Through Sickness and Health (Josh/Open)

[Eve Mallory]

(OOC: I had to...I like their threads so much, they make me smile)

Eve slept through the night the second time she fell asleep and woke with her stomach growling something fierce the next morning. She could feel her stomach clawing at her to wake up and yet her eyes stayed shut.

She was surprised, she hadn't been sleeping well lately because she decided to stop sleeping with Josh. Feeling rather proud that she had been able to sleep the entire night through she almost smiled, until she breathed in and was able to recognize the smell of the bed she was laying on. There was also the factor that she was lying on a much more comfortable bed than her own. Suddenly the memory of the day before was crashing down on her. All the things she had said...and yet didn't say. And all the things she wanted to hear...but didn't hear. But she wasn't angry, far from it. Maybe a little disappointed in herself, but she had slept the entire night in Josh's arms...how could she be angry? And if it already didn't matter whether or not she stopped sleeping with him (since she was already far too attached) then continuing to be with him wasn't going to hurt her anymore when things had to change...and she knew they would have to change.

Sighing she rolled over with a slight moan. Her stomach had been sick the past few days so she hadn't eaten much before, and then she was sleeping through all the meals of yesterday. Sleeping...with Josh. In a new and strange and...warm position that also made her stomach uneasy yet...the rest of her feel very nice.

She couldn't yet tell if he had stayed with her the entire night because she hadn't opened her eyes...and she knew Lance must have come in at some point last night, she wondered if she opened her eyes either of them would be there. If she reached out...would Josh still be there? She decided to test it and gingerly, without opening her eyes reached for "his side" of the bed to see if he was still there.

[Josh Jordan]

Some how during the night, Josh managed to stay in one place. He didn't move from the position he first fell asleep in while he watched Eve sleep. During the night, she ended up moving away from him, but he didn't realize it. His dream made him feel all warm inside. He dreamed that he and Eve were going to be together for a good while and they were going to get married. Eve had come out of her shell a little and she had grown up into the most beautiful woman Josh had ever seen, not that she wasn't already the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

He felt her stirring on the other side of the bed and he slowly woke up. Josh watched her for a moment with a smile on his face. He propped his head up on his hand as he looked down at her. Noticing her hand moving behind her, probably in search of him, he reached out with is other hand and grabbed it gently. "I'm still here Eva. I promised you I would be."

[Eve Mallory]

It was a large comfort to feel his hand in hers and semi-unconsciously she rolled curling herself back into him. She had moved away the night before because she had been hot, ridiculously hot, now as she curled back she was still hot, not just hot, but she had a fever again.

She felt drowsy, hungry, and her body and head ached, but she was in heaven. Heaven to her was someone she loved holding her hand it was someone she loved protecting her with his arms wrapped around her and caring about her when she did stupid things.

Yes she had her reasons for avoiding Josh but they had been stupid, she couldn't sleep without him. Dependence be damned, she'd deal with that crossroad when it came to her.

"Mmm...hot.." she complained slightly.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh frowned whenever Eve complained. "I'm going to get you some soup, alright? It won't take me but just a second to get to the kitchen, and then back up here. You won't be alone for too long. I believe Lance went on to class, but I'm not letting you leave." He kissed her forehead to check for a temperture, and her head was hot.

"After you drink your soup, I'll put a rag on your head to help bring that fever down." He brushed locks of hair away from her face. "Do you think you'll be alright for five minutes tops?"

[Eve Mallory]

She shook her head but her head too was one of the things that were killing her, "You can't miss class..." she complained, she couldn't miss class but even if she did miss class she shouldn't drag Josh with her just because she was sick. It was her own fault for being sick. Though after hearing his words and what he was offering her she had to admit that it sounded wonderful. Still not at the expense of his absences.

"I'll be okay."

[Josh Jordan]

"Yes, I can miss class," he said stubbornly. "I'm not going to let you suffer alone while someone could help you get better. But I'll be right back." Josh slid out of bed and through on a t-shirt. During the night, he had gotten up and changed into just his pajama bottoms because he had gotten hot. He slid on a pair of shoes and looked back to Eve. Josh gave her a playful grin before disappearing out of the room.

He traveled down the halls, which were quiet considering mostly everyone was in class. Josh hurried before anyone would leave class and see him. Slipping into the kitchen, he told the house elf that he needed chicken broth. The house elf scurried around getting him what he needed. After waiting patiently, he thanked the elf, who had also given him pumpkin juice. Josh made his way back from the kitchens swiftly yet careful not to spill anything.

He looked into his room and set both things on the nightstand beside his bed. "Eva," Josh said quietly. "I'm going to need you to sit up." He went over to where he tossed the extra pillow off his bed and put it behind her as she set up so she could be comfortable.

[Eve Mallory]

Eve was too tired to argue and too sick to really complain although she wanted him in class yes, she loved that he'd take care of her too. Besides it hurt too much to speak so she let him go get her soup and tried to just settle while he was gone.

He was back quickly and she had to smile, her throat was sore and scratchy and she decided not to use it hoping it would get better, but the joy was on her face that she was happy to see him. Even if it was hindered a bit by the dopy expression of sickness.

She did as he asked sitting up and watching him as he put the pillow behind her, watching him move period and then she eyed what he had gotten for her, and she ddi a pretty darn good job of not crying when she was overwhelmed by his caring. Not that she wouldn't have done the same for him, she just, wasn't used to being sick, or so silly.

[Josh Jordan]

Once he was satisfied with Eve sitting up, he slowly handed her the bowl. From the time he walked from the kitchens back to his room, the broth had enough time to cool. "It's chicken broth," he said. "It doesn't have that strong of a taste to it, and it shouldn't be too hot either."

Josh sat on the side of the bed, next to her. "After you finish that, the house elves also sent up pumpkin juice if you think you're ready for some."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve nodded and took the bowl from him, her limbs felt heavy but she didn't complain. Spooning down the hot liquid she was starving for she began to feel better. When she was finished with the soup she gave him a wide grin and nodded for pumpkin juice. She was even hotter now than she was before but not in fever, just because the soup had been warm.

She hated to admit how nice it was Josh taking care of her like this, she hated to admit that she'd always want this kind of treatment from him.

[Josh Jordan]

He couldn't help but chuckle at her grin. She was getting back to the Eve he knew so well. "Take your time. Don't drink too fast. I wouldn't want you to get sick or anything," he said when he took her bowl. He replaced the bowl in her hand with the glass of pumpkin juice.

"Now, once you drink that, you're going to lay back down and I'm going to put a rag on your head to help your fever break." Josh eyed a wash cloth on his dresser. "Hold on while I go wet a wash cloth. I'll be back in a moment. In the mean time, you drink that juice. Think you can do that?"

[Eve Mallory]

She gave him a look as if to say she already was sick and found his care for her heartwarming yet amusing. She nodded again and started on her pumpkin juice while watching him do things for her. She was quickly getting over her hesitance to let him help and instead relaxed while he went about doing what he was doing.

She sipped slowly her mind otherwise occupied by him.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh disappeared from the room and wet the wash cloth. He squeezed the cloth out, getting rid of excess water. He folded it and then he walked back to his room. Josh smiled at Eve as he walked in again and took the empty glass from her. "Now, I'm going to have you lay back down." He waited until she leaned up until he removed the extra pillow.

Josh gently put the cloth on her forehead. "All you have to do is rest now. If there's anything I can get for you, let me know. I'll still be right here."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve listened and obeyed every order and then he asked her what else he could do and she bit her lip, "I'll get you sick." she said and regretted speaking almost immediately as her voice was already sore. Her eyes pleaded with him to stay healthy and yet she didn't really want him to leave but she couldn't think of a reason for asking him to stay.

[Josh Jordan]

"Don't worry about that," he said. "I'll be alright. Someone's got to take care of you." Josh gave her a soft smile. He didn't get sick that easily, which he was greatful for. "And don't look at me like that. I'm going to be staying here no matter what you try to tell me." He smoothed out the cloth on her forehead and then he leaned down to kiss her cheek. Josh did not mind that he was missing class because he was doing something far better.

[Eve Mallory]

It was probably true, he had after all stayed the night with her when she was sick sleeping in the same bed, she didn't want to get him sick. She hoped that she didn't.

He was determined and she had no energy to argue so she nodded.

When he smoothed out the cloth she closed her eyes. She had turned her head at that precise moment so that when he kissed her his lips fell more towards the corner of her mouth than her cheek. Maybe it was the fever but she could distinctly feel the heat rising to her face at that moment.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh was not expecting Eve to turn her head at all. His lips caught the corner of her mouth, and Josh felt his body go warm, all the way to his toes. His ears turned a brighter red than they had ever turned. He was pretty sure that Eve noticed this, because for once, his face turned red as well.

"Rest well Eva," he said giving her another gentle smile. Josh crossed the bed and then laid down beside her, carefully getting under the covers. He would stay in bed all day with her, and he figured that she wouldn't have a problem with it.

[Eve Mallory]

Okay...yeah...sure, they didn't have to discuss that almost kiss, or the one in Hogsmeade or any of the other kisses that they were sharing, they didn't have to discuss their sleeping arrangements or the blushing which told her that he was aware that they had almost kissed, but no. They didn't have to discuss any of this.

Why couldn't they discuss it? Why couldn't she ask him about Hogsmeade or why he had blushed or why her heart thumped wildly whenever he came close to her? She had all these questions she wanted to ask, she needed to know the answer to, but she stayed silent. Digging for the truth would probably end whatever sweet disillusionment she had and she wasn't yet willing to do that.

She opened her mouth to tell him that he didn't have to sleep with her, and that he probably wasn't tired, but the truth was her throat was still sore and he would just tell her to shush, but the biggest reason of all was that she was secretly happy to sleep with him again.