-UndoubtedlyYours-

138.

✧A BOTTLE OF FIREWHISKEY✧

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***

With the oncoming of a hellish week, Alphard had put forth the work he planned to give to Orion—And perhaps, Cygnus as well. Though he hadn't truly given much thought as to how his brother could truly join the business.

So it was up to Orion as to what he wanted the damned bastard to do, even now he was slowly coming to forget what happened involving his wife. But with how happy Rhea had turned with Cygnus' changed tune, how was he meant to react?

Speaking of Rhea, it had been some time since he had seen her since they parted for lunch. Upon asking an elf if Rhea had gone to bed, he had been undoubtedly surprised to hear that she was in her study this entire time.

The elves hadn't said anything more and so he decided to take a visit, perhaps even coaxing her into heading to bed now at the same time. He wouldn't voice out the truth out loud, but having his wife acting so supportive in the operating room to the point of being right beside Healer Brown with the tools to remove the inner clusters.

It made him feel at ease prior to the surgery. But now, it made his skin crawl uncomfortably knowing that there were foreign intrusions causing him harm.

Being with Rhea could distract him until his surgery, but as he knocked and came to peek into her study—He caught her sitting in front of the fireplace and leaning into her coffee table.

Taking a long gaze into the flames before her eyes turned up to greet him. Yet she said nothing before turning back. "You alright, love?" He had gotten a plethora of Owls this morning, but Rhea had only gotten the support of her brother who voiced that he would gladly give some legal advice if it so much as comes to that.

But who else was checking in with her?
He may be the one that's Ill, but Rhea is the strongest one in the room. Supporting him above herself.

"I'm alright, yeah." It was a lie, but that was alright. As he had come forward to sit at the lounge sofas in her study, he frowned to see that she was drinking something of a familiar color. And when he took the glass from her hold, he scoffed.

"Rhea...What are you drinking?"
"Firewhiskey."
"Are we celebrating?"

"No. I thought it was fitting...Healer Brown says I cannot drink when I'm the potions. Besides, if we're successful that's nine months without a sip. So I thought I could splurge tonight." Was that the truth?
He knew alcohol was dangerous for a pregnant witch, but the fertility treatments as well?

No wonder she allowed her morals to be thrown out the window. Yet before he could follow up with a tease, he grabbed the glass back and down the rest. "You're not allowed to drink, Mister Black."

"We're back to Mister Black?"
"You were Atlas before that. You elusive bastard, why didn't you just say your name in the letters?"
"Goodness, Rhea. How much did you drink?" She hiccuped and pointed to the bottle. It seemed as though she had two glass and was already heading to her third, though he poured it for her before hiding the bottle away from her line of sight.

That's when he caught the large box of chocolate bits from Honeydukes, and he chuckled. "You are allowed to splurge, Rhea. I won't take offense."
"It counteracts with the fertility stuff, it's alright. Though I don't think I like fire whiskey."
"I didn't think you would, would you like to trade for some wine?" She shook her head and guarded her glass as though her life depended on it.

"Perhaps after my treatment, we can head to the Opera. Our seats are private enough from the rest, and I can certainly wear a mask or—"
"We'll have to disinfect the seatings for sure, but that sounds like a wonderful idea." She beamed, all before leaning down onto her bent elbow and sighed. Was it wrong that Rhea was feeling uplifted?
For the past few weeks, it was difficult to find the good in everything. But as far as she could tell, Alfie wasn't in any immediate pain.