Argh! I haven't updated this in so long! Truth be told I forgot I'd even written it (I may be going prematurely senile lol). Anyway, it took long enough!

Like I said in 'Walking a Mile', I'm gonna be away for 2 weeks so no updates for ages again! Sorry! Lol.


Vince blinked and looked around slowly. Where the hell was he this time? He hadn't even thought about where he wanted to end up.

That could prove a problem.

"Hi Vince."

He looked round and saw Michelle smiling coyly at him.

"Michelle! Oh God, am I glad to see you!"

She looked pleased. "Listen, I'm having a party this weekend. Saturday. I'm turning 16. You could come, be my…" she reached out and stroked his cheek, "guest of honour."

"This weekend. Your 16th party." A smile lit up Vince's face. I can't go back to the same moment perhaps he thought with smug satisfaction, but I can go back to before it happened!All he needed to do now was to go to the party, go out with Howard instead, and everything would go back to normal!

Normal. The exact thing he'd wanted to change. But he was scared by what had happened last time; maybe normal wasn't so bad…

"Hi Vince."

Vince felt his breath catch in his throat as he looked at Howard. He was alive. Oh God, he was alive. That never happened. The car never happened.

"Yeah, sorry Michelle. Thing is, I've got plans with Howard Saturday so I wont be able to make it."

Michelle looked at Howard like he was something she'd found on the bottom of her shoe. "With him?" she looked quickly at Vince, and a perfect smile quickly replaced the sneer. "Well, why doesn't he come too? I'd love to have you…both…there!"

"I don't think…" Vince began, but Howard cut across him.

"Sure. Why not?"

"Great!" she winked at Vince. "See you Saturday."

"Bye." Howard said, but she ignored him.

"Howard you ball bag, what'd you do that for?"

"What?"

"The party! We had plans!"

"What, coffee? Big plan Vince. Come on!" he said excitedly, poking Vince in the ribs. "It's a party! I never get invited to parties! What's the worst that could happen?"

"I have no idea." Vince muttered to himself under his breath.


"And…and it was pretty!" Howard said happily, taking another swig of beer.

"Was it." Vince said sarcastically. "How many of those have you had?"

"Not…not many!" Howard protested. "I think you're pretty, Vince!"

Vince glanced at him sharply. "Really."

"Yeah, coz…coz you've got…" Howard put a hand through Vince's hair and tugged gently. "Your hair is nice."

"Yeah." Vince rolled his eyes and removed his friend's hand. "Come on, let's get you home. I think we've been here long enough."

"She's pretty!" Howard said, pointing. Vince followed his finger and saw he was pointing at Sarah.

"Yeah, she is. Come on, Casanova."

"Hi Vince." Michelle had appeared at his shoulder. "Where're you going?" she asked with a small pout.

"Howard's had enough actually, so…"

"I haven't!" Howard protested.

"Yes, you have!"

"He's having fun Vince! You should have fun." Michelle said seductively.

"I am having fun. Plenty of fun. But we really need to…"

"Sarah!" Michelle called her sister over. "As long as you're here being a pain in my arse, watch Vince's friend Howard would you?"

Sarah smiled at Howard. "Bloody hell, he's a bit wasted isn't he?"

"You're pretty." Howard told her. Vince cringed inwardly.

"Um…thanks!" Sarah replied with a laugh.

"Yeah, thanks guys but we really need to go. I'll see you Monday Michelle!"

Vince dragged Howard out of the house and down the road.

"Why'd we leave Vince? They were nice!"

"Trust me, I just saved you."

"Like a prince. Princey Vincey. Hey, that rhymes!" Howard started laughing at the rhyme, and Vince chuckled in spite of himself.

"Yeah, yeah it does. Come on, this is where you live."

"Night Vince!" Howard said, staggering up the path.

"Yeah. Night." Vince took the watch out of his pocket and wound it. With one final look at Howard's front door, he pushed the button.


Vince woke up with a start, but kept his eyes firmly closed. Ok. Things are ok. You went back, you kept Howard away from Joey bloody Moose, so it's fine.

He opened his eyes slowly, and instantly felt his heart sink.

This wasn't his flat.

He obviously lived there, because his stuff was strewn everywhere, but he didn't recognise the room. He walked cautiously out into the hallway, and almost jumped out of his skin when someone laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Morning Vince. You're a bit jumpy this morning, aren't you?"

"Howard!" it was all Vince could do not to grab the older man in a bear hug. "Hi! I…um…"

Howard raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you high or something?"

"What? No!"

"Good, because Michelle's coming back today and…"

"Michelle?" Vince frowned in confusion. "Back from where? Why's she coming here?"

"Um…because she's my wife and she lives here?" Howard looked at him. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"Your…? Oh. Yeah, yeah I'm fine mate. Really."

Howard and Michelle? Howard and Michelle?! How the fuck did that happen?!

Vince groaned softly. They must have become friends after that party, and then got together. Once again, it was all his fault…

Wait a moment. Maybe this wasn't so bad? Howard was alive. The flat was certainly a lot bigger than the Nabootique flat, it looked better furnished so they obviously had money. Howard was happy. Vince didn't know whether he himself was happy or not, but he looked ok. Wasn't this exactly why he'd come back in the first place? To improve his life?

"Vince?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Yeah, I…well, no. No, not really."

Howard rolled his eyes. "I'm going to need you to be in today when she arrives. I'm planning a surprise dinner."

Vince grinned. "Aw, aren't you sweet!"

"Shut up." Howard said good naturedly. "I was just about to make coffee, you want some?"

Vince watched Howard and Michelle talking together, a small frown on his face. He felt a strange pang in his chest when Howard kissed her, and he couldn't work out why. Maybe I had too much to eat or something… he thought. But it didn't feel like stomach pains. He sighed and wondered into the kitchen in search of more wine. Between the three of them they'd already managed to consume 6 bottles, but Vince for some reason wanted more.

"Vince? You ok honey?"

He looked round. "Um…yeah. I'm fine Michelle. Where's Howard?"

"He's gone out to buy something to drink with desert."

"Right." Vince swallowed nervously. If Michelle had been pretty when she was 16, it was nothing to how she looked now she was grown up. Vince couldn't even begin to imagine how Howard had managed to pull someone as stunning as her.

He was still wondering that when she leant forwards and kissed him. Vince pulled his head back, stunned. "What're you doing?"

"I missed you."

"So?! What about Howard?!"

"Its fine, I told you, he's at the shop."

"That doesn't make it fine!"

Michelle rolled her eyes. "Come on, Vince; don't tell me you're feeling guilty! You're the one who told me not to leave Howard."

"I…"

"We've been together for over a year Vince." she said, pouting. "Don't tell me you're bored of me?"

"No! I mean…excuse me."

He ran from the room. Oh God, I'm shagging Howard's wife. Why the hell am I shagging Howard's wife?! Ok, so he'd teased Howard about Gideon back at the zoo, and he'd flirted outrageously with any girl who might have given Howard a second look, but he'd never actually seduce someone he was seeing!

Only, seemingly, he would. Vince had no idea how long Howard and Michelle had been together, but he got the feeling it wasn't much longer than Vince and Michelle.

He thought for a second, then pulled out his mobile and dialled Naboo's number. The Shaman always knew what to do.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Naboo! It's Vince."

"…who?"

"Vince. From the zoo."

"Listen, if you're getting double vision it's nothing to do with me. I only supply the best."

"What? Naboo, you're not my dealer!"

"Oh. How did you get this number then?"

"I used to work with you at the zoo!"

"I don't think so. We haven't lost any keepers in ages. Are you sure I haven't sold you anything? You sound like you're on something."

Vince hung up without saying anything. They'd never even gone to the zoo! He took a deep breath and took the watch out again, winding it. Ok, so it wasn't as bad as Howard being dead or anything, but Vince felt slightly sick when he thought he could betray his best friend like that.

"Third time lucky." He muttered quietly, and pushed the button.


Hmm. I don't really like this chapter, seems a bit short and nothing really happens. Oh well.

Please review! x