Thank you for all your wonderful reviews. It makes me so happy to think that you are enjoying this little A/U I've created.

Lightning and Thunder

"You know, since we've been together I haven't had a sick headache." Marilla declared one day over lunch.

"A sick headache? What's that?" John asked curiously.

"Caroline didn't suffer?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You'd know if she did."

"What happens?"

"They're very nasty. First I get a visual disturbance."

"What does that mean?" John enquired; it was all new to him.

"It looks as though I have things floating in front of my eyes, but they're not really there. Sometimes I can't see through them."

"Sounds disturbing."

"That's just a precursor though. Because shortly after that I usually start talking in gibberish, then I start vomiting and my head feels like it's splitting open."

"Marilla! How long does this last for?"

"Maybe two or three days."

"Does anything help?"

"It's better if I'm in a completely dark and quiet room, other than that, no."

"How often do you get them?"

"Usually about three or four times a year, but as I say, I haven't had one since we got back together. I must say I haven't missed them."

"I don't remember your suffering before?"

"Actually I got the first one about a week after we broke up."

"Oh Mar."

As she announced it, so it came to pass.

About a week after their conversation, Marilla noticed a small dancing spot at the centre of her vision. Oh bother; I shouldn't have spoken last week, she thought to herself.

"Ohn. Ohn." That didn't sound right "Ohn" nor that either. "Ohn."

John appeared "Were you talking to me, Mar?"

"I cat meek birds, Ohn."

John looked worried, "You're not making any sense Marilla."

She looked pleadingly at him, not sure what he'd just said and not trusting herself to speak.

"Come on darling, it sounds like that thing you were telling me about last week, sick headache was it? Let's get you up into bed." He took her arm and led her up the stairs. Like a dumb thing, she was helpless. He had to undress her and find a nightgown. She just stood there while he completed the task, unable to contribute in any way. She didn't really comprehend what was happening. John pulled back the bed covers, sat her down, swung her legs into the bed and drew the covers over her.

John was very worried. It had come so rapidly. He ran through their conversation from the previous week to try to recall the symptoms: incoherence, visual disturbances. Was there anything else? Oh yes, light and noise sensitivity, vomiting and extreme pain. It sounded ghastly. Poor Marilla. He shut the curtains making the room quite dark. She started retching and he reached out for the bowl on the bedside table. He lifted her up and she vomited into it. He wiped her face with a towel and laid her back down. She was moaning in agony. He desperately wanted to fetch the doctor, but didn't feel he could leave her in this state. He didn't like to think what might happen to her if she was left on her own for even a little while. He sat by the bed for a time and watched her writhe in agony, feeling completely helpless.

"Marilla, Marilla! Are you at home?" Rachel called out. Since to go anywhere the Blythes had to go past her house, she was sure they were there, but she was surprised not to see Marilla in the kitchen.

"Is that you Rachel?" John called down the stairs.

"Yes, I just came by for a spot of tea and a chat."

"Oh what a relief, can you come up here?"

Rachel was surprised, it wasn't often she ventured upstairs even in her best friend's home. "Is everything all right?"

"No, Marilla has one of her sick headaches."

"Oh dear, poor girl. I know how she's suffered with them for years."

"Oddly enough we were just talking about them the other day. She told me she hadn't had one since we got back together, which is why I'm at a loss now. Can you stay with her for a bit while I fetch the doctor? I don't want to leave her alone." They walked into her room together. Marilla was lying in a foetal position, clutching her head, moaning in pain.

"Of course, off you go John. I'll stay with her." Rachel whispered; she recalled loud voices upset Marilla when she was in this state.

After he'd gone, she sat down in the chair to keep a close eye on Marilla. She didn't want her vomiting in the bed. Rachel knew from past experience that there was little the doctor would be able to do for Marilla, but it would set John's mind at ease. While she waited she thought about Marilla's life. They had been close friends since the first day of school.

Rachel had thought Marilla and Matthew crazy when they announced they were adopting. You heard all sorts of terrible things about orphans from goodness-knows-where, but she'd had to eat her words as the initially uninspiring Anne turned into a real smart young woman. Rachel smiled to herself as she thought back to their introduction. She supposed she had been a bit harsh, but she never expected such a reaction from either of them. Even at the beginning Marilla had been a fierce advocate for Anne, even when Anne was in the wrong.

Marilla moaned. Rachel glanced down at her, "It's all right dear, I'm here. John's just gone for the doctor." Marilla glanced up at her uncomprehendingly, whimpered and shut her eyes again. Rachel wasn't sure if Marilla had any idea what was happening beyond the pain. Marilla had told her that it was all a bit of a mystery; that she herself had strange memories of what happened when she was ill. The agony was so intense that nothing much got through to her.

As Marilla settled back in her world of pain, Rachel thought back to the scrawny child Anne had been. It had taken Marilla quite some time to fatten her up, but good healthy food and clean living had done wonders for her looks. Rachel had to admit that Marilla had been right to keep her. There was a sort of poetic justice to Anne and Gilbert getting together, they had their ups and downs too of course. The slate incident stood out as a bad starting point. She and Marilla had had a good chuckle over that. Rachel thought that was the moment Marilla recognized how special Anne was. They were both strong-minded women who wouldn't put up with any nonsense from men. It did seem that Anne got into more than the usual amount of scrapes though.

She and Marilla used to laugh and laugh over her exploits. Like the time Anne dyed her hair green; or sold the wrong cow; or nearly drowned on Barry's pond. They used to sit at the kitchen table with tears running down their cheeks, cackling so hard. Rachel could still hear Marilla telling her between giggles about the time Anne and Diana had scared themselves half to death making up tales about the so-called haunted wood; and now, she chortled, they're too scared to walk there at dusk, Rachel. Oh those silly girls.

John was taking a while; she expected he'd return any time now. Marilla was moaning and thrashing around in the bed. Rachel looked down at her with compassion. Poor Marilla, as if being a spinster most of her life weren't bad enough, she had to put up with these awful attacks.

Thinking back Rachel recalled how maternal Marilla had been with the waifs that came her way. First Anne, then the twins. Dora and Davy's relationship to her was very tenuous, but she never let that stand in her way. Dora was a sweet little thing, but that Davy was as crazy a boy as Rachel had ever seen. If Anne had been wayward he was another level of rebellion altogether, though he wasn't spiteful with it; combining curiosity with fearlessness.

Marilla looked as though she might vomit, "Here you go dear, just let it all out." Rachel held a bowl under her chin and supported her. "There, there." Afterwards, she wiped Marilla's chin and face and lowered her back down on the pillow. There really wasn't anything that she could do right now, but she would sit with her as she promised John.

Oh John, now that was a strange tale. They had made such a gay couple when young. She contemplated the times they had had when the four of them were courting; she and Thomas; Marilla and John. They had had some fun together. She recalled the time when Marilla and John had kissed at the Church dance. She had been shocked at their temerity. Rachel supposed that they were both at fault when they broke up, both impetuous and stubborn. If a couple were to survive the rigours of life together, they had to be able to compromise. Still she, as Marilla's best friend, did commiserate when they broke up.

It was hard though, as she and Thomas were just starting to court when that happened. She almost had to shield a distraught Marilla from her own joy. It was a tightrope act she had to perform. She thought about what it must have been like for Marilla to watch her have all her children. Rachel was sure Marilla would have been a wonderful mother herself had the opportunity arisen, it must have hurt her grievously to miss out. For her own sanity, Rachel supposed, Marilla had to present a harsh face to the world, when really she was a softy at heart.

Rachel thought back to her reaction to Marilla and John's reconciliation. She had mildly teased Marilla when she heard he was having dinner at her place on occasion. Marilla had denied anything was happening, but sometimes you have to be outside a relationship to see what's really going on. Rachel perceived that John was interested in her before Marilla had an inkling herself. Of course there was nothing Rachel could say to persuade her there was anything serious going on. Marilla was adamant that she was too old for any romance in her life. She was happy to be wrong though.

Marilla was quieter now, still curled into a little ball.

Rachel thought her friend made the most stunning bride; her eyes highlighted her light blue dress. Rachel had glanced at John the instant he saw Marilla coming down the stairs; he was mesmerized. Rachel smiled as she thought back to their awkward conversation about the wedding night, she knew Marilla was nervous beforehand which is why she was quite short with Rachel as she attempted to explain it. But all had gone well and Marilla and John were enjoying a happy marriage now. It made Rachel happy to … Hark, was that the door?

"Rachel."

"John" she called out, Marilla groaned.

"Sorry I was gone so long, Doctor Tulloch was out on another call."

"Shh, not so loud, it pains her." Rachel reminded him.

Doctor Tulloch entered the room and swiftly strode over to the bed to examine Marilla. After a quick examination he motioned to John to join him in the hallway.
"Yes it's a migraine or sick headache all right. It won't kill her, but it is unpleasant while it lasts. Look I feel terrible saying this, but there's really not much I can do. You'd think some sort of pain relief would help, but she won't be able to keep it down long enough for it to do its work."

"So what … ?"

"Shh" Rachel hissed.

"So what can we do?" John whispered.

"At this stage all you can do is stay with her in case she is ill again. It may be a couple of days until she revives somewhat and she'll be quite weak even then. It might take up to a week for her to fully recover. I can come back tomorrow if you like?"

"That would be helpful, thank you."

The doctor made his own way out. John entered the room again and stroked Marilla on the forehead, she winced. "What shall I do? Rachel?"

"Are you hungry?"

"What? Um, yes, I suppose so."

"I'll fetch us something to eat, we have to keep our strength up."

Rachel made her way down to the kitchen smiling to herself that it was only when Marilla was out of action that she got a chance to enter this most private of sanctums.

She hunted through the pantry and found a few bits and pieces, popped them on a plate and took a tray upstairs to the bedroom. "Here you go, John, we can eat up here." It was a strange place for a picnic and they could only whisper to each other.

"Thank you" he mouthed at her. She smiled back.

"I'll go home now." She whispered after they had finished. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Thank you for helping, Rachel." He leant over to kiss her on the cheek.

"Oh shush, she's my oldest friend, I'm happy to help."

A day later Marilla was beginning to improve. She talk coherently, but was still sensitive to light and sound. John was feeding her some soup when Rachel poked her head around the corner of the doorway. "You're looking much better, Marilla. How are you feeling?"

"Weak as a kitten, but improving slowly. It helps to have this wonderful nurse here."

John smiled at that. "You had two nurses, I'd say Marilla."