Melody.

It's some time after 3 a.m. when the sound wakes Eric, leaving him scrambling for the prized electronic device on his bedside table. Gone are the days of his BlackBerry or a television remote; instead, he retrieves the baby monitor from the nightstand as he sits up in the dark. The other side of the bed has been abandoned and he can make out a sliver of light in the hallway. Wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand, Eric leans against the headboard and closes his eyes.

"Have I ever told you how good it feels to hold you? It isn't easy to explain."

Vince's beautiful baritone voice greets him in the darkness, reminding of him Saturdays in Queens when they used to drive his dad's old beater around after whatever party or hookup had happened that night. They had worn out more than a couple Ramones cassettes on those streets, and that song had always been one of Vince's favorites. It had been ages since Eric had heard him sing it but he is happy to welcome the surprisingly lovely soundtrack to their childhood.

He can almost hear the smile in Vince's voice as he works his way through the first verse a capella. Eric's mom used to sing the very same song in their tiny kitchen when she would make coffee on Sunday mornings. Her version had more soul, taken from the Ronettes in the early sixties when music was still music, according to her. However, it was the version by the original boys from Queens that Eric and Vince had loved. While it wasn't usually anyone's favorite Ramones song, it held a special place in their hearts. It represented a very specific moment in time for them, and that kind of memory couldn't begin to compare to most other songs.

"Baby, I love you. Come on, baby. Baby, I love you. Baby, I love, I love only you."

Peeling back the down comforter, Eric rubs his read hair tiredly as he makes his way down the hall. Vince's voice grows slightly louder but remains fairly soft and steady. He can make out his swaying shadow against the pale wall toward the end of the hallway. It was a familiar sight, one Eric was used to by now. This wasn't the first time he had woken up at 3 a.m. alone, only to hear Vince signing this very song. It always makes him wish that he could carry a tune, but tone deafness was just another Murphy trait he had inherited along with with pale Irish skin and a strawberry allergy.

Eric leans against the door jamb and takes in what he now considers to be the most beautiful sight in the world. Vince has his back to Eric, Katherine Chase Murphy resting contently in his arms. Kate loves the sound of Vince's signing voice more than anything in the world, even more than those creepy Wiggles guys or creamed peas. At six months old, she is already the center of their universe and perhaps the biggest surprise of their life.

"I can't live without you. I love everything about you. I can't help it if I feel this way."

Watching Vince sing to their daughter in the nursery, Eric still can't help but think he would have been an amazing Joey Ramone. If only Bob Ryan hadn't hated Ari so much, Vince's dream project probably would have come true. However, if he had, things could be completely different and there would be no Kate. There might not even be a Eric and Vince. Eric smiles as he thinks about how life works itself out sometimes thanks to fate's intervention.

He moves further into the room now as he so often does, sitting on the glider so that he can listen to Vince finish the song. This is now their most-used room in the house. They barely make it down to the den to play golf or watch games anymore. Instead, they end up having slumber parties in Kate's nursery, preferring to watch Bambi and play with the soft blocks Rita send from Queens a few weeks back.

"Oh, I'm so glad I found you. I want my arms around you. I love to hear you call my name."

Vince turns slightly and catches sight of Eric in the corner of the room. It's the same slow and easy smile that has caused millions of women all over the world to fall for the superstar, but it's reserved only for Eric. He can't believe sometimes that he is actually in love with the pretty boy, his best friend from childhood who he never even considered until a few years ago. Now, even the sight of his blue eyes can catch in Eric's throat sometimes and he still gets butterflies nearly every time they kiss.

Eric watches Vince cross the room until he is next to Eric on the small couch. He shifts Kate so that she is between them and he can rest his head on E's shoulder. It's so domestic and comfortable, a tiny little family moment that the paparazzi would kill to witness. Eric can hear sirens in the distance but they are quickly drown out by Vince's voice. His fingers work their way down to fix Kate's fuzzy blanket around her chin.

"Oh, tell me that you feel, tell me that you feel, tell me that you feel the same."

Eric smiles in the darkness at the lyric, remembering when Vince uttered something very similar late one night when they both finally came to terms with how they felt about each other. The memory makes him lay an absent kiss on Vince's curls and snuggle closer to his husband. He covers Vince's hands on where they hold their daughter. The three of them are in perfect sync, living life as they always do in unison.

Kate's breathing is steady now, fast asleep and ready to be laid back down. Vince stands up slowly and makes his way over to her white wooden crib and settles her in for a few more hours. Eric is beside him, peaking down at their daughter in amazement of her sheer perfection. Vince reaches down for his hand and tugs him down the hallway toward their bedroom, still humming the melody under his breath.

"Baby, I love you. Come on, baby. Baby, I love you. Baby, I love, I love only you."