#but also dnp are the reason i travel and make friends

[pseudophan]

what would your life be like without dan and phil and being a phannie

i think about this all the time and i can't decide whether the answer is thriving or stuck in my room depressed forever

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Fics With Titles That Start With B (3) Masterlist

Links last checked: October 26th, 2024

part one, part two

baby, if you wanna try (ao3) - sunflowerwitches (orphan_account)

Summary: wearing jewellery doesn't work in phil's favour when he sees friends that he hasn't seen in a while and they automatically assume he's engaged. engaged to dan

baby, you could be the death of me (ao3) - manchestereye

Summary: “don’t make this weird, idiot. stop looking at my ass when we crawl.”

dan and phil are detectives who “hate” each other.

or, b99 au (kinda) and dnp are sarcastic little shits that spiraled a rivalry over some misunderstandings.

Back Seat Bingo (ao3) - existingcourage

Summary: Phil, a young television and radio personality lands Dan, an upcoming producer as a co-worker. Friendship is inevitable, but what happens when life, love, and fear gets in the way? A 1950’s Phan AU.

Back To Zero (ao3) - intoapuddle

Summary: One weekend, one house, five people, a recent breakup; Dan wasn't exactly thrilled, but he was going to show up for his friend, even if it meant having to share a bed with a stupid guy that sided with the even stupider guy that broke his friend's heart.

Bad at Being Straight (ao3) - Masterread

Summary: Ace!Phil and very gay Dan slowly realizing they may be more than friends, but Phil's not entirely sure how that's going to work out...

Bang Me Like Those Drums (ao3) - Analphancones

Summary: Phil is the drummer of a band, but how will the lead singer, Kevin, feel when he walks in on Phil banging his younger brother Dan as hard as Phil bangs his drums?

Barbie Horse Adventures (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Sometimes friends force you to get over your worst fears, sometimes you meet your soulmate in the process.

Bardic Inspiration (ao3) - dickiegreenleaf

Summary: Dan is a travelling bard looking for a safe place for him and his beloved horse to spend the night. Thankfully, the local tavern owner, Phil, can offer him one.

Because of Reasons (ao3) - adorkablephil (kimberly_a)

Summary: There’s always a reason why … so they come up with compromises. Or, Dan and Phil go out for a fancy dinner to celebrate Phil’s birthday.

been about you, since i met you. (ao3) - smallbump

Summary: Dan is the boy at school that makes Phil's heart jump and do a flip at the same time.

begin and never cease (ao3) - palomeheart

Summary: Dan is a grumpy second year law student living with reclusive, perpetual grad student named Phil. When the holiday season brings out a side of Phil that Dan’s never seen before, Meanwhile, when Phil finds out Dan hates all things festive, he makes it his goal to change Dan’s mind before Christmas. And also to find the perfect mince pie.

be sure to ring the doorbell (ao3) - frostbitten_cheeks

Summary: Dan’s a tired sports reporter. Phil’s a friendly vampire with no real sense of boundaries, a propensity for bad Dracula jokes and a habit of leaving his unconscious victims in Dan’s kitchen. This isn’t how Dan thought courtship goes, but he’ll take it.

be the shift of cornerstone (ao3) - frostbitten_cheeks

Summary: Japan is eight days of sushi and beauty and unwinding and Dan thinking of marriage far more than is necessary.

Black And White (And Screaming Color) (ao3) - mysticstargirl

Summary: the one where Dan is a teenager admitted to the hospital after his lung cancer hits a particularly nasty bump, and he hates it- but a beaming, beautiful, bright-eyed nurse named Phil Lester makes everything a bit better.

Dan is shades and layers of grey-black-white, but Phil is screaming color. The world is printer ink on cheap paper, Dan is thick, messy acrylic paint on rough paper, and Phil is pastel, watercolor stains on hot pressed canvas.

Everything fades with time, even masterpieces.

black butterflies and deja vu (ao3) - kae_karo

Summary: Once upon a time...there was a little boy, his name was- well, that’s not important. There was a little boy, and he didn’t have lots of friends.

But don’t worry, this isn’t a sad story, even though it sounds like it, I promise.

blue can be kind, too (ao3) - Tarredion

Summary: A tale of being scared, starting fresh, and making your first ever friends after experiencing violent bullying.

Or rather, four-year-old Dan's first day at his new kindergarten.

Breeze (ao3) - sarahjean

Summary: Usually Dan is the one sitting awake at ungodly hours of the morning quietly pondering all the usual things. Death, our career, our future and so many other things. Now it’s my turn. For me, I always lead towards our future. Our lives after this second tour is over. The plans we made over a glass or two of wine. All the big things that are incredibly amazing to think about.

Bring Me Home From Hell (ao3) - the_unwritten_ruler

Summary: It’s an important moment for Dan when he finally perfects the ritual for summoning a demon, but he gets a lot more than he bargained for when he sets the creature loose on his life.

Broke, Gay and New in Town (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Dan Howell was in dire need for a change - he hated his job and his life and he just felt stuck. His grandfather’s letter was a blessing that came with an incredible gift: A farm. Dan had no idea how to run a farm but he was willing to give it a try.

He arrived in Stardew Valley with few expectations but even so, he could never have imagined he would encounter magic, otherworldly creatures, corporate conspiracies, so many queer villagers, a secret destiny and right at the centre of it all the love of his life.

broken porcelain (put me back together baby) (ao3) - Tarredion

Summary: Dan wakes up - in pain, in little tiny pieces he can't make any sense of.

And Phil's out for the day, not there to take care of him while he lays in bed, contemplating the universe and why his goddamn brain has to spread its pain to the rest of his body on his worst of days.

[feelingofcontent]

DNP Rewatch: What's in my suitcase?!

Date video was published: 06/25/2014 (X)

DNP Main Channel Rewatch: 231

This was a seemingly last-minute Phil video before DNP headed to VidCon. (Although he did tweet about actually packing a couple days later...)

0:00 - so much travel.

0:06 - Phil has never moved faster in his life, lol. What sort of landlord doesn’t knock or ring the bell before just coming in?!

0:07 - I’m not sure trying to explain makes it better. 😊 Love that he added a subtitle for his landlord that is just “...?” 😂

0:14 - poor Phil. He looks so frazzled after that.

0:23 - “I’m writing an angry letter” somehow Phil does seem like an angry letter/email type of person if he’s really upset about something.

0:30 - all of Phil’s pajama pants are SO bright

0:35 - I’m with Phil here...wtf.

0:39 - oh, DNP both tweeted about seeing and crying at the TFIOS movie (1, 2, 3)

0:53 - he is paying such little attention to what he’s actually packing. Funny animal background (and voice, hahaha) of course.

0:59 - the bat t-shirt from back in Kissing a Plasma Ball! is still his favorite several months later

1:01 - I love the googly eyes on his DS, lol

1:05 - Phil’s recently used emojis are always a journey

1:25 - just a rain of random socks into the suitcase there

1:37 - ahhhhhh, those spider’s legs are so long. yikes

2:07 - I’m terrified by both that noise and face 😨

2:13 - why did he associate a question about sushi with Australia? lol

2:15 - so about a year before this. And Dan calling Phil brave for trying it. 🥺 Cat had a whole vlog that this clip is from.

2:29 - so many horrifying things in this video, actually

2:46 - well. yep.

2:52 - Phil’s pants halfway down his ass for once, like Dan’s usually are

2:57 - that looked dangerous but I’m surprised he got that high

3:08 - I love that the only thing he’s seems to be really embarrassed about from the past is his hair 😂

3:12 - of course he had a lion ready to go for this. But also...that is not the words, haha

3:20 - lol at him packing the Furby for some reason

3:27 - and the Totoro

3:31 - his annotation here 😂 Definitely not the most efficient way to pack.

3:54 - of course he has a “suitcase noise”

This is definitely a filler video with no substantial questions answered (not that that’s different than usual for this era), but cute all the same!

DNP were in California for Vid Con from June 24 (lol at this Dan post from the airport, and photos from the plane) to July 3. Both of them posted several photos (1, 2, 3) from Day 1. They also prepared for and did a stage performance of “who’s more likely too” (which will eventually get posted on Dan’s channel), had a 6+ hour meet-and-greet that they took a “template” photo for too, hung out with friends like Tyler and Cat, recorded for YouTubers React, adventured in LA, and went to Six Flags. 

But also found time to chill and play Mario Kart (lol at Phil giving a thumbs up?) and order room service. That sounds about right for DNP.

[yikesola]

Top 5 fics you read

As per usual my lack of object permanence means the order of this list is constantly changing and also there are many many not on this list that I love so much, please know that!

5

I am once again asking for the indie film based faithfully on @intoapuddle’s “Unveiled” 😭

4

Sneaking several fics in this spot by saying @capriciouscrab’s cowboy au, I adore these jaded but protective versions of dnp seeking the safety of home

3

@indistinct-echo’s “Bowling��� gives me everything I want in a through-the-years fic and gives me all the fondness and head shakes and smiles

2

Picking a fav @calvinahobbes fic is haaaaard but “two lions” Does still make me cry and yes Does still hit different!

1

@ahappydnp’s “Devan” oh the introspection! Oh the cheering each other on! Oh the subtly and growth and Understanding :’)

And I combined both your fic questions into one post for simplicity :)) ty!

5

“Boyfriend Picks My Outfits” I really loved all my commissions for different reasons but this one stands out to me because I got to really go off with the wish fulfillment in a way I think i tend to stop myself from, plus I got to dream shop for outfits which I love doing for them :))

4

“Girl Crush” 2nd person is scary and this was written for an event which I always love bc it makes me do the scary things. I love Harry’s cover of this song and the queer ache of it all

3

“Calculated Risks” I love a sam the surfer cameo, I love having them travel, and I love having them be what the other needs ;__; this was idk I guess just a classic solid yikesola fic

2

“Live Incidentally” my screen printing au that I wasn’t sure I’d ever finish as all my health shit began when I was like 1/3 of the way through, but I did finish and I do love her so very much :’)

1

“Conjuncture” my first baby ;__; an idea I couldn’t shake but HAD to see written down until I simply decided to do it myself...... I did not anticipate all the fics I’ve written since then or the friends I’ve made, and tbh? Maybe I worry I haven’t written a fic I like as much since akskdk

[stardustandvanilla]

Ok so today I had this dream about dnp and it was like.

So it starts in the movie theatre and I'm just sitting there alone with a HUGE tub of popcorn that my mum would never get me, but in hindsight, this is the most realistic dream I've ever had, besides the fact that it was literally very dark and blackish, like all my dreams. So I find out that dnp are sitting RIGHT NEXT TO ME, and instead of freaking out I say oh hello there, Dan and hello Phil. I watch your channels religiously and I worship you and I low-key ship you but only because I can't bear to think of you with anyone else. Which is significantly worse but for some reason they say oh that's nice, would you like a picture? now I've never actually met them, or seen them live, so bear that in mind.

I say, no, but we could talk?

Yeah sure, and we talk about a lot of things that I don't quite remember and then I go home and I'm finally fangirlly and I say I MET DAN AND PHIL AND IT WAS AMAZING AND NOW THEY'RE MY FRIENDS. And then my friend says no they're not they say that to everyone. And then I'm sad.

So then after a bit of dreaming that I don't quite remember, I meet dnp again and this time they're going somewhere, some sort ancestral home of dan's and they say, you wanna come? And I say, yeah sure why not? So my whole fam (we were traveling) comes along and we get in the car and dnp sit on either sides of me cause they don't know anyone else here and we go to this huge run down, ivy covered mansion-ish house. We go inside and it's pretty open and all I remember of it was a huge hall with a lot of bedrooms and a long corridor that leads to another huge hall with shelves, like just empty shelves covering one wall.

So we get our rooms and in this house everything's brown. I wake up to get some water and I see something floating around the huge shelves but I don't say anything I just go back to my room.

So we wake up later in the night to play some games and stuff, but there's no electricity and we have to use fire. We're waiting for dan and phil to show up, and then phil does and you know in my dream, phil was taller than dan sometimes. So I ask phil where dan is and he says he's coming.

Now I get a little curious and I go along the corridor to see what that floating thingy is and at the end of the corridor and I see a GHOST. And then I go paralyzed. I crumble to the floor and the ghost comes up to me and I see that it's DAN AND HE PUTS HIS FACE REAL NEAR AND ROADS IN MY FACE. Then he picks me up and takes me to the car and I stay there and after a while I get up and it's time to go so I get back in the car that's for me, my friend, dan and phil. Dan makes to go in another car but I make him sit with me and I say to my mum whose on the other side, phil was gonna sit there! She says too bad and phil sits up front. So then dan is really sad and he looks out the window and I say, I know you're a ghost and he says, its not like that and I say I love you no matter what (platonically/as a fangirl) and then he falls asleep and roars in my face again and wakes up again and my mum trades places with phil so that I can talk to him and I ask him what's going on.

At this point everyone has gone home so it's just us four (my friend, sorry tho, you don't play a role in the rest).

Phil tells me that when dan was a kid he came to visit his uncle and his uncle told him never drink from the Glass of Immortals that need The Double Keys of Glass to open because something bad would happen (this stuff was at that house btw) but little boi dan did anyway and then his uncle said, from now onwards, whenever you sleep you'll turn into a ghost that must take The Double Keys of Glass and you must drink from the Glass of Immortals once again to break the spell because the spell does three things: it makes sure that once you're 27 you can't look any older than that, and that you can't sleep because you turn into a ghost and that those around you will have anti ageing effects too.

So phil asks me if I could help them because adults can't take the Keys to break the spell and ghosts can't pick them up either, I say, of course I will! And my friend storms off. (I think. Also the friend is not you; you know who I'm talking to. It was some random person)

So we go back to the mansion and open the lock and dan is a ghost again and I've learned that he's compelled to make the face and roar every time so, I ignore him and run past all the other ghosts trying to get it and grab it. We run out of there and break the curse.

After that Dan goes inside and the house has electricity now and I just sit on the swinging bench and Phil comes over and he says, you did a great job and there is no reason to be sad and he hugs me and I ask him whether phan is actually canon or not, but even dream dan and phil are secret keepers and he says, wait for spring and subscribe to tyler. I say I already am.

Then it cuts to a scene of when lots of budding artists have to fight the elements whilst chained to the ground and as I bring a bucket of 'rain water' to some ballet dancers, I see my principle and she says the show was brilliant and I say, thanks it was based on a fanfic style dream of mine and then I start telling her the story and then I wake up.

[jestbee]

Of dogs and Disobedience

Title: Of Dogs and Disobedience Words: 2870 Summary: The five times they tried to have rules for their dog, and the one time they gave up.

Authors Note: Today has been a great day and I hyped about the tour and possibly seeing it with my pals. So, to @ineverhadmyinternetphase and @charlottekath who inspired me to write this by talking about much domestic dnp n dogs in the group chat. I am weak and I caved and now this exists. No regrets!

Also, though I never really intended them to be linked, I’ve kind of got a series of dog fics now. ‘Of dogs and something’ fics. They could all be the same universe if you like. Established fan and dogs! Read the others here:  Of Dogs and Solutions Of Dogs and Bathtimes

[AO3 link for this fic]

Fic under the cut

Enjoy!

Dan often tells him that he's more badly behaved than the dog. He steals food off Dan's plate, tracks muddy shoe prints through the hallway, and if Dan is gone for too long, bounces around him upon his return until Dan gives him some attention. At least, this is where Dan draws the parallels.

He doesn't seem to mind though. And while there are no clear cut rules for Phil, not really because despite the comparison Phil isn't actually Dan's pet, there are rules for Winston.

1. No tidbitting from the table.

2. No jumping up.

3. No sitting on the sofa.

4. No sleeping in their bed.

5. No going in the gaming room

"But he's just a puppy," Phil argued, scratching him behind the ears and grinning when his pink little tongue flopped out.

"Exactly," Dan replied, crouching down as well and stroking him, "he has to learn."

It isn't that Dan hates the dog. Far, far from that. Phil knows Dan loves Winston, is absolutely head over heels about the damn thing, but for some reason he's intent on having him be a good boy and- thanks to the internet- thinks a constant, consistent approach to household rules is the way to go about it.

There is lies the problem. Because, although Phil is quite open about his flippant attitude towards the rules, he does try to stick to them all the same.

1.

He suffers the cocked head and longing stares as he eats, the wide brown pleading eyes aimed at his slice of pizza.

"Sorry little man," he says, hitching his plate higher out of his way, and trying to eat quickly so that Winston doesn't think he's neglecting him, "no tidbitting allowed."

But Dan. Dan, with his sharp clearing of his throat as soon as Phil looks like he's about to waver, his vocal announcing of the rules at every given opportunity, Dan, is the worst.

Phil is home from his meeting. A pointless one because he knows he doesn't really want to get involved in a solo project right now, not when the second bathroom is still being renovated and they're debating that extension on the back to make the kitchen bigger. He wants to settle for a while, make the space their own, but he'd promised Jo at the management company he'd go along anyway. Network she'd said you never know for later on down the line. He knows that's sensible, so he'd gone, but he's tired now and he just wants to come home.

He knows as soon as he gets in that Dan has been cooking. The smell of food is spiralling through from the kitchen and he's never been more thankful in the knowledge that Dan will have left some for him.

He stumbles through the hallway, kicking off his shoes and placing them on the rack in the space under the stairs and pads onto the cool whites tiles of their kitchen floor. Hand picked, of course, the exact shade of white as the counters because aesthetics, Phil.

"Did you cook? Amazing. I'm famished--" he stops.

Dan is sat at their breakfast table, the round glass one with the chunky pine legs. He's bent over, Winston's tan little body and swishing tail by his feet and he's--

"Are you feeding the dog your dinner?"

Dan straightens up, wide-eyed and alert like he's been caught in the act. Because he has.

"No."

"I thought we said no tidbitting," Phil

"I wasn't," Dan maintains, and Phil pretends to go along with it.

2.

They're both coming home late this time. They'd popped out for a coffee with friends hours ago. It's takes them longer to get into the city these days and they always misjudge what time the rush hour traffic is going to hit on the way back. It means they get caught in the rain, and they're gone a little longer than they truly intended but they're still smiling when they come in through the door, shedding wet coats and shaking out their hair.

Winston is ecstatic. Bouncing around their ankles, shimmying up onto his hind legs, tongue lolling a yappy little bark escaping his mouth every few second.

"Shhh boy," Phil is saying, trying to encourage him to stop jumping, getting caught in his own coat in the process.

"Did you miss us?" Says Dan, his own coat abandoned on the antique chair they'd picked up at that place last summer. The one they said they were going to fix up, but haven't. The one that looks good anyway, a little shabby around the edges but charming nonetheless. Definitely more Phil's aesthetic than Dan's, but it works.

He's bent at the waist, slapping his hands against his knees, laughing as Winston props his paw up there, jumping and barking in time with their frivolity.

"Hey," Phil says, "No jumping up?"

Dan continues laughing, and Phil joins in.

3.

Dan is ill. He's picked something up from somewhere. From going outside he reminds Phil at various intervals, I told you we shouldn't do that. There has been much coughing on Dan's end and much rolling of his eyes on Phil’s as Dan huddles on the couch and whines periodically for coffee or food or a warmer blanket. But Phil is the dutiful partner, bringing him things with only the smallest amount of mocking about his fragile state.

He's on his way back from the kitchen, the mash potatoes and gravy Dan just had to have when he was ill clutched in a steaming bowl, when he spots Winston up on the couch. He's curled into the curve of Dan's abdomen, rounded and he's hunched over, coughing forlornly and stroking at Winston's ears. They look cozy. The blanket tucked up under his chin, the rhythmic way Dan is petting at his fur, comfortable and close. Phil pauses for a moment in the doorway watching the nest of his little family and smiling.

"He's up on the couch," Phil says, the barest hint of a smirk and his eyebrows definitely not raised.

"I'm sick," Dan says, coughing weakly in demonstration. "Leave me alone."

"Okay," Phil says, handing him the bowl.

He strokes Winston's head twice, the pup butting his head into his hand, then reaches to run his fingers through Dan's hair.

"Are you petting me now?" Dan says, poking the fork into the potatoes.

"Maybe," Phil says.

Dan hums, taking a bite.

Phil rearranges them on the sofa so that Dan's legs are draped over his lap and Winston repositions so he can be near to them both. They stay like that for a while, and Dan begins to perk up.

4.

Phil doesn't often go away alone these days. Most of the time Dan goes with him, or they go away just the two of them but, when there is work and the commitments that go with deciding that yes, you do want that extension to make the kitchen bigger, one of you sometimes has to skip the family barbecue and stay home. It being Phil's parents that were hosting, Dan drew the short straw and had to stay home and suffer the awkward encounters with builders.

Phil gets back on the Monday morning because travelling on the Sunday is always busy, Dan and he knows he's in for it because he's back later than they'd agreed he would be.

It's dark in the hallway, and there is no clattering sound of tiny paws on the wooden flooring of the lounge where Winston's basket is, which should have been his first clue. Phil puts his bag down, heads straight to the bedroom because if the house is in darkness, and there is silence in the living room, Dan has most likely gone to bed. Phil doubts Dan would have left the house, but he's just going to check anyway.

The scene in their bedroom has the breath catching in Phil's throat.

Dan's curly head pokes up from their sheets, bare arm hooked over the top, fingers curled into a loose fist. Winston is tucked up under his arm, his nose nuzzled into the juncture of his jaw and shoulder. He lifts his head as Phil enters, face alert at first then tail wagging as he recognises Phil.

"Hey boy," Phil says in a whisper. "I didn't think you were allowed on the bed."

Winston cocks his head and wags his tails some more as if he knows exactly what he's getting away with but that if Dan, the mean one, had allowed him then well, what was Phil going to do about it?

Phil isn't going to do anything, just chuckle lightly in the darkness at them both and contemplate getting a snack before he goes to bed himself.

He decides against it. Disappearing instead for a spell to brush his teeth, knowing he'd only get the riot act from Dan if he snuggled up to him to sleep without doing so.

Once he's in pyjamas, teeth brushed, contacts out, he heads back to the bedroom and crawls into the king sized bed. They'd invested in the bigger one when they got the house. It's a solid wood thing with a light grey wash to it, the headboard an actual thick branch. It's perfect, matching the rest of the silver-grey aesthetic they haven't moved away from since the last place, only much bigger.  When Dan spotted it he fell in love instantly. Phil took a bit more convincing, mostly over the price tag considering it was some sort of obscure furniture designer Dan knew the name of but pretty much no one else in the world did (or at least that was Phil's argument at the time).  He has to admit he likes it, especially at moments like this, bone tired from travelling, sinking into the soft mattress on a bed that is big enough for the length of them both without hanging off the edge and wide enough for them both to stretch out. That, and he had a sleep-warmed Dan next to him, which is always great, regardless of the bed.

Dan hums a sound as Phil curls close, mostly still asleep, but a little bit awake.

"How'd the kitchen go?" Phil asks, getting as close as he can with Winston between them.

Winston lifts his head from Dan's chest, turns his neck, sniffs at Phil who pets him absently, before settling down between the two of them, close enough that he can touch them both. He lets a breath out of his nose, noisy, sounding like a little contented sigh.

"S'good," Dan says, voice muffled as he scoots closer, mouth obscured partly by the pillow and partly by Phil's shoulder.

"Okay," Phil says, a hand up in Dan's hair, the duvet tucker around them both.

He scratches blunt fingers into Dan's head absentmindedly and Winston sighs again like he's jealous.

"Did Winston steal my side of the best while I was gone?"

"He's not allowed on the bed," Dan counters.

Phil glances down at Winston, a circle of fluff in the space between their bodies. "Alright," he agrees.

5.

Actually, keeping Winston out of the gaming room is difficult for both of them, but with the mass of wires and the many many expensive pieces of kit that could get damaged, they both agree it's best that the puppy isn't running around.

Winston doesn't get the message straight away though, and the whining at the door, the tentative scratching of his claws against the door. It's painful to say the least, and they pretty much break that rule simultaneously and without much fuss.

They're mid gaming video, and the whining at the door is loud enough that microphone is going to pick it up.

"We're not bad dog parents," Phil is saying, animatedly, "But he'll injure his little paws if we let him in, or he'll trip over a cable or something. He's clumsy. He gets that from me."

"He can't get that from you Phil," Dan insists.

"He can, and he did."

Dan rolls his eyes affectionately, but Winston whines behind the door and is isn't long before he's rolling backwards in his chair and opening the door.

He brings him back in, cradled in his arms and  lickign at his face.

"He can come play with us," Dan says, "I'll sit him on my lap, he won't get hurt."

"We can take turns," Phil corrects him, "he can sit with me when you're playing."

"Okay."

It's the first time Winston is featured on the gaming channel, but it wasn't the last.

+1

They're heading back from a walk. Winston has gotten really good at not pulling on the lead and he's trotting along happily on the end of his black lead that matches his collar. That's been Dan's input. The bone shaped tag hanging from it with Winston's name and their contact information written on it had been Phil's.

"Oh, you're finally back," comes a voice from their porch as they walk up the drive, rounding the willow tree in their front garden.

"Oh god," Dan says beside him, "We totally forgot. I'm so sorry."

"No worries, you're not too late."

"Hi Louise," Phil says, offering the arm not currently holding Winston's lead for a hug.

"Oh hello," Louise says, ducking down in lieu of hugging him, "aren't you a cutie!"

"This is Winston," Dan says, his voice proud. "He's the best."

Louise tickles him under the chin and he pushes his furry head into her hand in response, licking at her a little bit.

"He's precious," she says.

They go inside, Louise relieving Phil of the lead to walk Winston inside, babbling to him all the time in baby talk.

"You're doing that mum thing," Dan notes.

"Yeah, just missing when my babies were really babies. Terrible twos have hit for the little one and I'm just… well, this isn't the easy bit. You guys have got it best with this one, he's lovely… aren't you. Aren't you just lovely."

Winston yaps once and wags his tails to show that, yes, he is lovely.

They make their way to the kitchen, Dan flicks the kettle on and fetches biscuits from the cupboard, arranging them on the plate. When they're settled around the table, drinks poured and Winston sitting at his feet, Louise gets around to asking about the renovations.

"Well, it looks a lot different in here from the last time I was here," she says.

"Yeah," Phil says, jumping up, because this is the part he likes best. He explains how it was before, what the concept was. That they're wanted to just knock through entirely but the wall was load bearing so they're settled for a lintel, made a feature of it with the spot lights. How they're chosen to keep the extension roof space open into the gable to give it that extra ceiling height, why they'd chosen to put windows in on both sides, rather than just one as the original builder has suggested. He's gesticulating wildly, he knows, but well, she'd asked.

"Don't mind him," Dan says, picking up a biscuit and breaking a bit off, "he always gets like this. He's so excited about it."

"So were you," Phil points out, "Mister we-must-have-the-exact-white-tiles-to-match-the-counters."

"Aesthetics, Phil, I've told you." He laughs, reaching down with the bit of biscuit to an awaiting Winston who scoops it from his palm delicately.

"Did you just--"

"What?" Dan asks Louise, her face incredulous.

"Did you just feel the dog biscuit from your hand?"

Phil scoffs, "Yeah," he says, "Except we're supposed to have a rule where we don't do that."

Dan shrugs.

Later Louise points out when Dan lets Winston up on the couch, when he lets him into the gaming room while they film a video and he curls up in the corner.

"You spoil him you know," Louise says, "He'll run riot."

"He already does," Dan says fondly.

"Yeah," Phil agrees, "We don't mind. He's kind of… he's like us."

"One of the family," Dan grins, looking over at him.

Phil grins back at there's a moment between them before Louise clears her throat. "Um guys?"

Dan laughs awkwardly.

"Besides," he says, "If I can put up with how badly behaved Phil is, a disobedient puppy is nothing."

Phil shoves at him lightly and Dan's smile lasts the entire time Louise is setting up the camera. And then some.

Most days, Dan insists Phil is still more badly behaved than the dog. Some days, Phil counters it with how badly behaved Dan is, and that if he's just stuck to the rules, the dog wouldn't be badly behaved anyways. Winston demands attention and despite their best efforts it's obvious who is really in charge in their house and he often runs circles right around them. He goes where he wants in the house, sits where he wants, sleeps where he wants, and they spoil him rotten. And to be honest, they wouldn't have it any other way.