“I’m sorry, Ash, I know you wanted to go.”

“I did,” Ashley said honestly, almost as if she thought that Spencer didn’t believe her.

Spencer nodded. “Well, we have a whole other week here. You won’t be sick forever – it only seems like cold.” She took the girl’s hand and rubbed the back of it with her thumb. “We’ll stay here today and go another time.”

“What? No, Spence, you should go.”

“And leave you here like this? No, ma’am.”

“Spencer,” Ashley rasped pointedly. “I’m not going to let you miss out on a chance to have a good time because I’m stuck here. You should go and spend some quality time with your aunt.”

Spencer frowned. “You’re sure?”

Ashley nodded. “I won’t let you say no; you should know that by now. I’ll be fine, honest. And if not, I’ll puke on Easy.”

Spencer let out a small chuckle. “Okay, I guess. Either way Aunt Cecile will come get me when she feels like it and we’ll let her know how you’re feeling then. But until then, is there anything I can do for you?”

“No.” Ashley shook her head. “Would you just, I don’t know… lie down with me a little longer?”

Spencer smiled. “As you wish, Love.”

She situated herself back beside Ashley under the covers and the smaller girl scooted into her open arms, burying her face in the crook of Spencer’s neck. Spencer kissed her on the forehead before relaxing back down into the pillows.

“Hey, Spence?”

Spencer moved her head back, so she could look at the other girl. “Hmm?”

Ashley still had her eyes closed as she spoke, breathing softly. She seemed like she was almost back to sleep, so the other girl knew that she was exhausted.

“S’almost Christmas,” the sick girl said on the tip of an exhale.

“Yeah, it is,” Spencer confirmed. She thought about it for a moment before adding, “Maybe while I’m out today, I can find you a gift.”

That statement made Ashley open her eyes, and she looked at the other girl with a tired, somewhat bothered expression. “No,” she said finally, “I don’t want anything.”

“What? But Ash—”

“No, Spencer, I don’t need or what anything from you… I just want you.”