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Nick grabbed his coat and headed for the car. “Hurry up, we’ll be late.” Charlie was still futzing with his hair. “C’mon. Your hair looks great, and David is a prick regardless of how handsome you look”
“It’s standing up funny.”
“It is not.” Nick looked back and his face softened when he registered the tension in Charlie’s shoulders.“Char, it really does look fine. I know you don’t really want to spend hours in David’s company, I don’t really either, but it’s not like we’ll actually have to talk to him.”
“We’re seated with my cousins. They love you, nearly as much as I do, and Mum sent us a copy of the menu so you know what dinner will be.” Nick came up and hugged Charlie from behind, looking over his shoulder into the reflection of Charlie in the mirror. “If you don’t want to go. Just tell me. I have to go, but there is no rule saying you have to attend your boyfriend’s antagonistic brother’s wedding. You are much more important than David and Ophelia’s dinner numbers and seating plan.”
“It’s not David per se“ Charlie lowered his hands from his hair and wrapped them over Nicks’ arms where they encircled his middle, eyes meeting in the mirror. “He’s not nearly so….catty when Phe’s around. It’s his old uni mates. He made those mates when he was at his most…hostile … towards you. I don’t trust them not to say something homophobic. Phe doesn’t deserve her wedding being disturbed like that.” Charlie turned in Nick’s embrace, looping his arms over his head, Nick’s hand fell to Charlie’s hips.
“You need to be there, so WE will be there. You and me are a package deal. I’m not staying home and leaving you exposed to petty taunts. David would probably use my absence as ammunition and try to insinuate we’re falling apart. He wouldn’t say anything today, but you can’t tell me it wouldn’t come up endlessly at your Dad’s birthday dinner, or Sarah’s Mother’s Day lunch.”
He pecked a kiss on the tip of Nick's nose, before releasing him and heading out the door, stopping on the top step and smirking as he looked back. “Anyway the best revenge is living well and I don’t like David enough to give him the joy of my absence.”
“Have I told you that I just love your vindictive side…?” Nick said, locking the door behind them and following Charlie down the front steps.
“Not lately.”
“...as long as it isn’t targeted at me.”
—--------------
“Ah, that’s it. Just there.” Charlie hmmmed as Nick massaged feeling back into the ball of his left foot.
“You know, you didn’t have to dance the whole night with every aunty that wanted to, especially when they’re not your aunties. Most of them weren't even my aunties”
“But I wanted them to have a nice time. Not to mention it was fun, and a good way to avoid talking to David’s mates. “ Charlie lifted his right foot and wiggled it in Nick’s direction. “And…. I may or may not have thought that charming Ophelia’s aunties is a way to annoy David for years to come in absentia . Can’t you just see him with a polite smile on his face but seething underneath at the in-laws' Christmas dinner when the aunties gush about ‘that nice young man your brother brought to your wedding’.”
Nick grabbed the wiggling foot and tugged on it, pulling Charlie flat on his back on the sofa. “In that case, I’m glad you danced with every old biddy in attendance.” he said, crawling over Charlie and leaning down for a kiss. “Even if it meant we barely saw each other after dinner was over.”
“You were dancing plenty yourself. I couldn’t have got a dance with you if I wanted to. The under-11 set wouldn’t have let me in.” Charlie retorted and raised an eyebrow.
“The twins are twelve and don’t let them hear you say otherwise. You danced with the biddies, I took the twins off Rich and Diane’s hands so they could relax and enjoy the evening. Mum said they have been a handful lately.”
“We really are hopeless. ‘Can’t even find each other to dance with at a Wedding.” Charlie looked up at Nick from his position flat on the sofa, eye’s sparkling invitingly.
“I have you now.”
“And forever.”
*********************
“Olly!” Nick waves frantically while he waits for Olly to catch sight of him. Olly finally clocks him and waves back before dragging his suitcase in Nick’s direction though the arrivals lounge.
“Hey Nick! Where’s Charlie?” Olly asks throwing his arms around Nick for a hug. Nick hugged him back then rolled him over into a headlock and proceeded to scrub his knuckles over his head.
“Stop that.” Olly beat ineffectually at Nick’s arms trying to wriggle away. "Niiiick!"
“He decided it was better to work today and be able to take time off next week when I have to be in school for the Teacher On Call days. “ Nick released Olly and took the handle of his suitcase instead. “You get the front seat this way, I wouldn’t complain.”
“So… I get control over the music then?” Olliy grinned as they started heading for the car park, suitcase rolling behind them.
“Unless you suddenly have crap taste in music, I don’t see why not, but I reserve the right to veto in case your taste has taken a turn during your month in Spain.” Olly stuck his tongue out at Nick. “I promised your parents I would make you send an ‘I arrived safe’ text.”
Olly pulled out his phone while they waited by the elevator and held it at arms length in front of them, “Say Cheese”. Nick bared his teeth obligingly and rolled the suitcase into the elevator while Olly fiddled with his phone some more. “Done. I sent it to Charlie too.”
“And Tori?”
“And Tori.”
Olly chattered away about what he had done at his grandparents, and how boring it was without Charlie and Tori, and how he managed to talk to the kids down at the skatepark, but his Spanish still wasn’t as good as Charlie’s. Nick let the news from Mojácar wash over him.
“School doesn’t start for students for another week. You didn’t want to stay longer?” Nick asked as he waved his credit card at the barrier arm machine then flipped the wipers on as they emerged from the parking building into the rain.
“Ummm. Actually I’m planning on trying out for the school production. Auditions are on Monday” Olly started pressing the console buttons to sync his phone to the car’s bluetooth.
“That will be why the drama department gets out early from our whole staff meeting next week. What’s the show? It was High School Musical last year, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, That was Truham’s choice. This year the Higg’s teacher gets to choose. Rumour is that it will be Beauty and the Beast. We find out for sure at the auditions. Something to do with making sure we have the rights to perform before it’s officially announced.”
—-------
Nick sighed as he started filling in another master column in his mark book. It was a tedious job but it made a big difference to his classroom management, and he may as well get it over and done with while he waited for Olly to finish the first rehearsal.
Olly had been buzzing when he stuck his head in before lunch to say Hi and check if Nick would still be around afterwards or if he should get the bus back to Nick and Charlie’s. He had returned from the audition with high hopes and Nick wanted both to find out what part he had got, but also be around in case he didn’t get a big role. The bus was not a good place for the freshly disappointed.
Rapid footsteps echoing down the corridor preceded an out of breath and flushed Olly’s appearance in the doorway. “I got Chip.” he panted. ”I’m the only Year 10 with a proper role. Most of the Year 11’s only got the supporting ones like ‘Baker’ and all the big roles went to sixth formers. Chip is the smallest of the main roles, like the ones with names, but it’s still one of the main cast.”
“No Way! That’s fantastic.” Nick wrapped him a hug, picking him up and jostling him about in celebration. Olly laughed and wriggled in his arms. Charlie had been the only one in the family to pick him up for a couple of years before Nick arrived on the scene, but even Charlie had stopped once Olly hit double figures. “I’m about done here. Let’s head home.” Nick swept his markbook and pens into a bag and locked the door behind them, then started striding towards the exterior doors. “Race you to the car?” he challenged over his shoulder, then took off.
“Hey, no fair, you got a head start.”
*******************
Charlie clicked through the website again. Nick placed a mug of tea down next to him. “Is that the University of Kent site? Are you thinking about doing a Masters again.”
“Actually,...I was thinking, maybe a Doctorate?” Charlie said almost timidly before speaking so rapidly he was tripping over his words.. “There’s this professor at Kent who is looking at the use of coins to foment social change in Ancient Rome. I’ve read some of their papers.” Charlie looked up at Nick briefly, and seeing interest not disbelief relaxed his shoulders. “I’m just looking into it at the moment, I don’t know if I actually will.”
“Do you have an idea for a topic? Do you need to have an idea of what to research before you apply?” Nick leaned against the arm of the sofa and peered over Charlie’s shoulder at the laptop on the table. “Is that the professor?”
“Not always, but it’s encouraged. And yes.” Charlie waited while Nick read the page detailing the professors background, scrolling down at his motions. “I’m not sure exactly what I would study, but I like the thought of looking into changing social movements.”
“You should go talk to him.” Charlie’s head whipped around to look at Nick. “You should.” Nick said encouragingly. “Look, he would probably be delighted to talk to someone about his work, especially someone with enough background in Classical Studies to understand the significance of the minutiae. You might find out a bit more and have a clearer idea of what you would want to research. Or if you even want to do research.” Nick sipped his tea. “I’ve told you before. I will support you if you want to do further study; financially and otherwise. All I ask is that you do what makes you happy.” Nick leant down and kissed the top of Charlie’s forehead before leaning their heads together looking into his eyes. “We are a package deal and I want you to be happy.”
Charlie was practically glowing at Nicks words. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you. You really think I could do it?”
“I really do. You always were a gay nerd.”
“Oi!” Nick pulled away before Charlie could slap his chest in indignation, nearly spilling his tea.
“You’re my Gay Nerd and I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
“Oh, you’re in for it now Rugby Lad.” Charlie jumped out of his seat and gave chase. Nick plonked his tea down on the coffee table ignoring the way some of it sloshed over the side of the mug and made a loop of the living room staying just out of reach before changing tactics and tackling Charlie, rolling as they fell onto the sofa so Charlie would land on him.
“Who are you calling Rugby Lad?” He grins, pulling Charlie’s head down for a kiss.
****************************
“Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy? Yes, you’re a good boy. Yes, you are.” Henry was wiggling frantically with all the attention Nick was showering on him, reminiscent of his puppy years. “Where’s the ball? Huh? Where’s the ball? Fetch!” Nick threw the ball out the back door and Henry went barrelling after it.
“Nicky darling. Come inside and shut that door. It’s causing a draft and Gramps and Grandma want to talk to you. “ Nick grabbed the ball from Henry as he came back and dropped it in the doggy toy basket, offering a squeaky chew toy as compensation. Henry, subdued after his run, trotted over to the dog bed and started attacking the chew toy with gusto.
“When are we doing presents?”
“After David and Ophelia arrive. They should be here soon.” Sarah Nelson kept her voice light, trying not to see the slight setting of Nick’s jaw as she mentioned his brother. She had hoped that her boys would get closer as they got older, but David’s continual teasing for the first couple of years of Nick and Charlie’s relationship had set Nick’s back up. Nick would have forgiven his family just about anything for himself, but he could hold a grudge with champions when it came to Charlie’s wellbeing.
Charlie was chatting to Gramps explaining the process for applying to do a doctorate. He hadn’t completely decided to do it yet, but Nick could see the light in his eyes when he came back from his ‘informal chat’ with that professor. Charlie was excited in a way he hadn’t been since he finished University. The job he was doing used his skills and knowledge but didn’t challenge him, and having to apply for funding each year did not mesh well with his anxiety.
Charlie shifted on the sofa as he approached making space for Nick to slide in beside him, one of Nick’s arms resting on the back of the sofa. Charlie leaned back into the seat, placing a hand on Nick’s nearest knee and started caressing with his thumb, without a break in his conversation. Nick started playing with Charlie’s hair leading to a head wiggle from Charlie, and indulgent looks from his grandparents.
“Hello! Merry Christmas!” “We’re here” Ophelia and David called out over each other, as they entered the house, rousing Henry from his basket for another round of energetic wiggles and yips. Charlie noticed the hand in his hair halted, and the leg under his hand stilled. He stood up, pulling Nick with him.
“It’s only David, not the Spanish Inquisition.” He squeezed Nick’s hand in support before going to hug Ophelia, nodding at David. David nodding back. Ophelia had been a calming influence on David, and he had mostly stopped baiting Nick, but he and Charlie would never be best buddies. Charlie was determined to keep things at least civil enough that Sarah could have both her boys, and their partners, in a room together, even if Nick and David never sought each other out otherwise.
“We have news.” Ophelia gushed. Charlie cocked his head at Nick, ‘ Do you think?’ Nick nodded imperceptibly. “I’m pregnant!”. Nick and Charlie grinned at each other in satisfaction at their prescience.
“Oh darling, that’s fantastic.” exclaimed Sarah. “I would say we need to crack open the bubbles to celebrate, but that might not be appropriate.” she giggled.
“We brought a couple of bottle’s of non-alcoholic bubbles, They’re in the car.” David said.
“I’ll fetch them. Chuck me your keys.” Charlie offered.
“Thanks, They’re in the M&S bag in the boot.” David said, as he passed the keys across. Charlie took them, heading towards the front door. He motioned with his head at Nick as he passed him on his way out, encouraging him up to congratulate his brother and sister-in-law.
Charlie returned with the sparkling apple juice to find Nick shaking David’s hand, a small smile on his face. Ophelia was searching in her bag for something and pulled it out with a flourish. “Look, Here it is”. She crouched down between Grandma and Gramps and held out a picture which they dutifully peered at. “That” she pointed, “Is your great-grandchild.”
David went to join them. Charlie and Nick went into the kitchen and started rummaging around for the champagne glasses. “You’re going to be an Uncle.” Charlie said. Nick stopped looking in the overhead cupboard and turned around to face Charlie grinning.
“I’m going to be an uncle.” He stated and started pulling the glasses down from the cupboard.
Then stopped and grinned at Charlie in wonder, eyes wide. “We’re going to be uncles.”
“We?, I’m not sure David is going to want me to be called an uncle.”
“Package Deal, Char. We’re a package deal.”
“We’re going to be uncles.”