Sick of It
Prompt from @chestcongestion "The siblings and their partners had just purchased their property and were trying to get moved in, only for JB, Theo, and Padma to start coming down with something while the property didn't have proper heating.“
Sick ones (as requested): Theo (primarily), kinda JB and Padma
Caregivers: Audra (primarily), kinda everyone.
Inspiration: This post about drunk sneezes and this post about being happy-drunk.
This takes place just before the Tenbusch family builds their homestead, so later-ish in the timeline, about 5 years before what I'd consider "present day". Thalia and Padma, age 25 here, are not even in their "official" relationship quite yet. (They have been FWB on and off since college.) Theo and Audra are 30, getting settled in their professor roles and looking to get tenure, and JB and Thad will soon be starting their own consulting firm. This is a fun and exciting period, but also a very stressful one for everyone. They try to make the best of it as always.
CW: Drinking, being drunk, and hangover descriptions. Emeto-adjacent, but doesn't actually happen.
"Ready?" Audra whispered to Theo as they approached the door of the restaurant, a teasing smile on her lips.
"Ready as I'm gonna be," he laughed, wrapping his arm tighter around her for a quick hug. "I've heard they're determined to get me drunk, so my glass is never leaving my hand."
"Good idea. I'll help you guard it. I refuse to let you be hungover tomorrow. That would ruin everything." The pair paused at the threshold, looking back toward the others.
~~~
"Ready?" Thad asked JB as the taller man unfolded himself from the passenger side of the car. "I'm sure you're dreading this. But I really appreciate you coming."
JB rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I'm an introvert, not a vampire, Thad. I'm not afraid of bars and groups of people. Honestly, I'm somewhat looking forward to this. We haven't gone out for drinks in forever. And I'd never miss your brother's birthday party."
"Birthday party part one," Thad reminded him, locking the car.
"Oh trust me, there's no way I could forget," JB sighed, checking to make sure the ladies were right behind them.
~~~
"Ready?" Thalia asked Padma, squeezing her hand as her eyes danced with excitement.
"I hope so," Padma said serenely, though Thalia thought she saw a flicker of anxiety deep in her eyes. "I am sure we will have fun. It will be a great weekend."
"Especially because you're here," Thalia murmured, bumping her shoulder against Padma's."I still can't believe you agreed to all of this."
"I'm so glad you invited me! I am happy to be here for your brother's birthday with your family. It is all very special for me."
"Oh it'll be special all right," Thalia laughed. "Just wait and see."
~~~
The six converged in the entryway, removing their coats and giving each other a final once-over. They made a fine set, dressed as they were in all shades of the rainbow: Thalia in a slinky red cocktail dress, Padma in a flattering little black dress, Thad in a classic olive jacket and khakis, JB looking sharp in a camel suede sport coat and a cream turtleneck, Audra in stunning emerald, and Theo in a navy suit with a pink shirt.
"Thanks for coming along, gang," Theo said. "It'll be nice to have some familiar faces around. Stuff like this is so not in my wheelhouse." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
"We know, Theo–" Thad laughed.
"It's not in most of our wheelhouses," JB interjected.
"--But you only turn thirty once, little brother," Thad continued, "and we're going to make sure you make the most of it."
"So I've been told," said Theo.
"Stop stalling and let's go," Thalia called. "While the night's still young."
"Okay," Theo sighed. "Here we go." Squaring his shoulders, he pushed open the restaurant door.
"Happy Birthday, Theo!!" called a chorus of voices. Directly to the left inside the door was a banquet room that had been rented out for the occasion, and inside were dozens of Theo's fellow professors, not only from his department but also from several others.
"Thank you… thank you all very much," Theo laughed, leading the way in with his family trailing behind. Theo began making introductions, shaking hands, and accepting well wishes immediately. His birthday weekend had officially begun.
~~~
Drinks flowed and time flew by. The bar restaurant served amazing food, the servers never let a glass go empty, and everyone enjoyed the company. There were seats for all the attendees at the huge table that occupied the room, with the Tenbusch family situated at the head. However, no one really stayed seated and there was much milling about the room. Theo, one of the youngest professors at the university, was very much a favorite, and no one let him have a moment's peace, calling him here and there to take part in every conversation in the room.
It wasn't until just before the cake was served that he got to sit down for a breather. He flopped down into Thad's empty chair beside JB, immediately removing his jacket and rolling up his shirtsleeves. Thalia's empty chair was on his other side, with Padma in the chair beside that. The rest of the family was elsewhere. His attire adjusted, Theo had barely taken a swallow of his drink when the chair beside him was suddenly occupied, but not by Thalia.
"Loogk at this, I found a seat by the guest of honor! Habby birthday, young mban!"
Theo turned with some trepidation, but summoned a warm smile. "Duane. Glad you could make it. I heard you were out sick yesterday."
"Oh, God, yes, and today, too. Caught sumb godawful bug and was hagcking ubp a lu'g. Cand't lecture whed you cand't breathe. But I'm doi'g bedder than I was. And I would ndever mbiss your party!"
Before Theo could reply, a group of servers arrived with much ado, singing loudly and carrying a huge birthday cake, topped with lit sparklers. The party goers joined in the happy birthday chorus as the cake was placed in front of the young professor, and he smiled and flushed appropriately. He made a good show of trying to blow out the candles as everyone laughed before the servers took pity on him and dunked them in a bowl of water, then took the cake away to be cut.
They had hardly cleared the door when from beside Theo a staggered, gasping breath was heard:
“hEHH-! hH’EHHSSHH’ooo! ESSHHH’ooo! ITZSSHH’uhhh-!”
It was the wettest, most spraying sneezing fit Theo had ever heard, and his stomach plummeted. He was quite sure he'd felt some spray mist his cheek, and he scrubbed it against his shoulder awkwardly. JB and Padma also moved, Padma to swipe at her arm and JB to wipe his hand on his pants, both shifting away from the sick man in their midst.
"... Bless you!" Theo said, ever the gentleman. "That was… big."
"God, sorry! Thadt jusdt came oudt of nowhere. I thingk it was the smoke from those ca'dles. Yeesh, ndow I ndeed to go find a tissue. Excuse mbe…." The older man darted away in embarrassment, but the damage was done. Theo, Padma, and JB exchanged looks, unable to believe that had really just happened.
Thalia breezed in at that moment, flopping into her seat just as Theo had done, then knocked back her drink as she flipped the hair away from her forehead.
"Whew, it is WARM in here! I think I need something frozen to drink next. But why are y'all sitting over here being antisocial?"
"We're waiting for them to cut the cake," Theo said. "Gimme a break, Lee, this is the first time I've sat down all night."
"I guess I'll allow it. What's your excuse?" she asked, craning her neck to look at JB.
"I guess I don't have one," he laughed. "You and Thad haven't been by to socialize me in a while."
"I see, blame it on me. Well that just means you get to be our bodyguard when we go get more drinks and listen to the band, then. C'mon, both of you."
She gently took Padma's arm and gave JB a pointed look. He stood willingly enough and let himself be led to the bar, giving Theo a smile and a shrug. Theo watched them go with a smile of his own, overwhelmed with fondness for his people.
He felt a kiss on the top of his head a moment later, then Audra slid into JB's vacant chair.
"I'm glad to see you smiling," she said. "You must be enjoying yourself."
"I certainly am. I appreciate everyone going to all the effort to do this. They're being very kind."
Audra raised an eyebrow. "That sounds to me like polite BS. Are you having fun or not?"
Theo shrugged. "This isn't personally my idea of fun, as you know. But I'm not having a bad time. It's enjoyable enough."
"But you can't wait to get home to the peace and quiet," Audra finished for him.
"I won't deny that," he laughed, but the laugh slowly faded into a frown. "Though it's nice to be too warm instead of too cold for a while."
"Tell me about it," she sighed. Then she gave him a look, swatting his arm. "But hey, no pouting allowed on your birthday weekend. I can see you're already getting worked up about it. Don't let our cold house ruin your night when we're not even there right now."
Theo's frown deepened for a brief moment, then faded. "You're right. As usual. No point in thinking about it. No negativity tonight."
They shared a small smile just as the servers returned, bearing slices of cake on little plates. Theo and Audra were served first, and each took a forkful right away, tapping them together in a little "cheers" before happily digging in.
~~~
The Tenbusch siblings were new landowners as of the prior Thanksgiving weekend, almost exactly three months ago. Thad and Theo were the primary cosigners, but they had big plans for the land, and the plans involved all three siblings and their partners. Their new property was mostly undeveloped forest, and that was the way they intended to leave it. However, they had no desire to “rough it”, either. As soon as the frost broke, construction would start on their big, beautiful house. Their dream home. The plans were drawn, the loans were approved, the contractors were hired, and the land was cleared. They were all but chomping at the bit for spring, the true start of their new lives.
Of course, this had not been a cheap endeavor, and Theo regularly had nightmares about how much debt they were holding. It had taken all of their cumulative resources and then some to afford the down payment plus the construction loan, and with the monthly payments there was no extra money for a lease in the professors' budget. Luckily, even before their dream home was built, the property was able to house them. Other than forest, the property held one important feature: a massive, old, Victorian home.
The huge structure had been the primary residence of the previous owner of the property, and he had (somewhat) modernized it. The big appliances were all at least ten years old, the roof and siding needed updating, and the insulation was lacking, at best. However, the plumbing and electricity were solid and the bones of the house were perfect. Per several inspectors, there was no reason why people couldn't continue to live there after it had been cleaned out and sanitized, so that’s exactly what the professors decided (were forced, really) to do.
There was one huge drawback to the old house, though, that Theo had complained about all winter long: it didn't have central heat, and was instead heated via a coal stove in the center of the house. The coal stove was a decent, modern unit, but it was nowhere near big enough to heat the house adequately, especially coupled with the poor insulation. The three important rooms on the main floor (dining room, kitchen, and living room) and some of the second floor bedrooms stayed at a livable temperature for the most part, but the rest of the house had to be kept at least twenty degrees cooler. To save on coal, even the main rooms were kept five to ten degrees cooler than Theo would have preferred, and he was sick of all of it.
He complained every time he had to fill the stove. He complained every time he crawled into bed between cold sheets. He complained every time he had to go to the unheated parts of the house. He complained about having to wear an extra layer all the time. Audra was fed up with him and told him as much time and again. They had more than one fight about the situation, which always ended in Theo crawling back to her, sheepishly apologizing. He knew he was being an ass. He was really an easygoing person overall, but being cold was one thing he didn't tolerate well, and he had been cold since October. He did his best to keep his attitude in check these days, but the situation was wearing him down.
His birthday weekend was a welcome distraction. His wife and siblings planned to go all-out, hosting a big house party in "the Lodge" as they'd taken to calling the Victorian, inviting all their college friends and local friends and any family in the area. It was going to be an all-night murder mystery party, and the booze would be flowing liberally. Best of all, Thad, JB, and Thalia, plus Thalia's guest, were coming to stay at the Lodge with them for the weekend. With the other siblings still finishing out leases in other parts of the country, the big house felt bigger and lonelier when it was just Theo and Audra rattling around inside. A house full of company, even for a few days, would be wonderful.
For that reason, pulling up to the Lodge after the office party ended late that Friday night didn't depress Theo like it usually did, because two more cars pulled up behind him, and he was soon surrounded by the people he loved most in the world. The moon was bright and the snow was deep and crisp. They hadn't gotten any fresh snow in a few days, so everything was cleared and plowed, but the heavy, white carpet over everything made the air fresh and still. They had all been in and out of the house throughout the day, dropping off bags as flights arrived and changing into their evening wear. Rooms were already chosen and tours had already been given, so all that was left to do was settle in and relax. Their breath gathered around them in a cloud as they made their way inside as one, the faint smell of alcohol lingering. No one was drunk, but they were all buzzed and warm, and all was right with the world.
Once inside the door they all scattered, hanging up coats and kicking off uncomfortable shoes. Theo ran upstairs to change immediately. Once he was in casual clothes, he began to tend to the stove, shaking it down and filling it with more coal, being sure not to grumble. The others changed into various forms of pajamas as well. Since it wasn't long until midnight, it was proposed to make a round of hot chocolate before bed so they could toast to Theo at 12:00 when his official birthday began. There was a flurry of activity as this plan was executed, but enough mugs were located, everyone was gathered together, and the drinks poured with only minimal spillage just as the mantle clock began to chime the hour.
"Happy birthday, Theo!" they all chorused.
"Thanks, you guys," Theo grinned. "It's been a great birthday already."
"Here's hoping he best is yet to come," Audra said, wrapping her arm around his waist and giving him a squeeze. "For your birthday weekend and for your life."
"We're wishing you nothing but health and success and happiness. Your future is bright," JB said in his quiet, earnest way.
"To plenty more nights you'll never forget and mornings you wish you could forget," Thalia teased.
"The thirties are way better than the twenties, I can tell you that from experience. So enjoy, little brother. May you always savor good wine, good company, and good memories," Thad said, lifting his mug. "To Theo."
"To Theo!" everyone repeated, tapping their mugs together.
"To Theo," Padma said clearly. All eyes turned to her at the unexpected interjection. "I have only just met you today, but I can already see you are a good and kind person with a bright spirit. I am so glad to be here for your birthday."
Teary-eyed, Theo swiped away moisture from behind his glasses, but his smile never wavered. "Thank you all. I really am surrounded by the best people. I'm so thankful for all of you."
Thalia interrupted the round of smiles that followed in her usual, brusque way. "Okay, okay, no more mushy stuff, or else Theo will really get going. So… what are we doing next?"
"Theo's birthday. Theo's choice," said Thad.
Everyone looked at the man of the hour expectantly.
Theo rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. “Well… I don't want to be boring but… I was planning to head to bed after I finished my drink. I'm beat. And tomorrow is going to be another long day."
“You are looking a little peaky,” Audra agreed, kissing the top of his head. “You probably should go to bed. I know today was a lot of people-ing for you. And there will be even more tomorrow.”
“Exactly,” Theo sighed. “Sorry, guys.”
Once more, Padma spoke up before anyone else: "I am also very tired. It has been a long day of traveling for me. I think I would go to bed, also."
“We’ll call it for tonight, then,” Thad said. “We’ll have plenty more shenanigans tomorrow.”
The cocoa party broke up shortly thereafter, and everyone started to go their separate ways for their evening routines. Before turning in, Theo checked the stove one last time to ensure it would go through the night. For once, he smiled to himself as he made sure the old house would stay warm, because for the first time since they had moved in, the Lodge was warm in other ways. For the first time, it felt like a home.
~~~
The house was a flurry of activity beginning surprisingly early the next day, considering the previous late night. Audra, Thad, and Thalia had been working overtime planning Theo’s birthday bash, and they each had a lengthy to-do list for the day. However, they made sure the guest of honor had a wonderful breakfast waiting when he awoke, and the family enjoyed a delicious meal of pecan butterscotch pancakes and bacon before scattering to their assigned tasks.
At first Theo, JB, and Padma tried to make themselves useful, but their partners quickly exhausted the list of easy tasks they could help with, so the three of them found themselves aimlessly wandering around the house before noon. Exasperated, the party planners shooed them away.
“Find something to do or somewhere to go,” Audra said, helping Thad organize the props for the story. “We’ve got it under control here. Just be back a few hours before it starts so you can get ready.”
JB and Theo looked at each other, at a loss. Then Theo’s eyes lit up. “Hey, have you checked out all the trails around here yet for the sleds? Audra and I have found a lot of fun ones recently! If we can get them groomed, they’ll be amazing.”
JB grinned. “Nope, not yet. I wasn’t even here when you showed Thad the ones you knew about a few months ago, so I’d love to see them.”
“Awesome, let's do that. Some fresh air sounds great.”
“Perfect, yes, go play outside for a few hours and leave us in peace,” Thad laughed.
Padma and Thalia were in the next room getting started on the decorating during this conversation. Theo saw Padma was listening closely, and a wistful look crossed her face once the snowmobiling plan was set. Smiling, he approached her.
“Padma, would you like to join us to go snowmobiling?”
Her eyes lit up in a flash. “Oh, could I? I would like that very much! I have never gone, but it sounds like so much fun.”
“Of course you can come. Do you have warm enough clothes?”
“If not, you can borrow mine,” Thalia interjected. “I came prepared for anything.”
“As usual,” Theo laughed. “Perfect. We’ll meet out back in fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Oh, yay! I can’t wait!” Padma said, her eyes shining in anticipation.
~~~
There were currently four working snowmobiles on the property, two of which were much better than the others, though Theo made sure they all ran reliably. It was in the plan to attain at least six nice ones eventually, but it was part of an extensive list of things that were needed in the next few years, and the priority on the sleds was low. Nevertheless, once the trio had gathered outside, garbed in thick clothes and helmets, the gentlemen offered Padma her pick of the sleds, but she quietly declined to drive her own, asking if it would be possible to ride with someone else instead, this being her first ride.
“You can ride with me, Padma,” JB said.
“No, you’re riding with me,” Theo said. “First, because I know the trails better, second, because she wouldn’t be able to see over you, and third, because I would guess you weigh more than the two of us put together,” Theo laughed.
“That’s a bit of a low blow, calling me fat, even if it is your birthday,” JB said mildly, though his eyes twinkled.
“That wasn’t a fat jab, you’re just excessively tall, so I’m sure you have a lot of bone mass,” Theo said. “Also, you could probably bench press me if you wanted to, and muscle is even heavier.”
“You’re right, I could,” JB agreed. “I was trying to be polite. But you make a good argument. You two lead, and I’ll follow.”
“Is that okay with you, Padma?” Theo asked, turning to her deferentially. “Riding behind me, I mean?”
“Yes, that is fine,” she said sweetly. “Whatever you think is best.”
“Awesome. Then let’s get going!”
The trio spent a pleasant afternoon zooming over the Tenbusch property, exploring trails and potential trails. Part of their long-term plan for their acreage was to renovate the Lodge and turn it into a B&B for snowmobilers and other winter sports enthusiasts who wanted to explore some private land. For that reason, establishing trails that could be groomed and maintained was practical as well as fun, though this side business likely wouldn’t materialize for several years.
Thalia had thoughtfully packed them a sack lunch of sandwiches and hot drinks, so at the extreme end of the property, almost directly opposite from the Lodge, they found a clearing with some handy logs to serve as seats and got off the sleds for a bit of rest and food. The gentlemen spent the time getting to know Padma a bit, having just been introduced to her the previous day. They had heard her name a few times from their sister, and knew the pair had been close during their later university years, but after graduation Padma had moved away and it seemed their contact had lapsed. However, Thalia had started mentioning her again within the last six months or so, and it was very telling to the brothers that this tiny, quiet woman had flown halfway across the country to spend a weekend at a family party. They could tell Thalia adored Padma, and the affection seemed to go both ways. Strong-willed, independent, flighty Thalia needed to find someone to settle down with and start a life with sooner or later, and Padma was the first person whom Thalia had brought home to meet them in years, so the siblings' hopes were high, especially since Padma seemed so lovely.
She was a willing conversationalist, answering and asking questions easily, and words flowed the entire time. (As did noses. The cold air and hot drinks wreaked havoc on their sinuses, and every other word seemed punctuated by a sniffle from someone.) Quiet but self-assured and exuding an undeniable aura of peace, the brothers were charmed by Padma immediately. By the end of their mini lunch break, the three felt like old friends, bonding in a way that only introverts can.
It was too windy and loud to talk while riding, but Theo and Padma found they could communicate easily with gestures and taps, and by the end of their tour, Padma was pointing out trails from afar that the other two missed. In this way, they stumbled on several charming little spots that they could sense would be breathtaking in the green seasons. JB carried a surveyor map of the property and marked the things they found as they went along. In all, they had a most delightful time, and all three were smiling later that day when, back at the Lodge, they disembarked from the sleds and removed their helmets.
“Thanks for tagging along, you guys! That was wonderful,” Theo said. “A perfect way to spend an afternoon.”
“It was our pleasure,” JB said. “I had a great time, too.”
“Oh yes!” Padma said. “Thank you for letting me join! I hope we can do it again another time.”
After they shared one last smile all around, Theo turned, helmet under his arm, and began to head toward the house. However, before he reached the door he stopped to cough, long and harsh, his breath billowing up into the cold air. As soon as he could somewhat breathe, he turned to the other two apologetically, face red and eyes streaming from more than just the temperature.
“Sorry, too much dry air,” he gasped, still wheezing slightly. “Don’t worry, I’m okay.”
JB and Padma nodded, but glanced at each other in concern as soon as his back was turned. A cough as thick and chesty as the one they’d just heard wasn’t caused by dry air alone.
~~~
The Lodge was still topsy-turvy from the party preparations upon their return, so the snowmobilers made themselves scarce right away, going up to their rooms to shower off the gasoline smell and change into their party clothes. In the end, with nothing much else to do, all three ended up taking naps as well, the fresh air having had its way with them. They were all awakened by their significant others not long before the guests were due to start arriving, and the snowmobilers found themselves very groggy and disoriented. JB complained of a headache upon waking, and took another quick, cool shower to try to wake up, which did little to help. Padma was even quieter than usual, saying her throat was dry and sore from the wind when pressed. Theo’s cough had worsened as he slept, and his voice was already going, much to his chagrin. On top of that, all three were still congested and drippy, not to mention tired. However, the party couldn’t go on without the main family group, especially Theo, so they pulled themselves together as best they could, plastered on smiles, and prepared to greet the guests.
There was no snow predicted in the weekend forecast, which is exactly what the party planners had hoped for. Travel was safe, so every single person that had been invited showed up, eager for any excuse to break the dull monotony of an endless Midwest winter. They all arrived over the course of an hour or so, bringing booze and food and gifts and props, not to mention overnight bags. It was understood that the party was going to last most of the night, and there was an open invitation for the guests to stay the night at the Lodge if they wished. The family had gotten the whole house warmed up over the course of the day, building fires in every fireplace and opening all the furnace vents for the first time all winter, so there was plenty of sleeping room for guests who wished to drink without having to worry about driving home or to a hotel. The house quickly got very warm and very loud, and the under-the-weather snowmobilers were at first overwhelmed. Theo was in the toughest position, because much like the night before, he was expected to greet every guest and talk and laugh and act the host. Two nights in a row of this would have been difficult regardless, but all of it on top of a burgeoning cold was something he never would have wished for.
The cold they were brewing seemed to be a nasty one, too. Within a few hours Theo went from sniffly and drippy to thickly congested and sneezing heavily. JB and Padma fared a bit better and didn’t worsen at the rapid rate he did, but both were sick enough in their own right, forced to keep tissues pressed to their nose or near at hand the whole night. Padma was found swallowing a hearty dose of cough syrup at one point for a wickedly sore throat and persistent dry cough, and JB was alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen through the whole event for a headache that never eased up. Theo had these on top of his nasty coughing and sneezing, and in short he was a sickly, pathetic mess in no time.
Yet somehow, miraculously, or perhaps by sheer force of will, they all had a delightful time despite their obvious illness. The food was delicious, the company was excellent, the booze was strong, and the house was warm. Was everything perfect? Of course not. (A few examples: Early in the evening, a try of full shot glasses was dropped, and most of them shattered. The story book for the murder mystery was misplaced for an hour or so, and Audra was convinced people were passing it around to see “whodunnit”, since there was a lot of conspiratorial whispering later when it turned up. The lack of door locks in the old house caused a guest on a quest for the restroom to accidentally barge in on a nearly-naked couple as they changed into their costumes for the event. The intruder was beyond embarrassed; the couple took it in stride and teased him endlessly for the rest of the night.) Yet no one minded. If anything, the mishaps only added to the fun, familiar atmosphere and made it a night no one would ever forget. Looking back later, Theo privately wondered if the house itself didn’t add its own bit of magic to the evening. After all, this house was built and designed to house guests and parties. Perhaps being full and warm again made the house feel just as alive as its inhabitants. There was no other good explanation for the undeniable delight that permeated the celebration.
Whatever the contributing factors, though, Theo couldn’t have imagined a better 30th birthday. Once he resigned himself to his fate, he firmly decided to make the best of it. After all, having been born in February, in the heart of cold and flu season, it wasn’t the first time he was sick on his birthday, and it wouldn’t be the last. The food, friends, and fun were here, so here was where he wanted to be. In order to ease the discomfort of his disgusting cold, he set out to get comfortably drunk instead, which he found to be the perfect remedy, and from there proceeded to thoroughly enjoy his evening.
He was never able to remember much of that night, as everything faded to a warm, bright haze of congestion and intoxication (Even without the drinking, the cold would have made his memory and focus weak at best), but he did remember being happy and feeling loved. He tried to rein in the ticklish explosions of his sneezy cold, but they got worse, not better. Yet no one seemed to mind, even when he sneezed directly on them or next to them. His reflexes were shot from the start, so he was rarely able to get a tissue or even his arm to his nose in time to catch the blasts, but people just laughed over his slurred apologies and patted him on the back fondly and handed him a belated tissue to clean up the mess. There was always someone nearby to hand him a glass before he realized he was thirsty. (Sometimes it was full of water. Usually it was full of liquor.) Every time he sneezed he was blessed by at least a dozen people. Soon it became a joke, and people would cheer as he blew his nose before knocking back a shot, because eventually even shots started making him sneeze. By the end of the night they were laughing every time he sneezed, and he was laughing right along with them.
Yet all good things must come to an end, and little by little the guests trickled out as the night grew later. When ⅔ of them had gone (or gone to find a place to sleep), Audra took Theo to bed. He was hardly conscious, sitting in a congested stupor next to the stove, so he let himself be led easily. She helped him undress and made sure he had all the supplies he might need. He was aware of none of this, though, and was snoring away before she left the room.
~~~
The celebratory atmosphere from the night before had all but vanished as the household began to wake the next morning. The sobering light of day tends to have that effect, unfortunately, even for the guest of honor. When Theo opened his crusted eyes late the next morning, he wasn’t sure at first what had awakened him, because the house was very quiet, or at least his bedroom was. Audra was nowhere in sight. Then the events of the previous evening (or his foggy memory of them) came crashing down, and he realized how truly unwell he was. His cold had not improved in the slightest– in fact it had likely worsened– and now he was hungover to boot. Not a big drinker, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been hungover, and he remembered now why he avoided this state at all costs. Absolutely everything hurt, from his head, to his eyes, to his throat, to his stomach, and so on down. Judging by how dry his mouth and eyes were, he was desperately dehydrated, but the rolling in his stomach made him leery of swallowing anything. His nose and ears were stopped shut, his chest felt thick and tight, and his throat felt like sandpaper after breathing through his mouth all night. In short, he was in the roughest shape he’d been in quite a while, and that was saying something.
He was also freezing. He half imagined he could see his breath in the air due to how cold this room felt. Everything in him wanted to roll over and go back to sleep for the rest of the day, and he probably would have, except that his bladder was screaming to be emptied. This, he realized, was what had actually awakened him. Wishing not for the first time since moving into the Lodge that chamber pots were still in fashion, he clumsily untangled himself from the sweaty blankets (How was he so sweaty and still shivering so hard?), struggled into his robe and slippers as the room slowly spun, and staggered out the door and down the hall to the bathroom.
The bathroom was unoccupied, which was a mercy because he honestly wasn’t sure if he would have been able to hold it long once he was standing. After the most urgent need was met, and since he was already in the bathroom, he attempted some of his morning grooming routine, hoping it would help him feel somewhat human. He wiped the sticky sweat off of his neck and chest, brushed his teeth, wet down his hair and combed it, and took a hearty dose of cold medicine, praying to whatever gods were listening that it would stay down, though the nausea was staying at a manageable level for now. But, to improve his chances, he also took some of Audra’s anti-nausea medicine washed down with a few swallows of the Gatorade someone (also probably Audra) had left by his bed.
Now Theo had a decision to make. He knew he would be forgiven if he chose to go back to bed; he would hardly need to make a case for his illness. One needed only to look at him to see it. Yet there was a prideful, stubborn streak that ran deep in the Tenbusch family, and Theo hated the idea of being the person who was too hungover after his birthday party to get out of bed, shocking cold notwithstanding. It was his duty as the host and guest of honor to see his guests off, and by golly he was going to see it through. Also, he knew he wouldn’t feel much better lying in bed versus sitting up, miserable as he was all around. And lastly, the lower level would be warmer than up here. It had to be, because he was still convinced he could see his breath up here.
Steeling himself, and clutching tight to the railing, a very sick Theo made his way down the main staircase, through the living room, and into the dining room, where the coal stove was housed. Now that he was more awake, he realized the house wasn’t as quiet as he’d thought while in the bedroom. There were quite a few people milling around in various states of wakefulness and health. Theo was certainly not the only one feeling the effects after a night of drinking, and his was not the only pale, sweaty, slightly green face to be seen. He tried to politely nod to everyone he passed, knowing his voice would be all but gone and not wanting to use it until he absolutely had to. He made his shaky, determined way to his favorite chair by the coal stove, and was happy to find the furnace full of fuel and roaring with heat. He eased himself down with a husky cough, wrapping a nearby blanket around himself.
Audra appeared at his side moments later, her eyes full of surprise and concern.
“What are you doing up, honey?” she whispered. She pressed her hand to his forehead. “You’ve been running a fever since last night. You were as good as dead when I tried to wake you this morning. I assumed you would be in bed all day.”
“We have guests. I didn’t wandt to be rude by ndot sayi’g goodbye,” he rasped. “I already toogk lots of mbedicine, and I’ll go bagck to bed once everyone is gone.”
“That’s really not necessary, love. I can handle it,” she murmured, worry creasing her brow.
“I know you can, budt I wandt to helbp,” he insisted. “Id was mby pardy.”
Audra shook her head. “Alright. If you’re sure, crazy.”
“I’mb sure,” he said. “Budt can you gedt mbe sumb ginger tea?”
“Absolutely,” she said, going to the kitchen right away.
Accompanied by his tea, Theo held court in the dining room for the next several hours as their guests began to head out in twos and threes and fours. Everyone made sure to pass along to Theo their wishes for a good year ahead and hopes for his good health. He smiled and nodded at each one (in between trying not to sneeze on anyone), but (much like Bilbo Baggins at Lake Town) in deference to his awful sore throat, he limited his responses to “Thangk you very mbuch.”
By the time noon rolled around, the house had been emptied of everyone but the main family group. Once they were alone, the six sat in the dining room in silence for a while, nursing mugs of coffee or tea, along with their various ailments. Thad and Thalia were hungover, JB and Padma were sick, Audra was exhausted, and Theo was all of the above. Yet it seemed no one was quite ready for the true end of the party to come, and no one wanted to be the first to announce they were going back to bed, though it was at the front of everyone's mind.
"Thank goodness we all have tomorrow off," Thad finally said. "I think we'll all need it. I've never seen a sorrier bunch. Bless you, love," he added as JB stifled a sneeze into his elbow.
"Amen," said Theo, though it sounded more like 'abend'. "Whadt a weegkend."
"You can say that again," Thalia groaned. "It was a great party. Everyone kept saying it was unforgettable. But the most unforgettable part was that they're all going to get sick. You sneezed SO MUCH, Theo. You literally sneezed all over everyone and everything, so many times. And JB and Padma weren't much better, no offense. You all made quite the group, let me tell you."
Theo reddened. "Did I? I was hopi'g I'd imbagined thadt pardt."
Everyone shook their heads.
"You were a mess, love," Audra said, smiling fondly. "But you were a happy, adorable mess, so no one minded. I haven't seen you so happy in a long time."
"I do reme'ber thadt," Theo nodded. "Bei'g habby. Bei'g warmb."
"If that's what you remember, then I call the weekend a success. We'll blame the house for the sneezing. You've been cold all winter and finally got sick because of it. The timing was just unfortunate."
Theo shook his head. "We can blame Duane for the cold." He glanced at JB and Padma who nodded vehemently, to the confused looks of the rest. "We'll explain later. Budt because of the house, we could hosdt this pardy, and for thadt I'mb grateful. Id was everythi'g I could have hoped for."
"So your feud against the old place is over then, eh?" teased Thad.
Theo shrugged. "For ndow. Budt you're in charge of taki'g care of the stove until you leave. As mby birthday presendt."
His older brother laughed. "You've got a deal. The faucet you've got for a nose right now would probably put it out anyway.
Theo scrubbed at his dripping nose self-consciously. "Exactly."
JB slowly stood and stretched, wiping his own red nose with a cough. "I don't know about the rest of you, but the only thi'g I'mb hoping for is a few more hours of sleeb."
"Or days," Audra agreed, also standing.
With much scraping of chairs, everyone stood, murmuring their agreement. In the shuffle, no one noticed Padma dart to Theo's side to give him a quick hug around the waist.
"Habby birthday again, Theo," she said. "Resdt well. I hope you feel bedder sood."
He smiled at her, his tired, red eyes and cold-damp nose matching hers. "Thangk you, Padma. You feel bedder, too. Gedt sumb good rest."
As she pulled away, Thalia was right behind her with a hug of her own for her brother. "Since I'm doomed to catch this from one of you, I guess I can give you another birthday hug. Feel better, Theo, for all our sakes."
Not one to miss a trend, Thad, too, had a one-armed hug for Theo. "Get well soon. I don't want you to spend the rest of our visit in bed."
"I'll do mby besdt," Theo laughed, moving on to hug JB, making sure he was included in the ritual. "Feel bedder, brother. You loogk exhausted. I hope you sleeb well."
"Same to you," JB replied, willingly reciprocating the hug.
At last Theo shuffled to Audra's side, leaning against her heavily. She kissed his shoulder and began to lead him toward the stairs, with the rest close behind.
"Thangk you for a wo'derful birthday weegkend," the professor croaked to his wife. "You did an amazi'g job. I'mb sorry I spoiled id by geddi'g sigck."
"You didn't spoil anything. You were wonderful, too. You're probably pretty sick of people by now, though, huh?... No pun intended. Well, maybe a little intended."
Theo laughed outright at that, though it was cut short by a cough. "Surprisi'gly, ndo. Tired, yes. Sigck in a different way, obviously. Budt I'mb surrounded by people who wandt to spend time with mbe even when I'mb contagious. Who could ask for anythi'g mbore than thadt?"