Both trips to this universe, Phil had decided, were a bit like rainfall.

He likened the period where they left to a few months of dry weather and then his and Dan's return he saw as a rapid rainfall.

You see, after a very sudden rain, there's always an air about. Something like refreshment at first and it's very pleasant for a while before you realise you're getting very damp and cold and that you'd prefer it if it was dry again and suddenly everything seemed like a really bad idea.

Of course, the rain doesn't spoil everything, but it makes anything you do less enjoyable because you're very cold and you have teeny streams of water running off every inch of you.

There was always a smell in the air, too. That distinctive scent of freshness and damp mixed into one.

There was a proper word for it but Phil couldn't quite remember it at that moment as he sat, cross-legged on the garden lawn, absent-mindedly staring off into the distance.

Maybe he was over-thinking the rain thing.

It was a nice day outside as per usual and it was so warm he'd only put on a thin, short-sleeved shirt. It was a nice one, too. A very light cream colour with the golden silhouette of an eagle spread between the shoulder and the collar on the right side.

One of the more fun aspects of the trip was getting to choose new clothes to wear from the huge variety available in the game. There was always something interesting.

Phil took his glasses off to clean them on the fringe of his shirt before sliding them back onto his nose and standing up, shakily. His legs were still slightly achy from all the walking he'd had to do last night but he still felt that he wanted to be out in the fresh air.

It was Monday today and Dil and Tabitha had gone back to work, so Phil was left with Dan and Dab. He didn't have much to do, seeing as Dan had volunteered last night to take care of Dab from now on (and the kid didn't need much looking after anyway) and in the time that he was free, he did all the housework, too.

Maybe he was compensating too much for the things he had left Phil to do before, but, honestly, Phil had stopped caring at this point.

After his plans yesterday hadn't worked out and he'd awkwardly had to explain to Dan what had happened, it seemed a lot better. Getting things off your chest was always a good idea, and when you had a friend like Dan who would shower you in hugs and any sort of affection, it just made it better.

A walk seemed like a good idea, and Phil knew exactly where he ought to go.

Taking Dan would have been nice and all, but then they would have had to bring Dab, too, and he seemed pretty content drawing in his room. Besides, having a child there made it a bit harder to talk about things.

Dab didn't really like Phil anyway.

"Dan?"

"Yeah, pal?" Dan smiled, looking up from the recipe book in front of him.

"I… might go out for a walk," Phil told him, leaning on the doorframe, nonchalantly.

"On your own?"

"Of course."

"You're sure you don't want any company?"

"I'm sure. Thanks, though, Dan."

"Well… alright," Dan smirked, looking back to the worktop where he'd been strategically slicing some fish, "Just be back for dinner, alright? Don't get lost."

Phil laughed, indifferently,

"Ah, don't worry about me," he assured him, "There's plenty of time before dinner. I'm certain I'll be back early if anything. See you in a couple of hours, then?"

Dan nodded,

"Just stay safe," he reminded his notoriously clumsy friend, but by the time he'd finished his sentence, Phil had already slunk out of the door again and out into the fresh air to start the lengthy walk to Magnolia Promenade.

Magnolia Promenade was always a nice place to walk to.

There were shops, too, and even though he didn't like talking to cashiers or risking running into anybody that he knew, Phil thought that they would be useful because he felt that he owed something to his friends and the only way that he could possibly communicate his gratefulness was through heartfelt gifts of appreciation.

In other words, he needed to buy some stuff.

Dan would have watched him go until he was out of sight (and maybe so that he could laugh if his friend happened to trip over or walk into something or do something really stupid) but today he'd rather focus on cooking.

He wanted to make something really nice for dinner and really hoped that Phil would be back in time so he could give his opinion and so that Dan could be sure that he was actually eating.

Scanning over the recipe book once more, Dan looked for what he was supposed to do next and found that he ought to be slicing onions, which was not his favourite job, due mostly to the smell and the whole crying thing.

Shame that Phil had gone out, really, because Dan fancied having somebody to talk to at that moment, and Dab wasn't really the person to go to if you wanted to have a heartfelt conversation.

And, just as Dan had this thought, who should appear beside him – almost causing a mild heart attack – but Dab Howlter himself.

"Dan," he said, holding his phone in his hand, as he saw Dan jump slightly in surprise, "Can Evan come over for a sleepover?"

"Uh…" Dan started, considering it for a while.

Would having a second child in the house put too much stress on his friend? Phil had only just gotten over everything else; was it really wise to suddenly have yet another life to look after?

Then again… he'd seemed to calm down a whole lot and even having Summer kind-of flirt at him hadn't fazed him all that much and a couple of hugs had solved any hint of anxiety that might still have been there.

How bad could it possibly be?

"Sure!"