Through the Years with Nick and Charlie

December

***12k+ words!! A lot happens in a month!!

Nick:

It's now December, meaning lots of holiday festivities are happening, and if you're married to Charlie, then there's even more. Where we live, there's a few tree lightings and small parades/festivals, and he wants to go to them all...now more than ever because its Rome's first Christmas and he's currently on the second part of his paternity leave, meaning we're all home 24/7.

"Charlie, we don't have to do everything y'know...it's all the same to be honest!!" I say and by the look he gives me, I shouldn't have "It's not the same...one has Santa and the other doesn't" "We've seen Santa six different times already...she's not gonna remember any of this yet anyways!!" " ... papa's being such a grinch!" Charlie says playing with Ro as she does her tummy time, trying to get her to start lifting her neck and reaching for things. "I'm not being a grinch...just holiday-ed out and we've still got a week until Christmas" "ok, well what do you want to do?!" "something that doesn't involve Christmas" I sigh, laying back on the couch "are you alright?!" He asks softly, looking at me now and I know what he's referring to!
Earlier, we were at another one of my doctors appointments, hoping that this would be the one where they finally tell me that my ankle is healed and I'll be able to get back on the pitch with a bit more PT, but instead I got told "soon" and "stay patient" for what feels like the millionth time. It's been five months and I was told 6-8 weeks in august. I brought it up to my doctor and Charlie said I was a bit rude, but I couldn't help but be annoyed.

"Is this about earlier?!" "No, just not wanting to do anything today!" I say, but he's not convinced as he joins me on the couch "you'll be okay, your ankle will be okay...you'll be back soon!" Charlie says, and I know he's trying to help, but it's really doing the opposite. It's not his fault though, and I know it's not so I get up instead of saying something that I'll regret. "N-Nick?!" "Just need a minute" I say, walking from our couch to the kitchen.
I grab a glass of water, and lean against the counter, scrolling on my phone -since I've now been back on social media little by little since the chaotic articles- to find some distraction, but of course I don't follow much else but friends and rugby accounts so that's exactly what I come across...my teammates training, match pics, or team outings. I close it out almost immediately.
I love being home with Charlie and Ro, but ever since i got out of uni and first tried out for the pros...I've never really had a break this long and it's taking a lot to get used to. It was fine the first two, maybe three months, but now I'm over it and wanting to be back out. It's even worse knowing that there's no exact date that I'll be back.
I walk back out and head upstairs to our room. I know that Charlie looked at me as I walked past, but I really don't feel like talking. Once i hit the bed, I just lay there, kinda watching tv...kinda not.

Hours pass of me laying in bed, getting up from time to time to check on Ro when Charlie put her down. Other than that, I'm left alone until around 6pm when Charlie comes in "Elle invited us to the Christmas thing I was telling you about earlier. I was gonna leave with Ro in about thirty if you changed your mind!" He says and I nod "thanks". I think about it, but he comes back once thirty minutes pass and I'm in the same spot "I'm leaving now...did you want me to bring you back anything...a sweet, or hot chocolate maybe?!" He asks and I shake my head. He stays for second and I can tell he's thinking about something, but second guesses as he turns to walk out "Wait!!" I get up, closing the space between us. I grab his face and plant a kiss on his lips before pulling away and looking down at Rome in his arms, and their sorta matching outfits, both being red and Christmas themed "you two look very cute!" I say and he smiles. He seems a bit more satisfied, but I say more "I'm okay, have fun...I'll be waiting up." "I would've told her no, but I was trying to give you space" "no it's okay, you wanted to go anyways....I was being a bit of a grinch!" I say and he giggles before his phone starts to ring in his back pocket "it's Elle, I didn't want to drive alone" he says and I nod before kissing him again and sending him off "I love you" "love you" "have fun!" "Be back soon!"