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Aether sniffles, rubbing his nose on his hoodie sleeve. He finally caught the bug going through the Abbey and he's miserable, waking up little with his mind cloudy.

Everything hurts, his teeth ache all the way down to his toes and he's sweating but freezing all at once. He's not sure what time it is but it's still dark when he looks out the window. It worries him that Dew won't be awake or that he'll be sleeping and Aether would feel bad for waking him up.

He grabs his blanket, coughing so hard his chest hurts and he feels himself slipping further down. Omega is gone for the weekend, filling in at another infirmary so it's gotta be Dew, he needs him, especially as his mind starts getting more hazy.

He pulls his blanket over his head and heads for his closet, searching for his soother that he keeps for moments just like this. It still feels wrong as it slips into his pocket, like he shouldn't need it but he does and Dew and Omega had both told him it was ok…and they never lied.

Aether peeks out of his room, finding the dark hallway empty and he squeezes his little moon to light the way to Dew's room. He tiptoes past the rooms, careful to not make noise because he doesn't want to disturb anyone or get caught by someone he's not ready to have see him yet.

He knocks on the door, then again a little harder until he hears Dew moving inside the room.

“Crux? You ok?” Dew kneels and holds his hands.

“Don’ feel good…” His voice cracks and he sniffles again.

“Oh no.” He holds his hand against his forehead and frowns. “That bug got you, huh?”

“Yeah. Everything hurts real bad and I'm hot but I keep shivering.” He feels tears in his eyes. “Can I stay with you?”

“Of course you can but-”

He flinches, waiting to be told he's actually not allowed, that he needs to go back to his room and deal with it.

“Rain's in there, is that ok?”

“Is…is he little too?”

“No, he's in there trying to be a lizard and still all my warmth!”

It makes Aether giggle to think about Rain as a lizard. He's not sure he's really ready but he wants Dew…

“I can tell him you need me. He'll understand, Crux.”

“No…s’ok..if he's ok…”

Dew hugs him. “Rain loves you. He'd never judge you, mo ghrá. Let me just tell him you're coming in ok. Be careful though…he might try to latch onto you too.”

He laughs again but it leads to a coughing fit and he whimpers, his chest and back aching from the force of it.

He hears Dew speaking French through the slightly open door and his heart jumps nervously when he hears Rain's response.

“Dew…”

“Yeah?”

“M’nervous…”

He bends to kiss the top of his head. “It's ok to be nervous. If you need it to just be me and you that's ok, Rain will understand.”

But he doesn't want Rain to have to leave, that's not fair so he takes a big, wheezing breath and holds his blanket closer and takes hold of Dew's hand.

Dew smiles and squeezes his hand in encouragement. Rains sitting up on the bed with the blankets pulled up even as the fire blazes in the fireplace.

He smiles softly at the little ghoul as he hides slightly behind Dew. “Hi Poussière d'étoiles.” (Stardust)

He'd pulled the edge of his blanket up into his mouth, the soother tucked into his pocket. “Hi…”

He coughs again and Dew rubs his back through it, frowning at how congested he sounds.

“Ok, you're going to get a nice warm bath so your nose isn't all stuffy, that sound ok? Then you can hop up in bed and we can watch a movie and get some sleep.”

He nods quietly, head hanging from how bad it hurts from all the pressure. Dew rests his hands on his shoulders and rubs gently.

“Can I get you anything, Poussière d'étoiles? Tea or some soup?” Rain asks, already moving to stand. “I'm sure we have some of those suckers left too to help with that cough.”

“Sea le do thoil.” He whimpers and shakes his head. “I mean yes…please.”

His voice is so small Dew looks to Rain. “Can you grab him some other jammies too please?”

“I got jammies on…”

He smiles. “You do, but new ones might feel better after your bath.”

He just nods, too tired to really follow what Dew is saying. Everything still hurts and his head is so stuffy he can barely convince his legs to keep standing.

Dew helps him into the bathroom, lifting him to sit on the counter while he starts the water in the tub.

“I'll step out so you can get undressed but I'm going to sit in here once you're in the bath ok? I don't feel comfortable leaving you when you feel like this.”

“K Dew.”

Dew turns to see him, smaller than before and he frowns, texting Omega once the little ghoul is undressing, letting him know what's going on and just how far down Aeth has gone.

“*Its not common for him but I've seen it a few times. He'll need more comfort but he won't fight it as much. Tell him I love him.*”

Dew puts his phone away after Aether calls him in, smiling at how many bubbles there are. “Comfy?”

“S’nice and warm.”

“Good! Omega texted me, he says he loves you.”

“I love him too and I miss him a whole bunch.” He frowns, leaning his head against the wall. “Everything feels bad…”

“I know, Crux, I'm sorry. The bath will help.”

He stays in until he gets too hot, his fever flaring. Dew wraps him in a towel and goes out to get the jammies from Rain, smiling at the thin pants and shirt with stars all over them.

“I didn't know which ones he likes best.”

“These are perfect.”

He helps him get dressed and holds his hand as they make their way back into the room. Rain is sitting on the end of the bed with tea and there is soup sitting on the bedside table.

“Aeth, would you like me to go? You won't hurt my feelings if you just need it to be you and Dewdrop.”

He shakes his head, groggy from the fever. “No, can stay…”

Rain frowns and walks over, holding the back of his cool hand against Aether's forehead. The little ghoul presses into the touch, sighing at the cool contact.

“Can I help you cool down, Mon amour? You're really warm, I can't imagine that it feels very nice.”

“Told you he's being a lizard.” Dew jokes.

Aether giggles and nods at Rain, allowing himself to be pulled to the bed and wrapped in Rain's cool arms, both of their shirts thin enough that he can feel it.

“Better?”

He hums and Dew wanders over, carefully offering the soother. He expects a fight but doesn't get one, the little ghoul just takes it and shuts his eyes, nuzzling closer to Rain.

Dew climbs up on the other side, keeping space to not make Aether too warm while he cuddles against Rain. He tucks his little blanket up beside him, his little fingers curling around it immediately.

“Do you want to try some soup or tea?”

He shakes his head, eyes still closed. “No thank you.”

Dew smiles at his sleepy voice. “Do you want a movie on, Crux?”

He makes a sleepy little noise before his breathing evens out, pressed close to Rain's chest. Dew smiles while the water ghoul strokes his hair, humming quietly until Aether gets chilly and turns to press closer to Dew.

He kisses the top of his head and holds the little ghoul a little tighter, proud of him for coming to him when he needed it, for stepping out of his comfort zone and allowing Rain to stay.

Aether grabs Rain's hand in his sleep, moving it up against his face and the water ghoul smiles.

“I'm really proud of him.”

Terzo pauses his sip of tea and sets his book to the side, turning his head to try to hear better. He thinks he imagined it until he hears the little giggle again. He peeks out of his room just as Dew zooms by on his hands and knees, giggling as he goes.

Terzo watches with a smile for a moment before he catches up and scoops him into his arms. “And just where do you think you're going?”

Dew squeals and kicks his legs, trying to get Terzo to put him down. He points down the hall where he'd been heading.

“Daidí!"

“He's in the infirmary, my little love.”

“Me go.”

Terzo laughs and adjusts him in his arms with his back to his chest so he can still see.

“Well, lets go pay Aether and Omega a visit.”

Dew claps his little hands, thrilled with the plan. He holds onto Terzos hand as they walk, babbling away and Terzo wishes he could understand what he's talking about but he's happy, and that's all that matters.

“Are you excited? I bet they'll be happy for the visit from you.” Terzo tells him, smiling when he claps again.

He's happy to find the infirmary isn't overly busy and they seem to have extra staff today.

Aether spots them first and rushes over, concern obvious on his face until Dew claps and giggles.

“Daidí!"

Terzo smiles, handing the baby over to the quint. “Caught him trying to make his way down here, thought I'd join him.”

“You need to stop escaping.”

“Aef mine!”

He can't help but smile, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Yeah. You still can't wander off though!”

Dew blows a raspberry and lays his head against Aether's shoulder as the quint turns to talk to Terzo.

“Are you and Omega busy? I was thinking maybe you could join us for lunch outside?”

“Side! Aef go side!”

He laughs and hands the baby back to Terzo. “Ok, let me go grab Omega and let the rest of the staff know we are going for lunch.”

Dew whines when Aether walks away, a small sad sound as he reaches out after him.

“He'll be right back then we will grab lunch and we will go outside!”

“Aef side?”

“Yes amore, he's going to come too, I promise you.”

He's up on Terzos shoulders by the time Aether and omega make it over to him, Omega carrying a blanket for their lunch outside.

“Go side!”

They all laugh and start heading from the infirmary towards the dining hall to grab lunch. Aether makes sure to get fruit for Dew, showing his options and letting him choose what he wants today.

He picks raspberries and bananas, excitedly pointing them out to Aether.

“They are yummy huh?”

“Aef nana!”

“I'll get one, don't worry.”

“Good job Dew, fruits are important even for big ghouls like Aether!” Omega grins when Aether turns and sticks his tongue out. “You realize the baby is better behaved than you?”

“Not always.”

They grab their food and Terzo leads the way, hand in hand with Omega, to the perfect spot for them to eat. They lay the blanket out and Aether sets Dew on it with this little bowl of fruit.

He points at the flowers, the bright yellow and orange marigolds Mountain had been tending to the last little while.

“Bubees seep.”

“They are sleeping, they'll be back in the Spring.” Terzo takes his little hand. “They'll be so happy to see you!”

Omega leans against Terzo. “Thank you for doing this, cuore mio. I…we tend to forget to take breaks. This is nice.”

Aether agrees, holding a slobbery piece of banana that Dew decided he didn't want anymore.

“Thank Dew, it was all his idea.” Terzo smiles fondly at the little ghoul.

“Me!”

They enjoy lunch together, talking and listening to Dew babbling until he gets tired and curls up in Aether's lap with heavy eyes and big yawns.

Aether runs his fingers through his hair, smiling at the content little rumbly purr that fills the quiet space between them as they soak up the last peaceful minutes of their break.

Terzo gently lifts Dew from Aether's lap when they have to head back, careful to not wake him. They both kiss the top of his head before wandering off back to work. Terzo watches them walk off, patting Dew's back and softly bouncing him.