Inspired by this post on tumblr: 'My son is sick so his voice is all congested-sounding and he asked me for crepes for breakfast. So I googled a crepe recipe, made a crepe even though I never had before. Put it down in front of him and he was like "these are grapes?" He just wanted some grapes...'

Virgil gently placed the back of his hand on Alan's forehead. The six-year-old was so full of the cold that had swept through his school grade. His baby brother opened wet, crusty eyes and gave him the biggest puppy-eyes, leaning in to the touch. Virgil smiled down on him.

'Hey squirt. Don't think you'll be going to school today.'

'Ughhhh.'

Virgil chuckled, pulled Alan's covers up around him and got up. His space was immediately filled with Smotherhen number one. Scott also lay a cool hand on Alan's forehead and his brother leaned in again.

John brought the phone in. He'd called their Grandma as soon as he could. Alan had been so ill overnight none of them had slept much, Scott not at all. He handed it to Scott while taking a seat on Alan's other side and draping an arm around him. He smiled softly as Alan turned into his embrace.

'No…sure…ok, Grandma. Alan and I will see you when you get here.'

Placing the phone on the side, Scott turned to his brothers.

'John, you're in charge. You get you, Virgil and Gordon to school. Grandma can't come over straight away so I'm staying off school and she'll inform the school.'

'Sure thing, Scott.'

John gave Alan a squeeze and helped him turn over so he was hugging Scott's waist as his eldest brother settled on Alan's bed.

Alan woke up a couple of hours later. He was still hugging Scott's waist, and he twisted his head to look up at his brother. Scott's head was leaning back against the wall and he was snoring gently. Alan smiled and sniffed, snuggling in closer. The movement woke Scott, who grinned down at him.'

'You good, sprout?'

'Nes. Achoo.'

The sneeze was explosive, shaking both of them. It left Alan startled and Scott chuckled.

'What do you want for breakfast, champ?'

Alan blinked as he thought.

'Crepes, peas.'

'Ok, buddy I can do that. You go back to sleep while I sort them out.'

'Kay.'

He was asleep before Scott reached the door.

Scott had never made crepes before. Hell, he didn't even know how Alan knew about the French-style pancakes. He himself only knew how to cook American-style pancakes so he spent some time researching how to cook the ultra-thin crepes.

It took several tries and a lot of batter before he managed to make a batch of perfect crepes. He'd even found the ingredients to make a chocolate spread and strawberry filling. He plated up two portions and carefully carried them into Alan's room. He placed them onto the side table and gave his brother a gentle shake.

Alan took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

'Hey, how you feeling?'

'M good.'

'Yeah? Feel like eating, bud?'

'Ess peas.'

He helped Alan to sit upright and smoothed the bedding out before sitting next to him and placing the plate of crepes on his lap and handed him a fork. He waited for Alan's reaction and was a little disappointed when Alan looked at the plate with some confusion and then at Scott. Scott frowned.

'Wat dis?'

'Crepes. Like you asked.'

Alan frowned. Then laughed. It triggered a wet, hacking cough and Scott only just got the plates whipped away in time so that he could lean Alan forward until the coughing eased.

Several minutes (and some very snotty tissues) later Alan finally had enough air to talk. The coughing had helped clear his chest and nose, and after a couple of coughs to clear his throat when he spoke his voice was clear. Amusement was clear on his face as he looked up at his brother. Alan's smile was as infectious as the cold sweeping the town and Scott couldn't help but smile back, even if he didn't understand.

'Grapes. I asked for grapes.'

'Oh.'