He checked his watch and almost gasped. The time actually run tonight, he thought to himself. It was almost eleven.

Looking around the room, Kevin tilted his head to the side.

Brian was leaning against the side of the bed as he sat on the floor, head crocked, resting on the edge of the mattress, dead to the world. Kevin smiled softly. If Brian was left there longer, he'd probably start to drool.

Nick, on the other side, wasn't much better. He looked down at his lap, a blond head resting against his right leg, which was long ago asleep along with said blond. Not even an hour ago, Nick had been sitting by his side, his head on Kevin's shoulder. But sleep had been the winner in the on going battle, and Nick had succumbed to the late hour, falling ever so slowly over to Kevin's chest and finally to his lap.

Kevin, from his part, had tried to make the young kid as comfortable as possible, but there was really very little to do when you've got a child asleep over your legs.

"Well..."

Kevin lifted his eyes, looking right at Howie as the younger man grinned from his position against the far wall.

"I think it's time to hit the sack."

Kevin could only nod. "Sorry for them falling sleep. We were hoping to stay a little longer."

Howie chuckled, shaking his head. "It's alright, I had a great time."

"Me too."

"Me too."

Both men turned around to look at a half asleep, slightly tipsy Alex grinning at them.

Howie snorted. "Go figure. It's my birthday and he's drunk."

"Actually," Kevin said just as the man in question crawled over to the side of his own bed, reaching for the covers. "I think he held his liquor rather fine tonight."

Howie turned around, giving Kevin a look. "That's nothing. I've seen him draw down ten shots of tequila and still stand up to dance."

Kevin frowned. "He's only fifteen."

"That doesn't mean he didn't start drinking when he was thirteen."

Kevin's eyes followed Alex as he pushed himself up, finally reaching his bed, and down at the small blond boy in his lap. He couldn't picture Alex at such a young age already drinking. He could never picture Nicky drinking at thirteen.

Howie chuckled, standing up and walking over to Alex, helping him with the covers, as the young man seemed to be in the middle of a fight with them. Finally, when Alex was untangled from them, he turned around, his back to Howie, and settled for the night.

Tilting his head to the side, Kevin looked at Alex for a moment. The younger man was already asleep, one hand under his pillow and the other on his side. His eyes closed, his brows smooth, Kevin could see such a peace in him. Nothing compared to the ever serious persona Alex showed when he was awake.

"He's different when he's sleeping."

Kevin looked up, finding himself staring at Howie's face, a small smile on his lips. "Yeah."

"He's not a bad person. He's just..."

"Misguided?"

Howie nodded, turning over and looking at Alex once again. "He's my best friend." He said softly, walking over to the other side of the room, sitting down on the floor once again.

"I know. I can tell. You are his as well."

Howie snorted. "Sometimes it doesn't seem like it."

"It's just for the show," Kevin said, referring to Alex's demeanor sometimes.

"I know." Howie turned around, straightening his back and crocking his head to the side of his knuckles to pop. "Gosh, I'm tired."

Kevin chuckled. "Tell me about it. It's been so long since I had a couple of drinks," he added as an after thought. And he was right. Even though it had only been a couple of beer, which it's really nothing mayor, he could still feel his head starting to buzz inside.

"I think it's just you getting old, Kevin," Howie said with a smile.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think? After all, I'm not the one who just turned twenty-one."

"Argh," Howie groaned, letting his head fall back, his eyes closed. "Don't remind me. It was awful enough when I turned twenty."

"I don't remember it being so bad."

"That's because you're twenty two already," Howie said with a devious grin. Kevin only glared at him. "I remember being nineteen only days ago."

"Yeah, well, at least I'm not the one senile. You were nineteen two years ago."

Howie snorted. "Damn."

Laughing, he shook his head. "It's not that bad. Besides, someone has to be the adult with so many kids around."

"Brian is eighteen."

"But he behaves like he's fifteen, so he doesn't count." Kevin smiled softly. "I'd hate to be only grown up one."

"You do fine for the both of us," Howie said with a smile. He paused, swallowing the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat. "I know sometimes I don't behave my age, but it's just..."

Kevin sobered up all of a sudden. "You don't have to say anything."

"No, I do." He paused, thinking his words carefully. "I think I'm just used at hanging out with Alex. He's always been his own person, and whenever I wanted to worry over him, he wouldn't let me. So I'm not used to it."

"It's alright. I can do it for the both of us," Kevin said lowly.

"That's the whole point. You shouldn't have to do it alone." Howie's lips twitched upwards. "I can help you."

Kevin's chest constricted. He had already convinced himself that he'd have to do it alone. That he'd have to be the grown up of the group. It was great to know he wasn't alone. "Thanks."

Howie nodded. He let out a long sigh, looking around the room. "I think it's time for these boys to head over to their beds."

Kevin grinned, nodding as well. "I share your thoughts."

Howie moved over to the side of his own bed, trying to shake Brian. "Bri, wake up."

Kevin chuckled at Brian's refusal to open his eyes. "He won't wake up. You gotta help him. Just stand him up and he's do the walking on his own."

"Are you sure?"

Kevin nodded. "It was always like this when we used to stay up late watching movies. It used to be his brother and me leading him to his room, but you can do it."

Howie sighed, bracing himself for the task. He placed his hands on Brian's armpits, pushing him upward. It was a surprise for Howie when the younger man stood up in his two feet, his eyes still closed.

"Here," Kevin said, managing to get the keycard out of his pocket without waking Nick up. "Open the door, I'll be after you in a second."

Howie did as told, leading Brian all the way to the room.

Kevin sighed softly, looking down at his charge sleeping soundlessly on his lap. There was no way Nick was going to wake up, that he knew. So the only answer was picking him up. He sighed again.

Placing his arm under Nick's body, the blond turning around and nuzzling Kevin's chest in his sleep, Kevin smiled. He arranged the blond slowly, bringing him higher in his arms, so he wouldn't loose balance at the time he stood up. Nick only mumbled something, burring his face deeper in Kevin's chest. Kevin smiled tenderly, looking down at Nick's face in his sleep. It was such a sweet sight.

Deciding it was either now or never, Kevin brought his legs around, kneeling on the floor. In one quick movement, Kevin was standing up, the blond on his arms still asleep. He walked out of the room, kicking the door closed with his feet, but being careful enough as not to slam it so Alex wouldn't wake up.

When Kevin arrived at his shared room, Brian was already in the bed, Howie standing by his side.

"I wasn't sure if I should change him or not. I only got his shirt and shoes off."

Kevin nodded slowly, leaning over and placing Nicky on his bed. The blond rolled off on his own, making himself comfortable in the bed, his hand under the pillow.

"I can do it," Kevin said, lifting his eyes from Nick over to Howie.

"Kev," Nick mumbled in his sleep, his hand reaching for the trim of Kevin's shirt.

Kevin leaned over, whispering softly in nick's ear. "It's okay Nicky. I'm here."

There was an unintelligible word, then a soft whisper, "stay."

Kevin frowned. "I'm going to be in the room."

Nicky shook his head, his eyes barely squinting open. "Stay."

Kevin sighed softly. They wouldn't fit in that small bed. But Nick's rumbled hair, sleepy blue eyes looking at him, he just couldn't refuse. He nodded. "Just give me a second. I'm gonna change, alright?"

Nick didn't move for a second, and Kevin was starting to thinking the blond had fallen back asleep when there was a barely perceptible nod, Nick's hand falling back by his side.

Straightening himself up, Kevin walked over to Brian, getting his jeans off. "Thanks Howie," he said as Brian didn't complained, just kept on sleeping.

Howie smiled softly. "It's alright." His eyes traveled over to Nicky. "He's very fond of you."

Kevin only nodded, a lopsided grin making its way to his lips. "And I am of him. He's just a sweetheart."

"I know." Howie yawned, groaning softly. "I better leave."

Kevin turned around, smiling at Howie. He opened his arms and Howie got the hint, accepting the hug. "Happy birthday," Kevin said once again, patting Howie's back.

Howie only chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm off. Good night."

"'Nite."

Howie placed the keycard on top of the dresser, closing the door after him.

Kevin sighed softly, changing his clothes quickly, putting on his flannel bottoms.

He walked over to Nick's bed, pulling down the covers slowly. It had been a good idea to tell Nick to change before going over to Alex and Howie's room. He had known Nick would not stay awake for five hours of movies. He had barely lasted three. Not that they had even finished the third movie. They had turned it off in the middle.

Laying down on the bed, pulling the covers over him, Kevin thought about the night. They had sure enjoyed themselves. Being Howie's birthday, they just had to do something special. Movies, pizza and a couple of drinks had been the decision. And it had been wonderful.

Nick turned around in bed, his head resting on the hollow if Kevin's neck. Kevin sighed softly, his hand going over to the blonde's hair, running his fingers slowly through the blond locks. Apparently, Kevin made a good pillow, as Nick sighed in contempt and it tickled Kevin on the side of his neck, who muffled a laugh.

Groaning in sleep, Nick rearranged himself, lowering slightly in the bed as he burrowed his face in Kevin's chest, the older man holding him close. Coldness touched Kevin just below his collar bone; he twisted around, his eyes trying to find the source of such coldness. A silver piece caught the dim light of the moon that shone through the draw curtains and Kevin smiled softly.