I sighed as I wrapped my arms around him. I loved the feeling of him in my arms. I closed my eyes and nuzzled his neck. He snuggled in to my chest and I held him as close as I could. "I love you so much," I whispered in to his ear.

"I know, you already told me." He let out a cute little half giggle half laugh and I just loved him even more for it.

"So what if I did? I wanted to say it again…what are you gonna do about it?"

"Shut you up." He rolled over and kissed me passionately.

"Psht, that didn't shut me up!" I stuck my tongue out at him. He responded by catching my tongue between his lips and enveloping me in an even more passionate, slightly more aggressive kiss. I responded by pulling him on top of me, running my hands down his muscular back, reveling in every second my hands were against his skin.

"How was that?" he grinned, pulling away.

"Speechless." I put my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him back in to the kiss. We enjoyed several more minutes of passionate kissing before Nick pulled away abruptly. He jumped from the bed, pulled a pair of boxers on and ran from the room quickly, holding his hands over his mouth, not saying anything. "Nick!" I called after him, but it wasn't any use. I got off of the bed and pulled my boxers back on, chasing after him. "Nick!" I called, trying to figure out where he'd gone. Had I done something wrong? Something so disgusting that he couldn't stand to be near me? Or had he realized what had just happened between us and panicked…had he lied about his feelings for me? Had I made him do something he wasn't ready for? "Nick!" I cried yet again. I didn't get a verbal response, but I heard the sound of retching from the bathroom. The door was open and I looked in to see my little brother hanging over the toilet bowl, looking weak. I fell to my knees beside him and cradled him in my arms.

"I…I don't feel so good…" he looked up at me. His eyes had gone darker and his face was pale…he looked completely different from the way that he had a few moments ago when I held him close.

"Nicky, what happened?"

"I dunno! We were kissing and I was happy and then all of a sudden I felt like I was going to throw up…"

"Oh Nicky…" I pulled him close, but a second later he pulled away again, holding the sides of the toilet bowl so tightly while he threw up that his knuckles were white. I sat beside him and rubbed his back.

"Kevin, what's wrong with me?" He pushed himself up from the toilet bowl as I handed him a tissue. He wiped his mouth and looked at me sadly.

"I dunno…did you eat something not quite right?" I didn't know what to tell him. I hated seeing him in this state, I'd never liked it when he was sick.

"I don't think so…I mean not that I know of." He shook his head.

"Ok…well…maybe you just have a bug or something?" I was trying not to worry, but I couldn't think of many possibilities for what could be wrong with him.

"Maybe…" he nodded. "That must be it, right?"

"Yeah Nicky." I nodded and pulled him in to a hug, fully prepared to let him go the second he needed to bend over the bowl again. He jerked away a few seconds later and lowered his head again. I hated the sound of him throwing up and it was made worse by the fact that when he came up again he had tears in his eyes.

"I hate throwing up," he looked at me sadly, crying softly.

"I know Nicky," I pushed some of the tears from his eyes but I didn't get the chance to hug him again before he leaned away yet again. This time when he was done I pulled him in to my arms quickly. "I'm so sorry you're not feeling well."

"It's not your fault…" his words were raspy from the vomiting.

"I love you kiddo…"

"I know." And then to my horror, he went limp in my arms.