A/N: This is labeled as "slightly AU" because I'm not sure yet whether it'll follow canon as we get farther into Season 5, or if it'll go somewhere else completely. For now, though, it's following events as they played out in Season 4. Please review and let me know what you think!

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Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me!

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Plans, by nature, change.

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"Ash, I hate to cancel..."

"But?"

"But, Marco's having a crisis. Him, Dylan, not so great right now."

"And?"

"And, Dylan's having this party tonight..."

"D-don't worry, it's fine. I have work to do anyway."

"You're sure?"

"No worries."

"Ash, you're the best. And... I love you."

"Love you, too. I'll see you Monday."

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Walking into the party, Craig realizes that Ashley truthfully does have no reason to worry: Hardly a girl is in sight. Not that he would even consider doing anything to hurt Ash again, of course. His future, he knows, will be all about her. He tries to avoid dwelling on the thought, since the last time he vocalized it, it didn't go over so hotly. Still, he knows. The strongest, most sanity-inducing medication in all of Canada couldn't change that.

Visibly, Marco is freaking, so Craig directs his attention to the night's mission. Dylan will be gotten once again, or will be left feeling stupid for losing Marco. Wonderful, kind Marco. The Marco that continues to be one of Craig's best friends despite all of Craig's awful decision-making over the years. Craig would comfortably argue that Marco is a catch and a half.

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When Marco announces the new subplot of their mission, Craig is surprised. Well, maybe not in terms of the average guy, but for Marco? Not in recent history can Craig recall Marco showing an interest in revenge. Now, Marco and some ordinary guy with an ordinary name are chatting it up, and Craig somehow is not seeing jealousy as one of the emotions in Dylan's face. Pride, maybe. Relief, perhaps. Jealousy, no.

Unfortunately, when the guy walks away, he can clearly read Marco's face.

Guilt.

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He's never really given thought to a moment like this before. Marco's spent the night plenty of times, but he and Craig never really did much by the way of emotional repair through deep flattery. Craig wishes he'd had the chance to write out a coherent list of things to say. Like, You've always been a great friend. Or, You're really great at planning stuff. Or even, Ellie seems to have superb taste in guys, and you were her number one! Instead, he fumbles around like he's never fumbled before. Not even with a stunningly pretty girl has he lost the Word Olympics so badly.

He realizes, a little too far in, that his problem could very possibly be stemming from the fact that Marco is actually a stunningly pretty guy.

This causes even more confusion, more hole digging as he backpedals. He's practically proclaimed his un-gayness in fifteen different languages when Marco's smile slips off his face. Craig decides to resort to short answers thereafter:

"You're an idiot?"

And before he knows it, Dylan is at the top of the stairs, and Marco is... on his mouth.

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Kissing on his mouth, lips on lips, to be more specific.

Suddenly, Craig's body decides to forgo the usual protocol and desynchronizes. His face rolls through multiple expressions, his stomach drops to the floor, and his brain lags at least three seconds behind it all. By the time Marco goes to talk to Dylan, Craig's brain has registered that he has said two sentences, that neither of said sentences contained words of vulgarity or disgust, and that perhaps his sexuality is less intact than previously assumed.

Craig amazes even himself by being composed enough to be waiting back in the party when Marco returns from the hallway with Dylan. But when Marco brushes straight past him, Craig knows he's in trouble; after Operation Cheer Up Part One, Craig is in serious need of a consult with himself to figure out what the hell happened.

Still, like the friend he should be--the friend Marco deserves--Craig goes to the staircase and puts a hand on Marco's back. Silently he stands, and once Marco collects himself, silently they leave.

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