#After (On Hiatus with possible random slow updates)

Ar'Nick and Ar'Tee

"Yeah? I love math. Your Papa is tired so I'll do it with you. I can make it easy for you to understand. Don't worry."

Mick squinted at Nick and made a face of disbelief. "I doubt that. Math is trash!" Both men winced and shared a look.

"You really love art Mick. How would you feel if I told you art was trash? Every subject is neat, it's just that some are better than others. And you still need math in art. You have to calculate how much your going to sell your art work for and how much supplies you need and living expenses because you may not want to live at home_"

"Why not. I have my own room and I love my dads. I don't want to leave them all alone." Mick interrupted, his young voice high with reproach.

"Well you might meet someone and want to live with them."

"Wellllllllll_" Mick pondered for a long moment and they made it to the car, settled in and were pulling out of the parking lot when he suddenly said, "I guess so but I like Win and I don't think he'll want to leave home either so I guess we can choose which room we want to stay in."

"I see." Nick said calmly while Ming almost shit a brick. Mick had never been this clear about his feelings. He didn't want Pha to kill his kid.

"What if Win doesn't like you back?" Nick asked as kindly as he could.

"Then I'll stay in my room and live alone."

"Just like that?" Nick asked as he enjoyed his older brother's stunned reactions.

"Yep."

"Well that's very mature of you Mick. What cartoon are you watching there?"

Mick and his uncle Nick kept up the chatter until they got to the house. Somewhere along the line, Ming had managed to calm his racing heart and even fell into a light sleep. Once at the house, they got the kids bathed, and in Aria's case, back in bed. Nick did help Mick with his homework and it wasn't so bad. Mick managed to grasp the simple concepts Nick was trying to teach him. Nick wasn't a great teacher. He sucked actually. But he also remembered the tone and infection in his teacher's voice from the times she would sit with him and help him grasp the basic concepts of math and taught him his multiplication tables.

He did that with Mick now and the two thoroughly enjoyed playing the fool as they solved some math problems. The only thing Ming was sure of is that Nick never once told Mick the answer and he was sure a couple of the answers were wrong but Ming believed in letting Mick face such consequences. He felt it built character.

"Ok you two. It's gone past 11. Are you even finished?"

"Yes Papa! Good night Ar Nick! I love you Papa!" 

Ming scooped up his son in mid fling and hugged him tight. He winked at Nick who looked a little uncomfortable at being called uncle and took his son off to bed.

"Crash here for the night." Ming offered when he got back down to the family room.

"Sure. Do I have to be called uncle? Can't they just call me Nick?"

"When kids call adults by their names they tend to think they are on the same level as you. That's when they forget the respect. At least have them tack on the P' if uncle gives you the hebe-jebes."

"P' should be fine I guess."

"There's no guessing about it. I'm not coming in tomorrow. I only need one favour from you. Drop Mickey in to school for me in the morning before you leave?"

"Sure. I'll organize for you."

"Thanks."