this love (AU)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

She returns to the office and takes an early leave after lunch. She power-walks to the hospital in her heels as soon as the elevator door flings open.

She meets Elizabeth in the room who is sitting peacefully in the corner, knitting with two thick needles and a chunk of wool. "How is Joe?" She whispers.

"Still sleeping. Feel free to wake him up, his snores are disturbing. " She replies, looking up from the tip of the needles with a warm grin.

His eyelids flutter, this slightest movement is impossible to escape the corner of her eye. She hovers him gently, her fingertip reaches to his soft pale puffy cheeks and gives it a poke. His lips curve into a smile at the touch, opening one eye, revealing the oceanic blue crystals. Noticing Taylor's head is in the way of his sight of surroundings, he teasingly closes his eyes, yet ends up bursting into laughter.

"How did you sleep?" Taylor whispers as Joe squints his eyes dramatically with every endeavour to avoid the hospital lighting brightness.

"Eh..."He murmurs. Refusing to sit up straight, he pushes away the thick duvet covering his arms, raising them high up in the air and lastly towards Taylor's direction.

"What? Oh, you want a hug?" Taylor bewilderingly raises her brows, whilst excitement disperses throughout her entire body. She waddles through the plugs on the floor and monitors and tubes, being pulled into an embrace, she grins feeling her heart flourishing in happiness.

She can feel his warm breath over her shoulder, her chin muffled up in his chaotic fluffy hair. "Well, so they are going to put a cast on your arm...that's why we need to cancel the trip-" Her widened eyes wander to his fragile-looking left arm.

"No, Taylor, you forgot I have my right arm, I can work with that-'' He attempts to argue with dejection masked under his playful attitude. He notices she slowly reaches out caressing his frail fingers, holding his hand sincerely.

"I don't think so- like I don't want you to stress out and-" She lowers her head, nervously stutters, knowing her cheeks are flushed.

"It's not that stressful, you're here, you will help with work-" He lifts his head up and lies down immediately, avoiding her nagging annoying words that remind him of his dear mother.

"Yes, but Joe, no is no. It is not safe for you. "She takes a step closer to him, close enough for him to see her entire face while lying down. She tuts with a groan, genuinely frowning at him, her eyes snap away in disappointment that trigger Joe wanting to impress her again.

Yet he continues, "How do you know? You're not a doctor." He wiggles his eyebrows, showing his delicate dimples.

"I'll ask one right now, Joseph." Taylor hurries towards the door, and coincidentally, his personal doctor is strolling past the hallway.

"Wait-" Joe immediately shoots up and cries in the volume of thunder. Realising it is too late, he throws his arms on the duvet in defeat.

"Doc, is it safe for him to travel in 8 weeks?" She fidgets her fingers nervously, her phone pinged but she didn't bother to pick up.

"Six weeks he would be fine, but it is not encouraged in case anything happens-" She explains and reveals the truth.

"SEE? I TOLD YOU SO-" Joe triumphantly claps his hands and smirks wickedly at Taylor who is holding herself from smiling after losing to him.

"Won't you like to rest at home rather than attending business meetings?" She rhetorically asks as the doctor excuses himself and Elizabeth enters.