Wildflowers

Busy Little Bee

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the cozy bedroom. Kat stirred slightly in bed, but as she tried to move, a dull ache settled in her joints, heavier than usual. Her body felt weighed down, her limbs sluggish, and a persistent fatigue pressed down on her, making it hard to even open her eyes.

She shifted, reaching up to rub her face, feeling the familiar discomfort. When her fingers brushed across her cheeks, she winced slightly, the telltale heat of a rash already making itself known. Her heart sank as she realized what it was—her first lupus flare-up in months.

Beside her, Severus stirred, his presence warm and steady, as always. His eyes opened slowly, meeting hers with that familiar, quiet intensity. He blinked, instantly noticing the difference in her, the tiredness in her eyes, and the faint redness that now colored her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

"Kat," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern as he sat up. "You're not feeling well."

Kat smiled weakly, her fingers still brushing at the rash on her face. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice low and tired. She didn't want to make a big deal out of this—it wasn't like she hadn't dealt with flares before. "It's just a little flare-up. I've handled worse."

Severus frowned slightly, his dark eyes scanning her face, his fingers brushing her cheek gently. "You're exhausted. I can see it. And that rash..." His hand lingered there for a moment, his concern obvious.

Kat sighed, sitting up slowly, though every movement felt like a struggle. "I know what it is," she said gently, trying to brush off his worry. "But it's not that bad yet. I'll be fine."

Severus's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening. "You should stay home," he said, his voice firmer now. "Rest. You don't need to push yourself."

Kat let out a soft laugh, though it was more of a sigh. "It's just a little set back. I've been through this before. I can still teach."

He opened his mouth to argue, but she placed her hand on his arm, shaking her head. "Don't make a big deal out of this, okay? I've had lupus for years. I know my body. And right now, I can still work."

Severus hesitated, clearly torn. He didn't want to push her, but he didn't like the idea of her pushing herself through the day, either. "Kat, you don't have to prove anything. You could—"

"I'm not trying to prove anything," Kat interrupted gently. "I need to teach. It's part of who I am. Plus, Miles gave me that potion he's been working on. It's time to see if it works."

His expression softened, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. "You trust it?" he asked quietly, though there was still a trace of doubt in his voice.

Kat nodded, managing a small smile. "I trust Miles. It's supposed to help with the flare symptoms. If it doesn't work, I'll come home. But I have to try."

Severus exhaled slowly, his hand sliding down to her waist. "Fine," he said, though his voice held a note of reluctance. "But if it doesn't help, you're coming straight back. No arguments."

Kat grinned, leaning in to kiss him softly. "I promise," she whispered against his lips, her fingers gently trailing through his hair. "I'll be fine."

Severus kissed her back, lingering in the softness of the moment before pulling away. "Let's get up, then," he murmured, though his eyes never left hers, still studying her face for any sign of discomfort.

Kat slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed, her body protesting the movement. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as the ache in her joints flared, but she pushed through it. She didn't want to dwell on it, didn't want him hovering over her. She just needed to get through the day.