An Upstate Christmas
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Ch6: Awkward or Great
Mandy woke up and stretched out across Nick's chest as he continued to shook the fuzz from her brain and snook away from Nick's grasp. The house was quiet, so Mandy checked her watch it was 9:39am New Years Eve morning. Her family may have been a late bunch but they were also morning people. Mandy checked her parents' room and nothing, so she moved to the boys' room nothing. Mandy scratches her head and went to kitchen and found a note.
Mandy, your father and I went to the store to get some more food. When we get home I'm going to need your help with cooking and your dad needs Nick's help setting up. The boys will be back around twelve with the kids. If you could pick up a little that will be awesome! Love ya, Ma!
Mandy prepared a cup of coffee and went back upstairs to retrieve her glasses. When Mandy got to bedroom she heard Nick start to stir as he yawned slightly awake. Mandy smiled as her and Nick made eye contact. Nick gave her a sleepy smile as he tucked his hands behind his head. Mandy sat next to him.
"How'd you sleep... Darlin?" Nick asked stretching his stomach and back before putting his hand on her thigh.
"Better..." Mandy said as Nick sat up a little propping himself up on his elbow. Nick took her coffee taking a sip before handing it back.
"What's the plan, Mandy dandy?" Nick said yawning looking at her.
"Well..." she said putting her coffee on the dresser out of the way. "No one is home." Mandy said sticking her hand up under his chest before lightly scratching his side. Nick wiggled a little, taking her hand out from under his shirt.
"Babe, you know I'm ticklish." Nick said, Mandy shot him a lustful look wiggling her eyebrows.
"You couldn't get any cuter." Mandy said moving the blankets and she straddled his hips holding his hands.
"What if your parents come home?" Nick asked sitting up to kiss her.
"They went shopping. They aren't going to be back for a little while." she said holding his face looking at him, as his arms went around her waist.
"And your brothers?" Nick asked as Mandy kissed him.
"There not coming back until noon." Mandy said kissing Nick again before moving to pull his shirt off.
"If your parents catch us, your dad is going to kill me." Nick said kissing her. Mandy smirked in the kiss.
"Elaine, it doesn't look like anyone is up." Eli said as he popped the trunk so they could get to the groceries. Just then Billy pulled, he didn't have any of his kids with him.
"Billy, help your father and I'm going to go wake up Mandy and Nick." Elaine said. Elaine put the door stop at the door so that it stayed open. Elaine scanned the room to see that everything was the same as she left it. Elaine grimaced as she made her way upstairs and saw that the door was slightly opened. Elaine smiled shaking her head, as she opened the door. She turned and saw them asleep and then Mandy rolled over and her mother saw her bare chest.
"Oh my..." Elaine said stumbling as she left, causing Nick and Mandy both to wake.
"Mom!" Mandy squealed as her dad and brother came up the stairs. Nick covered her chest with his arm while trying to shield himself with the blanket.
"What is going on in here?!" Eli yelled as Nick and Mandy both blushed terribly.
"Get out!" Mandy yelled and Elaine finally was able to get her bearing and pushed everyone out.
"I don't even know what just happened..." Nick said yawning loudly.
"Nick?" Mandy said motioning towards his arm around her chest.
"Oh..." Nick said moving his arm.
After that splendid moment the pair got up and started to prepare for the party. Mandy started preparing dips and cooking while Nick went out and shoveled the driveway. Mandy saw Nick, through the small kitchen, just become a nervous wreck as she washed the dishes. Nick had volunteered to shovel the driveway because he thought it would calm his nerves. Mandy watched him check his watch every couple minutes and wipe his face. Mandy wandered why he was so nervous but he was meeting the rest of her family. She still didn't understand why he was still nervous when so far the most important people thought he was good even after their awkward morning.
Elaine watched Mandy watch Nick. Elaine knew why Nick was nervous, after last night Elaine and Eli talked. Elaine was never good at keeping secrets, she was like the woman from Saturday night live.
"Mandy, put this in the oven." Elaine said handing her another tray. Mandy did this and hears Nick come inside, she looks up and sees him struggling to take his sweater off.
"Nick..." Mandy chuckles going over to help him. Then she realized the trouble he was having was because he was sweaty. "Babe, why are you so sweaty? Relax." she said holding his face. Nick smiled and nodded.
"I'm going to get a new shirt." Nick said giving her an awkward smile.
As the day carried on and more and more of her family arrived Mandy started to have mixed feelings. Mandy knew she had to tell Nick tonight, she planned on telling him when the ball dropped to surprise him and her family but then she didn't want Nick to feel slighted. Then she thought maybe after the party but what if they wanted to announce it together. Her mind just went crazy and seeing her family members just made her mind dance more.
Mandy was able to sneak away and looked out the window as the sun started to set. She saw the kids engaging in a snowball fight with Nick in the center of it. Nick stopped and waved to Mandy but he got hit in the chest with a snowball.
Throughout the night Mandy's family had greatly warmed up to Nick. Her grandmother had been chasing him around with her walker and would pinch him. Nick had been hiding from her for the majority of evening. When Nick wasn't hiding her grandmother he was talking football with her uncle who just so happened to be a Dallas fan as well.
"What are you boys talking about?" Mandy asked snaking an arm around his waist.
"Good ol' American football, little Mandy... But you ain't too little anymore are you?" her uncle chuckled elbowing Nick in the chest. "I'm going to go get another beer, you want one?" he asked, Nick nodded no as did Mandy. "whatever." he chuckled leaving.
"He hasn't stop talking since he's came over here." Nick chuckled pulling Mandy close.
"You can have a beer if you want on?" Mandy said looking up at him.
"I'm fine, babe. Thirty minutes 'til the new year, you ready?" Nick said smiling at her. Mandy moved and sat on the sofa and Nick sat next to her.
Elaine and Eli watched her daughter and possible son in law sit on the couch. Elaine thought that if they could just see how they have both been acting like nervous nellies all day and realized that every time they talked and were around each other how there nervousness was replaced by giddiness. Eli could see it too as he put his arm around Elaine.
"Our little girl is all grown up. She has a great job, a guy who loves her, and they're going to have a gorgeous baby. We made some gorgeous kids." Elaine teased, Eli chuckled.
"This is going to be a big night. Let me record it on my phone." he said taking out his phone.
"Two minutes!" Matthew yelled as everyone gathered in the living room. Mandy felt Nick move away as he stood up, Nick remained holding her hand. Mandy then stood up as well as Nick continued to tug on her arm a little.
"Nick?" Mandy said quietly as Nick led her to the middle of the room. Everyone looked at them as they circled around leaving a spot so they could still see the TV. "Nick?" Mandy asked again and Nick turned to face her.
"Mandy..." Nick said his voice shaky, as he began to sweat again and his hands shook. "I love you. I've loved you for a while now, and you bring out the best in me. You make me smile and laugh after a rough day, and I love being around you..." Nick said, swallowing hard. He had everything planned out of what he was going to say but he had forgotten all of it. Mandy smiled at Nick, and Nick dropped to one knee and Mandy immediately covered her face as her eyes started to well up with tears. Nick smiled up at her as his own eyes got a little glassy.
"I'm pregnant!" Mandy yelped, and Nick's face fell.
"What?" Nick asked shocked but remaining on one knee.
"I'm pregnant." Mandy said again quietly, she felt Nick pull his hand away as she squeezed her eyes shut. She felt his hand then go to her stomach, and opened her eyes to see Nick smiling big and goofy. Nick pulled the ring out of his pocket as her nieces and nephews started to tiredly count down. Mandy squealed in an excitement as she put her hand over Nick's that was still on her stomach.
"Will you marry me?" Nick stuttered looking up at Mandy.
"You sure?" Mandy whispered squeezing the hand on her stomach.
"Even more, then before." Nick said smiling. Mandy nodded and Nick slid the ring on, and everyone around them erupted in cheers.
"I love you so much." Mandy said pulling Nick into a kiss as the ball dropped signaling for the New Year. Nick hugged Mandy lifting her off the ground.
"I love you, too." Nick said his accent nice and thick just the way Mandy liked it.
I thought let's make it a little awkward then sweet. What did you think? I was thinking let me write a sweet fic because my next story is not going to be very sweet especially for Nick. What did you think? N&M all the way! Please Review!
