Stasis

Disclaimer: I don't own COTT

January
There is a knock on my door and I open it to reveal Hera, queen of the Gods.
"Hi" I say, uncreatively. She smiles
"it is time." And she leaves.
My breath catches in my throat and I look at my calendar. The date is circled in red though secretly I am more scared then excited. I leave my room and walk towards the infirmary. What am I supposed to say? Hey how's it going? Been up to much? No of course not BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DEAD!
I tried in vain to stop thinking about Archie in that condition but it was all I could think of. I'd remember him how he was and then snap an image appeared of him motionless, white, gone.
I shivered in the winter morning and scolded myself for my emotions. Archie was my best friend.
But he could have been so much more
That nagging voice in the back of my mind suddenly ignited all of the feelings I had repressed for thirty one days. His hair, his eyes, his smile. This was the boy I loved and even though nobody knew, I couldn't, wouldn't, let something so stupid as doubt get in the way of that.
I reached the infirmary and stood before the door breathing slowly. Bracing myself I put my hand on the knob and walked in.

Archie had his back to me, he was standing by the window in his old hoodie and some track pants. He turned when I closed the door and his grin dazzeled me.
"you look great" I said with genuine surprise
I instantly felt horrible that I had expected otherwise and when Archie pulled me into a hug I relaxed into his embrace with a sigh of relief. He was exactly the same.
"so have you missed me?" he asked
"you have no idea!" I replied with a smile.
we talked away the morning, just like old times though I couldn't help but noticed he avoided talking about himself.
"truthfully Archie, how are you?" I said finally and he took a shaking breath but before he could answer, the door opened and the rest of the team piled in. I tried to supress my regret at being pushed to the back of the room and I saw Archie sneaking glances at me. I caught his eye and a flash of understanding passed between us. We just wanted to be alone and after a while we were. I suggested we go outside and Archie agreed.
Hidden by the trees in the park, he took my hand.
"I'm terrified Lannie." He confessed quietly "its only been thirty one days and I feel like everything has changed so much"
"Nothing has changed, no one has changed" I reassured him but he still looked troubled
"You don't understand. When I'm… asleep I know nothing, I don't even dream and now my mind is filled with so much! It hurts but its amazing. I- I don't want to go back to the silence"
My eyes filled with tears and I could bearly bring my self to say what had to be said
"you have to go back. For you, for the team. You have to get better. Because I don't know what to do without you. I might have to name Neil my best friend"
Archie laughed and suddenly it was like nothing was wrong. Everything was back to normal.

February
I got up early, not wanting to miss a second of the day. and when I reached Archie's room I was not even surprised to see he wasn't up yet.
Typical Archie! I thought with a smile, always late or sleeping in!
"oh!" a startled voice behind me broke me from my reverie. Hera and Hephaestus had arrived.
"Atlanta?" Hera said "I wasn't expecting you so early."
"I couldn't sleep." I answered truthfully. I had been staring at the picture of Archie on my bedside table and rehearsing all of the stories I would tell him. I was determined to make today last forever.
"well Archie won't be ready for about half an hour-" Heph began
"I want to watch" I interrupted "please"
I saw them hesitate but at last they let me into the room and I admit my first thought was to run out screaming again at the site of Archie hooked up to all those tubes. I softened when I looked at his face though. He looked so peaceful and beautiful. His lashes flickered as Heph pressed various buttons and his eyes slowly opened and struggled to focus. I saw blind panic cross his face and he struggled against his bonds silently screaming in terror. Hera and Heph rushed to restrain him but that only made him struggle more.
"Arch?" I said softly, stepping forward "Arch, its me"
his head snapped around and I jumped as his eyes focussed on me.
He doesn't recognise me
My eyes welled up and I slowly put my hand on his. He flinched but he stopped struggling
"Archie" I said again "it's me, its Atlanta. It's ok, you're safe"
Recognition flooded his features and he started to cry. Hera and Heph had tactufully left and I smiled down at my best friend.
"shhh." I soothed "I'm here, I won't leave you"
"Lannie" he choked "Atlanta, I'm so sorry"
"For what?" I stroked his hair
"for everything, for being stupid and reckless"
"we all would have done the same" I reasoned "you just beat us to it"
He laughed and tried to get up, I helped him, trying not to notice how fast my heart was beating.
He pulled me into a hug and I was lost. We stood there in silence for I don't know how long. And it was only when Theresa entered that we broke apart.
"I should probably get cleaned up before everyone else gets here" Archie muttered and Theresa sat beside me on the bed while we waited.
"what am I getting myself into?" I said to mostly myself
"you love him don't you?" Theresa softly voiced what I had been denying
"he is everything to me"
"so tell him"
"I can't. it just makes this whole situation more unbearable"

March
Archie was awake when I arrived. I noted this with some surprise and disappointment. I wanted to be the first thing he saw when he woke but he said he did not want a repeat of last time.
"you shouldn't have to go through that" he said.
I was silent for such a long time that he put his hand on mine and looked at me with worry.
"what's wrong?"
"Odie and Neil are dating." I said "And Jay finally kissed Theresa"
"Oh" He smiled "That's great! Isn't it?"
"I guess" I mumbled
"But?" Archie prompted
"But it's so hard watching everyone else so happy when you're stuck down here all alone!" the words burst from my mouth and Archie laughed.
"I don't feel emotion anymore remember? But maybe its so hard because you're missing out?"
"Wha-?" my thoughts were interrupted when he kissed me. It was soft and gentle but I felt as if I was suddenly completed. I smiled and kissed him back but all of a sudden he broke away with a cry of pain. All the colour had drained from his face and he clutched his side. His eyes were suddenly acid green and he started to shake uncontrollably.
I screamed for help and an army of Gods and heroes descended on the room. Hephaestus quickly hooked up Archie to a small machine and he stabilised. His eyes slowly turned back to their normal colour.
"what happened" both Archie and I spoke in unison, our voices quavering. I hadn't realised I'd been crying and he reached for my hand. Hera noticed this and pursed her lips.
"Archie must not over exert himself. Any sudden changes in pulse can trigger an attack such as the one we just witnessed. Anything-" she looked at us "that can cause this must be avoided because it can not only cause a relapse and set back any progress but can also lead to permanent damage or even death."
"WHAT?" Archie sounded furious "you lock me away and tell me its for my benefit, you wake me up to let me interact with people but forget to tell me to not be happy because it could kill me"
"Archie" I warned
"No!" He looked at me "it is torture, one day out of every month to see the people who mean so much to me. Its all I have. I was so angry when I got here and now I have you- and the team- I wouldn't go back for anything." He looked pleadingly at Hephaestus "please. Isn't there something you can do to control this?"
Heph scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Well," he said "I'll try."
The day turned to evening and it came time so say goodbye. Archie hugged Jay, Theresa, Odie, Neil and Herry in turn and they filed out.
"see you later yeah?" he held out his arms and I walked into them
"always" I kissed him softly and Hera came in to take him away.

OK, what do you think so far?! It is SO mushy but I just wanted to write something cute and simple. Read and review please, new chapter coming soon!