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Snow dusted the winding roads of the Isle of Man as Dan and Phil made their way up the familiar path to Phil’s parent’s home. Nestled between rolling hills and the coastline, the house glowed warmly in the evening light. Inside, the Lesters were already in full holiday mode—laughter spilling from the living room, the scent of spiced cider and mulled wine thick in the air, and the twinkling lights casting a golden hue over the room.
Dan, wrapped in one of Phil’s oversized knit sweaters, sat between Phil and Martyn on the couch, his hands wrapped around a mug of something he was sure had started as hot chocolate but was now at least 50% Bailey’s. Kath had been topping up everyone’s drinks at an alarming rate, and though Dan wasn’t usually much of a drinker, he felt too polite to refuse.
"Another mince pie, love?" Kath asked, already pressing a plate of them into his hands before he could answer.
Dan smiled weakly. "Oh—thank you, Kath."
Phil nudged him, smirking. "You know you can say no, right?"
Dan gave him a pointed look. "Can I, though?" He glanced toward Kath, who was now hovering over Cornelia, trying to convince her to take a second helping of pudding.
"Not really," Phil admitted with a grin.
Martyn’s little girl, a whirlwind of energy, had taken up residence at Dan’s feet, arranging a set of plastic dinosaurs into a battle formation. Every so often, she would hand Dan one and instruct him, very seriously, to make it "RAWR" at Uncle Phil. Dan, the obliging guest, complied with increasing levels of dramatic flair.
"Alright!" Nigel clapped his hands together. "Who's up for charades?"
"Dan should go first," Martyn suggested immediately. "I think he’s just tipsy enough to be hilarious."
"Am not," Dan mumbled, taking another sip of his suspiciously strong drink. The warmth in his chest told a different story.
"Come on then," Phil teased, nudging him toward the center of the room.
Dan groaned but stood anyway, swaying slightly. "Fine. But if I embarrass myself, I’m blaming your mother."
"Join the club," Martyn muttered.
***
Eventually, as the clock crept past midnight, the room began to thin out. Kath was the first to declare defeat, patting Dan on the cheek affectionately before retreating upstairs. Cornelia scooped up her now-sleepy child and disappeared down the hall, followed by Martyn and Nigel, who exchanged knowing smirks at Dan’s glassy-eyed expression before bidding goodnight.
Dan slumped back into the couch with a heavy sigh, his head tipping against Phil’s shoulder. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room, and the only sounds left were the distant ticking of a clock and the occasional gust of wind outside.
Phil glanced down at Dan, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Dan blinked slowly, his head still resting against Phil’s shoulder. He lifted his hand as if to gesture something profound but only managed a loose, floppy wave.
“M’feelin’…” He frowned, clearly concentrating. “S’good. Warm. Like… a pudding. But… like, if the pudding had… legs.” He paused, eyes half-lidded. “And thoughts.”
Phil let out a burst of giggles, barely holding himself together. “A pudding with thoughts?”
Dan nodded solemnly, as if this was an incredibly important revelation. “Yeah. A lil’ sentient boozy puddin’.”
Phil wheezed, shaking his head. “Oh my god, you are absolutely smashed.”
Dan turned his head sluggishly toward Phil, squinting at him. “M’not smashed. Just… very… politely… drunk.” He punctuated the last words by poking Phil’s chest with his finger, missing the first time.
Phil, completely taken by the ridiculousness of it all, fell into a fit of giggles, his whole body shaking against Dan’s. He was just tipsy enough himself that everything Dan said was ten times funnier. “You’re ridiculous.”
Dan made a sleepy sound of agreement. “M’very charming.”
Phil hummed, still giggling. “Very.” He let his head fall against Dan’s, warmth spreading through his chest.
Dan shifted slightly, his fingers fumbling to take Phil’s hand, lazily lacing them together. “Your family’s so nice,” he murmured, voice heavy with exhaustion and affection. “S’overwhelming. But nice.”
Phil squeezed his hand, his own laughter dying down into something softer. “They love you, you know.”
Dan smiled dopily. “S’good. ‘Cause I love you.”
Phil melted, absolutely pliant now, a giddy smile still stretched across his face. “I love you too, you sentimental pudding man.”
“Take me to bed, piggy”. Dan murmured.
Phil let out a soft laugh, shaking his head fondly. “You’re so lucky I love you,” he murmured, pressing a quick kiss to Dan’s forehead before shifting to stand.
Dan made an exaggerated effort to lift his arms, completely boneless. “M’too weak. Gotta carry me.”
Phil rolled his eyes but played along, tugging Dan up with him, his hands steady on Dan’s waist as he helped him find his footing. Dan swayed dramatically, letting Phil take on most of his weight, which only sent Phil into another fit of giggles.
“Okay, okay, come on,” Phil said, guiding Dan toward the stairs.
Dan hummed contentedly as Phil pulled him along, his steps slow and careful, one arm still wrapped around Dan’s waist. “S’like a rom-com,” Dan mumbled as they climbed the stairs.
Phil smiled, giving Dan’s hand a squeeze. “Yeah?”
Dan nodded against his shoulder. “Yeah. ‘Cept instead of carrying me bridal style, you’re just… dragging me up the stairs.”
Phil snorted. “I’d carry you if you weren’t a full-grown man with noodle limbs.”
Dan giggled at that, letting Phil shuffle him down the hallway. The house had quieted now, the soft creaks of the old floorboards beneath their feet the only sound besides their muffled laughter. Their room was at the very end of the hall, tucked away from the others—luckily. The moment Phil pushed the door open, the cozy space welcomed them with its familiar comfort: dim fairy lights strung along the headboard, an extra pile of blankets Kath had insisted they take, and the soft scent of home lingering in the air.
Phil guided Dan to the edge of the bed, letting him collapse gracelessly onto the soft duvet. Dan let out a long, dramatic sigh, sprawling out like a starfish. Phil chuckled, shaking his head as he kicked off his slippers and climbed onto the bed beside him.
“You good?” Phil asked, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at Dan.
Dan nodded sluggishly, his eyes half-closed. “M’fine. Just… s’nice.” He gestured vaguely to the bed. “Feels like… a cloud.”
Phil laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Dan’s face. “A cloud, huh?”
“Mhm,” Dan hummed, his lips curving into a sleepy smile. “You’re nice too. Like… a marshmallow. But… a hot marshmallow.”
Phil raised an eyebrow, his cheeks tingeing pink. “Is that right?”
“Yeah,” Dan said, his voice slurring slightly. “S’warm. And squishy. But also… handsome. Like, weirdly handsome. Like… a model marshmallow.”
Phil couldn’t help but grin, his heart swelling with affection. He loved moments like this—when Dan’s guard was down, and he was just Dan. No overthinking, no anxiety—just pure, unfiltered sweetness. Dan fit so perfectly into Phil’s family. Watching him tonight had made Phil’s chest ache in the best way.
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Dan’s forehead, and Dan let out a contented sigh. “You’re really lovely, you know that?” Phil murmured.
Dan’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, a sleepy smile tugging at his lips. “S’cause I’m a pudding. Sentient puddings are… inherently lovely.”
Phil laughed softly, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on Dan’s arm. “Sentient puddings, huh?”
“Mhm,” Dan hummed, his eyes closing again. “S’a thing. Google it.”
Phil shook his head, still smiling. He wanted to stay like this forever—just the two of them, wrapped up in their own little world. But Dan’s no-cuddling rule when at Phil’s parents’ house loomed in the back of his mind. The idea of being heard, of someone walking in or overhearing something, made Dan’s anxiety spike. It was a rule Phil respected, even if it killed him a little inside.
But tonight… tonight Phil couldn’t help himself.
“Dan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room.
Dan made a soft, questioning noise, his head turning slightly toward Phil.
“Can I kiss you?” Phil asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
Dan blinked his eyes open, a sleepy, confused expression on his face. “Wha…? S’against the rules.”
“I know,” Phil said, his voice still low. “But… it’s just us. No one’s going to hear. And I just… I want to kiss you. Just once.”
Dan hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. He glanced toward the door, as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. But then he looked back at Phil, and something in his expression softened.
“Just once?” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Just once,” Phil promised, his hand reaching up to brush against Dan’s cheek.
Dan’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he just stared at Phil, his eyes searching his face. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Phil leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss—gentle, but full of warmth and affection. Dan’s hand found its way to Phil’s side, his fingers curling as he kissed him back.
It was sweet and slow, the kind of kiss that sent shivers down Phil’s spine. He pulled away just enough to rest his forehead against Dan’s, their breaths mingling in the space between them.
“See?” Phil whispered, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Not so bad, right?”
Dan’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes half-lidded as he looked up at Phil. “S’nice,” he admitted softly. “But… s’still against the rules.”
Phil chuckled, his fingers brushing against Dan’s jaw. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
Dan hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the door again. But then he looked back at Phil, and something in his expression shifted.
“One more?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Phil’s heart skipped a beat, and he didn’t need to be asked twice. He leaned in again, this time deepening the kiss. Dan’s fingers tightened, pulling him closer as their lips moved together in a slow, steady rhythm.
The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them, wrapped up in each other. Phil could feel Dan’s heartbeat against his chest, fast and steady, and it made his own pulse quicken.
When they finally pulled apart, Dan was breathless, his cheeks flushed and his lips slightly parted. He looked up at Phil with wide, sleepy eyes, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then, Dan let out a soft, contented sigh, his head falling back against the pillows.
“Okay,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. “S’enough.”
Phil smiled, his fingers brushing against Dan’s cheek one last time. “Okay,” he whispered. “I’ll behave.”
Dan hummed in response, his eyes already closing. Phil watched him for a moment, his chest aching with affection, before lying down beside him.
The room was quiet except for the soft sound of their breathing, and Phil couldn’t help but smile to himself as he drifted off.
Soon as the silence dragged on, Dan found himself unable to sleep. The memory of Phil’s lips on his lingered, making his chest feel tight. He glanced over at him. He was already fast asleep, his breath even and steady.
Carefully, he leaned in, his lips brushing against Phil’s ear.
“Phil?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Phil stirred slightly, a soft, questioning noise escaping his lips.
Dan hesitated. Then, slowly, he whispered, “One more?”