'Howard?' Vince mused as he shovelled a rainbow coloured assortment of pick and mix into his mouth.
'Go easy Little man, they're not all for you.' Howard warned him, he sounded more and more like he was Vince's Father with each passing day. The younger man simply shrugged in response burrowing deeper down into the passenger's seat, vainly trying to hide his smirk as he turned his attention back to the book he had been reading. Noticing this Howard raised an eyebrow, Vince wasn't a reader, when he did read he read magazines not books, and certainly never books with faded battered illegible covers.
'What are you reading Little man?' Howard quizzed him the curiosity getting the better of him, a wide grin had worked its way over Vince's angular features.
'Its genius, I picked it up at this indoor market in Singapore.' Vince explained animatedly.
'Singapore?' The word had escaped Howard's lips in a wistful whisper, it brought home suddenly how far away Vince had really been and for how long. He reached out and gripped the younger man's hand; Vince had turned on his side inching closer.
'Ere you can have a look if you want.' He had informed as he'd planted a quick kiss on Howard's cheek.
'Give us it then.' Howard chuckled and Vince had dutifully and gleefully relinquished the book to the older man. Vince rested his chin on Howard's shoulder watching as he flipped through the pages.
'Tonight I reckon we should do the one on page seven.'
'Vince!' Howard had cried his voice leaving his body in a mixture of frustration and indignation. Vince had pulled away as if he had been suddenly burnt.
'What? The younger man had frowned confusion, apprehension and hurt glimmered in his wide open gaze. Howard spotted the familiar lip tremble.
'Oh Vince no, don't.' He tried his hardest to smooth over the situation.
'Little man, come on I didn't mean it like that, I just…' A long drawn out sigh had escaped the older man's body, when had everything in his life become so high maintenance? His gaze shifted from Vince drifting back down to the book, which had been perched on his lap. He liked it though, no he loved it, he loved Vince's histrionics.
'Little man, I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap at you it's just…' Howard paused stealing a glance at the open school gates.
'…it's Kit, he's only five Vince, I don't want him seeing things like, like that.' He swallowed hard before continuing.
'And I don't want him going home and telling Mabel and Saboo that he's seen things like that when we've been looking after him.' Vince had folded his arms across his chest, his shoulder had jumped up into a half hearted shrug.
'Spose.' The younger man had conceded grudgingly.
'Plus, you're not staying over tonight.'
'What!' Vince's voice had been high and shrill.
'No, I just don't think it's a good idea not with Kit sleeping over, it's only for one night Little man.' Vince muttered something under his breath that Howard didn't quite catch, he'd been about to bring it up when one of the back doors in the van had suddenly been wrenched open, there'd been the sound of shifting and shuffling and then Kitten had bobbed up behind them.
'Did you a picture.' Kitten grinned excitedly as he'd thrust a piece of paper in Vince's face.
'Genius!' Vince had chuckled as he'd studied the painting, which had been comprised almost entirely of primary colours and blobs of glitter. Howard had felt a pang of jealousy, before Vince had come back he'd always been the favourite fun Uncle but now Vince was back and Howard couldn't compete. Vince had enthusiastically hugged the little boy, while Howard had found himself ruffling the top of his head.
'Got you a surprise.' Vince had informed.
'Close your eyes and open your hands.' His gaze had darted briefly in Howard's direction, the older man had suddenly been filled with an awkward warm feeling. Kitten obediently obeyed and was rewarded with a bag of pick and mix.
'Genius!' The little boy a mimicked Vince.
'Thank you Uncle Howard, thanks Vince.' He giggled as he settled in the back seat munching away.
'Not too many Kit, you don't want to spoil your tea.'
'Or rot your teeth.' Vince piped up.
'What are we having for tea?' Kitten asked as he'd put on his seat belt.
'Bollo's gonna do some chicken nuggets and chips.'