notsocommon | for Nikola

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nikola,
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for Nikola

Ice cream had become Helen's one true joy since she couldn't drink and she couldn't have caffeine and she had a cone of honey-lavender from Del as she wandered back from the shop down to the beach. She wanted to sit and watch the waves for a little while even if it was dangerous beyond all reckoning to sit down with her burgeoning belly and expect to get back up again. Still, she was willing to risk it.

It was lovely to watch the waves roll in and Helen took her time with the ice cream, cursing a little as some plopped down on her chest and stained her shirt an interesting shade of purple. Really? Apparently she was meant to suffer every indignity with this pregnancy. She shifted to stand and found that she couldn't given the changes in her center of gravity and well. Wasn't this awkward?

Spotting a familiar face, she called out. "Nikola! Come here? Help me?"

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"Not on your bloody life. Just take my hands as I shift to stand," Helen said, rolling her eyes and offering them up. "I don't get on hands and knees for anyone."

Will, perhaps, but that wasn't something to be brought up in conversation to anyone but Will.

"Really? I'm sure I remember a conversation in ninety forty two, oh I'm kidding come on then. If you put out my back and I have to spend weeks in traction you're to come and play nurse in uniform." Nikola replied, sighing before offering his hands out to Helen and bracing himself for the worst. "Where is dearest William? Has his head exploded yet from the upcoming responsibility of the greatest mind to ever live... my future Godchild."

"He's working, as he's wont to do," Helen said, taking his hands and using that leverage to pull herself up. Luckily, it worked. Any later on in this pregnancy and she might very well have been stuck for the duration.

"Thank you," she murmured, kissing his cheek. "I needed that."

"Leaving you all alone well, how fortunate for me." Nikola replied, making a face as he helped Helen to her feet. Nikola suppressed the urge to wrap his arms around her and stroke her swelling stomach as it was likely to get him punched or glowered or both. He did however accept the kiss before offering Helen his arm. "Couldn't leave you there covered in purple, what would the islanders say? Helen, have you been eating ice cream again? Dreadful behaviour."

"Gregory likes it," she said petulantly, adding a pout for good measure. In truth, she was so hot and miserable that ice cream and ice-cold fruit were the only things that seemed really palatable at the moment.

"And, well, I like it. But mostly the baby likes it."

"I'm sure young Gregory Nikola does," Nikola replied, looking faintly innocent as he exchanged James for his own name. He might agree with her name choice for once but well, he still wasn't going to at least try and push his own agenda. "I have yet to see the appeal of allowing that madwoman anywhere near my food. She molested my hair Helen, my hair."

"And mine, and Will's," Helen said dismissively. "She does that to everyone. It's simply one of her quirks and I happen to find it endearing even if you don't."

Besides, Del meant well, no matter what. Helen couldn't help but admire that.

"She molested my hair whilst telling me how Edison was a Genius," Nikola replied, brow furrowing with tension at the thought. Nikola had a few sore spots but Edison was always the person most likely to make him devolve into an angry rage. "You find Will endearing, your tastes are questionable. Although I have to admit I lik- William is a lot... he's okay."

Which for Nikola was high praise indeed.

Helen arched a brow and didn't make any attempts at containing her smirk. "What was that, Nikola, darling? You like Will? Oh, I do believe you shall have to tell him this. When did this happen?"

That quite possibly made her whole day.

"Don't you even dare," Nikola replied, giving Helen a scathing look. One that had quite possibly turned the tide in the war or at least sent a few of Hitler's little spies running home to mommy with their tails between their legs. "It hasn't. I- no longer want to kill him. He's tolerable I suppose. And I suppose... he makes you happy. I could make you happier but you seem to have this silly notion that you're in love with him."

"That's because I am in love with him," Helen deadpanned. "What with the getting married and having children and all that. Believe me, I'm not keen on carrying a child for someone I don't love. You could simply tell him that you like him, you know. It might make him think more favorably of you."

"It could still be a parasitic organism making you deluded into believing that you loved him." Nikola replied just as seriously. Nikola smirked, laughed at the very idea of telling William anything of the sort. "Where would the fun be in that? If I did like him that is. No, I think I prefer my methods more."

"Suit yourself. I'm just saying, it would make everyone's lives a bit brighter if there weren't some perceived rift between Will and every man I've ever slept with," Helen said softly. "We already know John's a lost cause but I thought perhaps you'd be more willing to be warm and friendly to him. It's worth a try, anyway, and I'm willing to endorse it."

"Warm and friendly?" Nikola turned his head staring at Helen in disbelief at the words Warm and Friendly. "Has pregnancy addled your mind? Warm and friendly. Really Helen, I can barely stand John and he's one of my oldest friends. How about I don't insult him as regularly and promise not to steal his clothes?"

"How about you be kind to him for the sake of your godson," Helen retorted, giving him a sharp look. "Because I don't want young Gregory wondering why Uncle Nikola hates his father. He's Will's child, he's bound to be perceptive and sensitive."

At least, Helen hoped he was. Will's warm, sensitive personality was one of the main reasons she loved him so much.

"He's also your child, he may have a modicum of taste." Nikola replied half seriously. "Fine, I'll be... pleasant. If, I can have something from you dearest Helen."

Helen cocked her head, wary. It was never wise to give Nikola carte blanche but he'd intrigued her and her curiosity won out.

"What's that, Nikola? And within reason. I'm not agreeing to just anything."

"Your help acquiring some items that I need for a project. Nothing dangerous of course," Nikola said innocently before adding with a grin. "And a kiss."

"Yes to the first, with limitations. The second, absolutely not," Helen said, rolling her eyes. "I'm married to Will, if you hadn't gathered that yet, and I do believe it forsakes my vows to be kissing other men."

She grinned. "But I'll kiss your cheek?"

"What limitations, do tell Helen." Nikola said, curling his fingertips around Helen's arm as they walked and smiling, quite genuinely for once. Nikola considered her offer before nodding. "Fine, I'll take a kiss on the cheek."

After all he could still rub it in John's face later.

"It had better not be for anything destructive and my definition and your definition differ somewhat. So I'll be the judge of that. Otherwise, I shall help," she promised, leaning in and kissing his cheek lightly.

"There. And now you've had your kiss, too. You've had a banner day."

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