This was heavenly.

The royal bathroom was covered in lit, scented candles filling the entire space with her favorite fragrances. The only edge of her massive bath was lined with them giving her plenty of light to read her latest Mer-mystery novel. Soft, soothing music eminated from her datapad. It was just calming enough to help her relax without running the risk of her falling asleep. Her bathwater was the perfect temperature and full of the kind of bubbles she liked.

She just floated there, her tail lazily bobbing in & out of the water with one arm slung over the edge of the tub while a pair of strong hands massaged the tiredness out of her aching shoulder muscles.

"Everything to your liking dearest?"

"I believe I requested no talking" Mermista answered playfully.

"But if I don't ask questions, how could you tell me all the things I'm doing wrong?" She could swear she heard the pout on Sea Hawk's face.

"Fair enough" she said with a roll of her eyes. "But everything is perfect so far." And she meant that, she had expected him to argue when she told him that, to make up for the heart attack he nearly gave her on his birthday, she expected a peace & quit for hers but she had underestimated him. He had not only agreed without a fight he had, in his typically dramatic Sea Hawk way, promised her the most relaxing day ever. And credit where it was due he had certainly delivered.

To emphasize her point, she reached out with her free hand & grabbed one of the grapes from the bowl he had placed on a table beside the tub.

"So" Sea Hawk began "have you figured out the guilty party?"

"I've narrowed it down to two suspects." She replied feeling that rare rush of excitement she felt when someone asked about her favorite book series. "But I keep going back-and-forth on which one it is."

"Would it help to talk it out?"

"Dude, have you ever tried to do one of these before?"

"I have not" he readily admitted "but for you dearest, I'll try anything once."

He would, she knew he would & she loved him for it. "Ok, smart guy. Move those magic fingers of yours to my neck and we'll figure this out together."

He readjusted his hands and they got to work. They did get the right answer but that wasn't the important part. What was important was that they had spent a day with each other, no running off in search of adventure, no bar brawls with jilted exes, just them being with each other and that was all Mermista needed.