Fallen

15. Proper Parenting

It was now Friday, and Harper had been begging to have a sleepover with her friends.

"Please.. " Harper pleaded to Charlie for the millionth time. Just then, Nick walked into the conversation.

"Please, what?" Nick said, sipping a mug of tea.

"Can I sleepover at Rory's house tonight?" Harper said, smiling innocently.

"Yeah, sure." Nick shrugged, not thinking much of it. However, Charlie's face fell slightly and he sighed. When Harper left the room to text her friends, Charlie turned to his husband.

"What's wrong?" Nick asked. "We didn't have anything today that she would miss, yeah?"

"Yeah, no, we're not busy.. But.. You know she just like- properly punched someone and got suspended from school, right?" Charlie said.

"Er.. Yeah, I know. What of it?" Nick said.

"Well.. Isn't letting her have the sleepover sort of- rewarding bad behavior? Like I obviously understand the girl she punched was a twat.. But we gave her no punishment, no consequences for violence.." Charlie mumbled, tugging on a loose string on his 'old man' sweater.

"Oh." Nick said, "I didn't really think of it that way.. I-I mean, I guess you're right.. We never punish Harper.. Cause she never really does anything bad.." Nick sighed and ran a hand through his floppy hair.

"I mean, I already said yes to her.." Nick said.

"I know." Charlie said, "but..maybe next time we.. Give her small consequences. I just don't want her growing up to be spoiled rotten." Charlie said, then stuffed in face into Nick's chest.

"Why is parenting so hard?" Charlie asked himself, his voice muffled by Nick's body.

"Dunno." Nick said, setting down his mug and wrapping his unnecessarily large arms around Charlie. "But I do know that you are an amazing dad." He concluded, giving Charlie a kiss on the head with a small 'smooch' sound.

"Love you.." Charlie said, kissing Nick.
Nick smiled and kissed Charlie back.

"Did Harper ever.. Mention anything about.. That queer quiz? Remember you mentioned it to me?" Nick said.

Charlie nodded. "She never said anything about it. I mean.. Not that it matters, but it would make sense she just.. Wanted to take one, considering.. Our situation." Charlie said the last part with a cheeky grin.

"Hah.. Yeah. I just hope she trusts us enough to tell us if she.. Does discover anything." Nick said.

"Yeah.. " Charlie said, giving his husband another peck.

"I'm sure she will.." Nick said, his lips still touching Charlie's. Nick grabbed the boy from under his arms and set him on the countertop, running his hands over Charlie.

"Nickkk" Charlie giggled.

"Yes, husband?" Nick asked in between small kisses on Charlie's face.

"You're so gay.." Charlie smirked, putting his hands on Nick's shoulders.

"I'm bi, actually." Nick teased.

"Half gay." Charlie shrugged.

"Haha." Nick chuckled dryly, removing his hand to scratch his beard, then placing it back on his husband.

"Why are you staring at me..?" Charlie asked softly.

"I'm just.. So in love wth you." Nick answered, and smiled when he made Charlie's nose go red.

"I'm properly in love with you too." Charlie said.

"Have you eaten?" Nick then asked, quirking his head to the side.

"Um.." Charlie gave a small shake of his head.

Nick simply nodded and smiled.

"If I made you a cheese toastie, would you eat it? Even just half?" Nick said.

Charlie nodded, the gesture shy and small. Nick adored what he called 'baby Charlie', which was basically when Charlie would just give a cute smile or gesture that made him look younger, like when Nick first met him.

"Baby." Nick teased, kissing Charlie's nose and then walking away to get bread and cheese.

After Nick had made a snack for Charlie like the good husband he was, they sat down together as they talked and ate.

Charlie slowly tore his sandwich into smaller pieces, then took a few bites as Nick spoke.

"Char? I was thinking maybe we could get another pet.. Soonish. Because- well- we could get another dog.. Or a cat! And you'll at least have someone to be with when you're home alone." Nick suggested, picking at his nails.

"Oh." Charlie said after a swallow, and then he smiled and nodded. "Yeah," he continued, "I'd like that."

"Great!" Nick smiled, practically exploding in his seat.

"A cat would be nice." Charlie mumbled. As much as both of the boys loved dogs, Charlie was a cat person.

"Yeah, cat or dog, either is fine.. " Nick smiled, though it faded a bit when he notices Charlie's ripped off pieces of cheese toastie. Nick recognized those signs from when Charlie's eating was really bad. Even though those events happened over 20 years ago, Nick would never forget the trauma he and Charlie both went through at such a young age. Nick was terrified that any of those things would happen again..