Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Mum!” Dhani burst into the kitchen from the back door. A scolding was on the tip of her tongue, ready to remind him about not running in the house when she didn’t get the chance to. “Dad’s hurt!” 

She’d just finished a lovely phone call with Linda McCartney, only just hung it back up in fact. In that moment, her heart stopped for a split second. “What? What happened?” 

“I dunno,” Dhani said breathlessly. “I heard a big thud and he was on the ground. Dad told me to come get you.” 

Needless to say, she hurried out there. 

She’d gone out there not knowing what to expect, following her son out further in the backyard away from the house. Her husband was still on the ground in a heap, clenching one of his arms. 

“George, what happened?” Olivia knelt down, alarmed by the state he was in. 

“I’m alright,” he let out a pained breath. He was attempting to get back on his feet, eyes shutting briefly. “It was just a fall. Nothing to worry about.” 

It took both her and Dhani assisting him to get him back inside. Olivia deliberately ignored the muttering under his breath regarding instructions for his garden for the day. It would be taken care of, just not at this moment. 

He was taken back to their bedroom where he was now being gently eased onto the bed. He groaned loudly; she frowned sympathetically. 

“I know,” she was careful not to move his arm too much, “Just lay down and I’ll have Dhani fetch you a cup of tea.” 

“Okay,” their son said automatically, darting out of the bedroom in a run that she normally would have chastised him for. This time, however, she was more focused on George. 

“Honey, what did you do?” She used her thumb to brush over a small scratch near his temple. 

“I tripped, is all,” George muttered, his face contorting into pain the second he tried stretching out his arm. 

“Over what?” Telling him not to do that would do no good. He was horrifically stubborn and some days she just let him be. 

“A tree root.” 

She sighed. “Haven’t I told you to watch where you’re going?” Olivia said with exasperated fondness. “Now you’ve gone and hurt yourself.” 

“You’re right, of course,” George’s lips pulled up into a mischievous smile, “but now I could use a nurse to bring me back to health.” 

A laugh left Olivia. “Well,” she cupped his face with one hand. “Lucky for you, you happen to be very persuasive.” 

Their lips met in a sweet kiss, only for it to be unfortunately cut short when Olivia accidentally leaned too much on his injured arm. 

George made a grunt of pain, to which she pulled back immediately. 

“I’m alright. There’s no need to stop-” 

“Hush,” she told him affectionately. “Lie back and rest.”

It was clear he wanted to protest, to tell her he was fine and get back out there. “That’s not necessary, love. I’ll be perfectly fine in a few minutes.” 

He would most definitely not be. But Olivia said nothing while he rolled his shoulder. 

The pain was instantaneous. 

“George,” she said with a soft sigh as he squeezed his eyes shut, hissing through his teeth. He looked at her, dismayed but resigned. 

“Alright.” 

She brushed a piece of hair from his face. “We’ll make sure everything gets taken care of.” 

“I’m sure you will,” George slid down some, trying to get comfortable. She could plainly see the frustration lining his face over not being able to get out as he pleased. 

Olivia glanced over her shoulder towards the door, then got out of her shoes to join him on the bed. 

“You don’t have to,” he shook his head. “I’m sure you’ve got loads of things better to do than stay here.” 

Instead of responding, Olivia found a spot beside him. But rather than letting herself get caught up in his arms, she extended her arm to go around him, so now his head dropped on her shoulder. 

“Comfortable?” She said, her hand toying with his hair. 

“Couldn’t be better,” a smile came over him when she kissed his hair. 

“Dhani should be back with that tea soon.” 

“He can take as long as he needs,” George let out a blissful sigh, curling into her side.