The loudest frog in amphibian history woke me up the next morning. My eyes fluttered open. A cool breeze sang over my head. It was early, and the sun was low in the sky casting a dandelion glow. The waves were slow and melodic, and were complimented by some residential birds.

And that frog.

It was chilly outside, but all night I had been kept warm by a certain someone. One arm was draped loosely over my back while the other was behind his head substituting for a pillow. I lay on top of him like a starfish. I'm surprised no one came to check on us.

My thought came true when I heard the cottage door creak open, then close again. It took a while before the footsteps headed in our direction. I kept my head on Angus' shoulder so they wouldn't know I was awake. Whoever was looking for us stopped walking. They sighed and eventually turned back to the house.

"They out there?" Cliff asked. Brian let out a laugh and nodded. The door closed behind him and he kicked his shoes off.

"They're out there alright, don't think they ever came in." He sat next to Phil on the couch and grabbed his orange juice.

"What, they sleep out there?" Phil joked. Brian took a drink and tilted his head.

"If that ain't what they done then my name is Leslie," he said. "An' it ain't."

"You're shittin' me," Phil said. "Were they asleep when you went out?"

"Out like lights."

"Jesus, you think they'd freeze out there. The sun's gonna have to thaw them out."

"Even that wouldn't wake my brother up," Malcolm remarked as he went to lean against the wall. He stirred up the coffee in his mug and took a drink. "Still, don't know why they didn't come inside."

"Hey Johnno, when you went out there, did they or did they not have clothes on?" Phil asked. Brian laughed as Malcolm rolled his eyes.

"Believe so Phil, 'm as sure about that as my name."

"Is that how you get your kicks, Rudd?" Malcolm asked crossing his arms. "Makin' verbal passes at everythin'?"

"That ain't even close to what I done, jus' made a joke is all."

"One of many," Cliff chimed in.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Whoever's winnin' at the moment. Mal's got a point ya' know."

"Oh, what do you two know? I'm only jokin' about those two, not everythin' like Mal here says," Phil reasoned.

"Is any of you lot gonna wake 'em up or should we leave 'em out there?" Brian asked changing the subject. Malcolm looked out the window toward the east.

"Ah, the sun'll come up soon enough. They'll be up." He changed his direction to go to the kitchen table where Cliff sat with his toast. "How's the wife doin' mate?"

"Decent. Better than I am, that's for sure."

"When's the first ultrasound?"

"October seventh."

"Ya' have a preference?" Malcolm asked taking a seat across from him. Cliff shrugged.

"Dunno. We were kinda hopin' on a girl 'cause of that shirt Georganne bought." His hand played with the burnt crust. "Guess I don't care either way." Malcolm nodded.

"'T's how I felt when Cara was born. Ya' know, I know it's better for 'em, but I hate leavin' 'em when we go on tour."

"Didn't she stay with Linda?"

"She got to stay at her mum's place. A whole year with Grandmum."

"That's a lot of food and money," Phil laughed. "'m jealous, that sounds like a good time."

"Hope I still recognize her when I come back," Malcolm smiled. "Hope Georganne'll be able to take care of it when the time comes to leave."

"Probably. If not, she's either comin' with us or we're gettin' a babysitter," Cliff said.

"Hey, you always have Hannah," Phil called over.

"If she stays long enough till we're on another tour. An' even then it's not like she has all this extra time on her hands."

"Yeah, she's busy playin' Chinese Checkers on the lawn with Angus." Malcolm shook his head and ignored him.

"Don't worry Cliff. Things'll work out. An' I know you're nervous an' all about all this. Who wouldn't be?"

"Never been a father before," Cliff mumbled.

"Exactly. But as soon as you look in your baby's eyes you'll love it to pieces. 'T's what happened to me anyway."

"And if I don't?" Malcolm smiled.

"Then look at your wife an' remember why this all happened."

The sun rose up over the sea draping a golden blanket over us. That frog finally scampered off and I fell back asleep until the morning made its announcement as my alarm clock. Angus still hadn't woken up, but he rolled over in his sleep taking me with him. The grass was messed up where we'd been and some had shed off onto our clothes and hair.

The person who checked up on us hadn't returned. I wondered who it was and if anyone would wake us up. It was our last day here and then we'd fly to London at midnight. There were sights to see and I'm sure the guys wouldn't want us to miss out.

Angus shuffled and pulled me closer to him. It's possible he was awake, but didn't want to be. Eventually he started snoring which answered my question. My face was buried in his neck and I wondered if it was uncomfortable for him. I can't stand having anything touch my throat so it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't like it. But he had never objected, not like he could now anyway.

Going back to sleep made no sense now to me so I just thought about our time out here. I'm glad Angus was honest with me, and wondered if he had any questions for me. His snoring had quieted down and he shifted again. One of his hands started rubbing my back and he yawned. "Oh fuck," I heard him mutter. I moved my head to look at him. His eyes found mine and he grinned. "Mornin' lovely."

I yawned as a response. "What time is it?"

"Dunno, don't care." Angus rested his head against mine. "You upset we slept outside?"

"No," I shook my head. I didn't love the grass being in places grass shouldn't be but I wasn't upset about it.

"I don't even remember fallin' asleep. Closed my eyes for a second..." His hand reached up to rub the sleep out of his eyes. "We finally get a real bed to share an' we sleep outside. How do you like that?"

"We've had plenty of beds to share," I said. "We had that one the first night." Angus started laughing. "What?" He brought a hand to my head.

"There's a piece of grass in your hair." After he cast it aside, he placed his hand back to my hair. He ran his fingers through it, petting it or combing it. I closed my eyes in relaxation. His fingers felt cold, which felt nice against my forehead. Cupping my cheek, his thumb brushed over my nose and under my eye. Now I couldn't help but fall back asleep.

"You got her?"

"Yeah."

"Come on then." Two men were talking over me. They were close, but their voices were distant. The air blew chilly currents of wind but my skin felt hot. The motion of being carried woke me up and started an unsettling headache.

"I feel terrible."

"It ain't your fault, mate."

"She's cooking! How ain't that my fault?" The second man started to talk, but Angus interrupted him. "I should have taken her in. Should have brought her inside," he muttered.

"Look, she caught it during the night-"

"Which was 'cause of me."

"Angus, you fell asleep too, coulda happened to both of you. Or anyone. Wish I knew what it is she caught."

"Prolly some ocean disease or Irish pneumonia-"

"Angus!"

"It could happen! Feel her forehead." The other man, whom I guessed was Brian, placed a hand on my head. His skin was freezing compared to mine. After swallowing a couple times my throat turned to sandpaper. My body shivered and my nose was near impossible to breathe out of. There was a suspicious hesitance before Brian spoke again.

"I think it's just a cold..."

"Does a cold have a fever like that? Christ, she's bloody shakin'." The men's voices got louder but still echoed. Keeping my eyes closed on the bumpy ride to the cottage made me dizzy, but opening them only produced blurry and wobbly vision. I prayed I wouldn't vomit until I was alone in a room.

"That ain't good." Angus sighed and picked up the pace. Each step summoned a wretch within me. "So maybe it ain't a cold, maybe it's the flu."

"Jus' fuckin' great. Great fellow I am, hmm? Don't people die from the flu? An' we gotta travel later, she's not up for that!"

"Keep workin' yourself up, you won't be either," Brian reasoned.

"I'd rather this me than her. I'd sooner be pukin' up kidneys than her layin' here miserable."

"Maybe she's asleep." I didn't respond. I wouldn't be able to concentrate should they ask me questions or talk to me. The inviting sensation to puke was getting stronger and the cottage never seemed to be getting closer. Finally the door was thrown open and concern immediately cornered us.

Everyone's voices melted into one, and grew further away as I was handed off to someone. She rushed upstairs and sat me down in the bathroom by the toilet. Something removed my ability to support myself so she held my lifeless body. I unwillingly lurched forward and released any contents that had been in my stomach. The woman held my hair back while my face hovered over the bowl. After God knows how long, I stopped. My breathing was erratic. The toilet supported me some so Georganne had left to get medicine. At least, that's what I thought she said. Any sound at all was muffled. My heart pounded through my head and I was all but faint. My fingers lost their grip on the seat and I collapsed on the floor, slowly fading out.