Hey guys! So, this has one more chapter past this and then I have a few Playful Kiss one/two-shots I will do for this fandom while I work on my next Yi Jeong/Ga Eul multi-fic and the one for W I have planned.

Thank you so much for all the reviews and encouragement on this after waiting for so long while I recovered. I hope you all are staying well and healthy! Sending you all good thoughts and prayers as we finish out this crazy year.

Enjoy and let me know what you all think!

Eun Jo sunk into his seat with his usual morning expression. The one that said he would bite your head off and feed it to the nearest animal if you dared to approach him. The boy could make Seung Jo look as sweet as a butterfly in the early morning. Especially in the early morning after he had been up studying late for his science fair.

"Would you like some juice?"

Eun Jo made a pained noise which Ha Ni took as a yes. She poured the glass and set it in front of him. His eyes looking up blearily with a grunt of thanks. "Where's mom?"

"She is taking your dad to the office and then going out to look for a new place to shoot." Ha Ni told him with a smile. "Someone wrote to her asking if she did weddings… I thought Geum Hee was going to faint. I've never seen her speechless before."

He shook his head with a deep groan when Ha Ni gave him his bowl of porridge with some fruit. "I'm too tired to eat."

"Eun Jo." Ha Ni gave him a pointed stare and he scowled but picked up his spoon. "I don't even like porridge."

"Then tomorrow I will make you eggs instead."

He grumbled something under his breath which Ha Ni chose to ignore. She moved to grab the laundry and Eun Jo frowned. "Noona, why are you dressed in your scrubs? Today is your day off."

"I need to go into Parang for a few hours after I take you to school."

Eun Jo rolled his eyes. "Did Parang fire all their nurses or something?"

"Baek Eun Jo—"

"You've worked every day for the past month." He told her and she caught the slight worry in his expression. So she leaned over the table to send him a reassuring smile. "Pediatrics is shorthanded, that's all. I promise I will only work for a few hours today."

He gave her a dubious glare which made her chuckle. "I promise. Now," she clapped her hands excitedly. "How does chicken sound for dinner? I'm getting pretty good at cooking now."

Eun Jo shrugged with a tiny smile. "I guess that would be all right."

"Good." She ruffled his hair as she shooed them towards the door. "My little bodyguard."

Seung Jo could actually feel his eyes rolling into the back of his head. His body slumped unprofessionally in the seat as the speaker droned and droned about something medical. He couldn't remember being this bored since high school and wondered if even he had reached his quota of intellectual dialogue after almost five weeks of nothing but work.

"Right now," Seung Jo mumbled to himself. "I would pay to hear Ha Ni prattle on about something frivolous."

He told himself to focus but it was difficult. The conference had been insightful and Doctor Chan had been quite impressed by his new findings regarding heart disease. He was willing to be the main consultant with him and even offered to talk to Parang about increasing their funding for his research.

"So why am I still here?" Seung Jo sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Why am I not at home in my own bed instead?"

He knew the answer was because he had too much professionalism to just leave the conference a week early and because he didn't want to appear ungrateful to his colleagues here by getting the recommendation he needed and then leaving immediately afterward. But he couldn't deny that it was getting difficult to concentrate or even appear interested anymore. Not when he was unexpectedly missing home so much but more importantly his wife.

While Seung Jo obviously knew he loved his wife before and enjoyed their deepening relationship which only comes with marriage, the depth of his longing for her was still a slight surprise. He missed hearing her talk to him about some new song she had heard and or teasing her about the magazines she liked to read in bed at night.

Or the way it felt when she pressed up against him in the morning as she left for work. The way she would lean over to kiss him goodbye. The smell of her hair fresh from the shower and her whisper in his ear to have a good day. He didn't realize how much he had come to rely on it until he woke up alone every morning for the past few weeks.

They were talking daily now on the phone which helped but he still couldn't shake the melancholy that was getting worse every time they hung up. Seung Jo also couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong at home. Ha Ni kept assuring him she was fine and sounded better the last few times they spoke but he still didn't quite believe her.

He knew Eun Jo was keeping an eye on her and had promised to call him if Ha Ni became ill or if something happened but Seung Jo didn't like being so far away when his instincts were screaming at him.

'It's just one more week," Swing Jo mumbled and straightened his shoulders to refocus his attention back on the speech. "Besides, I'm sure she's fine."

Ha Ni yawned as put her stuff down and tried to summon enough energy to head upstairs. She had swung by the noodle shop to check on her dad who assured her he would be fine without her tonight. Which she was grateful for since had gotten held up longer at Parang than planned. Despite her promise to only work for a few hours, she had not been able to head home until the evening nurse came on. Due to the new head doctor finding his current golf game more important than his patients.

"Jerk," Ha Ni grumbled with another deep yawn. "I may sic Baek Seung Jo on him after all." She sank into the stool at the counter with her computer. But when the screen only bleared in front her, she decided it wouldn't hurt to just sit for a second to catch her breath. Then she would make some tea and work for a few hours on her files.

"Just for a minute though," Ha Ni mumbled as she leaned forward and was asleep before her head even finished touching down.

"Noona," Eun Jo called happily. "Guess what? I got my volcano to work! I did it in class today and nobody turned blue. So, the teacher said I could submit to the fair on Friday."

When she didn't answer, he rolled his eyes with a grin. Ha Ni always wore headphones when she was home alone to make herself feel not so lonely.

"Are you listening to terrible music again?" Eun Jo called mockingly as he rounded the corner to the kitchen. "You're going to burst your ears if you don't learn to turn it down…" He trailed off as he caught sight of Ha Ni fast asleep at the breakfast counter. Her computer was open and she was slumped over the screen uncomfortably.

"Oh Noona," Eun Jo breathed in concern as he quietly approached her. She was still dressed in her work clothes which meant she had not been able to come early after all. And for the first time, Eun Jo could clearly see how exhausted she was by the dark circles under her eyes.

He snapped a quick picture and debating with himself for a second, he stepped out to call Seung Jo.

"Hyung?"

Eun Jo?" Seung Jo moved out to the hall away from the lecture. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

"You told me to call you if something seemed wrong with Ha Ni." Eun Jo told him quietly being careful not to wake her. "She is so exhausted that she's passed out in the middle of the kitchen after working all day. And after," his brother snapped in obvious resentment. "She promised me she wouldn't work more than an hour or two. Pabo."

"What do you mean?" Seung Jo asked in confusion. "Why did you make her promise not—"

"Because she has not had a day off in weeks!" Eun Jo hissed in frustration. "She hasn't been getting home until almost midnight some nights because she goes straight to the noodle shop after she gets off. Then she takes me to school at six before heading to the hospital. She has also been helping mom by doing laundry and stuff since she has been working on her photography so Ha Ni has probably only been sleeping maybe one or two hours a night."

"Damn it…. I knew something was wrong." Seung Jo snapped in frustration as he paced nervously. "Eun Jo, is she all right?"

"I don't know… Here." He sent him the current picture of Ha Ni slumped over her work. "What should I do? She will get stiff if I leave her but I am afraid of waking her too. She obviously needs the rest."

"I will handle it. Put her on for a minute." Seung Jo said quietly. "Let me talk to her."

"Noona," Eun Jo shook her shoulder. "Noona, wake up."

"Huh," Ha Ni fluttered awake, and seeing Eun Jo she gasped. "Oh! I'm sorry Baek Eun Jo. Give me two minutes and I will—"

"No," Eun Jo held out his phone. "Besides, Hyung wants to talk to you."

Ha Ni took it blearily. "Seung Jo?"

Eun Jo waited as his brother spoke privately to his wife. The tears rolling down her cheeks as she listened to him.

"No, I'm fine." Ha Ni whispered frantically. "I just needed to check on my dad and then—" She stopped as Baek Seung Jo talked over her. The low command evident to Eun Jo even though he couldn't hear what he was saying.

"All right, Seung Jo." Ha Ni finally agreed with a soft cry. "I will go to bed."

She handed Eun Jo the phone with a tearful smile. He helped her upstairs and once she was settled into bed, he tiptoed back out of the room. "Hyung?"

"She will sleep tonight." Seung Jo told him quietly. "Can you do me a favor though and call dad? Tell him to swing by the noodle shop and check on Oh Ki Dong. Ask him to make sure he gets home okay."

"Sure."

"Thanks." Seung Jo sighed wearily. "I will call you later to check on her."

"All right."

After they hung up, Seung Jo stared at the photo his brother sent him. His jaw tightening at the image of her slumped over the computer, her skin pale and her clothes rumpled.

"Oh Ha Ni," he barked under his breath. "What am I going to do with you?"

He heard muffled clapping and turned to see the speaker wrapping up his notes for the day. And he was suddenly struck by the knowledge that he was being loyal to the wrong thing. He had felt like he needed to stay to be respectful to Doctor Chan and because Parang was counting on him making connections for the hospital.

Instead, he should have been thinking about Ha Ni. He knew she was working too much and was bearing the full brunt of their family's needs. Not to mention encouraging him and supporting his time at the conference. Even if that meant not calling him or telling him she was obviously struggling.

Seung Jo shook his head at his own selfishness and stalked back inside. He heard a few people call out to him but he didn't bother to answer them. Instead, he just grabbed his bag and without another glance at any of them, he headed outside to grab a cab.

Ha Ni stirred the food with a grimace. Her legs were killing her and she had no clue what she was making. She just hoped it was edible but not overly confident.

"Maybe I should order in after all…" She mused with a sigh before going to grab some plates. Although she had been home all day per Seung Jo's request after he had yelled at her yesterday, she still spent most of it trying to catch up on her files and some of the housework which had been neglected the past few days.

"It will be fine." Ha Ni told herself with a shake. "I can rest this weekend. Geum Hee will be home and I can just—" She stopped as the front door opened and she quickly frowned in confusion. Eun Jo was not due home for another hour. Geum Hee was still away at her shoot and both fathers had said not to expect them tonight.

"Eun Jo must be home early." She mused tiredly and pasted on a quick smile. Not wanting to worry him after he had been alarmed by her falling asleep the way she did.

"How was practice? Are you hungry? I can—"

She stopped as she took in the appearance of Baek Seung Jo. He was standing in the doorway studying her. His eyes darkening as he took in the first image of her in six weeks. She wore jean shorts with the pockets hanging out from the hem and one of her large band t-shirts. Her hair pulled up into a messy bun and wide eyes at his sudden appearance.

"Baek Seung Jo." She whispered and he smiled slightly. "Hello."

"You're home."

"Mm-hmm."

He took in disheveled clothes and tilted his head. "Didn't I tell you to rest?"

She nodded, still only capable of blinking at him.

"So why aren't you?"

She didn't respond and he stared at her with a small smile. "Are you ever going to talk to me?"

"I-I," she stopped and her face crumbled. Sobs racking out her body and he quickly moved to her, gathering her up in a protective hug. "It's all right, Ha Ni."

"You're home." She wailed and he closed his eyes. He really should have come home a long time ago. The pain in her voice signally how much she had been carrying for him while he was gone. "Shh."

"I'm sorry." Ha Ni shook her head. "I am just so surprised to see you. I-I can't—"

He drew back and cupped her face. He scanned her pale skin almost angrily. "We will get to my homecoming in a minute. But is there any particular reason you felt like killing yourself while I was gone?"

"No. I mean…" She took a shuddering breath. "I'm all right. Just tired."

"You're sick with exhaustion." He snapped. "And I want to know why, Ha Ni."

"Because," she tried to duck her head but he didn't let her, tilting her head up firmly. "Tell me."

"Your mom finally had her blog picked up." Ha Ni blubbered. "So, she has a lot of requests for different jobs. So, she asked me if I could help around the house and getting Eun Jo to his soccer practice. That's all. Plus, the hospital has been understaffed so I needed to work a few extra shifts. Then my dad was getting ill from working so much since Bong Joon Gu went back home. So, I've been waitressing whenever I could…. It's been fine though, Seung Jo!"

He took in his wife's frantic plea and a rush of anger washed over him at their family. They've been killing her and didn't even notice. Too consumed by their day-to-day activities and Ha Ni's naturally bubbly personality. And without him there to notice how exhausted his wife was becoming over trying to take care of everybody. Only Eun Jo finally noticed something was wrong and thankfully notified him before it was too late.

"No, Ha Ni." Seung Jo whispered. "It's not fine."

She gasped painfully. "No, really. I'm all right. I am—" She clung to him. "I'm so glad you're home."

He held her tightly and rocked her until she stopped trembling. She drew back with a watery chuckle. "I'm a mess."

"Yes, but you're my mess." Seung Jo whispered and laid a deep kiss on her. "I've missed you."

"Me too."

He kissed her again before leaning back to examine her outfit. "I like the shorts."

"Thanks."

He scanned her hungrily and cupped her face with a small sigh. "We will talk about this later. Okay? But it's all right now, Ha Ni. You don't have to worry anymore."

She nodded and wiped her eyes. The relief over him finally being home evident as her entire body seemed to have lightened. "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Come on," Ha Ni led him back to the kitchen and he was surprised by how pleasant the smell was emerging from the stove. "Did you order in?"

"No," Ha Ni swatted her towel at him. "I've just been handling most of the cooking for the past two months. I'm almost good at it now."

He smiled crookedly and seeing her grabbing dishes to plate everything, he quickly reached over to take them from her. "Go sit. I've got this."

"No." Ha Ni insisted with a nudge. "You're also exhausted from traveling. I can do it."

He tightened his jaw but before he could yell at her for being overly stubborn, he heard the door slamming and Eun Jo yelling excitedly for her.

"Noona!"

"In here, Eun Jo."

His younger brother raced in and his eyes widened as he saw Seung Jo. "Hyung?"

"Hi, kiddo." He ruffled his head with a quizzical frown. "You're taller."

Eun Jo rolled his eyes with a smile. "It tends to happen."

"Ehh -hem." Ha Ni cleared her throat pointedly at Eun Jo with open amusement. "Well?"

He smiled and reached into his backpack, pulling out his paper. "I got an A."

She snatched it from him and scanned the paper before smiling and drawing him into a tight hug. "Good job. I told you."

"Yeah, yeah." Eun Jo grumbled but still bent down to kiss her cheek. "Thanks for helping me."

"Don't thank me." Ha Ni cupped his chin with a grin. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved." Eun Jo started to set his backpack down but catching the look from Ha Ni, he rolled his eyes and quickly snatched back up. "I will just go put this in my room first."

"Thank you."

He hurried off but stopped hesitantly at the top of the stairs. "Ha Ni, I'm sorry but Mom messaged and said she wouldn't be able to drive me in the morning…"

"That's okay, I don't mind." Ha Ni called weakly and Seung Jo gritted his teeth in frustration. The last few weeks suddenly obvious. She was simply unable to stop taking care of everyone around her except herself. Seeing her fingers shake, Seung Jo quickly wrapped her up from behind. She sank into him and he tucked his face into her neck. "Enough now, Ha Ni."

She stiffened for a second before softening. Her whole body exhaling with deep relief. He kissed the soft skin of her throat. "Go take a shower. I will feed Eun Jo."

"Are you sure? You just got home—"

"Ha Ni," he ordered sternly and his wife smiled. "All right."

She gave him a quick peck and slid upstairs. Seung Jo quickly plated the rest of the dinner and called for his brother. Eun Jo came downstairs and took the food with a low sigh of thanks. "When did you get home, Hyung?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

Seung Jo sat down to eat and catch up with him and he had to admit, Ha Ni's cooking was actually fairly well tonight.

"I know." Eun Jo laughed at noticing his obvious bewilderment. "Noona makes decent food now. She stopped trying to follow recipes and for some reason, it helps."

"Hmm," Seung Jo chuckled and dipped his head to the paper. "What was that about?"

"Oh." Eun Jo shrugged. "It was for my science experiment. For some reason, I've been struggling to get the chemicals right for my volcano. Noona worked on it with me and helped me get it all put together this past week."

He winced guiltily. "I felt bad about it because she was already so tired from being at the hospital and helping Oh Ki Dong at the restaurant. But she insisted."

Seung Jo nodded as he scanned the paper. Noting the teacher compliments on his work. "I'm proud of you, Eun Jo. This is impressive."

"Thanks," his brother told him with a smile before sobering slightly. "Ha Ni's been doing too much, though. It's why I called you the other day. I was worried she was becoming sick."

"I know. It's why I came home. " Seung Jo ruffled his hair. "Thank you. You're a good spy."

Eun Jo chuckled and stood up. "I need to do some homework first and then I will go help at the noodle shop tonight. Tell Noona not to worry. I will make sure Ki Dong is not overdoing it."

Seung Jo sent his brother an appreciative smile. He loved his father-in-law too and didn't want him working this hard either. But right now he was far more concerned about his wife upstairs.

He put the dishes away and headed upstairs. Hearing the shower running, he stripped off his clothes and quietly slipped in behind her. She smiled at the sound of him and leaned back into his chest. "Hi."

"Hi." He whispered, his hands coasting over her hips. "Need some help?"

"I'm trying to get enough energy to wash my hair." Ha Ni confessed tiredly. "It's not working."

Seung Jo took the shampoo bottle from her limp fingers. He poured the mixture into his hand and went to work on her hair. Slowly massaging her scalp and he grinned at her long moan. "You sound like you are enjoying this more than my lovemaking."

"I am."

"Yah." Seung Jo scolded and she laid her head back with a smile. "Well, it's been a while."

"You're telling me." He sighed and wrapped her up with a strong hug. "Six weeks felt like a year."

"Mmm," Ha Ni agreed with a soft purr. "So how about you finish me up and tuck me into bed."

"I like that idea."

He rinsed her off, kissing the exposed skin with almost reverent touches. His wife responding with low murmurs of love and how much she had missed him. He turned off the water and seeing her practically asleep standing up, he quickly dried her off and carried her into the bedroom. Not even bothering to put her pajamas on, he tucked her naked, warm body under the covers.

She reached for him and he leaned down to whisper in her ear until she finally softened into him. He sighed in relief and held her close to his chest. "I love you."

"I love you more." Ha Ni muttered but he quickly shook his head. "No, you don't. Trust me."

Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled up weakly. "What was that for?"

"For you being you." Seung Jo whispered. "For loving everyone so much. For taking care of my family."

"They are my family too."

"I know." Seung Jo rubbed her shoulder. "But this is too much, Ha Ni. You are almost sick."

"I'm all right."

He scowled at her stubbornness. "Ha Ni. You're pale. Your body is weak and I can see the exhaustion in your eyes. You've lost weight too."

Ha Ni squirmed uncomfortably before finally sighing. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just…" She trailed off and he stroked her arm. "What?"

"I'm not the important one." Ha Ni told him earnestly. "My dad. Your parents. Eun Jo. They all need some help right now. So, it's okay if I am a little tired. So long as they are all right."

Seung Jo stared at her, his expression darkening. "Do you honestly believe that? That you're not important?"

"I'm not." Ha Ni said with a shake of her head. "It's more important to me that our family is okay."

"What about me?'

She frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean do you have any idea what it would do to me if something were to happen to you?" Seung Jo demanded quietly. "I wouldn't survive it, Ha Ni."

Her eyes widened and she sat up stiffly. "Seung Jo—"

"I wouldn't." Seung Jo said firmly. "You're the person I care about. You're are the most important person in my life, Ha Ni. I love my family but not at the expense of you. Not to the point where you are becoming sick. And right now if I have to choose between them and your health, I am choosing you."

"You don't have to choose." Ha Ni cupped his face with a deep scan. "Nothing will happen to me, Seung Jo. I promise."

"I know." Seung Jo kissed the inside of her palm. "Which is why you are going to slow down. You are going to sleep and rest here. You will let me take care of you and let my family make their own dinners for a while."

"Seung Jo-"

"I mean it, Ha Ni." He commanded quietly. "So don't argue."

She huffed for a moment but seeing his set expression, she knew it was pointless to argue. Not to mention, he was right. She was tired and weak. Her body was going on pure adrenaline and it was about to crash.

"All right, Seung Jo."

He opened his arms and she wiggled into his chest with a long sigh. "I've missed you."

"I know." He kissed the top of her head. "I've missed you too."

"Are you all right though?"

Seung Jo chuckled at his wife's concern and inwardly reflected on little he deserved her such caring nature. "I'm fine. Or I will be once you stop scaring me to death."

"I'm sorry." Ha Ni whispered. "I will get better. I promise."

"Good." He brushed a kiss over her cheek. "I love you.

"I love you too."

Lifting her head, she kissed him, lingering slightly and he smiled against her mouth. "Don't tempt me. You need to sleep."

"But I've missed you."

"Trust me." Seung Jo mumbled as he settled her into his side. "Once you're well, I will make it up to you."

"Promise?"

He laughed quietly at the sleepy request. "I promise."

Contented by this, Ha Ni let herself drift asleep. And as he held her, he also made another promise to have a little chat with his family soon. He meant it when he said if it came down to them or her, he would choose her.

"Hyung," Eun Jo tapped lightly on the door and Seung Jo quickly held up his fingers to lips, gesturing to a slumbering Ha Ni.

His brother nodded and tiptoed close to the bed to hand him something. "Noona left her phone downstairs. She will probably need it in the morning."

Seung Jo nodded in thanks as Eun Jo slipped out to head to the noddle shop. He glanced at her cell curiously and remembering her comments about Parang, he pulled up a few of her messages.

His eyes automatically narrowing at the abusive dialogue for the hospital and ridiculous demands. Especially the ones from new head of Pediatrics Doctor Cheon. His texts and voicemails were full of him barking and demanding she come in even on her days off. Declaring he had better things to do than to take temperatures like some dumb airhead nurse made his blood pressure rise.

Seung Jo knew some people at the hospital still thought badly of Ha Ni because of her poor academic background but he had thought they knew better than to vocalize it. But apparently, Parang decided to forget their manners while he was gone.

He looked down at Ha Ni who was curled up next to him like a kitten seeking refuge in a storm and his anger increased. It seemed like his list of people to yell at just increased and setting the phone into his bag, he folded his arms with a dark glare. His gaze locked forward as his brain whirled with this new information regarding people's treatment of his wife.

"Doctor Cheon..." Seung Jo muttered violently. "Looks like you and I are due for an introduction after all."