A/N: Please, please, please, please REVIEW. I need to know that this is still worth reading. :)

Disclaimer: Still not affiliated with them. Sad for me.


It had been two days since Lilly had told Howard how she actually felt. Things hadn't changed all that much in those forty-eight hours, but to Howard it felt like the Earth was spinning in the other direction. Lilly, on the other had, had become quieter and more reserved since their meeting in her hotel room. Even Howard could tell something was bothering her, but he couldn't figure out what.

Vince and Howard were standing in their regular spots in the shop. Well, Howard was standing; Vince was lounging in the chair by the door, reading a copy of Cheekbone and making small noises of approval – and occasionally disproval – to himself.

"Vince?" Howard was leery about asking his best mate for relationship advice, but who else could he ask?

Vince was wrapped up in the fashion faux pas page of the magazine. Apparently, the new singer of the punk band, Moses' Socks, had been caught wearing a Jacobean ruff. Didn't he know those had been out of style for two days now? What a berk!

"Vince!" Howard now understood why Vince got so annoyed when he couldn't get Howard's attention. He'd called his name at least ten times now.

"Hmmm?" Vince didn't even look up from his magazine. He simply licked his finger and turned the page.

"Vince, I need to talk to you. Do you think you could put the magazine down for a minute?" Howard tried to be patient with the mod. At least, he thought he was mod today. Vince had been punk yesterday. It was hard to follow.

"Howard!" Vince whined in a particularly grating voice, "I'm taking a break! You're overworking me."

"You haven't done anything!" Howard threw his hands in the air, "You've only been down here for twenty minutes!"

"Yeah, but I had the throw the bin bags out the back, didn't I? Those bags are heavy!" Vince looked back down at his magazine and chuckled, "Donny Tourette's made an arse of himself again."

"Vince, you didn't." Howard walked around the counter towards the smaller man, "Remember what happened last time you threw the bin bags out the back?"

Vince still didn't look up. He was ignoring Howard now.

"Vince!" Howard yanked the magazine out of Vince's grip – causing Vince to issue a loud "Oi!" in protest, "We have designated refuse areas for a reason! The urban fox population is out of control and you aren't helping any!"

"You've lost my place now! I'll have to read the whole article over again!" Vince reached out for the periodical but Howard kept it just out of his reach.

"Tell you what, little man; you can have your magazine back if you help me with a slight problem." Howard turned on his heel, carrying the magazine back to the counter. Vince was forced to stand up and follow.

"Aw, Howard, those bin bags are heavy. I'm a delicate flower. I can't be carting those about like a bin man." Vince paused and smiled slyly, "Weren't you a bin man once, Howard? Sounds like its right up your alley."

Howard scowled at Vince, "I'm not a bin man anymore though, am I?"

Vince suppressed a smile and looked down at his shiny black Chelsea boots.

Howard kept scowling but tried to focus on the problem at hand, "Anyway, it's not the bin bags I need help with."

Vince looked up at Howard, confused. He was sure he was going to get another long lecture about urban foxes. They came about twice a week now.

"It's about Lilly."

Vince rolled his eyes and turned to go back and sit down. If he was going to be subjected to more talk of Lilly, he was going to do it while sitting down.

"Vince, I'm serious!" Howard couldn't believe his best friend was taking his problems so lightly.

"Oh, believe me, I know you are." Vince sat down and crossed his legs. He had already noticed how passive Lilly had been since she and Howard had talked. In fact, he knew every detail about the situation. Howard wouldn't shut up about it.

"She won't tell me what's wrong. In fact, she won't tell me anything! Everything she says is just a diversion. She won't even tell me where she's really from. There has to be something wrong!" Howard was pacing behind the counter now. Vince thought he was definitely blowing all of this out of proportion.

"Howard, if there was something wrong, she'd tell you. Maybe she's finally seeing the error of her ways. I knew this wouldn't last long." Vince said all this jokingly but it struck a nerve with Howard.

He grabbed Vince's copy of Cheekbone – holding it up to make sure Vince saw what he was doing – and then stalked towards the back door, throwing it out with the accumulating bin bags. Without a second glance, he slammed the back door and came stomping back, a venomous look on his face.

"Hey! That isn't fair!" Vince was standing now and looking outraged. Howard was so heartless sometimes.

The sound of a tinkling bell cut the argument short, distracting both men. Naboo and Bollo came shuffling in both looking a bit worse for wear.

"Alright, Naboo?" Vince perked up immediately. After all, he'd get another copy of Cheekbone soon and he really couldn't be bothered with Howard's relationship problems. Howard just got too involved. He sucked the fun right out of the relationship.

"Hey there, Naboo. How was the stag?" Howard came out from behind the counter, eventually leaning against it and crossing his arms over his chest. He'd let the argument with Vince rest for now but he still had to figure out what to do about Lilly.

"Alright. I've got a blinder though. Bollo, put the kettle on, will you?" Bollo grunted and went upstairs to make tea, "Anything happen while I was gone?"

There was an awkward silence while Vince and Howard tried to decide what they were going to stay about the last three days.

"Nope."

"Howard got a girlfriend."

Howard had hoped Vince would keep silent but – in looking back – he should have known better. Naboo laughed and then put his hand to his temple, looking pained.

"What sort of girl…? You know what, don't tell me. I'd rather keep it a mystery." Naboo made his way for the stairs, Vince's amused laughter in his wake.

Howard harrumphed in annoyance and scuffed his shoe on the floor. Was this really so much of a shock?

"Oh, come on Howard. We're happy for you, really. You can't blame us for being surprised though, can you?" Vince sat back down in the chair and crossed his legs.

"Yes, I can. I have to say, the lack of faith you display is insulting, sir." Howard thought for a minute and then smirked to himself, "Now go move those bin bags to the refuse area. I don't want a repeat of last time."

Vince began whining again, "But Howard!"

Howard sighed to himself. Is this what his life had become?