Chapter Text
Nico can’t believe it’s been a year already. Though, in retrospect, he feels like he’s been through a lifetime. In a good way. He’s just finished up exam week— an experience he’d completely forgotten about since his undergrad days (and never wants to experience again)— and he’s more than ready to finally get to celebrate Christmas like it was meant to be celebrated. Because studying to Christmas music only made him wish harder that he wasn’t studying.
“I’m free!” he shouts as he walks through his front door. He drops his stuff on the kitchen table before shedding off his outer layer of warmth. He hangs up his jacket, scarf, and mittens before face-planting onto the couch. Oh, how he’s missed this couch. After two days of procrastinating, Will had banished Nico to the library until he’d memorized his study guides and felt prepared for every exam on his schedule. And while Nico pouted and whined, he was so grateful for his boyfriend.
Speaking of which, where was his boyfriend?
Will had finished his finals two days before Nico (the lucky duck). Nico glances at the calendar, trying to remember if Will said anything about being gone today. But the calendar square is looking blankly at him. Nico pouts. All he wants to do is have some celebratory cuddling with his boyfriend.
His phone buzzes and Nico’s excited until he sees Jason’s name. Not that he doesn’t love Jason, but Jason wasn’t his boyfriend.
Jason: movie night?
Nico’s fingers hesitate over his keyboard. While a movie night sounded nice, he didn’t really feel like dragging himself out of this apartment until tomorrow.
Nico: come over here?
Jason: do you have any cookies left?
He glances at his counter. Between him and Will, the cookie supply had dipped dramatically over the weekend. It wasn’t his fault that they were so good. Besides, with stress-studying came stress-eating. Nico’s just glad that he made it through. He knows the time and money (and stress) spent over school will be worth it, but he’s so ready to graduate already.
Nico: . . . no
Jason: I feel betrayed
Nico rolls his eyes. Another buzz.
Jason: expect us over around seven
Nico heads into the bedroom, wondering if Will was sleeping. Between their weird schedules, naps at ten in the morning weren’t all that uncommon. Nico also knew that Will sometimes felt more heavy or sad during the winter months (SAD was such an appropriate acronym). Usually, a good nap and some cuddles helped a lot, but sometimes more was needed.
Olive’s laying on Will’s pillow, but there’s no Will. Nico pets her head, smiling as she purrs like a motor. She’d accepted Nico’s presence in her life like she accepted most things. With dignity and flair. For one, she’d decided that all of Nico’s blankets were hers and that he was in charge of keeping her fed and cuddled when Will wasn’t there.
Not that Nico minded. He loved Olive like he loved Will.
“Where’s Will, princess?” Olive just bats at his hand. Nico’s not worried, but it’s not really like Will to leave without a note or something. Olive settles in his lap until there’s a sound at the front door. Both of them jump up, though Olive beats Nico to the kitchen.
“Hi, beautiful girl,” Will coos, already holding Olive in his arms. Nico notes the bags of groceries on the table, smiling. He hadn’t thought to check if the grocery list was still pinned to the fridge. Though he usually did the grocery shopping, it always made him smile when Will took care of it.
“Hi, baby,” Will says, turning to Nico now. “How’d your last exam go?”
Nico hugs Will around Olive. She soaks up their attention like a sponge. “I think it went okay. I mean, it’s all common sense, right?”
Will kisses his cheek. “I’m sure you aced it, Nico. The kids already love you, but universities love tests.” He sets Olive down on the couch, and she curls up on one of Nico’s blankets. “Time to celebrate, right? I got something for you.”
Nico blushes, though this is nothing new. Nico had learned early on that Will’s love language was showering Nico with affection, typically in the form of physical touch and gifts. Which made sense considering how they’d gotten together.
“You know you didn’t have to,” Nico says.
“But I wanted to.” Will digs through his grocery bags until he finds what he’s looking for. He grins as he holds out the gift. It’s not wrapped, but Nico doesn’t mind. His secret admirer wasn’t so secret anymore, so it seems fitting. He accepts the candy canes, thinking back to last December.
“You know, I thought these were poisoned the first time I saw them,” Nico says. How far he’s come. He’s moved in with his boyfriend (and his boyfriend’s cat) and started school again. He wasn’t working at the diner anymore, deciding to take up substitute teaching and hours at the animal shelter now that Will wasn’t working there anymore.
“I promise they’re not poisoned,” Will says with a fond smile. He puts the groceries away before pouring some milk for hot chocolate. Nico smiles, wrapping his arms around Will’s waist. His boyfriend is just a few inches taller than him, so Nico can rest his head comfortably against Will’s shoulder.
“Jason and Piper are coming by for a movie night tonight. Even though we ate all of the cookies.”
“Well, they were our cookies,” Will says. “As long as they bring popcorn or something, they’re welcome. I just have a short shift at the clinic today, so I should be back for the movie.”
Nico laughs. He’s so grateful that his friends had adopted Will into their friend group. He hadn’t been able to meet many of Will’s friends since none of them lived in town. Even Reyna had up and moved over the summer. But they did have plans for Will’s mom to visit, so Nico was looking forward to that.
“I’ll let them know.”
Will pours the hot chocolate, stirring it with the candy cane.
“We’ll have to actually decorate soon. Our tree looks kind of sad, doesn’t it?” They had only gotten around to getting the tree up, sans ornaments. But now that they both had fewer obligations, it was time to break out all of the decorations. “And go Christmas shopping.”
Nico nods. This is technically his first Christmas with Will, and he intends to make the most of it. They’d already decided to post-pone their official anniversary celebration until after the holidays (having a Christmas anniversary was so Hallmark), so Nico was focused on making all of the traditions happen.
But for now, they carry their hot chocolate and candy canes to the couch. Nico grabs the remote while Will and Olive debate over the blanket. She ends up sprawled across both of their laps (still hogging most of the blanket). Nico tucks himself into Will’s chest, smiling when Will kisses his hair. Their friends tease them for being so domestic, but these moments are Nico’s favorite part. No friends, no tv, no chores. Just him and Will (and Olive).
Nico turns on some music, shifting a little so he can look at Will better. The only plan he’s got for now is enjoying his hot chocolate and cuddles. And then he’s going to kiss Will silly.