Chapter 20
Charles was in the zone. It was Tuesday of Thanksgiving Week and he'd been uploading one to two small videos every day. He'd planned everything out ahead of time and was ruthless with his schedule. Today he was making roast pork butt in plenty of time to upload the video for people who wanted his method for their holiday meal.
He'd just finished carving the roast and turning the camera off when he noticed a missed call on his phone. He frowned at the sight, everyone knew how busy he was this week, if someone was calling it must be an emergency.
His heart leapt to his throat at the thought of something happening to Nina. She'd been so understanding of his busy work schedule and had given him a hug and two kisses for luck the last time he'd seen her.
He grabbed his phone and saw that the call had come from Erik just minutes before, he went to hit redial when the phone started buzzing in his hand. Erik again.
He answered frantically, "Hello?"
"Charles?" Erik sounded desperately relieved to hear his voice.
"Yes? Are you alright? Is everything alright?"
He sighed heavily, "No, I'm so sorry to bother you. If I had any other option I wouldn't have called but...Nina is sick." His voice broke at the end of the sentence and he took a deep, shuddering breath. "Mrs. Perry called and she needs to be picked up immediately, apparently she vomited and has a low fever. I would go but I'm full up on meetings today. The only thing I could cancel is my meeting with Mrs. Munroe and she has-"
"Erik? Darling, relax. I'm on my way," he said as calmly as possible as he grabbed his keys and pulled on his coat. "I just need you to tell me what to do once I pick her up."
~~
"Charles," Nina whimpered and crawled into his arms, pressing her face against his neck and snuffling thickly.
The nurse gave him a sympathetic smile and handed him the sign out sheet and a pen. "You feel better now, dear," she said warmly.
"Thank you Mrs. Peterson," Nina said sadly, clinging to Charles like a life line.
"Okay sweetheart, we're gonna go home and get you cleaned up okay?" he said softly, holding her tight.
She nodded weakly and stayed quiet while he took her to the car and buckled her in. She was asleep within moments of him starting the car and stayed that way until he was carrying her into the house.
"Charles?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
She didn't answer. He supposed she was just checking.
He let them into the house and looked around. It was always odd to be here without Erik, but he tried to seem relaxed so Nina wouldn't feel off.
He set her down on the couch and let her curl against his side while he took out the list Erik had given him for her care. "Do you need help changing into your jammies?" he asked after a moment.
She nodded and blinked at him through red rimmed eyes. He scooped her up bridal style and carried her up the stairs before letting her pick out a pair of pink striped footie pajamas. He helped her into them before taking her to wash her face and rinse her mouth out, before getting her a cup of watered down apple juice.
By this point she was already flagging but reluctantly admitted that her stomach still hurt and letting Charles coax her into eating five unsalted crackers.
He glanced at the time and texted Erik an update as she slowly made her way through her snack. No answer. He wondered if his boyfriend was in open court.
"Charles?"
"Yes, sweetie?" he knelt at her side and took pushed her hair back with one hand, she felt warm to the touch. His anxiety spiked though he tried to hide it.
"My head hurts," she whimpered.
"Okay, time for some medicine," he said calmly though he was panicking inside. She pouted but didn't disagree.
He took her back upstairs and settled her into bed before reading the medicine directions front and back twice before measuring a dose.
She watched him with a slight frown, clutching a stuffed pony in front of her like a shield. He forced a smile, "Ready?" he certainly wasn't.
He carefully helped her drink it without spilling. She gagged at the taste. He couldn't blame her- it smelled awful. "Great job, dear. Do you want to try and get some sleep?" he cajoled softly.
"I want my papa!" She cried, blue eyes filling with tears that broke his heart.
"He'll be home just as soon as he can, okay?" he tucked her in tightly and gently wiped her tears with a tissue.
"Okay," she sniffled.
"Do you want me to read you a book?"
"Yes," she pouted, clutching her pony sadly.
Thus began the most emotionally exhausting hours of Charles' life to date. He read her two stories-very slowly so she could ruminate over each picture.
Then got her more juice.
Then water.
Then she needed the bathroom.
She finally fell asleep, but he'd only been downstairs for about twenty minutes when "Charles?!"
He ran up the stairs to find her crying with a puddle of vomit next to the bed and on part of her comforter.
So he helped her change and wash up again before settling her on the couch with a bowl in case of further accidents. Then he started load of her laundry before stains could set. He was scrubbing the carpet in her bedroom when, "Charles?!"
He ran to the top of the stairs to see her looking up at him, nose running down to her chin, eyes brimming with tears. The sight both disgusted him and tugged at his heart strings.
"Yes, honey?"
"I don't feel good," she said meaningfully.
"I know," he agreed, not sure what she was getting at. If anyone knew that, it was him. He cleaned her face, settled her back on the couch and sat with her until she fell asleep again.
This time she slept for a long while and he checked in on her periodically as he switched the clothes to the dryer, finished cleaning the carpet, and remade her bed.
Erik finally got back to him, telling him where to find fresh linens, reminding him to check her temperature again, and of course thanking him profusely.
~No problem~ Charles texted back wearily. He'd never expected caring for a child to be this demanding. No wonder Erik had been run so ragged when they first met. It was nice to think they were a team now since clearly Nina still had them outnumbered.
He checked on her before running home and grabbing a container of frozen chicken noodle soup from his freezer and rushing back to warm it for her when she woke up. Thankfully she slept through his absence and only woke when the scent of stew filled the house.
"Papa?" she called weakly. Charles glanced at the time; still hours to go before Erik was due home.
He rushed into the room so she wouldn't feel alone, "Hi honey, your papa will be home soon," he promised.
She sniffed at him distrustfully, "you said that before."
"It's still true," he assured her gently as he tucked the thermometer into her mouth, relieved to see that her temperature was coming down.
It wasn't time for more medicine, but she agreed to try some soup with crackers. Charles made up a tray and set her up with her meal on the couch.
He noticed she ate more when he sat with her and talked so that's what he did, filling her in on the videos he'd made since he'd last seen her.
Then they watched a few of them on his phone and he read her the comments. After which, she drank some watered down orange juice and took another dose of medicine with great reluctance.
"Will you read to me?" she clutched his hand as he went to leave the room- she didn't want to sleep in her bed, she wanted to be near him.
"Okay sweetie, I'll grab a book," he kissed her forehead and rushed upstairs yet again, wondering how she could still run rings around him even when she was ill.
~~
Erik let himself into the house at half past five. He'd rushed through his last plea deal and managed to shave 20 minutes off his day.
He was inordinately relieved to see the house still standing. Charles' day had sounded impossibly chaotic through their text conversation. He had no idea how he was going thank his boyfriend for doing all this.
He entered quietly; worried that Nina might be sleeping. He had to stifle a laugh as he reached the entrance to the living room only to see Charles sitting in the recliner with Nina draped over him like a blanket.
His face was a picture of discomfort, likely because she was a feverish, sticky mess, breathing her puke breath on his face and neck while drooling all over his shoulder.
Erik knew the feeling all too well. That didn't stop him from taking a picture of the moment for posterity.
Charles opened tired eyes that lit up at the sight of him.
Erik! he mouthed silently, relieved that the cavalry had arrived.
He grinned, happy to be home.
~~
"Thank you so much," Erik said for the umpteenth time as he pulled Charles close.
He'd rushed home edit and post his video while Erik helped Nina take a bath and listen to her recount her day. She'd finally been tucked in with a half dose of medicine since her fever was nearly gone and she was sleepy enough to fall asleep after only two more stories.
"Hey, I knew what I was getting into," he yawned and snuggled against his boyfriend's chest.
"Did you really?" Erik asked, skeptically.
"Okay, no. But I don't regret it," he said softly.
"You're amazing," Erik pressed a kiss to his smiling, red mouth.
"So what now? She goes back to class tomorrow?" Charles asked, worried that she wouldn't feel well enough for all that.
Erik grimaced, "No. Not until she's been fever free for 24 hours and vomit free for 12."
"So do you need me to sit with her again tomorrow?" he asked immediately.
Erik was floored, "You would do that?"
He laughed, "If you need me to. I have some pies to assemble but if I wake up early enough I should be able to get those out of the way before you head to work."
"I truly love you," Erik said, voice deep with emotion. He couldn't imagine another man who would do so much for him. For them. That in mind, "We didn't have time earlier, but I need to ask you about Ororo's idea," he began seriously.
Charles opened his mouth to reply when. "Papa?"
They turned as one to see Nina standing in the doorway of the bedroom rubbing her eyes with one hand and clutching her pony with the other.
"Hey little bit, are you okay?" Erik sat up, concerned.
"I had a bad dream," she mumbled, stumbling forwards half asleep. Erik wasn't surprised, fevers tended to give her nightmares.
Charles wanted to ask if he should leave but she came to his side of the bed and climbed up next to him without comment.
He lifted her over him and watched as Erik tucked her close to his chest and murmured to her softly until she closed her eyes "Charles?" she asked, sleepily.
"I'm right here, sweetie," he whispered, laying back down and smoothing his hand up and down her back until she drifted off. Thankfully drooling on Erik this time.
He closed his eyes on the heartwarming sight and felt Erik's hand in his hair as he slowly fell asleep. His last thought was to wonder what Erik had been about to tell him about the lawyers new plan.