Niles wanted to disagree. That there were still things that very much mattered. The republic. Re-election. Amanda. They could all still matter with Gabe there. He could have all of them if he wanted, but it was so hard to argue with just the way Gabe's voice sounded. Just as he'd always wished he'd heard it. Pressed against his ear, but whispering far more scandalous things. Niles could never quite tell what had been said to those girls, but with the way they reacted, he could only guess. And as his imagination grew, so did the possibilities.

A shiver ran down his spine. He'd never deny that everything Gabe did was for him. That's how it always was. They always put each other first. Always.

"I know, but..." He shook his head. The argument died in his throat. His fingers trailed over Gabe's sides, trying to find the words. "I can't." It's all he could say, and he couldn't even find the conviction for those two little words.