Frederick gently laid me back on our bed, he had insisted on carrying me again. I was going to have to stop him the next time, with his injuries this wouldn't do. I couldn't bear to be the reason he was in pain.

"Thank you sweetheart, that's enough carrying though," I said, grabbing his hand, and placing a kiss to his palm. I sighed, it felt so nice to be back in our bed.

Frederick simply scoffed at me, sitting down by my side.

"Stop mothering me amor, let me take care of you, please?" he said softly, pulling the blankets up around me and placing a kiss to my nose.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, I can't help it, I love you Freddy," I said, wincing as I tried to get comfortable. I felt a lot better than before, but I was still achy and in a bit of pain. And I felt extremely tired.

He gave me a lopsided smile, gently brushing my hair from my forehead. "I love you too, but just relax, please."

I rolled my eyes, too tired to argue with him. Frederick got up, and I let out a little whine as he began to leave the room.

"What's wrong honey?" he said, worry laced in his words as his head whipped back to me.

"Nothing I just…where are you going? Don't leave," I said, my voice warbly. I was not only physically but emotionally exhausted, and I wanted him, emneeded/emhim next to me to sleep.

"Sweetheart, just to get you some water in case you get thirsty, do you want anything else mi amor?" he said softly, tenderness filling his tone.

"No, just you," I said, giving him a weak smile.

A slight blush rose to his cheeks. At times he still does this, seems taken aback by how much I need him.

"You have me, siempre," he whispered, leaving the room to get the water.

When he returned he placed the water by my side of the bed. There was a little straw coming out of the top. I smiled at how thoughtful my husband was. I knew if I asked him to, he would hold the cup for me too. He bent to kiss the top of my head, and made his way around to his side.

He slid into bed next to me, and I snuggled close to him. Frederick wrapped his arms around me, but ever so gently, as if I were fine China he was afraid to break.

"It's okay, honey, I'm okay," I whispered, stroking his cheek and taking in how exhausted he too looked.

And…something occurred to me as I looked at him.

"Your face Freddy," I whispered, thumb grazing gently over his scar. "You…you didn't put it on before the hospital did you…" my voice trailed off. It hit me then, how scared my sweet man must have been. I hadn't even thought of it, he looked so handsome to me either way.

"No, of course not. I was only thinking of you sweetheart," he said, taking my hand and placing it on his chest. His lower lip trembled, and the pain in my heart was greater than the physical pain I had felt.

"Oh Freddy," I swallowed back the lump in my throat, holding him tight. "I have the sweetest husband in the world," I whispered, reaching up to place a kiss on his shaking lips. He sighed, stroking my back.

"And I have the sweetest wife," he said against my lips. "But she needs to rest," he added.

"Freddy, when can I take the pain meds again?" I moaned, my middle starting to throb a bit. I wiggled uncomfortably. It was much better than the hospital, but it wasn't as easy as it usually was to just fall asleep. As exhausted as I was.

He looked over to our bedside clock. "Not for a few hours, I'm sorry sweetheart," he said, a pained expression on his face as he looked back at me.

I groaned as I squeezed him tighter, burying my head in his chest. "Don't leave Freddy, I need you."

"Mi vida, I'm not going anywhere. Shh…darling I'm right here. You were so brave today, try and sleep and soon enough I'll be able to give you more medicine," he cooed.

I moved to lay on my back, wincing. At least I was so exhausted I would probably pass out - discomfort or not.

"I love you darling," he whispered, curling to my side and rubbing my stomach ever so gently.

"Love you baby," I sighed, closing my eyes. "That feels nice."

"Try and rest honey," he repeated, placing a kiss to my temple and humming to help me find rest.

I woke up when it was dark outside, still achy and in a fog. I reached out for Frederick, only to find his side of the bed empty. "Freddy?" I said, rubbing my eyes, still tired. "Freddy?" I said louder, getting out of bed with some struggle and walking to our en suite. I flipped on the light, squinting at the sudden brightness.

I heard his footsteps and cane clatter to the floor as he came back into the room, running as much as he could with his breath labored, eyes wide.

"What happened?" he panted, hands coming to my hips as he looked me over. His eyes were red rimmed with tears, and he looked like he might sob as he looked at me.

"I - I just woke up and wondered where you were, honey I didn't mean to scare you," I said gently, cupping his cheeks as I could feel his body tremble. "Frederick, baby, what's wrong?" I asked, unable to keep the worry from my own tone.

pHe just shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut and took a shuddered breath. "Just a nightmare, I'm fine amor," he said, looking towards the bathroom light.

"Do you need me to help you sweetheart?"

I just shook my head, far more worried about my husband, who was biting his lower lip, trying so hard to compose himself it broke my heart.

"Bed then," he whispered, gently turning me back to the mattress and walking me to my side, one arm winded about my waist protectively.

I was exhausted, and slightly woozy, so I sat, and waited for him to sit beside me. Instead, he started to make his way back out of the room, avoiding my gaze.

"Freddy!" I cried out, louder than I had wanted, but why was he leaving? He always came to me when he was hurting. "Baby, please stay, you promised. I need you Frederick."

He stopped, turning off the bathroom light, and I knew he was still fighting back his tears. "Lo siento…I..I'm coming amor it's okay," he rasped, sitting next to me, and pulling me gently into his embrace.

I could feel his body shaking, and I held him as tight as I could manage, hand going to stroke his hair.

"I just …I had a nightmare, really it's fine," he tried to insist. "Don't worry please darling."

"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked, as he buried his head in my shoulder. I could feel the tears on my neck.

"You need your sleep amor," he whispered, as he placed a kiss to the crook of my neck, not moving from his position, only holding me tighter, careful to avoid my midsection. Hands clutched at my tee.

"Baby," I whispered, pulling back slightly to look at him, my eyes adjusting slowly, I could make out now from the moonlight the tears on his cheeks. I cupped them as he shivered under my gaze. "Talk to me. I love you honey, I can't sleep if you're hurting," I said, fighting back tears myself.

"I just…" he struggled to respond, choking on a sob he was trying to contain. "I should be taking care of you," he whimpered, looking up at me.

"We take care of each other," I replied gently, caressing his cheeks. "And I can't stand you hurting. Please Freddy. It's me… I love you so much, and you do take care of me, I was so scared and you handled it all," I tried to reassure him, kissing his wet cheeks. "You always take such good care of me."

Frederick began to sob, no longer able to hold back. "I can't lose you," he managed between sobs, and I felt tears fall from my own eyes. I remembered how scared I was when he had been hurt. How it felt like a knife to my heart, seeing him in that hospital bed, drowning in worry.

"I dreamt…" he trailed off, and I knew whatever he had imagined must have terrified him.

"Oh honey," I whimpered in reply, pulling him into my embrace again, holding him tight. "I'm here, don't be frightened love, I'm here," I whispered, rocking him as his head rested on my chest. My poor sweet Frederick. I ran my fingers through his hair, humming softly to soothe him as his tears soaked my shirt. "Dear heart, I love you so much, it's alright," I said softly, repeating it over a few times as he remained locked in my arms.

As his cries died down, I rubbed his back, still humming as I kissed the top of his head. "I know how scary it was…Freddy I was so scared when you were hurt. But you were so strong for me today baby. Please, please don't ever hide your tears from me. No matter what. I always want to be there for you," I whispered, my own throat cracking. "It's okay that you were scared too."

He shivered in my arms, nuzzling closer still to me. "Hannibal was…in my dream..he was going to…do your surgery…" he whimpered into my chest.

"Baby he's dead, he can't hurt us anymore," I said, rubbing his back.

Frederick pulled back slightly to look at me, and his expression tore at me. He looked so sad, so frightened. "But…if anyone ever hurt you, or if something happened I…I..."

"Shh.." I cut him off, peppering kisses all over his face, his cheeks, his eyes. "I'm here, we're safe dear heart," I cooed, placing a tender kiss to his lips. He whimpered, tongue tracing my lips, and our kiss deepened. I whined as our lips pulled apart, resting my forehead on his. There was nothing like his kisses, the best medicine of all.

"If I wasn't recovering," I groaned, poking his chest gently.

He chuckled softly, caressing my cheek. "You need to recover. For me," he whispered, voice still shaky from crying.

"For you then," I said, whining as I was starting to feel pain again.

I heard Frederick's watch beeping, and he pulled back to stop it. "Now you can have more medicine honey," he said, reaching for the pills and handing me two.

"See, what would I do without you," I said, nuzzling his nose as I took them from him. "I love you so much Freddy," I whispered, turning from him to get the water by my side of the bed.

After I took them, I laid back, Frederick following, stroking my cheek gently. "I love you too darling. With all of me."

"Freddy?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Will you sing to me?" I asked, as he curled to my side once more.

"Anything for you mi vida," he said, and began to he sing softly.

Dios dice que la gloria *

Esta en el cielo

Que es de los mortales

El consuelo al morir

Bendito Dios

Porque al tenerte yo en vida

No necesito ir al cielo

Si alma mía

La gloria eres tú

I felt his body relax against mine, and I felt myself beginning to be lulled to sleep by his voice.

(*From La Gloria Eres Tú by Luis Miguel)