"Achoo!" Chris sat up in bed, reaching for the box of tissues, once again. "Damn it," he mumbled, bringing the white cloth to his nose. The blonde had been up all night sneezing and coughing. The only time he could really breathe was when he took a deep breath, which killed his chest. His head hit the pillow, bringing the sheet to cover his face. "Rachel, I think I'm sick," the boy whispered.

"No way?" Rachel teased. Leaning over and planting a kiss on his forehead as she stood up, "You wanna go see the doctor during my appointment, I don't mind, I promise."

Chris nodded his head. "I guess I should. I don't want you to catch this too." Blue eyes peeked over the satin sheet, eyeing the perfect body in front of him. "You know, it's really unfair to look that sexy when I can't even kiss you," the boy whined, pouting his lip.

"You could kiss me if you wanted to." She argued, "Just, you know, not on the lips or whatever." She pulled a t-shirt over her head then, brushing out her hair as she winked at him. "Go call the doctor."

The boy climbed slowly out of bed and got dressed. "I'll be downstairs." He couldn't control the coughing coming from his mouth, his chest hurting worse with every breath he took. Finally he managed to call the doctor, making an appointment to come in right away. With Chris being sick around Rachel, the doctor had major concerns that the redhead's situation would become much worse. "Rach!" he attempted to yell, his voice coming out as nothing more than a raspy whisper. "We need to go, now."

"Coming!" she called, making her way down the stairs. "I brought my iPod so I won't be bored out of my mind while you're at your appointment." She said as they made there way to the car. "I figure you'll be done way before me so I'm not to worried about finding a ride."

Chris put the car in park and helped his girlfriend out of the passenger seat. "I'm hoping this doesn't take too long. I really just want to go home and sleep," he said as they walked in. "I'll be out as soon as I can. Try not to get in any trouble while I'm gone, okay?" The boy winked his baby blue eye and followed the nurse back into the room.

The blonde musician sat on the bed and waited for what seemed like hours for the doctor to come in, which was really only fifteen minutes. "Hey Chris," the doctor held out his hand, waiting for Chris to shake it. "What exactly seems to be the problem?"

"I've just got a cold or something. I'm not too worried about me, I just wanted to see if I need to take any precautions with being around Rachel," he answered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"I'm afraid you can't be around her, Chris. At all. Not until you have made a full recovery from this."

"But doc, she needs me right now!" he replied, feeling like he was going to let her down. "I have to be there for her. She has no one else!"

The two talked about all the possible options, it all coming down to one fact. Chris could not be around Rachel for the next week. He wrote a prescription for the boy then exited the room. Chris followed him out and sat down in the chair outside, head in his hands.

"I've been looking for you." Rachel smiled as she made her way through the hospital doors and outside. "I thought maybe we could get some ice cream real quick before we go home. It'll make you feel better."

Chris looked up, trying to stay happy just so she wouldn't worry. "Rachel, we need to talk."

"What happened?" She asked, tilting her head a bit as she starred down at him. "They just gave you some meds and you're good to go, right?"

"Not exactly. The thing is, with me being sick like this...I can't be around you, Rachel. It's not good for you. Apparently it could really complicate things and make your situation much worse." Chris stood, taking his girlfriend's hand. "But in a week, I'm going to be right back by your side. I promise."

"A week?" she asked lightly mind already whirling though she didn't let it show, knowing that there was nothing either of them could do. "I-uh- yeah. I can handle a week on my own. Everything will be fine."

"Well I talked to the doctor, and he said that they could send a nurse to your house to take care of you. I think it's a good idea, Rach." Chris kept his distance even though all he wanted to do was take her in his arms, letting her know that everything was going to be okay.

"No, that's OK." She replied. "I can handle it. I guess you just drop me off, then and get yourself some rest."

"Rachel, I don't like the thought of you being by yourself. Maybe Lucas or Nathan can come help or something. Or even Brooke. Just someone to stay with you."

She sighed at his words, "I'll call one of them." She said finally. "You worry about yourself."

"I love you, Rach. I just want you to be okay." Tears filled his baby blues as his thumb stroked her cheek gently.

"Hey, no. I'll be fine." She replied, sending him a light smile, "I'll just get to sleep in without you there to wake me up at the ass crack of dawn."

Chris smiled, pulling her into a hug. "This is the last time I get to do this for a week. It's going to be hard, Rachel."

Rachel shook her head, laughing at the comment, "You'll be glad to have a break from my crazy." She leaned up quickly before he could protest, brushing her lips against his. "If I can get sick just from being close to you, might as well make it count." She shrugged.

Chris nodded his head, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Make sure Toby takes care of you, Rach." The boy finally released his grip on her, their hands pulling apart. He watched her walk to the car, an ache in his heart.

Rachel leaned back against the seat once she made it to her car, letting out a long, aggravated breath. She watched from the mirror as Chris turned, walking away from the car and back into the building. Reluctantly she pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Luke's number.

"Hey. I'm sorry to bother you, I just know Chris will call you and if he finds out I didn't he'll be pissed."

"It's cool, Rach. What's up?"

"Chris is sick, and he's not allowed back in the house for another week." She paused for a second, hating that she had to ask for help. "He wants me to ask you to stay over until he can get better."

The boy had been waiting for this moment for a week now. Chris burst through the front door, throwing his keys on the table. "Rach?" he called out, Toby running down the stairs and jumping up on him. "Hey boy," the blonde smiled, reaching down and petting him. "Where's your mom?" he asked, quickly following the young pup up the stairs. "Rach?"

The echo of a video game drifted down the hall as Chris approached the door, Rachel and Lucas both sitting on the edge of the bed, Rachel yelling triumphantly while Lucas glared. "I fucking told you I could win by just using my knife, it uses less buttons and I don't have to aim."

"You ran up as I was shooting you and got me a couple times, you got lucky."

"I still win, so pay up, Scott." The girl looked up when Chris cleared his throat, her smile immediately widening. "Baby, hi." She greeted, making her way over to him and planting a kiss on his lips. "I just kicked Luke's ass at Call of Duty."

Chris slid his arms around the girl's tiny waist, picking her up and twirling her around. "I've missed you so much," he said before kissing her again. Blue eyes glanced over at Lucas who was sitting on the bed. "Thanks for staying with her, man. It means a lot."

Lucas nodded his head and stood up. "It was fun, Rachel. I'll catch ya later, Gatina. Next time I won't let you win," he winked. The boy patted Chris's shoulder and walked out of the room.

"So did you miss me?" Chris asked, still holding the girl up.

"Eh." She teased, scrunching up her nose a bit, "I guess, you know. A little bit. Maybe."

"Oh just a little?" he asked, kissing her nose. "Well at least I know one person missed me." Chris released his grip on Rachel and leaned down, playing with the dog.

"You have been his favorite since day one." She shrugged, "We're both glad you're better, Lucas was getting on our nerves. He was even more over protective than you." She pulled him over to the bed and they both sat down, "I need to wash the sheets they smell like Lucas instead of you."

Chris scratched the back of his head. "Lucas slept here? In our bed?" he questioned, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Not at first." She shrugged sensing his awkwardness, "But then I kept getting sick, and he kept coming up from the pullout couch downstairs and I thought that was stupid so I suggested it. He wanted to sleep on the floor, but he was here to help me, I wasn't going to not let him sleep in the bed. You're not mad are you? It didn't mean anything it was just sleep."

Chris shook his head, trying to be convincing. "Its a little weird but as long as he took care of you." The boy sat there, biting on his lip in silence.

"What?" she asked, "Just get it all out now, if you're mad just be mad, I'm not gonna, like, break or something and don't say nothing's wrong because I can tell."

"It's just weird. I don't know. I don't like the thought of any guy in the same bed with you." Chris laid back, feet hanging off the bed. "Did you two have a fun week?"

"It was fine, but he's no you, you're not allowed to leave me ever again." She replied, "I'm being 100% serious right now, you can never leave."

"Same goes for you," he replied, pulling her back onto him. "You can never leave me," Chris said softly, looking in her eyes.

"I'll do my best." she replied, pushing him down into the mattress and snuggling into his side. "So, who took care of you while you were sick?"

Chris sat there a minute. "Myself," he shrugged. "It was just a biggie. But I'm back and nothing can tear me away from you again." The boy planted a kiss to the top of her head. "What do you want to do today? Anything you want."

"I just want to be with you." She replied, looking up at him and letting her lips brush against his neck. "And maybe get some ice cream."

"We can do that," Chris smiled, sitting up. "You wanna go out to get it? Or do you want me to bring it to you?"

"We can go out if you want." She replied, "Let me just find that hat I got a couple days ago, I can't remember where I put it." She moved over to the end of the bed, dangling off the edge and grabbing at something under the bed. "I thought that was where it ended up. I'm having mad cravings so we should go."

Chris helped the redhead up off the bed and down the stairs. "You okay?" he asked, as she squeezed his hand.

"I'm fine." She replied, "I'm old news, most people are over it by now anyway."

Chris helped the girl in the car and they took off down the street. "I'm glad I'm back, Rachel. I missed you like crazy. Those phone calls weren't enough for me," he said, squeezing her leg.

"Even the dirty ones?" she teased, "Have I lost my touch as the master at dirty talk, because I've never had complaints before."

"Hmm. No, those were perfect," he smiled. "Although I much rather have the real thing."

The two pulled up to the gelato shop, with Chris running over and opening Rachel's door. "After you, babe."

"You're overly polite to me sometimes." She laughed, "I feel like one day you're just gonna snap back into being a normal teenager."

"Yeah, it's gonna suck for you when that day comes," he teased. Chris opened the door for his girlfriend and followed her inside. "Anything you want, because...you're buying," he grinned.

"Shocker." She responded, "I want 3 scoops of mint chocolate chip." She said as she approached the counter. "In a waffle cone and he wants something really picky I'm sure of it."

"I'll have the same," Chris ordered, sticking his tongue out at Rachel. "I'm not that complicated." As the man behind the counter handed them their cones, the two took a seat. "So I have somewhere I want to go after this. You up for that?"

"Color me intrigued." She responded with a smile. "Now I have to eat fast. Does it involve a present for me cause that would be awesome."

Chris shifted in his seat. "Kind of. It's more of a surprise than a present." His eyes avoided hers as he continued to eat his ice cream.

"Okay, we can eat and drive." She replied, tossing him the keys as she stood up. "Come on, Keller I don't do well with suspense."

Chris nodded and followed her out to the car. He was pretty much silent the whole drive there, figuring out what he was going to say. "We're here," he said softly, looking over at her.

"And here is?" she asked quietly, looking out at the building, the jewelry store logo proudly displayed on the front. "What are we doing here?"

Chris turned his body to face the redhead completely. "Rachel, I am so in love with you. Nothing has ever made me half as happy as being with you does. I never want to know what it feels like to be without you." The boy took in a deep breath and swallowed hard, as he took her hand in his own. "Rachel Gatina, will you marry me?"