her a moment to realize that they were in front of her vanity in their bedroom.
He wore his black and red satin robe. His fingers deftly unzipped her dress, letting it drift to floor around her feet. She stood in her white lace bra and panties, examining their reflection in the mirror. Even in the dim lighting, she noticed how his bangs fell over the left side of his face. He looked just as he had the day she removed his mask. Those intense eyes of his which could radiate boyish innocence or turn deadly in a heartbeat made her shiver.
Without a word, Jin reached out and brushed So's hair back away from his left eye. She almost expected to see the scar. His hand caught hers as she traced the invisible trail. "I am yours just as you are mine, Jinnie."
"Why did it take me so long to figure it out back then?" She tilted her head a smile of fond remembrance curving over her lips, her eyes shining with contentment. So settled a kiss on her wrist, then wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer. She put her hands on his shoulders. "So-ya?"
"You're wearing too much, Jinnie." He flashed a wicked grin up at her. "We have to do something about that."
"Really? Do you think so?" She widened her eyes with mock innocence. "What should we do?"
"Jinnie, if you keep that up our bath water will grow cold." He growled.
Giggling, she moved out of his arms. So stood up when she pushed the delicate straps down, then reached around behind her to unhook the bra, letting it dangle from her fingers. Stepping out of her panties, she enjoyed his intake of breath knowing she was pushing him too far. Before she knew it, he let his robe hit the floor then swept her up in his arms, heading for the bathroom.
Love flushed and satisfied, Jin lay back against So's slick chest letting the warm water lap around her. She didn't want to move, she was so relaxed. She rested her arms against So's as he held her. The flicker of the candle light against the cobalt blues and aquamarine glass tiles was hypnotic.
"Do you know what I wanted most on the day I was coroneted and we were finally able to get married?" Jin caressed his forearm as it rested just under her breasts.
"What was it, Jinnie?" So rested his chin on her shoulder.
"I really wanted for you to meet my parents and for them to have been there. Now it's all coming true." She turned around to face him, sloshing the water as she straddled him. "Sometimes I can't believe it's real. I love you."
"I love you too." So lightly skimmed his fingers along the wet silky skin of her back. "I don't know if I ever told you this but you were what I wished for that night you found me building the prayer tower at Wook's. I was afraid, but hopeful that somehow I would find acceptance and love, have a family. Then you came into the courtyard, noisy and demanding as usual." He grinned at the memory. "Your lively spirit and honesty amazed me. You don't know how beautiful you appeared that night. Especially when you lifted your head and smiled while the snow fell around you." Snow. Omo! Her eyes grew wide as she remembered. "Jinnie, what's wrong?"
"How could I have been so blind?" She bonked her head on his shoulder.
"Jinnie?" He raised her head up.
"I could remember everything about the constellations but I forgot the old saying that the person you watch the first snow with will be the love of your life." She sighed, feeling exasperated with herself. "It took me this long to realize that you were the reason I was there all along."
"Goryeo and the palace will always be apart of our foundation, Jinnie, but we have a new beginning in front of us now." He caressed her cheek. "Our future starts now. Tomorrow I will meet your parents and then we have a wedding to plan. How does that sound?"
"Perfect." She kissed him, then leaned back. "Let's go to bed. We have a long day tomorrow."
"That's a good idea." He replied as he stood up, then helped her out of the tub, wrapping a large, fluffy terry cloth towel around her. They dried each other off. Jin pulled on her favorite black nightgown. So had on blue cotton pj bottoms and a white t. Even as tired as she was, he looked so incredibly sexy. After puttering around, brushing their teeth, they crawled into bed, curled around each other and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.