Author: SkyLark
Warnings: Mostly Fluff... Sap... Sappy Fluff
Rating: PG
Pairing: 1+2+1
Disclaimer: I don't own GW.
Sequel to Caroline's 'As I Lay Dying'.
In Sickness and In Health
Groaning deeply, Heero opened his eyes with a few blinks. The smell of chicken soup was the first thing that helped him return to the world of the living after a very long rest. Much to his relief, the bedroom curtain was almost completely drawn so that it left enough light that he could see his surroundings without allowing too much bright sunlight in that would cause his head any further pain than it was already in.
It was bound to happen. After a week-long exposure to Duo's cold, it was only natural that Heero would be right behind with the same symptoms. Silently, the ex-Wing pilot cursed the doctors for not building their immunities to last more than five years against this kind of thing. But then, those bastards only wanted them shielded long enough to get them through the war without catching a bug.
Through his clogged nose, Heero could smell the aroma of soup once more and smiled to himself despite his discomfort. True to his word, Duo made sure to take care of him. Now that his braided lover was well, and his worries of dying were well past, he quickly took on the role of caretaker with ease. He was there to see that everything was all right without ever smothering.
The sound of soft humming managed to get through Heero's stuffy head just before Duo entered the room, tray in hands and braid swinging behind him. Smiling when their eyes met, the American smiled warmly, "Hey. You woke up just in time."
His own smile growing the slightest, Heero sat up in their bed, moving some of the covers from his chest as his partner neared. Just as he was about to thank his lover, the ex-Wing pilot wheezed and coughed a bit while turning his head away from the other Preventer. After setting the tray down on the bed, Duo quickly rubbed his ailing love's back with a concerned frown.
Finally regaining his breath, Heero smiled up at him with a weak, "Thanks." Taking up the spoon, he took a few careful slurps from his broth. As he continued to eat, he felt his lover sit beside him on the other side of the bed.
Once the meal was finished, Duo quickly set the tray aside and placed a hand on his partner's damp forehead. Smiling in relief, he commented, "Your fever is starting to break up. Looks like you're going to get over this thing sooner than I did."
Nodding, Heero finished the glass of water that had been waiting for him on the table at his side. Satisfied that he had hydrated himself enough, he shifted back to lie down and turned to face Duo. With a small grin, he whispered sincerely, "Thanks for taking care of me."
"Yea," the braided agent shrugged, "Well, don't forget that you promised we would get a puppy once this nasty shit is done."
Heero's attempt to laugh ended in another fit of coughing before he could manage with a tired sigh, "Don't worry. You know I always keep my word." He raised an eyebrow, "I did get you your cheese fries as soon as you were up to it, remember?"
Chuckling deeply, Duo nodded, "Of course."
Just as Heero's eyes began to drift closed, he noted the deep frown on his love's face that lowered to stare at the navy comforter. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, his eyes more alert and his body moving to sit up a bit.
Swallowing hard, Duo drew shapes in the blanked with is index finger-frown still I place. Without looking up, he shrugged, "It's just... I can't help but be embarrassed at how I handled myself when I had my cold. You'd think that I would be able to reason better than to assume that I was dying."
He laughed bitterly, his violet eyes darkening. "I know what a pain in the ass I was and you had the patience of a saint for putting up with me."
Opening his mouth to say something, Heero was stopped when the other pilot held his hand up. With a deep sigh, Duo finally met his gaze again and stated, "Now here you are, with the same damn thing and not even the littlest complaint. I mean, sure, there is an expected grumble or two-but nothing like how I was."
He turned his violet eyes away again and said quietly, "You always were stronger than I could ever be."
Unable to listen to any more, Heero reached over and cupped Duo's cheek. Rubbing the light skin with his thumb, he smirked, "That's not true, first off. You're strong in a lot of the aspects that I struggle with.
"And besides that, neither of us had the pleasure of being sick before. It's understandable that you'd be scared the first time around. I didn't have to be worried when I caught this because I watched how you handled it when you knew you would be all right."
Duo brightened considerable at that and grinned, "Yea?" When Heero nodded, he smiled all the more and snuggled close to him. Lightly kissing his lover's unruly head of hair, he asked quietly, "Is there anything that I can do for you?"
Pulling back to look up at him, Heero answered in a whine, "Just promise me that you won't mourn me when I'm gone. I want you to live a full, happy life."
With a deep growl, Duo lightly hit his laughing partner's arm and grumbled, "Smart ass." But, his act of being upset didn't last long as he fell into his own fit of laughter. When they both calmed once more, Heero rested his head atop the braided pilot's shoulder once more.
"I couldn't be in better hands than yours. Thank you for taking care of me, Duo."
"My pleasure. Thank you for putting up with me and my occasional melodrama."
Heero chuckled deeply, "Occasional?"
Duo rolled his eyes, "Oh, all right, my nearly ever-present melodrama."
"Just kidding, love. I'll gladly put up with whatever you have to offer."
Duo smiled, "For better or for worse?"
Snuggling closer, Heero grinned, "For richer or for poorer."
"In sickness and in health."
"To love and to cherish."
"Until death do us part."
"No. I won't promise that."
Blinking in surprise, Duo sat up and looked into the cobalt oceans watching him. "Why not?" he asked with a deep frown.
At that, Heero shrugged, "My love for you won't fade even after I'm gone. So, I can't promise to love you only until death takes us."
Small tears built in Duo's eyes. Smiling lovingly, he breathed, "Yea. Same here."
That said, the two lovers leaned in to seal their vows with a heartfelt kiss than ended too soon when Heero had to turn away to cough. Laughing lightly, Duo gently pulled his partner's head against his shoulder again.
As Heero's eyes drifted closed, he heard his lover whisper to him, "Get some rest, husband." Humming to himself, he smiled as sleep took him. He certainly could get used that that new title.
OWARI
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