A Heart Between Us

Chapter 5: You Sure?

A Heart Between Us

Chapter 5

You sure?

Cole slowly opened his eyes and looked around the burgundy colored room. He was warm and cold at the same time. His vision was slightly blurry and his head was pounding. He spotted a familiar tuffet of red hair under a thick blanket. Her mouth was slightly opened as she panted. Zane sat on the other side of the futon, putting a cloth onto her forehead. Her cheeks were a rosy color probably from the fever she undoubtedly had. Cole let slip a soft cough that hurt a bit more than he wanted.

Zane crawled over to him. His cold fingers rested on his forehead. Cole tried to speak to Zane, but felt too weak to do so. He looked up at his love apologetically. Zane leaned down and kissed his forehead before looking up at Kairi who was on his other side. One arm resting on the pillow just under her chin, and the other resting gently on his chest. Her forehead against his arm.

"You both look lovely sleeping like that." Zane said to Cole. Cole just looked down at her. Zane's hand gently rested against her tiny forehead. She gasped at the cold fingers against her head. She turned her head and opened her eyes a little. They were sunk in, and she shivered from the movement. She was really weak. Cole turned over wrapping his arms around her curling in a bit more. Kairi looked up at Cole, but lacked the ability to move much more than that.

"Shhhh Kairi, you're safe there. Cole won't let anything happen to you." Zane chuckled and disappeared for a little while. Coming back about an hour later with soup in his hands. Cole sat up pulling Kairi up too.

"Lets try to eat some, huh?" He put a blanket around Kairi's shoulders. Zane put a small tray in front of her. She looked so wobbly.

Zane sat down, picking up the chopsticks, and pulled out the small bite sized dumplings. He blew on it and held it out for Kairi who took a bite and gasped. The look on her face was all Zane needed to know that it was to her liking.

"Its good...and so small." She said through a raspy throat. She tried to clear her throat.

Cole held up a cup of honey lemon tea to her. She sipped it gently before smiling. These were so many flavors that she's never been allowed to try in two days than she's ever tried in her whole life. She took another bite of the dumpling. It tasted like heaven. She leaned back after a few bites and sighed.

"She doesn't eat much though." Zane said trying to get her to eat more.

"She didn't eat everything during dinner the other night either." Cole croaked out. His voice sounded horrible. Kairi sipped the broth a little before curling back up promptly falling right back to sleep.

"Perhaps her belly just cannot accommodate such a helping?" Zane looked down at the now sleeping child. She made a soft squeak and her body jumped.

"Even her with hiccups is adorable." Cole chuckled and picked up her soup downing the rest. " No use wasting it then? He put the bowl on top of his empty one. Zane took the bowls and left the tea.

"Get some rest Cole. Let the medication set in." Zane closed the door. He curled back up around his new daughter and closed his eyes.

A few hours later Cole felt Kairi wasn't beside him anymore. He shot up and looked around the room. She couldn't have gone far could she? He jumped up out of bed and swooned. Falling to his knees and cupped his hands over his mouth. He grabbed the waste bin and threw up into it. He heard the door open and heard a gasp. He slowly looked up to see Kairi walk out of the bathroom before running from the room.

"Dad!" She called.

Kairi ran down the hallway calling for Zane. Looking from room to room. Zane walked out of the commons room and took her into his arms.

"Pop's throwing up." She panted, putting her own head on his shoulder. Zane's pace quickened as he ran down the hallway. He found Cole on the floor panting. He set Kairi down on the floor and motioned for her to get back into bed. Zane leaned down pulling the Earth elemental's arm over his shoulder to help him get up.

"Sorry Tincan, but I had to..." Cole climbed back into bed and Zane held something to his lips. He took a drink and cringed.

"All of it Cole..."

"It tastes like old wet socks." Cole mumbled as he took a drink again.

"And you know how old wet socks taste?" Zane asked with a smile, winking at Kairi who just smiled at the joke.

"Have you tasted my cooking?"

"Ah...yes..." Zane cleared his throat and walked around to Kairi. "Yours too."

Kairi shook her head not wanting to drink it. Zane took some honey and swirled it around into the mix and handed it back to her.

"Try it this way."

"Hey why didn't I get honey with mine?" Cole pouted to Zane. Zane just smiled at him. "Oh you jerk...I know where you sleep." Cole said.

"Yes, you do." Zane took the cup from Kairi. Cole blushed, watching Zane leave the room.

"I will jump out of the bed. You know that right?" Cole pointed at Zane.

"And how did that work out for you the last time?" Zane asked

"Shut up." Cole pouted again

"Good night Kairi. Sweet dreams." He blew her a kiss taking the bin out with him.

"How did you two...?" Kairi asked. Cole chuckled and lay back on the bed looking up at the ceiling.

"Oh lots of little things. I'll name them off to you when he does them. That way you can see what just happened. Playful banter. We've been doing that since day one." He yawned feeling Kairi put her head on his arm and close her eyes. Cole sighed and nodded.

"Night squirt."

"Good night, Pops."