"Wait, what?"

Her Dad looked at her smiling his dimples showing as he showed his straight white teeth. His deep blue eyes, the same as hers sparkled.

"I've really missed you sweetie." He spread his arms wide and Chang immediately sprang into his arms. He felt warm and real and alive, she could hear his heartbeat and feel him breathing. He smelled like leather from the aftershave he used and home. She buried her face in his wide shoulder, tightly gripping the flannel s.h.i.+rt he wore.

"I missed you Daddy."

His large warm hand spread on her back holding her close. Feeling his warmth and the special hug he used to give she started to cry, it felt like she was always crying lately. Her Dad chuckled, rumbling deep in his chest.

"Now now, dont cry. You should smile."

"I wish this was real dad, and not just a dream.."

"Everything is only as real as you make it, or believe it to be. If you think it is real, then it must be." That was her dad ever the philosopher.

He Dad held her close and gave her a tight squeeze.

"I wish this could last forever Chang, but it can't, I'm gone now Chang and you should be spending your time with the living. You have to take care of those living, like your mom for me. Will you do that for me sweetie."

"No dont go yet, just a little longer please."

"I can't, besides I'm not the one you actually want to see right now."

Chang was confused by his sentence again and looked up at her Dad's pale face to instead see Jian's bronzed skin and heartstopping smile. He leaned down and took her slightly parted lips.

Her heart began to react erratically but she pushed on his chest to separate herself. She stood on the pine littered floor still in the redwoods. She crossed her arms and turned her back to him.

"I want to see you, but not like this."

She felt him come up behind her his breath tickling her ear as he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Then you should wake up."

Like a cue her eyes snapped open to see the tiled blue ceiling above her head. She slowly tilted her head to the side to see Jian sitting on the edge of the bed, holding one of her long locks of hair between his thumb and forefinger. Seeing that she was awake he pressed a light peck on her lips.

"I'm back, I'm sorry for being away for so long."

"I'm glad you're back." Half asleep she answered honestly with a smile.

Seeing her smile and hearing her answer all the anger and impatience that Liang Jian Amal had felt over the last few days evaporated. She was all he needed. He leaned in to steal another kiss when he heard the audible rumble of her belly.

She turned red at that and started to sit up with his a.s.sistance.

"Let's get dinner and talk."