#After (On Hiatus with possible random slow updates)

Ar'Nick and Ar'Tee

                                                                                     ***

Ming woke to find both Aria and Mick in bed with him. He was surprised since it was a school day.

He eased out of the bed and made his way to his phone. He called Nick.

"I'm in your kitchen. Mick had a temperature this morning so I let him stay home. He wasn't faking it either."

"Oh. Thanks. I'll wash up and come down."

Ming turned on the monitor and walked down with it. He made his way into the kitchen to see Nick making joke. It smelt damn good and there was fruit cut up as well.

"Your pretty domesticated." Ming said in surprise and smiled.

"Heck no. I only know how to make joke and bake chicken and rice. That's it. Oh and cut fruit into shapes."

"Bake chicken?" The way he said it made Ming aware that he wasn't talking local Thai style.

"With bbq sauce and ketchup. I'll make it for you."

"Who taught you that?" Ming asked around a slick of peach. He picked up a bit of kiwi next and made a face at the plums.

"This guy I liked in college. He picked it up from an ex. I don't think it's the full recipe but it's not terrible."

A whimper came over the monitor and Ming spun and disappeared in seconds. Nick blinked then went back to the joke. He didn't know what to do except this so he worked hard on it.

When Ming came back down carrying a sobbing Mick and the phone in his ear, Nick turned the fire on low and walked over. He motioned with his hands and Ming handed the boy over. Nick rubbed his back as he hummed, surprisingly on key this time, and took the boy into the kitchen.

"My throat hurts Ar'Nick," Mick sobbed and Nick sighed. He was pretty sure this was a terrible time to tell the clinging kid not to call him uncle so he let it go. His dad had talked to him about timing. The lessons had stuck pretty well.

"I know a trick. It might hurt for a little while and it will feel kind of weird doing it but, after the pain is gone, you'll feel better."

"What is it?"

"Do you know how to gargle?"

"Daddy makes me do it after I brush my teeth."

"Awesome. Now I'm going to put some salt in some warm water and we'll gargle together. How about it?" Dad had told him little kids liked to do things together with their adults. He wasn't wrong again because Mick stopped crying and took his hand.

Nick mixed the solution and they went to the bathroom with two cups. Ming found them there, gargling and spitting like pros. Mick was giggling when Nick got some on his shirt. 

"A friend of ours, Suthee, is free so he's going to pass by and check on Mick. Kit should be back tomorrow morning at 8ish. If things are bad, Suthee may stay the night. He doesn't have to work for the next two days." Ming explained. "He's heading over right now."

"Ok." Nick said and suddenly remembered the joke. "Shit, the soup!"

"I turned it off. Just in time. We don't swear by the way. Or we try not to. Every so often something slips out but try not to use bad words." Ming said with an easy smile. Nick nodded.

"Got it. How are you feeling now Mickey?"

"It still hurts but it's not so bad." The little boy looked up with a smile and Nick saw a bit of Kit in his face. But strangely he also looked like Ming. Was it resemblance by osmosis? Was that even a thing?