All Together Now (Chase and Niko)

[Dr. James Campbell]

James didn't see the face Chase made, but if he had, he would have chuckled and rolled his eyes. They were both being goofier than usual, because of Niko. The fish comment, in and of itself, was an exaggeration. He didn't know about the animal controllers' views on the fish, and it really didn't matter.

He was happy. Despite some latent tension between him and his husband--Chase wasn't going to just forget that their first week together was an affair--they were happy together. It felt like family, in a way he was afraid it never would.

In many things, James was particular. He was exact. And so when Niko went off on a flight of fancy about walking backwards to attract attention to the plight of the poor, persecuted fish in the pond, part of him wanted to issue a correction, clarifying that he didn't mean it literally, and that the animal controllers just liked to have animals with which they could fool around. But the one hope you did have of seeing James Campbell be silly was when he was around kids. Then, he found it easy to just play along.

With a shrug, James turned around and walked back over to the pantry, backwards. He kept careful watch over his shoulder, and efficiently sidestepped his husband. "Yes, I suppose this could be quite confusing. Do you mind if I turn around for the cooking though? I don't want to burn my hands." When he reached the pantry, he stood sort-of sideways, but he was able to pull out the spices he needed easily. (For once, being OCD was useful as he knew exactly where everything was.)

He returned (backwards) to the counter, then turned around and began to portion out the spices. Then he looked over to see how Niko was doing with the chicken. It looked like he was almost done. (It was just the three of them; they didn't need much.) "Once you're done with that, I'm going to put some of the sauce over it and some cheese. How about you wash your hands, and I'll take care of the rest. Then maybe Chase could show you your room?"

There wasn't much else to do, save actually putting the pasta on to boil and putting the chicken in the oven. He could finish that quicker without either of the blonds underfoot, and then he could easily join them.

[Chase Campbell]

In the last few years, Chase had really gotten used to the kids in his life. While he still had issues playing kiddy games, especially with the smallest ones, he could watch them without much incident. Nobody killed each other on his watch. Not yet, anyway.

Niko’s suggestion was one of those things that Chase had trouble with. Indulging that kind of stuff just felt... out of place for him. He could play football with James’ brother, and his two brothers-in-law, as well as the older kids. He could sit around watching the kids while they watched movies. But this was the kind of thing he ultimately failed at around kids. But James didn’t. Chase looked up from his task to see James walking backwards. It was impossible to stifle the smile that appeared. He’d have to remind James that he really was an amazing father, and incredible with kids. God, he loved his husband. With him as his partner, this fostering thing didn’t seem nearly as daunting.

“Please don’t burn your hands, Jamie.” That was Chase’s job in the kitchen, thank you. If James burned himself, then they were all doomed. He watched James pull out what he needed and return to the counter, one eyebrow arched in amusement before he shook his head and returned to chopping. He really was married to a dork. (Of course, he already knew that. Considering James was pretty much fluent in Elvish, of all things.)

He finished with chopping the onion, and worked on the garlic, half listening to James’ instructions. Showing Niko his room was something he’d been looking forward to since they’d finished. It was newly painted, and everything was ready for the little boy to move in. “James, there are done.” Chase carried over the cutting board to where his husband stood, showing him his work with a hint of pride. (Because he hadn’t cut himself in the process. But he had a sneaking suspicion that James might have to “fix” his chopping.) He washed his hands and smiled at James before heading over to Niko. “It looks good, Kiddo. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll show you your room.” He and James had been excited while painting it. He just hoped that Niko would like it.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Though Niko had suggested it, it did not occur to him that James would actually do it. To see it made Niko stop what he was doing long enough to watch him- at least for several steps. The action, unusual or not, was easily the most fascinating thing he'd witnessed so far. Not that it wasn't relatively simple, just that by adhering to the suggestion, James was providing Niko with much more than that. How could you not be important when an expert was trying your idea? After the first few steps, he suddenly grinned, his eyes brightening with excitement before he burst into giggles.

"No, I don't mind. Please don't burn yourself,"Niko chimed in as his giggling subsided. Not that it was entirely necessary- he was just agreeing with Chase, and since Chase basically had it covered, he didn't relaly need to. His tone was almost as delighted as he felt, at least. He was certainly not delighted about James burning himself, it was hard to go from being happy to sad so quickly. For his own benefit just as much as theirs he remained happy as he focused on finishing the task he'd been trusted with.

"Okay, James,"Niko agreed so that James knew he was listening. By the time Chase came to stand by him, he was finishing the last one.

"Thanks,"Niko agreed Now, with an accomplished grin on his expression instead of the amused one that he'd offered seconds before, Niko felt truly proud of himself. If Chase thought it was a good job then it certainly had to be. Finally he set the last one in the bowl and walked to the sink to wash his hands as James had said he should.

It felt much better to have the egg off his hand. So good that Niko looked down at his hands as he turned from the sink. His hands were still hands as he gazed at them despite how suddenly clean they felt, a fact Niko couldn't deny. They could only provide so much entertainment before he had to move on to something else. His next course of action was to drop his hands back to his side before he walked over to Chase so that he could show him the way to the room. Niko would have stated that he was ready, but he was pretty sure Chase would assume that much. Besides, he wasn't so sure he'd know what to say. Was he supposed to feel this excited? This nervous? It certainly wasn't a bad feeling, just a questionable one at best. Which prompted silence from the little boy, since he didn't trust his own voice to conceal the excitement. Having a room would make this real and permanent for Niko, perhaps more than most things that would transpire as a result of the fostering decision. For that, Niko was excited.

[Dr. James Campbell]

More than anything else that had changed in the past for years, the reaction of his husband to children had improved much dramatically. Then, the blond man had been afraid of the screaming horde that was the Campbell brood. But now he was doing just fine around kids. The change had not been sudden, or dramatic, but it had coincided nicely with their decision to try adopting kids. In fact, James wouldn't have even considered it if he hadn't seen how Chase had adapted to being around children.

As he cooked, be made a face at both of the others. "Of course I'm not going to burn myself. That's Chase's job." And he had managed to go for years without causing himself injury in the kitchen. It wasn't going to start today, of all days. But he was grinning, and his eyes sparkled. It was nice to be a little silly every now and afain. And he knew he needed to remember that.

"Thank you Chase, these are perfect." He pressed a gentle kiss to his husband's cheek, happy enough to tell a little white lie tonight. They weren't perfect, but they were a bit better than passable, and when they were cooked into the sauce, no one would be able to tell anyway. He threw them into the saucepan then set about layering sauce over the chicken, then sprinkling cheese on top. It was a simple recipe, something he liked to make wehn he was in a hurry. Such as when he wanted to follow his husband and son to hear the reaction to the room that they had spent the weekend painting. It was a gray-blue, with a slightly darker ceiling. Glow-in-the-dark paint formed stars and constellations, and there was more than enough space for Niko to move all of his belongings in.

And, of course, they had added a few extra things, like the stuffed dog that sat on the bed, and the model rocket kit on the desk that Chase had picked up at the modeling store, the last time James had dragged him along to get some more painting supplies. It was a good room for a young boy, in their opinion.

Hopefully, Niko would agree.

[Chase Campbell]

It had taken some time, but Chase had finally come to the point where he could handle being around kids. Ten years ago, hell, even five years ago, he wouldn’t have even thought about kids. It had never been in his plans. Then again, getting married hadn’t been at the top of his list, either. Yet here he was, married, with a son now. He wasn’t scared anymore. Not of kids, and not of commitment. He’d proved that much at the last Campbell family reunion, where he’d actually volunteered to watch the kids. He didn’t mind when they crawled all over him, pinning him to the ground. He could even handle tears now (although he’d be the first to admit that it was still an area he was shaky in). All in all, the blond had figured out how to deal with kids well, and just in time, too.

“Hey!” Chase sent a mock glare his husband’s way. “I ain’t burned myself since...” Oh come on Chase, spit it out. “… The other week.” He trailed off, not meeting James’ eyes. Or Niko’s, for that matter. There went that defense. “There’s a reason Jamie does most of the cooking, Kiddo.” Chase was most often more useful out of the kitchen, rather than in it.

The praise he got from James made the blond man blush. “Thanks,” he mumbled quietly before moving away. He had his suspicions that James was lying through his teeth, but he’d done the best he could, and he hadn’t cut himself. Two good things, in his mind. He watched Niko wash his hands, and when he was ready, Chase led him down the hallway to the newly decorated room. He and James had worked hard on it. And while going to the toy store to pick out the stuffed dog had seemed a little strange at first, Chase had quickly given in to the feeling. Shopping for their son.

Gently, Chase laid his hand on Niko’s back once they stood in the doorway. “Here it is, Kiddo. This is all yours.” He smiled at the glow in the dark paint, which had already been tested. It had seemed funny that night, sitting on the floor staring up at the glowing stars. The anticipation of the child that would soon occupy the room had just made it that much more exciting. “Go on, check it out.”

[Nikolai Campbell]

Niko nodded in acknowledgment to the bit of information about Chase burning himself. He didn't want any part of it if Chase really was mad at James and he couldn't tell the difference, anyway, so he'd keep quiet. What did make Niko really pause was James' voice when he told Chase thank you. He drew his attention to them, smiling to himself at the tone. That meant everything was still okay, right? While kissing was still icky to Niko, he saw nothing wrong with it when others did it. The idea of James and Chase loving one another was comforting to him and it was always nice to find 'proof' of it, be it in a tone of voice or with a kiss.

Niko followed quietly when Chase started walking, his gaze shifting between watching in front of him, and looking up at Chase as he was lead toward his new room. When he was finally standing in the doorway, taking in everything in the room (except the ceiling, as he didn't think to look up) Niko wasn't sure what he should say. Chase said it was his. He just couldn't believe him. Then came notice of the ceiling. That fascinated him as he stood beside Chase, content to have his hand against him. The simple physical contact had a calming effect on his otherwise excited mood.

"That is so cool."Niko stated, his tone revealing that he was definitely impressed by the stars above him. Niko didn't figure out what pictures the stars made, and he didn't try to count them as he was initially compelled to do- it'd probably make him sleepy, anyway. Like counting sheep. Instead, he found himself unable to resist the urge to touch the items in the room any longer. First, the model rocket kit. Having already received Chase's permission, he moved straight to the desk to examine the kit. His eyes were bright, his smile not slipping even slightly as he moved. This was all very cool.

Niko should have said thank you. He should have affirmed his appreciation for Chase verbally or with a hug or something. Unfortunately for Niko, he was only nine. Without anyone there to tell him to do it, his top priority was to examine the new toys as Chase suggested. Thank you would have to wait for now.

[Dr. James Campbell]

Well, it's a good thing that Niko doesn't find other people kissing icky, because Chase and James had always been affectionate with each other. (Granted, it had taken a while before the blond man was comfortable being affectionate in public, but when they were in the house it was different.) But even in public it was still noticeably there, even if they were barely touching, the touch was still affectionate.

He laughed a little at Chase's admission of his incapability in the kitchen. "Don't worry Niko. We can make sure Chase doesn't starve." Already, he had more faith that the nine-year-old could master the kitchen before the other man could. After all, he'd helped his mom in the kitchen from when he was very young, and was trusted with cooking dinner for everyone by the time he was twelve. So long as they weren't as hopeless as Chase, he could teach anyone how to cook.

James had missed Niko's awed first look at the ceiling, but when he did finish the dinner prep and came to stand in the doorway with Chase, he could tell the boy loved it. Even if he wasn't able to observe the world the way he did, he would have known. He wrapped his arm around his husband's shoulders and smiled broadly. "Once you've put the rocket together, I bet we could all go and launch it on the training field at school. You want to launch it away from trees, or it might get stuck coming back down."

He'd enjoyed playing with model rockets when he was young, among so many other things he wanted to introduce the boy to. Treehouses and the rope swing over the lake and roasting marshmallows over the grill (though they did that already.) Just the thought of doing all that as a family made him feel younger. With a happy sigh, James gently squeezed Chase's shoulder.

[Chase Campbell]

In the house, displays of affection were commonplace. Chase was naturally affectionate, even with his students. Not in the creepy paedo way, but in a more relaxed, friendly way. He often cuffed his senior students on the shoulder for a job well done, or if he wanted them to stop goofing off. The most he’d done with Niko so far was simply put his hand on his shoulder, but he was young. He also suspected that he’d get more than enough chances in the near future to hug the boy if he wanted to. He was family now.

“Y’know... I’m right here. And there’s such a thing as take-out,” Chase retaliated. This too wasn’t unusual in their house. The playful banter. “I wouldn’t starve.” No, he’d just run out of money. “But I’d rather have you guys around.” Even if James had more faith in a nine year old than his own husband when it came to the kitchen. “McDonald’s every night is boring.” Yes, he had firsthand experience with this. He’d survived somehow after moving out of his parents’ house.

Niko’s wonder at the room was something Chase wouldn’t have traded for anything. They’d done this. They’d been the ones to inspire Niko’s awe now. The trainer was feeling an odd sense of pride as he watched the boy explore his new room. He was even happier when he felt James’ arms around his shoulders, leaning back into the embrace. “That’d be fun, hey Niko?” As long as Verax wasn’t around. He might show up with fireworks and things that Chase really didn’t want Niko exposed to just yet. Maybe at New Year’s. If he was careful.

Chase had never been one for models (maybe cars, when he was younger, but the metal, pre-built ones that you could send flying across the floor, but that was it), but the idea of taking Niko to the lake, teaching him how to jump from the rope, that was what he was looking forward to. Maybe next weekend, once Niko was settled in, they could head down to the lake. The ideas were flowing now, and Chase just sighed happily. He could do this. He could be a good dad.

[Nikolai Campbell]

"He's right. I can make mac and cheese, Chase! You won't starve. We can eat dinosaurs- rawring dinosaurs. Those are my favorite. Or, maybe there are nice ones, like bunnies. Bunnies are quiet. I don't think they make noise."Niko explained helpfully before pausing to consider what sound a bunny made. It wiggled it's nose, which Niko promptly tried when he thought of it (not an easy thing, he abandoned the effort after a few seconds), but did it make a sound? He didn't remember one. Ah well. Niko didn't voice his question, he merely smiled. At that moment he was feeling quite accomplished to be included with James in completing a task he deemed necessary. They really couldn't have Chase starving. Though, to be fair, Niko wouldn't complain if it were he who got to eat McDonalds. He was a bit too young to really understand exactly why it was a rare treat and not an everyday meal.

Hearing James' voice when he entered the room shortly after they had did give Niko a reason to look back at him curiously. Having James address him still wasn't something he was used to. But he liked it anyway, so the smile remained as he listened. Realizing James was talking about the rocket he was examining, he turned his gaze back to the box, excited by the idea.

"It flies?"Niko questioned, his eyes scanning the box as though he could find the answer himself. He didn't mean to question James- if he said it flew, Niko assumed it did. But if James would tell him more, he was eager to hear it. His attention shifted from the box to the bed where the dog resided as he waited for an answer. Puppy! Momentarily, he forgot about his question in favor of moving to the bed to pick up the dog. His first instinct was to hug the stuffed toy to his chest, his cheek pressed against it's soft fur. Now they'd done it- though Niko was a bit old to want to carry a stuffed animal around for comfort, they'd given him a way to take part of his new room with him. Nikolai was definitely going to take advantage of that, at least until they insisted otherwise.

That now resolved in his mind, he let the dog drop from against him to his side, clutched tightly in one hand as he turned both his attention and his body to face the two adults at the doorway, still smiling his excited smile.

[Dr. James Campbell]

James grinned, amused at how Nikolai had jumped on board with the teasing as well, even if he didn't actually realize it was teasing. (And anyway, James was going to have to convert him to the wonder that was baked macaroni and cheese, and not that over-processed, violent orange stuff from the box. Even if the idea of eating dinosaurs was appealing. It's hard to grow out of that.) "And if you keep helping out in the kitchen, Niko, I'm sure you'll learn how to make a lot more than just mac and cheese." Then he gently patted Chase's shoulder, still smiling. "See? We'll take care of you." Patronizing? A little. But it was meant jokingly.

There was a moment of calm for James, as he stood with his arm around his husband, watching their son. Well, the boy who was going to be their foster son. But the adults already saw him as their son, as part of their family. It felt so right to have a kid in the house. Ginny was never around enough for the cabin to feel full, and he couldn't wait until she came up to visit. It was hard to believe he was really married, with two kids and a cat.

"Yeah, it flies. But first you have to attach the fins and put the decorations on. And you have to remember to put in the parachute, or else it won't come down softly." James had always enjoyed putting them together, and it was a rare thrill to see something you made launched into the air. (Plus, when handled properly, it was a way for kids to play with explosives. He had yet to meet a little boy who didn't like blowing things up.)

The smile on his face only grew wider when Niko scooped up the stuffed dog. They hadn't added a lot of stuff to the room, though there were books on the shelves that had originally been bought for Ginny. There was plenty of room for Niko to fill himself. "If you want, you can take the dog with you tonight. He's yours." As was the room, and the family.

[Chase Campbell]

“Oh thank God. I was worried I was gonna starve, kiddo.” If James wanted to teach Niko the fine art of teasing him about cooking, he’d just have to find something for the kid to tease James about. “We can eat rawring dinosaurs. Mac and chese is one thing I managed to master.” And he’d be happy to make it for Niko. As long as it was the violent orange stuff that came in boxes. James’ homemade stuff might have been miles better, but it was a far cry from Chase and Niko’s skill sets in the kitchen. James’ comments earned him a gentle elbow in the ribs, playful as always. “I’m hurt you have more faith in Niko than you do in me.” But he managed a little wink in the kid’s direction. One thing Niko would have to get used to quickly was the never-ending stream of teasing that flew between the two men.

For Chase, watching Niko explore the room was a bit of a surreal thing for him. He was used to being around kids, whether they were his students at Hammel, or his nieces and nephews in New York. To have one that wasn’t Ginny in the house was foreign to him. But he was surprised at how easily it was coming. Including Niko in the gentle teasing back and forth, watching him explore his new space. It was weird, how natural this felt. All the times he’d told James he’d fail terribly at being a father, and here they were. Nothing had been set on fire, no one had cried, things were going well.

The blond remembered James talking about the models when they’d picked it out at the store. Chase had never built anything like it, though he was good at building and fixing things. (Namely, his Mustang.) He didn’t have the precise eye for detail that James had, which was fine with him. He spent a good deal of time with Niko at the school, whether it was training or weaselling out of actually teaching and tossing around a ball outside instead. This was something he could do with James. “It’ll be fun. Just don’t get it stuck in a tree.” That wouldn’t be so much fun, getting it down. “We can do other stuff, too. We can show you the path to go down to the lake, and the rope swing.” Was Chase excited? Just a little bit. (It could have had to do with the idea of playing with explosives. Or jumping off the rope swing. It was hard to tell.)

Chase had seen his nieces and nephews at various ages tote around stuffed animals. He’d wondered if Niko was too old for something like that, but, as usual, James had been right. He could see that the moment the little boy picked up the plush dog and hugged it. When James spoke, though, Chase realized just how much he didn’t want Niko to leave. He wanted this to be permanent. It wouldn’t be long until that was true, but he wanted it now. Patient had never been his forte, and it showed on his face as he looked at James. Why couldn’t Niko be home now?

[Nikolai Campbell]

"That sounds fun!"Niko agreed when Chase agreed with his idea of making Mac and Cheese. Of course, the smile at his lips had little to do with that and more to do with the words spinning in his head- words that would go unspoken. If he would have spoken them, he would have said that James loved Chase too much to let him starve and that Chase didn't have to worry. It was plainly obvious, despite the playful attitude that prevailed. To Niko, it seemed that James would be willing to help in any way that Chase needed it- not just cooking. So far, though, Niko wasn't sure what Chase would help James with. Chase seemed closer to Niko's level than James did, so maybe Chase would just translate? If the conversation regarding him running away was any indication, Niko would need a translator to clarify some of the things James assumed he'd understand.

A mischievous grin formed when Chase told him not to get it stuck in a tree. He would have liked to climb a tree! Not that he could have climbed back down by himself, but getting up there always seemed so easy. On the other hand, he didn't want his new toy to be ruined or stuck somewhere, so the tree climbing would have to wait for another occasion.

"I'll be careful."Niko promised Chase before his attention turned back to James. Quietly he listened, momentarily seeming calm. It didn't last. When James mentioned the dog, Niko looked down at it, considering the possibility. He didn't want to part with it, but did he really want to remove it from the house? Would it lose it's magic when he was sent back to school? Niko decided it wouldn't. With that thought to comfort him, he smiled cheerfully again as his eyes rose to meet James.

"Thank you!"he agreed with a quick nod, referring to being allowed to take the dog with him. Niko closed the distance between the two men and himself with the idea that he'd tell them thanks. Niko didn't know James as well as Chase, but it wouldn't stop him. He knew he had to trust him if he were to live in the same house. And James had made him feel better before, hadn't he? It seemed only fair for Niko to try to return the kindness for the room, not just to Chase, but to both of them. Being nine, it wasn't like he could buy them anything like the room they'd given him. What he could do was wrap his arms around them in a hug. It was how he was expected to react when he received a present before, or when someone made him happy or sad, so it seemed natural. The look on Chase's face when Niko looked up solidified his decision, seeming to give him the confidence he needed to wrap his arms around Chase in an attempt to reassure him and to get the smile back. Thanking him seemed like something that'd make him happy, too.

"Thank you, Chase."Niko offered, his tone hopeful."I really like the room, and being here with you and James." Which was entirely true. While Chase considered the possibility of Niko leaving and, by the expression on his face, decided he was opposed to it, Niko didn't let it get to him. Now a sudden downpour of rain may very well give the small boy away as Chase and James left him for the night, but as it stood, he was still happy just to be with the two of them. And Milo! Speaking of, Niko glanced expectantly to the floor, his arms now loosely around Chase as he tried to see as far as possible to find the cat. As quickly as he'd revealed concern for the adult, his mind seemed to shift to another thought without much prompting in favor of something a little less serious. If asked, Niko would have said he couldn't help it, though he knew he could have.

[Chase Campbell]

Fun? Cooking? Honestly? It was fun for James. Chase knew that. For him, it was only fun if they were doing something like making cake, and he was tasked with icing. That was fun. Still, with Niko around, maybe working in the kitchen wouldn’t be so bad. Now he had someone else relying on him. Someone that couldn’t fend for himself. It made him resolve to pay a little more attention when James was cooking. Even write down steps in a way he could remember, and follow, so that if James ever had to go recruiting again, he could trust his husband to take care of their son. “You think so? We’ll have to get James to teach us how to make some other stuff, though.” Fun as it might be, they couldn’t survive on macaroni and cheese for an extended period of time.

“Good, kiddo.” At least the promise was something. Though he recognized the mischievous expression on the child’s face. He’d made it himself, many times, when he was that age. He’d have to keep an eye on Nikki.

The hug surprised him. Chase was naturally an affectionate, touchy person. When he saw James’ family back home, he was comfortable giving his in laws hugs, cuffing his brother in law playfully, and piggybacking the kids around the yard. He was affectionate with his students, roughhousing with the ones willing to play rough, squeezing shoulders when the kids were frustrated in class. But he hadn’t yet pegged Niko as affectionate. After a beat, he hugged the boy back. “I’m glad you like it here with us.” He glanced up at James, trying to catch his eye, and smiled. If this was how it was going to be, he was in. He was so in.

Of course, things like that didn’t last forever. Chase let go when Niko loosened his grip and reached out for James’ hand. “How’s dinner going? Think it’s done yet?” He was getting hungry, and he imagined that Niko would be too. “James is the best cook I’ve ever met, Nikki. We’re lucky to have him.” He smiled lovingly at his husband. This was so far outside their normal evenings. By now, they’d either be sitting down to dinner, or curled with Milo on the couch, watching television. Even when Ginny was around, the routine didn’t change much. Niko being here changed things, but in a good way. Such a good way. Chase couldn’t wait to introduce him to the woods around the cabin, and the lake. That was what dads were supposed to do... right?