Chapter Seven
Law
“It’s Christmas!”
Law only had a second to roll and cover Nicky with his body as a screaming Liam jumped onto the bed and started to bounce.
Nicky moaned while burying his face in Law’s naked chest.
“Santa came! Santa came!” Liam chanted continuing to bounce.
“I thought you locked the door,” Nicky whined.
“I did.” Law was certain. He opened his eyes to glare toward the door where Josh was propped against the frame. “Liam had help breaking in.”
That brought Nicky’s head up and he scowled. “Uncle Josh!”
Josh chuckled striding inside. “I, in fact, did not lock my door. It didn’t occur to me, which meant I had a very bouncing boy waking me up.”
Liam laughed manically continuing to bounce.
Reaching out, Nicky grabbed Liam’s ankle and yanked.
Liam screeched falling into them.
Before the boy could wiggle off them, Nicky had Liam locked down and squashed between them. “Where is your Daddy?” Nicky asked.
“Making coffee,” Liam replied sweetly.
Law snorted. He was quite sure that Liam didn’t need his usual large cup of coffee. He grunted as Josh approached the bed to pick Liam up. Liam’s foot nearly connected to Law’s sensitive bits.
“Up and at them!” Josh said. “I can probably keep this one busy for ten minutes or so.”
“Prezzies!” Liam shouted, clinging to Josh’s neck. “Hurry!”
“Out!” Nicky pointed toward the door. “No seeing my naked Daddy.”
Liam grinned. “I already see his butt.”
Nicky squeaked, slapping his hand down on Law’s forementioned ass.
Josh chuckled as he turned, heading for the door. “Ten minutes,” he warned. “Why don’t we go see if the reindeer ate their carrots, little one?”
“Yay!” Liam clapped.
At least the door was closed once they were gone.
Law groaned flopping onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. His eyes were full of grit and he had not gotten enough sleep.
Nicky yawned while settling into Law’s side.
“He’ll be back,” Law stated. They really did need to get out of bed.
“Sleepy,” Nicky replied around another yawn.
It was a Daddy’s job to get them up and dressed. Turning his head, he smacked a kiss on the top of Nicky’s head before pulling himself out of bed. Nicky didn’t move when Law reached for him.
“But, Daddy!” Nicky whimpered as Law attempted to tug him out of bed.
“Coffee and presents,” Law said sternly. He set Nicky on his feet before ushering him around the mattress toward the bathroom. “And we need to clean up before your bestie breaks back in here.”
“Need better locks,” Nicky mumbled.
“Not with Josh in the house. That man can get through any locked door,” Law shared.
“He can sleep in the garage,” Nicky said with a pout.
Law chuckled, pushing Nicky toward the toilet as he headed to the sink. “Not sure that is far enough away.”
A huff was the only response.
Law turned on the water to wash his face and brush his teeth. When Nicky joined him at the sink, they switched places.
It took every bit of the ten minutes they’d been given to make it downstairs. Nicky barely had his eyes open as Law directed him into the living room with a hand on his shoulder.
The boy spotted the Santa Josh had bought him and ran over. He hopped in front of the Santa and nothing happened.
Jude handed Law a mug of coffee with a smirk.
“Daddy!” Nicky called. “Santa broke?”
Jude hid his smile as he took a drink. Ah, so it had been Jude’s doing. Law could see the plug for the Santa lying on the floor, no longer connected to the outlet.
“He’s not broke,” Law told his boy as he took his own sip of freshly brewed coffee. ‘It’s just too early for it.”
Nicky was walking around the Santa and picked up the cord that had been unplugged. “Cheating!”
“Says the biggest cheater in the room,” Liam accused. He strode over to pull Nicky away from the Santa. “Prezzies.”
“Prezzies!” Nicky repeated, clapping.
Law took a long drink of his coffee. He was going to need it.
* * * * *
Nicky
“Play!” he demanded, picking up the red motorized car.
“I play too!” Liam said, grabbing his own blue car.
“The batteries need to be put in,” Law told them. “Bring them over.”
Nicky stood and had to kick wrapping paper out of the way. The living room was a mess and normally that would drive him crazy but those were big boy thoughts and Nicky was just a little guy.
He passed Jude, who walked over the garbage bags to hand his Daddy Nicky’s new car.
Liam followed, even if he tripped over the stack of presents on the floor and nearly went down.
“Careful,” Jude told Liam as he grabbed a wad of paper, stuffing it in the sack.
“K!” Liam said before running over to Nicky’s side.
Nicky took Liam’s car and dropped it in his Daddy’s lap while Law was trying to get the back off his car.
Across the room, Josh was still trying to get some of the plastic covering off other toys.
It was super helpful having an Unc to do the yucky part of opening presents.
Nicky eyed the new bottle set that hadn’t made it out of the packaging yet.
The bottles were super pretty with purple fishes.
One of the many little gifts he’d gotten from his Daddy.
Nicky squirmed as his Daddy took way too long.
“Patience, boy,” Law murmured as he finally got the back off Nicky’s car.
“Play!” Nicky demanded.
Slowly, Law lifted his head. “Excuse me?”
Oops! Nicky grinned at his Daddy. “Play please, Daddy.”
Law grunted but didn’t say anything else.
Liam leaned against his side and Nicky wrapped his arm around his best friend. They had plenty of time to play before their guests would arrive for the day. Law and Jude had added playtime into Nicky’s schedule and Nicky was happy that even though he hadn’t thought about it, the Daddies had.
His car lit up and the horn honked in Law’s hands as he got it working.
Nicky bounced. That was awesome!
He took his car and remote from his Daddy but waited for his bestie. It was more fun playing with Liam. Law gave him a stern look but Nicky couldn’t help but wiggle. He had ants in his pants.
Nicky laughed. That was a silly saying.
Finally Daddy handed Liam his car and remote.
“Come on! Hall!” Nicky tugged Liam toward the door.
“Don’t knock anything over,” Jude called as they ran out of the room.
Maybe if they didn’t reply, they could pretend they didn’t hear him?
“I know you heard me, boys!” Jude added.
“Okay, Daddy!” Liam yelled back.
Nicky huffed. No fun! “Let’s race.” He set his red car on the tile.
“No cheating,” Liam demanded as he placed the blue car next to Nicky’s.
It was like his best friend didn’t know him! Of course Nicky was going to cheat! And these were even better because instead of having to make the car noises on their own, the cars did it for them.
Nicky honked his horn. “Ready! Set!” He hit the forward button. “Go!”
“Hey!” Liam shouted at him, but Nicky was already running behind his car as it sped toward the front of the house.
Nicky cackled as he pushed the forward button even harder.
Liam scrambled behind him. The blue car was catching up. As the blue car went to pass him, Nicky stuck his foot out, forcing the car to veer off course.
“No!” Liam smacked his arm as he chased after his car.
Nicky was totally going to win this race. And every race! Christmas was awesome!
* * * * *
Nicky
The table was set. There was plenty of room for everyone that he’d invited to the celebration.
Jude and Law were in the kitchen, warming up the food that had been delivered the day before.
Nicky was making sure the table was perfect.
Liam and the other guests were in the living room, talking and visiting as the finishing touches of dinner were being completed.
Backing out of the room, Nicky had a smile on his face. Nicky came up short when his shoulders hit something hard.
A thick arm came around his waist. “Good?” Law asked against his neck.
Nicky looked up and smiled, resting the back of his head on Law’s wide chest. “It’s perfect. Everything is perfect.” He wasn’t talking about the table or even dinner. The day was perfect because of the man holding him tight.
After a morning of playtime, Law had taken him upstairs to shower and get ready for their guests. By the time they’d made it downstairs, the living room was clean, not looking like a hurricane had gone through. Santa had been plugged back in. And Liam wasn’t even scared of it any longer.
With a clean house, Nicky was able to focus on what needed to be done before people started to arrive. There still had been a few last-minute touches but Nicky hadn’t needed to stress since everything had been worked out in advance.
Turning to peer up at Law, he smiled fondly. “Thank you for everything. Last night, today, everything is how I wanted it to go.”
Law cupped his face as he returned the smile. “I would do anything for you. We all would. But most of all I want to see this smile.”
He took a deep breath. “I’m falling in love with you.”
Law’s mouth dropped open.
“I know it’s too fast,” Nicky said quickly. “And this might not be the right time and place to tell you, but I feel like I’ll burst if I don’t say it.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” Law teased. He kissed Nicky’s lips gently. “And I’m falling in love with you too. I don’t care if it’s too soon.”
Relief flooded him. “You don’t?”
Law shook his head. “It might be too early to make promises to each other but these last two weeks have been wonderful. Things will change a little when you go back to work but I’ll be here to support you when you need it.”
Nicky appreciated that Law still understood his concerns based on his previous relationships. “And I’ll be here for you when you need it,” Nicky vowed.
“That’s right.” Law pecked his lips again. “Partners.”
“Partners,” Nicky repeated. “And the best Daddy ever.”
“Only because I have the best boy,” Law replied.
“And good boys get rewards?” Nicky asked with a wink.
Law leaned closer, whispering into his ear, “We won’t be putting the garland up with the rest of the decorations when it’s time.”
Nicky’s giggles filled the room as he launched himself into Law’s arms, kissing him hard.
Best. Christmas. Ever.