Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ultra Mother still wasn’t awake. She must have been more tired than she’d let on, Ken thought with a grimace. He tried to keep track of how many shifts she’d taken this week, but this past few days had been too hectic for him to recall. He sat gently down at her side of the bed and pressed a hand to her cheek. 

“Marie,” he whispered, reluctant to wake her when she so deserved the rest. “It’s time to get up.”

She shifted, but rather than straightening she nuzzled into the palm of his hand with a soft sound of warmth. 

Something ached in Ken’s chest. Light, what a woman. Marie had aged since he’d met her, and it showed in the dignity and confidence with which she carried herself, not to mention the sheer extent of her power. And yet something about the peace in her face as she slept, the absolute trust she placed in him…

Ken forced himself to focus. The Garrison had work to do, which meant they needed Mother of Ultra. “What is this, now, hm? Usually you’re the one telling me not to sleep in too late.” He leaned in and stroked her warm forehead. 

Too warm. 

He blinked, then shifted forward to kiss her forehead, and the heat that met his lips confirmed his fears. He opened a telepathic line. ^Zoffy, Hestia. Can you handle the Inter-Galactic Defense Force and Silver Cross for a bit?^

Zoffy’s response was immediate and curt. ^Of course. Has something happened?^

^Marie’s sick,^ Ken replied grimly, returning his attention to his wife. He should have noticed earlier, should have been more concerned that Marie had gone to bed early and been so much quieter than usual. ^She’s feverish, and I need to take at very least the morning off to take care of her.^

Hestia—Marie’s Silver Cross director—swore. ^She’s been working the sick ward the last few days, there’s been a nasty cold going around. She’ll be fine if you can actually convince her to rest a few days, we’ll handle the Cross and the Garrison.^

^You do have a meeting in three hours, Commander,^ Zoffy added apologetically. ^Do you want me to try and reschedule?^

Ken winced. ^No, I already pushed that one back so I could attend Geed’s birthday…Taro was supposed to co-head that meeting though, have him take point on it.^

^The whole meeting?^

Ken shook his head, gaze flickering to Marie as she stirred again, and he automatically brushed her cheek. ^No, I’ll be there, perhaps five minutes late. I’ll get…is Ace back from training with Z yet?^

^He’ll be back within an hour,^ Hestia confirmed, ^but he’ll likely want to sleep then.^

^Ace is a light sleeper,^ countered Zoffy. ^If he knows he’s listening for something he’ll be able to take care of little things, and Marie’s less likely to try and sneak out and work if it would distress Ace.^

^I’ll ask him to sleep outside Marie’s room in case she wakes up and needs anything,^ Ken decided, then spoke aloud as Marie’s eyes slowly flickered to light. “Good morning, dear.”

“Good morning,” she murmured, voice laced with a drowsiness that he so rarely heard from her. She shifted, but gave a sound of confusion as he gently prevented her from sitting up. “Ken?”

“You have a fever.” He tried to keep the worry out of his voice as he stroked her too-warm cheek. “You should probably try to sleep more, if you can.”

“Don’t do that,” she managed, pushing limply at his hand. “You’ll catch it too.”

Ken considered this. Then he leaned in, traced her cheek with his thumb, and kissed her on the mouth. “Now I’ve been exposed to it anyway,” he announced as he pulled away, “so you don’t have to worry anymore.”

For a moment Marie could only stare at him, stunned. Then, fully awake now: “You’re an idiot.”

“Love of my life and light of my eyes, I know.”

“You can’t just—“ she broke off in a fit of thick coughs, and Ken offered her a tissue. 

“Do you want some water,” he offered, but she shook her head as the coughing subsided. 

“You can’t just get yourself sick, Ken, the Garrison needs you in health.”

“Well then,” Ken reasoned, “it’s a good thing I’ll have the greatest medic in the universe back on her feet by then.”

“Dear.”

“Please try to rest, dearest. I’ll get you breakfast if you’re hungry, but if you can sleep more it’ll be better.”

“You can’t just flirt me into being less mad at you for risking your health and your ability to help your sons,” Marie said firmly. 

He didn’t love that she was upset with him, but he did love her for the reasons she was upset. He lifted her hand to his lips. “I know. Forgive my selfishness; I so rarely have the privilege of caring for you, and I didn’t want you worrying about what-ifs.”

Her fever must have spiked; her face flushed darker, and she broke eye-contact. “W…well. Please be careful in the future.” 

“I will.”

Chapter Text

Marie woke to warmth. 

Drowsily she stirred; she’d shaken most of the cold, little more than a cough now. In some ways, she appreciated getting sick once in a while; the reminder to be grateful for her health was a useful one, especially as a medic. 

That and...well, it was kind of cute, having Ken fuss over her a little.

Still, she wasn't contagious anymore, meaning it was high time she return to the Silver Cross. Ken must have gotten up early; she didn't feel his light field in the room. Blearily she sat up, wiping the last dregs of sleep from her eyes, glancing for the clock automatically. Now, where was…

…Why was it the middle of the day. 

Alarmed, Marie telepathically pinged her Silver Cross director, who replied with a touch of surprise: ^Ma’am?^

Hm. Her own department hadn’t expected to hear from her today. That meant…^Hestia, would you happen to know the reason my alarm was disabled this morning?^

^Pardon, Commander?^ Marie heard the confusion in her right hand’s tone, but the next words slowly filled with an amusement that confirmed Marie’s suspicions. ^I’m sure I wouldn’t know, ma’am. But if I might say, as you’re still not at 100%, I was happy to hear that you’re taking today off too. We have things well in hand here.^

Marie wiped a hand over her face and rose, affixing her medals. ^Did my husband, by chance, tell you I was not coming in to work today?^

Hestia was definitely laughing now, having clearly come to the same realization as Marie. ^Seeing as the Silver Cross is running smoothly, and Ultra Father just finished meeting with me to handle your emails, a rest day sounds more productive than coming back before you’re at full strength.^

If nothing else, Ken had been thorough. Marie stood, straightening the bed. ^Thank you, Hestia, I’ll be in shortly.^

^As you like, Commander,^ replied Hestia who, as Ken had gotten to her first, likely didn’t believe it. 

Marie, more annoyed now, pinged her confounder. ^Good afternoon, Ultra Father.^

If her husband heard the warning in the words, he sailed past it admirably. ^You're up, dearlight. Did you sleep well?^

^A bit too well, I think,^ she replied coolly. Ken, however, soldiered on. 

^Nonsense. You’re still recovering, and you don't sleep enough at the best of times—you should take the opportunity to catch up on rest.^

Honestly. ^You know perfectly well I’ve recovered, I could have gone in today--^

^If you’d pushed yourself,^ Ken finished gently. ^The Silver Cross and the Garrison won’t collapse if you take a little more sick time. You can have one day more to rest without the weight of the galaxy on your shoulders.^

Marie had to fight not to be swayed by that. It was sweet, and deeply thoughtful, but she couldn't just take a day off when she knew she could be saving people...She stood, sweeping her mantle around her shoulders. ^I appreciate the care and the additional sleep. However, I am now rested, and will be in the office momentarily.^

^I thought you’d say that,^ Ken sighed, voice so rich in affection and knowing amusement that Marie felt her cheeks warm despite herself. ^Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.^

Despite the fact that she knew Ken couldn’t see her, Marie narrowed her eyes, exiting their chambers. ^What are—^

Then she stepped into the living room, and saw Ken’s trump card spring to his feet from where he’d sat cross-cross apple-sauce, quietly playing some game with his two friends. “Grandma! You’re awake! How are you feeling, can I get you any tea?”

…..Ah. No, she’d been thoroughly out-maneuvered. Ken had trapped her with the one person she couldn’t say no to. “I’m perfectly well, Taiga,” she assured him. "I'm just headed ou--"

 But her grandson shook his head stoutly. “Dad said you’ve been sick, so he and Uncle Ace showed us his recipe for those muffins you said you liked, Titas has breakfast all ready! And Fuma brought some tea from O50 he wanted you to try—c’mon, Fuma, where’d you leave it, we can reheat the water now that Grandma’s awake–”

  Marie watched in blank astonishment as Taiga turned back to his friends, presumably to organize their gifts, and was met with the warm reminder that, despite the straightforwardness and guilelessness of her husband, he could be downright devious. Taiga was so excited to have prepared his--no, his Tri-Squad's, really--surprise for her, that all she could do was admit defeat and surrender to her grandson's ministrations (and shockingly well-made muffins--they really had done Ace's recipe justice).

As she watched affectionately as Titas asked (far more formally than he needed to) if she would be amenable to sharing stories of her genealogy, she sent one more telepathic message to her husband. ^That’s playing dirty, dearest.^

Ken didn’t respond in words; instead he sent a pulse of pure, clear affection--a telepathic equivalent to a kiss on the forehead. Fighting the warmth rising in her cheeks, Marie returned her attention to her grandchildren, content in the knowledge that she would get him for this eventually.