Phil sits on the foot of their bed and studies Dan as the younger man inserts his earrings into the holes of his ears.

"Tonight's the big night." He says calmly fixing himself on the bed. "You're still okay with this?"

Dan turns to look at Phil as he finishes putting in the left earring with a smile. "I'm absolutely okay with this, Phil." He chuckles a little but then frowns at Phil. "Are you okay? You look. . . Flustered."

Phil hasn't realized how much he is freaking out over this. This is a dream-come-true to propose to Dan, but when Phil imagines doing this Dan wouldn't have known it is happening and the reaction would be real and, well, the proposal would be true, not a show for his mother.

Phil must've taken too long to answer because Dan takes a seat next to him on the bed and rests a comforting hand on his knee. "Don't fret. We'll put on the best damn engagement your parents have ever seen!" Dan says confidently.

Phil smiles slightly. "I guess."

Dan gives him a wary look. Phil knows that Dan didn't quite believe him. Why would he? Dan didn't even understand his real problem. Phil had little doubt they would successfully pull off the proposal, he just didn't want this act to end after today. Phil wants to go home still engaged to Dan and they could plan their wedding.

"I can do it." Phil breathes out a little more positively.

Dan pats his knee twice then stands. "Let's go."

Phil checks to see if the ring is in his back pocket as he stands and follows behind Dan to the dinner.

The others are already gathered around the table, the food is waiting to be dug into as it sits in the middle. Catherine smiles at Phil who feigns a smile back at her.

Phil is quick to pull the chair out for Dan. "What a gentleman." Dan blushes. Phil's cheeks go red too as he pushes Dan in then takes the empty seat next to him.

Phil waits until about the middle of the dinner before putting the final step of their plan into action. He stands, confidence suddenly rushing through him as his earlier pessimism turns to optimism as he realizes that this is how he would've wanted to propose to Dan in the first place, and lifts his glass. He taps it a couple times with the side of his knife and clears his throat.

"Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Phil starts

The members look up at Phil and finnish chewing the food in their mouths if there is any. Silence. Phil looks across the table to Martyn and Tiffany who smile knowingly at him. He didn't dare to look at Dan as he knows that even if Dan is in on this it would still be embarrassing on his part to become the center of attention.

"Okay." Phil says when he is sure they are all listening and he clears his throat again. He sets his glass and knife down and continues. "This week, I can safely say, has been one of the best weeks of my life. Not only did I get to spend it with my amazing family, but my perfect boyfriend, Dan."

Phil finally has the courage and looks down at Dan with a new shade of red on his cheeks. Phil picks up on the frightened look in Dan's eye but assumes it is only the embarrassment he feels at the moment.

Phil didn't waste another moment to give a sappy speech, knowing that this whole thing is (sadly) fake. Phil lowers himself onto one knee. "Daniel James Howell," He begins softly and reaches into his pocket to grab the ring. He presents the ring to Dan. "Will you marry me?"

Dan opens his mouth, ready to respond but closes it quickly and stands. This is when Phil notices the tears brimming his eyes. "Excuse me." Dan mutters and pushes past Phil. The tables have turned. They all watch as Dan rushes back up the stairs, most likely to his and Phil's bedroom.

Phil, Tiffany, and Martyn all look at each other with the same expression. Each one of them realized the same thing: Dan had backed out.

Phil looks at his mother who has given him a look of sorrow. Phil couldn't help but feel the same as her. Everything is ruined and somehow Phil felt it in his gut that Dan would suddenly bail, which is why he had constantly asked the other man if he was alright with the whole situation.

"I'm gonna go check on him." Phil says quietly, all enthusiasm he had built up a minute ago: gone! He shuffles out of the dining room and slowly makes his way to the bedroom.

Phil finds Dan in there as expected. Dan is on his side of the bed face down on the pillow. From the way his shoulders shook Phil knows that Dan is sobbing.

Phil is uneasy at first, unsure if Dan is having an existential crisis.

"I can't do it, Phil." Dan suddenly says which is Phil's cue. Phil takes a seat next to Dan on the bed and rubs circles around his back. "I can't keep pretending knowing that our future doesn't include marriage. I can't keep lying to myself that this is real."

Phil's heart skips a beat. Wait, does Dan mean?

Dan turns on his side and sniffs as he looks up at Phil. "I've had a crush on you for almost as long as we've known each other." He admits. "And at dinner, right before you got down on one knee, it suddenly occurred to me that this week just isn't real." Dan takes in a deep breath, his crying wore out his breath. "When I was speaking with Martyn earlier this week. You know? When we whispered back and forth? Martyn asked how I was dealing with this fake relationship ordeal. He knows about my crush on you and wanted to check up. I told him everything was fine and I could cope."

Suddenly, everything made sense to Phil.

Phil lays down on his side, keeping his eyes locked on Dan's. He gingerly rests a hand around the crook of Dan's neck and leans in close, resting his lips on Dan's for a kiss. Phil felt Dan calm down almost instantly.

Dan sniffs and wipes the tears from his eyes. "Why did you do that?" He asks, his voice a little less watery.

"For practice." Phil replies warmly with a smile. He kisses Dan again. "I'm practicing how to be your boyfriend."

Dan smiles a little. "Really?"

"I think Martyn's been keeping our mutual affection for each other from us." Says Phil. "He knows I like you a lot too."

"That's what you were talking about on the beach yesterday, wasn't it?"

Phil's face flushes. "It was." They both giggle. Phil pulls out the ring again. "Can this be a promise to me that when we get back home we can try us?" He asks.

Dan's smile fills out all the way. "Yes!" He beams. Dan holds out his hand and Phil places the ring on his finger.

"Now let's go down and break the good news to the family." Phil whispers in Dan's ear.