Mikal's already passed out, with Luna resting her head dutifully on her stomach, when I return with some ginger ale for her to settle her stomach.

Luna wags her tail happily, at the sight of me, as if she didn't just see me walk in with Mikal in the first place like two minutes ago.

I try to pull the covers the rest of the way over her, without disrupting either her or Luna too much. To little avail, of course, because Luna immediately relocated herself to a middle spot between Mikal and I when I set the glass on her nightstand and then settle myself into my spot next to her.

"What are you doin?" I ask Luna, scratching her head. "You were supposed to stay over there." She licks my hand in response.

"I see." I chuckle, as if she's given me a clear answer. "I know, I love you too."

I give her one more head scratch, before turning over to lay on my side and watch Mikal as she sleeps.

A little smile lights up Mikal's face, and I can't tell whether she's just having a really good dream or she's secretly listening to me talking to Luna. Either way, it's just as contagious.

Her eyes flutter open, and she smiles as soon as she sees me laying next to her.

"How long have you been there?" she asks, sleepily.

"Only about as long as you've been asleep, I like watching you."

She grins even wider at this. "You're cute."

I glance to make sure she's not talking about Luna first, and she notices.

"...yes, you!"

"...I knew that..." I fib.

She kisses me and starts to sit up. "Sure you did."

"Alright, you got me."

She sips from the ginger ale glass I left for her, on her nightstand. "I don't even remember bringing this up."

"That's cause I did." I explain.

"You're the best." she sighs.

"Debatable" I shrug. "How you feeling?"

"Debatable.." she chuckles. "...much better, actually."

"Well that's good. I was worried you were gonna pass out back there, for a minute."

She nods. "I definitely felt like it."

"Well, you feel like trying to hold something else down?" I suggest. "Baby's probably hungry."

There's that smile again.

"Maybe a little bit of soup, some crackers if we have them."

I give her a peck on the forehead. "You got it. I'll check on the crackers too."

"Thank you."

"You want another ginger ale while I'm up? That one's been sitting out a while, might be warm" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I'm okay, just the soup and crackers will be fine."

"I'll be right back then."

It's a few minutes before I realize Luna's followed me down, from upstairs, hoping for a snack of her own. I look down and catch her hopeful eyes, just staring up at me, while I hear up Mikal's chicken soup and then fumble around in the cupboards for some crackers.

I sigh, reaching into the bag of beggin' strips, and toss her a few which she quickly gobbles down."

"Alright, no more. Okay?" I gesture towards the bowl of soup and the crackers I've found to go with it. "This is for Mommy, yeah? Mommy's food."

She tilts her head, as if understanding...or trying to understand, what I'm saying to her.

I give her a head scratch before placing the food on a tray, and then carrying it upstairs, Luna following shortly behind.

Mikal's face lights up again when she spots that we did in fact have crackers to go with her chicken soup.

"I hope chicken's okay." I say, setting the tray down on the bed. "That, and the crackers, were all we had. I'll go to the store tomorrow and get some more stuff."

She takes a small spoonful of the soup. "You're a lifesaver, Z."

"So to speak, right?" I smirk.

"Yeah" she laughs. "I heard it as soon as I said it."

"Mmmhmm..." I nod.

She shrugs. "So far, so good."

"Looks like it." I agree.