Brandon awoke late the next morning, feeling only emptiness beside him, where Danny had previously been. He was struck with a sudden jolt of fear, had he not known Danny's dad was back, he probably wouldn't be as fearful, but he was.

He was alone in the blanket fort, he could hear laughter and chatter from downstairs, but having a sudden feeling of difference made him contemplate what to do. Why had they left him alone? Perhaps they wanted to let him sleep, or perhaps they just didn't like him.

"You're finally awake." Mia shook him out of his thoughts as she entered, she looked slightly... annoyed?

"Where's Danny?" Brandon asked without waiting for a heartbeat.

"He told you then?" She replied, not answering his question. He had never felt hostility from her before.

"Yeah." Brandon was interrupted before he said more.

"Good, then we can talk." She say down opposite him, making him slightly nervous. "I need you to promise me that you won't do anything rash concerning Danny's dad." He frowned, why was she being like this.

"I don't understand." He frowned.

"He's going through a lot okay, I love him like a brother and I will not have you being rash and trying to force a situation in anyway between him and his dad." She took a deep breath. "Brandon, Danny might be in danger, but I don't want you getting involved. He doesn't know Danny has a boyfriend, and I know for a fact he is homophobic. You'll do more damage then good."

"I just want to help him." Brandon sighed, Mia had never been like this before.

"You can't, just let him deal with it and be there to comfort him." She responded, he sighed again and nodded. As much as he hated to admit it, she knew Danny better than he did, so she was probably right.

"Okay." However much it pained him to agree, he did. Doing things rationally wasn't always his strong suit.

"Good, I'm glad he's got you Brandon." She smiled. "Breakfasts nearly ready."

He watched her leave and then broke out of his thoughts when there was a knock at the front door. Whomever it was received a joyous greeting, and Brandon curiously moved to the door of the room, trying to hear what was going on.

"Better late then never Jaeden." He heard Mia scold lightly. He heard an unfamiliar laugh and jealousy boiled in his heart. He had hoped, after not seeing him there the previous evening, that Jaeden would not be there. Alas, this was not the case.

Making his way downstairs, Brandon caught Danny in his arms as the boy passed him. Making the younger smile at once.

"Good morning you." He laughed, adjusting himself so he could hug his boyfriend back. "How did you sleep?"

"Alright, until I woke up and you were gone." Brandon pouted jokingly at his boyfriend. Danny laughed lightly.

"I didn't want to wake you, and I got bored." He replied. "Hey you haven't met Jay yet!" Danny exclaimed this after a moment of thought. Brandon decided to play dumb.

"I haven't met who?" He asked, Danny laughed at him, he seemed to be in a laughing mood.

"My best friend stupid." He poked his tongue out at Brandon, whom did like wise.

"I thought I was your best friend." Brandon pouted.

"Your my BOYfriend silly." Danny rolled his eyes. "That's better."

Brandon grinned, he liked this idea. "Am I now?"

"Yep!" Danny grinned back. Brandon pressed his lips to his boyfriend's.

"Happy birthday." He whispered. Danny went red, he hated having a fuss made of him. "Your presents upstairs."

"Thank you Bran." Danny hugged him tightly.

"I love you." Brandon said it simply, but it made Danny smile, as it did every time.

"I love you too." The younger laughed, Brandon kissed his head and briefly mourned his hair. "Come on! You'll love him, I know it."

Brandon rolled his eyes and allowed Danny to drag him into the kitchen.

A tall, blonde boy was laughing with Charlie and Trisha. He grinned at the two when they entered and walked over to them at once. "Is this Brandon?" He seemed genuine enough, but Brandon still wasn't sure about him.

Danny nodded, his hand holding Brandon's, he seemed so happy. "Yep! Bran this is Jay, Jay this is Bran."

"Its nice to finally meet you, seeing as he talks about you all the time." Jaeden glanced teasingly at Danny, who pulled a face at him.

"All the time?" Brandon glanced at Danny, who went red and half hid his face in Brandon's arm.

"Not all the time." Danny mumbled.

"At least once a day." Jaeden pointed out, Brandon laughed and wrapped an arm around Danny tightly.

"Once a day huh?" Brandon smirked. He felt Danny laugh.

"Shh." The younger whispered, but he was still smiling. God Brandon loved his smile.

"You said he was tall." Jaeden mused, Danny sighed.

"I said he was tall compared to me." Danny replied, Brandon laughed at the exchange. Jaeden sighed.

"Why are you my best friend?"

"Because I'm the only one insane enough to put up with you."

^^^
Danny seemed to have enjoyed his birthday, the promise ring Brandon had given him (along with some honey dukes sweets that he seemed to adore) seemed to be his favourite gift, and the group currently sat in Mia's loving room, watching the nightmare before Christmas, which was Danny's favourite film and one of the only juggle films Brandon had ever seen. And that was only due to the fact that Danny had made him watch it with him, several times a year.

Danny sat with him on the loveseat, which they shared with April and Jaeden, whom were holding hands. Although there didn't actually seem to be anything going on between them.

Brandon had finally met Mia's hellish dog, which lay curled up in her lap at that moment. He agreed with the others that it was some sort of reincarnation of the dark Lord, as it had tried to bite Danny three times and had successfully bitten Trisha Once, the other times she had hit it away.

He hadn't felt as happy as he did in that moment in a long time. He held Danny's hand in his, feeling the metal if the ring on his thumb. It reminded him of the question he hoped to one day ask the boy. But not yet, first he had to get through this part of life.