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The Mighty Boosh

Vince came down for work that morning at 10am, as he aways did - one hour late.

' Hey guys,' he said, sitting in his favourite comfy chair by the window, where he could look out on the street and make a judgement on every person who passed.

Holly looked up from the book she'd been reading - an old Charlie book which Vince had written,' Morning,' she smiled.

Howard nodded at Vince, before looking at Holly. Holly gave him Howard a look with a clear meaning as she nodded her head in Vince's direction. Howard sighed and nodded, so Holly put down her book and slid off the counter.

' Howard? '

' Hmmm, yeah Holly? ' he asked, only just stopping himself from calling her 'sunshine.'

' D'you mind if I go out for a few hours? ' she asked, looking at Vince, who was watching them,' I've been meaning to get some new shoes for ages, an' there's a new little shop opened in town. It looks well cool. '

Howard pretended to be annoyed, although they'd planned this as a way for Howard to be able to talk to Vince, ' I suppose,' he sighed,' although don't be out too long, will you? '

' Cheers Howard,' grinned Holly, grabbing her jacket.

' Can I come too? ' asked Vince hopefully,' me and you haven't been shopping in ages, Hol. '

' You went on Saturday after we closed up here,' pointed out Howard.

' Exactly! ' Vince exclaimed.

' No,' Howard said,' me and you need to work on our next gig at the Velvet onion, little man. '

Vince sighed,' Ok. '

Holly kissed her brother's cheek and winked at howard when Vince wasn't looking, before leaving.

*****

Holly had been gone for over an hour when Howard plucked up the courage to bring up the sensitive subject with his best friend.

Vince was eating a banana when Howard looked across the room at him.

' Vince,' he said carefully,' there's something I wanted to talk to you about.'

Vince looked over at him,' Yeah? ' he asked through a mouthful.

He sighed,' Right, it's a bit difficult really ... '

Vince's eyes widened,' Howard? Are you ill? What is it? Oh god ... how serious? How long've you got left to live? '

' Woah, hold it,' Howard said, holding up a hand to silence Vince, coming around the other side of the counter, and sitting opposite him. Howard sighed, closing his eyes and mustering up the courage - this was going to take lots and lots of courage.

' I'm not ill,' Howard told him,' but I've met someone. I've - I've got a girfriend, Vince. '

' Met someone? ' echoed Vince, a smile crossing his face,' how did you manage to get a girl? A girlfriend! Well good for you, I guess. '

Howard smiled awkwardly,' I've liked her for about 6 weeks and I've recently had the courage to tell her how I feel. The thing is, she's really beautiful and funny and she makes me feel fantastic about myself. '

' Genius,' Vince nodded,' you'll have to introduce me to her sometime ... hang on,' he added with a frown,' when have you even been out to meet this girl? The only time you go out without me is to jazzercise, and I doubt you've met someone there. '

' Yeah, she's not from jazzercise,' Howard said quietly.

' Then how have you had chance to meet someone? ' Vince asked in confusion.

Howard took a deep breath,' Before I tell you, you have to know that I love her - I'm not messing her about, I really care about her. ' He sighed and said,' Vince, it's Holly. '

Vince nodded and Howard waited for him to realise. Vince smiled,' That's - woah, wait! Holly? Holly? Holly, my little sister? '

Vince stood up quickly, and Howard stood too, immediately regretting telling Vince.

Vince's eyes widened and he was looking at Howard with a mixture of shock and hurt. But now anger - Howard had expected anger.

' You've - you've been seeing my little sister? How long? When? What? H-how? '

Howard cleared his throat,' I told you, I've liked her for a while. Then last night I heard her go out on the roof so I went up there, told her how I felt. She said she felt the same, and - and here we are. '

' But she's my sister,' Vince said, ' and you're my best friend. That's not supposed to happen. '

' I know,' nodded Howard,' but you can't help who you fall for, and I really like her. She's - she's so amazing, Vince. '

Vince paused before asking,' You love her? '

' Course I do,' Howard confirmed,' I love her like I've never loved anyone. '

' And you understand that if you ever hurt her, I'd honestly kill you. ' Vince's tone was deadly serious, and it was at this point that Howard found himself staring at Vince's eyes - so identical to Holly's, and so prone to captivating him.

' I know. '

Vince bit his lip,' I want to be really angry at you, because she's my sister, but I can't do it. If she's happy, and you're happy, then what can I do about it? She's old enough now, I suppose. An' there has to be a moment when she stops being my little sister and starts needing someone else more. '

Howard reached out and laid a hand on Vince's shoulder,' You know, no matter how much I love her, she'll always still be your sister. And she needs someone, it's always going to be you that she wants. She'll always need you. '

Vince nodded,' Thanks Howard. But you - you and her. You're my best mate - what if we start growing apart because you've got a girlfriend. And then the two people I know best don't need me any more. '

' Little man, that's ridiculous,' Howard told him,' it's me and you forever right? Against the yetis, and green men with polos for eyes, and transexual mermen, Bob Fossil ... '

Vince laughed,' Yeah. After all, you're still useless - you're still gonna need some advice, aren't you? '

Vince hugged his friend and for possibly the first time, Howard didn't tell him to get off him.

' Although,' Vince said,' you do understand that I might have to take bac my generous stance on this relationship if you two are aways kissing and stuff in front of me. And I've still got to talk to her. '

Howard nodded,' 'Course. '

But deep down, he knew that all was well.