Fishin' (Open to Nate)

[shield_topdog]

Nick opened the fridge and removed a six pack of beer and placed the bottles in the cooler at his feet. He looked down at the six bottles in the cooler and took out another six pack. He removed another six pack from the fridge and placed the bottles in the cooler with the other two. He removed some left over pasta and placed the container in the

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[nate_dayspring]

Nate finished scribbling a note and left it under the bottle of gingerale on the table next to the bed. He'd mentioned doing this to Dom earlier, but it helped to remind her. And quietly.

He edged quietly away from the sleeping woman and the room, glancing back once. She was sound asleep, and as bad a person as it made him, he was glad.

He needed alcohol. LOTS of alcohol. He needed to cope with the news they'd had, and right now, he hadnt' even really thought about it.

Sighing, he entered the coordinates Nick had left and bodyslid. He ended up about ten feet from the pond, facing Nick.

"Fury."

[shield_topdog]

"Dayspring," Nick nodded. "Grab a beer, a pole and a seat," Nick said nodding toward each item.

[nate_dayspring]

Nate made a beeline for the cooler, pulled a bottle out and belted it, quickly. He finished it, set the bottle down and chugged a can. He was halfway through the third before he slowed down enough to eye the folding chairs didainfully.

"Is that even going to hold me?" He frowned a second later. "Sorry. ...bad week."

[shield_topdog]

"It should," Nick replied. "That bad that yer puttin' back beers faster than Logan?"

[nate_dayspring]

"Yes."

Nate sighed and dropped into the chair anyway. It creaked ominiously, but held. The water was pleasantly calm in front of him. On another day, in another mood, it would be comforting.

"Got some news. Well, I got it a few weeks ago, but haen't really had time to... process. This is me processing. Beer, please."

[shield_topdog]

Nick fetched another beer from the cooler and handed it to him.

"Gonna share, or ya just gonna keep guzzlin' my beer? Anythin' I can help with?"

[nate_dayspring]

"Yeah, I'll share. I just.. haven't said it out loud to anyone else yet." He sighed and took a quick sip from the new can. "No, you can't help with it. It just kind of is."

He stared down at his lap. "Dom's pregnant."

[shield_topdog]

Nick froze for a moment and then smiled. He gave Nate a hard slap on the back. "Congratulations, my friend."

[nate_dayspring]

Nate grunted and continued glaring at the water. "Yeah. It's not exactly good news, Nick."

[shield_topdog]

"It ain't exactly bad news, Nathan. Once ya get over the shell shock from the news, you'll come 'round."

Nick took a long pull from his bottle of beer.

"Parenthood's a scary thing, an' worryin' about how t' protect 'em will burn a hole in yer gut, but once ya hold 'em in yer arms, ya realize it's all worth it."

He took another drink.

"How's Dom takin' the news?"

[nate_dayspring]

Nate shrugged. "I raised a son, Nick. Raised him and lost him. I didn't want to do this again. Ever."

He shook his head and laughed, mirthlessly. "I even had a viscectomy twice. Twice, to prevent this. Bright Lady, Nick, I don't want to lose another kid."

He slugged the last of his fourth beer and leaned back to stare at the sky. "She's scared out of her mind, and probably doing this not because she wants to but because she thinks I want it. We are so fucked up, Nick."

[shield_topdog]

Nick sighed. "I can understand that. I didn't want t' do this after how I messed up with Mikel. Last thing I wanted was messin' up another one. Three in this case. But ya might want t' look at it in a different way. Think of it as a second chance. A chance t' get things right this time 'round. 'Sides, things are different now. Different environment, different people involved, an' all that jazz. Things won't be the same."

Nick passed him another bottle.

"Ya ain't gonna lose another one. Enough o' us around will help ya make sure of that."

Nick fished another bottle out for himself.

"Did ya talk to her about how ya feel about it an' what ya want?"

[nate_dayspring]

Nate sighed. "I know a lot of that. Rationally, this child will be fine. It's got family, especially now that Scott's gone back to the normal crazy, rather than the Sepford Emma-fucking thing he's been. Things are a lot different, but that's not the point right now. The point right now is that I'm pissed about this, Nick. I'm mad as hell. Not at Dom, but at the situation. Yeah, once I see the kid I'll probably melt like cotton candy in the sun, but right now? Man, right now, I'm pissed."

Nate stretched his feet out and kept staring at the sky. "Dom and I have talked a little. Not in great depth other than kind of circuitously deciding to keep the kid. To be honest? I have no desire to actually talk to my wife about what I'm thinking or feeling because every time I do I keep getting reminded that everything that's ever gone wrong with her world, ever was kind of my fault. The depressing part is a good 30% actually IS my fault

[shield_topdog]

"I don't envy you my friend. Just make sure that not tellin' her about how ya feel right now won't create more problems than if ya had told her."

Nick took a long drink from his beer.

[nate_dayspring]

"I know. That's going to be the trick though."

Nate stares at the water. "Hey, hand me a pole so it looks like I'm doing something other than sitting here and drinking."

[shield_topdog]

"Yeah, it usually is. Keepin' things from loved ones ain't easy."

Nick handed him the other pole. "Doesn't matter anyways. Don't think there's a single fish in this damn pond anyways. Tasha's kid an' I haven't caught any yet."