A quiet night. He loved nights like that. He could forget who he was, where he was and just think. It wasn't something he could do very often but he wasn't complaining. He was happy, his life was complete. He knew his friends couldn't understand how he could be happy living like that. Involving himself in the Dorough Lupus Foundation, flying to Canada if needed to, doing as much concerts as he could. He was enjoying it. While Brian and Kevin were busy with their wives, he was busy with the memory of his sister. He knew he was doing the right thing and could almost see Caroline smiling to him from up above. This simple thought was bringing a smile to his own lips.

From the balcony of his hotel room, Howie looked up at the sky and inhaled deeply. He could hear the car down on the street but it was only a faint sound. The wind blowing in his ears was all he could really hear. The night was warm. Sitting on the chair, he observed the light in the city. It was a beautiful sight. He closed his eyes and leaned in the chair, zoning out of his life for a few minutes.

" D?" A small voice asked from the doorway. Howie opened his eyes slowly and turned his head toward the new sound.

" Yeah Nick?" He asked sleepily, realising he was more tired than he had thought. " Something's wrong?"

Nick shook his head and knelt beside Howie, resting his head against Howie's arms. " You've been out here for a long time. I wanted to check on you." Nick said, looking up at Howie.

" I'm fine." Howie replied honestly. Nick eyed him for a few minutes, as if trying to read something in

" Okay." Nick said, walking back into the hotel room, stopping at the door and glancing one last time at Howie.

Howie couldn't stop his smile. Nick and he had grown closer with time. He didn't know why. He thought maybe it was because of Brian and Kevin's wedding. He didn't know the real reason. But he was glad to have Nick has his friend. He remembered when they were on Jay Leno. Nick had been the only one to notice him. To think that maybe Howie had something to say too. A hidden talent that no one knew about. Even if it had been no use, Nick's tentative to make him talk had touched him.

Thinking about it made him sad. The night didn't look beautiful anymore. It was dark and lonely. He felt cold and rubbed his arms with his hands, trying to warm himself. It was his cue to go inside. He shrugged the feeling of loneliness away; knowing it was only stress and lack of sleep playing tricks on him. He still felt like crap but he knew it would go away. Slowly, quietly, he walked back into his room. He knew Nick had left the adjoining door open. Nick always did it when he thought something was up with Howie.

Howie peeked his head through the door and saw Nick sitting on the bed, reading a comic book.

" I'm fine Nick." Howie said, smiling.

Nick chuckled and buried his head into the pillow in embarrassment. " I'm sorry. I couldn't help it."

" That's okay." Howie said, reaching to mess up with Nick's hair before going back into his own room.

He stripped down to his boxers and slipped into bed. Even if he was tired, he didn't find sleep right away. He just stayed still and stared at the ceiling. He sighed and looked at the opened door.

" Nick?" He called, loud enough for Nick to hear.

Nick jumped through the room, his blanket wrapped around him. Howie was surprised he didn't have a teddy bear. Nick grinned and flopped on the other bed in Howie's room. He brought the cover up to his chin and looked at Howie, smiling.

" Thanks man." Nick said, blushing. He would never admit it but when he missed his home, sleeping in the same room as Howie was making him feel better, less lonely.

" No problem." Howie replied, feeling his eyes closing. He tried to keep them open but it was useless. " 'Night Nick." He mumbled softly, falling asleep. Nick, on the other bed, followed soon after, falling into a restful sleep.

Howie woke up the next morning, happy, even if he didn't want to wake up. Each night he was having the most amazing dreams. Nothing he could remember. He just knew he was feeling good in those dreams. He stretched and turned his head toward the other bed. He laughed at the sight in front of him. Nick's arms were taking all the bed, the sheets tightly wrapped around his legs and his head was under the pillow.

" Stop laughing bastard." Nick mumbled from under the pillow, but Howie could hear the smile on his face. Howie took his own pillow and threw it at Nick. Nick jerked up and glared at Howie menacingly. " You want a war? It that what you want? You got it short man." Nick said as he charged at Howie, knocking him on the floor. He grabbed the pillow and hit Howie repetitively. He got tired of the pillow and decided to turn it into a tickling war. Howie tried to run away but Nick was holding him on the floor.

" Nick! Stop!" Howie gasped through his laughter. " I can't breathe!" Howie said, trying to push Nick off of him. Nick laughed and climbed off, rolling on the floor, laughing and breathless.

" What the fuck is going on in there?" AJ yelled pounding on the door angrily. Howie looked at his watch and realised it was only 7 a.m. He made a guilty face and Nick cracked up at it.

" Sorry man! We got into a little fight." Nick yelled back, going to the door and opening it. AJ pushed his way inside and sat on the bed. He rubbed the side of his head painfully and closed his eyes against the pain. Howie and Nick sobered. Howie searched through his bag and gave AJ two aspirin.

AJ swallowed the two pills and closed his eyes tightly, quietly promising himself to never drink again. He took a deep breath and stood up again. He walked to the door, almost painfully. " I'm going back to bed now. Please stay quiet okay." He said before walking out.

" Should we tell him we have to be in the lobby in one hour?" Nick said, smiling evilly at Howie. Howie shook his head and laughed softly.

" Come on. I'm hungry." Howie said, grabbing Nick's arms and dragging him out of the room. Nick didn't put up a fight. He couldn't say no to food. He threw his arm around Howie's shoulder and they happily walked in the hotel's halls laughing at nothing. Howie looked at Nick from the corner of his eyes and grinned at the happiness he saw in them. Nick pulled him closer and Howie was surprised at the comfort he felt.

They ate quickly, making small talk, joking. They didn't noticed Kevin walking in until he sat beside Howie and groaned in frustration.

" What's wrong?" Howie asked, concern written all over his face. Kevin groaned again and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

" AJ." He mumbled, closing his eyes. " He's sick as a dog but he wants to go clubbing again tonight. I swear he's gonna kill me one day."

Nick chuckled, getting a glare from his older friend. He stopped immediately, still smiling and cheering quietly inside. Since he was legal, he loved every occasion to go out in a club. Kevin knew that. Everyone knew that.

" You don't have to go Kev. No one's forcing you to follow them." Howie said, trying to stop his smile. Kevin shook his head and sighed.

" That's the problem. I want to go out too. The little bastard talked me into it and now I want to go." Kevin said, smiling weakly. " I'm too old for this crap." He grumbled and busied himself with the coffee, which had been presented to him by the waitress.

" You're old enough to know what you're doing. I'm not one to go against you." Howie said, standing up, ready to leave. Nick followed his move, seeing Brian walking in, knowing Kevin wouldn't eat alone.

" What are we up to for today?" Nick asked as they walked back to their rooms.

" Interviews, interviews and, let me think, interviews again." Howie said, smiling as Nick's face broke into a frown. " It's not that bad Nick." Howie said, laughing softly. He opened his door and looked one last time at Nick.

" Yeah, right. See you in a few." Nick said, opening his own door and waving distractedly at Howie.

" Yup!" Howie said as he walked into his room and closed the door.


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