New Beginnings

Title: New Beginnings
Pairing: Nick/Kevin
Author: Jules
Feedback: I'd lurve feedback... keeps me from thinking I don't suck
Rating: eventually R
Disclaimer: Now I do not own, lease or rent the people of which I speak, so I can't say that it has happened. It's just a story that I made up in my mind all by myself. And I do not propose to make any judgements on the sexual preferences of these gentlemen. It's all for fun.

Chapter 3

Nick woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and breakfast cooking. Rolling over he groaned when he saw that it was almost 9 am. He had only fallen asleep about 3 hours ago, awake long after he’d tucked Kevin into the guest room. He stepped out of bed and made his way into the kitchen, surprised to see Kevin standing there in his pajamas singing along with the radio as if he had no cares in the world. "Morning Kev." Nick mumbled, sitting at the table.

"Morning Kaos. Did I wake you?" Kevin asked, turning to hand Nick a cup of coffee.

"No. I’m always up at this time. I have to be at the theatre by noon. Rehearsals." Nick yawned, putting cream and sugar into his coffee. "So Kev?" He started, knowing that they needed to talk about why Kevin was there and what was going on.

"I don’t want to talk about it Nick. I came here because I don’t want to talk about it. I knew you wouldn’t press the issue and that you’d understand that I just can’t discuss it." Kevin’s voice sounded far away and he avoided looking into Nick’s eyes.

And Nick did understand. He knew that sometimes there were things you couldn’t talk about. No matter how much you needed to, you just couldn’t. And people pressing you to talk would only make you keep quiet even more. If there was something Nick understood, it was that. "I understand Kev. Just know that I’m here. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. All the other shit doesn’t matter, I’m here for you."

Kevin turned to face Nick and smiled. "Thanks bro."

They ate breakfast in silence, Nick reading the sports section of the Times and Kevin reading the rest of it. It was like no time had passed between them and nothing was out of the ordinary. After breakfast Nick went to shower and get ready to leave and Kevin cleaned a little, making himself busy.

"So here’s the deal Kev." Nick said coming into the living room where Kevin was watching TV. He tossed a set of keys to the older man and sat down. "Spare set. Yours. Come and go as you please. My place is your place. I’m at the theatre from noon until 5, 7 until midnight Tuesday through Sunday. You know New York fairly well so I don’t need to give you a tour. I’ve got the Cherokee which I use mainly, as well as the Explorer. Both parked at 1B. You can use the Explorer as much as you want, just don’t crash it, get it stolen or leave it without gas. There’s food in the cupboards and fridge, probably nothing you’ll eat but it’s there all the same. I’m not leaving you any money because, well hell you’re a fucking Backstreet Boy and have your own damn money." Nick smiled as Kevin laughed and rolled his eyes at him. "I mean it Kev. This is your place now too. As long as you want to stay you’re welcome to. Just don’t fuck with my shit!"

"God Nicky, was I this bad?" Kevin asked as he watched Nick put his coat on.

"Worse Kevin. God you were worse!" Nick laughed at the irony of the situation and regretted leaving Kevin alone. He had to go though, work to go to.

Kevin waited until Nick had made it to the door before speaking, his voice low and full of emotion. "Thanks again Nicky. I appreciate it."

Nick paused and turned to look at Kevin. "Don’t even think about it Kev. I’d do anything for you, you’re my brother."

"I know. Just like I’d do anything for you." Kevin looked Nick in the eye and bit his lip nervously. "I love you Nick."

"I know you do Kev. I love you too." Nick smiled and closed the door behind him, hoping Kevin would be okay there without him.

Nick didn’t think about Kevin again until he arrived home for his dinner break, smelling something delicious cooking. "Kev?" He called, closing the door and taking his shoes off.

"Nick. You’re home! I know you don’t have a lot of time, so I’ve got dinner ready for you." Kevin smiled and greeted Nick with a bottle of beer, motioning for him to follow him into the kitchen. Nick was amazed at the trouble Kevin went through for dinner. They had salad, garlic bread and pasta with homemade tomato sauce.

"You didn’t have to go through all this trouble." He exclaimed, taking a bite of salad.

"I know, but I wanted to. I know how you are before a show and you get so nervous that you’re starving. You always used to have such a big dinner so it would last you the entire show. And from the looks of things, you haven’t been eating properly." Kevin said indicating how much weight Nick had lost in the year.

"Well you know how it is Kev. I was getting a little heavy there for a while. Not weight I could have done without."

"You looked fine Nick. Perfect the way you were." Nick paused mid bite and looked at Kevin for a second, seeing something flash in Kevin’s eyes before it was gone. "But anyways, I figure that you’ve been nice enough in letting me stay here, no questions asked so I should earn my keep somehow." Kevin watched as Nick stood up and got another plate of pasta, bringing them both back another beer on his way back.

"Well, it’s not necessary. Appreciated but not necessary."

Nick returned to the theatre and gave the best performance audiences had seen in months. Everyone was in awe of Nick’s performance and cast members had wondered what had gotten into him. One of Nick’s friends Olivia, his co-star had approached him after the show. "So Nick. What’s up with you sweetie? You look happier than I’ve seen you since... Well since I met you."

"A friend is visiting. Someone I haven’t seen in forever. He stopped by and is staying with me for a while. It’s just good to have family around, you know."

"Well tell whoever he is to stay as long as he wants. You’re a completely different person today and it looks good on you. I was starting to get worried about you."

"Well thanks Liv. I’ll have to give him your regards." Nick usually went out with a few of the other actors after the show, but tonight he wanted to get home. Make sure everything was okay with Kevin. He hadn’t been able to get him out of his mind since dinner and just wanted to be with him.

He walked into the penthouse and found the lights out and jazz music playing softly. Upon entering the living room Nick felt a tremor of electricity pass through him and goose bumps appear on his skin. "Kev?" He called out softly, not wanting to wake the other man up if he was sleeping.

"Over here Nicky. I’m just reading." Kevin called from the couch and Nick walked over, his breath catching when he saw him. Kevin was lying down on the couch in a pair of old jogging pants, no shirt and his glasses on, reading a book that Nick recognized from being on his book shelf.

Kevin stretched out, straining his muscles and forcing Nick to look away, his pulse racing wildly. He couldn’t believe that this was happening. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Nick had worked so hard for the past year to put these feelings behind him, move past them and get on with his life. To be able to think about Kevin without the longing and love that he felt for him, and he thought he’d done that. But in less than 24 hours, Kevin had destroyed it all and he was bombarded with those familiar feelings again. Pushing them aside he knew that he had to keep them to himself. Kevin had obviously been through something big these past few weeks and he didn’t need Nick throwing himself at him, seducing him. Sighing Nick stood up and walked into the kitchen, wanting something to eat before going to bed. "I saved you some leftover pasta Nick. It’s in the Tupperware container on the top shelf of the fridge. I figured you’d be hungry...." Kevin stopped talking as Nick walked into the room eating the cold spaghetti. "You never could wait to heat leftovers up could you Nicky?" Kevin said laughing

Nick laughed as well, siting beside Kevin on the couch. He thrust out the container, silently asking Kevin if he wanted some and Kevin shook his head. "No thanks. I’m not hungry."

Nick and Kevin stayed up for a bit longer, talking about how the show went and what Kevin had been up to all night, until Nick was falling asleep on the couch.

They both went their separate ways to their respective bedrooms, bidding each other good night and sweet dreams.