Archive of Our Own

It sounded easy enough on the paper when Nicky read the recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie but reality proved it wrong. When Joe came home he found Nicky in the kitchen which looked like a tornado had stopped by. Nicky was sitting on the floor looking like all hope had left him sat down next to Nicky and gave him a gentle push.

Joe: "Hi Love!"

Nicky looked at Joe as he dried his face. It was clear that Nicky had been crying.

Nicky: "Hi."

Joe joking: "I think this is the first time in Holland that a tornado has happened inside."

Nicky: "And that tornado is named Nicky, who is the only Italian in the world who can't cook."

Joe: "You got so many skills, so why is it that cooking is important?"

Nicky: "Because you always cook and bake the most impressive and delicious dishes. I just want to do the same."

Joe joking: "Ah, so you're a bit jealous of me?"

Nicky: "Is not funny, Yusuf."

Nicky hit Joe with the tea towel before trying to get up but Joe pulled him down.

Joe: "Try taking a look around you, while I get something."

Joe placed a kiss on Nicky's nose before getting up. When Joe returned a couple of minutes later it was with one of the big photo albums he had.

Joe: "Let me show you something."

Joe sat down and looked through the photo album before taking a photo which he handed to Nicky.

Joe: "Try look at the photo. When I was ten I wanted to bake a cake for my mother for her birthday. My father took this photo of me in the kitchen when he found me in a similar situation as the one you're in now."

Nicky looked at the photo of Joe covered in flour and a kitchen looking just like the one they were sitting in now. It finally made Nicky laugh.

Joe: "There's the smile and the laughter I love."

Joe kissed Nicky.

Nicky: "Sorry about your kitchen. I better start cleaning."

Joe: "Just as my father helped me with cleaning the kitchen, so will I help you. What were you trying to bake?"

Nicky: "Your favourite, Lemon Meringue Pie."

Joe stuck one of his fingers in one of the bowls with what looked like a cream of sorts.

Nicky: "I think it is lemon curd but I'm not sure, so don't eat it."

Joe tasted it anyway and lit up in a bright smile.

Nicky: "Very kind of you."

Joe stuck his finger into the bowl again and offered it to Nicky.

Joe: "Taste it. I promise it's good."

Reluctantly Nicky did like Joe's finger and looked confused.

Nicky: "How did I do that? Make something that is edible."

Joe: "Because you can cook, my love. You found a hidden skill, you can make lemon curd."

Nicky: "That was more luck than skills, but I take it."

Joe: "I'm going to put the lemon curd in jars, so we have it for another day."

After cleaning the kitchen, they curled up on the sofa. Joe had found an old notebook.

Nicky: "What's that?"

Joe: "It's all the recipes my father taught me as a child. I thought we could use it, in the same way, to teach you how to cook food."

Nicky: "Isn't that pushing the luck? The lemon curd was a fluke."

Joe: "Not at all. Tomorrow we start with something simple. How to cook an egg."

Nicky snuggled into Joe.

Nicky: "Thanks for believing in me."

Joe: "Always, my love, but I need to confess something."

Nicky looked up at Joe who showed Nicky the photo he had taken of Nicky in the kitchen.

Joe: "Planning on starting a new photo album with you in it. Starting with this photo of you covered in flour."

Nicky: "Give me that phone."

Joe: "Not a chance."

Joe was quick to get up with Nicky seconds after him. As Nicky was trying to get the mobile phone from Joe, Nicky was grateful for having a boyfriend that could make him laugh when things were looking hopeless.