A/N: A little later on, Nick is 16, Kevin is 21.
Chapter Seven
It was dark outside, the moonlight was reflecting in ripples along LA beach. Kevin often lay in bed with the doors to his balcony open, watching the moonlight until he fell asleep, tonight was no different.
Nick shut off the light in the en-suite bathroom and climbed into bed next to Kevin, he snuggled into his brother's muscular frame, kissing his neck and shoulder blame, comfortingly.
"How're you feeling?" Nick asked, whispering into Kevin's ear.
"I was having one of those days today where everything seemed right in the world," he started, "where I was content with everyone and everything around me,"
"A strange delighted aurora," Nick chuckled quietly.
"Yes, surprising as I just dumped Danielle, finally, it's over," Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Well she was a pretty good decoy, I must admit, those pictures seemed pretty authentic," Nick smiled against Kevin's skin.
"Ok, 'finally' makes it sound horrible, but to be fair, I was sick of keeping our fake relationship on the 'DL' to make it look somewhat authentic, now I can be open and free about who I am as a person and have to have her tied to me," Kevin yawned.
"The 'DL'?" Nick laughed out loud.
"Yeah tell me about it, who says DL anyway, what is this, like sixth grade?" Kevin laughed with him.
"How did you even meet her again?" Nick asked.
"When we went back home I remembered her, remember her giving me the eye all the way through eighth grade Math, she was at Aunt Sylvia's party, I think they're distantly related," Kevin explained, leaning back into Nick's body as he did so, "She looked very 'girl next door' and she'd been giving me the eye all night, I really wanted her to just go away but then I saw you with Miley and realise, hey she could be a good cover up,"
"Tell me more," Nick snuggled into the pillows, ready for a bedtime story.
{Flashback}
Kevin was standing by the drinks table, holding a glass of champagne in his hand. He was alone, but his eyes were full of Nick who he had been staring at all night. Nick was with Miley, playing up to this façade he had created with her. Kevin laughed to himself, if only Miley knew what was really going on. Nick should have really ended it with Miley a long time ago. But she was just too eager to be with him, it was easier just to keep smiling.
Kevin's eyes flickered over to Danielle's. She was staring at him again. 'Oh my gosh, please go away,' Kevin thought. She was beautiful, of course she was, she was kind and sweet and of course Denise and Kevin Snr loved her, but she did nothing for him, Nick was his one and only.
Soon she was approaching him. 'Oh god, oh god, oh god,' Kevin cried inside.
"Hey," She smiled, her face glowing, "I'm Danielle, do you remember me?"
"Danielle, 'course," he shook her hand politely.
"I remembered your face from school," she smiled again, her face lit up, why was she doing nothing for Kevin? "I thought I'd come over and say hi, I don't really know anyone else here,"
"Surely you remember my brothers?" Kevin asked, he pointed to where Joe was talking to his Uncle Josh, telling a story in with extravagant hand gestures, "Joe, second eldest, tall, handsome and the one all the ladies want," Kevin was hinting, "He's socially unacceptable in every way possible and finds it hard to actually string a few sentences together without getting distracted. But, he's beautiful in his own special child-like way,"
"I see," she gave the same eye to Joe, who obviously gave one back and she giggled, marking her territory for her next victim. 'Wow' Kevin thought, 'this girl really goes for brothers huh?'
Kevin pointed towards Nick who was having something whispered to him by Miley. "Nick, second youngest, very cute, very modest and very talented. Of course, has had his fair share of ladies. Quiet, thoughtful and very sensitive towards people he loves. Nick has Type 1 Diabetes which he's been dealing with since he was thirteen. He's sixteen now, but I can't stop looking out for him. I love him very much and I think he's wonderful," Kevin meant every word, but tried not to seem obvious.
"He's special to you isn't he?" Danielle asked, "The youngest,"
"You have no idea," Kevin smiled, but shook his head, reminding himself of who he was talking to.
"Wow," Danielle smiled, "You really do keep up this wholesome family image pretty well,"
"It's not an image it's our life," Kevin butted in, slightly offended. She was taken aback and seemed to be shocked. Suddenly Kevin had an idea of how he could use her interest to his advantage.
"I was wondering, Danielle, if you'd like to go with me to dinner sometime," Kevin asked, putting on his best polite face.
"Sure," she smiled eagerly and the laughter began again in earnest.
"Great," Kevin smiled back which made his jaw hurt, "Just excuse me for one second," And Kevin walked over to where Nick and Miley were sat.
"Nick, you're going to love this -," he cried as he pulled away his brother from Miley's grip.
{End}
"Oh I see," Nick nodded, telling Kevin he understood, "So that's what happened before you came over to me,"
"There was no physical attraction at all, she was just my Miley," Kevin giggled and kissed Nick delicately.
"My god," Nick lay back, flat against the pillows, "You know that was nearly 2 years ago,"
"Have we been together for nearly two years already?" Kevin asked, rolling over and resting his head on Nick's chest.
"Seems so," Nick replied, "God, how have we kept this secret for so long?" he asked himself.
"Good job we had Miley and Danielle," Kevin closed his eyes and let sleep flutter over him.
"Yeah, 'had' being the operative word," Nick sniggered.
"True," Kevin breathed.
"So now what?" Nick asked, "We have no cover up's, where do we go from here?"
"Wherever our path takes us, Baby J," Kevin rolled onto his front and Nick played with his curls, letting them bounce against his head, "Plus Selena was checking you out at the awards the other night, maybe a new decoy is in order,"
"Maybe," Nick snorted.
"Or Demi?" Kevin suggested.
"More likely for Joe than me," Nick cackled.
"You've got such a dirty laugh," Kevin laughed into the pillow.
"What about you?" Nick lolled his head towards Kevin.
"Me? Mmmm… don't worry about me Nicky J," Kevin stretched as he rolled over, "I'm happy being 'single' and still being a JoBro everyday while secretly being in love with my sixteen year old brother,"
"Who you've been fucking for the past two years," Nick added.
"You made it sound so vulgar!" Kevin protested, his head rising off the pillow.
"Who you've been madly in love with for two years," Nick snuggled down next to him and planted a kiss behind Kevin's ear.
"Much better," Kevin agreed.
