Blue Bloody Ribbon

Extra 5: Nik

Nik was sitting in a black chair sipping on a martini as Nat and her new girlfriend were playing in the waves.

Family vacations were the worst, especially when you were stuck babysitting. Irene was trying to build a sandcastle with the twins but failing and Dimitri was enjoying his sun tan. Teenagers. Nik remembers when he was their age, it sucked and he never wanted to go through puberty again even if you pointed a gun at his head.

"Uncle Nik?" Alfred popped his head up, his floppy red hair blowing in the seebreeze. Nik knew the look in his eyes. "What are you doing?"

He held his drink up and grinned, "having fun in an unresposible way."

"Can I do that?"

Nik ruffled his hair, feeling the vodka kick in. "Kiddo, your mom would kill me."

—

Nik laid in the sand as the kids turned him into a merman. Hey, at least this was better than watch Nat sneak off Alicia to do god knows what.

"Having fun?" Meera peered over him, her long hair tied into an braid.

"The funnest."

She sat down next to him, her hand on her swollen belly protectively. "You look like you're having fun. No more vodka Martini's?"

Nik rolled his eyes. "Don't tempt me, Saravana. I'd like to get through this family vacation sober." He glanced down at her stomach. "How's the spawn?"

"Your niece has two more months to go." She smiled, placing a hand over her swollen belly. "And she says hi to her uncle."

"I feel old."

"You're not."

"I can't believe Ivan is having kids." He sat up which earned him a glare from Irene. "He's going to be a dad and I'm going to be an uncle. Do you know how we're that sounds."

"Admit it. You're just scared of the responsibility."

"Please," he scoffed. "I'm babysitting these guys pretty well."

Alfred and Arthur had lost interest in making him a pretty mermaid. Now they were busy filling their plastic buckets with sea water and walking over to Ivan, their blue eyes sparkling in mischief.

He felt that if he looked away from them one second, they would be off doing something that would send Anya into a furious meltdown.

Ugh. Not a chance.

Meera nudged his side. "You're already a great uncle. Alfred and Arthur absolutely love you."

"Yeah," he scoffed. "They love making my hair fall out. I hope your kid is a girl, Meera. Maybe she'll give me some peace."

"Oh, poor Nik." She said. "Girls can cause just as much trouble as boys can."

"Please don't jinx it."

—

2 MONTHS LATER

Nik could hear the screams from down the hall. The other Dr Saravana was inside the delivery room, keeping her daughter calm as she went into labour. He glanced up at the clock, worrying his lip. Nat was making calls, informing everyone that the newest Farewell was on their way.

He remembered how he joked about having a niece two months ago and here he was scared shitless now that it was happening.

Life was going to change now.

Ivan came barreling down the hallway, his face red and his hair a mess. Nik rarely saw his brother unkempt but he kept his mouth shut when Ivan slid to a stop in front of him.

"Where—"

"Down the hall, to the left. Just follow the screaming." Nik pointed.

Ivan wrapped his arms around him and proceeded to run down the hall. Meera was lucky that her husband had broken several traffic rules just to get there on time or else Ivan wouldn't hear the end of it.

He sat down, crossed his legs over the other and waited.

He was going to be an uncle.

Again.

—

Nik was a bit nervous to enter into the hospital room.

He had a bouquet of pink lilies and a bright pink ballon that read 'Its a girl' in cutesy cursive font.

Meera looked like shit but Nik wasn't going to say that to her face. She had just pushed a human out of her and he wasn't going to ruin the moment by being as asshole. Plus, he didn't want to make a bad impression on his niece.

Ivan looked like shit but for a different reason. He was actually crying as he held his daughter in his arms.

Ivan gave The tiny pink bundle over to Nik who froze. She was so small and red. Totally defenceless. This tiny potato was his niece...and he absolutely loved her.

"I'm going to kill anyone who ever hurts you," Nik said in a soft voice.

"Less talk of murder around the baby." Meera said tiredly but she was still smiling.

"Hello, spawn. You're my niece and I'm your uncle."