I opened the bedroom door slowly and quietly. My bare feet silently stepped on the finished wood floors. My eyes trailed to the bed where Zachary had fallen asleep a few hours before. I felt awful that he had gotten sick now, the end of the summer so near. It was most likely the changing weather that caused it. I slowly walked in front of the bed and to the other side to be nearer to him without having to climb on the bed. I raised my hand, lightly pressing it against his cheek. He was still very warm. Slowly, his eyes slit open, looking up at me.
"Hey..." I spoke lightly. If he wasn't totally up, I didn't want to wake him more. He needed all the sleep he could get.
The response he gave me was a tired set of puppy eyes. He pushed himself over some, making room for me.
I sat on the side of the bed, pushing his sweaty hair behind his ears. Zac gave a hack, turning his face from me so I wouldn't get in the path of the germs. I gave a light smile, hoping to get something in return, but there was no such luck.
"Not feeling any better, Baby?" I questioned.
Zachary shook his head, his voice raspy. "Worse."
"Worse?"
He nodded lightly. "My stomach hurts now."
I ran my hand down his cheek. "Baby, if I could be sick for you I would."
Zac shook his head. "I don't want you to be this sick."
"I don't want you to be this sick either."
Zac took in a deep breath suddenly. I grabbed the light blue bucket just in case. Slowly, his tension eased and he pushed my hand away.
"I think I'm gonna be sick."
"Do you want me to help you to the bathroom?"
He nodded lightly and I did the same in reply. "Okay. C'mon, Baby."
Zac slowly climbed out of bed and I slowly helped him to the bathroom. He knelt, well, fell if I hadn't helped him, in front of the toilet. His legs found their way to his side as he slowly and wearily leaned back in my arms.
I began to rock him gently and he began to fall asleep until he took in that deep breath again. He leaned forward as the sickness pushed his stomach clean.
Once he was done, he gave a light groan. "Baby," I spoke, "I think you've got one helluva case of the flu."
Zachary could only nod as he ripped off some toilet tissue and wiped his mouth, flushing the toilet, and leaning back in my arms.
I rocked him some more and after a minute passed, I spoke again. "Do you think you're okay for now?"
Zac gave a light nod, half asleep.
"Okay. C'mon, Baby. We're going back to bed now."
Zachary muttered something inaudible as he allowed me to take him back to bed. I felt awful for him. Headaches, fever, upset stomach, coughs, and fatigue. I continued hushing him, like a baby, although he wasn't speaking to begin with.
I lifted the covers for him as he climbed into his spot on the bed. I then knelt on the bed, leaning over and tucking him in and kissing his forehead lightly.
Zachary's eyes split open slightly and patted the bed next to him--my spot. I looked at the clock. It was quarter after one in the A.M. I crawled onto the bed next to him, not intending on staying long. Just for him to fall asleep. My worn Old Navy tank and pants were warming me, but not the way Zac's body does...not the way his love does. Even if he doesn't have a fever, he's warm to me.
Zac leaned his head against my chest, light snores escaping his lips almost as soon as my hand found its way to his hair.
I was so glad we could finally lay like this and not be bothered.
Zachary and I had moved into our apartment once I hit eighteen. With him a few months older, we were fine. Zac and I had been dating for at least two years previous and it wasn't a total shock when we decided to get a place together. We were really just looking for a place where we could be alone at times.
Zachary had been part of the pop group Hanson years back. They had since died down considerably, the fans' ages now varying from thirteen to forty-five. The ever famous 'MMMBop Boys' had just finished touring--their third tour. Zac had especially wanted a break. He said he had felt the flu coming on, but spoke nothing of it. That and he wanted to spend time with me. I had to stay behind while he toured in order to keep my job at the GAP. It isn't so much the cash I want, but the discounts I get are phenomenal!
I let my eyes fall shut. It wouldn't hurt to just rest my eyes...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next thing I knew, I was being shaken lightly, with my name being repeated. My eyes cracked open, looking up at Zac.
"Jenn, Jenn c'mon, Baby, get up."
I looked up at him, confused.
"It's ten to eleven."
I shot up and out of bed, my feet tangled in the sheets. "Ugh, dammit."
"Baby?" I heard Zac's voice meekly speak.
I turned and looked at him as I fell flat on my butt. "Ow. Yea?"
"Do you think you can maybe call in sick today?"
My eyes met his. "Yea, Baby. Sure." He looked much better...maybe he still wasn't feeling that great. "You're still not feeling so hot?" I asked as I climbed to my feet and back into bed, my hands feeling his face. He was actually pretty cool.
"No, I'm feeling a lot better...I just missed you...and I came home sick and I haven't gotten to talk..."
I nodded lightly, my eyes glancing over his hair. "Baby, did you take a shower? You smell good."
"Yea...Early this morning. I fell back asleep though..."
I gave him a light smile. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
He gave a light nod. "Me too."
I smiled. "Hang on, Baby. I'm gonna call work."
Zac nodded as I picked up the portable.
Gina, the manager, answered and I quickly put on the sick act. "Gina, hi...I thought I'd be able to make it today...but I had the stomach flu last night and...I must have overslept and--"
"Say no more," Gina replied. "Stay home tomorrow if you need to. Get better. We need you here Wednesday though."
"I'll try my hardest. Thanks, Gina."
"Bye."
"Bye."
I hit the off button and looked over to Zac, a smile creeping on my lips.
"Baby, you've got me for today and tomorrow."
Zachary grinned widely. "I'm glad." He wrapped his arms around me gently and kissed the top of my head.
My eyelids fell lightly as I leaned into his chest.
"I love you, Jenn," Zac breathed.
"I love you too, Zac," I replied, my voice just as gentle.
I laid with him, totally comfortable. His fingertips brushed lightly over my shoulder as I began to fall asleep again.
"Hush little baby don't say a word. Zaccy's gonna buy you a mocking bird," Zac sang gently.
I gave a light smile and leaned closer to him. His arms held me securely to his body.
Just as I was falling asleep, my mind wandered to the housework. "Baby," I spoke. "If I fall asleep, wake me up soon. I hafta clean up around the place."
"Mmhmm," Zac agreed. His arms began rocking me gently from side to side.
My eyelids fell heavily and for the second time in less than twelve hours, I fell asleep in Zachary's arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Around a half hour later, I awoke to the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and pulled myself out of bed, my feet quietly padding to the living room.
The vacuum stopped once my presence was known.
A light smile appeared on my lips as my eyes met Zachary's. There he stood, a bandana keeping his hair back.
Zac's lips slowly spread into a small, sheepish smile. "Sorry...did I wake you up?"
I walked over to Zac as he pushed the vacuum aside, shaking my head. "You didn't...and even if you did, I wouldn't care." My eyes parted from his and glanced around the room. "It looks great, Baby. Thank you so much. You saved me so much time."
Zac grinned proudly. "It really looks great?"
I smiled wider and nodded. "Phenomenal, Baby."
He grinned confidently. "Yea!"
I laughed, my hands running down his chest and to his waist. My voice dropped. "You look so sexy when you're cleaning..."
Zac whipped his dust rag from his back pocket and bent to the side some, brushing it over the coffee table.
I laughed, rolling my eyes some. "Funny...real funny."
"Yeh, yeh. I know. I'm just the Joker," Zac spoke with mock seriousness.
I grinned lightly. "I like your hair like that," I spoke, running my fingers over the bandana.
He smiled lightly. "Baby? Can we talk?" he asked seriously.
My smile faded and I nodded as we walked over to the couch and sat down. "What's going on?"
"Baby...before I start, I just want to talk to you about this. Because
I love you so much."
I nodded, totally confused.
"Jenn...This...This sex after marriage rule is killing me. I mean...God, I love you so much and I want to prove that to you. I just...I think we're both too young to get married. Don't get me wrong. I'd do it in a second, but the criticism we would get from out parents..."
The topic caught me totally off guard and it was obvious that it did. "Zac...I...uhm..."
"I know this is really sudden. I'm sorry. I've tried to fight it off so many times, but I mean...now that we're sharing a bed and all...It's so much harder than before. When I held you in there before...God...it just felt so right. Perfect. It felt perfect."
"Zac...I have those feelings. I do. But I'm scared. If my parents found out they'd disown me.
"Jenn, how could they ever find out? They don't live here. They live a good two and a half miles away. Jenn, I love you. And it's killing me that I can't show you."
I took in a deep breath. "Zac, if you love me, you'll wait."
"Jenn, I have waited. For two years now, going on three! I just...God, you drive me crazy and that drives me crazy knowing that I can't show you how crazy you drive me."
His eyes travelled to the depths of mine. "Zac...virginity is a very sacred thing...once it's gone, that's it."
"Don't you think I realize that? I'm a virgin too, you know. What, do you not want to? You seem to be making an excuse everytime I say something."
"Zac...It's not that I don't want to. I'm just scared." I could tell he was beginning to get slightly annoyed.
"Jenn, there's nothing to be scared of. Not with me," he replied, his voice soft again.
"I'll think about it," I gave in.
Zac nodded. "Thank you."
I nodded. "Mmhmm." Already deep in thought, my eyes must have been glazed over.
"Jenn?" Zac's voice ct through my thoughts, worry obvious in his voice.
My eyes raised to his questioningly.
"Are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you..."
I nodded lightly. "You didn't. It's just...I know where you're coming from."
Zac's eyes lit up some. "You do?"
"You're not the only one who thinks about doing it, Baby," I grinned lightly.
Zac gave a light grin, his cheeks turning a light pink.
"Zac...You mean a lot to me," I spoke, my hand finging its way to his cheek. "I just have to figure out if I'm absolutely positive that we're going to be together for as long as I'm hoping we will be."
Zac gave a light nod. "I know...but, Baby, you drive me insane. Just thinking about you makes me want you. So bad."
I gave a light smile. He was always so flattering.
"I love you," he concluded, matter-of-factly.
"I love you," I replied gently.