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Nick heard the obnoxiously loud car horn before he could regain his thoughts. He woke sprawled out on the sofa where he had collapsed after work and checked the clock on the wall and saw that it read 03:14. He groaned but rose jerkily to the sound of hollering coming from his front door. Nick drew a weary hand through his dark blonde hair as he walked to the door from the living room couch he had fell asleep on, TV still blaring some late-night crap. As he unlocked and swung open the door. He was greeted by carload of people in... well, a car. One of the windows rolled down and Tara stuck her head out, her hair wildly springing around her.
“Oi Niiiiiick!” she giggled.
“We’ve got something that belongs to you!”
Nick was still confused as he stood there, bare chested and arms crossed, only in grey sweatpants freezing his ass off in the surprisingly cold September air.
“Uhhh… Tara what the hell is going on?” he replied, head pounding and ears adjusting to the steady stream of pop music coming from the little red car’s stereo.
Before Tara could answer the side door opened and both her and Charlie tumbled out, laughing at something said seconds ago by Tao, who was heaving in mercy of his awesome joke in the back seat, squished between Elle and Charlie.
He could see Tori at the wheel with Darcy besides her in the passenger seat squabble with the volume button, Tori not wanting to wake all the neighbors in the flats surrounding them.
Oh shit. He had totally forgotten. He had worked late that evening, promising Charlie and the others that he would be designated driver after Taos spectacular surprise birthday-bash. And here he stood, probably with a thousand texts and calls on his phone, giving Tori a guilty smile and wondering if she was plotting his murder. He would have to make it up to her later.
A wolf whistle pierced the air as he heard his boyfriend yell.
“Look, there he is! Do you see that? Do you see Nick? That’s all mine!” Charlie was sitting on Tara’s lap, blowing kisses at Nick. A chorus of giggles escaped the car as Charlie with very little grace flopped forward and landed on the ground. Charlie was drunk as hell. Nick smiled and went to pick his boyfriend of nearly eight years off the ground.
“Okay Char we need to get you to bed now I think.” Nick said laughing as Charlie clung to him, ferociously nuzzling his neck making it incredibly hard to concentrate.
“Sorry Nick it got a bit out of hand I think.” Elle piped from the backseat, trying to get Nicks attention. Tara giggled as Darcy had turned around in her seat, fidgeting at her girlfriends’ clips in her hair, rearranging them and making a complete mess of it. Out of them all, it was Elle who had the decency to look the least bit guilty.
“It started out great, and then things sort of spiraled, next thing I know Charlie is on a table, dancing to ABBA And drunk off his ass!”
It looked like they had had a wonderful time as he looked down at Charlies mop of curls. He was so glad that after all the shit they had gone trough that Charlie now could let some of his anxiety go and just have fun with his friends. Nick was so proud.
Tori’s patience had nearly run out by this point, but she was glad her brother now was in the capable hands of Nick. She sighed and turned the music down once more.
“Alright you lot! I’m going to get driving now so you better get that door closed.”
Nick sent her an apologetic smile and promised himself he would find a way to thank her tomorrow. But right now, his priority was his drunk, albeit cute boyfriend.
Tara eventually shut the door and the car sped off, driving to its next destination.
Charlie looked up at him dreamily and smiled.
“Hi” he whispered.
Charlies cheeks where flushed from the alcohol and his blue eyes where overly bright. To Nick he had never looked more beautiful.
As another gust of wind swept by, Nick became more aware of his surroundings and that they were still standing on their driveway, front door slightly ajar. But Charlie stood there, firm, hugging Nick with no worries in the world.
“How are you doing Char?” he asked as he stroked a hand through his boyfriends’ messy hair.
“Much better now that you are here” Charlie answered as he snuggled even closer.
Nick heart fluttered as he finally made a move towards the door.
“C’mon, lets get you inside, yeah?” Nick asked as he guided Charlie trough the front door and to their bedroom. The bed was still made from the day before and Charlie dived headfirst into the duvet and sighed.
“You could at least take off your converse love.” Nick laughed as he kneeled at the foot of the bed to untie Charlies laces.
“Jeans too please.” Nick orders his boyfriend. He had thought Charlie had fallen sleep at this point, but he could here a giggle erupting from Charlie’s throat. Finally moving, Charlie turned around and complied. Chucking his jeans off and throwing them to the floor. He even took off his shirt.
“Wow okay.” Nick stated as he stared at Charlie who was already drifting off seconds later.
Nick smiled and goes to grab him some aspirin and a glass of water. He would more than likely need it in the morning. As he passed the living room he glanced at the clock again, this time reading 04:02. He was so glad that it was Saturday tomorrow, or well today perhaps. Sleeping in with Charlie by his side is still one of the best feelings ever, even after all the years together Nick still can’t believe he has this beautiful boy sleeping next to him every day.
He returns to the bedroom and sets the water on the nightstand next to the first ever gift he had given Charlie. God, it feels like ages ago. Nick stares at it for a bit, warm feeling spreading trough his body as Charlie snores in the background. There is no other place he’d rather be.