Title: The Sweetest Things; sequel to About Time
Author: Gypsy
Feedback: Please? Send it to Gypsy_gray@msn.com
Rating: PG (m/m)
Summary: Holden thinks about some things.
Warnings: Spoilers for "Chasing Amy." Some angst.
Disclaimer: They all belong to Kevin Smith. I'm not making any money off this. In fact, I'm only 
writing it because I love his characters so much that my muses threatened to take away my copy 
of "Mallrats" if I didn't. I'm sure that if anyone could understand that, Kevin would. Besides, 
I'm broke. The only thing you'll get if you sue me is a credit card bill and a dog named Murphy 
that can say "I love you."
___________________________________________________________________________________ 

The banner was huge. "Welcome Holden MacNeil and Banky Edwards...Creators Bluntman". Holden 
leaned back in his chair and watched the room. People were crunched three deep against the back 
wall and in the aisles. It was the biggest room the comiccon had to offer and it was still 
packed. Banky and Jay were huddled together, trying hard not to fall out of their chairs while 
they laughed at the first two rows of guys all dressed as Bluntman and Chronic. Bob just smirked 
and offered him yet another smoke.

It was the anniversary of the Friday night cartoon version of Bluntman and Chronic. Too off the 
wall for the networks, the series was picked up by a cable network. Banky had been thrilled not 
only by the paychecks, but by the fact that they didn't have to censor a single line. Holden had 
just been happy with the world in general. He was a success at his chosen profession, he was 
financially secure while still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy it, and he had Banky. He 
really didn't give a shit about the rest.

A blonde head on the front row caught his eye, and he found himself sharing a smile with Alyssa. 
The red head next to her was the same one that had been there for six months, and Alyssa was 
talking about moving in with her. The blonde had found her own success in the realm of cable 
television. A new show focused on the lives of gays and lesbians did an episode that featured 
one of the characters reading...ta fucking da...Alyssa's comic. She'd become the lesbian queen 
of comic books and had received an offer to write for the show that gave her the boost.

"Thank you ladies and gentleman for coming out today. Now let's all give a big hand to our 
special guests..."

Holden watched while Jay and Silent Bob drifted down from the stage to the seats Alyssa was 
saving for them. Hooper was sitting next to her. Still in black leather, and still laughing his 
ass off at the people who couldn't see past it. He was enjoying some success with his own comic, 
but had found his passion and his calling in publishing. Holden and Banky had been more then 
happy to front the money for the start up of B.H. Publishing. They'd more then gotten their 
investment back.

"Before we start with the question and answer portion of the evening, would either of you 
gentleman like to say anything?"

Banky winked at him and then leaned into the mike on the table in front of him. He cleared his 
throat and looked all around the room. "No."

Laughter crackled through the place and Holden couldn't have kept the grin off his face for the 
devil himself.

"Snoochie Boochies Banky man."

Jay was cracking up in the front row. The blonde and Banky had discovered a shared outlook of 
total disdain and cynicism and the foundation for a deepening of their friendship was laid. They 
bonded over mutual mockery at the expense of others and the shared joy of driving their lovers 
insane. Holden and Bob had teamed up out of sheer self-preservation. What was once a business 
arrangement based on slightly more then acquaintanceship, had become a strong friendship between 
the two couples. Silent Bob and Jay had laid claim to the second floor guest room in the house, 
and they stayed with Banky and Holden whenever they were in town.

Since the success of the show, the two of them had given up their career in narcotic 
entertainment. The only dope they carried now was what they were using. They traveled all over. 
Going from city to city and state to state, just being together. With Bob's innate practicality 
and Jay's miraculous business sense, the two of them had made some very lucrative investments. 
They were, in all actuality, filthy fucking rich. They were also Godparents'. Jay actually 
bought a wallet just so he could carry around pictures of their goddaughter Sarah and her mother 
Bethany. They spent every Christmas with them and Sarah was gonna be the most spoiled kid on the 
planet if the two of them didn't stop buying her toys.

Holden stayed silent as the questions started. Banky was having a blast and the older man didn't 
wanna spoil his lover's fun. He'd been a little uncomfortable about doing this. It was the first 
comiccon they'd gone to since Bluntman had become such a commercial success. It was inevitable 
that they would take shit from someone about selling out. Holden had been thinking about that 
himself. Since receiving the invitation to be the featured guests at this years comiccon, hadn't 
been able to avoid it. His life was not what he planned it to be, that was for sure. But he was 
happier then he had ever imagined being. His friends were all happy and healthy. He was a 
success. He had Banky. The truth was he didn't give a damn about the rest of it. The only thing 
that mattered was...he had Banky.

The End