A/N: Them✨

Doe's POV:

I adjusted the thick blanket around my shoulders as I leaned back against the wall of the window sill, bringing one knee up to my chest.

Beside me sat what had to be the twelfth empty cup of tea I've had today.

As well as an empty bowl of what used to be a warm fruit soup that Xander insisted I try to eat.

According to him, I can't just live off of peppermint tea, lemon, and honey all day and expect to get better.

But if getting better took away my temporary 'immunity' from getting my blood taken, I don't know if I want it to come sooner.

Which may or may not be why I wasn't currently asleep at the moment despite how badly my body wanted me to be.

I turned my head to the side to look at him, catching him at his desk.

Just from his posture alone, I could tell he wasn't focusing on the stack of papers in front of him, and instead was off somewhere in his mind trying to figure something out.

Personally, I hoped he was trying to figure out how he was going to tell Layla that I was currently off-limits.

For all that I know, she hasn't let him know she's coming by any time soon.

He's probably hoping that she just won't stop by for these next few days, but both of us know that those chances are slim to none.

His shoulder slumped, showing a sigh that I couldn't hear before he set his elbow on the desk, head now resting on his fist.

Causing the blonde mess that was his hair to fall in his face as usual.

My brows pressed together at the sight of it, preparing to bring up the topic of a haircut again.

He didn't make any move to tuck it back, further proving that he wasn't paying attention at all to what was in front of him.

Even though I was currently sick, I still had the common sense to tie half of my hair up to get it out of my face.

I didn't need it sticking to my forehead with how much this fever was making me sweat.

If my throat didn't feel like death I would say something about it, but my predicament saved him from that for today.

Even with his advanced hearing, the rasp my voice would have with him being that far away wouldn't properly express my point.

A quick blur of grey flashed in my peripherals, causing me to turn my head back towards the window again, immediately spotting the familiar dove landing beside the nest she had hatched from.

Xander told me that an inca dove had built her nest in the outside corner of his window and raised her brood nearly five years ago, and ever since then one of the chicks returned the next year to repatch the nest for their own use.

I got to see the most recent one, and it helped in keeping me distracted from things back then.

I spent a lot of time sitting just how I am now, watching these birds be raised and eventually set out on their own.

Which was why I immediately recognized the bird.

Although she only had one sibling, she was easily the prettiest of the two.

The bird hopped up onto the rim of her childhood nest, turning her head to eye it before pecking at one of the stray sticks.

Clearing my throat, I spoke.

"One of the doves came back," I quietly announced.

"Really?" The excited response came immediately before I heard the sound of his chair moving.

He was beside me in seconds, leaning forward towards the window with his hands set down by my foot for support.

I saw the hint of a smile on his face as he watched her pluck away at the nest.

It was interesting to me how much he enjoyed whenever one would return or begin a new brood.

I'd think most vampires would simply eat the birds as an afternoon snack, but Xander seemed very adamant about keeping them here.

Even going as far as putting out some birdseed and being extra careful whenever we opened the window to now damage the nest.

"I wonder what she's doing here," He began softly, "Winter is almost here, so she should be long gone by now."

I glanced back down at the bird.

You could go anywhere in the world and you choose to be here.

You were blessed with the freedom that comes with those little wings and yet you come back.

Blessed with no restraints to live how you want.

I felt my shoulders slouch at that last thought, fingers curling into the blanket.

"Maybe she just wanted to be nostalgic before heading out," I said in an act to distract myself

Xander breathed out a short laugh, finally running a hand through his hair.

"Maybe. Or she's reminding herself where she needs to come back to once spring rolls around." he quipped.

"I wouldn't mind seeing that again."

Y'know, if I'm alive by then.

"You will," Xander affirmed in a calm voice.

One that almost made me believe him.

I just started at him for a second, turning back just as the dove lifted her wings and flew away.

We both kept our eyes on her as she plunged into the city below and disappeared from our sight.

Xander let out another sigh, hanging his head down for a few seconds before quickly flipping his hair as he brought it back up.

Just for it to promptly return itself in front of his face.

"Well, it was nice of her to visit for a bit," He said, his eyes turning to me before his head did, "do you feel any better?"

I just gave him a slight shrug, not wanting to answer.

Something inside me told me that if I said yes, he might take that as 'I'll be fine if Layla feeds from me."

Even though I knew that that thought was absolutely ridiculous.

And another part of me didn't want to say 'No' because I've gotten enough of his pity today to last me a couple years.

Did I feel better? I guess, but I also know that it's normal to feel worse when your sick right when you just wake up.

I didn't feel great by any means but I still just stuck with the small answer I gave him.

He accepted it anyway, before lifting his hand towards me just a bit.

"Can I...?" He gestured toward my forehead while his hand stopped in place.

I felt myself grimace as I realized what he was asking, and the already apologetic look in his eyes told me he knew why.

Still, I gave him a reluctant "Go ahead."

It usually wasn't as bad If I knew it was coming.

And Xander was usually gentle so I knew I didn't have anything to worry about.

Or at least my brain knew that, but my body was still tense as he placed the back of his hand on my forehead.

I could feel the contrast of my fevered temperature against his naturally chilled skin.

He only kept it there for a few seconds, his lips pulling to the side as he did.

"Are you sure you don't want to be resting right now?" He spoke with that concern that I still absolutely refused to trust.

But it was enough to make me return it with an actual answer instead of a witty or passive-aggressive remark.

"I'm sure. I was actually about to go take a shower here in a minute." I replied.

I needed something hotter than this blanket.

That or either to blast the cold water.

I guess I'll see what my body wants when we get to that point.

I caught the disfavor in his eyes. There had only been more and more of that since he had to catch me this morning.

"Are... are you sure you..." He didn't know how to approach me with it in a way he knew wouldn't upset me.

He knew me enough to know what would.

"I know my limits, Xander, I promise," I answered before reaching one hand back to pull the hair tie out of my hair.

"As for you," I spoke calmly, setting my elbow on my knee and offering up the hair tie, "You look like a disaster. Pull your hair back and go do your work before your brother kills you."

He blinked at me for a moment in surprise, finally taking the hair tie with another quiet laugh.

This time, his soft smile stayed as he spoke his next sentence.

"Yes ma'am."