#i wrote this today and i’m recovering from gastro still so if it’s shit i apologise

[shuavez]

MORE THAN ENOUGH — nicholas a. chavez

masterlist | awkward

summary — three years on from your fated summer reunion with nicholas in lake como, you’ve almost got it all—your man, a sweet condo in manhattan, probably a benz. but there is just one small thing missing. inspired by more than enough by alina baraz.

tags/warnings — wine consumption. nic is a simp.

a/n — this is sort of an epilogue to awkward, cause i really love these two. if you’re new here and discovered this through tags, it’s not necessary to read awkward first but it will help give this some context, and it’s a fun (long) read about nic as well. feel free to check it out, linked above!! kisses <3

THREE YEARS LATER

The evening began in a quiet, understated wine bar tucked away in Manhattan—one of those places Josh and Dae insisted on for their regular meetups with you and Nic. The atmosphere was cozy, intimate, with low lighting and the kind of jazz playing softly in the background that made the whole world feel miles away.

Three years had passed since that life-changing week in Lake Como, and so much had happened. You and Nic returned to New York feeling like the slate between you had finally been wiped clean. Nic worked tirelessly to rebuild your trust, showing you in countless small ways that he was fully committed—not just to you but to the life you could have together. After about a year, he’d surprised you by suggesting you look for a place together, a space that would be entirely yours.

Now, you were settled into a light-filled Manhattan apartment with just the right mix of modern elegance and comfort. Nic’s long hours as a prosecutor often meant late nights, but he was never too busy to ask about your day or bring you coffee just the way you liked it. You’d transitioned back into working part-time in the public sector, performing oral surgery for underserved communities. It was demanding work, but it made you feel grounded, like you were making a real difference.

The four of you had fallen into a natural rhythm—dinners like this one, easy group texts full of jokes and updates, and the kind of camaraderie that made New York feel a little smaller.

You sat across from Dae now, swirling the last of your wine in its glass as she and Josh shared a look—one of those silent exchanges that made you certain they were plotting something. Nic leaned back in his chair beside you, his hand resting casually on the table, his fingers brushing yours just enough to feel his presence.

Josh cleared his throat dramatically, earning a playful eye roll from Dae before he announced, “So… we’ve been talking.”

Your brow furrowed as you glanced between them, curiosity flickering. “About?”

Josh leaned forward, his grin widening. “About starting a family.”

The words landed with an almost tangible weight, followed by a beat of silence as the revelation sank in.

“Wait—seriously?” you asked, a smile breaking across your face.

Dae nodded, her confidence tempered by an endearing flicker of vulnerability. “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while, and now… it just feels right.”

Nic straightened in his chair, his expression softening as he broke into a warm smile. “That’s incredible. You guys are going to be amazing parents.”

“Unbelievable parents,” you echoed, reaching across the table to clasp Dae’s hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

Josh, ever the joker, smirked. “You’re just excited to be the cool aunt and uncle, admit it.”

You laughed, already imagining it—Nic teaching their hypothetical kid about baseball while you supplied an endless stream of snacks. “Obviously. The coolest.”

Nic chuckled, the sound low and easy. “I call dibs on corrupting them with sweets.”

Josh groaned, though his grin betrayed his amusement. “We’re doomed already.”

You laughed, shaking your head as you leaned into the playful banter. “Great. Just don’t come crying to me when I have to be the one filling their cavities later.”

Dae straightened, clapping her hands in amusement. “Perfect. Built-in dental services. You’re definitely on babysitting duty.”

“Oh, no,” you teased, holding up your hands in mock surrender. “I’ll spoil them rotten, but I draw the line at pediatric extractions.”

The conversation shifted after that, full of laughter and teasing—Josh insisting he’d be the “fun dad” while Dae rolled her eyes and said they’d be lucky if the kid didn’t end up with his dramatics. It was light and easy, but beneath it was something deeper. A sense of growth, of possibility.

For a moment, as you watched the four of you talking, drinking, sharing pieces of your lives, it struck you: this wasn’t just nostalgia. This wasn’t trying to recreate the past. This was better. You’d all grown older, wiser, and in many ways closer.

By the time you made your way upstairs to the rooftop bar, the night was bathed in the warm, ambient glow of string lights, the kind that blurred softly against the glittering skyline. You leaned into the railing, watching the city stretch endlessly before you, alive with its steady pulse. It was the kind of view that usually made you feel small, the kind that reminded you of the relentless chaos waiting just beyond these walls.

But tonight? It felt different.

Dae stood beside you, her shoulder brushing yours in that casual, familiar way she always had. She was rambling about the kind of stroller she and Josh might need one day, though the idea of her being a mom still felt surreal. You glanced over at her and smiled—your chaotic, vibrant best friend who had somehow grown into someone ready to raise a whole human. The thought made your chest swell with a strange mix of awe and affection.

Behind you, Josh and Nic were still at the bar. You could hear Josh teasing Nic about something, his laugh loud and unrestrained in that way only Josh’s could be. Nic’s voice rumbled in response, low and steady, and though you couldn’t hear the words, you could picture the slight smirk that always came when he was holding his ground.

These were your people.

You let your gaze drift back to the skyline, a soft smile tugging at your lips. For so long, you’d felt like you were constantly chasing something—your career, your ambitions, the life you thought you were supposed to live. And it had been good. Fulfilling, even. But in this moment, it hit you just how much you’d been missing.

Here, surrounded by the people you loved most in the world, everything felt... right. The noise, the stress, the endless demands of life outside these moments didn’t matter. You weren’t worried about your next surgery or Nic’s next trial. You weren’t thinking about deadlines or schedules or the million other things that filled your days.

Right here, it was perfect.

It was like home.

The sound of footsteps behind you pulled you from your thoughts. You turned just as Nic reached your side, his expression softening when his eyes met yours. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm, his hand brushing yours like a quiet promise.

“Hey,” you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

Josh and Dae hovered a few steps away, exchanging a glance that looked suspiciously like they were in on something. You barely had time to register it before Nic stepped closer, his hand still lightly holding yours.

He cleared his throat, and suddenly, the air shifted. The easy banter faded, replaced by something deeper.

“I need to say something,” he began, his voice low but steady. You blinked up at him, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone.

His words came slowly, deliberately. “These past few years have been... everything I didn’t know I needed. Coming back here, building a life with you—it’s more than I ever thought I’d have. More than I deserve.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but he squeezed your hand, silencing you gently.

“Let me finish,” he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Because as much as I love what we have now, I want more. I want it all.”

And then he was pulling something from his pocket, his movements careful, almost reverent. The sight of the small velvet box made your breath catch.

“Marry me,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Because this? Right here, with you, with them—it’s everything. It’s home. And I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you know how much you mean to me.”

The world blurred for a moment, your focus narrowing on him—his earnest expression, the way his hand trembled slightly as he held the ring, the hope in his eyes.

“Yes,” you said, your voice breaking on the word as tears spilled over your cheeks. “Yes, of course.”

The grin that spread across Nic’s face was breathtaking, like the sun breaking through a storm. He slid the ring onto your finger, and then he was pulling you into his arms, holding you as though he’d never let go.

You barely noticed Josh and Dae until they were barreling into you both, cheering loud enough to draw stares from the rest of the rooftop. Josh clapped Nic on the back while Dae hugged you tightly, her voice shaking with laughter and excitement as she whispered, “I told you this would happen someday.”

And as you stood there, surrounded by laughter and love and the sparkling city below, you felt it again—that quiet, undeniable certainty.

This was home.