"Rafe." Grace whispers clearing her throat. "Hm?" He sighs not looking away from the road. "I need you to slow down." She mumbles nervously. "Slow down? I'm going 35 Grace." He frowns looking at the speedometer before looking to her. "I know. I'm sorry. Please just slow down." She whispers reaching for the heat. "You feeling ok?" He questions placing a hand on her thigh. "I don't think dinner is sitting well." She whispers cheeks flushing red in embarrassment. The two were on their way back home, after enjoying their six month anniversary. She felt fine before her meal, now she was feeling progressively worse. "Do you need me to stop?" Rafe says immediately slowing down. "Yeah. Pull over." She whispers swallowing down the sick rising in her throat. Goosebumps were lining her arms, a thin layer of sweat coating her freezing body. The truck wasn't even in park before she jumped out throwing up all over the pavement. Rafe hesitated for a moment, wincing at the horrible sounds of vomit splattering on the pavement. He followed behind her, resting a hand on her back as she tried to breathe after leaving her dinner on the side of the road. "Are you ok?" He offers hesitantly. "Mhm." She whimpers trying her hardest not to cry. "It's alright. Come here." Rafe sighs pulling her into his chest and kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry." She mumbles into his chest. "Shh. It's ok. Don't be sorry. Just take a minute and catch your breath. When you're feeling better we will get you home. How's that sound?" He soothes rubbing her back. She nods and then after a few minutes pulls away from him, ready to be home and in bed. "Woah easy there." Rafe frowns as she sways, dizziness temporarily taking over. He helps her into the truck, stepping over the puddle of her regurgitated dinner. He even buckles her in, handing her his water bottle. "Let me know if you need me to stop again baby. We are almost there." He soothes pressing a kiss to her feverish forehead. Gracie nods leaning her head against the window, the cool glass helping to ease the pounding in her head. She couldn't remember a time she felt so sick, not even when she got strep and the flu at the same time. Rafe turned the heat on, trying to make her at least a little more comfortable. He felt horribly guilty, he had picked the nicest restaurant in town for their anniversary and it had made her sick. He would do anything to trade places. The look of misery on her face was enough to send a jab at his heart.
As he pulled up to the chateau he took a second debating whether to go in or not. Gracie was sleeping he would have to help her inside, he also didn't want to just leave her. On the other hand, Maybanks bike was out front. "Hey wake up baby." He sighs opening the passenger door and placing a hand on her thigh. She groans slowly waking up and grabbing his shoulders to help her out of the car. "I got you." He chuckles wrapping an arm around her waist and guiding her to the house. The front door was locked so he knocked praying they could keep things civil. "What the fuck happened to you?" John B frowns at his sisters awful appearance. "And what are you doing here?" He says glaring at Rafe, JJ right beside him. "She's not-" He starts before Grace pulls away from him, shoving her brother out of the way to get the bathroom. "Feeling well..." He finished as the sounds of sick echoed through the small home. John B immediately abandoned his post at the door going to his sisters aid. "You alright in there?" He questions. "Great." She chokes out, clearly crying. "I'll grab you some water." John B muttered walking toward the kitchen. Rafe goes to walk inside but JJ puts his hand out. "What do you think you're doing?" He frowns. "I'm going to check on my girlfriend." Rafe forces out as nicely as possible. "John B is here, she is fine." JJ says not moving out of the doorway. "Listen Maybank, it's our anniversary and she is spending it sick to her stomach. The only reason I am even asking you is because I promised her no fighting. Now can I please go make sure she's alright?" Rafe says gritting his teeth. JJ stepped out of the way and John B handed her a water bottle. "Here give this to her." Rafe nods and knocks on the bathroom door. "Can I come baby?" He whispers cautious of her headache. "It's unlocked." She mumbles. "How you feeling baby?" He sighed softly kneeling beside her. "I'm sorry." She whimpered looking up from her spot where she was crouched in front of the toilet. Her face was pale, the make up she spent hours perfecting smeared. Her new dress spotted with vomit, yet Rafe didn't love her any less. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault." He soothed running his fingers through her matted hair. "I'm ruining our anniversary." She cried leaning into his hug. "It's not ruined. We can do dinner again another night. For tonight, why don't we just get you cleaned up and into bed. How's that sound?" He offers wiping a few tears off her face. "Good." She whispers.
Rafe grabbed a washcloth wiping her face and hands and then handing her a toothbrush. "Have I told you how much I loved you?" She whispers as he helps her up. Rafe smiles and kisses the top of her head. "I love you too baby." He walks her to her room and he helps her into sweatpants and a tshirt. John B had placed a bucket and some Tylenol beside her bed. "Rafe?" She whispers grabbing his hand as he goes to walk away. "What's up?" He frowned kneeling beside the bed. "Can you please stay? Just until I fall asleep?" She whispers cheeks flushing red. "Yeah of course. I was just going to grab my phone from the truck." He smiles pressing a small kiss to her lips. As he walks out he feels both boys eyes boring into him, it wasn't until he was on his way back they spoke to him though. "Rafe." John B called out. "Yeah?" Rafe questions biting his cheek. "Is she alright?" He asked waking closer to him. "Yeah. I think so, it's just a bad case of food poisoning." He explains. "Are you staying with her?" He questions seeing the duffel bag in his hands. "Yeah she wanted me to." Rafe quickly defends. "Thanks man. She really appreciates it." John B said surprising him. "She deserves it." Rafe whispers before going to her room. "Everything ok?" Gracie frowns. "Yeah why?" Rafe smiles sitting beside her. "I heard you and my brother talking. What was that about?" She yawns snuggling into his chest. "He just wanted to make sure you were ok." Rafe says wrapping his arms around her. "Oh ok." She says yawning again. "Why don't you close your eyes baby." Rafe chuckles. "That's a good idea. You'll be here when I wake up?" She slurs rubbing her eyes. "Of course." Rafe smiles. "Hm good night." She mutters closing her eyes exhausted. "Good night."
"Hey Rafe?" Grace mumbled half asleep a few minutes later. "What's up?" Rafe questions surprised she wasn't passed out. "Happy anniversary."
