Author's Note: Last instalment for today. I need a sleepy. Night all.

The first time he'd said it, Vince had been asleep, no more than a child, and Howard had been comforting him after a nightmare. He'd said it so many times back then, but only when Vince was asleep and wouldn't be able to hear.

The first time Vince had heard him say it, they'd been about to die, or so they thought, and he'd been desperate for Vince to know that he cherished their friendship.

"Vince, I love you."

The next time he'd said it had been under the influence of beer, fear, adrenaline and his first kiss. He'd not so much said 'I love you' as he had thanked Vince for the gift of love and proclaimed his newly found gayness from the rooftop. He'd thought for a minute that it might have been the start of something, only to get distracted by that pencil case girl who, it turned out, wasn't really that into jazz or stationary at all. He'd regretted ditching Vince, especially as the younger man's hurt face seemed to be etched behind his eyelids.

...

The first time Vince had said it, he'd been laughing. Nervous and caught off guard at Howard's confession. Howard had refused to accept it, but Vince had said it all the same.

"I do love you, Howard!"

The second time Vince had said it, he hadn't really said it either but it'd been implied.

"I'll never love again."

Things had gotten weird after that. Howard had left, then come back. Vince had left and not come back, except for the play. Howard remembered the play.

The third time Vince had said it, Howard had barely been listening and it had only been later, watching back the video of the show that he realised what Vince had said, what he'd declared in front of a crowd of strangers no less

"The thing is Howard, you know I love you and everything. But, you're just a bit mentally slow."

...

And now this.

"I love you!"

...

Vince had now said it four times to Howard's two. And he wasn't laughing. Wasn't joking or drunk or sulking at being turned down. Vince was in earnest.

Howard knew he should have been scared. He didn't like people in his space, or intimacy of any kind. Except with Vince, who had always been the exception. And now Blanche.

He knew he needed Vince. Without him the world was devoid of magic, even in a place like the Nabootique, surrounded by shamen and mystical nicknacks, there was a distinct lack of magic when Vince wasn't there.

He knew he loved Vince. He wasn't sure what sort of love it was but he did find the man attractive (Didn't everyone?) and he sure as heck wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. They could work out the rest as they went.

He loved Vince and Vince loved him. He felt so euphoric it was like being in a jazz trance but he suddenly realised that he'd been quiet for a bit too long. Vince looked on the verge of a panic attack and Blanche, who was watching them with her mouth open, was about to lose the sandwich she stuffed in there and then forgotten about.

He took a deep breath and went for it.

"Well that's a relief," Howard said, letting his arm stretch out across the table so his hand could take hold of Vince's.

"What?"

Vince looked confused and a bit sick so Howard rubbed his thumb across the back of the other man's hand.

"Because I love you, Vince. It's good to know you love me too. Makes things a whole lot easier, don't you think?"

Vince didn't seem to be able to talk, and Howard could understand that he was a little shocked. Vince had always been quite forward with his feelings. He'd been flirting with Howard since he arrived and had been cuddly and affectionate to boot. While Howard had been more accommodating of the affection than he used to be he couldn't blame Vince for not knowing how Howard felt. He'd always been the subtle one of the two, but sometimes that was a disservice. He'd have to try harder in the future. Their future.

"But, that's..." Vince's voice trailed off.

"Genius!" came a muffled little voice. Blanche was trying to swallow her mouth full of food and nearly choked when both Howard and Vince turned to her and told her:

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

Vince turned back to Howard and Howard took in his cobalt eyes, so full of emotion, and his flawless face which was looking at him with such devotion. This didn't seem possible, and yet it was, and he wasn't going to screw it up.

"I love you, Vince," he said quietly.

"I love you too, you big muppet," Vince whispered with a smirk.

There wasn't the emotion he might have imagined. There were no tears, no one swept anyone off their feet into a passionate kiss. There was no swooning or anything like that. He was still Howard and Vince was still Vince and thank Brian Christ for that. He did bring Vince's hand up to his lips and press a gentle kiss to his knuckles but that was the extent of the romance just then. They'd have time for that later.

Vince giggled at the kiss but when he took his hand back he brushed the spot with his fingers lovingly and bit his lip in a way that was, Howard suddenly realised, utterly adorable.

Howard could have happily sat there and watched his friend looking adorable all day but they had plans to put into motion.

"So," he said, trying to sound seductive and like he knew what he was doing. "Shall we continue this discussion over dinner?"

Vince's laugh was so loud it made all three people around the table jump.

"That was well corny, Howard!" he laughed.

"It was from the heart, you tit. Don't you go laughing at me," Howard responded but he wasn't really cross. Vince's laugh was light and without malice and it was good just to see him laugh.

"I'm just laughing 'cos I'm happy, Howard. Don't get your trumpet sock in a twist," Vince teased and Howard chuckled along with him.

"And?"

"And dinner sounds lovely, Howard,"Vince accepted graciously. "As long as Ami's ok to look after Blanche for an hour or two and Blanche is happy to hang out with Ami?" He looked at them hopefully and Howard was again impressed at Vince's new found ability to think of his daughter's needs and put them before his own. It made him love the younger man all the more. He looked into those blue eyes and thought he might never emerge from their depths. Might never want to.

Oh dear, he was genuinely in love. With Vince.

Ami had to be the one to break the spell in the end.

"We should probably get going," she said gently. "There may be one or two photographers who've been told they'll catch sight of you in about an hour and it's best to get this all happening while Blanche is still full of beans."

"Too right," Vince agreed. "Don't want my little lady getting exhausted too soon."

He bounded up from the table and kissed Blanche on the top of the head. Howard stood too and tried to catch Vince on his way past but the smaller man dodged, giggling as he darted away, only to land a firm smack to Howard's backside.

It was unexpected but not unpleasant, which made Howard blush despite himself. Being in a relationship with Vince was going to be fun, he could tell, but it was going to take some getting used to.

Vince looked back at him over his shoulder, cheeky and bubbly the way Vince Noir was supposed to be.

"This is going to be genius, Howard. Me and my family out together, shopping and being happy. And Jaquettie can choke on his own unicorn tears."

Blanche skipped up and slipped her hand into Howard's, smiling up at him with a face that was a near mirror of her father's when he'd been a boy.

"Genius, yeah?"

Howard smiled. He couldn't agree with her more.

"Yeah," he said. "Genius."