Unexplainable Distance (Jari)

Mexico had been a dream, but the day after their return the nasty wake up call had knocked on Marilyns door. Or rather punched the shit out of her uterus.
When the body is under considerable stress, even anything so much as a few weeks of tests at school or an upcoming meeting that induces anxiety, the uterus and ovaries react in a way that can cause periods to be...late.

Marilyn was in considerable stress, to put it lightly, for an entire year, not including the stess of rehabilitation she was still under. That, in addition to suffering severe malnutrition for that duration and having PTSD Marilyn's body pretty much said 'f*ck regularity' and that was that. That being said the witch tended to randomly get her time of the 'month' every four or five months for a week. But it was brutal. She threw up, felt dizzy, suffered from quite the blood loss and severe lustless-ness and mood swings from hell.

So that was why she forced herself, heavily medicated, to struggle through work and apparate straight home (and promptly throw up, which prompted her to just apparate straight into the bathroom. The rest of her time was tied between the couch with Jagger who acted as a living hot water bottle and the bathroom where she spent so much time throwing up or feeling to nauseous to get off the floor that Jagger had dragged a blanket and pillow to her there as well.

Her phone she ignored completely, feeling torn between immense guilt that she was avoiding Jake as a 'side effect' of staying cooped up until it was over, and the feeling of 'I cannot deal with this right now'.
When his message came she was bent over the toilet bowl losing her lunch so she had no idea he was coming over and she couldn't really hear him over the sound of her continuous vomiting.

But Jagger could and the loyal creature he was he licked her shoulder before running to Jake and licking over his hand, letting out a whimper of distress that was much deeper than such a sound usually was. After making his statement Jagger rushed back to the bathroom where Marilyn had just wiped her face with a wet washcloth and was resting her head on the side of the bathtub, too nauseous to get up or open her eyes, the only signs that she wasn't unconscious was that she instantly stretched her hand out to Jagger when she heard his claws against the tile, letting him shove his huge head under the crook of her arm in comfort.

It was then that she realised Jake had also approached and opened her eyes to see him, "Mhm." she murmured incoherently before pulling a face and promptly diving back to continue losing her stomachs contents in the toilet. Her service hound whined at her obvious distress and the witch seemed to be feeling like Jagger sounded before the dog carefully closed his jaws around a bunch of her hair, ever so gentle in his movements to pull it from her face, despite the amount of slobber that was probably being produced at the same time.

(Marilyn)

The instant she felt Jake's touch something in her shifted, a part of her racing mind just paused, just stopped and let her panic subside as she numbly finished throwing up, holding her left hand out blindly, trusting Jagger to give her the cloth, not seeing Jakes hand, which he did (taking it from Jakes hand), and she wiped her face, moaning softly at the now subsiding nausea. Well it had to end sometime, she thought to herself, that round was just stomach acid so there simply wasn't anything left to get rid of.

Jake soft questions entered her mind just as Jagger bounded off to her bedroom. "Water, please." she whispered, leaning her head against the bathtub again, not too eager to stand just yet. Soon Jagger returned with the pamphlet from her doctor, a bookmark in the section explaining how ptsd can affect monthly cycles, and shoved it at Jake's feet, pawing at it briefly to get his attention before returning to his witch's side, nudging her in the side repeatedly until she put an arm around his large neck and he half pulled her up.

"Good boy," she murmured fondly, using one hand to steady herself at the sink and one to pat his head, but instead of taking the praise he pushed her hand with his nose towards the sink, as if scolding her for not holding herself properly. Jagger then hit the water switch that was located on the wall as well as the basin itself, for times when Jagger needed to do it for her.

The entire flat was covered in 'dog' switches for various things, water, heating, electricity, fire alarm, etc. Something Marilyn had had done soon after getting the service dog.
After rinsing her mouth she accepted the glass of water Jake gave her, Jagger hovering beneath it instinctively, in case she dropped it, so no shards would hit her bare feet. But Mari held it quite steadily as the dizziness passed. "Thanks" the witch set the glass down and Jagger turned to let her grab on to him if needed, but she only set the palm of her hand on his head gently, the signal for him to go ahead to the couch where she'd head to, turning to Jake slowly and putting her hand on his arm, "Wanna help me to the couch?"

Closing her eyes only for a moment when he picked her up Marilyn forced them to stay open, lest Jagger think she was in need of more assistence than was the case. As she was gently laid on the couch Jagger was instantly there, dragging the blanket Jake got in his mouth that he nudged over her carefully, pushing it in with his paws before giving her one last kiss on the hand and returning to his solemn position, stony beside her, ready at the slightest command.

Turning her gaze to Jake she bit her lip, waving off his apology. "Don't apologize, I wasn't in any state to see anyone, I get really irritable the first few days, I was still cranky this morning. I eh- I may or may not have hexed Rosswells office, the one that was raining? He ordered me to make it stop raining so I erm," she looked at the ceiling, "I made it snow."

"This explains a lot though." Catching sight of the pamphlet in his hand the witch turned to look back at him with a softer expression, something in her eyes that hadn't been there before....shame?
"There's nothing wrong with me. I mean, not in that...area. It's just highly irregular. They said it'll get better." her tone quiet as she spoke, almost mumbling as she looked at her hands, "They said that contraception is still necessary because I can get- you know. Anyway. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I- I didn't think about it, honestly. I didn't-" I didn't think you'd be so worried... flitted through Mari's mind.

A flash of orange as she turned her head caught her eyes, "...did you think it was your fault?" She asked, putting two and two together as she took in the large flower arrangement, expression somewhat, well, mortified.

"He was going mad in our department."
"Good." she pouted, "To be fair, I don't know who made it rain in the first place, but they were genius." Making it snow had been less difficult than removing the rain would've been, she'd tried Finite Incantatum but it hadn't worked. When he'd barked at her to hurry up she'd made it snow, closed the door behind her and said she'd done all she could do before leaving. It would've been amusing to see his face though...

The kiss on her forehead caused a soft sigh on her part. One of the mood swings she experienced at times was the crazy swinging range from 'don't touch me' to 'merlin I'm dying' and it was irritating and frustrating and Marilyn was not happy with herself.
"Aren't... there methods of regulating... this with contraception? Makes it less violent?"
"I've been looking into it, there's an invisible patch that's got good reviews, weekly potions, to be honest I could probably brew them myself after a while. I'm going to the Doctors when it's over to talk to them about it." Her words cut off as another cramp his and she bit her lip, groaning softly, fists clenching, "ow, fuck, Jag- " one hand was released from its tense clench to wave a command that had Jagger bounding to the kitchen to retrieve the magically warmed hot water bottle and then trotting back to carefully lay it on her stomach.

"Thanks, boy." Mari murmured, "The cramps are killer. If I didn't have Jagger I think I'd go spare. I'm not supposed to do much magic during, I'm supposed to take it easy, but I can't just take a week off work and classes. But this guy's as good as any nurse so it's not as bad as it could be. Only about three or four more days then I'll be fine."

The witch slowly unclenched her fist as she spoke and the cramp passed and soon her boyfriend was explaining the huge bouquet of marigolds on the table and Marilyn covered her face with her hands to hide the fond smile spreading against her will. That was...so...cute, honestly, though he wouldn't appreciate the descriptor. "You..." she shook her head and pushed her hands through her curls, expression somewhat incredulous, "Thank you. You thought I was mad at you? For what, being too sweet? Come here," she scooted back carefully, making room on the couch for him to come and cuddle.

"I'm sorry for worrying you." she murmured, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, "I missed you." Mari breathed, the scent of mint surrounding her pleasently, relaxing her somewhat.

"Would you like me to come with you? To see the Healers? I don't mind."
"Sure. I mean, there's not really much to discuss, I hope it'll be done quickly, but sure. I'd like that" Marilyn replied, struck by the reminder that this was what people did when they were in a romantic relationship. When they cared for another. That Jake cared a lot about her wasn't really news per say, but the reminder was welcomed by the witch.

His apology was answered with a soft look and a cuddle and his offer was accepted by a nod, "I'm not really hungry, but you can cuddle me that seems to be helping" she suggested in a sly tone of voice, cudding closer. "I definitely want you to stay" she murmured softly.

Marilyn cuddled closer and smiled, giving Jagger the small hand signal to lay down and he complied, his one eye still unblinking on her to keep watch. The witch nodded when he said he'd be there without any hesitence in his voice. If she hadn't already been slightly flushed from her condition she'd have blushed. Maybe that was the hormones talking. Yes. Yes. Hormones.

Content with his promise to cook later and laughing softly at the assurance of 'cuddles' Mari grinned and settled comfortable into his arms, dozing softly in the comfortable warmth, exhausted by the effort of the days.
"I thought you might want me to."
"Mhm, 'course I do." the witch whispered, closing her eyes and falling into a relaxing sleep. Jake let her sleep, only detangling himself from her grip to whip up a quick, easy to digest dinner and waking her softly so they could eat. And of course he stayed the night, waking up with her and holding her hair when she was bent over the toilet throwing up at three in the morning, listening, albeit sleepily, to her curse at mother nature.

And when at nearly four she had rinsed with an ocean of mouthwash and washed up again, with help, they fell back into bed and Mari found herself pulled into his arms again, falling asleep instantly, Jagger at their feet. They continued this for a few days, thankfully this hell was over by Friday night, and as they laid next to each other then Marilyn thanked him for his help and for being there. Something Jake had smiled at, assuring her that she had no need to thank him.

But to Marilyn it was another piece of herself clicking into place, when she'd waited for him instead of leaving at work, taking his calls and keeping him updated on how she felt. Then again, perhaps that wasn't the right way to put it.Something was clicking into place, but it wasn't shattered pieces of her old self, but new pieces, new pieces for the new Mari, shaped and formed everyday by not just one pair of careful hands it seemed, but two.