"Are you sure you don't want me to stay here tonight?" Janet pulled Lilly in for a hug as she said goodnight.
"We will be fine," Lilly reassured as she returned the hug.
Niall had suggested that the Earth contingency should stay with him and Cara as he had a huge four bedroom farmhouse compared to Lilly and Ben's tiny but cosy cottage. Janet didn't really want to be too far away from Ben but had conceded when Lilly pointed out that, not only had they managed all week without her and that she, herself was a trained Platon more than capable of caring for her husband for one more night.
"Finn is tucked in, Ben should sleep with the sedative you gave him," Lilly continued, "and Niall has said he will be over first thing in the morning to help transport my husband to the hospital so we will meet you there around midmorning."
"I just feel guilty..."
"Don't, we will be fine Janet," Lilly repeated confidently. "And I am sure my sister will value any ideas on wedding dress design while you stay with her," she added, smiling over at Cara who nodded her head in agreement.
"Absolutely," Cara linked arms with Janet. "Actually, it might be a good idea for Niall to fetch ma as I am sure she would like to be involved, you don't mind do you Lilly?"
"Not at all," Lilly assured. "I think that is a great idea and perhaps we can get together sometime tomorrow so I can see what you ideas you have?"
"Of course." Cara nodded.
"Right," Niall interrupted the women. "I think I have everything on the cart now. Are you all ready?"
Janet turned to object again but Lilly reached out and patted her arm.
"I will see you in the morning."
"You win, Mrs. Ashton," Janet capitulated with a sigh and a smile before picking up her back pack and following the others.
Lilly then stood and watched as her visitors climbed onto the cart and then waved them off, feeling slightly left out but also knowing that her place was here, with her family. They needed her.
Xxx
"We are going to drop you off at grandpi and grandmi's house..."
"I don't wanna go!"
Lilly was trying to explain to Finn what was going to happen today but her son was not very happy about it, not one bit.
"But, we have to get papi to see Uncle Conrad..."
"I can come. I can help!"
It was nearly nine o'clock and Lilly had been up for hours now. She had seen to the animals, packed her husband's overnight bag and was in the process of folding a change of clothes for Finn to go in his holdall alongside his engines and a few books and her patience was running a little thin.
"Darling, I know this is hard on you," she continued after taking a deep calming breath, "but, it will be very busy at the hospital and Uncle Conrad will not want you under his feet."
"But, I'll be ever so good and he might need me to help..."
Lilly hung her head and then sat on a chair at the kitchen table. "Come here," she held her arms open for her son who begrudgingly sidled over, thumb in mouth. "Please, poppet," Lilly reached, picked him up and sat him on her lap. "Papi is still poorly and mami and Uncle Conrad are going to need to concentrate to make him better. You will be so bored my love and I know that Grandpi and Grandmi will love to have you stay with them."
Finn sighed and then rested his head on her shoulder. "I don't wanna go," he repeated tiredly, "an' I don't want papi to go as well."
Lilly kissed the top of his head as she tucked it under her chin. "Oh, Finny, I know you don't," she commiserated. "I don't want any of us to go anywhere but papi needs to be in the hospital for a while. It won't be forever I promise."
"I just want him all better," Finn sniffed.
"So do I and the quickest way for him to get better is to spend some time in hospital with special medication."
She understood why her son was so upset, he'd never seen his father ill before, Ben was a hero to the little boy, the one who made everything better and to see him like this, barely able to even to get out of bed must be so hard for him.
"Listen," she moved slightly so her little boy was more comfortable. "I have put your new Thomas book in for grandpi to read with you and I'm sure when papi is feeling a bit better he'd love you to tell him all about it."
Finn shrugged and started to suck his thumb.
"And, don't forget you have to finish the fish painting picture for him and grandpi has all your colors mixed."
"Uh huh."
Lilly sighed sadly and started to rock her tired, upset son. "It's going to be all right Finn, I promise. Papi will be home soon and everything will be back to normal, you'll see."
Xxx
"Finn, can you pack away your engines in your backpack? I need to speak to Uncle Niall," Lilly smiled and then pulled Niall to one side.
"Is everything all right?" Niall whispered as Finn quickly did as he was told.
"Finn is very upset," Lilly admitted, "a little scared too," she added with a sad smile.
Niall had just arrived to collect them and Lilly hadn't had time to see to Ben yet as Finn had fallen asleep on her lap and she hadn't had the heart to move him. The little boy didn't really understand what was going on and Lilly hoped that Niall might explain things clearer to him as he'd had to spend many weeks in hospital himself after the farming accident that cost him his leg.
"He doesn't want to leave his father." Lilly continued. "I have tried to explain that his papi needs to be in hospital so he can get better but I think Finn is worried that he's not going to come home. He's only three and it is very hard." She glanced over at her son who was slowly packing his things away, wiping his nose on his arm as he did. She could see the milky tear tracks on his face and it broke her heart.
"What can I do to help?" Niall followed her gaze and saw for himself how upset the little boy was.
"Could you tell him about your stay in hospital?" Lilly turned and requested. "Obviously leave a few things out but, perhaps about how you got better and stronger?"
"I will try," Niall nodded, his eyes still fixed on Finn. "But I am not sure how much it will help," he shrugged.
"It's worth a try, if you don't mind."
"Of course not, I will do my best," Niall turned and smiled. "Anything to help the little fellow."
"Thank you," Lilly patted his arm and then crossed to her son again. "Right, Finny," she smiled. "I need you to do an important job with Uncle Niall while I go and help papi," she stated and reached for the wicker basket on the table. "I need you to go and collect all the eggs you can find because I know that papi would love for you to bake a cake with Grandmi for when he is better."
"That's a great idea," Niall grinned. "Bet I can collect more than you, Finn." He issued a challenge to his young nephew, knowing full well that he would take him up on the bet and, sure enough, Finn lifted his head and slowly started to smile.
"Bet ya can't, Uncle Niall."
"Well, let's get to it," Niall playfully snatched the basked off Lilly. "Last one to the chicken run is an egg!" He teased.
Finn immediately started to run out of the room and Niall turned to Lilly.
"Take your time," he smiled. "We'll have a little 'man' time and meet you at the cart when you're ready."
"Thanks Niall."
"No problem."
Lilly stood and laughed when Niall then winked and started clucking.
"Right, cluck, behind, cluck, you!"
Now it was time to give her husband her total attention.
Xxx
Ben was so deeply asleep that Lilly was having trouble waking him.
Thanks to Janet's sedative, his sleep had been undisturbed all night. Lilly really wanted to let him rest but her touch to his forehead resulted in the confirmation of a high fever once more and she knew it was necessary to get him into hospital as soon as possible.
"Come on, Ben," she persevered until he groaned and opened his eyes. "It's time to go now, sweetheart," she smiled as she brushed his hair off his forehead. "There is a nice bed with your name on and a bag of Earth wonder drugs ready to fight your bugs."
"What time is it?" Ben yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Late morning."
Ben sighed and closed his eyes again. "I just want to sleep, Lilly," he mumbled.
"I know you do," Lilly sighed. "But, you need to be in hospital. Janet came all this way..."
"Janet was here?"
"Yes."
"Thought I'd dreamed it," Ben sighed again.
"No, you didn't and we're keeping her waiting. She is already at the hospital, making arrangements and will be wondering where we are." Lilly pulled the quilt down and Ben immediately started to shiver.
"It's c—cold," he reached to pull the covers up again but Lilly grabbed them and folded them over the end of the bed.
"I know you're not feeling very well Ben but we really need to get going," she gently helped him to sit. "You can sleep as long as you want to once you're tucked up in bed again," she smiled kindly and grabbed the hospital gown Janet had suggested. She thought it would make things easier if Ben fell asleep on route to the hospital, at least they wouldn't have to disturb him to get him settled once he was there.
Ben rested his head back against the bed head and groaned. "I just want to stay here."
"You sound just like your son," Lilly tutted light-heartedly "and we've had to gang up on him to talk some sense into him too." She reached and pulled Ben's sweet soaked t-shirt up over his head.
"We?" Ben mumbled as he rubbed his temples.
"Niall and I," Lilly eased one of Ben's arms into the gown. "He is collecting eggs with our boy, reassuring him that a stay in hospital is not too bad," she shrugged and reached for his other arm.
Ben just sat and let her manoeuvre him, feeling too ill and wiped out to be any assistance. "Niall is a good man," he slowly nodded.
"That he is," Lilly agreed and then pulled her husband into her chest so to get better access to the tie the gown at the back.
Ben let his head flop onto her shoulder and Lilly gently rubbed his back.
"We will soon have you feeling better," she promised, feeling the heat of his burning fever bleeding through the thin material. "I'm so sorry you're still feeling so ill."
"S'okay," Ben mumbled. "Not your fault."
"It feels like it is."
"Why?"
"I should have realised that you would be wide open to Mandanan illnesses."
"So should I."
"It's not your fault."
"No one's fault, just crappy circumstances."
Lilly sat and rocked her sick husband for a while before easing him back onto his pillows. "Do you think you can make it to the cart, my love?" She asked, tenderly carding her fingers through his hair.
"I'll try," Ben managed to smile. "Just don't go too fast."
"We'll go at your pace."
"Okay."
Lilly leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead. "I'll just grab you some toiletries and we will get going. Won't be a minute."
Ben nodded, closed his eyes and let his head fall to one side. Lilly sighed and caressed his cheek. He was so sick and she didn't want to pull him from his bed but they both knew it was urgent that he had some stronger treatment.
After pulling a sheet over his legs, she went in search of Ben's toiletries.
It was time to get going.
Xxx
The sound of Finn's screams echoed in Ben's already aching head, causing nausea to roll in his stomach.
After managing to literally crawl out of the house, he was now lying in the back of Niall's cart on a blanket that covered a mound of straw, trying so hard to sleep and escape his illness but his son was in the middle of an almighty tantrum.
Lilly glanced at her husband, noticed the look of pain on his face and grabbed Finn again. "Stop it right now young man!" She scolded. "That is enough, papi is not well and you are making things worse." She plonked him on her lap but he continued to squirm.
"I don't wanna go!" Finn wailed. "I wanna stay in my bedroom. I want my toys. I don't wanna go to Grandpi's. I wanna stay wif papi!"
Niall had tried to explain things to the young boy but he'd become hysterical at the mere mention that his father may be in hospital for more than one night. Finn had immediately run to his parents and tried to grab his father's hand to stop him getting into the cart. Niall had to tuck him under his arm and forcibly sat him on the front seat but he'd kicked and screamed the whole time. In the end, Lilly allowed him to climb into the back with them but he still hadn't calmed down and she regretted not letting him go with Janet last night as he'd begged.
Ben turned on his side and groaned so Lilly tightened her hold on her wriggling child. "Please Finn, just calm down. You are not helping papi one bit."
Finn crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. "No!" He huffed. "I want Uncle Niall to take us back home. I can look afer papi!"
When Finn raised his voice again, Ben whimpered but held his hands out for his son, knowing that the only way he'd be able to rest was if his son did too. "Come to papi," he all but whispered.
"Ben, no..."
Ben managed to open is eyes and he smiled sadly at his wife. "It's not fair to him. He's getting too upset. Come on Finny, come and rest your eyes with me."
Finn clambered off his mother's lap and crawled into his father's arms, where he curled up and stroked Ben's cheek.
"I's sorwee, p...papi," he hiccupped. "I d...don't want ya t...to go...go."
"I know you don't buddy. I don't want to go either but I need to get better so we can go on another adventure together and mami is right, I won't get better staying at home. I need to be in hospital and I need you to be a big boy." The mere act of talking was exhausting so he pulled his son in for a hug, rested his chin on his head and closed his eyes. "Papi is really tired, Finny. I need to sleep."
"I tired too," Finn sniffed and his thumb crept into his mouth.
"I know you are. Let's take a nap together then," Ben mumbled.
"'kay, papi."
Lilly sat back and watched as her men slowly began to relax. She reached for a blanket, tucked it round them, and placed the palm of her hand on her husband's burning forehead. "Well done, sweetheart," she whispered.
"He's tired."
"I know he is and so are you. Just sleep. We will be there soon, just hold on," she said, knowing how awful he must be feeling.
"Okay."
After smoothing the edge of the blanket, Lilly gave Niall a reassuring smile and continued to monitor her husband's condition as their son began to snore softly in his arms.
If it wasn't for the fact that Ben was so ill, it would have made a beautiful picture.
Xxx
"Hey Lilly Lou!" Sergi glanced up from this gardening and smiled. "Is everything all right?"
Lilly jumped down from the back of the cart and returned the smile. "Is ma here?"
Sergi stabbed his fork into the hard ground and brushed his hands on his pants. "She's gone to Mari's to go through wedding arrangements, why?"
"We're taking Ben into hospital and..."
"Is he no better?"
"No, pa, he's really sick and needs some of Earth's medicine," Lilly sniffed when she suddenly found herself getting emotional. She knew that Ben would get better, in time but the concern and emotion in her father's words and gaze bought a lump to her throat. "I need someone to look after Finn so I can treat him," she said after clearing her throat.
"Of course," Sergi nodded, crossed to her side and placed his arm round her shoulders. "We are always here for you," he smiled and tenderly tucked her loose curls behind her ears.
"Thanks' pa," Lilly rested her head on her father's strong shoulder, knowing that he would do anything for them. "I do have to warn you," she continued, sighing softly. "Our little boy is not in the best of moods."
"Oh?"
"He is most upset that his father is going into hospital," Lilly admitted as they started to walk towards the cart "and neither Niall nor I could manage to calm him. In the end, he fell asleep in Ben's arms." She reached and pulled the canvas to one side to revel the two sleeping Ashton boys.
"Ah. So I see," Sergi smiled fondly before clambering aboard. "Ben looks awful," he sighed as he knelt at his side.
"That's why we need to get him some help."
Sergi reached down and gently plucked the sleeping boy out of his father's embrace, soothing Ben when he whimpered and stirred.
"Come on, poppet," he then held Finn to his chest. "Your papi needs to go and get better," he said as he carefully climbed down, cradling his precious bundle in his arms.
Lilly quickly followed, after tucking Ben in again and handed her father Finns backpack. "He has some changes of clothing, a few books and some toys," she smiled "and I have put some eggs on the top. I kind of promised that ma might bake a cake with him."
"I am sure she will," Sergi smiled.
"I will try and come back tonight to tuck him in..."
"Your place is with your husband. Finn will be just fine with us," Sergi reassured. "You'd best go Lilly Lou. Don't worry about your little boy."
Lilly reached and stroked Finn's hair. She was torn. She knew her place was at her husband's side but her son knew exactly how to pull on her heartstrings. With a sigh, she leaned in and kissed the top of his head and then her father's cheek. "Thanks pa."
"No problem, Lil's."
Lilly hesitated for a second before climbing into the cart. As they pulled off again she poked her head through the canvas and waved at her father and son.
"We will get word to you, I promise," she called.
"I love you Lilly," Sergi smiled.
"And, I you," Lilly blew him a kiss, tears brimming in her eyes again.
As they turned the corner and down the cobbled lane that led to the hospital, she took a deep breath. It was time to put her professional hat on again, for the first time in nearly four years.
She just hoped she could remember her training. Her husband needed her.
