Love is Precious

The days passed in what felt like agonizing slow-motion, and Andy still had yet to regain consciousness. It’d been almost a week since his accident, and while his breathing was still a bit labored, no doubt from at least one broken rib, it wasn’t quite as bad as it’d been the day of. Still, his young bride was eaten alive with worry, unable to sleep at night, no matter how hard he tried.

Ash was barely able to eat, as well, having to force himself to so that their unborn child would continue to grow properly. His mother had taken over caring for the boys in the time being, and for that, he was thankful. He wouldn’t have been able to handle them right now because his nerves were shot, and he knew it.

Finally, a week and a-half after the accident, Andy began to groan softly as he regained consciousness. His young bride had been dozing on the sofa in their reading nook, his hand splayed over his belly, and he gasped as he jerked awake. He was unsure of what he’d heard that’d dragged him from sleep until he heard his husband groan again, then toss his head slightly. Excited that he was finally waking up, he went and knelt on a pillow at the edge of the bed, gently taking his hand.

“Andy? Can you hear me?” he asked softly.

“A-Ashes?” the young man countered, turning his head. His voice was rough and gritty from disuse, but no doubt because his throat was dry.

“Let me get you some water,” Ash said, rising again.

“Close the curtains, too. It is too bright,” he groaned, pulling his pillow over his head.

“I shall close them first,” he told him, immediately doing as he said he would.

“Why do I ache all over?” his husband asked, able to pull his pillow off his face now.

“You do not remember what happened?” the younger man countered, pouring water from a pitcher into a decanter.

“No. I remember trying to work with our new mount, then nothing until now,” Andy answered, trying to sit up.

“Whoa, wait a second,” he said, moving to help him. “Let me help you.”

“Owww,” he groaned, obviously in pain.

“You were thrown from the mount you were working with,” Ash began, using his own body to help support him. “It threw you at least twenty feet above it—”

“Which would have been at least thirty off the ground,” the young man interjected.

“As much we suspected,” he agreed. “When James finally caught it and I got down to you, there was a pool of blood under your head and it was obvious that one arm was broken.”

“I have at least one broken rib, maybe two,” he added, grimacing. “There is no way that they are just fractured. This is not the first time I have had a broken bone, so I know what it feels like.”

“Mother suspected as much, as well, based on how labored your breathing was immediately afterward.”

“How long have I been out?”

“A week and a-half.” Ash paused, suddenly fighting back tears. “I thought you were not going to wake up.”

“Don’t you ever think something like that, Ashes.” Andy gingerly wrapped his good arm around him, trying to be mindful of his ribs. “I am a strong young man. It may take me a while to regain consciousness after a good bump to the head, but regain consciousness I will. I have you, our boys, and our unborn babe to think of; I cannot just up and die, thus leaving all of you behind.”

“I love you so much, Andy,” he sobbed, hugging him as tight as he dared.

“I love you more than I can ever scream, Ashes,” the slightly older man returned, gently kissing his head. “Forever and always.”

“Always and forever.”

They parted from their hug and, since he didn’t need anything at the moment, Ash left to go tell the others that he was finally awake. Amy’d been coming in to check on him several times a day and, like the rest of them, was beginning to think he’d never regain consciousness.

When she entered the room, Andy could see that his mother appeared skeptical of his young bride’s words, but her face lit up the moment she laid eyes on him. Her face lit up with a relieved and excited smile as she ran over to the bed. As she embraced him as tightly as she dared, mindful of his ribs and broken arm, the younger man waddled over to the sofa and sat down. He was concerned when he leaned back and gently held his belly, fearing he’d pushed himself too hard the past week and a-half.

Course, then again, with three children under the age of three and him unconscious, he really had no choice. Sure, he had their mothers to help, but they could only do so much to help him and keep the riding school running, too. Not only that, but he’d known for ages that, even with the opportunity to laze around, pregnancy was draining for Ash since it seemed that the babe sapped all his energy.

Hopefully he would be able to get up from this bed and return to his normal life as much as possible soon. Even if he couldn’t help with so much as young Thorne, Andy hoped he could take some of the strain off his young bride, despite having a broken arm and ribs. Hell, even being able to care for himself would take some strain off the beauty he’d married, and as headstrong as he could be, he was determined to do just that. It was one of those “Come Hell or high water” matters to him, and no one held a Biersack back, especially once they got their mind set on something.

“Oh, Andy. I am so relieved to see you awake,” Amy said, gently kissing his cheek now. “How do you feel?”

“Like I got trampled by a horse,” he chuckled, wincing at the pain in his ribs.

“You almost did get trampled by one,” she told him, her face and voice taking on a stern expression and tone. “James said he told you not to try riding that mount just yet.”

“And that was my idiocy for not listening to him,” the young man agreed.

“You nearly left behind a wife and four children!” his mother cried. “What were you thinking?”

Having no answer that she would accept, Andy just kept his mouth shut.

“You have no idea how worried all of us, but especially Ashley, were,” she continued. “The poor thing has not slept much, if at all, in over a week.”

“What?” He turned wide, shocked eyes to his young bride.

“I have been too worried,” Ash said softly, trying to stifle a yawn. “Every time I tried to sleep, I feared you would die. No matter how hard I tried, those thoughts kept me awake, and I have caught only a few naps here and there.”

“That is not good for you, my love,” he chastised gently. “Not in your delicate condition.”

“I know that. That is why I had Mother try giving me an herbal tea to help me sleep,” the younger man told him. “When I drank that is the only times I have been able to sleep for more than two or three hours at a time since your accident.”

Now knowing that he’d honestly been trying to sleep, if only for their unborn child’s sake, and that he really had been worried about him, Andy motioned him over. He was just as determined that his young bride get some deep, restful sleep as he was to start being active again. He wasn’t taking “no” for an answer, no matter how he protested.

Thankfully, Ash was too exhausted to even attempt protesting and immediately levered himself up and waddled over to their bed. After getting Amy to help him strip to his chemise and petticoat, he laid down on their bed and tried to get at least somewhat comfortable. His husband could see their babe kicking within him and knew that would be a struggle, but not as badly as getting to sleep. Cuddling meant the world to the younger man while he was sleeping, and since he wouldn’t be able to do that, he felt really bad about his accident.

Notes