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Nicky Harper was the youngest of Harper's. Or well technically , because in actuality they all were the same age but the other three never seemed to care. Dawn always using her "I'm the oldest" card on them and the other two always using the "I'm older " card on particularly him. (Except for Ricky who could use it on Dicky but never really does). Heck he even looked and acted like the youngest sometimes. The childhood innocence of his face and personality helped. How he always suggested doing the right thing whenever he and his siblings got into a sticky mess. How Dawn constantly manhandled him by picking him up by his arms at times. Or just how overall he's smaller than the others, by some strange sorcery Dawn ended up being taller than all them. Like what the heck, guys were supposed to be taller!
Unfortunately that wasn't the case for these three brothers.
Still, despite Nicky being the youngest, the others shouldn't keep overlooking him, just thinking he'd go along with whatever they wanted. Because even if it was well…true, it still wasn't right .
Like how Dawn had promised her soccer team a large quantity of cupcakes that she could supposedly make. Which when he first heard the case he thought the group just wanted cupcakes , and if that were the case then they could just buy the prepackaged ones from the store. But no , Dawn just had to tell the group of ladies that she knew and was very good at baking.
"Hey Nicky" Dawn entered the kitchen one morning, a guilty smile on her face as she prolonged the 'y' in the greeting. Taking the empty seat in front of him where they were all having eggs their mother made.
They all knew where this was heading already. "It's just cupcakes, how hard is it to follow a recipe?" Ricky said boredly, trying to help get Nicky out of doing something Dawn had gotten herself into by once again lying. Dawn let out an exasperated sigh, "I can't, I told them they were beyond normal cupcakes and that I had my own recipe..which wouldn't be a total lie! If you just count the fact that it's not my recipe but Nicky's…and that I didn't make it..he did. But still! I can help" she pleaded.
Ricky and Dicky pulled him aside before he could answer. Perhaps the smile that had graced his features had told them his answer. "Wait, you're really going to let her take credit that easily?" Dicky asked and Nicky was starting to get confused. "Well, yeah, I mean why not? I don't mind if they don't know I did it, I know Dawn really wants to fit in with her team and even if they already like her it doesn't hurt to be careful" he said with a shrug escaping his brothers and managing to finally reply to Dawn. Despite the futile attempts from Ricky and Dicky who for some reason weren't fond of the idea.
Why'd he agree to do this? He wasn't sure completely as none of it benefited him, Dawn would be taking the credit but he had to help a fellow quad out.
Nicky put on his signature chef hat and apron, deciding not to use the button up garment today, (it was still in the wash).
In her defense she did try to help, Dicky
and Ricky watched very amused from a safe distance away from the increasing mess that Dawn was making. Though for a moment Dicky had joined, just to have a flour fight with Dawn that lasted a couple of minutes.
"Okay, that's enough help Dawn" Nicky said, putting the whisk into the chocolaty bowl and pushing Dawn out from behind the counter with his hands on her shoulders. Dawn tried to argue but wasn't getting anywhere, Nicky was passionate about cooking, always hard on his own food but still willing. The siblings liked to joke, saying that he had OCD when it comes to cooking and as they start to see their youngest quad in action, the more it's becoming true.
"You can help by cleaning this mess up when I'm done. Dicky can help you since he made most of the mess too" Ricky laughed at Dicky's smile faltering.
Nicky was in the kitchen most of that morning, you see the soccer team had a game later in the afternoon and Dawn had promised the desserts to be done by then. Of course she didn't think she would end up telling Nicky so last minute.
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It didn't take long before the first batch was done, Nicky had cut one cupcake into fourths so as to not waste his ammunition but still get a taste test going around. He called his brothers back in, they had left him to bake in peace while Dawn occasionally came in just to check on him. Mainly because she was feeling guilty for making him do all of it. "I need an absolutely honest taste test. I know I've made these before but just in case. And well the recipe got smudged just a tad bit so I need to know if I missed anything. And don't just say it's good" He said as the three followed behind him.
Dicky regretted putting it in his mouth right away, his mouth open taking hurried yet deep exhales to get rid of the burning feeling as best as he could. "Ah hot!" He whined and Nicky couldn't help a small smile, "Oh yeah I forgot to mention they just came out" he shrugged and turned back to the batter. They were on a time crunch so anything wrong with this batch would also be wrong with the next as he filled the molds. He had to keep these bad boys coming.
Nicky was always worried his family just said they liked his food.
"From what I can taste with my mouth burning, it's very good!" Dicky said smiling and sticking a thumbs up. Ricky rolled his eyes at their brother's impatience but ate the piece that he'd been blowing on, "Mm it tastes great. Like usual. It doesn't seem like you changed anything" he added which got Nicky to smile a bit. Ricky seemed trustworthy enough to be honest when asked so Nicky thought it was good enough. Dawn jumped, half scaring the three of them by her girly reaction, "it's fantastic Nicky, the soccer teams going to love this! I can't thank you enough"
Nicky being the shy angel that he was, accepted the compliments but didn't dwell on them too long, pushing to more important matters when it came to cupcakes. "So, Dawn, what should we do about the frosting? I think we have some in the pantry…" he got interrupted by the girl in question. " Actually …I know I'm asking for a lot but could you make some? You see, one of them like- loves frosting but she hates it bought and can tell if it's homemade and she'll definitely call me out and…" she began to ramble and pace. Nicky sighed, shaking his head as Dawn was drifting off topic into some story about how the teammate was traumatized with frosting by finding maggots in the vanilla one, which proceeded to gross the rest of the three of them out.
"I get it, I get it," Nicky brushed her off, luckily stopping the horrid story that was unraveling, her brother's faces scrunched up in disgust. Thank you Nicky, what a life saver. "Yeah I'll make the frosting, now that's all I needed, it's just a matter of cooking and cooling now so the rest shouldn't take too long" he said letting them go. Dawn nodded and left, going to brush up with Mae who probably just arrived due to the timing of the doorbell. It was half an hour past breakfast and these had to be done soon which also meant Dawn was suffering from some light pregame stress. Mae was always great at calming it down. Much to the quads delight.
Nicky looked at his brothers from where he was filling the last cupcake tray and putting both in the oven. Eyeing them suspiciously the whole way. "What's the matter?" He asked, he could tell they were thinking something but not saying it and it was urking him. Both quickly side glanced at each other and Ricky spoke, clapping his eyes, "Why exactly are you doing this? I mean really, is there some sort of secret pact between you and Dawn? She's taking credit for your cooking and lied to her team. Shouldn't you have her make them?" Now it made sense. It was less that they were bothered by Dawn taking credit and more so that they thought he and Dawn were up to something.
Now that he had to make the frosting he was setting the cupcakes to cool and getting his ingredients. A small chuckle left him, "That's what you think this is about? I'm just helping her. She's always helping us. I think it's fair. Now if I were one of you two , then yeah maybe I would have her do it herself and then things would turn into a disaster and then something will happen but get fixed last minute. Like always. In true quad fashion." It was sad that even Dicky knew Nicky had a point. It was always Nicky being the good one out of them, though not to be fooled by his innocent looks he could be quite devious when he wants to. But usually when it came to the four of them it was Nicky always suggesting actually helpful things that would get them out of trouble.
Like the time at the mall where they were unsure of what to do but Nicky suggested they go back to mom. Of course no one listened to him and it turned out if they had actually done it from the beginning it would have saved them all a lot of trouble. This wasn't just the first case either. Nicky was always suggesting to do the right thing, to help work things out rather than jumping to conclusions. It shouldn't have been surprising that Nicky would also slave away in the kitchen for their sister.
"Good point….so Dawn's not planning anything?" Ricky questioned, and Nicky finally looked over, eyes going away from the frosting that was slowly thickening. "No? If she has, she hasn't told me anything. Why did you guys do something?" Both of them certainly looked guilty but shook their heads. Nicky sighed but shrugged. Ricky left and Dicky was about to, thinking he was going to exit the kitchen with a chocolate cupcake but Nicky smacked his hand away from the stack, noticing in the perfect time to prevent it from being snatched. Dicky whined but left.
Silly ducklings.
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"Nicky, come on!" Dawn called, her and the two boys storming in the kitchen. Door swung behind them.
"Just give me a minute," Nicky said, not looking up from where he was decorating the last cupcake. It had been almost an hour and a half that he had been baking and decorating. The batter that Dawn had spilled earlier was now dried on the counters and floor, as well as the endless flour. Luckily their mother had noticed the unusually messy kitchen Nicky was baking in and he got to explain how Dawn was going to clean it when they were done.
The cupcakes were in containers that wouldn't smudge the frostings together and give each cup its personal space. Anne was pleased to know she could shove it in the other moms faces that her son had provided the team snacks, even if the mom's would think it was their daughter, it still counted as her children and a good rep for her.
"Nicky it looks fine, we have to go" Ricky said, helping to package the other finished ones that the brunette was not currently working on. Dicky nodded, not letting himself touch one because he knew he'd inhale it. "Yeah, mom wants to get there early to brag to the other parents, and well y'know Dawn's one of the players" he said shrugging and Nicky sighed, still frosting the same cupcake he had since they arrived. Making perfect, precise streaks with the piping bag.
"Okay, okay, just give me…" he spoke slowly, buying himself extra time. Unfortunately Ricky and Dicky started pushing each other and bumped into their tiniest brother. Causing him to smudge the display with the tip of the bag, his mouth dropped slightly and the other two backed away. Dad had sneakily slipped out of the kitchen seeing the scene, bringing the containers with him to pack the car.
Dawn groaned, snatching the cupcake before Nicky could try and even think about fixing it. She took a big bite, "let's go, I don't wanna be late, mmm this tastes great, perfect ratio to frosting and cake" she said enjoying the cupcake and leaving the room. Nicky was still baffled by her and his brother's outrageous actions.
She sends him to work hard on these cupcakes and then doesn't even let him properly do it, even if that was his last one. Instead, choose to eat it! The audacity .
They closed the last container and bolted for the car hearing their mother calling them.
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The soccer game went much like any other. All three boys were impatient for the game to start and complained about sitting in the heat, watching sports just because of their sister. They all may support Dawn and her passion but still…it was exhausting just being there.
The game started and Nicky, Ricky, and Dicky made small conversation while the game went on. Sometimes stopping to cheer for their sisters team and especially loud whenever they spotted their sisters number with the ball or about to make the big kick into the goal.
When the game was over, Nicky was pleased to admit that his sister's team had once again won. They were actually a very good team, and worked very hard to get where they were. When things had settled the coach had brought out the cupcakes for the team, while it was supposed to be just for the team, Nicky had been convinced by Dicky to make extra so that way they could have some after the game too. So he did, making some for the parents, luckily Dawn knew how many would stay due to being a part of the team. (Some parents couldn't make it and others wouldn't stay, somehow Dawn had been part of the team long enough to know).
They could all hear Tom and Anne not so subtly brag to the other parents.
Dawn pulled away from their quad-hug when three of her teammates had came up to them. Probably not being embarrassed by them and just wanting to show them her full attention. Or at least Nicky thought.
"Wow Dawn, is there anything you can't do? Soccer, music, and now bake? These taste great" One of the unidentified females had said, the other two nodded, ponytail bouncing with each movement. "Yeah and the looks are amazing, I looked at the other cupcakes while they were being handed out, they looked like- factory produced, identical. That takes skill" Another said.
Nicky was glad these strangers liked his cooking, whether they knew it was his or not didn't matter. He smiled and turned to where Dicky was messily eating one. Now it was his turn to sigh, Ricky apparently had dealt with him all day that he didn't care anymore. Classic Dicky. Luckily Nicky had been sure to pack napkins, which became a norm after getting to know Dicky.
Dawn had been doing her nervous laugh and slightly nervous gestures. Maybe feeling guilty for taking the credit, but she could see her youngest brother didn't mind so she didn't correct her teammates.
"Great job Nicky! They loved them! I have officially wowed them, again!" Dawn seemed so happy, it made Nicky happy and apparently she was happy enough to forget whatever probably foolish thing Dicky and Ricky had done earlier because even those two were joyful.
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Unfortunately for the two D's of the family, they had quite a surprise for when they came home.
The kitchen…
Nicky didn't make a mess while he cooked, he liked to keep it clean and often if it was clean before, then by the time he was finished it stayed that way. So it was easy to believe that this mess was indeed caused by those two. "Ugh, why do I have to do it?" Dicky groaned and Nicky shoved his hands in his pockets, "I distinctly remember you and Dawn having a flour fight" Ricky said.
Ricky and Nicky high-fived as they retreated to the living room while the other two cleaned. Sitting on the couch and watching TV. As much as Nicky would have liked to choose, he usually didn't actually mind and now was one of those times. Especially since Ricky had put on a show they both enjoyed.
He could get used to this.