Since I'm not allowed to post in the Flower Picking Challenge at TWoP, here's my compensation. It has absolutely nothing to do with picking flowers (dirty, dirty!) But I just felt like having something to do while others (the dirty ones!) wrote about nakedness. It's was originally a one shot, but it's now a three parter because I just couldn't do it. I'm one shot intolerant.

Journey: Ryan is sick and Kirsten takes the opportunity to teach him about music... old school style. Sandy and Seth make appearances, but Marissa doesn't, because in my world she just doesn't exist.

Rating: G

Takes place after Thanksgiving and before Chrismukkah.

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She paused near his door, unsure of what to do.

Ryan had been sick for two days now. The doctor said it was a nasty stomach flu, and it should subside within a matter of days.

Kirsten took a week off work.

It was killing her. She sat at the kitchen table doing work that didn't even need to be done, and every fifteen minutes she went outside to check on Ryan. He'd either be sleeping or in the bathroom.

The hot cup of tea was warming the tips of her fingers, and with one free hand she pushed the door of the pool house open.

Ryan was curled in a little ball in his bed. He was pale, and his hair looked greasy, even though he had taken a shower that morning.

"Hi, sweetie." she whispered, setting the cup of tea on the bed side table.

Ryan's eyes fluttered but he remained motionless.

Kirsten squeezed his arm gently.

Ryan's eyes flew open, and he scanned the room from left to right, his eyes slowly settling on Kirsten. He tried to sit up, letting her help him.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, the back of her hand touching his hot forehead.

Ryan swallowed tiredly. "Better."

Kirsten frowned, taking the thermometer from the cupboard in the side table and shaking it.

Ryan obediently took it from her hands, placing it in his mouth. It started its infernal beeping.

They sat for a few minutes, the only noise in the room being the steady beep of the thermometer. It uttered one final beep, and Kirsten took it out of Ryan's mouth. He smiled hopefully at her, and her heart melted.

She stared at the numbers flashing in front of her. 100.2.

His fever had gone up.

He stared at her curiously, eager to know what she had to tell him.

She shook her head. "100.2." He threw his head onto the pillow, defeated.

"I swear I feel better." he moaned, laying his hands over his face.

Kirsten almost laughed. Never in Ryan's entire time with them had he sounded as whiny as he did now. He moved one his hands away and peeked at her through one barely open eye.

"Can I go back to school tomorrow?"

Kirsten shook her head. "No. No you cannot."

Ryan covered his face. "Please?" he whined, curling up again. Kirsten took his hands off of his face, grabbing them gently at the wrist. She noticed that he suddenly looked scared, his eyes open wide and his breathing erratic.

She let go, clearing her throat awkwardly. She had been trying to get his attention, and it appeared that she had done just that.

"I mean-- Are you that bored of me already?" She tilted her head and smiled at him.

Ryan smiled back shyly, but sandwiched his hands in between his stomach and his knees. "No. I'm not bored of you, I just need to go back to school."

Kirsten touched his head carefully, this time making sure he knew what she was doing. "Seth's bringing your homework back after school for today and tomorrow, so you don't have to worry." She rested her hand on his temple and watched him swallow his cautiousness and accept the small act of affection she was offering.

"Ryan?" He looked up at her.

"Have you-- uh-- thrown up at all today?"

Ryan moved his head up and down. "Once?" asked Kirsten, looking at him. He was frowning.

"Yeah." he said.

"Ok..." murmured Kirsten doubtfully. "I'll bring you some soup. Drink your tea. It's your favorite."

Ryan lifted himself up to a sitting position and glanced at the tea. He looked back at Kirsten, who still hadn't turned around.

"Um... the soup-- is it made from scratch?" he asked, the sliver of a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, thanks." said Kirsten, in mock indignation. "No, Ryan, it's not made from scratch. It's noodle soup." She waved her arms around and walked towards the door. In the reflection of the glass, she saw Ryan shiver. She turned around again.

"Are you cold, sweetie?" she asked, running for the shelves to get a blanket. She laid it on top of Ryan's white body, and took the mug from his hands. Ryan pushed her away gently and stood up. He tottered for a moment, and Kirsten grabbed hold of him, scared that he might fall down.

A second later, he ran for the bathroom.

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"Hello, darling!" yelled Sandy as he entered the house, groceries in hand. Kirsten was sitting at the kitchen table, working on plans for her next model home.

Sandy kissed her head and plopped down beside her. "How's Ryan?" he asked, taking random things out of the grocery bags.

"Oh." Kirsten fiddled with her ring. "He's still not feeling so well."

"Has he thrown up today?" Sandy pulled out a small bag from the larger paper one, and handed it to Kirsten.

"Yeah. At least once." Kirsten didn't feel like getting into it right then and there with Sandy. Instead, she opened the bag and pulled out a new thermometer.

"It's one of the new ones. You just put it in his ear for three seconds and voila!" Sandy snapped his fingers. "I bet you Ryan will like it better." He smiled, a big, toothy grin.

Too bad he was wrong. Kirsten knew for a fact that Ryan would reject this fancy new thermometer. He was a fan of the classic. Kirsten looked up, and an idea clicked inside her head.

"So, are you staying home tomorrow?" asked Kirsten, and Sandy shook his head.

"It looks like you've got everything under control. I'm gonna go check on Ryan." He gave her another kiss and stepped outside.

He was right about that one. She did have everything under control.

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The next chapter will make it's appearance in two days. Yeah, it's already written, so if you like it, you won't have to wait too long. Sorry if it's a short chapter. I had to cut it off somewhere and it just didn't fit right anywhere else. The next chapters are longer.