Fallen

25. Nelson Brothers

The second the boys stepped foot out of the restaurant, Nick was seized by the shoulders and slammed against the wall by his older brother.

"You don't have to fucking embarrass me in front of everyone, mate." David hissed as he dragged Nick into the back alley of the diner.

"Unless you're keen on fighting, I suggest you get your hands off me." Nick hissed, his voice trembling from rage.

David shrugged, a little too cocky from the several drinks he already had. "Fight me then. If you start it, I can literally sue you."

Nick stiffened, staring daggers at his so called 'brother'. He tried to think about any happy memories he had with David, but it was no use. There were truly few moments that Nick was actually happy with his brother.

Nick reversed their roles, now pinning David to the wall. Nick was glad he was taller than him, it made him more intimidating and gave him a slight ego boost.

"I have put up with SO MUCH OF YOUR BULLSHIT!" Nick shouted, losing his mind. "I'm FUCKING DONE WTH IT!! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.. I-I don't want to talk to you again, ever." He spat. "I don't want to see your face, or hear your voice. I'm blocking you, I'm cutting you off, don't contact me. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

David looked.. Scared? For a moment, but then his face hardened. "My baby brother the bitch." He scoffed. "It's not my fault you can't take a joke."

Nick was getting desperate at this point. How could someone be so dense? "David.. What you said wasn't a joke. If it is to you, you have a terrible sense of humor. So what if my kids discover they're queer? Yeah, they'll be like me and Char. So fucking what?"

"Cause you're influencing it on them! If they had straight parents, they would've turned out straight, no?" David slurred his words.

"I- Charlie's parents are straight, our parents are straight-" Nick tried to defend himself, but did David have a point?

"You know what I mean, baby brother." David smirked slightly.

Nick huffed. "That doesn't excuse everything you've said. You've literally bet money on Charlie- on Charlie killing himself. You've called me homophobic slurs, you've picked on my kids, my real kids, David! Just cause they're adopted doesn't make them any less of mine! Why should I have to get bullied just because I love someone?!" Nick choked on his final words, feeling the tears forming in the back of his throat. It was a painful feeling. Nick poured his heart and feelings out to his brother, who didn't give a shit. Nick knew after this he wouldn't change, and quite frankly, Nick was glad. Because if David tried to change, he would call Nick up, attempting to 'save their brotherhood.' But Nick? He wanted no part in that. To him, David was no longer his brother.

Silence.

Crickets.

Heavy breathing.

David.

"Can't believe you're acting like this on my birthday. Whatever, let me go."

"Happy birthday, David." Nick said, giving him a proper shove as he went back inside to gather his family.

Charlie was surprised to see Nick without any bruises on his face, as he knew his husband was prone to getting into fights.

"Family, we're going. I'm sorry, I'll explain in the car." Nick mumbled. Harper and Oscar immediately stood up, now standing behind their father. Charlie followed, embarrassed.

"What on earth happened?" Ingrid asked, clinging her to husband's arm as he sat back down.

"Nick's just being a baby. He can't take a joke so now he's 'cutting me off'" David mocked with a roll of his eyes.

Meanwhile, Nick's family piled into the car, leaving everyone else to order an Uber.

"David and I got in an argument. Everything's fine, we're just not gonna talk to him anymore." Nick's voice trembled on the last part.

Harper truly didn't mean to say it, but it blurted out, "am I adopted?"

Nick nodded. "Did David tell you that?"

"Yeah.. Why, is it not true?"

"No. It is.." Nick sighed, rubbing his forehead as he received a kiss on the chin from his lover. "Char and I didn't want to have a surrogate, so we adopted. I'm sorry I kept it from you, I'm sorry if you're hurt by that."

"No.. I'm not hurt. I don't think of you any differently, you're still my dads.. And Ossy is still my brother." Harper smiled softly, knowing that was incredibly cheesy.

"Yeah." Nick whispered as he pulled out of the parking lot, driving home.

It didn't take much for Ossy and Harper to get into bed and sleep that night, but Nick and Charlie were up. As soon as Nick was sure his children were asleep, he fell apart into the arms of his husband.

"It's okay.." Charlie soothed as he held his life sized teddy bear.

"I-I never lost control that bad.." Nick choked out.

Charlie nodded, kissing his head. "You had every right to lash out.." Charlie mumbled. Normally, Charlie hated when Nick got into fights, even when he fought Ben multiple times. But David was different. Charlie didn't understand how a sibling could be so horrid to another sibling, considering Charlie and his sister and brother were very close. Before Charlie had Nick, his siblings were all he had, and Charlie knew for a fact he was all Tori had for years.

"I hate him so much.." Nick sobbed. "He's so cruel..the things he called you, the things he called me.."

Charlie stroked his fingers through Nick's sweaty hair, though Charlie didn't mind. "None of it is true.."

"But it hurts."

"It does."

Nick sniffled and laid on top of Charlie, practically crushing him. Charlie didn't mind, he loved the extra weight of his husband.

"I need my Charlie.." Nick whined.

"I'm right here." Charlie giggled.

"Good thing." Nick mumbled, kissing Charlie. Charlie squirmed and smiled. Charlie was always insecure, and he knew he always would be, but the one thing he liked most about himself was his ability to cheer up his husband in an instant.

"Your kisses are like drugs." Nick mumbled, kissing every inch of Charlie's face he could find. Charlie had a goofy smile on the whole time. He adored the feeling on Nick's lips on his face.

Nick pulled back only when he needed to breath. While he caught his breath in deep gasps, he ran his hands up and down Charlie's arms. That was, until he accidentally rolled up Charlie's sleeve. Once the boy noticed, he tried to pull it down, but Nick was too fast in pinning his arms against his head.

"Now I have yo-.. " Nick paused mid sentence and looked at his husband's arm.

"Char.." Was all that came out of Nick's mouth.