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The rose has been consumed, the food had been eaten, the dessert platters were gone. Now the board games had come out.
This wasn't a typical night at the home of Daniel and Philip Howell-Lester. They were amongst friends, celebrating their quiet nuptials that had taken place six weeks prior. Right after Phil had very unconventionally made a not-so proposal to him with two diamond stud earrings, they had called up their friends and eloped.
When Dan said he'd wanted to get married in Vegas, he wasn't kidding. So they did. It was just them, their friends, a stolen weekend and a lifetime commitment. He wandered over to the piano and sat down. It had been some time since he'd played, and he was itching to do it again. So, he let his fingers rest, before playing a tune.
When the world gets too heavy
Put it on my back, I'll be your levee
You are taking me apart
Like bad glue on a get well card
Phil looked up and over to the piano, to see that Dan was playing. He shushed everyone quietly. Dan hadn't had time to play in awhile, so he didn't. But Phil also knew that Dan needed to do this when he was inside his head. Everyone quietly watched, as Dan played, eyes closed, fingers moving, continued to sing softly.
It was always you falling for me
Now there's always time calling for me
I'm the light blinking at the end of the road
Blink back to let me know
Dan wasn't paying attention to the room around him. He was focused on his thoughts, and his thoughts were on one person.
His person.
His Phil.
The man he trusted himself with. Trusted his whole heart, his mind, his emotions. When Dan had suggested Vegas and doing it with PJ and Sophie and Riley and Cori present, Phil didn't hesitate. PJ and Sophie came down from London, and Riley and Cori met all of them in Vegas.
And then they did it. And the vows they spoke to each other were personal, and from the heart. Their other friend AJ did calligraphy as a hobby, so Cori sent her the small video of them reciting their vows, and she wrote them out in calligraphy, and they now hung in their house.
I'm a fly that's trapped in a web
But I'm thinking that my spider's dead
Lonely, lonely little life
I could kid myself, thinking that I'm fine
Phil made his way over, Pancake trailing behind him, as their friends stood around the piano. He knew not to make any movements, because Dan would stop. He could tell Dan was inside his own head.
Dan smiled as he felt the piano bench weight shift. He opened his eyes and saw everyone staring at him, and Phil sitting next to him, Pancake in his lap. This was his family, and for the first time, he felt a peace settle inside of him.
A warmth he'd never felt before settled into his chest. He wasn't sure what it was, but he didn't want to let that feeling go. He looked down at his hand, and saw the ring resting there, and he blushed softly. But he pushed on, now aware of everyone watching him.
It was always you falling for me
Now there's always time calling for me
I'm the light blinking at the end of the road
Blink back to let me know
That I'm skin and bone
Just a cane and a rusty throne
Oh, the castle's under siege
But the sign outside says "leave me alone"
Dan turned his head and stared right at Phil who stared right back at him. Suddenly their friends were gone, and it was just them, sitting on the piano bench just...existing. Phil laid a hand on his thigh innocently, and never moved it. He needed Dan to know that he was there.
Dan knew. Dan always knew. He knew when Phil was being sexy, he knew when he was being supportive. He knew when Phil was irritated, and shy, he knew when Phil was anxious. It was all in his eyes. Those blue eyes were always expressive, and looking into them currently, while he played, he could see the same thing that he'd hoped was being conveyed in his eyes.
His love. His affection. The trust. Dan had a sudden realization right there.
He wasn't scared. Not anymore. There were years when it was close to ending. 2020 immediately jumped into his mind, and he completely swatted that thought away. The best part about being in therapy, and maturing with the same partner, was recognizing that the darkness didn't last forever. That if you just let the light in, it eclipses everything else. His voice cracked as he played the last parts of the song.
It was always you falling for me
Now there's always time calling for me
I'm the light blinking at the end of the road
Blink back to let me know
It was always you
Blink back to let me know
It was always you
Dan finished playing and leaned his forehead against Phil's. They communicated every thought through the looks on their face.
"That was beautiful, Bug. It's been awhile since you've played."
"Something overcame me and I just needed to do it. In case I haven't told you recently, thank you for loving me. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being you."
Phil blushed deeply, and a throat suddenly cleared. They shook off being in their own world and looked around. PJ grinned softly at his friends.
"As beautiful as this whole thing was...Tokaido is waiting."
Dan chuckled. Leave it to PJ to bring levity to a romantic situation. He gave Phil a sweet kiss, and a long silly pat to Pancake and got up from the piano bench. He extended his hand and pulled Phil up. He didn't let go.
He'd never let go.