Title: Rock, Paper, Sissors
By: glo-starz
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Summary: Nick was supposed to be the romantic one, so why was this so hard? Thanks to saras_girl for beta-ing and endless patience!

Nick couldn’t understand it. He was the romantic one. It was supposed to be easy for him. It’s not that Greg wasn’t romantic; just as Greg himself had said the night of Dashboard Confessional, Nick just always seemed to get there first when it came to romance. So why was this so god damned hard?

He sighed and got up from his chair and wandered to the kitchen, putting on a pot of Greg’s coffee the way Greg had taught him to do it. The first wedding anniversary was paper – what the hell was he supposed to do with that? It was Greg who’d insisted that they give each other gifts made of paper to commemorate the occasion. He knew Greg had managed it, as ‘it’ had sat in a box on top of the wardrobe for about a month. He wouldn’t peek and Greg knew that. But now it was the day of the anniversary and he still had no idea and he sort of wished he’d had a quick look.

Nick sighed and took his mug to the kitchen table, folding his arms and letting his chin rest on them. He’d thought about gig tickets but that was too obvious, a gift certificate was just rubbish and a photograph seemed like cheating somehow.

In front of him was the control for the new stereo system they had got last Christmas. He knew Greg had been listening to something this morning, something very different to the stuff he normally listened to. Nick knew this as he had actually kinda liked it. He pressed play and leaned back in the chair, letting the music wash over him.

He wanted to make this anniversary so special. The day he met Greg he had been fascinated by him, a few months later he knew that he wanted him, once they had first kissed, Nick knew he would never want anyone else. When Greg said yes, he felt like he was about to explode, he was so happy. And the wedding was the best day of his life. So he really wanted to do something for Greg that would show him that, and the fact that Nick loved him more than he had ever loved anyone.

He sighed again and tuned in to the music floating from the stereo. There was something about the sound, the lyrics, that made him think of Greg, despite the fact that it was not his type of thing at all. He stood up and walked to the sitting room and took the case from on top of the stereo.

“Longview,” he read. “Never heard of ‘em.” A post-it on top said :

“Greg, found this the other day. I know my taste in English bands is normally shit, but these are amazing, trust me. Really epic, vast. It’ll make you ache. Spence.”

Nick turned the case in his hands, reading the track titles. He smiled when he saw them. Each one expressed an emotion or a feeling he had for Greg. But it was track four that seemed most poignant. He skipped forward three tracks, promising himself he would go back and listen to them later as, for once, Spencer had chosen something good.

And this something good actually turned out to be something useful. Track four - it said how he felt every night when he watched Greg as he slept. Watching Greg sleep was his major addiction. Apart from country music and bird documentaries. To be honest, Greg generally was his major addiction.

Then it struck him. The perfect idea. He hadn’t drawn in years, Greg didn’t even know he could, which would make this even more perfect. He went to his office and pulled out a battered plastic box which he carried through to their bedroom. He sat cross legged on his side of the bed and smiled at the side where Greg slept. He took out a sketch pad and a pack of pencils of varying hardness, found a clean page in his sketch book and began to draw.

Half an hour later he looked at the finished product and smiled. OK, so it wasn’t as perfect as Greg, but Nick wanted Greg to see what he saw when he couldn’t sleep, when he stayed up just that little while after Greg had fallen asleep just to hold him and watch him. And although nothing could compare to the real thing, this was still beautiful.

Next he took two sheets of card from the box, one red and one silver. He carefully folded them, cut shapes, thread parts onto wire, arranged and glued until his card was almost finished. He went into Greg’s bedside drawer and pulled out a sheet of Chuck Taylor stickers he had bought from Wal-Mart the week before. The shoe shaped stickers had been finding their way onto everything recently. Nick carefully stuck some onto his creation and smiled, happy with what he had achieved. Finally, he took out a calligraphy pen and added words.

There were still fifteen minutes left until Greg arrived home from work and Nick used the time to order pizza and get some beers in an ice bucket that he put beside the sofa. Then he turned off all the lights and sparked up some candles.

Greg bounced through the door at half past ten, all giggles and smiles. He had run straight to Nick, thrown his arms and legs around him and shouted:

“Happy first wedding anniversary, Nicky!” before he smothered Nick with kisses. Nick smiled into Greg’s mouth, returning the kisses but not letting the passion run away with them yet. “Want your pressie?”

“Course I do G, but let’s eat first. I got your favourite.”

Greg looked at the sitting room table. On it were two pizzas, Nick’s steak and cheese and Greg’s Hawaiian. In an ice bucket were four bottles of Castle beer.

“You know how to romance a guy,” Greg giggled.

They curled up on the sofa, feeding themselves and occasionally feeding each other. Before they took a sip of beer they chinked the necks of the bottles together and Nick proposed a toast.

“To the first of many.” Greg repeated the toast, his face lighting up with happiness.

“I don’t think I can wait any longer, Nicky.” Greg put down his beer and the half finished slice of pizza. “Please can I give you your present?”

Nick smiled. Even after all he had seen, all that had happened to him, he was still so young and innocent. Nick hoped that he would be like that forever.

“Ok Sunshine. Surprise me.”

Greg vaulted over the back of the sofa and ran to their bedroom. He ran back thirty seconds later with a box.

“Ok, I’m ready, open it.”

Nick tore open the box to reveal hundreds of tiny paper cranes made of red, white and pink paper. Each one had hearts drawn on it in red felt pen. It must have taken Greg ages.

“Oh honey, these are so cute.” Nick put the box down for a second, taking a handful of cranes and walking to the bookcase. He lined them up on a shelf facing into the room.

“Please Nicky. Do the rest tomorrow.” Greg whined. “Please finish opening your present.” Nick could see nervous energy filling Greg’s eyes.

Carefully Nick moved the little paper cranes to reveal a white spiral bound book with a red heart on the front.

“What is it, G?”

“Open it and have a look.” Nick carefully opened the book. It was an anniversary book. He flicked to the first page. There was space for a date, location, presents, details of what they did and a photo of the occasion.

“I know you like to write stuff in your journal. And being so romantic I thought maybe you’d like a book where you can remember each and every anniversary.”

“Oh Greg, it’s perfect.” Nick was amazed by the present. It was perfect. Greg had, once again, proved that he could be incredibly romantic when he tried. Or when Nick didn’t get there first.

“I’m afraid my little gift seems a bit tragic compared to yours.” Nick walked over to the kitchen table and picked up the picture and the card. He handed them both to Greg. Greg’s mouth dropped open and he looked like a fish. “Well?”

Greg stared at Nick, his eyes wet and glassy.

“You drew this?”

“Yeah.” Nick blushed.

“Oh Nicky, I had no idea you could draw.” Greg wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “It’s beautiful.” He stared at the picture of himself that Nick had drawn. His hair was ruffled, his eyes closed, he was smiling softly and he had pulled the covers up under his chin.

“You see,” Nick began, going even redder as he spoke. “I watch you sleep. All the time. You’re so beautiful, so peaceful. No matter how shit my day has been I know I can come home and hold you and that you will fall asleep in my arms. I just kinda....wanted you to see what I see.”

Greg leaned in and kissed Nicky on the cheek.

“I love it, Nicky.”

He stroked Nick’s face gently then turned his attention to the card. It was a piece of red card that had been folded in half. In the front a heart had been cut out and a slightly smaller silver heart, attached by wire so it could spin, had been put in its place. All around the edge of the heart were little, red Chuck Taylor stickers. Greg giggled as; once again, Nick had got it just right.

Greg carefully opened the card and read the inside.

“It’s not the actions that show me how much you love me, it’s how you look at me in those seconds before you go to sleep and how relaxed you are when you sleep in my arms that tells me all I need to know.”

Once again, Greg’s eyes threatened tears and Nick pulled him close for a slow and gentle kiss.

“So perfect.” Nick blushed and smiled.

“Now,” Greg said, his countenance suddenly changing. Nick had lit a fire within him, he wanted Nick, now. Not fast and hard but slow and tender. “We had rock,” and Greg held the heart shaped stone that he never stopped carrying out for Nick to see. “We had paper,” and he held up the drawing and card. Then he sauntered over to Nick, swinging his hips and licking his pink lips. “How about scissors?”

And he made a scissoring motion with his index and middle finger whilst wiggling his eyebrows at Nick.

Nick didn’t need to be asked twice.

_______________________________________________

You don't know what you do to me
You don't know what you do to me
I don't know what I want to be
And I know what I want to be

You don't know what you do to me
You don't know what you do to me
I don't know what I want to be
You don't know what you do to me

(only when you sleep)
Can’t believe it feels like
(only when you sleep)
Fight fire, can't forget
(only when you sleep)
All's changing, now it’s real
(only when you sleep)
Can't believe the way I feel

You don't know what you do to me
(only when you sleep)
You don't know what you do to me
(only when you sleep)
Couldn't stop if I made you see
(only when you sleep)
You don't know what you do to me

(only when you sleep)
Can’t believe it feels like
(only when you sleep)
Fight fire, can't forget
(only when you sleep)
All's changing, now it’s real
(only when you sleep)
Can't believe the way I feel

Ever-lasting, still unchanging
Ever-lasting, still unchanging
Ever-lasting
Still...

(only when you sleep)
Cant believe it feels like
(only when you sleep)
Fight fire, can't forget
(only when you sleep)
All's changing, now its real
(only when you sleep)
Can't believe the way I feel
(only when you sleep)

You don't know what you do to me
(only when you sleep)
You don't know what you do to me
(only when you sleep)
You don't know what you do to me
(only when you sleep)
You don't know what you do to me