Technology.

A summer apart and see where they are in three months – that was the deal that Eric made with Vince in May. The idea of spending three months apart had caused something to click for both of them, leaving their relationship on shaky ground not seen since Vince's great exodus post-Medellin. Nothing was set in stone, just a soft promises that Vince would stay faithful and Eric would try not to worry. Turtle would be with Vince on set, while Drama stayed behind in Los Angeles as Eric worked the summer at the agency. It was less than ideal, but it would give them both time to think. They had to figure this out before the rest of the world figured it out for him.

Although Vince hadn't been able to see Eric while he was filming the latest Peter Jackson flick, he had become very adept at using his laptop. With the click of a button, he could be connected to Skype in a matter of seconds and see a bleary-eyed Eric as he crawled home from a late night at the office. Eric refused to pay astronomical international rates, so they had opted for the free video chat service. Besides, Vince reasoned that it was better because he actually got to see E blush when he said something inappropriate. He never realized how cute it was before now.

Five-thousand miles doesn't feel so far as Vince's beautiful face fills the screen of Eric's laptop from Australia, whispering promises about how "It's only twenty-four more hours, Baby." Along with the million other strange things that had happened since their relationship shifted, it's Vince's sweetness that strikes him most odd. He was used to his foul-mouthed best friend that just had to smile to get what he wanted. In his place, Eric had found a slightly shy guy who was almost trying to woo him for his attention. It was undeniably sweet to know that Vince wanted him like that.

After months of being apart, they would finally be reunited tomorrow. Only Turtle and Johnny had any inclination that something had changed. Though neither of them had said anything directly, the frequency of their conversations paired with the awkward conversation Johnny had with Eric about family told them everything that they needed to know. Turtle had agreed to delay Vince's welcome-home party by a few days for "jet lag," when they all four really knew it was so that he could enjoy his reunion with Eric.

"It's more than 24 hours, Vin," Eric reminded him as he shifted backwards and smiled. Vince had never been all that great at looking at the full picture. He could only ever see what he wanted, and right now, all he wanted was to be in the same place that Eric was. "It's going to take you at least half a day to get back here. Still, 36 hours is a lot better than three months."

"Tell me about," Vince deadpanned. It had been the longest twelve weeks of his life without Eric. It wasn't like the lost summer in Mexico when he had been angry at the world. It wasn't like those few weeks before Gatsby when Eric had finally stuck to his guns and shut Vince down. It was more than that and definitely worse than that. "You'll be at the airport to meet us, right? Just you and Johnny. I don't want Ari or Shauna there. Just family, yeah?"

"Just family," Eric confirmed. He had spoken to Ari exactly twice while Vince was out of town, once to renegotiate terms of his merchandise agreement and another time to remind him about some publicity that he was supposed to do next month. Shauna had been equally as out of touch, just a few emails exchanged about Vince's promotion requirements from the last movie he did. "I was thinking that we could do dinner with the guys and do dessert back at my place. My lease is up on the sublet at the end of the month. I guess I need to figure something out."

"I've got a few ideas," Vince leered suggestively.

Eric shook his head and chuckled. "I'm sure that you do." He raked his fingers through his hair and tried not to gasp aloud when Vince leaned back and spread his legs. He was too damn cocky for either one of theirs good. "I'll be at the airport and then you can show me a few of those ideas, Superstar. Until then, keep your knees together. I want you nice and hungry when you get home."

Vince looked up at Eric behind dark lashes as he reached out and touched the screen. It was about as much intimacy as the distance and the technology could afford. "I can't wait to see you, E," he said softly before resting his head on his hands. Eric could see the high school kid who used to sit at his kitchen table after a school play, high as a kite from the cast party and deliriously happy from his non-chemical high of being a natural-born star.

"Me neither, Vin," Eric replied as softly. "We made it three months, you still in?"

"I'm still in," he nodded. "Even more than I was three months ago."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Vince laughed. "Fuck yeah, moron. I love you."

"Good," Eric grinned. "I'll see you then?"

"See you then."