Disclaimer: It's not what you think, I promise lol. Just a cute bestie Nick moment
This was requested by the anon who wanted a Nick one-shot
The usual chaos of the Sturniolo household was muffled behind the heavy wood of Nick’s bedroom door, but inside, the energy was pure, concentrated panic. Nick was pacing a rug-burning path across the floor while you sat on the edge of his bed, clutching a throw pillow like a life raft.
"Okay, okay," Nick muttered. He paused briefly to fix a stray strand of hair in his vanity mirror before whirling back to face you. "Deep breaths. We are composed. Remember: use your diaphragm."
"Nick, I'm the one who's pregnant," you pointed out, your voice trembling with a mix of nerves and amusement. "Why are you the one doing labor prep breathing?"
Nick stopped dead, his eyes wide and glistening with an intensity that was 10% theatrical flair and 90% genuine devotion. He dropped to his knees on the carpet, grabbing your hands in his.
"Because this is a huge deal!" he whispered harshly. "My life is flashing before my eyes. I’m seeing strollers. I’m seeing $14 organic baby purée. I’m seeing myself having to explain to a toddler why they can't eat my expensive lip balm."
He took a shaky breath, his expression softening into something so fiercely protective it made your heart ache.
"Listen to me," he said, his voice dropping into a serious, cinematic register. "Even though I’m not the biological father of this child... I will treat them as if they were my own."
The room went silent. Nick held the gaze, looking like he was waiting for a slow-motion camera pan and a swell of violin music.
A laugh bubbled up in your throat despite the tension. "Nick... that is literally the sweetest, most dramatic thing you have ever said to me."
"I mean it!" he insisted, squeezing your hands. "I’m stepping up. I’m the co-parent. I’m the spiritual guardian. I don't care about the DNA—I am going to be the best damn father this kid has."
"Nick," you said, leaning forward and gently bumping your shoulder against his. "I love you. I really do. But... you do realize Chris is the father, right?"
"Well—yeah," he stammered, the cinematic aura flickering. "Obviously. You two are in love and whatever. It's a whole thing."
"Right, but you said it like we’re in a soap opera," you giggled, finally feeling the knots in your stomach loosen. "Like Chris ran away to sea or I’m a tragic Victorian widow. Chris is literally downstairs right now eating cereal and playing Fortnite. He’s going to be very much involved."
Nick slumped back onto his heels, a sheepish, lopsided grin breaking through his serious facade. "Oh. Right. The brother thing. I guess I forgot for a second that the 'father' in question is the guy who currently has a half-eaten bag of Takis in his bed."
"Exactly," you said, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "You're going to be an uncle, Nick."
"An uncle?" Nick scoffed, standing up and dusting off his knees, his usual sass returning in full force. "Please. I am going to be the greatest 'Funcle' in human history. Chris can handle the dirty diapers and the sports—I’m the one who’s going to make sure this kid has a personality and doesn't grow up wearing cargo shorts. Poor Matt doesn’t stand a chance; his uncle abilities won’t even be in the same league."
He glanced at the closed bedroom door, then back at you with a wink. "But the offer still stands. When Chris passes out during the ultrasound—which, let's be real, he totally will—I’m the one holding your hand. I’m already the favorite; I’m just making it official."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," you smiled.
"Good," Nick said, snatching his camera off the desk. "Now, let’s go downstairs. I need to catch the exact moment his soul leaves his body when he realizes he has to be a 'responsible adult.' This is going to be the best footage of my life."
M yaps: Oh to be best friends with Nick
Requests are open! Or if you want to come yap with me I’d love that
Contains/Warning: Male reader, male x male, amab, m4m, mlm, m!reader, bottom reader, Nick Sturniolo x Femboy/M!Reader, fluff, cuddles, jealous Nick, a bit possessive Nick
Want more similar content? Head over to my masterlist <3
Genre: Fluff
There's a small note on the table, accept or decline??
Accepted!!
Reading: "Nick :o I really tried my best 🫡 I don’t really watch the Sturniolo triplets. Came with an agreement with @mailmango for this one :3 Anyhow, had a good long time to think what to plot but I came up with one so enjoy reading <3"
𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
You and Nick are one of the biggest and most popular models at the moment. You both gained attraction and popularity from the undeniable chemistry you had with each other, your companionship, your affectionate displays in public, and the intimacy during your paired photo shoots.
The two of you actually met by chance when you were paired together for a photo shoot. Nick's original partner was sick, so you were chosen instead. You felt nervous about being paired with him, as you usually preferred to do solo shoots. The thought of being in close proximity to someone as charming as Nick was both thrilling and intimidating. But it seemed the tables had turned, and you found yourself paired with him.
At first, it was nerve-racking. You made a lot of mistakes due to your shyness, but with each shot, you improved and gradually got the hang of it—thanks to all the practice you did behind the camera with Nick. He was patient and supportive, offering to help you feel more comfortable during the shoots. When you were alone together, everything went smoothly, and you even found yourself getting closer to him, just to feel the connection between you. The moment you leaned in, you felt your heartbeat race; it was as if your heart was trying to escape your chest. You could hear it pounding in your ears, and to your surprise, Nick's heartbeat seemed to quicken as well.
As time passed, the two of you grew closer and closer, moving from casual hangouts to small dates, from visiting each other’s places to long, meaningful conversations late into the night. It was during one of those intimate moments that you decided to confess your feelings. You were the first to take that leap, feeling both excited and terrified. To your relief, Nick smiled and returned your feelings wholeheartedly, and that moment marked the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in both of your lives.
Your bond deepened with each passing day, and you found yourselves not just as partners in modeling but as true companions who shared dreams, laughter, and a growing love for one another.
One day, Nick saw the magazine you were in. To his surprise, you were the cover model. He felt happy for you at first, but that happiness quickly turned into jealousy—jealousy that flooded inside him. Seeing the cover made him feel possessive; you were wearing a rather revealing outfit that showed too much of you.
It was a new set that the team had created, it was the one for females because the male and unisex one wasn't made yet and they needed someone to help them with it. All the other models were either busy assisting another team or doing interviews. They really needed someone, and you were their choice. You had no problem agreeing to it, feeling excited because you had seen the set they created and had wanted to try it on for a long time. However, you never could, as they hadn't made it available for sale yet.
Anyway, Nick, being the jealous and possessive man he was, waited for you to come back home.
The front door unlocked and swung open. You walked inside, took off your shoes, and placed them on the shoe rack before getting a bit startled. Nick was standing right in front of you, arms crossed and an intense look on his face. When did he get there? You quickly noticed he was holding the magazine, and you realized what this was about, letting out a sigh of exhaustion.
"Nick, not this again…" you said exhaustively, trying to keep yourself as calm and patient as possible for his sake. "We've been over this before."
"Still, what is this?" he replied, his voice rising slightly. The anger in his tone was palpable, but the jealousy was even more evident. You could see his jaw tense as he gestured toward the cover. "You look so… exposed. How can you not see how this makes me feel?"
You took a deep breath, knowing this conversation had come up more than once. "It's just a job, Nick. I love modeling, and this set is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time. You know that."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to balance his feelings. “I just don’t like seeing you like that, especially knowing how many people will see it.”
You could feel the weight of his emotions, but you also knew you needed to stand your ground. “I understand, but I need you to trust me. After all, I'm yours and yours only. Plus before we became boyfriends I used to do these type of things all of the time, you should know this.”
Nick knew you had a point and decided to take you with him instead, taking your hand in his as he dragged you upstairs and into your shared room. Before you could even react to everything he removed your clothes and put his clothes on you. His shirt being too big on you because of the size difference and his pants threatening to fall off but he didn't mind. Lifting you up as you yelp out of surprise, gently lying you back down on your shared bed and getting down beside you. Lying right beside you as he starts kissing your neck before he starts kissing you a bit harder just to leave love bites which worked. Claiming you right there and then, it didn't really hurt instead it tickled you a bit. Soft giggles leaving your lips before you feel him stop kissing your neck and instead wrapping his arms around you. Cuddling you and pulling you closer as your body touches his.
You cuddle him back as you let yourself relax, leaning yourself impossibly closer to him. Nick's scent envelops you now, thanks to his clothes and his presence, which feels kind of nice. The warmth of his body against yours creates a safe cocoon, one where worries and nightmares fade away. Knowing that he loves you so much—enough to claim you, not for the first or the last time—fills you with comfort and a sense of belonging.
Eventually, you both drift into sleep, wrapped in each other's embrace. Soft breaths fill the room, rising and falling in perfect harmony. Your chest rises and lowers softly, matching the rhythm of his. In that peaceful silence, you feel utterly content, knowing that in this moment, you are exactly where you belong.
Preview: Another tap. And another. You raised a shaky hand to peel the blinds apart, just enough for you to peek out.
Contains: making out, obvious crushing
word count- 2.3k/unedited
This summer was going to be the best summer of your life. There was no way anything was going to ruin it. You had managed to snag the dream job of anyone your age who was begging for a little bit of freedom from home. A camp counselor.
That’s right. Your summer was gonna be spent chasing sweaty pre-teens, fixing bee stings and splinters, and putting aloe on sunburns. But on top of that you were going to get to hike, and kayak around an island, and spend nights singing campfire songs. All while away from the real world, away from the stress of friends, of family, of school.
Your main stressors were the middle school arguments you had to be the mediator for. Emma was little to no help with it, instead instigating said fights by helping spread rumors for a little bit of ‘entertainment’. You could almost hear her voice, “I can’t wait to tell the boys about this”, while you were busy consoling campers over their week-long relationship.
You threw your tray down on the table, another night of soggy meat and limp veggies. Camp food was never good, almost always big pots of some kind of slop and frozen vegetables. Nutritionally balanced was a goddamn lie. Emma sat down next to you, giggling and smiling at Jacob who took the bench across from her.
“Oh, Jacob,” She laughed, covering her mouth. “You are hilarious!”
You rolled your eyes. Even if they wanted to deny their relationship, say they were friends or hate each other, there was no doubting that something was happening. Of course, you knew, with the amount of times she woke you up to sneak out to the docks with him, there would be no way you didn’t know.
Their conversation turned into background noise as your eyes caught someone walking towards your table. It was like something out of a movie, things moving in slow motion. Tight jeans hugged long, slender legs, a skinny waist hidden by a baggy t-shirt. Puppy dog eyes shining.
Nick smiled and greeted you as he sat down with his food. Dylan, Kaitlyn, and Ryan sat down soon after, all beginning to chat with each other as they choked down the ‘food’. You joined in the conversation, listening to Dylan spit out some pretty good one-liners, and caught the way Ryan looked at him while he did. You listened as they made the plans for a campfire, something fun for the end of the week. The plan was for everyone to meet by the lakeside for the bonfire on the beach and roast marshmallows and make smores with the campers. Maybe someone would bring a guitar or some spooky stories.
Soon dinner came to an end. Nick grabbed your tray before you even had a chance to react. “I’m on cleaning duty this evening.” He smiled. “I’ll still see you at the campfire tonight though, right?”
“Oh!” You smiled back, hoping the flush of your face wasn’t horribly obvious. “Of course, I-I will definitely see you tonight.” You nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.
Emma had already begun collecting the campers when you made your way to the table. She was helping the campers stack plates and trying to rush them to get to the showers as fast as possible.
You and Emma led the campers back to the cabin to grab shower caddies and made your way to the bathroom. Emma groaned as you guys walked into the bathroom. It reeked of bleach and mildew, and a mild stink of wet dog for some unknown reason. The floor was stained with years of mud and perpetually wet. The lights flickered and some of the shower curtains on the stalls were beginning to turn black on the bottom from all the moisture.
“All right campers! Each of you have… 6 minutes to shower!” Emma announced. “Save the hot water for everyone, please. I cannot take another ice bath tonight.” She rolled her eyes. You both made quick work of turning on the showers and assigning campers to each one to try and minimize the amount of time wasted.
“So, you excited for the bonfire tonight?” Emma questioned as she picked at her nails. “Gonna flirt with your boy toy?” She whispered, nudging you slightly.
“He’s not my boy toy!” You shook your head. Sure, you had a slight crush on Nick. He made your heart flutter, your cheeks get hot, your hands clammy. But it was only a slight crush… Right?
Emma hummed. “That’s right. You won’t make a move.” She laughed. “Can’t be yours if you won’t stake the claim.”
You rolled your eyes. “I’ll do it when I’m good and ready. We don’t even know if he likes me back.” You watched as two of the girls began trading body washes and combing each other's hair in the dirt stained mirrors.
When it was your turn to shower, you found yourself thinking about what Emma had said. Did she know something you didn’t? You let the cold water run over your skin for a little bit longer, washing any leftover soap off. You sighed as you turned the shower off and quickly got dressed, pulling pajamas over your still wet skin.
You trudged back to the cabin with the campers, listening to them chatter about how excited they were for the bonfire and to see ‘Counselor Dylannnnn’. You had a good giggle with Emma about the crushes the campers had on the counselors while everyone cleaned up their bunks and finished getting ready.
After a while, you guys finally left the cabin and began the short hike to the beach. The campers squealed and ran off the second they saw the glow of the fire and joined their friends on the blankets set up on the beach. Jacob and Ryan were throwing more kindling on the fire while Nick was helping a younger camper zip their jacket. Your heart ached at the sight.
“Good with kids.” Emma teased as she pushed by you. “We’re here!” She called out.
Nick looked up at the call and smiled when he spotted you. The kid he was helping ran off as soon as his jacket was zipped. “Y/N!” He waved. “Come sit.”
You made your way over, taking in the smell of the fire before sitting on the log next to Nick. You could hear giggles of the campers just a few feet away on the shore, a few of them dipping their toes in which landed them a scolding from Ryan.
You guys sat in silence for a while, watching as everyone chilled out and played around as the sun went down. You kept your eyes on the fire, the flames warming your face. It was almost perfect. That was, until Dylan and Kaitlyn approached.
“We have S’MORES!” Dylan shouted, holding up some bags. The campers cheered and raced over, trying to grab at the ingredients to make the sweets. “Woah, woah, one at a time, ya little goblins!” He laughed.
“We need a line!” Kaitlyn called out. “And for you guys to be safe, and smart, about the marshmallows and fire!”
You helped the kids place the marshmallows on the ends of (mostly clean) sticks and showed them how to roast the perfect marshmallow. Kaitlyn was trying to avoid burns at all costs, even if that meant physically pulling kids back from the fire. Jacob and Emma had disappeared, no doubt off into the bushes somewhere to make out and baby talk to each other.
Once all the kids had their fill of s’mores, the counselors decided to make a few of their own. You had a weak spot for the gooey goodness of a charred marshmallow and melted chocolate. You ate your treat while Ryan began the scary campfire stories to the kids.
“Hey,” a voice sounded in your ear. You turned your head and came face to face with Nick. “You got a little, uh…” He motioned to his own cheek. You felt your face heat up in embarrassment. Food on your face? What were you? 4? “Let me.”
He lifted a hand to your face, gently rubbing the chocolate off the corner of your mouth with his thumb. “Beautiful.” He smiled before popping the thumb in his mouth and sucking the chocolate off. “And tasty.”
You were praying that only you could hear the pounding in your ears. And that the fire could be to blame on how hot and red your face was. You could hear the teasing from Emma already.
“T-thanks.” You weren’t sure if you should thank him. He had just indirectly licked chocolate off your face. Kaitlyn winked at you from her spot next to Ryan when you looked back over. What was happening?
The rest of the bonfire went by like a blur. Your mind was too focused on Nick to even somewhat focus on the story Ryan was telling. Something about a hag of the campsite? Who even knows.
Now here you are, in your uncomfortable cabin bed, with your hands crossed over your tummy as you stared up at the ceiling. Your mind was racing, thinking about anything and everything. Did Nick like you? Was this some long con joke from everyone? You wanted to scream into your pillow but couldn’t risk waking any of the campers.
A tap on your window nearly made you risk that. You whipped your head to the side and stared at the window, crappy plastic blinds were the only thing keeping whatever the hell that was from seeing you. Another tap. And another. You raised a shaky hand to peel the blinds apart, just enough for you to peek out.
And there he was. Nick. Dressed in a pair of pajamas and with messy bed head, looking as cute as ever. He smiled at you, his flashlight pointed down. He motioned for you to join him. You rolled out of bed and trudged over to Emma, poking her until she acknowledged you.
“Nick, I know.” She groaned. “Go, I got this.” She waved you off.
You nodded even though she couldn’t see you in the almost pitch black darkness of the cabin. You slipped on your shoes and quietly left the cabin, the door creaking shut. You took a deep breath and walked down the steps to meet Nick.
“Hey,” He greeted. “I hope I didn’t wake you.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Thinking about it now, maybe coming to ask you to go for a walk with me in the middle of the night wasn’t the best idea.”
You giggled. “It’s okay, I couldn’t fall asleep anyway.” The two of you began walking out of the campsite and onto one of the trails. Conversation flowed naturally, ranging from home life to the possibility of aliens invading the planet.
You two came to a clearing, the open night sky glimmering above you. Thousands of bright stars littered the sky and you sighed at the serenity of it. You and Nick sat on a fallen log, both admiring the sky. Crickets sounded in the grass around you.
“It’s beautiful.” Nick whispered.
You hummed in agreement. A cool breeze tickled your skin and you shivered, goosebumps raising on your arms. You wrapped your arms around yourself, rubbing your hands up and down in an attempt to create some sort of warmth.
“Oh,” Nick noticed. “Here,” He slid his jacket off and helped you into it. The warmth instantly sent butterflies to your stomach. The scent of Nick filled your nose and that alone made your cheeks hot. “Is that better?”
“Yes, thank you.” You curled into the jacket, letting the warmth hug you. You both sat in a comfortable silence for a while before you noticed Nick had gotten closer to you. His thigh brushed yours, causing you to look over.
“Is this okay?”
You smiled and nodded. “Yeah, this is okay.” You scooched a little closer, your legs now pressed together. You had begun to feel a little more brave and decided to rest your head on his shoulder, staring out at the view. You could hear Nick’s heart beat through the crickets, the sound pounding against your ear. “Hey, Nick?” You questioned softly.
“Yeah?” He responded, resting his head on yours for a second.
You stayed silent for a few seconds, enjoying the moment. You wanted to soak this up before you possibly ruined the entire friendship. “How do you feel about me?”
Nick gently shifted, adjusting to sit somewhat facing you. “How do you think I feel about you?”
“I asked first.”
Nick stared at you for a second before lifting a hand and brushing your hair back. His hand came to rest under your chin. “I think that you are one of the most beautiful things here… And in the short time we have known each other I find my heart pounding and hands sweaty whenever you’re around. Is that gross?” He questioned. “Y/N, I feel like I have a middle school crush when I’m around you.”
You smiled and leaned in, catching Nick in a sudden kiss. He tensed up at first and then soon melted into the kiss, hands reaching around to your back to pull you closer to his body. His hands sprawled across your back, fingers digging into the soft fabric of the jacket. He deepened the kiss, tongue poking your bottom lip.
You smiled against his mouth and opened up, allowing him to pull you in. Your hands came to rest on his chest, feeling the muscle under the thin shirt he had on. You kissed each other slowly, exploring each other's mouths and testing the waters with what the other person liked.
After a bit, you both pulled away. Nick’s lips were shiny, pink, and slightly swollen. He looked even more kissable than before. He had an almost drunken smile on his face. He leaned forward again, this time resting your foreheads together.
“After camp, after summer is over, I’d love to take you on a real date. Restaurant, flowers, everything. What do you say?” He whispered.
Storyline: Story about the reader and Nick celebrating their anniversary in the most adorable way.
Author’s Note: Just a little soft!nick for you guys! I got in my feels while writing this one thats for sure. I just feel like Nick’s the type to go all out and be really mushy for a girl he’s all about! Brb while I go find someone to do this for me!
Enhance the Experience: This section is for visuals and content that went through my mind when writing this story.
I got inspired from this cute Pinterest picture I’ll insert here. Also, the song ILYSB (Stripped) - LANY kept going through my head while writing this one.
Warning: None
Word count: 1.3K
The sun lit up the room slightly from your not fully shut black out curtains. Not bright enough to startle you but just bright enough to peacefully wake you up. You rolled over pretty groggy with little recollection of the night before. You tried to process what time it was and why your boyfriend Nick wasn’t laying next to you like usual. You slowly started to remember bits and pieces of the night before.
Nick had rolled into your shared apartment around one in morning completely exhausted from being at the studio. See tonight, he had anticipated being home a little before midnight to surprise you and celebrate. But of course this night, one of the most important nights, everything took longer than expected. The vocals weren’t lining up correctly, tracks kept having to be reclipped, and every single thing the boys recorded took take after take after take to get perfected. All of this causing Nick to walk into the bedroom super late and find you already fast asleep in bed.
He let out a light sigh from disappointment in not being able to execute his plan before you fell asleep. But even with the let down, he still took a moment to admire how beautiful you looked. Fast asleep in your favorite t-shirt of his while holding on tightly to the pillow from his side of the bed. It was the cutest thing he’d ever witnessed.
You squinted your eyes a little as you picked up your phone to see what time it was. But 8:45am wasn’t the only thing you had noticed on your lock screen. Seeing the date right underneath caused your heart to warm and the biggest smile to string across your face. It was you and Nick’s two-year anniversary. You couldn’t believe it had already been two years with the love of your life. And though you hadn’t forgotten about your anniversary, you had spent so much time and effort looking for the perfect gift for Nick you didn’t even register how close it really was.
You eagerly jumped out of the bed, slid into your cozy slippers, while fixing your messy bun in the large circle mirror that hung on the bedroom wall. You quickly walked over to the closet digging deep into one of your handbags where you had hidden his anniversary gift. You laughed in your head because you always knew this was the perfect hiding spot. Nick always joked that your purses were all too expensive for him to ever touch so he steered clear of ever messing with them. Making it the perfect secret spot for the past two weeks.
The small black box was tied with a silky red bow with a white tag that read...
“My Nick,
Thank you for the best two years of my life. I love you always.
Forever yours, (Y/N)”
You hurried with the gift in hand out of the closet, running down the hall hoping to find your boyfriend lounging in the living room. You could hear faint music planning from living room, causing your fast walk to turn into a light jog as you raced to meet him. You had made it in record timing as you screamed upon entering the room “Happy Anni-” you stopped mid sentence. You were now in complete stand still as you stood in Aw of the sight in front of you.
Nick at set up the room to be romantic dream. Tiny lit candles made a path on the floor that lead to him at the end while others were created into the shape of a hearts on either side. The ceiling was filled with at least a hundred red and white balloons while roses and rose petals covered every other surface in sight from the coffee table, to the couch, to every small inch on the floor. It was something straight out of a movie and for a split second, you had to remind yourself that you weren’t still dreaming.
“Anniversary” Nick said finishing your cut off sentence from earlier as he began walking towards you.
“Well... what do you think?” He said eager to hear your thoughts.
You were processing so many emotions at once you couldn’t even keep up. So overwhelmed in feelings and not even expecting to, you started uncontrollably sobbing right in front of him.
Nick immediately started to second guess everything, becoming insecure about the entire set up. He had never seen you cry this much unless you were overly upset by something. He immediately ran up to you bring you both face to face.
“Oh my gosh you hate it don’t you? Ugh I knew I should have done this last night like I had originally planned” Nick said annoyed while recalling his tarnished plans from last night.
“Nick I-” you said trying to stop him in the middle of your sobs.
“Or maybe I shouldn’t have done this at all because it’s too much. What was I thinking getting the guys input on how to set it up? It’s too extra isn’t it?” He continued in more frustration.
“No Nick it’s-I” you tried yet again to stop his rambling still in tears.
“I just wanted to do something out of the ordinary for you because that’s what you deserve. Extraordinary. Every single day. For this anniversary and the many anniversaries to come” Nick went on while you stood there still in shock, no longer making an effort to stop him and letting his rant continue.
“You just mean the world to me (Y/N) and I would do anything to show you just how much being with you these past two years has really meant to me. I see, my family sees, even the guys see just how much better my world has been since the day you came into it. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin today so please tell me how I can make it up to you my love?” Nick finished finally allowing you to speak as he held your wet face in his hands.
“Nick... this... you... everything is just... perfect” you tried to explain still feeling a wash of emotions.
“Wait really? You like it” Nick replied as sudden relief filled his face and he began to smile at you.
“No baby, I love it. Just as much as I love you” you continued leaning in for a kiss.
He lightly whipped your tears that hadn’t yet dried with his sleeve while bringing you into a tight embrace. But he began to pull away slowing as he caught a glimpse of the tiny box in your hand.
“What’s this?” He questioned.
“A gift that doesn’t even compare to what you’ve done for me” you said now being insecure about your own gift.
“Come on I’m sure it’s great” he continued as he unraveled the bow and opened the box.
Inside lied a custom gold linked chain with a tiny padlock hooked onto the end that had your name written on the back in the most angelic cursive writing. Along with it came four other dainty gold chains that were all in a similar style to the ones you’d seen him wear many times over the years.
“You know... just so I’m with you... even when I’m not” you said trying to justify your thought process when getting this gift. “You weren’t the only one who had a little input from the guys” you said jokingly.
Nick wrapped his arms around you tighter than usual as he whispered in your ear. “This is the most thoughtful gift anyone’s ever gotten me. How did I get so lucky?” He said in complete shock still while looking down at the gift.
“I ask myself that same question about you every single day. Happy anniversary Nick” you replied.
“Happy anniversary beautiful” Nick said finishing off your gift exchange with the most loving kiss.
Your apartment looks like a tornado swept through—just toys everywhere. A sippy cup lies on the floor, stuffed animals litter the couch, and Barbies are scattered across the coffee table, half missing their clothes. You stand there, staring at the chaos, your once elegant work bun now a bird’s nest. Tears well in your eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
You try to bounce your 4-year-old, Lillie, on your hip while texting a reply to your boss. Lillie has none of it, squirming and grabbing your shirt with sticky fingers. The baby monitor hums with soft static—a reminder that your daughter’s nap lasted all of twenty minutes.
Just when you think the tears might spill over, the door slams open.
“Who called for the best funcle ever!?” Nick yelled, grinning from ear to ear.
He had your favorite muffin and coffee in one hand and a brand-new, impossibly soft stuffed bear in the other. His hair stuck out from beneath a backward baseball cap, and his smile was as bright as always, causing something in you to warm at the sight of your best friend.
Lillie giggled and went wide-eyed at him. You let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, the tension slowly leaving your body.
“Nick, I didn’t text you for you to do all this—”
“Please, stop talking.” Nick interrupted, placing the food gently onto the kitchen counter. He stepped around the landmine of toys and walked over to you two. “Today’s not about what I should be doing—it’s about what I’m glad I get to do. And I am so glad I get to be with my girls.”
He stepped up to you and held out his hands. Lillie’s little arms reached out to him immediately.
Nick scoops her into his arms, peppering kisses all over her face. She becomes a giggling mess. “Ah, my little partner in crime! I’ve missed you so much. Let’s not tell Uncle Matt or Uncle Chris that I came over, okay?”
Lillie smiled and playfully pulled on his shirt. She buried her face into his neck. Nick looked at you and frowned, “You look really bad, [Y/N].”
You glared and rubbed your face. “I haven’t slept in two days. She is not following her sleep schedule all of a sudden. Work has been stupid busy and just plain stupid. And if I wasn’t so tired, I’d kick you for saying I looked bad.”
He goes quiet, his eyes quietly observing you. “Ok, well, I brought your favorite muffin and some coffee. Go get it and sit your ass on the couch. Now.” He smiled gently at Lillie. “I’ll handle her, I promise.”
You reluctantly agree, grab the food and coffee, and sink onto the couch. Nick seems to have a superpower with your daughter. He bounces around the room, singing (badly) to Lillie, letting her put a tutu and crown on him. Then, with a dramatic gasp, he’s the poor victim who needs ‘Super L’ to save him. Time blurs into laughter and make-believe, the afternoon slipping away as Nick and Lillie spin new worlds together.
For the first time in days, you truly relax. You sip the warm, sweet coffee, letting your shoulders drop as Nick and Lillie fill the apartment with laughter. It’s hard being a single mom, but moments like these remind you your tribe is strong—you’re not alone. Nick does everything a ‘funcle’ should: he laughs, he plays, and he’s always there for her. You couldn’t ask for more.
Eventually, Lillie grows tired, and you're pretty sure Nick is exhausted too. He sits on the couch with her, Lillie leaning against him, reading one of her favorite books, making sure each character has a different silly voice. You have to cover your mouth from laughing any time he attempts to do the fairy princess voice.
Before you know it, Lillie’s eyes are slowly closing. Nick pulls her close onto his chest, gently stroking her hair as he hums quietly. Finally, she’s out like a light.
You made eye contact with Nick. “Wow. That was a lot quicker than I was expecting from her.”
You smiled as your eyes welled with tears once again— but for a completely different reason this time. “I think I would spontaneously combust if I didn’t have you, you’re absolute magic.”
He blushed slightly, caught off guard by the compliment. “You’re doing all the hard shit. I’m just here for the fun times.”
“Please, don’t ever think that’s all you do,” You speak steadily. “You show up. You always do. That means more than you know.”
He smiled, his own eyes shining. “You’re my best friend. I will always show up for you.”
For a moment, it was just silence, with the occasional soft snore from Lillie or the distant hum of the dryer in the background. It felt like all three of you were the only ones on this planet; it was comforting.
Nick got up and went to put Lillie in her bed. When he returned, he plopped down next to you. He was holding your muffin in his hand. “If you don’t eat, I will shove this down your throat myself. You know I will too.”
You laugh, the sound lighter than it’s been all week, and take the muffin, breaking off little pieces and eating each bite. The two of you share stories from the week—Nick’s latest adventures with Matt and Chris, your struggles with work, and Lillie’s determination to avoid sleep at all costs. Nick throws in jokes and does impressions that have you giggling until your cheeks hurt. You love this about him: how he can turn an ordinary, hard day into something worthwhile.
When Lillie decided to wake up again, Nick was ready to play a new game. This time, all three of you built a fort (well, you and Nick), then you went under the blankets with flashlights and snacks. Nick pretended to be a pirate captain, Lillie his loyal first mate, and you were the queen of their imaginary kingdom. For once, you enjoyed just pretending, not worrying about real life. Just being with your daughter and best friend.
The day was ending, the bright sun now hidden as the moon rose. Nick was packing his things, and Lillie was balanced on your hip once again.
“Ok, Lillie bee, I have to go. Please be good for mommy, okay? She tries really hard to make you happy, so you do the same.”
You handed Lillie to Nick, and she hugged his neck tight. He hugged her back as he enjoyed the moment. When he handed her back, he gave you a soft smile.
“Call me if you need anything. I’m serious, even if it’s to talk or to cry.”
You gave him a big hug. “Words can’t begin to describe how thankful I am for you.”
He winked. “Anytime. That’s what funcle Nick is for.”
As he walked out the door, you looked around, realizing just how grateful you truly were. You knew that rougher days would be ahead, no one day ever really easy with a toddler, but with Nick by your side—your best friend, your daughter’s beloved funcle—you felt that maybe you could handle hard things.
And as you lay down that night, you smile—grateful, and ready for whatever tomorrow brings.
