Hey guys! Thank you for reading, putting in on your fave/following list, and reviewing! ^^ Things are getting more into action, although it's on baby steps, I'd say! ^^

Miss Kitty DeMarco: well, I didn't see that coming until I read your chapter, lol. And yeah, I think Klaus is already on the workaholic end of the spectrum, he really needs to rest (partly out of my annoyance that he's most probably working when I visit him at his house)

BubbleFettTea: Although she says in the last chapter, I'd say 'things happened' here instead (for her? for him? for both? I'd let you have your pick) ^^

CrimsonCrush: your wait is over! ^^

Klaus sat down in front of his desk, a reaction tube in his hand. His head was spinning, as if he was on a desperately spinning carousel, but he tried to ignore it.

This scent has to be finished for this weekend's meeting, he thought to himself.

When he felt the tingling sensation in his nose, he pulled and looked away before actually sneezing. His head spun a little bit harder and was a little bit lighter when he did that.

It began on Monday… a simple flu. He turned in earlier for that day, but it didn't improve on Tuesday. In fact, earlier, he could barely get out of his bed that Iris—tired of waiting him in front of his house, probably—took the matters into her hand and told his client that he was unable to meet them this week. She had left with a stern warning against going anywhere near his desk, but a job was a job.

He had to be responsible, didn't he?

He brought the tube closer to his nose, but alas, he couldn't smell anything. He could go by pure mathematical method of mixing concentrates and would know how it would feel like but it didn't feel complete until he knew how it would react in free air.

"I'm letting myself in as always, Klaus," a voice came behind him. Klaus sighed and continued working. Iris had been his regular visitor, anyway, and she was supposed to know that he was working.

"Shouldn't you be resting, Mr. Klaus?"

He held his breath when he heard that voice and turned his head to see the pinkette, cocking her head so slightly at the direction of his desk. "Miss Iris told me… you're sick."

"Just a slight flu, nothing to be gravely worried about."

"Have you seen Dr. Marian?"

"No, I haven't had the time."

The young woman frowned and it sent his stomach into tight, unpleasant knots. Such an expression shouldn't be on that kind of face… at all. Double that for knowing that it might be him who had caused that expression to surface on her face. "You should rest," she reiterated her point, this time not rhetorically anymore.

"You should listen to her," Iris added and he heard things being put down somewhere, most probably the kitchen counter. "I presume you haven't had your dinner?"

"I was about to cook something," he replied, half-lying, still not moving from his chair although he had put the tube back into the rack after putting a stopper on it. "Something simple."

"I'm going to borrow your kitchen to cook you some bouillabaisse," Iris stated. "And Raelyn is coming to help me."

"I could do that instead," Klaus offered as he grabbed the armrests to get up.

"Rejected. You lie down and rest," Iris retorted without batting an eyelid. "Come on, Raelyn."

"O-okay!"

Soon, they began working. Klaus couldn't help but to peek; they were cleaning the fishes and the prawns. He saw the younger girl peeked every so often sideways, looking at how Iris was doing. He also heard Iris' speaking.

"…do it like this, yes, correct…"

Iris was teaching her.

"Miss Raelyn."

The younger woman turned her head at the call of her name.

"I'm grateful for the kind thought, but I'm fine enough to prepare my own meal."

"I…" she puffed her cheeks slightly, as if that action could help her to steel her resolve (if there was anything, that made her looked adorable). "No. You really really should rest, Mr. Klaus. And won't that suit feel stuffy, anyway?"

"Bingo!" Iris chortled. "See, Klaus? I'm not the only one who asked you to change your clothes to something more appropriate to your condition."

"These clothes are fine…" he groaned, although inwardly he admitted that he felt warmer that usual wearing these clothes.

"You're soaking, Mr. Klaus," Raelyn pointed out matter-of-factly.

It was hard to win in an argument against Iris alone, much less if she had an ally… like Raelyn.

Klaus sighed in defeat and walked towards his wardrobe. They were busy in the kitchen, anyway, so it would be okay if he changed. He opened it and saw his reflection on the mirror fastened at the back of its door. He was paler than he had imagined. Klaus tried to shrug it away, but his head felt unbelievably heavy and his vision started to fade out.

This is just a simple flu, nothing big, he chided himself. You've grown weak, Niklaus Adler.

Then it went on again—the desperately spinning carousel. However, this time he couldn't hold himself up like he had been doing during the day.

The last thing he remembered was that it felt so light, before ending with a slight thud on the back of his head.

It was dark but smelled of… Marian.

I must've passed out, he noted grimly. Iris would chew my ears out after this.

Klaus opened his eyes and sure enough, the town doctor—and his eternal matchmaking agent, if he may add—was sitting next to his bed. His face was contorted in a mixture of annoy and worry. "Niklaus Adler!" he chided. "I live just next door yet you said you have no time to check up on yourself?"

"I apologize, Marian…" he said, his voice even weaker than it was before. "It's just… you know the new fashion season is coming, correct? It goes the same with perfumes…"

Klaus coughed violently and he felt that his nose was totally blocked off. Marian handed him a sheet of tissue paper and he excused himself, facing away from the doctor, before taking it out.

"Of course I know, Klaus darling," Marian said with a softer voice. "But it's not a reason to abandon your beauty by wasting your body away. Especially when you're living alone like this. If only you have a…"

"Not again, Marian," Klaus warned. "This is not the best time to discuss such matters."

Marian smiled smugly. "Oh, really? Do you want to know who called me?"

"Iris?" he asked as he straightened his back so that he was leaning against the headboard.

He made an audible tsk tsk sound while moving his finger. "No, no, it's Raelyn."

"Oh, right…" Klaus remembered that the pinkette was here, too.

"She practically burst into my clinic, pale and all, and dragged me here."

It was then Klaus noticed his clothes. He was wearing a simple white shirt, fresh and dry. "I'm sorry she wasn't the one changing your clothes," Marian winked suggestively. "I bet she would blush adorably at the sight of your body. You never told me you're still keeping that up, but I agree that such a body is a marvelous asset! All the more reason to keep healthy, hm?"

"Marian…" he groaned again. "Let's just stop at lecturing me to stay healthy, okay?"

"Aw… and she was sooo worried about you, enough to make you a sinner," he commented. "She told me she went back to wrap up with her chores just a moment ago, but still she was worried because you're not waking up. You should make a confession to her, Klaus darling!"

"Confession as in apologize, I'm sure," his golden eyes darted aside, finding Marian to be amused. "Marian, I have to remind you that she's almost half my age."

"Some things get better as they age, darling~"

Before Klaus could say something, his door was flung open and someone rushed in. "Miss Raelyn?"

The young woman was surprised to hear that and turned around. When she saw that he was already awake, her face beamed into a huge smile. "Thank Goddess!"

Marian stood gentlemanly and offered her to sit where he had sat down earlier. "Oh, no, it's okay, Dr. Marian," she refused politely. "Um… actually I was just checking things out."

"I apologize to have bothered you."

"Oh! No, no, no, it's fine—I mean, it's not fine that you're sick and all but it's—what I'm trying to say is…" her speech gradually became much faster and both Klaus and Marian could barely catch her words.

"Calm down, honey, and take a deep breath," Marian suggested.

Raelyn did so, taking a long, deep breath that her chest puffed out a little bit. She exhaled. "It's fine, Mr. Klaus," she finally said, the speed of her speech nearing the normal parameter again. "I bet you're hungry now, so I'm going to heat up your bou—er, I mean boojahbes…?"

"Bouillabaisse," Marian offered.

"Right, that," she sheepishly agreed. Klaus noticed that her cheeks were dusted with rosy specks. Was she embarrassed because she couldn't pronounce 'bouillabaisse' properly? He took a closer look at her; her dress was soaked slightly with sweat and perhaps he could've smelled it if it wasn't for the flu. So… she had been running? To check on him?

The previous knots in his stomach were suddenly replaced by something else… fluttering, fulfilling… definitely more pleasant than the knots. It was the kind of feeling that left him wanting for more; wanting to protect that shy smile and blush so that he would always feel this way.

He closed his eyes and felt the feeling intensified in him. It calmed him down somehow and he smiled.

"I'd like that very much, thank you."

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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