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Title: Fathers First
Rating: Chapter 6:pg
Author: kieksterbanjo
Warnings: None
Summary: Fathers before anything else...Nick and Greg take on the challenge of raising children
Disclaimer: Would I like to own them? YES. But do I? Alas No. I would also like to make money from this and marry Benji Schwimmer from So You Think You Can Dance but one must live in the real world. *sigh*

Chapter 6

“Where’s Jellie? Wheeeeeere’s Jellie? Boo!” Angelica let out a large squeal of laughter as Aidan appeared over his hands and stuck his tongue out at his little sister. Aidan turned on his seat to face Nick who was rinsing out dishes in the kitchen sink, “She’s a lot more fun now.”

Nick laughed and turned, “She’s getting older. She’s not just the lump she was. She’s seven months now.”

The two were interrupted as the front door opened, signaling Greg’s return. Aidan shot out of his seat and to the kitchen door, he would have made it further had it not been for Nick crossing the kitchen and catching him by the arm, “You better get those upstairs quick Greggo. We’ve got a present monster that dying to be feed.” Nick called down the hall and he heard Greg shuffling up the stairs to their bedroom.

When Nick was sure Greg was out of reach he let go of Aidan’s arm and went back to the sink. Aidan turned on his heel with his arms crossed stubbornly as pouted his father, “I was THIS close.” He whined.

Nick chuckled, “You do realize that the whole point of presents is that they’re supposed to be a secret right?”

“They don’t have to be!” Aidan protested.

“You’ll get them soon enough.” Nick assured with a laugh. Their eldest son could act wise beyond his years but he was without a doubt still a little boy in many respects.

“But it so far away!” Aidan sighed.

“Awwww well I guess that will just make it all the more gratifying when you get to open them.” Aidan let out a squeak as Greg grabbed him behind in a hug and spoke right in his ear.

“Daddy you scared me.” He giggled as Greg tickled his sides.

“Mission accomplished.” Greg chuckled, patting Aidan on the chest before letting him go, “I seem to recall seeing Lego all over the family room floor as I passed it. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you Aidan?” He asked as Nick turned around with an expectant look on his face.

Aidan downcast his eyes and turned his head away at Nick’s look, “Aidan couldn’t know anything about that Greg because he picked up his Lego when I asked him to earlier today.”

“Ummm I’ll be right back.” Aidan said quickly before making a run for what Nick and Greg could only assume was the family room.

Nick and Greg chuckled as they watched Aidan’s retreating back. When he was gone Greg made his way over to Angelica, picking her up from seat, “How’s my Jellie Bellie?” He asked as she let out a loud a giggle at the sight of her Daddy followed by a squeal as he snuffled her cheek.

“If she keeps doing that Charlie’s gonna wake up from his nap a lot sooner then he should.” Nick warned even though his smile widened at the interplay between his husband and daughter.

“Well we wouldn’t want to do that do we?” Greg asked in a goofy voice more to Angelica then to Nick.

“So how’d the shopping go?” Nick asked turning back to his dishes.

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly.” Greg sang as he put Angelica back into her seat and walking over to stand behind Nick, wrapping his arms around him from behind, “It went great. Finished getting all of Charlie’s stuff, we’ve just got to go to the place to get that thing for Aidan and then we’re done.” He said looking over his shoulder in case Aidan was standing right behind him.

“Fabulous.” Nick nodded continue to rinse.

Greg shook his arms still around Nick’s waist and pouted, “Why are you ignoring me? We’ve got precious minutes alone and you’re rinsing dishes? Do you not love me anymore?”

Nick threw his head back laughing, “Oh man you’re too much Greg. Alone is a relative term considering our baby girl is right behind us, our seven year old is only two rooms over and our three year old is just upstairs. I’m rinsing dishes because if I don’t get them done, there will be even more to do after dinner tonight and how am I ignoring you? I asked you how your shopping was.”

Greg pouted even more, “You didn’t answer the last question.”

Nick sighed, turned in Greg’s encircled arms with smile, “I love you more and more each day.”

Greg beamed and leaned in for a quick, romantic kiss before patting Nick on the ass and letting go. Nick chuckled again before turning back to his dishes. Greg sighed, “Can you believe Christmas is only four days away? It feels like this year has gone by so fast.”

“It really has. Seems like only yesterday we were bringing Jellie home from the hospital and now she’s grown so much. Not to mention that Aidan’s about to be eight and Charlie will be four before we know it.” Nick agreed.

“I finally understand when people say that life passes you by quicker then you think.” Greg nodded slipping his finger into Angelica outstretched hand; which she squeezed firmly, flung up and down a couple times before inserting it in her mouth and biting down, “Ow.” Greg said sharply and looked at Angelica in confusion, “When did she get teeth?” He asked.

Nick smiled, “You do realize she’s been teething for the past month right? That normally means teeth are coming.”

“I guess.” Greg said with furrowed eyebrows, “It was just a shock to feel something other then gum when she shoves your finger into her mouth.” He shrugged.

Nick smiled softly as he watched Greg inspect Angelica mouth for teeth, “You know life may pass by quicker then we thought but we’ve still got so much more to look forward to.”

Greg’s curious scowl softened into a smile as he looked across the kitchen at Nick and nodded.

-- -- --

“Merry Christmas, Sara.” Greg smiled poking his head into the evidence room where Sara sat huddled over a pile of clothes.

She looked up startled and ran a hand through her hair, looking as if she had zoned out looking at the evidence; a state Greg knew well, “Oh you’re out of her Greg?” She asked.

“Yeah my case can wait until tomorrow night.” He shrugged.

Sara nodded, “Is Nick done to?”

“That’s actually half the reason I came by. He’s working with you on a case remember?” Greg chuckled.

“Oh right.” Sara chuckled and shook her head.

“I was kinda wondering if you could continue without him. I mean if you need him you need him I was just throwing it out there.” He shrugged but looked at her hopefully.

“I’m almost done here away. I don’t need him anymore,” She shrugged with a nod, “I’ll finish up. Take him home. Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks so much Sara.” Greg smiled, suddenly feeling like Nick’s parent; asking to get him out of school early. He left her to her work and made his way to where he had last seen Nick; the locker room.

Nick was sitting on the bench looking over his gun, “Merry Christmas Nicky.” Greg said in way of greeting and Nick looked up as a smile spread across his face.

“I guess it is Christmas isn’t it?” He sighed putting his gun back in its holster.

Greg frowned and suddenly letting Nick know he was being let off early was the last thing on his mind, “What’s up Nicky?” He asked sitting next to him and laying a hand on his shoulder.

Nick shrugged, “I shouldn’t be getting all heavy on you now. It’s Christmas.”

“You can get heavy on me whenever you want. That’s part of the job description.” Greg smiled trying to lighten up the suddenly somber mood.

Nick sighed, “It just…I don’t know…I’ve just finished processes a triple homicide, mother, father and son and now I’m going to go and have a happy Christmas day? I don’t know it just seems weird. Who decides that I deserve to have that and they don’t?” Nick shook his head and looked down at his hands clasped in his lap.

“Oh Nicky.” Greg sighed rubbing the back of Nick’s neck deciding what to say, “You know better then anyone that there is no visible rhyme or reason to who lives and who dies. When it’s your day it’s your day. Is it always fair? No. But you can’t spend to much time trying to analyze it or you’ll go crazy. It was there day and it’s not yours, to me it’s as simple as that.”

“It’s still weird.” Nick sighed.

“Yeah it is. But hey think of it this way, at least that family is together, where ever they are. And they’re happy and who knows they may even be celebrating Christmas.”

Nick smiled softly, “I guess you’re right.”

“You sound surprised at that fact.” Greg smiled and Nick let out a breathy chuckle and shook his head, “Now come on, Sarah gave you a get of jail free card so we’re out of here. We’ve got a day of over stimulated children, family and presents to get to.”

Nick nodded and put a hand over Greg’s on his shoulder with a smile.

-- -- --

Greg and Nick had barely had time to get out of their work clothes, change into pajamas and collapse into bed before they were tackled by two small figures.

They both ‘oofed’ as Aidan and Charlie landed on their chests screaming that it was Christmas morning. Greg blinked sleepily as he shifted Charlie to sit on his stomach and looked at the clock, “Well at least it an hour later then last year.” He mumbled looking at Nick who lay with Aidan on his chest.

“Anything is better then last year. 5 am was FAR too early.” Nick agreed, “All right boys go wait in Jellie’s room and Daddy and I will be there in a minute.” Both Aidan and Charlie hopped off the bed and walked out of the room excitedly talking about what Santa may have brought them.

“Officially Merry Christmas my love.” Nick said rolling over and putting his chin on Greg’s chest.

“Merry Christmas my Texas love.” Greg sighed with a smile running a hand through Nick’s hair. Both were silent for a moment, closing their eyes and thinking about the fact that they’d only gotten an hour and a half of sleep.

“All right we should get up before we have a situation on our hands.” Greg chuckled with his eyes closed and he felt rather then saw Nick nod his head and then get up. Nick pulled Greg to his feet and the both threw on a t-shirt before making their way into Angelica’s room.

Aidan had woken his sister up and was holding her against his chest. Nick smiled and took her from his arms ruffling his hair lovingly, “It’s Christmas!” Charlie screamed making the room laugh.

“All right well why don’t we go see if Santa came last night?” Nick suggested and both boys cheered before Aidan grabbed Nick’s hand and Charlie Greg’s and dragging them downstairs.

An hour later the five sat amongst a mountain of wrapping paper and revealed presents. Charlie was madly trying to undo the bow wrapped around his ‘Santa’ gift; a brand new tricycle, while Angelica seemed more interested in the wrapping paper she was sitting amongst then her presents.

Aidan, however, was looking around curiously. He had a smile on his face and had thanked his fathers for his presents but he seemed confused and sad. Nick and Greg smiled at each other.

“Well I guess that’s it.” Nick said from his seated position on the arm of the couch. At his words Aidan looked up alarmed and Nick tried, he really did but he couldn’t keep a straight face, “Oh Aidan where’s the present Santa brought you?”

Aidan shrugged and continued to look around, “You mean it wasn’t with the other?” Greg asked also starting to look around. Aidan looked at him and shook his head, “Well why don’t you try looking in the living room. Maybe there wasn’t enough room in here and Santa put it in there.” Greg suggested.

Aidan got up from his seated position and made his way over to the closed living room door. He looked curiously back at his fathers before turning the knob of the door and poking his head inside, “Dude!!!” He screamed opening the door wider and Nick and Greg laughed as they watched Aidan walk out of the room with a Husky puppy in his arms, “I got a dog!!!!”

“Santa brought you a dog?” Nick asked excitedly but threw Greg a satisfied knowing smile.

“I can’t believe this!” Aidan said bringing the puppy into the family room and sitting on the floor with it as it jumped up and licked his face.

“I guess Santa thought it was time for you to have a dog.” Greg commented.

“Can I keep him?” Aidan asked guardedly, suddenly seeming to realize that Nick and Greg may not let him keep the dog.

Nick laughed, “Of course you can.” He nodded and Aidan cheered.

“What are you going to name it?” Greg asked as Charlie came over and knelt in front of Aidan to pet the dog.

“Nitrogen.” Aidan said resignedly as if he’d thought about it for longer then the two minutes he’d known he owned a dog, “Nitro for short.”

“Nitro. I like it.” Nick smiled.

“Me too.” Greg agreed moving over to sit next to Nick as Aidan and Charlie played with the new puppy, “We did good.” Greg said with a sigh.

“We may die out of exhaustion. It’s like having four kids now.” Nick laughed but nodded, “But we did do good.”

“Time to clean up.” Nick said after a moment, “Your grandparents will be here before you know it and we’ve got a lot to do to get ready. Aidan will you take your sister upstairs and put her in her crib while we clean up the paper down here please?”

Aidan nodded and lifted Angelica into his arms. She clung to a piece of scrap paper and he tried to dislodge it from her hand but she held on so he shrugged and let her keep it, “Come on Nitro. I’ll show you my room.” He said walking from the room. Nitro and Charlie followed.

Nick put his hand out and Greg smiled before high-fiving it. They’d done good.

TBC

A/N: I haven’t gone crazy. I realize it’s not even close to Christmas, but a lot of the plots lines I’ve got in mind needed to happen in a new year and I figured going straight to that new year without doing Christmas and new years would be odd. I like to think of it as Christmas in September, though I think the feeling of Christmas is something that should be around all year. So yeah I just thought I’d explain myself :P

I love the feedback so I’d appreciate if you left some :D