Chapter Text
Saturday:
When Nicky woke, he took all his stuffed animals and placed them on the table before finding coco pops and milk.
“Ok,” Nicky said. “I can’t take all of you with me to the zoo, so who should it be?”
Nicky took a mouthful of coco pops.
“I think Book should stay home,” Nicky said. “Because we can’t have him eat the animals in the zoo.”
Nicky pressed Book on the stomach, who let out a growl.
“Glad you agreed,” Nicky said. “Pascal, do you want to go or stay home with Wendy? Yeah, I know that you two like each other.”
Nicky filled the bowl with another portion of coco pops.
“What do you say, Trixie?” Nicky asked. “They want to stay home and look after Book, because otherwise he will eat everything in the fridge.”
Nicky pressed Book on the stomach again.
“Don’t deny it,” Nicky said. “I got you under suspicion for eating food while I slept.”
Nicky took Trixie.
“So, do we agree,” Nicky asked. “Trixie goes with me to the zoo today?”
Booker had woken the moment Nicky had sat down at the dining table and watched it all. He hadn’t moved, just watched Nicky being happy that Nicky had started to act like a child, who played. He hoped that in the future Nicky would get a real friend but for now the stuffed animals had to do and together with Andy and him.
“Seb?” Nicky asked when he heard a noise.
“Yep,” Booker yawned as he stretched himself. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Nicky replied. “I also got you a bowl.”
“Thanks brother,” Booker replied. “Just going to the bathroom first.”
Nicky nodded before he filled his bowl with the third portion.
“And once we get home from the zoo, we’ll tell you everything,” Nicky said. “Right Trixie?”
Booker sat down at the table and took the coco pops.
“I was thinking,” Nicky said. “Do you know if you can pet animals in the zoo?”
“I think so,” Booker replied. “Any animals in mind?”
“I like goats,” Nicky replied. “What animals do you like?”
“Tigers,” Booker replied. “And elephants.”
“They’re also cool,” Nicky said. “And we have to check if the rhino snores like you. Sorry I meant breathing.”
Booker stopped eating and grabbed Nicky to tickle him.
“Stop it, Seb,” Nicky laughed.
“No,” Booker replied. “It’s the punishment for comparing me to a rhino.”
After a couple of seconds, Booker let go of Nicky.
“When are we leaving?” Nicky wanted to know.
“In an hour,” Booker replied. “After showering.”
“Ok,” Nicky replied. “I need to do something first.”
Nicky jumped down from his chair.
“Put your bowl in the kitchen sink,” Booker said and Nicky nodded.
Nicky took his bowl and went out to the kitchen, before returning to pick up his stuffed animals.
“When is it my turn to shower?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Unless you want to go first,” Booker replied. “A half-hour.”
“I can wait,” Nicky replied. “As I said before I need to do something first.”
Booker watched Nicky disappearing into his room with all the stuffed animals. He couldn’t believe he had gone from being totally irresponsible to being responsible within a week but somehow he thrived in it because being Nicky’s big brother made so much more sense than the life he was living a week ago. His phone made a noise. It was an email from Quynh.
“Dear Mr. Livre.
I got an email from your lawyer, who explained that Nicky only has a visa that lasts for 3 months.
Today I'll start on writing a letter to the social service, so we can get Nicky’s visa extended, and you can foster Nicky until we know if you can get custody over him.
Before sending the letter I want you to read it first giving your thoughts about it. And if you have something you want to add to it, we do it together on Wednesday.
Is it ok with you that I start on that letter or do you want to wait until Wednesday?
Quynh Pham.”
Booker quickly wrote back.
“Dear Miss Pham.
You can start with the letter. I got the note our father left with Nicky I would like to add to it.
Please make it clear to the social service that I’m really putting in an effort in this whole new situation I’m in.
Sébastien Le Livre.”
Booker threw his phone on the bed before he cleared the table and took a shower. After helping Nicky with washing his hair, they were on the way to the zoo.
In the zoo, Booker did his best to explain to Nicky what each animal was doing in their enclosure. Booker also tried his best not to lose Nicky in the crowd or have people bumping into Nicky. At lunch they sat down in one of the restaurants to eat burgers.
“Are you sure that the ostrich is 8 feet?” Nicky wanted to know.
“It said so on the sign,” Booker replied.
“How tall is that?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Really tall,” Booker replied and watched as Nicky got up. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out how tall really tall is,” Nicky replied as he lifted his arms.
Booker chuckled when Nicky stood on his tiptoes.
“I don’t think this is really tall,” Nicky said.
“Eat your fries,” Booker said. “And then we’ll figure out what really tall is.”
“Ok,” Nicky replied as he sat down again. “Seb?”
“Yes,” Booker replied.
“I just want to tell you, that this has been the best week in my entire life,” Nicky said with a smile. “I like having you as my big brother even though you’re French.”
“Thanks. It has also been the best week in my entire life,” Booker replied. “But as I have said before, you better get used to the thought of being French.”
“Never,” Nicky replied. “I’m Italian and proud of it.”
“I have no doubts about that,” Booker replied. “Especially the way you eat spaghetti.”
They both laughed.
“Can we have spaghetti tomorrow?” Nicky wanted to know.
“Nope, you’re having potatoes,” Booker replied.
“Can’t it be gnocchi with burned butter?” Nicky wanted to know. “I like that.”
“I need to look at a recipe first,” Booker replied. “If I can’t figure it out by tomorrow, you’ll get it another day.”
“Ok,” Nicky replied.
After eating they went to the petting zoo, where Nicky disappeared under the goats, when he wanted to give them carrots. Booker took a lot of photos of Nicky sitting on the ground with the goats around him. He had never thought he would end up as one of those parents, who did it.
“Ok,” Booker said. “You can pick out one new stuffed animal.”
Nicky ran his hand over all the stuffed animals.
“I like this one,” Nicky said.
“A snake,” Booker said. “And it’s a big one.”
“Is that a problem?” Nicky wanted to know.
“No, not at all,” Booker replied with a smile as he paid for the snake. “What is the name of your new friend?”
“Betty,” Nicky replied after some thinking. “Betty Snake.”
“Great name,” Booker replied.
It was kind of a nightmare getting the snake home because it was close to 8 feet.
“Now you know what really tall is,” Booker said when they finally got home.
“It’s so big,” Nicky said with a big happy smile. “Thanks again Seb for Betty.”
Nicky hugged Booker.
“Don’t mention it,” Booker replied. “Do you need any help?”
“No thanks,” Nicky replied as he dragged the snake into his room. “Trixie and I got it under control.”
A couple of hours later, when Booker was tucking Nicky in for the night the snake laid in the bed taking up more than half the bed.
“Are you sure you want the snake in your bed?” Booker wanted to know.
“Her name is Betty,” Nicky said. “And yes. She stays in the bed just like the rest of my friends.”
“It’s your bed,” Booker said. “Now, where were we in ‘The Hobbit’?”
After reading a bedtime story and when Booker was sure, Nicky was sleeping, he continued the usual evening ritual searching for their father with no success. When he went to bed his last thought for the day was that he couldn’t wait until the day came, when he didn’t have to deal with their father anymore.