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Zayne checked his phone for the sixth time within the hour, checking again for any updates from his wife, Emily, and their one-year-old Aurora, who were currently at home with the flu. Zayne, after much convincing from his wife that she and their daughter would be okay enough on their own, so that he could come into work for a surgery that was scheduled a month in advance. Greyson stood beside him as he glanced over at Zayne, both changing out of their scrubs as they finished up the scheduled surgery.
Emily had video called with him twice and sent text updates every few hours. The last he heard, she was trying to put their daughter down for a much-needed nap. That was almost 3 hours before he entered surgery, and Zayne was starting to feel worried. Thinking back to this morning, Zayne wanted nothing more than to go home and take care of his wife and daughter.
The Sickness had hit their one-year-old late the night before. At first, they thought she was just fussy due to teething, but when his wife woke up the next day sick as can be did they determined that a nasty flu had descended on their household full force. Zayne, unsurprisingly, was spared and came out of this sickness free, much to his wife's dismay.
Normally, he would be okay with leaving, if not for the fact that this is the first time their little girl has gotten sick, and now sadly, his wife. Both were standing before him, with red cheeks, tired faces, and in their favorite pajamas, watching him as he got ready to leave for the day. He stood by the door, putting on his coat as his wife stood before him, their little girl resting on her hip, her head tucked into Emily's shoulder, her chubby fingers playing with a small snowflake necklace Zayne had gifted to Emily for their anniversary three years ago. Her eyes droopy as she watched her daddy getting ready for work.
“We’ll be fine, Zayne. She took her medicine, and we will just be at home resting.”
“And you? Will you be okay?” Zayne looked over his wife, noticing the slight bags under her eyes.
“I can call Greyson. He can take over the surgery. You didn't sleep at all last night.”
Voice a little raspy, Emily gave almost a little huff in response.
“Neither have you, might I add. We will be okay. I’ll call if we need anything. I don't want to mess up your already busy schedule as it is. Plus, you have the next three days off, so you can take care of us then.”
“I love that you are trying to make a joke of the situation right now.” The sarcastic tone that left him made her laugh as Emily watched her husband put on his shoes before grabbing his car keys.
“I try my best.” Emily gave a soft smile as Zayne stepped towards her, reaching out his hand. He gently touched their daughter's forehead before going to his wife's. Warm, both very warm. A small frown graced his lips as he looked at Emily. His hand was moving from her forehead to her cheek, where it now rested.
“Are you sure you will be okay? I can reschedule, go in later?”
Emily gave a soft smile before gently nodding, kissing his hand lightly.
“We will be okay, love, please go. I already held you up as it is. I promise. We will be just fine, doctor.”
Zayne let out a soft sigh before leaning down and giving his little girl a soft kiss on the head. Petting her hair, he looked down at her tiny face, her glossy green eyes looking up at him, her small body still tucked in tight to her mommy, chubby hands still stroking her mom's necklace.
“Bye baby, Dada will be home soon.”
Aurora looked up at him before tucking her head deeper into her mama's side, Emily adjusting her slightly to hold her closer. Zayne looked at his wife as he leaned down, wanting his goodbye kiss, only to be stopped by his wife's hand covering his mouth.
“Zayne! You’ll get sick!”
Grinning softly into her hand, he grabs hers, moving it out of his way, and before she could protest, he settled for a kiss on the cheek. He couldn’t help the small grin on his face as he watched his wife's already red face get even brighter.
“I love you, call me if you need me to come home?”
Emily nodded. “I will love, Have a good day. I love you.”
And with one final goodbye, Zayne left for the day.
Now, here Zayne was, finished with his surgery for the day, he changed back into his doctor's coat as he prepared for his final rounds and checks. Greyson watches him as he checks his phone yet again, as both of them exit the changing room. Greyson was surprised by the way Zayne had been acting throughout the day. The usually stoic, serious, and very professional doctor Zayne seemed very preoccupied with something other than work. Though it was hard for the other nurses and doctors to tell, Greyson knew Zayne. And the subtle tell and irregular phone checks told Greyson that something was up. It was only when Greyson accidentally overheard a phone call with his wife and daughter about being sick that Zayne's behavior began to make sense.
“I've got it from here, Doctor Zayne, if you want to clock out now.”
Zayne looks up from his phone to Greyson, who has stopped in front of him, giving Zayne a smile.
“That obvious?” Greyson laughs before resting his hand on Zayne's shoulder.
“Go home, Doctor Zayne. Go take care of that family of yours.”
Thanking Greyson, Zayne gave little resistance as he rushed to his office, grabbed his keys, and was out of the hospital and on his way home.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Emily lay on the couch, a children's movie playing quietly in the background while Aurora lay snuggled to her chest. Their daughter's soft snowflake blanket draped softly on top of her, almost consuming the toddler's body it was obviously made for, while it just barely covered the top of Emily’s chest. Aurora's sleepy eyes barely focused on the movie as she snuggled into her mom’s body, red-cheeked, watery eyes, and sweaty little body, hot from a fever that she hasn't been able to kick. Emily slowly ran her palm over her back, comforting her as they both watched the movie, waiting for Zayne to come home.
Their sweet little girl was incredibly clingy when sick. Having been snuggled up on the couch or in bed almost all day, anytime Emily tried to get up to make food, grab a drink or medicine, or even use the restroom, it caused their sweet little 1-year-old to start to cry in protest. So Emily reluctantly set up her make-shift “hospital” in the living room. The coffee table is now filled with whatever they might need to help get them better. Much like Zayne, not only in looks but in demeanor, their daughter was usually a pretty quiet and reserved little girl. She was a pretty happy and easy baby, rarely cried or fussed. Emily soon found out, however, that when Aurora wasn't feeling good, all she wanted was to be held and close to her parents. The few times Emily had to put Aurora down, it resulted in uncontrollable crying and or clinging to Emily's leg till she was back in her arms. It usually took an hour or two to calm her down after a breakdown, so Emily had no other choice but to hold her. So here Emily lay, her little Mini Zayne snuggled tight to her chest, where they both nodded off and on throughout the day while they tried to get over this nasty illness.
The sound of the front door opening made the small body nestled in her arms immediately pop up from her mother's chest. Looking at her phone, Emily was surprised to see that Zayne had come home early. Aurora’s little body, now full of sudden energy she hasn't shown all day, slides down her mother's body, off the couch, and starts to wobble towards the front door. Her steps are rocky and not very balanced, especially coming from this tiny person who just started getting the confidence to really walk on her own. Her favorite snowflake blankie was still clutched tightly in one hand and dragging along behind her. Her dark hair is a mess of two very uneven pigtails, and in her light blue penguin poke-a-dot onesie pjs, she hastily makes her way towards the sound of her father by the front door.
Zayne heard the sound of small, padded feet making their way to him. Before soft “dada’s” could be heard from his sick baby girl. Taking off his shoes and coat, he quickly set down the takeout soup he stopped to get for his wife just as his sweet girl turned the corner. Her tear-stained face and red cheeks eagerly looked for her dada as he reached for her.
“Dada, dada”
“Hi baby, sorry Dada is so late.”
Picking her up, she immediately snuggled into his chest, his evol as if on queue started to let off a soft vibration and cooling sensation, his overall body temperature dropping . He instinctively did the first thing that came to mind when thinking about the times his wife has been sick in the past and what has helped her. His body is cooling and changing to just the right temperature to not hurt, but soothe and comfort. To help heal. And soothe it did, snuggling into him, Aurora sank into his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest as she clung tightly to her dad. As if she had been waiting for this all day. He stroked her clammy little forehead, pushing away the baby hairs that clung to her skin, and he softly kissed her, feeling her temperature. Still a little warm, one of his fingers stroked her chubby baby cheek as he picked up the takeout by the door and made his way inside.
“Emily?” Zayne called as he walked into the kitchen, setting the takeout on the counter as he looked around for his wife. He heard a quiet “in here” from a distance as he reached into the cabinet and grabbed a bowl, filling it with the soup. He reached into the fridge, grabbed a bottle, and then made his way into the living room. One hand held his daughter close to him, while the other carried the warm bowl of soup for his wife and a bottle for his daughter.
“Dada dada…mama,” his daughter mumbled into his side, sitting up slightly to look up at him. She pointed to the living room. Zayne nodded.
“Yes, let's go find mama.” Upon entering the living room, he gave a soft chuckle at the uncanny image before him. Much like how his daughter greeted him, he saw Emily slowly sitting up from the couch, her hair slightly disheveled, falling out from the loose braid she had done this morning. Still in her favorite dark blue floral pajamas, her face still red, eyes still glossy, she smiled over at her husband. But Zayne couldn't help but think, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Approaching the couch, Zayne handed over the bowl of soup before leaning down and kissing his wife's temple. She sighed, giving a small thank you as Zayne sat down beside her.
He helped feed his daughter while she ate her dinner. Asking how she's feeling, if he can get her anything. They made small talk as he helped them both take their medicine, before his two girls snuggled into his side, his evol releasing that soft vibration and cooling effect that once his wife felt it, she sighed and melted into his side. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she lay her head on his chest as she soaked him in.
“It's like my very own never-ending ice pack,” Zayne chuckled and pulled his love closer, kissing the top of her head. His daughter snuggled in closer on his other side, now lying on top of him. Her eyes were slowly drooping as she mumbled to her dada and pointed to the movie playing on the TV.
It wasn't long before both of his girls were fast asleep, both held close to Zayne's side, taking and soaking up his evol to help cool them down and help bring a little relief to their fever. From something that he used to be so scared of, something that used to be sharp and hurt, was now being used to help soothe and comfort. To help heal, in the way that only Zayne could , he knew he wouldn't have it any other way.