Dil walked into his bright room and collapsed on his bed, tears falling down his cheeks out of nowhere. He threw his school back across the room and clutched his report card to his chest, trying everything not to rip it down the middle and chuck it away; he was so ashamed of what he had got.. He sobbed, unable to erase the terrible marks on the piece of paper and the difference between his grades now and last year- if he could, he would.. "DIL!" One of his dads called but he ignored it, too busy crying to care that his dad could walk in any minute. There was a soft knock on his door which made him wipe his eyes and muster out a response.

"GO AWAY!" He sniffed, trying to make it so they couldn't tell he was crying but failing. One of his dads, Dan, wandered in and raised his eyebrows at his sobbing son. He seemed more curious than sympathetic which only made Dil cry harder.

"What's up?" He asked, looking Dil up and down, trying to figure out what was wrong. Dil shakily held his report card out for Dan to take. Dan's eyes scanned the paper before he glanced up at Dil's timid, shaking figure.

"You were top of the class last year.." He whispered, disappointment laced in his voice.

"I'm sorry, dad. I'll try harder, I promise."

"Dil, trying isn't good enough. You need to start studying again."

"I can't study.." Dil managed to whisper, diverting his gaze from his dad, who now looked more than irritated.

"Why not?"

"I can never concentrate because you are always shouting at daddy.." Dan's jaw dropped and Dil immediately knew that he had made a mistake. He immediately jumped out of bed and ran into his other dad's room, leaping into his dad's arms. He started sobbing into his chest while Phil just furrowed his eyebrows, quite confused.

"What's wrong, Dilly? Why are you crying?" Phil asked, brushing Dil's dark fringe away from his dull, tear filled eyes.

"Dad's disappointed in me because I got really bad grades." Dil sobbed, refusing to look Phil in the eye, afraid of more disappointment.

"I'm sure he isn't disappointed, Dilly." Phil ruffled his hair, just as Dan entered the room. As soon as Dil noticed him at the door, he hid his face in Phil's bright shirt, not wanting to see the look of failure on his dad's face.

"You're not disappointed with Dil, are you?"

"Well-"

"DAN!" Phil raised his voice a little, surprised that Dan actually admitted it. Dil felt himself getting smaller as his sobs got louder and more desperate.

"He's gone down from last year, he obviously stopped studying."

"He can't spend his whole life studying, Dan! Why is it so important for him to get amazing grades anyway?"

"So he can get a better future and doesn't end up regretting his whole life!"

"Stop yelling.." Dil whispered to himself, hiding his face further into Phil's chest and fighting back more sobs.

"Dan, he won't regret anything! He's still really young, let him enjoy being a child." Phil had lowered his voice, understanding that Dil was afraid of the loud noises and shouts.

"If he gets into the habit now, it will be easier later! He needs to learn!"

"Dan, stop yelling." Dil was now a trembling mess, his eyes clenched shut and his face red with panic. Tears were cascading down his cheeks and he was breathing really heavily.

"He's too weak." With that Dan walked out and, a few seconds later, the sound of the front door slamming echoed around the house. As soon as the sound faded, Dil started screaming and thrashing about in a state of sheer panic.

"Dil? Calm down for me, please? Focus on your breaths." Phil attempted to comfort without much luck; Dil just kept screaming and Phil was scared he would pass out from a lack of oxygen or something. "Please! Just take deep breaths." Nothing was helping and Phil was stuck for ideas- he had to call someone but who?

He couldn't call Dan for obvious reasons but who else was there? PJ? PJ. He quickly took out his phone and dialled his best friend's number, biting his lip as it rang a couple times. "PJ! I think Dil is having a panic attack and I don't know what to do! Dan just walked out on us so I am alone and he's crying and screaming and I don't know what to do! Help me!"

"Okay, make sure he's breathing properly-" PJ started after a second to compose himself.

"I have!"

"Get him a glass of water?"

"Hold on a second.." Phil put the phone down for a second to speak to Dil. "Hey, Dil? I'm just getting some water, keep focusing on your breathing.." Phil sprinted downstairs and made the quickest glass of water as possible. "Inhale. Exhale." Phil whispered, placing a hand on his panicking son's shoulder.

"Thanks Peej, you're a life saver." Phil said, hanging up the phone and diverting his attention back to Dil who's breathing pattern was improving. "Just sip some water, I suppose." Dil reluctantly nodded, taking the glass of water from Phil's grip and doing as he said.

"W-Where'd dad go?" Dil murmured after a couple minutes of calming down.

"Don't worry about him. He'll be back soon." Phil reassured but he could tell that Dil seemed less than hopeful about his return; if he never came back it would be Dil's fault..

"Is it my f-fault that he l-left?"

"Of course not, Dilly. He was just a little stressed, that's all."

"Are you s-sure?"

"Certain, now come on, I'm going to tuck you in bed."

"C-Can I sleep with you?" Phil nodded, sending a small smile towards his son and climbing into bed. He tapped the spot next to him and, soon enough, Dil was lying beside him. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, Dil. Now try and get some sleep and this will all be forgotten in the morning." Dil lazily closed his eyes and it wasn't long before he had drifted off.

-

Phil awoke to the sun shining through his curtains, lighting up the whole room. He sat up and looked down at the sleeping boy next to him who's mouth was slightly agape with tiny snores letting themselves out. Dil looked so adorable when sleeping, so adorable that the night before's events took a couple of minutes to come back. When they did, Phil couldn't help but sigh; he needed to get in contact with Dan to make sure he was safe. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table next to him and gasped- Dil was going to be late for school. "Dilly?" He whispered, slightly shaking the small boy to awake him.

"Mhmm..?" Was Dil's response as he forced his eyes open lazily.

"You need to get ready for school. You're late. I'll make your lunch and pack your bag while you get changed, okay?"

"Is dad back yet?" Dil asked, letting out a small yawn as he pulled himself out of bed.

"Not yet. Come on, let's get ready."

-

Dil picked up his backpack, slinging it over one shoulder and sliding on his converse shoes. "Bye daddy." He muttered, opening the door and starting to walk towards school. He hummed along to the music he was listening to as he walked down the path. It was a depressing song, as usual, since he liked having a sad song to accompany his depressing thoughts.

After all the rush to get ready, he was actually early.

He got into the school gates and to tutor within a mere 10 minutes. He slumped down in his seat at the back, taking out his maths book and laying it out in front of him. He started to read through his previous sums, trying to figure where he went wrong. Right at the beginning, he had been getting every question right but, since about half way through the book, he was getting close to nothing. He snapped his book shut when he couldn't bear the terrible mistakes any longer and shoved it back into his bag.

He put his head in his hands and closed his eyes; why was he so stupid?

-

"Dil, can you stay behind, please." Dil's teacher called him back and he stopped in his step, turning around to face the teacher.

"Yes, miss?" He mumbled, forcing a smile as if to say 'I'm okay'.

"Take a seat, I'd like to have a word." Dil pulled out a seat, beginning to get a little confused as to why his teacher sounded so concerned. "I've noticed your dramatic drop in grades and I couldn't help but wonder how you managed to drop that drastically over the course of one year. Is there something going on at home?"

"No! Of course not!" Dil couldn't help but yell; how dare the teacher suspect that his parents weren't looking after him properly? Was she implying something else? His parents were perfect..

"Dil, it's okay if there's something going on. We can get you help-"

"My dads love me! They'd never even think of hurting me."

"We are just concerned."

"Well stop. I'm fine!" Dil screamed, tears threatening to fall as he collapsed to the ground. He began to sob, hating himself for being so stupid, for being sad about something as small as his grades.

"Dil, I think it's best we contact your parents."

"Please, don't."

"Why not?" Dil shrugged, letting out a small sniff. "Unless you give us a valid reason not to, we are obliged to contact home."

Dil couldn't think of a reason and that was how he ended up spending time with the receptionist, waiting for the school to speak to his parents.

It took about 10 minutes for them to come back with news saying that Phil was on his way. "What are you going to tell him?" Dil wondered and the teacher smiled kindly.

"We're just going to ask him some questions, that's all."

"That's all?" The teacher nodded and Dil folded his arms, just hoping Phil would hurry up and get here.

-

"Mr Howell-Lester, we are unhappy to inform you that your son's grades are dropping, as you may have already known. Is there something happening at home?" The teacher asked, once Phil was in the classroom with her, sitting on one of the tables.

"No, everything's okay." Phil lied, forcing a smile at the over-kind teacher; as if he'd tell the school about what was happening. As soon as he did, everyone would know about it and everyone would get involved.

"Could there possibly be something happening here? Bullying maybe?"

"Not that I know of, he seems pretty content with school."

"Are you sure that nothing has happened?"

"Certain."

"Thank you, Mr Howell-Lester, we will try and get your son a tutor or something if that's what you'd like?"

"I think I can help him at home, thank you. I'm afraid to say that Dil and I are needed elsewhere, thank you for informing me on this."

"No problem, as soon as anything else happens, you'll be the first to know." Phil nodded, exiting the room and grabbing Dil's hand who was timidly standing by the door.

"What did she want?" Dil asked as soon as they were out of the building.

"To know why your grades dropped. Don't tell her or anyone about Dan and I, okay? We'll fix things and everything will be okay again."

"Okay. Where's dad?"

"I spoke to him earlier and he apologised. He should be home before you go to sleep tonight."

"He's not going to hate me is he?"

"Of course not, silly, now come on, I'll treat you to a takeaway!" Phil ruffled Dil's hair and he giggled, excited at Phil's suggestion.

"Yay!" That night Phil just spoilt Dil, just letting him have the time of his life in repay for how sad he had been feeling and how hard the last few days had been for him.

When they finally got home a couple of hours later, they found the door was unlocked and Dan's bedroom light was on, meaning he had returned. Dil immediately ran to his dad's door and knocked on it repeatedly, in hope of apologising. "Dad! I'm really sorry!" Dil cried as soon as Dan came into view, running and hugging his dad as tight as possible.

"Dilly, I'm sorry too. I overreacted and daddy was right, you should just enjoy your childhood. I acted like a complete idiot, I know and I apologise for my stupidity. Forgive me Dilly?" Dan softly smiled at his son, a sad glint in his eyes, showing just how sorry he was.

"Of course I'd forgive you! I love you dad!" Dil screeched, grinning widely.

"Thank you, I love you, always remember that, okay? No matter how much me and daddy fight, I will always love you. Even if I'm not there to say it, I still do." Dan whispered, brushing Dil's fringe from over his sparkling eyes.

"I love you too, dad! You're the best dad ever."

"I'm not." Dil shook his head, his face going a cheerful red colour to show he was truly happy again.

"Yes you are!"

"I shouldn't shout but I do. I get really agitated when I am stressed."

"Not your fault, daddy. You're amazing! I love you!"

"Really?" Dil eagerly nodded, his tongue poking out a little as he giggled. "I love you too. If I ever shout at you, don't take it seriously. Just give me a little space and time to cool down, I don't like yelling at you, Dilly."

"I don't like it either but it doesn't matter because I love you!"

"Aw, since when did I deserve such an adorable, kind kid like you?"

"SINCE FOREVER!" Dan giggled at Dil's enthusiasm, finding it quite cute. He just couldn't believe that he had even considered yelling at this boy, since at that moment he loved him so much, so much more than he loved himself or anyone around him (although he loved Phil a little bit more).

"Now, Dil, I'm going to apologise to dad, I will try not to shout again, for you."

"And I will try and study a little bit more!" They both smiled and Dan headed out of his room to Phil who was now in the kitchen, getting himself a drink. Dil sneakily followed and pressed his ear against the door of the kitchen, hoping to listen in on his parents making up.

"I'm sorry, Phil, I didn't mean to yell at all. I was just stressed from everything.." Dan told Phil and Dil smiled softly to himself.

"That doesn't mean you can take it out on Dil.. Did you see how sad he was?" Dil's smile dropped into a frown as thoughts swirled in his mind, saying they were never going to make up and it was all Dil's fault- he ignored them.

"Yeah, I know.. it was unacceptable but I promised him that I would never do it again."

"Promise me, too?"

"Phil, I promise that I will never ever ever shout at you or Dil ever again, if I do, I give you full permission to kick me out of the house. I am so sorry, can't you tell..?"

"Did you tell Dil that you were sorry? Did he accept your apology?"

"Yes- Yes! I swear he did.." Dil could just about make out that Dan was in tears, since his voice was croaky and hoarse, it hurt him to know his dad was upset and he couldn't do anything about it.

"If Dil forgives you, then so do I. I'm sorry too for being so harsh Dan, I hope you understand my point though.."

"Oh my gosh, I love you." Dil could immediately tell that they were hugging because the room silenced and a smile creeped its way onto his face. He sunk to the floor, a wide grin on his face as he punched the air in happiness.

"I love you too.." Phil responded and Dil found his smile growing, until tears of happiness were falling down his red, chubby cheeks.

"What are you doing, Dilly?" Dan chuckled and Dil looked up to see his dad. He leaped up and wrapped his arms around his dad, just sobbing out of pure happiness.

"Are you crying?" Phil wondered aloud and Dil nodded, still smiling.

"You're okay!" Dil screeched, moving over to hug Phil as well, not even acknowledging the look of surprise of their faces.

"Oh, Dilly." Dan and Phil both said at the same time, chuckling to each other.

This was almost 3000 words omg. That's a lot of words.. I usually only write like.. 1000-2000 xD.

Oops? Is that a bad thing or a good thing? I don't even know x3.

...ALSO HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I FORGOT TO SAY BEFORE SO YAY FOR HALLOWEEN! TIME TO GET SPOOPY!..

I'm going now because I'm getting a little weird.

anyways.. HALLOWEEN