Natasha opened her eyes and groaned. Her headache was still very present. Instead of feeling rested, she woke up feeling more annoyed and tired than ever. Natasha lazily walked upstairs and locked herself in the bathroom for a while.
Natasha splashed some water on her face and dried it with a towel. She walked out of the bathroom, down the stairs, and that was when she remembered that Joy was at home and so was Dom.
Natasha looked around, she could not find Joy anywhere. Suddenly she heard some giggles and whispering coming from the kitchen. She frowned and turned in the direction of the kitchen.
"Boop!" Dom whispered as he blew bubbles and poked Joy's nose.
Joy giggled and jumped around trying to pop the bubbles.
"What is going on here?".
"Mommy! You are finally awake!" Joy rushed to Natasha and gave her a tight hug.
"Yes, my darling, I am..." Natasha smiled softly. She still felt tired and exhausted and most of all hungry.
"How long was I out for?".
"Well about three hours," Dom said closing the bottle of bubbles.
"Three hours?!" Natasha asked shocked. No wonder the day was a bit darker than she remembered.
Dom nodded. Natasha was surprised, how come she had napped for three hours and still she did not feel rested up? If anything, she felt a bit sick.
"Yep, you were out cold. Joy and I were trying our best to make sure that we did not accidentally wake you up.".
Natasha frowned, there was something wrong with her today. She just was not herself.
"What are you two doing in the kitchen?".
"Well, Joy was hungry, and so was I, so I decided to make her some French fries," Dom smiled.
Natasha looked around, she could hear the fries frying in the pan on the stove and she could see another pot on the stove.
"And yet you were playing with bubbles?" Dom nodded. "While cooking?" he nodded again.
Natasha scoffed and shook her head, this was unbelievable. "Don't you know how dangerous that is? Why were you playing with bubbles while you are cooking with hot oil?".
Natasha looked angry, Dom could see that clearly, but he was already prepared for this outcome. Somehow he felt that Natasha was not herself and she would take it out on him, which he did not blame.
"Yes, but I was really careful. Joy was not near the stove and I only blew the bubbles in the opposite direction," Dom said.
"What if you made a mistake and the pan tipped over and poured hot oil everywhere?".
"That would not happen, I am very careful in the kitchen," Dom said. Somehow his answer seemed to aggravate her even more.
"Saying and thinking that something wouldn't happened, does not mean it would not happen. I can't believe you with play with something as risky as this." she frowned.
Dom had a feeling he would not be able to win this argument, besides, he could see that Joy was watching them very intently.
"Alright, you are right Natasha, I am sorry, I should have been more careful, just because I think something won't happen, does not mean that it won't happen,".
"Yes, very clear," Natasha replied.
"Mommy, don't be upset with Daddy, I just did not want to be alone, so I stayed in the kitchen with him, please don't be upset with him," Joy said in a soft voice.
Natasha looked down at Joy and smiled, she had to admit that she was a bit too hard on Dom. She was just in a very irritable mood at the moment.
Dom stopped his urge to smile, he could always count on his little princess to have his back.
"Oh my darling, I am sorry, I did not mean to be hard on your Daddy, I was just a bit upset, that's all," Natasha said. "I'm sorry," she turned to Dom.
"No hard feelings," Dom smiled.
"How do you feel?" Dom asked.
"Terrible... but we have to leave soon don't we?" Natasha wanted to be honest, she did not want to go anywhere, especially not when she was feeling this terrible.
"It's alright, we won't leave till you feel better. I made you some hot tea to calm down your nerves," Dom said pouring from the teapot into a teacup.
He carried Joy from Natasha and handed her the teacup.
"You made me tea?" she looked down into the cup.
"Yes, because I thought you would need it, you seemed really tired," Dom replied.
"Thank you," Natasha said taking a sip.
"Would you like to have some fries as well? The chicken is done roasting.".
"Sure... I could eat a bit," Natasha said.
"Alright then.".
"Mommy, I finished packing your clothes into your suitcase," Joy smiled.
"Really my love?".
Joy nodded happily, "Why thank you my love, what would I do without you.".
"Thank Daddy as well, because he helped me fold the clothes that I accidentally messed up," Joy said. Dom placed Joy down, she was too close to the stove and it was giving him some worry.
Natasha looked at Dom surprised and confused. She had not expected him to do that.
"Oooh, princess, your fries are done," Dom turned to the stove and quickly brought out a plate.
"Yayyyy!!" Joy clapped her hands in delight.
"Go set the dining table and we can eat together.".
"Okay Daddy," Joy rushed out into the dining room.
Natasha took a deep breath.
"Do you feel okay? Maybe you should take some painkillers to help?".
"I will not lie, I honestly feel terrible at the moment," Natasha sighed.
"If you really feel that unwell, I am sure we can cancel our trip today and just go tomorrow, that way you can have some time to rest.".
"No, no, we can't do that, Joy is so excited, she would be devastated if we don't go as planned," Natasha frowned.
"I know that, but you don't feel well, and I am sure that Joy would want you to feel better before we even think of going anywhere," Dom replied. He was worried, if Natasha really did not feel fine, there was no point in them risking leaving the house if she was not feeling like doing so.
"No, I don't want to disappoint Joy, we have been talking about this trip for so long. Besides, you want to skip the traffic, it's best we leave as planned.".
"Natasha, I am sure Joy would agree with me, there is no need risking it if you don't feel fine.".
"I feel fine.".
"Are you sure about that Natasha?" Dom frowned, he did not like it when she decided to be stubborn. If she was not feeling fine, it was no big deal, it was best they stayed home so she could rest and be taken care of.
"I am sure, I will feel much better in a while. I just need to eat and take some painkillers. We can still go, I can sleep in the car. I just don't want to disappoint everyone, especially Joy. Grandfather and your parents are waiting for us to arrive this evening, let's not disappoint them, whatever I am feeling right now will go away, as long as I can still walk and talk, I am perfectly alright." Natasha did not want to argue with him, but if he refused, she was ready to pick up the fight.
Dom sighed, he could see that she was serious about this. Had he asked her if she was sure again, this would turn into a huge argument.
"Alright then, if you say so, but if you don't feel better by the time we are about to leave, we are not going.".
Natasha groaned, "Whatever, I will feel perfect by then." she walked out of the kitchen and Dom shook his head, sometimes she wished she was not so stubborn.
...
Benjamin sighed, he was restless, confused, worried, he did not know what else to do. Every attempt he had made to reach Lulu proved unsuccessful. He did not even think that she received his many messages.
It felt like torture not being able to see her or talk to her.
Benjamin stood up from the couch, he carried out the trash bags and walked outside to the garbage cans.
"Hey Benji, what's up?" Charlie asked, he too was on his way to dispose of their trash.
"I am alright Charlie and yourself?".
"I am good, good, hey, we are going to grandfather's house for a week," Charlie smiled in delight.
"All of you?".
"Yes, all of us, except that blasted Nine, who knows what he has planned. Anyway, almost all of us are going.".
"Even Louise?" Benjamin asked.
"Yep, she just texted me and asked if we could wait for her so we can all go together, she'll be back from work soon and then we will leave, maybe around five," Charlie clapped his hands excitedly.
"I see... that's very nice...".