The Chills

He rolled onto his side expecting Betty to be home, but he found instead a vacant space. She must have left to work already. Lately, the lab had been calling in a lot of overtime, what with the threat of war looming over the country's head. Sitting up Simon smacked his lips with squinted eyes. He reached over to shut off the alarm, but his hand bumped into something cold and metallic- his crown. Too tired to wonder why the darn thing was in his bedroom Simon pushed it aside and sloppily brought his hand down on the snooze button. His limp wristed hand flopped around his nightstand for his glasses, which he discovered had actually fallen on the floor.

He forced himself from under the covers to bend down and pick them up. Sliding them onto his face and adjusting them he stretched his body, which felt unusually stiff. Simon looked over and saw his reflection in the crown and sighed. He looked terrible. Forcing himself out of bed, Simon trudged to the bathroom. On his way he caught a glimpse of the light snowfall outside- strange for their area.

Simon kept his eyes on the things he needed; toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. This made his reflection even more surprising when he began to brush his teeth- the brush fell between his frozen fingers and clitter-clattered in the sink. Leaning over the counter Simon cringed in pain as blood stained his teeth. And it wasn't just that, Simon didn't look like himself- he just looked…strange. Shakily reaching down and picking up his toothbrush Simon tried to remain calm. He went to work brushing his teeth, something routine that helped him forget the strange man looking back at him. He gasped and threw his toothbrush down after just a few more attempted strokes, covering his aching mouth with a trembling hand. They seemed more sensitive than usual and painfully so.

"What's going on?" he stumbled back, words muffled by the hand pressed over his mouth. "Betty?"

In a frantic fashion Simon pushed his door open and ran out into his living room. Everything was covered in dust and all of his photos were scribbled over. The ones with Betty were burned. He had to get out of there. Fighting with the front lock Simon nearly kicked the door down to get out into the hallway. He was confused to find his apartment complex empty, dusty, papers everywhere that had unfamiliar dates printed on them. The frantic man left the main entrance in a hysteric fashion, tripped and tumbled down the stairs.

Out in the street Simon was hit with the sharp, cold breeze. Shivering on the ground Simon wrapped his arms around himself, ducked his head into his chest to regain some warmth. The cold however seemed to be emanating from within him. He felt like glass as he got to his feet.

His eyes beheld the aftermath of something terrible.

Snow blanketed destruction as if trying to cover up the mess for him. Nothing could have eased the panic growing in his heart. Everything was in shambles around him; the buildings crumbled, the streets cracked and the people…everyone seemed gone. Betty, Simon thought about Betty and where she could be. He ran down the street, bare feet bleeding from the frozen, debris ridden ground. Simon didn't get far, only two apartments down before a horrible ringing filled his ears. Collapsing onto the ground he whined helplessly, bending in half and clawing at his aching head.

Ash mingled with the snow after the first explosion shook everything around him. Simon's mind went blank as the loud noises erased any other sound- even the shrill cries of his own voice. The wind picked up and as Simon stood it swayed him into uneven steps. He ran back to his apartment complex and retreated inside after one last terrified look at the blackened sky. As he slammed the door shut Simon heard a familiar voice outside calling his name.

"Simon!" his heart seized as he realized Betty was outside. "Simon!?"

"Betty? BETTY!?" he called. "Hold on princess, I'm coming!" Simon opened the door and light engulfed him.

xxx

As the light faded away Simon realized that he was in his living room. Betty, Simon's bride to be had just come home from the lab. She sounded concerned as she called his name a third time. Simon answered her with a mangled version of "I'm here", as he tried his best to wiggle out of being half awake.

"Oh, you fell asleep?", she quipped cheerily. "That's good"

The familiar sound of Betty shuffling around at the front door eased Simon out of his heavy sleep. Drool had streamed down the side of his face and he wiped at it quickly. His head fell limply to one side as he considered simply going back to sleep, but couldn't knowing his princess was home. Simon mumbled incoherently as he dug his palms into his sockets and opened his eyes.

His body was currently one with the couch as he had decided to take a nap some hours ago- getting up would be difficult. A foreign weight leaned against the couch and Simon looked up with sleepy eyes to gratefully find Betty leaned over the armrest, the soft strands of her red hair flowing to one side. Her face was tweaked into a strange expression Simon couldn't quite place- somewhere between annoyed and amused was his best guess.

"You're taking naps with it now?" she half joked, smiling to cushion the taunt. "It's a rough mistress, eh? You look terrible Mr. Petrikov"

"Had a nightmare", Simon grumbled as he rolled onto his side.

His thin arm stretched to put the crown on the coffee table. It fell reluctantly from his lose grip, the sound of it resting on the table mildly harsh. Betty eyed the artifact oddly before looking back over at her fiancé, who resembled a sleepy kitten, curled up on the couch. Usually he was about the place cooking and cleaning, or researching in his study but lately…everything just seemed to suck the life out of him. And those dreams, he'd explained some to her and they were just…

"Feels like I didn't sleep at all…" Simon's meek voice brought her out of her thoughts. "And it's cold in here, I think the heater's broken"

"I'm usually the cold one", Betty sighed as she leaned over to press the back of her fingers to his forehead. "Yikes. You feel kind of cold. Maybe it's a cold sweat, I'll get you a blanket"

"I feel ill", Simon sighed as he flopped onto his back. "Sweetheart, could you make me a cup of hot chocolate?"

"Hot Chocolate?" Betty slouched as she lightly flicked the end of his nose. "Okay sicky…hot chocolate"

She wandered into the kitchen, pulled a mug from the cupboard and filled the kettle with water. Betty set it on the stove and turned the pilot on. As she reached over to the cocoa powder Betty found a small neatly stacked pile of mail. Some of them were open and she couldn't help but take a peak. The museum had sent several letters Simon's way, each more promising than the last. They were relentless in expressing their love for the relic he had so recently brought home. Unfortunately for her and them a certain antiquarian had also grown quite fond of the mysterious crest.

His study was already a walk in antique closet, and it wasn't that Betty minded what he did with his space but…some of his finds were migrating into the living room, some had already invaded the bedroom. Simon had so many things strewn about the apartment and beside all of that Betty couldn't help but wonder- what-in-the-world was that man going to do with a golden, ruby encrusted crown- become a king?

She strolled back out into the living room to find her fiancé muttering under his breath. If there was any one man who needed a good night's sleep, Simon was that man. Letting out a gentle sigh she lowered the hot chocolate so he could grab hold of it without sitting up. Simon smiled as the warmth of the mug seeped into his skin.

"Thank you, princess", he said with a meek, loving smile.

"You're welcome, hun", Betty offered a smile back as she reached down and smoothed a lump in his hair. "I'm sorry I had to leave to work, if I'd known you were this bad I would have stayed home…"

"They need you", Simon nodded as he tilted his cup back to sip the sweet liquid. "I hope everything is going well?"

"I suppose you could say that?" Betty shrugged. "They keep telling us, war is coming- war is coming…" she paused to pout her lips, deep in thought. "We're doing everything we can to prepare, but…"

"The war", Simon's tone shifted slightly as he continued their conversation. "Those would be strange times"

"Indeed", Betty repeated solemnly.

"Let's push the wedding date forward"

Betty went rigid, and then melted into an exhausted heap on the back end of the couch. She loved the man, but a wedding at a time like this…All things in good time and a good time for all things, her father had always told her when she grew impatient. And Betty had been an adventurous girl. Bending over the back end of the couch she smiled sweetly, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. Simon reached up and scooped her hand into his, brought it to his lips and planted a gentle kiss.

"Princess…be my queen"

"Oh, Simon", she blushed, turning away slightly. "I would be your queen…but now just isn't the right time"

"I'll make it a wedding worthy of a queen", he promised sleepily, his grip on her dainty hand faltering.

"You know…" she ventured to change the subject. "I, um…saw your letters"

He rolled his eyes at the mentioning of it. A local museum had read a newspaper clipping and offered to write Simon a check, a pretty large check…but he wasn't so sure he could part with the crown so soon. There was something…special about it. It had so many secrets; no one knew where it had come from, not even Simon. He had so much to learn about it before he handed it over to a snobby curator to collect dust on a shelf.

"Simon…I just want you to consider it?" Betty was stone face, arms crossed over her chest. "They're offering a lot of money for that thing you got, might I remind you, FOR FREE"

Simon let his head flop to one side. Setting the hot chocolate down Simon picked up the crown, held it in his hands and watched the light bounce off its golden surface. This was his greatest find, far grander than that Enchiridion. That book he had held such high hopes for was laughed at by most as some sort of hoax. It dated back hundreds of years but every time he brought it up all anyone could talk about was the books strange description of a world that wasn't their own. Most people labeled it some ancient nerd's weird diary or joke.

He shook his head and set the crown down on the living room table, adjusting it gingerly till it resembled a centerpiece. Simon looked up at Betty, his eyes pleading with her, his fingertips still lightly pressing against the crown's surface.

"But princess", he whimpered. "Look at it…I can't just sell it- it's beautiful!"

"I'm not arguing that", she spoke calmly, walking with light steps to stand beside him. "It is wondrous, but…hun…"

"I really like it", Simon sounded misplaced as he plucked the crown from the table and set it in his lap. "Think of the stories it holds in there somewhere. I cannot seem to pinpoint the reason, but I feel like…"

"…see? You need to get rid of it before you get too attached", Betty sighed as she smacked the side of her head. "Simon…sweetie, I don't want to control what you do. Antiques are your life and I love you for it, but…we hardly have room in here as it is…and if you sell it", a wry smile played on her lips as she sat beside him. "Just think of the wedding we could have, one day…when all this war stuff is over"

Betty leaned over and planted a small kiss on his jaw- Simon blushed instantly. She reached down, not allowing him time to be flustered, and turned his head. Simon leaned back as she pressed against him, her body warm and her lips soft. When she pulled away he removed his lingering grip on the crown to run his fingers through her red hair. His movements were wistful, as if Simon was in a dream. He sat up and returned the kiss, his rendition with a timid forcefulness. Betty giggled and laced her fingers together behind his head, tugged gently till she pulled herself over the back of the couch. She gave him little Eskimo kisses and tussled his hair lovingly.

Entranced by her beauty Simon reached up and sunk his fingers into her hair. He pressed his forehead against hers, allowing their breaths to mingle in the short distance separating the two of them. Smiling, Simon kissed the end of her button nose. Betty turned her head and covered his mouth with her own, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she tugged gently at his button up shirt. When her hand touched his stomach she pulled it away with a light squeak.

"Oh my goodness! Simon, you're freezing!" she waved her hand back and forth to remove the cold. "Really cold", she made sure to get her point across.

"I'm sorry princess", Simon blushed as he pulled his shirt down. "I- Betty!?"

She grabbed his hands and wrinkled her nose, "It's not that bad", she smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek, whispering. "I was just surprised, that's all"

Simon leaned back, but light was shinning in his eyes. He looked over and saw the crown and for a moment felt like it was looking back at him. It was a strange sensation. Betty turned his head and he caught her smile right before she kissed him.

xxx

The two lovebirds, entangled in each other's arms awoke to the loud humming of Betty's cell. She peeked out from under her mangled mass of red hair, yawned and slapped her hand over it. Sliding it off the table, she meant to hit ignore, but it was work calling. Planting a light kiss on Simon's forehead she got up and ran into the bedroom to grab her robe, hitting answer on the way. Simon remained in a heavy sleep on his back, snoring lightly.

"Yes?" Betty responded softly as she closed the bedroom door. "You need me to come back in? But, look…this is ridiculous", Betty sighed, pinching her brow. "My fiancé is sick, I can't leave him alone right now…" she paused as the voice on the other end grew more insistent and stern. "But…oh…okay", she agreed reluctantly. "But I'm only staying till the test is done and I'm going home"

Betty hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bed. Dropping her robe she opened her drawers and fished out a clean set of work attire. She dressed quickly and shoved her phone in her back pocket before rushing out into the living room. Stopping by the couch she tried to wake Simon up by nudging his shoulder, but he was out cold. Instead she tucked him in and left a note.

Simon's head rolled over as his brow twitched. His lips parted and moved faintly, as if speaking to someone.