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They've had a beautiful midsommar day in Sweden, spoiled the hell out of Freja because they can and they don't get to that often, and now all Dan really wants us to curl up in the hotel bed next to Phil and sleep.
"Okay, say goodbye to your uncles," Cornelia says, kneeling down next to Freja. Dan is pretty sure now he doesn't want to be a dad, not really- he'd rather be an uncle, and foist Freja off on her parents at the end of the day- but the gentle, casual way Cornelia touches her daughter's tiny shoulders makes his heart ache.
"Wait, because I haved a question," Freja says, tugging on the end of Dan's shirt and peering up at him with those big, blue eyes. He couldn't not love Freja when she has Phil's eyes. "If- Uncle Phil is my dad's brother, then who's brother is Uncle Dan?"
She seems so earnestly confused, Dan has to laugh. Phil frowns a little, squeezing his hand, but Dan doesn't mind the question. They've never quite explained it to her, what Dan is. How he fits into this little family. He supposed it's confusing, for someone who's all brand-new. He kneels down in front of her, making brief eye contact with Cornelia over Freja's head, and she nods and steps back.
"I'm not anyone's brother," he says. "In your family, at least. But can I tell you a secret?"
She nods, ruddy brown curls bouncing, and he leans forward to whisper in her ear. "I have a crush on your Uncle Phil," he whispers, and Freja giggles. He pulls back, glancing over at Phil. His expression is soft and wide open, the love written all over his face. "We decided we want to be a family together, so now I get to be in your family. Isn't that cool?"
Freja leans forward so she can whisper in his ear, "I like that you're my Uncle."
He gives her a hug and kisses the top of her head, and then the little exchange of secrets is over and Cornelia is hurrying her back to the car. Dan wraps an arm around Phil as they let themselves into their room, and Phil turns his head to kiss him gently as they kick off their shoes.
"You're going to buy her something huge tomorrow, aren't you," Phil says as they putter around the room, getting ready for bed. "Five years old and she already knows how to play you."
"Not my fault she's too cute to resist," Dan says. "It's genetics. I'm wired to want to buy her things."
"You're not genetically related to her," Phil points out, waving his toothbrush at Dan from the bathroom sink.
"Yeah, but I like you, so."
"Oh my god, you have a crush on me," Phil croons, kissing Dan with his minty toothpaste mouth. Dan rolls his eyes, but he pulls Phil closer.
Everything in the world is perfect, because Dan has his little family. The family that he made for himself, that he chose almost half a lifetime ago.