So yeah, is anyone surprised I'm here writing for this now? No.

Takes place in the early stages. I wrote this just before episode 5 aired and I'd assume it takes place around then anyways.

Disclaimer: I do not own Carole & Tuesday.

Apartment Melodies

Chapter 1.

When the morning sunlight streaks in through her bedroom window, Carole pushes herself up with a groan to get ready for her newest part-time job. Her body still moves like clockwork, so much so that it takes her a few solid moments to remember that her life isn't the same old daily struggle anymore.

It's been about two weeks since she'd picked up her new roommate, and the usual drone of life had started to get a certain kind of rhythm to it. Remembering Tuesday always sends a thrill through her, spreading a grin across Carole's lips and motivating her to get dressed and ready that much more quickly.

Sometimes she still can't even believe it's all true until she goes downstairs and sees for herself. She still needs the physical and visual confirmation that Tuesday wasn't just some angel-voiced fairy she'd dreamt up for the past fourteen nights in a row.

Carole gathers her hair and twists it into the usual spiky ponytail, then snaps the overalls into place on her shoulders before hurrying down the stairs. There's still a bit of anxiety about coming down to the lower level, because some part of her is always expecting Tuesday to be gone, be it of her own volition or not.

But as Carole dances her way down, the soft mess of the living room is unmistakable. Articles of laundry are strewn all over the couch, and random trinkets litter the floor. Being it's never surpassed the point of being manageable, the sloppiness has never really bothered Carole that much. In fact, it's almost a little welcome in her book; it feels lively somehow.

And of course the source of it all is curled up beneath her blanket on the couch, still fast asleep.

It's been the same scene just about every morning for the past few weeks, and Carole can't keep the smile off her face. As she passes by to head into the kitchen, she plucks up a random shirt of Tuesday's and drops it onto her guest's face. There's a whimper.

"Mm-"

"Rise and shine, princess."

Carole struts her way into the kitchen to begin preparing a bit of breakfast for them both. On top of the new work they've been putting in with Gus and Roddy lately, Carole has been juggling another small job on the side, just to make ends meet. On days like today when they have no obligations to their secret eventual musical uprising, she keeps her head low and goes to work like a regular boring person, knowing one day it'll all have been worth it.

Just thinking about the things she and Tuesday are going to do together - the emotions they're going to bring to the people of Mars that no stupid AI could ever manufacture - gets her pumped for the day ahead.

As she pops two slices of bread into the toaster, Carole begins to hum softly. Typically, it would only take a few seconds of her doing so before Tuesday would groggily join in from the couch and begin to rouse herself.

But this morning Carole continues on alone. It isn't until the toast pops up and she hears a little "hoo" from overhead that she notices her partner hasn't joined in the song. Curious, Carole looks up in the rafters to her AI pet. The little owl seems worried and keeps turning its head.

"Ziggy?"

The owl hoots again and flies back into the living room. That's when Carole hears a soft moan from the couch.

"Carole..."

She stiffens. It isn't Tuesday's usual sleepy voice. It sounds different somehow, and not in a good way.

Carole abandons breakfast and hurries back, peering over the couch as she rounds it.

"Tuesday?"

Her roommate is still lying beneath her blanket, having shifted onto her back by now, but her hair and clothes are a mess. She opens her eyes when Carole nears, but closes them almost instantly, as if the light bothers her.

Carole crouches down beside the couch close to Tuesday and reaches for her hand. Her skin is warm and clammy. Carole clicks her tongue.

There were a lot of things she'd never considered when she'd taken Tuesday into her life and into her apartment. It had been much more than a whim, though, much more than something she'd been forced into based on a split-second decision out on the bridge. It had been fate, she's sure of it, and she knows Tuesday feels the same way. Carole had never considered just how exciting and terrifying it could all be.

But she'd also never considered how risky it could be. Not only did Tuesday have people out searching for her, but she just isn't used Alba City yet. The past two weeks have been loaded with stressful situations, and she'd likely been burdened with thoughts of her pursuers on top of it all. Plus, her body just isn't all that used to the difference in air temperature here, the almost suffocating pressure of living in close quarters amongst so many people...

Carole is pulled from her thoughts when Tuesday shivers suddenly, and another moan slips out. Gently, she presses the back of her hand to her roommate's forehead and grimaces.

"You're burning up."

Tuesday cracks her eyes open again, watery from sleep and sickness.

"Carole-" She cuts off in a bout of coughing, in which Carole quickly helps her sit up a bit, rubbing her back for her until she's caught her breath.

"Take it easy," she murmurs. "Want me to take you to the bathroom?"

Tuesday manages a nod.

They take it slowly, Carole supporting her as much as she can as Tuesday tries to find her feet. She all but holds the sick girl up as Tuesday struggles to balance herself.

"Dizzy?" Carole asks. Tuesday whimpers again. "It's okay. Just close your eyes when you walk. I've got'cha."

Tuesday does as she's told and closes her eyes, putting all of her trust comfortably in Carole's hands.

They make their way to the bathroom where Carole nervously lets her go, then keeps vigil outside the door just in case. She doesn't hear any signs of distress other than a few more coughs.

On the other side, Tuesday grips the sink with as much force as she can muster, knowing she'll fall if she doesn't. Her body feels heavy, and her stomach is churning for no good reason. She refuses to even look up at her reflection, knowing she must look terrible. Her hair is a wild tangle as if something had been nesting in it, and her skin feels disgusting. It's all she can do to splash a bit of water onto her face and follow it up with a towel before the room starts to spin.

"Carole-"

In a split second the door is open and Carole hurries through. She catches Tuesday in her arms and can feel right away she won't make it back out on her own. So she dips down and scoops her up gently, then carries her back to the couch.

As she lies her down, Tuesday coughs again. Carole gathers up all of the blankets and pillows she can find at the moment and brings them all to her, tucking her down snugly.

"This is bad, huh?" she sighs. "I'm not good at this kinda thing like your maids back home probably were."

Tuesday blinks up at her, brow crinkled.

"Carole..." She hasn't gotten any other word out all morning yet, and thanks to another cough she doesn't get to it this time either. Carole places a hand on the girl's stomach to sooth her.

"Easy. I'm gonna call out of work today and-"

But this time Tuesday forces the words out.

"N-No! I've already caused you so much trouble-!"

"Whoa, hey, take it easy!" Carole pushes her shoulders back down where she'd tried to sit herself up. Tuesday weakly relents, but she starts to sniffle.

"B-But I... you've already done so much for me... it isn't fair that I keep causing problems for you, Carole..."

The tears start overflowing, and Carole panics.

"H-Hey! Don't cry! You don't have to cry!" She pulls a tissue from the box on the nearby chest and starts to dab it over Tuesday's cheeks. "I never said any of this was any trouble. Plus, I've been needing a day off from walking AI pets anyway. Besides, I'd never be able to work knowing you were here alone like this."

Once she's done cleaning away the tears, she offers Tuesday the tissue. The girl braces herself up on her elbows and blows her nose with a few more coughs in between. Carole tosses the trash into the waste bin from her seat with ease, then pulls out her phone.

"I'm gonna call out today. It's no big deal. Seriously. But I am gonna have to go out real quick and buy some cold medicine. That cough is pretty bad."

Tuesday sniffles again.

"Sorry..."

"Dummy. Don't be. Just rest until I get back. Oh, but lemme get you some water first." As if sweating out the fever wasn't dehydrating her enough, now there's the risk of her crying too.

Carole gets up, but not before giving her roommate a gentle pat on the head. She jogs back into the kitchen, only now remembering the toast she'd left there. She pulls the slices out and slathers one in grape jam for herself, and gives a bit of strawberry to the other. She puts Tuesday's piece on a plate for her, then grabs a bottle of water from the fridge before returning to the living room. She puts everything down on the chest and pushes it closer to the couch so that it's all easily within arm's reach for Tuesday.

"Try to eat a little bit if you can, but definitely make sure you drink."

Tuesday nods from behind her blanket.

"Okay..."

"I'll be right back. Till then Ziggy will watch out for you, right?" She glances up, and the AI owl hoots. Tuesday sighs.

"Sorry again, Carole..."

Carole crouches down beside her and smiles.

"I don't mind one bit." She brushes her fingers through Tuesday's bangs to clear them away, then leans down to hold a brief kiss to her forehead.

Tuesday sighs, but she feels a little less guilty about everything. She watches as Carole heads to the door and steps into her boots.

"I'll be right back."

Tuesday coughs, calling out in a rasp after her.

"Have a safe trip."

Carole salutes, and then she hurries out the door.

When she's gone the apartment becomes strangely quiet. Tuesday closes her eyes as another shudder runs through her, in spite of how hot and stifled she feels.

It isn't the first time she's been here alone. Carole would go off to work nearly every day and leave Tuesday to earn her keep by tidying up.

But today is different. It's scarier. For some reason, it feels like any second now someone is going to come barging in who isn't supposed to.

Tuesday knows her family is hunting her down every second. It's too easy to imagine her mother or brother or some police officer forcing their way in to drag her back. Her heart begins to pound harder, and more tears begin to rise up and spill over.

"No... I don't want to leave here..."

Tuesday turns herself onto her side and curls up tightly, hiding herself against the couch cushions. She can hear the sounds of the world outside; cars rushing by, people calling out, dogs barking-

And just when her mind is at the height of its panic, the door opens.

"I'm back!"

"Go away!"

Both girls call out at the same time, and it takes a second for things to make sense. Tuesday recognizes Carole's voice and slowly pushes herself up a bit to check and confirm it's really her and no one else. Carole blinks back in confusion.

"Come again?" She closes the door behind herself, plastic bag with the medicine dangling on her wrist. She isn't sure what's going on, but she can see for herself that Tuesday is even worse than when she'd left barely ten minutes ago. Her hair is even more frazzled, her face is even redder, and there are more tears streaming down her cheeks. All else goes out the window in an instant and she rushes over. "Hey, hey! What happened?" She drops down beside the couch again, reaching out for her.

Tuesday sighs and collapses back onto the pillows.

"Sorry... I thought... I thought you might be someone else..." It might be from relief now, but more tears keep coming.

Carole is overcome with conflicting emotions. The last thing she wants to do right now is leave her again, but she only goes as far as the kitchen. She grabs a clean hand towel and runs it under lukewarm water, then is back at her roommate's side in seconds.

"There now, easy..." She lays the cloth over Tuesday's forehead to let it absorb some heat, then slowly begins moving it down over her cheeks to wash away the tears.

Tuesday hiccups and whimpers and coughs beneath her touch as more apologies tumble free.

"S-Sorry... sorry, Carole..."

"I already told you, it's fine. It's totally fine." She doesn't want to pry more into Tuesday's personal life, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't dying to know. But if it's bad enough that she'd cry this much in just thinking about being taken away, Carole's already decided she's never going to let that happen. "Don't worry," she smiles. "I'm not leaving anymore. I'm gonna stay right here and take care of you, okay?"

Tuesday swallows, and her breath hitches around another cough, but she manages to nod.

"Mm..."

Carole reaches out with her free hand to rest it on one of Tuesday's. For a moment everything is quiet, save for Tuesday's little hiccups. Carole does her best by means of comfort; even though she really hasn't had much experience in this field, things just come naturally when it comes to Tuesday.

After a little more sniffling, Tuesday draws in a deep breath and exhales. When she seems a little better, Carole opens the plastic bag in her lap and digs out the cough medicine.

"Here. It says you should take it with food though." The toast she'd left earlier remains untouched on the chest, as does the water. Tuesday has a guilty look in her eyes again, but Carole only smiles. "It's okay. Lemme help." She slips her arm beneath the girl's shoulders and slowly coaxes her up, helping her lean back against the pillows. Tuesday flinches from the movement, looking dizzy again. Carole rubs her shoulder gently. "How're you feeling? Warm?"

"A little..."

Carole knows it's an understatement. "Here. Gimme your hands."

Tuesday tilts her head to the side a bit, but does as she's asked. Carole takes takes one of Tuesday's hands and turns it over, frowning at just how warm she feels.

"This is a little trick I learned here or there. Hopefully it'll help a bit." She takes the damp cloth and presses it against the inside of Tuesday's wrist, holding it firmly. She feels it when a shiver travels through the other girl, and Tuesday yelps softly.

"Oh!"

"Sorry. You okay?"

"Yes! I wasn't expecting it, but it just made my whole body feel a little cooler."

"Then it's working. Gimme your other hand." Tuesday does as requested and Carole repeats the process. The result is a sigh of relief from her patient, and Carole's smile returns.

"Little better?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Now you've gotta try to drink something or else you're gonna shrivel up. Not to mention it's gonna have an effect on your voice the next time you try to sing."

To her it seems the risk of the sickness affecting Tuesday's singing has a bigger impact on her than the risk of it affecting her health, because she immediately readies herself. Carole takes the water bottle from the table and moves up to sit on the couch beside her.

"Just take it slow."

Tuesday takes the water and begins with little sips. She must not have realized just how parched she'd been until now, because she starts to drink a little more eagerly. A cough interrupts her and she sputters, choking.

"Hey, easy!" Carole grabs her hand so she won't spill more water on herself and starts running her hand up and down her back quickly. Tuesday coughs a little more harshly, and it sounds painful. "Easy, easy," Carole soothes her. "Just breathe."

The coughing fit takes control of her again. Carole grits her teeth, wishing it would stop. She carefully takes the water from Tuesday and puts it aside, then helps her lean back.

"Breathe, breathe. Just like in our singing exercises, right?"

And just as she'd hoped, mentioning singing seems to get Tuesday's attention better.

Carole coaches her, and eventually Tuesday gets her breath back, and the coughing subsides. But by the end of it all the tears have come back. Tuesday whimpers and throws her arms around Carole, sobbing into her shoulder.

"Sorry... Sorry, Carole... I just keep-"

"Hey, I already told you, it's all right. A sick person doesn't cause trouble for the people around them. They just need to be taken care of for a little bit, that's all." Carole gives her a good hug back, petting down through her hair. "And I don't know about other people, but I sure don't mind."

Oddly enough, she actually likes this feeling; the feeling of being able to help and take care of her closest friend. Of course she'd rather it didn't mean Tuesday had to suffer like this, but Carole is determined to put an end to that as soon as possible.

So she holds her for a few minutes, until Tuesday has cried all she can cry. When she's ready, they try for the water again. Carole helps her, and this time it goes without a hitch.

"Good," she says. "Now let's get some food in you so you can take that medicine."

As they sit back together, Tuesday with the plate of toast in her lap, Carole begins to talk aimlessly to her to help her feel calm. Focusing on her symptoms probably is only making her more flustered, so Carole instead talks about the stray dog she'd pet on the way out, the shopkeeper she'd gotten the medicine from and his funny green hat, the color of the sky when she'd left, and the color it had been when she'd come back...

Tuesday eats a little at a time, and before she knows it the entire slice of strawberry jam toast is gone. Carole thinks she's looking better already.

"Atta girl!" She ruffles her hair gently, and Tuesday giggles. Carole reaches out for the medicine next. "Now let's see..." She uses the cap to measure out the correct amount, then holds it out for her. "Careful. This stuff's bitter as hell."

"It's all right." Tuesday has a new look of determination in her eyes now. "It's like you said, it'll help me get better soon so we can get back to making music."

"Right!"

Tuesday reaches out and they hold the capful of medicine together. Tuesday braces herself, then downs it all in one go. Her expression twists at the sour taste, but it makes Carole burst into laughter.

"Sorry, sorry! Your face though!"

"Eh? Wh-What do you mean?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

"Carole!"

Laughter fills the apartment for a moment, and most of this morning's anxieties finally begin to fade away. Carole turns to her roommate again and kisses her forehead.

"How're you feeling?"

"Better, I think. But also kinda gross. I wanna shower."

"You won't get dizzy?"

"I'll be fine now that I've eaten." To prove it, Tuesday gets up from the couch all on her own without swaying and begins limping to the bathroom. "Ah, my legs are still asleep..."

"Lemme help." Carole is up and at her side in seconds, grabbing a clean set of pajamas for her as they make their way to the bathroom. "Just call for me if you need help."

"I will." Tuesday takes the clothes and heads in, closing the door behind her.

Carole waits until she hears the water running, and a tired little hum soon follows, echoing around the tiled bathroom. Even so, her voice is still beautiful.

Carole joins in from the other side as she begins cleaning up the apartment a bit, folding the clean clothes and piling the dirty ones into the hamper. She opens the curtains to let in some fresh sunlight.

She usually gets the weekend off from her jobs to enjoy the days like this, but there's something especially nice about taking a workday off to do it. Particularly if it means she gets to spend the entire day with Tuesday.

By the time the shower stops Carole has tidied everything up and made a couple of sandwiches for lunch. When the bathroom door opens and Tuesday steps out, Carole hurries over to help her back to the couch. She's still a little wobbly, and though the shower seems to have helped a bit in cooling her off, it also seems to have made her a little dizzy again.

They make it back to the couch where Carole offers lunch, and Tuesday thanks her. They eat together with only a couple of coughs getting in the way this time. When they've finished, Carole takes the dishes to the sink, then stops by the bathroom to grab a hair brush on the way back. She returns to Tuesday with a grin.

"I'll brush your hair for you."

"Eh?" A slight blush paints itself over the freckles. "N-No, that's okay. I can do it myself. I've caused you enough trouble-"

"It's no trouble at all. Besides, it's it easier if someone else does it for you, right?"

"Well, it is, but-"

"Then it's decided." Carole plops down on the couch beside her and has Tuesday turn around, gathering her hair to one side. Tuesday is stiff and flustered, so Carole gives her a pat on the shoulder. "Hey, it's no problem, seriously. Just relax."

"Okay..."

Carole gets to work, starting at the ends of Tuesday's hair at the small of her back. It's still a bit damp from her shower, so she holds the majority of her hair in her free hand so the wetness won't press against the sick girl's back.

Carole works slowly and gently. Tuesday's thinner, finer hair can't take as rough a brushing as her own thicker locks can, and the last thing she ever wants to do is hurt her.

"How's it feel?" she asks. "Is this okay?"

Tuesday lets out a shaky breath.

"Yeah. Thanks, Carole."

"Don't mention it."

Carole continues moving her way up gradually, stroking through her roommate's hair with meticulous effort. She doesn't even realize it when she begins to hum again. It just comes naturally.

Tuesday eventually joins in with her, though her voice is still a bit raspy.

Carole makes it to the top of her head and eases the brush all the way down her back. She can feel Tuesday leaning back against her touch.

They hum together a while longer, until Tuesday's breath catches and another bout of coughing comes. Carole drops the brush and quickly gets to rubbing her back, helping her calm down. Ziggy hoots worriedly overhead.

After a moment, Tuesday regains her composure, slouching back against the couch. Carole gives her shoulder a soft pat.

"There. You good?"

"...Yeah. I think so."

"Have some more water." Carole helps her drink again, but once Tuesday is finished she sighs heavily, as if the coughing fit had drained her remaining energy.

"This cold is gonna kill my voice... How long is it gonna be until I can sing again...?"

"Don't worry about that. Just focus on getting better."

An idea forms in Carole's mind, and she's determined to put it into action. She leans in slowly to kiss Tuesday's forehead again, checking her temperature for a moment. At the same time she takes one of her hands and presses two fingers against Tuesday's wrist. When she finally eases back, she gives her verdict.

"You're still a bit warm, and your pulse is a little quick. You can't have any more medicine until later, so for now the best thing for you to do is get some rest."

Tuesday dips her head.

"Okay... And Carole, you can go to work if you want. I'll be fine-"

"No way. Already took the day off, so I'm gonna enjoy myself!" She grins, but Tuesday seems doubtful.

"How can you enjoy your day off when you're just taking care of me...?"

Carole's smile becomes a little softer. She takes Tuesday's hands in hers and gives a little squeeze.

"Tuesday, there's nothing else I'd rather be doing than taking care of you when you need it."

It might be her imagination, but Tuesday's face seems to get a little redder for a second. Carole is only shocked when she sees more tears brimming in those blue eyes. Tuesday pulls her hands free, only to throw them around her in another hug.

"Thank you, Carole... really..."

And there's just something about the way she says it, something about the desperate, grateful way she's clinging onto her that tells Carole she'd been sick before, and the maids or whoever had been in charge of taking care of her had done so half-heartedly or unpleasantly enough that Carole's own genuine care would be enough to make Tuesday break down crying with relief.

Carole hugs her back and doesn't let go for a while, until the little hiccups have faded away again.

By then, Tuesday has exhausted herself almost entirely. She's barely still awake, and Carole has to gently lie her down on the couch. She makes sure the pillows are fluffed and the blankets aren't too tightly tucked around her. There's still some water on the chest within her reach if she'll need it, and Carole doesn't plan on going anywhere either.

She only leaves Tuesday's side for a moment to fetch something. She carefully picks up her keyboard from the corner of the room and brings it over to the couch. Tuesday watches her with tired, curious eyes.

Carole positions the keyboard between the couch and the chest, then sits down beside her. She looks down at Tuesday and smiles.

"It's been a while since I've played a lullaby, so this might be a bit rusty."

An excited little sparkle has flickered to life in Tuesday's eyes.

"I can't wait..."

Carole stretches out her fingers a bit before laying them over the keys.

There's a second of silence. A breath.

And then the apartment air is filled with the tinkling sounds of the keys, soft and light like the footsteps of dancing fairies.

It soothes Tuesday's heart, makes her feel like she's curled up in a grassy sunlit field of flowers. She sighs, closing her eyes as she breathes in the music.

Carole soon joins the melody with her voice, letting the words carry over the unseen waves of music. She sings the words that she remembers, and then some that just pop into her head. Whatever comes naturally.

She plays all she can, slow, soft, calming songs that stir something deep within. Tuesday ends up crying quietly happily from the sheer emotion of it all, but it seems to pacify her sickness like magic.

The fatigue eventually starts to tug at her, and she doesn't want to sleep until she's heard every last piano key. But it's a losing battle this time, and before long she's drifted off.

Carole notices she's gone still and reaches down briefly to run a hand through her soft silky hair. She plays a while longer, until her fingers begin to ache pleasantly. She glances down at Tuesday at her hip. Her breathing is deep and even this time, and there's a smile on her lips. Carole gingerly brushes her thumb over the dried little tear trails, then leaves one last kiss on her cheek.

The midday sunlight has shifted over the building by now, leaving them in a bit of dimness that is too inviting to resist. Carole pulls her legs up onto the couch and gets comfortable, staring up at the ceiling for her AI pet.

"Ziggy, set an alarm for 4PM so I can give Tuesday her medicine. I'll make some soup for dinner."

The owl hoots and then settles into the rafters quietly.

With a yawn, Carole stretches herself out, then lies down with Tuesday, brushing their heads together softly. She can smell the berry scent of her shampoo from here.

She listens to Tuesday's breathing for a while, a soft, steady rhythm that makes Carole eager to join her.

It might not be as big as her own bed, but it's definitely warmer and softer here.

It isn't long before she feels her mind slipping away.

Maybe she'd sleep on the couch from now on.

A/N: Ahhh it feels so good to write for a new series, a new pair of wonderful, adorable girls~

I wrote this like juuuust before ep5 aired, so we know now Tuesday's brother might not actually be after her (we'll see, I guess), but I have a feeling her family drama is far from over.

The main idea behind this was that I wanted to have Carole sing a lullaby and play piano for a sick Tuesday (hence the title). And also to point out the fact that she did used to sleep elsewhere, but ever since Tuesday took the couch, the show has shown us nothing but Carole sleeping there together with her. Looks like the loneliest girl isn't so lonely anymore ;3

Maybe more to come?

Please review!