The Loud Family knew that something was amiss with Luan when she was late showing up for breakfast. The comedian usually kicked off the day with an obligatory joke to get the laughs rolling. A good laugh to start the day laid the groundwork for a good day. What made things especially confusing was that today the entire family, including Lori, and the Taylors were supposed to attend a grand music concert with multiple headlining acts. A concert that the entire family had been looking forward to for weeks, Luan included. It wasn't like her to just suddenly lose interest.

"Have any of you seen your sister?" Rita asked the Louds at the breakfast table, all of them shaking their heads.

"What about you, Luna?" Lincoln asked, "You're her roommate, was Luan acting funny this morning?"

"Gonna have to be a bit more specific bruh," Luna replied, "you know how many different meanings that can have with her."

"Like, out of the ordinary," Lincoln said.

"Not that I know of," Luna shook her head, "in fact, I don't even think I talked to her this morning."

"You don't think she could be planning a prank on us, do you?" Leni asked.

"She better not be," Lola said, "not today of all days."

"Maybe someone should go check on her," Lynn Sr. suggested, prompting all eyes to shift towards Lio.

"Should've seen that coming," Lio quipped, decked out in his Aurelio Voltaire T-shirt as he got up from the table. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

The aspiring mangaka made his way upstairs and to Luna and Luan's room, where he found the door wide open from when Luna had come downstairs.

"Oneechan?" Lio asked, peeking his head into the girls room.

"I'll be down in a minute," Luan muttered weakly, hunched over a trash can.

"Whoa Oneechan," Lio exclaimed as he walked over to where Luan was doubled over, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Luan said, weakly lifting her head, "just an upset stomach."

"You don't look too good," Lio observed, noticing that Luan was rather pale with a runny nose and covered in cold sweat.

"Who asked you anyway?" Luan asked, sounding somewhat bitter.

"Have you-," Lio asked, looking over into the trash can "Have you been throwing up?"

"Maybe…" Luan answered after a pause before Lio placed the back of his hand to her forehead.

"Whoa, you're burning up," Lio stated, "like, you've got a serious fever."

"It's just a stomach ache," Luan tried to insist, "I'm okay, really."

"Yeah, sorry, but I don't believe you," Lio deadpanned, crossing his arms.

Still on her knees, Luan tried to stand, only to fall back to the ground.

"Lio, please," Luan pleaded with her little brother, holding onto him for support, "Don't make this a bigger deal than it is. I'm fi-… fi… fi…"

Luan couldn't finish her sentence before suddenly vomiting on Lio, getting vomit all over the latter's Voltaire shirt. The boy shuddered as the comedian looked up at him for a few seconds in silence.

"Umm…" Luan said before Lio called out "Mooooooooooom!"

"102.3°," Rita said as she took Luan's temperature, "it's official, you've come down with an illness."

"But Mom, I can't be sick," Luan pleaded, laying in bed with an ice bag on her forehead, "the big concert is today and I can't miss it."

"Sweetie, I'm sorry," Rita apologized, "but I don't think you're going to be able to make it to the concert."

"But I've been waiting for weeks to go to this," Luan said, "it's not fair."

"Sweetheart, I know it's a bummer," Lynn Sr tried to console her, "but your health comes first. We don't want you to risk making your condition worse by being out in the open in a large crowd."

"Can't I just wear a mask or a hazmat suit or something and call it a day?" Luan asked.

"I'm afraid not," Rita replied.

"Great, Just great," Luan muttered, "The biggest concert of the year and I have to stay at home sick."

"Are you going to be okay by yourself?" Lynn Sr. asked.

"Wait, we aren't seriously leaving her by herself, are we?" Lio asked.

"It's fine Lio," Luan said, "I'll be okay. Don't let me slow you down."

"Oneechan, you could barely stand this morning," Lio pointed out. "I don't think leaving you alone would really be the best move."

"I-," Luan tried to rebut.

"And before you say you'll be okay," Lio cut her off, gesturing to his bare torso, "need I remind you that you literally threw up on me."

"So you're going to stay here and look after Luan?" Lynn Sr. asked.

"Yeah," Lio answered, "I think I can do a good job taking care of her."

"Aww, how sweet of you," Rita said. "Do you think you can stay out of trouble?"

"Positive," Lio answered.

"Okay," Rita said, "if we come back to a booby trapped house, you're both going to be grounded until you're 21."

"No offense, but I don't think Luan can even put a rubber band over the sink faucet," Lio said, "let alone booby trap the house."

"I can try," Luan weakly joked.

"No," Lynn Sr, Rita and Lio all said in unison, prompting Luan to defend herself by saying "It was just a joke."

"Well you know what they say," Lio said, "laughter is the best medicine!"

"In that case, I should be immortal," Luan said jokingly.

"We'll be sure to call to check in on you," Rita said, "just ring us up if you need anything

"Will do," Lio said, giving them a thumbs up as they left the room.

Pretty soon, the Louds sans Lio and Luan had left to make their way to the concert.

"So…" Lio said, not knowing how to break the awkward silence. "Hungry for anything?"

"To not be sick," Luan answered.

"Trust me," Lio said, "I wish you weren't sick either."

"I feel like I've been hit by a truck, thrown into a blender, beaten like an egg and then crushed by a steamroller," Luan muttered.

"Yikes," Lio said, "that bad, eh?"

Luan nodded her head, prompting Lio to say "Maybe eating something can help. Does soup sound good?"

Luan nodded her head yet again and sniffled.

"Alright," Lio said, "I'll find Dad's recipe and get to making some soup."

"I'll try not to die in the meantime," Luan quipped, laying her head back on her pillow.

"Don't worry chap, try n keep a stiff upper lip, eh old boy?" Lio joked in an English accent.

Luan giggled before replying in an English accent "Much appreciated ole chap, bring a bo'ohw' o' wo'er with it, would you?"

"Why of course," Lio said, going to his room to put on a shirt before going downstairs to make some soup.

Lio had learned from Lynn Sr how to make an excellent chicken noodle soup for a sick day and while he wasn't an expert like his dad was, Lio liked to think that he was at least competent. After thirty minutes, the soup was finally ready. Lio poured some into a bowl and walked up the stairs to deliver it to Luan. The latter was growing in bed as Lio entered the room.

"Soup's on," Lio wisecracked, with Luan weakly saying "Yay…"

"You don't have to do this, you know?" Luan said before letting out a cough.

"Well I didn't want you to be alone and sick while everyone else was at the concert…" Lio told her, "I know how much you were looking forward to it."

Luan sneezed twice before recovering and replying "Me? You were bouncing off the walls for weeks looking forward to this concert." She laughed before coming to a sudden stop and exclaiming "Ow, it hurts to laugh."

"Try not to strain yourself too much," Lio said, placing the tray with the bowl of soup next to Luan.

"I mean it though Lio," Luan said, "you didn't have to stay with me. I'll be fine. I don't want you to get sick."

"And I don't want you to have to go through this alone," Lio said before asking "How are you feeling?"

"A little better," Luan said, "At least I don't feel like throwing up anymore."

"That's good," Lio said, "Care to try some soup? I followed Dad's recipe the best I could."

Luan weakly nodded her head.

Lio carefully fed her a spoonful of soup and asked "How does it taste?"

"It's pretty good," Luan told him, "Not as good as Dad's though."

"Well duh," Lio retorted, "but that's no fair. Dad's soup is like culinary perfection."

"It's still good though," Luan expressed her gratitude.

"I can only hope that you'll be feeling Souper again in no time!" Lio joked, asking "Get it?"

Luan giggled before muttering "Ow."

"Sorry," Lio apologized, "I forgot you said it hurt to laugh."

"It's fine," Luan said before coughing twice, "I could use a reason to laugh."

"Too bad you're not an ant," Lio said, "They never get sick."

"Really?" Luan asked.

"Yeah, they've got anty bodies," Lio joked.

"Good one," Luan laughed, "probably helps that he eats all that garbage."

"Ant's a good kid," Lio said, feeding Luan some more soup before grabbing the thermometer and taking her temperature, "Hold still for a minute."

Luan nodded as Lio gently placed the thermometer in her mouth.

"Good news is that your fever is going down," Lio told Luan.

"Yaaaaay~…" Luan cheered.

"Throat still sore?" Lio asked.

"Mmhmm…" Luan nodded.

"Hold on," Lio said, "I'll make you some ginger tea to help."

As he made Luan tea, Lio received a phone call from Lincoln.

"Hey Niisan!" Lio greeted his twin.

"Hey Lio!" Lincoln said, "How are you and Luan holding up?"

"We're fine," Lio told him, "Oneechan's fever has gone down so she's getting better."

"Great!" Lincoln said, "Wish you two could've come with us to the concert! I actually got to crowd surf, it was awesome!"

"Sweet!" Lio said with a hint of sadness.

"You okay?" Lincoln asked, picking up on Lio's distress right away.

"Yeah man," Lio said quickly, "I'm good."

"And don't worry about that autograph," Chris said over the phone, "I won't forget to get it for you."

"Thanks Aniki," Lio thanked him, "you're a lifesaver!"

"See ya later!" Lincoln and Chris said in unison.

Lio finished making Luan's tea and head back upstairs to her and Luna's room to deliver it to her. When he walks in the room however, he finds Luan has fallen asleep.

Lio placed his hand to her forehead to take her temp and asked "Luan?"

"Five more minutes, Mom," Luan mumbled half awake, "just five more please."

"I'm not Mom," Lio deadpanned.

"Not now Lincoln, I'm still trying to sleep," Luan muttered, still half asleep, "I'll play with you and Bun Bun later."

"Wrong again." Lio said, "You okay?"

"Yeah-huh," Luan answered, "I just wanna sleep and dream."

"Okay, I'll leave you alone," Lio said, "Just ring the bell if you need me."

"Okay Cliff," Luan murmured.

"Okay, now you're just messing with me," Lio figured out.

Luan chuckled and confirmed "Yeah," before falling back to sleep.

Lio placed the tea on the table next to Luan's bed, went to his room, retrieved his drawing tablet and returned, taking a seat in Luan's jester chair. As he drew, the otaku made sure to keep a close eye on Luan to make sure she's okay.

Two hours passed before Luan woke up from her slumber. The comedian tried sitting up, only for soreness to overtake her, causing her to flop back down onto the mattress.

"Nope, still feel like shit," Luan thought to herself. "Oh great, and I have to pee."

"Need help with something, Oneechan?" Lio asked, walking over to her.

"Could you?" Luan asked. "Could you help me out of bed?"

"Sure thing, Oneechan," Lio said, gently grabbing a hold of Luan's hand and helping her sit up.

Luan turned her legs over the side of the bed and slipped her feet into her bunny slippers as she stood up. Holding on to her arm, Lio helped her steady herself and keep her balance.

"Umm, I don't mean to bother you, but could you?" Luan started to ask.

"Could I what?" Lio asked.

"Could you help me to the bathroom?" Luan asked. "I'd go by myself, but I don't know if I can make it without falling over"

"Why of course," Lio answered, keeping a firm grip on Luan, wrapping her arm around his shoulder so that he could better support her.

The bathroom wasn't too far away, being one room away from Luna and Luan's. Lio pushed open the door helped Luan over to the toilet before backing away.

"I'll give you a moment of privacy," Lio said, stepping outside and closing the door behind him.

Lio patiently waited outside, standing dutifully as he waited for his older sister. After a few minutes, Lio had Luan softly call out "Lio…"

"Everything okay, Luan?" Lio asked.

"I… um… need help getting up," Luan told him, sounding embarrassed by the situation.

"I'll be right there," Lio said, walking into the bathroom and helping Luan stand up.

The boy helped her walk to the sink so that she could wash her hands before helping her back to her bed.

"Could you pass me that tea?" Luan asked, her voice sounding less hoarse than previously.

"Umm sure," Lio said, grabbing the ginger tea from earlier, "Do you want me to maybe heat it up in the microwave? I mean, it has gotten cold."

"It's fine," Luan insisted as Lio placed the cup in her hands. Luan took a sip before gulping down several large swigs of the drink.

"Your throat must've really been sore if you're drinking the tea like that," Lio commented.

"No, I just forgot how good your tea was," Luan said.

"Oh," Lio said, "Thank you."

"It doesn't make any sense," Luan said, joking "tea isn't supposed to taste so good. It's just hot leaf juice."

"How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?!" Lio replied, happy to see some of Luan's humor returning to her as the two of them shared a laugh.

"Hey, you can laugh without feeling pain now," Lio pointed out.

"Oh yeah, I can!" Luan exclaimed. "Too bad I'm still only at .00143% of my full power."

"Fret not, Oneesama," Lio said, "soon enough, you'll be back at full strength and the world will be ours to conquer!"

"Now if I could just stave off the boredom," Luan said, "I wonder what's on TV."

"Wanna go downstairs and see?" Lio asked, "I can carry you if you want."

"You don't have to do that," Luan said, "I can walk on my own."

"Oneechan, you literally needed my help walking to and getting off of the toilet," Lio pointed out.

"Okay, so maybe I do need a little help," Luan admitted, "but I don't need you to literally carry me."

"If you insist," Lio said, helping Luan out of bed once again, acting as her support.

"Anything is better than staying in bed all day," Luan said, not noticing how tightly she was holding onto her brother for dear life.

Grabbing a blanket, Lio escorted Luan downstairs and helped her onto the sofa. Luan immediately wrapped herself up like a mummy in the blanket and laid out on the sofa.

"Anything I can get you?" Lio asked her.

"More soup, more tea and grilled cheese please," Luan asked, resting her head on the arm of the sofa.

"Coming right up," Lio agreed, going into the kitchen to accommodate Luan's request. When he came back with her food and drink, Lio found Luan giggling at something on the TV.

"Whatcha watching?" He asked her.

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail," Luan answered.

"Oh, I love that movie!" Lio exclaimed as he placed the food in front of Luan.

"It's the first comedy movie I ever saw," Luan explained, "I swear it gets funnier every time."

"Mind if I watch it with you?" Luan asked.

"I'd be more upset if you didn't," Luan said, making room for Lio on the sofa.

Lio took a seat at the end of the sofa with Luan resting her feet in his lap while keeping herself warm with the blanket.

For the next thirty minutes, there was nothing but laughs shared between the two siblings as they watched the movie. Throughout that time, Luan seemed to be regaining more and more of her strength, although she was still rather ill. A commercial break allowed for a break in the action as Lio got up to stretch.

"Well you seem to be able to keep your food down," Lio observed. "I'm heading into the kitchen to get a drink, need anything?"

"I'm okay," Luan told him, "you've already done enough for me."

"Are you feeling any better?" Lio asked her.

"I'm feeling a lot better than I was," Luan answered, reiterating her point from earlier. "You seriously didn't need to do all of this for me. I would've been fine on my own."

"But I wanted to help," Lio told her, "it wouldn't be fair to just let you be miserable by yourself."

"But aren't you worried about getting sick?" Luan asked.

"No," Lio replied, saying "With my Cells at Work, I'll be just fine."

"I wish I could hug you right now," Luan said, nudging Lio's cheek with one of her toes, "I've gotta admit, I was pretty sad about missing that concert. But having someone to keep me company today made it a lot better."

"I'm just glad that I could help in some way," Lio said.

"You're the best baby brother ever," Luan said, slowly starting to fall asleep once again.

"I don't know how Lincoln's going to feel about that," Lio said sheepishly.

"Hey, I said best baby brother," Luan emphasized, "Not best little brother. I only have one baby brother."

"Okay… I guess that's… fair," Lio acknowledged, still not quite ready to take any credit.

"And he's the best baby brother in the whole wide world," Luan told him, dozing off more and more by the second, "and if anyone says otherwise…" she yawned before finishing "I'll make them… walk the plank."

"Ladies and gentlemen, Luan Loud has left the building," Lio, propping a pillow under Luan's head as the latter fully drifted into dreamland.

The boy cleaned up and made himself a cup on tea before taking a seat back on the sofa and yawning himself. It'd been quite a day taking care of his older sister, but Lio didn't regret it for even a second.

END