For those who are following me on tumblr, y'all know that I had this chapter for about a while now because of the sneak peek I posted. It's taken me a really, really long time to complete it, I know and I'm sorry. It's just that now that I'm working, I hardly find the time to do anything other than sleep on my free time, and well, there wasn't much writing going on. But I'd made myself give it time, because I felt like I owe you guys after you guys have been so patient with me and so lovely. So here we are now.

Enough of my stupid rambling, here we go, enjoy!

The usual rating applies.

Unbeta-ed don't throw rocks at me if you find all the many, many mistakes all throughout the chapter.

Chapter Fourteen

March came in cold and still damp and grey. It was as far as it could possibly be from the promise of spring coming merely a few more weeks. There had been very little snow at the end of February, but the coldness remained regardless. The rain had remained, too, and brought along with it some cosy days, even cosier nights, and of course—the flu.

It had been bad timing on Cora's part. Midterms were just around the corner, and she'd had a job to get to, but she'd come down with a cold in the middle of March, putting a screeching halt to any possible activities that she'd had to do.

Of course, Robert had been attentive, and she'd had to all but push him out of bed and out of the house because he'd wanted to take care of her. She'd been spending so much of her time in his house that it felt more like home than the one she owned in the Belgravia, but she didn't really have a problem with that. She'd all but moved in, her things scattered around his house, her clothes taking over much of the space of his walk in wardrobe. Her shoes had taken residence on the foot of his bed while some had been tucked away neatly on the corners of the closet.

It was amazing how much a little bit of time after the 'I love you' could do.

She'd been sleeping on the bed, already having called Phyllis and saying she wasn't going to attend any class, really could not even get out of bed, her headache had been blinding and had asked that she took notes so that Cora wouldn't miss anything, and to get an excuse slip so she could makeup on any exams, homework or deadline she might miss while sick, when Robert had entered, freshly showered and trying to shove his pants up his hips while trying to get his shirt done up. He was running late again, because he hadn't wanted to get out of bed. Cora would have laughed if she wasn't so sick.

"Are you sure you're going to be fine by yourself?" Robert asked, as he managed to successfully do his pants, and was buttoning his shirt as he walked towards her. He looked so worried—brows furrowed, and lips frowning as he looked at her.

"I'm not going to be alone," Cora croaked, and she sounded awful even to herself, so it wasn't really any wonder why Robert was so concerned. "Molesley is here, and Mrs. Bird," she added. Mrs. Bird was his housekeeper slash cook, who worked with his all around man, Molesley (Joseph's father), who had also helped design the landscape of the garden they'd gone to on Valentines. She still needed to tell Robert that, maybe Mr. Moleseley could help with Robert's own garden.

Robert sighed. "Alright, alright," he gave in, and it almost surprised her how quickly Robert had agreed to that. She'd anticipated more resistance from him, not that she wanted any. "But you'd call Gwen when and if you need anything, or if you feel any worse. Alright?"

She reckoned she'd feel much, much worse later, and she wouldn't want to have disturb him just for some stupid bug, she didn't resist anymore. Instead, she nodded and lowered the duvet from where it covered her lips, trying to smile.

"I promise," she said.

He looked dubious, but nodded, leaning down and kissing her forehead. "Feel better, my love," he said. It was an endearment that made an appearance after Valentines, and an endearment he'd taken into using more often these days. "I love you."

Her insides felt like molten lava turning into slush every time he told her he loved her. It still felt surreal that he should feel the same way about her, but he did, does, and god that made her feel so much better. She watched him with hooded eyes as he tried to lean down and kiss her. She held her hand up, placing her finger where his lips were and slowly shook her head (regretting it immensely when the world started to spin on its axis from where she was lying).

"I love you too," she murmured. "But don't kiss me. I don't want to make you sick."

He huffed. "Nonsense," he told her. "I sleep next to you. It doesn't matter if you kiss me or let me kiss you."

She sighed. "Maybe I should move bedrooms for now or move back to my apartment until this has passed," she said, half to herself. She really didn't want him to get sick.

"Don't even think about it," he said sternly. "If you think I'm going to transport you anywhere in this house much less to your apartment across town, you're sorely mistaken."

"Robert," she warned, because though she felt sick and weak, she wasn't going to let him steamroll her into a decision.

"Oh, Cora, you know I would abide to your every wish, but you're sick, and in no position or frame to be moving about. You're sick. You stay here in our bedroom until you feel better."

Cora smiled at him, acquiescing. Aside from him calling this room their bedroom, which made her heart flutter ridiculously, he was right. She really couldn't move anywhere, hell, she couldn't even move a damn muscle.

"Alright," she agreed, her voice raspy and her eyes tired and drooping. "I'll see you later baby. Go to work."

He nodded, chuckling, before leaning down to place a chaste kiss on her lips, then her cheek, and this time she didn't even bother stopping him. And then he was making her promise to call his secretary if she ever needed anything else, before he walked out of the bedroom and made his way to work.

Cora watched him leave and tried to keep her eyes open until they were too heavy and she felt sleep pulling her.

…

Robert was worried.

Of course, it was ridiculous, people get sick all the time, it was normal, but he hated that Cora was sick. So, he was worried for his girlfriend—which was completely normal.

Or so he tried to tell himself anyway as he went about his day, trying to drown himself in work so that he wouldn't be gnawing at his lip and chewing away on his desk as he worried.

Work had been hectic, but every now and again, he would slip away for a few minutes to call her and check on her. If she wouldn't answer, he'd assume she was sleeping and call Molesely or Mrs. Bird instead, asking them to check on her. Last time he'd called, he had been informed that her temperature had gone from forty degrees to thirty-eight. He breathed easily then.

He felt like a mother hen, hovering over her, and had she been awake all the times he'd called to check up on her, she'd be pissed off, but he couldn't help himself. Cora was the strongest person he knew, to see her bed-ridden, even if it had only been two days was hard for him, especially since he couldn't even take care of her.

So, maybe, he was a little bit distracted, worrying, but then who could blame him, right? Right?

Sure.

As he made his way to his office after going through a meeting he absolutely had no blooming idea what about (he'd have to check and recheck the documents when his mind was less occupied), he fetched his phone from his pocket and dialled the number he knew by heart. He placed the device next to his ear and listened as it rang. On the third ring, Cora picked up.

"Hello my darling," he greeted, cooing, and maybe he's a little bit of an idiot where Cora was concerned, but well…he was a man in love. And weren't all men a bit of a fool when they'd been in love too?

"Robert," she greeted, and he frowned when he heard her voice. It was still gravelly, and she sounded weak and tired—that was absolutely of no surprise—and she sounded a bit sleepy. Perhaps he'd woken her up?

"Hi, my love. Did I wake you?" he asked in concern. She could use every bit of rest she could get right now.

"No," she told him, and he imagined her shaking her head though she couldn't see him. She was adorable, and he smiled. "No, I was actually eating. Mrs. Bird brought me some soup. I was asleep during lunch so she brought me something that my stomach, mercifully, agreed with and is keeping at the moment."

Poor darling. She was so sick. Blasted weather.

"Aw, darling," he cooed. "Well, you should rest some more. Drink plenty of water, and…well, sleep. I'll probably be home when you wake."

He heard her sniffle at the other end, followed by a yawn.

"Okay, babe," she agreed easily, and he knew then how tired she really was. "I'll see you when you get home. I love you."

"Sleep, love," he whispered, lulling her. "I love you too." When he heard her breath deepen, he ended the call.

Home, he thought. He was going home, to his beautiful and wonderful (albeit a bit sick right now) girlfriend.

He smiled and thought that the word home had never seemed more inviting.

…

When Cora woke up, it was to her hair being stroked softly. It felt good, and she hummed, moaning in pleasure as she turned. She was trying to block out being awake, as she buried her face further into the pillow. She wondered how she felt so warm when she'd been so cold when she'd gone to sleep, but that really didn't matter. Soft chuckles filled her ears and she groaned, turning her head once more and trying to get her eyes open.

When they did, she was thrust into a deep darkness and it took a while before her eyes adjusted. She looked up to find her boyfriend sitting beside her on bed, his fingers carding through her hair, lulling her, calming her.

"Hello sleeping beauty," he greeted with a soft smile. His hands stopped running through her hair as he cupped her exposed cheek. He leaned down and kisses her temple. "How are you feeling?"

Warm, definitely warm, was her first throat. Then she tried to swallow and her mouth felt dry, her tongue felt three sizes bigger than its original size, and her throat was on fire.

"Water," she managed to croak out, and she watched as Robert immediately took the glass of water on the night stand, helping her drink it through the straw that Mrs. Bird had so kindly provided for her. She took a long sip, immediately feeling relief as her throat cleared somewhat. "Thank you," she'd said after.

He nodded, placing the glass back down on the table, and then lifting his hand to feel her warmth. He sighed. "You're not as hot as when I left," he said with some relief on his voice.

Cora nodded.

"Do you want anything?" he asked, and Cora, despite her muddled brain, couldn't help but find her boyfriend adorable. He was positively, absolutely adorable.

She shook her head no and smiled.

"Do you want to eat?" he tried once more.

Again, she shook her head. "Cuddles," was all she added, smiling when he, too, smiled before sliding down the bed and opening his arms so she could snuggle into them.

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, rubbing her back up and down, soothing her enough that she fell right back to sleep.

…

Cora wasn't a whiny person.

Or clingy, in fact she's the easiest person to get along with even when sick, and it was Robert who'd had been clingy and had hovered. He found that doting on her was something he wanted to do.

She'd never willingly rely on someone, that much he knew of her, and he wanted to change that—well, at least he wanted her to realize that she could and should depend on him. After all, they were partners, they were a team. And as cliché as it might sound, he truly did believe that what is his is hers, and her problems and burdens—he wanted to share that too.

But he also knew how independent she was and respected it, and so when she'd asked that he didn't hover and coddle her, he abided—going to work even when all he wanted was to stay at home and take care of her. He did have one request from her, however, and that was for her to at least go see the doctor when five days had passed and she was still sick. He'd been asking since the third day but she had been adamant that it was nothing but a mere cold and there was no need to go to the doctor. He had all but carried her himself to the doctor's two days later, and she'd acquiesced, telling him she had made an appointment for that afternoon. He'd showed up at her appointment, too, despite her initial protests, and in the end, she'd offered him nothing but an exasperated smile.

"You didn't have to come with me to the doctor's," she said as he held her by the elbow, leading her to the office. She looked a little less pale than yesterday, but her eyes still held tiredness, and her body still slumped a bit as if it's too heavy for her to carry, and it probably was the case. This flu was taking too much toll on her already.

"Who'd bring you to the hospital if I hadn't gone home to pick you up?" he asked her then, looking at her in question. He watched her bite her lip and shrug. "I mean, you aren't in any shape to drive."

"Branson could have driven me," she pointed out, and it's true, he could have, but Robert wouldn't and couldn't possibly allow his girlfriend to go through this alone. Not that he believed it to be anything more serious than a stubborn bug that wouldn't go away, but he'd rather she didn't have to navigate through her day with her already being sick. "There was no need to cancel your appointments for the day just to drive me here." He was about ready to deny any appointments being cancelled, but she threw him a withering glance that had him shutting up in a second. "And I know there were appointments cancelled today," she added.

He couldn't really argue, she was right, there had been, but nothing was ever more important than her. "Doesn't matter," he said, then, dismissing any further arguments she might have. "I'm here now, let's get you in."

She smiled up at him in response, and let him lead her inside.

...

It had been days since Robert had all but dragged her to the hospital. She felt better, though she wasn't really at her 100 percent just yet. There was still the lingering bark that had her throat itching and her barking every five minutes or so, her nose was still a bit runny, and her muscles still ache a little bit, but at least her fever had long since been gone, and she wasn't all weak and cold from the inside. The doctor had said that it was just seasonal flu and that it would get better in time, but he'd prescribed some antibiotics that would help speed her recovery along. She'd been taking the meds religiously, despite her repulsion of them, just to finally be able to kick this damned flu away.

She actually was able to function like a normal human being now, was able to attend her classes and do some research in the library, or stay up a little while to finish some paper before her boyfriend was all but dragging her to bed and getting her to rest. Of course, Robert, Elsie and Beryl had all protested when she'd hinted at going back to playing at The Castle on Fridays.

She wasn't to join a gig until she was fully healed. Even her band mates voted for that so there wasn't much that she could do. The vote certainly wasn't unanimous, but one against nine doesn't really give her much of a win. So, pouting and grumbling at the apparent decision that she had not made, she acquiesced.

To be honest, she was grateful enough that Robert has now stopped molly coddling her. He'd all but wrapped her in silk and feathers when she'd been sick, and he's now only starting to ease up. She loved him and she loved that he cared so much, was actually extremely touched at his concern, but being checked at every hour was getting exhausting, especially since she'd only been stuck in bed, unable to do much of anything in her state. She understood why he was being like that, loved him for it, and even realized that she might not fair much better had the roles been reversed, but seriously, there was no need to have Mrs. Bird checking on her every hour. And he was even trying to be discreet about it, as if she didn't know that he was checking on her.

She knew him far too well.

And he was being too cute.

And though she should find it annoying, she couldn't because she actually liked it.

She'd never tell him that though, because she knew he would use it to his advantage and mollycoddle her some more.

As it was, he was sat on their bed beside her, reading some files while she had her laptop in front of her and was trying to write some paper due in a few days (it would be a shot to hell to get it finished, she knows that, but she'd at least wanted to give herself a heads-up just so she wouldn't totally cram it). His arm is wrapped around her, and his fingers are tickling the soft skin of her arm, and she had her back against her chest. From time to time, he'd squeeze her gently when she coughs and she knew that it bothered him that there were still some lingering signs of her flu.

"I'm okay, you know" she told him, pausing from typing when he squeezed the round of her shoulder where his hand had been resting so she could look up at him and give him a look. "The antibiotics have taken effect, and I'm on my way from being better. You shouldn't worry so much."

"I know," he'd said, smiling down at her and leaning down to place a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. "I know my love, but I can't help the worry. Had the roles been reversed, you know that you would have been worried too."

She sighed, and slouched further into his embrace, knowing he had her there. Knowing she, too, would have been just as overwhelming as he had been to her. She really wouldn't rest well knowing he'd have been sick.

"You know I'm right, don't you?" he teased, his fingers journeying down to her sides where he tickled her, making her squirm from his grasp, chuckling.

"Robert, no," she whined, trying to escape his gentle but steady grip on her. She tried to move her laptop away, so it wouldn't get caught in the crossfire, lest it fall to the ground and shatter or something equally horrifying. And then she was so unceremoniously plopped on her back, Robert hovering her, grinning as he mercilessly continued his assault.

It was almost hot and it has her squirming for other reasons other than his intrusive fingers, heat pooling somewhere between her thighs especially when his fingers brush the underside of her breast by accident. He barely noticed it though, as he continues to run his fingers on her side and her belly where he knew where she was the most ticklish.

His fingers had continuously tickled her, relentlessly, even through her protests, stopping only when her laughter turned into hacking coughs, and she's all red, pushing Robert off of her as gently as she could so she could sit up. Robert's hand rested against her back, running up and down in soothing motions, and Cora could see that he had a frown on his handsome face, no doubt thinking that this is his fault, though that could not have been further from the truth. Even he could not control when she'd have a fit of coughs.

When the coughing stopped and she could feel like she could breathe properly again, Robert moved to the side and handed her a glass of water, helping her bring it to her lips for her to take a sip. He'd had it kept in handy on his bedside, for such occasions as this one, though she'd told him that it probably would be of no use and the tap was but a few spaces away from them. She could not be more grateful now.

"Thanks," she said after she swallowed the liquid down, and pushed it away slowly from her lips, indicating to him that she'd had enough.

"I'm sorry," he told her as he pulled her close to him and landed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Don't be ridiculous," she admonished, knowing what he was thinking right at that moment. "It was out of either of our control." She gave him a smile that gave him no room for argument, and he sighed, shrugging, though he looked completely doubtful, still.

She sighed, before leaning back to look at her boyfriend fully. He looked so handsome in his appearance from their little bed play, dishevelled, and his hair was sticking up in different places, the top two buttons of his pyjama top are undone. He was wearing a pair of black boxers, nixaying his pyjama bottoms because it was hot enough under the quilt that he didn't need them.

She could see the outline of his member, and she licked her lips, wanting nothing more than to have him right at that very moment, but not entirely sure he would let her because he's still so sure that she's sick and frail and might break at any moment now.

She breathed in deeply and tried to drag her eyes upward. She meets his blue ones, and he seemed to have felt the shift in the air, too, because suddenly, he's licking his lips and biting down on his bottom lip, struggling to look away as he breathed a little deeper.

Oh, she knew what was going on through his mind, knew exactly how the wheels in his turns, so she moved her hand from her lap to his, inching upward from his knees, up his things, right to where she needs him to be hard and ready for her. She wants to leave him with no choice but to make love to her because she wants him, god she wants him, misses him so much, and though she's been sick the past few days, she's none worse for wear, and besides, she's aroused enough not to care about her having had the flu.

Now, she just needed to convince him of the same thing.

"Cora," he whined as her hand crept up a little higher, up where she knew it was getting a little bit hard for him. "No..." he trailed off when she finally cupped him, the soft skin of her palm rubbing against the clothed part of him that was bulging and growing harder by the minute.

"Robert," she said, crawling over to him before plopping herself down on his lap. She grasped the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head, leaving her half naked and needy in his arms. "...Yes." She took his hand in hers and placed it over her right breast, willing him to knead or palm, or grope her, or anything...anything.

But his self control seemed to be too much, too much for Cora who wanted him to just take her right there and forget that she'd been sick, and might be feeling just a little too poorly for such strenuous activities (not that she would ever admit that to him). His hand left her breast, and slid down to her waist, gripping her there tightly for one second before his touch left her skin, much to her disappointment. She groaned, and moved a little higher up his lap, right where she was sitting directly on top of his hardened member, and it made her smirk internally, knowing she was getting some sort of reaction from him, despite him trying so hard to restrain himself.

"Come on, Robert," she whispered, leaning down so she could nibble on his ear as she ground her hips down his clothed cock. "I know you want me."

She heard him sigh as he took hold of her hips again, fingers brushing against the elastic of her panties, and he stopped her hips from moving, making her pout. "You've been sick, we can't."

She leaned in and kissed him, her tongue pushing inside his mouth without preamble, and started deepening the kiss, to which he responded to, probably despite his thoughts telling him that they should not do this.

Oh well.

Cora knew what buttons to press to get her boyfriend going...no doubt about that.

"As you've said...I've been sick. I'm not anymore, I feel better," she said, in attempt to convince him, though he still looked like he's having none of it. "I want you, Robert. I miss you."

Those words were his undoing, because he was then pulling her closer, one hand tangling against her hair in a bid to kiss her deeply. She moaned when his tongue entered her mouth, and it honestly felt like heaven, felt like she's been a plant left in the drought, and now he's watering after so long...which could also best describe what she wanted him to do to her next.

"If you're sure," he murmured against her lips, even as his fingers come up to tweak a nipple, and his mouth placed hot tiny open-mouthed kisses against the column of her throat, slowly moving downwards until he reached the space between her breasts.

"I'm sure," she managed to pant, gasping when his fingers find where she was wet and warm, flickering against the tiny bundle of nerves. Her back arched, and her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him in for another kiss. Their mouths locked, and mouths tangled, hands flew everywhere, touching every patch of skin they could find. Clothes, or what was left of it, were promptly removed, and it didn't even take long until he's sinking into her warm wetness, moving in and out in a dance they've practiced a million times.

And god, it feels so good.

Despite the fact that they had done this probably a hundred times since the first time, it still felt good, so good, in fact that she believed that they got better at each time, and it still felt just as magical as it had the first time, and she couldn't, could never find anything that would compete to the feeling of having him inside her, loving her in all the ways she's never been loved before.

"Robert, yes, ungh, right there, oh, yeah, god," she murmured incoherently as Robert tilted her hips and thrust in and out, hitting that spot inside her that has her mewling, head thrashing against the pillow, back arching and legs wrapping tighter around his waist.

God, he felt so fucking good inside of her.

"Yeah, Cora," he groaned into her skin as his mouth found the rosy buds of her breasts and began sucking, licking and biting against it and his fingers found her clit and started flicking and pinching it, making her hips buck and bringing her to the heights of pleasure she wasn't sure she would ever come down from.

"Robert, oh fuck," she gasped feeling her orgasm taking over her and gripping her, exploding inside her and making her see stars and feel like flying and flying and flying while she comes and comes and comes, and oh! There it goes, that feeling when his arms close around her and he'd hold her close and he'd empty himself inside her, shuddering as he comes.

"I love you," he told her once he rolled over and pulled her along with him. His lips pressed against the crown of her head, and she sighed contentedly.

"I love you too," she whispered, eyes falling close as she drifted off to sleep.

I really didn't beta this or had this beta-ed so I'm pretty sure this is more mistake than a chapter, but I tried. I know this is kinda insignificant, like a filler chapter, but I want it to be here just because I can't resist Cobert taking care of each other and generally being the cutest shit, so you know, here we are. I promise there's a plot in here somewhere. Anyway, thanks for reading you beautiful people and let me know what you think!