Chapter Text
As usual, Joe was waiting outside for Nicky, and the moment Joe saw Nicky, he hugged him.
Joe: "Hi, Nicky. Missed me?"
Nicky: "Yes, as always. Did you miss me?"
Joe: "Duh, yes, silly question."
Joe smiled, which made Nicky smile.
Joe: "Did you get the Sinterklaas Taart?"
Nicky: "Of course. Come and have a look."
Lucia opened the trunk's hatch, revealing the cake.
Joe: "It looks just like the one we had last year. I owe your Uncle Dino big."
Nicky: "I think hearing you say that the cake tasted and looked like the one you had last year will do it. Or what do you think, Mama?"
Lucia: "You're right, Nicky."
Joe took the Sinterklaas Taart, while Nicky took his duffel bag before hugging Lucia.
Nicky: "Love you, Mama."
Lucia: "Love you, too, Nicky. And remember what we talked about."
Nicky: "I promise. And remember to have fun tonight."
As usual, Nicky didn't move from the spot before he couldn't see his Mama's car any more. Then, Nicky followed Joe inside.
Joe: "I haven't told them about the Sinterklaas Taart. I wanted it to be a surprise."
Nicky: "Understandable."
Joe: "Could you ask my folks and Sophia to gather in the living room?"
Nicky: "Of course."
After leaving his duffel bag in Joe's room, Nicky did what Joe had asked him to do. When Joe's family saw the Sinterklaas Taart, they all smiled.
Sophia: "Where did you get a Sinterklaas Taart from, Joe?"
Joe: "Nicky's Uncle Dino. He baked it for us, because I thought we should have a Sinterklaas Taart as we always have every Christmas."
Joe placed the Sinterklaas Taart on the coffee table.
Joe: "And I also think we should do another Christmas tradition. That it's the youngest who gets to cut the Sinterklaas Taart."
Joe's parents, Miriam and Patrick, agreed with him that Sophia should cut the Sinterklaas Taart, so Joe handed Sophia a knife.
Miriam: "Nicky. Come join us."
Nicky: "Thanks."
Nicky sat down next to Joe.
Patrick: "Sophia. Before you cut the Sinterklaas Taart, I'd better get some plates."
Two minutes later, Sophia cut the Sinterklaas Taart before they ate it.
Miriam: "This Sinterklaas Taart tastes just as good as the one Oma bakes back in Holland. Or what do you think?"
Everyone agreed, and they also decided that they wanted to pay their thanks to Uncle Dino for the Sinterklaas Taart as soon as possible.
Sophia: "Could we not play a game? It has been a while since we last did it."
For the rest of the afternoon, they played games, talked, ate more Sinterklaas Taart and pizza. When Sophia said she was tired, Joe and Nicky disappeared into Joe's room.
Nicky: "Sophia looks better than she has done in a long while."
Joe: "I can only agree, and just like my parents, I'm glad she is home for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, are we still going to the Cinema on Boxing Day?"
Nicky: "Try stopping me. I can't wait."
They both smile.
Joe: "Let me get some snacks and popcorn. Do you want a Cola or juice?"
Nicky: "Juice is fine. Shall I help you carry it?"
Joe: "Nah, I got this. Why don't you unpack your stuff while I'm gone?"
Nicky didn't have much stuff in his duffel bag, only a toothbrush, pyjamas, clean clothes and a book.
Joe: "I see you're still travelling lightly. How are you doing it? Because I can't do it, and you know it."
The last time they had a sleepover at Nicky's place, Joe had turned up with four duffel bags, three of which were filled with Joe's art supplies.
Nicky: "Maybe you will learn it one day. Is there time for me to go to the bathroom before we watch the movie?"
Joe: "Of course."
When Nicky returned, Joe had turned on the telly and had made room for Nicky in his bed.
Nicky: "What are we watching?"
Joe held up the VHS as an answer because he had his mouth full of food.
Nicky: "Grimlins. I always wanted to see it."
Joe: "Me too. The movie might be a bit scary at some point."
Nicky reached out his hand with a smile.
Nicky: "If you get scared, you can hold my hand. I'll keep you safe."
Joe: "Thanks, you're the best, Nicky."
As usual, after they had eaten all the snacks, Joe had fallen asleep, but before Nicky could do the same thing, he looked out of the window and saw something he knew Joe should see.
Nicky: "Joe, Joe, wake up."
Nicky shook Joe until he woke up.
Joe: "What? Is it morning?"
Nicky: "No, it's close to midnight, but look."
Nicky pointed at the window, and Joe saw what Nicky had seen.
Joe: "Come, Nicky. We have to take a closer look at it."
Both boys sprinted out of Joe's room and almost ran Joe's Father over.
Patrick: "What's the hurry?"
Joe: "Look out of the window, Dad. And I think you should get Sophia and Mom, too."
When Joe's parents and Sophia joined Joe and Nicky outside, both boys were playing with the newly fallen snow.
Sophia: "Can I play, too, Mom?"
Miriam: "Of course. Have fun."
While the children played in the snow, Patrick took some photos of them because he knew Nicky's Mama would love to have a photo of her son.
Sophia: "Could you help me make a snowman?"
Nicky: "Of course. Great idea. Joe, could you get the shovel?"
Joe: "On it."
All the children helped each other build the snowman before Patrick took another photo of them in front of the snowman.
Patrick: "Okay. Time to get inside and drink the hot chocolate before going to bed."
While the children drank their hot chocolate, Miriam placed them under blankets so they wouldn't freeze. When Miriam returned to the living room, all the children had fallen asleep on top of each other, and together with Patrick, they decided to let them sleep on the couch tonight.