A/N: This is my first Avenue Q story, even though I've never seen the show in person. If you are a Avenue Q fan then I apologize if anything seems out of character for Rod and Nicky, meaning that Rod isn't an Investment Banker and is a therapist-in-training and Nicky has cancer and Rod had a boyfriend already, so just go along with it for this story.

This fiction is based on the 2011 movie 50/50.

(Avenue Q - RodxNicky)

Chapter One

Great, just great, Nicky groaned to himself. Not only does he have schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma (a malignant tumor that he can't even pronounce on his own), his own girlfriend (well, ex-girlfriend now) has just left him, saying that she "couldn't handle it", which to Nicky meant Eww! You got cancer?! I'm leaving your ass, you loser! "I must be your favorite angel, God.", he sarcastically said.

The green faced man launched himself onto his bed, his stomach on the messy sheets. He hardly ever made his bed or even cleaned his whole apartment really. Nicolas Lyon* wasn't one to cry a lot, but this one night was an exemption. "Fuck that bitch!", he screamed into his pillow. "How could she do this to me?! How can someone that I ever loved leave me for being sick with cancer?!"

He didn't have anyone else in town that could help him through this stressful time. His dad died from a fatal motorcycle accident when Nicky was a small boy and his mother lived thousands of miles away. Nicky didn't dare to call her up once he was diagnosed today. Nicky would remember staying up at night listening to her sob as she'd lay in their bed with her husband's clothes clenched in her shaking hands.

It pained Nicky to be a 10 year-old and know that his old man won't come home from work and walk through their front door or take him to school or show him how to pitch a baseball perfectly or do anything for Nicolas and his mother. It pained Nicky even see his poor mommy cry day and night.

Mommy, where's daddy? Isn't he going to take me to school like he always does?

No, Nicolas, sweetie...not today...not ever again...

From then on, Nicky was the only man in his mom's life, but when Nicky became a young adult they both knew that the bird had to leave the nest. Nicky leaving home to go live miles away from her for college made her worried, and telling her that her only son and child has cancer all of a sudden would probably put her on medication for the rest of her life.

She even gets paranoid if Nicky doesn't call her everyday.

His doctor, however, insisted that he should seek a therapist for comfort, and his first appointment would be next Thursday. He knew he had to talk about the break-up and the Daddy-Dying-When-I-Was-A-Boy story, and it bothered Nicky.

On the other hand, it really couldn't have come at a better time.


Flower vases were thrown and shattered against the walls and hardwood floor. "You son of a bitch!", a blue faced man wailed. "You promised me that you'd never cheat on me!" He was shouting at the top of his lungs at another man that looked about 29, who had his hands in front of him to block the flying silverware.

"Rodney, please.", the other softly said. "I'm so so-"

"I don't want to hear it, David!", Rod cut him off. "You're not sorry! If you were sorry you'd think twice about having sex with someone else! You wouldn't even pick me up from work in time because you're out with another man and then you'd lie to me about it!" The tears were really coming down hard now and even through Rod's glasses he couldn't see because they were fogged up. Rod was so enraged he said whatever come into his mind. "I'm tired of your bullshit and your fucking lies! How can you do this to me?!"

"Rod.", David began. "You don't know how hard it's been. I try to tolerate with your nagging for the whole house to be clean and neat, but I just can't marry anyone that's this uptight. I have a say in everything else too." It hurt him to say that to anyone as sensitive as Rod, but David just couldn't imagine married life with the nagging every single day. It finally dawned on the red individual.

Rod glared at him and then took off his engagement band ring from David. "Well, don't worry. You don't have to deal with my nagging anymore, because I'm done with you." The afflicted man threw the golden ring at his ex-fiancé then pointed to the hallway that lead to what use to be the two's bedroom. "Get all of your possessions and get the fuck out of my house."

David didn't say a word. He didn't even move. This made Rod more infuriated. "Get your stuff and get out now!"

Finally David moved. He wanted to hold Rod as he passed by the red head, but Rod's eyes meant buisness, so he just did what he was told.

It took the unfaithful cheater about fifty-minutes to get everything inside boxes and inside his Porshe. It would've taken David less time if Rod helped, but he knew that he made his point across by not. Rod's really cracked now. David looked up at Rod, who was sitting on the porch's steps, surprisingly having a glass cup of red wine in his hand and a lit cigarette in the other.

He really broke him, David thought. Rod's a smart guy who's never drank alcohol and never touched a cigarette in his life. Seeing his ex like this made David's heart sink. "G-goodbye. I...love you.", he called out.

Rod only nodded at the Goodbye part, but rolled his eyes at the Love You part, and put the cigarette to his lips again. David understood and sighed, then got into the drivers seat. The black Porshe started and the car drove out of Rod's freeway.

Thank God that was the last time Rod ever saw David.


Of course Nicky's mother flipped out when he finally worked up the nerve to tell her about the tumor. It killed him to hear her sob and say I love you and My baby plenty of times. Nicky kept assuring her that he'll be fine, but he was totally uncertain if that'll be true, which made Nicky nervous to go see his therapist for the first time. He was pretty sure that whoever this oldtimer was is gonna tell him to accept that he'll go like this, this stupid cancer.

Atleast, he imagined the doctor to be an oldtimer.

Nicky finally found the correct door with a sign that had bold white letters that read Rodney J. Tartaglia** with Therapist-In-Training under the name. Whoopie. Nicky was hesitant to knock until a staff member spoke to him.

"Go on ahead.", the woman told him. "He's probably drinking and smoking his sorrows away again." She whispered as she said this then walked off.

Nicky took a deep breath and knocked, waiting for an answer.

"Client or staff?", a voice that sounded nasally called from the other side of the door.

"U-um...client.", Nicky nervously said.

There was a short bit of silence before a "Come on in" came. Nicky turned the knob and entered the small room, seeing a suprisingly young male sitting on a computer chair next to an open window with a wine glass in his hand. His hair was orange-red like his eyebrows and it was nicely combed and jelled. His skin was sky blue and he wore what looked like an expensive suit with matching pants.

He moved his chair to a coffee table and set down his glass, then took off his glasses to rub the bridge of his light green nose, placing them back on. He got up to shake Nicky's hand.

"I'm Nicolas.", Nicky greeted, still feeling nervous.

The other raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you mean you're Nicolas Lyon, the one diagnosed with cancer?"

"Uh yeah." Nicky tried not to feel irritated at the one diagnosed with cancer label.

"I..I thought I would be seeing you on Thurdsay, the fifth."

"It is Thursday.", Nicky awkwardly assured.

The young therapist looked at the calendar on the wall and nervously laughed. "S-so it is. Ok well, Nicolas, go ahead and sit on the...the couch there and, um, we'll get started.", the sky blue man insisted.

Nicky sat down and the other returned to his chair, taking his wine glass and taking a large gulp of the red liquid and set down an empty wine glass on the table. "So, Nicolas, I think you can pretty much figure that I'm Rod Tartaglia, and I'll be your therapist while you battle..." Rod took his notepad and flipped to his notes and continued, "schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma."

Rod took his eyes off of the paper to look at Nicky. "First, let me say that I'm very sorry that someone as young as you is battling this rare cancer, Mr. Lyon."

"Uh..sure thing." Nicky stared at the therapist in awe, and it made Rod both blush and feel awkward.

"I-is there s-something wrong?", Rod nervously stuttered.

Nicky realized that he was making the other uncomfortable and apologized. "I-I'm sorry, dude. Nothing's wrong. It's just that..." Nicky bit his lower lip. 'If you don't mind, how old are you?"

Rod raised his eyebrows. "W-what makes you ask that?"

"I don't know.", Nicky said, shrugging. "It's just that you look really young to be a doctor of some sort." Nicky rubbed the back of his neck. "You know what, you don't have to answer that question. Sorry."

"No need to apologize.", Rod replied, pushing up his glasses. "The number's 27, and technically I'm not a doctor yet. I'm working on my degree here. T-this part of the building is for trainees."

"27? Wow! That's really young."

"Just like it's very young to have cancer.", Rod answered. He looked at his wrist watch and made a popping sound with his lips, then reached into his suit's pocket, pulling out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. Rod was about to put the butt of the skinny white-orange object to his lips and light the tip when he glanced at Nicky, who was glaring at him with an eyebrow raised.

"You do know that I..."

"Yes yes!", Rod exclaimed, turning off the lighter and putting away the hazardous objects, becoming embarrassed of himself. "You'll have to pardon me, Mr. Lyon.", Rod apologized. "It's just that...well...I-I shouldn't say."

"Nah. Go ahead.", Nicky assured. "Ain't this therapy afterall? I thought you weren't suppose to hide anything." Nicky smirked. Rod rolled his eyes.

"I understand that. But it's personal and I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you what I'm going through."

"I won't judge." Nicky grinned. "Let it all out."

Rod shook his head slightly, but couldn't fight a crooked smile from forming on his lips. "If you say so, Nicolas."

"I'm fine with Nicky."

Rod sighed heavily. "Fine, Nicky. You see, my boyfriend cheated on me and I broke off our engagement last week. I kicked him out and that's, and I say this with great regret, when I started to drink and smoke."

"No way!", Nicky gasped.

"Yes. Your new therapist is a fucking homosexual. I told you it was personal and inappropriate, Nicky.", Rod sighed.

"No no! That's ok with me!", Nicky said. "I was talking about you getting cheated on. That must've really cut you deep, man."

Rod blinked his eyes then cleared his throat. "O-oh yes. It very much did."

"I had a breakup last week too."

Rod widened his eyes. "R-really?"

"Yup. I got cancer and my girlfriend leaves me. It sucks to be me." Nicky lay back in the soft couch and sighed. Rod felt sympathy for the green client as he stared at the melancholy expression on his stubby face. God, he looks like he's in dire need of a shave for that 5 o'clock shadow, Rod thought. He doesn't look like he takes care of himself.

However, his heart sank for him and his troubles. "I'm so sorry, Nicky.", the blue psychologist softy said.

"Don't be, uh, Rod? Can I call you that?"

Rod didn't hesitate, and nodded. "I think that seems as equal to call you Nicky instead of Nicolas. Rodney sounds worn out and babyish anyways." Rod grinned. "I did introduce myself as Rod didn't I?"

"That's true.", Nicky proclaimed.

"Why don't you want me to be sorry for you?", Rod asked. "You have what I was assured a rare cancer at the age of 26 and your, pardon me, stupid girlfriend leaves you. If I were you, I'd want as much people to be sympathetic."

"Yeah. Well, that's you.", Nicky said. "I have two problems with me right now and that's 1. A disease I can't even freaking say, and 2. The only woman besides my own mom gives me a big Sucks To Be You by leaving me. The only thing that's happened to you is that your fiancé cheated on you."

Rod didn't say anything. Nicky groaned and apologized. "Rod, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that." Nicky raked his messy dark brown hair in regret.

"It's...ok, Nicky.", Rod said, trying not to sound hurt by the remark. "It's good to feel angery. Part of dealing with cancer is that emotions demand to be felt. That's what this whole thing is about; letting out your emotions."

"I guess so."

Rod then clicked his pen and put the tip to his notepad. "Wanna talk about it to start this first session off, forgetting the sucky introduction?"

Nicky knew this would happen, but...he didn't feel bothered by it anymore. This Rod guy seems legit, plus Nicky knew it would be healthy to get it off his chest. "Sure. Couldn't hurt to blow off some steam."

Nicky smiled. Rod smiled, writing down Session #1 - 9/5 (Nicky) on the lined paper. "Tell me what you're feeling."


*Nicky's last name is based on his original Broadway actor Rick Lyon.

**The J in Rod's middle name and last name is based on his original Broadway actor John Tartaglia.