So much domestic fluff. So much. Maybe it's too much...or maybe it's not enough.
Dan's P.O.V
I woke up to an empty bed.
Usually it wouldn't be a cause for concern. Phil was an early bird...and I was not. And Catherine seemed to have picked up the same trait. She didn't treat sleep as a treasure like I did.
I should have been happy to lie in my warm bed until Phil came and forced me to get up.
And I would have, I was planning to; that is of course before I heard Phil swearing. If Phil was cursing, it meant that something wasn't right.
I dragged my lethargic, half-asleep body out of bed and down the hallway, rubbing my heavy eyelids in an attempt to wake up properly.
"Phil..." I said, making my way into the kitchen. "What..."
My eyes widened, shocked and a little surprised at the site before me.
"On earth happened in here?"
Phil turned to me, attempting to wipe the flour from his hair. Catherine grinned at me, waving a blue hand.
"Good morning, love."
"Hi Daddy!"
"Again, I will ask. What happened?"
"Well, we were preparing the food for tonight...and then some things happened."
"Is that why you swore?"
"You heard that?" Phil asked, sheepish and embarrassed.
"Phil, aliens on the moon probably heard you. What exactly happened? I thought we were only having finger food and nibbles tonight? What's with all the flour...and the blue hands?"
"Cat and I wanted to make a cake."
"All by ourselves!" Catherine added excitedly.
"But unfortunately we had a few mishaps. Like the flour bag erupting...and Catherine getting food dye all over her hands."
"I can see that." My steps were more fluid as I walked, thanks to my conscious brain actually being, well, conscious.
I wrapped Catherine up in my arms, twirling her around in the kitchen because I had the space to do so. She squealed and giggled and it would have caused me a headache had I done so five minutes before.
"I got you blue-handed." I told her. I saw Phil shake his head but I just grinned.
"That's not right." Catherine objected.
I put her down, hands on my hips. She mirrored my action and I had to stifle a smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"It's red-handed." She replied, rolling her eyes as though I was the child and she was the more knowledgeable parent.
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hmm. That's just silly."
"Not funny?"
Catherine began to shake her head, and then stopped. I could just about see the cogs ticking in her brain before her lips burst into a bright, happy smile.
"It was a little bit funny." She admitted, almost reluctantly.
"Why don't we go to that really nice bakery, you know the one down the road? We're not going to have enough time to clean this up, bake a cake and finish setting everything else up."
I looked at the clock above the oven. "It's already 1pm."
"Okay." Phil said. I heard the underlying disappointment in his voice, and I went to his side.
"Christmas is coming up soon." I whispered. His eyes lit up at the thought, and I knew my words would work.
"How about we bake some Christmas cookies and cakes and goodies then?" I asked.
"Sounds great." He said, and I kissed him quickly on the lips.
"Catherine, dear. I think it's time for you to start getting ready?"
"Can I have a bath?"
"If you want."
"With bubbles?!"
"Sure."
Catherine hugged us both around our legs, her short arms not quite long enough to reach around, barely holding us together. The hug didn't last too long, a few seconds before she was running off to the bathroom.
"Have you ever seen a child so excited about having a bath?"
"Never. Do you think it would be different if we had a boy?"
"Perhaps." I stepped closer to Phil, using the time we had alone to my advantage. I brushed my thumb across his cheek, cupping it in my hand.
"I know I was never excited about having baths."
"Was? I don't know who you're trying to kid, Dan. I seem to remember numerous occasions where I've had to remind you to get in the bath."
"Maybe if you were in the bath with me..."
"Daniel!" Phil shouted, shocked. I just grinned at him, knowing that he even he couldn't resist my charming smile.
"Need I remind you we have a child not ten metres from us?"
"She can't hear us from the bathroom."
Some higher power did not like me that day, as Catherine walked in with a frustrated frown.
"I can't get the taps to turn." She said.
Phil pulled away from me, turning his complete attention to Catherine with a sweet smile.
"I'll come and help you." He said, pecking my lips quickly before walking away leaving only a smirk and a wink.
"One day, I will get more than a two second kiss." I muttered to myself.
"Why isn't anybody here yet?"
"I'm sure they're on their way, sweethearts."
"But Alice and I have things to do! We didn't get to finish our game last time, and I was winning!"
Ding...Dong...
"They're here, they're here!"
"Just in time too." I muttered to Phil. We followed Catherine, who had practically sprinted to the door.
"Rin!"
"Ali!"
The two girls hugged; giggling, squealing and jumping around so much that I got tired just watching them.
"Come on, let's go to my room. We have to finish our game so I can beat you."
"Not if I win!" Alice replied, allowing Catherine to drag her away.
"It's a good thing we like each other." I said, stepping forward to hug Chris and Pj.
"Why is that?" Pj asked.
"Because those two," I said, pointing in the direction of the hallway. "Are practically inseparable already, and I don't see it changing."
"It's only been four days." Chris said, following us into the kitchen. They had come early to help us out; and to have a chat, of course.
"Yeah, but they're kids. They have the attention span of goldfish. Four days is like four months for them."
Pj nodded. "What do you want us to do?"
"We've got nearly everything ready...Pj; can you get the drinks and cups and just take them outside? The tables are already set up. Chris, can you and Phil set the lights up?"
Chris, Pj and Chris nodded, and I smiled.
"Thanks guys. I'll start putting the food on now."
Pj and Chris headed outside, and Phil leant over to kiss me quickly.
"I love you." He said, pecking my lips again.
"I love you too." I said, laughing as he walked off, swaying his hips to whatever imaginary music was in his head.
I put the food on a try and slid the tray in the oven, setting a timer so they wouldn't burn. Then I put a few CD's in the stereo player; setting in on shuffle so all the CD's would play. Variety's important, after all.
"Drinks are out..."
"Decorations are up..."
"And food is in." I finished as Phil, Pj and Chris walked back in.
"What's next?"
"Now we wait for the guests."
And as I finished my sentence, the doorbell rang.
"For someone who doesn't like to socialise, this is a pretty good party."
"Well Louise, times have changed."
"And so have you."
I shrugged.
"I'm married. I have a child. I've done a lot of growing up recently. Hell, I bought a car and a house. You know better than anyone what that's like."
"Yeah, I do." She said softly, glancing over at Darcy; who was leading the girls and a few other kids in a game of tag.
"Well, I have the night off and I plan on partying. I'm going to hit the bar, you coming?"
"No, I think I might just sit here, enjoy the music." I said, noticing Phil; who was smiling at me from across the room.
Louise turned to the direction I was looking in and smiled; seeing as I did Phil walking over.
"Sure. The music. If by music you mean your sweet husband. I think I'll leave you two alone."
"Hey Louise. Where are you off to?"
"The bar, my friend. Mama needs drink." She winked at Phil, and waved to me.
"Hey." Phil said, flopping next to me on the couch; a second-hand one we had bought specifically for the backyard.
"Hey yourself." I replied.
"Why are you sitting over here all lonesome?"
"I was talking to Louise, and then I saw you. I'd much prefer to sit here and talk to you."
"Talking?" He asked.
"Well, yeah. What, are we just going to sit here and listen to music we've heard a billion times before?"
"I married an idiot." Phil muttered, raising his eyes to the sky.
"Hey! I'm not..."
Phil cupped my cheeks, pulling me against him and pressing his lips against mine. I slipped my hands around his neck, pushing against him as hard as I could. I couldn't get enough of him, of his lips, of the way he tasted. I hadn't kissed Phil properly in days, weeks. I had been starved and kissing Phil again was like eating a banquet fit for kings.
"This is better than talking."
"Then why are you speaking?"
Phil kissed me again and I lost myself in the feel of his lips.
"I love you." He whispered, breathing heavily.
"I love you too. Now shut up and kiss me."
Next week's chapter won't be posted until the Friday. Reasons will be explained later, but I promise the chapter will be really good.
And to make up for the lack of chapters, I will attempt to write some songfics/oneshots
Also, I like to imagine Louise being quite exuberant when drunk.
REVIEW-REPLY THINGY!
Phanstarlight: I'm glad you're enjoying it. There's still a little bit of fluff to come.
NeverlandNat: Good, because I don't think I could actually stop. Then my story is doing its job, by making you happy and creating the Phan family we all want to be true. I love you too. Nonsense, your reviews are lovely and I look forward to them each and every time.