Oscars Stress - OneShot

DISCLAIMER: This work is completely fiction and is not a representative of real-life events or characters.

Portia’s POV’

Ellen had been working extremely hard lately, preparing for the Oscars. She had still been doing her show and then as soon as she got home late in the evening she would go straight to her office to write for the Oscars. I took meals into her office because she wouldn’t take a break to eat. She hadn’t been getting enough sleep either. I was starting to get quite worried about her. I wanted her to take a break and take care of herself. I wasn’t too worried about the little time I had spent with her lately because I knew she would be busy and not have time for me, but she needs to make time for herself.

I had just cooked dinner and was taking it in to her office. “Dinner’s ready El” I said lightly as I placed it down on her desk. “Thanks, I’ll eat it soon” Ellen said not looking away from her work. “How about you come eat it with me?” I suggest as I wrap my arms around her neck from behind her, I kiss her cheek. “I don’t have time Porsche” Ellen says as she pulls my arm away from her neck lightly. I pull my arms away. “Ok, please eat though” I say as I watch her for a few more seconds before leaving to go eat my own dinner by myself once again. 

*a few nights later*

It was getting late now and Ellen was still in her office working, I wanted to go to bed so I thought I’d check on her first. I walk in the room quietly to see her leaning over the desk; her head in her arms asleep. “Ellen… Baby wake up” I whisper gently waking her up. Her head shots up and she scrambles for her pen. “Shit how long have I been asleep, I need to write this” She says more to herself than to me. “Baby, you need to get some sleep. How about you come to bed and you can carry on with this tomorrow” I suggest as I place a hand on her back. “I can’t, I’ve gotten get this done” She says. “Do it tomorrow, When was the last time you had a good nights sleep” I say “Yeah I know it was a long time ago I had a good nights sleep, but I don’t have time at the moment Portia” Ellen snaps a little. “You’re only going to fall asleep again El, so you might as well come to bed” I say “I’ll come to bed when I’m done” She raises her voice. I don’t reply, I just leave the room heading to our bedroom where I get ready for bed. 

I wake slightly as I feel the bed move as Ellen hops in beside me. I keep my eyes shut, not registering that she is there. She places a gentle kiss on my cheek, before placing her hand on my stomach. I roll over away from her making her hand slip off my stomach. I hear her sigh before rolling over herself pulling the blankets over herself. I open my eyes to look at the alarm clock to see the time read 3:42am. I close my eyes as I fall back into my sleep. 

Once I wake in the morning, I turn over towards Ellen to of course not see her lying next to me. I knew she would have gotten up early and will be in her office already. I get out of bed and have a quick shower before getting into some casual clothes and put a headband in my hair to keep my hair off my face. I then make my way out to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast, I walk past Ellen’s office which had the door shut. Shortly after having breakfast I take the dogs outside as I lay down on one of the seats to read my book in the sun as the dogs round around the yard. 

I ended up falling asleep while I was reading so once I woke up again it was lunch time so I thought I better go see if Ellen wants some lunch since she's not going to get herself anything if I don’t. I walk into to the office. “Would you like some lunch?” I ask standing at the door. Ellen takes a few seconds before she turns in her chair to face me. “Yes please, If you’re making something?” She replies. “Yeah I will if you want” I reply “Okay, yes please” She replies again as we stare at one another in silence. I can clearly see the dark circles under her eyes from being so exhausted. “I’ll be back with something shortly” I say quietly as I turn back around and head out to the kitchen to make something up.  It wasn’t long after that, when I was heading back into the office to give her the lunch I made. I got a quick thank you and that was it.

Later that afternoon Ellen emerged from her office and out to the living room. She down on the couch next to me as I watch TV. Mabel jumps up onto Ellen excitedly, finally being able to see her. Ellen pats and kisses Mabel multiple times and she finally settles down and lays over her lap. I feel Ellen’s eyes on me as the ads come on. “Are you okay?” She asks lightly and I turn my head towards her. “I’m good, you’re the one that she be answering that question” I reply. She looks down at Mabel and rubs under her chin. “I’m fine Porsche, I’ve just got a lot to do” Ellen sighs “Yeah but you can’t do that 24/7” I say. “I want you to take a break Ellen, Go have a decent sleep, just relax for one day. Eat dinner with me. I miss you. I know you’re busy and you don’t have much time for me at the moment, and I’m fine with that. I’ll survive, but it would be nice if you could just come eat dinner with me at night so I can spend a little time with you. I’m more concerned about you and you looking after yourself though” I say raising my voice a little to get my point across. I watch her as her eyebrows furrowed. “You don’t understand how much work I have to do and the pressure I am under to get this done as soon as possible and for it to also be great” Ellen argues. “I do understand Ellen, but you have to look after yourself at the same time. Why do all this hard work to make it so great if your not going to look after yourself as well because when you go onstage to host you’re going to be completely exhausted and it wont be great. You’re just going to make yourself sick from not eating properly and sleeping” I argue back. “I will relax and rest up once I’m finished. Just stop worrying about me” Ellen says getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen grabbing a glass of water. “So what, you want me to sit back and watch you get more exhausted every day and do nothing?” I ask following her into the kitchen. “Yeah, if that’s what it takes to get you to not nag me all the time” Ellen says “Fine, I’ll leave then. Let me know when you’re going to look after yourself and I’ll be back” I say annoyed as I walk towards the door and grab my keys off the hook. “Portiaa” Ellen sighs but I walk out the door heading for my car. I quickly start my car and head off to cool off. 

*a bit over an hour later*

There was a knock at the door and I looked up to my mother as we sat at her table talking. “If it’s her, let her in or not?” My mother asks as she gets up out of her seat. “Let her in” I say as she makes her way to the door. “Ellen” I hear mum say loud enough for me to know that it is her at the door. “Hi Margaret, Is she here?” I hear Ellen ask quietly “Yeah, come in” Mum replies inviting her in. “Thanks” Ellen says quietly again. I can tell she's exhausted just because she's not her bubbly self. I look up from the table as I see Ellen step in the room. “I’ll leave you two too it” Mum says as she leaves the room. Once she's left the room Ellen sits down at the table and I wait for her to talk. “I’m sorry Portia” Ellen says. “I thought about what you said and you’re right. I do need to take a break and look after myself. I’m so exhausted and I can’t keep going like this. I need to spend time with you also, I feel bad that I’ve pretty much paid no attention to you. I’m sorry for being rude to you before, I know you’re only trying to help. So I’m not going to do any work all weekend and just rest and relax with you, if you’ll come home with me” Ellen says as she holds my hands in hers. “I just want you to be healthy, and for you not to work yourself so hard, that’s my main concern. I’m not worrying about the little time we’ve spent together because we both knew that it would happen” I reply. “I’ll do anything to make you happy, I don’t want to lose you” Ellen says and I laugh lightly. “I’m not going anywhere El. I just left earlier to cool off, I don’t like arguing with you” I say and she smiles lightly before bringing my hands to her lips, placing a sweet kiss on both of them. “I don’t like arguing either. Do you still love me?” Ellen asks with a sweet smile. “Of course I do, now come here” I laugh as I pull her up off her seat as I get up also. I wrap my arms tightly around her as she does the same. Ellen nuzzles her face into my neck, kissing my neck softly. We stay in the embrace for a while. “I’m always right though, aren’t I?” I tease as I pull back to see Ellen smiling a real smile for the first time in awhile. “Yes, yes you are” She laughs as she pulls my hips against her body kissing me. Our first proper kiss in quite a long time, I missed her soft lips on mine so once she pulled back I quickly captured her lips against, kissing her more passionately. 

We had gone home not long after we had kind of made up I suppose you could call it that. Ellen followed me home in her Porsche and I drove my Land Rover. Once we had got home, I started to cook dinner for the two of us as Ellen set the table and helped up in the kitchen as well. “Can I taste it?” Ellen asks as I take spoon full of the sauce I was making and place it into her mouth. “Mmm, that’s delicious baby” Ellen smiles as she moves behind me and wraps her arms around my waist as I continue to stir the sauce. “You’re such a great cook” Ellen says as she kiss my shoulder. “Thank you El” I reply as I move to dish up our meal topping it with the sauce. “Mm, gosh that’s the best meal I’ve had in awhile” Ellen sighs as she leans back in her seat finishing her last mouthful and I smile at her as she reaches over and holds my hand, stroking her thumb over the back of my hand. “Thank you” Ellen smiles “What for?” I ask “For everything. For continuously being by my side, for trying to look after me when I wasn’t, for this amazing meal, and for still loving me” Ellen smiles lightly. “You don’t need to thank me” I smile “I know, but I want to” Ellen replies as she gets up and kisses me quickly. “I’ll clean up since you cooked” Ellen says as she takes our plates out to the kitchen. “I’ll help so we can finish quicker” I say as I take our glasses out. 

Ellen placed a movie in the dvd player before she settled in between my legs on the couch. She leaned back on my chest as my hands went over her shoulder holding her hands on her stomach. I kissed her temple as the movie started up. I had missed this. I missed just relaxing with Ellen. I was glad that she had finally realised that she needed to take a break from working all day everyday and that her health was more important. I knew Ellen wouldn’t stay awake for long to watch the movie since she was so exhausted. It only took about 20 minutes before her breathing slowed and she fell into a deep slumber. I stroke her cheek of her exhausted face. I waited a little bit before waking her so we could go to bed. “Baby, wake up” I say stroking her face again and she starts to stir. “Lets go to bed” I say as I sit Ellen up before getting up myself. I hold her close to me as we make our way to the bedroom, Ellen half asleep. I strip her off her clothes before laying her down and pulling the covers up. I also strip my own clothes off before hoping in beside her. I move close to her, wrapping my arms around her so I could hold her while she slept. “Night El, I love you”  I say kissing her cheek. “I love you too Porsche” Ellen slowly says as she drifts back into her deep slumber.