Title: The Happy Fool
Author: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: G
Summary: Nick remembers being a fool...

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Nick was sitting in Rosie's Diner having lunch on his day off when it happened. He was enjoying his meal when he happened to look out the window just in time to see Greg and his newest "friend" walk by. Having lost his appetite, Nick paid his check and left the diner. He had more errands to run and got those done and went home.

Later that evening, Nick was trying to find something to watch on TV, but couldn't find anything to keep his interest. He knew why that was, but was refusing to think about it. He tried reading for a while but that didn't help either. He decided to shower and go to bed.

Once Nick was in bed, his thoughts drifted back to what he had seen that day. He felt sorry for the guy because Greg was fickle, and would probably have somebody else on the side. Nick saw traces of himself in the guy's face, traces of the happy fool Nick used to be.

People had tried to tell Nick that Greg was cheating on him and playing him for a fool, but at first he refused to believe it. When Nick finally listened, he thanked those who tried to tell him about Greg's faults and what he was doing.

Nick let Greg go, but even after all this time, he held on to the memory of the happy fool he used to be. Nick knew he was wiser now, but he was sadder because he wished he could be the happy fool he used to be.

END

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