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“amma, why is mom on the couch?”

samira smiles as their son bats at emery’s face, peering at her curiously, making her stir. “because mom had too much fun with uncle jack last night and came home smelling of the outdoors.” she answered.

norah frowns. “but why is she on the couch?”

teddy pokes emery’s cheek. “she does smell.”

emery groans and pushes his hand away, burying her face further into the cushions. “no, I don’t. g’away.”

samira rolls her eyes and laughs. “come on you two, up at the table. your breakfast will get cold.”

they do as they’re told, both eyeing their mother’s stirring figure as emery turns over on the couch, ruffling the blanket that had been draped over her, pressing her hand to her forehead.

the smell of food was making her feel sick.

norah took a sip of her orange juice. “is mom in trouble?”

“uh-huh.” samira said, pouring a glass of water. she could already feeling emery scowling at her from the couch.

teddy grinned through a mouthful of cereal. “loads of trouble?”

she laughed gently. “no, not loads. just…a normal amount. mom was being very naughty and was out past her bedtime.” she padded over to where emery was and crouched down, offering the water to her very grouchy looking wife. “-and I think mom is old enough to know better by now, hm?”

emery glared. “m’not too old.” she muttered, taking the water and lifting her head slightly. “still in my prime.”

“uh-huh, sure.”

emery was still wearing the same clothes from last night, except for the leather jacket she had which samira had draped over a chair when she’d found her stumbling in at four in the morning. her hair, still dark and long enough to nearly reach her elbows, was tangled and frizzy, sticking up at all angles.

samira waited for her to drink the whole glass before setting it aside and putting the back of her hand to emery’s forehead.

“did you at least have a good evening?” she asked quietly.

“mhm, think so.” emery murmured back, her voice a little scratchy, which made samira smile. “i don’t remember a lot of it.”

“sounds like you hit the karaoke bar.”

“it feels like i hit many things.”

samira laughed gently and nudged in a little closer. “I’ll get the shower running, make you something easy to eat, find you some fresh clothes and then maybe get you some actual rest?”

emery smiles tiredly. “you’re very good to me.”

“caring for the elderly…it’s one of my talents.”

“oh…” her nose wrinkled. “that’s cruel. I take it back.”

samira smiles and puts a kiss to emery’s forehead, grimacing slightly at how clammy it is. she gets up again and roots around in the kitchen cupboards for a bucket, passing it to teddy once he’d finished eating.

“can you put that in front of your mom for me?”

he looked at her, his frown identical to emery’s. “why?”

“because I value my carpet and mommy’s looking gross. go.”

unsatisfied with the answer, he does as he’s told, hopping down from the table and letting the bucket clatter loudly against the floor, making emery wince.

“this is for you, mom. amma says you smell bad.”

“mm,” emery lifted her head again wearily. “I think I recall it was you that said I smell bad, buddy.”

“what does recall mean?”

“like, to remember.” she managed. “you remember something, you recall something.”

“oh.” his eyes roamed over her for a moment, taking in her pale face and tired expression. “well, i recall you smelling bad.”

she laughed before she could stop herself, another dull wave of nausea making her groan. teddy was biologically her son but personality-wise, he’d inherited samira’s wise cracks just like his sister.

“that was very good, bud. well done.”

he tilted his head. “are you going to be sick?”

“probably.”

“are you going to die?”

“i hope not.” she said softly. “I’ve got you to look after me, haven’t i?”

“I’m not a doctor.” he said seriously. “you’re the doctor.”

“oh no, whatever will we do!” she grinned and suddenly grabbed him, making him yelp as she pulled him into a cuddle, ignoring how her stomach turned over at the movement. “you’ll have to put this on my headstone, kid. here lies beloved mom, dead because her son wasn’t a doctor yet and couldn’t look after her!”

“no!”

“yes!”

“no!” he turned in her grip, burying his face into her chest. “you’re not allowed to die.” he mumbled quietly. “not ever.”

she cuddled him closer, letting the laughter fade out. “I’m not going to die, baby.” she said softly into his hair. “okay?”

“promise?”

she stroked the back of his neck, sighing. teddy may have inherited samira’s jokes but he’d also taken on a lot of her anxiety as well, making him very serious for a five-year-old.

“i promise.” she murmured. “i’m not going to die.”

he burrowed in closer, his forehead in the crook of her neck, his little hands tightly fisting her t-shirt. she held him like that for a few moments, running her hand up and down his back, soothing him.

“I’m not going to die, ted.” she whispered again. “I promise.”

“okay.” he nuzzled against her skin. “mom?”

“mm?”