Fourty-Nine. Rest

*Eleanora Elliot*

I spent the day sleeping. Sleeping more. Eating whenever I was woken up by them to do so but mainly sleeping.

Currently I was told to come into the kitchen for dinner.

So I did.

I had no concept of time.

I walked, the smell absolutely amazing.

"Hey sweet girl. Come here." Lore motioned for me to come to him.

I did and he gently pulled me to sit on his lap.

"What's the time?"

"Mmm 8?" He looked at Hale who nodded while serving the plates.

It was steaming but it was tomato soup and grilled cheese.

"Did you make these from scratch?" I asked since I saw  how creamy the soup was and how amazing the bread dough looked slightly golden.

"Mmhm." Hale kissed my head and sat across from us.

"How? Why?" I sat, Lore pulling apart my grilled cheese that was cut into two triangles and dipped it, feeding that bite to me.

"You always seem slightly uncomfortable with certain dairy and gluten stuff. And tomato concentrate is not good for you." Hale answered.

I moaned, the food was amazing.

"How'd you make the soup?"

"Sautéed onions, garlic, tomatoes, herbs, with olive oil, added in a bit of chicken stock. Added heavy cream and blended it." He told me.

"Thank you. It's so good." I fed myself so Lore could eat.

"He made you homemade angel food cakes for dessert." Lore kissed my shoulder.

I smiled, admiring Hale from where I sat.

He looked at me, frowning.

"Hm?" He nodded to me.

"Nothing." I smiled.

We ate in silence, but I finished first.

I got off Lore's lap and cleaned off my plate and bowl till spotless before setting it on the drying rack.

And I did the same to Lore and Hale's.

"In the fridge. There should be six food cakes, whip cream, and strawberries." He told me so I grabbed it and plated us all two.

I made sure they were fine with that before adding whipped cream and strawberries.

I set Lore's down, taking mine and Hale's to his side as I sat myself on his lap.

He kissed my shoulder, hand on my thigh as I ate.

"That's so good." I groaned.

Lore grinned.

"You alright?" I looked back at Hale.

He nodded. "Today's a quiet day."

I agreed and we ate once again in silence.

"Take a shower with Lore. He'll be gone before you're awake." Hale squeezed my side and I hummed with my mouth full.

But he cleaned the plates and grabbed my hand, our fingers intertwined as we made way to the shower.

He ran the water and I pulled my gown off myself.

"You excited?" Lore asked, his hands on my arms from behind me as we looked into the mirror at one another.

"I am." I smiled.

"Good. Keep telling him that please. He's nervous." Lore gave a small smile.

"I will."

I loved how they looked out for each other through me.

He kissed the back of my head.

We got in and he was washing my hair.

"Nora."

"Hm?"

"You'll get used to it, but he's a taunter, really good with words during it but for aftercare, he's not very... verbal at all. He will ask about you but you're just gonna have to trust that his actions will show how he cares. He isn't good at being verbally sensitive as we know. So if he does something without explaining just trust it's for the best. Alright? Or just ask what he's doing." He scrubbed my scalp and I nodded.

"I understand."

He turned me around and rinsed out the shampoo.

He finished with my hair as I washed his body as he did his own hair.

We spent time just in each others company.

But when done Hale was ready with my towel open.

I stepped into it and he wrapped me in it.

"Ready to sleep or are you awake from all the sleep you've been doing?" He had a soft smile on his face.

"I'm tired. Still." I laughed and he walked with me to the closet.

He helped me dry before helping me into shorts and a shirt.

"Hale?"

"Yes love?"

He looked at me like I had his complete attention for the first time tonight.

"I'm really excited. And I trust you with everything in me." I smiled and he paused, squinting, observing me like I was a liar or an angel.

I couldn't tell.

But the corners of his lips lifted. Just a bit.

"Come to bed." He walked to the bathroom and hung my towel as I got in bed.

He showered but I waited to sleep until I had Lore on my right and Hale on my left.

They stayed close to me, like we used to, and they stayed awake as I faded into sleep.

And maybe eventually they slept too, but I couldn't wake to know.