Chapter Text
Even though they agreed on meeting at 5 PM, Nicky couldn't stay from the greenhouse. He was so nervous and couldn't stop thinking if everything was in order. But he was also scared because he was starting to think about what he should do if Joe didn't like his new snow globe. At noon he went over to the greenhouse to check if everything were ready.
"Hi Nicky," Booker said.
"Oh, hi Booker," Nicky said. "What are you doing here?"
"Checking the music," Booker replied. "And in case it rains, I need to come up with a backup plan. Both for my leg and my ghettoblaster."
"Hi," Andy and Quynh said. "We're just checking the lightning."
"Hi," Nile and Lykon said. "We were thinking, did we talk with neighbours about the music?"
Nicky appreciated what his friends were doing, so he thanked them. It was also because of his friends, Nicky was convinced that he should go inside and eat lunch. His friends also made sure, that Nicky didn't end up biting every nail of his fingers.
An hour before Joe was due to be back home, Nile's uncle came with the snow machine and showed Andy, Nile, and Lykon how it worked. When the friends heard a car in the driveway, they hide in the nearest bush. But Nicky didn't move at all. Nile and Lykon quickly ran around the house and made a sign to Joe's mother to distract Joe.
"Hi kiddo," Andy said. "What's wrong?"
"What shall I do if Joe doesn't like his new snow globe?" Nicky wanted to know. "Then he won't be my friend anymore."
"Joe will love it," Andy said. "Because it was your idea."
Nicky nodded.
"Promise to be my friend still?" Nicky wanted to know.
"Always," Andy replied. "Now, get Joe and we'll do the rest."
Nicky took a deep breath as he saw that Andy, Lykon, and Nile hid behind the bush again. They saw Nicky walking around the house.
"Hi Joe," Nicky said. "Welcome home."
"Nicky," Joe said with a big smile. "I'm glad to see you again."
Joe rushed over to hug Nicky. Nicky loved Joe's hugs.
"What are you doing in our garden?" Joe wanted to know.
"I'll show you," Nicky replied. "But you have to put this on first."
Nicky held out a scarf which made Joe look sceptical at Nicky.
"It's a Christmas gift for you," Nicky said. "Or don't you like getting gifts anymore?"
It did the trick and Joe put the scarf around his eyes. Then he reached out his hands which Nicky took.
"What is it?" Joe started to guess. "Is it a bike? Or maybe a dog? Please tell me, Nicky."
"Not going to happen," Nicky replied. "And you haven't guessed it yet."
"Am I close to a right guess?" Joe wanted to know.
"No," Nicky replied. "Ok, I need you to lift your leg. There's a step up."
Nicky helped Joe up the small step and guided Joe into the middle of the greenhouse.
"Don't move," Nicky said. "And don't remove the scarf before I say you can do it. Ok?"
"Ok," Joe replied. "Please don't leave me alone."
"I won't," Nicky replied. "Never."
Nicky made the agreed signal to their friends in the bush but nothing happened. Quynh quickly popped up her head and signalled they needed another minute.
"Joe," Nicky said. "Your Christmas gift is a bit delayed, so I was thinking...."
"About what?" Joe asked.
"Do you think we'll be friends forever?" Nicky wanted to know.
"Of course, we're going to be friends forever," Joe replied. "You were my first friend when I moved here, and I'll never forget that."
Nicky looked over at the bush and saw Quynh signalling that they were ready.
"I'm glad to hear it," Nicky said. "Ok, ready for your Christmas gift?"
"Yes, I'm," Joe replied. "Can't wait to see what it's."
"You need to remember your Christmas gift is from all of your friends," Nicky said as the light was turned on. "We all made it together."
Joe nodded as he felt something cold hit his nose.
"Take off the scarf," Nicky said. "I hope you like it."
Joe took off the scarf and let out a gasp before he smiled.
"We made a new snow globe for you," Nicky said. "With a snowman in it."
Joe turned around as the snow started to fall, trying to take it all in. Then the music started to play and their friends joined them.
"Congratulations, Nicky," Andy said. "You just made Joe speechless."
"We all did," Nicky replied. "You also helped me."
"Thanks, everyone," Joe said gratefully. "This is so beautiful and I love the snowman."
"It's really Nicky you should be thanking," Quynh said. "It was his idea to begin with."
Joe hugged Nicky putting all his feelings of gratitude into the hug.
"This is one of the best Christmas gifts ever," Joe said. "And I love my new snow globe."
"Glad to hear it," Nicky said. "And I'm glad you liked it."
Before Joe could say anything, Joe got hit by a snowball.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Lykon said. "Merry Christmas, Joe."
"Before you start throwing with the snow," Quynh said. "Shouldn't we ask your mother to take a picture of us in front of your new snow globe, Joe? As a memory."
"As long I don't have to be in the photo," Booker said. "I hate having my photo taken."
Andy placed an arm around Booker's shoulder.
"You do it because you want to make Nicky happy," Andy whispered.
"Fine," Booker replied. "But where's Nile?"
"Getting the Christmas candy," Quynh replied. "She is here in a moment."
While waiting for Nile, Quynh got Joe's mother, father, and little sister so they could see the snow globe. Joe once again thanked them all for the wonderful new snow globe. When Joe saw his little sister, he showed he the snow globe and said she was forgiven once again. When Nile showed up, Joe's mother took a photo of them inside the snow globe together with the snowman.
They first went inside, when Nile's uncle picked up the snow machine. During that time, they played in the snow and build smaller snowmen. They also made snow angels. As usual, when they had a sleepover it happened at Joe's house because of the big living room. They all told Joe about Nicky's plan to make a snow globe while eating Christmas candy.
"We should make it into a tradition," Joe said. "Have our photo taken with the snowman every Christmas?"
It was something they all agreed on.
22 Christmases Later:
Joe was still looking at the first photo of them with the snowman. The greenhouse was destroyed in a fall storm the following year, and the only thing that survived the collapse of the greenhouse was the snowman. After that, the snowman stood in Joe's parents' living room until Joe got his own flat. Later when Joe married Nicky, the snowman moved into their house. Every year the friends still got together and had their photo taken with the snowman. But there was still something magical over the first photo.
"Hi," Nicky said when he wrapped his arms around Joe's waist from behind. "Ready for tonight?"
Joe turned around and wrapped his arms around Nicky. They had fallen in love on Joe's 20th birthday when Nicky was 17. Just as the snow globe had been one of Joe's best Christmas gifts ever, falling in love with Nicky was one of the best birthday gifts Joe had ever gotten.
"Always," Joe replied. "Can't wait to see our friends again."
"I feel the same," Nicky replied. "Could I ask you to set the table?"
"No problem," Joe replied. "Love you."
"Love you too," Nicky replied. "A kiss?"
"As many as you want," Joe replied. "What about 10?"
"Sounds good," Nicky replied with a big smile. "Love your kisses."
Joe pulled Nicky in for the kisses.
"Please tell me you covered the snowman's eyes before you started to kiss," Booker joked.
"You're not funny," Quynh said. "If I weren't pregnant I would kick your ass."
Joe and Nicky looked over at their friends with a smile.
"Why can you say ass?" Andy wanted to know. "As I recall it we only use the word butt."
"We didn't miss it, Nile," Lykon shouted. "Andy and Quynh have just started to discuss."
"What is it about this time?" Nile wanted to know.
"Who got the right to say ass and who shouldn't," Lykon replied. "My money is on Andy that she will be allowed to use the word ass. 100 dollars."
"I agree with Lykon," Booker said. "100 dollars on Andy."
"Be ready to lose your money," Nile said. "Never underestimate a pregnant lady."
"I agree with Nile," Joe said. "So, my money is on Quynh."
Nicky looked at his friends with a smile. Even though they all had grown up, they still kept in contact even though they lived in different places all around the world. But they all insisted on getting together for two beautiful Christmas traditions: having their photo taken with the snowman and spending time with their friends. It was good to be together again for Christmas.