It was the night that the Teen Choice Awards aired on TV. After watching it, Joe, Nick, and Kevin fell asleep in the same bed, as they always did, pressed up against each other. This made them feel safe. They never slept alone – there was never a time where only two were in the same bed.

Joe and Kevin were fast asleep, but Nick was wide awake, sandwiched in between the other two. He was considered the baby, and he didn’t mind that he was forced to sleep in the middle. He actually loved it – he was never cold.

But he just couldn’t fall asleep. Something had been bothering him since the night before, and the irritation had grown earlier that night. He looked over at Kevin, to his right, and saw that he had fallen asleep with his mouth wide open, face pressed into the pillow. He then looked to his left, over at Joe, who had his back to him. He was snoring lightly.

Nick sighed and turned to stare at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure how long it’d be until the sleep finally willed to pull him under, so very slowly and reluctantly, he forced a finger into Kevin’s side.

Kevin jumped, but didn’t wake up. Nick frowned, thinking that he’d incorporated the poke into Kevin’s dream. He tried again, this time jabbing his brother’s stomach twice.

“W-What?” Kevin slurred as he jumped, opening one eye lazily. He swallowed and stared at Nick with distant eyes, and after a few seconds of scanning Nick’s expression, he moaned and wrapped one arm around him, pulling him in.

“What’s wrong, babe?” Kevin whispered. He lightly kissed Nick’s forehead as Nick curled around his body, placing his head on Kevin’s chest. Nick enjoyed the warmth of his older brother before mumbling lamely, “I can’t sleep.”

“Awh,” Kevin mumbled, rubbing Nick’s back in gentle circles. “Why? What’s bothering you, babe?” Another kiss on the forehead.

“It’s Robert Pattinson,” Nick whispered, cringing as he said the man’s name. “We lost to him for Choice Male Hottie.”

“Oh, God,” Kevin sighed. “Babe, you’re still going on about that? C’mon. We all know that you’re much, much more beautiful than him. And so is Joe. And I hate to sound conceited, but I am, too.”

Nick blinked at Kevin’s words. He loved it when his brothers called him beautiful. He took Kevin’s shirt in between his teeth and chewed on it gently.

“…So why did we lose to him?”

“I don’t know, babe. I don’t know.”
Nick heard a gasp behind him, and he turned slightly to see Joe sitting straight up in bed, rubbing his eyes. He smiled lazily at his brothers, then leaned in to kiss Nick on the neck and Kevin on the cheek. Nick shivered at Joe’s touch. Joe pulled back and yawned.

“What time is it?”

“Like, eleven-thirty,” Kevin murmured, glancing quickly at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Ah,” Joe sighed. He looked over at Nick’s hunched figure, which rested against Kevin’s body. He turned to look at Kevin. “Why you two awake?”

“Nick was just telling me why he couldn’t sleep,” Kevin said, and leaned in to kiss Nick’s neck as well. His lips rested where Joe’s had once been.

Joe groaned suddenly. “Is he still going on about losing to Rob? Get over it, you cry-baby.”

“I’m sorry,” Nick whined in a high-pitched voice, pulling away from Kevin’s warmth just two address Joe. “It’s not my fault I have a really low self –esteem…”

And with that, he slammed himself back into Kevin and began to sob quietly.

Kevin glared at Joe with his Why the hell did you do that? face. Joe just shrugged.

“Joe, you’re hideous.”

Joe’s face fell. He stared at Kevin, dumbfounded. “W-What?”

Kevin grinned. “You see that? That pain that just shot through your body? That’s what Nick felt just now, except it was a thousand times worse because it came from someone he loves and looks up to. Now apologize.”

Joe’s skin flushed and he pouted, staring at the sheets that covered Nick’s body. He got on his hands and knees and crawled over to Nick, then placed his lips next to the boy’s ear.

“I’m sorry,” Joe breathed. “I really am, Nick. I love you.”

Both Kevin and Joe watched as visible shivers ran down Nick’s spine. The younger boy rolled onto his back and stared up at Joe, who was hovering over him. He lifted his left hand and caressed Joe’s cheek, and before he knew it, Joe’s lips were on his.

Kevin watched Joe and Nick as they kissed with a serene expression. The action neither fazed him nor made him jealous. It made him happy to know his brothers loved each other the way they did.
A few seconds later, the boys were back to their original spots, lips plump and pink. “Apology accepted,” Nick said.

“Alright, alright,” Kevin sighed, a smile on his face. He ordered Nick to move away a little, and he plopped down onto his pillows. “Nick, forget all about Rob. Instead, dream of me and Joe. We love you.”

“Yes, we do,” Joe added, softly stroking Nick’s hand. “And I love you, Kevin.”

“Love you too, Joe.”

Nick smiled, half-asleep already. He always loved hearing these exchanges of words before falling into the abyss of unconsciousness.  He yawned and said, “I love you both, more than you could ever know. But a dream, with both you and Joe? Looks like I’m going to have sweet dreams.”