After breakfast, Tsu attempted to get back to her usual routine, starting with her hair. The temptation to just throw it back into a bun was strong, but it'd only serve to keep her feeling unready for the day. 

In the bathroom, Tsu stuck her head under the bathtub faucet and rang out the excess water. She parted her hair into four sections and got to work on one. She was surprised her arms weren't more toned from the sheer amount of time and labor it took to do her hair. 

Forty-five minutes and one section was done. She sighed. Working diligently, she'd have half her head done by that time. The energy to tackle it straightforwardly just wasn't there. She slid down the wall onto the floor, trying not to cry.

Khan poked his head through the cracked door of the bathroom, "Sweetie?"

Tsu took a sharp breath, forcing a neutral voice, "Yeah, babe?"

"Do you need anything?" His face held a mixture of sadness and concern.

She froze. The thought of making him go out of his way again coupled with the urge to lie and say she was fine... Tsu blinked hard. No. None of that. She was supposed to be doing better about that. She held up her brush, visibly struggling to keep herself together, "Can you help me?"

Khan's eyes softened.

He was just about done with a section. He detangled her knots with care.

It took a lot of effort for Tsu to keep her voice steady as she spoke. "I'm sorry if I'm being too demanding. I'm used to doing everything myself. I feel like I'm taking up too much of your time."

He leaned her head back and kissed her forehead. Something about the way he did that always made her feel... silly. But in a good way. In a "He really doesn't think I'm a burden" kind of way. "You can't take up too much of the time that I make for you."

Tsu could just cry. Where did this man come from? What did she ever do to deserve him?

"There we go." Khan had finally finished her hair. He even tied her red ribbon into it. 

It wasn't the usual side that it was on, but she welcomed the small change. Tsu smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Thank you," she said. "For everything."

Khan leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. It was a brief moment, but it was enough to make her heart race. He pulled away just enough to look in her eyes. "You're never a burden." His tone was serious.

She stared at him for a long moment, trying to force herself to believe it then gave her head a nod.

Tsu stared out the sliding door at the ocean on the horizon. What she’d give to be out of this funk and enjoying a late evening on the beach with Khan. A groggy sigh left her.

“Sweetie?”

Tsu turned to see Khan holding out a tissue. She smiled a soft smile. One full of gratitude and swelling emotions. She accepted the tissue with a ‘Thank you’, her voice barely above a whisper as she dabbed the corner of her eyes. She sniffed and tried to compose herself.

Khan took a seat with her at the table. He rested his hand atop hers. “If you start feeling sore again, we can take a hot bath together.”

Tsu lit up just at the prospect of a relaxing bath with Khan. “Do I actually have to be sore, or…?” her mischievous smirk making an appearance.

Khan smiled widely with a light chuckle, “There she is,” he said as he stood up and pulled her to her feet.

The End