Chapter Text
Before
Tara
By some miracle, this is my life. I'm driving Elle, Imogen, and Nick to a local pharmacy because Nick texted our old Uni Trip group chat in a panic. The conversation went as the following.
Nick: ARE ANY OF YOU DOING ANYTHING????
Elle: Good morning to you too, Nick.
Nick: FUCK OFF ELLE THIS IS IMPORTANT
Nick: ARE YOU BUSY OR NOT
Nick: LITERALLY ANY OF YOU
Tara: I'm not doing anything today
Imogen: me neither
Elle: so what's up?
Nick: I have a very odd favor to ask of any or all of you
Tara: Nick what's going on?
Imogen: You're scaring us, Nicolas
Nick: I need someone to buy me a pregnancy test.
Elle: WHAT
Imogen: WHAT
Tara: I beg your pardon
Elle: WHAT DID CHARLIE DO TO YOU
Apparently, Nick has felt quite ill for about a week, but didn't want to worry Charlie. At first, Nick thought it was a weird stomach bug. Then he was craving pickles at two in the morning.
And now, well, here we are.
I went round to pick everyone up, because Nick really doesn't want to do this alone. Charlie went on holiday with Tori, Michael, and Oliver, so Nick is by himself at their house. He feels guilty about doing this without Charlie, but he couldn't wait.
Nick is staring anxiously at his phone in the backseat. I'm driving, Elle is in the passenger seat, and Imogen and Nick are both behind us.
"Charlie asked what I'm doing," Nick declares shakily. "What do I say?"
"Tell him you're at the store," Elle tells him flatly. "It's not a lie."
"But what if he asks what I'm doing at the store?"
I try to hide my smirk. Nick can worry about pretty stupid things, but I can't say that he's ever worried his boyfriend would ask why he's at a grocery store.
"Why would he care?" Elle asks in reply.
Nick doesn't have an answer to that. His silence alone makes me giggle.
"Don't you fucking giggle, Tara," Nick demands. "This is serious."
I hold up a hand innocently. "Never said it wasn't."
I park my car as close to the pharmacy door as possible. Nick practically scrambles out of my car before I can park. He gives us an evil look, as if we're insane for not launching our bodies out of a vehicle before it even stopped moving.
"Alright, come on, then," I say to the girls as I safely get out of my car.
The four of us slowly walk inside and go straight to the section with the pregnancy tests. Imogen and Elle link arms on either side of Nick as we decide which one to buy.
Imogen runs her hand up and down Nick's arm, which seems to ease Nick a bit. But I can still see him spiral silently.
I grab two boxes, both of which have two tests inside. "We're getting these ones," I declare.
Nick nods, taking a shallow breath. "Ok."
"D'you want us to go to your house?" Imogen offers. She looks between all of us. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we don't want you to be alone in this."
Elle and I both nod in agreement.
Nick nods. "Yeah. Ok."
And now we're in Nick's bathroom. He decided to take two tests at once to make sure it's accurate.
I'm standing at the sink, Imogen is on the toilet lid, and Elle is snuggling Nick in the tub.
"Nick, I need to ask you something," I say.
Nick looks up at me. "Yeah?"
I open my mouth then shut it again. I take a breath and ask, "Will you be ok? Positive or negative?"
He thinks about the question for a moment. Elle strokes through his hair to add a sense of warmth. "I think so," he answers finally. "I'm just worried about how Charlie would react."
"Have you two talked about kids at all?" Imogen asks curiously.
"A bit." Nick scratches his nose and sniffles. "But we both agreed we'd want to wait until our late twenties. And after we're married."
"You're both mature," Elle comments. "You're twenty-four, he's almost twenty-three. I'm sure, if it is positive, you two could have a healthy conversation about it."
Nick nods. "Yeah," he whispers, barely audibly.
"Would you be considering an abortion?" I ask. "Or would you want the baby no matter what?"
"I think I'd want to keep it," he replies. "I mean, obviously it isn't the most ideal time, but I think I could handle it."
Then my phone timer goes off.
I give Nick a tiny smile. "Five minutes is up."
Nick makes his way out of the tub and next to me, though he's shaking the entire time.
I place my hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "Are you ready?"
Nick holds his breath. "Yes," he mouths.
I grab one test and he grabs the other. "Three," I begin to count.
"Two," Nick continues.
"One," all of us breathe.
Nick and I both look at the tests. No one makes a sound. No one moves.
Then Nick chokes out a sob. Tears flow down his cheeks as he begins crying harder.
I take his test and set them both down. I reach up and pull him into a tight hug. He sobs and shakes against me for probably five minutes. I don't know when Elle and Imogen joined us, but the added comfort and warmth definitely helps.
I rub his back in circles. I go on my tiptoes just enough to whisper in his ear. "Congratulations, darling."
Nick eases up a bit, but he's still crying quite hard.
"You're going to be a dad."
Before
Charlie
I'm just getting back from holiday, and Elle was the one to pick me up from the airport because apparently Nick isn't feeling too well. I feel bad, but luckily I'll be home soon to take care of him.
Elle pulls up to my driveway and parks. "I always forget how pretty your house is," she observes.
Nick and I bought a house right on the beach. It's not a huge house, but it's got a beach view and enough room for all of our friends to stay over.
I nod. "Thank you so much for the lift, Elle. I owe you one."
Elle waves her hands. "Not a big deal at all. I'm happy to help." She points back to her trunk. "D'you need help with your bags?"
"I'm ok. Thank you, though."
I hop out of the car, grab my suitcase, and go back to the driver's side door. Elle gets out and wraps me in a cozy hug. "I'm glad you had a nice holiday."
"Thank you." We pull apart and I haul my bags up to my front door.
"Love you, Charlie," Elle calls out.
I smile and wave back. "Love you too, Elle! Bye!"
Elle smiles and gets back in her car.
I make my way inside. The house smells a bit like sea salt. Well, it always does, but it seems stronger than usual. I try to be quiet since it's possible Nick might be resting.
"Charlie!" Nick yells as he appears basically out of thin air.
I jump back as he captures me in a large bear hug. I drop my bags and wrap my arms around him. "Hi," I chuckle. "I thought you were ill?"
He pulls back, his face not nearly as enthusiastic as it was just a moment ago. "Something like that," he explains. "I have a bit of a surprise for you."
I look at him teasingly. "Good or bad?"
Nick swallows. "I guess we'll see," he mutters. "Just- let's go into our bedroom."
Normally, that phrase means having a fun time. Although, given his facial expression, I'm not too sure this time.
He interlink our fingers and I guide us to our bedroom. Our bed is made, which is never the case, considering neither one of us feel like making our bed just to ruin it again at the end of the day.
At the foot of our bed, though, there's flowers. And a fluffy, small brown teddy bear. And a tiny pair of shoes. And-
Oh. Oh my God.
Sitting right in the center of it all is a positive pregnancy test.
My mouth drops. I drop Nick's hand and grab the test in front of me. I take a closer look at it. Is this really happening?
I turn back to Nick. "Nick?"
Nick smiles sadly. "Surprise."
I gently place the test back on the bed as if it's the most sacred thing in the whole universe. I walk back over to Nick and tightly wrap my arms around his shoulders.
"Is this real?" I ask. I don't even realize I'm crying. "Are we gonna be dads?"
"Yeah," Nick cries.
I pull back, but neither one of us stop holding the other. I gently place my hand on his flat stomach. "Nicolas Nelson," I begin. "I promise to be the best dad in the whole world."
Nick laughs through his tears. "You're cringe."
"And you're pregnant with my baby."
He smiles, but then it falters slightly. "So you're not mad?" He asks me.
I shake my head, then pepper his face with soft kisses. "Not at all."
Nick nods, then rests his forehead on mine. "I love you so much," he cries. "I can't wait to have your baby."
"I love you so much, too." I kneel down to be face to face with his stomach. "And I love you already, bug." I place a soft kiss under Nick's bellybutton.
Nick chuckles. "You can't even tell that the baby is there yet."
"I love them anyways."