Through the Years with Nick and Charlie

Post Christmas

Charlie:

       Two days after Christmas, Tori's family and Ollie are still here, and it's been a bunch of fun, but also a bit tiring. Apparently no one in England knows how to take a break from rugby, so I've been bringing Ollie to a pitch with his mates, and of course Nick wants to go, forcing me to stay out in the freezing cold to keep him from doing something stupid.
     Ollie and I did take a trip to the shops to buy a gift for Sophia which went quite well...thanks to Elle! Speaking of, her and Tao have also been over quite a bit which has yet again been fun, but let's just say I look forward to sleeping at night...or early in the morning like tonight...or today?!?? Tori and I have been up talking about the thing with Michael and his speed skating!
      "He wants to do it competitively!" Tori says sighing, sounding disappointed, but not!? "Ok?! I'm not sure what the means exactly!" "He usually just does it a few times a week, but now he wants to do it competitively...like Winter Olympics!" "Oh..." "yep!" She sighs once more "you don't like that?!?" "I- I know that he could do it, like he's really good and I think that's the problem!" "Victoria!! Since when have you started speaking in code and not being straight with me?!" I groan, still a bit lost " if he makes it...he'll have to train in some facility that's not close...at all. And I've seen what that kinda thing does...to relationships...even when it's close by" she says and it does more than catch me off guard "what are you trying to say?!" "N-nothing, I just...I know it can be difficult" "....yes, nick's club training may be an hour away, but he's usually away for seven hours minimum everyday, and is on a plane most weekends, but we do more than make it work even if it's difficult, so what do you mean...what does that do to my relationship?!!" "....there's been a few times where you come to me about it, and it just seems like shit...something I don't want to go through!" "I go to you in confidence, Tori...for help, but I guess I won't do that anymore since you'll bring it back up and use it against me anyways" I say, over this conversation, but so confused on where this all came from "w-what, no!!? That's not what I'm doing. I just...I don't know...I'm sorry, that's not what I meant" "...I'm gonna go to bed, we can talk later if you want, but I'm tired now!" I say, getting up from the table. The look on her face is full of regret, and she seems to want to say something, but I really am tired.

     "Finally!! Almost went to sleep without you!!" Nick says when I walk in. I plop down, practically on top of him when he wraps his arms around me "You okay?!" ".....Tori said something weird...I didn't like it" "weird how!?" He asks and I sigh, sitting up "Michael wants to do speed skating...professionally...like Winter Olympics or something" "I- the only weird thing about that is that you spring siblings have a thing for olympians" he chuckles and I groan because that wasn't the point "no, she's worried about it, so I asked why!!  She said that she's seen what that kinda thing does to couples!! She was obviously referring to us!" "Well yea?!" "When we have our moments, I confide in her for help sometimes, not for her to act like we've got some shot relationship and argue over your job all of the time!!" I say, feeling quite upset "I'm sure she didn't mean it exactly like that" "are you siding with her?!" I ask and he giggles "I'm not siding with anyone char, I'm just saying that she has a fair argument...it can be tough and you know it firsthand" "doesn't mean she had to say that!!" "Did she tell you that we had a shit relationship...in those words!?" He asks, adjusting my hair "....no?!" "Then I think you may have read too much into what she was trying to say" "can you stop being logical for two seconds and just vent with me" "so you can be upset with your sister over nothing?!? While we're all under the same roof?!? Absolutely not, baby" he says, sinking into the bed so I do the same, laying on his chest as we start to fall asleep

    Hours later, sleeping in until almost 9am, definitely capable of sleeping for longer, but I'm not sure Ro is!!
    Nick and I stir awake, but he's the one to go get her and bring her back into our room. "You see dad!! Yeah!!" Nick says to her and she shows me her very gummy smile that makes me melt every time. Nick lays her down in between us, giving her a teething toy since that was definitely what she was upset about a few minutes ago!
     "Good morning by the way!!" "Good Morning!" I giggle before leaning in to meet his kiss. Nick pulls away, leaning down to be closer to Ro and open her mouth, he's been doing this thing where he checks on the growth of her new teeth "I think she's gonna have three bottoms soon!" "...we're gonna have a 7 month old soon" "yea...she's gonna start talking and her first word is gonna be papa." "You know it's like...scientifically proven that baby's are more likely to say dada than mama or papa" "yea, well my kid breaks barriers "Ro, will you say dada, or papa first...hm?!" I ask and she bables back...not saying either or anything really! "Sounded like dada to me!!" "Yeah, yeah! I think little miss wants some breakfast. avez-vous faim (are you hungry)!!" He says and I groan "No!! Too early for French!" I say, getting out of bed before I lay there for the rest of the day. I throw on one of Nick's jumpers and slippers before the three of us walk downstairs...well two...Nick is carrying Ro!
     "Mmkay!! Do you want porridge, or a smoothie?!" Nick asks, setting the two options down in front of her on the tray of her high chair. Ro reaches for the smoothie pouch that is much more colorful and interesting to look at!
       Nick feeds Ro while i make breakfast for the two of us. I make a bowl of chocolate weetabix, and Nick has the protein version because he's still been trying to keep his diet for rugby, but I think it's all quite disgusting!!
     We eat breakfast and clean everything up before just sitting at the island with Ro before we hear someone coming up the steps from the basement. I was kind of hoping that it wasn't a certain person, but of course it was. Tori walks in and you can immediately feel the tension. Nick looks at me, but I look away from him "Morning Nick...Ch-Charlie" "Morning!" Nick says back all bubbly. We make eye contact and he's giving me a certain look "Morning" I mumble and he looks at me again "talk." He whispers before getting up, taking Ro with him "N-Nick!!" I whisper back before flipping him off for leaving me. I sigh before sitting back down "it's okay, I'm leaving now" "...w-wait no...we should talk" I say, feeling sensible "...last night, I thought that you were just trying to bring my relationship down to make your own feelings feel valid...I didn't actually think about the fact that everything you said was in fact valid" "Charlie, you and nicks relationship is probably the best one that I've ever witnessed...I'd never mean to judge you or try to tear you both down or whatever...I promise" "I-I know! It's okay to be worried about those kinds of things because you have seen it firsthand...I don't know why I couldn't see that last night, I'm sorry!" I sigh. She offers a slight smile, hopefully accepting my apology "....can you tell me what to do now, I haven't slept, thinking about it?!" She says and it's good because that's her telling me we're okay " I Erm- I can't tell you what to do, or think...but I'll say that even when we do have our occasional argument, being able to watch Nick do what he loves makes up for all of that...the arguments, the traveling, time apart, the media...everything, it's more than worth it" "...I-I'll be okay, like I'm sure I can handle it...I'm more worried about Blake! They're really close, and I'm not sure how she'll handle it!" "I get that, but it's just not something I've had to deal with just yet. I do truly think that she'll be more like "wow, my dads so cool" and less like "my dad sucks"." "Was that meant to be helpful?!" Tori asks, but actually chuckling while speaking "sorry!! But seriously, you'll figure it out...you always do" I say as she walks back into the kitchen, towards me "I'd hug you, but you made my tea run cold!" She says and I giggle "I'll be back in a sec" I say, heading for the stairs only to be scared out of my mind when Nick is sitting on the steps with Ro "What the fu-reak!!! Were you eavesdropping?!" I ask loudly, but Nick just turns around and tries to go up the stairs fast, but that boot slows him down. When we both get into our room, he tries to take cover behind the door, but I seat at his arm anyways "did you hear all of that?!" "It's all worth it to see me happy!!" He says, mocking me "you're annoying" "and you're the sweetest ever" "it's rude to eavesdrop" "it was Rome's idea" he says, adjusting Ro so that she's facing me "well I guess I can forgive her" I say and Nick scoffs "I see how it's gonna be"