Pearl was not feeling well.. she had kept to herself for that reason as she fought a bugger of the augh, a cold. She sniffled putifully into a handkerchief as she debated on asking for help to get a hot bath to sooth her muscles that ached and help rid her of it sooner. For the momrnt, however, she was not moving.

She fell asleep without even realizing it.

Joe fumbled with the keys in the lock and pushed open the front door with little care or delicacy. Smelling of wood, ash, wet wool, and leather, he looked and felt more like a young boy who had been out playing. Then his eyes latched onto the recumbent form of Pearl sleeping and he froze, suddenly fully conscious of noise. He looked at the crown of her head and his eyes carried on, down the lythe expanse of her - that was not for boys. He silently smirked. She was his wife. Taking a risk, he knelt down and tenderly kissed the tress of curls.