2 days Later...

Manchester: England

"Have you got your suit on yet?" Phil shouts out to dan, as he tries to figure out his own tie, messing it up consistently.

"I don't want to go, phil" dan says, coming out in a black suit, it's a bit big on him but what did you expect, he's only 17.

"Hey I know you don't, frankly I don't want to go go either, but do you want to be held up dealing with your parents again, or even worse, someone else?" Phil asks, turning to him, finally Fixing his tie.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know how well I'm gonna do"

"You just need to tell the court what happened, I've told everything to the police anyway,

"Everything?"

"Everything."

They finally leave, heading out to a taxi sitting outside, waiting. They head in and the car starts moving dan looking out the window, phil playing with his thumbs

"Did we have to wear suits"

"Yeah, it's court you need to look presentable, sorry it's a little bit big on you"

"No it's fine" dan starts looking out the window again,

"Just remember to speak, like your re-telling the story of how we met, okay? Truth and only truth, your parents can't hurt you" phil says, rubbing dans leg with his hand. Dan gives a weak smile.

They arrive outside the court and up the stairs, dan tightly holding onto phils hand as they walk.

"You'll be fine, I'm there" phil says, as they enter the reception entrance.

They sign in, both of them, then make their way through a court room, it's big and has marble walls, and dark oak furniture. It's going to be a private trial. Dan sits down at the front table first, then phil.

"Phil, I'm scared.. like, really scared.."

"You'll be fine" phil says, kissing dans cheek, dan turns vermilion.

The sound of the doors opening behind them echoes through the room, they turn to see Their lawyer, Pj. He walks he way down to where they were sitting, places his briefcase on the table and sits down.

"Morning boys" he says, he sounds tired, like he tried to stay awake and drank one to many espresso shots.

"Morning" phil says, his eyes locked on the judge walking in the room, it's a young female.

"All rise for Judge Lennon" the security says, the 3 of them stand as the judge makes her way to the podium.

"Thank you, you may sit" she says, they sit back down. Phil looks over to dan, he's shaking, like he was on the verge of breaking.

"Today Daniel J Howell will be fighting for a lawsuit on his Parents Mark and Jane Howell on the charges of Abuse, Neglect and child endangerment, as well as a Restraining Order and to be able to live with Phillip M Lester before the standard age of 18" she says, pj opens his brief case, pulling out photos of the scene, as well as the printed messages of their Snapchat conversations. Dan gulps at the sight, remembering what happened.

"Okay, Mr Liguori, the floor is yours" he stands up, papers in hand,

"On the 19th of October, 2009 Daniel had made plans to meet Phil in Manchester, from an online relationship" he says, handing the first few pages of their conventions, she reads them, she smiles, surprisingly.

"At Manchester station they met, and that's where Phil let Daniel stay at his Apartment, where he says that his parents don't care about him and that they've been neglecting him. Phil told dan if he was to stay as his apartment, he would have to message his parents, here are the messages your honour" he says, passing up the texts from dans mum.

"But phil would bring him to Manchester station, where he was to go back to him hometown Workingham, but Jumpped off after he realised he had stronger feeling for Phil, where he ran all the way from Manchester Station to Manchester University, where he called phil out and told him how he was feeling" he says, They both blush

"It says her they were Kissing?" She asks, looking at reports,

"Yes, that is correct, but only that. Phil knows the consequences" he says,

"The next day, the 21st, dan and phil both went to workingham where his parents started abusing him saying that he was a lier and that they didn't give him permission to go, when we have proof your honour" he says passing other messages.

"Now phil, had to climb out into a tree house where dan says he was trying to protect Phil, because he knew what was about to come, also saying and I quote 'I shouldn't have done it, I'm a fucking idiot and I put phil in danger, I could have done this to him'" he says, the judge Looks at the report again and nods.

"Phil was able to hear and see what was happening in the house, there is a descriptive observation in the report, but was able to stop them temporarily by ringing the doorbell and asking for dan, seeing if he could somehow take him back by asking if they could 'hang out' where Daniel's parents replied by saying he has to go out to dinner with his 'girlfriend' where this was not true, Catherine said they didn't go out at all that night, including her parents. Phil ran away thinking that he was becoming a home wrecker, not talking to Daniel for a month" he says, handing the last few messages to her, she reads them, she looks sad?

"But Phil made the decision to go after him, realising what he had done, going to the house, seeing that they've moved and finding dan chained up in a small room, no bedding, a thin blanket and no windows" he says, Handing the photos, dan looks over at phil, gripping his hand, tight. Phil moves his hand to dans back and starts rubbing it, mouthing 'your doing great, I'm proud of you'

"Here are police reports from the house" the security says, handing her another paper.

"Can you please bring in Mark and Jane?" She ask, security nods. A door on the side of the court opens and his parents, dark eyes and angry, arms in handcuffs, start glaring at Dan and Phil.
They take a seat on the table next to them.

"Can Spe-" dans dad asks, angry, getting cut off by the judge

"We've already heard everything you've needed to say Mr Howell please sit dow-"

"My Son will not be living it's his Fag Boyfriend!"

"Sit back down Mr Howell!" She says, hitting the hammer on the table.

"I have decided on the city of Manchester, that Daniel J Howell's Lawsuit will be, Compromised"

Both dan and Phils hearts stop. Like they just died.

"Daniel's Partner Philip M Lester will be Daniel's guardian for the next 7 months, after that, Daniel can come back and withdraw, if he has decided that he wants to live with him for longer" she says, dan starts smiling, his eyes watering, phil smiles too.

"Congratulations Daniel, Your Lawsuit has won and Mr and Mrs Howell will be taken into custody" she says, smiling at them. Dan lunges at phil, hugging him and crying, his parents are taken out of the room, they are yelling. But dan dosent care about them anymore,

"Thank you Phil! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!" Dan cries, phil laughs at his behaviour. Pj, Brings the Restraining order papers, he signs without hesitation.

"Congratulations Dan" Pj says, smiling, taking the paper back up to the judge.

"Your bank account will be updated in 2 days" she says, leaving the podium.

They all leave the room, dan clinging to phils arm.

"Thank you so much Pj. It was nice working with you again" phil says, smiling