Disclaimer: I own nothing
The Mighty Boosh
The 5 flat-mates watched t.v together that night. After an argument, they ended up watching Mr Benn on the childrens channel (Vince's choice, backed by Bollo. Howard had wanted the discovery channel, Holly wanted America's Top Model, and Naboo wanted Doctor Who)
Vince was the first to announce he was going to sleep, closely followed by Bollo, and Holly and Naboo half hour later. Howard stayed up for a bit, happy to flick to the discovery channel.
Whilst he sat in the living room, he heard footsteps in the corridor, and then going up to the attic.
After 10 minutes, he decided to investigate - maybe it was Holly. It'd be nice to spend some time with her, alone.
*****
Holly had only just gone to the bedroom and hadn't even got into her pajamas before deciding that needed to think. So, leaving the flat as quietly as possible, she went to her favourite spot for thinking. The roof, of course.
She sat on the top, leaning against the bricks where the chimney pots sat.
Sighing, she looked up at the moon.
' Well, here we are again,' she smiled sadly.
The Moon spun around, its face now looking down at her,' Ah, my little earth girl - you are back to see the Moon? '
' Just gotta think,' she said.
' About love again? ' the Moon asked,' ah love. When you are the moon, there is not much love for you. But ' the moon began to sing,' All you need is love. All you need is love. '
Holly laughed,' That's a nice song - you sung that to me before, remember? '
' Uh, yes,' the Moon replied,' you .. um .. you ain't got the guy yet? '
' No,' Holly whispered.
The little window from the attic opened slowly and Howard poked his head out of the top. He smiled when he saw her,' Holly, I thought it might be you up here. '
' Hello Howard,' she said.
' Talking to the moon again? ' Howard asked, climbing out of the roof and scrambling across the tiles, trying to get to her side.
Holly looked at the moon - who'd quickly turned away when Howard appeared - before looking back at Howard,' Nah, he's gone now. He's leaving us to it. '
There was a pause before Holly said,' You - you were really great today, you know that? I know you think it was nothing, but it means a lot to me that you're always so nice to me. '
' Don't be stupid,' he said,' I'd do anything for my friends. '
Holly smiled,' You're a really good friend, Howard,' she told him.
Howard's courage was coming back and he reached out with one hand, taking Holly's hat from her head. ' That's better,' he said,' that hat just hides your face - don't hide your face, you're too pretty for that. '
Holly laughed, trying to reach for her hat. Howard however, just put the hat on his own head, and she laughed harder. Then it registered within her - he'd just called her pretty.
' You don't think I'm pretty,' she said, shaking her head, and looking away, looking over all of Dalston.
Besides her, Howard shifted closer,' Course I do. '
' Nah,' Holly said, leaning against him, her head on his shoulder,' I'm not pretty. Jimmy said it himself - I'm too short, and I've got this stupid hooked nose. I'm just not pretty at all. '
' No, you are,' Howard said, deciding that this was it. For once, Howard Moon was going to get the girl, ' you're actually beautiful. '
Holly looked up at him in suprise, lifting her head from his shoulder and staring at him.
He continued,' Who cares if you're not as tall as Vince, or me? I don't care. You've got a great body, and um ... lovely cream coloured skin. And there's nothing wrong with this nose,' he added, tapping her nose lightly.
She smiled, hoping he'd gone on with it.
He did, the courage now taking him away,' And you've got a lovely face, with your big bright blue eyes. And your glossy, shiny hair. And your smile ... you've got this fantastic warm smile.
To Howard's suprise, Holly's eyes were welling up with tears - tears he tried to prevent by continuing quickly.
' You're just beautiful, you know,' he told her,' and I - I love you. '
As soon as he'd said it, he wanted to vanish on the spot; he must sound ridiculous. Holly was shocked - he ... loved her? Her? Loved her? Howard saw her eyes widened and assumed the worst. Instead, Holly threw herself into his arms with such force that it was a wonder they didn't both fall off the roof.
Her hands were on his face and her lips met his. He was so suprised that he barely kissed back - even though he shouldn't have been so suprised, since he was the one who'd just confessed his love. Her lips pressed against his and she tasted so sweet and wonderful.
Gently, Howard laid his hands on her shoulders and gently disengaged himself from her.
Holly frowned and reached out, trying to cup his face in her hands again. He shook his head and moved her hands away from his face.
Howard was horrified as he watched tears gather in Holly's eyes.
' But you just said that you loved me! '
' Wait - '
' You can't tell me all that stuff and then push me away! ' she protested, the tears threatening to spill.
' But - '
' For god's sake Howard! ' she exclaimed,' you just told me that you love me! You can't make me feel all happy and that, and then shove me away! You can't just play with me like that! Howard, this is - '
Howard suddenly gripped her forearms and looked her in the eye, forcing her to calm down and listen to him,' Holly, be quiet and listen to me! '
She looked back at him, her breathing heavy and her eyes wide.
He loosened his grip on her arms, and his arms slid down to her waist, where he closed them around her and held her,' Holly, sunshine, the only reason I broke away is because I have to know how you feel too ... '
Holly breathed a sigh of relief before smiling,' Isn't it obvious? I think you're fantastic. I've liked you since I got here - you're smart, and kind and funny. You're tall, which is good 'cos it makes me feel safe. And you're better looking than you think - even your mustache kinda works in some weird sorta way. And you're all sensible and practical - and I'm not, so that could come in handy. You're all kind and shy and sweet. God, can't you see how I feel, Howard? '
Howard smiled and Holly tilted her head on one side. Her eyes were bright - so trusting - so loving.
' I love ya,' she said,' I love you. '
As Holly kissed him again, he was now fully ready to respond. He kissed her back with more enthusiasm than he'd ever imagined - kissing her like he kissed no-one before her. In fact, the only other person he'd kissed was Vince ... here on this very roof ... ew no, get that out of your head, he told himself.
One his hands slipped under her top and traced the scars on her back lightly. The other was in her hair, and his fingers worked their way through her silky locks of hair.
After what seemed like an age, they broke apart, each with matching smiles and shining eyes.
Holly sighed in contentment and rested her head against Howard's shoulder. His arms were still around her, and they stayed like that until Howard noticed her shivering; her flimsy vest offered very little protection.
' You're cold? ' he asked.
She nodded,' A - a bit. '
He smiled,' C'mon,' he told her,' let's go back inside.'
As the scrambled back towards the window, just before they climbed back downstairs, the Moon started singing softly.
' She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. '
Holly giggled at Howard - who was still wearing her glittery gold hat - as he looked at the moon in shock.
' See,' she said,' I told ya the moon could talk. '
' She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. '
When they were back inside the attic, Howard took her hand and led back down to the flat, until they were stood in corridor outside the bathroom and the bedrooms.
' Well ... I guess, this is goodnight,' Howard sighed.
Holly nodded and was about to turn in for the night, when she looked up at him,' D'you think maybe ... ' she laughed,' could I stay in your room tonight? '
Howard's eyes widened in shock.
Holly couldn't help but smile at him,' Not, you know - I'm not thinking about going that fast. I just ... this is silly ... but I just want to be with you. '
Howard smiled shyly,' Yeah. Yeah, c'mon. '
Once in Howard's bedroom, both were quite shy - Howard, of course, was always shy, but Holly was always more forward.
Howard wasn't sure whether he should put some pajamas on. Or should he sleep in his underwear? No, he couldn't do that; he didn't want to scare her off. Then again, she was his girlfriend now. Wasn't she? Had he actually asked her to be his girlfriend? Did it need saying? They'd confessed their love, after all ... and was girlfriend the right word? Wasn't he a bit old to have a girlfriend. But Holly wasn't too old to have a boyfriend ... was he too told for her? Oh God, it was too late to start thinking about this now, wasn't it?
' Howard? You alright? '
Howard snapped out of his trance and smiled at her,' Sorry, sunshine. Just thinking ... '
' You're freaking out, aren't you? ' she asked,' Oh, I'm sorry - this is too fast right? I knew it was daft ... I'll go sleep in my own room. '
' Don't go,' Howard said,' I'm just being stupid ... it's nothing. You know me - when in doubt, Howard Moon freaks out over every little thing. '
Holly reached up and kissed his cheek,' Well don't. Now have you got a t-shirt I can borrow? I don't wanna risk fetching my pajamas and Vince waking up. '
Howard grinned - Holly had sorted out his dilemma. If she was wearing a t-shirt, then his safest bet was to wear the same. Rooting through his draws, he pulled out a loud hawaiian button down shirt and tossed it at her.
Smiling, she unbuttoned her jeans, and Howard blushed, turning around and giving her some privacy. When he turned back around, she was wearing his shirt which was far too long for her, falling halfway down her thighs, with only half of the buttons fastened.
Howard stripped off his trousers - thankful he was wearing modest boxer shorts which were long enough not to leave him feeling embarrassed.
As Holly clambered into Howard's bed, Howard went to follow her. She smirked at him,' Surely you're not leaving that shirt on? ' she asked,' you've been wearing it all day ... '
He nodded,' I'll - I'll put another one on, shall I? '
' Or,' she said, smiling,' you could just ... not. '
Howard decided to do as he was told, and pulled his shirt over his head. When he faced Holly again he was aware of her gaze on him - raking over his legs and taking in his chest.
Holly had to admit that she was suprised at Howard's figure; his legs were quite slim and youthful, his arms were strong, and his chest looked manly and strong.
' Well,' she smiled,' aren't you a sight for sore eyes? I don't know why you're so self-conscious Howard, I really don't. Look at you, you look great. '
Howard didn't answer as he slipped into bed beside her and turned out the light on the bedside table.
' So what were you thinking - or worrying - about? ' Holly asked as they lay side by side.
Howard cleared his throat,' Am I too old for you, Holly? '
Holly laughed,' How old are you, Howard? '
' 35. '
' Right, an' I'm 27. That's only ... um ... 8 years. S'not much, really. And besides - now's not the time to be worrying about whether or not you're right for me,' she said seriously,' we've had the big romantic scene on the roof top, an' we're not going back from there. '
Howard smiled, once again Holly had managed to make his worries sound to trivial and easy to sort out.
He reached out an arm and wrapped it around Holly. She was laying on her side, and nestled in close to him, resting her head against him, and one hand on his bare chest.
' Does this mean we're - ' he started looking down at her,' Are we together now, then? '
To his suprise, she laughed,' You what? You think that we're gonna say we love each other, I'm gonna sleep in your bed, and then that's it? Nah, you're stuck with me now. '
' I think I can live with that,' he shrugged,' Hmmm, imagine introducing you to people "Oh, hello, have you met Holly Noir? My girlfriend?" Is girlfriend the right word? '
' Well partner's a stupid word - that's what you have in business. So it's gotta be girlfriend, hasn't it? ' she asked, her fingers trailing across his chest, absent mindedly making patt
' At least for now,' Howard thought,' until ... until I can call her something bigger. '
' I love you,' he sighed happily,' I don't know if I mentioned that. '
Holly laughed,' I love you too,' she said, pressing a kiss to his chest, before laying her head there and closing her eyes.
As Howard watched his beloved fall asleep, he grinned dreamily.
Now, everything was perfect.
