"What's cracking, captain butt munch?"

Roger turned his head and looked at me the way a cat does after you sneeze loudly.

"What the hell was that sentence?" He asked, his eyebrows clashing with his eyelashes. I continued my journey through his medicine container, scavenging for anything useful to battle the cold I had caught whilst watching Roger drive laps at the local racing track in my car the previous evening. I rested my head on the container, giving up all hope.

"How can a house be so big yet so empty in terms of medical supplies. Even a small bottle of eucalyptus oil to stop my nasal Niagara Falls would be nice but there's nothing in here but some breath mints, an old Woolworths receipt for tissues, some condoms and a bottle of hand sanitiser. Oh and lube! I could have started my own pharmacy with all the stuff I used to have." I whinged, looking up at him. Roger half smiled at me, motioning at me to go to him. I sat on his legs, curling up on his chest.

"What's wrong, lovely? You hardly swing your moods like that. What other nicknames have you used on people recently?" He commented, wrapping his arms around me.

"I hate being sick. My body aches, my snotlocker won't stop running, I look like hell and I'm pregnant and therefore gaining weight and wanting food all the time and ugh. Oh, I called Brian Sergeant Sweatervest yesterday." I released my inner thoughts, feeling Roger rub his knuckles up and down my thigh. I sank my head to rest just below his neck, my hand on his stomach. I felt him thinking, his lips curled and eyebrows furrowed.

"How about I get Vivienne to go and buy everything pregnancy-safe for colds and flu and what she considers to be an essential first aid and medicine house kit and I pay her back when she gets here?"

I nodded in agreement, standing up so he can get to the phone. I open the fridge and stare at the contents before pulling out a meat pie and a Mars Bar, ready for lunch.

"You've really gotta stop eating weird shit like that, Lulu." He commented, pressing on the numbers to call my old house. I poked my tongue out at him, cutting a hole in the top of the pie for my chocolate. In the microwave they went as I walked back to Roger, hugging onto him once again.

After an hour and watching Roger shake in disgust at my lunch choice, Vivienne strolled into the kitchen of our house, arms full with brown paper bags.

"You came to the right nurse, Mr Taylor. Gosh, Lucy, you look-"

"Gorgeous, right?" Roger cut her off, eyebrows raised.

"Tired, I know Vivvy." I commented, peeking up to see what she had bought us.

"Okay so I got you a first aid kit exactly the same as the kitchen one at my new house, which I am forever thankful for, and all the cold and flu remedy stuff is provided with compliments from the Great Ormond Street Pharmaceutical Staff. There's a flashy blue drink bottle to encourage you to keep drinking water, a wheat bag, a cold pack, paracetamol, lavender oil for muscle aches, and Roger said you wanted eucalyptus oil? Got that too." She placed everything on the bench, answering Roger's questions as she went. I hadn't worked with Vivienne or any of the hospital staff in months, not since Roger was admitted for alcohol poisoning. To know they still remembered me was touching. I clicked back to reality probably a minute later when Vivienne placed the new water bottle in front of me, demanding I drink some. She felt my forehead with the back of her hand, commenting on how hot and dehydrated my skin felt. I downed two mouthfuls and sat up properly in my chair, watching my best friend and boyfriend bicker over where to put everything. The early afternoon of New Years Eve went by quickly, Roger and Vivienne sorting out their issue within an hour. I offered my opinion, often reminded that "babe, we got this" and that I shouldn't worry myself. So I didn't. Instead, I curled up on the couch, settling in for a short nap. Within minutes of my escape, Roger had placed a blanket over me and socks on my feet.

"Don't want you to get sicker." Roger reassured, kissing my cheek. He stood up and sneezed loudly, causing me to jolt.

"You sneeze loud as heck!" Vivienne yelled from the kitchen, walking back towards us.

"He's asserting his dominance." I laughed, grabbing onto his hand. Physical contact seemed to be my latest and strongest craving. I felt my eyes get heavier and heavier, finally falling asleep. When I woke up again, the sun was creeping away and the house was completely silent.

"Babe? Roger Meddows Taylor?" I called out to no reply. I sat up, now slightly worried. Roger would usually yell something stupid in reply, an animal noise if he was hiding in the bedroom, but not now. I got slightly concerned, getting up and wrapping my blanket around my shoulders. My blanket cape followed me through every room of the house, flowing in the breeze of my running. I checked the bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms and eventually made my way outside. Roger's Benz was in the same place as before, tucked away in the shed. If he isn't in the studio, I give up I thought, lifting my cape up to trudge through the grass.

Unlocked, yet completely silent and dark. I opened the door slowly, trying to find the light switch. I found it, closing the door and flicking it on.

"Surprise!" Roger yelled, appearing centimetres from my face. I jumped, smacking the back of my head on the door and wetting myself slightly m. I held a hand to it in pain, muttering multiple curse words. I looked past Roger's shoulders, vision blurry with tears, to see the studio decorated. Balloons, streamers, party games galore. It looked like a child's birthday party. Roger took my hand and stood beside me.

"Lord knows you can't make it to any party, so Vivienne and I brought the party to you." He laughed, kissing my cheek. I used my other hand to cover my mouth, melting at all the effort he went through for me. As I turned to inspect everything, I was presented  with a champagne flute of orange juice and a hot-as-heck kiss. I rested my arm on Roger's shoulder, running my fingers through his hair.

"There's pin the tail on the donkey, red velvet cake, spin the bottle, non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice and, of course, a dance floor with your name on it." He told me, pointing at different areas of the room. I didn't follow his hand. Instead, I looked at his face in complete awe. He noticed, turning his gaze to me.

"What?" He laughed, grinning.

"How dare you love me so much." I replied, kissing his forehead.