This is the end, the final chapter! A huge thank you to Castie67 whose comments kept me wanting to write this story, and to the others who reviewed too. At this point I should point out that I don't own the Boosh or Gary Numan or his family. Or cake. I'm just writing and making no money from it.

Thanks again.

Vince closed his eyes and smiled.

He'd had a fantasy, when he was younger, about having a normal family dinner with salads and fancy desert. Nobody got drunk, nobody got violent and nobody told him that eating as much as he wanted was greedy or would make him fat. He used to close his eyes and imagine it as he lay on his bed whilst his stomach growled because sometimes turning up to dinner was too frightening in the foster home. He could put up with being kicked under the table but hated having the food picked from his plate or held out of his reach and hated the way the other boys spoke. He hated that one particular boy who thought it was funny to stab him in the thigh with his fork, that was the worst, and so sometimes it was easier to simply hide in his bedroom.

But this, this was something else. He looked around the table and grinned. Gemma had put on a delicious meal and was now busy wiping the aftermath of it off the two youngest Numans, Persia and Echo. The oldest of the Numan children, Raven, was busy chattering at Howard about her first few weeks of 'big girl school'. Gary was in the kitchen uncorking another bottle of wine and there was soft music playing in the background. It all felt very... nice.

He looked at the almost empty salad bowl. He'd been determined to bring something but he'd had to look up what actually went in to a salad in a lifestyle magazine. It'd been fun and he and Howard had come up with a new crimp as they made it. Gemma had been proud of him and Gary had chuckled every time is was mentioned. He reckoned he could get used to domesticity. And then the light went out. And he gave a little shriek.

Raven giggled and Gary entered the dining room with a cake covered in candles. Vince blushed his way through the impressively in-tune birthday song and blew out the candles and then there was cake and more wine and eventually it was time to go home. Vince had survived his first birthday tea and realised that the whole day had been genius, even the bit where he and Howard had woken up at midday fused together with dried come because Howard had decided to carry Vince to the bathroom for a shared shower which Vince had declared the best shower of his life. And now he got huge cuddles from the three kids and proper, grown-up hugs from Gary and Gemma and presents and everything and then, as the moon came up and the sky turned an inky indigo he found himself walking down the street towards their flat with his hand held firmly and lovingly in Howard's.

"So," Howard said slowly as they came to a stop in front of their door. "Are you happy?"

"Um..."

Once upon a time Vince would have replied without thinking. Was he happy? Of course he was happy. He was Vince Noir, the Sunshine Kid, he was always happy. Generally it was true but he knew that Howard was asking a deeper question than whether he was just feeling cheerful at that moment.

"Yeah. I think I am actually. You?"

Howard gave him a lopsided smile and shook the curls away from his face. Vince felt his heart flutter in the way it had ever since he'd first seen the tall gangly boy whose locker was next to his. He still had a crush on Howard. Now he loved him, would do anything for him and he was finally getting to know Howard the way he'd wanted to all those years ago. It felt silly to still have a crush on him but it was there and Vince liked the little thrill he felt when Howard touched him or made eye contact or laughed at one of his jokes or smiled the way he was smiling now.

"Yep. Happy as a bean."

Vince giggled and began to twirl his hair coyly.

"Are beans known for their happiness, then?"

Howard grinned wide and unlocked the door, gesturing grandly for Vince to enter and he did.

"Of course they are," he replied as he shut the door. "They're famous for it, you must know that. They're the jolliest of all the legume family, well known fact."

Vince grinned again and started to climb the stairs, Howard close behind.

"Hey, Howard?" he asked in his most sultry voice.

"Yes, Vince?"

"Love you, Howard."

Even though he couldn't see him Vince reckoned he could feel Howard's smile. It was like electricity in the air and made him feel flushed in a very pleasant way.

"I love you too, Vince."

Vince bit his lip and his smile stretched wide as he continued up the stairs.

Somehow, when he'd pictured it (and he had pictured it, so many times) he hadn't imagined being in a relationship would be like this. When he'd imagined it, it had never been as good as this. There was romance but with the added bonus of no cream poetry, plenty of declarations of love, and the sex - making love as Howard insisted and Vince willingly agreed - was incredible. He could face anything now, any anniversary or nightmare, because he had Howard and Howard meant safety and home and love and happiness. He didn't just have a best friend, or a fuck buddy, or a casual boyfriend. Vince had so much more, and he intended to make it work. And that was something worth celebrating.