Sabine would never admit this to Tom, but the work in the bakery was starting to take a toll on her poor back. She was walking down to the Chinese Massage parlor that was run by the nice old man, Wang Fu. Wang was a gentleman whose magic hands did wonders for the aches and pains. After a massage and a cup of his special tea, it would be months before the pains returned. She wished she knew how he did it.

She entered the building and headed up the stairs. This was the time of day he accepted walk-ins so his door wasn't locked. She heard voices talking on the other side but didn't stop to wonder about that. He had a small waiting room she had gone into before while he finished with another patient.

Sabine walked in and found Marinette, her daughter, kneeling next to Fu who was laid out on a pallet, carefully pouring him a glass of tea. They had not even noticed her.

"Master, you're not as young as you used to be," Her daughter spoke soothingly and handed him the cup carefully. "You should see less patients a day. What if it had been a school day and I couldn't come running when you fell?"

The kind old man gave her a rich smile. "You're right, Marinette. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll try and see if I can't reschedule things a bit more so I can rest. Translating the book has been taking so much of my time as well. How are your studies in Chinese so you can assist me?"

She shrugged. "Slow going. Maman is teaching me, but I wish I had started when I was younger. I'm going to make you some soup before I must leave. You best make sure you drink all the tea with the potion mixed in. Marinette got up without looking behind her and hurried off to the kitchen. That was when Wang's eyes met hers.

"Aye, Mrs. Cheng." He said, "I was not expecting you today. Your daughter has been coming over to help me out when I'm sickly. From the surprised look on your face, she did not tell you?"

Sabine smiled and knelt before the man. "No, but then again, she does a lot without telling me. I know you well, Mr. Wang, so I'm glad she's being a help to you."

"The days have been getting worse lately. The falls I do not recover from as quickly. I fear my time is ending. Marinette will be sad; I fear she will be the only one that mourns my passing. I had no children or grandchildren. If I could have, I imagine they would be like Marinette."

"Marinette has never really had a grandfather; I don't count Roland. If she's found one in you, who am I to interfere. You're a good man, Wang Fu."

He smiled again. "Your kind to say so. Are you going to stay to have some of your daughter's soup? I swear it's got magic cooked in."

Sabine rose, laughing. "No, she got the recipe from me anyways. I'll come back tomorrow and see if you can sort out my back."

Wang smiled and gestured to the tea pot. "Between you and me, the magic has always been in the tea. Just a sip and it should set you to rights. I only do the massage as it's expected. I swear you could live well past a hundred drinking that every day."

Sabrine chuckled and poured herself a small amount of the tea. She drank it and yes, her pains were gone just like she had a full session.

"Amazing." She smiled down at him. "I must be going. Goodbye, Wang Fu."

One day, a few months later, she found Marinette crying in her room. She stepped up and wrapped her daughter in a hug.

"Did Mr. Wang leave us, dear?"

"He's gone, Maman." Marinette cried into her shoulder. "There was nothing I could do…"

"There never is dear, when it's someone's time, they must go. We can only delay the day, not prevent it."

Marinette looked confused for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Oh, yes, you're right. He lived a long live. I'll miss him telling me stories about the old days. His proverbs and his tea. I… I think I'm going to go see Grandpa Roland today."

Sabine nodded; it would do her daughter a world of good. "I think I'll call my uncle as well. It's a good day to catch up with relatives."

Sabine took some bread and a joss stick and put them out as an offering for Wang Fu. The man who was like a grandfather to her little girl.

A/N: just something that popped into my head today. I hope you liked it.