One Day at a Time - (Season One)

Chapter Fifteen: Labels

Marty was naturally sluggish the next morning.

It also didn't help that M-Madison decided to use the last of the eggs in the house and scramble them for breakfast. Marty had never been a person who liked eggs, but the smell had been particularly pungent this morning and had set off her sensitive gag reflex the second she'd caught a whiff of it. Marty had to subtly and quickly sprint into the bathroom before throwing up the rest of her undigested dinner into the white porcelain bowl. What a waste.

"Whoa, are you sick?" Liza asked in a soft concerned tone from the doorway. Marty moaned quietly. She hadn't experienced this much interest from adults in years, especially during the last two, unless it was from a caseworker... and quite honestly, it felt more than a little weird to be under the woman's gaze as she flushed the toilet.

"No, I'm fine." Marty mumbled awkwardly as she slowly stood up--not wanting to make her head rush, especially not after emptying her stomach--and rinsed her mouth with the blue Listerine in the cupboard. Mr. Mana- Travis's ex-wife was still hovering in the doorway, piercing her with inquisitive eyes that made Marty feel like the woman was peeling layers off her psyche and peering directly into her soul. "I promise." Marty spoke confidently as she turned to face her, "I just really hate the smell of eggs. Lukas doesn't like them either, so I haven't had to, um, smell that in years. I forgot how- well, strong it is." Pungent was more like it. God, even the thought of it was making her feel green.

The nurse in training nodded a bit unconvincingly, "If you say so." before walking away. Marty only sighed in relief before turning back to the sink and brushing her teeth thoroughly. Ugh, now her throat hurt from the stomach acid that'd burned it on the way up.

"You okay?" Nick whispered as she walked out of the bathroom.

Marty flushed before asking in embarrassment, "Did everyone hear me throw up?"

"No." he promised before tugging her into a hug, "I just saw your face when you smelled the eggs. Man, I know you've always hated them, but now? It looks like the peanuts hate 'em too."

She moaned softly in disgust, the smell of the eggs still hovering in the hallway made her want to gag, "Please. Don't remind me. It stinks."

Her weak plea only sent Nick into peals of amused laughter. That jerk.

Without work or any of Marty's other daily responsibilities, it felt a lot like the days were simply bleeding into the other. After the egg fiasco, she ate a small breakfast outside with her brother and Nick, since she was still feeling a bit nauseous before hand-washing hers, Nick's and Lukas's laundry.

M- Madison only smiled at her gratefully before going to collect everyone else's laundry and joining her. The soldiers had recommended not using appliances like the washing machine or dishwasher because they ate too much electricity and water for the neighborhood. So now, everything had to be done by hand. They were slowly, but surely, returning to the dark ages.

After they finished hanging all the clothing out to dry on the clothesline, Marty decided to wander back inside, only to discover Lukas happily watching the movie 'Thor' while Nick occasionally dozed off on the couch--he only woke up when Lukas turned to ask him questions. Marty smiled softly at the scene before deciding to join them while she waited for the clothing to dry. Nick grinned at her softly and pulled her into a half-hug while Lukas recreated the scenes of the movie with his action figures. Madison took one look at them before saying that she'd be going out for a bit and not to worry about her.

Alicia had gone out earlier to do who knows what, while Chris was on the roof trying to signal whatever it was he saw in the Dead Zone, or the D.Z. like everyone was calling the area outside of the erected fences. Ofelia was off with her soldier boy toy -who she now knew that Ofelia was mostly just using to get medicine for her mother, a theory that had been reluctantly confirmed last night when she heard the older woman confiding in Alicia; still, it really wasn't Marty's business, so she inwardly decided to stay totally out of it and pray that Ofelia's actions didn't come back to bite any of them in the ass- and the older Salazars were upstairs in Alicia's- well, their room. Liza was once more out taking care of people and Travis was off playing mayor around the neighborhood again.

With pretty much everyone out of the house, and privacy assured, Marty decided that she may as well talk to Nick about what they were to one another and put some sort of label on it- no matter how much she wanted to cringe at that particular thought. She'd been putting it off for the last ten days and she needed to stop being such a coward when it came to her feelings.

Still, it was something easier thought about than actually done.

"Nick?" she whispered softly, acutely aware of her little brother still in the room.

"Yeah?" his voice rumbled back.

"What are we?" Marty blurted out, "I mean, I know we're best friends, obviously... an-and that we're having babies together in like six months but-"

"Dating sounds a bit juvenile in light of that." Nick interrupted her in an understanding manner, "I mean, I'd like to think we're together, Marty. I know that this isn't... ideal, I mean we're stuck in my mother's house with her boyfriend, his ex-wife and kid, plus some strangers we don't really know...and the world's gone to hell," he said emphatically, "but I do love you. I love you. And the peanuts and Lukas. You've been my family for so long, it kind of feels weird to actually put a label on that."

Marty snorted as her shoulders slumped with relief, "I know." she breathed out, "That's why I decided to ask you. I mean, fuck-" she sighed under her breath in embarrassment, "I-I just started thinking about what we would tell people when they eventually find out I'm pregnant and that they're, well, yours."

"I'm your boyfriend." Nick whispered bluntly, "It doesn't feel quite right, but I'm yours and you're mine. Right?"

"Yeah." she smiled softly as he squeezed her tighter to him. Nick snorted at her rosy cheeks.

"We've done a lot more than hug, and here you are all flushed at the word boyfriend. What are you fourteen?" he teased, succeeding in even making her ears redden.

"Shut up." Marty huffed, but she wasn't able to keep the grin out of her tone before Nick pulled her in for a chaste kiss on the lips. "I'm gonna get started on lunch since your mom's still AWOL." she mumbled after a moment when Lukas giggled, before standing up and stretching.

Nick eyed her worriedly, "You didn't eat much during breakfast, take it easy, Marty. I don't want you collapsing on me."

"I won't." she promised before shrugging, "Besides, I'm craving tuna salad with cold pasta, and it's almost lunchtime." she shrugged, "Two birds, one stone."

"Alright." Nick agreed as he laid back down on the couch, "When the movie finishes, I'm gonna take Lukas and Pingu out for a small walk."

"Kay!" Marty hummed as she walked into the kitchen and began taking out the ingredients she needed.