Chapter 10 Tickles, leaks, drapes what's next?

Spencer.

Mmm, that feels nice, huh? Who's running their fingers through my hair? Wait, last night, Robert let me rest on his shoulder.

Aah, sunlight, wait, that means its morning. Shit, I slept right through and judging by his breathing, Robert did too. This can be really awkward when he wakes up.

"Morning." I spoke to too soon. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks Robert." I sat up off him, trying not to pout at the loss of shared warmth. "Isn't your back hurting?" He has been sitting upright all night.

"Just a little, it'll be ok when I stand up." he sounds like he's slept like this before.

"Hey, morning guys."

"Hey Nicky." It's... nine am; ok that's usually a time everyone gets up, ignore me.

"Where did you sleep?" She obviously stayed over; she's in the same clothes as yesterday.

"Kai gave us all rooms. Oh Spence I finished your t-shirt for you. Looks really good." I forgot about that, oh she's got it there, like Max's but the rings are white and it's navy.

"Thanks. I might wear it today as it goes."

"You might want this to go with it." Robert, what are you... my bandana! He had it in his pocket all yesterday and couldn't- ah who cares I've got it back now.

"Thanks, I was looking for this." I knew exactly where it was.

"Breakfast is ready!" Ray must've got up even earlier to cook; he'd make Bryan a good wife.

"Yay food! Come on Nicky!" One second she's standing in the doorway, next I see and Ian sized blur and Nicky's feet disappearing.

"Ian, let me go before I break my neck!" I better go and save her.

"Coming?" I asked Robert.

"After you." He's such a gentleman.

And I hate it sometimes.

After saving Nicky from Ian, I actually managed to eat some scrambled egg on toast; I told you I'm not a breakfast person.

"Kai, what are we doing today?" Ian always wants to know what we're doing before he decides whether he's going to go willingly. The more I think about what Nicky said to me last night, the more I can see it in Ian.

"Well, Nicky and the Majestics are going back to the castle. Spencer's going to work with Alden again, well I'm assuming so."

"Na, his other part timer's in today." I told him.

"Ok then we are just lounging around." Ian pouted; something tells me he's not going to let Nicky go without a fight.

"Tell you what Ian, how about you and I have a beybattle later?" Mariam's the one he attached himself to before Nicky showed up yesterday. I think Hilary scares him.

"Ok." That's him happy.

"Eek! Ow!" Knee the table why don't you Nicky. What was that all about? She's glaring at Johnny, not good.

"You ok?" Wow, Tyson actually stopped eating.

"Yeah fine, just a certain Scot can't keep his hands to himself." That explains it.

"No hanky panky at the table please." Aw Kai you're no fun.

"Sorry I didn't know she was ticklish." liar, it's written in your face.

Quiet ensued while everyone ate, until Johnny decided to try and tickle Nicky again, she hopped up and ran for the lounge, Johnny after her. This should be fun to watch.

"Johnny don't you dare!" bit late Nicky. Oh, now she's in the garden. "Someone help me!" Na, it's funny to watch.

Johnny's got her and now he's tickling her.

"McGREGOR GET OFF ME!"

"Man she must hate being tickled." Bryan, you evil git. Great now the animals are getting involved.

"Shall we go and help her?" asked Max, looking worried.

"Yeah, she's having trouble breathing cos she's laughing so hard." I've had that feeling, it kills.
We all, even Tyson, got up and went to help her.

"Johnny, let her breathe man. I don't want to phone her parents." Robert, you're acting like a big brother...

And for some reason I find that sweet.

"Killjoy." Johnny, she's turning purple.

"Thanks guys." I reach down an arm and pull her up, she looks totally dazed. "Johnny."

"Yes my sweet." I just want to punch him for looking so smug.

Nicky beat me to it and punched him in the chest, nice one, I think that just rivalled Bryan's swing.

"Don't tickle me again." then she headed inside to catch her breath.

Robert POV - an hour later.

Well this morning was... eventful.

We're back at the castle now, everyone's in their en-suite showers, Johnny's sulking because Nicky won't talk to him.

Gustav told me my mother phoned last night just as I predicted. Great.

Now I'm sitting in my study in some fresh clothes waiting for my mother to pick up the damn phone. Then again she might be asleep.

I could've gone to the Bahamas, but I didn't want to, I wanted to blade. Dad let me stay as long as I had Gustav keep an eye on things.

"This had better be important." She was asleep, good.

"I thought talking to your only son was important." I roll my eyes, mummy dearest was always a bit of a ditz.

"Robert darling, where were you yesterday, Gustav said you had gone out."

Not 'Hello Robert how are you?' it's been a love hate relationship between us, usually hate more than love.

"I was mother, I was with some friends."

"Your beyblade friends I bet, how are the darlings Enrique and Oliver and that little Scot, Jimmy." like you give a monkeys.

"Johnny." I corrected, she always gets his name wrong. "They're fine mother. I'll be sure to send them your regards." yeah right. "So was there a
reason you wanted to call me?"

"Yes there was, it's about time you find yourself a girlfriend." Ah, I didn't tell her I was gay, she'd throw a hiss fit and I don't think I could inflict that on dad.

"I have friends that are girls." I'm really pushing it with mum.

"You know what I mean dear. You need to start settling down."

WHAT!

"Mum! I'm twenty! Put father on I want to talk to him." and make her see sense.

"What is it son?" Dad, finally! "You're not in trouble are you?"

"No dad I'm not, mum wants me to settle down!"

"Maybe your mother was a bit hasty in her words, she only wants you to find a girlfriend." I groaned and flopped onto the desk, ow. "Something wrong son?"

"Yes dad there is, I want to ask you one thing first." I'm getting desperate, I love my dad to bits and I don't want to hurt him. "You'll love me no matter what right?" I just sounded so feeble. I hate myself.

"Of course son, you're worrying me now what's wrong?" Good old Dad.

"I-I...don't have an interest in girls." I will not cry, I'm stronger than this!

"Son?"

"I'm gay dad." I find a piece of leather in the drawer and bite down on it, bracing myself for the dismissal. I feel the tears falling.

"I see." I think he's upset that he's not going to get any grandkids.

"Dad, I know how much you wanted a grandchild, but..." The words just won't come out of my mouth. Wait a sec, he's laughing?

"Oh Robert you still manage to make me laugh, grandkids aren't important." Silence.

"Huh?" I even lifted my head off the desk, only to hit the lamp. "Ow!"

"You ok?"

"Yes, sorry dad, why are you laughing? I always thought-"

"All I ever wanted in life is for my only son to be happy, even if it's with another man." I think I just heard my mother faint, oh well.

"Dad, you don't know how much that means to me." I look for the tissue box, I'm crying again, there isn't one. I leant back to pull the bell to summon Gustav but ended up falling backwards, chair included, luckily the phone's a cordless.

What am I saying? OW!

"Robert what are you doing?"

"Just breaking my neck to find a tissue." I laughed and finally pulled the bell.

"So I take it you've fallen for that Spencer Turanov you told me about. It's his party you're going to soon isn't it?" See, my dad listens, mother doesn't.

"That's him, dad. Just finding out if it's requited."

"That's usually the tricky part."

"Don't I know it." I looked to the side to see Nicky walking in, damp hair, tissue box and two mugs on a tray. I'm still on the floor. "Thanks Nicky."

"Nicky?" Oops, sorry dad.

"Johnny found himself a girlfriend dad. She's like a sister to me." Yes Nicky I know you've only been here twenty four hours but he doesn't know
that.

"Hello Mister Jurgen." she called, I made her blush aww.

"I'll have to meet her sometime and this Spencer."

"Ok dad, I better let you get some sleep. What about mum?"

"She'll get over it." I can just picture him grinning.

"Oh dad the jeep died on me, any suggestions?" I had to tell him.

"Get Gustav to call the mechanics if he hasn't already, he knows who I mean."

"Ok. I will speak to you later dad and thanks."

"Anytime son, Auf Weidersehn."

"Auf Weidersehn." And I hung up and let out a very noisy sigh.

"You look like you could do with a tea, or something stronger." Nicky laughed, setting the mug down on the desk, ah, my Griffolyon one, I better take him out for a spin at some point actually.

Normal POV

"Tea will do just great. Thanks Nick." Robert said as the English teen helped him up.

"Am I really like a sister? I've known you a day." she asked as she set the chair back upright as well.

"And saved my arse a couple of times." Robert held out his arms and gave her a hug.'So this is what being a brother feels like.'

"Thanks Robert."

"Is Johnny still sulking?"

"I punched him in front of everyone, of course he is." she sighed, sitting on he sofa alongside the desk with the other mug. "Serves him right, he knows I hate being tickled."

"He does now anyway." Robert smirked. "So how did you go from having a go at him to look where he's going, to dating him? He told me you were on work experience."

"I was. I had stormed off before he apologised. He kept following me. By the time I got to cleaning out the reptiles he was like 'what can I do to say I'm sorry?' and I'd had enough."

"So you told him where to go?"

"Naturally. But the lizard I was holding got agitated and decided to bite me."

"And Johnny decided to play hero?"

"Of course, and insisted I joined him for dinner, and there was me in muddy boots, dirty uniform and hair all over the place gawking at him as if he was nuts. I've been sceptical about guys since secondary school. But Johnny was different, he actually cared." Her eyes glazed over, lost in memory.

"Why's that then?" Robert sipped his tea as his curiosity got the better of him and he sat down next to Nicky.

"Most of the guys in my year were arse-holes. Thought it'd be funny to try it on with a 'geek'." Nicky rubbed her eyes. "I think I did some of my darkest artwork then." she mused, setting her mug on the floor.

"From what I've seen so far, you are not a geek." he wrapped an arm around her. "Just a high spirited, very creative, very understanding girl."

"Aww thanks Rob." Nicky smiled.

DONG!

"What the bloody hell was that?"

"The doorbell Nicky." said Robert.

Johnny got to the door to see Tyson and the others. Minus Kai, Spencer and Ian.

"Sorry we didn't call, are the others about?" asked Tyson.

"Yeah, head to the ballroom and I'll get the others."

"Nicky forgiven you yet?" asked Ray.

"Can it Kon."

"Obviously not." smirked Bryan.

0o0o0o0

"What seems to be the problem?" Robert asked as he and Nicky walked into the ballroom, Oliver and Enrique behind them.

"The mansion has sprung a huge leak, and all downstairs is totally flooded." said Max.

"How'd that happen?" asked Nicky.

"Old pipe burst." sighed Ray. "And we can't postpone the party because almost everyone is in the city now, so we were wondering Robert, if we could have it here?"

"Of course you can, but..." Robert looked around the room. "It's gonna take a while to decorate this room."

Nicky grinned. "Have you got a basic idea of how you were going to decorate it at Kai's place?"

"Bryan did a sketch. It was mainly different coloured drapes and sparkly bits everywhere."

"I see." Nicky walked around the room, studying the rafters.

"Nicky, the ceiling's not that interesting." said Enrique. Nicky ignored him and turned to Robert.

"Do you have any drapes for this room?"

"You know, I have no idea. I'll go and ask Gustav."

"No need sir, and we have the required drapes, but you mother removed the hoists when she had the room redecorated."

"No problem. Gustav, would it be possible for you or someone to get them?" Nicky asked the butler. Studying the sturdy wooden ring circling the chandelier.

"Of course Miss King." and he left.

"Butlers always amaze me when they do that." said Bryan.

"Me too. Where are Ian and Kai?"

"And Spencer, I thought he had the day off?"

"Spence got called into work, the other guy was ill; Ian found the pipe and Kai's there for the plumber and trying to calm Ian down."

"We need to get everything over here before Spencer gets back to the mansion." pondered Kenny.

"Well I've got my jeep." said Max.

"And I've got Kai's truck."

"He let you borrow that?" asked Robert.

"He's the only one Kai let's drive it other than himself." Tala told him. "Bryan's actually a very responsible driver."

"Max and I'll go and get the stuff then." said Bryan and he and the blond left.

"What are we going to do about the sparkly bits?"

"Depends if Robert doesn't mind glitter and sequins all over the floor."

"The staff gets bonuses when we have a party as they clean it up."

"Sorted." Nicky grinned and left the room.

"Johnny, are you going to apologise to her?" asked Tyson.

"She hit me!"

"You tickled her against her wishes." said Oliver. Johnny looked thoughtful for a moment and followed her out.

Nicky was pulling some overalls on when there was a knock at the door. After allowing entrance she recognised Johnny's foot steps and his arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry about this morning."

"It's ok."

"That it?"

"I don't get weepy over it, I get even, and you know that. Well you should now." she said as she fastened her paint covered overalls.

"You look like a mechanic. A very sexy one." Johnny purred, kissing her neck.

"Johnny please, don't."

"You're not ready I know."

"Thank you." she turned around and kissed him. (A/N; saving the good stuff for the main couple!)

"Let's get back downstairs." said Johnny.

"Hold on." Nicky grabbed a duffle bag that had been resting on her bed and they left the room.

"Uh, loving the Overalls Nicky." Tala raised a brow at the royal blue garment.

"I know ain't they great?" Nicky countered the sarcasm and set down the bag next to the drapes. "Ah, sweet, these are awesome." She counted them, then the rafters. "Ten. I need ten bladers."

"We got eight until-" began Hilary.

"Someone need a pair of bladers?" Max and Bryan had returned.

"Never mind." she finished. "Where's the stuff?"

"Gustav's taken care of it. What do you need us to do Nicky?" everyone loaded their blades and Nicky explained her idea.

Twenty minutes later Tala, Oliver, Mariam, Max, Bryan, Johnny, Ray, Enrique, Robert and Tyson were standing in the corners of the decagon shaped ballroom. Each with a coloured drape tied to their blade and ready to launch.

"Right, I'll say two names, the first launches their blade through the rafters over the seconds head. Ok?" Nicky clarified. Everyone nodded, Hilary and Kenny stood with her in the middle "Right. Robert to Oliver."

Robert launched Griffolyon and sent the pale yellow drape over head, to secure itself around the rafters before the blade landed at Oliver's feet, the rope that was tied to the drape's corner dangling near the centre of the room. Kenny and Hilary then tacked the corners of the cloth's floor end to the wall, so it covered that side.

"Tyson, Mariam." Tyson did the same, his drape blue. Again Kenny and Hilary.

"Tala, Max." Up went an ice blue colour, and in went the tacks.

"Oliver, Bryan. You guys have got good aim." she said as pink filled the air. (You get the gist with Kenny and Hilary.)

"Mariam, Johnny." Up went mint green.

"Max, Ray." Purple soared overhead.

"Bryan, Enrique." over went Gold.

"Johnny, Robert." A fiery orange.

"Ray, Tyson." pristine white.

"And lastly, Enrique to Tala." Lastly, Red. "And that looks flippin awesome, well done guys."

Everyone looked up to see a spiral of colour.

"Have you ever done this before?" asked Tala, calling his blade back to him, as did the others.

"Only once and the ceiling wasn't so high." she said looking around. "Uh... where's the door?"

"Here, where are we tacking this orange one?" asked Hilary.

"I hadn't thought of that." Nicky sweatdropped, looking at the twelve foot door.

"Where's Spencer or Rick when you need them?"

"Wait a second, there's poppers in this Orange one." said Kenny, pulling them apart. They followed the door round. "Hilary, get the other end and tack it in."

"It was lucky we put the orange one by the door then." said Bryan, grabbing Ray and spinning him around.

"Hey, save it for the party lovebirds." Tala called.

Ray mewled as Bryan leant him backwards and kissed him.

"Hem," Robert cleared his throat. "What are we going to do about the sparkles and stuff?"

"I think I'll do that the morning before the party actually."

"And how are you going to do that? This room's huge!" asked Tyson.

"Maybe I'll tell you sometime." smirked the English teen.

"Right, there's only one more thing we have to do before Nicky becomes an honorary part of the team. When I mean team, I mean the big family
which is us." smirked Tala, earning nods from everyone else. It seems they had discussed it after Nicky punched Johnny.

"It's not a dog pile is it?" she braced herself as Robert, Tala, Bryan, Johnny and Ray walked up to her.

"GROUP HUG!" yelled Tyson and Nicky was soon buried in a tangle of arms.

"Thanks guys, means a lot." Nicky's voice was slightly muffled.

"Master Robert." everyone jumped, yet again, when Gustav walked in. "It's Master Hiwatari on the line." and handed over the phone.

"Thanks, hello Kai how's the pipe problem?"

"Bad, bloody pipe's come loose in the attic as well, water everywhere!" Kai growled. "Would be too rude to ask you to for us all to stay for a while until it's all fixed?"

"Not at all, I mean, Johnny shows up unannounced all the time."

"Hey!" the Scot protested.

"Thank you, I would book us all into a hotel but with everyone's antics we'd be thrown out. Especially with Ian and the animals." Kai explained.

"Understood Kai, you're more than welcome, including the animals. It might help with the party here anyway."

"Thank you so much Robert, I'll be over soon."

"Ok Kai. See you shortly." and he hung up. "Looks like you lot are staying here. The upstairs sprung a leak too. I assume Kai's grabbed stuff for everyone."

"We'll need to keep Spencer busy until the party or he'll find out." said Mariam.

"Already sorted. Alden's switching Spencer's shifts with the other part timer. And he's been invited." said Bryan. "And I never thought Kai would be the sort to ask for a place to stay."

"Yeah well, you never know about a lot of things." sighed Nicky, tucking the last rope behind a drape.

"Sound systems concealed in the wall, food can go in the dining room next door... sorted." said Robert, rubbing his hands together.


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