Summary: Drake and Josh realize things about each other that bring them closer than they ever imagined they could be.

Disclaimer:

Drake & Josh are not mine. Sadly.

Note to Readers:

This story is going to be ongoing. I'll try to update as often as I can. It contains a lot of slash and adult situations so if you're not comfortable with that please don't read. I understand some people find the Drake/Josh story line weird and that's fine. Just don't read it. To everyone else, please leave reviews. This is my first Drake/Josh fanfic and I'd love to know what people think. Thank you!

Story: "Suddenly More Than Brothers"

Chapter: Three

Josh and Drake wound up falling asleep much earlier than either one of them normally would have on a Friday night. Some time around midnight they had passed out, Drake collapsed atop his brother and Josh with his arms wrapped tightly around the smaller boys body. They were asleep and as everyone knows, if you're asleep you have no control over things and that means anything goes. Josh hugged his brother tighter, sliding one of his hands up into the boy's messy hair. He could feel Drake's cheek press closer against his bare chest and it made him smile. They were connected in almost every place possible, Drake had one leg wrapped across his brother's hip and the other tucked under Josh's leg, his hands were resting on Josh's sides and though the touch was light it was enough to keep the skin there completely warm, their bare chests clung together and Josh's free hand began to sink beneath the mess of blankets over his brothers lower back to hesitantly rest on his naked ass.

Josh wasn't really asleep but he was testing the boundaries of what he could get away with if he really was. The past two nights had been this whirlwind mess of pleasure, a mix of hearts racing, moans and pleasure filled groans and Josh longed to just be able to touch Drake, simple as that. To feel all the places he had dreamed of touching, it was intimate and gentle as Josh ran his fingers up the length of the other boy's spine. His warm palm spread out against his skin and he leaned up just enough to press a kiss to the top of Drake's head before he let out a soft sigh and shut his eyes completely once more.

Their synchronized soft breathing was all there was now. For almost half an hour more they both concentrated on the sound with out each other knowing, not believing that it could blend and match so perfectly, almost this strange kind of harmony that made the both of them smile.

Drake's head slowly rose and his small frame stretched out against Josh's larger one. Though his eyes were heavy and half closed he managed a slight grin as he looked up at Josh whose eyes had opened when he felt his brother's movement. They watched each other for a few moments as if they had never seen one another before. There was this new light around each of them. Drake was laying there completely naked, but yet he seemed shy and vurnerable like never before, he wasn't the often self centered rock star wannabe his brother was used to. And Josh, he had more confidence his eyes than Drake had ever seen, his usually boyish smile was replaced by one that was much stronger and filled with some sort of mystery. He reached up and ran a hand thru his wavy black hair as he let out a small yawn, his eyes closed for a moment as he scratched at his neck and then his jaw, trying to wake his senses up fully before he was able to mumble softly.

"I'm kind of thirsty."

Drake nodded a little as if expecting him to say that before he reluctantly pulled himself away from Josh. He rubbed at his eyes and squinted in the darkness, able to make out his digital alarm clock across the room. It was only 3 am. He was expecting it to be closer to 6 or 7 and was kind of happy when he realized there were still a few hours left in the night. He shivered, suddenly growing aware to the fact that he was stark naked. He quickly looked back at Josh who was blatantly staring at him in the dim glow of the moon light.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer." Drake rolled his eyes, smiling a little as he reached out to smack his brother in the side before he began to stand. He quickly grabbed one of the sheets from the bed and wrapped it around his whole body. He looked like some kid on Halloween night as he crept across the floor in the direction of the small refrigerator they kept in their room. As he moved through the darkness not once did he stop to think he had actually gotten up to get them both a drink on his own, without whining or complaining or begging Josh to do it for him.

Josh had rolled over onto his side to watch him, he didn't care if he warned him not to stare, he couldn't help himself. He grinned a little at the sound of the floorboard creaking as Drake walked. They really didn't have to be quiet. It wouldn't be unusual for one or both of them to be up at some crazy hour on a Friday night. Josh often had all night study sessions and Drake… well he was Drake. But right now he could understand exactly why his brother was walking so slowly, so quietly. There was something in the air and maybe sounds or words or anything at all could break it.

Drake leaned down and tugged the sheet tighter around his body as he peered into the refrigerator. He stood there for a good 2 minutes before Josh decided to whisper, "Just bring back anything."

Drake shook his head and quietly shut the refrigerator door before coming back empty handed. "There's nothing in there. I forgot to bring up that orange soda Mom got." He stood there at the foot of Josh's bed, shivering a little from both the sight of his brother laying there with nothing on but a pair of very over worked boxer briefs. His eyes froze on just how they clung to Josh's body before he quickly looked up into his brother's eyes, his freckled cheeks blushing brightly.

Josh barely noticed Drake's little visual adventure or the fact that his overly confident brother was actually blushing, he sat up quickly, a confused look on his face as he stared in the direction of the refrigerator. "And it took you almost 3 minutes to figure that out?"

"I wanted to make sure." The other boy shrugged beneath the sheet that covered his shoulders.

Josh resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead reached out for the pile of clothing on the floor beside the bed, he tossed Drake his t-shirt from earlier and was about to pull on his own before the other boy stopped him.

"Wait.. If mom and dad or Megan get up they're going to ask why we're still dressed and not in our pajamas."

Josh's eyes widened, Drake just made complete sense. How did that happen? Josh laughed softly to himself as he tossed his shirt back onto the floor and nodded. "You're right. Good thinking bro."

In Josh's mind this is where he would have given Drake a kiss on the cheek, a quick, messy one, that agreed with what he just said but he didn't know how to go about it so he gave him a small smile instead as he got up to dig thru the pile of clothing across the room. He tugged at his boxers a little between sorting through the plaid pajama pants until he found a pair of his own. He stepped away, giving Drake room to look through the pile. Josh waited until he was sure Drake's eyes were occupied and he quickly pulled his underwear off, replacing them with his pajama bottoms. His feet were bare and the draft across the floor made them shiver so as soon as he had found a sweatshirt to wear he slipped his feet into a clean pair of socks. As he sat at the foot of his bed pulling them on he watched Drake out of the corner of his eye.

Drake tried his best to balance the queen sized sheet over his shoulders and pull his pants on at the same time, when he finally managed that he let the sheet slip to the floor and grabbed one of the t-shirts from the clean pile of clothing to put on, his toes were cold too but he ignored it as he turned back to face Josh, seeing the other boy staring at him once again. Drake grew shy at first before his normally cocky attitude reappeared. He took a few swaggering steps closer to his brother, both hands resting on his hips as he stared down at him.

"Didn't I tell you not to stare at me?" Drake leaned down, grabbing the other sock from Josh's hand before he had the chance to put it on. He clutched one end of it tightly between his fingers and swung the other against the side of Josh's head.

Josh tried to lean back out of the way but it was too late and the sock smacked him square in the face. Josh let out an indignant gasp and quickly grabbed at the material as Drake tried to swing it thru the air once more. He tugged it free from his brother's hand and the other boy fell forward, landing on top of Josh. He sat up quickly, awkwardly straddling his lap as he tried to grab at the sock. Josh flung it wildly out of his brother's reach until finally with all the commotion he accidentally dropped it. His free hand moving to Drake's hip when he felt the boy shift against his lap in an effort to reach for the fallen sock. Drake groaned and dropped his head to Josh's shoulder, it was far beyond his reach, some place on the floor across the bed.

They sat there quietly for a moment, trying to regain control of their breathing. Josh's hand, without thought, roamed along the waist band of Drake's pajama bottoms. He adored the contrast between the material and his brother's soft skin for a few silent moments until Drake burst out in a giggle mixed with an annoyed whine.

He reached for Josh's hand, pushing it away and swatting at it. Grumbling as he climbed off his lap and back onto his feet again "That tickles, man." Drake cleared his throat quickly as he headed over to grab a baggy t-shirt for himself. He was trying his best to hide the fact that he was enjoying the gentle touch his brother had just been using on him. But Josh could see right thru it.

He grinned to himself quickly as he stood, mumbling an apology quietly as he made his way around the bed in search of his lost sock to pull on. Drake had already begun to tug a shirt on and was smoothing out the mess it made of his hair. He found a pair of what were probably his socks from earlier to pull onto his feet while he leaned against the wall beside the door. He watched Josh, trying to stifle a laugh at how hard it was for him to find the sock before he turned for the door.

"Last one to the kitchen has to wash the dishes!" Drake called out as quietly as he could while opening the bedroom door.

"You never wash th…" Josh looked up mid sentence to see the glow of the hallway light leaking into the bedroom. Drake was already long gone from his place at the door and Josh let out a whine as he quickly headed out of their bedroom and to the stairs.

Drake was already standing in front of the open refrigerator by the time Josh got downstairs. He hadn't bothered to turn on any lights and Josh sighed as he flipped on the dim one above one of the counters. Drake didn't even look over to question the sound of his brother's movement in the room and in stead began digging things out of the fridge. Wordlessly Josh grabbed two plates and glasses, knowing without him having to say it that Drake would want something to eat too.

"Do you think this is any good?" Drake turned around, holding up a slice of ham only a few inches from Josh's face. He waved it in the air, laughing when it hit his brother's cheek. "Sniff it."

Josh rolled his eyes and nudged at Drake's arm trying to push it away before he sat down. "I ain't sniffing no ham."

Drake stared down at his brother for a moment, still holding the ham out in mid air. "Well, I'm not eating it anyway, now that it's touched your face."

Josh couldn't help but laugh at that. He didn't even notice the fact that Drake had turned around and put the slice of ham back into the package because he was so focused on the idea of Drake not wanting to eat something that touched his face after what they had just done not too many hours ago.

Drake dropped a few things onto the table, the ham not being one of them, before he grabbed a loaf of bread and took a seat across from Josh. He poured himself a glass of apple juice and drank it quietly, as if he was completely alone in the room.

Josh wanted to talk, he was a talker. It was hard for him to just sit there. Especially now, seeing Drake across from him it was almost like watching him do everything for the first time. As if they had never snuck downstairs together for a midnight snack before. He couldn't help but think about the things they had been doing upstairs. He couldn't help but wonder if Drake was thinking about them too. He couldn't keep himself from staring when Drake began to lick a messy glob of mustard off his fingertips.

Drake looked up, catching his brother's stare. His eyebrows furrowed as he squinted. "You were in charge of the plates, that means napkins too, and I don't see no napkins." He grinned a little, almost proudly as he sucked the remaining mustard from one of his fingers before wiping his hand across his shirt to dry it.

All Josh could do was shake his head and smile. He wasn't about to scold him or tease him for not using a napkin like he would normally do. In fact, he usually liked it when Drake would do things like that, even if it showed his complete lack of manners, he found it cute. He found everything Drake did to be cute.

They sat there eating quietly until Drake broke the silence with a burp. Josh couldn't help but laugh and forced out one of his own. Both brothers laughed as they both looked up at each other and smiled. It wasn't a teasing smile and it wasn't a give me something smile, just a happy one. They both felt happy at that moment, happier than either one of them ever had.

Josh had gotten up a few minutes to begin clearing the table off after he'd finished eating. He was trying to clean up the mess Drake had made in the refrigerator when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned quickly and Drake was standing there, holding out the bottle of apple juice.

"I thought I'd help, bro." He stared into his brothers light eyes, giving him a small smile as he held the bottle up a little higher.

Josh fumbled with it as he took it in hand, he was surprised Drake had offered and once he had gotten the juice back into the refrigerator he turned around to mumble a soft thank you. Drake was still standing there watching him, only a few mere inches back. It was moments like this that reminded Josh all the things he felt for his brother. Times when they were standing so close he could almost feel drake breathing. It was moments like these that took his own breath away and he whispered a shy thank you again, not for Drake helping clear the table, but for the mere fact that drake even existed.

"Welcome." Drake smiled that killer smile that overflowed with a mixture of adorableness and sex appeal all at once. Josh's eyes widened at the sight of it. He was never the recipient of it. He had seen it before, he knew when Drake used it, he knew who Drake used it on and just why.

Drake took a small step closer and Josh could feel a shiver run thru him as he naturally back, his shoulders bumping hard against the refrigerator. He let out a quiet grown and his cheeks flushed a bright red. "Good thing the door was closed, huh?" He laughed shyly, trying to hide just how embarrassed he had just become.

Drake smiled more and leaned a little closer. The tip of his tongue had snuck out across his bottom lip and he watched Josh's eyes as they followed it before he spoke. "It's cool, man. Remember that time you walked into a parked car? Now that's something to be embarrassed about." Drake laughed a little as he reached up to rest his palm on the refrigerator just over Josh's left shoulder.

"I… right…" Josh could only mumble a few words, the blush on his cheeks had begun to feel like a fire spreading all over him. How could have this happened so quickly? How was Drake making him this nervous? Why was Drake making him this nervous? Was he doing it on purpose? He swallowed hard before he gave his brother a half smile, unsure if he could even move he remained still.

Drake closed any space between their two bodies and pressed his chest to Josh's as he looked up into his eyes. His head tilted to the side and his eyes squinted as he reached up with his free hand to brush the ends of his hair out of them. His hand came slowly down, almost in slow motion to rest on the collar of Josh's shirt. Josh's eyes lowered quickly to look down at Drake's fingers as they followed the neckline of his t-shirt. His fingertips brushed against the skin beneath it and it made Josh tremble visibly and that only made Drake smile more.

"I like you like this." He licked across his lips again as he whispered. "I mean, I never knew… in all the time we've known each other you could be like… you know, how you were… But I like this too... this is what I'm used to. This is what I like, Josh."

Josh hadn't breathed or blinked the whole time Drake was talking and he let out a gasp of air as his brothers hand moved along his neck and through his hair. The eye contact was almost too much to take and his dark eyelashes fluttered closed together. He could feel Drake's fingers curling thru his thick waves of hair that he was sure was beyond messy and he easily gave in when he began to guide him down into a kiss. Drake's lips parted over his lower one and almost teasingly began to suck at it. They let out a quiet, deep moan almost in unison as Drake slipped his tongue between Josh's lips. Their hearts suddenly jumping beats. It was a completely new experience. They weren't in the protection of their bedroom, they were in the middle of the kitchen, where anyone could come down at see them standing at any moment. They weren't in the middle of some hormone driven moment, the kiss was slow and sweet and unlike nothing before it. Drake let his tongue sweep over Josh's, his hand moving from the refrigerator to cling to the material of Josh's shirt, pulling him closer. The taller boy shivered for the thousandth time and slipped his arms around Drake's waist, so easily embracing him and holding him tightly. When Drake finally pulled back to break the contact of their mouths Josh's head dropped back, for a moment he winced, expecting it to hit the refrigerator, but to his surprise Drake's hand was still resting there, padding it from an accidental bump. The feeling made him smile slowly as his eyes re opened.

Drake's were still closed and he was sucking on his own bottom lip, finding the warm taste of Josh's mouth still there. His hand slipped from Josh's hair and ran along his arm before wrapping his fingers around his brother's wrist. Drake was smiling even before his eyes opened as he began to take a few steps back, holding onto Josh's wrist to pull him along as he whispered, "We should get back to bed."