Nikki stared out the window, eyes shifting from each place they passed, wondering which one could be the big surprise.

"Close your eyes, we're getting close." Tommy murmured a few minutes later, smiling broadly. Nikki did as he was told, placing his head against the headrest.

A minute later, he felt the car turning and slowing down until it stopped abruptly.

"Turn to your left. You can look now." Tommy bit his lip, jittery in his seat. Nikki breathed deeply, opening his eyes.

"Since when have we had an aquarium in town?"

Tommy burst out laughing, pulling Nikki in for a kiss.

"I assume it's new. I've never seen it before either."

Nikki's eyes grew wide.

"Holy shit, I wanna see the eels! Do they have eels? Eels are so fucking cool-"

"Okay, good. You're excited," Tommy cut him off, laughing. "Let's go in, yeah?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Nikki was bouncing in his seat like a little kid. Tommy laughed, kissing him one more time before they both got out. Tommy locked the car, and they walked up to the entrance together.

The drummer bought two tickets at the front desk, smiling softly over at his boyfriend, who was gazing at all the pretty fish murals surrounding the small lobby. He gently nudged Nikki, handing him his ticket. A man with a bright smile hole-punched their tickets and they entered into a tall hallway with tanks on either side of them. Nikki was immediately fascinated with some purple and blue fish to his left, none more than two inches long, swimming in a crowd along the huge tank. He got so close that Tommy had to gently pull him back by his shirt to make sure his nose didn't leave smudge marks on the pristine clean glass.

"Look at 'em go, Tom.. they're so pretty." Nikki gasped, spotting what looked to be a clown fish in the tank on the other side of the hallway. Tommy laughed, walking after Nikki as he trotted along, following the fish swimming down the tank. Tommy's eyes caught onto a bright yellow fish, long and skinny. He chuckled, tapping Nikki's shoulder.

"That one reminds me of my dick."

Nikki tried his hardest not to laugh, but he did, unable to take his eyes off the squirming yellow fish again.

"Goddammit."

Tommy snickered.

"Look up, baby.." The drummer had only just noticed the tank above them now, placing a hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. Nikki gasped, eyes trailing up and landing on the bright, gleaming school of fish above them that matched the color of his verdant gaze.

"Woah."

While Nikki gazed upwards, Tommy's eyes stayed locked on his precious boyfriend. The way his jaw slacked as his eyes focused up high, Tommy couldn't help but reach out and caress his face.

Nikki turned to him, nuzzling into his hand.

"You're beautiful." Tommy murmured, gently pulling him in for a kiss. Nikki closed his eyes, moving closer so their chests were pressed together.

The sound of the water surrounding them was the only noise besides their breathing as Tommy gently pulled away, eyes still closed. Nikki laughed breathily against his lips, twirling some of Tommy's curls around his finger.

"Wanna go to the next room?" Nikki murmured, giggling and grabbing Tommy's hands. The drummer laughed, allowing Nikki to joyfully lead him around the corner.

"Look at 'em!" Nikki cried, excitedly trotting over to a tank containing what looked like a bunch of rocks and nothing more. When Tommy got closer, he realized that some of the rocks were moving, and curling. Rolling.

"Eels," The drummer laughed, placing a hand on Nikki's lower back. "They're pretty."

"Don't say they remind you of your dick." Nikki snickered, walking along the tank, the wonders inside reflecting in his eyes. Tommy swore he could feel his heart stop every time Nikki turned to look at him, the dim lighting of the aquarium making his eyes and the curves of his silhouette glow. Tommy bit his lip, following the angel-on-earth through the rest of the aquarium.

Nikki bounced excitedly around him, grabbing him by the hands and showing him every little plaque with the fish species. Nikki even found two little fish that always stayed right by each other's sides and named them Nik and Tom.

"Are you having fun?" Tommy murmured, coming up behind Nikki and gently grabbing him around the waist. Nikki leaned back into his arms, feeling peaceful and safe with his lover.

"Lots. I'm so glad you didn't cave and tell me what the surprise was." Nikki laughed, wide eyes following a little blue fish darting around in front of them. Tommy kissed his cheek.

"I'm glad. The exit is just up ahead, so we'll have to come back some time." Tommy noted, yawning slightly.

"Yes, I'd love to." Nikki turned around in Tommy's arms, grinning. He sighed blissfully, gazing into his boyfriend's deep chocolatey eyes.

"Can you believe how far we've come?"

"What?" Tommy whispered, furrowing his brows. Nikki laughed breathily, closing his eyes.

"Just.. everything. In maybe eight months or so.. look how far we've come."

Tommy closed his eyes, taking it all in for a moment.

"Happy graduation day." The drummer whispered after a minute, feeling his eyes well up, but he wasn't sure why.

"Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives," Nikki murmured, resting his forehead against Tommy's. "And one week from now, we'll be sitting in an office in L.A. getting ready to record an album."

"It doesn't feel real." Tommy paused, laughing. Nikki chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to Tommy's neck.

"I understand."

Their peaceful moment lasted for another few seconds before they broke apart, gently holding hands again as they walked out, back into the lobby. Dusk was falling, and Tommy realized they had spent nearly two hours gazing at the mesmerizing fish.

With a yawn, Nikki lightly tugged him out the front door, walking to the car. Tommy laughed.

"What?" The bassist looked back, cocking his head.

"I just find it funny. I've finally exhausted you." Tommy half-smiled, unlocking the car and hopping in. Nikki did the same, settling down in his seat.

"Oh, no you haven't. I'm not tired yet-" Nikki was cut off by his own yawn. Tommy smirked, leaning over and kissing him lovingly. The drummer's lithe fingers danced through Nikki's fluffy hair, watching as his boyfriend struggled to hold back another yawn.

"Take a nap on the way home, kitten." Tommy kissed his cheek before letting go and starting the car. The soft hum of the engine, the gentle heat blowing from the vents, and the oranges and pinks painted delicately into the sky as the sun set lulled Nikki to sleep in the seat.

While at a red light, Tommy gazed over at his lover, checking up on him. The image of Nikki asleep next to him nearly took his breath away. He wasn't sure why - he slept next to Nikki nearly every night. There was just something about him that drove Tommy wild. Whether it be his messy head of hair, or the way he quietly snored, or- oh, the light changed.

Tommy continued the drive home, avoiding any potholes so not to wake the sleeping baby beside him. He pulled up to his apartment building, taking his key out of the car and slipping it into his pocket.

He yawned, getting out and walking around to the other side to get Nikki. The bassist had actually woken up, and for once Tommy didn't have to carry him to bed. He got out and stretched, sleepily following Tommy into the building and all the way upstairs to his apartment, closing the door behind them and wandering into the bedroom.

Tommy stripped down to his boxers, flicking off the lights and quickly making his bed while Nikki did the same. The smaller boy leapt onto Tommy as soon as he laid down, snuggling into his side.

"Thank you for everything today, and tonight.. it was lovely." Nikki murmured, planting a kiss on Tommy's cheek. The drummer laughed softly, turning and pressing their lips together for just a second. He tugged the comforter up over their mostly-naked bodies.

"That's quite alright, babe.. I'm glad you had a great time. We'll have to go out like this more often," Tommy yawned. "Love you."

"Love you, too, T-Bone. G'night."

"Goodnight, Nik-nok."