Archie came home to see that his husband was home early. He ran up to their bedroom, and he saw Maxie in bed.

"Hey, you~" Archie greeted him, lightly touching his back. But he became concerned when Maxie only groaned in response. "Babe.. are ye okay? Did ye have another bad day at work?"

"Mmmph... no.. *cough cough* I didn't go to work..." He groans again, sniffling and coughing. "Mmm.. I'm sick.."

Archie sat down next to him, rubbing his back. "Awww, baby.. what can I do for ye?"

"I don't know.." He muttered.

"Do you need anything to eat? Drink? Here, lemme get a thermometer.." He grabbed one from the bathroom and stuck it in his mouth.

After a few moments, he took it out. He saw that Maxie had a temperature of 102*.

"102.. yep, ye've got a fever.. poor baby.."

He tried to glare at him. "M' not a baby..." He whines.

The bigger man chuckled and pulled the blankets over him. "Yer my baby.. *kiss* I'll take care of ye, love.. ok? I'll take the next few days off and stay here with ye.. how does that sound?"

He saw him smile. "Y-You don't have to do that if you don't want to.."

"Hun, yer sick. Through sickness and in health, remember?" He kisses the top of Maxie's head.  "It's no problem, I promise ye."

"O-Okay.. *sniffle*"

Archie grabbed a shower and got dressed into for comfortable clothes. Before he climbed into bed with his husband, he looked at him, still laying in the bed miserable.

"Are ye sure ye don't want anything to eat? Are ye having stomach problems too?"

He saw the redhead nod his head. "I've been running to the bathroom every few hours.. I have a horrible stomachache and nausea.."

"How many times have ye gotten sick?"

"At least 3 times... I lost count after that.." Maxie whines.

Archie frowns, feeling bad for his husband. He put his arms around him. "My poor Max.. I understand if ye don't want anything to eat.. but when ye do, ye let me know, ok?"

"I will.. but I don't think that'll be- aah- aaaaah- Achoo!!"

"Bless ye." He hands him a tissue, chuckling. "Ye sneeze like a kitten~"

"Oh, screw off.." Maxie whines, tossing himself around in bed.

"I'm serious." Archie laughs, petting his side. "Ye sound like a Skitty when ye sneeze."

"Hmph."

Archie chuckles and continues to pet him softly. "Love, we should probably take ye to the doc-"

"NO."

Archie shook his head. He knew Maxie was going to say that. "Baby, I know ye don't like going to the doctor's office... but yer ill.. ye probably have a bad case of the flu.. the doctor will probably prescribe ye some medicine so ye'll feel better.."

"I'm not- *sniffle* going to the doctor.."

*sigh* "Alright then. It's settled."

"H-Huh?"

Archie sits up from the bed. "I'll be yer doctor."

Maxie almost choked, making him cough more. "Wh-What're you talking about?? You have no PHD! What exactly- Ahhh- choo!!!! *sniffle* What exactly do you think you can do?"

"Can't hurt to try! How hard is it to examine someone?"

Maxie rolled his eyes. "Hard enough that people have to go to school for it, you dork. I'll be fine.. I just need some rest.."

"I agree.. but there's got to be something I can do. Oh! I know!" He held him close to his chest. "Would a belly rub help? That usually helps soothe a nauseous stomach, so it would be a start."

"Mmm.. I suppose.." He can't say no to that. He adores when his husband gives him belly rubs. "I don't know.."

"C'mon, now.. doctor's orders." Archie teased, smiling cheekily at him.

Maxie rolls his eyes. "Oh, fine.."

However, there was one thing to consider with the belly rubs...

"Heheheheheheh!! *snort* Ahahaharchiee!" He whines, giggling frantically.

Maxie's stomach is very ticklish.

"Awww, what's the matter, giggles?" He teases. "Ticklish?"

He snorts again. "Yehehehehes!! Ahahahah!! *cough* hehehehehehehe!"

"Awww.. Well, like they say, laughter is the best medicine!" He starts tickling his belly. "Does this tickle?"

"GAHAHAHAH!! AAAAHAHAHAH- ARCHIE!!! PLEHEHEASE!!"

Archie stopped after a minute, not wanting to make his stomach hurt more from laughing so much.

"Hehe~ Ye ok, cutie?" Archie asks.

"Heheh.. hehe.. hee.. *sniffle* yes, I'm fine..." He giggles, laying in Archie's chest.

"Yer belly feel any better?"

"A little.."

He looks at him. "Ye want more tummy rubs?"

The redhead blushes. "Yes, please."

"One moment, I wanna take yer temperature again." He grabs it and puts it back in Maxie's mouth. "And... ah, shit.. it hasn't changed.. here, lift up yer arm."

"Uh, what?"

"I wanna check yer temperature under yer arm, and see if there's a difference in yer temperature. Ye ever heard of that?"

"Not once, but I believe you." Maxie answers, then lifts his arm up. "Go ahead, but I doubt the results will differ."

Archie puts the thermometer under his arm, in return, it makes his husband yelp.

"Aah! Cold!" He squeaked. "Archie! Pffft-Ahahahahahahahah!!"

"Hold still, babe! Don't squirm!" He told him, trying to push it closer to his armpit, but failing. "Quit wiggling!"

Maxie started giggling. "It tickles, damn it!"

He held it there long enough, then pulled it away. "Damn... still 102*.. here.. arm up, lemme try again."

"Ahahahah-! Ihihihihit tihihihickles!" The redhead squealed, wiggling away. "Now you're doing it ohohohohn purpose!"

Archie smirks, he wiggles the thermometer around his husband's armpit. "Hehe! You're so cute, babe! Gitchi gitchi goo!"

He reaches under his arm and grabs the thermometer. "Thahahat's enough! Yohohou're teheherrible!"

Archie guffaws back. "Just tryin' to make ye laugh, babe~ I know ye don't feel good and are in pain.. but the thermometer was right, yer temperature is still 102*."

"As expected... it's not going to go away that fast..." He groans, but then he immediately rises from the bed. "Oh god-" He runs to the bathroom and Archie can hear him getting sick.

"Aww, Max.." He patiently waits for Maxie to come out. It took a few minutes, but once he came out, Archie could see tears in his eyes. "Baby, why're ye crying? What's the matter?"

"My stomach is killing me." He sniffles, walking back to the bed. "It hurts.. so much.."

"C'mere, love.. I'll make it better.." Archie cooed, opening his arms.

"I don't want to get you sick... I've been this way since last night.."

Archie gasped. "Last night?? Baby, why didn't ye tell me??" He pulls Maxie to the bed and holds him.

"Because I didn't want you to worry about me. I figured if I told you before you went to work.. you would've stayed home and missed it.."

"Yer damn right that I would've taken the day off! Maxie.. *hug* If something's going on with ye.. Just tell me, ok? If I knew ye were sick last night, it may have prevented ye from getting worse today.. *nuzzle* Of course I'm gonna worry... because yer me husband, and when yer hurt, I'm hurt."

He tears up. "I-I'm sorry, love.. I was trying not to burden you with my problems.. or make you worry about anything.. I don't understand why I thought I could take care of myself in this state.."

"Oh, Maxie... *kiss* don't apologize~ now c'mere~ ye look like ye need snuggles~ would ye want some more belly rubs too?"

"Mmhmm.." He hummed.

"Alright then, c'mere." He pulls him closer and holds him from behind, spooning him. He starts gently rubbing his stomach.

"Pfffft- *snort* hehehehe!"

Archie adores that sound. "Aww, still tickle? Well, I'm sure it feels a whole lot better than the stomach pain, Max."

"Yehehehehes but- *squeal* ahahahehehehe!! Wahahahait! Youhuhuhuhu ahahahass!! You knohohow how ticklish ihihihihi ahaham there!" He felt Archie's fingers playfully wiggle at the side of his stomach instead of rubbing.

"Ah ah~ no name calling." Cooed Archie, going back to rubbing.

He would do this for a little while, not tickling him too much, because laughing too much may make him sick to his stomach again.

"Ohohohokay-! Okhahahay! Tihihime out! Ahahah- it-it tickles sohoho muhuhuch! I can't tahahake it ahahanymore!" He squeals, holding onto his husband with mirthful tears coming from his eyes.

*chuckle* "Okay okay, I'll let up. Yer stomach feel better now?"

"Hehehe.. yes, a little... hehehe.."

"Haha, awww.. Well, I'm glad to hear that, giggles. *kiss* Want snuggles now? Ye deserve some rest, after all."

Maxie smiles at him. "Yes... Please. I'd want nothing more.."

"Good." Archie smiles, taking him and pulling him closer, arms coming around his torso. "If ye feel bad at any point, and need to run in there again, let me know. Ok?"

"Okay, I will.."

They spent a few hours sleepily cuddling in bed. Maxie tucked his head into Archie's neck, and fell asleep first. Archie smiles at him and gives him a kiss on the forehead. Eventually, he fell asleep as well.

He woke up later to his husband squirming in his arms. He couldn't see why. He seemed to be having a nightmare.

"Hey, love.. wake up. Hey.."

"H-huh?"

Archie looked down to see Maxie's bright brown eyes look up at him.

"Ye okay?"

He tilts his head in confusion. "Y-yes, I'm fine. I'm not feeling nauseous.. why?"

"Because, ye were squirming in yer sleep. Were ye having a bad dream?"

The redhead went silent. "It-it's nothing.. I'm fine. I promise."

Archie could tell right away that he was hiding something from him.

"Honey, if ye had a bad dream, and if ye talk to me about it.. ye might feel better. After all, I've been trying to make ye feel better all day, I'm yer doctor, remember?" He asked with a teasing grin.

"Uh huh.." He rolls his eyes. "But really.. it was just a bad dream, dear. I'm alright."

Archie gave up, but he knows that Maxie will end up telling him sooner or later. But right now, the man doesn't feel good, and he doesn't want to get him worked up.

"Alright, love. But remember what I said." He gets up from the bed and grabs the thermometer once more, then cleans it. "Ye know the drill by now, let me see if yer fever has gone down."

"You put it in my MOUTH.. this time." Maxie warned, making the other cackle.

"Aww why, babe?"

*glare* "You know why."

"Ohhh c'mon now!" Archie laughs. "I'm just playing with ye! It just gave me an excuse to tickle ye silly. Now, open yer mouth."

He puts it in his mouth, then takes it out after about a minute or two.

"Hmm... well, the good news is that it's come down a little.. but the bad news is that ye still have a fever. It's 100* now."

"Great..." He groans.

Archie puts it away then comes back to cuddle. "Hey, at least it's went down. Do ye feel any better?"

"Well, now that you mention it.. I do a little. But I still feel warm, and I've been having hot flashes all day."

"How about yer stomach?"

"I don't feel nauseous, for now.. but I don't want to eat anything yet.. I'm afraid I'll get sick to my stomach again."

Archie smiles. "Do ye still want belly rubs?"

"Mm hmm." He blushed, laying down on his chest. "They tickle, but it's still relaxing~"

"As ye wish, hun. Let's see if ye can get some more sleep and rest, ok? Hopefully that fever will go all the way down."

"Okay."

Archie puts his arms around Maxie's torso, and starts to rub his belly once more. The redhead started giggling right away, but he was still relaxed.

"That feel nice, babe?" Archie asked, smiling when he giggles into his chest.

"Ihihihihihit tihihihihihihickles."

"Well, like I said before.. laughter is the best medicine." He chortled. "Now, try to relax. And be sure to let me know if ye feel bad again."

Maxie closes his eyes. "Ihihihihi wihihihihill."

"Good. *kiss*"

The hours went on, the two of them cuddling together in bed. Maxie didn't budge an inch from his husband's lap. He eventually fell asleep, and Archie follows him not too long after.