TNN ONESHOTS

Hiding it - AMR & CV

Charlotte walked through the door, a sigh escaping her lips as the warm air of the house hit her. The clatter of plates from the kitchen told her exactly where she needed to be. "Baby, I'm so cold," she mumbled, placing a chilled hand on her girlfriend's back. The older woman yelped, jumping at the sudden cold.

"Oh, you poor thing," Mia cooed, turning to face her girlfriend with a concerned look. "You're absolutely freezing! Come here, let me warm you up." Mia pulled Char into a tight hug, her own warmth seeping into Char's chilled body. Charlotte buried her face in her girlfriend's neck, breathing in the familiar scent.

"I had to run some errands," Charlotte explained, her voice muffled. "The wind was brutal out there. I swear my fingers are still numb." She shivered, despite being in Mia's embrace.

She rubbed Charlotte's back soothingly. "Well, you're safe and warm now. I was just about to make some tea. How does that sound?" Char nodded against Mia's skin, a small smile finally gracing her lips. The warmth of her body and the promise of hot tea were exactly what she needed.

As she turned towards the kettle, Char noticed a faint tremor in her hands as she reached for the mugs. A slight flush had crept onto Mia's cheeks, and her movements seemed a touch more sluggish than normal. Charlotte frowned, a flicker of worry crossing her face. "Are you sure you're okay, Baby? You seem a bit... off."

Mia forced a bright smile over her shoulder. "Me? I'm fine! Just a bit of a tickle in my throat, that's all. Probably from the cold air outside." She busied herself with the tea bags, her back to Char, hoping her girlfriend wouldn't notice the subtle signs of her discomfort.

She didn't want Char to worry, not when she'd just come in from the cold. Charlotte watched Mia's back, her brow furrowed. The quick, forced cheerfulness, the slight tremor, the way she'd brushed off the cough – it all felt a little too practiced. "You sure?" Charlotte asked again, her voice soft but persistent. "You've been a bit quiet all day, and now you're coughing. Are you feeling alright?"

Mis turned back, holding two steaming mugs of tea. She offered a wobbly smile, trying to project an image of perfect health. "Honestly, sweetheart, I'm fine. Just a bit tired, that's all. This tea will perk me right up." She handed her a mug, their fingers brushing, Charlotte felt a surprising warmth radiating from them, not the healthy kind.

As they sat down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Mia kept taking small, almost imperceptible sips of her tea, and her eyes seemed a little glassy. Every now and then, a faint shiver would run through her, which she'd quickly try to mask with a laugh or a change of topic. Char knew Mia well enough to know when she was hiding something, and this felt like one of those times.

Charlotte took a slow sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving Mia. "You know," she began, her voice gentle, "you don't have to pretend with me. If you're not feeling well, you should just say so." She reached out and gently placed her hand on Mia’s forehead. It was noticeably warm. "You're burning up. You've definitely caught something."

She flinched slightly at the touch, then tried to pull away, but Charlotte's grip was firm. "It's nothing, sweetheart, really," Mia insisted, her voice weak. "Just a little... under the weather. I didn't want you to worry." She coughed again, a dry, hacking sound this time, and quickly turned her head away. "I'll be fine after some rest."

Char's expression softened with concern. "Rest is exactly what you need," she said, her tone firm but caring. "Come on, let's get you to bed. I'll make you some soup and bring you some medicine. You're not going to be fine if you try to push through this." She stood up, gently pulling Mia with her, her resolve to care for her girlfriend overriding any of her girlfriend's protests.