A/N: Hey! So, sorry this one's a tad dull, I just thought I ought to clear some stuff up, like. On a side note, 101 reviews, guys! I mean, I know that most of them are from, like... four people... but still! Man, before this, the most reviews I ever had was 8 - I thought 8 was amazing. Thanks so much for all of the nice comments and stuff, I really appreciate it :3 (that's supposed to be a smiling cat face).
So ciao for now,
-Whisker


"I think that went down a treat."

"They had a great time," Dan agreed, nodding and gently rubbing Phil on the back as they both peered out of the bedroom window, watching everyone traipse away down the road.

"Hey, guys; we did great!" Dil chirped, pushing open the door, which creaked as he did, "Or rather, you did…"

Phil turned around to face him and his cheeks flushed as he gave a ginger grin,

"Everyone saw everything, didn't they?" He sighed. He acted like he was embarrassed – he partly was – but underneath all that, he thought it was pretty funny.

"I saw everything," Dil nodded, leaning back on the doorframe, "Because I was at the bar and I had a clear view. Everyone else, though, just saw the ending parts."

"I'm not sure that makes it any better at all," Dan muttered, shaking his head.

"Don't worry, Dan," Phil sniggered, "I'm sure they just assumed we were a bit tipsy. Whatever they thought, I'm certain they had the best night ever."

Dan gave a laugh and folded his arms.

"Doesn't matter, I guess," he said, buoyantly, "I'm absolutely exhausted, though, I don't know about you."

"Yeah, me, too," Phil affirmed with an enthusiastic nod, "Feel like I could fall asleep right here and now."

"You two should really get some rest," Dil told them both, "The living room's a bit of a mess, so I guess I'd better tidy up first-"
"Nah, it's fine," Dan put in, "I'm sure Phil can make himself comfy on the sofa as usual; can't you, Phil?"

Phil nodded,

"Are you going to retreat to your blanket cavern again?" He asked, sounding concerned, "I mean, I'm a tad worried that sleeping on the floor isn't doing great things to your spine…"

"It'll be fine," Dan assured him, "I could sleep anywhere right now…"

"Well, that's sorted, then," Dil mumbled, "Look, I'll have to clear the room a bit still, but if you want something to do in the interim… could you help put Dab to bed? It's way past his bedtime but he wouldn't go to sleep whilst people were here…"
"Oh, yeah, that's fine!" Dan smiled, "Do you want us to read him a bedtime story, too?"

"You can if you want," Dil said, turning out of the room, "Just make sure he goes to sleep alright."

"Got it," Phil grinned as he let the door shut behind him.

Dan didn't mind doing the childcare, seeing as he'd missed out almost two whole days of it… it felt like so much longer, though. He knew he should forget about it and that Phil was getting pretty fed up of him constantly mentioning it, but he just couldn't help but still feel guilty.

As he and Phil quietly left the room, tripping over the end of the bed frame in overtiredness, he yawned. He kept having flashbacks to Friday night, but he banished those thoughts from his mind, not as much for his sake, but for Phil's. His friend wouldn't want him to carry on chewing over the subject, after all. He only hoped that Dab wouldn't tell Dil and Tabitha about what happened…

"Hey there, kid!" He smiled as they opened the door to the child's room and stepped inside, "Your dad said we should put you to bed; do you want a story before, or..?"

"No thank you," Dab said. He was sitting, looking tired, at the end of his bed and clutching a toy llamacorn to his chest.

"Oh… well, that's simple enough," Phil sniggered, "You want me to tuck you in, though, don't you?"

"Yes, pwease, Uncuw Fiw," Dab chirped with a beaming smile, clambering under the sheets and waiting, patiently.

Phil idly scratched the back of his neck as he kneeled down by the bed and gently tucked the duvet around Dab (so that he looked a bit like a burrito) before giving a quiet laugh and standing up again.

"Goodnight, then…" he smiled.

Dab was about to say goodbye back, but Dan interrupted.

"Wait, wait, wait. Before we go… I need to ask you something," he coughed, sitting down, cross-legged on the green carpet.

Phil frowned and gave an impatient sigh, folding his arms. He knew exactly what was going down.

"Dan…" he warned, "Don't start this again."

Dan turned his head to look up to him and opened his mouth to speak, his eyes wide and pleading.

"I… I just need to make sure…" he whispered before looking back to the child, "Now, Dab… have you told your parents what happened with… me and Phil… whilst they were out?"

Dab shook his head.

"Good…" Dan breathed, "Don't tell them, alright? As far as they know, everything went perfectly. If I feel, sometime, that it's alright for them to know… then I'll tell them myself-"

"But it was nothing, really," Phil butted in, "Just a petty argument that got out of hand. We're over it now… aren't we Dan?" He glared.

"Of course we are," Dan nodded, swallowing and shifting his eyes around the room until they came to rest on the bear-shaped chair to his left. He sighed and stood up, "So don't tell your parents anything happened. If they ask… tell them that I went out for a day and a bit to relax, because that's not a lie. Got that?"

Dab hurriedly nodded.

"Goodnight, then, kid," Dan smiled, softly, giving a little wave before turning to leave the room.

Phil stayed in the room for a second, looking a tad awkward, and gave a quiet sigh.

"One more thing," he said, "When Dan left and I was all… irritable… how did you feel?"

Dab stared up to him and gave a cheery, wide smile, leaning over to his right and picking a stack of papers up from the desk beside his bed.

He held them out and Phil could see that they had patterns cut into them…

"Craft!" Dab chirruped, proudly.

"Well done, Dab… Very well done…" Phil said with a subtle smile, "Goodnight," and he left the room. He was met, outside the door, with Dan, who was standing, idly, with his back to the wall and flicking his nails, shakily.

Phil frowned, shook his head, and stepped forward.

"I'm not mad at you," he whispered, laying a gentle hand on Dan's shoulder, "You know that… don't you?"

Dan swallowed, nervously wrung out his hands and didn't make eye contact.

"I do; I do know, I just…" he began.

"You don't, do you?" Phil put in.

"I just can't understand why you're not angry at me," Dan murmured, his eyes brimming with tears.

Phil's expression softened and he shook his head again,

"I was," he said, simply, "At first, that is. But I decided that I wasn't mad as much as I was just disappointed; and not even in you, but more in myself."
"How do you mean?"

"I was so reliant for the first few days and you did everything you could for me and when I truly believed that I was the one who got us here… I could understand you being angry with me – it wasn't your fault you snapped, it was perfectly sensible and still is – and I hated myself for that. I'd used you to my own advantage and that wasn't something I was proud of."
"But when I came back-" Dan started, but Phil shushed him.

"I was annoyed that you didn't come back sooner, sure, whatever," he said, "But I was more annoyed that you felt that you couldn't. Why was that? Don't you feel that you can talk to me? Do I seem cold? Is that it?"

"No, it's not that at all," Dan assured him, "It's just that I- I hurt you… physically and mentally…"

Phil ran his hand down Dan's arm and to his hand, enfolding his fingers around his palm before letting go.

"I deserved that," he said, "And even after that, I hurt you, too. Did you forget about that? On Saturday I hit you in the jaw, you still have the bruise to prove it. You forgave me and agreed we were equal, and I forgave myself, too, because you did, and now that's what you have to do for yourself. These things happen, Dan; we're friends, and friends fall out all the time. This was just the same."

Dan looked up and met his gaze and suddenly he felt very small. He was brought back to the times back in 2009 when Phil was much taller, much more mature, and he looked up to him. Phil had always been able to give good advice when it was needed most, even if he didn't think he was helping much, and now it was no different.

"Thank you…" Dan whispered to him.

"Thank yourself," Phil replied, benignly, "I've been too harsh on you, I'm sorry, but we're clear now, aren't we? I'm OK, you're OK, everyone's OK… isn't that right?"
Dan nodded, a weak smile on his face,

"You're a great pal," he said, "For not thinking bad of me…"

"Now, what kind of a friend would I be if I thought bad of you?" Phil hummed, tenderly.

Dan gave a shy laugh and averted his eyes to stare at the floorboards. He bit his lip and closed his eyes, slumping back against the wall and sliding down it a bit.

"Why can't you forgive yourself?" Phil asked.

Dan gazed upwards to him and sighed,

"I do," he said, "I really do this time."

Phil grinned and pulled him to his feet and into a hug,

"I could never let you stay upset at yourself," he breathed, "You mean too much for that. And if you ever need to talk, I'm right here… and I always will be."