Thursday, early evening

     It was clear as day that Mitchel never had helped Daniel with his poor financial status, or with his sick mother and a little sister that he had to take care of.

Not by buying them food, or helping out by babysitting Hannah, or any other simple things like cleaning up after his mother had thrown up.

It also very quickly became clear Daniel didn't expect Frey to do any of those things either. Daniel had given up on getting help from anyone besides his best friends, and his mother's two best friends.

He didn't expect Frey to do anything but complain, and to prevent Frey from complaining, Daniel kept apologizing for the simplest of things.

When Frey had suggested to come over for dinner and babysit Hannah and take care of his mother while Daniel had to work, Daniel had declined in an apologetic way; there was not enough food for Frey to come over for dinner.

He had already asked his mother's friend to come over, but he still had to ask Frey's father if he could leave work early because she couldn't stay until the end of his shift.

Daniel had again apologized, and already started to promise he would make up for the lost hours, when Frey's father had told him it was fine, he could go home early.

Frey has insisted on coming over for dinner anyway, suggesting to buy more food so that there would be enough for all of them.

It had taken half of the day to get Daniel to agree, and Frey felt as if Daniel had only agreed because he was getting tired of Frey's whining.

But he just wanted to spend more time with Daniel. Time alone, that was. Without any of there friends lingering around.

"Danny?" Frey sighed when they were cooking dinner, and Daniel had been silent for most of the time.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind that I'm here?"

"I don't... but I just don't expect you to take care of my family." Daniel shrugged, aimlessly staring at the rice they were cooking.

"Do you feel as if I force myself in your life?" Frey bit his lip, Daniel was nowhere near excited that he was there.

"No."

"But?"

"No but." Daniel sighed. "Sorry, I have a lot on my mind. I'm sorry if I'm silent and all. I like to have you with me. You should know, I am in love with you."

"Stop apologizing for everything, Danny." Frey chuckled, but it felt awkward and he had to force a chuckle. "I don't mind helping my boyfriend out, you know." He pulled Daniel closer by looping a finger behind Daniel's belt, sliding his arms around his waist as soon as Daniel was close enough. "On the contrary, I love spoiling you, because seeing you blush is adorable."

Daniel smiled, and it wasn't forced; it was a shy genuine smile. Along with a slight blush on his face.

"I like you, and I don't mind helping, wherever I can."

"Sorry... I'm not used to it."

"No more apologizing."

"Sor... okay."

Frey laughed because of Daniel's attempt to hide another 'sorry' with a couch, and Daniel laughed with him, putting his arms around Frey's neck.

"I'm sorry for saying sorry that much." Daniel smirked, and Frey responded with a roll of the eye, before he planted a kiss on Daniel's lips.

"I don't need apologies. I need you to just tell me everything you want to tell. Rant to me if you feel the need to rant. I'll do everything I can to help you. We're together, right? So we deal with things together, okay?"

"For someone who never had a relationship, you damn well know how to behave in one." Daniel mumbled, staring at Frey's lips a bit longing.

"Hey, my mom wasn't a complete failure when it comes to upbringing. She did teach us the values of a relationship. Maybe not exactly in the right way, but it got the message across anyway."

"How did she teach you guys that, then?" Daniel laughed because of Frey's failed attempt to say something positive about his mother by downgrading the compliment right away.

"By seething about dad leaving her. She never failed to remind us dad had left her to take care of us on her own, while in reality she's the one that never wanted us to go and live with dad."

"Which you would've done sooner, if she would've allowed you, I guess?"

"If dad would've allowed me." Frey shrugged. "But hey, you said you have a lot on your mind. Let's not make this about me."

Daniel grinned and shrugged, before his grin turned into a frown, followed by a deep sigh. "Do you have a while?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I have a while." Frey joked, pulling Daniel back into his hold as soon as he tried to escape.

"Well, the regular worries like bills, no money, Christmas coming up in a month and Hannah deserving presents." Daniel summed up. "I still need to get the heater fixed but again, no money."

"I thought your friends were helping you with presents."

"Yeah, but I can't expect them to buy all the presents, or expensive ones for that matter. They're not all called Sanders."

"I'll get her the expensive presents." Frey shrugged carelessly. "Dad probably won't mind buying her a present either. So that's another two presents."

"That's sweet, but I can't expect your dad to buy my sister a present."

"Shus. You don't know my father. He'll love to get her a gift if it makes her, you and me happy."

"Fair enough..." Daniel flashed a quick smile. "I'm mostly bothered by my father's death and the inheritance."

"I'll ask my dad again to find out what you can do." Frey promised with a small smile. "And in the mean time, let me—or more so, dad—pay for the broken heater."

"No, Frey... I can't ask you to do that..."

"You can pay back later, when you have a bit more money." Frey knew he wouldn't get that money quickly, or maybe ever. But he didn't care. If promising Daniel he could pay him back later would make Daniel accept the offer, he'd take it.

"It's not your problem..."

"Darling, if you are my boyfriend, and you are if I recall correctly, I might spend a night or two here. Or more..." He huskily whispered, getting Daniel to laugh. "And in that case, a broken heater during the winter is most definitely my problem too."

"Fair enough." Daniel laughed. "You're a fool. But please, promise me you won't spend all your money on me or my family."

"Well, obviously not all, because I still like to buy myself some things." Frey promised. Though there was plenty in his savings account that he didn't need in the near future. Or maybe ever.

"You're sweet, Frey. I never dared to dream about getting myself such a sweet and handsome boyfriend."

"Likewise, Danny-boy. Likewise."

     Since Daniel had already arranged Annette, his mother's friend, to come over and take care of his mother and Hannah, Frey had stayed with him until he needed to work.

He rode to work with Daniel, since he wanted to talk to his father anyway. His father was always in the club during opening hours. If he wasn't there, Frey knew his best friend and business partner Ronald would be there and either of them would be good enough.

Frey just needed to know how Daniel had to take care of his father's debts. He was almost completely sure Daniel could decline the heritance without trouble, but he needed to know 100% sure.

He was pretty sure it would calm Daniel down a lot if that part was taken care of already. And he liked Daniel even better when he was relaxed and happy.

He went to the backroom with Daniel, where the latter put on his shirt for work, and they had enough privacy to kiss each other before they parted ways. Frey went upstairs, while Daniel went to the bar he would be working his shift.

He found his father in his office, on the phone, laughing over something.

He had his feet up on the desk, leaning backwards in his chair casually, waving a hand to greet Frey.

Frey waved back and sat down behind the other desk, playing around with pens and paper while waiting for his father to finish his call. He felt bored, fired up the computer on the desk, and played a came of solitaire while eavesdropping in on the phone call. It seemed as if he was calling with Ronald, and they were trying to agree on something that involved a new assistant manager in the club. A job Frey wanted himself once he turned 18.

He hoped they wouldn't agree on it for another five weeks; until his birthday.

Maybe, if Frey thought about it, that was exactly why they disagreed. Maybe his father wanted to hold off on picking a new assistant manager until he was old enough.

"What brings you here, on your night off? Shouldn't you be in bed with your medication?"

"I took them, but I'm not sleepy yet." Frey shrugged. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Legal stuff."

"Did you do something illegal?" He squinted his eyes, but Frey saw his lips twitching. He was fighting a laugh.

"Danny's father died and him and Hannah are the only heirs." Frey told him, closing down his game of Solitaire since he was stuck anyway. "I was wondering if you could ask Gerard if he knows how they can get decline the inheritance. The asswipe left them nothing but debts."

"Oh, well, I could help you out with that. They're both underaged, right?"

"Yeah."

"Than they won't have to do anything. It'll be an automatic decline after two months. Free of charge. If they decline now, they'll have to pay for it."

"What kind of weird rule is that?" Frey frowned, again playing with a pen. "Anyway, do nothing, and it'll solve itself?"

"That's right." His father nodded with a smile. "Now, tell me what the deal is between you two. The date and all. Is he your boyfriend?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, he is." Frey shrugged. "Official since Tuesday, during the date."

"Good. I'm proud of you, and I'm glad you have a good enough taste in people to like Daniel. He's a great guy."

"Yeah, he is..." Frey smiled. "So, am I gonna get the position when I turn 18, or does Ronald refuse to wait?"

"Actually, about that..." His father cleared his throat and sat up straight. "I have someone else in mind."

"What? But you promised I could become an assistant manager!"

"Yeah, but I—and Ronald agrees—think your boyfriend is a better choice. Besides, he could use the money, and the hours are better than his current hours."

"Oh, you want to give the job to Daniel?"

"When he turns 18 in January, yes."

"Well, I can't exactly be angry about that, now can I?" Frey grumbled, a bit annoyed because he had been waiting to become 18 and get the job for months now. But than again, Daniel did deserve—and need—the job more than he did. He couldn't be jealous about it, since he knew what it would mean to Daniel to get that job.

"Not to mention the fact you're just starting to take your medication, and for the upcoming three months they won't be having an effect on your mental health yet. I think you need to focus on that yourself first. You're still young, and there will always be a job for you here. But for now, as your father, I'm telling you to focus on school and health first. We have plenty of money, you don't need a better job."

"Right." Frey nodded, biting his lip like he always did when his mind was taken by thoughts. "I think Daniel is the right guy for the job." He simply said, smiling a bit. "And I'm not biased, I really do think he could do it better than anyone else."

"I'm glad you see it from our point of view. I'll offer Daniel the job tonight, so we can start his training right away. If he accepts the offer."

"I bet he will. He simply needs the money, and the hours are better so there's really no lose on his side."

"Well, could you send him up? It's not that busy right now anyway."

Frey nodded, getting up from his seat. "Oh, dad?"

"Yes?"

"Is it okay if I stay at his place tonight? His mother is pretty sick, and I want to help him take care of her, so that he can get some sleep too."

"What about your sleep?"

"Which sleep?" Frey joked, smirking at his father. "I need to double my dose of meds, but I'll do that tomorrow."

"Why not tonight?"

"Because Daniel needs his sleep too." Frey sighed, feeling a bit annoyed. "Besides, I don't want to feel like a zombie in school even more than I already do."

"Well, see, that's an argument I can't disagree with. You can stay over, but text me to let me know you went to school in time."

"Thanks, dad. I will." Frey grinned widely. A night sleeping in Daniel's arms sounded better than anything.

Words: +/- 2191

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