My sudden bursts of caffeine-energy were quickly wearing off and I was beginning to feel just a tad dizzy. I forced the Marauders to clean the rest of the house up. Now I was just sitting in the couch, staring blankly at the wall, comatose. I was staring at the wall for so long the white-ish pigment was starting to turn black and green; just like a bruise.

Ring ring.

Oh great, and now my ears were ringing. I'm so tired I'm hallucinating. I wonder how much longer I'll last until they put me in a strait jacket…

Ring ring.

Shutupshutupshutup! I pulled a pillow over my head, trying to make the ringing stop.

Ring ri—

"Marley? Phone for you," Remus called.

Oh. Yay. I'm not insane…yet…

I stumbled over to the kitchen, having trouble shifting my eyes into focus. "Hullo?" I asked in a monotone voice.

"Marley! Sweetie! You don't sound too great. Have you been getting enough sleep? Who was that boy who answered the phone?"

"Hmmm? Oh, yes mom. That was this kid who I'm tutoring for," I said, lying quickly.

Then it hit me. "Mom, aren't you and dad supposed to be home right about now?"

"Well, that's what I called about darling. See, your father and I have a tad more business to do than we thought. And since the weather is really bad here, we can't get another flight out of here for awhile."

"How long is awhile mom?"

"Awhile is awhile Marley, don't question me! Honestly, sometimes you are such a hassle."

Me? I'm a hassle? I was too stunned and tired to answer her mean, snappish comment.

"I don't know how long. At least a few more days," She huffed. "I have to go now."

And with that, she hung up. No 'goodbyes,' not even an 'I love you'.

"I love you too mom," I whispered into the disconnected telephone.

I looked at the boys who were looking expectantly back at me. "That was my mom; she and my dad have to stay a little longer on the business trip which means you can stay a little longer here." They all high-fived each other. "I'm feeling rather queasy, wake me in an hour, would you?" They nodded their heads and I stumbled back into the living room, onto the couch. I don't know how I got there, but I did. As soon as I closed my eyes I was asleep.

OOOOOOOOOO

I woke up and felt like I was on fire. I was drenched in beads of sweat and my head felt like it was being pounded flat with a jackhammer. "Guys?" I called out. My throat was so dry. James, Remus and Sirius appeared at my beck and call. "I don't feel very good," I moaned.

They all scrambled away and brought things back, one by one.

"Here," Sirius said, shoving a bag of chips into my face; salty fumes greeting my nose. "Chips always make me feel better when I'm sick."

I gagged, covering my mouth and turning green. He pulled them away quickly. "I guess that's a 'no' then," He said worriedly.

Next up was Remus. He brought me a bowl of something white. "I figured ice cream would be good."

Now, normally I would have eaten the ice-cream like it was the last thing I'd ever do, but I could already tell it would be too rich for me. I shook my head vigorously.

Then James came over. Oh God, if Remus couldn't get me anything helpful, there would be no way that James would bring me anything better.

He stepped up and put his lips to my forehead, causing both Remus and Sirius to tense. But it wasn't in a romantic kind of way. It was more like since-my-lips-are-sensitive-it's-easier-to-check-your-temperature kind of way. He stepped back. "Jesus, you're burning up," He said to me.

Sorry Jesus, I thought.

Then he did something even more surprising: he sat on the couch by me and gently put his arms around to my back and the bottom of my head. Then he put pillows behind my back to prop me up. He took my temperature with a real thermometer and then gave me some water. Sirius and Remus were on pins and needles, watching me anxiously.

"Marley, are you wearing anything under your long sleeve?"

I tried hard to remember and I didn't think I was. I shook my head as a no. He walked upstairs and came back a minute later, my white tank top in his hand. He looked at me and then my shirt. "Marley, is…is this okay?"

I opened my eyes and slowly looked from him to my tank top in his hand. I was so hot I couldn't think straight. "I just want to cool off," I murmured, closing my eyes again.

Apparently, he had really figured this out. He took my blanket and pulled it up just below my collar bone, tucking it in under me. He turned away and closed his eyes, gently pulling up my shirt. Then he found my tank top (without looking at me the whole time) and put it on me.

He turned back around and smiled in a relieved sort of way. I grinned back before drifting away to dreamland.

OOOOOOOOOO

I woke up the second time that day on the couch. But instead of burning up, I was freezing cold. What was worse was I couldn't breathe through my nose at all. Now, I know you're probably thinking what's her problem? There are worse things than not being able to breathe through your nose…And I know that. But I am a full fledged nose-breather. I almost never breathe through my mouth. This was very, very bad.

I pulled the blankets on top of me. "Guuuuuuuys!"

Remus and Sirius rushed back in. "I can't breathe through by dose," I said, sniffling.

For the second time, the two of them went scrambling for things. I waited for five minutes. "Here, Marley, try this nose strip. It's supposed to clear up sinus problems right away," Remus said. I put it on but it didn't work.

"It's nut wurking," I mumbled.

"Well what about this? It's says it's helps nasal decongestion," Sirius passed me a nasal spray.

Eagerly, I sprayed it up my nose. Probably too eagerly. Suddenly I got this really sour salty taste in the back of my throat. Then it went up to my nose, burning the whole way.

"Aaaahhhhh! Get it out! GET IT OUT!" I screamed waving my arms up and down like fans near my nose. Sirius was running in circles pulling at his hair and screaming at Remus while he stood there, paling quicker than if you were face to face with Death. Or so I believe. Then I sneezed — I kid you not — at least twenty-five times.

"Owie. By dose huuuurts!" I wailed. "Where's Jabes?" I asked. "Jabes!" I tried calling out for James. I heard some footsteps and suddenly James came out of the kitchen. Wearing my grandma's old apron. You know, the ones that have this curvaceous cartoon bodies with at least a three inch cleavage on it. On his hands were these pink and frilly oven mitts. It was quite a sight.

"Okay, so I made you chicken noodle soup with some baked carrots because I know you like those. Take this decongestant pill with this water and then rest." I did as he said and felt much better afterwards.

"You dow, you guys are the best. Especially you Jabes. Tanks for being such a good fwiend."

"Aww, anytime Ms. Monkey." I don't know why but after I was smart with him, James decided to call me a 'cheeky monkey' but that got shortened down to 'Monkey'…Don't ask me how but it happened.

"Well, you should get some more rest Marley. We'll just leave you alone now." Sirius and Remus didn't move. "Guys! Let's go!" They jumped out of their reverie and headed to the kitchen.

"Jabes? Cud you stay wid be? I'b cold."

He grinned and turned around. "Why of course!" And with that he sat on the edge of the couch with me.

"Should we stay?" Remus asked with an edge to his voice.

"Sure! The more the merrier!" James said, looking at me.

They folded the high part of the couch down and laid on it. That's the cool thing about our couch. It's a futon, which means it's a couch that can be made into a bed, or vice versa. So, on my right was James and on my left were Remus and Sirius. And we were all huddled together to keep me warm. Yes ladies, I was living the dream life.

"So Jabes, wut's Lily like?"

James sighed contentedly. "She's beautiful and smart and pretty and funny and wonderful and sexy and delicious and—"

"Way out of your league," Sirius said, all of us laughing.

"Not funny," He huffed back.

"Jabes, you do know you eventually marry her and have a kid wid her." I said.

He got up on his elbow and looked directly at Sirius. "What now Padfoot? I get the girl of my dreams! Pay up!"

I looked incredulously at Sirius. He rolled his eyes and got a crumpled I.O.U. from his pocket. "You bet on whuther or not you'd end ub wid Lily Evans?"

Remus laughed. "Of course they did. They're idiots."

I had to admit, he did have a point.

"What about you two? Any lucky men in your life?" Sirius asked bluntly.

He had no idea…

"Let's play truth or dare," I suggested (probably quicker than I should have). "Rebus, since I'b feeling oh-so-sick, I dare you to sing be a song, cobletely made-up."

Everyone laughed as Remus got up.

Oh Marley oh Marley

Who doesn't like Barley

Poor her, she feels sick

But she's a really fine chick

So stuffed up she can't say m's or n's

But it's okay 'cuz we're her friends

We love her just as is

(Even though she is a math wiz)

Get better little one

Hooray, I'm almost done

This song's getting nowhere

But it's a fun dare

Oh Marley oh Marley

Who doesn't like Barley

Poor her, she feels sick

But she's a really fine chick

He finished with a dramatic bow and then looked up and grinned at me. Heart melting. Palms clammy. Can't use full sentence.

That was soooo romantic! I'm so excited I don't think I'll be able to fall aslee— Zzzzzzzzzz…

A/N: Hey y'all! How is everybody? Could you understand the stuffed-up Marley? Well, Remus won the polls, but I'm still not completely sure about it. So I'm still open to feedback! Did you like this chapter? I did. Tell me what you think!

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