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After a lot of soothing words, and almost constant petting, Vince had been able to calm Howard down a good amount.

'How can I be a dog! Things like this just don't happen! ….Well maybe they do, but that doesn't make it right!' Howard thought sulkily.

"You alright now?" Vince asked, like he was expecting an answer, and that's when Howard realized Vince could understand animals. 'Thank god for that'

"No, I'm not alright, I've been turned into a dog!" Howard barked, literally, to his horror.

"What was that?" Vince asked.

"I said, I've been turned into a dog!" Howard barked again.

"Why can't I understand you?" Vince said quietly, and to Howard's surprise, he actually sounded sad. "This is ridiculous! First I can't understand the ducks in the park and now you. It's all because Howard left, I can't talk to the animals anymore and it's all his fault." This surprised Howard even more, how was it his fault Vince couldn't talk to animals anymore? He looked up at Vince and his tiny dog eyes widened, Vince was crying!

Howard barked at Vince to get his attention.

"I'm s'rry, I can't understand you, it's just whenever my mate Howard leaves, it's like 'e takes a piece of me with 'im. 'N a course bein' Howard, 'e takes the most important part, 'e takes my sunshine, and with it, is apparently the ability to talk to you. It's pretty annoying, but when 'e gets back everything is normal again. 'Cept…this time, 'e said he wasn't coming back so-" Whatever Vince had tried to say after that was drowned out by the sobs Vince was now trying to choke back.

Howard just stared at Vince horrified. Vince couldn't talk to animals when he was gone, that in itself was surprising. But Howard had only been gone for a week and already he couldn't recognize the person in front of him. He had done this to Vince, of course he didn't mean to, he just had no idea Vince cared this much.

Howard put his paw over Vince's hand, and let out a little whine which startled Vince, making him look down at Howard like he had forgotten he was even there.

"You must think I'm pathetic huh? I should be used to Howard leaving, but I jus' can't help it. Like a few weeks ago, 'e got a part in some famous director's new piece, and e' jus' left, didn't even think to ask 'is best friend to come alone. I ended up jus' sat in my room for a week crying. Naboo tried to help by hiring some Howard look alike, as if that would cheer me up." Vince scoffed, and Howard felt the guilt slowly building up. He had given Vince so much crap over Adam, and it hadn't even been his fault.

"I managed to get myself out of bed eventually, 'n that was the day Howard came back. I was so happy; I nearly threw myself at 'im, but Howard wouldn't 'ave liked that, 'e's got this 'don't touch me' policy. Instead I just stayed where I was, 'n acted like my normal bitchy self, in an attempt to hide how excited I was that 'e came back for me. Then that commercial came on 'n I knew that wasn't the case. I don't want to believe it, but I don't think Howard would 'ave ever come back if 'e 'ad been put in a big movie." Vince said sadly.

Howard just stared up at Vince surprised, of course he was going to come back for Vince, he always did, Vince meant the world to him, if only he could show him that now, but at the moment he was incapable of doing any such thing being a dog an all. So he settled for licking the tears off Vince's face, it creeped him out a bit, but he was currently a dog, and Vince needed him.

"Thanks, you're sweet" Vince giggled, before hugging Howard who would have blushed, was it possible.

"Ya know, you remind me of Howard, your fur is the same as his hair, brown and messy." Vince smiled scratching Howard's head. Howard growled.

"Oh, don't get angry, I think it's cute, jus' like Howard. Course you might not think that's much of a complement. Other people… 'n animals I s'pose, don't ever see the great person Howard really is, they jus' see a jazzy freak who dresses like a geography teacher. Oh 'n don't tell 'im I said this, but I like the way he dresses, I don't mean it's fashionable a course, but he wouldn't be Howard if he dressed any different, my Howard has a bad fashion sense, a goofy mustache and 'e likes jazz, but I think he's perfect." Vince smiled. And even if Howard had the capability of speech, he would have had nothing to say, Vince thought he was cute, Vince thought he was perfect.

"Howard doesn't like dogs much… or maybe that was foxes… Oh well, I like you! I think I'll call you…Julian, Howard always said he felt like that was his name in another universe or something, bit of an odd thing to come up with (specially for Howard) but whatever. Anyway, you're Julian, for now at least, when Howard gets back you can tell me your actual name kay?" Vince asked sweetly.

Howard looked up at him and nodded, he was surprised Vince had remembered about the Julian thing, in fact everything that Vince had done so far surprised him. He felt a bit bad that he was hearing all this stuff Vince was saying; when he clearly didn't want Howard to know, but he would have told Vince it was him, if he was able too. Maybe Naboo could help.

'Yes! Naboo would know what to do!' Howard thought, hopping off Vince's lap and running to Naboo's room, Vince following curiously behind.

They both reached the room, and Howard was irritated to find it empty. 'Maybe he went to DJ with Bollo'

"This is Naboo's room. But he's not here. He left yesterday, Bollo went too, he's a gorilla by the way. Naboo said 'e couldn't stand being woken up every night by my crying, and apparently all my moping messes with 'is "relaxation time" he won't be back for a week." Vince said sadly.

'How could Naboo just leave Vince like this! And a WEEK! Fantastic! I'm going to be a dog for a week!' Howard thought, imagining ways for a dog to give himself Chinese burns when Vince started talking again.

"I don't like being alone, but I always end up pushing everyone away…" Howard looked up and saw the tears quickly forming in Vince's eyes.

'I'm not going anywhere!' Howard barked, and even though Vince didn't understand he smiled.

"I'm glad you're here Ju, you won't leave me right?" Vince asked hopefully, and it hurt Howard to see the pain in his eyes. He shook his head, and barked again, tail wagging.

"Genius, now what do ya say we get you something to eat, I'm sure you're hungry." Vince said, giggling at the quite noises coming from Howard's stomach.

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And there you have it, another chapter done, if you like this story I'm sure you'll be happy, and can show me your appreciation by reviewing. If you don't like it then I'm sorry, but I'm not forcing you to read it am I?