I've been neglecting this fic so much. There's not really any excuse. A combination of wanting to have it beta-ed before I published it and not being able to get in touch with Lara is the only one I can offer.

There's still nine other chapters in the can (and they're much longer than these past few, too), and I'll try my damndest to have them beta-ed so you guys don't have to suffer my mistakes.

Disclaimer: I own Charlie, but that's it.

Chapter Eleven

"Jenny?"

She blinked rapidly, lifting her head. It was morning; sunlight streaming through the windows. She had slept through the night.

"What's wrong?" she asked groggily, as the figure standing beside the sofa came into focus. It was Gwen, holding Sky. Both were still in pyjamas.

"Sky's sick," she explained. Jenny moved her feet, and Gwen deposited the young Flesh Kind on the sofa. "She's feverish. Jack noticed her tossing and turning during the night … anyway, I don't want to ask you to give up your day off, but …"

"It's fine," said Jenny immediately. She'd had nothing planned, except perhaps taking the train to London and turning up at the door of one of her friends. "I'll look after Sky."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not," she said, as if it were obvious. "She's like my sister."

"Okay," said Gwen, looking very grateful. "I'll bring Anwen to the childminder's – one's enough to look after. I'll give you medicine. There's a packet of soup in the cupboard that should do. And daytime TV will amuse you both," she made her way to the kitchen, muttering, "God knows you're fascinated by most anything …"

Jenny smiled, pulling some of her blanket over the younger girl. It was hardly their fault that they were fascinated with the planet they had spent only a few months on.

"Do you want coffee?" Gwen called.

"Sure, thanks."

After taking a shower, securing her blonde hair in a ponytail, and changing into her favourite jeans and sweater, Jenny returned to the sitting room. Sky was curled up on the couch, the fluffy throw wrapped around her, her gaze fixed on the morning show that was on television.

"How are you feeling?" asked Jenny, sitting down.

"Okay," Sky murmured in response. "The medicine helped a bit."

"Well, I've got something that might cheer you up a bit," she smiled, reaching into the pocket of her sweater, which was somehow large enough to conceal the DVD box set she'd bought the other day. She held it up so that Sky could read the title: How I Met Your Mother, Complete Season 1&2.

"When did you get that?" Sky queried, suddenly excited.

"A few days ago. Will I put it on?"

"Yeah!"

She smiled. Sky was forgetting her sickness already.

They soon lost themselves in the escapades of Ted Mosby as he searched for his future bride. During the third episode, Jenny left to put on the soup. Sky barely noticed, as engrossed as she was.

She had put the saucepan of water on to boil and opened the packet of soup when her phone rang.

"Hello?" she asked, managing to trap the contraption between her arm and ear whilst upending the granules into the saucepan.

"Hey Jenny."

"Luke?" she frowned, confused. "Haven't you got a lecture or something?"

"Not right now. We tried to Skype you, but you weren't online. Are you not in the hub?"

"Day off," she answered, reaching for the spoon. "Wait, 'we'?"

"Oh yeah," Luke said, as if it had only just dawned on him that he was not alone. "Wait; let me put you on loudspeaker."

"Hello!" a different voice called.

"Charlie, isn't it?" she frowned at the bubbling concoction on the cooker.

"Yep. And you're Jenny."

"I am. Luke, why did you call me?"

"To say hi to my dearest friend," he sounded scandalised.

"Uh huh. I don't know how exactly you mistook me for Clyde, but …"

"No, really, how are you?"

"Good. You two?"

"Well and chipper," said Charlie. She could practically hear Luke roll his eyes. "Is that soup I smell?"

"We're hundreds of miles away, Chaz, you can't smell soup."

"You can tell what I'm making by hearing me stir it?" Jenny demanded.

"It's an unfortunate talent," said Luke. "Born, as I'm sure you can imagine, from eating too much."

"Hey!"

She heard Charlie hit his friend and rolled her eyes.

"How's Sky?" Luke asked next.

"Sick," Jenny replied. "But she's all right. She's watching How I Met Your Mother."

"Are you making the soup for her?"

"Yes."

"That's nice of you."

"Can I talk to her?" asked Luke, concern creeping into his voice.

"Sure thing, but if something happens to the soup in my absence, it's your fault."

She turned down the heat a little so it wouldn't boil over and made her way into the sitting room. Sky paused the TV and took the phone from Jenny, who whispered, "Luke," before returning to the kitchen.

"So you're feeling better?"

"Yep!"

"That's good."

Jack and Sky were sitting on the sofa, where 'Zip Zip Zip' was playing. She and Jenny had made their way through several episodes of Season 1 of How I Met Your Mother – re-watching some that they deemed particularly interesting. Sky liked 'Zip Zip Zip', and was now showing it to Jack.

Jenny walked in with a tray (used mainly for guests) of hot chocolate, setting it on the coffee table and sitting beside them.

"You suited up!" Barney exclaimed in surprise.

"You're watching this one again?"

"They're supposed to get married, right?" Sky asked, gesturing between Barney and Robin and leaning over to pick up her hot chocolate. "I think they're sweet."

"Hmm," Jenny murmured, blowing on her hot chocolate.

"You know they don't get together until series five, right?"

They pelted mini marshmallows at him in protest to the spoiler. "Okay!" he exclaimed, holding his arms up in surrender. "Yield! Yield!"

Fiona writes a short filler chapter. Woo. Well, How I Met Your Mother will become a tradition when they're ill.

I actually tried to fit a dvd in my pocket, and I am pleased to announce that it does fit. It was actually himym, too (season 5&6)