Christmas Spirit
Nico woke up later on Christmas morning since he sent Celeste back to her place since he was still mad at her and wasn't expecting April. When he walked out of his room that was located right off of the living room he was surprised to see his sister waiting for him.
"Hi. Merry Christmas." she greeted but he didn't even acknowledge her. He walked right into the kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee. "I just made coffee."
Nico simply took the coffee and poured down the sink and opted to start a new pot. She sighed as she walked into the very small kitchen area and tried to get him to look at her. He walked around her and grabbed milk from the refrigerator and walked around her again to grab a mug.
"Come on you can't ignore me forever." She pointed out.
"Why? You can lie to me constantly." Nico pointed out.
"Why are you so mad? Don't you like Phil?" April asked him.
"You call him Phil now?" Nico snorted. "It's not that I don't like him- I don't like the idea of you two. I don't like that my best friend was screwing my sister under my roof, I don't like that you both lied about it, I don't like the person you've become to be honest."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" April asked him.
"It means ever since you got close to your boss and started sleeping with him and changing your appearance you've become a different person." Nico told her. "You used to be so independent and honest and innocent and now you're become one of those girls and I hate that."
"Are you calling me a slut?" April asked placing her hands on her hips offended by the remark.
"If the shoe fits April." Nico shrugged.
"How dare you." April spat. "I've only been with two men my entire life and before Celeste our loft was a revolving door for all the waitresses and strippers you slept with!"
"I didn't go searching those women out alone." Nico informed her. "Colt, Cliff and your new boyfriend were right there."
"I don't care about the past." April told him. "All I know is that you should be happy I'm with someone that respects me."
"At the expense of my friendship?" Nico laughed. "You don't mind that you've ruined a ten year friendship?"
"How did I ruin your friendship?" She asked him. "Why do you hate the idea of us so much?"
"Because you two aren't even going to last that's why." Nico said to her. "Then Punk going to stop coming around and things are going to be weird. Also us guys we talk about the women we're with I don't want to hear about how my sister is in bed." he said disgusted.
"Why are you so convinced we won't last?" April asked him.
"Why are you so convinced it will?" Nico questioned. "Punk gets restless I mean the guy took off for a few weeks just a month ago! He gave up on wrestling, then he got back into it, then he decided her wanted to do it again-"
"He's just trying to clear his mind." April insisted.
"That's the kind of guy you want to build a future around?" Nico snorted. "He's a great friend but he sucks at relationships. He's so closed off and doesn't talk about his family-"
"He talks to me about it." She informed him. "That's kind of how this all started. We got locked in the stock room at the comic shop-"
"Don't won't to hear it." Nico warned her.
"It's not like that." She argued following him out of the kitchen and grabbing his arm so he'd listen to her. "He had a panic attack he was trapped in that room and he was thinking of the fire." she confided and Nico's face finally softened. "And I kissed him. He left a few weeks ago to avoid me for you! He didn't want to start this up for your sake."
"So you pushed him into it? He told me the same story last night except it was him pushing you." Nico snorted. "Maybe you two are perfect for each other, you both just lie constantly."
"Be mad at me." April insisted. "I won't ruin your friendship." she promised.
"You already have." Nico said to her. "Hope you sleep well at night."
"Do you even want me here anymore?" April asked him. "Are you always going to be this cruel to me? Because I'll leave."
"Leave and go live with Punk? No." Nico laughed. "You can stay here and you know what? Date the guy, marry him, cheat on him, dump him I don't fucking care just don't flaunt your relationship in my face." he warned her. "I was nice and didn't hit him last night but if I walk in this house and see him mounting you on my couch I'll kill him."
"I make good money I can leave on my own and get my own place." She told him.
"Oh really?" Nico laughed. "You've never paid a dime of rent here before you have no idea how expensive it could be to live on your own."
"I'll figure it out." she said to him. "I was really hoping you were going to say that you wanted me here to stay."
"No, you know what? It's for the best you go." He lied. "I need more space and we're both getting older and should just live on our own. You can learn a lot without me around."
"What did you think I did when you left home for so many years?" April asked him. "You think it was easy for me to stay home and take care of dad alone? That's really who you're turning into. A big bully and I won't do it again."
"Don't compare me to him I hate when you do that." He warned her.
"I'd go out with friends and come home then he'd call me the town tramp. Then he'd tell me I was his favorite child and then after enough scotch I was a bitch." She told him. "I won't live like that again. I'd rather be alone."
"So go April I won't fight you." He said to her.
"I knew you'd be upset but I didn't think you'd be willing to trash our entire relationship." April said to him.
"I'm not but maybe the space is what we need to salvage it." he said to her.
"Don't lie. You just can't stand the sight of me." April frowned. "And that makes me incredibly sad. I'm going to pack some things up so I'm out of your way for now I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable in the home I've never contributed to." she said holding back tears and ran up the stairs to her room.
Nico closed his eyes and mentally kicked himself. The last thing he wanted was his sister gone...
Punk was spending the better part of Christmas morning working out. He was doing pull ups on the bar that hung in the doorway of his bathroom. He heard a soft knock at the door and dropped to the floor to reveal April who had a bag in her hand.
"He threw you out?" Punk asked stunned.
"No. I volunteered to leave he just didn't stop me like I had thought he would." April admitted stepping into his place. "Do you mind letting me crash here until I get a place?"
"Of course you can stay as long as you want." he said closing the door.
"I think he's more mad at me." April said to him dropping her bag to the floor.
Punk took a seat in the one chair he had in his place and April sat on his lap and let out a sigh.
"He's becoming our father more and more each day." April said to him.
"I wouldn't see that. He's just upset." Punk reasoned.
"He called me a slut." April told him and he frowned.
"He said what?" Punk asked hoping he misheard.
"Don't worry he implied you were one too." She said to him.
"He'll come around." Punk promised her kissing the side of her head.
"If we aren't even living together anymore it will be so easy for him to avoid me." April sighed.
"Want me to talk to him again?" Punk offered.
"No." She said quickly. "This is my problem I'll deal with it."
"It's kind of my fault." he pointed out.
"I'm so sick of our relationship being this bad terrible thing." April said to him. "It's no one's fault. They should just be happy that we're happy."
"I don't want this to ruin your Christmas." he said to her. "You should go down to the restaurant and celebrate with them anyway."
"Not without you." She said to him. "And I don't think either of us will be very welcome." she smirked.
"So we'll stay in." he said to her. "I'll take you out to dinner." he offered. "Anywhere you want to go."
"It doesn't matter to me." She said resting her head on his shoulder sadly. "As long as I'm with you nothing matters."
"I don't have a tree or anything here." he pointed out.
"Don't need one." She said to him simply.
"No good food, no tree, no more presents- sounds like a lame Christmas for you." he noted.
"Again as long as I'm sitting here with you I'm happy." she assured him. "We can watch some movies and just order in."
"That sounds awesome." He smirked.
Nico was at the restaurant with the small gathering of friends but wasn't in the mood to mingle. He was secretly hoping both April and Punk would push their way in.
"You need to apologize." Celeste said walking over to him.
"For what?" Nico asked. "What the fuck did I do?"
"You overreacted. You don't want April out of the house, she's the only family you have." Celeste reminded him. "You don't want Punk out of your life either you love him just as much as you love April. So what if they're dating? Did April freak out when we started dating?"
"No." Nico agreed quietly. "Do you think I'm like my dad?" he asked her almost sadly
"I didn't know your dad." Celeste reminded him. "But from the stories I've heard from you and April I'd say no."
"I'm sitting here drinking the same scotch he used to drink and I talked down to April earlier." Nico pointed out. "She's right."
"So change yourself." Celeste suggested. "I know what a great loving guy you are and so does April."
"Why did she lie to me?" Nico asked. "Why did you all hide this from me?"
"We thought you'd kill Punk." Celeste admitted.
"Because I beat the shit out of Daren Prince who was disrespecting my sister? I wouldn't put my hands on my best friend like that unless he did something to actually hurt April." Nico said to her. "I've never hit anyone unless they've hurt April actually. I hit my dad once." he admitted. "April was so young and my dad whacked her right across the face. I was 17 and she was 9, I hit him and kept hitting him. When I was younger and we'd raise a hand our dad would drag us to the stove and turn on the burner and dangle our hand over it. "
"You do realize that Punk wouldn't hit April." Celeste reminded him. "He's nuts about her. You know he's a good guy and all that bullshit about him not having money or a good job- is exactly that. You should be happy she's with someone like him. He's literally dropped everything for her and that was before they were even dating."
"What do you mean?" Nico asked.
"The night after the fundraiser Punk was supposed to leave on that trip and didn't when April called him and the only reason Punk came back a few weeks ago was because Cliff called him and told him that April needed him. Amy dumped him for it. She trusts him and he loves her."
"He told me that last night too." Nico said to her. "What if this goes south? I lose my best friend?"
"What do you call this now?" Celeste asked. "Even if you make amends with him but don't with April he won't be around. I mean it's Christmas and they're not here and that's on you not them. They're a package deal now. Clearly if she's willing to move out she's willing to do anything for him."
Punk and April were watching an old black and white horror film and munching on Chinese food when someone knocked at their door. Punk opened the door and saw Nico standing outside.
"Hey." Nico said forcing a smile the best he could.
"Hello." Punk said a little colder. He was not a fan of Nico calling April a slut.
"I'm assuming my sister is here." Nico said to him.
"She is." Punk nodded. "But if you're going to come in here and call her a slut again you can leave."
"Protective." Nico smirked. "Good." he looked at Punk and let out a large breath. "I want to talk to you both actually, can I come in?"
Punk stepped aside reluctantly and let Nico in.
"What are you doing here?" April asked getting off the bed.
"Chinese food?" Nico asked scrunching his nose. "That's your Christmas dinner?"
"We're happy with it." April said folding her arms and standing next to Punk.
"Ease up." Nico smirked. "I'm here to apologize to both of you and invite you to the restaurant with everyone else."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" April asked curiously.
"I was shocked last night." Nico said to them. "I was never expecting to find my best friend fondling my sister at Christmas dinner."
"Fair." Punk admitted. "And I apologize for that." he forced out causing April to crack a smile.
"I don't want this relationship to effect my relationship with either of you and if you promise me that no matter what happens between the two of you that we'll all still be cool I'll...I'll adjust to this all."
"Do you mean that?" April asked him. "Or did Celeste just bully you down here?"
"She did bully me." He admitted. "But she was right. I don't want to be like dad and I don't want you to move out either." he said to her. "Come to the restaurant and come home after."
"It's up to April." Punk said to him and looked at her.
"The Chinese food isn't that great." she admitted and Nico smiled.
"I made lasagna." He teased.
"That just happens to be my favorite." April mumbled looking at her feet. "I guess."
"Good." Nico smiled. "Also we didn't exchange gifts I got you for secret Santa." He said to Punk. "But I think the gift of my sister is good enough."
"I'm sure Phil would agree." April smirked grabbing her bag.
"Phil." Nico shivered. "Fucking weird. Not even Amy called you that."
"Amy isn't April." Punk said simply.
Everyone was happy to see Punk, April and and Nico arrive at the restaurant together and with the secret out it was like this tension filled weight had been lifted off of everyone. Amy wasn't at the Christmas gathering which made April feel better because she had yet to talk to her about everything. But right now April was basking in the joy of everyone being in one place and happy. Punk took April back to her loft and helped her unpack before joining her in bed for one last Christmas celebration.
"Doesn't it feel good that everything is out in the open?" April asked Punk as they laid in bed cvered in sweat.
"Yea I mean for me it does you still have to tell Nico about your book." Punk reminded her.
"Crap I forgot." she said to him. "But if he can get over this he can get over that."
"One thing at a time I guess." Punk chuckled. "I should get out of here."
"You don't have to sneak off." April said to him. "We're not a secret. We're a legitimate couple now."
"You know uh- I've been thinking about what your brother has said about me not having money and working in a shop-" he started.
"Don't even think about that." April sighed curling into his body.
"I have money." He informed her. "I have a lot of money actually."
"You what?" she asked with a laugh.
"The house, the fire, my parents had insurance. It's all been sitting in the bank and collecting interest and now it's double what it was." Punk confided. "I just don't touch it unless it's necessary."
"Why don't you use it?" she asked him. "And why haven't you told anyone before?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I don't really need money I'm only telling you this so you don't ever have to worry. I'm not just a guy who lives paycheck to paycheck I just choose to live that way."
"Money has never been my concern." April said to him. "You didn't have to tell me and you don't have to touch that money. I'm not a gold digger."
"I know I just want you to know I'm not a complete waste. I'm good for something." he smirked.
"You're good for a lot." She smirked kissing the side of his chin, the only place she could reach.
April rolled over so her back was to him and felt him wrap his arm around her and kiss her bare shoulder.
"I can't believe how good things are right now." She admitted happily as he continued to kissed over her shoulder. "New job, best boyfriend who is actually a secret millionaire." She teased and he laughed against her shoulder. "Nico is ok with everything, I got the best presents- it's good to be April."
"It's good to be in April." Punk corrected.
"You want to go again?" She smiled shyly.
"I always want to go." he smirked.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked him.
"I like to wait for consent." he smirked and then pushed into her from behind.
"Ugh." she groaned as her eyes rolled back in ecstasy...
The next morning April woke up early to shower and get ready for work. She kissed Punk goodbye which was the only reason he woke up at all. After jumping in April's shower and putting on his clothes from last night he wandered downstairs and saw Nico sitting at the counter drinking coffee.
"Fucking weird." Nico had to admit looking away from his paper briefly.
"I was going to leave last night but I fell asleep." Punk said to him.
"Coffee is hot." was all Nico said to him and Punk accepted the offer to grab a cup. "I meant to ask last night but I didn't want to in front of April, how is Amy handling all of this?"
"I don't know I haven't really spoken to her since she got back." Punk said to him. "I imagine she's not too surprised."
"I guess I was the only surprised one." Nico snorted.
"Colt seemed pretty surprised." Punk told him and Nico shrugged.
"He's always last to know." Nico chuckled. "Also for New Years this year Colt is going away and Cliff is working the restaurant, Celeste and I were going to go to this big party at the Manor hotel. She got tickets from a client."
"Swanky party." Punk noted.
"We have two extra tickets and we wanted to invite you and April." Nico almost painfully forced out.
"We or just Celeste wanted to invite us?" Punk smirked.
"I was planning on bribing April into bringing her mystery boyfriend when we first got the tickets." Nico admitted. "I suppose you're not much of mystery anymore."
"You don't have to force this." Punk insisted. "I know you're still not on board with this."
"I'm trying to be so come to the fucking party." Nico smiled almost too sweetly.
"I'm sure April will be on board with it sure." Punk agreed.
"I don't even want to go. It's going to be uptight rich people throwing around money and being assholes so I figure this could be payback for sleeping with my sister." Nico joked but was actually pretty serious about it.
"You know I love those types of people." Punk forced out.
"Well we can suffer together I can't think of a better way to bring in the New Year." Nico said to him. "You know what would be weird? If you married April then we really became brothers."
"Marriage." Punk laughed. "You're about four years ahead of us."
"Just saying." Nico shrugged. "You're not getting younger. Oh if you had kids I'd be the uncle."
"You're making me sweat." Punk warned him.
"Well at least you didn't think she was pregnant by Daren Prince." Nico shot at him.
"I'm still waiting to bump into him on the street one day." Punk said to him bitterly. "I should have decked him when I had the chance."
"I did it for the two of us. But he's a pussy and would probably sue you." Nico warned him. "The more I think about it the happier I am that she didn't end up with him and ended up with you."
"That's a way to look at it." Punk said to her.
"I just hope you two actually leave the bedroom and you take her out properly." Nico said to him.
"I take her all of the time." Punk said to him. "I took her to see her favorite musical that made me want to rip my ears off, I took her to the tree lighting, we went ice skating-"
"Wow." Nico said surprised. "I can't believe I never fucking caught on. So those nights she was helping you out at the comic shop?"
"We were on dates." Punk confirmed.
"That's good to know." Nico admitted quietly.
"And don't worry I also open doors for her and pull out her chair." Punk added sarcastically.
"I've never had the chance to grill one of her boyfriends cut me some slack." Nico defended.
"Like I told you, April is in excellent hands with him. You've always trusted me to look out for her before now it's no different if anything I'm more protective." Punk told him.
"Alright." Nico said to him. "She came down those steps skipping and singing so I know she's happy and I know you're going to make sure she stays that way because my last 'brotherly' warning is if you hurt her- I hurt you."
"I'd expect nothing less." Punk said to him.
A/N: Preview to future chapters:
-Daren Prince
-Book reveal
-The most epic/heated brother/sister fight in history
-April & Nico's father
-New Years Eve party
-Wrestling
-and a lot more ;)
