"Jay!" Neil shouted from the bed. Lara appeared at the door with her hands at her hips.

"She's busy. Now what?"

"Lara can you come and cuddle with me?"

"No I've got homework."

"Lara does your dad have the second blanket over him again?" he heard JJ say. She walked into the room and sighed. Her hands were at her hips as she stared at him. "Neil."

"But it's cold."

"And you've got a fever. You can have only one blanket."

"No fair," he mumbled as he pulled away the second blanket. JJ walked to the bed. The tea towel was over her shoulder. "Go away."

"Okay. That just means Lara and I will go and eat lunch and you'll be here all alone. No one is going to check up on you and no one is going to make sure you take your antibiotics. Your chest infection is going to get worse and you'll suffer alone." She waited for a response but he pulled her by the arm and she landed on the bed with a scream. "Neil what on earth?"

"Shh." He wrapped his arms around her and sighed. "Lara won't cuddle with me."

"Because Lara has homework." He placed his head on her chest and sighed. JJ motioned for Lara to come over and she rolled her eyes before climbing onto the bed. "We'll all cuddle for ten minutes because she needs to do her homework and I need to get the potatoes out the oven, okay?"

"Okay. I love you guys."

"We love you too, don't we Lara?"

"I guess," she said with a sigh.

* * *

"You sure you're up for it today?" JJ asked as she straightened his tie. She brushed over his shoulders as she looked up at him. His skin was pale and his nose red from wiping it with a tissue every two minutes.

"I'm gonna have to be. You know, you don't have to drop me off."

"I do. Because you're on medication and it makes you drowsy so I'm not letting you drive. I don't want the man I love to be in an accident." She leaned up to kiss him before standing back. "I'll check on Lara. You take your medicine." JJ walked into the kitchen to find Lara washing her plate. She kissed the top of her head as she walked by to the fridge. "You ready monkey?"

"Yeah. Just need to put on my shoe."

After dropping Lara off to school, JJ pulled out the bakery and began driving to Neil's work. He grumbled in his seat as she overtook a driver and she smiled. "You may hate my driving but right now it's the only thing getting you to work."

"Should have taken a cab."

"But does a cab driver give you a kiss at a red light? I think not."

"Whatever I do with my cab driver is not of your concern."

"Oh you're gonna be like that yeah? No more red light kisses for you then. Ever." Neil coughed before responding.

"I think forever is an extreme."

"True. I love kissing you."

"Do you reckon we could remain celibate for the remainder of our relationship."

"If our relationship is ending in three months then sure."

"You really think so? I mean I don't necessarily think we need sex to survive our relationship." He paused. "Well I don't. I think you would die."

"Does playing with yourself count as being celibate?"

"I'm just saying, a relationship is more than just having sex. We're intimate in so many ways. I'd rather have that any day."

"Like holding hands? The only place I want your hands are between my legs."

"Cara I'm trying to have a serious conversation here." He looked at her and saw her bite her lip. Probably trying to stop another comment. "We've been over this. Being intimate is so much more than that. I mean I can't imagine a night where you don't come home and I give you a kiss and a hug or a morning where I wake up before you and pull you back beside me and just play with your hair and watch your ears twitch."

Jj bit the inside of her cheek before turning to him." I love you."

"I would love you back when you get your eyes on the road." She turned back to the road and sighed. "I love you too," he mumbled as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. He looked out the window. "Just pull up in the front. I'll tell them to validate your parking."

"Am I not just dropping you off?"

"No I want to talk to you quickly."

With a frown, JJ parked the car. He didn't say a word until the car was off. "Did I do something?"

"What? No," he said with a laugh which resulted in him coughing for a while.

"Honey are you sure you're able to go in? Look at you."

"I'll be fine. If I feel bad then I'll come home."

"No you won't."

"Probably not. But I wanted to thank you for putting up with me. I was a pain the ass and-"

"Is that it? Neil you don't have to thank me for that."

"No I do. You took care of Lara and I and-"

"Because I love the both of you very much. Now give me a kiss and get to work." He leaned in for a kiss and pulled away with a smile. "Please take care at work and please call me if you need me to pick you up. I love you."

"I love you too." He put his hand on the handle but then turned around to her. "I want another kiss." He leaned in for another kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'll call you at lunch. And before you interrupt me, let me finish. I didn't want you to go to work thinking I was unappreciative of everything you've done for me for the last week. No, no. Let me finish. You are my entire world and I am so lucky to have you. So thank you for being here. Thank you for tolerating me and I will make everything up to you. I promise you that." He pecked her lips before getting out the car." I love you." Shutting the door, he turned around to face Timothy walking towards him.

"Thought that was JJ's car. You sure you're up for today? You look like shit."

"Gee, thanks."

* * *

JJ hummed as she collected the empty plates from the tables. She saw a customer come in and smiled before walking to the till. "Hi, how can I help?"

"Hi. I ordered some cupcakes for pick up. Well technically the company did."

"Right. What's your name? Or the name the delivery was under?"

"Jennings."

JJ looked at the screen for a few seconds before smiling. "I'll be right back. Can I get you anything in the meantime?"

"I've heard your hot chocolate with coffee is nice. Can I have a small please?"

"Can I be nosey and ask who from?" she said with a laugh as she walked to the coffee machine.

"Neil. Your boyfriend, isn't he?"

"He is indeed. Trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not." She heard the customer laugh as she walked back to her. "No but he's great."

"I literally see him every two weeks for meetings. I was talking to people about never knowing whether to get a hot chocolate or coffee but I never want two full ones. I think he had bought treats for the meeting from here. Was a real crowd pleaser I have to say. He gushed about you in the last meeting which was actually last week. It's absolutely adorable."

JJ felt her cheeks burn as she filled up the coffee cup with her drink. "I hate it when he does that. I just know personally if someone kept going on about their girlfriend in a meeting then I'd hate them."

"Oh don't worry, he doesn't do it annoyingly."

"We're talking about Neil here. He does everything annoyingly. But I'll go and get your cupcakes. Give me a minute." JJ walked away and went to the kitchen.

Neil groaned as he pushed the door open. He felt his chest burn and then started coughing. Feeling the phlegm in his mouth, he put the tissue over his mouth and spat into it.

"Are you not meant to be at work?" he turned to the right and gave a tired smile.

"Hey Boyee."

"Hi. I hope you're not cutting off work."

"Nothing like that. Got sent home."

"Then why are you here?"

JJ walked through the door with the six boxes. She paused when he saw Neil taking a seat. He placed his bag on the counter and placed his head down on it.

"Because of her," he mumbled.

"Here you go. Are you sure you don't want anything else?"

"No I'm good. And these look really nice. How much for the drink?"

"Don't worry about it. It's on the house."

"Oh no. It's okay, how much?"

"No seriously, it's okay. You brightened up my day by telling me what you did." After saying goodbye, she walked out the door. JJ looked towards Neil who had his eyes closed. "Hey honey," she whispered. She leaned in and kissed the top of his head. He groaned. Ducking under the counter, she walked towards him. Her hand rested on his forehead and she frowned. "Okay let's get you into my office. You can sit at the desk and I'll drop you off home in a while."

Neil stood with a groan. He made his way to her office and dropped on the chair. "I'm gonna pick up Lara and then go home."

"No you won't. I'm gonna finish here. Pick up Lara and then come back here. Probably help through rush hour and then I'm taking you both home, okay? Now what happened?"

"Got sent home." Neil groaned as he placed his head on the table. JJ leaned over him, reclined the seat and pulled out a blanket from the bottom draw.

"Lie down for a little and relax."

"Can I have a kiss please?"

"Since you asked so nicely." She leaned over the desk and kissed him. His hot breath fanned over her cheek when he pulled away. "You can't breathe can you?"

"No. Sorry it's short kisses but I think my breathing is more important."

"I think so too. No dodgy websites. No porn. I don't want a virus."

"Why do I need porn when I've got you and your wonderful pictures?"

* * *

JJ helped Lara down from the stool before they made their way to the office. Neil was asleep, snoring as he lay back on the chair.

"You think it's time to wake him up?" she asked.

"Daddy!"

"I'll take that as a yes," she mumbled as Neil jolted awake.

"What's wrong Lara?"

"Nothing it's time to go home. Hurry up." He let out a frustrated groan before starting to cough.

"I'm sorry. If I knew she was gonna do that then I would have stopped her." She helped Neil up. "Let's get you home and in bed."

"Yes please."

During the drive, Lara read a book at the back and Neil slept quietly at the front. His head leaned against the window so JJ was careful over the bumps to make sure he wouldn't bump his head. After parking up, she gently woke him up and they made their way upstairs. As soon as Neil got in the flat, he kicked off his shoes and walked to the bedroom. By the time JJ walked into the room she found him pulling a t-shirt over his head.

"Honey, I am so tired and my head is killing me. Can I just sleep for a while and make sure that devil daughter of mine doesn't scream." She smiled as she leaned in for a kiss. His hand rose to her hips when they pulled away.

"Eat something first. You need to take your medicine."

"No. I don't want anything."

"Neil," she warned. I'm gonna give you a crossaint then, okay?"

He groaned and was going to protest but saw the look on JJ's face. "Just one."

* * *

Lara lay her head down on JJ's lap as she looked at the TV. She felt her hands start to comb through her hair gently. After a while, JJ looked down and saw Lara closing her eyes. Neil walked into the room, scratching the back of his head. He sat beside JJ and put his head on her shoulder.

"Good morning," she said with a laugh.

"Hi, cara."

"How you feeling?"

"Like shit. But you make things better." She kissed the top of his head and frowned at the warm temperature. "Has Lara eaten properly?"

"Yeah. I fed her after she got changed."

"I'm hungry."

"Let me get you-"

"No. I don't want to eat."

"But you're hungry."

"I know." He looked up at her. "I don't know what to do."

"You think about what you feel like eating. If it's something you have to order then let me know. If you just want a sandwich then let me know." She held his hand with a smile. "You know that co-worker that came in today?"

"Yeah?"

"She told me something. Said that you talk about me at work."

"Of course I do. You're fucking amazing."

"And the bakery?"

"Well you make delicious stuff. And you deserve the attention so I simply guide them to the best bakery I know."

"You know what the best bakery is? The one in the corner of Lous Street. They literally make the best bread ever. No joke."

"I want to agree with you. But I don't want to hurt your feelings."

"Neil I know I'm not the best," she said with a laugh. "And that one only sell bread and I don't sell bread. No competition."

"Cara? I love you. You deserve the absolute best."

"And I have the best right here."

"Stop it, I'm the cheesy one. You're stealing my line."

"I've learnt a few things from you."

"Learnt from the master I see."

"Never calk yourself master again." She looked down at him and brushed his hair away. He was going to cut it soon because he didn't like growing out his hair. "You sure you don't want to eat now?"

Neil closed his eyes. "No. I just want to cuddle with you for now."