Okay, so it's official: 'I'm obsessed with this site.'! But it's not my fault all these stories keep popping in my head that I have to write. And stories keeping popping into other people's heads that I have to read. See it's really half your fault :p.

Disclaimers:

'Shadow of Your Love' is the name of a song on the (constantly) soon to be released (crosses fingers) album Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses (well Axl Rose and some mates of his, but still). I don't own it!

'The Mighty Boosh' belongs to Julian Barrett, Noel Fielding and various corporations like BBC 3 and Baby Cow. I don't own it - yet!

Hope you enjoy…

Vince and Howard had known each other for a very long time. Howard couldn't remember when they'd met but Vince insisted he had looked over from the cot in hospital and seen Howard, and that he knew it was Howard because the baby had had a moustache.

However, how they met wasn't really important. All that mattered was that recently their relationship had taken a dramatic change. They didn't know how it had started or how long ago. Was it that kiss on the roof? Was it the time Howard told Vince he loved him in the tundra? Or was it not a specific moment, just a long build up of deep respect and care for each other leading slowly but surely to the love they felt now.

When they'd finally admitted to themselves and to each other their true feelings things had escalated extremely quickly. One day just friends. Next day lovers. Week later moving in to the same room. Now, six months down the line, for the first time in their entire history their relationship was strained, to say the least. Vince was beginning to wonder whether this tense atmosphere was caused by his straying feelings for another man in his life. A good looking, electro-loving lad from his latest band, named Kris. Vince couldn't be sure whether his thoughts of Kris were love or lust, but either way they were strong. Really strong. And they were occupying his mind more and more.

"What you thinking about?" Howard asked looking up from his paper to see Vince daydreaming.

"Oh… nothing." Vince blushed violently. Howard grunted in disapproval.

"I'm bored." he announced folding up the paper neatly and resting it on the coffee table. "Do you fancy going for a walk?"

"I can't" grinned Vince "I'm doing that gig tonight remember."

"Oh yer." frowned Howard "with that twit Kris?"

"He's not a twit!" Vince cried a little loudly and quickly. "He's a talented musician. He's a good guy."

"He's a twit." Howard insisted.

"A twit?" laughed Vince, "What are you from the 1800's?"

Howard laughed. "Hey, I've just had an idea," he smiled "let's order a pizza and…"

"Howard!" Vince said angrily "I can't. I've got to get ready to leave. I'm going soon."

"You seem extremely excited about leaving." frowned Howard

"It's going to be a good gig. There're going to be a couple of big music producers there. Kris's got this brilliant idea…"

"Kris has got this brilliant idea. Kris's so cool. Kris is so fantastic." mimicked Howard

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Vince yelled

"Why are you so touchy?"

"You're behaving like a complete arse!"

"You are a complete arse."

"I thought you were supposed to be witty." scorned Vince.

"I'm sure Kris would have come up with a good come back."

"Why do you keep bringing Kris into the argument?"

"Annoying isn't it?"

"Yeah"

"You've been doing that for the last few months."

"Have not!"

"Kris said this. Kris said that. Kris did this funny thing. Kris, Kris, Kris, Kris."

"Oh my god!" Vince laughed in disbelief "You're jealous!"

"Well…" retaliated Howard blushing.

"You are deluded!" yelled Vince and stormed, angry and confused, to his room.

Vince packed his suitcase extremely slowly hoping to avoid Howard for as long as possible, he didn't fancy the awkward reunion. It was hard to argue with Howard when the point the was arguing wasn't 100 true. Maybe Howard wasn't deluded with his jealousy but Vince couldn't admit that. Despite the fact his heart was aching for a new man, Vince couldn't bear the thought of losing Howard.

Just as he was packing the last of his overnight stuff there was a tentative knock on the door.

"Vince?" Howard called quietly. "I'm sorry." Vince felt a horrible feeling of guilt clawing at his stomach. Howard shouldn't be apologizing. This was all wrong.

"Vince?" Howard continued "Can I come in?"

"Of course." Vince called back, shaking himself free of the guilty monster and smiling up at Howard as he appeared through the door holding out a peace offering, a piece of chocolate cake.

"Thanks." smiled Vince taking the cake. "I do like cake and chocolate. And I'm sorry too."

"Don't be silly." said Howard sitting down on the edge of their bed. "You haven't done… Is that toothpaste?" he asked suddenly, looking into the neatly packed bag.

"Yeah."

"What do you need that for?"

"Take a wild guess." grinned Vince putting another pair of black drainpipes into the bag.

"Okay, but why are you going to need to brush your teeth?"

"I've got to stay over night?"

"Got to? Or want to?"

"What are you trying to suggest?"

"Nothing." Howard lied, watching Vince put what he always called his 'best clothes' into the bag. "What do you need them for?"

"After show party. It's going to be genius."

"I'm sure it will be."

"That's why I'm going to be staying there. The party wont finish till… hell it might not finish." Vince said excitedly throwing another two t-shirts in to the suitcase.

"Do you need all these clothes?"

"Yeah." Vince replied putting in four different pairs of boots.

"Where are you going to put this suitcase, if you're partying all night?"

"Our hotel room?"

"Our hotel room?" scowled Howard.

"Yeah."

"Who exactly is 'our'?"

"Me and Kris. Don't go getting jealous." smiled Vince "It was Kris's idea."

"Was it?" Howard asked failing to control the green eyed monster.

"It's a twin room." Vince explained. "We've only got it because it's going to save money. We put that extra €100 towards creating an album."

"I suppose." agreed Howard looking at his lap.

"Hey," said Vince sliding on to Howard's lap and snaking his arms around the bigger mans neck. "I'm going to be thinking of you the whole time." he smiled, placing a gentle kiss on Howard's lips.

"Good." Howard grinned stroking Vince's hair. "You know… we could say goodbye properly." he smiled eyeing the bed.

"I don't really feel like it." Vince said airily, getting up swiftly and throwing his final t-shirt into the suitcase.

"Course you don't." Howard said grumpily.

"What now?" sighed Vince, desperately crushing his clothes into the undersized bag.

"You. You used to be gagging for it all the time but now… now it's like you don't want me anymore."

"Hmm. Give me a hand with this bag will you. I'll sit on it, you zip it up." Howard zipped it up with a great deal of difficulty and then sat back down heavily on the bed.

"What's wrong now?" asked Vince completely exasperated.

"Do you still… you know, find me attractive?"

"Of course, I do." Vince reassured him "I'm just tired, that's all and I've got to leave soon. We haven't got time."

"We used to make time."

"We still do."

"No we don't your sex drive has almost gone. That or…" Howard trailed off.

"That or what, Howard?"

"Nothing."

"No! Not nothing! You'd better tell me what you were going to say because it can't be worse that what's in my head."

"Well… maybe you're getting it somewhere else."

"I can't believe you! I have never slept with anyone else since we've been together!" Vince cried truthfully "Or for a long time before if you must know! I can't believe you just said that! Do you honestly think I'm like that?"

"No, I-"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!"

"Vince, I-"

"Get out! No. Scratch that. I'm going now anyway! My taxi will be here in a minute!" Vince dragged the heavy suitcase huffily, out of the room and down the steps to the front door.

"Vince, come on. I'm sorry. You can't leave like this. I'm sorry. Vince. Vince."

Vince slammed the suitcase down on the pavement and sat on it head in hands. Howard came out and stood a little distance away.

"It was heat of the moment." Howard explained "I know you wouldn't do anything like that. I was just being stupid. Don't leave. Let us sort it out."

"I can't stay." said Vince "I've promised Kris I'd do the show. The fans know I'm going to be there. I can't let everyone down."

"Then I'll come." suggested Howard. "We can sort out everything while we're away. Stay a bit longer, God knows you've got enough clothes. We could make a week of it. It'll be good."

"I think maybe we could both do with a break. This night apart might be exactly what we need."

"Maybe you're right." conceded Howard as the black cab pulled up. The cabbie got out and hauled the suitcase into the boot.

"I'll see you soon Howard, okay." said Vince kissing Howard on cheek. "We'll sort it out, I promise. Things will go back to how they were. I do love you."

"I love you too." Howard said "And I am sorry about what I said."

"Yeah, well let's just forget that, shall we?"

"Yeah." nodded Howard. "Good luck."

"Thanks."

"And enjoy it."

"I'll try. Bye." Vince said getting in the taxi.

"Bye." Howard waved as the taxi pulled off.

Howard was racked with a feeling of stupidity and kicked wildly at a nearby plant. Why had he had to open his big mouth? He and Vince had enough arguments without him letting his imagination get away from him. He went inside and tried to watch TV but he couldn't concentrate. He kept playing the conversation over and over in his mind.

"Maybe you're getting it somewhere else." and then Vince's face, that expression of hurt, shock and heartbreak all at once. Howard never wanted to hurt Vince and every time he did a pit in the bottom his stomach opened up to further point out his idiocy. This time, however, Howard knew he'd messed up beyond anything he'd ever done before and he felt almost sick. He decided to have a shot of whiskey to calm himself down. One turned into two, two turned into five, five turned into eight, eight turned into passing out on the sofa.