Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm

It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm

And in those times of trouble when you are most alone

The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door

It invites you to come closer, it wants to show you more

And even if you lose yourself and don't know what to do

The memory of love will see you through

She spent two days sleeping in whatever chair offered the most comfortable posture, and eating whatever they fed to her. She visited back and forth between all the rooms. On the second morning she was allowed to visit Eloise, who had, against all predictions, began recovering.

At first, the sight of her aunt had been quite a shock. The older woman was much thinner and very haggard. Her cheekbones, always sharp, were startlingly pronounced now, and dark circles under her eyes gave her a hollow, deathbed appearance. Most shocking of all however, was her skin. It had split repeatedly, and had been healed continuously, was pasty and criss-crossed with tiny, healing pink scars. She looked as though she had been flogged with a very fine whip.

Other than that, she might as well be stepping out for a party. A soon as she could grip her wand she had changed her pasty green hospital gown to a shimmering sapphire dressing gown, and swept her hair up into one of the many elegant styles she alone knew the spell to complete.

" They say I'll have more fever, therefore I am not allowed to go home." she stated gruffly." Well, I'll show them."

Amanda was no healer, but she could tell immediately that her aunt was still much too ill to be sitting up, let alone leaving, but she wisely kept silent. Eloise's stubborn resolve was no doubt what had brought her this far.

Before she could change the subject the door, which had been left ajar, suddenly pushed open and Philo stood in the open space.

" Amanda? I--"

" You just get out of here!" Eloise barked at him. " I don't want anyone seeing me this way!"

Philo pulled back, closing the door slightly, while still attempting to talk to Amanda.

" I just wanted to tell you that E--"

" I said out, boy! I am talking to Amanda now, you may speak to her when I am finished, and not a second sooner." she threw her teacup at the door, and with a sheepish look, Philo crept the rest of the way out and slammed the door.

" It might be important." Amanda said.

" Why would Philo have anything important to say? Come to think of it,why is Philo even here?" Eloise asked.

Amanda gave her a brief explanation of everything that had occurred while picking up broken fragments of the tea cup.

" Is that man Barkwater here?" Eloise asked, softening a little as she considered how strained Amanda must be.

" Yes." He had been discovered recovering from a very mild case of the Pox.

" That doesn't surprise me." Eloise snorted.

" What doesn't?"

" Never mind. Go out and see what Philo wants. I am tired again, and I do believe that green potion they give makes me slightly irritable. Do I seem irritable to you Amanda?"

" Of course not." Amanda lied.

" Good. You will tell me of course if I start seeming a little short of temper? I do hate being cross."

" You know I would never allow you to make a spectacle of yourself." Amanda smiled. Dropping the broken glass into the bin, she also knew she would not risk pointing anything of the sort out to Eloise while she was actually armed.

Bidding her aunt farewell, she went out to find Philo pacing the corridor rubbing his shoulder. He too seemed rather cross.

" Edward wants to see you." he stated briskly. " and if no one will miss me, I am going to treat myself to some tea. In an unbroken cup!" he turned and began marching off, muttering loudly about how he had been playing messenger all day, and what thanks did it get him?

Edward was sitting propped on a stack of large cushions,looking exhausted and somewhat apprehensive. He had learned from Healer Penny, who had been covering the shortage of healers on this floor, that it wasn't the actual skin splitting that caused scarring, but the desperate clawing of the patient trying to relieve the agony. The hospital now offered the choice of restraints, but Penny warned that he should be certain before hand, because once the straps were in place they could not be removed until the episode was safely passed.

To Amanda's horror, Edward had agreed to these straps, but demanded that she leave, and not come anywhere near the room, for he didn't trust himself as far as what he might say under those circumstances.

" I wouldn't mind! " she insisted. He smiled weakly and patted her hand. An un-natural warmth in his skin fore-warned of a dangerous fever soon to rise.

" I would. " he said. " I insist on retaining some vestiges of dignity. How is Charlotte?" his change of subject was firm and meant that he would not hesitate to ask the healers to have his wife bodily removed from the room for her own good. She sighed.

" Well. They have set up a nursery...there are many children here waiting for their parents."

" I hope they aren't a bad influence." he smiled.

" It's good for her to see others her own age."

" Nonsense. It never did me any good to be around people my age."

Amanda smiled. What could she say to that?

" Can I bring you anything?" he was beginning to pale, as though in pain.

" No...no thank you. I...I feel I must rest. Please..."

Amanda reluctantly released his hand and slowly backed away, though he motioned her impatiently to go. By some spell the healers were alerted to the rising fever, and two of them rushed past Amanda. One was carrying an ugly set of rubber straps in his hands.

Amanda put her fist in her mouth and hurried back to the nursery where she rescued Charlotte from the evil influence of toddler social expectations. She wandered around a bit, unsure of what to do. After a half-hour she collided with a healer who informed her that Stella had finally recovered enough to be released, even though she was still slightly bumpy. Stella was so relieved to be released that she hurried her daughter and grand-daughter to the Floo network, after a hasty goodbye to Eloise and Winter, and took Amanda and Charlotte back to Rookwood.

Amanda wandered into the kitchen and distracted herself by creating a hot meal from the few ingredients kept on hand. Stella lent a little help with what magic she could muster, and the three of them sat down to a very quiet table. Charlotte was really too tired to eat, and Amanda was more interested in pushing the potatoes around with her fork, making paths in the gravy, than actually eating. Stella however devoured her portion with pleasure.

" Mmm...sorry, but I was so hungry! They said I might be after the bumps began to desist. Do they look any better?"

" A bit." Amanda answered.

Stella scrutinized her daughter with a knowing eye.

" He will be fine." she said. " You however, need to sleep."

" I couldn't possibly. You go ahead, though. You need to regain your strength."

" I don't know how you managed. You always were resourceful though. I guess that is a Garrett trait."

" I was beginning to be very afraid though. "

" I don't blame you." Stella watched as Amanda's eyes began to droop slightly. She had suspected that she wouldn't sleep without some assistance and had taken the liberty of applying a small, tasteless sleeping lozenge to her beverage. As usual, Amanda drained her cup when she would not touch her meal, and now she was beginning to feel the effects.

" I couldn't do anything...for them." Amanda yawned. " Maybe I am a little tired. I feel so guilty about sleeping though."

Stella reached across to stroke her hair. " There is nothing you can do now. The Healer's have everything under control. Even Eloise is alive and well, and they told us they had little hope..."

Amanda nodded in sleepy misery, and rose from her chair.

" I'll take Charlotte to bed...but I think I'll just rest. Do you need anything?"

Stella pressed a kiss to Charlotte's brown curls . " No, I'm following. Let me just blow out these lamps."

Amanda stumbled upstairs and into her old bed, taking time only to remove both her shoes and Charlotte's dress before tucking them both between the clean, fresh sheets. She was soon luxuriating in her first full night's sleep in three weeks.

--

" Mamma..."

Amanda turned over in her sleep, dreaming of Charlotte. In the dream, the little girl was running towards her, carrying an armful of wildflowers.

" Mamma..." she called to her, beaming.

Amanda smiled at the vision, then jerked awake as something pulled her hair. Opening her eyes, she found her self nose to nose with Charlotte, who smiled in delight.

'' Mamma...'' she babbled.

" That's right Lottie!" Amanda smiled, propping herself on her elbow. " I'm Mamma."

Lottie pulled her hair again.

" And that is Mamma's hair you are pulling." Amanda said, gently disengaging her daughter's fingers and kissing them.

" Oh, this is wonderful! Let's go show grandmother what you can say!" she scooped Lottie into her arms, and got up from the bed.She hurried excitedly down the hall.

" Mother?" she knocked on Stella's door.

A reply that sounded vaguely rude sounded from within.

Amanda went in.

" Anything wrong, pet?" Stella mumbled sleepily. She raised up partly, her eyes still closed. The bumps were smaller.

" Mother...Lottie spoke! Her first word...she said 'mamma!' "

Stella groaned and fell back to the pillows.

" Is that all?"

" It's important!" Amanda said.

" I know...but it would be more important at a decent hour." her mother whined. " What time is it?"

" Seven."

" What are you doing up at seven?"

" Lottie always gets up at seven. "

" Oh gods...she is related to Winter."

" Lottie...say 'mamma' for Grandmother."

Charlotte blew a few bubbles, and smiled.

" Mamma." Amanda urged

Charlotte patted her mother's shoulder instead.

" That's right. Mamma's shoulder. Can you say 'Mamma'? Please?"

Lottie persisted with some more burbling sounds, and then began wriggling to get down.

" She did say it..." Amanda said, defensively.

" If she is anything like you... she won't repeat it until she is two." Stella turned over and pulled her covers over her head.

Amanda bounced Charlotte for a moment, waiting for her mother to say anything else.

" We're going downstairs. Do you want anything?" she asked.

" Mmmmnour."

" Pardon?"

" Another hour." Stella said grumpily.

Amanda went back into her own room to dress. Lottie sat in the middle of the bed, and watched with interest, playing with her toy wand.

" Mamma." she chirped suddenly.

Amanda turned to face her, hands on hips.

" You are doing that on purpose, aren't you?" she asked.

" Mamma." Charlotte repeated, and chuckled gaily.

Buttoning her blouse, and pulling her hair back before picking Charlotte back up, Amanda gave a disheartened sigh.

" How about breakfast, then. Are you hungry? I think you are hungry..." she peered closely at her. " Can you say 'hungry'?"

Lottie blew more bubbles.

" I thought not."

While she was boiling the water for oatmeal, a large owl arrived at the window, wearing a scarf of green. It was the same green the healers at St. Mungo's wore.

Taking the letter from him, she offered him some dry oats, which he refused politely before flying off. She tore open the seal.

It was a brief note from Edward saying that he unaccountably had survived, despite the healers worst intentions, and would be home the following morning. The new potions had worked miracles, and the epidemic was no longer a threat.

Shortly after his note, the Floo sounded, and Winter stepped through.

" Amanda! What a surprise. Well, actually it isn't, but I had to say something."

" How are you feeling, grandmother?"

" Oh...a little dizzy, I suppose. They gave me an injection. I loathe injections. You would think that with all the advances in magic, they could find a better way to get things inside of a person than jabbing it through the skin."

" I agree." Amanda nodded, pulling a chair out for the older woman, who was rubbing a red spot on her arm.

" And how is Lottie today?" Winter asked. Lottie was patiently waiting for Amanda to resume feeding her. She waved at Winter.

" She said her first word this morning. " Amanda announced proudly.

" Oh? What was it?"

" Mamma."

" Oh. I thought since she is so bright it might be something big, like prestidigitation."

" Well, I don't know what she says to herself after she is in bed."

" Your mother, you know...was terrified of the dark. She used to keep us running in and out all the time. Her first word was 'Lumos'. She was very unhappy when it didn't cause the lights to turn on. Where is she anyway?"

" Oh...she's getting dressed." Amanda said too quickly.

" She's sleeping in, isn't she?" Winter smiled wryly.

" Yes. But just for an hour. It's good for her to rest."

" Bah. I never sleep in, and I am in perfect heath.Well...usually. It's sloth, that's what it is. You are a three-toed sloth Stella." Winter called up at the ceiling.

" Well, and good morning to you too." drawled Stella from the kitchen door. She was tying the sash of her red dressing gown, and trying not to yawn.

" Oh...there's my baby." Winter said. " Come here and sit by me,and tell me how you feel."

Stella narrowed her eyes briefly, and in the playful manner that came so easily between the three older women. Amanda felt strangely left out at times.

Stella pretended to sit on Winter's knee.

" I think I still have fever.Check it Mum."

" I think you still have bumps!" Winter stated. " Better sit over there, so you don't ruin Charlotte's appetite."

" No sense in worrying about that." Amanda reassured them. " When will Aunt Eloise be home?"

" I have precisely one hour to fancy myself mistress of Rookwood before her return. " Winter replied. Taking out her wand , she pointed it at Lottie's oatmeal.

" Purple!" she exclaimed. Amanda nearly dropped the spoon as the cereal turned a shocking shade of grape.

" Oatmeal is so boring in it's natural state. " Winter stated, matter-of-factly.

" How did you do that?"

" Easy. I say the word 'purple', but I think the word 'viola'. It's a little trickery. See, I can turn it yellow...or orange."

Charlotte squealed in delight.

" I can also make it grow tentacles, if you'd like?"

" No! Thank you...I don't want her to develop some strange phobia due to being traumatized by her oatmeal bowl."

" Suit yourself. Stella used to love it. Do you want me to give your oatmeal tentacles, Stella?"

" Can you give it some flavor instead? Oatmeal is so boring in it's natural flavor." Stella quipped. " You know I never liked actually eating the oatmeal...just watching you play with it."

They abruptly changed their conversation to gossip about the familiar faces they had seen in the hospital, and who had not been there...and whether or not Eloise was going to be angry when she returned. Winter was sure that if she too had received an injection she would be intolerable.

Eloise was as unpredictable as weather, however, and despite her rather edgy mood the day before, she was in disgustingly good spirits upon returning home, smugly informing Winter that she herself had talked her way out of the dread injection.

" Did you see Edward?" Amanda asked.

Eloise pulled a face.

" Yes. And he was in a state too. He must have been given some of that green potion too."

" Oh yes. Blame it on a potion." Winter said. " Charlotte said her first word. Isn't that charming?"

" What did she say?" Eloise peered into a bowl of oatmeal sporting orange polka dots.

" Prestidigitation."

" That's nice. I remember...Rogero wasn't it? His first word was ' help'. "

" Only it had an exclamation point after it."

" She said ' mamma'. " Amanda interrupted.

" Of course she did. She's knows the value of flattery." Eloise chucked Charlotte under the chin. " Well...what should we do for the rest of the day?"

Lyrics--John Denver