A/N: Ah. Now we get into the fluffier territory. Which makes me think of an area of land which grows fur in winter. That'd be cute. But not as cute as Howard and Vince.

Disclaimer: Nah. I wish.

Love

Howard's POV

It was night again, and I was still stumbling around London. I hadn't eaten all day, so felt light headed and delirious. The cold was drilling deep into my bones. By ten p.m., I was in a residential street somewhere in the region of Euston Road. I just wanted to sleep. But I caught sight of a lonely figure walking past the last streetlight on the road and into the darkness beyond. Those silver boots, and that strut, although currently muted, were unmistakeable. I ran after the figure, dodging the parked cars, calling his name. Finally, he heard me. He stopped and turned around. Vince looked awful. His hair, normally beautifully tamed, was a straggly, fluffy mess. His eyeliner had smudged and run, his eyes were red from crying.

"Oh, God." I whispered. "I'm so sorry, Vince."

"It's me who should be sorry. I'm the one who blurted it out." He murmured in reply.

"And I'm the one who ran off." I paused. "Were you telling the truth? You really knew?" As I took a step towards him, a nearby house's security light came on, throwing his face into sharp relief as he looked away.

"Yeah." He whispered.

"And you don't mind?"

"No, Howard. I… I love you. Like nothing else." My eyes grew wide as I stared at him.

"Oh, god. I've been waiting to hear that for… years. Thank you."

"You mean you love me?" Vince looked confused and weary.

"Yes. I love you, Vince Noir. Nothing'll ever change that." He stepped forward until he was right in front of me, and reached up to kiss me. We stood together, lips locked, for almost an hour. And finally I knew I could be happy.

We walked back to the shop slowly, fingers entwined, all tiredness suddenly gone from us. We were energised by the revelations we had encountered. We were silent for a while, before Vince said:

"Howard?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy Birthday." I looked up in shock. I had forgotten all about it. But I smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, little man."

Aaw. Happy ending. But there's another chapter... Read on...