The Maison Series: Book 1

Chapter3

Niko went into the kitchen and made herself some food as was her usual routine. There was a loud knock at the door and Niko saw it was Ray, Leo, Matt and the twins. She opened the door and let them in.

"You guys want anything to eat or drink?" she asked.

"Root Beer Fwoats!" the twins chanted. Niko laughed and tousled their hair.

"Of course cuties. Anything for you." she smiled.

"Niko, don't tell me you plan on spoiling them. We already have one spoiled child to deal with and we don't need two more." Leo was talking about Christa.

"Scoo you Weo." they both said at the same time. Leo got up and was getting ready to punish them when Niko came back with the Root Beer Floats.

"Yay! We wuv you, NiNi!" they said. Niko always smiled when the twins tried to say her name. Ray cleaned their faces when they got too messy. Niko waited until they fell asleep to start talking.

"I really am sorry about yesterday. Ray, I'm sorry I kicked you." she said.

"Don't be. I woulda done the same. And this one here," Ray gestured to Matt, "has something to say." he prodded him with an elbow.

"I'm sorry I made Joey disappear." Matt grumbled. Niko knew she wouldn't be able to forgive him so she said, "It's okay." and quickly changed the subject. They were all talking when Tyler came running down stairs.

"Tyler, what's wrong?" Leo asked.

"Sergio hit me!" he crawled into Niko's lap and cried. Leo took his belt off and went upstairs to find Sergio.

"NiNi. Are you gonna marry big bruver Weo?" Tyler asked giggly. Niko suddenly spilled some soda and looked at Tyler.

"Where did you get that idea?" she asked him, wondering why he said Leo.

"Didn't Weo tell you? He loves you dis muches!" Tyler spread his arms as wide as he could and giggled. Leo came back down and sat on the couch.

"Sergio said he's very sorry. Now you two be careful up there." he said as Tyler scrambled up the stairs. Matt got up and left to go home.

"What's his deal?" Leo asked.

"Tyler told Niko you love her." Ray whispered in his ear. Leo sucked in a breath.

"You know Tyler, always joking." Leo laughed. They all dismissed it as Niko went to the fridge.

"You guys want anything? " she popped open a sprite can and drank from it.

"I'll take one." Ray said. Niko tossed him one and he caught it. Niko heard thumping from upstairs.

"Leo. Go check on them." Ray had heard the thump too. Leo made a noise in his throat and went up to check on them. Niko sat next to Ray.

"Ray. Thank you. For everything. I appreciate it." she gave him a hug. Ray smiled and returned the hug. Sergio came running down the stairs as Niko smiled at Ray and he had accidentally knocked Niko into him and she kissed Ray. Leo came down and with the wrong idea, he went back up as fast as he could, making the twins follow. Niko pulled away instantly.

"Oops. Sorry about that. Sergio knocked m-" Ray kissed her again. With Matt she had felt warmth and comfort, but he was a boy. Kissing Ray was a whole new world because he was a man. Ray's kiss left Niko breathless.

"Don't be sorry for something you enjoyed, girl." he smiled at her with his 100 Watt smile.

"Ray, I'll take the twins home, you two can stay here, just don't have too much fun." Leo carried the squealing twins to the car parked outside. Niko pulled him up and dragged him upstairs.

"Oh, bedroom already. I like." Ray joked.

"You are such a guy." Niko laughed.

"Will you help me pack Joey's things? I wanna make sure they'll be safe and clean for when he comes back." Niko bent over to pick up some things when Ray accidentally fell on her.

"Howdy." he smiled. Niko shook her head and laughed. She rolled a bit and got up.

"Cute." she said.

"Oh thanks, yes I am." he put on a seriously good fake girl accent. Niko stared at him for a solid three minutes before going back to packing. Ray suddenly came up behind her and began to rub her shoulders.

"Your shoulders are tense. Relax." he said smoothly. Niko moved her head forward and relaxed as Ray massaged her. Niko didn't flinch when Ray's lips met her neck.

"Ray, I have one question." she said almost out of breath.

"What is it, baby?" he asked.

"Are we together now?" Niko wondered. Ray answered it with a kiss full of fiery compassion. Niko found herself laying down with Ray on her, kissing her until she could only think of him. She felt his desire for her but she stopped him.

"Ray, I'm not ready to have sex yet, at least not without a condom, I mean." Niko told him. Ray got up.

"I understand, I'm sorry if I came on too strong." he smiled at her with his cocky side grin.

"It's alright, boo. Ugh. I need sleep." Niko snuggled into him and fell asleep with her head on his shoulder and his hand in hers.

"Joey! Will we only meet in the dream world, or will you really come back to me as a human?" she wondered.

"For now, only in the dream world. But yes, I will come to you as a human. I promised you, didn't I?" he said.

"Just making sure. I really do miss you. Matt wasn't thinking when he said you couldn't stay. If I recreate you, exactly as you are, except maybe a year younger, would you be allowed to stay? Cuz Ray would definitely let you stay." Niko had always shared an idea of how to get him back.

"Would you rather have me as to where only you and Ray could see me or to where I could physically be with you at almost all times?" he sat next to her.

"I want you to be with me no matter what. Always. Not almost." she said immediately.

"You finally got Ray to be your boyfriend. Congrats, Niko. I could always tell you liked him." Joey never ceased to amaze Niko when he spoke of her life without him there. But what she didn't know is that it secretly hurt him that she was with someone other than him.

"Joey, when will you come back?" her words had instantly made him stop walking. He turned and snagged Niko into a tight embrace.

"I-I don't know. But I do promise you. Before your eighteenth birthday, I will come to you. Either a human or as my imaginary form. Depending upon how willing you are to always believe in me, it'll be a tremendous effect on which form I can take." Joey had let her go and turned away from her. He sat with his arms wrapped around his knees.

"Joey, please, I didn't mean to push the question." Niko placed a hand on his shoulder. Only then did she realize he was silently crying. She sat beside him and he held onto her tightly. He cuddled into her familiar body. The way her body fit his so naturally had always made him happy. Joey buried his face into her shoulder soon quit sobbing. Niko was petting his soft hair the entire time in a consoling manner. He sighed longingly and nestled into her more.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"Mm, yes I am. Niko, thank you." he kissed her cheek and fell asleep next to the one person he would always love. She had carefully untangled herself from him and left him her most favorite possession: an old stuffed dog that her dad had given her the day before he had died.