(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora slowly blinks her eyes open.

...Or she would, if they didn't feel completely glued shut.

Shivering, she gropes for an extra blanket. "B'nard?" she murmurs, still trying somewhat unsuccessfully to open at least one eye.

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

If she could open her eyes, she'd see that the bedside lamp on the other side of the bed is illuminating the room softly.

"Hey, sweetheart," her husband replies, pulling the firecracker quilt that Val made up over Nymphadora's shoulders and sitting on the edge of the bed. He brushes her hair behind her ear gently.

"Want some tea?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Nnnh. Tea. Yes, please." She tries a faint smile and a deep breath, which ends in a bit of a coughing fit. "Well, that was dumb," the witch says weakly, pulling herself into a sitting position.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"What, breathing? Right. You should stop that." He kisses her temple and walks out of the room to start the kettle.

[clumsy_auror]

"Git," she mutters under her breath, a small smile gracing her lips. Leaning back against the headboard, Nymphadora closes her eyes again, listening to the cupboard doors open and the clank of the kettle on the stove.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

While the water comes to a boil, Bernard makes some toast and warms up some leftover stew, placing all together on a tray.

He returns to the bedroom, poking his head into Sunny's room first to make sure she's still sleeping soundly.

"You slept through dinner."

[clumsy_auror]

"Shocking," she says wryly, after blowing her nose. "Thanks, love. I'm sure it smells really good." Very carefully, Nymphadora balances the tray on her knees and nibbles on a piece of toast.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Tastes better." He perches on his side of the bed, scooting back against the headboard with care, so as not to upset the tray. "You slept a lot. How are you feeling?"

[clumsy_auror]

She takes a bite, humming appreciatively. "Still pretty gross. Fever's not gone down, judging by how freezing the room feels."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He presses the back of his hand to her cheek, her forehead. "You're burning up. Maybe you should drink something cold instead?"

[clumsy_auror]

A blink. "Does that actually help?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"No idea. This is something we should research before one of the kids gets a fever of 104."

[clumsy_auror]

"Hmm. Well, worth a try, I suppose."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"D'you want some juice, then?"

[clumsy_auror]

Snnnnnk. Breathing still not up to par, apparently. "Okay," she says, leaning back against the pillows and looking ever-so-slightly pathetic.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He rolls his eyes affectionately. "Eat your stew or the kid'll starve to death."

And he crawls off the bed and pads to the kitchen again.

[clumsy_auror]

Hunkering down in bed, Nymphadora picks up the bowl and perches it on her belly to eat more easily.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Here you go." He walks back in and pauses, smiling.

How is she this cute, even sick?

He walks over and hands her a tall glass of pineapple juice.

[clumsy_auror]

"Cheers, sweetheart." She takes a drink and then sets the glass carefully on the tray. "Sunny all right?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Sure." Bernard moves around the room, picking up a few stray clothes where she flung them when she was getting ready for bed after her doctor's appointment yesterday. "She knows you've got a cold and you'll be fine. Spent the day drawing you in bed with a red nose."

[clumsy_auror]

This gives Nymphadora pause, and she absently rubs her nose to make sure it's not actually red.

What? It's happened before.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard shoots her a wicked look. "What, you think I wouldn't let you know I was sleeping with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Well, you're not snickering every time you look at me," she concedes, "so I reckon I must be all right."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"I would never make fun of you."

Right.

[clumsy_auror]

A withering look.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

She's sick and rumpled. The look isn't so much withering as... sulky and cute.

Bernard grins, unrepentant.

[clumsy_auror]

Another few moments of cute sulking, and then her attention is diverted by the stew once again. "You're not feeling badly yet, are you?" Nymphadora asks a moment later, a little anxiously.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He snorts.

"Healthy as a horse."

[clumsy_auror]

"Mmmkay." Sighing, she puts her half-empty bowl back down on the tray.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He pitches the clothes into the hamper. "Well, at least finish your tea."

[clumsy_auror]

"That's rich, coming from you," Nymphadora retorts, but picks up the mug nevertheless.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"You're the one who likes it, not me. I'm just trying to keep you from getting sicker."

[clumsy_auror]

"Bleurgh."

Nymphadora takes a healthy gulp.

"Just tastes like hot water, is the problem."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Well, shit. Next time, I'll put wasabi in it."

[clumsy_auror]

She wrinkles her nose. "You're trying to make me sicker, aren't you?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Laughing, "No, I'm trying to clear your head out so you can breathe."

[clumsy_auror]

"...Oh. Well that's nice."

Sighing, she finishes her tea and then pushes the tray aside, curling up a little.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He walks over and picks up the tray and puts it on the table. "Done with your juice?"

[clumsy_auror]

A nod. "Yeah. I'll try some more later."

"Bugger." She sighs again, looking a little mournfully at his (currently empty) side of the bed. "I wish I weren't all icky and full of... phlegm."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Yes, you're foul. I can hardly be in the same room as you." He takes her glass and sets it beside the tray, then flops onto the bed.

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora curls closer to him, slipping her hand loosely in his.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He slides an arm around her and pulls her close.

"Tired?"

[clumsy_auror]

She nods, resting her head on his shoulder. "Perpetually, between the bug and the kid."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He sighs, a little worried.

"Give it a couple of days and you'll feel better. You'll see."

[clumsy_auror]

Another nod. Her eyes drift closed, her hand still in his.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard presses several small kisses to her forehead, his thumb circling on her belly.

He's not tired in the least.

Shit.