Victoria had planned to spend the next couple days wallowing in her bed over what had happened to Lily in the tabloids. The only thing that made the whole thing worse was that the one person she wanted to talk about it with and lean on, she couldn’t bring herself to text after the letter she’d sent him. She was sure now that he’d read it, she was taking his silence as him respecting her wishes in the letter. Or that he was upset about it too. Either way, she knew couldn’t text him, not matter how many times she’s opened their text thread and started typing away a message to him. 

After a night of drinking and broadway shows with Maude and Thomas, she’d expected her best friend to let her sleep in a little longer… but instead the brunette had her up by nine and was forcing her into the shower for some reservation they couldn’t miss. “We’ve never put this much effort into fucking pancakes before, are you insane? Did you invite Mat? Am I being conned into being nice to your toothless boyfriend?” she called out as she stood in front of the mirror finishing her make up.  Before Maude could answer there was a knock at the door. “That is what’s happening isn’t it? I swear to god, Maudey!” Leaving the bathroom she made her way to the front door. She was fully ready to find Maude’s hockey boy crush on the other side of the door but when she opened it, the tall, handsome, blue eyed wonder was all that she saw. 

“Nick? W-what are you doing here?” Her eyes were wide staring back at him with confusion. Only breaking his gaze long enough to turn and see Maude scurrying off to hide from the two of them. “Did you two plan this? Is this why you woke me up so early?” She called back into her apartment. Despite the confusion, a smile formed on her lips as she let it sink in that he actually came to New York for her. “You’re really here.”

.

As clear as it was on his face that Nick had no clue what Victoria’s reaction would be to his spontaneous arrival, it melted easily as she came into view, the real thing being far better than any pixelated image that their poor connections sometimes offered. She was up and ready, so Maude had clearly played her part, which the actor would need to thank her for another time when she wasn’t pulling off such an impressive disappearing act. 

“You invited me to the party, remember?” He joked, as if an invitation to someone he didn’t knows birthday was the one thing that could get him across the ocean, despite not being able to follow through with previous invites. “No, I’m kidding. I’m here for you...obviously. I’m sorry if you really wanted to get those pancakes - we can still get them, if you want, but I need to talk to you first...” It was in that moment that Nick realised, even with an eight hour flight under his belt - for which he barely slept - he hadn’t planned even a shred of what he was going to say. Fumbling for a moment under the pressure, he held out the flowers with a sheepish look on his face. “These are for you. Can we take a walk?”. 

With a little help - okay, a lot of help - from Maude, he’d been able to touch base on her doorstep, a little after 10am, flowers from the gas station that had been picked up on his way in hand. Dressed in a t-shirt and a dad-cap, it wasn’t quite the grand gesture he’d had in mind, but after reading her letter he knew he was working on borrowed time, and hoped that the fact he’d shown up for her would be enough. ( Until he could get out what he was trying to say, at least ). In fact, he hoped it’d be enough to merely prevent her from slamming the door in his face. 

Reaching out, Nick hesitantly rapped is knuckles against the door, waiting with bated breath for whatever her reaction would be. 

@viicpedretti​

Vic: It really will be the fastest way to her heart. She'll be letting out a sigh of relief knowing i'll be kept too busy to give matt the old stare down or swift talking to. Boy, you've got a lot to catch up on. Lily James and Sebastian have been getting jiggy with it for months.She's practically sister in law status now, it just takes mr. meat head a while to figure out he needs a ring to make things official.

Vic: Awe you'll be doing school drop offs soon! How cute! What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall of his classroom listening to him tell stories about his dad. You'll either be the coolest guy to his classmates or an absolute nob!

Vic: Ryan Murphy continues to have us all in chokehold and honestly, idk why we let him! That man needs to be tamed.

Vic: Making you wait until christmas would have been way more fun, but I do suppose you've earned some kisses after having to watch your kiddo turn 4.

Vic: Oh. Okay yeah that's no problem. Sorry.

Vic: Is everything okay?

Nic: Why do it that blatantly when you can send me in as his fake doctor, like Phoebe did with Joey that one time? I'll get the dirt on him, don't you worry. Well...that explains all the heart-eyed-photographs I've seen of them lately. Bloody hell, those are going to be some darn good looking babies.

Nic: Probably the latter when they're expecting me to come pick him up full beast mode and I arrive in socks and sliders instead.

Nic: Yeah, I'm real sorry, I spoke too soon. I would've loved to have you round, but I'm really hoping one of my friends will come and stay with me and I know she'll feel like a burden if I've got other company. She's already declined, but I'm still working on it.

Nic: On a more positive note though, someone came back from nursery absolutely buzzing because he had an early birthday gift waiting for him. And on a personal note, thank you for attempting to up my coolness rating in his eyes, because at the moment he's all about another superhero.

Vic:Maude and I throwing a surprise party for Thomas's birthday here in NYC on the 22nd if you want to come and give him your best wishes in person? You'll get some brownie points with Maude if you keep me busy so I can't grill her hockey boy. Sebby acts all tough but he's a softy, the trick is to get him talking about Lily. Lily makes him a big gushy teddy bear.

Vic: You have the upper hand with your tiny adorable little steed. Ugh I miss those squishy cheeks of his! Isn't his birthday next weekend? How is he getting so big?! Are you ready to have a four year old running around the house?

Vic: You know what, I forgot all about that plot. From the aliens, to murder, to skin lamps, to the banana song, it was wild from start to finish.

Vic: Playing the old age card already? Sounds like you're already counting down the days until next Christmas when you can turn into Santa and kiss your little helper 😘 You did but I didn't mind hearing it loud and clear. As long as you're not afraid, I think I've got one or two for you. You'll have to make the other ones happen ;)

Nic: Count me in. As if I'd turn up the opportunity to kill to birds with one stone and get to impress an Apatow just by hanging out with you. Easiest seal of approval ever. I feel behind the times with all the celebrity gossip - but whether you mean Lily C or Lily J, I know them both personally and they're both diamonds, so I can see why he's enamoured.

Nic: Nope. No. I refuse to accept that he's going to be four in a week. I've started looking at SCHOOLS for September, and I just can't wrap my brain around that.

Nic: I forget all about the GLEE moment until the banana song randomly pops in my head from time to time, and I'm reminded that we truly let Ryan Murphy feed us anything.

Nic: Why wait until Christmas when I have a perfectly good excuse for you to come visit next week?

Nic: [ 50 MINUTES LATER ]

Everyone thinks they know but no one really gets it. Not Meg, not you, not Ben. Fuck, I don’t even get it. I don’t have a fucking clue what is going on in my head have the time. I try but— I don’t know, I’m broken I guess. You didn’t have to hit him, Nick. He was doing what I asked, he was distracting me… keeping me busy. Having some fun when everything else in my life is a massive fucking disaster. Maybe I didn’t invite him, ever think of that? Maybe I was the one trying to run from my past and act like I was better than all the people I left behind.

No one did. I know when to keep things to myself to protect other people. I didn’t want people looking at me like I was broken or some dirt bag beyond repair. I was trying to make something of myself and thought if I faked it long enough it’d start to feel okay and normal after awhile. I thought I could make myself like the person and life I was trying to live. I knew you wouldn’t support it, I know you Nick. Just don’t look at me like Ben does, please.

.

I might not be able to get it, but I know you’re not broken, Kaya. Not beyond repair, anyway. And I want to be able to understand, but you’ve got to get over your incessant need to take everything on by yourself first. I didn’t even know you were unhappy until the other night - and now I’m sorry for the way I reacted. It was a bit slap in the nuts, I’ll be honest. I thought you were just being reckless for the sake of it, and I resented having to come out and pick you up without rhyme or reason, but now I...I really am sorry. Will you apologise to Alex for me, too? I don’t have any form of contact, and I think we both know it was pretty out of character for me. He’d probably do well to learn that sarcasm doesn’t bode well with an already pissed off brotherly type, but still, you’re right, I shouldn’t have hit him.

Don’t you know that none of us could ever look at you like you’re dirt? We love you unconditionally, Kay. And I don’t want anyone to make you feel like anything you’re going through isn’t valid. Are you still living with him now? Will you at least move in with Joaquin and I, for the time being? I promise I’ll try and remain low-key and stay out of your hair for the most part, but it would really put my mind at ease to know you have a safe space to go back to. I’ll just tell J his aunt’s come to stay for his birthday, or something, he’d be thrilled to have you here.