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Mia was a lovesick idiot.
She really should be at home in bed asleep, but past Mia had already promised to pick her sweetheart up from work. Past Mia was the cause of all her current issues. The night before she had a small tickle in her throat, just noticeable enough to be annoying but not enough for her to do anything about it, and now she's paying the price. Her throat felt she'd swallowed sandpaper and was now being stabbed repeatedly, and the cherry on top was that her voice had decided to take a day off without her permission.
She really could've stayed home. Charlotte would understand but she had been gone for so long on her latest trip that she didn't want to let her girlfriend down so soon after returning. That's how she ended up sitting in her car with her head against the window.
She was freezing cold for no good reason, yes it was the dead of winter but this was just unnatural. She turned up the heat even further but even that didn’t touch the cold that had seeped into her bones. She let out this deep, painful cough into the sleeve of Charlotte's jumper, She groaned, wiping at her eyes as tears began to well up in them.
She hated this. She hated feeling weak and god forbid like a burden. All she wanted was to drive Charlotte home so she could cuddle against her sweetheart's chest, and finally rest. Her body had been protesting everything she'd even vaguely attempted to do today.
The drive to the nursery was no different. She was so tired and the leather of her seats looked so inviting. She could close her eyes for just a second and then she’d be good to drive home.
--- --- ---
Charlotte knew Mia wasn't well.
After all she knew her better than anyone, and from the second Charlotte woke up that morning, before Mia even opened her eyes, she knew Mia was sick. Charlotte knew that Mia ran hot but that morning was something else.
--- --- ---
Charlotte woke up uncomfortably hot. The heat radiating from Mia's body was near unbearable, forcing Charlotte to ease the redhead's body off of hers. The second she had managed to dislodge Mia from her spot was the second Mia's eyes opened. She whined, her half-asleep state was the closest Mia would ever get to be completely open and honest.
“Hi Mia..” Charlotte said softly, brushing Mia's hair away from her face, A frown spread across her face as she felt the heat of her girlfriend's forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Uh..tired.” She mumbled, rolling over onto her back, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Charlotte's frown. “Are you okay? Why are you worried?”
A small smile tugged at Charlotte's face. Even when she was unwell Mia was always thinking about her.
“I’m okay. I promise. I’m just worried about you.” She said, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “You said you’re tired? Anything else?”
“My throat feels–” Mia’s sentence was cut off by a violent cough ripping it’s way from her deep within her chest. Charlotte quickly helped Mia sit up, rubbing her back as she countiend to cough. Once that had ended, Mia leaned back into Charlotte's chest as she attempted to catch her breath.
“Okay, you’re definitely ill.” Charlotte said, running her hand through Mia’s hair in an attempt to soothe her. She slowly started to feel Mia’s body begin to relax as she began to fall back to sleep. “Mia? I’ll let you back to sleep in a second I just want to let you know that I’m gonna call out and-”
“No no..I’m fine.” Mia said, pushing herself off of Charlotte's chest. “It’s okay, Don’t take today off. I’ll take it easy and-”
Mia started coughing again. Somehow this time was even more forceful than the first. She curled forward as Charlotte rubbed soothing circles on her back. The redhead whined softly as she cleared her throat, trying to avoid triggering another coughing fit.
“Mia, that cough is worrying me.” Charlotte said, pulling Mia back against her chest again. The redhead flipped over onto her stomach, pressing her face into Charlotte's neck and tossing her arms around her neck. “Just let me call and see if we have the cover for me to take off, okay?”
She didn’t even bother to wait for Mia to respond, reaching over to grab her phone from where it was plugged in. She quickly dialed in the nursery’s phone number, praying that anyone other than Marjorie would answer. She loved the manager, she really did, it was just that Mia really hated her.
“Hello, my love!” Of course it was Marjorie who answered. The universe could never take that much mercy on her. “You never call before your shift unless something is seriously wrong, so what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine but Mia really isn’t feeling well.” She said, ignoring Mia’s grumble of disapproval. “I was wondering if there was any way I could take today off?”
“Oh, I wish I could say yes but we are very short staffed today. Both Autumn and Reece are covering in the rooms and I’m about 90% sure that I’m gonna have to cover too.” Marjorie said. Charlotte’s face twisted, looking down at Mia. She was clearly trying to stop the shivers that were racking her body. “I’m so sorry my love. I really wish I could say yes because you never call out but we really need you.”
Charlotte bid Marjorie goodbye and sighed softly, running her fingers through Mia’s hair. At some point during her very short phone call with Marjorie, The redhead had drifted off to sleep again. She very slowly eased Mia off of her chest, placing her down in bed, and again Mia woke up immediately.
“I can’t stay home because we’re so short staffed so I’m gonna set up a couple things for you while I get ready, okay?” Charlotte said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She waited for Mia’s small nod before leaving the room.
Charlotte walked into the kitchen, grabbing Mia’s water bottle. She filled up her bottle while she made herself breakfast. She briefly thought about making something for Mia to eat, but it was hard enough to eat when she felt great, let alone when she was sick, figuring that Mia would sleep through the day and she could get some food into her after work.
She brought the water bottle back to the bedroom, placing it on the nightstand. Mia was fast asleep again, her face pressed into Charlotte's pillow, she was mumbling something that sounded a lot like Char’s name. Charlotte ducked into the bathroom, wetting a cloth. She placed the cloth down on the nightstand, next to Mia’s water bottle as she got dressed. It was quiet, much quieter than she was used to, without Mia’s flirty commentary in the background the room was silent.
She walked back over to the bed, pressing a kiss to Mia’s forehead to wake her. She groaned as her eyes flickered open but this soft smile still broke out onto her face when she saw who woke her up.
“Hi there, I have to leave soon but I wanted to say bye.” Charlotte said softly, running her hands through the redhead’s hair. “I love you. Please take it easy today.”
“I love you too sweetheart.” Mia twisted her arms around Charlotte’s neck, pulling her down into a hug. “Have a good day..I’ll take it easy today. I promise.”
– – –
Charlotte had watched Mia’s car pull into the nursery and now that she was face to face with Mia’s exhausted form. She knew that Mia had definitely not taken it easy. The redhead’s head hung heavily against the window, her breathing was relaxed but it still somehow managed to look painful. Her cheeks were flushed and she had deep dark circles under her eyes. Charlotte’s heart twisted at the sight of her girlfriend’s sick form.
Charlotte reached for the door handle, finding it locked. She gently tapped on the window instead, hoping to wake her up without startling her too much. Very slowly, Mia stirred, her eyes fluttering open, exhaustion and pain swirling around in them. She looked even worse than that morning.
Mia rolled down her window. She gave Charlotte a weak and tired smile before rasping out a greeting to Char. The concern that had permanently etched itself in Charlotte's face seemingly worsened once she heard Mia’s voice or the lack of a voice.
“Did you take it easy today?” Charlotte asked softly even though she already knew the answer to that question. She wanted to see if Mia would be honest even though she knew Mia probably wouldn’t be.
Mia shrugged. She didn’t want to respond verbally because she knew that if she did all of her carefully built walls would come crashing down around her. Charlotte hummed in response, a knowing look came over her face. She gestured for Mia to get out of the car.
The redhead’s brow furrowed in confusion, but she obeyed and stepped outside into the chilly evening air. The wind whipped at her face and clothes, making her shiver despite the warm jumper she had wrapped around herself. As she stood there, trembling and vulnerable, Charlotte gently lifted Mia’s chin up to make eye contact with her. The redhead’s eyes were slightly glazed over, making her look even more exhausted and out of it. Charlotte’s heart ached at the sight of her girlfriend in such a state.
“Mia. How are you feeling?” Charlotte asked softly, her voice laced with concern. “I want the truth. Not some fake answer. The real one. How are you feeling?”
Mia opened her mouth to respond but her voice caught in a painful coughing fit. She groaned, her throat was tender and raw from the near constant fits of coughing. She rubbed at her chest once the fit ended. The coughing fit had zapped the rest of energy, making it damn near impossible for her to respond.
“That cough sounds horrible.” Charlotte said, concern bleeding into every word as she gently pushed Mia’s hair back from her face. Her touch was comforting, but it unfortunately revealed the heat radiating from Mia’s body. “Your fever is getting worse.”
Mia grumbled softly, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Charlotte’s waist, seeking solace in her embrace. Charlotte smiled softly before wrapping her arms around Mia, holding her close.
“Do you want to go home?” Charlotte asked softly, running her hands through her hair and slowly rocking her back and forth. “I’ll drive.”
"Please," Mia croaked, wincing at the pain that shot through her throat with each word. The cold winter air only made it worse.
"Then let's go," Charlotte said tenderly, guiding Mia over to the passenger side of the car where she could rest.