Adopted By Phil Lester

Chapter 16

Phil's POV

The next morning, a Sunday, I awoke to find Delilah lying on her side with her back to me, weeping softly. After blinking rapidly, adjusting my eyes to the daylight, I propped myself up on one elbow and softly sang "Hey there Delilah, what's it like in New York City?" This was a song I sang to her on a day that she had too much homework, or her friends were mean to her. It was an automatic pick-me-up, and never failed to lift her mood. She slowly turned to face me and struggled a smile, "I'm a thousand miles away, but girl tonight you look so pretty," I finished. I reached out a wiped a tear that was falling from her face before dragging myself out of bed then offering her a hand up.

"You wanna talk about it?" I suggested. Her only reply, was a desperately needed hug and a bucket of tears cried into my t-shirt. We stayed in each other's arms for as long as she needed to, quietly listening to the gentle drizzle outside my window.

"Phil? Delilah? Are you two awake?" Dan called from the kitchen. I gave my daughter a look to ask if she was okay with me leaving her for a minute, and then made my way to the kitchen.
"Dan, Delilah woke up really upset this morning, I'm not sure why yet, so could you maybe make her a nice breakfast? She's in need of one," I asked, and then returned to Delilah.

"I miss them," She announced as I closed the door. "My parents," she added, in a lower voice.

"Oh honey," I sighed, sitting on the bed with her. "I'm sorry, I wish I could bring them back, I really do, but sadly I am not a time lord." I realised that last comment might have been a little insensitive, but I was trying hard to lighten the mood. She sniffled into my shoulder, her lazy bed hair flopping over her face. I awkwardly put an arm around her, trying my best to be comforting. "What you have to realise, is that they wouldn't want to be upset. They would want you to go on a live a happy, healthy life. Instead of mourning their death, you should try your best to celebrate their life."

"I know." She agreed, without moving from my shoulder, "But it's hard. I want Mum to come back and bake her famous chocolate chip cookies, and make sure to save me one for when I came home from school or back from dance class. I want to wash the car with Dad again, and for him to squirt water at me from the hose, because I was his 'smelly delly'. I want to go on another trip to Brighton, or Blackpool, and go swimming in the sea and lick ice creams on the pier. I would always get chocolate, Mum and Dad always go strawberry," she chuckled sadly. "I know I'm so lucky, and I have so much now, but I still want to see them one last time, to say goodbye."

After that, we sat in silence for a while, thinking. "Hey," I spoke, breaking the silence. "Don't cry," I met her in the eyes and stared. "CRAFT."

Delilah giggled, and wiped her falling tears with the back of her hand. "Always," she chuckled, so I pulled her up and set up the camera by our dining table.

One hour later, with sarcasm oozing out of us, we had two beautifully decorated Easter baskets, and a video file filled with regret. Luckily Delilah had cheered up significantly, so I decided to crack on and edit while she sat in her bedroom, scrolling through tumblr or watching YouTube videos, whatever.

Dan came whistling through the door bang on six o'clock, with a delicious smelling bag in his hand. "Chinese?" I asked curiously.

"Yep!" he answered, chucking it on the table. "I'll get the plates, you
get Delilah and put something on the TV."

With a nod, I turned and wandered to Delilah's room to fetch her. I adored this new lifestyle, sitting down at the kitchen table with my family- I mean, daughter and best friend, and having dinner. Of course I love traveling and seeing the world, but I've been doing so much of that lately, and there's so much more to come of it in the book tour, however this is nice, talking about our days, catching up, it's chilled, it's calm, it's perfect.

Dan's POV

PJ kissed me in town. We were browsing through comics in forbidden planet, a.k.a land of the nerds, and all of a sudden he grabbed my wrists and smashed his lips against mine. "Sorry," he told me, then nervously stepped back. "I've been waiting years to do that."

For a moment I was too shocked I react. Never had I thought about PJ in anyway but a friend, so I had no idea what I was meant to do. "PJ..." I began cautiously. "You're a really nice guy and all, but I'm not sure I feel the same way...".

For a brief moment I saw his eyes fill up with despair, and he mumbled something I didn't caught before running out of the shop.

Ever since, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I felt horrible for not being able to love him back, but I just... didn't. I decided I would talk about it with Phil, I told him everything anyways.

Once we had finished our Chinese, Delilah thankfully offered to make us her "special hot chocolates", which was convenient, as it gave me time to talk to Phil in private.

"Phil? I need your advice on something," I began.

"Okay, tell Uncle Philly all your problems," he joked, joining me on the sofa.

"That was the strangest thing you've ever said," I chuckled, before reliving the whole PJ story with Phil.

"Umm... well... what a pickle." Phil thought out loud.

"I know right." I agreed.

"What I suggest, is let him know that you can still be friends. He is probably feeling really vulnerable now, he just came out with something pretty big and didn't get the response he was hoping for, so we'll have to be strong for him. Maybe... when we go to playlist live we could go for dinner? And with Chris? Like a little fantastic foursome reunion."

"Would it not be a bit awks?" I added.

"Maybe a bit. But I'm sure it would be good fun in the end." Phil reassured me.

"Top bants." I commented.

"Always for the bants." He agreed.

"AND I PRESENT TO YOU... Delilah's famous hot chocolates for three, if you please." Delilah boomed.

We finished with night sipping our heaped hot chocolates with all the trimmings, which, hats off to Delilah, were pretty delicious, and watching episode after episode of the walking dead. In fact I almost forgot all about the incident with PJ. Thank God.

Woo a new chapter! Sorry it was a bit delayed 😁 I hope you're all doing well, please vote comment etc... Okay byeee 😘
~Aine