"You ok, Nick?" Howie asked looking concerned as Nick yawned tiredly. They'd almost finished recording for their new album that was going to be released in about 4 or 5 months basically depending on when Nick's son was born. At 6 months he was looking substantially larger than usual and it was obvious from the swell under his baggy t-shirt that he was pregnant. He'd gone on TRL along with the other guys before they went back into the studio and had let the fans know then. Their reactions had been as Brian predicted. When asked about the father Nick had replied that he didn't think it was fair to comment but that the father knew who he was. He said that they'd both been drunk and decided to experiment which is common amongst young guys.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I can't wait to get home." Nick sighed.
"Oh yeah, when are we starting the nursery?" AJ asked, plonking himself down besides Nick. "Hey, buddy, Uncle Alex's here." He whispered to Nick's bump.
"Brian wants me to go shopping next week to pick out the colours and my mom's ordered the crib and stuff that I wanted. We finish here on Monday so how about the weekend after that?" Nick suggested.
"Fine with me." Howie agreed, nodding.
"Me too." AJ agreed. "Is Brian still adamant that you're not allowed to help?"
"Yeah." Nick sighed. "He keeps going on about how I'm supposed to be resting and that the paint fumes could damage the baby."
"He's probably right, I mean, he hasn't had his nose out of that damn baby book since you found out you were pregnant." Howie laughed. "Where is he now?"
"I sent him to get me some ketchup coz he was annoying the hell out of me and well...When the baby wants ketchup the baby wants ketchup." Nick grinned.
"And just what does he want ketchup with this time?" AJ enquired.
"Chocolate biscuits and mustard." Nick grinned. "Hey, you should try it, it really hits the spot." He added as his two friends grimaced.
"It's not the weirdest thing you've had a craving for though." Howie said, pulling a face. "I think fish-fingers and marmalade wins that prize."
"No way, salsa dip and bananas was worse." AJ laughed.
"I think it was the barbecue potato chips and jelly." Brian argued coming up behind them and handing Nick two handfuls of tomato ketchup sachets that he'd obviously taken from the canteen. "There's plenty more where they came from, the ladies down there were more than happy to oblige." He laughed, his eyes sparkling when Nick blushed a little. The ladies who served in the studio canteen had become used to Nick's weird requests over the past two months.
"I think the craving for the grease out of the frying pan has to be the worst." Nick commented getting back to the previous topic as he took a bite of his biscuit and sighed happily.
"Yeah but you didn't actually drink it." AJ disagreed.
"Only because Brian wouldn't let him." Howie answered.
"I told him that I'd buy him some fresh stuff. I even offered to warm it up for him, but there was no way he was eating the grease out of the pan at that diner. God knows how long it'd been there." Brian wrinkled up his nose.
"I didn't want fresh stuff, it wouldn't taste the same." Nick complained.
"Well, that kid's certainly had your taste buds rioting. I thought a few weird cravings was usual but you've been after something different every week." Howie commented standing up. "It's my turn guys, see you in a few." They called their goodbyes as he left the room, none of them expecting Kevin who had just finished recording to come and join them. He'd been giving them a wide birth since they got in the studio, enquiring once or twice about Nick's general health. Nick had given him a picture from his second scan but it hadn't made a difference and he was beyond caring now, he'd cope without Kevin, well, as long as the other guys and his family continued to support him the way they had.
"Do you need a cushion or anything?" He heard AJ ask.
"No, thanks, I'm fine. Quit worrying." He laughed guessing that AJ was talking to him.
"I can't help it. It can't be comfortable having a baby inside you. He's pretty big now, from what you showed me on that scan."
"Yeah, he is." Nick said proudly.
"I wouldn't sound so pleased about it. You're going to go through hell when you go into labour." AJ was more worried about the labour than Nick was, just the mention of it horrified him.
"I know but I plan to be so drugged up that I won't know anything's happening until they put him in my arms." Nick smiled softly.
"I don't think it really works like that, Nick." Brian felt like he had to interrupt although he couldn't help but smile at Nick's happiness when he talked about finally being able to hold the baby that he was carrying.
"I know but I'm scared shitless so I'm pretending ok?" Nick replied.
"Yeah, just let him think that everything's gonna be fine if it makes this easier on him." AJ laughed. "Meanwhile, we know the truth."
"I was talking to a guy who's having his second kid when I was at the hospital for my scan and he said that it of course it hurts like hell but it's so worth it in the end that the few hours pain just seems insignificant." Nick sighed.
"Well, that's definitely a mature approach to it." Brian laughed.
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