"My back is killing me" Dan whined, sleeping on the couch was definitely a mistake.
Phil just giggled before checking his phone, "shit, baby, we have to go to Jade's place today".
Dan rubbed his eyes, "you're joking, it's today?"
Phil nodded and stretched his arms, "it's no big deal though".
"Phil!", dan all but screamed, "it's important, first impressions, my clothes aren't even ironed, Oh babe I didn't even bring neat clothes, just some stupid sweater".
Phil got him quiet by kissing him, "it's fine, you'll be fine, we'll be fine."
Dan eventually calmed down and started getting ready, he didn't agree with the whole 'you'll be fine thing', in fact, he felt like shit for having to show up that casual, but it's not like he had another choice right now. As he looked into the mirror for what felt like the 30th time that minute, he felt Phil's arms wrapping around his waist.
"You look fine babe", he murmured into his neck, "she's not going to hate you because you're wearing a sweater".
"Whatever", Dan whispered, "let's go".
They arrived at the gorgeous house and while Dan was looking at the architecture, an even more beautiful woman stepped into the doorway. "Phil!" He heard a soft voice yell. That must be Jade, and Jade was absolutely gorgeous. She was wearing a pencil skirt, a soft blouse and some gold necklaces. Her long brown hair was curled to perfection and her tan skin was glowing in the sunlight. Her lips were plump and beautiful and her eyes were hypnotising. Dan felt very self conscious all of a sudden.
Phil smiled a big smile and hugged her, "hi Jade, sorry we're a bit late", he fondly said.
"Oh right, you brought company, Daniel right?" She asked, an inviting smile on her face.
Dan nodded and shook her hand, "I prefer Dan", he said shyly.
"Oh right", she chuckled, "well come in, don't just stand outside all day".
They went inside and Phil and Jade immediately started talking about vaccines and school and changing dates because they wanted to have a little weekend getaway. Dan felt useless. He looked around the house and smiled at the little pictures of Lily all around the house. His eyes fell on a picture of the three of them, it was a gorgeous one, at the zoo, and they looked so perfect, so in love.
Jade tried to include Dan in the conversation but it was pretty useless, he didn't understand half of what they were talking about. Phil didn't notice how he was feeling, or at least Dan thought he didn't, but Jade did. "Dan?" She asked, "Lily has been asking about you since the moment she figured out you were coming, if you want you can go to her room and play?"
Dan sighed in relief and excused himself from the table before moving to Lily's room, he was happy he didn't have to be there anymore but now he felt even worse, Jade noticed he was an absolute mess that didn't know what he signed up for, oh how she would judge him, she was probably talking to Phil about it right now.
All worry left his head as soon as he saw a head of blonde hair and two little arms running up to him, waiting to get picked up. "Danny!" She squealed out.
"Lily", he smiled, "how's my favourite princess in the whole wide world?"
"Good", Lily said as she nodded her head, "missed you".
"I was only gone for a week", he said.
"That's long", she responded. And well, Dan wasn't going to disagree.
He didn't know Phil and Jade were following on the baby monitor, he didn't know Jade was growing more and more fond of him, he didn't know she was telling Phil that he couldn't let this one go.
2 hours later, Phil came to the playroom and kissed Dan's cheek. "Hey bear", he whispered. He got tackled down immediately by a hyper 4-year old, "daddy!" She screamed, hugging him tight.
Dan smiled as he watched them, the sadness was bubbling up again though, he looked at how perfect Phil was and how well he could take care of her and realised that could never be him, that he had no idea what he was doing. He had a fantasy of becoming an actual part of the family one day, but who was he kidding, he couldn't even last through one parent meeting.
Phil met his eyes and smiled a soft smile, "Are you ready to go home?" He asked.
Dan just nodded, not in the mood to talk anymore.
They said their goodbyes and walked to the car in silence, once they got in, Phil broke it with a concerned "is everything alright love?"
Dan sighed and shook his head, he still didn't want to talk. "I want to go home please".
And so Phil drove home as quick as he could.
