[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT]As dawn’s first light stole away the darkness in the infirmary room, Aiden sat beside his son. A book was in his hand as he continued to read aloud. It had been a tradition that started when Lorcán was young. If his son was sick, Aiden would sit by his bedside and read. He had loved doing all manner of voices for the young boy, watching Lorcán’s eyes light up and his smile widen as Aiden switched from deep baritones to high squeaky voices that were so obnoxious but always got a laugh out of his son.

Now, he sat there reading from ‘[i]The Three Musketeers[/i]’, Lorcán’s favourite sick day story. While his son might have normally outgrown this sort of treatment, Aiden didn’t mind indulging some nostalgia while he waited for Lorcán to stir.

Finding Amma in Lorcán’s room had been a surprise, what she had done was a mystery, but the fever had cleared and his son’s wounds were responding to treatment. After four agonizingly long days and a rollercoaster of emotions, it was finally over. Beside Aiden, Tori had fallen asleep against her husband’s shoulder, a smile on her face as she sat comforted with the news of her son’s recovery.

Soon they would call Aurora, Cassander and Ripley, but for just a few moments more, Aiden wanted to enjoy the time with his family. Turning the page, he continued to read aloud coming to a familiar line that caused him to pause. Hesitating, Aiden swallowed hard before reading.

[color=#ef5e49]“Never fear quarrels, but-” [/color]

[color=#fe650d]“-seek hazardous adventures.”[/color] A voice croaked from within the bed as Aiden stood and lifted a glass of water to Lorcán’s lips. He drank eagerly and with unspoken gratitude, the rejuvenating liquid washing away the dryness of his throat. He opened his mouth to speak again before Aiden raised a single finger to his lips.

[color=#ef5e49]“Rest, son. You may be out of the woods, but you’re not home yet.”[/color] Aiden brushed Lorcán’s wavy hair back away from his son’s molten eyes, watching them flutter open briefly before relenting against the strain and closing again.

[color=#ef5e49]“Welcome back, Lion Lungs.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=#AC0D01][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5504477][img]https://i.imgur.com/YaU6OAT.jpeg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#E64C09][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Infirmary[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Collegiate & University[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Take On Me #3.068:[/b][/COLOR] [I]November Rain[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#AC0D01][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#E64C09][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I][@Melissa] - Aurora Mitchell[/i][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]You Could Be Mine[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT][color=#ffffff]“He’s still heavily sedated while we finish patching up his arm,”[/color] The medic stated, looking at the gathered members of the Roth family including Aurora. [color=#ffffff]“But otherwise he seems to be making a full recovery. There’s no trace of the foreign infection, we honestly can’t be certain what changed, but life signs are stable and increasing rapidly. He should be waking up later today.”[/color]

[color=#a64d79]“Thank you, doctor.”[/color] Tori smiled as the medic gave a small nod of their head before leaving the room. 

[color=#8aaceb]“I can’t believe I cried for you,”[/color] Cass snarked towards Lorcán’s still unconscious body.

[color=#ffe599]“You wept like a baby,”[/color] Ripley teased, tears of happiness welling up in her own eyes.

[color=#a64d79]“Ripley, hun?”[/color] Tori started, [color=#a64d79]“Why don’t we give these two some privacy with Lorcán?”[/color]

[color=#ffe599]“Why does everyone keep making me leave?”[/color] Ripley asked, letting out an exasperated sigh as she followed her Aunt and Uncle out of the room leaving only Cassander and Aurora standing over Lorcán’s bed,

[color=#8aaceb]“You must be pretty happy?[/color]” Cass asked Aurora with a small smirk, [color=#8aaceb]“Naturally this guy would start to heal just in time to pick out a tie to match your dress, you’re still going to the dance right?”[/color]

Aurora was still in a state of disbelief. This morning when Tori had woken her up, excitedly telling her Lorcán’s fever had broken overnight and that he was on the mend, she thought she had been dreaming, especially since she had to take a minute to orient herself to her surroundings, not remembering how she’d gotten to the Roth’s in the first place. But after realizing that she was indeed awake, she instantly burst into tears of relief.

The redhead could only laugh at the blonde boy’s correct assumption as they stood there, elbowing him playfully. [color=#8ecdb7]“Yes, Cassy, of course I’m happy that my best friend is going to live.” [/color]She shook her head, [color=#8ecdb7]“The dance is the last thing I’m concerned about right now, I could honestly care less about some trivial dance. Lorcán’s going to be okay, that’s the most important thing right now.”[/color]

She hesitated, but voiced what naturally came to her mind next, [color=#8ecdb7]“What I told you stays between you and me, though.” [/color]Aurora let her gaze fall back to Lorcán, [color=#8ecdb7]“Until I get the chance to talk to him myself.”[/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“I’ll run my mouth all day long if you call me ‘Cassy’ again,”[/color] Cass smirked, [color=#8aaceb]“Otherwise, mum’s the word.”[/color] He took a step forward, a slight wince of pain crossing his face, [color=#8aaceb]“I think I broke my toe kicking his bed though.”[/color] Cass shook his head at himself and sat down on the nearby chair.

[color=#8aaceb]“I’m still at a loss what changed,”[/color] He replied, [color=#8aaceb]“Aiden really didn’t say and Ellara was dead certain Lorcán was gone,”[/color] Cass tried not to let his mind wander to some of the racing thoughts brought on by Ellara’s words. His leather jacket squeaked against the chair as he shifted uncomfortably. 

[color=#8aaceb]“I imagine Ripley must be running around the infirmary doing cartwheels at this point, I still can’t believe Aiden and Tori were able to get her to leave.”[/color] He added, shifting the discussion away from the how lest he put a damper on a mood that should be nothing short of celebratory.

[color=#8aaceb]“Still, the damndest thing,”[/color] Cass shook his head again before looking at Lorcán, [color=#8aaceb]“And knowing you when you wake up, you’ll tell everyone and none of us will understand a word of it.”[/color] He laughed.

Aurora shrugged, a smirk tugging on her lips, [color=#8ecdb7]“Must have been all those nice things we were saying, my guess is it all went straight to his head.” [/color]She laughed, such a foreign feeling to joke after days of hardship, but she was not planning on taking it for granted anytime soon. She also didn’t want to question his spontaneous recovery.

[color=#8ecdb7]“I can only hope that Ripley is cartwheeling right now. This was a lot for her to wrap her head around, especially given the circumstances.” [/color]She gave Cass a knowing look, a silent understanding floating between the two that the younger girl had grown up very differently than them.[color=#8ecdb7] “I’m just glad she still likes me after yesterday.” [/color]The redhead added, her evidence being that when she woke up this morning, Ripley was curled up right next to her, the brunette having snuck into the guest room in the middle of the night to keep her company.

[color=#8ecdb7]“As for him,” [/color]Aurora gestured to Lorcán, [color=#8ecdb7]“He can say whatever he wants from now on, I won’t question a thing.”[/color]

[color=#8aaceb]“You want to give him that much power?”[/color] Cassander asked, [color=#8aaceb]“You know he thinks pineapple on pizza is good and I’m pretty sure he tried to convince me once to put peanut butter on my hot dog.”[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“On second thought, I’ll still question some things.”[/color]

A groan interrupted the playful conversation as Cass looked over to see Lorcán turn his head.

[color=#8aaceb]“Whoa, buddy!”[/color] He called, a smile crossing his face, [color=#8aaceb]“About time you woke up.”[/color]

Aurora did not restrain the wide grin that instantly formed on her face, happy tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as Lorcán stirred. She didn’t hesitate to step closer to his bed, stand closer to him, making sure he knew she was there.

[color=#8ecdb7]“It’s a miracle.”[/color] She breathed, placing her hand near him. It was surreal, this moment, this second chance he was given, [i]they[/i] were given. And she definitely wasn’t going to waste it.  

[color=#fe650d]“mMmm,” [/color]Lorcán murmured, patting his hand forward until he found Aurora’s, his eyes still firmly shut. She relished in the familiar warmth of his skin.

[color=#fe650d]“Mmma.”[/color] He slurred and Aurora leaned in closer, knowing he was trying to say something, tell them something. He coughed slightly before finally managing to speak.

[color=#fe650d]“Amma.”[/color]

Aurora’s eyes went wide, shock etched on her features.

Of all the things he could have said, the people he could have asked for in his first moments awake… the color drained from the redhead’s face at the name he spoke. She’d sat by his bedside for nearly the entirety of his stay, praying to whatever god she found herself believing in that he'd be okay. She’d finally come to the realization that her life would be nothing without him, she’d professed her love to him.

She felt like a fool. A complete and utter fool.

Aurora tried her best to maintain her composure, blue eyes darting from Lorcán up to Cass, who stood beside her having witnessed the whole thing. She withdrew her hand, nimbly slipping it from his weak grasp.

[color=#8ecdb7]"I-I..."[/color] She stammered, her eyes instantly beginning to water, but for a different reason entirely. With a sniffle, she managed to speak coherently. [color=#8ecdb7]"You should go get Tori and Aiden, tell them he's awake. Ripley too."[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]"I need a minute."[/color] 

Without another word, she teleported out of the infirmary.[/indent][/indent][/color]