Boober woke up the next morning, his head pounding and his stomach burning. He groaned in agony, wondering what the hell was wrong with him.

"What happened?" he asked while rubbing his head.

He didn't think that there would be another person in his hole, but to his surprise, Jessa was asleep on the floor next to his bed. Boober didn't know until he sat up and accidentally kicked Jessa.

"Ow."

This startled him and he turned to see her groaning tiredly and sitting up.

"Jessa? What are you doing on the floor?"

"Look who decided to come back to reality," Jessa said softly while smiling at him.

She was still in her dress, but she removed the string of crystals and her hair was down. Boober stared at her in question. What exactly happened at the summer solstice? He needed to know.

"I... have questions that need answering."

Jessa's smile disappeared when she saw him rub his head and sighed.

"Buckle up then, Boober," Jessa replied while stretching her arms. "Because it's going to be a bumpy ride."

Boober groaned, anticipating something bad.

"I did what?!"

"You got carried away and began drinking. Wembley and I had to restrain you and bring you back to your hole."

"Wembley knows too?"

Boober was beyond embarrassed! He lay in Jessa's lap while she massaged his head. He couldn't wrap his head around how Jessa still wanted to be around him after all that.

"Yep," Jessa answered.

"Who else?"

"Luckily for you Boober, just me and Wembley. Everyone else is unaware."

"Thank heavens."

Jessa couldn't stop thinking about Sidebottom's pleas to be let out more often. It pained her to know this, but what could she say? What could she do? It wasn't up to her, but to Boober. But she wasn't going to bring it up with him. Not right now at least, if ever. No time seemed good for something like this. And Jessa couldn't let on that she knew about Sidebottom beyond Wembley telling her a few details.

"He left a few hours ago, but I stayed."

"You didn't have to trouble yourself for me, Jessa."

"How many times have you troubled yourself for me? You stayed up with me when I was a pathetic sobbing mess after I had that nightmare, you went out of your way to get an apple out of the gorg's garden just to make an apple pie bite for me, and you gave me that bracelet."

Boober let her words sink in before he spoke.

"You don't think you've done enough? Just know that you have, and it means a lot."

"Even if you had to sleep on the floor?"

"You were drunk, Boober. I wasn't going to get in your bed with you while you were wasted. I'm not disrespecting your boundaries."

Over time, Jessa had plenty of time to think about her interactions with Sidebottom, and the more she thought about it, the worse she felt. How could she kiss him knowing that Boober was stuck in his subconscious somewhere?! How could she let her feelings overtake her rational thoughts?

"What was I thinking?" she thought with guilt in her heart.

While she did feel sorry for Sidebottom being stuck in the back of Boober's mind 95% of the time, knowing that she didn't even try to resist his affections made Jessa feel as though she invaded. She was no better than anyone else. She hated herself for not being firm with Sidebottom as he kissed her and flirted with her.

"Even if I was intoxicated, I don't want you sleeping on the floor. You'll wake up with back and joint pains."

"Where would I sleep though?"

Boober opened his mouth but closed it upon realizing she had a point.

"I skipped after-hours last night," Jessa admitted. "Because you were passed out drunk and…"

"And what?"

"I… I couldn't leave you like that."

Jessa struggled to admit that she actually cared, but Boober figured it out by the tone of her voice.

"You were looking forward to it too," he told her.

"I was. But after Sidebottom took over and got you, well, he got drunk, I didn't feel like going. Not when you were about to face the consequences of a hangover once you sobered up."

"I'm assuming Wembley filled you in about him."

"He did, but he didn't reveal much else."

Boober hummed indifferently. His head hurt too much to think about it.

"How's your head?"

"It feels like an anvil was dropped on it."

"I've been there."

"You have?"

"Yeah, I drink. But I had only one glass of wine last night, which is a personal best for me. I usually drink more than that."

"I thought I tasted alcohol on your lips when we kissed."

Boober had an inkling that Jessa had consumed some of the radish wine, but now he knew.

"If it wasn't pleasant, then I apologize."

"It wasn't. But I enjoyed our kiss."

Jessa tugged on Boober's hair, providing relief from the throbbing hangover as Boober groaned in satisfaction.

"I did too."

Boober smiled out of instinct before rolling over on his stomach and placing his hand just above Jessa's knee. Her legs were long, he realized. Though Jessa was still shorter than Mokey, she was definitely taller than Boober. He then sighed and began caressing her thigh.

"I can't believe you sacrificed going to the after-hours to look after me."

"If you've been to enough bars, then you've seen it all. Besides, you're more important than booze and bar fights anyway."

Boober was absolutely touched by this and almost teared up.

"I'm important to you?"

"Yeah."

Jessa realized this a second later. Boober held a special place in her heart, even more than she cared to admit.

"After all that you've done for me so far."

Boober didn't have the energy to tell Jessa it was all because he was in love with her, but he wanted her to know. He slowly got up and snuggled close to her in the form of a hug. Jessa's tail wagged in response and she felt her heart race before she smiled. She then held Boober's face and kissed the top of his forehead, to which his baloobius lit up.

"I hate that this happened," Jessa said after hearing him moan in pain.

"Ditto."

She continued to massage his scalp, which helped tremendously. But despite that, he began to feel nauseous.

"Jessa?"

"Yes?"

"I need to throw up."

"Where do you keep a barf bucket?"

Boober pointed towards the other side of his hole as Jessa went to retrieve it. Boober groaned while trying to sit up, the movements making him feel worse. His stomach churned and he held it, letting out a groan of discomfort. Jessa sat the bucket down in front of him, just in time for Boober to barf into it.

"This is so disgusting!" he complained after getting it all out of his system. "Now I have barf breath."

"It's nothing a breath mint or two can't fix. I have some if you want it."

"Please?" Boober begged. "I can't stand the taste of my own vomit."

"Sure," Jessa replied before kissing his temple. "I need to change out of this dress anyway."

Jessa got up and left while Boober glared down at the bucket that was 1/8thof the way filled with puke. He couldn't help but feel angry at himself for getting drunk. Well, he was mad at Sidebottom for doing that.

"Why does this always happen to me?" he grumbled.

Luckily for Boober, Sidebottom was not bothering him today. But he couldn't help but feel like a loser for drinking. A hypocrite. After he always ranted to others about how they shouldn't consume alcohol. Now here he was, hungover and puking almost as much as Jessa did when she had her nightmare. Boober sighed, feeling utterly embarrassed.

"How does she still like me after all of this?"

Jessa returned a minute later, donning her black outfit and signature ponytail (though she didn't have her sword on her) as she held a pack of breath mints in her hand.

"You can take as many as you want," she said sympathetically.

Boober put two in his mouth before Jessa sat next to him.

"How can you look at me the same way you did last night?" Boober asked her.

"What do you mean?"

"This wasn't supposed to happen. I was not supposed to let myself get drunk. And yet here I am, throwing up after a night of booze."

"What exactly does this have to do with what I think of you?"

"Everything. You think I'm a drunk now, don't you."

"No. If anything, I never took you as the type to consume alcohol."

"But it happened."

"I'm not mad at you for drinking if that's what you're worried about."

Boober groaned.

"And Sidebottom… he had to take over my body at the wrong time. I never wanted you to meet him, because he always makes a fool out of me."

"I don't have an issue with Sidebottom, Boober."

This was the most honest Jessa had ever been with anyone about anything.

"How? How does he not frighten you away?"

"Do I need to reiterate? I'm not scared of shit. And Sidebottom doesn't provoke any fear. If anything, that's my job."

"Jessa," Boober began, but couldn't think what to say as she watched him, now frustrated and confused.

"Yes?" she pressed.

Boober tried to say what he felt about this whole situation, but he choked on the words and looked as if he was about to cry. Jessa noticed this and her expression softened. But before any more could be said, Boober threw up into the bucket again. After wiping his mouth, he plopped back down on his bed and groaned.

"Looks like you need plenty of privacy to recover," Jessa said before getting up.

Boober glanced at her as she attempted to walk away.

"I'll come back later and see how you're doing."

"Jessa, wait."

Jessa stopped in her tracks and turned around.

"Please, don't leave."

There was a pleading tone in his voice, and Jessa felt her heartstrings being pulled. Boober thought she would walk off and desert him, but to his surprise, Jessa laid down next to him.

"Anything else you need?" she asked him softly.

"I just need you," he answered while holding her hand. "I need you here next to me."

Jessa sighed and stayed where she was, next to Boober.

"Just let me know if you get tired of my company," Jessa joked.

"I enjoy your presence too much for that to happen."

Jessa chuckled and response and snuggled closer, which made Boober very happy despite his hangover. He wanted to kiss her but didn't so as to not offend Jessa with his barf breath.

"Just relax for a bit, hon," she said softly. "The wine you drank last night will be out of your system in a few hours."

Boober blushed at the pet name she had given him and grinned before intertwining his fingers with hers.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too."

They spent the rest of the morning sleeping in, which was fine with Boober since he felt like shit. Plus, he felt robbed of his time alone with Jessa. Sidebottom stole his thunder and caused him to suffer the aftermath of getting drunk. He made a mental note to scold him later. But for now, he would cuddle Jessa and sleep off the excruciating headache.