Work Text:
Nile was watching Joe with fascination. Joe had collected all the orange peel from breakfast with the words that he wanted to make a flower for Nicky.
"You making flowers for Nicky," Nile asked. "How long have you done that?"
"For as long as I have loved my man," Joe replied. "And out of all kinds of things, I could find from oranges peel to grass to paper and everything in between."
Joe looked at the small flower in his hand.
"My least favourite flower was the one I made out of seaweed," Joe said as he took another piece of orange peel. "The entire house smelled of the ocean for weeks, but Nicky loved it."
Joe turned the small flower and decided to work on the finishing touch.
"I can imagine," Nile replied. "What are you trying to make?"
"A water lily," Joe replied. "Nicky is a big fan of Monet."
Joe corrected a couple of the orange peels before deeming it ready.
"So Nile," Joe asked as he held out his hand. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful, Joe," Nile asked. "Nicky will love it."
"Thanks," Joe replied with a smile. "While I wake Nicky with my flower, you can try making your own flower. I promise to help you when I'm back again if you need it."
"Okay," Nile replied. "How hard can it be to put some orange peels together."
Joe left Nile and went into the bedroom, where he ran a couple of fingers through Nicky's hair. Nicky looked up at Joe with a sleepy smile.
"I was dreaming about you," Nicky said in a sleepy voice. "And about oranges."
"Glad I'm still in your dreams," Joe replied with a smile. "Speaking of oranges. This is for you, Love. A water lily."
Joe showed Nicky the water lily.
"Oh, Joe," Nicky said with a big smile. "It's so beautiful."
"Thanks," Joe replied. "Glad you like it."
Nicky took the water lily and turned it around to look at it from all angles. Joe loved it whenever he saw pure joy in Nicky's eyes.
"I absolutely love my water lily," Nicky said as he gently placed the flower on the side table. "For that, you shall have as many kisses as you want."
"Well, start with the first twenty," Joe smirked. "And I will tell you if it is enough payment."
Nicky laughed as he pulled Joe with him down on the bed so they could kiss. When they reached kiss number sixteen or forty-two (they didn't count as usual when they kissed) they both heard a very loud, frustrated groan coming from the kitchen.
"Joe?" Nicky asked. "What was that?"
"That is the sound of Nile, who has just figured out that making flowers isn't easy," Joe replied. "I go help her when I'm done with kissing you. Oh, wait, that never is going to happen."
Before Nicky could say anything, Joe kissed him again. They kissed for a bit longer until Nicky remembered the food in the slow cooker. While Nicky was cooking, Joe helped Nile make her first homemade flower.