A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan
Rule 99- When gift giving, it’s the thought that counts—but make sure your thoughts include a gift receipt just in case!

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur. Apparently dad was right when he said I didn't look too well because I feel like crap. I've definitely come down with something. My head is pounding, my throat hurts, I feel nauseous. Hell, even my eyes hurt. I had hoped that a nap would help but I feel worse than I did before going to bed. Ugh, hopefully this is just one of those twenty four hour bugs, or maybe just a case of food poisoning. I'm all sweaty so even though I showered this morning I end up back in the shower, standing under the hot water and hoping that the steam will help clear up my stuffy sinuses. When I finally leave the shower my skin is bright red, flushed from the hot water, but a glance in the mirror shows that I still look unwell. This is not how I wanted to spend my days off. I definitely won't be cooking for dad tonight. I can't risk passing this to him. Maybe I'll just call him to apologise. Maybe he will be extra forgiving since I'm sick. It's probably why I was so emotional this morning. I was probably feeling more out of sorts than I originally thought. With dripping wet hair I shuffle to my room and pull on my most comfortable old, ratty pyjamas. They're kind of terrible and have a knock off version of the cookie monster on them, but they comfort me at least. I pull back on my tanzanite necklace afterwards. It might be pointless to wear it all the time, but I like it and it's a nice reminder that Ashton didn't COMPLETELY forget about me.

I'm in the kitchen forcing myself to drink some orange juice. I haven't eaten all day and the thought of eating now makes me want to vomit. At least the juice has sugar and vitamin C. Better than nothing at all right? I'll force myself to eat tomorrow, even if I don't feel better. A loud knocking on the front door echoes through the house. I don't want to answer it. If it was dad or Lucy they could let themselves in. If dad lost his keys again he would call my phone. A glance out the window shows me that the sun has just gone down. Surely Ashton wouldn't have sent Pan again? Not after the letter I sent. Still, if it IS her I can't just leave her standing around outside. I reluctantly make my way down the hallway. The house is dark since I never got around to turning on any lights while I was sleeping, the only light that's actually on is the bathroom light. My head aches anyway and what with her light sensitivity from all her travelling between realms, I doubt Pan will mind that it's dark in here. The knock on the door repeats.

"I'm coming. Just give me a minute." I call out. Her hearing is probably good like Fin and Ashton's right? The knocking stops so I guess I'm right. I swing the door open and stop, blinking in shock. It's not Pan waiting for me on the doorstep. It's Ashton.

His face lights up when he sees me.

"Katerina." He smiles, but it quickly changes to a frown.

"Are you okay? You do not look well." The concern in his voice makes me want to cry. Still, I shake it off and do my best to pull myself together.

"I'm fine. I just have a bit of a cold or something. It's no big deal." I answer easily, trying to hide my hoarse voice. As long as I speak quietly it isn't too obvious. Besides, for some reason standing around in the dark makes me want to whisper. "May I come in? You should not be out of bed if you are unwell." Ashton worries and I immediately step aside.

"Sure. And I told you I'm fine." I head to the living room and take a seat on the couch, glad to have an excuse to sit down. I might be saying I'm fine but it doesn't feel all that true. But there's no point stressing him out. It's not like there's anything HE can do about it. All I need is time and rest. Ashton sits beside me, he fluffs the cushions and arranges them around me, clearly concerned.

"Are you here alone? Do you need anything? Should you see a doctor?" Ashton continues stressing. I put a hand over his arm to stop him as he goes to stand.

"I'm alright, seriously. Why are you here Ashton?" I prompt. He scrunches up his face as if confused.

"Why am I here? I am here to see you of course! I received your letter from Pan and I decided I could not wait any longer to come and visit you. I made excuses to my mother and came right away." he says sincerely. He really came to see me? Just for me? I sort of want to throw myself at him, but I'm all gross and sick so I probably shouldn't.

"Oh." Is all I manage to answer. He pulls a familiar letter out of his pocket and reads it out.

"Ashton, thankyou for the items you have been sending, I truly appreciate the thought but they really are unnecessary. What I accepted was more than enough to compensate me for my time and expenses while you were visiting. Please don't send any more. Pan is a lovely woman and I'm worried about her health and wellbeing if you continue to have her travel so much. At very least give her some time off. Have you forgotten how it felt the first night you were here? She's done that four nights in a row now. I like her too much for you to make her work so hard! I really don't need all that stuff and you're making me uncomfortable by continuing to send it. You don't owe me anything. Kat." He drops the letter on the coffee table.

"Kat... Are you angry with me? I did not intend to upset you. I know that things were... Unclear when I left. But I truly do not intend to abandon you." He says earnestly. I frown. Did my letter really come across so angry? Maybe it did. I didn't want it to and I didn't plan for it to. But I guess I was a little hurt that he kept sending all these gifts but never even included a letter. I didn't want to be the first one to have to reach out, especially if he really wasn't planning to come back. I mean what if he went home and totally changed his mind, he could have gone home and realised that he didn't miss me at all. Still, it's not fair for me to take my fears out on him.

"I'm not mad at you. I was just worried about Pan. You sent her so often that she and I have become friends. I didn't want her to be feeling bad just to make deliveries that I'm sending back anyway." I insist.

"But I do not understand why you keep sending them back. They are meant for you. And you are wrong when you say I do not owe you anything. I most definitely do owe you. But even if I did not, the items I sent you are still yours and I will be keeping them for you. While I was away my mother set a bounty for the capture of the assassins who killed my father. As her son I am not entitled to it. It was my family who offered the reward after all. Fin was given a share of the payment for his assistance in capturing the final two assassins, but you helped with all three so you are entitled to the reward for the capture of all three of them. I have been trying to choose forms of payment that you might appreciate. I considered trying to send you books since you were interested in learning about the fae, but you would not be able to read them. I considered flowers and plants, but I did not know if they would be able to survive here. I did not know if you have an interest in art or not. So I thought that it would be better for me to just ask you properly. What is it that you want from me?"