Title: "The One Where I Don't Kill Her"

Author: Veritas Found

Rating: K Plus / PG / All Ages

Characters/Pairings: Arc, Yucie; Arc x Yucie

Summary: The doctor had assured the prince she was out of the woods, but given the fever she'd slipped into he wasn't sure.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Notes/Warnings: Spoiler-free as long as you're current; post-series. For Word #210 at 15 Minute Fic. (Ha ha, forgive the title. I was honestly drawing blanks for it, and if you've been following my PPY work for a while I hope you got a chuckle.)

"The One Where I Don't Kill Her"

Yucie groaned and rolled over onto her side. Arc frowned and fought the urge to grab her hand. The last time he had touched her she had screamed in pain. The doctor had said it was a side-effect of one of the spells he had used during the procedure, the over-sensitivity. He had asked if there was anything the elderly man could do, but the doctor had just shook his head and said he'd done all he could. He had assured the prince she was out of the woods, but given the fever she'd slipped into he wasn't sure.

"It's all right, Yucie," he whispered, placing his hand on the side of the bed. "You'll be well again soon. The doctor said."

He started when she cracked an eye open. He hadn't thought she was conscious.

"I'm sorry," she croaked. "You shouldn't have to babysit me like this."

Her voice was weak and strained, but after so long of just hearing whimpers, screams, or silence it was a welcome reprieve. He grinned at her, and her return gesture was forced.

"Little fool," he chided, and the smile turned a bit more genuine as her eyes closed. His hand hovered over her forehead, hesitant. "Where else would I be?"

"Ruling your kingdom?" she quipped, and he laughed. She opened her eyes again and glanced at his hand. "It's all right. It doesn't hurt so much now. At least not all over."

He released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and laid his palm against her forehead. She smiled at the contact, her eyes closing again.

"I'm so tired," she mumbled, and his thumb brushed across her skin.

"Then sleep," he said. "I'll still be here when you wake up."

She was already asleep again; he could tell. Despite her words of assurance, she still felt too warm. She was still shaking, and her face was twisted in a slight grimace. He brushed his thumb against her skin again, and he felt the muscles below her forehead relax.

She had taken ill only a day ago, during a picnic lunch he had painstakingly planned. He had every intention of proposing during that lunch, and he had just been about to pull out the ring when she had doubled over in pain. When he had asked what was wrong, she told him her stomach had been bothering her lately. He had felt a fool for not even noticing, but she had assured him it hadn't been as bad. As he rushed her back to the castle to see the doctor, the pain had increased. Once the doctor had examined her, he claimed it was her appendix and she would need to have it removed.

The procedure to remove the organ had been relatively painless, but then she had taken the fever afterwards. The doctor was right, and she was doing better, but that didn't ease his stress any. He imagined he wouldn't be feeling better until she was fully recovered and out of this bed.

As she slept, he pulled the ring out of his pocket. He twirled it around his finger, staring at the ruby gem placed in the center. It was so simple compared to the gaudy rings preferred by the nobility, but for Yucie it was perfect. He knew it was the ring her father had offered his mother all those years ago. His mother had approached him a few weeks prior after he had asked Gunberd for Yucie's hand. She had kept the ring, even after marrying his father instead – she told him she had never been able to part with it, but she felt Yucie would love it.

Glancing at the sleeping princess – (hopefully) soon to be queen – his smile softened. He pressed his hand against her forehead again, grateful to feel the decreased temperature. His eyes fell to her hands, lying on the pillow beside her head, and his smile turned to a smirk. Carefully, trying not to wake her, he slipped the ring onto her finger. Better.

Asking really was just a formality, after all…