Chapter 34 (Last Chapter, before the MPREG Special)

Since we were advised to apply for adoption as early as possible, we did so. Just 4 weeks after our wedding, we submitted the application to the adoption agency. Yes I know it's crazy early and so soon after the wedding, but I really want to have kids. And, because they said a decision for or against adoption might take years, so we did it right away.

But, we didn't get a response to our application years later. But already five days later. Our application was rejected. The reason they gave was our same-sex marriage. Because in our country our marriage is not accepted.

I was so disappointed by this letter and this reason that I was in tears. Why should a same-sex couple not be allowed to adopt children? Are we, just because we are gay, therefore worse people? We would love the child or children just as much as a couple consisting of a man and a woman.

Our sexual orientation does not make us bad parents! We would love the children even more because it is not possible for us to have our own children. Well, women might be able to with a sperm donation. But men? It would be nice, but what would be the chance that I could get pregnant? Such a small number, my calculator would not even show me.

Zhan wrapped me tightly in his arms, gave me a kiss on my forehead and said, "My cutie, I am disappointed too. And I also don't know why they think we can't be good parents. But let's not forget that not all is lost. Because we could try adoption abroad. Or we could look for a surrogate mother. The fact is, we are not giving up on the dream of having our own family just because we were rejected once. We will continue to try everything."

I nodded and replied, "No, we're not giving up. And if we use a surrogate, the baby would even be from you or me. We would have a baby and I could be like Yanli, watching it grow every day. We could teach the baby everything. We would shower it with love and always be there for our child."

"That's right. So cheer up. We'll never give up. I know how much you want a child and I want one too. And we will have a child one day."

"Maybe two? Two is a good number. It would be nicer if our child had a sibling, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, we could have two children too. Anything you want my cute prince. As long as you are happy, so am I."

I grinned and was pleased. "I hope one of the kids will be a girl. Maybe both."

"Mhhh, so you want to have two daughters?"

"Sure. Have you seen what nice clothes there are for girls? Besides, Yanli already has two boys." I suddenly got excited again and told Zhan about my ideas and dreams once we had kids.

I felt good again and the bad news from the adoption agency, was quickly forgotten. We might not have children until a few years from now, but I already can't wait. And when the time finally comes, I will be the best daddy they could have.

But it was also time for me to focus on the here and now again. Because in just one month, my brother will get married. Yes he and Cheng have also finally decided when and where to get married.

Their wedding will be at a hotel. Henry wants to pay for everything and personally take care of the preparations. My brother was against it at first, afraid someone might think he was taking advantage of Henry. But then he and Henry had a long talk in which he once again explained to my brother that he is doing and wants to do this for his oldest son. And not for some random stranger.

My brother and Henry are getting along better and better. Often it was Cheng who helped my brother see things more clearly. At first, my brother had rejected Henry because he thought it would be unfair to our dad if we replaced him with Henry. But Cheng made him understand that Henry is not a substitute, but our real dad. That we as his sons, have the damn right to accept Henry as our dad and spend time with him.

He then started to let Henry into his heart bit by bit. And now they get along great and my brother even started working for Henry in the company a few days ago.

Henry also made me an offer to work in his company again. But I declined again with thanks. I feel much more comfortable in the hardware store and want to stay there.

Zhao told me that the management is planning to open another hardware store and that he would like to nominate me as store manager. But, I don't know if I can carry that much responsibility by myself. Zhan said I could only find out if I tried. And, if they really build another hardware store and want me to be the store manager, I will surely give it a try. Can't hurt, can it?

I would have a lot of responsibility as a store manager, but I would still have fixed working hours. And I'll need those if we want to have children later and be there for them.

Zhan has decided to leave his job as a car mechanic in one year at the latest. He would like to concentrate more and completely on writing his books. He has also started painting again. He now often uses the reading room as his studio. I read and he paints. But the main thing is that we are always together.

After Seungyoun and Wooseok raved about my wedding, I asked them if they might want to get married someday. But they don't want to. Not yet, anyway. Even though they have been together for several years. I think Wooseok would like to get married, but he doesn't dare to tell Seungyoun yet.

Oh yes, we have been getting a lot of inquiries lately about selling our house. Of course we don't want to. But whenever we asked why people are interested in our house, we received the answer that during our renovation and restoration of the house, we not only kept the old charm of the house, but also emphasized it.

Somehow, though, this also gave me an idea. Maybe Zhan and I could buy other houses, restore them and then sell them? It would be very lucrative, considering what they offered for our house. But we won't give our house away. We love it.

However, we plan to buy the adjoining fallow land and fix it up. We could build a pool there. Zhan would like to have a pool. But I don't want one in my garden. Because our garden is just perfect the way it is. But, if we bought the adjacent land, we would have enough land to build a huge pool there.

Next to the pool, we could then also build a small pool house. So I already had a lot of ideas. And Zhan was already listening to my ideas with enthusiasm. He even laughed and said that we would never get bored and that we would have enough to do in the next, at least 2 years.

Yesterday evening, when we talked again about children and about planned upcoming projects, Zhan asked me if I could also imagine to stay at home instead of working in the hardware store and take care of our projects personally?

My honest answer, after thinking about it for a moment, was that I could definitely imagine it. But not until we have kids. I know I'm totally crazy because I'm only 24 years old and I'm all about kids. But somehow that's exactly what I want with all my heart.

I think I knew from the beginning that Zhan is not only the one for me, but also that he is the one with whom I could imagine everything. Even a family of my own. Because before I met him, I could hardly imagine to have a family of my own.

I can't remember much about my grandparents. But there is one thing that my grandmother used to say that I still remember. Once you've found the right one or ones, you can just imagine everything with that person. Even things that were completely absurd and unthinkable before. She told me that over and over again. And she was right.

Again and again I ask myself, where would I be now? What would I be doing now if I hadn't met Zhan? Would I still be the shy young man working in a hardware store, driving a wrecked car, living alone in his small apartment, and always searching the Internet forums for the latest rumors about the author Wei Ying?

When I think about how much Zhan changed me, how much my life changed, I'm glad that I had a wrecked car, had to go to the auto repair shop with it, and was addressed there by the auto mechanic with "Hey cutie". I am glad that Zhan fell in love with me and gave me time to get to know him better while renovating his garden and house.

I also needed that time together. Through this, I realized that Zhan accepted me as I was. He didn't push me to do anything and gave me time to relax and feel comfortable around him. He accepted my shyness and very slowly helped me come out of hiding and show myself.

And last but not least, I was able to fulfill one of my dreams through him. Namely, to meet the author Wei Ying. Even today, it is sometimes unbelievable to me that Zhan and the author, are one and the same person. My brother asked me laughingly just before the wedding, "So, are you happy that you are going to marry your two most important men?"

I knew immediately what he was alluding to and I nodded. "Yes, because I love them both with all my heart." I replied with a laugh.

Oh, nowadays when someone other than my husband tells me I'm cute, I react as I always do and say, "I'm not cute." But then I add, "Unless it's my husband! Then I'm even sugar sweet."

In summary, all I can say is, I'm just HAPPY. And no matter what lies ahead, with Zhan by my side, everything is only half as bad and actually, nothing can go wrong. I look forward to our future with excitement and look forward to each and every new day at the side of my amazing, loving, caring, warm, heartfelt and wonderful husband.

End

A/N: For all of you who have no interest in MPREG stories, this story ends here. For everyone else, we continue with the MPREG special, here in this book. Thank you all for reading this story to this point, and I hope I was able to entertain you who stop here. Maybe I could make you laugh sometimes, think, sympathize or shake your head. For me, anyway, this story was another exciting story, where I am grateful for every vote and every comment. I appreciate you, your amateur author, Eileen.

EDIT: I know the ending came abruptly and is less detailed than some are used to from me, but it was already hard for me to find a suitable ending here, where I can then, easily go to the MPREG special.