A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Strong Language. Adult scenes.
Miller dreaded getting up the next morning. Nate's rage replaying in his mind. He could still smell the bleach on him. Maybe today would be a day for peace and not war. He went downstairs to find the Diaz brother's making breakfast. "You want this?" Nick asked pointing to Miller's cupboards of cereal. Miller nodded. "I'll do it" Nick said avoiding his little brother's glares. "Don't poison it" Miller said as he went into the living room and turned on the TV. "Pass me a bowl" Nick asked. His little brother got a bowl out and Nick put the cereal in. "Ask him if he wants sugar" Nate asked. The moment Nick went out into the living room, his little brother spat into Miller's cereal and stirred it with a spoon. Nick was none the wiser when he came back. "Yeah" Nick said getting the sugar out of the cupboard and using a tablespoon.
"Just act cool today, okay?" Nick asked his little brother. Nate shrugged. He went out into the living room, and grinned when Miller had his first spoonful of cereal. " Yummy, Nick I'll pay you to make my breakfast every morning" Miller said as he tucked into his breakfast. Nick ran, then went to Jacqui's place. "Morning sunshine " Jacqui said. She was going into work late. When Nick suggested that they meet up wild horses couldn't keep her away. They watched TV with her sister Tina, but it was mostly all kid's show's for her baby on the sofa. Nick was on his phone looking at creams and different ointments for cuts and burns.
"You hurt? Poor Baby" Jacqui said kissing him on the cheek. "Nah, it's for a fighter" Nick said. "They look expensive them" Jacqui said pointing. Money wasn't the issue for Nick. It would be better for everyone if Miller was back on his feet fighting, especially for his little brother. They went up to Jacqui's room and Jacqui put the TV on in the background so that she didn't feel so nervous. "So...umm...me mum's coming back from holiday and she's umm...gonna try to cook, and get the family together...so do you wanna...come?" Jacqui said. "You said it's just family" Nick said. "Yeah but you know most of me sisters know about you now. They blabbed to Mum. She's gonna be on my case about ya" Jacqui explained. "Think about it" She asked. "You can bring Cath and your brother if you want" Jacqui said.
Nick nodded, but didn't promise anything. "Arms Jase, let's get those arms working" Mark shouted. "Mark go easy on me. I'm an injured man" Miller said using the gym equipment. "Keep the forearms up" Mark said. "Let's get that heart-rate going" Mark said. "It's already been going" Miller said. "My mum showed up out of nowhere" Miller told his friend. "By the sound of it, it wasn't a great visit" Mark said. "No...buddy I just wish I could read her mind" Miller said. "Maybe it's just easier to go with the flow" Mark said. "Don't put pressure on yourself Jase" Mark said.
"So Jacqui's family is having some kind of get together. Wanna go?" Nick asked his little brother. "Nah, you know I don't like her" Nate said. "Cath can come too" Nick said. Nate shrugged. "Dunno" He told his brother as he went upstairs to look around in Miller's new clean room. Nate was already back in his room when Miller came back from training. "Mark won't let up" Miller said flexing his arms he walked though the door. Nick was in the living room spinning a tub on the table. "Got you something" Nick said chucking the cream at Miller's hands. "Mmm...a treatment cream for scolds blisters and burns. Essential moisture for the skin with added Aqua Aloe vera" Miller said reading the tub. "No idea what that is, but thanks. I'll pay you later" Miller said. Nick shook his head. "Nah it's cool" "No I've gotta pay my way" Miller said looking for his wallet.
"You know... you could pay me back another way" Nick offered.
"Yeah? Miller asked. "If it involves eating fire or getting a piercing on my dick, then no thanks" Miller said. Nick told him about Jacqui's family get together. "So I'm wingman and a bodyguard?" Miller asked. Nick shrugged. He didn't need Miller's "protection" but he didn't want Jacqui's family to be too awkward around him and asking embarrassing questions. "Free food and non-stop beer" Miller said. "I'm there" Nick called Jacqui up to say that he was coming, and bringing a friend. Miller would liven things up, and be a good distraction for Jacqui's sisters. Later after Nick's invite Miller decided to try Nick's cream out. It stung, it was cold, but Miller decided that if Nick took the time to buy it, he could try it out for a couple of days.
Miller ate dinner in his room and put a towel under his leg. He put a plaster on the creamed knee. If it worked he'd give Nick a high five. The next morning Nate came downstairs to find his brother eating one slice of toast. "Nervous about tonight?" Nate asked. "Nah...Miller's going with" Nick said. Nate looked at his brother startled. "Why are you taking the pet fag?" Nate asked. "Well, you can't make it" Nick said. "I never said that" Nate said making his mind up. "I'm coming too" Nate said. He'd take Cath with him so that Nick wouldn't know that he was keeping an eye on him.
They went to their training camp and Nick was asking Roy Nelson about upper arm exercises. Nate was practising with James Vick who mentioned to him that Justin Lawrence was thinking about joining this camp. Nate told him he thought that it was a cool idea. After training Nick picked Miller up. The moment they got back they were taking their shirts off ready to get a shower for Jacqui's party. "Woah...one at a time...we can all share a shower if you want" Miller said. "Dream on Perv" Nate said going to his room. "Go first" Nick said to Miller, pointing to the bathroom. Miller quickly got a shower, being trying to clean his knee carefully. He got out and Nick called Nate to go straight in.
Cath was there by time they were all changed. "Everyone ready for Jacqui's family?" Miller asked. Nick shrugged and they went to the car. The party was held at Jacqui's place. "Hiya, you alright?" Jacqui asked. She introduced them to most of her sisters. Most of them Nick already knew, Tina was there, Carmel and Michaela, and the prodigal daughter Mercedes, who Nick hadn't seen before but Nate was impressed by. "Hiya" Mercedes said to Nate, but she ignored Cath. "Wanna drink?" She asked. Nate nodded. Cath followed her boyfriend and Mercedes around like a third wheel.
"Help yourself to food and stuff yeah" Jacqui said taking Nick to meet her mum. "Go easy" She told her mum as Jacqui left them alone to Nick's annoyance. "Hiya love, I'm Myra" Jacqui's mum said holding out her hand. Nick shook it and Myra offered him a seat on the sofa. "So Jacqui tells me you're a fighter" Myra said. "You're on TV and that, are you famous?" She asked. Nick shook his head. "Nah" Nick said.
"But fans can buy your gear on the computer right?" Myra asked. "I guess" Nick said. "Can I get you another drink?" Nick asked finding any excuse to get up. "Nah love, you need help selling those T-shirts our Jacqui will help you flog them you know" Nick nodded and went to find his little brother, but he found Cath first. "I can't find him" She said. "Shit" Nick muttered looking for his little brother and Miller.
Nate was outside. The mysterious Mercedes McQueen had dragged him off for a little "private time" and Nate thought it would be rude to say no. His girlfriend was inside, but Mercedes was hot. Talking to a hot girl wasn't illegal. Nate wasn't doing anything wrong...was he? "Our Jacqui's been talking about Nick for a while now" Mercedes said subtly pulling her dress up. "All good stuff?" Nate asked. "Yeah...too good" Mercedes said. "So... you single Nate?" Mercedes asked. "Nah" Nate said feeling a little guilty about it. Mercedes looked around. "She ain't here right now...so that makes ya single mate" Mercedes said touching his arm. Turned on by the dangerous look in her eye Nate moved closer to her.
"Nate! Nick's looking for you" Miller said walking towards him.
"Fuck off Miller" Nate said, shooing him away. Miller went inside, but came face to face with Cath. "Cath...Cathy...Cath-mondo...why don't we try those little sausages on sticks?" Miller said shutting the door. "You said Nate's name out there" Cath said. Miller shook his head. "Cath I didn't say Nate, I said...great, let's try the cookie pudding pops, they'll cheer you up" Miller said blocking her from the door. People started looking at them and Cath pushed Miller away from the door. She opened it and went outside. Nick went to the door and stood next to Miller. What they saw wasn't a pretty sight. Mercedes had her claws into the new and improved "single Nate" Nate and Mercedes were making out until Nate felt eyes on him.
He pulled away from Mercedes and Mercedes turned around to go back to the party but Cath stood infront of her. "You knew he was with me, you slut" Cath said. "Who the fuck are you calling a slut?" Mercedes asked getting in Cath's face. "If your weren't such a crap shag Nate wouldn't have come to me" Mercedes said. Miller separated them and Mercedes stormed back into the house. Cath got in the car and Nick when back inside to tell Jacqui that they had to go. "What? Already?" Jacqui asked. "Ask Mercedes" Miller asked Nick said he'd call her later. Jacqui kissed Nick on the cheek and went back in to confront her sister.
"We should go back in there...Hot Girl-Fight with sisters" Miller said getting into the car. Nate and Cath were silent at the back of the car. Nate mumbled an apology, but she just looked out of the window. They dropped her off and Nate followed her to the door, but she ignored him and told him to stay away. Nate got back in the car and blew up at Miller. "Why the fuck did you go outside?" Nate asked. "You should have left me alone. I saw you by the door you prick. "You didn't fucking stop Cath coming out" Nate said angrily. "I did try" Miller said. "Tried my ass" Nate said as he got on the phone to text Cath "Sorry" a million times.
They got back and Nate went to his room. He heard Miller go to his room and watched Miller go back downstairs. Miller had taken his Jacket off. Nate dug in Miller's pockets looking for the fag's phone. He got it, and noticed that there was one missed call. Nate replayed the message determined to get revenge on Miller for screwing up his night. The message said:
"Hi Jase I know I'm the last person you want to hear from. But I'm still your mom. I was hoping that we could meet up at mine, tomorrow at eight in the evening. I'm being the bigger person here Jase. After the way you spoke to me, I deserve an apology. We have to talk. See you soon"
Nate put Miller's phone in his pocket and told Nick that he was going to Cath's. "Wanna ride?" Nick asked his little brother. "Nah I gotta go alone" Nate said. Instead of Cath's he went to Nolan's place. "Nate, what can I do for you?" Nolan asked leaving the door open. "I need a message changed" Nate said. "You can do that right?" He asked. "There isn't much I can't do" Nolan said. He looked at the make of the phone when a guy came down the stairs. "Nolan, those reports" He said. "Yeah Yeah I'm on it" Nolan said. "I'll have this done by tomorrow. How do you want the message changed?" Nolan asked.
"Some chick wants to meet at eight, change it to nine" Nate said. "No problemo" Nolan said as Nate left Nolan and his "report partner" in peace. Addison was settling down to a peaceful night in with Luann when he heard vicious taps on his door. "Hey...can I have me money now?" Was the question he heard when he opened it. "Ahh Miss McQueen, please come in" Addison said. He told Luann he had to speak to a colleague. He lead the girl into the next room and she sat down and eyed his bottles of wine. "Don't even think about it Mercedes" Addison said. "I want half of what I'm owed" Mercedes said. "I got in Nate's pants in front of his girlfriend. What more do you want?" Mercedes asked.
"What more do I want?" Addison asked. "I want you to be Nate's girlfriend. Mercedes, you're a stunner"
"So?" Mercedes asked taking her coat off.
"So use those looks and that marvellous body of yours. Nate won't be able to resist you. I need another pair of eyes in Nick's place. Little Nate will have a fight coming up soon. He'll need support. Someone to confide in. Nate reveals all to you. Then you reveal all to me" Addison said. "Only then Mercedes will you smell a scent of my hard earned money" Addison said pouring himself a glass of expensive Vintage Apple flavoured wine.
