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Charlotte can’t take care of everyone sometimes, and that’s okay. Cordelia is fine to sit patiently as her partner coughs and sniffs, with a bowl of soup in her lap and a cold cloth to keep the fever down.
However, today is hard for both of them. Charlotte can handle vomiting, she’s sees it everyday at the hospital, but Cordelia can’t. Vomit means food poisoning, that she did something wrong, and she always feels guilty like a Pavlovian response. When Charlotte wakes up and feels the nausea creep up on her, she shrugs it off and gets into her doctor’s coat. But, her stomach lurches, and she runs to the toilet to puke.
She must’ve caught a bug at work. Whatever, not a big deal, she’ll call out. Only problem is: she needs to hide it. She can take care of it herself after all. She’s always had herself, and can survive one sick day.
In hindsight, she could never hide anything from Cordelia for too long.
“Baby…look what’s become of my doctor!” Cordelia pours a glass of liquid medicine for her, wrapping Charlotte in thick blankets and keeping a bucket by her side for when she gets sick. “Don’t hide it from me, hon, okay? I’ll always be by your side, Mummy.”
Charlotte rolls her eyes, coughing while Cordelia wipes her clammy forehead. “I didn’t want you to think you gave me food poisoning or somethin’ like that…” She coughs again, and Delia makes sure she’s as snug as a bug in a rug.
“Rest, hon. I’ll make you some yummy soup when your stomach feels better? If you think you can keep food down.”
Charlotte chuckles weakly. She’s so hot yet can’t stop trembling.
Cordelia places an empty bowl on Charlottes lap. “I’ll go clean the bucket out, okay? Love you.” Cordelia kisses her, wipes her moist hair back, and rubs her tummy before leaving the room. The door is still open, Charlotte watches her in the kitchen, humming a song to herself.
She leans back on the pillows, and lets herself be taken care of, thanking God or fate or herself for finding someone as great as Cordelia.