Charlie the cockerel's call heralded the dawning of a new day.

Lilly inched over to the edge of the bed as quietly as she could so not to disturb her still sleeping husband.

She had much to do today and wanted to make an early start.

After enjoying a late supper with Ben, they had both retired for an early night and a good night's sleep had done her the world of good, as she felt much better this morning. She tiptoed out of the room after snagging the pile of work clothes she had left on the end of the bed the previous night. It was too cold to change in the bathroom so she quietly closed the bedroom door behind her and crept down the stairs. Ben had been as tired as she'd been last night and it was her urging to go to bed when he had dropped off to sleep on the sofa, again. She knew he'd had a stressful day at work on top of a morning spent doing both of their chores and so she left him to rest. She would give him a call in an hour or so when breakfast was ready and the animals seen to.

On her way into the kitchen, she grabbed Ben's fleece off the coat hook in the hallway and slipped it on over her nightgown. The cold nights on Mandana dictated that most people left their wood burners smouldering through the night and the warmth of the kitchen was welcoming as she made her way toward the back door and her warm boots. The animals came first. She struggled into her boots, grabbed her woollen hat, gloves and thick over coat. The horse barn needed clearing, the chickens needed letting out and the cattle needed hay. The overnight snow had settled and the light flurry that was falling added to it so Lilly hurried with her work.

She enjoyed the peace and solitude of the early morning; it gave her thinking and dreaming time. Ben usually put the animals to bed, Lilly usually woke them up, and both Hector and Hattie greeted her with a snort and a nuzzled.

"Hey guys. Busy day today, lots of white stuff again so you're going to need a full belly and have a spring in you step," she grinned and started to fork their bedding.

As she lost herself in her work, she started to sing, as she usually did.

Xxx

"Lilly?" Ben called down the stairs.

When he'd awoken to find his wife was missing, he was immediately worried but after checking the bathroom and listening to the house's silent reply to his call, he came to the conclusion that Lilly must be feeling better. The familiar singing coming from the yard stilled his franticly beating heart so he returned to the bedroom and made his way to the balcony.

"What are you doing?" He called when he spotted Lilly pushing the wheel barrow from the barn.

"Morning," she looked up and waved.

Ben sighed and shook his head at the sight of his wife's clothing. He was used to her doing her chores in her nightgown and that was fine when it was a warm summers day but at near on freezing, nightgown and boots, even if there was an addition of a warm fleece, was not the attire to work in the snow in. "Get in the house before you freeze to death."

"I'm seeing to the animals," Lilly shrugged and tipped out the hay in her barrow. "I won't be long."

"You should have woken me." Ben pulled his gown tighter round him; feeling slightly annoyed with himself for not realising his wife had left their bed.

"Why?" Lilly turned and made her way across the yard.

"Because, you're not well."

"Don't be silly." Lilly stood and placed her hand on her hips. "I tend the animals every morning, come wind, rain, shine or snow..."

"Not when you're not well."

Lilly shook her head and sighed. "I'm fine," she protested but when a sudden wave of dizziness made a liar of her, she had to take some deep breaths to control her looping world.

"Lilly?"

She could hear Ben calling her name as she struggled to bring her vision back into focus but, when the urgent need to vomit joined her vertigo, she placed her hand over her mouth and staggered into the house.

"Lilly!"

Xxx

Ben dashed into down the stairs and into the kitchen just in time to hold his wife's hair back as she began violently vomiting in the sink.

"Easy, Lillyput," he urged, pumping some water as Lilly dry heaved and spat.

Ben then steadied her when she managed to straighten up. "You okay?"

"No. I need to sit down."

Ben steered her toward a chair at the table where she slumped down gratefully and placed her head in her hands.

"Hold still," Ben rubbed her back. "I'll fetch you some water." Hurrying to the sink, he pumped some water into a glass. "So, you're fine, hey," he sighed when he returned to the table, took a seat and passed Lilly the glass.

"I'm not fine," Lilly admitted and took a sip of water.

"What's going on with you, Lillyput?" Ben placed his hand on her forehead again but, again, no fever.

"I don't know," Lilly admitted, pushing her glass away and resting her head on her folded arms on the table. "Just get hit by awful sickness and I feel dizzy and wiped out."

Ben crossed to their medicine cupboard, returned to her side, and placed the aural thermometer in her ear. He gently stroked her hair away from her face. "I'm sure it's a bug," he smiled as he waited for the thermometer to beep. "No fever," he sighed and then proceeded to take her pulse, which was strong and regular. "Pulse is fine too."

"It's just a virus," Lilly mumbled and closed her eyes.

"Yup, probably," Ben agreed. "But I'm going to stay home with you today to keep an eye on you." He crossed the room to replace the thermometer.

"What? No," Lilly pushed herself upright and leant back in her chair. "I'm fine..."

"Lilly."

"Ben, you have to go in. Conrad is visiting his mother today," Lilly reminded him and reached for the glass of water again. Her nausea was dwindling now, leaving her feeling shaky and weak. "I don't feel so sick and I'm just going to sleep," she managed a smile.

"Damn, I forgot Conrad was off," Ben sighed and sat at Lilly's side again. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "But, I'm not happy about leaving you on your own, sweetheart."

"I'll be fine," Lilly returned the squeeze and smiled.

Ben studied her for a while. She did look better but she'd seemed better before her bout of sickness too. She needed someone with her, for today at least. "Compromise?" He tucked her hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek.

"Go on."

"How about, I take you to your parents. Let them look after you during my shift?"

"There's no need for that..." Lilly began to protest.

"It's that or I stay here," Ben leaned back and folded his arms. "Take it or leave it!"

"That's not fair, Ben Ashton," Lilly huffed.

"Those are your choices, Lilly Ashton," Ben shrugged.

Lilly bowed her head in defeat. "I'll go to my parents," she mumbled, knowing that her husband was not going to back down on this point.

Ben rubbed her leg. "Good girl," he smiled. "You know I'm right," he added taking in her dejected stance. "Give yourself a break, Lillyput, let yourself rest and recover like a normal person."

"What? Like you do that."

"Do as I say, not as I do."

"Again with the Earth sayings," Lilly sighed and Ben ruffled her hair.

"I'll get you that book," he grinned and then stood. "Right, I'm going to grab you a few things and I want you to rest," he urged. "And then you're going to try and eat something."

Lilly rolled her eyes and then rested her head on her folded arms again. "If you say so, Platon," she mumbled and closed her eyes.

Ben smiled sadly at the sight of his wife who was obviously struggling. "Won't be long," he kissed her head and then went in search of warm clothes and blankets. It was a good half an hour to Sergi and Hanah's house and the snow was still coming down fast. He didn't really want Lilly to be out in the cold but had little option.

Xxx

"Lilly? Sweetheart, we're here." Ben pulled Hector to halt and gently shook his wife's shoulder. She had rested her head in his lap and had fallen asleep within minutes. Ben had covered her with several layers of blankets and allowed her to rest. The fact that she was so exhausted was worrying him and, if there was no improvement in her condition by tomorrow, he was going to check her out more thoroughly at the hospital.

"Ben?" Lilly pushed herself upright and swayed. "I feel really sick," she groaned and Ben quickly grabbed the bucket he'd had the forethought to bring with them. "It's gonna be okay," he promised as Lilly vomited.

"Is everything all right?"

Ben looked up and smiled sadly at Hanah who greeted them from the doorway after hearing the horse and buggy. "She's not very well," he shrugged as Lilly pushed away the bucket and rested her head on his shoulder with a sigh.

Hanah shook her head. "So I see," she muttered and crossed to the buggy. "Let's get you in the warm, Lilly Lou," she smiled at her daughter.

"Hey, ma," Lilly smiled back and accepted her mother's hand.

Between the two of them, Ben and Hanah helped her into the kitchen where she gratefully sat at the table and rested her head again.

Ben knelt at her side and removed her hat and scarf. "Feeling any better?" he asked when Lilly sighed again.

"Yeah."

"Here."

She sat back and accepted the glass of water her mother was offering her. "Thanks," she nodded before taking a sip.

Ben continued to remove her boots and glanced over at Hanah. "Can Lilly stay with you today?" He asked, pulling at the second boot.

"Of course," Hanah nodded and offered Lilly a warm cloth to wipe her face.

"It's just that Conrad is off today..." Ben continued. "...I was going to stay with her but there is no one to do my shift today." He took Lilly's cold foot in his hand and rubbed it to get some warmth back into it.

"She is my daughter, her place is here. She will be fine..."

"I'm right here!" Lilly huffed.

Ben looked up at her and smiled shyly. "Sorry, sweetheart," he apologised when he noticed the look of annoyance on his wife's face. "I'll go to work shall I?" He shrugged.

"Yes, you shall," Lilly nodded but softened and stroked his face. "I'll be fine, Benjamin. I'm going to take me, my virus and a bucket to bed". She turned and smiled at her mother, "Is my room still made up?"

"Of course." Hanah nodded and returned the smile.

"Go to work, Ben." Lilly pushed up from the chair. "I'll see you later, okay?"

Ben stood and pulled her in for a hug. "Okay, Lillyput. Make sure you drink, rest and keep warm," he mumbled into her hair.

"I will."

Hanah tutted and shook her head. "Come on, Lilly Lou, let's get you settled," she rubbed her daughters arm. "And, you get off to work, Ben and don't be late home," she added as she shadowed Lilly out of the room. "Cara is bringing her new beau to supper tonight. Food will be on the table at six o'clock sharp."

Ben smiled and returned the wave Lilly gave him before she left the room in search of her bed. Although, he wasn't happy about leaving her he was content to leave daughter with mother. Lilly would be just fine and, if she wasn't, he could foresee lots of needles and poking in her future.

He turned and grabbed his coat.

Work was calling, again.

I'd really love to know if anyone it reading this and what they think? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx