You couldn’t believe it was December already. The year had gone by fast, and now, it was almost Christmas. Aside from the big holiday, one of your favorite things was the romantic winter dates Terzo took you on. Ice-skating, bringing you to cute little cafes and having snuggly stay-ins while watching Christmas movies. (He was going to combust if he had to watch Elf one more time, though.)

The other day, it had snowed, and he wanted to take you on a walk. You came out all bundled up, like a yarn-covered cushion to face the cold weather. He’d laughed good-naturedly, told you that you looked silly, After all, it wasn’t that cold. Only thirty degrees outside. All he needed was his leather jacket and a pair of slacks, even when you insisted on letting him wear your hat, he refused. The Emeritus bloodline had strong immune systems, he’d said. “You don’t have to worry about me,” he assured with a wink. “Or about our babies, in that case.” He was more wrong than you’d ever seen him in your life.

He’d sneezed almost ten times since you’d been in there, each one shaking the bed. You’d left to attend to chores before he woke up, and came back when he’d sent you a mostly-gibberish but still very desperate text, begging you to come back. The only downside of seeing you was just knowing you were thinking “I told you so every time he coughed or sneezed.”

“Really, dolce, this is very rare,” he insists. “This has never happened. It must be a new bug going around.” That, or maybe he just wanted to look tougher than he was. You kept that thought quiet, though. Best not to patronize the sick man. He sighed, extending his hand for you to hold. “Thank you for taking care of me,” he said begrudgingly. “I am glad you’re here.”