The clock on the wall ticked softly in the background, an almost mocking sound in the chaos that had overtaken your home. Tissues were strewn across the coffee table like battlefield remnants. You sat on the couch with a blanket wrapped tightly around you, your head resting against Dick’s shoulder. Both of you looked like you’d been through a war—hair disheveled, cheeks flushed with fever, and exhaustion evident in your eyes.

In the corner of the room, your toddler let out a pitiful sneeze before breaking into another round of wailing. Dick groaned softly, pushing himself up from the couch with more effort than he cared to admit. “I’ll get them,” he rasped, his voice hoarse.