Work Text:
Nicky was lying on the daybed, reading one of his favourite books, when he felt someone staring at him.
Nicky: "Can I help you with something, Andromache?"
Andy resisted commenting on Nicky calling her 'Andromache' because she had something more important on her mind.
Andy: "It's 3 PM, and you aren't cooking Christmas dinner."
Nicky: "Well observed. Nothing gets past you."
Nicky turned another page in his book.
Nicky: "And besides, as I told you last week and the week before that, I'm not cooking Christmas dinner this year."
Andy poked Nicky's body.
Andy: "Nothing is broken, so why aren't you cooking Christmas dinner?"
Nicky: "Thanks for checking."
Nicky turned another page in his book.
Nicky: "You want to know why I'm not cooking Christmas dinner this year?"
Andy: "Yes, please."
Nicky: "Because Nile offered to do it with the help of Joe and Booker. So, while they cook, I read."
Andy: "Sorry, what? Why did you not tell me about the change of plans?"
Nicky: "We all told you about the new plans. It is not my fault you aren't paying attention, as usual."
Andy: "Very funny, Nicoló. So, what are they cooking?"
Nicky turned another page in his book.
Nicky: "I don't know. Ask them."
Andy: "Is that your way of asking me to go away?"
Nicky: "I would never do that, but I would prefer if you sit down if you are staying. It's very distracting having you standing in front of me."
Nicky saw Andy leave the living room, and he texted Joe.
Joe: "Andy is on her way."
Nile: "Great. What should I do?"
Joe: "Leave her to Booker."
Joe looked at Booker.
Joe: "Are you ready?"
Booker: "Yep. Have fun."
Before Andy could set foot in the kitchen, Booker turned her around.
Andy: "What are you doing?"
Booker: "Oh, I thought you would rather drink this than stare at Joe and Nile cooking the Christmas dinner."
Booker showed Andy a bottle of the schnapps that Nicky made.
Andy: "Where have you gotten that from? Nicky only makes three bottles every year."
Booker: "I asked Nicky a few years back for a bottle. I do that every ten years or so."
Andy: "Okay, why?"
Booker: "That's a story for another day. So, do you want some schnapps or not?"
Andy: "Don't ask stupid questions."
Joe and Nile saw Andy and Booker disappear.
Joe: "That should keep them entertained until the Christmas dinner is ready. What do you want me to do next?"
Nile: "Set the dinner table. Then I'll cook the fish. And why is it you are eating fish on Christmas Eve?"
Joe: "Nicky and I started that tradition way back in the days when we celebrated our first Christmas together. You know all about how I came from a Muslim background, while Nicky came from a Christian background."
Nile: "I do, yes."
Joe: "When we talked about what to eat on Christmas Eve, we settled on a fish dish because fish is one of the few animals we both can eat together, while still respecting our different backgrounds."
Nile: "That makes sense."
Joe: "And when the rest came along, we invited them to celebrate Christmas with us, and we continued eating fish on Christmas Eve because it also fitted into the others' background. Like it also does with your background, Nile."
Nile: "Got it. Fish is the thing that ties you all together on Christmas Eve."
Joe laughed.
Joe: "I need to remember that."
Joe took a stack of plates.
Joe: "Call if you need any help."
Nile promised, and Joe left the kitchen.
Joe: "Hi, Babe. Is the book still good?"
Nicky: "Yes, no complaints. How are things going in the kitchen?"
Joe: "Nile has everything under control."
Nicky: "Glad to hear it, and tell her I can't wait to taste the food."
Joe: "I will. Uhm, Nicky, some help, please."
Nicky looked at Joe, who was holding a fork and a knife in his hand. For as long as Nicky had known Joe, he couldn't tell the difference between right and left.
Nicky: "You are holding them correctly. I'm proud of you."
Joe: "Thanks. It only took me 983 years to get it correctly."
Nicky: "That's not true, because I remember other times where you placed the cutlery correctly."
Joe: "Thanks again for never giving up on me."
Joe kissed Nicky.
Nicky: "Don't mention it."
Joe finished setting the table, and after kissing Nicky, Joe returned to the kitchen.
Joe: "One table set. What's next?"
Nile: "Could you take out the trash?"
Joe: "On it. And when I'm back, I will start cleaning the kitchen."
Nile: "You volunteering willingly for cleaning duty, has that anything to do with you hoping it will keep you on Nicky's good side?"
Joe: "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Five hours later, they all sat down to eat this year's Christmas dinner.
Nile: "Whenever we all gathered in my family, we all ate my Gran's Gumbo with fish and shrimps. I know Gumbo is not a typical Christmas dish, but..."
Nicky hugged Nile.
Nicky: "Your family ate your Gumbo dish when you all got together. And now that we are all together, we will carry on that tradition by eating the Gumbo, and is that not what it's all about?"
Nile: "Yeah, you are right. Dick in."
Joe took the ladle and handed it to Booker.
Joe: "You know the tradition. We all take turns to hand out food on Christmas Eve. And this year, it is your turn."
Booker took the ladle and handed out the food. Everyone praised Nile for the Gumbo while eating.
Andy: "Maybe we should have Gumbo every Christmas."
Nicky: "Is that your way of saying you want to give up on the roast on Boxing Day?"
Andy pointed her fork at Nicky.
Andy: "Don't you dare drop that tradition. Or else I will forget to be nice."
Nicky: "I'm SO scared."
They all laughed. For the rest of the evening, they talked, played games, ate different Christmas cakes and drank wine. And everyone agreed that it was one of the best Christmas Eves they had ever had.