�Coming!�� Danny yelled, as the doorbell began sounding insistently.� He pulled his t-shirt over his head and clicked the dead-bolt back, then yanked the door open.

�About time!�� Ben protested as Lee removed his finger from the button, silencing the ring of the doorbell.

Dan smiled sheepishly.� �Sorry, mate.� Thanks for stopping by.�

He stepped back expectantly.

Ben and Lee gave him a once-over, raising their brows as they did so.

�Did we interrupt something, Dan?�� Ben asked, finally stepping through the doorway as he gave Dan another overall glance.

Lee chuckled and blushed, but said nothing as he followed Ben.

�What?� Um� no.� Why do you ask?�

Darren stood at the foot of the stairs, grinning at Danny�s nervousness.

Ben turned to look at Daniel.

�Look, Dan.� I�m as laid back as the next guy,� he started, running his right hand through his brown and white spiked hair.� �But I don�t usually answer the door with my shirt inside out and my fly open.�

Lee guffawed, unable to keep silent any longer. He slapped his knee, bent at the waist, a hand over his stomach as he laughed.

Dan blushed deeply, and Lee�s laughter increased.

Darren took pity on Daniel, and walked up to him, putting his right hand on Dan�s shoulder. He squeezed gently, and gave him a little shake.

�Hey, why don�t you go up and make yourself presentable,� he said, a sympathetic grin on his face.� �I�ll get Ben and Lee settled, and go get the pizza.�

�Uh� yeah� Thanks, Daz.�

Darren chuckled quietly, and shook his head slightly when Daniel stumbled going back up the stairs.

�What�s up with him, Dar?� Is Michelle upstairs?�

Darren shook his head.� �He�s fine.� He�ll explain later.� Ben, you�re still everything but anchovies?�

Ben nodded, grinning.

�Lee, vegetarian?�

�Yepper.� I�ll make some tea while you�re gone.� I�m driving.�

�Really?�� Darren looked at Ben, both eyebrows raised.

Ben simply shrugged.� �He�s been doing pretty well, actually.� Well, good enough that I think we�ll be safe going home.�� Ben smiled and gave Lee an affectionate slap on the shoulder.

�Right. Well.� I�d better get going so I can get our food.� Help yourself to a beer, Ben.�

Darren returned thirty-five minutes later with four large pizzas.� Ben and Lee were in the living room, watching some news blurb on the Music Channel.

�Danny? Pizzas� here!�

�Hasn�t been back down, Dar.�� Ben called from the living room as Darren sat the boxes on the dining room table.

�You need to come see this.�

�What could be so important�?�� Darren walked into the living room.� �Michelle��

He slowly sank into an easy chair as he listened to Michelle�s venom impassioned words.

�I can�t believe he loves that bitch.�� Ben commented grimly.

Darren blinked as he tried to assimilate the sentences.� Worthless�� Pathetic�� Inadequate�� Spineless�� Lousy lover� Gay.

�What?�

Darren forced himself to focus.�

�He actually called out Darren�s name when we were making love!�� Michelle spoke indignantly.

Darren didn�t hear anything more. �Oh my God.� Does she have any idea what she�s done?� How could she?� I thought she loved him?�

�This�ll kill Dan.�

Darren turned toward Ben and Lee.� His mind still struggling with what he�d just heard.

�Bitch.�� Ben growled again.� �Amazing what some people will say for money.�

He and Lee both turned toward Darren then, wondering what his reaction would be no doubt.� He wondered if he looked as lost as he felt.

�You all right, Darren?�� Lee asked quietly.

�I � uh��� he ran a hand through his hair, managed to stand up.� �I � uh � better go see what�s keeping Dan�. Look� turn that off�. Put on some music� or a movie, or� something� Danny� I�ll be right back.�

This was so not good.� Darren forced himself to climb the stairs.

�Darren, stop freaking. �Cause Danny�s going to.� You�ve got to be strong.� Christ, he�s been happy these last two days.� This will��

He stopped outside Daniel�s bedroom door, just standing for a moment.� Then he inhaled deeply.� Knocked softly.

�Danny, you okay?� Pizza�s getting cold.�

Moments later Daniel opened the door, his grin shy; his shoulders slightly hunched, looking guilty.

�You okay?�� Darren asked again.

Dan nodded.� �Yeah.� I just didn�t want to put up with Ben�s teasing alone. You mind?�� His gaze took on a hopeful look.

Darren forced himself to relax and return Dan�s smile.

�I don�t mind at all.� I�m glad you waited.�� �Really glad.�

Ben and Lee both looked at the stairs as Dan and Darren came downstairs.

�Sorry, mates.�� Dan apologized.� �Let�s eat, shall we?�

Darren glanced furtively at Ben and Lee.� Telling them with his eyes that he hadn�t said anything to Daniel.

He got plates, then.� Lee poured tea for himself and Darren, while Dan got out Coronas for himself and Ben.

Each took a couple of slices of pizza before going back into the living room to recline casually on the floor.

Darren�s mind kept going back to the bit on TV.� Michelle.

�Is that what he�s been afraid to tell me? That she was verbally abusive? Those horrible words?� Worse?� He�s so sensitive� no wonder he had felt worthless.� How dare she treat Danny that way!�

And she was still doing it.

�God. I�ve got to tell him what she did � but how?�

�So.� Dan.� Not that we don�t enjoy your company, but, why�d you call?� Been a while, you know?�

Daniel flushed slightly.� �I � uh� got something to share.�

�Oh?�

Lee looked up mid-bite, and Ben�s curious gaze darted between Daniel and Darren for a moment.� Finally it settled on Daniel, locking with his gaze.

�I � I�m in love� with Darren.�

Lee put his pizza down, grinning madly.

Ben simply nodded.� ��Bout time you admitted it.� I never agreed with Leonie. Don�t get me wrong, she�s a good personal manager � as far as keeping track of everything.� But as a guide for the lovelorn, well, dismal comes to mind.�

Daniel�s bewildered look forced Lee to giggle.

�We saw how you two were on stage.� How the chemistry shifted whenever Darren was around you.�

Daniel�s flush deepened.

�Lee figured it out first.�� Ben nodded toward Lee, who shrugged in embarrassment.� �Noticed all the little things that pointed toward you and Dar.� I�m glad for you, Dan.� Proud too.� Hard thing to admit, hey?�

Daniel nodded grinning with mild embarrassment.� Darren scooted over beside him, put his left hand along Daniel�s neck and pulled him in for a hug, kissing him on the cheek.

Dan glanced into his eyes, and his childish grin faded.

�Darren?� What�s wrong, Dazza?�

Darren forced a smile.� �Nothing.� Why?�

Daniel�s emerald eyes shifted back and forth searching his sapphire ones.

�Something�s wrong.�

Darren�s lower jaw trembled, but he couldn�t force any words out.� Out of the periphery of his vision, he saw Ben stand up.� Heard Lee moving somewhere.� Ben crouched beside Dan, and Darren found his gaze drawn irresistibly towards Ben�s serious, compassionate one.� Felt Lee�s arms surround him in silent reassurance.

�How?�� Why did it have to be him?� �Things are just starting to get better.� Why me?� Why now?�

�Dazza?�

He looked back at Daniel, hurt by the pain that filled his voice.

�You wanted me to tell them� didn�t you?�

He heard the uncertainty in Daniel�s voice, and managed to nod.� �I � of course I did, Danny.� It�s � it�s just � �� Sadness filled Darren�s gaze.

�Just what, Dazza?�� Daniel asked gently.

�Oh, Danny.� You look at me with trust and love� How can I tell you?�

�It�s about Michelle.�� Ben broke Darren�s silence.

Darren saw the fear.� Watched Daniel stiffen in shock.� Ben put his hands on Daniel�s shoulders, working his fingers to massage the tenseness.

�She � she � ah� interview.� She wasn�t� kind� She said � she said � �� Darren felt as if he was suffocating.� His eyes pleaded with Ben�s.

�She said you cried out Darren�s name when you were making love to her.�� Ben finished quietly.

Daniel�s eyes widened.� Darren saw the color drain from his face.� Then he covered his face with his hands.

�Those incredibly gifted, sensitive hands,�� Darren found himself thinking in spite of the situation.

Daniel began trembling.� Darren shrugged gently, and Lee released his hold.� He moved closer, and wrapped his arms around Daniel.� His right hand moved up to gently caress the back of Daniel�s head as he cried silently.

�Gonna be okay, Darren?�� Ben asked kindly.

Darren nodded.� Mumbled thanks through dry lips, his chest tight.

�I think we�ll just go, okay?�

Again Darren nodded as Daniel�s body shook against his.� His shirt becoming wet with Daniel�s pain.�

Lee hugged them both, but Dan was too lost to notice.

�Th � thanks, Lee.� Benny?�� He hoped Ben understood what he was trying to say.� He, the Diva; he�d sung hundreds of songs, written many; yet now he was nearly incoherent.

Ben nodded and smiled.� �I�m happy for you both, Darren.� For coming out.� Not the other.�� He shrugged. �We�ll let ourselves out.�

Darren heard them leave.� Heard the door close.� Continued to silently console Danny, murmuring words and assurances to the distraught guitarist.

tbc