Chapter 21

"Coffee," Cece placed a mug in front of her girlfriend, "Kiss," she kissed her cheek, "Anything else?"

Alison smiled, "Just you," she pulled Cece to sit down beside her and kissed her lips.

Cece bit her lip sheepishly, "Are you sure? Are you hungry because I could – "

"Hey, stop," Alison touched Cece's cheek, "I'm not going anywhere," she said quietly.

Cece nodded, "I just want you to know how much I love you."

"You don't have to spoil me so much to show me that," Alison pointed out, "I know how much you love me, silly. As much as I love you," she kissed Cece's mouth gently.

Cece felt her body relax as Alison pulled away, Cece nipping her lip playfully as she did so.

"Okay," Cece breathed, "You have that stupid assignment to finish today, right?"

Alison laughed, "Yeah, I do, but you have work anyway, silly."

Cece frowned, "No, I don't," she shook her head.

Alison looked confused, "You always work Saturday."

"It's not Saturday…" Cece blinked in thought, "Oh yeah," she smiled, "Right."

Alison watched her girlfriend closely, "Are you feeling okay, babe?"

Cece smiled, "Sure, I'm fine. Just tired, that's all."

Alison yawned as she scratched her pen across the page.

"Stay up too late?"

Alison looked up and smiled at her mom, who placed a drink down in front of her.

"Not really," Alison shrugged, "Thanks. I'm really getting spoilt today."

"Hmm?" Jessica hummed.

Alison smiled, "Nothing, it's just Cece was spoiling me this morning, that's all," she grinned, "She's so sweet."

Jessica smiled at the lovey dovey look on her daughters' face, "I'm glad, now stop daydreaming and get your homework done. Keeping your marks up is part of the deal, remember?"

"I know, I know," Alison sighed, turning back to her work.

An hour later, Alison was scribbling the last line of her essay when her phone rang. She took the call, her panic growing. Her mom came into the room, frowning.

"Ali, what is it?" she asked, noting the concern on her daughters face.

"It's Cece," Alison said numbly, "She collapsed at the boutique. She's in hospital."

Jessica grabbed her keys off the table, "I'll drive you."

"Hey," Alison rushed to her girlfriends' side and wrapped her arms around her, "What happened? Are you okay?"

Cece hugged her back, "I'm fine, Ali, really," she smiled, "I guess I should have eaten breakfast huh?"

Alison frowned, "They said you collapsed…"

"They're being dramatic," Cece waved a hand, "I was light headed, I fell down. I'm fine, I swear. I just want to get out of here."

Alison squeezed her hand, "What did the doctors' say?"

"I don't know, they say I have to get a CT scan," she started to rush when she saw the panic on Ali's face, "It's routine, babe. Don't worry about it."

Alison bit her lip and nodded, "Okay. Sure," she smiled.

"Ali, sit down."

Alison paced back and forth, ignoring her mom's words.

"What if she's really sick?" Alison mumbled.

Jessica stood up and laid a hand on Ali's crossed arms, "Ali, I'm sure she'll be fine. She – "

"I should have known something was wrong," Alison said.

Jessica frowned, "You couldn't have known – "

"But this morning, she was acting weird, I should have paid more attention," Alison insisted.

"What do you mean, acting weird, Ali?"

"She forgot she had work. She didn't know what day it was," Alison sighed angrily at herself, "She said she was tired. I should have realised…"

Jessica pulled her daughter close, "You couldn't have known," she repeated firmly, "Ali, did you tell the doctor about that? About her forgetting the day?"

Alison nodded, "I mentioned it, but Ce just said it was because she was tired… the doctor looked worried, mom, what if – "

"Hey, let's just wait, okay?" Jessica squeezed her daughters' shoulders.

"Concussion?" Alison repeated, "From the fall? But why did she fall?"

"Ali," Cece groaned, "Don't talk about me like I'm not in the room."

Alison looked at her, "Sorry, but I get the concussion thing, but why did you fall? And why did you get so confused this morning?"

Cece bit her lip and sighed, "The concussion wasn't from the fall. Well, not today's fall. I passed out the other day too," she muttered.

Alison frowned, "What? When? Why didn't you tell me?"

Cece shrugged, "I didn't think it was a big deal. I don't know what happened, one second I was standing, the next I was waking up on the floor. I felt fine. They say it's low blood pressure. It's not a big – "

"Stop saying it's not a big deal!" Alison exclaimed, "You're in hospital getting all kinds of tests, of course I'm worried."

Cece stopped and reached out a hand, which Alison took, "I know, Ali. I'm sorry," she squeezed Alison's hand, "I don't like people to worry about me."

"I know," Alison shook her head, "But I love you. You really scared me. What do we do about your blood pressure?"

Cece smiled a little, "I love you too. I just have to take some medication and see the doctor next week so they can see if it's getting better."

"Okay," Alison kissed her cheek, "And the concussion? Couldn't it be really bad if you fall when you already have a concussion?"

Cece bit her lip, "It could have been," she said quietly, "But it wasn't, I'm okay."

"All the same, you shouldn't be alone," Jessica interrupted, "Why don't you come and stay with us for a while?"

Alison smiled at her mom before turning back to Cece, "Good idea."

"Oh, I don't want to put you out – "

"Babe, don't you wanna stay in my bed a while? I can look after you, be your nurse," she winked.

Jessica coughed quietly.

Alison rolled her eyes and glared at her mom.

"I don't want anyone to make a fuss," Cece mumbled, "But okay, I'll stay. Only because I love waking up next to you."

Alison smiled, "Good."

"Ali," Cece grumbled, "I'm not an invalid, I can walk up the stairs."

Alison nibbled her lip, "Maybe I just like holding your hand," she teased.

Cece smiled, "Sorry, I'm a terrible patient."

Alison pulled Cece onto the bed, "It's okay, baby," she lay beside her girlfriend, "Does your head still hurt?"

"A little," Cece admitted, snuggling into Alison's shoulder, "I was kind of scared, Ali."

Alison smiled, "I know," she ran a hand through Cece's hair, "But you're okay now," she kissed Cece's head, "I like taking care of you, remember?"

"Mm, you'd make a sexy nurse," Cece murmured sleepily.

Alison giggled, "Maybe when you're more awake, I'll be your sexy nurse."

Cece slung an arm across Alison's stomach, letting her eyes close, "Mm, okay. Can I sleep now?"

"Of course," Alison smiled, continuing to run a hand through her girlfriends' hair.