A.N. Okay, I have a confession to make: the only reason I was able to get the chapters out so quickly was because I already had them written in a one-shot document. Starting from this chapter, it'll take a while to get the rest out since they're not written yet. So be prepared to wait a while. BROPPY ALERT FOR THIS CHAPTER!

And for TAPDANCING GIRAF (Guest), 1. I imagine that when Smidge has a sore throat, her voice sounds a bit more gravelly, or in other words, a smidge deeper than usual, no pun intended. 2. For the location of Fuzzbert, I decided not to include him in this story since A. I'm not sure if he's actually a part of the Snack Pack, or if he just comes and goes, and B. I'm not sure how to fit him in. If you want him to be there, just imagine he was one of the trolls that went back inside their pods.

Branch looked to the bathroom door with wide eyes.

"...We think she has it worse than us," added Biggie.

"Yeah, she's been tossin' her cookies for about ten minutes," observed Cooper.

With each statement made, the survivalist's eyes grew bigger.

That is, until he cut the Pack off and marched toward where the heart-wrenching sounds were coming from.

Branch knocked on the door, no answer.

He knocked a second time, a bit more urgently, and this time, a weak voice shouted "Go away!" as best as it could.

Branch sighed with relief.

At least she's not passed out, he thought.

Regaining focus, he went into the bathroom, and saw his usually-happy Poppy leaning against the toilet, silently praying she was done.

"Poppy?"

The pale troll's eyes shot up to see her boyfriend looking worried.

She scowled.

"I. Hate this."

"Don't we all," said Branch sympathetically.

"Anyways, do you think you can get up? Puking your guts out can really make a troll dehydrated."

Poppy groaned, shook her head, and was soon over the toilet again.

This time when she was suffering, she felt a comforting hand rubbing circles on her back.

This continued for two minutes until the queen was just doing dry heaves.

Branch looked concerned, and when the queen pulled her sweaty head up, he asked her if she felt better.

Poppy shot him an annoyed look, but weakly answered, "No...my stomach feels like a grown Bergen is marching on it..."

"And your head?"

In response, Poppy curled in on herself and put her head on her knees.

The teal troll felt her forehead, and quietly gasped at the radiating heat.

"Your fever feels even higher than before! Let me get a thermometer," said Branch, and soon walked out.

The Snack Pack tried to ask him how the queen was doing, but he bypassed them, numb to everyone except Poppy.

He managed to get another thermometer, since the previous ones were being washed, and walked back to the ailing sunshine in his life.

The group of friends stared after him, all thinking the same thing.

He must be really worried if he managed to ignore us...

Poppy was trying not to blow chunks again, but her stomach was making it difficult.

The good news was, Branch walked back that very moment.

Sternly but gently, he gave her these instructions: "If you feel like upchucking again, look at me. It may help keep your stomach at bay for a few minutes...not to mention I don't want you spitting a perfectly good thermometer in the toilet," he added.

Poppy nodded, her stomach hurting too much to care.

On the count of three (and making sure she was done with the last vomit spell,) he put the thermometer in.

Thirty seconds went by...nothing.

The time reached forty-five seconds...still nothing.

However...when it hit a minute...THAT'S when the queen began to feel like something was happening.

Nononononono...GOD no...

Her panicked eyes reached Branch's, who noticed and immediately took her hands.

"Look at me...look at me...everything's gonna be fine," he soothed.

While the softness of his hands and the soothing words did slow the bile down, it was the tenderness of his eyes that really did it.

They were so alight with inner fire...and the color was a deep blue like the sea...

However, just thinking of the ocean reminded her of blueberries.

And while blueberries were one of her and Branch's favorite food...she did NOT want to be thinking of anything sweet at this time, let's just put it at that.

Seeing Poppy's resistance failing, the teal troll quickly looked at the wall clock, which had five seconds left.

"Come on Poppy, you can do it...in three, two, one-"

The second he took the thermometer out, Poppy lunged over the toilet yet again.

Branch's heart wrenched when his beloved was releasing the contents of her stomach, but quickly looked at the temperature before it could adjust to the air around them.

"104.6! That's the highest I've ever seen! You need a wet cloth before your fever gets too high!"

With that said, he waited until Poppy's latest episode was through and led her back to the air mattress.

The Snack Pack, suffice to say, was worried.

Their queen looked far more pale and sweaty than usual not to mention her violent shivers were coming back.

"What's wrong, Branch?" they asked the survivalist.

He was looking in the cabinets for a small bowl, a washcloth, and a larger bowel in case the pink troll had to throw up again at the moment.

The teal troll turned to Poppy's closest friends.

"Her temperature's far too high, she needs a cool compress to keep it from rising even more," he said in a rush.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" asked Biggie.

"No, you just focus on resting and recovering. I'll take care of Poppy."

The group of friends was taken aback at first, quickly realized that they couldn't do much of anything at the moment because of how they were feeling, and stayed put.

Branch managed to find his supplies, filled the small bowl with water to soak the cloth in, and rushed to his lover, who was weakly lying down.

After the cloth absorbed some of the water and was wrung out, the survivalist gently put it on Poppy's forehead, who immediately tried to take it off.

"It's too cold..." she murmured.

"No, you're too hot. It's supposed to bring your fever down," said Branch, stopping her.

He then thought of something else.

"You never got re-hydrated, did you? Do you think you can manage some herbal tea? It'll sooth your stomach and alleviate your headache and sore throat a bit."

"I probably won't keep it down, but it's worth a try. I REALLY want to feel better soon," groaned Poppy.

"I know, and so does your dad...hey guys?"

The Snack Pack turned to Branch.

"Do you want some too? You most likely won't get as bad as Poppy, but I can tell you need some relief."

It was true.

Cooper was wincing every time he swallowed, Satin and Chenille were shivering and pulled each other into a hug to try and get comfort, Biggie had his eyes closed and a hand on his forehead for his pounding head, Suki was rubbing her stuffed-up nose, Smidge was staring nowhere in particular in a fevered haze, and GD was locked in a wet sneezing fit.

They all looked at him gratefully.

"We'll do ANYTHING..." they said in unison.

The teal troll nodded.

"Fair warning, it might take a while to prepare all your cups, so you may as well get some sleep," he said.

Seeing as that made sense, the Pack laid down and tried to get some shut-eye in hopes they'll feel better soon.

When they all awoke, they all saw cups next to them with their names.

Silently thanking God that Branch came through, they all lifted their cups to take a sip when the survivalist entered.

"Be careful, they're still hot. Well, at least I'm done. Those teas took me more than an hour to make," he explained.

The Snack Pack nodded.

"Well, we're grateful anyway. And hey, at least the steam is clearing my nose a bit," spoke up Suki, and the rest were quick to agree.

Five minutes later, the tea was finally cool enough to drink, and they all took a sip.

But let me tell you this: they were DEFINITELY not expecting the bitter taste!

As soon as it hit their taste buds, the sick trolls' eyes widened and they spit it out.

"What is this?!" asked Cooper.

"It tastes disgusting!" added the Twins.

Branch sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh yeah...I may have forgotten to tell you this. The tea is loaded with beneficial herbs, but they make it a bit bitter..."

"A BIT bitter?" growled Smidge.

"Can't we put some sugar in?" asked Biggie.

Branch shook his head.

"It's best to drink it like that so there's as much relief as possible. And besides, you said you would do ANYTHING to get well, so drink up," he said sternly.

The Snack Pack and Branch ended up getting locked in a glaring battle, with neither side backing down.

Until Poppy spoke up, that is.

"Come on guys, Branch is kind enough to help us get better again. We may as well do as he asks."

The other members of the group groaned, and very hesitantly, took another sip while trying not to do another spit take.

After ten minutes of managing-to-drink-the-tea-but-not-liking-it torture, the cups were finally drained to the dregs.

A.N. WOW, this must be the longest chapter yet! Read and review, peeps!