"You're sick."
Okay, Nancy is the smartest person in the world. She's kind of always right. Almost. But for once, she is wrong. So he tells her so.
"No I'm not."
Sick? Him? No, he doesn't get sick. He's never sick.
"Yes you are."
Uh oh. Nancy is also the most stubborn person in the world. And she's using her "no bullshit" voice.
"Yes you are sick, Daddy!"
Correction, Nancy is the second-most stubborn person in the world. Their daughter is the most stubborn person in the world. Emily is four years old and becoming more and more like Nancy every day which is awesome. Nancy and his mom insists she's taking after him too.
"I'm not sick I'm just-"
He's cut off by his own body betraying him by sending him into a sneeze attack.
"Bless you," Nancy tells him when it's over. She looks at him with sympathetic but also determined eyes.
"Bless you, Daddy!" Emily repeats.
"Thank you," he says, dejected. Because damnit now they won't let it go. And he's not sick. Just a little bit under the weather but nothing he can't manage, it's just about powering through.
"You're sick. No more fussing. You're sick and need to relax," Nancy continues, determined.
"Yeah, we'll take care of you, Daddy!" Emily adds and grabs a hold of his hand and starts leading him to the couch. He can do nothing but follow, of course. Nancy smirks and puts a hand on his back to push him on. He's told to take his shoes off and lie down. His meek protests are ruined by a coughing fit sealing his fate.
"Don't worry, Daddy, I'm going to take care of you just like you take care of me! Hang on," Emily announces before running off to her room.
"Why did you go into work today? You felt off this morning," Nancy questions.
"Thought it'd pass, this will too Nance I'm not-" He starts but is interrupted by Nancy placing a hand on his forehead.
"You're burning," she says matter-of-factly.
"…with my love for you?" He tries. It gets a guffaw in return.
"Hah. I'm sure. But also body temperature wise," she smirks. "You must've caught it from Emily."
"I suppose."
"You better not give it to me," she teases.
"I'll try."
Emily comes running back into the room clutching a blanket she throws over him.
"There you go, Daddy!" She looks at Nancy for a second. "Mommy, keep an eye on him I'll be right back!" She says before darting out of the room again.
"Will do, Sweetheart!" Nancy smiles and calls after her. She turns to him again. "You mister, are resting. You. Are. Sick. You're always taking care of us. You need to relax and let us take care of you now."
"Okay, fine, I'll rest for a bit but then I'll get to-"
"No no no, no 'then'. You just rest. Don't worry about later. Rest."
"Fine."
Emily comes bounding into the room again, clutching Hopper the bunny.
"Here Daddy, Hopper always makes me feel better and he's great company!" She tells him and puts her precious stuffed animal under the blanket by his neck.
"Sure is. Thanks, Peanut."
Nancy momentarily disappears and returns with a glass of water, a more comfortable pillow than the one on the couch, and a thermometer she puts in his mouth.
"102," she reads off of it. "Definitely no moving about for you. Stay put."
"Fine."
He wakes up a bit groggily. Last thing he remembers is Emily singing nursery rhymes to him. Looking at the clock on the wall he surmises he's been asleep for a few hours. Looking around the room he spots Emily kneeling by the coffee table, drawing. And she sees him.
"Daddy's up!" She calls out and Nancy immediately walks out of their bedroom where he guesses she's taken the opportunity to finish up some work.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine," he answers. She just looks at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, a bit better. Not as hot," he expands his answer.
"Hm," she steps forward and feels his forehead again. "You're not as warm yes. Are you cold?"
"I don't know, maybe-" he doesn't get to finish his sentence before Emily is running to get another blanket for him.
"Thanks."
"Are you hungry?" Nancy asks next.
"A little."
"I'll make some soup," she tells him and goes to the kitchen. He can hear her rummaging around in the kitchen and muttering as she opens and closes doors to the pantry and fridge. She swiftly returns to the living room.
"Okay wow we did not have ingredients for that. Change of plans: I'll run down the street and get you some nice chicken soup. You stay put. Emi, take care of daddy, don't let him get up. He needs to rest."
"Sure thing Mommy!" Emily answers. Nancy kisses the top of her head before heading out the door.
"Are you still cold Daddy? Do you need another blanket?"
"No thanks Sweetie, I'm good."
"Okay."
His daughter then seems to be in deep thought for a while.
"What are you thinking about Peanut?" He asks.
"I'm trying to remember. What you do when I'm sick. I got you blankets and Hopper. Mommy got you water and pillow and the stick to see if you were warm. And she's getting food now."
"Yes you did, it was very nice of you."
"Feels like… forgetting something. Blankets, Hopper, water, pillow, stick, food."
"Think that's it. You guys take great care of me."
"Hm…" Emily continues to think intently. Then a lightbulb seems to go off for her. "Ooh, of course! Cuddles!" She exclaims excitedly and promptly climbs up the couch and him, hugging him. He grins and wraps his arms around her and she snuggles in close. "You and Mommy always give me extra cuddles when I'm sick and you said it's because you need it when your sick! Are you feeling better Daddy?"
"Much," he smiles wide.
Soon they hear Nancy's key in the lock as she returns.
"Hey, so I got- awww," she starts and interrupts herself, cooing when she sees him and Emily snuggled up on the couch.
"He needs cuddles, Mommy, he's sick!" Emily informs her.
"Of course, good job Sweetie!" Nancy answers, smiling widely as she sheds her coat and walks over to them with three soup containers in her hands. "Anyway, I got us all some soup since I was there, can't be bothered in the kitchen today."
"Thanks," he tells her.
They sit on the couch all three of them huddled together and eat their soup while cartoons roll on the TV. Okay, he might be a little sick. But it won't last for long with great caregivers like this.