"Ugh, it's so un-fucking-believably cold outside," The blonde kicked her boots off somewhere near the threshold and took her jacket off, also throwing it wherever it had the chance of landing. She was wearing a long sleeve beneath the fluffy jacket and leg warmers beneath her jeans, which she was a bit more responsible with, and threw them into the hamper.

Samus gave a deep grunt and stifled a sneeze. The tip of her nose was a bright red and her cheeks were burning hot. She was definitely coming down with something.
Zelda, having heard the approach of her lover, embraced the blonde's side and mashed their cheeks together affectionately.

"You need not worry, I will warm you up." The princess smiled tenderly and brought the thick blanket from around her shoulders to drape around the blonde and herself.
Samus sneezed into the crook of her arm and gently pushed the brunette away, she sneezed once more and groaned.

"You really shouldn't be near me, you could get sick yourself," she said in heavily congested voice.

Zelda pouted. "

But I want my cuddles. You owe me cuddles."

Samus sighed. "But I'm exhausted, I need to get some rest." She trudged to their bed and promptly dropped onto Zelda's side of the bed and inhaled deeply.
It smelled so fresh and clean... and of Zelda's essence of course.

"Then I'll cuddle you from behind," Zelda came to slowly, but surely sink into the other side and wrapped her arms around the huntress' waist, tugging her impossibly closer.

Samus gave a lazy chuckle. "You want to be the big spoon?"
Zelda sighed happily. "I prefer to call it a ladle." She tucked her nose into the blonde hair and after moving the blonde locks aside, she kissed her neck, slowly descending and lingering for longer periods.

"Don't start something," Samus murmured, eyes fluttering as she attempted to stay awake.

"I won't," Zelda promised with a giggle. She gave a peck to the huntress' cheek. "Go to sleep, honey."
Samus gave a slight snore in response.

LINEBREAK

"Poor Sammy, you're burning up!" Zelda shout-whispered and placed a freshly wet towel onto the blonde's forehead, replacing the now warm one in the process.

Samus continued to sleep, breathing heavily along with the occasional snore.
Zelda trailed her hand from Samus' hip to her stomach in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. Samus twitched slightly and a small smile tugged at her lips.

"She's ticklish," Zelda realized. She giggled. That'd be useful later on.
Samus blinked tiredly and furrowed her eyebrows. Zelda's giggles had woken her up. Her eyes narrowed and rose to look at the small towel on her forehead.

Zelda smiled, but did not laugh at the huntress' cute behavior as that would surely cause her blush to worsen, and an increase in her already hot temperature would certainly not be healthy.
"Hello, sunshine." The royal murmured, playing with a loose blond strand. Zelda pursed her lips and removed the towel. "You're burning hot."

"I'm sexy as hell," Samus mumbled clumsily, still groggy and unbelievably tired.

Zelda laughed. "I meant temperature wise, but yes, you are quite beautiful." She leaned in to kiss the blonde, but was halted by a firm hand.

"Don't, you're going to get sick, " She practically moaned as her throat was now sore.
Zelda found it incredibly sweet that the blonde was concerned for her well-being. "Just one?"
Samus stubbornly stood her ground. "No."

"Please?"

Samus gave an exaggerated huff and immediately regretted it as she gave a harsh cough.
"You're so goddamn stubborn," She whispered weakly once her coughs subsided.

Zelda reached for the towel and thoroughly soaked it. She wrung the excess water and then placed it onto Samus' forehead once more. "I learned from the best," She replied conversationally.

Samus grinned. "I taught you well."

Zelda gave a playful smile and rose from her seat with an, 'I will return soon' and brought with her a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Samus' mouth watered, she could almost feel the wonderful sensation of tender chicken breast meat and the warm liquid that would journey down her throat, soothing it in the process,and how delightful it would be when it pooled in her achingly empty stomach.

Samus eagerly dug in and was pleasantly surprised that Zelda didn't remind her to slow down. She savored the warmth and moaned softly as it gently disintegrated in her mouth.
Zelda didn't remind the blonde to slow down simply because she was glad that Samus still had an appetite.

Once finished, Samus belched and pat her flat stomach, satiated.
The brunette set the bowl onto the small desk next to Samus' bed.
She held a bottle of medicine and gingerly poured a generous amount onto the spoon.
Samus felt a cold chill travel across her spine.

"What is that?" She asked, unusually calm.

"Cough syrup," Zelda replied, closing the bottle tightly and then sitting next to the blonde.
Samus gave her a strange look and inched away.

"I don't drink cough syrup."

"But you have to... you are ill." Zelda was baffled.

Did the blonde consume some other kind of medicine?

"I don't like it," Samus grumbled.

"Oh," Zelda thought. "Well, in that case..."

"Here," the princess handed the blond the spoonful and gave a patient smile. "I'm going to face away for the sake of privacy, and then I'm going to count to ten, by then the spoon should be empty."

Zelda spun and looked directly at the wall in front of her. "One."

"Zelda, what are you doing?"

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Two."

"Ha! You know this is actually pretty funny," Samus gave a nervous chuckle.

"Three."

Samus waited for the princess to spin around, admit it was a joke, and to tell her that her intention was to lift her spirits.

"Four."

Samus gave a difficult swallow. "You're... serious?"

"Five."

Samus stared at the spoon. She took a tentative sniff, face instantly contorting in displeasure. She groaned."Ugh, it smells horrible..."

"Six."

"Zelda..."

"Seven."

She stuck her tongue out and brought the spoon to her mouth. She instantly recoiled and frowned. That was officially the most disgusting thing to ever enter her mouth.

"Eight."

"Oh god no."

"Nine," Zelda stressed the digit.

"Zelda, I can't do it."

"Ten."

There was utter silence as Samus held her breath and Zelda did not move whatsoever, the blonde wouldn't have been surprised if the princess ceased to breathe in order to make the moment more suspenseful.

"Zelda?"

"I gave you time, Samus," Zelda spoke quietly.

Samus trembled.

"It appears that we will have to do this the hard way."
Zelda finally turned around, a look of acceptance and resignation on her features.
"No sex-"

Samus held her breath.

"-For a year."

Samus, in response, threw the spoon back like one would drink shots.
Zelda giggled and handed the blonde a cup of tea, which the blonde woman greedily gulped in a desperate attempt to rid herself of the foul taste.

"I was kidding, but it certainly convinced you."

"Never again," Samus groaned, a hand draped across her eyes which were shut tightly. She shuddered as she recalled the taste.

Zelda giggled. "You are such a drama queen."

Samus scoffed. "Am not!"

"But you're my drama queen!"

All of a sudden, Samus felt a tightening in her chest. The possessive tone the brunette took did things to her, things she couldn't fully comprehend.

"Aww, Samus, you have *the look* on your face," Zelda cooed.

Samus raised an eyebrow, skeptical."What look?"

"The one where you're overwhelmed with love."

Samus' face flushed. "..."

"No response?"

Zelda sighed and cuddled into the blonde. "Ah-choo!"

"I told you," Samus muttered in an almost reprimanding manner.

Zelda shrugged. "This just means that you will have the obligation of insuring my well-being."

Samus mimicked the princess and gave a shrug. "You're not that bad."

Zelda smiled brightly, which did wonders for Samus' health.

"No kisses," Samus said firmly after a period of comfortable silence.

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"I'm serious."

"As am I."

"Hmm..." Samus sounded unconvinced.

Zelda quickly stole a kiss and grinned at Samus' surprised look which rapidly transitioned into a frown.

"Sorry," Zelda said, not sounding very apologetic. She cuddled into Samus' chest.
Samus, despite herself, placed a hand on the brunette's head and massaged her scalp. Zelda purred, content, and drifted to sleep.

Samus fell asleep to the rhythmic beating of the royal's heart against her own.