The Phone Call

Chapter 19

Vera looked up as the door opened, "Hey sorry Cupcake, but we ran out of milk and they are getting fussy," Luke said as he walked into the office with Selene in his arms who starting to fuss.

"That's fine," Vera said as she stopped typing, "I need to take a break anyway." She stood and took Selene from him, "Hi my sweet girl, what's the matter?" she asked as she walked past Luke and headed to the nursery. "Where is your sister?"

"Right here, Trouble," Gabe said as he walked into the nursery holding Asteria who was crying.

"Oh my sweet girls, hush now, Mommy's here," She said as she sat down in the rocking chair and unbuttoned her shirt then nursing bra so they could begin nursing.

"You didn't eat your lunch," North said frowning as he came in.

"Oh I got distracted," she shrugged watching the girls nurse, "I'll eat later."

"Open," North said as he held the taco out in front of her face.

"No," She shook her head and pulled back slightly.

"Open," He frowned, "you need to eat to make milk for the girls."

"I will when they are done nursing," she glared at him. "You and I both know that tacos are messy and I'm not going to have food drop onto the girls."

He sighed, "fine, will you please eat once they are done nursing?"

"Yes, I will since you asked so nicely," She smirked liking having that little power over him.

He bit his tongue and Luke chuckled, "thank you," North huffed as he left to go set the food down.

"Don't you have work to do?" She asked Luke confused.

"That's tomorrow," He shook his head. "Victor, Kota, Owen, Raven, and Marc are working right now."

"Oh," She mumbled as Asteria broke off her nipple fast asleep.

"I got her," Luke whispered as he gently took her then passed her off to Gabe so he could lay her down in the crib. Minutes later he took Selene who had also drifted off to sleep.

"They are warm," Vera murmured as she fixed her shirt. "Would it be possible—?"

"I will notify Sean immediately," North said as he watched her run her fingers over their daughters' foreheads. "He will come by as soon as he can, I'm sure."

"Can a couple of us stay here in case you need help?" Gabe asked softly and she nodded.

"Why don't you rest after you eat?" North asked softly. "We will keep an eye on the girls."

"I'm fine," She shook her head. "I need to make sure they are okay."

"How about this, Cupcake?" Luke asked putting his hand on her hip, "Come rest with me and eat while they nap and Gabe and North will stay in here and if they start showing any signs of getting worse they will come notify us immediately?"

"Okay," She sighed, "I guess that will be okay."

Just as she finished eating North came in while holding Asteria, "Come on Baby, we're going to see Doc."

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Their fevers aren't going down," he explained. "I don't want you worrying so we're going to see Doc now and make sure everything is okay."

"Thank you," She whispered as she took Selene from Gabe.

"Hey Pookie, what's going on?" Sean asked as they walked into his office.

"The girls done feel good," she pouted. "They are warm and they have been fussy and something is wrong with them, Sean I just know it."

"I believe you," he nodded as he washed his hands.

"You do?" She asked kind of shocked.

"Yes," He said honestly as he dried his hands. "You are their mother, you know the girls better than anyone, so if you say something is wrong then I believe you. Now bring them over here so I can see them, please."

He listened to them then frowned, "when did you give them medicine, Vera?"

"I haven't yet," She admitted. "They fell asleep while nursing and it was while they were nursing that I noticed they were warm."

"I'm going to run a few tests, okay?" he asked softly. "I just want to rule out a few things." He pushed some hair out of her face and frowned, "You are warm too, Vera. Do you feel okay?"

"I'm fine," She said a little too quickly for his liking.

"Vera, I need you to be honest with me," he said softly. "Please?"

"I'm just tired," She shook her head, "that's all. I'm fine, Sean, just make sure the girls are okay."

"I'm running the test on you too," he shook his head. "I need to make sure you are okay as well."

"I'm fine," she glared. "Make the girls better."

"Veronica," he sighed, "if you aren't feeling well, then you won't continue making milk for the girls and I know how important it is for you to nurse them as long as possible. If you want to nurse for longer than a year, then I need you to be honest with me when you aren't feeling well. Open communication."

She sighed, "I'm exhausted and I have a headache and..." she trailed off.

"And?" Sean asked softly.

"Why didn't you say you didn't feel well?" North asked a little hurt.

"It kind of hurts to breathe," she whispered.

"Here are the tests you asked for," the nurse said as she came into the room.

"I'm testing the three of you for the flu, okay?" Sean asked softly and she nodded.

"Alright," Sean said a little while later, "North call Uncle and tell him Vera won't be working for at least two weeks, she and the girls have the flu then call the family and get everyone home. We are all under quarantine until further notice."