Archive of Our Own

Charlie Spring is many things. Gay, for one, which is something he’s known since he understood what it meant to have a crush on someone. He’s a very talented drummer, or at least that’s what he’s told whenever he plays the drums in front of someone. Not to mention, he’s brilliant when it comes to maths and science. He’s also wickedly fast when it comes to running; back in secondary school, he always managed to out run the others in his class and, even now, he maintains a rather impressive stride. Speaking of racing, he’s also undefeated in his household when it comes to Mario Kart. His older sister Tori, and his younger brother Olly, often complain when they challenge him because he always beats them and takes first place! 

While the list of what he is and what he’s good at goes on, one of the things he definitely isn’t is a skier. In fact, he’s never touched a pair of skis, nor has he ever done anything remotely related to the sport in his twenty-five years of existence. He’s never shown a shred of interest in it before either, preferring to leave the sport to the professionals. But then out of the blue, his friends, Tara and Darcy called him on Christmas morning excitedly sharing that they had managed to book four rooms at a hotel in Morzine, France, and they wanted him to come with them. The group had been talking about taking a trip to the French Alps for a few years and the pair had stumbled across a New Year’s Eve deal that was too good to pass up. They told him the rooms were booked for the week leading up to New Years and the only thing he needed to cover was the plane fare. It took Charlie by surprise, and initially, he considered declining. His newly established bookstore, Rainbow Nook, had only been open for a couple of years and Charlie wasn’t very fond of the idea of leaving at such short notice, even if it was for the holidays. 

Before he had a chance to decline though, Darcy had privately messaged Charlie, revealing that she was planning to propose to Tara while they were there and she wanted Charlie and their other friends– Tao, Elle, Aled, and Isaac – to be there as well. Charlie knew his fate was sealed as he couldn’t say no to that. So, rather begrudgingly, he set his part of the plan into motion by getting in touch with his sister Tori. While Charlie was the sole owner, Tori was the only person in the world that he knew he could entrust with watching Rainbow Nook and making sure it stayed up to his high standard while away. Much to his surprise, she seemed to actively encourage him to go. She proceeded to tell him that it was about time he took a holiday and he needed to quit being such a “helicopter parent” when it came to the shop. After several long hours of Tori reassuring him it would be fine, Charlie caved and bought a plane ticket. 

It’s now two days later and after a long flight, he is stood in the lobby of Hotel Pierre, surrounded by his small but close group of friends. They’re patiently waiting to check in but are stuck behind a large family who seem to be struggling to reign in their four children. Charlie knows they’re going to be there for a while, if the shrieking and scolding from the people in front of them is anything to go by. Deciding to take a moment to message Tori, he pulls his phone from his pocket and lets her know he’s landed safely and is now at the hotel. Once the text is sent, he browses through Instagram. Behind him, Tao and Elle are excitedly discussing their plans for exploring the resort while Isaac is standing next to him, engrossed in his latest book. In front of him is Aled, attentively listening to Tara, who’s sharing the flight grievances her and Darcy have had to experience. 

Charlie tucks his phone and hands in his pockets, the weight of the duffle bag on his shoulder making it ache slightly as he rocks on the balls of his feet. He studies the lobby, feeling a little overwhelmed at the extravagance of it all. It’s extremely spacious, the ceiling at least twelve feet high and there’s several different lounges inside of it, two fireplaces on either wall with leather couches with cushions and blankets, making them look snug and cosy. There’s a huge Christmas tree in the corner of the lounge on the right, twinkling with gold and silver tinsel as well as little white lights.

Classical music plays subtly in the background, and red garlands adorn the edges of the front desk. Snowflake lights dangle underneath it, casting a warm glow, the words ‘HAPPY HOLIDAYS’ in silver script on the base of the desk. The more Charlie observes his surroundings, the more he feels like he’s stepped into a Christmas special edition of Better Homes magazine.

He’s brought back to the present as the group edges closer to the check-in desk where the receptionist greets them with a wide smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. Charlie takes pity on him, fully understanding how overwhelming it must all be during the busiest time of the year and he offers a smile back.

“I apologise for your wait. Welcome to Hotel Pierre!”

Darcy leans forward and smiles. “Ello! The reservation should be under Olsson.”

The man types quickly on his keyboard, clicking his mouse a few times before nodding. “Perfect, so that’s four rooms booked under Olsson, it looks like your rooms are ready for you,” he replies, reaching into the desk and pulling out a pile of keycards. 

He hands them over to Darcy and they all walk to the side, Darcy handing them out one by one. As she hands Charlie his keycard, she frowns. She looks up and quickly points a finger at everyone, seemingly doing a headcount before looking back down at her palm. The rest of them look at each other in confusion but wait patiently as Darcy does a third headcount. 

“There’s only seven of us and he gave us eight keycards?” Darcy tilts her head in confusion.

“Maybe it’s in case one of us loses the keycard to the room?” Isaac offers and everyone else nods in agreement. Everyone except for Tara.

“Actually,” Tara interjects, “We’re supposed to have eight.” 

Darcy’s head turns sharply as she looks at Tara. She quirks an eyebrow and Charlie feels a sense of unease wash over him. One quick glance at the rest of the group tells him that he’s not alone. 

“What do you mean, Jonesy?” Darcy asks, her lips turning down at the corners, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Oh boy.

“I was going to, I promise!” Tara replies as she grabs Darcy’s hand and gives it a squeeze, “It was quite literally at the last second... I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner but I kind of invited an old friend of ours?” Tara sheepishly looks at the rest of the group, who out of sheer awkwardness are trying to distract themselves. “We used to hang out with him a lot. Do you guys remember-” Tara is interrupted as an echo of chimes ring through the air of the lobby, the same chimes that went off when the group walked in not even twenty minutes ago. 

“Nick!” Tara exclaims excitedly and the group turn in unison towards the door.

Charlie feels his stomach drop at the name and he stays silent because there is no way that she could be talking about the same Nick that instantly comes to his mind. His mouth goes dry and he grips the strap of his duffle bag a little tighter, no longer standing in the lobby of Hotel Pierre but instead transported back into the halls of Truham Grammar School for Boys. 

And there he is, in all of his golden Rugby King glory.

Nicholas fucking Nelson. 

He doesn’t look like he’s aged a day from the last time Charlie saw him. He’s still taller than Charlie, his auburn locks still neatly styled the same way. The only difference is that the school uniform he used to wear every day is now replaced by a giant black parka jacket and some light blue jeans. Unable to avert his eyes, he looks like he’s even more muscular than he was in secondary school, but it could also just be how overly fluffed his jacket is and how the duffle bag rests on his shoulder. His honey-brown eyes light up at the sight of Tara, and his face breaks into a dazzling wide grin. Striding through the door, he opens his arms widely, ready to embrace Tara. Seeing the breathtaking smile on his face, Charlie struggles to remember how to breathe, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

“Tara! Hi! Sorry I’m late, the taxi I took got a bit lost.” he laughs in a deep voice and Charlie feels like he’s about to combust on the spot. No, Nick Nelson has not changed in the slightest; he’s still as charming as ever. Charlie feels like he needs to sit down from the rush of old feelings and emotions that have come back up and hit him in the chest like a rogue rugby ball. 

Charlie had the biggest crush on Nick Nelson at school, but nothing ever came of it. They sat next to each other in form during Charlie’s Year 10. Nick was the literal embodiment of a golden retriever with how nice he was to Charlie. It had caught Charlie entirely off guard, as most of the rugby lads at the school were total dicks to him, especially after he’d been outed the year before. Nick, however, didn't seem bothered at all about Charlie’s sexuality and they had ended up getting along great. Nick had actually stood up for him quite a few times when the teasing went a little too far, against both Ben Hope and Harry Green. 

Charlie’s crush on Nick started fairly early on and it took two months for Tao and Elle to actually convince him that Nick was the straightest person on Earth, although both Isaac and Aled seemed to think otherwise. He hadn’t been sure about Nick’s sexuality though, as their friendship sometimes felt like it was becoming something more, but Charlie began to distance himself regardless. He couldn’t bring himself to ask Nick how he identified and he decided that it was better to stay friends instead of losing Nick entirely by scaring the older boy away with Charlie’s seemingly unrequited crush. Once Nick started his A levels and Charlie was in his final year, they drifted apart, as most secondary school friends tend to do. They still followed each other on Instagram, but Nick rarely posted, so Charlie continued to push forward, deciding to leave the feelings he had for Nick in the past. And so far, he thought he had been successful in that endeavour.

Until now.

Nick nods to the rest of the group, his eyes scanning their faces briefly before looking back at Tara. 

“Right! Introductions are probably in order seeing as it’s been a while,” Tara claps her hands, “Nick, this is Tao… Elle… Isaac… Aled… and Charlie. Of course, you know Darcy already.” 

She moves her hand and points to each person as she names them off and Nick offers each of them a warm smile. When she gets to Charlie, Nick’s eyes land on him and Charlie feels a warmth spread throughout his chest under the other’s gaze.

 Jesus fucking Christ, have Nick’s eyes always been that sparkly ? Charlie knows it’s mostly from all of the fairy lights surrounding them but there’s also a certain twinkle in his eyes that lightbulbs just can’t replicate. Charlie swears he sees the older man’s face turn a hue of pink but it’s most likely from the frigid weather he just came from and not from the fact that they’ve been staring at each other for over thirty seconds… right?

“Hi,” Charlie murmurs, mentally kicking himself for how breathless he sounds. Nick’s lips part slightly and he gives a very timid lopsided smile, polar opposite from the one he had given Tara and his friends only moments ago. 

“Hi,” Nick responds in a warm and soothing tone. He blinks and glances back at everyone else, an apologetic look on his face, “Sorry, you all seem rather shocked that I’m here. Did Tara not mention it?” he asks, his voice full of uncertainty. He lifts his arm and rubs the back of his neck, shuffling on his feet while clearly feeling anxious and awkward.

“I might’ve forgotten,” Tara frowns and mirrors Nick’s apologetic look. Darcy hands Nick the remaining keycard in her hand and he nods his head politely as he takes it.

“Alright, we have four rooms! Each room has two beds. Tara and I will be in room 302. Tao and Elle, you’re next door, in 303…” 

As Darcy continues, realisation hits Charlie... with two rooms left and four people, he knows where this is going. His heartbeat quickens and he absentmindedly bites his lower lip at the anxiety-inducing thought. Although he would much rather share with Isaac or Aled, as was the original plan, he knows that he has more of a relationship with Nick than either of them so it has to be him. Charlie feels a new feeling begin to bloom at the centre of his panic. Hope? Desire? He can’t fully tell but it’s not necessarily a bad feeling, whatever it is.

“So, Isaac and Aled, you two will be in room 304, and then Charlie… Do you mind if you and Nick share in 305?” she asks in an innocent tone although her blue eyes are anything but as she studies Charlie. He’s always known Darcy to be a bold person but he wasn’t expecting her to be this bold. Charlie now regrets being so open with his friends about his crush when he was younger. Apparently, the crush is also back with a vengeance, going by the current state of distress he’s in. How the fuck is he supposed to say no without sounding like a total dick or a stubborn teenager?

Charlie glances at Nick who’s standing there patiently, his hands tucked in his pockets as he bites his lower lip. There’ll be two beds in the room and it’s only for a week… a week of sleeping in the same room as Nick Nelson? In separate beds. Surely this can’t be any harder than sitting next to him in form with their thighs constantly touching? 

Every. Single. Day.

Charlie tries to shrug nonchalantly, unsure of whether or not he is successful at that, and looks at Nick. “I’m ok with it if Nick is. I mean, we were friends once upon a time,” he offers a smile towards the older man.

Nick’s lips twist back into a lopsided smile and he nods at that, “Yeah, sounds good to me.”

Darcy smiles a little too widely for Charlie’s liking.“Splendid! Let’s go see our rooms then, yeah? We can meet back up here in a little while.”

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Of course there’s only one bed.

Fuck. 

Charlie stares, unable to keep his mouth closed as he takes in the one double bed that sits underneath the window. He’s in too much shock to appreciate the stunning view of the Alps on the other side of the glass. In different conditions, Charlie would be in absolute awe of how beautiful it all is, however, he finds himself in complete despair as he closes the door behind him, his duffle bag dropping by the door that leads to their shared bathroom. Nick is out in the hallway, talking with Tara, which Charlie is extremely grateful for. It gives him a moment to get his breathing slightly more under control and mourn what could have been a somewhat normal trip. As if it wasn’t already unbearable enough that Charlie now has to share a room with the guy that he had a crush on for years, Fate has decided that it needed to step up to the plate and throw a wicked curveball. Charlie knows that this curveball is smacking him right in the face and now he gets to lick the wounds like a kicked dog. The cruelty of having to share a bed with the man that was the centre of all of his thoughts for so long and knowing that he’s straight and most likely married at this point, is too much to handle and Charlie takes another deep breath to steady himself. 

He has half a mind to turn around and talk to the receptionist, and he’s about to, when he hears the mechanical whirring and unlocking of the door. He looks over at Nick, who’s still smiling broadly and waving at Tara as he walks in, and for a split second, Charlie feels pity for him. He braces for Nick to be upset at the fact that there’s only one bed and he watches as Nick’s eyes land on Charlie before looking at the bed behind him. His eyebrows shoot up and his lips part, the door closing behind him. Another round of mechanical noises echo through the now silent room, the sound of a ‘click’ sealing their fate as it locks them in.

“Oh,” Nick breathes out and Charlie lets a sigh escape past his tight lips, “One bed.”

“One bed,” Charlie repeats, a flush of colour running across the bridge of his nose, “I was just about to go talk to the receptionist about changing rooms. I’ll pay, obviously,” he says quickly. 

“Why?” Nick asks, catching him completely off guard. Charlie stills, his eyes searching Nick’s body language with uncertainty. 

What does he mean by ‘why’?  

Charlie scolds his stomach for doing a somersault and he looks back at the bed, blinking a couple of times to make sure that it’s still only one and didn’t somehow magically turn into two while he wasn’t looking. 

“Well, I just, er…” Charlie’s voice falters because how does he respond to that question? It’s such a simple question, only one measly little word, yet it feels like a question that not even Albert Einstein could answer. He stares at Nick for a moment, Nick’s words hanging in the air. Charlie doesn’t respond. Instead, he folds his hands together and bites the inside of his cheek as he shrugs. Nick’s eyes are full of mirth as he sets his duffle bag down on the chair in the corner of the room.

“I mean, I know it’s been a while but we did sit next to each other in form for a year.” Nick says, shrugging and unzipping his jacket. Even though Nick’s fully dressed underneath the parka, Charlie still has to avert his gaze. His eyes find the electric fireplace on the wall next to the bed and he focuses on tracing the different bricks that are cemented together to make the mantle. 

“Unless your partner would be uncomfortable with us sharing a bed?” Nick continues. 

Nick’s words make Charlie’s head whip back so fast that a sharp pain shoots up his neck. “My what?” Charlie squeaks with bewilderment, glancing hastily over at Nick - the older man has definitely grown into his looks since they last talked. His broad shoulders and toned biceps are hidden snugly under a red turtleneck jumper that hugs his torso in all the right places. Nick turns his back to Charlie and smooths his parka over the back of a chair. Charlie surreptitiously watches the way his muscles ripple against the fabric before Nick turns around and meets Charlie’s stare. Nick raises an eyebrow.

“Are you… do you not have a partner? Not a boyfriend or a husband?” Nick asks. Charlie is fully aware that this is a normal question for an old friend to ask, especially when catching up with one another. Yet, he can’t help but wonder if there’s another reason Nick is asking this seemingly average question. Charlie can only shake his head in response. Nick’s lips form into an ‘o’ at the silent confession.

Well, great. Now, I just feel pathetic, Charlie sulks inwardly. He tucks his hands in his pockets and looks back at the bed, feeling as if it’s taunting him. 

“If you want, we can speak with reception,” Nick offers, “but I honestly don’t mind sharing a bed. Besides, in a place like this, I’m not sure if they’d have another room available at this time of year.”

Against Charlie’s better judgement, he waves a dismissing hand, “If you don’t mind, then it’s fine. You do have a valid point, we used to be squished next to each other at that table in Mr. Lange’s class a lot. I suppose sharing a bed wouldn’t be much different. I mean, as long as your girlfriend won’t mind…?” 

Stop probing, Charlie. 

Nick’s honey orbs are full of amusement and his lips press together as he shakes his head. “Nope,” he replies, moving towards his duffle bag and unzipping it to pull his toiletries out. Charlie secretly admires the way Nick’s giant hands grasp three travel sized bottles with ease. “No girlfriend or boyfriend to heckle me for sharing a bed with an old friend.” 

He shoots Charlie a smile and walks to the bathroom, disappearing behind the door. Charlie feels all of the blood leave his face and rush to a lower part of his body that he definitely doesn’t want to start growing right now in front of Nick. Shit! He knows he needs to properly think through what Nick has just said.

Boyfriend? Did Nick really just casually drop that into the conversation?

Charlie’s thoughts are running wild with emotion, all of them tangling together in a big knot of gay panic before they short circuit altogether. Charlie isn’t sure what to do or how to respond, so he goes with the safest option, which is to busy himself with unpacking his own duffle bag. Nick reappears from the bathroom seconds later, seemingly unphased by their conversation, so Charlie decides to take the same approach. If it isn’t a big deal to Nick then it won’t be a big deal to Charlie. 

Which is a total fucking lie that Charlie is currently repeating as a mantra in his head, because there’s seemingly no reason for him to freak out about it. So what if the “straight” guy that he had a crush on at the age of fifteen isn’t that straight after all? And so what if they’re about to be sharing a bed together for the next week? 

Nope, definitely not a big deal at all.

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

Okay, so it’s a totally big fucking deal.

After the two of them unpack, they receive a mass text from Darcy that tells everyone to meet downstairs for a quick brunch. They all arrive around the same time and as they eat, Charlie idly listens to the conversation, his thoughts still mulling over what transpired in the hotel room. His eyes shift from his plate to the window where the French Alps stand in all of their glory. The sun’s rays are shining down on them like a spotlight, accentuating the sparkling blanket of snow that rests on their edges. Charlie lets his mind fall quiet and tunes out the conversation entirely, allowing himself to get lost in the beauty of the mountains while they finish their meal. Everyone splits off into different groups afterwards to go out and either explore the resort or the local town. As much as Charlie wants to go with Tara and Darcy, Nick is going with them, and Charlie knows that he needs to put some distance between Nick and himself before they have to share a bed later. He needs time to process everything. Instead, he goes with Isaac and Aled, tagging along as they venture to the different shops that are scattered around the city of Morzine. The entire time that Aled and Isaac are looking at the souvenirs in the stores, Charlie looks through his own version of souvenirs; specifically, the memories he has of Nick from their shared time in secondary school. 

That’s when he comes to the realisation that for once, Tao and Elle had been wrong. Nick wasn’t straight back then and he definitely isn’t straight now. This clarity leads to Charlie internally beating himself up for the full hour and a half that they go exploring. Had he just acted on his feelings back when they were both at school, who knows what his present self would look like? 

Would I have gotten to know Nick even better? Could Nick and I have explored our sexualities together instead of navigating alone? Would Nick and I have even dated back then? The possible scenarios running through his mind are endless. As the trio continue to scour different shops, Charlie finds himself greedily wondering who or what it was that made Nick realise he liked boys in the first place. Furthermore, he can’t help but be envious of the boy that got to steal Nick’s first kiss. 

By the time they get back to the hotel that night, the group reunites for a brief dinner before everyone heads to their respective rooms for an early night. Between the travelling and the exploring around town that they did, all eyelids are hanging heavy with exhaustion. The walk with Nick is pleasant but silent and by the time they reach the room, they get into bed without much fuss. Nick mumbles a quiet goodnight and within moments, falls asleep with his body turned away from Charlie. Meanwhile, all Charlie can do is lay as stiff as a board on his back, his hands folded across his stomach as he stares at the ceiling, fully aware of just how close they are. 

Charlie’s already a night owl but with Nick being only a few centimetres away from him, Charlie feels even more restless than usual. After about forty minutes of listening to Nick’s steady breathing, Charlie gets up from the bed, walks across the room, and curls into the armchair. Looking out of the window at the French Alps, Charlie admires their snow-covered jagged edges and curves that seem to glow underneath the moonlight, managing to find brief solace in them, letting the glittering snow distract him from the overbearing load of his thoughts. Time seemingly slips away from him and before he knows it, it’s nearly three in the morning. He decides it’s officially time to go to bed and he manages to slip under the covers with ease, curling onto his side and letting his mind run until it finally blanks out from exhaustion. 

When he wakes to his morning alarm, the spot next to him is already empty and he can hear the sound of the shower running in the bathroom. Charlie lays in bed for a moment, his brain at war with itself on what to do. He could easily throw on some clothes and sneak out before he sees a shirtless Nick appear. However, he could also lay there and pretend to be asleep so that Nick could leave first and Charlie would follow suit after. Unfortunately, Charlie takes a second too long to decide, hearing the bathroom door open and seeing Nick come into view. He’s wearing grey tracksuit bottoms that hang on his hips in such a delicious way that it makes Charlie worry that there’s drool falling from his chin. He stands shirtless, the morning light casting a warm glow on his freckled chest. Charlie’s gaze lingers, delicately tracing the contours of Nick’s abdomen while the other dries his hair with a towel, seemingly oblivious to the attention.

When Nick wraps the towel around his neck, Charlie hastily averts his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in his phone as if he’s been scrolling on Instagram all along. 

“Morning,” he murmurs, attempting to sound nonchalant. Charlie isn’t entirely convinced he succeeded, especially when his eyes flicker up to meet Nick’s amused face.

“Morning,” Nick hums, grabbing a jumper from the wardrobe and shrugging it on. Charlie finds it easier to look at him now, though he’s also silently cursing the fabric. “You want to go down and get some breakfast?”

Charlie sits up a little too fast for his liking, nodding eagerly, “Yeah! That sounds great. Er, let me get dressed really quick.”

“Alright, I’ll be outside in the hallway.” Nick beams a lopsided smile at him, turning Charlie into a walking butterfly exhibit.

After eating breakfast, Charlie is forced to go with Tara, Darcy, and Elle to the hotel spa. He wants to tag along with Nick and the other boys, but Elle insists he go with her and the girls instead, telling him that he needs and deserves to have a proper spa day for once. Tara and Darcy both agree and proceed to chastise Charlie for never properly treating himself.

“You run a business full-time, mate,” Darcy says, “You need to set the time aside and take care of yourself too.” When she puts it like that, Charlie knows he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. 

A facial, a mud bath, and several massages later, Charlie makes his way to the heated outdoor pool, wrapped up in a fluffy bathrobe that the hotel provided. He realises now just how right the girls had been. His body hasn’t felt this loose and relaxed in a long time and he knows that he should book more spa appointments for himself once he’s back home. The sun has set and the late December air is beyond bitter, but the freezing temperatures will be short-lived once Charlie is in the water. While it was an icy three degrees celsius outside, the warm thirty-one-degree pool will fend it off with ease. Charlie walks over to an empty chair and looks at the body of water lit by the lights on the floor of the pool. He’s the only one here and he sends a silent ‘thank you’ to the universe for blessing him with the opportunity to steal this moment of isolation and take it for granted.

He loves his friends with his entire being but between the stress of helping Darcy work on her proposal, and the suffocating thoughts and feelings that Nick’s presence evokes in him, his mind and body need a break. Preferably, one that isn’t at three in the morning either. Charlie shrugs the bathrobe off, his nipples perking up instantly from the cold and he can already feel his teeth starting to chatter. He wastes no time submerging himself in the warm water, a groan escaping him as the heat swirls and curves around his body. He wades over to the deep end, bouncing on his tiptoes and crossing to the ledge of the pool that gives a beautiful view of the Alps and the twinkling lights of the city below it. There’s not a cloud in the sky and the moon is shining down brightly, bathing everything in its blurred light. 

Charlie lets his mind shut off as he rests his forearms on the cool cement edge, enjoying the silence that’s only interrupted on occasion by the rippling noises of the water. The calming effect of his surroundings is short lived however as the sound of bare feet padding against the ground causes him to look over his shoulder. His cerulean eyes meet startled honey brown ones and he fully turns now as he takes in the sight. Nick’s got his own robe folded over his arm and he’s wearing a pair of tight black swim trunks, his upper torso fully exposed. Charlie desperately tries to ignore the way his mouth dries.

“Hi,” Charlie says a little flustered. Nick’s eyes look him over, his lips parted and Charlie involuntarily squirms under his gaze, feeling extremely self-conscious all of a sudden. 

“Hey,” Nick responds, his canine catching his lower lip as he looks around them, “Do you mind if I join you?” Charlie can see the way his body shivers as a cold breeze blows through. 

“No way, you have to stand shirtless in the freezing temperatures, actually. I reserved the pool for myself,” Charlie replies sarcastically, a wide grin on his face and Nick snorts at the comment. 

“I can still be shirtless in the pool, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Nick remarks with a sly grin and Charlie suddenly chokes on air. He tries to play it off by waving his hand through the steam that’s rising from the water, insinuating that it was the steam that made him cough, but he doesn’t feel very successful. Nick has a triumphant look that confirms Charlie’s thoughts, and he sets his robe down on an empty chair before making his way slowly into the pool. Charlie subtly admires the way his pecs and biceps glow from the pool lighting. A soft moan escapes Nick as he lowers into the water, his body relaxing into the warmth as he leans his head back and Charlie’s stomach fills with a brand new type of heat at the sound. Charlie is silent as he looks back towards the town, his ears burning while Nick swims towards the ledge with him. A silence falls on the two men and Charlie isn’t sure what to say or how to start a conversation with Nick even though they’d slept next to each other the previous night.

“So, what’s new with you, Charlie Spring?” he asks and Charlie doesn’t have to look over to know Nick’s eyes are resting on him. The prickle under his skin is enough of a telltale sign. 

“What do you mean?” Charlie mumbles, a quiet laugh escaping him, “Nothing’s new with me, really. I’m basically the same person I was seven years ago.” 

Nick is quiet and this prompts Charlie to steal a glance at him. Nick has a thoughtful look, seemingly mulling over the words Charlie has said before clicking his lips with a shake of his head. His arm comes up from the water to rest on the ledge of concrete, his other hand moving to his hip as he crosses his legs. “You know, call me crazy if you want, but I don’t believe that.” 

Charlie shrugs and leans back, letting his body float. “I guess you’re crazy then, because it’s true.”

“Charlie, I know I don’t know you nearly as well as I did back then, but the man I see standing in front of me is a totally different person. I mean, you’re still the same height so I suppose-” Nick is speaking but he’s interrupted with a face full of water from the wave Charlie has just splashed at him.

“Oi! I’m normal height, thank you very much! Maybe you’re just freakishly tall!” Charlie laughs and Nick wipes his face before splashing back. This leads to a splash fight, both men bouncing and swimming around the pool as they splash water everywhere. Nick has quite an unfair advantage with his stocky build, and the waves he produces are much larger than Charlie’s. However, where Charlie lacks in muscle, he makes up for with his slender frame that allows him to dart through the water much more efficiently. 

“Alright, you asked for it, Slippery Spring!” Nick shouts after a few moments of Charlie successfully evading him. He swims to the wall of the pool, half climbing up it before jumping back in, sending a tidal wave of chlorine and bubbles towards Charlie. By this point, Charlie’s eyes are squeezed shut but he continues to blindly splash at Nick, ignoring the slight burning sensation from the water that’s snuck past his eyelids. His curls are sopping wet, sticking to his forehead and in his eyes, only adding to the disadvantage of him being unable to see. He can hear Nick’s waves getting louder and louder, signalling the other man is getting close and Charlie takes the opportunity to dive underneath the sloshing waves, grinning as he strategically moves his body around Nick. He pops up for air, the coldness nipping at his cheeks but he finds himself unable to care. Charlie wipes his eyes, panting out white clouds of breath and he sees Nick grinning ear to ear. They stare at each other, their chests rising and falling as they catch their breaths that mingle and swirl in the air together. It’s then that Charlie realises just how much he’s missed this. 

How much he’s missed Nick.

“Okay, maybe you haven’t changed that much,” Nick admits in humble defeat. Charlie hums a smile, leisurely swimming back towards the edge. Nick drifts in the same direction and they float alongside each other, their elbows touching as they stare up at the sky. “You do seem happier though,” Nick continues, his voice softer this time. Charlie tilts his head as he thinks this over before finally nodding in agreement.

“I am. I mean, I have my shop and I don’t face nearly as much homophobia as I did back then… Now I just need to work on the lovelife part,” he snorts, ignoring the blush that rises across his cheeks. Before Nick can respond, Charlie nudges his elbow with his own, “You know, you seem different too. Besides building all that muscle, I mean.”

Charlie, shut up!

Nick raises an eyebrow at the comment, looking briefly at Charlie before focusing back on the mountains. Charlie studies the way the pool light highlights Nick’s jawline; water droplets from his wet locks rest on his cheeks and he wonders if Nick realises just how fucking beautiful he looks right now. Nick purses his lips together and shrugs, “I suppose I am, but that’s life right? You grow up and mature and you realise that everything you thought you knew was a lie. Then you adapt and overcome.” Nick’s voice sounds a little melancholic and Charlie’s heart suddenly feels heavy in his chest. With Nick's tone, there’s no doubt in Charlie’s mind that whatever he went through over the last seven years still weighs on him. It causes Charlie to have so many different questions run through his brain at once. But he knows that this isn’t the time or place to ask them. Nick looks back at Charlie and whatever hint of sadness there was has dissipated; a breathtaking smile now graces his face. “Still have the same haircut though.”

Charlie snorts at that, looking up at Nick and for a moment, time freezes between them. Their eyes linger on each other and Charlie notices the way the other’s gaze flickers across his face before landing on his lips. A rush of heat runs to Charlie’s face but once again, he can’t find it in himself to care. Nick’s eyes meet Charlie’s once more and all Charlie wants to do is close the distance but instead, his lips part and he’s speaking before he can stop himself.

“When did you realise you liked boys?”

The words seem to break whatever spell has fallen onto them and Nick’s lips curl into a timid smile, his brown eyes breaking away from Charlie’s as he looks at their touching elbows. “Do you want the honest answer or do you want the generic one that I give everyone else who asks that question?” he quizzes and Charlie can hear a sense of hesitation and tiredness in his voice. 

“Why not both?” Charlie whispers, his heart beating rapidly.

“The Pirates of The Caribbean,” Nick replies and he says it so nonchalantly that it makes Charlie break into a quiet fit of laughter. His feet touch the ground of the pool and he turns so that he’s fully facing Nick now. Nick’s body language seems relaxed; the only sign of how he’s actually feeling is the white-knuckled grip he has on his own biceps.

“Very funny,” Charlie chuckles but he can’t help how serious his face falls as he continues to speak. “What’s the honest answer?”

Nick bites his lip, his eyes shifting towards Charlie and he can see nervousness filling the normally carefree honey gaze, “You.”

Charlie’s mind goes blank for a couple of seconds, then a mixture of different emotions begin to run rampant; he feels like all of the air in his body is gone. He searches Nick’s eyes for a moment as the silence once again builds and stretches between them, his brain absorbing and processing what he just heard. 

“Me?” he squeaks incredulously. Nick’s lips press into a small smile and he nods.

“Yeah. I… well, okay this is embarrassing,” the taller man huffs out a laugh but Charlie shakes his head, reaching his hand up to touch Nick’s arm. He pauses, his eyes meeting Nick's as he silently seeks permission. Nick’s eyes reflect the starry night sky as they look down to study Charlie’s fingers that are only centimetres away from his bicep. His hesitation fades at Nick’s stare, and his hand settles on the man’s soft skin; Charlie feels a jolt of electricity shoot up his own arm and straight to his heart at the touch.

“I don’t think it is,” Charlie murmurs, hoping that his vague words can somehow help relay the message that he can’t get out. 

“I liked you when we were in secondary school,” Nick continues, his voice a soft whisper, “I just didn’t realise it was a crush until I came to terms with my sexuality, which took a while. By that point, we hadn’t really talked much and I didn’t want to drop something like that on you, you know? You had become head boy and you had your revision to deal with amongst other things. I was headed to Uni and… yeah." The older man wafts his hands through the water making new ripples, his voice trailing off, but Charlie can’t stop the grin that spreads across his face. He gives a reassuring squeeze to Nick’s arm, his eyes glancing over at Nick in an entirely new light. “Sorry if I’ve made this awkward,” Nick adds timidly.

“No, no! Nick, you didn’t make it awkward, I promise,” Charlie says, shaking his head rapidly, “It’s quite funny to be honest. I liked you back then too.” 

Now it’s Charlie’s turn to fidget nervously. Nick’s eyes widen at Charlie’s confession and he opens his mouth to say something but the sound of a loud scream interrupts him. Both men snap their heads towards the noise to see a blurred version of Darcy racing towards the pool, jumping in - cannonball style - without hesitation. Both of them are re-drenched with a huge wave of water and Darcy springs to the surface, coughing and sputtering as she shakes her hair out. Charlie’s expression is flat with mild annoyance as he spits out a stream of water.

“Darcy!” Tara scolds, shooting the men an apologetic look with a shake of her head as she walks towards the pool. “She’s a menace, honestly. Can’t take her anywhere.”

“You love me, Jonesy,” Darcy says, sticking her tongue out. Nick and Charlie share a look and as both Tara and Darcy glance their way, Darcy mutters, “Sorry, did I interrupt something?” 

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

When it comes time for them to leave the pool, Charlie finds himself excited to go back to the room with Nick. His mind is burning with questions now that he knows Nick felt, if not still feels, the same way. He desperately wants to continue the conversation they were teetering around before Tara and Darcy had arrived, but as they’re going to leave, Tara asks Nick to stay behind. The tone she uses is rather odd with how secretive it sounds, but Charlie figures if she wanted him to know, she’d tell him too. So, feeling a little deflated, Charlie decides to walk back to the room by himself. He spends some time with Elle and Tao, watching some rented film until his eyes can no longer stay open. When he finally arrives back to the room, Nick still isn’t there. Charlie takes a shower to wash off the chlorine smell and then calls it a night, going to bed with a spiralling mind as he falls asleep.   

When he wakes up, the first thing he notices is that he isn’t alone. He can hear Nick’s soft breathing pattern but what catches him off guard is the strong and muscular arm that’s wrapped snugly around his waist. Charlie’s lips part, his eyes staring at the pale freckled skin of Nick’s arm that’s radiating heat, spreading warmth throughout his entire body. Nick is lying on his side, latching on to Charlie securely with his arm and leg, and Charlie is suddenly very aware of Nick’s morning wood poking against his hip. As Nick shuffles closer, Charlie can feel it twitch and his breath hitches.

What the fuck do I do?

Charlie’s eyes flicker towards Nick’s face, half-covered by the pillow it’s resting on, and Charlie fears that his hammering heart is going to break through his ribs. Nick’s face is relaxed in his slumber and Charlie can see a glimpse of the boy he liked back in school; the only change being the stubble that now rests along his jawline and chin. Charlie wants nothing more than to reach up and brush his fingers across the prickly hairs but he doesn’t want any movement to possibly shatter this surreal scenario that he’s experiencing. He instead spends the time counting each freckle that lay across Nick’s cheeks, losing count after forty-three, and he turns to look back at the ceiling again. Nick’s body stirs slightly, his arm pulling Charlie closer. Charlie can feel the man’s breath fanning against his neck now, warm tingles of air rhythmically spread across his skin. Through all of this, Charlie can’t tell if he’s melting with arousal or with anxiety, or just melting from being so warm. He doesn’t have a clue how he would explain the way they got into this position if Nick were to wake up, let alone how he would manage to explain his own morning wood that’s currently making an appearance.

I would never be able to look at him again. I need to move and I need to do it soon.

Charlie can't bring himself to move though. So, against his better judgement, he lays there. Considering he’s only half awake right now, his younger self is winning the battle going on inside him. The teenager in him never thought that he’d get to experience something like this with Nick and he’s willing to face whatever mortifying outcome may come from this if it means just five more minutes... 

Five more minutes and then I’ll move.

Charlie isn’t sure how much time passes. Maybe it’s ten minutes, maybe it’s ten years, but he devours every single second. All too soon, Nick’s phone buzzes and the sound of his alarm is echoing through the air. Charlie gets ready to jump out of bed when he hears Nick groan but the other man just shakes his head, burying his face into Charlie’s shoulder. 

“Five more minutes,” Nick grumbles groggily, his croaky morning voice vocalising Charlie’s internal monologue.

Sweet mother of fuck, I could get used to hearing that in the morning.

Charlie’s breath hitches and about eight different alarm bells are going off in his mind right now. On top of his morning wood continuing to stir, his bladder is also now waking up, threatening to spoil the moment. But, even with all of these thoughts whizzing round his brain, Charlie can’t deny Nick’s adorably sleepy plea. The alarm goes silent and Nick exhales deeply, nestling into Charlie’s back. As Nick’s body settles in next to him, Charlie’s own body relaxes, forcing his bladder to scream even louder in protest. 

“Nick,” Charlie murmurs softly but Nick only offers a disgruntled hum in response, “Nick? I have to pee.”

“But it’s cold. And you’re so warm…” Nick whines petulantly.

“Nick, this whole bed is about to be warm. Warm and damp… if you don’t let me go and pee,” Charlie says, trying to sound serious but unable to refrain from giggling. Apparently, Nick is fully aware he’s cuddled up to Charlie and he doesn’t mind one bit. So Charlie follows his lead and decides to not care either. No one else is here to judge them besides the French Alps and honestly, they can kiss Charlie’s arse if they hold any judgement. 

Nick sighs in defeat and his arm loosens enough that Charlie’s able to wriggle free, escaping the blankets and hissing as he does so. “Jesus Christ, it’s freezing!” Charlie groans. He hears a muffled chuckle escape from Nick.

“Told you so.” 

“Shut up,” Charlie mutters and hastily tiptoes across the hardwood floor to their bathroom, proceeding to take the most complicated pee of his life thanks to the mixture of his erection and the coldness. He takes a moment to brush his teeth while he’s up, absentmindedly smoothing his curls down while staring at himself in the mirror. When he comes back out, Nick is still cocooned in blankets but he hears Charlie approaching and he lifts up his blanket covered arm, allowing Charlie entrance into his warm solitude. Charlie slips in and tries to keep distance between them but Nick just pulls him back. 

“Christ, you’re cold,” Nick mumbles and Charlie huffs a laugh.

“Well, blame my bladder,” he shrugs. Nick sleepily smirks at that, his eyes still closed, and he pulls the blankets over their heads. The fabric is white and while it blocks out the overall light of the sun, it’s still bright enough underneath it that Charlie can see Nick clearly. If anything, it seems to illuminate the man even more; their faces are now so close, they are almost touching and Charlie can feel his face beginning to redden at the close proximity. Nick finally opens an eye, causing Charlie to bite the inside of his cheek.

“Hi,” Nick murmurs softly and Charlie expects to see some sort of embarrassment or awkwardness flash across the other’s face. However, all he sees is Nick’s relaxed, comfortable, trademark lopsided smile already forming on his lips. He readjusts his head and they stare at each other in silence, Charlie’s heartbeat thrumming in his ears.

“Hi,” he whispers back. He knows he could close the distance if he wanted to right now. They’re so fucking close, it’s maddening, but Charlie can’t find it in him to make the move. He’s about to ask if they can talk about the conversation they shared last night but Nick interrupts him.

“Do you want to go out and do something today?” he asks and Charlie smiles shyly, nodding.

Inside he’s screaming, I am absolutely not moving from this cocoon ever! Nope. You can’t make me. I shall live here and call it home.

Instead he says, “I’d love to. Anything in particular?” 

“I would suggest skiing but I did that yesterday and by the way your face has just paled, I don’t think it’s really up your street,” Nick grins, forcing Charlie to chuckle. 

“Yeah, no, not really. Anything else you have in mind? Have you gotten a chance to see the shops at all yet?” Charlie suggests.

“Actually, no, I haven’t. I’ve been busy with- well, I’ve been busy,” Nick says, his voice changing as if he was about to reveal something big. Charlie would be lying if he said his curiosity wasn't peaked but he doesn’t press for more information, “I think I’d like to go out and do that. If you want to, of course.” 

Charlie beams at him, nodding. “Yeah, that sounds nice. Do you want to see if anyone else wants to come with us or…?” Is this a date is what Charlie wants to finish the sentence with but instead, his voice trails off. Nick’s eyes search his before he shakes his head. 

“I think I’d prefer if it were just you and me today, if that’s okay? I mean, unless you want to invite some of the others?” 

Charlie bites his lip, refraining from the way he wants to jump up and down with excitement. “Nah, who needs them?” he asks and Nick’s face mirrors his look. 

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

Nick and Charlie spend the day walking around the town together and Charlie, once again, loses track of the time. They talk about anything and everything that they’ve been through in the past seven years. The good times as well as the bad, the funny stories and even the sad ones. Charlie learns that Nick is a physiotherapist and lives not too far from Charlie’s bookshop. Charlie shares that Tori got married to Michael and Olly is in Year 9, which makes Nick groan in anguish, talking about how old he feels. They visit a few different shops before coming across a snowman building contest, which Nick gets far too excited about. After ten minutes of convincing and giving Charlie the biggest puppy dog eyes Nick can muster, the two of them enlist in it and end up winning fourth place! Their reward is a participation ribbon that Nick pins to his parka with pride. As the day goes on, a sense of ease has grown between them and when they lay on the freshly laid snow to make angels or shakily throw snowballs at each other, their laughter rings through the air, their noses and cheeks now deliciously rosy with the chill.

Charlie notices a photo booth as they walk and it doesn’t take much convincing to get Nick inside it with him, although he has to sit on Nick’s lap because of how tiny the booth is. They make silly faces and for a split second, Charlie thinks they’re going to kiss but the moment passes before he can seize it. Leaving the booth feeling satisfied, they end up going to an older cinema in town that is strictly playing holiday movies from the seventies and eighties. When they leave, they’ve somehow ended up holding hands. Charlie can only hope that no one asks what the movie they saw was about as he had spent more time looking at Nick than the movie itself.

Neither of them mind the chill that’s settled in their bones when they finally take the city bus to go back to the hotel. Nick sits next to Charlie, their knees touching, and Charlie enjoys the sparks of electricity that run through his side at the contact. They fall into a comfortable silence, sharing earbuds that are connected to Nick’s phone, listening to some Christmas song that Charlie’s only half paying attention to. 

He looks out of the window, watching the mushy snow on the road speed past and he can’t help but feel the same way he did when they were attending Truham together. After all this time apart, Nick still feels just as familiar to him, yet somehow different at the same time, and Charlie knows it’s because of the context of today. There’s not a doubt in his mind that today was an unspoken date, a way for both of them to feel out and see if the connection is still there. It very much is. 

They get off the bus and walk through the revolving doors, making their way into the lobby. Charlie gives the earbud back to Nick. They go back to their room, shedding their coats and letting themselves warm up before Charlie decides to text the group chat and see what time they’re meeting up for dinner. Nick is in the bathroom when Darcy texts back, soon followed by everyone else.

Darcy: Sorry gang, Tara and I are extremely hungover! We’ll definitely set up something tomorrow! ;)

Tao: Elle and I are going to eat out separately tonight and explore the more romantic side of Morzine. See you tomorrow!

Aled: Isaac is currently nose deep in a book but he told me to let you know he’s cool with staying in. I’m going to finish my podcast. Tomorrow morning sounds good. Sorry x

“So what are we having for dinner?” Nick asks, reaching into the wardrobe and pulling out a different jumper. Charlie bites his lip and tucks his phone in his pocket with a shrug.

“Well, er, Tao said he and Elle wanted to have a night to themselves… Tara and Darcy are hungover, and Aled said he and Isaac are going to stay in too… So I, uh, I guess that leaves us to choose.” 

Nick snorts. “Hungover, huh? At 7:30pm?” He gives Charlie a knowing look and Charlie laughs in response, shaking his head and shrugging.

“She’s probably just trying to work on-” Charlie stops and averts his gaze as he clears his throat. Nick curves an eyebrow at him, stepping closer.

“Okay, I’m going to ask you a question that you don’t have to confirm or deny, if you don’t want to, but I need to know.”

Charlie’s heart catches in his throat as he looks back up at Nick. Thousands of possibilities flash across Charlie’s mind at once as he tries to prepare for whatever Nick’s going to ask. 

“Okay,” Charlie answers hesitantly, tucking his hands in his pockets.

“Is Darcy going to propose to Tara?” 

Charlie doesn’t know what he was expecting but that wasn’t at the top of the list. Not even in the top one hundred. Nick stares at him intensely and with the way Nick’s eyes focus in on him, Charlie is quick to cave. 

“If you tell a soul, I’ll actually murder you in your sleep,” Charlie says, trying to sound assertive but sounding more like a petulant child. Nick’s face lights up with joy at the confirmation and he instinctively grabs Charlie’s shoulders with excitement.

“Char, this is amazing!” he beams, his eyes full of childlike joy. Charlie is utterly confused, though he loves the state Nick is in right now. It isn’t lost on him that Nick is using his childhood nickname and he’s not ashamed to admit to himself that he loves it. 

“Do you know why I’m here?” he asks.

Charlie shakes his head, not quite following and Nick chuckles, “Charlie, Tara is proposing to Darcy. On New Year’s Eve.” 

Charlie’s mouth curves into a huge grin and he understands Nick’s enjoyment now. “Oh. My. God! That’s actually hilarious!” They laugh together for a minute but the laughter dies quickly as they both realise that Nick is still holding Charlie tight and firm, his muscular hands leaving goosebumps in their wake. Their smiles falter, their eyes staying locked together and there’s suddenly such a thick wall of tension between them that it’s unbearable and soul-crushing and totally delicious at the same time. Nick licks his lower lip, his canine catching it as his eyes flicker from Charlie’s to his mouth and then back up to his eyes again. Charlie isn’t a mind reader by any stretch of the imagination, but he can see the pleading look in Nick’s eyes, a silent request, and Charlie knows exactly what he’s thinking. Charlie mirrors the look, his eyes practically begging Nick to close the distance between them. He thinks Nick is about to when suddenly a soft 'click'  can be heard and then the power goes out, leaving them with only the light of dusk through their window. As Charlie’s eyes adjust to the sudden darkness, he can just about see Nick’s equally confused look as he glances around. Nick walks over to the lamp near the bed, turning the knob several times before looking back at Charlie with a shake of his head.

“Did… Did the power go out?” Charlie asks, pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking his text messages. Sure enough, the group chat is already going crazy; everyone asking the same question. He and Nick simultaneously look out the window above their bed and the normally twinkling city of Morzine is pitch black. They look at each other with raised eyebrows.

“Shit,” they both mutter in unison.

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

Shortly after the power goes out, they sit on their phones for a bit. Conscious that they will be unable to charge them, they turn them off, preferring to play cards after Charlie finds a pack in the drawer of the bedside table. They sit on the bed and play a variety of different games while they wait, which goes on for a couple of hours. As they finish, Charlie isn’t exactly shivering yet but he’s definitely cold. The once heat-filled room is now significantly cooler and when they see faint white clouds illuminating in front of their phone flashlights, Nick decides to go to the front desk to ask for extra blankets and get an update on the situation. With a fully-booked hotel, Charlie knows it’s going to take a while. He’s bundled up in one of his own jumpers as well as a spare one that Nick had packed, topped off with a cocoon of blankets. He’s practically a fabric burrito at this point, yet he’s still having slight tremors — probably from the fact that they were literally about to kiss, more than the cold. Charlie closes his eyes and exhales deeply, still not fully believing everything that has happened within the last 72 hours. 

The door to the room opens and Nick has a small trolley of items that he pushes in. He kicks the door closed behind him and walks over, pulling one of the blankets off the top of the trolley and wrapping it around Charlie’s already overly wrapped body. 

“Here,” he says in a soothing tone, burying Charlie to the point where only his eyes are exposed. “This should tide you over until they’re able to start the generators up. Bloody idiots haven’t had to use the generators in ages apparently so they’re in desperate need of a charge. It’s rather ridiculous honestly with how much Darcy and Tara paid for us to be here.” Nick’s ranting now. 

Is he nervous? Frustrated? Regretful? 

He continues tucking the blankets securely before moving back to the trolley. He pulls out a tiny black box and a couple mini bottles of propane, getting to work to connect them to what Charlie assumes is a heater. 

Once it’s set up, Nick sets it where the fireplace is and angles it towards Charlie. “Nic-mmf,” Charlie mumbles through the layers he’s buried in but Nick doesn’t seem to hear him as he continues emptying the trolley. He pulls out a couple of candles in glass holders, setting them around the room before striking a match and lighting them one by one. 

“I think I heard someone mention a possible refund for the night, which would be nice for the girls,” Nick continues, shaking the flame out and throwing the used matchstick into a bin. “I’m sorry that you’re probably absolutely freezing at this point but the heater should help soon, it just takes a moment to get started-”

Charlie squirms, moving his head up so that he can free his mouth. “Nick!”

Nick stills, looking over at Charlie. “Yeah?”

“I can’t move. You’ve swaddled me up like an infant,” he laughs. Nick blushes under the candlelight and swiftly walks around the bed. He pulls on the end of one blanket and the fabric loosens enough that Charlie can break free. 

“Thank you,” he grins, moving his shoulders. Nick gives a flustered smile. Nervous then, Charlie thinks, so he pats the bed next to him for Nick to sit. Once they’re both seated, Charlie raises his arm to extend the blanket over Nick’s shoulders and the other takes it gratefully. 

“So,” Charlie says softly, “Did they give an ETA for the generators?”

“Yeah, they said about two or three hours for them to be fully charged. They gave out all the supplies for free to help while we wait,” Nick says, “They told us room service would be brought to everyone’s suite free of charge with a complimentary meal once the generators start running again.” 

Charlie nods and they fall silent. He tries to think of a way to bring up the moment they had shared earlier before the power cut, maybe even to suggest they pick up where they left off, but nothing comes to mind. He decides to bask in the heat that’s wafting through the air, as well as the heat that Nick’s body is exuding, and soon, he’s not even needing the extra blanket. He leans back on the fluffed up pillows with a sigh, Nick following suit and they both stare up at the ceiling; the only sound is that of the heater running and the put-put-put of the candles burning. “I still can’t believe we lost to kids,” Charlie sighs, reflecting back on the competition they were in earlier.

“Oh that game was so rigged. Who uses a baby shoe as a nose for a snowman and wins first place?” Nick retorts and they both laugh. Charlie turns his head to look at Nick and he finds that while he loves all the different lighting he’s seen Nick in, candlelight has to be his favourite. His skin looks so soft and supple and Charlie is seconds away from reaching out to touch it when Nick meets his gaze. “I really enjoyed today, Char,” he whispers. 

“Me too,” Charlie replies softly, “I missed…” His voice fades, a lump in his throat and Charlie doesn’t know how to finish that sentence, so he doesn’t. Nick seemingly understands though because his lips curl into a timid smile, the same smile he gave Charlie in the lobby the day they all arrived.

“Yeah,” he responds, his voice featherlight. Their eyes linger on each other’s lips. “Me too.”

They lay there in silence, their eyes studying one another as if trying to commit each other’s faces to memory. Nick reaches his hand down to interlace their fingers. Charlie looks down at their hands and when he looks up, there’s such a beautiful form of innocence in Nick’s honey brown eyes, the candles reflecting in the obsidian of his blown-out pupils. Charlie looks down at Nick’s lips and his tongue swipes across his lower lip absentmindedly; his heart once again thrumming in his ears. Their eyes meet again and suddenly their noses are touching, mouths not even a centimetre apart, and Charlie can feel the hesitation in the other man’s movements before his lips are pressing against Charlie’s.

They’re slightly chapped from the cold but warm and inviting nonetheless. Charlie’s eyes flutter closed, his hand squeezing Nick’s as he lays still. His brain short circuits, fireworks and bells ringing in his head at the sensation of how Nick’s stubble grazes against his chin. Nick pulls away, his wide eyes meeting Charlie’s and his breathing slightly jagged, almost like he’s panicking. “Sorry, I-”

Charlie doesn’t let him finish as he moves into action, his mouth chasing after Nick’s own as he releases Nick’s hand so he can cup Nick’s jaw. A noise of surprise escapes Nick but he snakes an arm around Charlie’s waist without hesitation and Charlie rolls them over so he’s straddling Nick’s waist with his slender thighs. Nick’s hands move down to Charlie’s waist to help support him, their kiss remaining soft and leisurely but slowly heating up. Charlie pulls back and Nick’s looking up at him with such adoration it’s overwhelming.

“I remember someone forbid the S-word from being said years ago,” Charlie murmurs, rubbing their noses together. He feels Nick’s smile against his own lips and they kiss again, briefly this time before Nick pulls back. 

“Charlie,” he bites his lip. Charlie tilts his head, smiling as he admires the auburn halo of hair fanned out on the pillow around Nick’s head.

“Yeah?” he asks in a low tone, his voice coming out huskier than he had meant it to. Nick swallows thickly. 

“You know, they say the best way to keep warm in cold weather is skin to skin contact. I think we should test that theory out.”

The heat that gathers in Charlie’s abdomen is warmer than what any propane heater could produce and the way Nick is looking up at him is like something from a teenage wet dream. Charlie bites his lip, fighting a stupid grin that’s trying to escape him, as he leans down, reconnecting their lips. 

“Did you pack condoms? Because I sure as hell didn’t,” Charlie murmurs against Nick’s ear. Nick doesn’t respond at first and Charlie leans back so their eyes can meet, suddenly unsure if he has read the situation correctly. For the first time in forever, Charlie sees a mild look of embarrassment on Nick’s face. 

“I think I have a spare one in my wallet.”

Charlie’s lips part, unable to stop the laugh that escapes him, “Nicholas Nelson! Have you been trying to get into my pants this entire time?” he chuckles, but there’s also a hint of a genuine insecurity that Charlie tries to keep hidden. 

Nick’s eyes widen and he pushes them upwards into a sitting position, Charlie’s arse resting on Nick’s extremely muscular thighs. Charlie has to wrap his arms around Nick’s neck so he doesn’t lose his balance from how abrupt the movement is. “No. No! Don’t get me wrong, I want to and I have since I saw you in the lobby but I didn’t think… Charlie, that’s not what this is whatsoever,” Nick says in an urgent tone, his eyes full of nothing but honesty, “If you want to wait or even just not do it ever, that’s perfectly fine-”

Charlie interrupts his panicked ramble with a tender kiss, his hand sneaking up Nick’s neck before tangling in his hair. Nick kisses back fervently, almost apologetically, and Charlie moves his attack of kisses to the corner of Nick’s mouth. He maps out a trail that goes along his jawline and up to his ear, nipping the lobe of it gently.

“I definitely want to,” he whispers, pressing a kiss against Nick’s cheek, “I was mostly teasing but thank you for the reassurance.” 

Nick’s shoulders slump in relief, causing Charlie to giggle. “Thank god,” Nick mutters against Charlie’s neck and then his lips are pressing against Charlie’s pulsepoint. 

Nick’s action elicits a rather embarrassing moan from Charlie that he just can’t hold back; it has been far too long since someone has touched him like this. Charlie’s dick is throbbing from Nick’s assault on his neck. He basks in the feeling of the older man’s teeth nipping and grazing at the sensitive skin, his tongue licking over it to dull the stinging sensations. Charlie leans his head back encouragingly to give Nick better access, but much to Charlie’s disappointment, Nick pulls away. The sadness is short-lived though as Nick rotates them so Charlie’s laying on his back, Nick hovering above him. Their eyes lock and Charlie leans up, kissing Nick once more. He feels Nick’s hand slide up around his neck, his nimble fingers lingering on it briefly before moving up to grasp his chin. Charlie moans in response at the firm yet gentle hold. Nick looks down at Charlie, his eyes blown with lust, and he gives a subtle smirk.

“How do you feel about marking?” Nick hums, Charlie melting under his gaze.

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

Charlie doesn’t want to wake up when he hears his morning alarm go off, silently wishing the power hadn’t been restored last night. He and Nick could be sleeping in right now instead of listening to the annoying chimes that come from his now fully charged phone. He groggily hits the snooze button before tucking his hand back under the sheet. He feels Nick’s arm tighten around his naked torso and a serene smile graces his lips as he snuggles backwards into Nick’s warm embrace. Nick nuzzles the hairs at the nape of Charlie’s neck before his breathing evens out again. Charlie can tell the other is somewhat awake though, his thumb stroking Charlie’s sensitive hipbone where one of the many love bites Nick made the night before lies. They’re more tender this morning than they were last night, his touch producing a dull ache every time it swipes over the mark. Nick presses a sleepy, gentle kiss against Charlie’s shoulder blade and Charlie can feel Nick’s morning erection pressing against the small of his back. 

“Good morning,” Nick murmurs in a raspy voice, his lips brushing against the back of Charlie’s jaw as his breath warms his earlobe. It sends a wave of goosebumps down Charlie’s spine, reaching all the way to his toes. Charlie feels another soft kiss, this one pressing against the crook of his neck, as Nick’s tongue slips out to lick a purple bite that formed there overnight. Charlie, still laying on his side, looks over his shoulder and Nick’s free arm moves up, snaking underneath his torso. His fingers splay out to help support the awkward angle of Charlie’s neck as their lips connect in a slow kiss that sends waves of desire throughout his body. He finds the position so fucking erotic and intimate. He can’t do anything but lay there, encased in Nick’s arms that keep his back pressed against the other’s chest securely. Nick has full and utter control at this moment and Charlie doesn’t mind it one bit; feeling Nick’s cock leaking against the small of his back is leaving him in a state of pure bliss. 

“Good morning to you too,” Charlie moans quietly against Nick’s mouth and he feels pressure around his neck form under Nick’s fingertips as his arm pulls Charlie closer. “Ready for round two already?” Charlie mumbles, trying to sound amused but sounding breathless instead. Nick smiles lazily against Charlie’s mouth, nipping at his lower lip before pressing a kiss against his chin.

“Only if you want to. You’re not sore, are you?” Nick asks softly, running his nose along Charlie’s cheek. 

“I promise I’d let you know if I was,” Charlie whispers and Nick hums, his thumb stroking Charlie’s jaw gently. Their lips reconnect, pressing against each other’s in a slow dance. Nick’s hand around Charlie’s waist moves lower, his fingertips brushing along Charlie’s own erection. He wraps his fingers around Charlie’s length, beginning to tease and stroke it. His other hand moves down from the side of Charlie’s jaw to rest against his neck, squeezing minutely to brace Charlie’s head back. 

“You look so pretty like this,” Nick says softly and Charlie can only manage a whimper in response, “So willing and eager for me… We don’t have much time, but I’m sure we can make do.” His morning voice is hazy and laced with lust. The vibrato that causes it to shake evokes a sharp intake of breath from Charlie.

Nick’s thumb swipe across his tip, prompting Charlie’s hips to rock forward. The movement creates a satisfying friction, causing a quiet groan to fall from Nick’s lips. Charlie gasps in unison with him.

 “You like that, Char?” Nick practically purrs against his skin.

“Fuck, yes,” Charlie breathes, feeling Nick’s smile against his cheek. Nick kisses him again, his hips rolling slowly. Nick’s tip hits the small of Charlie’s back in a repeated motion, his hips beginning to match the rhythm of his fist on Charlie’s leaking cock. Charlie doesn’t try to keep in the whines it elicits. Nick continues stroking Charlie while his other hand caresses a small batch of love bites on Charlie’s neck from the night before. His rhythm is already starting to stutter slightly as he keeps grinding against Charlie, muffled whines and moans escaping Nick's throat as their lips break apart so both of them can properly breathe through the climax they’re inching towards in unison. Nick’s hand picks up its pace and Charlie seizes the moment to sync his movements up with Nick's, thrusting into Nick’s hand as well as grinding backwards against him.

It doesn’t take much more for either of them to come, Charlie panting against Nick's jaw in short bursts as he paints his stomach and Nick’s fingers white. Nick connects their lips then, a muffled moan escaping him and Charlie swallows it in its entirety. 

Charlie can feel Nick’s release on his back seconds later, basking in the beautifully broken sounds Nick makes as his hips buck forward a couple more times. They both lay there, their eyes closed and their breaths ragged as they float back down to earth, basking in post orgasmic euphoria. Charlie’s neck does end up feeling a tad sore as the adrenaline leaves his body but it’s more of an afterthought at this point. He knows once he’s had a shower, the forming kink will dissipate. Charlie opens an eye, glancing over at Nick who’s leaning back with a dazed look and a lopsided grin on his face. 

“We’re gonna need to ask for clean sheets,” Nick mumbles almost incoherently, making Charlie giggle. 

“I’ll make sure to put in a request,” he replies with a grin, “Would you like to shower together?” he asks and Nick’s eyes open as he nods earnestly, interlacing their fingers and giving Charlie’s hand a squeeze. 

“Absolutely. I can warm the water up and let you know when it’s ready.”  

Charlie smiles in agreement. “Sounds good to me. I’m going to text to see where we’re meeting up later,” Charlie responds and Nick gives him a charming boyish smile as he pats Charlie’s thigh before getting up and walking towards their bathroom fully naked. Charlie lets his eyes linger on Nick as he disappears, still unable to fully believe that this is happening. He waits to hear the shower’s dated pipes rumble to life before opening his camera app. Charlie knows he’ll see his reflection in the mirror soon enough but the curiosity of what he looks like is too much and Charlie wants to get his initial reaction out of the way. He waits for the camera app to load before switching to the front camera and his jaw drops. 

Nick wasn’t kidding about the marking, Charlie thinks, studying the hickies that are a vivid reminder of how Nick had taken Charlie apart the prior night before putting him back together piece by delicate piece.

━━━━━━ ❅ ━━━━━━

“Two minutes to midnight! Everyone over here!” Elle shouts over the swarm of people standing outside at the town square in Morzine. She waves her hand so that the rest of the group can spot her and Tao. Nick looks down at Charlie with excitement, taking his hand and leading him over to the gazebo dressed up with tree lights and fake vines. The rest follow suit, Tara and Darcy’s hands intertwined perfectly so that both of their newly placed engagement rings can be seen. Charlie watches them smile at one another, their eyes twinkling, and he feels such a profound surge of happiness for them. Tara glances over at his direction. Her eyes flicker at where Nick’s hand is currently holding Charlie’s before she gives him a wide smile.

Her lips move but Charlie can’t hear her over the crowd. She picks up on his confusion and holds up Darcy’s hand that’s interlaced with hers before pointing at him and Nick, giving him a swift thumbs up. Charlie’s face flushes pink and he looks back up at Nick who’s studying the starry sky. He squeezes Nick’s hand gently and the smile that breaks across Nick’s face from it is stunning. Nick glances down and nudges Charlie with his shoulder. 

“You’re making it really hard not to kiss you right now, you know that?” Nick asks with a lopsided grin. Charlie beams up at him before glancing at the grand tower clock. “I’m trying to be good and wait until midnight like we planned,” he adds, which just makes Charlie snort.

“So, the kiss in the elevator this morning doesn’t count then?” Charlie grins cheekily, fluttering his lashes at Nick. The other shakes his head, laughing.

“No! It doesn’t because I wasn’t fully awake. Someone kept me up later than I was expecting last night.” Nick gives him a pointed look and pokes him in the ribs with his spare hand, making Charlie jump and giggle.

“Sixty seconds!” Darcy’s squeal interrupts them and Charlie looks back up at Nick, leaning in closer.

“Sounds like whoever kept you up must've made it worth it,” Charlie whispers with a wink. Nick’s eyes light up with amusement which is laced with a hint of desire. He squeezes Charlie’s hand in response as he leans down to murmur in Charlie’s ear.

“That is a massive understatement,” he says and presses a kiss to Charlie’s temple. The crowd around them have already started counting down the final thirty seconds, Nick and Charlie joining in for the final ten seconds. Nick wraps his arm around Charlie’s waist. Charlie glances over to see that Elle and Tao have already started kissing; he then looks past Nick’s shoulder to see Tara and Darcy following suit. He looks to his left where Aled and Isaac are standing; Isaac at the very end of his book and Aled looking up at the sky with his earbuds in. 

“Five!” 

Nick’s grip around Charlie’s waist tightens and Charlie’s heartbeat speeds up, his throat already feeling hoarse as they chant upwards at the indigo sky. Scattered clouds of dragon’s breath rise above their heads and the wind nips at Charlie’s nose.

“Four!”

Charlie feels grateful at this moment as the year comes to an end. He’s thankful for a lot of things, especially the man that’s pulling him in closer. For how smoothly the rest of the trip has been, as well as all of the time he’s gotten to spend with his closest friends. He’s happy he got to witness both Tara and Darcy getting on one knee at the same time with tears in their eyes as they professed their love to each other and he’s glad they were all able to share the moment with them. 

“Three!” 

Charlie’s stomach starts to flip as Nick turns towards him, their eyes locking. Both of them are whispering the number now. Charlie has a fleeting thought about the year that’s about to start and all the things they are going to experience together. They’ve talked in depth about their plans for when they fly back to London, starting with Nick visiting Rainbow Nook and getting to see it in all its glory. They also agreed that they want to go on another date, and another after that and so on…

“Two!” 

Nick cups Charlie’s cheek and Charlie relishes in the warmth that his touch radiates, soothing his soul and permeating his entire body. His hands instinctively rise to encircle Nick’s wrists, both of their eyes hooded with desire and longing. Just as the surrounding crowd erupts in shouts and cheers, their lips meet.

“One! Happy New Year!”

The burst of fireworks in the sky pale in comparison to the overwhelming emotions coursing through Charlie. Surrounded by those he loves and being held by Nick, the moment is nothing short of enchanting. Nick holds him tenderly, their lips meeting in a delicate dance as he pulls Charlie flush against his chest. Charlie rises to stand on his tiptoes to gently deepen the kiss. With the anticipation of something new and exhilarating swirling in the air around them, they enter the New Year in each other’s embrace. Nick pulls away, grinning from ear to ear. Charlie looks up at him with wide eyes and a grin mirroring Nick’s own.

“Happy New Year,” Charlie whispers softly and Nick places a gentle kiss on his forehead before pulling him into a hug.

“Happy New Year, Char,” he hums happily and Charlie buries his nose in the crook of Nick’s neck. They both turn their heads to watch the fireworks, admiring the array of different colours. When the air finally falls quiet and stills, the crowd around them begin to disperse. Elle and Tara are talking animatedly about the proposal that happened only moments before they headed outside. Tao and Darcy are looking at the pictures taken during the firework display as well as the secret engagement photos he took.

Charlie and Nick’s fingers intertwine while walking out from the gazebo, over to a less crowded area. Charlie stares up at the mountains surrounding them for the final time, a last chance to admire their silent beauty before reality hits him in the morning. Nick stands quietly next to him, his thumb stroking circles on the back of Charlie’s knuckle. 

“I don’t want to leave,” Charlie whispers, unsure of whether he’s talking to himself, to Nick or maybe even to the city of Morzine. Nick squeezes Charlie’s hand gently to comfort him.

“I know, I don’t either,” Nick agrees, “But at the same time, I can’t wait to head back home.” Charlie’s lips quirk up at this and he looks up at Nick. He notices a few stray snowflakes have graced the auburn locks. His eyes flick to the sky and he notices more flurries are beginning to fall as it starts to snow. 

“Yeah?” Charlie asks curiously with a tilt of his head, “Why’s that?”

“I have quite a few important things to attend to, starting with a date I’m taking my boyfriend on.”

Charlie’s stomach explodes with butterflies at the title. “B-Boyfriend?” he asks, his voice full of awe. Nick’s eyebrows pinch together with confusion and his eyes meet Charlie’s.

“Er, yes? Was that not established the last five times we had sex? Unless you don’t want to label us yet,” he replies and there’s a shift in his tone, one of uncertainty. 

“No! No, I just… I didn’t know we were going to label it. But, I like it,” Charlie grins, “Almost as much as I like you,” he says as he nudges Nick's shoulder with his own.

Nick huffs out a laugh, his shoe scuffing the snow as his face flushes bright pink.

Another blanket of comfortable silence falls on them, the snow collecting on their shoulders and around their feet. “I’m so glad I came,” Nick murmurs and Charlie nods his head.

“I am too,” Charlie hums and he leans into Nick, not minding the cold little snowflakes that are melting against his ear, “Although I’m sure it was hard to say no when Tara told you the reason.”

Nick bites his lip and he looks down at Charlie. “That wasn’t the only reason I came, y’know. I was debating on passing up on it because I didn’t really know most of the people on this trip. Sure, I knew of them from Truham but…” Nick shrugs, “I didn’t know them well enough to feel comfortable sharing a room. But when Darcy told me you were going to be here…”

Charlie’s eyes go wide at this new information. “Darcy? Darcy knew you were coming?”

Nick nods. “Darcy was the one who asked if it would be okay if we shared a room after inviting me. I didn’t know Tara was going to propose to Darcy until the night at the pool.” 

Charlie glances back at the gazebo where their friends are still standing; he focuses on how Tara and Darcy are laughing at something Aled had said. He turns back to face Nick who’s looking at the group too. Their eyes lock again and they both break into a sudden fit of laughter.

“I guess Tara and Darcy had the ‘two-birds-one-stone’ mindset,” Charlie giggles and a hearty laugh escapes Nick. 

“I guess so. I thought you knew I was going to be here. They told me you would absolutely love for me to come along. It didn’t take much more convincing after that.”

“I didn’t have a bloody clue until Tara announced it seconds before you showed up!” Charlie grins, shaking his head, “Let alone that we’d be sharing a room. It was all very last minute for me.”

Charlie knows he should be mad at the manipulative tactics of both Tara and Darcy and he definitely plans on talking to them once they are back home. However, at this moment in time, with Nick’s hand squeezing his, he can’t bring himself to care. He is well aware that, without their help, he may never have reconnected with Nick, let alone had the holiday of a lifetime. Charlie had anticipated departing from the trip as single as he arrived, but instead, he's leaving with a new status – as a "boyfriend" now in a relationship with the man he's been pining for since secondary school. Charlie leans up and plants a kiss on Nick’s lips, feeling a surge of happiness run through him at the thought that he gets to do that whenever he wants now. Just to prove that point to himself, he does it again, evoking a chuckle to escape Nick.

As they part, Nick seems to be lost in thought. 

“What did they call themselves back in secondary school again? ‘Meddling Gays’ or something?”

Charlie snorts and nods, “Yeah, that’s the one. Pretty sure they’ve coined it at this point.” 

The two of them look over at the group, both rather surprised to see their friends staring back in their direction. Elle is blowing them a kiss while Darcy is pumping her fist in the air. Even Aled and Isaac have rather smug looks on their faces and Charlie’s lips twist as a sudden thought runs across his mind.

“Nick?”

“Yeah?” 

Charlie can’t help the grin on his face when Tao and Tara simultaneously shoot him a thumbs up. “I’m starting to think Tara and Darcy weren’t the only ones meddling.”