"Kevin, you are coming, right?"

Kevin sighed. This wasn't the first time Brian had talked to him about the same subject in the ten minute phone call. "Yes Brian. I've told you already. I am coming. Happy?"

Brian laughed, a sound that made Kevin smile whenever he heard it. "Yeah, well, forgive me for not believing you, but this wouldn't be the first time you had something else to do, now would it?"

Finding the sugar behind the rice, rice he was sure he had put away the last time he went grocery shopping, Kevin poured some into his already cold coffee -- what was it with him that he couldn't get a decent cup of coffee in this place even if he made it himself? Kevin stopped suddenly at his cousin's heartfelt voice. Brian was right. He had forgotten going over to his place more times than he could count. Kevin couldn't blame him from saying that. "Bri, I'm sorry. Really. I just --"

The younger man laughed, like it didn't actually matter. "Come on cuz, it's ok. I know you get, well, totally swamped with your work. Hell, it's not the first time you give everything of you to something, now is it?"

Kevin laughed as well, relax after the fact that Brian's voice didn't sound as hurt as it should be. Grimacing at the horrible taste the cold coffee left in his tongue, Kevin put down the cup, trying to remember to buy another kind of coffee in the way back of the office.

"Besides," Brian continued, the smile still visible in his voice, "you gotta see Stephen and Vanessa. Vanessa doesn't even remember you, you know?"

Kevin lifted his left eyebrow, his mug stopping mid way between his lips and the kitchen island, as he heard Brian laughing slightly on the other side of the phone line. "You're over reacting Bri. There's no way she could have forgotten me. I mean, I went to her birthday what… two months ago?"

"Yeah, well, she's two Kevin, I'm not sure she remembers everything she's ever seen."

"Asshole." Kevin murmured loud enough for Brian to hear. And the younger man heard, Brian's laugher ringing in his ear. Moving the cordless phone from his right shoulder over to his left one, Kevin walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. Kevin turned to his right, looking at the dinner table: no papers on it.

"Stephen was asking about you the other day, specially when Leighanne said you were coming and you didn't."

Kevin sighed again, frustrated by the fact that he didn't visit his only family in the city as often as he should and because he just didn't seem to be able to find his notes on the Publicity Campaign. "Tell her how sorry I am, but the conference run late and…"

"I know, I know. She knows as well. I think even Harold has gotten used to it. They just missed you, you know? So do I cuz."

Picking up a fallen cushion, Kevin placed it on the large couch. "I miss you too Brian." Papers scattered around in the center table, most of them, Kevin was sure, not even work related, forced him to at least look at them hoping the Incoming list was among them. "I miss you all. But don't worry. I'm gonna be there tonight." Kevin stopped, straighten himself, and hold the auricular close to his mouth. "I'm not gonna miss it."

Kevin could almost see Brian nodding, the corner of his lips twitching up in a ghost of a smile, his sea blue eyes dazzling back. "I know you won't."

Silence filled the conversation for a slip of a minute before Kevin leaned over again, trying his best to find the damn paper.

"Oh, by the way," Brian continued, his voice calm and friendly once again, "are you bringing anyone with you?"

Kevin groaned, the paper in his hands informing him about the meeting with the Economist was to be postpone another week falling onto the small table when his fingers lost their grip. "Brian, don't start will ya?"

"What? What did I say?"

Kevin would have believe that fake innocence in his cousin's voice if it wasn't because he could almost hear the mischievous grin Brian was sporting. "Like you don't know. Like you don't ask the same thing all the time."

"Kevin, you know perfectly fine that you'll have to settle down... eventually. I wanna be an uncle from your side of the family, and I'm not getting any younger, you know?"

"You're starting to sound like my mother." Kevin took a seat on the couch, picking up another of the papers. Bills, bills, Kevin thought to himself as he searched throw them, meeting, contract to re-read and sign, another meeting.

"Yeah, well, she wants to see you married and with children. She's already achieved that from Jerald and Tim, what don't you wanna make her happy?"

Brian was so close to whining, that Kevin felt the urge of pin him down and tickle him to death -- not that Kevin couldn't, Brian was still a lot shorter than him, he just didn't know if he had the stamina to do it. "Maybe I want something different." Kevin knew he was lying. And he knew Brian knew he was lying. But it was always like this. Different day, different hour, but same question.

Brian snorted, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "You're lying. You want it, I just don't understand why you don't hold a steady girlfriend."

"Brian--" Kevin's voice was warningly, not really wanting to talk about it with Brian. Not at the moment... and really not at any other moment. It was just something he didn't like to talk about.

"I just don't get you. I still don't understand why you broke up with Kristin. She was great. Tall, blue eyes, blond hair, great body--"

"I'm gonna tell Leighanne you're checking out other women," Kevin teased, laugher in his own voice.

"--she loved you a lot. Why did you leave her anyway?" Brian paused then, thinking about it better -- or finally realizing what Kevin had said -- added as an after thought. "You say something and I swear to God they won't find your body."

Kevin laughed heartily. Blackmailing was something he enjoyed more than anything. Specially if it concerned his younger and so very dear cousin. "She..." Kevin sighed, sobering up in an instant, what already seemed like a natural reaction whenever it had to do with his love life. "She just wasn't what I'm looking for."

"Then what are you looking for?"

Kevin sighed once again. "I don't know." He said sadly. And it was true. Kristin was the perfect wife material: beautiful, intelligent and lovingly. But still, she still wasn't what he wanted. At 32 Kevin still didn't know what he wanted in the person he would spend the rest of his life with. What he did know was that he wanted someone who could actually fill his soul, that part of him that had always seemed empty no matter who he was with. "When I know," Kevin continued, "you'll be the first one to know."

"You better!"

Lifting his left wrist to eye level, Kevin checked out the time. "Damn." He sat down once again, going throw the papers as fast as he could and making sure they weren't what he was looking for.

"What? Something wrong?"

Kevin shook his head out of habit then, realizing Brian couldn't see him, answered the younger man. "I'm running late already and I haven't even found my damn notes on the Publicity Campaign."

Brian gasped, but Kevin knew he was only faking it. "You, Mr. Know-all-see-all, have lost something? Alert the press!"

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny, cuz. I just don't have the time to clean up." Which was half the truth. He not only didn't have the time to do some major cleaning, lately, he hadn't even had the energy, coming home around midnight, too tired to do anything besides letting himself fall on the bed -- many night with his clothes on.

"Excuses, excuses."

"I need those papers." One of the pages, in the rush, had fallen to the floor. Leaning over to pick it up, the phone slide slowly, giving Kevin just enough time to pick it up before falling to the floor. Gotta get myself a Hands free set, otherwise I'm gonna have to get a new phone. Placing the phone securely on his right shoulder again, Kevin continued. "I'm meeting with two companies today to decide which one should take the account."

"Two? Now, that's a new one. I thought only Tempus Fugit got your account."

"Yeah, well," Kevin answered, "this new company was willingly to fight back with everything they have. The name is pretty strange, if you ask me. Something like Bones and Destruction or Doom and flesh, I'm not sure. I still have no idea who they arranged a meeting with me, I just hope they have interesting ideas. The fourth of July publicity is one of the most important for the Hotel."

"You say the same thing for the Christmas and New Year's propaganda. You always say the same thing." Brian chuckled softly, remaining Kevin of the ten year old boy who used to ask his older and taller cousin for the cookies on the top shelf he could never reach. "Like the Marriott needs any advertising."

"Still, I gotta take care of this." Scanning another shed of paper, Kevin finally found what he was looking for. "At least!" He stood up, the piece of paper clasp tightly between his thumb and foreign finger, and walked to the dinning room table where he had placed his suitcase the night before.

"Found it?"

Kevin opened his suitcase and placed the paper on top of the rest. As the PR Manager of a hotel as important as the Marriott, there were enough papers for him to read and sign. "Yeah, the damn bugger was hiding from me."

"You're big and scary Kevin, anyone would hide from you," Brian teased, he, too, remembering the time when they were kids and teasing and eating candies were all they had to worry about.

"At least I can reach the top shelf Brian, that's more than I can say for you." Not waiting for an answer, knowing Brian would be furious and ask for a rematch, Kevin said his goodbyes. "See ya tonight." Just before pressing the Off button, Kevin could hear Brian's complains of Kevin!

Kevin chuckled slightly, knowing he was gonna face an angry Brian -- more frustrated and bugged than angry -- that night. Yeah, life is good when you've got someone younger, shorter and familiar enough to bother. With that thought in mind, Kevin closed his suitcase, holding it with his right hand, and walked out of his house.

*****

He placed his hand flat on the glass door, opening it slowly. The small bell on top of the threshold rang loudly, announcing his entrance. His backpack placed securely on his right shoulder, his fingers holding it in place, he walked over to the stool. He was always bugged because he, even now, still used his beloved backpack. He had tried to use a suitcase, but it just wasn't him.

Sitting on his usual seat, Nick picked up a napkin and placed it in front of him. His fingers slid his backpack from his shoulder over to the floor slowly, not wanting the papers inside to double over

"Hey man, good morning."

Nick looked up from the white paper utensils and onto the brown eyes of his friend. A smile played on his lips, his blue eyes shinning brightly under the morning light. "Morning Howie, how ya doing?"

The older man shrugged as he walked over to the cappuccino machine, preparing Nick's usual double cappuccino and jelly muffin. "Fine, nothing much to tell."

"Any progress in your thesis?" Nick's eyes moved around the small coffee shop. Owned by his older brother, Howie worked there just because he found it relaxing. And it gave him an opportunity to something while writing his thesis. Howie was already a major in Economics and a minor in Human Studies, but had decided not to work upon either of them. He had even been offered a job as an Economic consultant in a Law firm, but decided against it, not wanting to practice. Maybe, Howie had said, in a couple of years, but not now. Not yet.

"Nah," Howie finished the cappuccino and placed it in front of Nick, going over to the right shelf to retrieve Nick's favorite jelly bean muffin, "my muse seems to elude me."

Nick laughed, not believing Howie's cover up at all. "Your muse eludes you because Sharon doesn't." Howie's three year old girlfriend was a lovely woman, lawyer herself, who would join Howie in the coffee shop around five or so pm, nursing a Mocha she never touched. Nick still didn't understand why Sharon bothered asking for it or Howie preparing it if she wasn't gonna touch it, but only have it there while talking to Howie. Nick picked up his own coffee, brining the cup to his lips. Cappuccino, nothing better in life, Nick thought with a small smile on his lips.

Laughter emerged from Howie's lips, his own chocolate brown eyes dancing at the mention of the light of his life. "Yeah, well..." He trailed off, not being able to stop the soft pink that graced his cheeks.

Nick chuckled at his friend's embarrassment. "You could at least make use of your Economics degree."

Howie turned to look at him, frowning, his head tilted to the side. "And work for both you and AJ, don't think so."

"Not for us D, but with us. You know perfectly fine a Publicity company is nothing without an economical knowledge. You're it Howie. You know that." Nick didn't know how many more times he'd have to push during his traditional breakfast at the place, but he would for as many as were needed. Both him and Alex wanted Howie with them, their long time friend working under the same roof, but the man kept refusing.

Howie fixed his gaze with Nick's dazzling blue eyes. Nick forced himself not to break eye contact, knowing Howie was looking right at him, not through him. After a long minute, Howie blinked and looked down, picking up a forgotten ticket of earlier that morning and moving down the corridor over to the trash can. "I'll think about it, alright?"

Nick had to bit his lower lip not to do a cheering right there and then, not really wanting to disturb Howie's thoughtful state. "Sure." Nick answered, his voice barely conveying his enthusiasm at the prospect, even though it wasn't necessary. It hadn't been an question, more of a comment, but Nick still had felt the need to answer it.

Walking back to where Nick was sitting, Howie placed his left elbow on the oak bar, his chin resting on his open palm while his right hand proceeded to clean up the shelf with a wash cloth. "How are things with Cristina?"

Upon hearing the name, Nick sighed softly, placing his cup of coffee back on the stool. This, too, seemed like a tradition among them.

"Oh, right," Howie continued, having heard Nick's out take of breath but not really caring, "you broke up with her."

"Howie--"

Howie glared at Nick, knowing what the blond was going to say. "I just don't get you, you know." Letting his had stop its movement, placing the wash cloth on the side of the shelf, he pulled out the small garter that held his curly hair in a neat ponytail. Howie hold it between his foreign finger and middle one as he combed his hair with his fingers. "She was drop dead gorgeous, Nick. Dark skin, black hair, amazing green eyes. Engineering major! What in the world could have been wrong with her?"

Nick shrugged, picking up the sugar shaker once again, only to move it around the almost forgotten cup of coffee. "She just wasn't what I was looking for, alright? She didn't... complete me." That much he knew. He had never felt at ease with her. Not as comfortable as he should have been with the person he was suppose to spend the rest of his life with. He cared for her, but love, that fuzzy feeling all over him that should consume him whenever he looked at her, just wasn't there.

Seeing the bowed head, the blond locks and darken blue eyes -- even if he really couldn't see them, Howie knew Nick's eyes had darken suddenly --, saddened the older man. "Well, Nicky boy," Howie's voice held a lighter tone, even the use of the old nickname, was strategically placed to bright up Nick's mood, "you may want to hurry. You're already 24 and you ain't getting any younger my friend."

Nick looked up, glaring at his older friend, his only response being Howie's deep laugh, then picked up his coffee, taking another sip. "Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."

Howie shrugged, knowing the matter was to be dropped. "Any news in the office?"

Now that really seemed to bright up Nick, as his eyes began shinning once again. "Today is our meeting for the Marriott account. AJ and I have been racking our brains hoping to come up with a good idea."

"And how in the world did you even end up with the appointment? I thought big accounts only led their usual marketing people in?"

Taking the first bit of his muffin, not really knowing how he could have forgotten such a heavenly piece of sugar, Nick answered. "I've got no idea. It was all AJ's doing."

The young blond had been so excited about talking about the account that he had forgotten his manners, talking with his mouth full. Howie grimaced, more as a tease than indignation, scolding him. "You shouldn't talk with your mouth full."

Nick knew Howie was teasing. Not bothering in vocalizing an answer, he only stuck out his tongue.

Howie laughed at the very boyish reaction, something totally typical of Nick. He could be talking about the Commerce trading, but every once in a while, Nick would lapse into his teenage self and do something totally childish, reminding the members of the table that the boy was still a boy at heart. "Of course it had to be AJ's doing." Howie shook his head, a personal habit when it came down to his younger, tattooed friend. "I even fear to ask about his connections."

"Hey, he got us the interview, that's a lot." Howie looked at Nick, long and hard, before Nick was forced to continue. "Ok, so his... antics aren't always the most... reasonable ones, but they work."

Howie was about to answer back, complain about AJ's doubtful actions most of the time, when Nick lifted his eyes to the black and blue clock on top of the back shelf, realizing he was running late.

"Damn!" Nick stood up, finished his cup of coffee in just one gulp, then engulfed the remands of his muffing, trying to pick up his backpack and get some money out of his wallet safely placed on his back pocket at the same time.

A hurried Nick was always something funny, Howie had realize. Still smiling, he decided to be a good friend. At least this once. "Don't worry Nick, it's on the house."

Nick looked at Howie, nodded, then placed his backpack on his shoulder. "Thanks man. I'll call you tonight."

"Sure!" Howie said just moments before Nick opened the door and walked out of the place and into the sunny D.C. morning.

Kevin looked at either side of the street, making sure no car or bike was coming his way. Remembering a small detail from about twenty or so years back, Kevin frowned slightly. He had always been rather strict when it came down to Brian. Brian was, after all, his youngest cousin and Kevin couldn't help the feeling that he had to protect him somehow.

Brian had been seven or so, walking over to the store with Kevin. He had always told Brian to look at both sides of the street before crossing, but the younger man had always fought back saying that if the light was saying it was safe to cross, who was he to say otherwise? Brian's theory had been proven wrong that sunny day late in the afternoon. Brian had been telling Kevin something about the latest prank he had done back in his house when this careless biker had passed the red light and almost hit Brian. Kevin had gotten a hold on his shirt, pulling him to his chest, both of them falling unceremoniously onto the pavement. The asshole didn't even have the decency to stop and ask if they were alright, continuing his path like nothing had happened at all. Brian had been totally shaken up by the incident, trembling slightly in Kevin's arms. He never told his uncle or aunt about it -- after a lot of begging from Brian's side, that is.

Still now, years after the incident, he couldn't help but shudder at the memory.

Stepping onto 13th street, Kevin looked at his watch. It was still rather early in the morning, being grateful for that. His breakfast had totally sucked and Kevin had decided that a cup of coffee from Starbucks wouldn't hurt anyone. Remembering his car was at the shop, needing a change of oil, Kevin had decided that he had enough time to go over there walking. It wasn't far from his apartment, barely fifteen minutes, and the air for once could do him some good.

Nick crossed the street running, almost being hit by a white old Toyota. Nick chuckled slightly. AJ, and specially Howie, had always complained about his tendency to outrun cars in the busy streets of New York. It was just one of his endearing traits, AJ used to say.

Walking onto 13th street at a very quick passe, not even bothering to look at the windows in the stores, like other times, Nick checked out his watch. He was more than running late. He was suppose to be in the office right about now. Even though it was only three blocks from Howie's coffee shop over to the Publicity office managed by both AJ and him, it usually took him a good five to ten minutes to get there. And it wasn't like he was always on time. On the other side, both AJ and Karen -- AJ's two year old girlfriend with whom both Howie and himself thought AJ would end up married -- were already used to seeing the blond arriving around eight ten or eight fifteen.

Almost forgetting about the papers Nick was suppose to have read the night before, Nick let his backpack fall over to his chest. He tried his best to pull out the damn file while keeping a quick passe, failing miserably.

Sighing to himself, Nick stopped dead on his tracks. After a good minute of rummaging through the tons of stuff he had in there, he was finally able to find the dark green file. He got it out, zipping his backpack once again.

Mentally counting the things he had to do this morning, besides the two presentations he had to listen to, Kevin was far too deep into his musings to realize that a young blond was standing in the middle of the street.

Bumping heavily onto him, Kevin's reflexes were fast enough to get a hold on the other man's arm before he could fall down onto the street.

Looking up startled, Nick tried to steady himself. The file ended up crashed in his tight fist, his backpack's handle falling onto the crook of his elbow. His eyes found the ones of the man who had crashed onto him rather forcefully.

Kevin smiled awkwardly, feeling a soft blush creeping into cheeks. "I'm sorry."

In another situation, Nick would have been pissed. However, the tone with which this stranger talked, the soft southern drawl, eased down his anger. Smiling back shyly, he shrugged. "No problem."

Their eyes locked with each other another second. It seemed odd in a very weird sense of way. Nick could feel himself drowning in the dark green orbs of this older man he had run across. Or who had run across him -- literally. They seemed confident, secure and friendly. Down right mind blowing. Kevin could almost see himself in the clearness of the young blonde's eyes. They were soft, innocent and amazingly breathtaking. Shinning brightly under the morning rays, Kevin couldn't seem to be able to look at anything else for that split of a second.

And just as suddenly as it had happened, both men turned away.

Nick, remembering he was behind late, gave the stranger one last look before resuming his walking down 13th street. He let the breath he didn't even know he was holding leave his lungs slowly. That was... something, Nick thought amazed at his reaction towards the guy. Definitely something.

Kevin shook his head, closing his eyes as he did so. Gripping his suitcase tightly in his left hand, Kevin continued his way down the street. Nice eyes, Kevin couldn't help but think. Nice, beautiful eyes.

Moving the damn file onto his line of vision, Nick tried to keep an eye on it and the other on the street, not wanting to repeat the situation with anyone else. The letters, the numbers seem to mush in together, making it impossible for him to understand a word that was written in the mentioned page. Closing the file abruptly, Nick decided he might as well just reach the office in one piece and read it there or ask AJ for a sum up. After all, he had done the same thing for his older friend more than once. Not only now at work, but more times than he could count back in college.

Almost seeing the green eyes of the dark haired man, Nick seemed hypnotized by them. Before he could even stop himself, he turned around just enough so he could see the man walking steadily down the same street. Shaking his head, Nick turned back.

Kevin tried to remember the things he had pending for his already busy morning, not being able to picture his agenda in his mind like he usually could. He knew he had a meeting with the manager of a band to talk about the security that should be held for the arrival of such a group. Kevin could also remember having to greet the Ambassador of Romania that would be staying for a week in the hotel. How could he forget such a thing? He had had to learn a couple of common words in Romanian, just to look good with the representative. However, what he did remember clearly were the soft blue eyes of the young man he had bumped onto. The way they seemed to catch the daylight and make it dim against the joyfulness of the kid's spirit.

Daring to take another look at the young blond, Kevin turned around, his eyes falling onto the retrieving back of the mysterious boy. The kid seemed busy after his own errands. Just like anyone would in the center of New York. Turning back to his own path, Kevin tried to forget about those blond locks and blue eyes, knowing he had more than enough things to worry about.

And as they both reached the opposite corners of 13 street, they forced themselves not to turn around one last time to look at the other.

"Hey," the soft southern drawl and the arms around his waist pulled Nick out of his musings. "Where did ya go?"

Nick leaned onto the solid chest, his head falling to the other man's left shoulder, feeling his love's chin rest on top of his head. "No where. I was just here."

Kevin chuckled softly, the sound rezoning in his ribcage and making Nick shake with it. "It's been ten minutes since you came here for the beer."

Lifting his head just enough so he could meet the green eyes of Kevin, Nick smiled. "I was pouring some ice cream."

Finally seeing the opened container of chocolate ice cream and the half filled bowl in front of the blond, Kevin chuckled. "You do realize it's freezing out there, right?"

Nick took Kevin's lips in his, kissing him softly and tenderly. "Yeah, well," Nick said when he pulled apart, his blue eyes darkening, "you like ice cream at any time of the year, so I thought I could indulge you today."

Kevin grinned fully, his dimples showing and his nose wrinkling. "Hmmm, that's so nice of you." Leaning over, he took Nick's mouth as his, deepening the kiss.

"Guys!" A voice from the kitchen door hollered loudly in the one floor apartment, calling over to the living room. "They are getting at it again!"

Kevin chuckled slightly, not daring to break the kiss. Nick's hand left the ice cream and moved over to Kevin's cheek, caressing the soft flesh and holding him in place.

Howie joined AJ at the door connecting the kitchen and the living room, leaning against the other side of the same. He groaned loudly, hoping that'd be enough to pull his two friends apart. "Come on guys, the game is still going."

AJ turned around and glared at Howie. "You think that's going to stop them." He snorted. "Yeah, right. At least if they keep it up, then I'll have a reason to hose them with the spray."

Howie looked pointedly at the couple, then AJ. "You're nuts, right? It's freezing out there!"

AJ smiled evilly. "That's not my fault. It's them who can't keep their hands off each other."

Brian, pushing past Howie and AJ obstructing the way, entered the kitchen and let out a frustrated sigh as he saw his older cousin and younger friend deeply occupied. "Guys, we're waiting for the beer here, you know? The Super Bowl hasn't stopped just because you two are it again. Leighanne wants me to be home early."

Looking at the younger Kentucky cousin over his dark shades, AJ chuckled. "You're so whipped."

"Am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!"

"Are to," Kevin said as he pulled away of his love. "You're totally whipped." His gaze moving to Nick's enchanting blue eyes, Kevin smiled softly. "Then again, that's not so bad."

"And I'm gonna tell Karen you think being whipped is wrong." Nick told AJ evenly, a mischievous grin plastered on his lips.

AJ gasped suddenly, his eyes widening even if they weren't visible under his trademark sunglasses. "Hmm... you know? That's not so wrong after all."

Brian tilted his head slightly to the side and rolled his eyes. "And you say I'm whipped."

Chuckling softly at his friend's reaction, the antics he should already be used to after all this time but still didn't stop from surprising him, Kevin picked up the six pack of Coronas Nick had come after. He turned around, his eyes roaming Nick's body as the blond opened the freezer and placed back the ice cream container.

Nick turned around, finding Kevin looking at him, then smiled back.

Kevin's breath seemed to catch in his throat. It didn't stop to amaze him how, after all this time, the sight of his love could still take his breath away, how his heartbeat would accelerate only by the soft smile gracing Nick's lips.

Kevin walked over to Nick, left arm moving around the blonde's waist and pulling him closer to his side. Nick caressed Kevin's cheek tenderly and the older man seemed captivated by the love in that simple touch.

And as the two of them, Kevin's arm still around Nick's waist, walked over to the living room of once Kevin's bachelor apartment, Nick's eyes landed on a piece of decoration he had just been thinking about. He didn't have to let his eyes wandered around the whole piece. All he needed to see was the silver shinning edge to know exactly what it was. And where it was -- standing on the top shelf, besides one of his charcoal paintings, looking right into the living room.

Reclaiming their place in the love seat, Kevin pulled Nick to his chest, his arms holding the blond tightly. Kevin placed the bowl safely on the arm of the piece of furniture, eating spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream ever so slowly, like it was the last piece of ice cream left in the world. He would fed Nick every once in a while, trying his best to aim the blonde's mouth and not his cheeks. Still, Nick was sure Kevin did aim his cheeks one out of ten just for the heck of it. Nick would eat the ice cream with a smile on his face, even though he still believed that ice cream was a dessert that should only be associated with summer and not every season.

Brian and Howie sat on the armchairs, eating chips and Doritos between gulps of beer. AJ had taken the floor besides the center table as his, claiming it was the best place to have every piece of junk food at arm's length and still be comfortable. Neither of them had argued with the tattooed man. AJ's logic was always one step ahead of theirs. Or one step behind insanity -- the guys weren't sure.

And as Nick heard his three friends and boyfriend yelling at the screen, criticizing a move or a certain pass he was sure he'd never understand, the silver shinning edge of the picture frame was back in his memory, just like it had while pouring down the ice cream in the kitchen. A small smile made its way over to his reddish lips. The picture being held by it had to be one of the most important pictures for the couple. And it wasn't even an actual picture.

It had been a very thoughtful present from AJ for Christmas. Even now, Nick was amazed at his imagination. Nick could have never come up with something like that.

Nick could still remember the whole afternoon. He had been dead nervous before his first major presentation. AJ, with his usual calmness, was grinning softly and, for once, not being his crazy self.

As the secretary had asked them to come in the room, Nick had felt his hands starting to sweat. He hadn't known what else to do but run his fingers through his hair, hoping it wasn't disheveled or sticking out.

He had barely being waiting a minute when the door on the other side of the spacious room was opened. A man had walked in with an aura of confidence and security around him. He had a file in his hands, going through the pages rapidly as he approached the two of them.

AJ and him had stood up, barely exchanging a look between them.

"Good afternoon," the man had started, his southern drawl evident with each word. "I'm Kevin Richardson, PR Manager for the Marriott."

AJ had nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Mr. Richardson, I'm Alex McLean and this is my associate Nick Carter. We're from Bone&Kaos." AJ shook Kevin's hand, nodding at him.

"Mr. McLean," Kevin acknowledged. Turning around, his green eyes fixed with Nick's blue ones. It seemed as if all the air left Kevin's lungs in that moment. He had to be wrong. But then again, he knew he wasn't. Those eyes...

Nick had forced himself not to gasp. It had to be some kind of joke. Everything seemed secondary at that moment except the man standing before him. Those green eyes and that dark hair...

Kevin swallowed, trying to get past the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat totally out of the blue. "Mr. Carter," he drawled, extending his hand.

Nick nodded more out of habit than anything else, still trying to process the situation he had been placed in. "Mr. Richardson." His voice was low, enchanting.

He had moved his hand to shake Kevin's, remembering to be a gentleman before anything.

The moment their hands touched, and their eyes met once again, the rest of the world seemed to vanish. They lost themselves in each other's eyes, trying to see beyond the green and blue of their orbs. They smiled tenderly, each one of them in their own way. Nick's eyes started dancing, his blue eyes catching the light of the chandelier of the wide room. Kevin's eyes darken, his nose wrinkly slightly, the corners of his lips barely twitching up.

AJ, feeling strangely out of place, looked at the two of them. Someway, somehow, he had the feeling that he really shouldn't be there in that moment. His eyes roamed the face of his childhood friend, finding the look in Nick's face half unreadable. If it wasn't because of the fact that he hadn't seen it before, he could have sworn it was love. Real love. But then again, that had to be a mistake, because those two had never seen each other.

And as seconds ticked by, AJ could see both smiles widening, their eyes dancing and, if he had had a way of knowing, their heartbeats racing similarly in each other's chest.

The picture had been of that very same scene in the Marriott's conference room. It was of Kevin and Nick, shaking hands and staring at each other's eyes. AJ, God knows how, had gotten a hold on the security video from that afternoon and, still amazingly to Nick, had taken it to a computer specialist. The video had been run in a VCR connected with a computer. When the scene run through, it had been frozen and printed. That picture placed in a beautiful silver frame had been given to them on Christmas Eve, five months after they had started dating. Both Kevin and Nick had been stunned when they first saw it.

Nick sighed softly as the scene ended in his mind. The picture standing on the top shelf could barely be seeing from his place, but he didn't really need to. The scene unfolding there had always been stuck in his mind. And, as far as he knew, it would always be. Even now, the picture brought shudders up Nick's spine and a tender smile on his lips.

Snuggling deeper into Kevin's embrace, feeling Kevin's arms around him tightening, Nick laid down his head on his love's chest. He could hear the steady beating of Kevin's heart under the muscle, soft skin and cotton sweater.