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The mountain known as Cloud Recesses was incredibly clear to the view of passersby on this pleasant morning of the second day of Autumn. The weather was perfect with a clear sky — instead of the usual clouds covering it completely — and a good temperature. Thus the couple decided to take a hike up the mountain on their day off.
They started on the main trail, using the long stair of natural steps to go further into the mountain before choosing one of the side paths. The reason was to avoid people in the more crowded areas and because they liked the more defiant paths.
“Come on, Lan Zhan! Keep up with me! I’m winning!” Teased the one with a red t-shirt and short hair.
It was around an hour after they had started climbing up, already out of the main trail, when they heard small cries coming from behind a bush. The one in the front stopped and they exchanged glances.
“It is probably a small animal.” Said the one with a light blue jacket and hair held in a little ponytail.
“No harm in checking it anyway.” The other said, sporting a cheeky smile.
“Mn.” Lan Wangji nodded, taking in their surroundings and expanding his senses to catch on foreign noises and movements.
Not even a minute had passed when he heard his partner speak again.
“Oh, no! Lan Zhan...” He had a desolated glint in his eyes as they looked at each other. “They are real babies.” He whispered.
Wangji’s eyes bugged out and he rushed to crouch by his partner’s side. Both looked at the small babies bundled together in one blanket. Wangji held Wei Wuxian’s hand, stopping him from moving, and closed his eyes, concentrating and expanding his sense of smell. Wuxian stayed quiet by his side, he knew his partner had senses more heightened than him.
“I can’t smell any trail or scent marker on them.” Wangji said after a couple of minutes. “And I didn’t hear anyone close by or rushing from here.” He looked deeply at his partner’s eyes.
“Abandoned. Someone really abandoned two little babies in the woods?” Wuxian was outraged. “We aren’t in ancient times anymore, there are ways of giving up parental responsibility without leaving babies this young in the wild!”
In ancient times, when they still shifted forms, it was somewhat common to find babies born and left in the woods. But they had evolved. They didn’t change forms anymore. Their secondary traits weren’t what governed people. They lived in developed cities and in a modern society. And yet someone — probably desperate, okay, but still — had just abandoned two babies in the woods, risking their lives.
Wuxian sat down properly and opened the blanket. The babies were dressed in similar onesies, their crying was getting louder, but they looked unharmed. He searched for any paper or something that gave them any clue of anything about them but found nothing. Then, carefully, Wuxian took one of the babies in his arms. He accommodated them securely in the curve of his arm and looked at Wangji.
“Can you give me the other baby, Lan Zhan?”
“Mn.” He nodded and carefully picked the second baby, adjusting them in the curve of Wuxian’s free arm.
Wuxian cradled the babies and started softly humming a song to them. That calmed the babies down. While Wuxian was calming them, Wangji thoroughly searched the blanket and the ground around it but there really wasn’t anything that could lead to who abandoned them.
“Lan Zhan, let’s go back. They need to be taken care of.”
“Mn.”
One thing Wangji would never question was Wuxian’s desire to help others, so he stood up and helped his partner get up without jolting the babies. He folded the blanket and put it in his bag, starting to walk beside Wuxian.
When they reached the main path, people stole glances at them, but they paid them no mind and continued walking to reach their car. At that point, Wangji was carrying one of the babies and both were sleeping soundly. They were probably feeling safer surrounded by the scents of a mated couple.
Wangji and Wuxian didn’t properly scent the babies, they knew better than to do that before taking them to a doctor, but they couldn’t stop their natural reaction to exude soothing pheromones to calm and comfort them.
In the car, Wuxian got into the back seat and Wangji handed him the other baby after he was comfortable and had fastened his seat belt. Then he circled the car and took the driver’s seat.
“Call Jiejie, Lan Zhan. Let’s go to her.” Wuxian said.
“Mn.” Wangji nodded and called his sister-in-law.
Jiang Yanli was the head doctor in a renowned clinic called Lotus Clinic. She was Wuxian’s older sister and one of the gentlest people in the world, according to her brother’s biased opinion.
When Wangji called her, she said she would wait for them in the reception and there she was, ready to receive them and check the babies.
“A-Xian. A-Ji. Follow me.” Yanli guided them through the building to her office. “Tell me exactly what happened.” She asked as she motioned for them to sit.
Wuxian narrated everything that happened that morning. Wangji took the blanket out of the bag and Yanli took it in her hands. After listening to them and taking notes, she analyzed the blanket, then she checked each baby thoroughly. She even asked a nurse to bring a few things for the babies.
“We are out of baby bottles, Doctor.” The nurse said as he entered the office. “I brought diapers and fresh onesies.”
“Thank you. Please, put on an order to restock the bottles.” Yanli accepted the objects.
“Already did, Doc. Do you need any help?”
“Yes, I need to take their blood for a blood test.”
As the nurse got ready to help, Wangji called.
“Yanli?”
“Yes, A-Ji?” She asked, turning to him.
“Which baby bottles do I buy?”
“Oh!” She smiled. “A-Xian, don’t scent this baby, but hold him, please.” She let her brother hold the baby she was holding and quickly scribed down a few options for Wangji.
He exchanged a glance with Wuxian and left. Wuxian gave the baby back to his sister.
“We didn’t scent them before, Jiejie. Not really. They were very agitated so we only tried to calm them, but we were very careful.”
“I know, A-Xian. I was just playing with you.” Yanli patted her brother’s cheek as she chuckled, before focusing back on examining the babies.
Wangji came back as fast as he could, which was in less than 30 minutes, because he was lucky to find what he needed in a drugstore nearby. When he entered the office again, Yanli was done with the exam and she and Wuxian were calming crying babies. Wangji showed the bottles.
“Changming, please, take the bottles to be washed and bring them back with formula?” Yanli asked the nurse.
“Right away, Doc!”
The baby in Wuxian’s arm was already calmer, but the one with Yanli was still crying loudly. Wangji glanced at him and back at her but kept quiet. However, Yanli noticed. She gave the baby to him without speaking and went to sit back in her chair.
“Sit. Let’s talk.” She waited until they were both accommodated and the baby in Wangji’s arms calmed down.
“Jiejie...”
“A-Xian.” Yanli smiled lovingly at him and that made him hold back. She continued. “As you saw, they are both boys. According to their measurements and to the stage of healing of their belly buttons I guess they are around a month old, with a week of margin of error for more or less.”
“So young to be left in a mountain.” Wuxian grumbled looking at the baby in his arms.
“Yes. But they are healthy. They were receiving at least the minimum care, being fed properly, and cleaned well. However, they really don’t have a scent mark.” Yanli sighed. “It appears that they never had one.”
“Never?” Wangji asked, astonished.
“Yes.” Yanli nodded. “In my experience, this can mean two things: the birth mother always had the intention of not keeping the baby — babies in this case, or they passed away soon after the birth.” She let that information settle for a moment. “One of the things the blood test I did on them will show, is it. Our blood has a marker that relates to the birth parents. This marker reacts when the parent or parents scent the child after birth, and we have the technology to know if it has ever reacted or not.”
“For both father and mother, Jiejie?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Changming came back with the bottles.
“They look so comfortable with you.” He commented.
“Thank you, Changming. Please, ask the lab to speed up the results and warn me when they are ready.”
“Yes, Doc.” The nurse said after a moment of hesitation and left.
Yanli tested the temperature of the milk and circled her desk to be close to her brother and brother-in-law again.
“Do you both want to try to feed them?”
“Yes!” Wuxian said and Wangji nodded.
She helped them adjust their hold in the babies and instructed them how to hold the bottles. The babies started sucking immediately, making both Wangji and Wuxian let out exclaiming sounds.
“Shhh...” Wuxian hummed. “You won’t be hungry anymore.”
“Mn.” Wangji agreed.
Yanli observed them quietly. When the babies finished the milk, she instructed them how to make them burp. The baby in Wuxian’s arms was still fussing and crying a little.
“Jiejie, I think he is still hungry.”
“Maybe. But since we don’t know how long they were out of food it is best to give intervals between bottles until we get them on a healthy routine. And to not feed them too much at once or they will feel sick.”
“Oh, okay.” He nodded and turned to the baby, whispering. “Later you will have more, I promise.”
The baby calmed down and fell asleep after some minutes. Just like the baby in Wangji’s arms. Yanli smiled to herself and sat back in her chair.
“They were being fed with baby bottles by whoever was taking care of them.” She said, taking more notes. “That’s good in this circumstance because they don’t need adaptation, just to be back on schedule. But don’t take this as tight, rigid times, it’s more of a general direction. Just like adults, babies feel hungry out of the usual breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner scheme. And they can be fed in different moments, but it is good to set a routine.”
Wangji and Wuxian were paying utmost attention to what she was saying. Yanli continued.
“If they were being breastfed, I would suggest free demand. But since not, a routine can be good. I would include one last snack after dinner and they probably will wake up during the night for one more feeding or two. Sometimes more. It is different for each baby.”
The couple didn’t say anything, but Yanli knew her brother, she also knew they were preparing to adopt in the near future, and she observed their postures during this whole ordeal, that was why as she saw them with the babies she decided to proceed as if the twins were already theirs. She silently hoped the results she was waiting for would really allow that.
“They don’t play much at this age, right, Jiejie?” Wuxian asked, taking her from her thoughts.
“No, A-Xian. They sleep a lot, around 16 hours a day. But they can already follow noises and objects if close enough. Also, play with their hands, letting them hold your fingers and opening their hands, then letting them hold again. Plays like that are good. And putting them laying face down for a few minutes at a time is good to strengthen their necks.”
A knock on the door made her stop talking and she allowed the person to enter. It was Changming with the results. She asked him to take the baby bottles to be washed again and dismissed him. Then she analyzed the test results.
“Nutrients are good. Non-reactive parent markers. And both are fading.”
“What does it mean?” Wangji asked.
Yanli looked up.
“That both parents are deceased.” She said gravely.
“They are really orphans.” Wuxian said quietly, looking at the babies.
“Yes.” She confirmed. “When a child loses their parents, the blood markers start to fade. It is a slow and painless process. If the child is adopted, the marker stops fading as the adoptive parents scent them.”
Yanli and Wangji knew that was a sensitive topic for Wuxian, so they waited.
“What will happen now?” He asked.
“Now they will probably be put in the system and wait for adoption... Or they can be claimed.” Yanli said.
“Claimed?” Wangji tilted his head.
“When a baby or a child is found like you found them, they can be fully scented and claimed by the one who found them. Whoever does that still has to take the baby or child to the head of their pack and register the adoption properly. It will be investigated if that will be a safe adoption, but usually the instinct of scenting only surfaces in matchups that will turn out to be good.” She explained.
“That was what Jiang Shushu did with me.” Wuxian realized.
“Yes.” Yanli smiled lovingly. “He didn’t need to take you to the head of the pack because he is the head, but he registered the adoption properly. Thus you’re our brother even after you chose to call Baba Shushu. And we all understand your reasons.”
“I know, Jiejie.” He smiled back at her at the same time he felt Wangji’s hand holding his and squeezing.
The love his mate felt for him flooded their connection and Wuxian squeezed his hand back. He looked Wangji deeply in the eyes and they communicated silently like they always did.
Yanli felt their scents rise and fill the closed room. During work hours she always used scent blockers to keep her office comfortable for every patient, so it would need to be ventilated later. But for now, she even gave her brother and brother-in-law more space because it was important. Yanli silently wheeled her chair until it reached the back wall and let Wuxian and Wangji forget she was there.
The couple held each baby close to their faces. Then they nosed their little necks right over the babies’ scent glands. When they had thoroughly scented the baby each of them was holding, Wangji put the one in his arms in Wuxian’s and took the one who was with him. Then they scented them thoroughly again, marking both babies with both of their scents.
When their scents settled, Yanli approached her desk again to finish her notes.
“I’m so happy for you! And I’m sure you will be great parents to my nephews!” She said, smiling brightly.
Wuxian smiled back, then realization dawned on him and he froze.
“We don’t have anything to take care of them.” He said, astonished with himself.
“We have love.” Wangji said quietly, to reassure him.
“A-Ji is right. You have the most important thing which is love. The material things will be worked out in time. I will help. The whole family will help too, I’m certain of it.” Yanli assured them.
“What do we need to do now?” Wangji asked, noticing Wuxian was still a little out of it.
“You will take the babies to show to Lan Xichen. Xichen can help with the adoption registration, along with my notes, which I’m taking a copy for you now.” Yanli giggled excitedly. “Oh! You will also choose names for them! And I’ll meet you at your home very soon with the basic necessities.”
“Jiejie...” Wuxian’s voice wavered.
Yanli went to him and held his face between her hands.
“You will be a great parent, A-Xian! I know you will.” She kissed his forehead. “Now I’ll pick a couple of clean blankets, a few diapers, a packet of baby wipes, and their bottles so you can go to Lan Xichen. Leave their clothes with me and I’ll take them back to you later when I meet you at your house. Give me a minute.”
She left her office with a happy skip. Wuxian turned fully to Wangji. Reading his mate like an open book, Wangji smiled at him.
“We did right, Wei Ying.”
“I didn’t want to force yo-”
“You didn’t.” Wangji closed the distance between them and kissed Wuxian. “You didn’t. We found them because we needed to. They needed us.”
“Okay.” Wuxian finally smiled again, taking a steady breath. “Don’t let me name them silly names.”
“Mn.” Wangji smiled again.
Their foreheads touched as they looked down at their babies.
Less than thirty minutes later, Wangji and Wuxian were knocking on Lan Xichen’s door. He was the head of the Lan pack, to which the couple belonged. He was also Wangji’s older brother.
Xichen opened the door for them and was immediately shocked by the sight of the babies. Speechless, he led them inside and listened to what they had to say before speaking.
“I am surprised by the suddenness, but I am also so happy for you! And proud of you!” He smiled tenderly. “I’m also very happy to be the uncle of these two cuties.”
“Thank you, Huan gege.” Wuxian said, lightly rocking the babies. “I think I can speak for us both when I say we are surprised at ourselves too.”
Wangji took the papers from their bag and handed them to his brother.
“Ge, Yanli said you could help us with registration. She sent this.”
Xichen read the documents.
“Ah, yes. I can shorten the process. I’ll need names for them for the registration.” He raised his head. “How about I start on the documentation, you go home to settle the babies and rest, and later I go there or you call me to tell me the names you chose?”
“That would work, Ge. Thank you.” Wangji nodded.
“You’re welcome, A-Zhan.”
Xichen patted his brother’s back and followed them to their car. He said goodbye and watched them leave. At that moment his phone pinged. Xichen checked it and there was a message from Yanli. He chuckled at the screen and got back inside to start on the papers.
When they arrived home, the babies were getting agitated again.
“Lan Zhan! We have a crisis coming!” Wuxian blurted out as soon as the car stopped in their garage.
“Yanli gave us extensive details on how to make the bottles.” Wangji answered placidly, getting out of the car to help his partner.
“What if they need a change?” Wuxian asked as soon as he opened his door.
“We will master that too.” He was assertive as he took one of the babies in his arms.
“Oh, Lan Zhan, don’t speak like that, you know I’m a weak man!” Wuxian said playfully, getting out of the car.
“Silly.” Wangji said and walked inside, leaving Wuxian to follow him.
They entered the house and went straight to their bedroom, putting the babies in the middle of the bed. Wuxian pulled the pillows and instinctively made a barrier around them. Wangji put the diapers and baby wipes in the bed and went to the kitchen to prepare the bottles. When he came back, Wuxian was finishing changing one of the babies.
“Lan Zhan, you were right. We will master this. But, oh, they do nasty things in these diapers!”
Wangji chuckled as he sat down beside Wuxian and looked at their babies.
“They are calm now. Should we take the opportunity and shower, or should we feed them first?” He asked.
As soon as he closed his mouth, one of the babies started crying. The couple looked at each other and nodded. Each took one baby and gave them their milk.
“We can’t say these things, Lan Zhan. They hear us and blow out our plans.” Wuxian joked as they made the babies burp. “But you go first.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Wuxian nodded, smiling.
“Mn.”
The baby in Wangji’s arms fell asleep and he put him in the bed. After he assured his partner he would be quick he left Wuxian with the babies, but he left the bathroom door open to listen to them.
The baby Wuxian was holding was wide awake and attentive, so he decided to play with him as Yanli had suggested. He put him in the bed and held his very tiny hands, moving them around. After a while, Wuxian was lying on his side, his head supported in his bent arm, one finger of his free hand firmly held by the baby, and their faces were very close.
“How are we going to call you, hm, little baby? You look like you’re calmer than your brother... You were the first one I held. I know that because I noticed your cute beauty mark on your right cheek.” He tickled the baby’s cheek. “Your brother doesn't have it.”
Wangji was observing them from the bathroom door, already dressed.
“And that’s good to help us differentiate you.” Wuxian continued. “At least in these first days. I’m sure we will soon know you very well, but while we don’t get there, it’s good to have something to help differentiate you both.” He finally noticed eyes on him and looked up at Wangji. “Right, Lan Zhan?”
“Mn.” He went to him.
“We need names for our little Lans, Lan Zhan. But you never like the names I choose for other things. I can’t choose bad names for our babies.”
“You won’t. Now go. I’ll lull him until he sleeps.”
Wuxian kissed Wangji on the lips and left a kiss on the forehead of each baby.
Around 15 minutes later, Wuxian got out of the bathroom, hair damp, and wrapped in the towel, speaking loudly.
“Lan Zhan!”
“Shh!” Wangji looked up from the book he had been reading sat against the headboard.
Wuxian covered his mouth with his hand. Then he uncovered it and spoke in a low tone.
“Sorry. I forgot.” He got closer to the bed and peeked at the sleeping babies. “I thought of a name. I think it’s not that bad and sounds nice with Lan.” He whispered.
Wangji put his book aside and pulled Wuxian into his lap.
“What is it?”
“Yuan. Lan Yuan. What do you think?”
“I like it.” Wangji said after a little consideration. “I also thought of one.”
“Yes? Tell me!” Wuxian got excited.
“Hui. Lan Hui.”
“Lan Yuan and Lan Hui... A-Yuan and A-Hui...” He tested the names. “I like it, Lan Zhan!”
Wuxian opened his brightest smile and Wangji smiled back at him.
“Now... Who receives each name?” He asked.
“Yuan is the one with the beauty mark. Hui is our louder baby.” Wangji said.
“Okay, Lan Zhan!” Wuxian relaxed against Wangji’s chest. “This was easier than I thought it would be.”
“Go get dressed. Your sister will be here at any moment.”
Wuxian got up, but before going, he kissed both boys again in the forehead, this time saying their names.
Around an hour later, Yanli knocked on their door.
“I’m sorry, I’m later than I thought I would be. But I think we got the basics covered!” She said to Wangji, who went to open the door.
“We?” He tilted his head.
Yanli stepped aside and then Wangji could see Jiang Fengmian, Jiang Wanyin, and Lan Xichen. He gave space for them to enter, astonished seeing them carry a lot of things inside.
“My nephews?” She asked.
“Sleeping in our bed upstairs.” Wangji said, then he complemented. “We changed and fed them again a little more than an hour ago.”
“And we chose their names.” Wuxian said, appearing on the top of the stairs with a baby in his arms. “Hi, Shushu, A-Cheng. Hello again, Jiejie, Huan gege.” He went down. “This is Lan Hui. He is a little loud and was waking up, so I brought him with me so he would not wake up his brother.”
Wangji stepped forward and opened his mouth, but Wuxian was faster than him.
“He is sound asleep and surrounded by pillows. I also had the idea to make a video call between our phones, so we have eyes on him.” He waved Wangji’s phone for everyone to see.
“That’s a good idea, A-Xian. I didn’t think of a baby monitor set, but it is easy to buy one.” Yanli went to his side and patted his back. “What I’ll say is second-gender bad cliche, but I think your omega instincts are already rising. I also noticed A-Ji’s alpha protectiveness is more prominent.”
“They are parents now, obviously their instincts on how to protect their children will rise.” Jiang Fengmian said in a light tone, approaching Wuxian. “Can I hold my waisun?”
“Of course, Shushu!”
Wangji was focused on his phone, but he raised his head to observe Wuxian passing Hui to Fengmian. He trusted his father-in-law, but Yanli was right, his protective instinct was screaming at him, however, Wangji wouldn’t let it take over. He put down his phone and turned to his brother.
“Ge? Do you need anything else for the registration?”
“The paperwork is almost done, but I checked and I’ll need pictures of them. But we can take them later.” Xichen dismissed the matter and showed what he had brought. “Yanli called me right after you left to ask if we had something important for the babies. I was happy to go through our family’s storage to retrieve the Lan crib.”
“We also brought the Jiang crib. Only you would go all out even in an adoption, Wuxian.” Wanyin bickered with his brother.
“Just say you want to meet the babies already, A-Cheng.” Wuxian said as he went to his brother and side-hugged him, laughing.
“Thank you for the cribs.” Wangji said.
Then a sound came from his phone and he was upstairs in the blink of an eye. He disconnected the call and took Yuan in his arms. After checking if he needed a change, he went down again. At that point, the family was accommodated in the living room. Wangji stopped at the threshold.
“This is Lan Yuan. He has a little beauty mark on his right cheek.”
Fengmian passed Hui back to Wuxian and went to Wangji to hold Yuan.
“Lan Hui and Lan Yuan.” Xichen said. “You chose well.”
Wangji nodded in thanks to his brother and sat by Wuxian’s side.
“Jiejie, did you really mobilize the whole family to help us?” Wuxian tilted his head at his sister.
“Well...” Yanli giggled. “I remembered we had our crib stored somewhere, so I had to call Baba. But you need two cribs, so I decided to take a chance with Xichen. I also thought it wouldn’t be bad to have more manpower, so I called A-Cheng. Unfortunately, Zixuan is out of town at the moment.” She shrugged.
“You forgot to say that Mama jumped at the opportunity to go shopping for baby clothes.” Wanyin said and turned to Wuxian. “She will be here later.”
“Muqin was also very excited with the news. She went out to do the same.” Xichen hid a giggle behind his hand at Wangji and Wuxian’s expressions.
“Speaking of clothes, I washed the onesies and the blanket you found them in while I was gathering the things to bring you.” Yanli remembered, showing one of the various bags the group had brought. “I also borrowed two car seats for infants with my friends whose babies grew out of them.”
“But-” Wangji was interrupted by Wuxian.
“Jiejie, that is too much.”
“You need a safe way to transport my nephews, and they really aren’t using them anymore. The owner of the blue one wants it back when the babies grow out of it because she plans on having more children in a year or two. The one with red details is available for you to buy if you would prefer. But my friend doesn’t mind only lending it. Also, you can detach it from the base and carry it if you need to take the babies somewhere before you buy strollers.”
“You will need to buy many things, and a lot of them will lose utility or stop fitting the boys quickly, so borrowing some is actually good. Don’t be too proud to deny help.” Fengmian spoke softly.
“I don’t have experience with babies, but Fengmian raised three children, I think you should trust his opinion.” Xichen spoke too.
The couple exchanged a look and then did a little bow toward Fengmian.
“Thank you, Shushu. We will listen to your advice.”
“You should also consider that you will be able to lend me things your babies don’t need anymore...” Yanli said in a playful tone.
Three pairs of eyes bugged out and their stares almost bore holes in her.
“In the future! When I have a baby with A-Xuan. I am not pregnant!” She explained quickly, laughing.
Fengmian and Wuxian sagged on their seats, Wuxian was even sporting a pout. Wanyin was just relieved he wouldn’t be uncle to one more kid right now.
“Yanli, you brought their clothes, car seats, cribs... What more?” Wangji decided to ask to change the subject.
“Diapers, formula, and a couple more baby bottles for them.” She got up. “By the way, I’ll wash them!”
Yanli left for the kitchen before anyone could say anything against it.
“I think we should assemble the cribs.” Xichen said, also getting up. “Let’s take them upstairs.”
The others moved to do as he said. Wangji, Xichen, and Wanyin started taking pieces upstairs. Wuxian and Fengmian waited with the babies, who were still awake and attentive to their surroundings. Wuxian was wiggling his fingers in between Hui’s hands, provoking him to catch them. Fengmian was talking softly with Yuan, telling him silly stories about his Diedie’s childhood.
Listening to his Shushu calling him like that made Wuxian’s heart flutter.
“Diedie?” He asked softly.
Fengmian looked up.
“Sorry, A-Xian. I went ahead. I don’t know how you will teach them to call you.”
“It’s okay, Shushu.” Wuxian looked back at Hui. “Everything happened so fast... It is still settling in my mind that we are parents now.”
Fengmian moved and sat by his side. He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
“You’re right. It’s a lot happening at once. And we are obviously overwhelming you.” He stopped for a minute. “Just know that you have people to help you. Whenever you need, for whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Shushu.”
Wuxian leaned on him and Fengmian hugged him. The babies were babbling and they smiled at them.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Yanli took the liberty to answer it and welcomed her mother and Wangji’s mother. As the others were coming downstairs, Wanyin rushed to help them carry their bags. Wangji did the same.
“I crossed paths with Yuzhen at the shopping mall and we decided it would be best to join forces.” Yu Ziyuan said.
“Yes. It was fun to shop for our first grandchildren!” Yuzhen spoke, going straight to the babies.
She dropped the bags she was still carrying and kneeled in front of Wuxian, admiring the babies. Ziyuan sat by Fengmian’s side. They asked their names and doted on them. Yanli let the grandmothers fuss around the babies and took everything they had bought out of the bags, proceeding to take the clothes to wash. Wangji followed her to help and learn.
“A-Ji?”
“Mn?”
“Did you and A-Xian have lunch?” She asked as they put the small clothes to wash.
Wangji opened his mouth to answer but closed it in sequence. He realized they had forgotten to take care of themselves properly.
“We showered after we arrived, but aside from that we were too focused on the babies.”
“You can’t forget to take care of yourselves.” Yanli lectured him. “Go ask Mama and Lan-furen if they bought the baby bath. You didn’t bathe the babies, did you?”
“No.”
“I’m sure our mothers can teach you how to do it better than anyone. Go. I’ll take care of things here. When you're done I'll have food ready.”
Yanli put him out of his own kitchen and called Wanyin to help her. Wangji did as she suggested because he had thought about bathing the boys already and because Yanli would scold him if he didn’t obey her — it didn’t matter that they weren’t blood-related, at the moment he fell in love with Wuxian and then met her and she approved him, he knew she had adopted him as another brother and she would gently order him around if she thought needed.
Yuzhen and Ziyuan were thrilled to do as he asked and took the babies in their arms, going upstairs. Wangji and Wuxian could only grab the things they told them to grab and follow them.
Fengmian called Xichen to talk with and complete the registration papers.
“Oh.” Wuxian stopped in the middle of the stairs. “Huan gege, Jiejie said they are around a month old, and she can’t be more precise in their date of birth. If we can choose, please register it as August 24?”
Wangji had stopped a step above and nodded when he finished speaking.
Xichen considered it and nodded too.
Their family left only hours later, after dinner, when it was already time to put the boys to bed for the night. Although Wuxian and Wangji tried to tell them they could leave earlier, none of them listened to them. According to Ziyuan, they wanted to make sure they were well settled before leaving.
So, with family effort, they cleared the guest room of adult stuff to make space for baby stuff. The bed in there was disassembled, and Xichen saw to take it to the Lan storage. The Lan crib was assembled there because it was bigger, and the Jiang crib was put inside their bedroom for the babies to sleep during the next month or so.
The dresser Wangji and Wuxian had in their bedroom was cleared to give space to baby necessities. There, Yuzhen and Ziyuan organized hygiene products, diapers, and the little clothes after they were dry and folded. While they stored everything they also explained to their sons how to use each thing.
Toys were put in a basket on top of the dresser, along with a changing mat.
The last details for the registration were done and Xichen assured them he would submit the papers first thing on Monday. Fengmian went over it with him and confirmed it was done right. He also included a handwriting note in his name to strengthen the process, he said.
Wanyin only observed, followed orders, and teased Wuxian endlessly.
After they left, Wuxian and Wangji took care of the babies, changing their diapers and dressing them in footed pajamas for the night. Then, they fed them. While they cradled Yuan and Hui, Wangji sang softly, and Wuxian thought about their day.
“I am exhausted, Lan Zhan.” He whispered. “But I’m also very happy.”
“Me too.”
“Our families tired me out, not our boys.”
“I know.”
“Shushu was right, I felt overwhelmed while they were all here doing everything at once.”
“I’ll make sure tomorrow will be calmer.” Wangji said. “Although I think Muqin will come again.”
“I don’t mind the help. But if everyone comes again I won’t like it.” Wuxian shook his head.
“I won’t allow it.” Wangji looked at his partner yawning and their sleeping babies. “Let’s put them in the crib and sleep too.”
Wuxian nodded slowly and followed him. As soon as he was back in bed he fell asleep. Wangji smiled softly at him before picking up his phone to send texts to the family asking them to not come without asking first. Then he turned it off and cuddled Wuxian, following him into dreamland.
~*~
Yuzhen really went there on Sunday, but she didn’t stay the whole day, nor did she try to take over taking care of the babies, for the couple’s peace of mind.
At some point during her stay, they talked about what they were going to do during the week. Wangji couldn’t simply close his vet practice. He would have to reorganize his schedule to do that. He couldn’t take Yuan and Hui with him either.
And Wuxian, being an elementary school teacher, shouldn’t miss work without a previous warning. Only after Xichen submitted the adoption papers and it was accepted in the system could he ask for a leave.
Yuzhen, then, suggested they leave the boys with her or Ziyuan.
The couple considered it and agreed to it at first. But, as night approached, the perspective of being away from his boys was making Wuxian more and more restless.
“I can’t leave them, Lan Zhan.” He said as he paced around their room.
Wangji was bathing Yuan, and Hui was in the bed, surrounded by pillows. Wuxian had been playing with him, making him follow a hoop and letting him catch it, but now he was closing and opening his own hands in one another.
“What do you want to do, then?” Wangji asked as he came out of the bathroom to put Yuan in the changing mat to dry and dress him.
“Take them with me.” Wuxian said as he stopped to look at Wangji.
“Wei Ying...”
“I know it is not the best of ideas.” He stepped closer and held Wangji’s arm, not stopping him from taking care of Yuan, but just to touch him. “I also know Shenshen is more than capable of taking care of them. Your Muqin too. But I can’t. I can’t stay away from them so soon.” Wuxian took a deep breath. “This is probably my omega instincts — second-gender be damned — taking over, but I can’t fight it right now.”
Wangji finished dressing Yuan. He took him in his arms and hugged Wuxian with the baby in their midst.
“Xingan... I understand you.” He was going to continue, but they heard Hui whine so he led Wuxian to the bed, putting Yuan in his arms and picking Hui up before snuggling all together. “If I could I would take them with me too. But my practice is not the best place for such young babies.”
Wuxian leaned his head on Wangji's shoulder, who took the opportunity to scent the crown of his head, exuding soothing pheromones.
“You can’t give classes with two babies in your arms. We can’t disassemble a crib and take it to school either. And I was going to take the car seats to be sanitized tomorrow, as Yu-furen ordered.” Wangji said softly.
“And we are only going to buy the strollers tomorrow too, I know.” Wuxian mumbled. “What if we cover the seats with blankets?” He perked up.
Wangji considered it.
“I think that could work...”
Wuxian lifted Yuan.
“Do you want to meet my students, A-Yuan? How about infuriating Qiren shufu a little, hmm, A-Hui?” He spoke playfully and winked at the other baby.
“Maybe you just want to stir up trouble with Shufu, Wei Ying.” Wangji said nonchalantly.
“Your Baba is speaking ill of me, Baobao. I would never do that. Don’t listen to him, listen to Diedie.”
Wangji’s low laugh filled the room while Wuxian tried to keep his under control so he wouldn't scare the boys.
On the next day, they covered the seats with blankets before settling the boys in them and Wangji took his family to Orchid School. Wuxian traveled squished between both carriers because he wanted to make sure the babies would be okay in them.
Last night, after the boys were asleep, Wuxian called Ziyuan and explained to her his decision. She understood and said she would be available to help if he needed it, he just needed to call her and she would be ready.
After parking, Wangji followed Wuxian to his classroom to help him accommodate the babies. They put the carriers on the floor, afraid the table or chairs would be too dangerous. On the other side, maybe the table would block some of the noise Wuxian’s students were capable of making.
Wangji and Wuxian were both crouching, talking with the babies, when Lan Qiren entered the classroom.
“I couldn’t believe it when they told me, but I guess I should never doubt what you are capable of, Wei Wuxian.”
“Qiren shufu!” Wuxian said, getting up. “Come meet your grandnephews!”
Wangji stood up and greeted his uncle.
“Shufu.”
“I was under the impression Yuzhen and Yu-furen would take care of them while you were working until Xichen officializes the adoption so you can request a leave.” Qiren said, trying to not look at the babies.
“They would, but I couldn’t leave them so soon.” Wuxian said solemnly.
“Did Xichen tell you they are around a month old, Shufu?” Wangji asked.
“He did. He told me everything.” Qiren looked from one to the other and sighed. “I understand where your need comes from, but I don’t approve of this.”
Wuxian felt the itch to provoke him but he knew better than to do that in a moment like that.
“That being said, I am already in touch with a substitute for you. As soon as your adoption is recognized in the system they can take over.” Qiren kneeled to see the babies. He tickled their bellies and got up. “I won’t allow you to bring them in the next few days if you need to come. And Wangji can’t convince me to do it either. Now, get ready for class. Wangji.”
Qiren left. Wuxian let out a giggle after he was gone and leaned on Wangji. They exchanged a kiss before Wangji said bye to the boys and left.
Wuxian’s students were very surprised but were also very excited to meet the sons of their favorite teacher. They behaved like little angels after Wuxian promised they could play with Yuan and Hui.
By the end of his workday, Wangji was waiting for him outside of the classroom. Wuxian told him how well the babies behaved. They slept most of the morning, but there was one time when both wanted to be held and he was in the middle of an explanation, so that was kinda tricky, but he dealt with it as if he had always had two kids.
Leaving the school, they went shopping for strollers, the baby monitor, and slings. An idea Wuxian had after the moment both Yuan and Hui wanted him at the same time. In the end, the couple decided on a twingaroo bag that could be used as a single too.
They bought a few more things, then Wangji took them home, helped Wuxian bathe and feed their sons, and left again to take the car seats to be sanitized.
When he went back home, Wangji found Wuxian in the living room. He had put a mat on the floor, covered it with a blanket, and he was lying there with Yuan and Hui, playing with them. They were all facing the blanket and Wuxian was imitating the babies and cheering on them.
“Well done, A-Hui! Well done! You can do it too, A-Yuan! You’re strong and smart!”
Wangji silently observed them. That would be his life from now on: go home to meet his partner and their sons; play with them; teach them; see them grow. He didn’t want much else.
Wuxian noticed him there.
“Lan Zhan, come come! We are exercising our necks!”
“Mn.”
And he joined them.
Epilogue
Wuxian was able to take his leave two days later. One month after they had found their babies, their adoption was official to all extents.
They decided to hold the 100 Days celebration around two months after they had found Yuan and Hui. The boys were growing up healthy and were the happiest babies.
The whole family jumped into the opportunity of organizing the party. Yuzhen and Ziyuan joined forces and took the reins of planning. Wuxian tried to stop them, but he gave up after one too many arguments.
He shared with Wangji the fear that they would overdo it, but, when the day of the celebration arrived, the couple was surprised with a party exactly the way they wanted it. Simple and full of family and friends who really cared about them and Lan Yuan and Lan Hui.
The family of four dressed up in new red clothes. Yuan and Hui were beyond cute and they almost couldn’t move under the layers of fabric.
After burning incense and making offerings, Wangji and Wuxian stood in front of their guests to formally present their sons.
Wangji started, holding one of the boys facing the guests.
“This is Lan Yuan, courtesy name Shizui.”
Wuxian, then, did the same.
“This is Lan Hui, courtesy name Jingyi.” After the applause died down, he continued. “We thank Shushu and Yuzhen Muqin for choosing such beautiful courtesy names for our boys.”
Another round of applause followed and then they feasted.
Hours later, back at home, Wangji and Wuxian observed Hui and Yuan sleeping in their cribs in their bedroom, which was decorated with rabbits in various forms of wall-art and toys.
Epilogue P.2
One year later, at another 100 Days celebration, everyone heard Wuxian screaming.
“Lan Zhan, Hui is looking for trouble again! Catch him!”
Said toddler was wobbly running toward his little cousin’s seat. Wangji was able to catch him before he bumped into Jin Ling, carrying him back to play with Yuan, who was comfortably sprawled in his Diedie’s lap.
“Hu!” Yuan opened his arms to his brother.
Wuxian was sitting on the floor with crossed legs, where Yuan — and now Hui too — were nestled. Wangji sat by his side and kissed his temple.
“Happy?” He whispered.
“Always when I’m with you, Xingan.”
The party around them became a background noise outside of their little bubble.