"What time did Micky and Mike say they'd be back?" Davy asked.

"It should be within the next hour," Peter said dismally.

Mike and Micky's return meant the end of the romantic time Peter and Davy had been spending together. Sure they could find time and excuses to be alone together, but it wouldn't be the same as being able to roam around the pad freely. Also they hadn't exactly examined the parameters of their relationship. Peter was afraid that things going back to normal with Micky and Mike back may mean that things would go back to normal between him and Davy. Although, maybe there would be a new normal. Peter was too anxious to ask. Davy must have read his mind though.

"Okay in all seriousness, I think we need to discuss how things are going to go moving forward."

Peter nodded in agreement. "I'm not comfortable with Mike or Micky knowing anything about this yet."

"Neither am I. I think we need to be more comfortable with where we're at before we can approach them. We need to keep up appearances."

"What do you mean by that?"

Davy looked away from Peter. He was fidgeting with a loose string on his shirt sleeve. Peter could tell that Davy did not want to admit what he had in mind.

"Well, for me at least I know that I can't just abruptly change my ways…you know…seeing girls. Those two would know something was up if that happened."

This statement stung Peter. Sure, Davy did make sense but Peter felt jealousy course through him. The thought of someone else touching Davy, kissing him was too much. He turned his head away quickly so that Davy wouldn't see the pained look on his face. Peter was so scared of this relationship breaking apart that he didn't even want to risk a bend. What if things didn't go as planned? He finally had all that he wanted; he didn't want to let that go.

Before Peter knew it Davy was bent down in front of him. "Hey, Mate, I know this is hard. I don't like it any more than you do, but we have to do this until we are ready for them to know."

Peter nodded and began wiping his eyes. "What if something happens?"

"I promise you nothing is going to happen. And to make sure of it, I'll have you set the parameters of my dates and I will follow them."

Peter looked at him. In the bright morning sunlight Davy looked more handsome than he'd ever seen him.

"I guess I'm asking you to trust me," he said.

"Promise?"

"Yeah," Davy agreed brushing some stray hairs out of Peter's face. "Now what do you say?"

"Okay…First, no seeing the same girl more than once, that way it's more difficult to form a bond."

"Sounds fair."

"Second, no past girlfriends that you've already had a more intimate relationship, that way no old feelings are rekindled."

"Makes sense."

"Don't bring any of them back here."

"Out of respect for you, of course."

"And lastly, I know this one will be difficult so do your best. Try not to have too much physical contact. I know they may kiss you, but try not to initiate anything yourself."

Davy nodded in agreement and took Peter's chin in his hand so that he could look into his eyes. "Anything for you, love."

Peter smiled through the tears. This was still going to be tough, but Davy made him a promise and he believed it. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too long before Micky and Mike found out on their own. Maybe Peter would carelessly let things slip so that they would.

"So wait, how did the pompom get ripped off Mike's hat?" Davy asked.

Micky and Mike had arrived how and were regaling Peter and Davy with their undercover tale.

"I got trapped on the slaughterhouse conveyor belt and Mike came to get me. In the process, his hat got disfigured," Micky explained.

"Don't worry, it's nothing super glue can't fix," Mike offered. "So what have you two been up to while we've been gone?"

Davy and Peter exchanged worried glances. They hadn't discussed what they would tell Micky and Mike when they returned home. When those two had left things were completely different.

"Nothing," the pair said in unison.

Mike cocked an eyebrow. "Nothing? When I left Davy wasn't even staying here and Peter you were a mopey, irritable mess. You mean to tell me that things went back to normal without any work."

"What can I say we kissed and made up…Ow!"

Davy nudged Peter in the ribs with his elbow. "What he means to say is we got over ourselves and patched things up."

"I'm not sure I even know what was exactly going on," Micky questioned. "I mean you were both acting weird but claiming it had nothing to do with each other. And now all the sudden it did have something do with each other and its all fine now."

Micky had twisted his arms into a pretzel pointing out all the differences in the situation.

"I'm with Mick. Something was going on and you're all not telling us about it."

"There's nothing to tell. Davy just freaked out when he found…"

Davy clamped his hand over Peter's mouth. "I found out Peter had been using my um uh…cologne without asking."

"And that made you an angry zombie that wouldn't stay here?"

"You know me overdramatic, hehe. But Peter apologized and I forgave him. We haven't been doing much at all, you know our own separate things," Davy said quickly.

Mike looked at the two suspiciously. "Whatever I'm too exhausted to care right now."

"Why don't you two go on up to your room and get settled," Davy pushed Mike and Micky towards the stairs.

"Yeah, okay, but this isn't over," Mike said pointing at Peter and Davy.

"I shouldn't think it would be," Davy muttered under his breath.

He watched the other two climb the staircase and disappear into their shared bedroom and shut the door. Davy turned back to Peter.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"What?" Peter shrugged' "It slipped."

Davy pursed his lips together. "We just talked about this and it just so happened to slip your mind?"

"What can I tell you, I'm forgetful."

"Yeah well we better think of something for damage control when Mike wants to talk again."

"I could think of something better to do with our time," Peter said taking Davy in his arms.

Davy wrenched away and gave Peter a confused look. "Are you insane? They are right up there and could come out any minute. We need to tread lightly these next few days as not to arouse suspicion."

"Oh, you'll arouse something alright," Peter said playfully.

"Not now! Look I think we need to cool it for a few days while we get used to them being back. No sneaking kisses or hand holding or even sleeping in the same bed."

Peter's face fell. Everything had been so perfect before Mike and Micky walked through the door and now he could feel Davy pulling away. Peter's chest started to tighten and he felt the stinging of tears in his eyes.

"Sure, I get it. Things are different now."

"That's not what I meant. It will just take some time to readjust. You understand, right?"

"Of course."

With that Peter retreated back into their bedroom to let his tears flow. He somewhat hoped that Davy would follow him and make try to make everything alright. But he didn't. Peter felt himself beginning to unravel already. He needed to regain his composure if he was going to last.

"It's only a few days," he recited, "only a few days."

Davy and Peter didn't interact again until it was time to go to sleep. Whenever Peter would come near him during the day, Davy would move to another place in the pad. Sure that wouldn't arouse suspicion either. Mike and Micky were still very exhausted from their ordeal and hadn't said another word about anything. That didn't stop Davy from wracking his brain thinking of explanations.

"Okay, I think I've got it this time," Davy whispered from his own bed. "We made up after I bailed you out of jail."

"For what?"

Davy's ideas were getting more and more outlandish. Peter was starting to think that he was overthinking this whole thing. So far he had suggested that they had been kidnapped, robbed, and entered into a male beauty pageant. It was getting to be ridiculous and frankly on Peter's nerves. Looks like Davy was able to get under his skin.

"Um, running a red light."

Peter let out a long, loud sigh. "A) they don't put people in jail for running red lights. B) You don't have money to bail anyone out of anything. And C) Mike and Micky had the Monkeemobile."

"Oh. Well I don't hear you coming up with anything better."

"Why can't we just say that you came back for clothes, I apologized, you accepted, and then we went about our daily lives?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Peter said beginning to get irritated. "What do you normally do with your days?"

"Get in trouble with you three," Davy answered.

"Well since those two weren't here maybe nothing crazy happened. Maybe it was boring and mundane."

"What if we did get scammed into keeping a horse?"

"That happened already."

"Oh right, well I'll think of at least one weird thing that happened. You're plan is just crazy enough to work."

"Fantastic. Can we go to sleep now?"

"Sure," Davy said not picking up on Peter's mood. "See you tomorrow."

It was not so easy for Peter to fall asleep. He missed the warmth of Davy's body next to him and wondered if Davy was experiencing the same longing. He listened and heard the easy breathing from the other side of the room. Nope, it didn't seem like the separation was affecting him at all.

"Just a few days," Peter mumbled putting the pillow over his face.