A/N: Sorry I haven't uploaded anything in a long time, a lot of IRL stuff has been happening, from a promotion at my job to more personal issues. But now, I have a little bit of extra time in my days to get back in the swing of writing, not only this story but a few others. Thank you all for your support, it really means a lot to me that my stories aren't falling on blind eyes. 3

Conventions are notorious for being a breeding ground of disease. The long conning hours with several others with little sleep, less food and, in most cases, even less personal hygiene. For the most part, Mark and Anthony would avoid the 'Con Cold' or 'PAX Plague' whenever they would attend, but a busy schedule of panels and booths makes one forgetful.

As the con came to an end, the two had gotten closer each day. They shared future video ideas, joined each other at Achievement Hunter and Retsupurae panels, and even gamed with each other in Anthony's hotel room on the last night. They played Mario Party 8 all the way until the sun rose the next day, signaling the end of the convention.

They packed in their respective rooms and put their bags in the lobby collection area, before going to one last panel together. Steven joined up with Anthony for one final moment before hurrying out to catch his flight back home.

"He seemed pretty busy all convention," Mark started as they walked together towards the garden area for closing ceremonies.

"A little too busy if you ask me," Anthony responded with a shrug. "But I guess new plans came up with the Creatures. No biggy, we have some Mario Kart planned for when I get back home."

"That's good at least. And hey, Wade and I might start recording Drunk Minecraft again, wanna join in on that?"

"Ehh, I don't really do the drunk gaming too much..." Anthony said, scratching behind his head. "But it does sound like fun, I'll take a break from sobriety if it means chilling with you guys."

Mark chuckled a bit, shaking his head. "You don't have to if you don't want, it was just an idea," he finished, sitting down in an aisle seat.

Closing ceremonies were just as amusing as opening ceremonies had been. Mark, as well as a few other big names, came to the stage to thank everyone for attending, all of them having a few more jokes and sketches to perform, all leading up to a big "Thank You! VidCon 20XX!" banner to descend at center stage. Applause rose, and soon after, so did attendees. Anthony, however, couldn't wait for Mark to return from the stage, as his flight to Connecticut was only in an hour. He grabbed his bag and started off for a shuttle, making a mental note to give Wade permission to send Mark his Skype username.

During the next week, Mark and Anthony spoke a few times over Skype. They hadn't recorded together just yet, they were still working on their own separate videos. And they knew that, with both their names being as big as they were, a video together had to be special, one that their fans would love.

In the meantime, Mark had also been talking to his friend Jon (better known as JonTron) about a collab video they've been planning. Jon sent him an invitation to join him over in New York, Anthony's old home state. Mark took it upon himself to make the voyage to see Anthony in Connecticut, if the time allowed him to do so. He had gotten his cell number to keep in touch, and once his trip to New York was set to go that weekend, he got Anthony's permission and address, in hopes to join him in a recording session. And, well, to just hang out with a new friend, Mark considered.

Jon and Mark got through a day of recording and touring around New York together, and Mark took the second day to travel east. Hopping from bus to cab, he finally made the half day travel to Anthony's address. Enthusiastically, he stepped up and knocked at the front door, being greeted by-

"Hey, Mark, nice to meet you."

-Anthony's girlfriend, Jess.

"Oh, hey, Jess, right?" Mark was taken aback a little, not expecting her to answer the door instead. "How is everything?"

"Uh, good for the most part, but...if you're expecting Anthony, he's sort of out of order right now," Jess said, stepping back to let him in. "Make yourself at home, shouldn't let the trip be for nothing. There's soup and popcorn in the kitchen if you're hungry."

"Popcorn, why?" Mark asked with a chuckle as he stepped in.

"It's the one thing that makes him feel better," she responded with a laugh.

Mark wasn't sure just what had happened. He started getting worried upon looking around and not seeing him anywhere. He went over and sat on their couch, feeling a little awkward to not have Anthony to hang out with in his own home. Jess, however, went into a closed off room, Mark looking away, not wanting to make things worse in any way. She was in there for a long moment, as Mark waited, then sighed and stood up, about to leave, until he saw Anthony open the door quickly, appearing to hastily throw on a shirt and fix his hair.

"H-Hey," Anthony said with a bit of a forced smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Y-You said it was alright, I texted you yesterday letting you know I'd be in New York if you wanted to record..."

"Oh, fuck...I...completely forgot, I'm sorry, sort of slept in today..." Anthony responded guiltily, voice turning hoarse at the end of his sentence. "How much longer are you gonna be there for?"

"Uh, for another few days, but...if I'm bothering you, I'll go. We can do this another time, ok?" Mark offered, noticing how he clearly wasn't up for recording anything.

"N-No, no, it's cool, I'm just...it's fine, just give me a few minutes, ok?"

Mark nodded as Anthony returned to his room. He waited by the door as he heard a series of hasty rustling, possibly of him putting away dirty clothes, all the while with what sounded like muffled coughing and Jess advising against him straining himself. Mark, feeling even more guilty than before, shook his head and started for the front door, before Anthony hurried back out, face much more pallid than before.

"Wh-, Are you leaving?" Anthony asked, Jess in toe.

"Well, it doesn't seem like you're doing too well, so..." Mark started as Anthony looked a little sadder. "Listen, we can do this again when you're feeling better, but I don't want you to do anything you don't want to."

"No, dude, it's fine, you came out all this way just to hang out, I...don't want it to be for nothing."

"It's not for nothing," Mark started, looking away. "But if you're not feeling up to it, it's fine, I can come back some other time..."

"Anthony? You alright? Easy, Anthony, stay with me!"

Mark looked up to Jess hastily holding him up and walking him over to the couch, setting him down, nearly all color drained from his face and hands.

"What's wrong with him?!" Mark asked worriedly, hurrying for him.

"He's had the flu since he got back, and he's only been getting worse."

"The flu?! Wh-...why did he even say it was ok for me to come over?"

"He's delirious, he's been trying to record twelve videos a day everyday." Jess said, while hurrying to get an ice pack from the freezer. "Mark, I'm really sorry, but I'm gonna need your help."

"I'm here, what do you need me to do?" Mark asked, too frightened by the situation to care what the request was.

As Jess brought the ice pack over to rest it on his forehead, she fell quiet, looking him over quickly, before looking back in a panic to Mark.

"Call 911. Now."