Archive of Our Own

Nick watched as Charlie showed Oliver's girlfriend how their training of Daisy was going. The golden retriever yapping playfully, ignoring his commands. Nick threw back the last drops glass and started gathering the debris from the feast, "Tori can I get a hand in the kitchen."

"Go on Michael." She said absently, patting his knee.

"Oh no, I actually meant you Tori, if you don't mind."

She hauled herself dramatically up from the garden chair, handing her diet lemonade to Michael. 

He walked her through the kitchen and into the living room, pushing the door to. Tori watched as Nick sat on the arm of the sofa. Then stood up. He was towering over her, so he perched back down again. Tori crossed her arms, frowning. What is wrong with this man?

"So." Nick breathed, attempting to steady his nerves, and keep his massive grin in check.

"So?"

"I wanted to come to tell you first because there's no one closer to Charlie."

"What's happened?" Her arms dropped, along with her face.

"No nothing! Yet. Hold on." He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out, a tiny box. "I am going to-"

"Uughh, finally!" Tori exhaled, rolling her eyes. "Sorry, sorry I should have let you finished." 

"No no, what do you mean 'finally'?"

"As in one of you is finally going to propose." 

"Errr I'm 26, Charlie's 25! That's average, if not young actually."

"Yeah but, you know. You're Charlie and Nick. Nick and Charlie. Sickeningly immovable for 10 years."

Nick felt the pride rising in his chest. Yeah he guessed they were. None of their other school friend's relationships had lasted. Sure they were all still friends but things change people grow. Even Michael and Tori had broken up and gotten back together a handful of times in their 8/9 year stint. But they, well the longest they'd ever broken up was 3 weeks. And they didn't even count that, seeing as it was all just a drunken mis-communication. They affectionally called that the tantrum.

"So you think he'll say yes? Because that's why I've told you first. Well partly I guess, you're like his favourite person. You'd know. And well, I want you to approve."

Tori's hand made it's way to Nick's bearded face. This was new. To both of them. There was a softness in her eyes. He'd seen that look given to Charlie and Ollie and Michael, but it really was something miraculous to have Tori Spring smile at you. 

"Nick. Of course I approve, because I'm not his favourite person. Not by a country mile. No one has been there for him like you. He doesn't trust anyone like he trusts you. I trust you. He's going to say yes." 

A tear rolled down Nick's cheek "But I was here first. So if you even think about fucking up this hypothetical marriage, I'll leave no evidence."

"Oh totally. I'd expect nothing else." He laugh sniffed, cuffing his tears away

Then a familiar voice echoed from the other room "Nick?"

Tori snatched her hand back. Nick wiped his cheek and stuffed the ring back in his jeans pocket.

"Oh there you- ooh what's going on here then?" Charlie cooed. 

"Nothing." They both said, unconvincingly. Charlie quirked his eyebrow.

"You got me, I'm pregnant and it's Nick's. Happy now?" She said sarcastically, walking past Charlie out into the garden. He looked back at Nick pointedly.

"I...err... was just asking her about your mum. Remember I said that new kid with parent-child dynamic I said that was like her and Jane."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "What, the one I said you should definitely leave alone? We'll it makes sense why she's in über sarcasm mode." 

"Sorry baby."

Charlie huffed softly, letting Nick know he was only really half annoyed.

************

It was nearing midnight, Nick was out driving Ollie and his girlfriend back to her house leaving the rest on tidy up. Tori and Charlie stood at the kitchen sink, Charlie washing up, Tori drying. 

"I'm sorry Nick bought up mum, earlier."

"Hmm?"

"He's just worried about this girl in his class. To be fair the mum does sound just like her growing up doesn't she? Poor kid. But she's got Nick in her corner."

Thanks for letting me in on the lie Nelson.

"Oh yeah. Listen Charlie, I don't want to keep going on about it you know. He meant well, its fine." She set the tea towel down on the handle of the oven, rubbing his arm as she went to walk off. 

"No wait Tori, I'm not finished. I have something to show you. Where's my phone?" 

She gestured to the worktop behind him and after a few clicks he was holding up to her a picture of a ring in a box. This time she said nothing.

"I'm gonna ask Nick to marry me."

"Oh. My. God."

"Listen I know you probably think marriage is some archaic practice. But I don't, and neither does Nick you know, we've talked a lot."

"Oh I'm sure you have. Loads of talking."

"Yeah and well, we have the house and the dog. And we've been together 10 years this year, like can you believe it? Any of it?" He beamed

Tori just stared into the mid-distance "No I certainly cannot believe it Charlie." 

"Wait are you happy or not? I can't read this." He said, gesturing broadly at her face. Tori snapped back into it, grabbing him into a tight hug.

"Oh of course I am Charlie. It's my little brothers you know. One's 18, one's getti- wanting to get married. Life man, it's fast."

Charlie gave her an extra squeeze, her hair tickling his nose. Just like all those times it had before, sitting on his bed, or the sofa or the bathroom floor, when she was his only solace in the world. He heard her sniffs. It set him off.

"I love you Tori. I wanted to tell you first. That, and I know how much you freaked when we adopted Daisy and didn't tell you." 

"Right. That was a cruel trick Charles. I was actually half impressed." 

The pair laughed, releasing the vice-like grip they had accidentally gotten on each other. 

"So when do you want to ask him?"

"Oh god I don't even know, every time I look at him?"

Tori doubled over, making a retching sound, teasing her brother's incessant romanticism. The key went in the lock, the signal of Nick's return. Charlie's eyebrows shot up.

"Don't say anything!" Charlie begged in a whisper. Tori screwed up her face as if to say 'Duh!' 

"To Oliver especially. He couldn't keep a secret to save his life. And not Mum and Dad, not yet. I'll tell them when I'm ready." 

The sound of their partners' booming laughter came from the living room "What about Michael?" Tori muttered.

"Do I have a choice? Yeah if its just Micheal."

**************

The boys stood on the doorstep and waved off Tori and Michael as they drove down the lamp lit street.

Michael turned down the music playing over the speakers as they turned out of Nick and Charlie's road. "Well that was a nic-"

Tori cut him off with an almost maniacal laugh. 

"Tori?"

"Michael Holden. Michael fucking Holden. Just you wait until I tell you what is about to go down."