Author Note: This never happens to me. Two chapters done within a week of each other. Awesome! Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven: Unexpected Illness
The twins turned three soon, at least a week before Wimbledon started. So the family decided to host it in the house they rent for two weeks. Novak felt his stomach get uneasy when the plane took off, but he put it off as nerves. He downed some Pepto before trying to sleep. Unfortunately, he couldn't with the twins demanding his attention. When they arrived in London, his stomach eased a bit and he was able to help Roger with the twins. They made it to their house with no paparazzi in the area and they got everyone into the house. Roger made supper, fish sticks and macaroni, but Novak didn't seem to have the stomach. However, he didn't want Roger to worry, so he ate. Theo and Rosie went down with out a fuss and by then, Novak was tired. He yawned as he climbed into bed with Roger. His husband leaned over to kiss him good night, but he gave Roger his cheek instead. "Are you okay?" Roger asked.
"I don't know, but I don't want to risk you catching it if I do have something," Novak said.
"Okay. Night," he said turning off his light.
"Night," Novak said turning off his. He settled on his side and Roger's arm came around him. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Three hours later...
Novak sat up in bed holding his stomach. It gurgled before feeling like it was turning around in circles. He went to belch, but felt something else and he stopped himself before getting up and heading over to the bathroom. He put up the toilet seat and began to vomit his supper into the loo. He groaned before he let out another hurl and more food came up. "Great," he moaned. Just then the light came on and he squinted at the brightness.
"Guess you do have something," Roger said getting a washcloth. As he washed it, Novak threw up again. Novak took the warm washcloth to wipe his mouth and he sat back against the wall. He reached up and flushed the toilet. "When did it start?"
"I'm not sure," Novak said. "I think on the plane, but I stopped it with the Pepto," he said.
"The food probably triggered it." Novak groaned as he handed Roger the washcloth. "You think you can get back to bed, or do you want to spend the night in here?"
"I'll try to get back into bed," Novak said. Roger helped Novak to his feet and helped him back to bed.
"Don't worry about not waking me up if you have to go again," he said as he climbed in.
"Okay," Novak said before trying to get back to sleep. About a half hour later, he was throwing up again.
By morning, Novak made five trips to the bathroom. He finally was fast asleep after Roger gave him something to settle his stomach. Jenna, the nanny they brought with them took the kids to the park so Roger could not only plan the party a bit more, but also take care of Novak. Dijana and Lynette arrived to help him with both. "He was throwing up all night," Roger said. "I'm going to check on him and I'll be back down."
"Okay," Lynette said. Roger headed upstairs and found the bed empty. His answer came from the bathroom when he heard Novak throwing up again. He heard the toilet flush before Novak came into view.
"Medicine wore off," he said before slowly making his way back to the bed.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Like shit," Novak said. He curled back into bed and Roger sat down beside him. He felt his forehead and found him to be a little warm.
"You're a little warm," he said.
"Yeah, I felt that too," Novak said. Roger got up and went into the bathroom for the baby thermometer. He came back and Novak was fast asleep.
"Wow, couldn't even wait til I got back with it," he said. He checked Novak's temperature through his ear and found it to be 99 degrees. He sighed out as he put the thermometer onto the bedside table and gave his husband a kiss on his hot forehead. "Sleep tight," he said before leaving the room, pulling the door shut some ways. When he came down, he gave an update to his mother in law. "He feels like shit and his temperature is up to 99 degrees."
"Sounds like he's got a stomach flu," Dijana said.
"Sounds like it. We need to keep the kids away from him," he said.
"You'll be fine. He can't be sick all week," Lynette said.
Unfortunately, Novak was sick all week. If he wasn't throwing up, he was laying in bed being miserable. He even kicked Roger out of the bedroom because he didn't want him to get sick as well. Last thing the kids needed was to have both parents sick. Theo and Rosie understood that their daddy was sick and they couldn't see him. Every day, they both made get well cards for him. They always brought a smile to Novak's face when Roger would bring them up to him. By the time the kids' third birthday party rolled around, Novak's stomach flu transformed into a head cold. "Good news is, Novak's not throwing up anymore," Roger said and their moms cheered. Roger put a plate of breakfast in front of him as he sat down. "Bad news is he's now got a head cold," he said and they groaned.
"I'm fine with the head cold. I just can't breath or taste my food," he said. He slowly ate his food, drinking his orange juice too before Roger sprung something on him.
"I was lenient with you the past week cause you couldn't move without tossing your cookies, but we have to get you onto the practice court at some point. Wimbledon starts on Monday and it's Friday."
"The twins have their party tomorrow," Novak said.
"Guess that means we have to practice today and Sunday," Roger said. Novak groaned as he took his dishes to the sink. "Hey, if you hadn't been sick, we would of have practice all week."
"I know. I'll get ready," he said before heading up to the bedroom. He got dressed for practice and grabbed his bags. When he got down there, Roger was waiting for him.
Roger didn't go easy on Novak either. He had him practice everything; volleys, forehands, backhands, slices, serves, everything. Things would go faster if Novak wouldn't have to stop to blow his nose every five minutes. An hour later, Novak was getting weary of practice and sat down in protest. "I'm done," he said grabbing a tissue.
"No, you're not," Roger said. "I want at least one scrimmage from you before we go back to the house," he said. Novak honked as he blew his nose. "This is no different than what I went through at Indian Wells in 2012. I had a head cold, but Paul pushed me back then and I won."
"Yeah? Well what about my health? It could get worse being out here in the sun."
"Fresh air will do you good. Couple of scrimmages and then we'll go back to the house," Roger said. Novak angrily picked up his racket and headed over to the other end of the court. They hit a few balls together and then called it quits. Novak was the first out of the car, his anger still evident. Before Roget could say anything he asked Jenna to take the kids out to the park nearby. She got them into the stroller and headed out. "What?" Roger asked.
"I really am feeling like shit, Roger and you go and put me through drills."
"Would you have rather I done it while you were throwing up?"
"That's not the point," Novak said.
"What is the point?" Roger asked.
"The point is that I was looking to go home when I felt myself getting dizzy after that last service game you had me go through. It was hot and it wasn't doing any good for me."
"Novak, you know how you are when you have no practice. I wanted you to work on a few things before we headed back. It's just a head cold."
"That could be the flu when I get up tomorrow," Novak said. "I couldn't breathe before and I certainly can't breathe now."
"I hate it when you're sick," Roger groaned. "You're like a little whinny child when you get sick. You won't take any medicine and your snoring is driving me nuts at night."
"Oh, and your snoring is better?" Novak asked.
"At least I stop when I'm on my side. You snore on all four sides," Roger said. "I barely got any sleep last night because of your tossing and turning," he said.
"Then maybe you should just not sleep here tonight."
"You going to kick me out of the house?" Roger asked and Novak just stood there with his arms folded.
Mirka opened her door to find Roger standing there was a duffel bag. "Is there a reason you're standing on my porch with a bag over your shoulder?"
"Please let me in. I've been to five houses and have been rejected five times. Novak and I had a fight."
"And he kicked you out?" she asked.
"Please, Mirka." She let out a sigh as she stepped aside to let her friend in. "Thank you."
"What was the fight about?" she asked.
"Um, I'm not sure," he said as she shut the door. After getting him settled onto the couch, Mirka broke out her scotch and handed him a glass. "It started on the practice court. He has a head cold, but I wanted him to at least get some practice in."
"Of course," she said.
"It apparently got to be too much for him and he sat down in protest. I made him get up to do a couple of games before we headed home. He had Jenna take the kids to the park so they wouldn't see us fight," he said before sipping his scotch. "He complained that I kept him out too long and his head cold could turn into the flu. He's whinny when he gets sick. I can't stand it."
"You told him that?" Mirka asked.
"I practically nursed him while he was vomiting in the toilet, but now with the head cold it's; "I can't breathe." or it's "I can't sleep." He refuses to take medicine to help him sleep and his snoring while he's sick is unbearable."
"Roger, he kicked you out because you complained about his snoring?" she asked.
"Yes." Mirka giggled before it turned into all out laughing. "Oh, that's real helpful," he said as she held her stomach. She was laughing that hard.
"That is one of the stupidest things to fight about," she laughed.
"You're not helping," Roger said before downing his scotch. "Are you done?" he asked as she seemed to settle down.
"Relax. You guys will make up tomorrow," she said.
"Oh, the kids have their party tomorrow," Roger said.
"Roger, you guys have been together for ten years. A little fight like this isn't going to break you up. In truth, this is the first time Novak's kicked you out since you've been together."
"True," he said.
"Everything will be fine tomorrow," she said. "Get some sleep. The couch is yours."
"Thanks," he said before settling onto the couch.
The next day, Roger headed back over to the house. The twins were excited to see him and they both gave him kisses before heading out to the back yard. Roger and Novak had procured a bouncy castle for the party. They were super excited. He placed the birthday presents onto the present table and headed to the kitchen. He found his mother and mother in law. Both gave him a look and he sighed out. "I know. The fight was stupid. I don't even know how it started."
"If it's any consolation, he was missing you this morning," Dijana said. "He was a crying mess in the living room when we got here."
"Did he really kick you out?" Lynette asked.
"Yeah, I bunked with Mirka last night, after five people said no," he said. "As soon as they heard, Novak and I had a fight, they slammed the doors in my face." Lynette started to laugh and was joined by Dijana. "I'm so glad you guys think this is funny. Where is my husband?"
"He's upstairs," Dijana said and he headed up the steps. Novak was sitting at the window watching the kids. Novak turned to see his husband and looked back to the window.
"Really? You going to give me the silent treatment?"
"Who did you spend the night with?" Novak asked.
"Mirka. She was the only one who didn't slam the door in my face after I told her we had a fight," Roger said. "I slept on her couch."
"I'm sorry I was bitchy and whinny yesterday," he said. "I hate being sick." Roger nodded as he got onto his knees in front of his husband. He gently picked up Novak's hands and gave them a kiss.
"I'm sorry for complaining about it," Roger said. "I'm sorry for keeping you too long on the court."
"It wasn't that long," Novak said.
"It was the whole afternoon. The whole fight was stupid." Novak nodded before laughing. "What?"
"I kicked you out for complaining about my snoring," he laughed before coughing into his shoulder. It got Roger laughing and he gathered Novak into his arms for a hug. "I don't want to fight ever again."
"Neither do I," Roger said. He kissed Novak's neck before letting out a sigh. He then pulled away and cupped Novak's face. "I love you." Novak smiled and Roger leaned forward, causing him to stop.
"No, I don't want you to get sick," Novak said.
"I don't care," he said and before Novak could react, Roger kissed him right on the lips. He moaned out and Roger easily sucked out his tongue and before he knew it, Roger was lifting him up. The kiss grew passionate and Roger carried him into the bedroom. Before Novak could comprehend what was happening, Roger and him had their first make up sex. They laid in bed totally oblivious to the third birthday party downstairs. "We just had make up sex," Roger said.
"Yeah," Novak said before grabbing a tissue and blowing his nose. "You are so getting sick next week," he said causing Roger to laugh.
"I don't care," he said.
"We really should get downstairs to the party," he said getting out of bed. He tossed Roger his clothes. "I can't believe we had sex during our kids' third birthday party," he said.
"It's going to be memorable because we'll think of this," Roger said as they got dressed. When they got downstairs, their mothers were just prepping the cake for the birthday song.
"About time you guys made it down," Lynette said.
"Oh, I can't believe you two," Dijana said.
"What?" they said.
"Having sex while your children have their birthday party?" she asked before taking the cake outside.
"You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves," Lynette said before following Dijana outside. The two of them just sighed out as they followed them to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Theo and Rosie.
End of Chapter Eleven