Thank you Haruka-Clone for helping me to edit a paragraph toward the end, it was wreaking havoc on my mind.

Oh yea..I guess I could say this is the chapter you've all been waiting for

Musical Dismay

Chapter 8

December – two months later

"You need to stay in bed Ruka." Michiru carefully pushed the fevered blonde back onto the bed. "Now stay, I'm going to get you some medicine."

Haruka grumbled before coughing into her pillow. "I'm fine!" She closed her eyes, pulling her pillow closer to her chest. "So hot..." She kicked off her blankets only to have them put back over her body.

"When you're running a fever you need to sweat it out. These better still be on when I get back." She sighed before grabbing her car keys and sliding on her heavy coat.

"It's snowing outside, be careful." Was all the blonde was able to mumble out before falling asleep.

Michiru smiled at her roommate before pulling on her boots and leaving. Once she made it to her car she struggled to get it to start. "Stupid thing, come on!" She cursed as she continued to try to get it to turn over. "There we go." She whispered as she heard the engine start to purr and the heater kick on.

She returned from the pharmacy nearly an hour after she had left. The roads were getting covered badly. She was thankful that it was winter break and most of the students had gone home over this time. As she pulled into her usual parking spot her tires lost traction on the collected snow and slid across the pavement. She only shook her head and straightened out the car as best she could before hurrying inside.

When she entered their room she was greeted by deep, raspy coughing. She placed her coat on the back of the computer chair and left her boots at the door, to dry. "Haruka?" She questioned, to see if she was awake. "I'm back."

"OK..." She kicked the rest of the blanket off of her heated body. Her forehead and neck were covered in sweat.

"I got some medicine for you Ruka." She sat on the edge of her friend's bed and helped her to sit up. "I hope you like cherry." She smiled.

"I can't taste anything anyway, so it doesn't really matter." She swallowed the medicine that was offered to her. "How come you haven't gone home for the holidays?"

She pressed the back of her hand to the blonde's forehead and frowned at how hot it was. "I hate driving in the snow...and you're sick. If I didn't stay who would take care of you?" It was at that moment when she blushed at her own thought. She wanted nothing more than to give her friend a soft, soothing kiss.

"Maybe you should have gone into nursing." Haruka carefully stood up to get a bottle of water.

"Why's that?"

"With how well you've taken care of me." She pulled the computer chair out to sit on it. "With my hand, and now this."

Before she was able to speak she was interrupted by her ringing phone. "Hello?"

"Michiru? Where are you at? I thought you were coming home for your holiday break?"

"Mom you know I hate driving when it's snowing. Bad enough I had to go to the pharmacy to get medicine for Ruka." She responded, drawing a soft chuckle from her roommate.

"So you're not coming home for Christmas?" Her voice was soft, showing a bit of hurt.

"Mom, I can't..." She looked at Haruka. "I can't leave Ruka here alone on Christmas..."

"Well bring her with you, she's family after what she did to help you."

Michiru's eyes went wide as she looked at her friend. "Mom invited you to the house for Christmas Ruka."

A sad smile showed on the blonde's lips. "I haven't had a real Christmas in years..."

"I heard that...she's coming then! I expect to see you two by tomorrow night!" Before the violinist could respond the line went dead.

"She expects to see us by tomorrow night...There's no way we can leave tonight, it's snowing too hard." She stood to look out the window. "I hate driving in this weather."

"I can drive then." Haruka stepped behind her to look over her head, seeing the snow accumulating quickly. She shivered at the scent of Michiru's perfume.

"You can't drive when you're-" She turned around, her face landing against Haruka's chest. She was slow to pull away, redness soon taking over her face. "I'm sorry..." Her words were soft. "You can't drive when you're sick Ruka."

Subconsciously Haruka allowed her arms to wrap around the smaller woman, stopping her escape. "I'll be alright to drive by tomorrow morning." She rested her head atop Michiru's, her whole body relaxing. "I have you to nurse me back to health."

The smaller woman's body tensed as she was pulled close, her hands naturally resting on Haruka's stomach. A soft caress on her back quickly relaxing her body. 'She makes me feel so safe.' Her eyes slide closed as she tried to push those thoughts from her head. 'I can't I won't ...am I falling for her?' She pulled back to look up at the blonde that was holding her. Her eyes settled on soft, well defined lips, a light blush coloring her cheeks as she wondered what they would feel... taste like. She quickly diverted her eyes to the window, embarrassed by her strange reactions to the blonde. It was not long before she found her gaze once again on the taller woman's face. 'Just once..Then I'll know.' Her eyes glanced down at Haruka's lips. 'I shouldn't' She berated herself.

"I love it when it snows." Haruka spoke softly as she glanced down at the woman in her arms. "It's so peaceful." She moved her hand up to trace Michiru's cheek with her thumb. 'So beautiful.'

"Don't you cough on me or I'll lock you outside." She was thankful for Haruka's words, they pulled her from her inner battle. 'She'll freak if I do it.' She closed her eyes as she leaned against the strong hand that was against her face. She looked up again. Casting away her doubts she through all caution to the wind as she pressed her lips to Haruka's.

Not a word was spoken about the kiss they shared the night prior as they loaded up Haruka's car for the three hour drive. "Do you have everything." She turned her head away from Michiru to cough. It was less strained then the day before.

"You're sounding better then yesterday." The violinist climbed into the passenger seat of the car. "Yes I've got everything. Let's get going, it's a long drive Ruka." The blonde pulled off her coat and tossed it into the back seat, soon followed by her scarf. "What on earth are you doing? Put those back on."

"I can't drive with the coat on, I always take it off." She sat down on the driver's side and pulled the door shut.

Michiru unbuckled her seatbelt and reached back to grab the multicolored scarf. "Here..." She leaned forward to put the scarf around her roommates neck. "At least keep this on." Her hands slowed to a stop as her eyes met the driver's. Her mind started racing again as Haruka closed the gap between them this time. The kiss started out just as soft and simple as their first. Once Haruka's gloved hand rested on the passenger's hip, passion erupted between them.

"We...We should...go..." Haruka spoke breathlessly, her eyes never leaving that of her friend's. Michiru could only nod as she watched the blonde press in the clutch to turn over the engine.