(Untitled)

[pere_noel]

Nick supposed he was entitled to a day off now and again, particularly since according to some theories he was on holiday from his regular life, but Nick enjoyed his trade, and wasn't at all unhappy to be spending his days working with wood outdoors, not to mention evenings doing the same by the fire. But a few hours off, now that he was quite

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[one_eyed_rags]

Having migrated from frozen ball of pirate infront of fire to warmly stiff ball of pirate on a couch, he cracked his eye open lazily and watched Nick for a moment in warm bliss. It seemed that almost everytime he saw the old man, he was working, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at his lack of efforts.

" 'ullo, mista'."

[pere_noel]

"Well hello there!" said Nick, giving him a friendly wave from his seat on the floor. "Been keeping yourself busy, son?"

[one_eyed_rags]

Smiling at the warm welcome he buried his face into his arm for a moment before looking back to him. "Aye, I founds some'un who's gonna be a Gunner wit me. Ans taday I'm 'avin' me firs' readin' lesson."

[pere_noel]

"Are you now?" said Nick, leaning back against his hands to be better able to look up at him. "Well, that's excellent news. There's certainly a wealth of reading material here."

[neptune_sleuth]

Veronica had retrieved a second cup of hot chocolate from the kitchen and was concentrating on finding something to read when the man entered. She turned from the bookshelf and walked over with a grin. "Oh my God, that's so awesome."

[pere_noel]

"Do you think so?" said Nick, looking up at her happily. "There are so many little ones here, and little ones on the way, that I thought the place could use something like this."

[neptune_sleuth]

"It's fantastic," Veronica said, grinning as she bent closer to look at the horse. "I had one when I was little and I loved it. Plastic, but close enough. Did you make this?"

[pere_noel]

"I did," said Nick, with a small bit of pride. There was nothing wrong with being happy with the work he did, particularly when it made other people happy. "I've been making quite a few things, out back of the lodge. It could probably do with a bit of a paint job, but I'll be content with the tools I've got."

[ooh_lily]

Lily walked into the room with a mug of hot chocolate of her own, with Emmy crawling in front of her in her little plaid pants and her IF YOU THINK I'M CUTE YOU SHOULD SEE MY UNCLES t-shirt. Lily smiled brightly when she saw Nick. Emmy was too busy crawling to pay much attention.

"I had one like that when I was a little girl," said Lily, with a wide smile.

[pere_noel]

Nick was pleased when he looked up at her. "I'd like to think that every little girl had something like this," he said. "Does little Emmy want to take him out for a test run?"

[ooh_lily]

Lily took a sip of her hot chocolate, hiding a smile.

"If you can catch her, I'm sure that she'd love to."

[pere_noel]

"Well, let's see what I can do," said Nick. He was already on the floor, after all, and though his knees were as old as the rest of him and sometimes creaked when he walked, he was still able to get on all fours and catch a small child. Of that, at least, he was certain.

[crimsonninja]

It was customary by now that Hunter would go to the IPD office at night to see Cam and when he did, he glanced into the rec room for the newest bemused individual or someone glaring at the bookshelf. What he didn't expect was to see someone sitting on the floor building a rocking horse.

The young ninja paused in the doorway and stared. His biological father's father had made one like that for Hunter when he was three, but died soon after. The fate of the rocking horse after his parent's car crash and his going to the orphanage was unknown to Hunter...in fact, he hadn't even remembered it until now, those early memories having been replaced by ones of his adoptive parents, Blake and Sensei Omino.

Hunter blinked and moved into the room, just quietly watching. Cam could wait a few minutes for his coffee.

[pere_noel]

Nick divided his attention between the hot chocolate and the rocking horse until everything was affixed to his satisfaction, and only then did he look up to realise he was being watched. He gave the young man a warm smile.

"I'd offer you the first ride, but I think it might not be quite your size," he said apologetically.

[crimsonninja]

One side of Hunter's mouth perked in the form a smile as he shook his head. "Nah it's okay...I was just remembering." He still hadn't decided if the memories were bad or good, sad or happy, but that wasn't the guy's fault. "Nice work though dude."

[pere_noel]

"I'd like to think a lot of people have fond memories of rocking horses just like this one," said Nick, giving it a test rock with his hand. Smooth and even, just the way it ought to be. "Thank you."

[real_buzzkill]

"Is that a gift for the new baby?" Wilson asked the old man. "She wasborna few days ago, but I'm sure she'll grow into it." The man seemed familiar, too familiar. "I'm James, I feel like I should recognize you, but I don't."

[pere_noel]

"The new baby, the older baby, whatever little children might enjoy it," said Nick, giving the seat of the rocking horse a satisfied pat. It ought to last them a long, long time, through many children. "I don't believe we've ever met face to face," he added. "The name's Nick."

[real_buzzkill]

'Nick," he repeated. "It's very good that you're making gifts for the kids. There are quite a few of them here on the island, and... I worry about some of them. Occasionally a youngster shows up without any family. We do the best we can, but, well, everybody likes presents, especially when they don't expect anything."

[pere_noel]

"A gift given in good spirit is never a bad thing," Nick said with the surety of much experience. "I do hope all of the children have found themselves a family here, of some sort."