The epilogue and the end.
Thank you for reading and for the reviews. And now I'm off on holidays, so I'll be back with a new story (hopefully) in a month and a half.
Ta-ra.
"Bunch up, Howard! Let me in quick! It's well cold here at nights."
Howard chuckled as he moved over in the large bed to let Vince in.
"Can't imagine how you've survived without central heating for three months."
"I know. I've gotten well rugged. But it's good to have my hot water bottle back."
Vince snuggled against Howard, making the larger man jump when two cold feet pressed up against his leg.
"Sorry, Howard."
"Not a worry, little man," Howard whispered in reply.
He moved his arm up and allow Vince to press more firmly into his side and they lay in companionable silence for several minutes before Vince spoke again.
"Hey, Howard? Do you think this is a bit weird?"
"Which bit?"
It was Vince's turn to chuckle this time.
"Good point, but I just feel like it shouldn't be this easy to repair a friendship. To get back into the whole double act. It certainly shouldn't be this easy to start a relationship with someone, surely?"
Howard thought for a moment before wrapping his arms tightly around Vince.
"I always thought it was amazing, and kind of strange, that we could be apart, for years sometimes, and then fall back into our friendship without a hiccup. I decided it was just another part of the Vince Noir magic."
"Vince Noir magic? I like that. Don't know if it's true though."
Howard looked down and saw uncertainty in his friend's blue eyes. Even three months of serious self-searching hadn't rid Vince entirely of his anxiety and lack of self belief but Howard was determined that with the two of them working together it could be done.
"You've worked your magic here, that's for sure. I've never seen such a beautiful house in all my life."
"Yeah," Vince grinned. "But you don't get out much do you, small eyes?"
"Stay at home man of action, that's me, sir."
"I reckon we're more like Lost Boys," Vince replied.
Howard nodded and leaned down to press a gentle kiss to Vince's lips.
"Shall we stay lost here then?"
"Definitely. Welcome home, Howard."
...
And that was how it began... And that is where we end.