(Extra) Ordinary Day(s)

Series: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Title: (Extra) Ordinary Day(s)

Pairing: Nicole/Carmen

Author: Carla

Disclaimers: Don't own Popular don't know who does for sure. Thanks for letting me use them no profit made other than feedback and personal satisfaction. Series title from Billy Joel's excellent song of the same.

Archive: All my stuff such as it were can be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm. Many thanks to Kim for saving me from the oblivion of disinterest. All others please ask.

A/N: The first part of this fic takes place a year after No Ordinary Day and a week before Secret Talents. Nicole is now turning 18. The later part of the fic takes place after Never, Never. Though there is no need to have read those fics first, it might help this one make a little more sense.

A/N #2: This like all my other stuff has not been betaed all mistakes are mine and mine alone. Also once again the use of recreational substances played some part in this so keep that in mind.

Feedback: Feedback in all its glorious shapes and forms may be sent to me at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

"Your mother wishes to see you before you go out today Miss."

"Thank you Henry."

Nicole stood outside the door to the study listening to her mother on the phone.

"I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday then…Two o'clock we'll be there…No she doesn't talk to me really…yes they are difficult. How are your children doing…Yale…both of them you must be proud…Nicole is going to Rennselear Polytechnic Institute…upstate New York…why?"

Nicole's ears perked up it would be interesting to see how her mother handled the question. She'd come out to her mother more than a year and a half ago and still, more often than not, the older woman willfully ignored the truth. It didn't help matters that Nicole had acted as Tim Anderton's `beard' at various society functions for over a year. People naturally assumed that she and Tim were a couple and Nicole's mother cultivated that belief whenever the opportunity presented itself.

"The engineering and mathematics programs…it was a surprise to me too. Though I think the allure lies more in the distance. Jack I'm afraid I have to go…you too…Goodbye."

Nicole knocked on the door then stuck her head in. "Henry said you wanted to see me."

"Yes come in sit down. Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I'm meeting Carmen for breakfast shortly would you care to join us."

"Perhaps."

"You wanted to see me?" Nicole prodded.

"Of course" Gail sighed. "You don't want to keep her waiting."

"No; more like I can't wait to see her." Her mother winced at hearing this and Nicole thought <<< Still can't deal can you? >>>. "She's been covering some extra shifts this week and we haven't had much time together lately." Nicole proffered by way of explanation.

"I see. About your birthday it's next week and I wondered what your plans were."

"Carmen and I planned on spending the day together."

"I was referring to your trust actually."

"Oh."

"It's a lot of money Nicole a lot of money."

"How much total?"

"The interest income available to you is limited to thirty-five hundred monthly anything in excess of that goes back into the trust. The trust itself is worth approximately twelve million at this time. As you know you gain full control of the trust on your twenty-fifth birthday."

"That much wow."

"I gather from your reaction that you really haven't given it much thought have you?"

"Yes I have mother `that' at least you taught me well. You know of course that the weekend after next I'm going to be going to Troy to look for a house. The interest can pay the for the mortgage and house expenses."

"I'll continue to pay for your schooling and housing, on campus of course."

"We've gone over this I need a house midway between Troy and Hyde Park this way Carmen and I will be able to live together."

"I am not going to…" Nicole cut in angrily.

"I'm not asking you to. I don't want your money. I know the terms of the trust too mother. It pays for all my educational expenses including housing, so if you don't want to I'll go to the trustees and get the money that way."

"It's your money you do with it what you will. Just remember this your friend is riding on your coattails. You think she could afford to go to that school, live in a house drive a nice car without you?"

"It's called a student loan, mother. And for your information I'm not paying for Carmen to go to school. Yes I will buy a house for `us' and I'll put her name on the deed of record and `Yes' you're right I did plan on giving her a car for her birthday. She'll need one in order to get to school but since I planned on getting a new one anyway I was just going to give her mine. Mother you need to face facts; I love Carmen and I plan on building my life with her. What I have I share with her because I want to, not because she asks or expects me to. In fact we have had some mighty big arguments about money and her stubborn pride. So I'm not worried that she's going to turn into some sort of `leach' who is going to go through my trust fund like it's water."

"Well I'm glad you have confidence in her for both of us. You do that and I'll have the doubt."

"How long would we have to be together for you to start having confidence in her?"

"I would be the same with a young man you know."

"Would you?"

"If he had no money of his own. Yes I would. Nicole it's part of my job as your mother to be concerned about this sort of thing." Nicole snorted.

"I would laugh but I'm not sure if it would be due to the inherent irony in that statement or because I'd rather laugh than cry in front of you."

"Don't be melodramatic."

"You have nerve mother using words like `concern, mother and job' in reference to yourself. The only concern you've shown me as my mother is with regard to how best to use me for your own gain. For show and for advancement, that's what I've meant to you. I paraded around with Tim Anderton for more than a year for you and before that with whomever you lined up for the night. The only difference being that Tim didn't expect me to put out. So don't talk to me about concern. You had no `concern' when it suited you."

"Now wait a moment you're not…I never asked you to do anything other than escort those men for the evening if anything else…" Nicole interrupted her voice rising above her mother's.

"What the hell was I suppose to think. I was fourteen the first time you asked me to `escort' someone for dinner. Surely you remember it was Arthur Schuyler, as in Schuyler, Sikes and Lynne. His father is Dwight Schuyler your lawyer. He was home for the holidays and needed a date. You told me to make sure he had a good time. If I didn't you would be very disappointed. I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Nicole I'm sorry I truly am. I didn't know and maybe that's because I didn't want to know. Maybe it's because you never gave me any indication of how you really felt. Maybe it's a combination of both. But listen to me: You are not a disappointment to me. I can see that you love this girl and I can see that she's been good for you in many ways. I just don't want to see you hurt and the truth is money always complicates things."

"You're right it does complicate things but I trust Carmen. I know that money doesn't play into the equation and you're just going to have to trust me on this."

"Just be careful."

"I will."

They sat together in silence for a few minutes before Nicole spoke up. "There's a talent show at school next Friday. I'm in it. It would be great if you could be there too."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to. I leave for New York Thursday morning. Wednesday you and I have an appointment at Schuyler Sikes in fact. There are some legal documents you need to sign and Arthur Sikes will go over the details of the trust in greater detail with you. I hope that doesn't interfere with your plans with Carmen."

"What time?"

"Two. You girls could join me for lunch beforehand and I can give you my birthday gift."

"So it's okay if she comes with us to the lawyer's office?"

"It's up to you. You'll be eighteen an adult and I won't be able to `interfere' anymore."

"Lunch it is then." Nicole stood up to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go."

"Of course. Say hello to your friend."

" "Carmen" mother try it you might like it. Why don't you come to breakfast with us? We're trying a new place called The Top Hat. Supposedly they have the most delicious flaky buttermilk biscuits and scones to die for."

"Okay."

Sunday morning traffic was light as the two Julian women drove in Nicole's car to Carmen's.

"About the house mother?"

"Yes?"

" I want to go weekend after next to look for something. Carm can't go, she has to work but I was wondering if perhaps you would care to join me?"

"Certainly." Gail beamed as she reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. "I'd like that."

~~~~~

"For the last time mother I do not need a maid. Certainly not a live in one."

"Well just who do you expect to cook and keep this place clean?"

"Us. Uh "Hello" Carmen is going to school to be a chef. I think between the two of us we can manage to keep ourselves fed and the house clean. Besides as you so delicately pointed out on previous occasions you're not continuing my allowance. I have to live within the limits of my interest income. Between the bills to keep this place running and run of the mill living expenses I can't afford a maid."

"Nonsense."

"The truth is Carmen isn't all that comfortable with the idea. As it is she thinks this place is too big."

"It's only four bedrooms."

"Yes well it's all relative."

"The pool isn't even indoors. It's not even heated. The gardens are a mess. Perhaps Harold could come out and do something with them before you move."

"It won't matter really. We won't be moving till the end of the summer anyway and the winters up here come early. The trees should be lovely though when the leaves turn. I can't wait to see that."

"So this is definitely the one you want."

"Oh yes."

"How much?"

"Three hundred and fifty thousand plus I figure another thirty thousand to remodel the kitchen. I was thinking of having the pool enclosed, having heating installed in it and maybe getting a hot tub too. So I guess all together maybe somewhere in the area of about four hundred thousand should do it."

"It should."

At a discreet cough behind them Nicole turned to face the realtor showing them the house for the second time.

"It will be vacant by when?"

"The end of the month sooner if absolutely necessary."

"Do you know of any reliable design firms, someplace where they can design a new kitchen and arrange for the construction and all."

"Certainly. Roberta Hines is a wonderful designer and her partner Megan handles all her installations. I can show you another house I have listed that they worked on if you'd like. I would have shown you that one before but it's only two bedrooms and you did say you wanted three at least."

"That would be great."

"So you would like to make a bid?"

"No bid. We can write a check today or have the money wired to an escrow account if you'd like."

"You should have it inspected first Nicole." Gail whispered in her daughter's ear.

"I already ordered one he should be here to do it tomorrow morning."

"So you'll tell your clients. Pending the inspection report which should be done by Tuesday I'm willing to meet their asking price."

"I'll have the paperwork drawn up then. End of the month vacancy date is fine with you then?"

"Yes."

"Shall we go to the Morton house so you can see Bobbi's work?"

"Please."

~~~~~

Carmen opened her front door and immediately tripped over Cider who was desperately meowing for food.

"Alright don't rush me. Jeez you'd think you never got fed you little bastard."

"He's lying anyway." Carmen whirled around and gave a small shriek.

"Aggghhh! You scared me Nikki when did you get home?"

"About an hour ago. Where were you?"

"Hanging out with Lily and Tory."

"How are they?"

"Good. So did you find it?"

"I found it. It's a little closer to your school than mine but other than that it's perfect; four bedrooms, three and a half baths, music room, living room, family room, dining room a huge kitchen and best of all it's on two and a third wooded acres. Total privacy so we can skinny dip in the pool if we want." Nicole winked as she said that.

"Four bedrooms? How are we going to keep all of that clean? We're both going to be pretty busy you know."

"I guess mother was right and we will be getting a maid."

"Do you have pictures."

"Better I have video."

"Oh let's see."

~~~~~

Three months later

"So that's the last box right?"

"Yes Ma'am. Everything's unpacked and put away according to Ms. Julian's directions. If you'll sign here Ms. Ferrara we'll be on our way." Carmen signed where indicated.

"Nikki Honey the moving people are leaving." Carmen called through the open screen door.

"I'll be right there."

Nicole appeared in the doorway covered in dust and sweat checkbook in hand.

"Okay now so here's a check for the remainder of the moving fee." She tore a check out of the register and gave it to Gus, the moving crew supervisor. "And here is some cash for you and your crew." She handed him an envelope. "There's fifty apiece for your crew and seventy five for you, two hundred and twenty five in all."

"Thank you ladies. It's been a pleasure. Hope you like your new place."

"Thank you Gus. Be safe out there."

They all shook hands and Gus and his men left, the big truck slowly pulling out of the driveway and down the road.

"Shall we go inside, shower take a dip in the pool?"

"I can't believe you had all this work done without telling me." Carmen bent her head down to kiss Nicole.

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well it is. I love the kitchen."

"I called the school and spoke with someone there who told me what to get. It's all professional grade like what you'll be using at school. The same woman who designed the kitchen did the pool house too. You'll like that too I think."

"Shower then pool?"

"Shower at the pool."

"Race you!" Carmen took off through the living room into the family room and out the back door Nicole hot on her heels.

"Cheater!"