Of all the places for them to pick they picked a large city, rent would be cheaper they told me but I still would have been anywhere else but in one of those rundown apartment buildings. But then I really didn't have much of a choice with my child growing every day and Abel getting sicker we'd have to find a spot where at least I could care for him while the other two tried to find work. Our home was a small two room apartment on the fifth floor of a large building on the north side of the city. It was called Hell's kitchen, namely for how hot, humid and loud it could get on a summer day. It wasn't the safest place but I knew which streets to avoid when I had to go out. Rent was very cheap and for the most part it's all that mattered.
Gilbert and I shared one room and Ludwig had the other, Abel stayed on a worn couch in the small living room turned his bedroom. He was stubborn, never once did he want to go see a doctor even if we had the money he would have simply shake his head. "If I die I'm fucking dying here." He would say with a frown, "Those bastards couldn't cure a fucking cold even if you held their hand." He'd grumble as I laid a cold cloth on his forehead on one afternoon.
"Well there really isn't a cure for a cold." I said with a smile as I sat next to him, the other two wouldn't have been home for another few hours and I was starting to get worried about this man who had been laying on the couch for over four months now. "Now are you hungry?"
"Can I get a beer?"
"That's not food smartass." He pouted at me but I won't budge, "Eggs? Toast?...I'm not getting you beer so stop with the puppy dog look cause only Gabi can do that." At the sound of her name the German Shepard raised her head before she gave a wide yawn and fell back asleep on her master's jacket that he had left for her.
He again sighed as if almost defeated, "Alfred I'm not hungry and all I want is a beer…please?"
After I thought it over I nodded, "On one condition. I will make chicken noodle, you will eat it and then you will have half of a beer." His eyes light up instantly so I stood to find a can of soup that I was sure I had bought the other day. To my annoyance we were out and while I didn't want to I hoped someone in the building might have a can of soup. "Abel I'll be right back okay?" I said as I went to the door, "And I swear to god if I get back and all the beer-" I stopped seeing him already asleep. So quietly I slipped out and down the hall, I didn't know our neighbors that well but I knew of a few Omegas on the third floor.
I knocked on a few doors to find no answer so I continued until I reached the second. The door opened revealing a slightly shorter brown haired Omega woman with deep green eyes. "Yes?" She said in a slight European accent that I couldn't quite place, "How can I help you?" She asked looking me up and down.
After I gave her a small smile I answered, "This is strange but I was hoping you had…a spare can of soup? The moment I go shopping I'll give you one or I have money up at my apartment if you'd rather have that." She cocked her head at me so I continued, "Possibly Chicken noodle?"
"Are you sick?" She asked with slight concern looking down at my swollen stomach.
I rubbed it feeling a small kick in return, "Not me, um an Alpha I live with has been sick for a few months now and well…" I blushed slightly as I looked down. I knew how that statement could be taken and while I wanted to correct it I could hear my mother chuckling telling me to be quiet.
She nodded as closed the door behind her, "Why don't you take me to him?"
"Uh?" I blinked as she smiled.
"It's okay I'm a nurse or I was so," She shrugged slightly and while I wanted to ask further I knew there's be time for that later.
"Oh than yeah it's this way." I turned around and started my trek back up the stairs hating that of all the damn floors ours had to be so high up especially with my back constantly in pain and my ankles by then throbbing with every step I took. "Can I ask you a question?" I asked looking back at the older woman wondering what she would think of it.
"Go ahead."
"Well…" I inhaled, "I can't pay you much but um…"
While I left off she quickly knew what I wanted to ask but then again I probably wasn't the first Omega to ask her. "You need a midwife?"
"Yeah but like I said I could pay you somehow, Miss…"
"Elizaveth and you, dear?"
As I reached the door I answered, "Alfred and the Alpha should still be asleep and his name is Abel." I opened the door to find Abel still lying on the couch but now awake again just staring at a spot on the floor. "How are you feeling?"
He looked up at me; I knew he didn't have much energy as he turned back to stare into space, "Shit." He said simply as Eliza sat next to him, "Hi?"
"Hello." She answered as she took his chin to look into his eyes, from there she checked everything as all the while she had a look of concern on her face. After what seemed like ten minutes she sighed, "Abel…"
"I know." He said as he wheezed. "I've known for weeks now…"
Eliza took his hand and squeezed it while I looked on in slight confusion and true fear, "What have you know?" She asked. But while she said it I'm sure it wasn't because she doubted him, it was more like she was seeing if he understood what was going to happen to him.
"That I want a beer…" He said with a weak attempt at a smirk.
As I started to sigh Elizaveta answered, "Sweetie if he wants a beer I don't see why not."
"But…" It would be years for me to understand why this was so important, why all he wanted was a simple beer. Now I know it wasn't all he wanted but it brought him closer to his brothers, to his past and in the coming weeks I'd give him a few during the days. It did seem to ease his pain and every once in a while he'd give me a soft smile. I soon came to know what was wrong with him. My friend was dying.
A/N: This chapter title is a little different since I couldn't find another flower that meant sick so instead it means caring.