Rhysand gets drunk.

*

"Whoa." Andy laughs, pulling Rhysand's arm gently around her shoulder, and she lets out a grunt when her husband's weight leans on her. "Okay, big guy, let's get you to bed. How much did he drink?"

"Too much," Embry snickers on Rhysand's other side. He and Andy both lead him to their bedroom with great difficulty. "Our client kept buying us drinks and we couldn't refuse."

Rhysand's eyes are shut, but he lets out a little groan, and Andy grins, finding him adorable.

Sterling just celebrated a world record with one of their artists's album, and Andy had been a witness to Rhysand's stress and exhaustion working on it. Of course he deserved to celebrate with his co-workers, it was a damn good achievement, and Andy's so proud of him.

"Come with me," he said earlier, while Andy was packing up her things at the school. "I want you there. I'll pick you up at your school."

Andy grinned and shouldered her bag once her desk was cleared for the day, holding the phone in between her shoulder and ear. "I have to visit Bake Away, baby. And then the animal shelter."

"Fuck that," Rhysand said.

Andy giggled, pushing her chair back. "Besides, it's your time with your co-workers. You should enjoy it without my nagging."

"I happen to love your nagging."

"And that's why we're married," she teased, picking up her tumbler and waving goodbye to her fellow faculty, and they all wave back and blow her kisses and one of them said, "See ya tomorrow, Andy!" To Rhysand, as she was walking out of the office, she said, "Just text me updates every now and then and make sure you don't smoke! I'll see you at home, okay?"

Rhysand grunted, unhappy. "Fine."

Andy grinned, skipping towards the exit. "Be safe. I love you."

"Text me when you're at Bake Away," was his response, and Andy could hear his smile. "Be safe. I love you too, sunshine."

And now, Rhysand is barely incoherent, stringing words together under his breath, and Andy and Embry just—drop him on the bed, panting from his weight.

Andy wipes the sweat off her forehead with a huge grin and looks up at Embry. "Thank you so much."

"He fucking owes me," he says with a grimace, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Well, I'm gonna head home. You good here, Andy?"

"Yeah, but you can crash in one of our rooms!" Andy offers kindly with a smile. "You don't have to leave."

"Nah." Embry reaches over to ruffle her hair and grins. "I have somewhere to be tomorrow morning, too. I'll take a cab. Night, Andy!"

"Take care! Thank you again!" Andy calls after him, and he gives her a thumbs up before leaving, shutting the door quietly.

Rhysand's face is turned towards the mattress, his legs hanging on the edge of the bed, one hand on his stomach. Andy sighs fondly and shakes her head. "You can't sleep like this, baby. You kinda reek."

Her husband doesn't make a noise. Andy giggles quietly and leans forward, fingers going to the buttons of his polo. "Alright, let's get you out of this first—"

"No!" Rhysand shouts suddenly that Andy's heart leaps in her chest, and she stumbles backward as Rhysand pushes her hand away with his eyebrows furrowed. He sits up clumsily, eyes red and squinting. "I am a married man," he hisses. "Why the fuck are you undressing me, get off me."

Andy's mouth slowly turns up, and she hides her her smile behind her fingers. "Rhysand," she says, laughing towards the end of the sentence, and she bites her lip. "Rhys, it's me."

"I'm married," Rhysand slurs, eyes drooping closed, and his head lolls back, and then his back flops on the mattress. "I'm married."

"Yes, you are." Andy's smile reaches her ears. "So you're just gonna sleep in those clothes, or—"

"Andrea," Rhysand mutters, hand pushing down on the space next to him. "Sunshine, c'mere."

Andy goes to him without second thought, laying her head down beside his. His eyes are still closed, eyebrows still drawn together, and Andy feels the sudden pour and burst of love she has for this man. Quietly and slowly, she reaches out with one finger to stroke the side of his face. "I'm here," she whispers.

Rhysand's arm stretches towards her, and Andy stills, blinking, and he touches her shoulder, and then her elbow, and down to her hand, where her rings are. Loosely, Rhysand takes her finger in his big palm, and rubs his thumb on the metal gently. "You vowed 'til death do us part, right?" he whispers hoarsely.

Andy nods with a small smile. "Mm."

"What about...after that?"

Andy blinks. "What?"

"Are we just gonna be friends in heaven?" Rhysand mutters, scoffing. "That's...fucked up."

Andy can't help the laugh that bursts out from her lips. "Baby!"

"I don't wanna be just friends," her husband mumbles, rolling over on her side, arm swinging around her waist, and he buries his head on her shoulder and breathes in. Andy's still laughing, but she hugs him back, hands going to his hair to massage his scalp. "I can't. We should..." Rhysand takes a deep breath. In a quieter voice, he continues, "We should stay married after death. I love...I love being married to you, sunshine."

Andy bends down to kiss his forehead, cradling him in her arms. Rhysand's always the big spoon. It's good to know that when he's drunk, he likes to be the small spoon, too. "I love being married to you, too, my love," Andy whispers back, and she means every word.

*

In the morning, Andy wakes up first.

They're a mess of tangled limbs and sheets on their bed, but Andy rises with the biggest smile on her face as she takes her time staring at her husband while he's sleeping.

She lets a little more time pass just admiring him before she gets up to wash her face and brush her teeth, and get started on breakfast.

Elena is already prepping ingredients in the kitchen when she comes down in her fluffy slippers. She smiles at her, a warm glow to her face. "Good morning, Andy."

"Morning, Elena!" Andy chirps cheerfully, gratefully taking the cup of coffee offered to her. She sniffs it and makes a satisfied noise. "Thank you so much. Just what I need to start the day."

Elena winks at her. "You sound extra happy today."

"Oh, right!" Andy puts the coffee down after a sip and shuffles around the kitchen to stand next to her. She puts on her best pleading face and asks, "Can I help? I wanna surprise Rhys with breakfast in bed."

Elena shakes her head fondly and rolls her eyes. "You do know that this is your kitchen, right?"

"Still!" Andy loops her hands around her arm and sets her chin on Elena's shoulder. She gives her a grin. "So can I help?"

Rhysand wakes up to the smell of the food. His eyes open slowly, adjusting against the light, and then he spots Andy seated on the bed with the tray next to her, and Rhysand sits up, confused. "Hi."

His voice is raspy. Andy reaches over and hands him the glass of water and a pill. "Drink this first. It'll help with your hangover."

Rhysand takes them without argument. Once he's done, he squints at the tray, running a hand through his face. "What's all this?"

"Breakfast!" Andy cheers, moving the tray in front of him. "Look, I made them heart-shaped."

Andy made heart-shaped waffles with blueberries and strawberries on top, sprinkled with powdered sugar. There's a cute little bottle of syrup next to the plate with orange juice, and a little vase with a flower. Andy spent too much time overthinking whether the flower should be opposite the silverware or parallel to it.

Rhysand blinks, staring at her. "Okay, but what did I do to deserve breakfast in bed?"

He doesn't remember. Andy giggles and crawls over to him, planting a huge kiss on his cheek. "Nothing. Just eat already."

"Let me go wash up first, I feel like shit." He kisses her temple and steps into the bathroom, taking off his shirt. "And I know it's not nothing. Else you wouldn't be grinning like the little gorgeous shit you are."

Andy laughs, hugging the pillow nearest to her. "You're just...so cute when you're drunk!"

Rhysand groans, splashing his face with water. "Fuck. I knew it. I did something. What is it, lay it on me."

Andy shakes her head and pretends to zip her lips and throw away the key. Then, she picks up one waffle and bites it. "I'm not telling until you eat all of my heart waffles. I made them with love. And they're really delicious."

"Fine." Rhysand rolls his eyes, but his mouth is curved upwards. He walks over to the bed, palms on the mattress, leans close to her face, and bites on the waffle she's holding. Andy freezes like an idiot, gulping, and Rhysand stares at her while he chews. "That's really good, baby."

Andy reaches out to wipe the sugar off his lips and leans up to kiss him. "Thank you, love. Come eat more."

Rhysand finishes the whole thing.

*

"So what did I say, sunshine?"

"I tried taking off your clothes and you shouted, 'No! I am a married man!'"

"That's...not so bad."

"You told me I vowed 'til death do us part, but what about after that? You said we can't just be friends in heaven because that's fucked up."

Rhysand opens his mouth. Then he closes it, and turns around, ears pink. He leaves the room.

"Rhys!" Andy calls, laughing, running to chase after him. "For the record, I don't wanna be just friends in heaven, too!"