Katchoo generally hated waking up in the morning, but today she hated it a little bit more; the end of another day was one thing, but the end of another year was way more momentous, and not in a good way. Pretty soon getting up and going to work was going to be necessary, but she was putting it off just a few minutes longer.

( That little beach house in Hana, Hawaii was a long way from Fandom. )

Without classes three days a week, including Mondays, you'd think Katchoo would start off most of her days by sleeping in.

That wasn't entirely true, though, given that this morning, as most mornings, she was tossing and turning, mumbling incoherently in her sleep. ( Which was pretty normal in comparison to the dream. )

"No," Katchoo said dully, her voice even more hoarse than usual. She didn't quite believe herself, though, because one look at Emma's bearing when she walked back into the house had told her it wasn't good.

( Emma managed a smile that tried for brave but faltered at the outskirts of dulled optimism. (Somewhat image-heavy post follows, possibly triggery for illness.) )