It was about two weeks before Christmas and the normal snow flurries began, leaving a blanket of white on everything on the outside. Inside the citizens of Danville were huddled inside with their loved ones with the heat blasting. In one dorm room on the campus of Danville University sat a trio of young men. Two of the young men were prepping for the biggest tests of their lives. This test would prove their worth as men and would be the pinnacle of their achievements thus far...this of course being the driver's test.

Baljeet watched as Buford and Ferb ran simulation after simulation on the driving console they had created for just this purpose. With Ferb having turned 16 recently and Buford already being 17, the time had come for both boys to try and get their driver's licenses. Baljeet was only there as moral support as he was still too young. He'd be 15 in about two weeks so he could go for his learner's permit, but he really wasn't that enthusiastic about driving.

"This thing is rigged!" Buford suddenly shouted after hitting a cyber fire hydrant while attempting to parallel park for what seemed to be the thousandth time.

"You were really close that time," his boyfriend placated. "All you need to do is..."

"Don't tell me what I need to do! I've done it all already! It's not working."

"Ok, but I am jut trying to help..."

"Help?! You've just sat there watching all day and spouting off advice as if you've ever driven before. Not exactly helpful!"

"I understand you're frustrated, but that is no reason to take it out on me!" Baljeet said through gritted teeth. He was losing his patience with his boyfriend's current attitude.

"Just...leave me alone, all right?"

"Did you forget where you were? This is MY dorm. If I'm being such a burden, why not just leave?"

"You plan on making me, nerd?" he gruffly said, roughly pushing Baljeet up against a wall. That was when Ferb decided to finally step in.

"That is enough, Buford. Baljeet didn't do anything wrong!"

Baljeet didn't waste any time rushing off to his room and slamming the door.

"What was that about?" the emerald hair boy asked.

"He's always got some advice for how to do things better, always has to add his two cents, always has to be right. It gets on my nerves."

"That's not the real reason and you know-" he was interrupted by Baljeet's door swinging open and him taking something off his neck and throwing it at Buford, then returning to his room and slamming the door once more.

Buford reached by his feet and picked up the object thrown at him. It was a ring he'd won from his 7th grade football championship. He'd played against schools all over the tri-state area and their team beat them all with him as quarterback. He normally wouldn't have gotten the ring, but Baljeet made a comment about how proud he was of him for winning it, so he made sure he had it at least with him at all times...until he gave it to Baljeet.

During Candace's reception

The bride and groom had just cut the cake and the crowd was watching the couple have their first dance. Then other couples took to the floor to join them. Buford took Baljeet's hand and led him to the floor and they began to swing and sway to the music.

"You're still quite the dancer," the slender Indian boy mused softly.

"I like to think the partner makes all the difference." he smirked.

"I hope to always be your partner, then." Baljeet whispered. He then looked over to the bride and groom. "Do you think we'll ever be like them?"

"I dunno, my voice is a bit to deep to be a female pop idol." Buford joked.

"You know what I mean," Baljeet giggled.

"I really do think so...in fact, why don't I give you this. Think of it as a promise until then." he said pulling the ring from his neck. His fingers had been too big to actually wear the ring for years, but he always wore it as a necklace. He then placed it around his boyfriend's neck.

"As long as you've got that ring, you're mine and I'm yours. Deal?"

"Deal!"

Buford looked down at the ring on the chain in his hand. 'Baljeet must seriously be pissed if he took this off.' he thought. He sighed and rubbed his face. "All right, so I overreacted." he relented.

"Don't tell me that...tell him."

Buford nodded and headed over to his boyfriend's bedroom. He knocked and received no reply. He softly turned the handle and opened the door, he never expected to find what he did. He rushed in and quickly grabbed the younger man's hands keeping them from moving. "FERB!" Buford called out.

Ferb rushed in to see Buford struggling to contain a wriggling Baljeet...who was holding a knife.

"Can you get that knife away from him?!" Buford yelled in a panic. Baljeet wasn't normally this strong. He was actually having to put up a fight to restrain him.

"LET GO OF ME!" he yelled. Ferb slowly walked over with his hands up in a peacekeeping manner.

"Baljeet what's going on? Let's discuss this."

Suddenly, all of the fight left Baljeet and he dropped the knife and allowed himself to go limp. His ebony locks covered his face, but you could see him begin to slightly tremble as the crying began.

"I do everything I'm supposed to. I try...so hard. Why am I not good enough?"

"What are you talking about Baljeet? Who said you weren't-" Buford began.

"I thought I was to leave you alone? Isn't that what you want, what everyone wants? I fooled myself into thinking you were different from them. You wouldn't just cast me aside for no reason. Never make me feel like I was just in the way. I wanted to believe that."

"What? No, Baljeet listen, about what I said...I was just frustrated with not getting this whole driving thing. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm not going anywhere and I don't want you to go anywhere. I was just being stupid."

Baljeet rolled his head up and looked Buford in the face. He looked so broken and resigned. He hadn't realized the effect his words had on him. He was basically abandoned and abused by people who claimed to have loved him. It wasn't a gradual thing either, it happened suddenly and it really messed him up more than anyone really knew.

"Buford, why are you doing this? It's ok, you don't have to pretend. Some people are just...unloveable. No matter the reason, I'm just one of those people. I've tried to believe otherwise, tried to change myself to be what they and you wanted me to be, but it just doesn't work. I just..."

"Don't...Don't you say another word." Buford angrily cut him off. "I a'int gonna to sit here and listen to this. Listen to you doubt my feelings and your worth. I shouldn't have snapped at ya or pushed ya, I was completely wrong...but don't you ever compare me to those people. You know me, Baljeet. I say and do stupid things sometimes, especially when I'm frustrated. But you are not getting rid of me that easy and you had better not try anything like this again." Buford exhaled sharply and wiped stray tears from his eyes. "You don't have to change yourself for me. We'll get on each others' nerves sometimes. It's only natural, y'know. But I'll never want you to leave, especially this way. I wouldn't be able to take it, 'Jeet. I wouldn't" He then tightened his grip on his boyfriend and cried heavily into his shoulder. He didn't care about his 'macho pride' at hat point. He'd very nearly lost someone very important to him because he couldn't control his anger.

"Baljeet," Ferb began softly. "I know how you're feeling right now. I've been in this situation before, but I've always had someone stop me just in the nick of time. Just like you do. That should be reason enough to want to keep on going. Your parents...they treated you poorly, don't punish us for their mistake." he knelt down and joined the couple on the floor. "Since we started here, I've been seeing a counselor on campus, I think you'd benefit from a visit as well. What do you say?"

"I-I am not sure..."

"Please? I'll even go with you. You're not alone and you never will be, alright?"

"...Alright."

With that agreement, the three boys sat on the floor and took stock of everything that had just taken place. Buford slowly returned his necklace to its rightful place and put an arm around Baljeet. Ferb followed suit and they sat there taking in each others' presence for as long as possible.