Stasis

Disclaimer: I do not own COTT

April
I leap out bed with a yelp of surprise.
"Archie?" he lifted his head and smiled
"I like watching you sleep, you look so peaceful and beautiful"
I throw my pillow at him but grin and skip over to kiss him. I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself. Heph had fitted Archie with a device that controlled his heartbeat to a certain extent but he was still restricted. Archie smiled into the kiss.
"I love you" he said softly
"I love you too."
The morning passed quietly. We watched a movie with the gang, it was just like old times but by midday Archie was looking pale.
"Are you ok?" I asked him
"Sure," he replied "why wouldn't I be?"
Theresa pulled me aside, "you keep forgetting he's sick" she said "have you noticed how frail he is?"
In truth I hadn't. I'd been so wrapped up in my own emotions that I'd forgotten about Archie's predicament. He must have noticed when I distanced myself from him that afternoon because he pulled me aside, completely serious.
"Look." He said "I'm not an invalid, I'm still exactly the same, my situation has changed is all. Stop worrying about me, let me worry about myself, you have more important things to focus on"
"I wrote you a song" I interrupt, not wanting to continue the conversation.
"What?" Archie frowned "is that my guitar?"
I nod and pick up the acoustic from where it was leaning against the bed
"I hope you don't mind that I borrowed it. I just wanted something of yours around"
Archie nodded slowly and I struggled through a chord sequence. He smiled and motioned for the guitar.
"That was great" he said "now let me play something I wrote for you ages ago"
He played a beautiful tune and I was dumbstruck
"How did you remember that?" I said, genuinely confused.
"You keep forgetting that one month for you is one day for me..."
Way to kill the mood…

May
Archie sits on the park bench. I stand beside him holding my skateboard.
"You should try" I said "Hera said you were much better."
"I don't know" He replied slowly "my legs are weaker than they used to be"
"you just don't want to fail" I tease and he takes the bait like I knew he would. He grabs the skateboard and pushes off, wobbling a bit. I laugh and he glares at me, wobbles some more and promptly falls to the ground. I can't help it, I lose it. My laughter brings tears to my eyes but I sober up the minute I realise I'm laughing alone.
Archie is some way off, walking back to the brownstone. I chase after him.
"What's the matter?" I say when I catch up. He doesn't answer straight away and I notice that he is clutching his arm.
"I have to talk to Hera" he says finally and I pry his fingers away to reveal a monstrous bruise.
"But it was just a little fall" I choke, ashamed of myself all of a sudden
"The infection has affected me in more ways than we realised" Archie says tersely and I snap.
"look, lighten up ok? We were having fun…"
"just like we used to" Archie finishes sadly and I can't look him in the eyes.
We get back home and Archie walks upstairs to his old room.
"Hey" Theresa calls from the hall "you want to get a pizza and watch a movie?"
Archie ignores her and I shrug and follow him upstairs but I am overtaken by Jay and the boys.
"let us talk to him" the leader puts his hand on my arm and I nod and back down, returning to Theresa who smiles sadly at me.
An eternity has passed before Odie, Herry, Neil and Jay emerge.
"He's going to be fine" Jay said as he sat down "Hera said the injury isn't serious but it will take a while to heal in his current condition."
I nod, feeling immensely guilty. I put him in danger and hindered his progress. Maybe I should stay away from him for a while.

June
I really don't know if I can face Archie. This past month I've been going through our old photos and remembering. Then I picture him now and the illusion is shattered. He's living a half life. I don't know if I can deal with that. I kiss his cheek when I enter the room and he smiles as if nothing is wrong.
I tell him about school. There's a new boy in school. He's on the football team. He asked me out.
Archie processes the information and I touch his hand to comfort him deciding not to tell him that I was seriously considering saying yes. It would break his spirit even more and I remember how much we fought to be together, every battle with Cronus, every fight and misunderstanding. Am I really going to throw that all away because of a silly little situation. There is a nagging voice in the back of my head fighting with my conscious and I don't know what to do.
"I love you" Archie kisses me goodbye
"I love you too" I say, knowing that I mean it but doubting whether it's really true.

What do you think? I feel so horrible doing this to my favourite couple but I do love a bit of drama! Reviews and criticism wanted!