Forever

73

Halfway through this pit of sickness, Bree has stopped projecting her inner fluids, but is still sick enough to feel like she could. Though, at the same time, she can barely feel anything. Her legs are still all wobbly when she tries to walk and her arms are heavily, but she can definitely feel the headaches, the ache in her chest and lungs from coughing so much, and the ticklish pain in her nose. The most she's done through all of this is sleep, eat what she can, meaning popsicles and some things fluid, and shower every few days, so she doesn't get more sick.

At a time like this, she couldn't be more grateful to have someone with an almost complete immunity to an illness like this, because that someone has been by her side through it all and they don't plan on leaving anytime soon.

As she lays on her side, curled in a ball, and stares at the TV, Pietro presses the back of his hand to her forehead to feel that she still has a fever, based on her body tempurature, which Bruce warned them about.

"Are you still feeling like garbage?" He moves his hand to her cheek and she nods. "Do you want some water?"

She nods again while pushing herself to sit up as he runs off to be back within less than a minute with a glass of water.

"Thank you." She breathes with a sniffle.

"No problem." He grazes his finger along her soft cheek as she takes a drink.

When she's done, her big eyes flicker up to his as he takes the cup to set it on the bedside table. He stares at her for a moment before he pushes her hair behind her ear and places his hand on her jawline.

"What about if you're hungry?" He asks and she shakes her head, to which he tilts his head in slight doubt, but she remains the same, true to her silent word. "Okay." He sighs while letting his hand fall. "Lay down." He stands. "I'll be back in a minute."

He races away with a blur seconds later and makes his way to Bruce's lab, where he finds him at his computer.

"Is it normal to not want to eat when you're sick?" He hopes from the doorway.

"Loss of appetite is completely normal, yes." He nods and he slowly nods in relief before Bruce turns to look at him. "It's also normal to worry after the sick individual went through such a traumatic health decline."

"Right." He sighs with a tight-lipped grin.

"She'll be fine." He assures him with a nod.

"Thanks." He turns around with a tap on the doorframe before he runs back to Bree.

He sits back on his side of the bed while Bree lays on hers, above the blanket, and hugs her stuffed bear to her chest.

"Are you sure you're not cold?" He furrows his brows and she looks up at him.

"Yeah, I got overheated under there." She turns back to her favorite show that she's seen so many times already. "Sweating."

"Gross." He teases while lightly shoving her shoulder and standing and she giggles while burying herself in the bear.

He makes his way to the kitchen and grabs himself a drink before he freezes just as he's about to leave. He looks at the stove before back into the room in hesitant thought. He understands what Bruce said and how it's normal to not be hungry when you have pneumonia, but, after all she's been through and he knows she still is, he just can't leave it alone. What if she knows that it's normal and is just faking it, so she doesn't have to eat? She's caused him a hell of a lot of paranoia and he's letting it take over.

-

Soon enough, Pietro heads back to the bedroom when Bree has laid the blanket back over her legs. He rests his fist on the bed behind her and she turns curiously as he holds a bowl of her favorite dish above her. She doesn't ask any questions or decline it, she just slowly pushes herself to sit up with a heavy deep breath.

"I don't want you to starve." He cautiously states and she nods while pushing her hair behind her ear.

"Thank you." She says with a raspy voice before she clears her throat.

He sits back down and she lays her head back for a second while he watches and then she picks it up with a slow drink.

"What's wrong?" His brows furrow.

"Nothing." She shakes her head. "Just a little out of it. Bruce would say 'fatigue', so I'm gonna go with that."

"But you're okay?" He nods with raised brows and she grins slightly while turning to him.

"Love, I know, you're worried, but I'm fine." She states softly with her hand on his leg and he sighs. "I'll get over this soon."

"It's been a week, I don't like it." He takes her hand to hold in his.

"Trust me, I don't like, either." She shakes her head while setting the bowl in her lap. "But I'll live." She nods surely and he sighs while looking down.

"Do you need your hand back?" He rubs the back of it with his thumb.

"No, I'm good." She takes a bite with just her other hand and a fork.

"Good." He turns to the TV and she smiles a bit.

-

A few hours later, Bree has only gotten up to go to the bathroom once, she's drank half a glass of water, and folded herself in and out of the blanket so many times, Pietro had to forcefully tuck her in, so she wouldn't get out, and pointed a fan at her, all while she watched and let him with a smile.

Though it didn't lock her in enough. She pulls a leg free and he looks down before throwing an arm with an eye-roll.

"Would you lay still?" He complains and she smiles nervously.

"I will, I will, I promise." She rolls onto her side with a chuckle. "I'm just getting comfy."

She pulls him down just a bit to lean against the pillows instead of the bedframe and wraps her arms around his waist. She lays her head on his side and hugs the blanket between her legs, keeping herself warm, but cool at the same time.

"I'm done moving." She adjusts while nuzzling her head into him.

"Well, you're not moving now." He states indefinitely.

"I know." She quietly smiles while closing her eyes. "I love you." She states and he chuckles and rubs his face.

"I love you too."