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When Lucy awoke that morning, she felt like death warmed over. While this wasn’t unusual per say, it was unexpected. The job the previous night had gone relatively smoothly for Lockwood and Co. She and Lockwood had snuffed a Floating Bride quickly enough. They’d been home in their beds before midnight.
As she moved, the cramping began. Glancing over at the compact that disguised her birth control pills, Lucy realized she was actually late. There were only three pills remaining in the month’s packet. Great, just great. A particularly strong cramp punched Lucy in the gut. She doubled over groaning. The first few days of her cycle were always like this. They were her personal hell filled with unnecessary pain and malaise. She’d managed to deal with it the last few times without the boys noticing, but this particular cycle felt like it would be worse than usual.
Pulling herself out of bed, Lucy looked back to see a large red stain on her sheets.
“Wonderful”, she thought. Just what she needed. She peeled off the ratty grey pajamas as well. There was a similar red stain along the crotch of her sleeping pants.
Plugging her sink, Lucy set the pants to soak and started the shower as hot as she could make it.
When she emerged, Lucy felt a little more like herself and a little cleaner. Towel wrapped around her, Lucy dug into the cabinet beneath her sink looking for a tampon. The box was empty. So was the box of pads.
How could she have been so stupid? She always checked her supplies on weeks she bought the groceries so neither of the boys would see them. There was no way she had nothing.
She dug through her kit bag looking for the emergency supplies she kept there. The little cactus-covered bag held a single panty liner. Fuck. It was better than nothing and would tie her over until she went out for more supplies.
“Morning,” Lockwood called from his seat in the kitchen as Lucy walked in.
“I’m running to the store,” Lucy said, “Do we need anything?” He looked up at her confused. George had done the shopping just yesterday. What could she possibly need for the store? She was also unusually pale, by Lucy’s standards.
“No. Everything alright Luce,” he asked. She nodded before flinching. Her arms wrapped around her abdomen in a protective manner.
“You should sit Luce. I’ll get you some tea,” Lockwood said.
“I’m fine Lockwood,” she insisted.
“That time of the month Lucy,” George asked from behind her.
“Excuse me,” she asked whipping around to face the boy.
“You’re due to menstruate any day now,” George said. “I do have eyes you know. You’ve been quite tetchy the last few days and from the way you’re holding your stomach, I’d say it started this morning.
“I am not discussing my period with you,” Lucy shot back. A wave of cramping swept through her causing her to double over, a quiet moan of pain escaping her lips.
“Lucy, sit down,” Lockwood said, getting up and helping to guide her into a chair. Once she was situated, Lucy pulled her legs up into her chest curling into herself to try and stem the pain.
“Can I get you anything,” he asked concern lacing his words.
“If we have a hot water bottle or heating pad, that would be amazing. And tea. Lots of tea,” Lucy mumbled, her eyes squeezing shut from the pain.
Lockwood began to search the kitchen for the hot water bottle as George went about making tea.
“George do you,” Lockwood started.
“I have no idea where the hot water bottle is. You were the one that use it last after that wraith threw you into a bookcase,” George countered before he could finish.
“Ah yes. So my room then,” Lockwood mused leaving the kitchen. He returned soon after with the tray-sized hot water bottle in a faux fur case. He filled it from the kettle and handed it to Lucy. She took it and gingerly applied it to her stomach.
“Better,” Lockwood asked. Lucy hummed in agreement. The heat was already soothing her cramps.
“Good, once you’ve had breakfast why don’t you stay in the library? That way you don’t have to go all the way back upstairs,” he suggested. Lucy nodded. She had planned to finish up some case notes, but a day of rest on the library sofa wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe she could curl up with one of the many detective novels and relax for the day.
“Wonderful,” Lockwood said, “I’ll be back soon.” Geroge quirked his eyebrow at Lockwood’s retreating form. Lucy seemed equally puzzled, but still out of it. Geroge understood the minute he heard the front door close.
“Alright Lucy, how’s a bacon butty sound for breakfast,” he asked.
“Sounds perfect,” she said quietly as she examined the various drawings on the thinking cloth.
***
When Lockwood returned later, it was with arms full of shopping. Lucy was laid out on the library floor, the hot water bottle tucked under her hips idly sketching.
“I’ve got some things for you Luce,” Lockwood said.
Lucy looked over her shoulder, “what’s all that?”
“Supplies, I think? Had to ask the shop assistant for help,” Lockwood set the bags down.
“I got a heating pad, tampons, pads, some of those Nutella doughnuts you like, a pint of chocolate overload ice cream from that parlour on the King's Road, a romance novel, and some other stuff,” he said digging through the bags.
Lucy stared at him, “you didn’t have to do all that. I was going to run to Arif’s for stuff in a little bit.” Lockwood left one of the bags next to her and picked up the rest of the bags deliberately ignoring her statement.
“I also got you a triple bacon cheeseburger, extra onion, and pickles with chips when you’re ready to eat,” he called heading for the kitchen.
Lucy sat up slowly and pulled the bag over to her. Inside was the promised heating pad, a selection of different tampon and pad options, a light romance novel, a colouring book, and at the bottom a grey and orange plush animal. She carefully pulled it out. It was a ginger cat in a shark costume. Lucy could feel her eyes watering as she hugged the animal close to her. She hadn't had a stuffed animal since she was really little. It was exactly what she needed, aside from the hygiene products.
Placing the cat shark carefully on the sofa, Lucy rooted through the tampons. Among the various boxes, she spotted her preferred brand in super absorbent. She ripped open the box and disappeared to the landing bathroom to handle her business.
When Lockwood returned to the library, lunch nearly laid out on the tea tray, Lucy was cuddled on the sofa with her stuffed animal, the romance novel, and the heating pad.
“Better,” Lockwood asked taking a seat in his armchair.
“Much thank you,” Lucy said, “you really didn’t have to do all this Lockwood. I really could have handled everything myself.”
“I know Luce,” Lockwood said, his genuine smile stretching across his face. "I did have to do it. Because, well...." he trailed off. Lucy gave him a soft smile, "You didn't, but I still appreciate it. And the stuffed animal is perfect. Lockwood thought his face would split he was smiling so wide.
They ate in peaceable silence. When she was finished, Lockwood took the tray away and headed upstairs. He had the perfect cobalt blue sheets to replace the bloody ones with all ready to go.