A/N: So this is a plot bunny that came to me while watching Disney Channel.

Cory Matthews yawned and glanced at the alarm clock that lay on his nightstand. It was half an hour after he and Topanga usually got up. He could hear her in the kitchen making breakfast for Riley, Auggie, and Maya. Why hadn't she woken him up?

Hurriedly, he showered and dressed before stumbling to the breakfast table. Topanga and the kids turned to look at him. "Wow Mr. Matthews, are you okay?" Maya asked. He rushed to defend himself.

"I'm fine." He replied, only then realizing the dull ache in his head. Turning to his wife, he asked, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You looked a little under the weather, honey."

"You do look a little paler than usual, Daddy," Auggie said. Riley nodded.

Cory sighed. He was exhausted, but they didn't need to know that. "I'm fine! Go to school, girls!"

Exchanging a look of frustration with Topanga, Riley and Maya left for school.

Topanga turned to her husband. "Are you sure you're fine, Cory?"

"Yes!" He couldn't miss a day, he couldn't. What would happen to his class?

She pursed her lips. "Alright. C'mon Auggie, let's go."

An hour later, Cory's headache had worsened and he had a sneaking suspicion that he was developing a fever.

"Good morning, class!" He said brightly, trying to maintain the facade that all was well.

"Good morning, Mr. Matthews." They chorused. Maya raised her hand. "You look worse."

"Thanks a lot, Maya." He retorted weakly. The class erupted in whispers before Cory cleared his throat and began writing on the board.

"Today we'll be learning about the Civil War-" His voice wavered before giving way to a coughing fit.

"I'm fine." He continued hoarsely. Lucas shook his head.

"Oh I don't know Mr. Matthews you look pretty sick to me."

"You should go to the nurse, sir." Farkle added.

"No! Class, I am fine." Cory glanced at the clock, desperately trying to think of ways to stall them. "Why don't you read your textbooks for a while?"

They begrudgingly obeyed, if only to prevent him from feeling worse. He was relieved when forty-five minutes later they departed for lunch, leaving him alone to lay his throbbing head down on his desk.

They returned to find him asleep, cheeks flushed red and burning hot. Farkle volunteered to teach, none of them wanting to wake their poor sick teacher, especially until he could be persuaded to go to the nurse.

"Maybe we should wake him up," Riley suggested. "I think he might be more comfortable at home, especially since he's running a fever."

"Sure, if you want Farkle, Maya, you and I to have to drag him all the way home." Lucas said.

"Maybe you should call your mom?" Maya added.

"Yeah, but I'd kind of like to have him explain why he needs to go home because she knew he was sick." Riley replied. She walked to her father's desk, gently shaking his shoulders.

"Dad, wake up. It's time for you to go home and..."

Cory sat up, his face slightly green and stomach churning. He clutched his stomach. "Ohhhh..." He moaned. "I really wish I'd listened to your mother..."

"I was just about to call her..." Riley said, before Cory grabbed her arm.

"Please don't. I can get home by myself-" He paled, lunging for the trash bin beside his desk. He just barely made it before his breakfast made a reappearance.

A few minutes later, he shakily lifted his head from the bin. "Please, please call your mother, Riley."

His daughter picked up his phone and dialed her mother.

Topanga-bold

Riley-normal

Cory-italics

"Cory?"

"It's me, mom."

"Riles? What's wrong, honey?"

"I think Dad can explain that better than me."

Cory took the phone nervously.

"Cory Matthews! What did you do?"

"I feel awful... Please come get me, Topanga!"

"How awful, honey?"

"Like I'm going to be sick again-"

He moaned, leaning back over the trash bin.

"Where are you?"

"In my classroom... Ohhhh..."

"Why on Earth didn't you go to the nurse or for goodness' sake just stay home today?"

"I fell asleep during lunch. Oh Topanga my head aches, my throat hurts so bad, it's so hot and my stomach... My stomach is rebelling against me..."

"On my way."