Ferb jolted awake and quickly glanced around the room. His memory was slowly creeping back to him and the events that had occurred locked into place in his mind. He'd very nearly lost someone else important to him. The keyword there was almost. He made a silent vow to himself to watch Baljeet a bit more closely in the future, just to be on the safe side. He got up from his place on Baljeet's bedroom floor and made his way into the kitchen. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 10 o'clock. He thought about waking Buford up so he could get home as tomorrow was a school night. After giving it some thought, he settled for calling his mother and, briefly and in no great detail, explaining the situation. She understood and thank the emerald haired young man for letting her know. He then set to work on preparing some food for them as they'd ben asleep since early in the afternoon, the couple would be waking up pretty soon, by his calculations.

Sure enough, the second that the smell of food being cooked became noticeable, Buford darted into consciousness. He remembered that Baljeet was resting on his shoulder so he did his best not to startle him awake. He glanced at his watch and looked at the time. In his panic, his previous care to not disrupt his boyfriend suddenly vanished.

"Oh crap!" he yelled.

"What?! What?...What is it?" Baljeet screamed, looking around for any danger.

"It's almost 11! I gotta get home...my mom's gonna freak!"

"Calm down." A soft baritone voice called from the kitchen. The duo went out to greet the missing person of their group. "I called her a few minutes ago and told her you'd be spending the night."

"And she agreed?! Doesn't she know it's..."

"She knows, but she also knows that there was a more pressing issue to deal with here. She says that if she's needed she'll come."

"You...didn't tell her, did you?" Baljeet asked, not making eye contact with anyone.

"No...not this time. But you have to make good on your promise to go to therapy. My silence comes with a price, I'm afraid."

Baljeet just mutely nodded. He really didn't like the idea of opening up to a complete stranger and divulging his entire life, but he couldn't bear to think what it would do to Miss Biffany if she'd found out. When he'd made the decision to...end it all, he was under the impression that Buford didn't want him around any more, like his parents. He couldn't deal with another major loss like that, he was certain. But, Ferb and Ferb's family, Ms. Biffany...everyone. He hadn't stopped to realize just what the effect it would have on them had he succeeded. Just the thought of losing any one of them was enough to almost bring tears to his eyes. Due to recent events, he doesn't assume that he matters to anyone anymore, no matter what they say. But these people...his family, they plead such strong cases, he couldn't help but believe them. All of the effort they've gone to to make him feel included, welcomed, loved...and he'd almost thrown it all away.

"...I am...I'm sorry." he whispered, his watery chestnut eyes meeting Ferb's sapphire ones. Ferb simply regarded his friend and with a soft smile walked out of the kitchen and hugged him fiercely.

"Your life...is too precious to throw away. You've only just begun but you've already been through so much. You're stronger than you think, never give up fighting." He murmured into the smaller Indian boy's ebony mane. He held him the same way his father held him when he was in a very similar situation. With a few pats on the back he released him and went back into the kitchen. "Dinner should be ready in just a few more minutes," he called over his shoulder, leaving the couple to chat.

"I'm sorry, 'Jeet. I acted like a real jerk and you were only being your usual caring and helpful self. Sometimes, I forget what you've been through and how much you have on your shoulders. I should be more sensitive and whatnot."

"What you said...it hurt. I cannot say it any other way. Even when you pushed me it felt different. I know you've done worse to me when we were younger, but things are different now...I'm different now. I can't...I don't want you to grow disgusted with me out of nowhere and leave me like they did."

"I would never...EVER do anything like that, you hear me? But you can't leave me either. Not the way you tried to. If you got tired of me and dumped me, it'd suck but I'd handle it a lot better than if you were to...Let's just promise not to leave each other all right. We stick together through good and bad times, just like always. Deal?"

"It is a deal." Baljeet confirmed before receiving a chaste kiss to his forehead.

Ferb then reappeared from the kitchen. "Dinner's done. Help me bring it to the table?"

Once they were all seated and eating the subject of the upcoming holidays came up. They sat making plans and drumming up gift ideas for their family and each other.