"Are you sure that this is the best idea right now?" Mike asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Peter inquired.

The pair had just informed Micky and Mike about the plan to bring Davy back. Well, Peter informed them. Davy was silent and fidgeting with a set of jacks that were left on the kitchen table. He was in no mood to discuss things at all. If anyone was against the plan then as far as Davy was concerned he would go back to his life of seclusion. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing seemed to matter if he couldn't have Peter.

"It hasn't been that long of a time for…I don't know…healing to occur."

"Yeah how can all that damage be repaired in such a short conversation?" Micky chimed in judgmentally.

"I know that you guys are concerned," Peter explained. "At the same time, you know the kind of person I am. I'm willing to move forward and not make anyone feel left out because I have some misgivings about them. The longer I put this off, the more difficult the eventual reintroduction will be. I'm thinking of this for the sake of the band also. We can't just give up on something great."

Why I did.

Mike nodded. "The band is always my main concern, you all know that. But I have to admit that as much as you may not think so or I may not show it, you all are my main priority. You're my best friends and without you there is no band."

"Aww Mike, you big softy," Micky teased giving Mike an overzealous hug.

"Get offa me!" Mike pushed Micky away. "Okay then, we will begin practice again in a few days so that Davy isn't so rusty."

Mike playfully shook Davy's shoulders. "Now I need to get outta here before anymore sappiness happens. I'm going to shoot pool. Anyone wanna join?"

"Sounds fun," Peter said hopping up. Davy noted that Peter seemed to be in an annoyingly good mood lately. Almost as if it were a show.

"No thanks," Davy said quickly. He would have rather kept his distance from Peter. What a change.

"I'm out too," Micky said. "I got banned from there a few weeks ago when I tried to use a jack to prop up the table."

"To do what, hustle people?" Mike asked.

"No, I was experimenting on the dynamics of billiard tables."

"Whatever see you guys later."

Once Mike and Peter left, Micky lounged himself on the couch with a magazine. Davy was still in his slump and thinking about how he was going to navigate this situation. He wanted Peter still and he was scrutinizing every aspect of Peter's actions. He was pretty sure from that display that Peter was acting overly happy. Peter was a happy guy, but even he had his limits. What would be the purpose of putting on that act? To make Davy more miserable? Nah, Peter didn't have a mean bone in his body. Maybe it was that he wasn't actually happy with the way things were and he had to over sell it. Not happy with what though? Asking Davy back couldn't be it, because he wouldn't have extended the offer if he wasn't prepared. Something clicked and Davy needed more information.

Davy strolled over to where Micky was and took a seat in a chair nearby. He mimicked Micky's actions and took his own magazine thumbing through it absently. He wanted to ask Micky questions without being too obvious about his intentions. Micky was more in tune with peoples' mannerisms as of late and Davy definitely didn't need this information getting back to Peter. Micky was not even paying attention at the moment. Davy had to play this off real casual.

"Sure was kind of Peter to allow me to come back."

Micky didn't even look up from the magazine. "Yeah it was. After what you did, I wouldn't be so quick to forgive."

Man, Micky acted as if he was in the relationship. "That's what I mean. I know he couldn't have been doing it all for himself. I know he cares for me too and that had to be some of the reasoning."

Micky glared at Davy. "Don't get any ideas, Casanova. Peter has a new guy."

Thanks for the Segway, Mick.

"No way, I would want to harm Peter any more than I already have. I already know about this…um…Percy was it?"

"Paul."

"Oh yeah, that's right. Paul," Davy played dumb. "I don't know much about the guy myself. Have you met him yet?"

"No, Peter has only seen him in person once. He's in the military and has things going on with that. He writes though."

"Oh that's nice. What do they write about?"

"How should I know?"

"I just thought maybe Peter had said is all."

"Okay, stop."

"What? I'm making conversation."

"No, you are not. You're trying to pump me for information about this Peter-Paul thing."

Davy put on a fake look of shock. "Why would I possibly want to do that?"

"It's obvious that you still want to fork Tork."

Davy cringed at the statement. "Why are you so crude?"

"It's my nature. Why are you trying to mess up what Peter has? Haven't you already hurt him enough?"

Davy sighed. "I'm not trying to hurt him, okay? I just realized while we were apart how much he means to me. I was stupid for risking everything I had with him. I love him."

Micky stared with a hard look on his face. Davy was afraid of what he was going to tell Peter. Then Micky's face softened a bit.

"Are you completely serious?" Micky asked.

"Yes, I've done too much damage already to dig myself into a deeper hole."

Micky leapt off the couch and embraced a confused Davy. "That's all I needed to hear."

"That's all you needed to hear for what?"

"For me to help you."

"Help me what?"

"Now Davy, as much as it pains me to say this…I'm team Jork right now," Micky said.

"Jork?"

"Yeah Jones and Tork. Anyway, I think you two are meant to be and I am willing to put our differences aside and help you win him back."

Davy was surprised by this turn of events. "So you want us back together and are willing to help out in some way…even though I'm scared of how."

"You flatter me. Of course I'll help. I just need to keep up appearances of hating you for a bit."

"Great," Davy said warily.

"I helped Peter and now I'll help you. I should open a business."

"And by the way, Peter and I have never 'forked'."

"You better get on that, it may be the way to his heart."

Davy was both frightened and intrigued by this new development. It changed his outlook immediately. This was not going to be a getting over process. It was going to be a getting back process. And he knew just how to start.

"Peter!" Mike called. "There's a delivery for you!"

Peter came bouncing out of his bedroom with pure excitement. "For me?"

Mike handed Peter the bouquet of sunflowers that a delivery man just brought. Peter's eyes lit up with excitement. Davy watched everything unfold from behind a newspaper. He didn't want it to look so obvious that he was eavesdropping. He did find it adorable that Peter was getting so excited. It made the butterflies in his stomach start their inevitable flutter.

"I bet these are from Paul," Peter said reaching for the card attached. "He's so thought-"

Peter stopped talking abruptly and stared in wonderment at the little card. He wasn't even moving.

"What's going on, Shotgun?" Mike inquired.

"Dear Peter," Peter began to read the card's content in a somewhat sad tone. "Like these sunflowers you are the sunshine that brightens up a cloudy day."

"That sounds really sweet," Mike offered clearly confused about Peter's reaction.

"Love, Davy," Peter continued.

"Oh," Mike was struck with the realization of what happened.

Davy smiled from behind his paper. He wasn't sure what reaction he was looking for or what he was going to get. All he knew was that he had to do some sort of gesture to let his feelings be known. He wanted to peek out and see what was happening, but he decided it was best to wait for Peter to approach. Didn't want to seem too eager. He didn't have to wait long because he didn't even hear Peter approach as he ripped the paper out of Davy's hands.

"I think these belong to you," Peter said forcefully as he shoved the sunflowers in Davy's direction and stormed off back to his room.

Davy looked bewildered. He was sure that Peter would appreciate a romantic gesture. Davy had not expressed himself that way before and was hoping that the act would tug at Peter's heart strings. It seemed to have a very different effect though. Peter appeared to be irritated and saddened by the gesture. This definitely backfired.

"What was that about?" Mike demanded.

That's all he needed was for both of them to be pissed at him. "I'm to extend an olive branch."

"No, you aren't. What are you really doing?"

Davy sighed. "I still love him, okay?"

"I see so you trying to win him back, is that it?"

Davy nodded. Hearing that come from Mike's mouth made it sound silly and reprehensible.

"Man, leave him alone. He just agreed to let things start going back to the way they were. Don't give him a reason to change his mind."

Mike walked into his shared bedroom with Peter to presumably check on him. Davy felt a little defeated, but also still determined to try again. This wasn't over.

"So he wasn't exactly thrilled with the flowers?" Micky asked.

Davy had explained the situation to Micky. After Peter's reaction and Mike's commentary, Davy needed some justification that his actions were not misplaced. He knew that Micky was now his ally and he needed some support now. He had been having a nagging feeling about everything the more he thought about it.

"No and I'm starting to genuinely doubt what I'm trying to do. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone."

"That's the kind of pessimistic attitude that caused the Titanic to sink."

"No, I'm pretty sure that was just poor planning and execution."

"That's precisely what I'm saying! The plan was not well thought out or executed."

"How could that scenario been done another way?"

"I don't know, but the next scheme needs to be impeccable."

"Can I say that your vocabulary improves immensely when you are plotting something?"

"Indubitably."

Davy shook his head. "I also don't think scheme is the right word for this. It makes things sound conniving and dishonest."

"Isn't it though?"

"It's not supposed to be. Anyway, I'm not sure if I want to keep bothering Peter like this…"

"You can't quit on me now, Jones. You want Peter back, don't you?"

Davy began sound more determined. "Of course I do."

"Good, I thought I lost you there. I have a great plan."

"This will never work Micky!" Davy whispered through gritted teeth.

"You worry too much!" Micky whispered back. "You said yourself you bonded on that haunted house mission and you hadn't realized until later how important it was. We need to recreate that magic."

"You're insane!"

"Shh, he'll be here any minute. Remember your part."

"Can't believe I let you talk me into this."

"Well a desperate Davy is very impressionable. Plus the plan couldn't be more flawless."

"But why all the theatrics?"

"What theatrics?"

"You have me tied to a chair!"

"It fits the plan!" Micky exclaimed. "Look, Peter comes in and sees you all tied up. He comes to your rescue since I was kidnapped by Babyface and he roughed you up. Then you both come searching for me. Perfect."

"Yeah, but you're not with Babyface."

"Exactly you all search and bond. You bring him back here at some point and I'm back with a crazy escape story."

"What story?"

"Um I'll think about it when you're gone. Now quiet he's going to come in."

Micky tied a bandana in Davy's mouth and slipped into the closet next to him.

I don't know how I get meself into these things.

As if on cue the front door opened. Davy sat patiently and tried to get out the nerves of telling Peter what happened. He hoped that Peter would react caringly and not still be irritated about the flowers. It took Peter a moment to even notice Davy as he was busying himself taking off his jacket and putting his keys down. When he looked across the room he did a double take. A look of fear washed over his face and he ran over to Davy's side.

"Davy! Are you alright? What happened?" Peter cried as he untied the bandana.

Davy had to admit that being saved by a knight in shining armor had its perks. He found Peter's concern very endearing. Also, he had to be honest with himself that being in this position with the object of his affection by his side was sexy. If it weren't for trying to win Peter back right now, Davy would have thought they were role playing. He'd have to remember this scenario for when they became intimate again. He had to stop thinking about that now though since he had a mission to fulfill.

"Micky and I were just hanging out here when Micky's doppelganger came in."

"Babyface?" Peter asked with concern.

"Yeah, he was looking to kidnap Micky. I tried to save him but Babyface's goons roughed me up and tied me up. They took him!"

Davy was surprised at the amount of alarm he could put into this fake scenario.

"What are we going to do?" Peter was wringing his hands together.

"Look, untie me and you and I can go searching for him."

"No, no. That's a bad idea."

"Why?"

"We need Mike."

Of course! Why wasn't this a part of the plan? They should have known that Peter would try to recruit Mike since he was their unofficial leader. Mike was not in on the plan and Davy honestly didn't know what he was up to. This could ruin everything. He needed to convince Peter that they could go on without Mike.

"Peter, there's no time! We don't even know where Mike is. Micky could be in big trouble by then!"

"Mike's out back on the patio with a guitar," Peter said blankly. "I'm surprised that he didn't notice all the commotion. Mike!"

Damn.

Mike heard Peter's cry and immediately came through the back door. "Holy hell! What's going on in here?"

"Mike, Micky was kidnapped by Babyface!" Peter rushed through an explanation. "We've gotta go save him!"

Mike looked confused and kept looking between Peter and Davy. Davy could tell this wasn't going to end well and he got a pit in his stomach. He would run away if he wasn't still tied to that bloody chair.

"Micky is in the closet," Mike deadpanned. "I saw him go in there not even two minutes ago."

Peter looked befuddled. "Babyface put him in the closet?"

"No, Shotgun. I think you've been had. There was no kidnapping."

"So, you lied to me," Peter looked straight at Davy he asked.

"I think I'll go back outside," Mike said uncomfortably. "Oh but one more thing."

Mike locked the closet door from the outside. "Serves him right. He can sit in there and think about what he did."

Davy's face was becoming red. He didn't know what to say. But he was stuck. Literally. There was no avoiding this conversation. Peter looked at him impatiently. It was clear that nothing was going to move forward until Davy answered him.

"It's not what it looks like," was all he could manage.

"How could it not be? Looks as though you and Micky staged this whole thing to deceive me. The only thing I'm having a difficult time understanding is why."

Davy did not want to answer that one. There were no lies to be thought of and the truth sounded terrible. It was. But it would have to do.

"It was Micky's idea…"

"That you went along with…" Peter pushed Davy.

"Okay, truth is that we were trying to make it so you and I had to go find Micky together."

"For what reason?"

Davy sighed. "So that we could be alone together."

"And?"

"And bond, get closer."

Peter nodded. "Ah, I see. Another fruitless attempt to win me back."

Ouch.

"I don't know how I can be any clearer about this," Peter pushed Davy's chair against the wall and was inches from his face. "I'm not interested."

Davy was intoxicated with lust at the moment. He could barely focus. He was in this vulnerable position and Peter could very easily take advantage of him. Peter was so close to Davy's face that they could be kissing if Davy leaned forward. It was so arousing.

"And just to make this point more clear," Peter said putting the bandana back in place. "I think Mike had the right idea. You two need to think about what you did."

With that Peter walked out to be with Mike. Once the arousal phase wore off, Davy realized what Peter had just said. It was becoming abundantly clear that nothing Davy was going to do would be enough for Peter to come back to him. Time to think was definitely not what he needed right now but it was all he could do.

"Hey Davy, I can't hear much are you still there how did it go?" Micky was attempting to turn the knob. "I can't get out! Send for help!"

Davy rested his head against the wall behind him.