Hey guys! So wow… Do I owe you all an explanation or what? I'm so sorry for being silent this past month and for all of you who messaged me asking if I was okay, thank you! So, at the end of August, I had pretty major surgery. It was planned and expected but the recovery process took a little longer than I initially thought. And while I am still mending, I am just now to the point where I can move freely and begin to do my normal routine.

I am planning on doing this multi-fic for Playful Kiss (not sure how long yet but probably three or four chapters) and also a Yi Jeong/Ga Eul one-shot from the Kidnapping like I promised. I know this chapter is super-short but I at least wanted to get something posted for you. Don't worry the rest of the chapters will be their usual length.

Thanks for all the support and still wanting to read after such an odd delay.

Enjoy!

Ha Ni rolled her neck tiredly as she stood in line at the cafeteria. Her head was pounding so violently against her temple, she had this image of a monster rock concert happening inside her brain. And a little green, large-toothed creature as the drummer was currently using her left side as his drum-set. Ha Ni smiled slightly at the playful image while Baek Seung Jo's sarcastic snark for her overactive imagination rang in her ear.

Her husband after almost four years of marriage had grown more tolerant of Ha Ni's fanciful wanderings and while he still reigned her in occasionally, he didn't roll his eyes nearly as much. Which in her opinion was a victory for her side in the marriage game. Since Baek Seung Jo never compromised and the fact he was willing to try for her sake only proved how much they had grown as a couple in the past few years.

Not that they had seen each other much lately, Ha Ni reflected sadly. Her days at the hospital had been packed with the new director of pediatrics and a shortage of nurses. So, she had been going in before the sun was even fully up while Seung Jo had been staying late for his research on a new medication for heart disease. Not to mention family obligations and general life needs.

Their interactions lately had been him kissing her on the cheek around midnight as he collapsed into bed next to her and them exchanging sleepy good-byes as she left in the early morning for her shift. It had been weeks since they ate a meal together or talking more than a few words in between the rush of the day.

As another rush of pounding pain flooded her head, Ha Ni winced with a long exhale. Pain and melancholy over missing her husband making her feel slightly depressed.

"I will just make something to eat at home." Ha Ni mumbled. "I don't even care if it's a burnt mess."

She stepped out of line and waved to a few of her coworkers. Her shift was technically over anyway and since she was off tomorrow, the idea of going home and collapsing until Thursday was suddenly much more appealing than food.

"Is Doctor Baek really presenting to the board next week?"

Ha Ni slowed at the hushed question and carefully turned her head to the doctors at the coffee station. While she didn't recognize them, she gathered from their appearance to be slightly senior doctors. Which might explain the obvious annoyance in their voice as they discussed the new hot-shot doctor being paraded around by Parang.

"Yes." The older gentlemen sighed as he grabbed some cream. "Apparently he made some interesting progress on his research. If the board approves it, he will be given a significant grant to complete his thesis."

The other doctor huffed and muttered darkly under his breath. "I wouldn't mind so much if he didn't act so arrogant about it. He doesn't even ask anyone to check his work before sending it off to Chairman Do. So confident he is correct in his assumption."

"I heard he is this supposed genius." The man closest to her grumbled as Ha Ni pretended to be highly interested in the leaves of the fake plant next to them.

"Finished school a whole year early and with job offers from every hospital in Korea and even some abroad. Parang was thrilled that he decided to stay with them and has basically given him a key to the hospital in exchange."

"Punk." He finished darkly but then looked around carefully before adding in a hushed whisper. "However, I heard his wife is also a nurse here."

"So?"

"So, she did not graduate at the top of her studies." The man emphasized with a snort. "In fact, some say the only reason she graduated at all was simply out of mercy and Parang only hired her because they wanted to keep Doctor Baek happy."

"Really?" This seemed to delight the older gentlemen as he gleefully filled his tray. "Which department does she work in?"

"I don't know. It seems their marriage is kept pretty private. And you know Doctor Baek, unless he is talking to you about work, he simply stares at you when you try to make personal conversation."

"If we could find out…" He mused as they picked up their dinner. "We might be able to use her to our advantage. Doctor Baek may not act so high and mighty if we could prove his wife is a liability."

As they walked away, Ha Ni rolled her eyes in annoyance. This wasn't the first time someone in a fit of jealousy of Seung Jo's success had tried to create problems. Ha Ni had discovered pretty quickly that in order to avoid harassment or drama from the staff at Parang, she needed to keep her identity as his wife hidden as much as possible.

Not so much to protect herself since her work with her patients was exemplary. Skills on paper didn't always reflect reality, Ha Ni had realized as she had gotten older. She was much better with hands-on and visual learning. So, while she may have struggled academically in school now she was actually emerging as one of the best nurses in pediatrics.

No, she was confident her work would speak for itself even if someone did try to find negligence. However, she never wanted someone using her to target Baek Seung Jo.

There wasn't a lot she could do to protect or stand up for her husband from jealous colleagues but not letting him get harassed because of his wife was the least she could do for him.

"Pompous idiots." Ha Ni grumbled as she climbed aboard the bus. "They probably put their stethoscope on upside down in the morning."

She was still disparaging them as she walked into the house. "And who wears that color tie with that shirt? You mismatched clowns." Ha Ni muttered as she threw down her bag and rounded the corner to the kitchen. Stopping surprise to Seung Jo at the stove. "Baek Seung Jo!"

He looked up with a small smile which immediately turned to a frown. He laid down his spoon and made his way to her. His eyes scanning her with a concerned glance. "Are you all right? You look pale."

She started to nod but stopped with a gasp, the movement sending a sharp stab of pain through her. "Ow."

"Your head?" Seung Jo asked quietly and reached up to her temple, his fingers pressing in, and immediately the relief flooded through her. He winced at the tightness of her muscles and rubbed slowly. "Another migraine?"

"Yeah." Ha Ni mumbled and laid her head on his chest. "It came up suddenly this time. One minute I was fine and the next…" She trailed off with a sigh and shrugged. "It will pass soon but right now, I kind of feel like ripping my head off at the shoulders."

"I would rather you didn't." Seung Jo said with a noise of amusement. "I would rather not have a headless wife. Although the extra quiet might be nice."

"Ha, ha."

Feeling better, she looked up at him with a tired smile. "Why are you home so early?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Seung Jo said quietly. "I got an offer from Parang today."

"An offer?"

He nodded but she could see the hesitation on him which surprised her. "But I didn't want to take it without talking to you about it first."

"What is it?" Ha Ni asked in confusion but Seung Jo shook his head. "I will tell you in a minute. Go sit down while I get something for your head. You look ready to pass out."

She sat down with a long sigh and whispered thanks as he made her some tea. "Where is everyone?"

"They are at the noodle shop. Your dad had a big party come in so he called for backup."

"Oh." Ha Ni looked up in concern. "Does he need me? I could swing by—"

"He's fine." Seung Jo said quickly and placed her tea with a pointed gesture to drink it. "Eun Jo and my father are helping him."

Ha Ni sank in relief and took a long sip with a grateful moan. Seung Jo smiled briefly at the sound since it was one usually reserved for the privacy of their bedroom. "Feeling better?"

"No." Ha Ni admitted with another long swallow. "But it helps." She sat quietly for a few minutes as Seung Jo cleaned up the kitchen being careful to keep the noise down. And Ha Ni reflected warmly that while Seung Jo didn't use many words to express his love for her, it was the small details from her stoic husband which showed his affection.

"So tell me," Ha Ni asked softly as she watched his slightly nervous puttering. "What was the offer from Parang?"

Seung Jo sighed and settled into the chair next to her. "They are giving me an opportunity to work on my research with Doctor Chan in China for a few weeks."

Ha Ni's eyes widened in disbelief. Doctor Chan was one of the leading experts in the field and Seung Jo had been corresponding with him through email over his findings. "Really?"

He gave her a small smile at the obvious excitement in her voice. "He is holding a conference which I could attend and he agreed to personally go over my lab findings with his team."

She absorbed this with a slow sigh. "How long would you be gone?"

"Six weeks."

Ha Ni could feel her heart sink to her toes. "Six weeks?"

Seung Jo nodded and studied her carefully. He was silent and although his expression was his usual calm, Ha Ni could tell he was nervous. But also hesitantly excited. She knew how much being able to study with Doctor Chan meant to him. Not to mention attending one of the most prestigious medical conferences in the world. So, while he was trying to appear unaffected by it, Ha Ni could tell how deeply he wanted to go.

"When would you leave?"

Seung Jo blinked in surprise at the question since it was obviously not the direction he anticipated from her. "If I go, I will fly out tomorrow. Parang is paying for my flight and hotel. I will just need to cover my food."

Ha Ni smiled warmly at him. "Then you better go pack."

Seung Jo stared at her but she simply reached across and took his hand before he could speak. "Go, Seung Jo."

"Are you sure?" He mumbled quietly. "It's a long time to be away from home."

"Just a little over a month." Ha Ni said brightly, not wanting to show how hard this was for her. "And the way our schedules have been lately, I probably won't even notice."

He didn't laugh like she expected but instead tugged her onto his lap. His arms coming around her waist possessively. "Are you sure?"

Ha Ni laughed at the repeated question and stroked his head tenderly. "I'm sure, Seung Jo. This is too big of an opportunity for you to miss it."

The hardness in his eyes softened with relief and he tightened his hold with a low murmur. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She smiled down at him as he relaxed and settled her more comfortably into his lap. "I will help you pack once my head stops hurting so bad."

"I can do it." Seung Jo said with a stroke of her cheek, enjoying the feel of her with the realization that it had been a while since he spent any kind of prolonged time with her. He kept waiting for her to ask or mention coming with him but she didn't say anything. He didn't know whether he was relieved or disappointed by this. But before could decide Ha Ni made a noise of protest and laid her head into his chest.

"Ow."

He held her close and was on the verge of just carting her upstairs to bed when the door slammed open and his mother's voice screeched loudly throughout the house. "Oh Ha Ni!"

Ha Ni immediately whimpered in pain as Seung Jo quickly covered her ear to block the loud noise. Glaring darkly at his mother as she flew into the kitchen. Not that she really noticed in her rush of excitement.

"Ha Ni, my blog has been picked up! I am being hired to photograph—" Geum Hee trailed off before waving dismissively. "I don't even remember but it doesn't matter." She jumped with a high squeal. "I'm so excited!"

"Congratulations." Ha Ni smiled at the woman who meant so much to her. The pain lessening at Geum Hee's obvious joy. "When is it?"

"Saturday." His mother grabbed her and yanked her off his lap. Not even listening to her son's low growl of her name. "Come help me find something to wear!"

Ha Ni moaned inwardly but managed to hide it. Not wanting to offend Geum Hee. "Of course. Give me one second."

Geum Hee squealed one last time before darting away and Ha Ni turned to Seung Jo with a sardonic grin. "I better go help her."

Seung Jo scowled but didn't protest. Knowing his mother would only drag him instead and the last thing he wanted to do was listen to her prattle on about her stupid blog for two hours. "I will go start packing then."

Ha Ni kissed him softly but before he could pull her in, his mother called her name frantically. Seung Jo reluctantly released her and she gave a sad smile. "I will see you in six weeks."

Seung Jo sighed as she walked away and recalling her earlier comment about probably not even noticing their separation due to the lack of time together recently, he had to admit she had a point. Remembering how tired she looked tonight though as he heard the rapid voice of his mother, he felt a brief rush of guilt for leaving her alone to the rising demand of their families but he quickly pushed it down. Ha Ni was right. This was too big of an opportunity for him to pass up.

"It's only for six weeks." Seung Jo mumbled to himself as he climbed the stairs to their room. "She will be fine."

And as began to dig around for his suitcase, he decided to ignore the small voice in the back of his head asking him fi he would be all right without Oh Ha Ni for almost two months. After all there was no reason to get overly dramatic and he folded his medical equipment with a snort.

"Besides if I know Ha Ni, she will be in China spying on me by the end of the week."

Feeling better with that image, he went to packing and decided to go ahead and pull her bag out of the closet with a smirk. "She will be on the next flight."