Phil thought he knew his life, he honesty did.

Wake up, drink coffee, go to work, go home, go to bed.

After they've finished the novel, if it does well, write another. If not he would become a middle school teacher.

He's had it planned out for three years.

So honestly, he should've expected this. Things were just going to well for Philip Micheal Lester.

"Oh my gosh Phil I love your socks."

Phil smiled sheepishly at Hailey. "Yeah, I made them myself."

The car jerked as Hailey yelled, seemingly scaring Dan.

"That's so cool!"

Hailey reached over at whacked Dan's arm. "You didn't tell me he was this cool."

Phil snorted. "Thanks for the advertisement Dan."

"Phil seriously, you need it, what nerd makes their own socks?"

"Phil does." Hailey said happily.

Phil smiled. He liked Dan's friend. They've never met but when they were dating Dan talked about Hailey and Riley all the time. He described Hailey perfectly, rowdy, nice, and very talkative.

"So, is Louise nice?" She asked.

Dan nodded. "Of course, sweetest person I've ever met."

Suddenly, Hailey dramatically sighed from the back.

"You know who's the sweetest person I've ever met, Phil?" She asked.

Dan smiled softly. "Here we go again."

"Their name is Riley!" She states dramatically. "I've never known a star that shines as bright."

Phil shared a smile with Dan. "Well, I can't wait to meet Riley someday."

Hailey smiled. "You will, I just gotta wait awhile to get settled in and all, then hopefully we'll fly them out here."

They finally pulled up in front of Louise's apartment. Phil sees her almost every week, he and Brian come over for dinner quite a lot. Zoe used to come over a lot too, but she recently moved to Paris to study fashion for a few years. Louise ran Zoe's parents cupcake shop now, so money was never an issue.

"You said she has a kid, right?" Hailey asked as they climbed the steps.

"Yeah, Darcy, she's such a dear," Phil answered. "She doesn't know Dan very well though, so we'll have to see how that plays out."

They walked up to the apartment door and knocked on the door softly.

"I'm coming!"

Phil glanced over at Dan, he looked a little nervous. Louise was nothing new but Phil could understand, they both hadn't seen one another in person for a while.

Phil reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Dan looked back and smiled, one of those smiles that used to make Phil melt.

He smiled back goofily. Maybe they still made him melt.

The door busted open with Louise on the other side.

"Dan, Phil!" She brought both boys in for a hug.

Hailey stood by the door awkwardly. When Louise let go she stuck her hand out to Louise. Both girls shook hands and greeted one another.

"So glad you can join us, Dan talks so much of you and Riley."

Hailey smiled. "They better be all good things."

The girls smiled and chatted as they walked inside. Phil watched Dan as he examined the place. Louise finally snuck up behind the boys and hugged them again.

"Phil seriously, warn we went you walk up with our Dan." Louise ruffled his hair.

"Louise, not the quiff!" He tried to straighten his hair up again.

Dan smiled and gave Louise a kiss on the cheek. "You were the one planning this all along, was this the big surprise you mentioned?"

Louise smiled. "Well, one of them."

They went into the small kitchen, it was clear the mess hadn't been cleaned from when she had finished baking. Bowls and flour were thrown here and there, and a few pizza toppings.

"Please ignore the small pizza, it's Darcy's, I thought she asked to put banana peppers on it, but she really meant bananas and peppers."

Hailey smiled. Phil noticed a change in her personality, the once rowdy and talkative girl was gone. She sat back silently and waited for the food to be done.

Phil would've said something but Dan suddenly spoke up.

"Where is Darcy?" He played with his thumbs as he asked.

Louise called Darcy out of her room.

Darcy was a beautiful girl, resembling her mother very much. She was quirky and polite. Phil got along with her very well, he had some experience with kids, having taking care of his niece, Sarah, so much in his teen years. Darcy loved him as he did her.

"Uncle Phil!"

Phil smiled and swung Darcy around the room as she jumped in his arms. She shrieked gleefully and clung to his body long after he stopped swinging her.

"You're getting heavy." He joked.

Darcy nodded. "I know, soon I'll be able to carry you!"

Dan looked awkwardly on to the pair. He'd only seen Darcy a handful of times, Phil knew. Darcy heard of him, but never really considered him as high as she did Phil.

Darcy hopped off Phil and walked over to him. She gave him a smile that could make you fall in love and stuck out her hand.

"I'm Darcy, you're Dan, right?"

Dan smiled and shook her hand. "Yeah, I've met you when you were a baby, though you probably don't remember me."

Darcy nodded. "No, but I bet we'll be best friends."

Dan smiled and Phil saw him relax. Phil always used to envision how Dan would be with children when they dated. Phil always knew he wanted a family, but Dan tried to stay away from the top. Often he knew why.

Phil leaned back and sighed.

He must've knew they would never make it.

"Pizza is ready!" Louise called out. "I hope you like pepperoni."

____

Dinner was nice. Hailey finally seemed to get comfortable with them all and even tried some of Darcy's pizza.

Phil could tell Dan liked being back home. Phil had moved back after highschool to go to a college near the area. The same one Dan was suppose to go to until he got another offer.

Dinner was already over, and Darcy had already started feasting on her pie when Louise decided to tell them the news.

"Okay, now, me and Zoe are the only ones who know this, so it's very top secret." Louise teased, tweaking Darcy's nose.

"Tell us Mummy, please tell us."

Louise smiled. "I'm pregnant."

Cheers erupted from around the table. The boys got up to hug Louise.

Darcy seemed the most happy. She jumped out her seat and hugged her mother. Phil remember when she found she was pregnant with Darcy, she was excited but scared, she was still in college and had no money. Phil hoped it would be different for her this time around.

"Can I name her Mummy, can I?" Darcy bounced around.

With stars in her eyes she gasped. "Can we name her Pearl?"

Louise smiled and pet her head. "We're not naming the baby based on your tv character."

Dan and Phil smiled at one another. They both tight how wonderful it was for Louise, she loved Darcy so much, she would love another little baby around.

"Okay," Hailey broke the moment. "All for it, but I was promised there would be ice cream for my pie?"

____

Louise sent the boys off with hugs and kisses. They were all giggles as the night ended, talking of the baby like school girls.

"Come back anytime, you to Hailey."

She rolled her eyes and hid a smile. "Whatever."

Both the artists had already offered Phil a ride home as it was dark outside. Not that he was complaining, every moment spent with Dan was a moment well spent.

"Your friends are cool Dan." Hailey said as they drove off. "No wonder you kept crying about home."

They argued and joked as the car ride came to an end. Phil supposed Dan's american friends were cool as well, at least the one he knew of.

Dan waved Phil off as he ran up the the front door. A sudden honk made Phil turn around.

"Tell Brian I said hi!"

Phil looked back and he could have sworn he was back in highschool again. The way Dan hung out the passenger side window with that mirthful smirk on his face, Phil felt that feeling all over again.

He shook his head and went in his house. Hoping Brian was still up to hear about his day.