Chapter Text
It starts with June, she wakes up in the middle of the night and comes into the room. She throws up on the floor and then they are all up. Tim is getting June clean clothes, and Lucy is rocking her back and forth because she won’t calm down.
Once she’s cleaned up and in the middle of them, Tim cleans up the mess and then goes to check on Levi.
If June was sick, it was more than likely Levi would be sick soon after. It was part of being twins and being in the same class at school.
“Mama.” June whimpers. Lucy turns her attention to her daughter. “I’m sick.” Lucy closes her eyes and then presses a kiss to June’s sweaty forehead.
“I know baby.” Lucy says. “It’s going to be okay.” She really hopes this is a one kid and done deal.
But realistically she knows it’s not.
Not at all.
***
Daisy is next, Lucy is home with June when Daisy’s teacher calls and asks her to pick her up.
“She is really pale.” Her teacher says and Lucy hears the concern in her voice. “She’s not herself.”
“Okay.” Lucy says looking at her other sleeping, sick daughter. June is sprawled across her lap, they hadn’t done much all day. And this was the only way June was getting any sleep. “I’m going to call my husband. He will be right there.”
Lucy calls Tim as soon as she hangs up and she knows Tim is on his way to Daisy’s school.
So it’s not a one kid and down deal.
But two.
They could handle two sick kids. They had done it before and they would do it again.
Hopefully it’s only two.
***
“Hopefully it’s just two kids.” She says when
“Doubt it.” Tim says. “I went by June’s classroom to get her work and there were like two or three kids missing.”
“And Levi?” Lucy asks. It’s only noon, and they already had a kid at home.
“Levi seemed fine.” Tim says. “He didn’t realize I was there.” Lucy shakes her head, and she is relieved.
“So now we have two sick kids.” Lucy says. She glances over at Daisy who is curled up on the couch. June is at the other end, Lucy is surprised she was able to get away.
“Two out of four isn’t bad.” Tim says. Lucy nods and then glances at the girls again. “We got this.”
“Yeah.” Lucy says. “We got this.”
***
June and Daisy are sick for two days before the other two come down with it. Together. Ava is at night and Lucy is relieved. Levi is in the morning just before they are about to drop him off at school.
“Lucy, I can help.” Tim says as Lucy cleans up the mess that Levi made. “You haven’t slept in two days.”
“I’m fine Tim.” Lucy says even though she’s not. Now all four kids are sick, she’s exhausted and she knows this is going to be one of the longest days of her life.
“No you aren’t.” Tim says. He hasn’t gotten much sleep either. They had split up the girls and he tended to one while she went to the other. “You are exhausted.”
“So are you,” she snaps back. “We have four sick kids and we need to focus on that.”
“Fine.” Tim says. “I’m staying home to help you.”
“Tim—”
“There’s no point in arguing with me.” Tim says and it comes out more irritated than he probably meant it to. “You take Ava and Daisy and I got the twins.”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Tim says and he turns around to leave and then stops and turns to look at her. “We are a team Lucy. Okay?”
Lucy nods and watches him leave. A team. A very exhausted, irritable team but a team nonetheless.
***
Lucy is grateful that Tim stayed home because running back and forth between the girls rooms is exhausting. It doesn’t help that last time Ava was sick she convinced Angela to get her a bell.
(Convincing wasn’t really needed on Angela’s part. Much to Lucy and Tim’s horror.)
And her daughter, who Lucy swore was smarter than all of them was ringing the bell. And then when Lucy didn’t find Daisy in her room and panicked but found her in Ava’s room. They were taking turns ringing the bell.
“It’s a good thing I love you two.” Lucy grumbles. She gives Ava a glass of water. “And I am about to take that bell away.” Ava pouts but sets it aside.
“Sorry mom.” Daisy says. She sounds and looks better, Ava does too. It’s amazing what a day of rest and bossing your parents around could do.
“It’s fine Dais.” Lucy says and she knows this sickness will past. Little by little.
“Thank you for taking care of us.” Ava says and Lucy smiles. Having four sick kids was exhausting but honestly there’s no place she would rather be.
“Of course Aves.” Lucy says. “I am always happy to take care of you. I’m your mom.” Ava smiles and lays her head on her shoulder.
This is exactly where she needs to be.
***
“This week was a lot.” Lucy says flopping down on the couch. All four kids are in bed, they were fed (what they could stomach) and they all took showers. Tim red the twins a story before they were both asleep and Lucy allowed Ava and Daisy a little time to read and play on their tablets.
Now—
They were relaxing after a long day and night. Tim looks over at her, and presses a kiss to her cheek.
“It was a long week.” He agrees. “I’m sorry I snapped earlier.”
“It’s okay. I was frustrated too.” Lucy says. “Four kids sick at the same time is no joke.”
“You are telling me.” Tim says. “I can’t wait until they are all better and back at school.”
Lucy lets out a laugh, and she definitely can’t wait for that either.
She loves her kids but they need to be back at school during the day. Because Lucy felt a little crazy staying home so many days.
She was ready to go back to work, and for life to go back to normal.
“It was a crazy few days.” She agrees. “I’m glad I have you on my side.”
“Me too.” Tim says and he leans over to give her a kiss. “Now hopefully we don’t get sick.”
Lucy snorts and cuddles up to Tim.
Hopefully they don’t get sick.
***
(Tim and Lucy get sick a few days later, and with Ava sneakiness. And help from Angela they are taken care of.)