Title: The Problematic Puppy
By: flipflopadd1ct
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Summary: "Greg couldn't believe his eyes – this did not just happen." A short Christmas!fic with domestic!NickandGreg.

***

It was the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...except for the dog.

But it was quiet in the bedroom, where Greg was lying with a book open on his face. He had come into the room meaning to read the latest Patricia Cornwell, but sleep was so much more inviting.

Suddenly a tinkling sound echoed through the quiet halls. A tinkling like broken glass. A tinkling like a broken...ornament.

Greg's eyes snapped open. That didn't sound good. "Nick? Do you have Charlie with you?" he called, asking about their puppy.

Nick answered from the study. "I thought he was with you!"

Greg cursed under his breath and leapt off the bed. He hurried to the living room, to the Christmas tree, afraid of what he might find.

He had good reason to be worried.

Greg stared, shocked, at the sight before him. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Nick behind him. "What happened? Oh...I'm sorry, G."

Their new puppy, adopted two months ago, was sitting by the tree. In front of him were the broken shards of Greg's most prized ornament, lying in hundreds of navy blue pieces. Greg couldn't believe his eyes – this did not just happen. Given to him as a Christmas gift when he was eleven, Papa Olaf had hand-crafted the ball, painting it blue with a snow scene and the words Gledelig Jul - "Merry Christmas" in Norwegian. It was one of a kind.

"That was from Papa Olaf! He made it!"

"I know, Greg, I know." Nick tried – unsuccessfully – to console him.

The golden retriever pup barked happily, sitting on his haunches with his tail wagging and head cocked to the side.

"I don't like you very much right now," Greg snapped. He peered closely at the broken pieces as if it was a homicide scene. Fixing it was hopeless.

"It's hopeless," he moaned.

Nick was unsure of what to do, but he decided to let Greg have his moment. Nick hovered behind Greg, debating whether or not to give Greg the dustpan.

When Greg reached for the pointy glass with bare hands, Nick made his decision.

"Greg, we should clean this up-"

"No!"

"Greg! It's not going to do any good lying on the carpet!"

Greg stared at what was left of the ornament and reluctantly took the dustpan and brush that had been pressed into his hands. Charlie padded over, sniffing around, so Greg raised the brush in anger and yelled "Shoo!" Charlie barked and scurried playfully away to grab a toy from Nick.

Greg solemnly swept up the rest of the remains and headed for the kitchen. "We are not throwing these away," he said through gritted teeth.

Nick held his hands up in defense. "Hey, I never said we were! It's yours, you do what you want with it! I'm sorry, G, but Charlie's a puppy. Things like that happen."

Right on cue, Charlie the golden retriever came bounding past them, running into the kitchen. As soon as his tail disappeared around the corner, there was a loud crash and a puppy's surprised yelp. Greg muttered "fucking dog" and hurried to the kitchen to investigate.

"Uh, Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"Charlie just broke your favorite mug."

***