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When Joe knocked on the frontdoor to Nicky's flat, he hadn't expected Nicky to be holding a very cute elf.
Joe: "Where have you gotten the cute elf from?"
Nicky: "This is Jonathan, or Jonnie as we call him. Jonnie is spelt with an IE at the end and not a Y."
Joe looked at the baby, who looked anything but happy in his elf costume.
Nicky: "He is my sister Eleonora's son, which means he is my nephew."
Nicky offered Jonnie a piece of a banana, but he turned his head away.
Nicky: "Please come inside. Could I ask you to take off your shoes?"
Joe: "Of course."
Joe kicked off his sneakers before joining Nicky and Jonnie in the kitchen.
Joe: "Could I ask you something?"
Nicky: "Sure, but first I want a kiss."
Joe chuckled.
Joe: "Sounds good to me."
When Joe leaned in to kiss Nicky, Jonnie pushed Joe's head away.
Nicky: "I promise, Joe is a nice person."
Jonnie placed his head on Nicky's shoulder with a pout.
Joe: "It's okay, Nicky. Jonnie doesn't know me yet."
Nicky: "True. If you want tea, you have to make it yourself."
Joe nodded.
Joe: "Do you want a cup?"
Nicky: "No, thanks. I still haven't figured out how to drink hot beverages while holding a baby. So, you had a question?"
Joe: "Actually, there are two questions."
Joe found the tea in the cupboard, while Nicky offered Jonnie a piece of banana, but he still refused to eat it.
Joe: "Why is Jonnie spelt with IE and not a Y in the end?"
Nicky: "Well, Jonnie's Mama says it has to do with that if he one day decides to become a lawyer, Jonnie with an IE sounds posher on his business card than if it is spelt Johnny. Oh, and there isn't an H in Jonnie."
Nicky spelt out Jonnie's name.
Joe: "And here I thought it was only the gay people who came up with creative ways of spelling their children's names."
Nicky: "Oh, trust me when I say my sister is very good at spelling names in a creative way."
Joe nodded before he made a cup of tea.
Nicky: "You had a second question."
Joe: "Yeah, why is Jonnie dressed up as an elf? He doesn't look happy in the outfit."
Nicky: "It's not the outfit that makes him look unhappy, or so I think. He is dealing with a tummy ache. And that's why I'm trying to get him to eat a banana because it's soft food."
Joe looked at Jonnie, who was snucking on his tiny fist.
Nicky: "You see, my sister is all alone with him, and just like Jonnie, she hasn't slept for the last two nights because of the tummy ache. So, I said I would look after him for a few hours so that she could get some much-needed sleep."
Joe: "Poor little soul."
Jonnie made a noise.
Nicky: "He says thanks."
Nicky ran circles on Jonnie's back.
Nicky: "And about the elf costume. It wasn't my idea to dress him up as an elf, no, it was my sister's. She has been LARPing for as long as I can remember."
Joe: "LARPing? What's that?"
Nicky: "It means 'Live Action Role Playing'. And you're still lost."
Joe: "A bit maybe."
Nicky: "Okay, you heard of Comic-Cons and people dressing up as their heroes in costumes?"
Joe nodded.
Nicky: "That is also LARPing."
Joe: "I think I understand."
Nicky: "Or else my sister can explain it to you if you want to know more about it."
Joe: "I'll keep it in mind."
Nicky looked at Jonnie with a smile.
Nicky: "Okay, so my sister thought that Jonnie should do some LARPing this Christmas. And because she is nuts about Christmas and everything that comes with Christmas, she decided to dress Jonnie up as one of the elves you often see in Christmas movies."
Joe: "Thanks for explaining it to me."
Joe drank the rest of the tea.
Joe: "Now, let's do something about Jonnie's tummy ache."
Nicky raised an eyebrow.
Nicky: "You know how to cure a baby who has a tummy ache?"
Joe: "I don't know if I know how to cure a tummy ache, but I have seen the women in my family do something to their babies whenever they have a tummy ache. So, could I try?"
Nicky: "Okay, I trust you."
Joe: "Thanks. Could I ask you to get Jonnie out of his elf costume? You can always put him back in it before his Mama picks him up."
Nicky got Jonnie out of the elf costume.
Joe: "Let Jonnie sit on your arm while he is facing me."
Nicky turned Jonnie around so his back was resting against Nicky's chest.
Joe: "And now, we're going to bycycle, Jonnie."
Joe made funny faces, which made Jonnie smile, while Joe moved Jonnie's legs around as if he were indeed bicycling.
Nicky: "Why are you doing that?"
Joe: "To get Jonnie's digestive system going. Sometimes it works, and other times it doesn't. I also need to do another thing in a moment."
A few minutes later, Joe asked Nicky to place Jonnie on his back on the dining table.
Joe: "I promise I'm not hurting him, Nicky."
Nicky: "I know that."
Nicky watched Joe massage Jonnie's tummy with gentle moves.
Joe: "Oh, you're ticklish, just like your Uncle."
Jonnie giggled when Joe hit a spot on his tummy.
Joe: "Yes, you like this."
Nicky looked at Jonnie, who, for the first time in days, looked like he was in no pain.
Joe: "Nicky, could I ask you to draw the curtains?"
Nicky nodded and drew the curtains before he looked at Joe and Jonnie. Seconds later, Jonnie farted and fell asleep.
Nicky: "That's amazing, Joe, what you just did. Can you teach me?"
Joe: "I think my Mom is a better teacher than I, but I could ask her if she wants to teach it to you."
Nicky: "I would love that."
Joe wrapped Jonnie in a blanket before Nicky placed the sleeping baby in the Moses basket.
Joe: "Come, Jonnie will be sleeping for the next many hours."
Nicky placed the Moses basket so he could keep an eye on it from the kitchen.
Nicky: "Thanks for all of your help, Joe."
Joe: "Don't mention it."
Nicky hugged Joe before kissing him.
Nicky: "I need a bathroom and something to eat. Could you keep an eye on Jonnie for me?"
Joe: "Of course. Go."
When Nicky returned, Joe had set the table, and they sat down to eat.
Joe: "So, what are your Christmas plans this year?"
Nicky: "Spending it with my sister and Jonnie. We plan to visit the mountains so Jonnie can experience the snow for the first time."
Joe: "Sounds like a lot of fun."
Nicky: "And you? What are your Christmas plans?"
Joe: "What we do every year in my family. We host a giant Christmas party for those families who cannot afford it, with plenty of food, a Christmas tree, Christmas gifts and a visit from Santa. It is something we have always done in my family as a way to show the next generation that it's important to give to those who have nothing."
Nicky placed his hand on Joe's arm.
Nicky: "That's truly an amazing thing your family are doing."
Joe: "Thanks. I'll tell the others you said that."
They kissed.
Nicky: "About New Year's Eve. If you want, you're welcome to celebrate it here with some of my friends. With you, we'll be twelve in total."
Joe: "I would love to come, so yes, I'm coming."
Nicky: "I'm glad to hear it. And..."
Nicky didn't get to finish his sentence because Jonnie started to cry.
Nicky: "I need to..."
Joe: "Go. I promise to stay."
Nicky left Joe and went into the living room to pick up Jonnie.
Nicky: "Joe? I could use some help."
Joe placed the plates in the sink before going into the living room, where Nicky was holding Jonnie.
Nicky: "Whatever you did to Jonnie, it worked because his digestive system is working again."
Joe: "I'm glad to hear that. Let me guess, you both need a shower."
Nicky: "That's to put it mildly. If I get us out of the dirty clothes, could you start the washing machine for me?"
Joe: "Yes. Why don't you let me bathe Jonnie in the sink, while you take a shower?"
Nicky: "A great plan."
When Nicky returned to the kitchen, Joe was still bathing Jonnie in the sink.
Joe: "I should probably warn you, Nicky. And sorry for not telling you this sooner, but I want children."
Nicky: "I love the sound of that idea. So, how many children do you want?"
Joe: "Two that look like you and two that look like me."
Nicky: "Fine with me. When do we start?"
Joe chuckled.
Joe: "As soon as I have introduced you to my parents, and taken you to the altar so that I can put a ring on your finger."
Nicky: "Okay, so right after New Year?"
Joe chuckled.
Joe: "Knowing my Mom, she has been planning my wedding since the day I was born, so I don't doubt that we can get married in three weeks' time. But could we not get married in the spring? I need the time to prepare a perfect proposal."
Nicky wrapped his arms around Joe's waist.
Nicky: "Sounds perfect."
Joe turned his head and kissed Nicky, which made Jonnie splash water over Joe's shirt.
Joe: "Thanks, Jonnie. Let's get you up and see if you want to eat something."
Joe wrapped Jonnie in a towel before handing him to Nicky. While Nicky dried Jonnie and got him into his elf costume again, Joe changed his shirt.
Joe: "Here, Jonnie."
Jonnie turned his head away when Joe offered him a salt cracker.
Joe: "Uncle Nicky? Could you show Jonnie that the salt cracker tastes good?"
Joe fed Nicky the salt cracker.
Nicky: "Taste amazing, right, Joe?"
Joe also ate a salt cracker.
Joe: "So, Jonnie? Wanna try one?"
This time, when Joe offered Jonnie a salt cracker, he took it and ate it together with three more.
Nicky: "Good boy, Jonnie. Do you want to crawl around?"
The moment Nicky placed Jonnie on the floor, he was gone.
Nicky: "Thanks again, Joe. For all of your help today."
Nicky snuggled into Joe, who took around him.
Joe: "Glad I could help. And what is that sound?"
Nicky: "Oh, that's Jonnie who has found something he finds interesting."
When Nicky's sister Eleonora showed up an hour later, Jonnie was still exploring his Uncle's flat with Joe right after him to prevent him from touching stuff he shouldn't.
Eleonora: "How did you do it, Nicky? I mean, Jonnie looks so much better than when I left him with you."
Nicky: "You also look better now that you got some sleep. And it's really Joe you should be thanking."
Nicky told Eleonora what Joe had done.
Nicky: "Hope it was okay what Joe did."
Eleonora: "Of course it is."
When Jonnie came crawling around the corner, he saw Eleonora and crawled straight for her with a big smile, and she welcomed him with open arms. And Joe, who was right behind, got up.
Eleonora: "Thank you for helping Jonnie, Joe."
Joe: "Don't mention it."
Jonnie snuggled into Eleonora with a happy sigh.
Joe: "And it's nice meeting you, Eleonora. Nicky keeps on talking about you."
Eleonora: "Funny, because Nicky is doing the same thing about you. I hope he has only told you nice things about me."
Joe: "I promise he has. What has he been telling you about me?"
Eleonora: "I think we should have that conversation when my son isn't here."
They both laughed, while Nicky looked really embarrassed.
Joe: "Deal. I also have some questions about your brother that I hope you can answer for me."
Eleonora: "Ask away."
Nicky: "Could I at least be allowed to be there when you talk about me?"
Eleonora: "No, because you'll be looking after Jonnie while I talk with Joe."
Nicky: "Fine, but remember to tell Joe only the good things about me."
Eleonora: "Oh, you mean like that time your head got stuck in a pot because you were hiding from aliens?"
Nicky: "You can leave that story out. In fact, I think I'll make a list of things you can tell Joe."
Eleonora shook her head with a smile.
Eleonora: "Don't think badly about me if the list suddenly disappears."
Nicky: "Better make a backup."
Eleonora hugged Nicky.
Eleonora: "We'd better get going. Thanks to you both for helping me with Jonnie today."
After some more hugging, Eleonora left with Jonnie. When Nicky looked at Joe, he was smirking.
Nicky: "What's with you?"
Joe: "I want to hear the story about the aliens."
Nicky: "Never going to happen."
Joe: "Well, then I have to convince you to do it."
Nicky: "And how are you planning to do that?"
Joe: "Oh, you'll see in due time."
While they kissed, Nicky couldn't wait to see how Joe planned to convince him to tell the story about the aliens.