DOUBLE TAKE

ZHAN POV

Fan Xing fell asleep soon after we got home; I got back downstairs to find Yibo greeting Zhen Xin, who has been playing his video game.

"I bet I can beat you at this game Dad." Hesaid and I smiled standing at the end of the staircase watching them.

"I'm sure you can buddy." Yibo replied witha slight smile, I noticed he looked tired. Which was weird because he could work forever and still look like he just woke up.

His hair looked like he was running his hand through it a lot; something heonly did when he was frustrated. His gaze locked on mine and he walked towards me.

"Hi, rough day at..." I said and he cut me off with a bear hug, I chuckled uneasily taken aback. Yibo embraced me a lot but this one felt a little wrong

"Alright. Who died?" I asked in a teasingtone, but I was actually anxious. He paused then he lifted his head smiling at me.

"No one." He said cupping my face

"I just wanted to hug you."

I chuckled

"Oh what did I do to deserve suchaffection." I said and he half smiled

"Where's my youngest buddy?" heasked

"He fell asleep an hour ago." I saidfollowing him into the kitchen.

"You want to tell me what's got youworked up?" I asked and for a split second I thought he tensed.

"The CIA is assembling all the elite agentsin New York." He said simply as he made coffee. Taken aback I just silently stared at him, does that mean he too will leave; and for how long?

"Is there a world war Three brewing?" I asked and he eyed me leaning against the counter with his legs crossed at theankles. He sipped his coffee, looking sinfully handsome.

"You're so melodramatic, it's amusing." Hesaid even though he didn't look amused.I stood next to him

"Are you going?" I asked; it was a stupid question. Of course he was, but a silly part of me hoped he'd say no.

I hated being away from him; I could swear it literally causes me physical pain. He nodded, wrapping his free hand around my waist and pressing his lips to my hair

"I'm probably going to be a couple of days." He said,

"I'll...be back before you know it." Headded. I nodded slowly

"Hong just disappeared today, do you know where he is?" I asked; his gaze shifted

"Yes, something came up with his family he had to leave the state for now. I'll find areplacement for him for the meantime." He said.

"Oh." I said, a little disappointed that hedidn't even say goodbye, I thought we were better acquainted than that. Yibo kissed my forehead and went to Zhen Xin offering him a game.

I stood there trying not to read too muchinto his mood, something was wrong.You're being your old paranoid self the little voice in my head told me, andknowing me I was.

Just then Vier, Yibo's kind chef walkedin, I decided to help him with dinner just to clear my head.Yibo finished loading his luggage in hiscar, I watched him say goodbye to Mari and the kids. He comforted a crying Fan Xing; he gave him back to Mari when he stopped. Mari offered them ice cream and they both brightened as she went back inwith them. Yibo took me into his arms, embracing me tightly for a short while; he pressed his lips to mine. He kissed me until I was dizzy.

"I love you." He whispered before releasingme

"I love you too." I said

"You better get out of here, before I hold you captive." I teased.

He half smiled and got in the car, I watched his car disappear from the circular driveway; I touched my lips absently. Yibo has never kissed melike that before; did I just imagine the sad edge to it?

Zhen Xin's voice brought me out of my thoughts; he tugged at my hand.

"Come on mom, I saved you some ice cream." He said and I smiled following him inside.

The next few days were as rough as hell, and the fact that Yibo was not answering his phone did not ease my nervousness. He always answered his phone, especially if I'm the one calling.

I sat in our balcony after work and grabbed my phone calling him again, I groaned when it sent me straight tovoicemail...again.

"You're scaring me my love, call me please."

I said and threw my phone onto the other chair, I probably left a thousand messages and none of them were returned.

I wrapped my arms around my legs stubbornly refusing to succumb to the terrible knot in my stomach. Yibo wassupposed to be here yesterday, maybe he got held up but he'd tell me if he was going to be late, wouldn't he?

The following day I was relieved when Liuturned up at the door with two other men I didn't know.

That relief was quickly turned into panic and worry, what was he doing here?Was it about Yibo?

Mari offered them a seat but I stood next to Zela watching them.

"What's going on Liu, I know this is not asocial visit." I said and he nodded his expression revealing nothing

"Please sit Zhan." He said.

I shook my head

"Don't tell me to sit down Liu, tell me what this is about."

Zela touched my shoulder, her anxious eyes pleading with me to comply. I sat down not taking my gaze off Liu;

she sat next to me.

Liu took a deep breath and simultaneously my heart started racing, this was bad.

"Yibo never made it to New York." He saidand I thought I didn't hear him over my drumming heart.

"What do you mean he never made it?" Iwhispered, he looked down

"I was informed that his jet experiencedengine failure, it crashed." He said and I heard Mari gasp and Zela put her face in her hands.

My mind however couldn't comprehend what Liu was saying, and then everything went blank..."Zhan?" I heard someone say,

"I think she's coming around." I opened my eyes to see a distressed Zela hoveringover me.

It crashed, those words made an echo in my head. For a split second I thought I dreamt the whole thing but when I woke up I was still living in that nightmare.

"No." I said quickly siting up and my gazelocked with Liu

"Where is he? How..."

"We've been looking into it, the plane is inruins but we didn't find the bod...him." He said; I flinched standing up.

I didn't even want to think about any other outcome, he just had to have survived somehow. My gaze fixated on Liu and his eyes widened as he slightly lifted from the ground. The two men with him stoodup, and Zela screamed when I heard their guns cock in my direction. I kept my gaze on Liu

"Put your damn guns down you morons."

He hissed at them before looking at me.

"Zhan you know I care for Yibo, we aredoing everything we can..."

"Don't play games with me Liu." I snapped,

"This is my whole life we're talking about. Find my husband...fast."

I said then let him down.

"We'll do our best." He said then he paused

"I'm sorry." He added.

I refused to acknowledge his sympatheticwords, I couldn't think like that; I would go over the edge if I did.

"Get out." I said and they left closing thedoor behind them.

I took a moment before I staggered back to the sofa, covering my mouth with both my hands, afraid of letting out the scream of agony that rumbled in my chest. The last thing I felt were Zela and Mari's arms around me,

"Yibo..."