Chapter Text
"Aren't you glad we changed our clothes?" Handong asks just as Yoohyeon stumbles and catches herself on a rock.
Yoohyeon just hisses in pain when the rock scraps her bare shin.
Handong turns and frowns upon seeing Yoohyeon kneeling awkwardly against the rock. "You ok?" She asks, walking over and grabbing Yoohyeon's arm to help her up.
Yoohyeon hums softly, glancing down at the red mark on her shin. She's not bleeding or anything, but her leg aches a bit now. She pouts at Handong, who lifts an eyebrow. "Kiss it, make it better?" She asks.
Handong chuckles and cups Yoohyeon's cheek with her free hand. "Baby got a boo-boo?" She teases.
Yoohyeon hums in answer, sighing against Handong's lips when the blonde leans in to kiss her gently. She hums into the kiss, draping her arms over Handong's shoulders and lacing her fingers together behind the girl's neck, keeping her in place.
Handong chuckles and pulls back, her cheeks dusted red and her eyes shining. "Thought you wanted me to kiss your boo-boo."
"Kiss my lips instead," Yoohyeon says in a whisper, tugging Handong back to her. She tilts her head to deepen the kiss and feels Handong's hands settle on her hips, squeezing gently.
Handong hums softly against Yoohyeon's lips. "You know," She says, pulling away to rest her forehead against Yoohyeon's while she catches her breath. "They're gonna come looking for us soon."
Yoohyeon groans softly.
Handong chuckles at that, squeezing Yoohyeon's hips gently. "Come on, we're almost there." She carefully pulls away.
Yoohyeon opens her eyes and takes Handong's outstretched hand, letting the girl lead them through the woods toward The Point.
They'd snuck away after the ceremony, changing out of their fancy clothes and into their camp t-shirts and shorts. Yoohyeon is still surprised they managed to evade Minji and Bora when they hurried past the fire pit on their way to the woods.
They probably have about ten to twenty minutes tops before someone finds them and drags them back for dinner, dancing, and cake cutting.
Yoohyeon doesn't care all that much about it anymore. She's married. There's a gold band around her finger and a matching one on Handong's. Both are inscribed on the inside with the words, 'Trust. Honesty. Love.' Handong's idea.
She had started crying long before Handong had even appeared, responding to Yubin and Bora's gentle teasing with muffled whimpers. When Handong had finally appeared, walking down the hill in her dress with Minji and Gahyeon, Yoohyeon had started bawling.
"Hey," Handong says gently with a soft laugh.
Yoohyeon blinks and comes back to the present, looking at Handong, who smiles at her with a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. "Hey."
"What's got you so distracted?" Handong asks, reaching up to cup Yoohyeon's cheek. "I mean, minus me, obviously," She teases with a grin.
Yoohyeon chuckles and leans her head into Handong's hand, sighing softly as she shuts her eyes. "Just thinking," She answers. She opens her eyes and gives Handong a small smile. "I didn't think we'd get here," She whispers.
Handong's eyes flash, catching a gleam of sunlight off the water.
Yoohyeon blinks and looks around, laughing softly to herself. She hadn't even realized how close to The Point they were. The stepping stones are a few feet away, waiting to be crossed.
"Well, you weren't paying attention for most of it," Handong teases gently, gesturing to the landscape.
"No, I meant-"
Handong hums, pulling Yoohyeon in for a kiss to cut her off. "I know," She whispers against the girl's lips. "I know what you meant."
Yoohyeon swallows and lets out a laugh. "Yeah, I guess… I guess what you said is true for both meanings."
Handong hums softly, pulling away. "Come on, we're almost there." She gently tugs Yoohyeon forward, letting the girl step in front of her.
Yoohyeon lets out a breath and clings to Handong's hand as she steps out onto the first rock, feeling it wobble underneath her.
"You've got this," Handong says, shuffling forward a bit to lean and press a kiss to Yoohyeon's hair. "Take it slow and steady, baby."
"Slow and steady," Yoohyeon echoes, stretching out her leg to place her right foot on the second rock.
"Gotta let go, or you'll pull me in," Handong says with a soft laugh. "But I'm right here, baby. Always."
Yoohyeon hums, squeezing Handong's hand tightly one last time before letting go. She moves to stand on the second rock with both feet, the surface slippery. She steps to the next rock, hearing Handong step onto the wobbly rock behind her.
"I'm right here," Handong says.
Yoohyeon doesn't respond, pulling a breath as she moves to the last rock.
"You got this."
"I got this," Yoohyeon echoes as she leaps from the rock onto dry land. She blows out a breath and turns, watching Handong cross the rocks with ease, a smile on her face. Yoohyeon offers Handong a hand to help her onto dry land.
Handong takes the offered hand and lets Yoohyeon pull her up into a kiss, letting out a soft laugh against the girl's lips. "Thanks," She whispers.
"Thank you," Yoohyeon whispers back, kissing Handong again. "I didn't say it in my vows, but you make me feel so strong."
Handong hums, her smile fading slightly but still retaining every bit of warmth. "I do?"
"You do," Yoohyeon murmurs, squeezing Handong's hand tightly. "And I hope I provide something of the same sort to you."
"You do," Handong insists gently. She lifts her free hand, cupping Yoohyeon's cheek. "You make me feel like I don't have to be strong all the time."
Yoohyeon furrows her eyebrows. "Oh," She says gently, a bit taken aback by the statement. "Is… Is that a good thing?"
Handong chuckles. "Of course it is, you silly goose." She laughs again, sliding her hand back to tangle in Yoohyeon's hair. "You make me feel safe enough to be fragile, Yoohyeon. Because I know you'll keep me safe."
"Always," Yoohyeon whispers. "You make me feel that way too. But you also make me feel strong."
Handong hums. "Yeah," She whispers. "Let's go sit down." She pulls back and leads Yoohyeon over the rocky outcropping to the rock bench, taking a seat and gently pulling Yoohyeon to sit beside her.
Yoohyeon lets out a sigh and leans into Handong's side, staring out at the lake.
The sun is still high in the sky, the wedding ceremony had been done mid-morning, so the reception could take up most of the afternoon. Sunlight glints off the water, and Yoohyeon glances down to tangle her fingers with Handong's, her ring catching some of the light.
She stares down at the piece of jewelry, something she'll wear forever, and lets out a breath. It's a bit hard to believe if she's being honest. That they've managed to get so far in their relationship without any more bumps or roadblocks.
Sure, they had moments where they disagreed about things, but it never came close to the point where they'd split. Not like before. Not like years and years ago, in this very same place, when Handong had asked Yoohyeon to be realistic.
"Be realistic with me," Yoohyeon whispers softly, feeling Handong squeeze her hand tightly.
"What?" Handong whispers back, looking at Yoohyeon with furrowed eyebrows.
"Be realistic with me," Yoohyeon says again, no longer whispering. She shifts to sit facing Handong, still holding her hand tightly. "What's next for us?"
Handong blinks and lets out a soft laugh, lifting their joined hands and pressing a kiss to the back of Yoohyeon's. "We buy a house," She says. "Somewhere around here, maybe. Doesn't have to be here, if you don't want. I just… I think New England is a good place to stay. Everyone else is here, and all we know is here."
Yoohyeon hums, pulling her hand from Handong's to drape her arm over the back of the bench. She takes Handong's hand with her other hand, running her thumb over Handong's knuckles.
"A house with a backyard. We get a dog like you've been wanting, and we get a cat like I've been wanting," Handong continues, shifting slightly to lean into Yoohyeon's chest.
"What else?" Yoohyeon asks softly, kissing Handong's temple.
"Later, maybe when we're settled in and ready, we'll look at adopting a kid or two," Handong whispers, looking at Yoohyeon with a nervous smile. "Maybe siblings, so they don't get separated by the system."
Yoohyeon hums softly, lifting their joined hands to kiss Handong's. "That sounds fine with me. What else?"
"We sign them up for camp here, obviously," Handong says, gesturing to the lake with a soft laugh. "We're those annoying parents who show up on parents' day and embarrass them because we're so giddy about being back at camp."
Yoohyeon laughs at that and shuts her eyes, imagining. "Would our house have a porch?" She asks.
Handong hums. "If you want."
"I think I'd like that. And a porch swing, where we could sit and watch the dog and the kids run around in the backyard," Yoohyeon murmurs.
Handong hums softly. "That sounds nice," She whispers.
"Sounds really nice," Yoohyeon whispers, opening her eyes. She looks at Handong, who's looking out at the lake, and she lets out a breath, ruffling strands of blonde hair.
Handong turns her head to look at Yoohyeon and frowns slightly. "What's that face for?" She asks softly, reaching up with her free hand to touch Yoohyeon's cheek.
"I'm so sorry," Yoohyeon whispers, leaning to press her forehead against Handong's. "For everything. For what I did back then. I-"
"Hey," Handong whispers, cutting Yoohyeon off gently. "It's been years, Yoohyeon. You don't have to apologize anymore. I know you're sorry."
Yoohyeon pulls in a breath and squeezes Handong's hand. "I know, I just… I don't think I'll ever stop being sorry for it. I was such a fool to let you go. And I'm so thankful that you took me back. I'm so glad you gave me a second chance to correct things."
She shifts, pulling her hand from Handong's to cup the girl's face in both hands. "I love you," Yoohyeon whispers. "So much. So much more than I said I did in my vows, so much more than I can say now, and so much more than I probably will ever be able to say."
Yoohyeon pulls in a breath. "Kim Handong," She whispers, leaning to press her forehead to Handong's again as she shuts her eyes. "Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done in my entire life. And it's the easiest thing I will ever do."
"We just said our vows," Handong says with a soft laugh. "Are you already renewing them?"
"Maybe," Yoohyeon whispers with a soft laugh. She hears Handong sniffle and feels fingers wrap around her wrists. "I've made mistakes in the past. I let you go once. I was such a fool back then. And maybe I'm still a fool now, but I'm your fool."
She lets out a breath, tilting her head slightly to kiss Handong's lips briefly, hearing the girl sniffle again. "Loving you is so easy. It's like breathing. I don't have to think about it. I just do it. And I'm going to keep doing it until the sky falls down and the stars burn out."
"I don't remember this part," Handong admits softly with a watery laugh.
"I'm making this up right now," Yoohyeon whispers, smiling when Handong laughs again.
"Keep going, then," Handong murmurs, kissing Yoohyeon softly.
"I will love you until the sun burns out, until the mountains have been worn down and are nothing but dust and echoes," Yoohyeon whispers. "But I can't explain how much I love you because I don't have the words."
"Me either," Handong whispers. "Will you love me until we're gone?"
"I'll love you even after we're gone," Yoohyeon promises. "Even after we're ghosts."
"So," Handong says, sniffling. "You're saying you'll love me basically forever?"
"I'll still love you when forever is over," Yoohyeon says with a soft laugh. "Even after our forever is done and past, I'll still love you."
"Ditto," Handong says in a broken whisper. "God, I'm glad you didn't say all this at the altar because I don't think I would've been able to say my vows afterward."
Yoohyeon pulls back and opens her eyes, seeing the tears running down Handong's cheeks. She smiles and wipes Handong's tears away with her thumbs, pulling the girl in for a gentle kiss.
Handong hums softly against Yoohyeon's mouth, letting out a soft puff of air when they part. "I love you, Yoohyeon."
"And I love you, Kim Handong," Yoohyeon whispers.
"Sorry to interrupt, but everyone's going crazy looking for you guys," A voice says as a branch snaps.
Yoohyeon whips around to see Seungwan standing by a tree, holding a branch away from her face.
Seungwan eyes Yoohyeon warily and glances at Handong, narrowing her eyes at the tears. "Those better be happy tears, or I'm legally obligated to beat you up, Yoohyeon."
Handong snorts and barks out a laugh, shaking her head. "Happy tears, Seungwan. Don't worry. You don't have to beat up my wife."
Yoohyeon freezes at that. Wife. My wife. She turns back to Handong, letting out a breath. "Your wife," She whispers in awe.
Handong blinks and lets out a soft laugh, smiling as she lifts her hands to cup Yoohyeon's face. "My wife. My silly fool wife."
"Ok, well, everyone's going crazy with worry, so I came to bring you guys back," Seungwan interrupts again with a cough. "Bora is about to run up to the main road and call the police."
Yoohyeon laughs softly at that and gets to her feet, offering her hands to Handong. She pulls her wife to her feet and kisses her softly.
"Alright," Handong says after she breaks the kiss. "Let's head back and make sure Bora doesn't get in trouble by calling the cops."
Seungwan hums and turns on her heels, disappearing down the path toward the stepping stones.
Yoohyeon heaves a sigh and follows Handong around the bench and down the path, watching her cross the stones with ease. She follows, a bit slower than Handong, but she makes it, and Handong is there waiting for her on dry land, pressing a kiss to her lips as a reward.
"Come on," Handong says with a laugh when Yoohyeon tries to kiss her again. "We can kiss more later."
Yoohyeon pouts but follows Handong up the path, through the swath of sawgrass, up the root steps, and down the tree-lined path leading to the fire pit. They arrive and are immediately accosted by Bora and Minji, both looking worried.
"Where did you go?!" Bora demands, slapping her hands against Yoohyeon's shoulders.
"We thought you died!" Minji exclaims, wrapping Handong in a tight hug.
Yoohyeon laughs, catching Bora's hands before the girl can do any lasting damage to her. "We just went to The Point. We needed some time by ourselves."
"You can have that later!" Bora shouts, pulling her hands from Yoohyeon and folding her arms tightly over her chest. "You could've told someone where you were going!"
"Sorry," Handong wheezes out, still trapped in Minji's arms.
"Hey, hey," Yoohyeon says, stepping over and gently easing Minji's arms open. "Don't crush my wife."
Handong blinks and looks at Yoohyeon with soft eyes. She grins and takes Yoohyeon's hand. "Your wife," She whispers.
Yoohyeon chuckles. "My wife."
"Oh god," Bora groans softly. "They're so gross," She hisses to Minji, who just swats at Bora's shoulders.
"You know, you and Siyeon were the same when you got married!" Minji says with a laugh.
"Whatever," Bora says with a shake of her head. "Come on, you've got guests waiting to eat," She says to Yoohyeon and Handong as she gestures to the mess hall.
"And campers who want to make speeches," Minji says with a laugh. "Seungwan and Joohyun wrote a speech together, and I think Ireh and Dosie have speeches prepared as well."
Yoohyeon sighs, looking at Handong with a smile. "Shall we?" She asks.
Handong hums softly, taking Yoohyeon's hand and squeezing it tightly. "We shall." She turns to Bora and Minji. "Lead the way."
Bora and Minji turn and head for the mess hall, both of them arguing about how gross Bora and Siyeon had been in comparison to Yoohyeon and Handong.
Yoohyeon chuckles and starts after them, only for Handong to pull her to a stop by the stone steps leading down to the dock. "Dongie?" She asks, turning and setting her hands on the girl's hips.
“Sorry,” Handong says. "I just like how the lake looks right now," She whispers, gesturing.
Yoohyeon follows Handong's gaze and sighs.
The lake is lit up by the afternoon sun, distant waves sparkling with sunlight. The sky above is blue and white, puffy clouds drift slowly across.
Distantly, on the other side of the lake, Yoohyeon can see a few boats. She spots a jet-ski tearing across the lake and hums, looking back at Handong, who's looking up at her with bright, shiny eyes. "What?" She asks, lifting a hand to cup Handong's cheek.
"I just love you," Handong whispers back with a laugh. She leans into Yoohyeon's hand and shuts her eyes. "And I forgive you."
Yoohyeon exhales a shuddering breath and laughs softly. "You do?" She whispers, feeling tears starting to trail down her cheeks.
"I do," Handong breathes, opening her eyes. She cups Yoohyeon's face and brushes her tears away. "I forgive you, Yoohyeon. You're forgiven."