Marco and Craig walked into the quiet home. Paige and Alex were out on their first official date since getting back together, and Ellie was in her room, most likely hiding from the visitor.

"Lonely," Craig commented, taking a seat on the couch.

"Tell me about it," said Marco. "With Dylan gone…" Marco had been saying that quite frequently, but it was only just then that he realized 'Dylan gone' meant something entirely different from then on. It was no longer just far away in Switzerland. It was far away and over.

Craig noticed his eyes shining sadly, and he lightly touched his arm. "It's okay," he said, hoping to console him in any way he could even if he wasn't very good at that.

Marco shook his head, tired of people saying 'it's okay' to every little thing that happened to him. It wasn't okay. Didn't they understand that? He sighed, sitting down next to him, and leaning against him for support. Craig gently rubbed his back while Marco let his heart spill out on Craig's sleeve. Literally.

"No, it's not," said Marco, biting his lip. He didn't want to put Craig through this on his first day home. He was looking for some fun, not to be a shoulder for Marco to cry on. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry. Just never mind it."

Craig, however, seemed fine with his crying. Oh, not that he wanted it. No, he hated to see his friend so upset, but he didn't mind talking with him instead of doing something more enjoyable.

"I knew this would happen. Dylan is not reliable with long distance," said Marco, deciding that if he had someone to listen, he might as well take advantage of it. "Well, at least he told me, instead of finding someone else there, and dating in secret," he said bitterly.

"I know how that feels," said Craig.

Right. Craig had his own problems to deal with. "How are you about the whole Manny-Ellie thing?" asked Marco, sniffling, pulling his head off his shoulder, and holding his body up by himself for a second.

"Ah, I'd just rather not think about it," said Craig, and then waved his hand as Marco opened his mouth. "Don't apologize for bringing it up."

Marco laughed. "You know me too well."

"Well, at least you don't hate me like everyone else does," said Craig quietly, looking down at his hands. "I'm really a stupid person sometimes, Marco."

"You can be," Marco admitted, "but none of the people I hang around with are completely intelligent about their actions."

Craig laughed, knowing he was right about that. "It's always drama."

"Right, but you and I don't buy into that," said Marco. "We're sick of it."

"Exactly," said Craig, moving so that Marco could lean against him again. Craig knew he often did that when he was upset. For some reason, he needed someone to 'literally' lean on, or he would collapse from the pain.

"I mean, just because we're upset doesn't mean we have to, you know, get drunk," said Marco, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah," said Craig. "We're stronger than that."

He gave an answer to everything Marco said, but he couldn't help but get caught up in feeling thankful he was the only boy that Marco felt comfortable leaning on, other than his boyfriend…or former boyfriend. Maybe it was because Craig wouldn't be freaked out by the fact that they were both guys, and Marco was gay. It was always strange how guys could do such obscene things with one another, but once one was gay, it became not okay anymore. Craig wasn't like that.

"Yeah, I mean, we don't need to go out, get laid, and say 'love sucks' to get over someone," said Marco, not sounding so sure of the statement once it left his mouth.

"Of course not. It's just one lost love," he said, "or…in my case, two."

"Exactly. We have the whole world ahead of us. There are a lot of fish in the sea," he said, repeating what friends had always said to cheer him up when he was down.

"Yup," said Craig slowly. "We are not that pathetic that we need to prove that we still got it, you know? No bars are needed."

A moment or two passed while Marco still leaned onto Craig, enjoying the silence. "You want to go?"

"Hell yes," said Craig, getting up with him immediately.

"Where are you two going?" asked Ellie, finally coming down the stairs. Marco was grabbing his jacket, Craig having never taken it off, and they were halfway out the door.

"Oh, we were just going to…you know, go to The Dot," said Marco nonchalantly, licking his lips nervously.

"You're a very bad liar," said Ellie, rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms. "Where you going, boys?"

"We're—we're…you know what, we don't have to tell her, do we, Marco?" asked Craig, sticking his tongue out at her.

Marco shook his head. "Nope."

"That's mature," she said. "Now I really want to know where you're going."

The two boys just stared back at her, and she couldn't but laugh, despite her curiosity and her awkwardness with Craig. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Okay," they said, walking out.

"You know," said Marco, "I've never had more than a sip in my life."

"This could be fun," said Craig, smiling.

"We should probably take the bus," he suggested, realizing there was no point in taking a car if neither one of them would be sober enough to drive it back. Besides, the only car they actually had to take was Dylan's, and Craig didn't want to put Marco through memory city. "Race you to the stop."

"Wait…bar, me, you…gay…straight," said Marco, catching his breath when they got to the bus stop.

"Good point," said Craig, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose we could go to The Other Team, and then, once you're sufficiently drunk, I'll leave you to go find some ladies in some other bar."

Marco didn't like the thought of Craig leaving him alone on his first night actually drinking, but he went along with it because there was no way he'd force Craig to spend an entire night with a bunch of gay guys.

"However, if a guy starts hitting on me, I'm counting on you to be my protector," he said, wagging his finger. "Don't let me down."

"Of course, Craig."

Two hours and many drinks later, Marco found himself in a room that seemed to be spinning with a boy that seemed even more attractive than he'd been while Marco was sober.

"You happy?" asked Craig, smiling at the dazed look on Marco's face.

Marco had been asked to dance by several different guys, but when it started to get further, he'd always say reluctantly that he was with someone, pulling away, and walking back to sit with Craig. Marco wasn't sure what he meant by what he said. He was still dating Dylan? He still belonged to Dylan? He needed to protect Craig…or he was with Craig? He was drunk, anyway, so he decided it really didn't matter what he meant.

"Yeahhh," he answered, dragging the last letter. He stumbled slightly, falling into Craig. His support system, as always.

Marco giggled, as Craig didn't seem perfectly able to hold him in his own intoxicated state. He helped Marco sit, deciding it would be a good idea to sit with him.

"You gonna' leave now?" asked Marco, his eyes showing disappointment.

Craig knew he could leave. They had made a deal. He could leave, find some lucky drunk woman at another bar, but he didn't want to. Marco was so saddened. Besides, he doubted he could walk straight enough to go somewhere else.

"Nah," he said, taking another sip of his drink.

"I don…I dun know if," Marco started, taking a sip of his own, "Dylan 'members tomorrow."

"Tomorrow what?"

Marco looked even more upset. "Oh," said Craig, remembering immediately, "Birthday."

Marco nodded, sighing miserably. "Whhateva," he said, faking a smile.

Craig leaned over, and put his hand on Marco's shoulder. "Dance?" he asked. He was at a gay bar. It's not like anyone would 'talk.'

"Yeahh," he said, giving him a real smile.

"I'm not very good," he warned, but Marco shook his head.

"We're gonna fall ova, anyway," he laughed, letting Craig lead him to the floor. Marco put his arms on Craig's shoulders while he put his own around Marco's waist.

Marco was thin, but not unhealthily so. Craig could tell that, had they been clean of any alcohol, Marco would rule the dance floor. He'd seen him at school dances, dancing with Dylan, Paige, Ellie, even alone. He had talent. However, when drunk, he was clingier, weak, and he couldn't really dance himself. Craig was practically leading him around the floor, having had a lot of practice with drinking.

No matter how pathetically drunk his dancing was, Craig was still the envy of every guy in the club. He was dancing with Marco Del Rossi.

"You never hate me," said Craig suddenly. Marco looked up at him, bewildered.

"What?" he asked, stepping out of his arms.

"I'm so stupid. You never damn me for it…you help me, no matter what I did or do. I don't even deserve it."

Marco smiled, moving back toward him again, but tripping. He laughed uncontrollably as Craig helped him up. Craig rolled his eyes. At least Marco was having a good time.

"Well, 'course I help you. You're like my best friend."

"I thought Ellie was," he smiled.

Marco sighed. "Matter?"

"No, it doesn't really matter," he said, catching Marco again before he fell.

When he realized Marco was stumbling again, he brought him back to the table, which could have been a bad idea, considering that's where they had their drinks.

"You're lucky I'm so much less drunk," said Craig, picking up his drink, hoping to change that fact.

"You deserve it," said Marco.

Craig looked confused for a moment. "Oh, your help."

Marco nodded. "You catch me."

"I did catch you," said Craig, nodding as well.

"Ya always pick me up."

Their conversation of choppy sentences probably wouldn't make sense to anyone else.

"You know," said Craig, "you're going to have your first big hangover on your nineteenth birthday. That's not very—" his vision was starting to become a problem, "good."

Marco shrugged. "I'm here with you. That's…" he paused, "good."

Author's Note: So, I have some uh, well, it's kind of news. I decided that I'm going to pick up the story Seriously again after I finish Breaking the Attachment, but that story still has a way to go. Also, I need opinions here: I liked writing the story Anytime is Good, just not now, but the only reason I cancelled it was because I was planning Marco's pregnancy in The Definition of Happiness, and I don't know, I didn't think it'd be good having two stories with that. However, I'm not sure if I really care anymore lol. If you want me to bring it back, please tell me. If I get even just one or two people who say yes, I'll continue it. Yay. Lately, I have a lot of time on my hands.