It was late on a Friday night when Elizabeth came home from work after saving the world from a war once again.
"Hello? Anybody home?" She called out while making her way into the kitchen.
"We're here." Henry's response came from the living room.
"Hi guys." Elizabeth greeted her husband and oldest daughter who were sitting in front of the TV.
"Hi babe." Henry welcomed her by taking her hand and pulling her down next to him on the couch.
"Hi mum. There's still leftover pizza. Do you want me to heat it up for you?" Stevie asked.
"Thanks, but I'm feeling a little woozy today. I think I'm just gonna lie down in a minute." Elizabeth responded and leaned into her husband's embrace.
"Are you okay?" Henry asked in concern, knowing that it was unlike Elizabeth to turn down pizza.
"I might be coming down with something. I have a headache and I felt a little nauseous today, but maybe it's nothing." She responded. Henry leaned forward and handed her a cup of tea that he hasn't touched yet.
"Here drink this. That might help. Do you want to take a bath?" Henry offered hoping he could lift her spirit.
"Honestly, I just wanna go to bed." She said. "Is Jason not home?"
"He went to the movies with Piper, remember?"
"Right. Anyways, I'm going to bed now. Goodnight Stevie." Elizabeth walked to the stairs followed by Henry.
"Night mum, Night dad." Stevie replied.
They retreated into their bedroom and Elizabeth quickly changed into her comfy pajamas, brushed her teeth and removed her make-up before disappearing under the thick blanket.
"Do you want to take a pill?" Henry settled down next to her and stroked her leg through the covert.
"No, I think I just need some sleep." She turned off her bedside lamp and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight sweetheart." Henry said with a kiss to her cheek before lying down himself.
"G'night." Elizabeth mumbled already drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Elizabeth woke with a cough. She drank some water she kept on her nightstand and couldn't stop shivering. Lying down she hoped she could fall asleep again. She moved closer to her husband hoping he could warm her shivering body. Henry felt her moving and pulled her closer to him, before suddenly opening his eyes and moving away from her.
"Babe, you're burning!" He exclaimed.
"No, it's so cold in here." Elizabeth responded still a little sleepy.
"No, you definitely have a fever." He quickly got out of bed and went to the bathroom. When he came back, he was loaded with aspirin and wet towels. He pulled the blanket away from Elizabeth leaving a squirming Elizabeth.
"Henry, no! That's not fair." She said while trying to get the blanket back, but she was overcome with coughing again.
"Stop complaining. I'm trying to help you. Here, take this." He said and handed her a pill. He then moved to wrap the towels around her legs and he put one on her forehead. "You stay here. I'll go downstairs and get you something for your cough. Don't move." Henry commanded and walked downstairs. A couple of minutes he came back with a cup of tea and Benzonatate at hand.
"Babe, are you asleep?" He whispered at Elizabeth who lay in bed with eyes closed.
"I'm awake." She replied and opened her eyes to look at him.
"I made you some tea and there's something for your cough. I'm gonna get dressed and make you a chicken broth. Do you need anything else?" Henry said worriedly while squeezing her hand lightly.
"Henry, I appreciate that but I'm not dying." Elizabeth tried to slow him down.
"I know that, but we should get on top of this so you'll be up at your feet as soon as possible again."
"Sorry for ruining our weekend." Elizabeth murmured knowing that he was looking forward to going bowling with her.
"Not your fault. And that way, I get to take care of you." He said with a wink.
"You're sweet." Elizabeth started coughing again.
"I know. You on the other hand are sick, so please go back to sleep now and just rest for today." Henry said before closing the door to the bedroom and going back to the kitchen.
Henry pretty much spend the day pampering Elizabeth. He provided her with pills and food and kept her company on bed. Elizabeth asked him to read to her and he was more than glad to do so. Later on, they watched a movie together with Elizabeth falling asleep after twenty minutes. The kids also spend some time with their mom every now and then, even though they insisted on keeping a distance because they didn't want to be infected by her. Later that night, Henry prepared a peppermint bath for her that was supposed to clear her respiratory tract. Elizabeth didn't believe that it would actually help, but she quiet enjoyed having Henry around all day taking care of her. While she lay in the bathtub, he busied himself with changing their bed sheets that were all sweaty and wet from the towels. When he returned to the bathroom, he watched his wife lying in the bathtub with eyes closed.
"Babe, stop starring." Elizabeth suddenly said without opening her eyes.
"It's creepy how you do that." He said and moved to sit down on the edge of the bathtub.
"Well, it's creepy when you stare at me like that." She replied and took his hand in hers.
"Feel better? "He asked and tested if the water was still warm.
"Yeah, a little bit. Thanks for taking care of me." She looked at him and gave him a weary smile.
"Of course. You would do the same. You wanna come out?"
"Just one more minute." She said and closed her eyes again well aware that Henry was watching her. She actually didn't mind that he was starring at her like that. It just reminded her that he still loved her after so many years together and that he would always be her rock.
"Okay," she sighed and opened her eyes, "let's go to bed." Henry wrapped her in a clean towel and then gave her some fresh pajamas to change into. In that moment, she decided she would go bowling with him tomorrow night no matter how bad she was feeling. She just wanted to make it up to him and show him how much she appreciated him taking care of her.