Disclaimer: I don't own South Park.

"Man..." Stan murmured in a croaky voice. "Being sick sucks!"

The young boy was snuggled under the duvet of his bed, which he hadn't left upon waking up with a bad fever that morning. All day, he'd been putting up with a pounding headache, an aching body and rough coughing which hurt his chest. He'd had to stay home from school, and it was clear he wasn't going anywhere that evening either. Leaving his room to hang out with Kyle, Cartman and Kenny was not an option when he was so ill.

He'd hardly seen any of his family throughout the day. Sharon had been called away from taking care of him to go into work, Shelley had been accusing him of putting his illness on to get attention and Randy was more concerned about getting his Tegridy farmed than seeing his son recover.

That was why Stan was grateful for who was looking after him that evening.

"C'mon, Stan, open wide..." Wendy smiled as she held a spoon of steaming hot soup towards the boy. "Get some food inside you and you'll feel better."

A weak smile crossed Stan's face as he let Wendy feed him the soup she'd made for him. His heart raced inside his chest as he observed the girl who was sitting at his bedside. To have her so close to him made his heart overflow with warmth. Stan was so grateful to have her come to see him while he was sick. Wendy was showing far more care for him than his mother, father and sister had all day.

"How's your temperature?" Wendy asked, placing a hand to Stan's forehead. "You feel pretty normal to me."

Stan chuckled hoarsely. "'Cos you still got your glove on Wendy."

Realising her mistake, Wendy giggled and pulled her glove off of her hand before pressing her palm back to her boyfriend's forehead.

"Oh geez!" she exclaimed. "You're really burning up, Stan!"

"No kidding..." Stan agreed, feeling his cheeks heating as they turned red from Wendy's gentle touch.

"Once you've had your soup, I'll get you some ice bags!" Wendy declared. "Pressing that to your head will cool you down!"

"Thanks, Wendy." Stan reached up towards his forehead, taking Wendy's hand in his as he looked at her sincerely. "But you really shouldn't be doing all this..."

"What?!" Wendy squeaked, blinking in shock at what her beloved boyfriend was suggesting. "Of course I have to! As your girlfriend, it's my job to take care of you when you're sick!"

"But you've been hanging around me all day," Stan groaned. "I don't want you to catch my fever off me! There's no way I wanna make you sick, Wendy!"

Wendy smiled, moved by how Stan was more concerned for her health than his own. She closed her hand around his as she gazed adoringly into his eyes.

"Let's just say I was the one with this fever," she said. "Would you leave me to deal with it all by myself, Stan?"

"What?!" Stan's eyes widened as he shook his head. "No way! I wouldn't leave you all alone feeling sick! I'd take care of you and never leave your side until you felt better!"

"Exactly!" Wendy wrapped her arms around Stan, hugging him tightly. "You'd take care of me, so I have to take care of you! That's what couples do!"

Stan's heart raced inside his chest. His mouth hung open from how wonderful he felt to be in the arms of the girl he loved. He embraced her back, running his fingers through her hair. It was amazing how even on a day when he was in poor health, she managed to lift his spirits up. He was so thankful that in this little town filled with crazy, scatter-brained people, he was the one who Wendy saw as her Prince Charming.

"I love you, Wendy..." he whispered.

"I love you too, Stan," Wendy smiled and hugged her boyfriend tighter before giving him a kiss.

"BLEURGH!"

The bedroom was filled with loud spewing sounds as Stan suddenly threw up. Showers of puke erupted from his throat, escaping his mouth to pour all over the duvet spread over him.

"Eww!" Wendy squealed, disgusted.

Oh great! Stan thought worriedly. Wendy's gonna leave now! She always does whenever I throw up in front of her! Goddamnit!

Wendy jumped off the bed, staring at the thick pools of barf which Stan had vomited all over the duvet. Then she faced the sick boy again - before her smile returned to her face as she shook her head.

"Nope! Not even barf is gonna keep me from taking care of you! That just proves how sick you are and how much you need me! Jump outta your bed, Stan. I'll get it cleaned up for you, then I'll get you some ice cream to sooth your throat.

Stan sighed. He was relieved that Wendy wasn't going to run away and leave him like she always did whenever he puked around her. He jumped to her side and watched as she began to strip the bedding. He could see she was determined to get it clean and comfortable for him to rest in while he recovered.

What Stan didn't tell Wendy was how it was not his fever which had caused him to vomit.

It was being kissed by her.

Never could Stan enjoy getting a kiss from Wendy without throwing up in front of her.

THE END