The next morning the Richardson's house was wide awake. Well, everyone but Monica who still slept peacefully in her bedroom. Kevin was helping Brian with the large breakfast. Steffany was sitting in the family room with Jackie and Harold Sr. Kevin's parents had gone out for the morning. And Harold Jr. left to visit his girlfriend.
"So, Kev? What do you think of Steff?" Brian asked as he nodded his head over in the direction of Steffany.
"I think your very lucky! She seems like a real nice girl. Your mom seems to lover her. Monica is a cutie too. Nick's a lucky guy." Kevin said.
"Lucky? Um...no, not really! Well, Steff and I think they like each other, but their both very stubborn about sharing their feelings."
"Maybe you should help them out with that!"
"Nah, I'll leave it up to the two of them!"
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Nick stepped out of the shower and heard all of the commotion in the kitchen. He also smelled the delicious breakfast that was cooking. He wrapped a towel around him and walked down the hallway to his room. As he passed by Monica's room, he peeked inside to see if she was awake yet. He watched as she stirred in her sleep. He studied the tiny smile that appeared on her face. She looked really pretty.
"Stop it, Nick! Stop it! This is just a friend. She can't be anything more. You'd end up hurting her when you leave."
A tiny voice in Nick's head chanted.Nick shook the thoughts he was having, and he walked into his bedroom and got dressed. He then headed down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Finally, Monica sat up in her bed. She stretched her arms high above her head and let out a big yawn. She felt much better then she did the day before. She smiled as she remembered Nick giving her a relaxing back rub. She jumped in the shower that was in her room, got dressed, and applied a small amount of make-up, then she headed down into the kitchen.
"Well, look who's up! It's sleeping beauty." Nick said as he took a big bite out of his bagel.
Brian, Steffany, Kevin and the adults all looked at each other and smiled. Obviously sensing the feelings Nick was beginning to feel for Monica. Monica sat down next to Nick and pushed him lightly.
"Beauty? Yeah, right! I must look like a train hit me, after yesturday."
"Nope, not at all! You look really nice."
Monica's face began to turn a shade of pink. "Thanks, that's real nice."
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Steffany and Brian headed out to the mall to do some shopping. The Littrell's and Richardson's headed out to dinner. Leaving Monica and Nick nothing to do.
"I wonder if their's any christmas specials on tonight?" Monica said as she flipped through the channels.
Nick sat next to her on the couch and laughed. As much as Christmas specials sounded entertaining, he wanted to do something more exciting.
"We have 3 whole days before christmas, which means 3 whold days for specials. Let's go out on the pond and ice skate!" Nick said as he pulled Monica up off the couch.
"ICE SKATE!! Yes! I would love to do that."
The two of them bundled up warmly and headed out to the back were the pond was located. Nick stepped on the ice after lacing up his skates and laughed as Monica trudged through the snow.
"Come on! Are we slow, much?"
"Well, maybe if you hadn't pushed me into the big snow bank in the front, I would have made it down here alot quicker." Monica said while making a ball of snow and chucking it at Nick.
"Ha! You missed! Now, lace up your skates, and let's get started."
The two of them skated efortlessly across the pond. Nick held her hand as they skated together. Their was a large gust of wind sent Nick's Yankee cap flying over to the other side of the pond.
"I'll get that. Don't move." Nick said as he skated over to the other side of the pond.
"Nick, maybe you shouldn't! That ice doesn't look to safe. Please, just leave it!"
"Mon, I'll be fine! Let me just gra-!!!!!!!!" Nick yelled as he fell through the thin ice.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! NICK!" Monica screamed.
SHe was scared, not knowing what to do. She tried to stay calm, she skated over carefully to the thin ice. It began to crack. Monica cried as she saw Nick, helplessly trying to get up onto the surface.
"Mon, go call for help." Nick yelled as his lips turned a light purple color.
"No!! If I call for help, you'll get tired and give up! Then the ice will freeze over! Give me your hand!" Monica yelled back to nick.
Nick stretched out his hand and Monica got down on her stomache and pulled with all of her might. Nick was heavy (not fat). He was a few inches taller then Monica. She was having difficutly getting him on the surface.
"Mon, just give up! Really! It's no use." Nick said as his eyes slowly started closing from the his body's reaction to the cold.
"Nick, please don't do this! Don't scare me like this! Don't close your eyes!!! Please! Just be a fighter! PLEASE!" Monica cried as she gathered up all of her might and pulled his upper half onto the surface. Soon, his whole body was up and out of the water.