"Coming!" They heard a voice yell from the inside. A minute later, a blond young girl of about nine or ten opened the door. "Yes?" she questioned.

Kevin looked at Brian, then back at the girl. Kneeling in front of her, so they were at similar eye level, he spoke. "Hi. How are you?"

The girl tilted her head to her right before answering. It seemed like she was trying to analyze him, see if she should be talking with him, after all, he was an stranger. "Fine. Who are you?"

"My name is Kevin." He turned around and motioned for Brian to step forward. "This is my cousin Brian. We're here to see Nick, is he there?"

Her soft blue eyes started sparkling in recognition. "Yeah, he's in the back." She stepped back, letting both Kevin and Brian in the house. "He's in the yard." She looked at them, before introducing herself. "My name is Bobbie Jean, but I like BJ better."

Kevin nodded. "It's a pleasure meeting you BJ."

BJ nodded. "Same here." Walking in front of the two new guys, the taller one still seemed kinda scary to her, she headed to the kitchen, where her mother was finishing the last details of the party.

"Mom." She said, hopping up the kitchen counter. "This two guys arrived."

Jane Carter picked up a dishtowel from the counter and wiped her hands with it. She was dressed in loose jeans and a white shirt, her hair was up in a messy ponytail, making her look a lot younger than she was. With a smile on her lips, she greeted the boys. "Kevin, Brian, it's good to see you could make it."

Kevin walked to where she was and proceeded to hug her. "Brian wouldn't have missed it for the world. How are you Jane?"

Brian nodded, hugging her as well. "It's good to see you Mrs. Carter." He said politely.

"I'm fine, thanks Kevin. A little bit busy, but fine nonetheless." She said, indicating the numerous elements in the small kitchen.

"Where's Nick?" Brian asked impatiently. He wanted to see his younger friend, specially the look on his face when he gave him his present.

"Brian!" Kevin hissed.

Jane laughed it off. "It's ok Kevin, I'm sure Brian is dying to see Nick. He's in the back."

"Can we?" Brian asked, referring to leaving the kitchen and heading over to the yard.

"Sure, sure."

Brian didn't need to be asked twice, as he started trotting over to the door, running down the yard.

Kevin laughed. "I better see he's alright. Besides, I still haven't said hi."

The older man waited for Jane to nod, before leaving the kitchen as well. It was a beautiful and warm day for a party on the yard. The sun was shinning brightly, a soft breezing touching Kevin's tan features as he steeped to the outside. The back yard was decorated nicely, simple, but very nicely.

There was a camping table to one side, full with coke and lots of candies. Enough sweet stuff for the kids to enjoy themselves for the whole day. Some balloons and paper garments were all around the walls surrounding the place. A small garden stood to one side and Kevin was sure it was all Jane's doing. Kids were running around, some around Nick's age, some a little bit older - even though no one was as old as Kevin himself - and a little toddlers walking around as well.

Kevin smiled as he found his younger cousin and the young blond to the other end of the back yard. Nick was tearing up the wrapping, totally excited about seeing his present. Brian, desperate as well, helped him and in no time the small box was in display for the kid to see.

Nick's eyes shone with happiness as he saw what was inside: the newest and coolest Nintendo game on the market. "Thanks Brian!" Nick said as he hugged his older friend. "This is so cool! We've got to play this."

"Sure, anytime buddy. After they leave, we can stay a little bit later and try it out, what ya say?" Brian suggested. He knew he could convince Kevin, they wouldn't be leaving that much later.

"Yeah, that'd be great!"

Stepping closer, Kevin spoke. "There you are Nicky!"

The young blond turned around as he heard the voice. Seeing Kevin there, Nick run to him, hugging the older man fiercely. "Kevin!"

Kevin laughed. "Happy Birthday kiddo." Returning the hug, Kevin patted the blond head tenderly. "Happy birthday."

Nick pulled away from the embrace and looked at Kevin. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Yep, me too kiddo." Kevin turned to look at Brian, then back at Nick. "Did you open your gift?" he waited for Nick to nod before continue. "Did you like it?"

"Yeah, it's awesome! It's so cool! Thanks!" Nick was beaming with happiness and his soft blue eyes could let you know that.

"It was Brian's idea."

"Yeah." Added Brian himself. "But it was Kevin who paid for it. God knows I'm totally broke." Smiling at the younger kid, he added. "It's from both of us."

Nick laughed at this. "Thanks Kevin and Brian."

Kevin nodded. "It's our pleasure Nicky."

Nick's face lit up with a bright smile. "You haven't met my sisters and my brother! Come on!" Taking Brian's hands in his, his present on his other hand, he smiled at Kevin and motioned for him to follow them. Both Brian and Nick were laughing while running inside the house. Kevin, a couple of feet behind, smiled.

Inside the house, BJ was helping her mother with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Nick saw her and motioned for her to come over. "BJ, this are two of my bandmates. This is Kevin, and his cousin Brian."

BJ nodded as she looked at Kevin. She hadn't realized before, but the tall dark haired man was really cute. "I met them already. I opened the door."

"Oh." Turning around, Nick looked for the rest of his siblings. Spotting Leslie on the living room watching TV, he walked over there. "Leslie, I want you to meet two friends of mine."

Leslie barely retrieved her eyes from the Loony Toons she was watching and saw the two older guys by his brothers side. At the age of eight, it wasn't her priority to meet her brother's friends. "Hi." She said before returning her attention to the TV.

Kevin chuckled at the young girl's reaction. Classical. He used to react the same way whenever one of his brothers introduced him to one of their friends. Kevin and Brian weren't important for her, and she had made that clear.

Nick, at his younger sister's reaction, stuck his tongue out. "Duffus." Looking around, he couldn't see the twins. "Mom!"

"What?" she called out from the kitchen.

"Where are twins?"

"They should be in their room."

Nick sighed. "I'll go get them--"

As if on cue, two six-year-old toddlers came running down the stairs. Apparently, they were in a race, since the boy got a hold on the girl's pink dress and pulled her to him, trying to make her stop. She stumbled and fell to the floor and started to cry.

Nick sighed again. "Mom!"

"They are your sisters Nick, take care of them for a little while, I'm busy here!"

He pouted. Nick hated whenever Angel cried. It always took him forever to calm her down. He walked over to where the little girl was sitting on the floor, crying her eyes out. Aaron stood besides her, looking at her like a weird bug. "This is your fault Aaron. You shouldn't have pushed her."

"She run!" Aaron complained.

"Yeah, but you were playing. Now I've got to calm her down." Nick picked her up and smiled. "Angel, could you stop crying?"

The little girl only continued crying. Even louder than before.

Kevin, grinning to himself at Nick's predicament, walked over to where the young blond stood. "Let me see if I can help you." He took the crying girl from Nick's arms, cuddling her to his broad chest. "It's ok little girl. It's ok." He said softly.

Angel started to whimper in Kevin's arm, sniffling loudly. Kevin gave her a soft and tender smile. "It's ok sweetie. Nothing happened. You're fine here with me."

As her cries quiet down, she looked up to her hero. Giving him a toothy smile, she started giggling.

"Oh, you like laughing?" Kevin questioned her. "You do? Then lets see if you like this?" With that, he started tickling her mercilessly. She kept laughing and squirming in his arms, while he still got a tight hold on her, not wanting her to fall down.

After a minute, Kevin stopped his attack and looked at her. She was giggling uncontrollably, thinking just how funny it was that this tall and big guy had been playing with her. Kevin placed her hands on either side of her, holding her securely with a tight grip, he started moving her around in the air, like she was some kind of plane.

Angel kept laughing, enjoying flying through the air like nothing else. She liked this man. She didn't know him, she had never met him before, but she liked him. He played with her like her daddy did all the time. And he smelled nice. Yeah, six-year-old Angel had come to the conclusion that he was a very nice grown up.

A little while later, Kevin stopped making her fly thought the living room, locating her securely between his left arm and his chest. This little girl was totally enchanting. He had always liked kids, but this girl... she just took his breath away. Holding her only with his left arm, he caressed her cheek tenderly with the back of his right hand. "What's your name love?"

"Angel." She answered softly. His eyes were a very nice color. A color she related with the leaves of the back yard. Her mommy would always show her the leaves when she and Aaron play in the back yard. A very pretty color.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl like you. Angel." Kevin turned to look at both Brian and Nick looking at him enchanted. Aaron, Nick's younger brother, was standing by the blonde's side, looking at him with big blue eyes. Kneeling in front of the young kid, Angel still in his arms, he spoke. "And who are you my little friend?"

This man, this very tall man, scared young Aaron. He looked up at him, then back to his older brother that was standing by his side. Taking one-step back, he got a hold on his brother's leg. Better safe than sorry.

Kevin chuckled. The little kid was afraid of him. "Well." He started softly as he turned to look at Angel, who smiled at him. "You're sister here and I were having some fun, do you want to join us?"

Aaron seemed to think about it for a moment. He had seen the way this tall man had picked up his sister, and had made her fly like a bird, and she was still here, smiling at him. So maybe, just maybe, he wasn't so scaring after all. Upon making this decision, he stepped forward.

"Do you?"

Aaron nodded.

"Then I'm gonna need your name. What's your name?"

"Aaron."

Kevin nodded. "Aaron. It's a pleasure meeting you my young friend." Kevin extended his hand, hoping Aaron would take the hint and shake it.

And he did just that. The tall man's hand was soft, and warm. He seemed nice.

Kevin, effortless, picked Aaron up with his right hand and hold him just like he was holding Angel. "Well, it seems like I've got the twins with me here." Nuzzling Aaron's neck, Kevin could hear the young kid laughing. He pulled away and looked at a giggling young boy. Doing the same with his twin, he got the same reaction from Angel.

"I see you've met the twins already." Nick said with a laugh. Usually they were pretty quiet around people they didn't know. Specially Angel. He was sure the young girl was kinda shy.

"Yep, I guess I have." Looking between the two set of blue eyes, Kevin smiled.

"I haven't." A forgotten Brian whined.

"Ok, come here." Nick took a hold on Brian's hand once again, and walked over to where Kevin was holding his younger siblings. Looking at them, he spoke. "Aaron, Angel, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Brian."

Brian looked at them and smiled. "Hi."

The twins took a glance at the new face in their little and private party, a pair of blue eyes very similar like the ones of their older sister BJ, then at each other. They didn't know him. They didn't know him and, for the time being, they didn't want to know him. They were perfectly fine in the arms they were being held. They liked the fuzzy, soft, big and warm arms of the nice man with the leave color eyes. Coming to that decision both of them snuggled closer to Kevin's chest.

Brian pouted. "They don't like me."

"They don't like most people Brian. They don't like strangers." Nick knew that was a fact, and still was a little surprised at their reaction towards Kevin.

"But they like Kevin."

Nick shrugged. "Dunno." Looking at Kevin, he continued. "Are you gonna stay with the twins like that?"

Kevin nodded, as he looked at the two jewels he was holding. "Yeah, I've got them."

"Ok, then lets got outside."

Brian nodded and the two friends made their way to the back yard, where the rest of Nick's friends, from the neighborhood and a couple from school, where playing around.

Kevin, twins still in his arms, walked over to the back yard slowly. It seemed like they were dozing off a little bit, and he didn't want to wake them until it was totally necessary, but he didn't want to be away from Brian - he was way too used to keeping an eye on the bugger. Sitting on a chair that wasn't under the sun, so the kids wouldn't be all hot and bothered, Kevin kept a watchful eye on his younger cousin and friend.

Jane smiled as he saw the older man leave the living room and walk slowly to the back yard. The way he had treated both Angel and Aaron still amazed her. She had seen the whole thing. When she heard Angel started crying, she had been making some sweets for the kids, and after whipping her hands on the dishcloth, she had walked out of the kitchen, planning on comforting Angel herself. But she had seen the older man pick her up so tenderly and then cuddle her in his arms. She had been speechless. Kevin most definitely had a way with kids. And the twins were the prove of that.

Jane walked back into the kitchen to finish the last minute details, feeling a sense of relieve knowing that Kevin was out there keeping an eye on the kids and, specially, her children.

*****

Two hours later, Kevin sat on the back yard of the Carter household - sitting on a plastic chair, against the wall, surrounded by about six other mothers, and Kevin knew it was pretty embarrassing, but he sucked it in, just for Brian -, amazed by the amount of energy kids, including his sixteen year old cousin, had.

Nick's friends from both school and neighborhood, Nick and Brian had been running and playing all kind of games for the last two hours and, just by watching from his seat, Kevin himself felt tired already.

Both Angel and Aaron had left Kevin's arms half an hour after the older man had picked them up. They were hungry and thirsty and left for the kitchen where they knew they could find their mother and ask her for all kinds of sweets, after all, they had seen her making different things during the whole day.

AJ and Howie hadn't participated in any of the games, from Twister to Pictionary. They had been sitting on the other side of the room, talking quietly while drinking a couple of cokes.

Seeing Jane walking out of the house with two trays on her hands, one of them with cup full of coke for whenever the kids were thirsty and another one with candies on top of it, Kevin stood up from his seat and made his way where she was. Taking the tray with the cokes on it, Kevin placed it safely on the table where all the food was being placed.

"Thanks." Jane said a little bit breathlessly as she placed the other tray herself. "I was afraid I was gonna drop it."

"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Kevin wondered once again. He had offered to help her right after the twins had left his arms, fully knowing there was gonna be chaos in the kitchen, after all, he had seen his Aunt Jackie during Brian's birthday parties.

Jane smiled and patted Kevin's cheek tenderly. "You're a good boy Kevin, but no, thanks. I'm fine there. Besides, I need you here. You have to make sure none of the kids gets kill while running around."

Kevin chuckled at Jane's words. She had been telling him for the past couple of hours just how much of a father the older man had in him. How easily it was for Kevin to take charge of everything and make sure the kids were alright. "They are fine so far."

Jane nodded. "Yeah, and thanks to you."

Kevin was brought back from his conversation with Jane as he heard his younger cousin running towards him. Turning around Kevin confirmed his assumption. Brian was indeed running towards where he was standing.

Brian stopped to a halt barely inches from Kevin, his breathing short and raged from the amount of distance he had just gone through, and looked up at the older man. "Kevin, could you hold this for a while?"

Kevin turned from looking at his cousin's blue eyes to whatever it was he was holding. A smile on his face, more of amusement than liking, he recognized the situation. Brian was placing in front of Kevin a half eaten turkey sandwich. Chuckling slightly to himself, Kevin took the sandwich from Brian. "Sure, I got it."

"Thanks!" With that he was off back to the 'hide and seek' game Nick, him and the rest of the kids were playing.

Jane looked at Brian's back -- who was now running around behind Nick -- then back at Kevin. Biting her lower lip, Jane started laughing heartily.

Kevin glanced back at the woman standing besides him, and joined her in the fun. "It's amazing, I never thought I'd be in this position."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Kevin started as he looked down at the sandwich in his hand. "I remember my mom and Aunt Jackie, Brian's mom, telling us about how they used to get stuck eating whatever it was we children never finished. My mom even said moms in general were used not to order for themselves, because the kids would never finish."

Jane recognized the situation very clearly, having young kids on her own and having gone to parties more times than she could remember, and smiled at Kevin. "Yeah, you're right."

"And now," Kevin brought the sandwich to his lips and took a bite of it. He wasn't that hungry, but he didn't want to waste the food either. "I guess it's my turn to be there, right?"

"It always happens Kevin. Always. If you're gonna be taking care of Brian for the next couple of months, then I suggest you get used to it, because you'll be place in that position more than once, I assure you."

Kevin nodded understanding. Besides, it wasn't that bad. Or so he thought.

*****

And the twenty-one-year old Kentucky boy was very wrong. Everytime Jane would bring something new from the kitchen -- either cokes , or turkey sandwiches, or chocolate pudding, or candy bars or anything you can imagine in a kid's party --, both Brian and Nick would assault the table and take whatever it was they wanted. And, just as Kevin had predicted after Brian stuck him with the half eaten tuna sandwich, the younger cousin went over Kevin when he didn't want to eat it anymore.

By eight o'clock that night, Kevin had finished two turkey sandwiches, a whole cup of pudding -- How was I suppose to know chocolate pudding was yuck? Brian had said when he felt the left the barely touched cup on Kevin's hands --, about three cokes, two cups of Jell-O, two bars of candy -- lemon and orange, since Brian hated lemon and orange -- and Kevin was sure he didn't want to ever see any other piece of sweet in the rest of his live. It was a miracle the boy hadn't been sent into diabetic coma, the last time Kevin even remember eating that much sweet was back when he was around ten or twelve.

When it was time to cut the cake, all the guests had stood around the table. Nick had been in the middle, the chocolate cake, with chocolate cover and chocolate filling -- Yeah, I like chocolate. So sue me! Nick had said when Kevin glanced at him with one eyebrow lifted slightly after Jane had told him what the cake was made of -- on the center of the table. Nick's siblings had been on either side of the young blond, his parents behind him. Brian was standing right in front of Nick on the other side of the table, Kevin behind him, the older man's hand on Brian's shoulders as they sang Happy birthday together, totally off key.

Kevin had once again offered his help in the kitchen, knowing Jane would be needing it now that she had about thirty kids to serve the cake for and about ten parents, and as the minutes ticked by, more parents arriving to pick up their children since it was starting to get late.

At least Brian had finished his slice of cake, which Kevin was truly grateful for. And by nine thirty, the house was almost deserted if it wasn't for Kevin and Brian.

"Tired?" Jane picked up another almost empty trade from the table.

Kevin nodded slowly, his eyes half closing. "You sure don't want me to help you?"

Jane laughed. "Really Kev, but thanks for offering any way. Why don't you go over to the living room and take a seat?"

Turning around to see the couch standing in front of the TV, suddenly the idea didn't seem so bad for Kevin. Shrugging, Kevin walked over there and took a seat as suggested.

"Hey! Lets go and play with the new game, what ya think?" Nick asked while picking up another slice of his cake. There was still about fifteen slices there, but knowing his sisters and brother like he did, Nick was sure it wouldn't last too long.

"Sure," Brian turned around to Kevin, who was sitting on the couch, his head prompted on the back, his eyes closed. "Can I Kev? Just for a while?"

The older Kentucky cousin opened his eyes slightly, and lifted his head enough so he could look at the blue eyes of his own flesh and blood. "Huh?"

"I said, can I go over to Nick's room and play for a while? Just a little while?"

Kevin tilted his head as he thought about it. It wouldn't hurt. "Ok, but just an hour."

"Yeah!" Said both boy in unison, their joyful young voices placing a smile on Kevin's lips despite the tiredness of the older man.

"Nick!" Kevin called out as he say the young blond starting to make his way up the stairs along with Brian, "Can I talk with you for a minute?"

Nick looked at Brian, then back at Kevin, and nodded. "Sure, Brian, can you go over to my room and wait for me there. Turn on the game, will ya?"

Brian nodded and smiled at his friend and cousin as he run all the way up the stairs, making Kevin believe he could brake one of his bones one of this days.

Nick walked over to where Kevin was sitting and stopped as he was right in front of the older man. Kevin patted the seat on his left, giving the young blond a soft smile.

Nick accepted the invitation and took the seat by the older man's side. "Yeah?"

Kevin turned around in his seat, so they could be face to face. Smiling tenderly at the young blond, Kevin started fidgeting with his folded hands on his lap. "Nick," he started. "Well, hmm... I got you a present. Another present, I mean. From me."

Nick's baby blue eyes lit up at the words. A present. Another one besides the Nintendo game. "A present? From you?" his beautiful voice taking a cheerful and child-like tone.

Kevin's smile grew bigger as he realized Nick wasn't surprised by the fact that Kevin had decided to get him a present just from him. Kevin still didn't know what made him to that. It had been yesterday, after practice that Kevin had gone to do some grocery shopping when he had spotted the object. It had been just standing there, but somehow it had called Kevin's attention to an stop and he just had to buy it. He just had to get it for Nick. Kevin wasn't even sure if the young blond was gonna like it, but he felt it was right. It had been quite expensive, but the older man hadn't even thought about it twice.

Then, as Kevin had gotten back to the apartment, he wanted to tell Brian about it. But he didn't, somehow, and by an unknown reason to Kevin, he just didn't. He had opened the door and seen Brian sitting on the couch watching cartoons, and had planed on saying: Hey B, guess what? I got Nick the perfect present. Instead, he had smiled at his younger cousin, put away the groceries and gone over to his room and left his jacket on the chair, the present wrapped up in dark green paper inside his right pocket.

"Yeah." Kevin moved his left hand onto his pocket and got out a small rectangular box in dark green paper. Handing it to Nick, he smiled. "Happy Birthday Nicky."

The young blond smiled totally excited by now and took the box from Kevin's grasp. Usually, Nick would have ripped the wrapping off, not really caring about it, but this time it was different. He didn't want to destroy the wrapping. So, ever so slowly, Nick unstuck the scotch from the nice green paper, being careful not to rip it. When he was done with the paper, Nick stared down at a white small rectangular box in his hands.

Lifting the top carefully, Nick opened the box to reveal what was held inside. The blonde's breath was caught in his throat as he stared at the object in his hands. Picking it up between his fingers tips, Nick got it out from the soft cotton like rectangle that seemed to be entangled around.

A thin and simple gold chain hung from within Nick's middle and right index finger as he glanced at the small pendant in the shape of a crescent moon shining at him. It was the pendant that caught Nick's attention the minute he lay eyes upon the intrinsic form. The simplicity and elegance of the same was down right breathtaking. The moon was so thin and perfect at the same time, Nick wasn't sure if he'd ever seen something so beautiful.

"Oh God Kev." Nick said softly, his eyes never leaving the moon that seemed to shine so very brightly under the living room light, it just couldn't be possible. "It's... it's beautiful."

"You like it?" Kevin asked tentatively. He wasn't sure if Nick was to like it the minute he had bought it, but Kevin knew he just had to buy it, that it had to be the perfect gift he could give to the young blond.

"I love it." Finally, Nick lifted his eyes and met Kevin's sapphire green ones. "It must have cost you a fortune."

"Don't worry about it Nick, really. I'm just glad you like it." Kevin's lips were twitched up slightly at the corners, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Turn it around."

Nick looked at Kevin, who nodded in initiative, and turned it slowly. In the back of it was printed: NC

"God Kev, it's... it's great. Thanks. Really. It's... it's so very beautiful." Nick's voice was barely above a whisper, maybe thinking that if he was to speak too loud, the magic and enchantment that had fallen upon the room, upon the two people sitting on the living room, would be broken.

The young blond looked up, his shinning baby blue eyes met piercing dark green ones and found a soft smile. Nick run his foreign finger over the smooth surface, surprised at the dark and clear color, both at once, of the pendant. It reminded him of his mother's wedding ring. How his mother used to tell him it had taken a lot of his father to buy her that ring, since it had been so very expensive. That let Nick believe this chain and the pendant as well were very expensive.

"Can you put me this on?" Nick asked after a minute. If Kevin had given it to him, he would be sure to wear it always. Always. He'd never take it off.

Kevin stood up from his seat and position himself behind the young blond. Taking the chain in his hands, Kevin lifted the piece of jewelry over Nick's head, letting the pendant fall slowly on the blonde's chest. Fastening it carefully, Kevin smiled. "There it is."

Nick looked down at his chest, his fingers lingering on the chain and the pendant, still not quite believing he was wearing such a piece. He'd never take it off.

I'll never take it off, Nick thought to himself. Never.

"I'll never take it off." Nick said aloud, his gaze steady on Kevin's. "Never."

Kevin chuckled softly. "You don't have to do that. You don't even have to wear it if you don't like it."

"But I do like it!" Nick fought back, his eyes darting between the chain in his chest and his fingers and Kevin's eyes. "I do. I love it. I won't take it off."

Kevin ruffled Nick's blond locks as he laughed softly. "If that's what you want."

"Yeah," Nick whispered softly, more to himself than to the older man, "Yeah."

Soon was forgotten the fact that his knew best friend was waiting for him in his room, that a new game was resting in his bed, waiting for the owner to play it, or that there were still some slices of cake in the fridge. Nothing else matter in that moment. Young thirteen-year-old Nickolas' only thought in his mind in that very moment was the knowledge that someone -- someone he hadn't even met a week ago -- had given him one of the most beautiful and special gifts he had ever received.