The next morning Phil woke up alone.

The night before they had watched a couple movies, and he learned that Dan was very much so a cuddle-er.

But Phil loved it. Originally Dan said he'd sleep on the couch, but in the middle of the night he crawled into Phil's bed with him.

But he was gone with the rising sun.

He didn't leave any sort of note or anything like that either.

Phil was bummed, to the say the least. He walked into work frowning, and left frowning.

He felt permanently gloomy.

Ever since he experienced the hum in his body that Dan gave him, he didn't want to go another day without it. He missed the peace that filled him when Dan was around.

Phil hoped he would come into the restaurant, but it was useless.

Needless to say, he had trouble sleeping that night and it didn't take much debate before Phil was slipping into his shoes and pulling on a jacket for a walk.

He walked into the thicket of trees, found the familiar meadow, and settled in the center to lie back and look up at the sky with a slight smile. The moon was full and big tonight.

He wondered if he might encounter the wolf again.

Not likely, he thought to himself, but even as the thought passed through him Phil heard rustling in the nearby foliage.

He looked around himself, and the wolf was approaching him from between some bushes.

"Hi."

The wolf casually trotted over to Phil, who slowly sat up.

"Sort of hoping I'd see you."

The wolf dragged his warm, wet tongue from Phil's jaw line to temple. He chuckled and stroked the animal's soft fur, and looked into his soft brown eyes.

"You're much more civilized for a wild animal."

Something flashed in his eyes.

"It's so weird, but I feel like you can understand me sometimes."

Phil ran his hands along his soft fur and the animal, despite its size, tried to climb into his lap.

"You're a bit too big for that."

He settled by resting his head on Phil's thigh and he soon laid back to look up at the sky again.

"I really like the night sky. Its pretty and beautiful, but also sort of impressive and intimidating. I feel small while looking up at it."

The wolf had cuddled up to Phil's side, breathing in the man's scent.

And they lay like that, under the stars, for quite some time.

The next day Phil was hoping to see Dan at the restaurant, but he didn't show.

However, when he pulled his car into his driveway, he noticed a familiar long-legged figure sitting on his porch steps.

He quickly shut off the car and stepped out. Dan stood as he approached.

"I want really badly to be pissed at you." Phil said as he trudged up the porch steps.

"Really, why is that?"

"Because you left without saying anything," Phil replied as unlocked the door, stepped inside and left the door open for Dan.

"You can forgive me, can't you?" Dan followed him inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Already forgiven."

"That was fast."

"It's kind of in my nature to be forgiving." Phil slipped out of his work shoes and took off his jacket, laying it across the arm of the couch.

He looked up, once again struck with how pretty Dan's eyes were.

"Are you going to stay for dinner and then leave without saying anything again?"

Phil had intended for the question to sound quite as soft as it did.

"I thought you'd forgiven me."

"Doesn't mean I haven't forgotten. I just wish you would have said something."

"Well, to answer your question, I don't know."

Phil's eyebrows knitted at that, but he didn't respond and turned away.

"If you were an animal, what would you be?"

The question was random and irrelevant, but childlike and interesting.

"I don't know. It'd be up to mother nature to decide, wouldn't it?"

Dan shot Phil a look as if to say, You little shit. Humor me. "Don't spoil my fun," he said instead.

"I'd probably be a wolf. What would you choose?"

"I think I'd be a wolf, too." Dan answered, with a smile and a glint in his eye.

"I feel like I've met you some place besides the restaurant."

"Trust your instincts, I always say."

"Right," Phil paused. "I'm wanting to have a shower, did you want to stick around? You can read or… nap until I'm done."

"Yes, I'd like to stay if that's alright."

"It is."

Phil didn't cook that night, but ordered them a pizza to share. Dan had wanted sausage, pepperoni, and ham on his half, while Phil had gotten vegetables on his.

He looked over at Dan as they sat on the couch, ate, and watched a horror film.

"I just really like meat."

Phil chuckled and returned his attention the movie.

Phil had stayed up later than he should have the night before, so naturally he was much more tired.

"I'm going to bed," he eventually said to Dan, standing.

Dan glanced from Phil, to the bedroom door and then back up at Phil.

"Can I sleep with you?"

"Er…"

"Shit-, I mean, er…Can I join you?" He tried again.

"Jesus Christ," Dan put a hand over his face.

"We can share a bed," Phil laughed quietly.

"Thanks," Dan smiled, despite the blush that had warmed his face.

"Er, do you need pajamas or anything?"

"I'll just take my shirt off or something," Dan said nonchalantly.

"Right, okay then."

Phil turned away and went into his messy bedroom, stepping over clothes strewn across the floor and crawled into his bed. He took his glasses off and stretched to put them on his bedside table.

The bed sunk where Dan sat down and Phil listened to the sound of fabric sliding over his body as he took his shirt off.

"Hey," Dan said once he had settled on his stomach.

Phil had been on his side, facing away from Dan so he rolled to get a look at him. He took in his bony collar, his stubbly jaw, and his protruding adam's apple.

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

"What for?"

"You don't really know who I am, I've never exactly given you a reason to trust me, but you still do."

"I do trust you," Phil said. "How could I not trust someone that makes me feel the way I do when you're around?"

"How is it that I make you feel?"

"Not sure how to explain it… I feel like everything is right. And when you're not there I'm miserable." Phil stopped and looked into Dan's gentle eyes. "Do you feel the same at all?"

"More than I thought possible."

"Then don't leave in the morning."

"Don't you have work in the morning anyways, Phil?" Dan's expression remained flat.

Phil chuckled. "Right. Thanks for reminding me."

Dan smiled then, and it lit up his face.

"You really are quite beautiful, you know?"

"So are you."

They spoke quietly for a bit longer before Phil surrendered to sleep.

The next morning Dan was still there, which Phil was glad for. However, he had decided to go on his own way when Phil left for work.

Phil had glanced at him from his rearview mirror and he suddenly began to wonder.

It didn't look like he had a car. How was it that he lived closer to downtown, but was there in Phil's neighborhood all the time?

Was Dan possibly homeless?

Phil had never noticed if smelt or anything like that, but hadn't noticed much variation in the clothes he wore either. Same boots, same jacket.

He was growing a bit concerned, really and despite the distraction his coworkers and work brought him, his thoughts would return to Dan.

"Maybe you should just ask him," Phil muttered to himself as he bussed one of his tables clean that afternoon.

"Just one, can I sit in Phil's section?"

Phil turned and saw Dan walking around the podium, following his coworker, Cat, to one of his booths.

"Enjoy your meal," Cat had said to Dan before walking away.

Phil approached Dan, and could hardly get a word in before:

"Do you get off work soon?"

"Er, yes, Dan. I just have to make sure my section is clean." He added quietly, "you couldn't wait a bit longer until then?"

"Oh, and here I thought you'd be so glad to see me," Dan said, a playful smile on his face. "I see how it is."

Phil was a bit taken aback. "You..."

"I?"

"What would you like to drink, Dan?" Phil asked him, knowing he was at work and didn't want step out of those boundaries while they were there.

"Something warm, its a bit cold out there."

"How does hot chocolate sound?"

"Sounds marvelous."

Phil grinned and said, "I'll bring that right out to you."

Phil headed back to the servers line and as he dispensed hot water into a mug from the coffee maker his coworker, Cat, approached him.

Cat was a good friend and they got along great as they worked along-side each other during the day. Unfortunately that was about as far as their friendship went. Phil was doubtful that they had much in common anyway.

"Who is that out there?" she wondered, eyeing Phil slyly.

"His name is Dan," he replied, slowly lowering the mug of hot water to the counter. "Why?"

"He's incredibly handsome."

"Is, isn't he?" Phil agreed, glancing up at Cat and then reached for the hot chocolate mix and stirred it up into the water.

"There's something going on isn't there?"

"What makes you say that?" Phil topped the hot chocolate off with some whipped cream.

"The way you both looked at each other."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Cat." Phil dramatically stuck his nose in the air as he turned away and then glanced back and grinned at cat before walking back into the dining area, taking the mug of hot chocolate with him.

He brought the hot chocolate out to Dan who smiled up at him.

"Do you know what you want to eat?" Phil asked him.

"Er, the steak I had last time. Medium rare. With just fries on the side I think."

"You can add another side and have some hot soup as well, if you like."

"No, that's alright. Thanks though."

"Alright, I'll go put the order in, then. Should be ready soon."

"Thanks, Phil."

After Phil put the order in on the computer, he brought a broom out to the dining area, where he began to sweep his entire section.

Phil glanced at Dan and noticed his jeans were a bit dusty.

"Dan, are you homeless?" he blurted out. "Shit, sorry. I'm stupid."

"You're alright. Er...,"

"'Cause you said you live downtown, but you're always nearby and I'm sort of worried."

"No, I don't live closer to downtown. I did lie about that, but I swear it's the only thing. I'll show you wear I live today, is that alright?"

"Er, yeah, I'd like that."

"I'm sorry I wasn't completely honest at first. I just… I'm not exactly normal. Well, I'll explain more later."

"Right."

The two of them didn't actually speak much for the remainder of Phil's shift, as he was moving around a lot and trying to get all of his side work done.

Dan had given Phil a twenty dollar bill, and told him to keep the change even though his bill came out to be about eleven dollars.

He left Phil nine dollars.

Now, that was another thing that baffled him.

It didn't seem as if Dan worked or rented his own place or anything, if he even had his own place, but managed to be able to splurge on a meal for himself at a restaurant.

Did he steal the money? Has he mugged people before?

Phil's head was swimming, and he felt as if he was developing a headache.

Dan had chosen to wait for him outside, and when Phil clocked out he found him sitting on the curb of the parking lot near his car.

"So, I actually kind of live nearby you… but not quite in the same neighborhood," Dan said as he stood when Phil approached.

"Er, alright."

"I walk there… it's in the same direction of your house, so…"

"Right," Phil unlocked the car and climbed in, waiting for Dan to get in on the other side.

When the two of them arrived at Phil's, Dan waited outside for Phil as he went in to change out of his work uniform.

When he stepped back outside, Dan looked him over appreciatively, but glanced away when Phil met his eye.

"So?" Phil said expectantly. "Lead the way."

"Right."

Dan turned and led him towards the outskirts of the neighborhood and into the wooded area.

"This is the way I walk sometimes…"