A few days later Wolfram, riding close to Yuuri's side, walked back through the gates he thought he would never pass through again. When he dismounted, he paused, looking around at the familiar grounds and feeling as if his heart would burst with joy. Someone stepped close to him, and he looked around, his smile spreading even further when he saw Yuuri beaming back at him. "Welcome home, Wolf," the king murmured for his ears alone.

Wolfram was about to reply when he found himself suddenly attacked by his mother and pulled into her suffocating embrace as she cooed and cried over him, welcoming him home while at the same time scolding him for disappearing like he did and how could you do that to your own mother, why you've given her wrinkles, you inconsiderate boy, wrinkles! Wolfram looked pleadingly towards Yuuri for help, but the other boy just smiled playfully and shrugged. The blonde glared, but it had no malice.

It wasn't until late that night that the two were finally able to be alone together again, tucked away in the safety of their room.

Our room, Wolfram thought jubilantly as he began to get ready for bed. A gentle hand on his arm stopped him. Looking up, he was met with a pair of dark eyes that glowed with a love so strong it made his knees weak. "Yuuri…?" Without replying, the young Maou delicately cupped his fiancé's face in his hands and brought his mouth softly onto Wolfram's. At the first brush of lips, the green-eyed noble was forced to cling to Yuuri's shoulders for support, so overwhelming was the wave of emotion that washed over him. Joyful tears rimmed his eyes as he leaned into the pressure, returning the kiss as tenderly as it was given.

"I love you, Wolfram," Yuuri whispered when they parted.

"Yuuri… I love you too… Oh!" Wolfram stepped away, suddenly remembering. Yuuri looked at him quizzically as he reached into his pocket and pulled out… the garnet pendant. Through all that he had been through, he had kept it with him. Yuuri stared as the stone gleamed in the soft candlelight. "Do you… still want it?" Wolfram asked shyly.

Now it was Yuuri's turn to have his eyes fill with tears as he took the pendant, clasping it against his chest with one hand as the fingers of the other entwined with Wolfram's. "I'll wear it every day," he promised with a smile, tugging the other boy with him as he went to the dresser to search out a chain. Wolfram watched with shining eyes as Yuuri slid the pendant onto a thin thread of silver and clasped it around his neck. He'd been right… The deep red stone looked beautiful against Yuuri's black hair and eyes. But the sight of it was almost bittersweet, because it brought back memories of everything that had gone on since he had bought it.

Then he forgot about the pendant, forgot about Stoffel, forgot about Tabbert, forgot about everything that had gone on in the last couple of months, because Yuuri's arms were around him again and Yuuri's lips were on his and all he could think about was his fiancé's scent and taste and touch and he knew he wouldn't care if his heart stopped right this instant because this was heaven and he never wanted it to end… Yuuri gently tugged him towards the bed, and the pair of them tumbled onto it, fingers entangled and lips and tongues still writhing against each other in a sensuous duel that had neither winners nor losers.

And against Yuuri's skin, the pendant glowed, like a dying coal…