a night to remember - UNICK

[YULIA PROFIT]

Yulia hadn’t been sure about the dress, Kira had said it looked good on her and that it would blow Nick’s mind. She’d felt a little silly dressed up since it wasn’t normal for her and she didn’t think it looked good because it just…it was her wearing it? She knew she wasn’t ugly, she wasn’t one of those girls who went around thinking they were too fat or not pretty enough but she didn’t think the pretty things like dresses and stuff suited her well because she just…wasn’t that girl? She’d bought it though from the second-hand shop because the price was perfect and with Kira’s encouragement. Getting things to go with it her jewelry sparkled but was all fake-diamond and she was perfectly fine with that. She’d been nervous as hell when she’d first come out of the bathroom after getting dressed, but Kira had been right and Nick had seemed floored by her choice in outfit for this and that made it worth a little discomfort at being in something out of her element. She could do it for a night because it was a special occasion and it was the right thing to be wearing at the ball they’d be going to.

She’d never thought that she would be going to a ball, it just wasn’t something you really heard too much about outside of fairy tales these days but she found herself enjoying it while they were there. The location was beautiful and the area decorated so beautifully as people gathered there to enjoy each other’s company and have fun. She tried not to seem clingy, didn’t want to be that woman who drove a man crazy because she couldn’t back off a bit but so many strangers in a small space made her a little nervous so she’d stayed by Nick through most of the night glad when he didn’t seem bothered by it. Not that she’d actually expected to be upset with her for it since he knew her well enough to know the setting would be at least a bit awkward. If he had a problem with her quirks he wouldn’t be with her at all she didn’t think so she didn’t let herself stress over it and just tried to relax and have a fun night.

She’d gotten better since they first arrived, relaxed a bit and found herself talking a little easier to the people around her without being afraid, she did still flinch back a little if someone bumped into her or brushed against her but she was even getting better about that or at least she thought she was hiding it better. Smiling as a woman paused next to her to compliment her dress she thanked her and gave a compliment in return to the woman’s gorgeous purple dress that Yulia had to love for it being her favorite color but also because it was well cut designed to be beautiful on its wearer. Reaching up to brush some of her hair away from her face she looked around at everyone though she noticed some people had left or were leaving and turned her head as her eyes searched for a clock but didn’t find one. Turning to Nick she didn’t want to interrupt the guy talking to him so she waited a moment before he’d finished and lightly touched Nick’s arm before leaning a little closer. ”What time is it?” she asked her voice just loud enough to be heard and she shifted a little to slide her foot in her shoe to a more comfortable position since they were starting to hurt just a little but they’d been worth it because they went with the dress and gave her at least a little boost in height.

Wearing This :: MEL/NICK :: DONE

[nicholas]

Nick had been floored the moment that Yulia had stepped out, ready to go for the ball that evening. He'd taken to the bedroom to get himself ready after a shower and had left the bathroom for Yulia to get herself ready for the event. He'd had a feeling that regardless of what she was going to wear, she was going to knock his socks off, but the moment she emerged from the bathroom in that particular number, he'd damned near choked himself with his tie as he was tying it. She was stunning. She was beyond stunning. Nick could probably count the number of times in his life that he'd well and truly been stunned into silence on one hand... But she'd done it right then and there.

The night was going pretty well. Yulia was sticking by his side and he didn't blame her in the least. There was a number of people that seemed fairly intent on speaking with him as it was. They saw Nick at this event every year, but he had a damned good feeling that one of the reasons that they all seemed to be headed in his direction was because, for the first time ever, he had a beautiful woman at his side for a date. He wished they'd back off a little bit and give her a little breathing room though. While he appreciated the fact that human nature was to be curious... His nature was to protect her and make sure that she was comfortable.

When he wanted to give her a little bit of a break, he selected a corner of the dance floor that seemed relatively underpopulated and would dance with her there. He wasn't typically the type to take to dancing and he wasn't fantastic at it, but he definitely knew what he was doing to some extent. He was pretty damned sure that he'd wind up hearing some of his guys raz him for it later, but at the heart of the matter, he knew well enough that his team was happy to see him finally doing something other than just working his ass off. He'd been doing it all his life and it was finally time for him to turn his attentions to something and someone else.

But the night was finally winding down and people were starting to drift back home or back to their rented chalets. A few of the married men he knew had drifted back with their wives to the chalet. The children had been welcome at the event as well and there had been a number of little princess and princes waltzing around the room with the adults. No doubt the host and hostess of the event had made the dreams of a few little girls that night just by telling them they could go. He was finishing up a conversation with someone and they had just walked away when Yulia's voice at his side had him turning towards her. "I think..." He said, looking at his watch. "That it's time to start heading back to our Home away from Home for the holidays." He smiled at her. His watch read almost midnight. "I'm glad Cinderella won't run the risk of turning into a pumpkin on me tonight. You look incredible, Yulia." He said, the smile still on his face.

He offered her his arm. "Shall we head back then?" He asked her with an arched brow.

WEARING THIS: BUT LESS BEARDY AND HAIR SHORTER

[YULIA PROFIT]

Yulia hoped to find something that would impress Nick when looking for a dress after being told she’d need one for this event while there. She’d enlisted the help of a friend and had gone on a little hunt to find the right dress wanting something that would not make her entirely uncomfortable but that would still catch Nick’s eye. She was learning she liked it when she surprised him with something or how he could make her actually feel beautiful sometimes just with a look. It was new territory but she was also more glad now that they were at the actual even for the dress because it was comfortable now that she’d settled into wearing it and she didn’t get over-heated in the room filled with people. She actually fit in instead of sticking out like a sore thumb too since the other women there were dressed up as well and she loved watching the children running around dancing and enjoying themselves in their nice clothes as well.

The evening was a fun one, a good memory made and she was very glad to have been invited. She could tell that somehow Nick held a lot of interest to other people and not just herself but she couldn’t blame them for wanting to speak with him. He looked so handsome dressed up and she felt like the luckiest woman in the room to be there with him. People seemed curious at times about her which was strange but she didn’t think too much on it since it was the first time she’d been there and Nick had said this was an annual trip for his team so they would be used to more familiar faces and new ones would lead to curiosity. She talked with people and enjoyed seeing Nick relax and have a little fun, dancing with him made her smile as she let him lead since she hadn’t really had any occasion to dance before so hadn’t learned. She could see the familiar faces of those of his team that he’d met before in the crowd and she’d even spoken to some of them when they’d been in the same general area. She was actually quite proud of herself for being able to be in the crowd and spend time enjoying herself instead of worrying the whole thing through.

The night seemed to be coming to an end now though and she wouldn’t be against the chance to get a break from her shoes since while they were comfortable enough any heels worn for long amounts of time would hurt. Asking Nick the time she waited for an answer nodding with a smile when he said time to start heading back to their home away from home instead of giving an actual number. ”That sounds like a good idea to me.” she agreed and laughed lightly as he mentioned Cinderella blushing as he complimented her and took his offered arm. ”Yes let’s head back…and I would like to say that every woman here tonight should have been jealous of me, because I came with the most handsome man here.” she said with a tiny smirk showing the little flash of boldness she’d been picking up since spending time around him.

Wearing This :: MEL/NICK :: DONE

[nicholas]

She'd definitely found something to impress him, not that she really needed to do it as it was. The woman never ceased to amaze him. She was incredible, regardless of what she was doing or what she was wearing in his eyes. He only hoped that he expressed that fact often enough to her. Tonight, however, she'd gone above and beyond... And not just with the dress, actually. It was also in the way she had handled herself that evening. She was holding up incredibly well and Nick knew just how damned well she'd done for herself and just how long of a way she'd gone from where she'd been when he'd first met her. He didn't have to be a psychiatrist to see that.

He smiled a little when she said that getting out of there sounded like a good idea to her. "I'm pretty sure it does." He smiled at her. Although she had done remarkably well, she couldn't have been all that comfortable there. While she seemed much more relaxed than she had been to begin with, he wasn't sure if a good portion of that was attributed to too much champaign or just the fact that she had been in the current setting long enough that it didn't matter to her as much as it all had the moment that she'd walked into the room. Either way, he had to admit that he had been uncomfortable being around so many people at some points during the night. He could only imagine what she felt.

He laughed and shook his head. "I don't think many women would have been jealous of the fact that I almost stepped on your toes a handful of times on the dance floor." He commented. She linked her arm in his and he started heading for the door with her. They stopped at the door long enough for Nick to help her into her jacket once they managed to get it from the coat check and for Nick to grab a small bag that he'd left with them earlier, and then they were on their way. "How are your feet holding up?" He asked with a small grin. "Becaaaaauuuuse...." He reached into the bag he'd kept with coat check and produced a pair of boots that she'd brought with her with a guilty smile on his face. "There goes Mr. Ridiculously Prepared again, taking control." He laughed a little.

[YULIA PROFIT]

Yulia had been mentally talking herself into the ball that morning in truth, her nerves wanting her to just tell Nick she was sorry but she couldn't go. Large crowds were always an issue for her whether friends or not...though it wasn't the crowd as much as the fact that they were strangers. People she didn't know so she had not clue if she was safe or not. Her father had given her the fear of strangers, talking about what other people would do to her if they found out what she "did" for him even though not willingly. Strangers could always be a reason for pain too, him thinking they were suspicious and blaming her for it. The crowd of strangers issue had led to one hell of mental pep talk and in the end she'd won and was glad for it because it had been a wonderful night she'd gotten to spend with Nick. She knew she never would have been able to handle this before meeting him, never could have stood in a crowd in this dress and made it through without giving in to the urge to hide. He'd helped her find inner confidence she'd lacked her whole life.

Even with being okay for most of the night thanks to being near to Nick and him always managing to find a space where it was less crowded just when she was starting to feel overwhelmed she was still very ready to get back to their chalet. She laughed lightly as he said he was sure it it did sound like a good idea to her and smiled, "I did pretty well tonight at not wanting to run and hide...few times I was a little tempted but always seemed you were a step ahead and we were moving before I could be too tempted." she said with a smile not sure if he'd done it on purpose or if it was just lucky timing but willing to bet on the former with how well he knew her.

Smiling happily as he laughed she sook her head at his words, "Almost is the key word there and they still should be jealous because I got to dance with you at all." she said sticking to her opinion that every woman should be jealous. Following him toward the door she slipped her jacket on with his help and wondered a moment about the bag he'd brought before he asked about her feet. Opening her mouth to answer she closed it again at his drawn out 'because' and produced a pair of her boots from the bag.

Grinning at seeing them she laughed lightly and considered grabbing him by the tie to pull him down to her height for a kiss at his thoughtfulness but didn't give in to the temptation at the moment not sure how he'd react. "I love Mr. Ridiculously Prepared I'm keeping him forever okay?" she asked taking one of the boots and balancing to swap it in place of the heel she'd been wearing before swapping the second too linking her fingers through the straps on the heels and gathering up the bottom of the dress with the same hand to stop it from dragging. "So...so much better thank you for thinking of this, stop being a giant a moment so I can at least kiss your cheek?" she asked with a smile knowing that she was too short to manage it without his help or a step stool.

Wearing This :: MEL/NICK :: DONE

[nicholas]

He offered her a smile when she said that there were a few times that night that she'd been tempted to run and hide but he'd been a step ahead of her and had begun moving off in a direction that lead them to a more quiet spot every time the feeling rose up in her. Nick was great at pickign up micro expressions. It was the same training that the Secret Service used in order to identify when someone was lying to them or holding something back. It was also an excellent tactical advantage when it came to interrogation techniques. It was for that reason and that training that Nick was incredibly perceptive when it came to determining someone's emotions or disposition. It came as second nature to him and when he picked up on Yulia's discomfort, he made sure that he got her mind off of it as quickly as possible.

All in all, she'd done remarkably well that night. He was proud of her. More proud of her than he could express to her at the moment. She'd done so well for herself and he'd watched as she had kept herself in check throughout the entire night. No one could blame her or fault her for her reactions, but then, no one else knew what he knew about her and what had happened in the past and as far as Nick was concerned, no one ever would know. It wasn't their place to know if Yulia didn't want to wind up telling them.

He chuckled a bit when she said that almlost was the key word there. No, he hadn't actually stepped on her toes, but he'd come dangerously close from time to time. "All right then. I'll take your word on it, but I think you might be a little biased in this respect." He commented. He couldn't seem to be able to hide his smile in the moment. He was damned happy to be right where he was for the first time ever. Normally, though he knew the guys needed the time off because of their busy schedule through the working year, he'd wind up with his mind focused on the first moment when they wound up getting back to work. At the moment, however, his mind was focused solely in the present.

He laughed when she said that she was keeping Mr. Ridiculously Prepared. "I think Mr. Ridiculously Prepared likes the sounds of that just a little too much." He commented with a slight smirk on his lips. He held out an arm to help her balance as she put the boots on. He looked at her, arching a brow when she asked him to stop being a giant for a moment so that she could kiss him. He had to laugh as he stooped down a little bit and captured her lips in a kiss. "Damn me being a giant." He murmured with a smile, unable to help himself. He wrapped an arm around her and tucked her into his side as they headed for the door.

He sincerely doubted there was much of anything that could have made this a better night for him. He was still quite convinced that he had the most beautiful woman in the world at his side and it had generally been a very nice evening. He chuckled a little bit as he looked at the watch on his arm again. "You know... it's officially Christmas Eve day now." He told her, showing her the face of his watch so that she could see it was, indeed, after midnight. "So what do you want to do from here? Are you in more of a 'go home and go right to bed' mood... or did you have something else in mind?"

[YULIA PROFIT]

Yulia didn’t particularly like telling people about her past, talking about it made it all too fresh and raw in her mind because to tell someone she had to think about it. With Nick he’d needed to know who he was protecting her from at first, but she probably would have told him anyway in time if he asked or just because someone so close to her would need to understand. She was glad he did and knowing he understood she’d gone to the ball knowing if she needed a moment to step outside or if she just couldn’t handle it all she had to do was tell him and he would understand and not be mad at her. She loved that he was so understanding, that he didn’t get angry with her for things she couldn’t help like some others did. She loved his smile and the way he looked at her like she was special, she loved it when he’d just sit and relax and watch a movie with her or when he was all serious-faced when on the phone with someone that worked for him. She would need a long time to list all the things she loved about him and wasn’t about to spend that long wrapped up in her own head missing out on what they could be doing.

Smiling when he chuckled she considered what he said before giving a little nod and a grin, ”I may be biased but I’m honest as well and I think that maybe not every woman is jealous or would be but that there are quite a few who are or could be and that I think every woman should be.” she said knowing that might not make a whole lot of sense outside of her head but not going to point out her lack of sense by trying to correct it either. She was allowed to not make much sense when she’d had a little champaign in the night though not enough to be totally stupid on it, she’d stuck to one glass all night and just sipped it. She was glad to be there with him, the chance to just be with each other and have a good time a good thing she was very much enjoying and she hadn’t wanted to end up drunk or something since she was a serious lightweight with drinking.

Grinning as he laughed she shook her head a little to him with a light laugh of her own, ”No such thing as too much? Least I don’t think so…” she said happily and used his arm for balance as she swapped heels for boots. Knowing herself well as she did she knew she’d have fallen without the balance help and once she was standing in comfortable shoes ready to go she smiled up at him as he lent to kiss her returning the kiss happily and laughing lightly at his comment. ”Or damn me for being a shrimp?” she suggested liking him just how he was giant and all. Leaning into him a little as his arm wrapped around her she followed him to the door waving a bye to a few people before they slipped outside to head back to their chalet.

She was glad for the vacation, a little sad to think they’d have to ever stop just enjoying days like this here with the beautiful view but knowing when they did get home she’d still be happy because she’d still be with him. Christmas this year was a very happy event for her and she had the man she loved to thank for that which she would be very sure to thank him. Hearing him and glancing at the watch she smiled happily and nodded leaning her head against him for a moment, ”Think santa will find us here?” she asked sweetly though she knew there was no santa but she couldn’t resist the question once it was in her mind to ask. Thinking about his question she bit her lip considering it for a moment before answering, ”Well not sure I’ll fall asleep right away but we could go home and cuddle up to unwind a bit?” she suggested not really wanting to just say what she had in mind but not thinking they’d go right to sleep either.

Wearing This :: MEL/NICK :: DONE

[nicholas]

He smiled at her when she said she was biased, but at the same time she was honest. "All right... All right. I'll take your word for it, but I'm not quite sure I believe it in my own mind." He commented as he watched her. But he was damned well willing to believe the fact that there were more than a few men who were jealous of him that night. She looked incredible. He had known damned well that she'd wind up looking stunning that evening, regardless of what she was wearing, but the dress was just... far beyond anything he'd ever imagined. He had a feeling that he had one of her friends to thank for it, and he'd have to.

He chuckled when she said that she didn't think that there was such a thing as too much in this case. "I'll take your word for that too." He commented, his grin only getting all the wider. He wasn't going to complain about the fact that his girlfriend was actually looking forward to a long term commitment with him. Hell... he was actually relieved to hear that she was at that. Otherwise Nick would have been pretty shit out of luck these holidays. It was amazing how a simple off handed comment could make or break a situation. And Yulia had definitely just 'made' the situation in his eyes. "There's only one problem with that." He commented, shaking his head. "No way in hell could I ever damn you." He smiled at her and gave her another quick peck.

"I think Santa's a crafty guy. He'll find us, I'm sure." He smiled at her. He was glad that they'd still gotten a tree, even if they weren't technically home for the holidays. He was willing to make a damned good bet that she hadn't had much of a Christmas throughout her childhood. No father to pose as Santa, eat the milk and cookies she left out and slip her Christmas gifts under the tree for her. Even if she was too old to believe in Santa, Nick was going to make damned sure that she had the authentic experience. To hell with age. This new life that he was experiencing with Yulia made him feel more alive than he'd ever felt before and she deserved to experience the things she had never experienced before... even if it was something simple like this....

He nodded when she said she wasn't sure if she'd wind up falling asleep right away, but that the pair of them could cuddle up anyways. "I like the sounds of that too." He admitted to her with a smile. It didn't take them long before they were at the front door of their chalet. Nick unlocked the front door and, out of sheer habit and paranoia, he checked all of the rooms before he let Yulia drift away from the front door. He sincerely doubted it was a habit he'd ever shake and he hoped that she didn't come to be tired of it. He shrugged off his coat and the jacket he'd been wearing with his suit, kicking off his shoes near the front door. He needed to get the hell out of the tie he was wearing. He hated feeling like he was being strangled by the damned things. As he loosened it off and unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt, he looked at Yulia. "You wanna take the bathroom and get ready for bed and I'll change up here?" He asked her as he finally slipped the tie over his head, feeling a little less claustrophobic in the moment.

If that was the way he felt, he was pretty sure, as beautiful as Yulia was, that she would likely be ready to get out of that dress and into something a little more comfortable.

WEARING THIS: BUT LESS BEARDY AND HAIR SHORTER

[YULIA PROFIT]

Yulia smiled back when Nick smiled at her and said he’d take her word for it but wasn’t sure if he believed it in his own mind. ”Then I’ll just have to keep telling you and eventually you’ll believe it? Like how I think you’re a good man but you said you weren’t sure you believed that either.” she said meaning her words. She didn’t know if he was any closer to believing her about him being a good man yet but she would do her best to show him and get him to believing because he really was. This was different though, this was the fact that she had him now and wouldn’t let any other woman have him so long as he wanted to be with her. She knew women would be jealous but they could stay that way while she enjoyed being his. She loved him and would stay with him forever if he’d have her that long.

She smiled at his chuckle and how he said he’d take her word on that too and shook her head a little at him. ”You’re taking my word on a lot of things tonight…maybe I should tell you that you want to take me to Paris too and see if you’ll take my word on that.” she joked grinning at him to show she was kidding around with that comment. She did want to keep him forever though, that part she hadn’t been joking about at all. She just didn’t know what her statement meant to him right now or what it tipped him off to for later. She looked up at him again as he said he could never damn her and kissed back laughing lightly. ”Well don’t damn yourself either then…Let’s just say I need to learn to climb trees and then imagine you’re a tree sometimes since you’re tall enough to be one.” she said then felt her cheeks heat up as she realized what that might sound like though…she kinda didn’t mind it sounding like that. She might not ever be the girl who talked about it all casually but that didn’t mean it didn’t cross her mind now and then…more often lately.

She smiled at him as he went along with her talk about Santa and nodded a little thinking about what she’d heard about Santa from other people through the years. ”If he can get all around the world in one night and down chimneys I guess it should be easy for him to find us no matter where we are.” she said with a little grin. Christmas this year would be something she would never forget, it was already the best she’d ever had. Her foster family had celebrated and included her but she’d not been ready to be part of that family feeling with them, not sure what Christmas meant or what it was supposed to be like. This year with Nick Christmas felt special and fun, it felt like a celebration and something to enjoy because she was sharing the experience with a man she loved and it was special.

She stayed by the door as Nick checked the house, not minding his habits of just being sure the place was safe. She was glad he did it, it actually made her feel safer when he checked everywhere like that in a place that wasn’t home since then she knew he thought it was safe so she could relax and be comfortable as well. As he checked the place she removed her coat and hung it up out of the way slipping off the boots as well and smiling as he came back watching as he loosened the tie and undid the buttons. She nodded to his question and smiled at him, ”The dress is comfortable but I’m ready for pj’s so that sounds good to me.” she said and moved toward the bedroom to gather what she needed before slipping into the bathroom to get changed. It only took a few minutes to get out of the dress and into the pj’s before cleaning her face so she didn’t wake up looking like a raccoon or something.

Hanging the dress back on the hanger she’d had it on she pulled off the jewelry as well setting it in the little carrying case she’d left in the there before figuring she’d hogged the bathroom for one day and heading back out toward the kitchen. ”Bathrooms yours if you need in there.” she called out so Nick would know it was free if he needed in there and she shifted up onto her toes to get a glass from the cupboard getting a little water for herself before heading toward the bedroom.

PJ's HERE :: MEL/NICK :: DONE