It was getting harder and harder not to laugh.

Edmund, being all of seven year old smart as they came, knew the mumps was no laughing matter. However, as he peeked into his sister's room, it was difficult to remain stoic; their fat cheeks and gloomy scowls making even the mumps look slightly entertaining.

Ducking back behind the door, Edmund quickly disappeared from sight as his mother came into view. She'd given Edmund the strictest orders to stay away several days before when little Lucy had first become ill. He'd begrudgingly obeyed, giving his sister a sad wave as his father had carried the little girl to bed.

Her orders had grown far more difficult to obey in the days following, for the very next morning Susan too had fallen ill, then by the end of the day Peter was also under the weather. All three sick children confined to the girls room, now being used as an infirmary of sorts.

After a single day of what seemed like solitary confinement, Edmund crept stealthily up the stairs towards his sibling's room, unable to stand being alone any longer. Being healthy, even if it was from the mumps, wasn't nearly as bad as being deserted – at least in Edmund's mind.

Sure that the coast was now clear, Edmund peeked his head back in the door, his mother nowhere to be seen. The girl's beds, first Lucy's, then Susan's, lined the far wall, a small window between them. Peter, no bed available in the girl's room, was confined to a padded cot closest to the door.

Pushing the door open slowly, cautiously, Edmund took a single step in, turning his head in each direction. Both his sister lay fast asleep, discomfort evident even while sleeping. Turning towards his brother, Edmund found him awake, his nose buried in a Sherlock Holms novel.

"Pete!" Edmund hissed, not daring to raise his voice above a whisper.

Peter's head shot up, wincing in pain as he moved his sore neck and face.

"Ed? What are you doing in here? Mum said not to come in here!"

Edmund wrinkled his nose at the sound of his brother's voice, the thick and unnatural sound unnerving him. Padding over to sit at his brother's side, Edmund crossed his arms across his chest.

"I couldn't stand it anymore!" Said Edmund miserably.

"It's so lonely being the only kid downstairs. I have to eat dinner every night all alone! Just Mum and Dad! You can't imagine how horrid it is!"

Peter smiled at his brother's reasoning, even the small facial movement paining him.

"Trust me Ed, you don't want the mumps, it's the most miserable thing in the world!"

Edmund shook his head, his gaze comically firm and unwaveringly unconvinced.

"I don't care! The mumps had to be better than staying by myself all the time, and I heard Dr. Colbert tell Mum that said that you could be sick for weeks!"

Peter's face, flushed pink only moments before, suddenly blanched at his brother's words. Edmund, realizing his mistake, clapped his hand over his mouth, a sheepish "sorry" escaping his lips.

Peter, now more miserable than ever, covered his eyes with his hand, groaning aloud.

"Weeks! I thought a few days of this was dreadful, weeks just might kill me!"

Quite skeptical, Edmund shook his head, patting his brother's arm in attempt to comfort him.

"Don't worry Pete, I also heard The Dr. Colbert say that people almost never die from the mumps – you'll be fine!"

Peter's eyes narrowed, his lips pursed, trying to forget his misery, finding it impossible, especially with Edmund playing medical consultant. Rolling his eyes, Peter waved it off.

"So other than loneliness, why are you here?"

Edmund pondered his brother's question for a moment before answering.

"Well…" he began slowly. "I want you to get me sick."

Lucy and Susan, now wide awake, both sat up in bed. Peter's jaw dropped dramatically as his brother's request sunk in.

"You want to me to do what?"

Edmund, convinced his brother was losing his hearing along with his voice, firmly repeated.

"I want you to get me sick."

"He heard you silly," said Susan from where she lay, just as shocked as Peter. "I think what he'd like to know is what happened to your brains!"

Edmund sneered coyly at his sister.

"Ha ha, very funny Su."

Footsteps in the hall hushed them into silence, Edmund not hesitating to scurry quickly under Lucy's bed. No sooner had his feet disappeared beneath the bed, than Helen walked in.

"Has Edmund been up here? I can't find him downstairs."

For a moment, no one said a word, Peter's mouth moved, stuttering as he struggled to form a reply.

"I- uh, I'm not…"

Of all people, it was little Lucy who came to Peter, and ultimately Edmund's rescue.

"We haven't seen him Mum, maybe he's outside in the yard."

Never for one moment did Helen doubt her daughter, who, after asking if they needed anything, left the room to continue her search. Edmund peeked his head out from under the bed slowly, shock and confusion making his face.

"Lucy, you know you just lied to Mum don't you?" Said Peter, puzzlement written plainly across his puffy face.

Lucy raising her arms in defense, her eyes wide in reaction to his words.

"I panicked!" She said shakily. "I didn't mean to."

The five year olds lower lip trembled as she crossed her little arms across her chest.

"And besides, I miss Eddie, Susie doesn't tell me stories like Eddie does!"

Climbing up from the floor, Edmund went to sit on Lucy's bed, his face surprisingly grateful.

"I didn't think you liked those old ghost stories Lu?"

Eyes downcast, Lucy's eyes flicked upwards before returning to her lap once again.

"I do." She said softly.

A wide, proud smile stretched the corners of Edmund's mouth as he beamed, a newfound affection for his baby sister filling him to the brim. Reaching over, Edmund wrapped a single arm around the little girl in an unusual display of physical affection. He was rewards momentously as Lucy wrapped her small arms around him, placing a quick peck on his cheek. This time, Edmund didn't wipe it away.

"Maybe the germs will get me sick." He said hopefully, earning a round of reserved laughter from all parties involved.

"How about this Lu, cough in my face."

Reluctantly, Lucy obeyed, hacking forcefully over Edmund's exposed face.

Much to his disappointment, as the days passed, Edmund remained as healthy as ever, continuing to sneak daily into his sibling's room. Over a week and a half later, Peter, Susan and Lucy were fully recovered. And the very first day they were allowed out of bed, Edmund fell ill with the mumps.

The grass is always greener on the other side.