Here you go guys, happy Monday! Hope you enjoy this update and that it makes your 'case of the Mondays' a little less severe!

Thanks to my betas Beej88, DarkenedHrt101, and SailorMoon489! Check out the one-shot lemon Beej88 just posted. It is so fluffy and hits the feels just right. You need it in your life, trust me!

Please come find and follow me on Tumblr. Unless you are a porn site...a little tired of getting those...

Chapter 4

The platform was filled with people, all of them taking loved ones along with them. She was the only one leaving her 'loved one' behind.

Her suitcase in his hand, he walked her to her cabin, opening the door and helping her in. Putting her suitcase in the bin above, she settled herself, looking out the window at all the passing bodies. "Your father will be there to collect you."

She nodded, not looking away from the world outside her little cabin. He had told her all of this before. A couple of times now. Not only did he not think of her like family or a loved one, he thought her dumb.

He was standing over her, looking down at her but she refused to give him her eyes. She heard him sigh before he left, thinking him done, but then his stormy dark eyes blocked her view. "You will return to me...won't you?"

His candor and question surprised her, pulling back from the window to take in the rest of his face. "I didn't realize it was a question?"

There was no satisfaction on his face but he gave her a nod all the same and walked away, the train taking off before she could find him again in the crowd.

Father carried her suitcase up the walk, the door cracking open and Mother along with Greer and Kyla running out to greet her. Wrapped up in her mother's arms, she was pulled and tugged inside the warm house.

The fire was roaring in the living room as she was stripped of her coat and hat, the light dancing across the dark room. Mother sat just behind her on the couch while she warmed up her hands. "How was your trip?"

Her eyes on the dancing flames, she held in her sigh. "It was fair. We had good weather. The tracks were clear."

"And how is your home and husband?"

"They are both fine."

The two of them were alone and yet, Mother still whispered. "And am I to be a grandmother yet?"

Turning, she was met by the wide grin of her mother. "No. We have to...that is we haven't…."

Greer walked in a tray of tea and biscuits and even with her clear indication of privacy, it did not stop her mother. "You have not consummated the marriage?!"

She hushed her, Greer's eyes wide as if she somehow knew what they were talking about. "Have you told Greer of these things?"

"She is the next in line for marriage. I did not want her to be as woefully unprepared as you were." Now Mother focused on Greer and her 'education'. "See my child, this is exactly what you must avoid. Your fair sister has not locked her marriage down or been a good wife to her husband and now she has been sent back to us."

"Mother!"

"If you refuse and are not intimate with your husband within the first week of marriage, then the relationship is doomed."

"Mother, I have not denied him or turned him away! He has not even attempted to share a bed with me!"

She was thankful when Father joined them, silencing any further talk of her and her husband's cold marriage bed.

OoOoO

Never had he ever been happy for an epidemic as he was now. A strain of the Flu was taking the town hold this Christmas it would seem. Giving him a reason to stay away from his empty house and his Mother's dinner. Serena would be returning in a few days and he spent as much of those days and the ones before it at his practice. The outbreak was a welcomed distraction for sure.

He was thankful no children had suffered from it yet. A strong shot of Penicillin knocked it out of grown patients he had seen but a child would not be so easy. Their little bodies could not handle the dosage needed to kill the virus. The most he would be able to do for a child would be to make them comfortable and tell their parents to pray.

His practice was full of people currently, each room of the mansion turned medical practice had a patient seeking attention for the sickness. Making his way to another room, Andrew stepped out of one. "This Flu is going to take out the whole town. You should be glad your wife is out of town and away from it."

"Even if she wasn't, Serena is a strong woman. She would easily survive."

Andrew was shaking his head at him, chuckling. "Mina is strong as well but I still don't want her to suffer. And she refuses to put me in quarantine too."

"She wants children and refuses to wait."

"I'm sure your wife is just as amourous. You are still in the first year of your marriage after all."

He left Andrew in the hall, ducking into the room that waited for him. A man and woman stood next to the bed, coughing coming from them. And from a small child, laying on the bed.

OoOoO

A large goose sat mostly untouched in the middle of the table. Plates filled with boiled potatoes, greens with chestnuts, beets, and bread were passed around. Those that joined them included; the MacKinnons from next door; the local parishioner who had married her to Dr. Shields, Father Lachlan; and Uncle Glenn with his wife Arabelle and son Sloan.

This was the first time she had seen any of them, especially Sloan. As it were, he had yet to look at her so she could almost say she had not seen him at all. He still appeared just as she remembered him, same long black hair and dark eyes.

Father Lachlan led them in prayer and then the room was filled with the sounds of pleasant eating and conversation. Until Father Lachlan gained her attention. "Serena, you must tell me how your husband is doing? I enjoy hearing of glad tidings for the couples I get the pleasure of joining together."

All side conversations stopped, everyone intent on hearing her tale. "He is fine. He stayed home to work."

"Ah, a doctor's work is never done." Mother added.

"How are you adjusting to London, dear?" Aunt Arabelle asked.

"Fine. Actually, I have started taking classes at the Women's College."

Mr. MacKinnon snorted, "Really? And what pray tell are you studying?"

"Literature…" They all nodded as if that was to be expected. "And a bit of medicine."

Forks dropped loudly to their plates and all stared at her save for Sloan. "Why on Earth are you studying that?"

She met Uncle Glenn's stare. "It was my husband's idea."

A chuckle came from across the table, Sloan's silence suddenly ending. "He intends to keep his beautiful new wife busy. Dr. Shields wants to keep her from getting bored."

The table chuckled lightly, save for her Mother and sisters who flashed concern her way. "Actually, he hopes I will join him at his practice. Or write a great novel. His only intent is to make me happy."

Sloan was silent again but looked as though he might snap his plate in half at any moment. Mother noticed this as well, changing the subject to lighter topics, happy to discuss anything other than her marriage for the remainder of the evening.

Helping Cote clear the table, the others made their way to the living room for brandy and entertainment. The sound of Greer at the piano filtered through the house, a lovely Christmas tune that had her heart dancing.

The goose still had a lot of meat on its bones and there were many leftover dishes. "Cote, let's wrap these things up and take them to the Farlens. I hear they had a tough season."

A nod and she stood alone in the dining room. "Are you staying?"

She glanced back at him, Sloan standing a respectable distance from her. But she still made her way to the other side of the table to put more between them. "Yes. But only for a few more days. Then I return."

"Return? To him?!"

"He is my husband, Sloan."

"A husband that sends you away for Christmas!"

"Not that is it your business but he sent me here as a gift. He knew I was homesick…"

"Then why not join you? Do you know what the whole town is saying about your return? That your husband grew tired of you and shipped you back home."

"He did not join me because he is working and I care not what the town thinks of me. You know this!"

He stepped up to the table, it separating them thankfully. "And what about me? Do you care what I think of you?"

She huffed, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. "I do not. For you who runs off and courts every girl in town at the first sign of adversity."

"What would you have me do?"

"Fight for me! If you had challenged the engagement, my father would have folded. But no, your resolve was as strong as moist paper."

"Then I will fight for you now."

She held his stare for a moment before turning away, shaking her head at his ridiculousness. "It is too late now."

"It is not, you have not consummated."

Stilling, she slowly turned back to him. "How do you know that?"

"Greer told me. Even your sister thinks us a better pair."

"Greer is a romanticizing fool who does not know the ways of the world yet!"

"And neither do you if you think your so-called husband cares for you in the slightest."

Stomping her foot, she stopped her clearing off the table and glared at him. "My husband is strong and kind and considerate and smart…"

"Is he loving? Is he kind to you?" Sloan had made his way around the table when she wasn't paying as close attention as she should have. Taking another step closer to her, she took a step back. "If it were me, I would never let you out of my sights. Not to some school. Even to visit home."

Standing tall, she did her best to look down on him, even with him taller. "He trusts me. Believes in me. Which is more than I can say for you it seems."

Wanting to hear no more, she rounded the table to keep from going any closer to him and ran for the safety of the kitchen.

OoOoO

He could not make himself enter past the door, leaning heavily against it and hanging his head. No amount of death would ever make him numb to it, this much was true, but it was all the worse when it was the life of a child.

It took two days for him to die, the small child that was placed in his care, the Flu strand taking him just a couple of hours ago. The mother's cries still rang in his ears.

Finding the strength, he pushed off the door, the floor swaying a little as he did. He needed to rest, having stayed up for the last two nights with the boy. There was no doubt he was tired but he doubted he could sleep, the dim green eyes of the boy would haunt him when he tried.

So he poured himself a brandy and locked himself in his office.

He missed his Wife, even with her sleeping in a separate room from him and not touching him, she was a comfort to him. Her very presence was a warm slave on his soul. His home bore her touch and her scent, if he was in a room she had actually touched, his office had been off limits. Something he now regretted as it reflected him completely, darkness.

Taking his glass with him, he sought out a place of hers, plopping down on her favorite couch. Her scent lingered on it and he sunk down deep into the cushions to savor it. Setting his drink to the side, he laid across it, his face buried in the spot where she sat cradling his head. If she had been home, he would have found comfort in her instead of in a bottle. Maybe it was good she wasn't here, he might get carried away and scare her with his truths.

Either way, he missed his Wife.

OoOoO

Mrs. Moon stood on the platform, ready to receive her. She knew not what she expected but disappointment bloomed when it was not her husband awaiting her return.

Late evening and dark as pitch, the carriage pulled up to the house she did not realize she missed until it came into view. Mrs. Moon padded her knee, drawing her attention away from the window. "We all missed you, my dear."

"All?"

"Yes, even the Master...especially him."

It was hard to believe, given the cool send-off and greeting she had received, her husband not in sight even as they entered the home. "Mrs. Moon, where is Dr. Shields?"

"His room. Poor thing has a cold."

"Pardon me."

Rushing past Mrs. Moon, she bounded up the stairs, giving a soft knock to his door. When she received no response, she knocked once more before entering carefully. The only light came from the door she crept through. The only indication he was in the room and alive was the cough he released, deep from his chest it sounded full of fluid.

No longer worried about propriety, she found and turned on the light by his bed, finding him wrapped up in his sheets and covered in sweat. "Mrs. Moon!"

The elder appeared in the doorway soon enough, looking flustered as she took in the same scene she had. "He assured me it was a simple cold! That he would sleep it away!"

"He lied. I need cloths and cool water."

"Shall I bring his medical bag?"

She quickly thought it over before giving her a nod. There was very little she knew and doubted she would know what to do with anything that laid inside. But she had nursed each and every single member of her family over the years. She was the only one to never catch the sicknesses that went around.

"If you have it, bring me oil, honey, and peppermint."

She may not have a medical degree but she had learned a thing or two over the years dealing with sickness in the chest and head.

Mrs. Moon returned quickly with the desired items and they both worked to strip the bed and the man of his drenched beddings and clothes. "I will take these, his night clothes are in that drawer."

Mrs. Moon pointed and left with the pile of soiled cloths. Mixing her ingredients with the spoon and small bowl Mrs. Moon thought to bring it all in, she crushed the peppermint leaves as fine as she could and stirred it into a goo. Her hand trembled as she spread it across his chest, the firm ripples of his muscles touched her palms and made her feel a sweat on her neck.

Nightshirt in hand, she struggled to pull Dr. Shields up by herself, but managed, keeping an arm around his shoulders to hold him while she worked his shirt over him. Pulling up a knee, she held him up with her legs around his ribs so she could use both hands to pull an arm through the sleeve.

Getting one arm in, he released a groan and his eyes fluttered open. Finding her quickly, his brows knitted in confusion. "Serena? You're home?"

"Yes. Now be quiet and go back to sleep."

Holding himself up now, he ignored her and remained awake. Twisting herself, she rolled around to the other side of him to pull his other arm through as he had yet to fully awaken and understand his situation.

"Serena...what are you doing?"

His voice was soft, laced with something she assumed had something to do with the fever, him sounding strange. "You are sick, and with far worse than a cold, so Mrs. Moon and I are taking care of you."

"Where is Mrs. Moon?"

She placed her hand to his forehead, checking him again. "She took your soiled sheets and clothes. You sweated through them. And your fever still hasn't broken…."

"Serena...what are you doing?"

Focused on his sweating brow, she looked down, finding his eyes impossibly deep as they looked back at her. He didn't look confused, even with his fever, and his tone lacked any and all question. But it was a question.

She didn't understand until she felt his hands on her thighs. A leg on either side of his hips, she sat in his lap. So intent on getting him dry and warm, keeping him safe from getting worse, she had lost herself and her surroundings. Now she was in his hold, even failing to notice her skirt hiking up to accommodate her movements, her boots and legs in full view.

What was she doing?

Unable to answer, any and all thoughts getting washed away by the ocean in his eyes, his hands left her thighs and went to her back instead. Pulling her the rest of the way to him, his lips brushed against hers. Remaining perfectly still, he parted his mouth and wrapped it around her lower lip. The one and only time he had embraced her like this had been months ago at the wedding. But this was nothing like that time. That had been a shell of a kiss, a dainty touching of their mouths to appease all those who looked.

This...this was a kiss meant to never be seen by anyone.

His arms had her crushed to him while hers wrapped around his head, digging her fingers to his scalp in his hair. Their mouths molded together and then he parted hers with his tongue, sweeping around inside and then dancing with hers. She had gasped many times throughout the exchange, his actions shocking her to say the least. Now as his hands ran down her back, she found herself moaning instead.

Hands swept over her backside. Then he moved his arms back up to wrap one around her ribs and the other around her shoulders, holding the back of her head in place. Her hands slipped to the back of his neck and were scorched from its high temperature. It was a dull ache at the back of her mind but now it exploded to the front, he was not of his right mind thanks to his fever.

Finding his shoulders, she pushed him hard, but he fell back easily given his condition. Scrambling off of him, she made it to the solid ground just as Mrs. Moon returned, another important reason to stop...whatever it was they were just doing. They were both panting; him from his fever and her from her fear.

"Are you alright, dear?'

Mrs. Moon's concern was now on her and she fumbled. "Yes, I...the shirt. He is heavier than he looks."

Mrs. Moon leaned over the patient, his eyes not really focusing as he looked back at her prying stare. "And, of course, you were no help were you?"

He smirked and chuckled, rolling over and away from Mrs. Moon to stare at her. "I was helpful, I helped myself."

The smirk he wore sent a twitch up her spine as if his hands were still on her. "I...I need a moment."

She was heading to the door without looking back. "Of course, dear. You must be tired from your journey. I will keep watch over the Master."

"NO!" She stopped, turning back to find Dr. Shields sitting up in bed glaring at the two of them. "I want my wife to look after me." Mrs. Moon tried to protest but was cut off. "This is the Flu and at your age Mrs. Moon, it would kill you. You need to leave this room. This house!"

Mrs. Moon was still fussing over him, trying to get him to lay and calm down. But he wouldn't budge, still trying to get Mrs. Moon to leave. Rushing back to his side, she gently pulled on Mrs. Moon, taking her hands in hers.

"It will be alright, Mrs. Moon. I will take care of him. You should lodge elsewhere till this passes. We will be fine."

Hesitating for a moment longer, she was soon alone with her husband again. "You want to come check my temperature again, Wife?"

Spinning, she caught the grin he wore before he fell back to the bed, keeping his attention on her. She ignored the shiver that ran up her spine at the hazy look he was giving her, his smile twisting on his cheeks and drew attention to his chiseled jaw. "I have no need. The fever still has a hold on you as you are acting and talking crazed."

"Is that so bad? You did not seem to mind it too much a moment ago."

She found the floor with her eyes, unable to stand his intense stare a moment longer. "It is when you do and say things that are not appropriate. Or that you do not mean."

"There is nothing that I do or say with you that is either inappropriate or that I do not mean in earnest." She kept her distance, fearful if she got too close he might grab her and pull her into the bed with him. "Do you fear me or the sickness?"

Looking back at him, her hands firmly planted before her as she wrung her fingers together, he looked disappointed or sad. She took a few brave steps closer, "I fear nothing."

He finally tore his gaze from her, looking up at the ceiling. "You should fear this. A little boy died from it a few days ago."

Now she rushed to him, sitting fully at his side on the bed. "He was in your care?"

He wouldn't look at her, nodding as he continued to stare at the ceiling above him. "Sorry to disappoint you, my wife. I am not able to save everyone."

"You do not disappoint." She said, taking his hand in hers.

At her touch, he looked at her again, a small smile on his lips. "You really shouldn't come near me. You have already been too close. If you got sick...it would be worse than my own."

She felt hot. From a blush, not a fever, but didn't look away. "I don't get sick. I was the one to take care of my family when they were ill and never once did I catch what ailed them."

"I'm sure you kept your distance. Not getting quite so close."

His smirk returned, making her feel feverish again. Lowering her gaze, she tried to pull her hand away but he held tight. "Dr. Shields…"

"Darien. I am your husband, call me by my first name."

She remained silent, keeping her eyes on the sheets beneath them. When she didn't respond, he pulled her hand hard. Landing on his chest, her eyes were wide on his.

"I thought you were worried I'd get sick?"

An arm around her waist, he held her to him as he rolled them over, pinning her under him. "I think it is far too late for that."

He dropped his mouth to hers again and all the fight rushed out of her. He released the hand he held but she wrapped it around his neck, her other arm wrapping around his ribs. His tongue was in her mouth again, flicking across hers and causing her to quake. A shaking that didn't stop when he released her mouth.

"Say my name, Serena." She hesitated and he took her mouth again, his lips teasing hers as he sucked and pulled on them. They popped when he pulled away again. "Say my name."

This time, he took to kissing everywhere but her mouth, going down her chin and to her neck. His lips pressed to her throat and it felt as if he forced it out of her. "Darien…."

It vibrated all the way to her spine and she could feel the grin that spread across his mouth, his lips still firmly pressed to her skin. But then they left suddenly; his lips, his weight, his touch. Darien releasing her completely.

"Good. Now never call me Dr. Shields again."

It took several heartbeats to regain herself, scrambling from the bed and then the room when she did. The door felt cold against her back as she pressed her whole weight against it, shivering in the hall. The whole house had felt warm when she arrived but now her overheated flesh made it feel like an icebox. Was that what Mother had meant? Her wifely duties and taking a piece of her husband inside her?

His tongue had been inside her but that had not hurt in the slightest. In fact, she found it quite pleasurable. Mother had made sex sound so horrific that a wife would only do it out of necessity but she wanted to kiss Darien like that again already.

Her heart was still racing from the caress and her lips burned. So unwise to the world of men; not only did she not know if Darien was the only one to make her feel this way or if it had been nothing more than a fever induced haze, making him act in ways he never would otherwise. Nothing from the time they spent before gave her an indication of it being anything more than a mistake, one that he would surely be apologizing for as soon as his fever broke. How many endeavors he would need to apologize for depended on how much longer his fever held.

OoOoO

Pillow under his chin, he woke to the sight of his head board. He was holding his pillow tight, in place of Serena, as he had dreamed about her all night. Flipping onto his back caused a coughing spell, it stinging all the way to his chest. When he opened his eyes again, he found her bright blues before him.

"Serena?"

"I am just checking on you!" Her hand flew to his forehead and flittered back just a quick, Serena shrinking away from him with such haste, it was as if she never touched him at all.

A chair had been pulled to the side of his bed, a good six inches from it, and it was clear she had been propped up in it all night. "When did you get back? What day is it?"

"It is the 26th and I arrived late last night to find you in the hold of your fever." She stopped, turning to face him with a confused look on her face. "You remember none of it do you?"

"What is there to remember? I slept did I not? Where is Mrs. Moon?"

A frown marred her face, a sadness in her eyes he couldn't explain. "You sent her away. And I sent the others home, they are all either too old to survive the Flu or have little ones at home that could catch it."

"But you stayed? Taking care of me?"

The sadness remained, her flopping to her chair and digging into the small book she often carried with her. "I am your wife, am I not?"

"Which part of that upsets you more? Taking care of me or being my wife?"

She sighed, shutting her book and pinching her brow. "Neither, Darien. I am not upset for either of those reasons…"

"Say that again?"

Sitting up straight, her eyes went wide as she noticed her slip. "I said, neither."

"No. Not that part."

Hesitating, she shifted in her seat as if uncomfortable with herself and him. "Darien…"

Her eyes instantly went to the ground once his name left her lips for the second time but he smiled all the same. "I prefer you to call me that, you know?"

She shot to her feet, the action so sudden it caused him to jump. "Yes, you made that very clear last night."

Now she was making for the door, fast as if he could go after her. "Serena! Did I...do or say something that has you upset?"

Flinging the door open, she stepped out into the hall, only looking back once. "No. You did nothing."