7 weeks later

24th December 2024

(POV Gi-hun)

Lights were sparkling everywhere in the streets of Seoul and out of every store you could hear the Christmas music. For the first time in forever I actually felt the magic in the air, the peace that heals your heart and the hope in the people's eyes. It was that one time of the year where the whole world was only thinking about family and love, where everything fell in place and where all people were actually believing that they would be saved.

It was Christmas Eve, the exact same day where I had seen Oh Il-nam again 4 years ago, the day when he had died. In-ho, Jun-ho, Mi-na and I were on our way back from the cemetery; we had been visiting Hwang Min-jung's grave. "My sister and I always loved Christmas.", Mi-na had said pensively. "It was the one day where we could feel the great miracle that would come and finally bring us peace." Jun-ho had carefully taken her tiny hand into his and In-ho and I were exchanging a smile. Finally he got the guts to make a move!

We celebrated Christmas with Jun-ho's mother and everyone was treating me just like family. After singing "O come, all ye faithful", "Silent night" and many more Christmas songs all together we got a break. In-ho and I sat down on the couch, his arm around my shoulders, we both watching the beautiful Christmas tree and eating Christmas cookies.

"Merry Christmas, darling", he whispered into my ear and I smiled. "Merry Christmas, my love."

"What do you wish for?", he asked and I took a moment to think about it. "I wish for us a long happy life together, one day watching Jun-ho's and Mi-na's children grow up." In-ho chuckled and glimpsed at the two of them. "They are indeed cute together. Imagine if they got married, we'd all be family of each other.", he said. I laughed and shook my head.

"Darling, you forgot something. We'd only be family if you and I wouldget married – and as you know that's not possible in South Korea."

"Well then we must go to another country. Because I intend to marry you as soon as it can be arranged.", In-ho announced like it was the most casual thing on earth. My heart stopped for a moment and I looked at him in confusion – damn his maroon hair looked beautiful reflecting the lights of the Christmas tree... "You mean after you properly proposed to me?", I teased him and he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure... so will you?"

"No", I snorted, "Only if you say it properly. I want a proposal with everything that goes with it.", I demanded and In-ho laughed: "So my princess wants a proposal with kneeling down and ring and till death do us part? Fine, you shall have one. Count on me." He pressed his lips on mine and for a moment the world stood still, there was only the two of us.

"Hey lovebirds" Jun-ho and Mi-na sat down on the couch next to us and I reluctantly let go of In-ho. "You're the one to talk", I replied and Jun-ho and Mi-na both blushed right down to their hair roots.

"We have something to announce.", Jun-ho said. "Mi-na will go back to Europe in the new year to do some more researches about her real parents... and I'm going with her. I've never been anywhere in Europe and maybe I'll find a job with the police over there. I'm afraid my reputation in Seoul is ruined after the thing with the helicopter." We all laughed remembering Jun-ho 'returning' the 'borrowed' helicopter to the Korean police and getting fired once and for all.

"How long will you stay there?", In-ho asked ironically. "Europe is big, you know. It's a continent, not just a country." Jun-ho rolled his eyes. "I know, dude. Probably a year or two."

"So long??", In-ho snapped in surprise. "You better take good care of my little sissy, brother." Mi-na gave In-ho an annoyed look but I could see the smile in her eyes. "You'll have to visit us. Imagine you two lovebirds in Europe... it would be good for you. And of course we'll be home for Christmas or New Year's Eve or stuff."

New Years Eve. I froze, realizing that the new year was right around the corner. "Guys, we're almost in 2025. How the hell did time fly by so fast?" It had almost been 2 months since we had tried to kidnap the Frontman on Halloween and I had decided to go back to the games. "We're getting older so fast."

"You two are already old.", Jun-ho whispered and hid behind Mi-na as In-ho threw a pillow at him.

"I don't mind getting older. As long as I'm with you I feel like a teenager.", In-ho declared and kissed me on the cheek. "Doesn't time always give some perspective?" I smiled and nodded. Yes. He was absolutely right, time passing by was not a bad thing, it did give perspective. "As long as my perspectives all include you, I'm fine with that.", I whispered and kissed him passionately. I didn't feel like a man in his forties, In-ho made me feel like my best days were still ahead of me – and I was sure that this feeling didn't fool me.

"Look at them." In-ho nudged me, pointing at Mi-na and Jun-ho who had started kissing. "So cute. They're both crazy and adventurous, I think they go great together."

I chuckled and nodded: "Well, now I'm pretty sure that one day we'll watch their children grow. And I want to make it a good world for them to grow up."

In-ho seemed deep in his thoughts when he answered: "Have you ever been to Europe? Because I haven't."

"Me neither...What are you trying to get at?", I asked confused.

"Imagine the two of us in Paris...Rome...Vienna...Berlin... maybe our nephews and nieces will be European after all. But you know – there are countries like France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany etc where same-sex marriages are legal. So maybe one day we'll find our perfect world somewhere over there."

My heart raced as I processed what he just said. Maybe it was true, maybe we would really get our happily-ever-after – we for sure would both fight for it. All the horrors we went through were worth something in the end because now we were here and everything had fallen into place. I had found the one person I was destined to be with, a man who would do anything for me and for our future together. Since we had declared the Frontman dead, In-ho became the most amazing, loving, kind person I had ever met – and above all he was ridiculously handsome.

"So how would you imagine a perfect world?", I asked him and he took a moment to think about it, then he smiled.

"It's a world where all Christmases are white and where love conquers all."

His head rested on my shoulder as we kept cuddling on the couch watching the Christmas tree. After some minutes I heard him breathing deeply and regularly: his almond-shaped eyes had closed. I smiled and softly kissed his forehead while I remained silent for some time, watching over his sleep. In the background gentle Christmas music came from the radio as I realized that everything was good.

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

THE END

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Author's note: Guys, we made it. Thank you all for being a part of Gi-hun's and In-ho's journey. Seeing you guys reading and liking my story made me the happiest and I probably wouldn't have been able to write this much if it wasn't for you <3 huge thanks. This was my very first fanfiction and I never imagined getting over 5k views...you guys are incredible xx

Feel free to leave comments, feedback etc, share the story with other people like us, who deserve a happy ending for In-ho and Gi-hun just as we do.

We all should convince producer Hwang Dong-hyuk to re-do Season 3 since it'll probably not end good like our fairytale story hahaha.

This probably won't be my last fanfic so stay tuned, as always xx

-DoctorBlondie