Frederic smiled softly as she flopped back onto her pillow and couldn't help but chuckle. "Angel," he murmured and leaned forward to kiss her forehead, "eat, and then get some more rest. I hope you like the soup." He still sat on the side of her bed for a moment and handed her the bowl of soup and the spoon he'd also brought in. The bowl itself was warm but not hot and he hoped it would warm her hands if they were cold.

She took the bowl gratefully, though not before sitting up again to do so. The soup was delicious and it warmed both hands and belly. It also helped to clear some of the congestion from her face, and she periodically had to grab for the hanky to keep her dignity somewhat intact. When she finished the bowl, she gave a yawn and set the bowl back down. "Thank ye, Fred. I don't know what I'd do if ye hadn't come along."

Frederic smiled softly and placed a kiss on her cheek at her words. He wanted to cuddle with her, but he wasn't sure if she just wanted to be left alone to rest, so didn't raise the idea. Instead, he picked up the bowl and stood to bring it to the kitchen. He glanced back as he was heading out the door and asked, "Is there anything else you need me to do? I'm available all day, and since Clover comes by this way after school, some of the evening as well."

"Lay with me," she murmured, having the same sort of thought in her head. She wanted to be cuddled. Lord, was she tired? She sighed and rolled onto her side to wait for him to be done cleaning up so he could lay with her and hold her. Her eyes drifted closed in the meantime, but she was not asleep, it was to ward off the light streaming in through the window.

Frederic smiled when she asked to cuddle and cleaned up the bowl quickly, storing the soup in a warm place in case she wanted more later. He returned to the bedroom after a few minutes and slipped off his shoes before crawling into bed beside Karen. He pulled her against his body, curving his own to hold her against him. He nuzzled his face into her neck as he wrapped his arms around her, keeping the blankets around her to make sure she was warm. If she let him, he slipped under the blankets too, and curled up closer to her,

She curled up against him when he came into her bed. It would be only a few moments before she was asleep again, resting in his arms. She would sleep until she heard the sound of the babies crying and then sat up with a snort. Ugh, there was a smear of drool on her cheek which she wiped away with the heel of her hand and the hanky covering it. "Fred?" she asked, gazing at him to see if he was asleep or awake.

Frederic had instinctively woken at the sound of Karen's babies crying, having trained himself to do so when Clover was a babe, and sat up a moment after Karen did. She wiped at her cheek and he smiled softly at how even dishevelled and sick, she was beautiful beyond all measure to him. Her little imperfections made her all the more attractive and when she looked to him, he couldn't help but draw her close for just a moment and press a soft kiss to her lips. Switching into parental mode just a second later, he got out of bed and saluted her teasingly as he headed out of the bedroom. Closest by the door to the room with the bassinets was Niamh and Frederic carefully picked her up and rocked her though she squirmed in his arms. He went to Harold Jr. and picked up the babe as well, and he swayed back and forth with both children comfortably in his arms as he sang softly to them, his words really meaning nothing but his tone calming and sweet. By the time he carried the babies into Karen's room, they'd quieted down a decent amount and were now only whimpering for their mother.

She gave a half-smile at his salute and watched him leave the room. When he came back with the babies, she was already sitting up. The children both had soiled nappies, and she'd had the foresight to keep some clean ones in her room just in case she was napping with the babes in the bed with her. She made quick work of changing them and got up to toss the dirty ones away... She also needed to relieve herself so she disappeared for a short time before coming back to the bedroom and curling up around the two, squirming bundles. "There now, all better," she cooed at the two who were both kicking legs and flailing arms.

Frederic smiled, his heart warmed by the site of his fiance holding her babies so dearly. He tucked blankets around the three of them before curling up beside Karen and murmuring sweet words to Niamh and Harold Jr.

Both of the kids were having fun just kicking and flailing away. Karen smiled at Fred and said softly, "Ye really are good with the children." She couldn't say how Harold would have been, so she didn't bring it up.