Author's Note: I know, I know. Don't shoot. It's been so long. This is also very rusty. I know that, too. At least I got it out. I hope you guys enjoy it…if anyone still keeps up with these…I don't know. I wrote because I finally have a bit of time a) and b) because I read CoffeeWritingAddiction's newest fics and I was reminded of this fandom and how cute Nichorello is together, and how much I enjoyed writing them. Reviews are always welcome! (This takes place 5 years after the last one-shot I wrote and is obviously then post-prison). "Baby, We're Doing Alright"
His curls were shorter now. Almost too short, in his momma's opinion, but Nicky thought they looked just fine. Baseball season meant that awkward cross over from spring to summer and that was heat, and a lot of it, especially when being active was involved.
Besides, Carmine was ten now. He didn't need those floppy curls. He didn't need to refer to Nicky as mommy anymore, and as it went, Nicky barely blinked when one day, out of the blue, he'd thanked his mom instead of his mommy as he took his brown bagged lunch out the door and off to school.
Lorna however, cried the equivalent of a tsunami, which became two the day their five-year-old daughter was sent to kindergarten. This, by the way, was the same fucking day. She couldn't believe it. Fuck the school system. And fuck Stevie Nicks for singing that damn song about children getting older while reminding her beautiful wife about her less-than-beautiful wrinkles.
There wasn't a long enough day in existence for Nicky to spoon the pain away in their gorgeous bed, one that gave those prison futons so much flack. Jesus, every day she was thankful for being out of that hell hole.
Even on a day like today. Their babies were in school, and Nicky's baby was busy with bake sale bullshit, but she liked it, and if Nicky ever called it bullshit in front of her…well, maybe then prison might be a better alternative.
In the years they've been out, Nicky's noticed a change in her. Bolder and brighter, and it turns out this is possible, because Lorna Morello gives Abigail Breslin a run for her money, and she's experimental too. New lipsticks – more chocolates, less red, and it really works. It really, really, works.
Nicky wrapped her arms delicately around her wife's waist and pressed her cheek against her shoulder blades. She hummed softly, gently kissing the nape of her neck.
"What are you making there, Ms. Dolly?"
Lorna let the spatula she was using fall against the stainless bowl and turned around in her embrace. She smiled at her before leaving a chaste kiss against her bottom lip, if it was sloppiness or the art of seduction, she wasn't clear. Either way, she'd roll with it.
"Chocolate chip cookies; you know that Gattino's sporting team is having a bake sale to raise money for their tournament."
Nicky smiled. "It's baseball, love. And you know how much our little slugger hates when you call him Gattino in front of his friends."
Lorna sighed. "I know. It's just…he's growing up too quick Nicky and Chessie is too – "
She shook her head, grazing her lips against Lorna's hairline. "Babe. Come on, Chessie is five years old. Carmine is ten. If they were cats, they'd only be on their first out of nine lives."
Lorna sniffled and Nicky rubbed her arm, kissing her cheek, now. "They're not cats, though."
"Oh, but they could be. Who knows if Daddy Number One and Daddy Number Two were trustworthy about their pasts? We know Daddy Number One was most definitely not."
Lorna hit her shoulder in response and gave a bubbly laugh. Even as she said 'that's not funny, you jerk' Nicky had a hard time believing her. See, brighter.
Nicky initiated a kiss, and another, then one more that turned into something infinite; as Lorna wrapped her freckled arms around her neck and the sun – the giver of those adorable fucking freckles, streamed vibrantly through the window - listen to this shit, was she a poet now?
She shrugged, the motion all but throwing her entire body into the kiss. She was when she was making out with Lorna Morello. And that was more than fine. Nicky laughed into her wife's mouth. Just as long as she didn't have to go to that slam poetry shit. It gave her the creeps, honestly.
Their kissing went on for another minute or two before it was interrupted. A door slams. How cliché. And it broke Nicky's heart because damn were things getting good.
Unfortunately, in the real world, when someone entered the room they had to stop kissing. It was courteous or some shit. They never had to on the inside.
It was probably because everyone was gay or converted – because it was a woman's prison and people would get pretty fucking lonely. In fact, Nicky prided herself on more than her fair share of such conversions; she was thelesbian Jesus, was she not?
Nobody had to watch themselves. It didn't make anyone uncomfortable. Honestly, a lot of the time it did the complete opposite. Not out here. And that, Nicky thought as she rolled her eyes and reluctantly parted from Lorna, taking a string of saliva with her (they'd gotten stupid sloppy and she'd bare no apologies, it was hot) sucked a big one.
That is, until she took notice that the intruders on their fun were no other than her two beautiful children. And one was crying. Oh dear god in heaven.
Nicky quickly folded their daughter into her arms, holding her until her wails turned to snivels and her snivels disappeared completely. Then she let her go, but the little girl stayed where she was, allowing her mom to gently pull and undo those braids in her hair, letting those lion's curls bound free. Her baby – their baby – was pale and gangly and had hair that was impossible to tame, but she was beautiful. Something her own parents never told her growing up, and Nicky never let one night go without a kiss to her forehead and a 'goodnight beautiful baby' whispered into her ear.
Right at this moment though, Nicky hugged her as close as she could to her chest and shushed her repeatedly, rocking back and forth in place. Smoothing her hair back and kissing her forehead she sighed.
"Oh, my beautiful baby, what happened? Don't cry."
Lorna was off to the side with Carmine, who was watching his sister intently, already solid in his stance as the big brother/protector. It was very sweet. Beside him was his friend – a schlep who had on a backwards baseball cap with red, curly hair sticking out of the back and blue, blue eyes. This boy looked equally concerned, which almost made Nicky take back her schlep comment.
Lorna was whispering to her son, and this time he didn't shrug her off when she called him Gattino, instead, he just nodded at her sadly, looking quite close to tears himself.
Francesca Naomi Nichols-Morello was their baby, named after Lorna's sister, whom Lorna adored, and Nicky mildly tolerated. Love was a funny thing. Made you do stupid stuff. Like naming your child after a person you would rather never see again if you had it your way.
"Come 'ere. Come 'ere Chessie, sweetheart," Lorna called softly, and the little girl obeyed, leaving her mom's arms in a reluctant flourish of tears and snot to snuggle into her momma's.
Naming their daughter Francesca came with one condition: they were not calling her Franny for short. No way. And Lorna conceded so Chessie is what stuck.
Nicky had a difficult pregnancy, especially near the end, and it was hard. She'd felt rough towards the end and it lingered for awhile, but then there was a hump and she got over it. This was her family. And this precious little baby, this baby girl, looked just like her. She couldn't abandon her.
Nicky wanted to ask Lorna what had happened, ask what's gotten Francesca so upset but she couldn't do it. Not with Chessie so close. Luckily, big brother Carmine, their responsible and sweet little boy was able to fill in the blanks for her.
"Mom, you gotta promise not to freak out, but…uh…at school…people were calling Chessie some pretty awful things. I mean, for five-year olds, you know, like – um – doody head and stuff and hitting her. I don't know. But she's really upset. We gotta help her."
Nicky grimaced, clenching her fists. "Damn right we gotta help her."
She patted Carmine on the head and went over to Lorna and Francesca, telling him to follow. He did.
"Hey there, my beautiful baby. I heard some mean little psychos were picking on you at school today? Is that right?"
Francesca looked up at Nicky and Carmine, bit her lip and nodded. Lorna continued to silently stroke her hair in comfort. "Mhm."
Nicky grumbled to herself. Her little girl looked so heartbroken. It was making her lose faith in the goodness of humanity.
"I'm gonna sucker punch those little – "
Carmine put a steadying hand on her arm and gave her a look. For a ten-year-old he was wildly perceptive, and it surprised her more times than not.
"Sorry, babe. I – uh – I mean we gotta get those kids to apologize. Tomorrow. Okay?"
Francesca nodded. "Okay."
Nicky nodded too and grabbed her cheeks in her palms, fighting the urge to squeeze that beautiful baby fat that still hangs on. She looked straight into her eyes, dark and lovely, framed by enviously long lashes. One blink. Two.
"Chessie…I want you to know that you are worth it, okay? No matter what those kids say, you are not a doody head or a booger-eater or whatever. You are so great. You and your brother both are the best kids Momma and I could ever even ask for. Is that our doing, maybe? Sure. But it's also you, my beautiful girl. You are kind. You are sweet. You are gentle and funny and loving and every other freaking adjective under the sun."
Francesca nodded. It was a lot for that little brain to comprehend and maybe she wouldn't understand just yet. But she would. As she gets older. At Carmine's age. Or before. But hopefully as soon as possible. Bullies, no matter how small, are never going to run her life.
If Nicky teaches her nothing else as a mother she needs to teach her this: that she is loved. That no person is going to run her out of town. Nobody was going to step on her, take advantage of her. None of that.
Nicky could see that Lorna was trying to wipe away her tears. This damn woman. She smiled.
"Group hug."
Lorna brightened, taking their daughter and pulling her even closer. Nicky pulled Carmine against her, kissed the side of his head and extended her other hand to Chessie and squeezed.
She and Lorna? They were going to kick ass at this whole parenting gig. They already were. She knew that. It was just nice to get a reminder like this sometimes. They were still doing alright.
Author's Note: So? Yes? No? Review, I could use some of those :)