Author's Note: Happy Fathers Day! It's FD here, is it FD in the rest of the world? This isn't a big chapter but gave me some warm fuzzies as I wrote it. Hope it's ok. Ta.

This was it. And he was well nervous.

Vince went to chew on his thumb nail but stopped before he did any damage, checking them just to be sure. He wouldn't have time to redo the varnish before tonight and it wouldn't do for him to look nervous when confronting Jaquettie anyway.

At least he had Howard with him. He'd often teased Howard for being slow with his come back lines but he did have his moments. When they'd been cornered on Xooberon by that blue midget Howard had spurted put-downs like a master and he wouldn't mind a bit of that Howard Moon magic right now. Except-

Vince came to a sudden halt and Howard stumbled to a stop beside him.

"What's the matter, little man?" he asked gently, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face. Vince tried to calm down, it wasn't so bad, really. He was perfectly capable of looking after himself, but it wouldn't be the same without Howard there to jump to his defense.

"You don't speak French, Howard."

"What?"

Vince tried not to get annoyed but it was tricky. He was getting really nervous now. "You don't speak French, Howard. You were always rubbish at it."

"So?" Vince tried not to think that Howard was being purposefully dense. Howard could be dense but he didn't do it on purpose

"Jaquettie's French. They're all French. They speak bloody French, Howard! ... You won't be able to understand what they're saying, you berk. How will you be able to help me if you don't know what's going on?"

His voice had gone all high and squeaky but he didn't know how to coax it back down again. Howard put his hands on his shoulders and turned him until they were facing. It was funny how Howard could make him feel so safe. It had been like that when they were kids but somewhere along the way to adulthood he'd forgotten and it felt good to remember what it felt like to be taken care of.

It also felt good to have Howard's hand gently stroking his cheek, which he was doing right now. Calming him down like he was scared otter.

Having Howard as his boyfriend was still weird. He hadn't known until he'd kissed him again whether the love he felt had any sort of physical element and he'd been even more nervous than he was now when he'd done it.

They'd been heading out the door for their big shopping trip when Vince had taken his chance and given Howard a lingering kiss on the cheek. It had felt good. A bit scratchy, but good. A little bit electric actually. And electric was always good, right?

Howard had been nervous, all twitchy and stiff as Vince kissed him. Apparently kissing Vince's hand was easier than being kissed on the cheek. He smiled weakly at Vince, looking all shrimp eyed and adorable and Vince had decided that he was going keep trying with the whole kissing thing. He'd felt something, he loved Howard, they just had to get used to being more than mates.

He'd snuck in a kiss while standing at the counter of the first boutique they visited, and another when they'd been deciding where to go next. The first five kisses had been on the cheek but when he'd gone in for the sixth, as they'd been heading home with a sleeping Blanche nestled into Howard's chest and Vince's arms full of shopping bags, Howard had turned his head and their lips had collided. Howard had jerked in surprise but then, before Vince could pull away, he'd pressed into the kiss and Vince had realised that a HowardVince kiss really did have the power to flick a guy's switch.

He didn't just love Howard, he wanted him.

By the end of their romantic dinner that evening they'd been snogging like teenagers. Vince had been careful not to take things any further than that, and he had his reasons. They were both really emotional right now, Howard had almost no experience, and as much as Vince wanted this relationship to work he also wanted to devote himself to his daughter. Blanche was blooming, faster than he would have thought possible, but at night she was still a frightened three-year-old. When the sun was up she could chatter and was even starting to boss her daddy and her Papa Howard around. But when it came to bedtime and going to sleep, she was plagued by nightmares and spent most of the night in Vince's arms. She hadn't wet the bed again but Vince had assured her that if it ever did happen, it was nothing to be ashamed of. She wouldn't be in trouble and he definitely wouldn't stop loving her. She'd been suspicious at first but she was starting to believe him now and each night when he held her gently and she held on to him like her life depended on it he found himself loving her even more (If that were even possible).

He did want to move things on a little with Howard though. There were so many fun things he wanted to teach his new boyfriend, even the thought of it made him blush. He hadn't been with anyone for quite a while and it was getting hard to restrain himself.

But none of that was going to be much use right now. He needed to face Jaquettie and Howard wouldn't be able to help him.

"It's alright, Vince," Howard told him softly, using his best animal calming voice. That voice was well sexy. "Tell you what. When it all gets too much just let me know and I'll punch out whoever you point to. Ok?"

Vince snorted. The only people Howard had ever punched had been that weird kid at the boxing club, Mrs Gideon and that old lady with the bag full of cakes (the kangaroo didn't count). Not exactly competition for a big northerner, really. But he liked the idea of Howard defending his honour.

"Sure, Howard," he replied, smiling up into Howard's earnest face.

"Or I could just hold your hand and be your big, silent, northern rock?"

"That sounds good too. A talking rock would be too surreal, even for us. Best if you're just my strong, silent type, yeah?"

"Yeah, love. Now let's go. You've procrastinated enough."

Vince leaned in to him as they took the last few steps toward the backstage doors.

"I don't even know what that means."

"What? Procrastination?"

"Yeah. Is it a compliment?"

Vince gave one of his flirtiest smiles, knowing that it probably wasn't a compliment but really hoping Howard would play along. He was just putting off the moment when he had to come face to face with Jaquettie. Howard probably had a fancy word for that, for putting things off. He was a proper brain box, no matter what Vince said to the contrary.

Howard gave his indulgent little laugh and kissed Vince's forehead.

"Enough of this little man," he whispered and then slid his arm around Vince's waist again, sending a little electric shiver through his body. He was getting to like those little shivers. "Let's go face the jumped up little seamstress."