361 Christmas Wish.

They stopped at the door of the ward. Nick did not go inside and waited for Daniel at the entrance. He saw the man walk over to the bed where Corey was lying and cover the woman with a blanket. She was asleep, and her hand was squeezing the palm of another man who was lying on the next bed.

Multiple sensors at Rick's bedside showed different data. The patient was connected to an artificial lung ventilation and some other plastic pipes, the purpose of which was unknown to Nick.

Daniel studied the sensor data, checked Rick's pupils, gave him some injection and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him so that it would not bang.

Nick obediently followed his uncle, shivering from the upcoming procedure.

"Where's Ashley?" he asked Daniel. The girl was not in the ward, although on previous visits to the clinic, Nick found her there. Ashley sat on the bed next to Rick and read books to her father, or told her made-up stories.

Nick has often wondered if this was the case in the past, why, as an adult, Ashley never told him about it? After all, it could not be that she did not remember that she spent so much time in the hospital with her father and mother?

"She is sleeping in my office. We played and she fell asleep, I didn't bother her and left her there," explained Daniel and looked at Nick with a smile, "The young knight came to check how his princess is doing? Didn't you forget to bring a present from Santa?"

Nick stopped, realizing that he hadn't even thought of a gift for Ashley. Daniel pushed the pale guy into his office in a moment, "Breathe out. This child has no time for toys now. But I think she will be happy to chat with you."

"Oh-okay," the guy exhaled as if he had gotten rid of a heavy burden. He always forgot about this Christmas! Earlier, only Ashley wanted to celebrate this day. And if David had not decorated the house, Nick would not have noticed that this day had come at all.

There was only one time when he himself was waiting for this holiday, but the holiday itself never happened.

He raised his hand to his chest and felt under the T-shirt two chains with two pendants.

"What are you thinking? Take off your jacket and roll up the sleeves of your shirt, or take it off altogether. Why put on a white one if you were going to donate blood?" Daniel signaled for Nick to sit in a chair and get ready for the procedure.

"I thought you'd change your mind in honor of the holiday and wouldn't torture me," Nick, without much enthusiasm, pulled off his jacket, then took off his shirt. He straightened his T-shirt and sat down more comfortably in the chair.

"You said you broke up with Corey. Why? Because of Rick? Did she suggest that?"

"No, it was my initiative," Daniel returned to his desk, where there were test tubes, various instruments and papers. He put a test tube with fresh blood in one of the compartments, wrote something down. "Why force a woman to make an unpleasant decision when she already has enough worries." The man began shifting papers from one end of the table to the other, but Nick thought Daniel was doing this to distract himself.

"How noble. You voluntarily gave your woman to her ex after so many years of paying your addresses to her? Aren't you offended? Moreover, I'm not sure that Corey is now in a position to seriously decide something if she can't even leave Rick's bed for more than half an hour."

Nick was not going to judge his uncle's decision, as his personal life left much to be desired. After all, he didn't even go on a first date with Ashley, and in general, he thought that she loved Armand. Damn, a relationship with a woman is so difficult!

Daniel sat down in a chair and looked out the window, it was dark behind the glass. "Am I offended? To be honest, I don't know. It might hurt a little, but not enough to be down in the dumps," the man replied in a calm voice, but Nick was sure it was an understatement.

"You know Nicholas, I think I secretly dreamed that my personal life was like David's. That you have known all your life that somewhere there is her, that one, the only one. And that when you meet, she will be with you and only with you." Daniel rested his cheek on his palm, his elbow was resting on the arm of the chair.

"Throughout my life, I have met so many different women, but when I found out what was in their heads, I thought that it would have to be crazy to fall in love with one of them. Someone worried about appearance, someone about status. Someone just wanted a one night stand. I was not a saint either, but still...

Probably, the boys also believe that a princess is waiting for them somewhere. It's just that my princess was fascinated by a dragon while I was looking for her," Daniel grinned bitterly, "This also happens. Not all fairy tales have a happy ending. Dragons also want happiness sometimes."

Nick remained silent, not knowing how to answer this. And was there any need for words here?

Daniel looked at the guy, as if nothing had happened, smiled, slapped his palms on the table and cheerfully got up from the chair. "So, I think I urgently need a double hot chocolate! Do you want some?"

"No, I will pass," Nick shook his head and smiled back, "Aren't you afraid for your body? So much sweets can be harmful."

Daniel gravely opened his robe and ran his hand down his shirt, outlining the abs. "Kid, this body is not in danger. Listen to Uncle Daniel, and by the age of 25 you will be as incomparable as I am!" the man scratched the back of his head and threw up his hands, "True, I don't promise that it will help in your personal life, but self-esteem will be at its best! Don't cry without me, I'll be back soon," and disappeared behind the door.

Well, if Daniel decided to be alone, so be it. Nick will pretend it's the double chocolate.

The guy got up from the chair and went to the room adjacent to the office. A girl was lying on the narrow bed. She curled up into a ball and placed her palms together under her cheek, her golden hair strewn across the pillow in long curls.

Nick squatted down next to the bed and stared at her.

Daniel mentioned the dragon, and at that moment Nick himself wanted to become this dragon, to shelter this little princess with his wide wings from the whole world. Protect her, hide her.

Ashley wrinkled her nose in her sleep and sneezed. Damn, probably because of the antiseptic, which he smelled of, Nick thought to himself. The girl's eyelashes twitched, she opened her eyes and stared at the guy.

"H-hello," Nick said in a barely audible voice. The look of the girl covered him with embarrassment as if she had caught him for something indecent.

"Hello! Did you come to play with me?" Ashley sat down on the bed and rubbed her still sleepy eyes.

"If you want, we can play something. Do you want?"

The girl smiled, and Nick's heart fluttered with emotion. Sorry grown-up Ashley, I love you, but this baby is too adorable, the guy apologized to himself.

"Of course! Let's play pirates!" This proposal was not unexpected. Ashley tapped her chin with her index finger as if she were considering something serious. "Hmm, but we have no treasure to look for."

"What treasures do you need?" specified Nick, noticing the girl's sad look.

"Well, in fairy tales, pirates usually look for gold," she suggested.

"Gold?" Nick thought for a moment. He had one golden thing, which was like a treasure for him. "What will you do if you find it?"

"I will keep it always, forever, and will not give it to anyone! Maybe only to you, if we find it together," Ashley smiled.

Nick raised his hands, unbuttoned the lock on his neck, and pulled out the pendant hidden under his shirt. A pure gold A-shaped pendant hung on a gold chain. "Is that good as a treasure?" he held out the jewelry to Ashley.

"Waaa! What a beautiful! Is it for me? For real?!" the girl took the pendant in her little palms and pressed it to her chest like a real treasure.

"Do you like it?" Nick asked anxiously.

"Very much! Thanks! I will keep it forever! For eternity!" Ashley looked at the pendant again, and then again at the guy, "Nick? Are you crying?"

Nicholas wiped his eyes with his hand and shook his head, "No, common, don't be silly. It just seemed to you."

Ashley crawled out of bed, wrapped her arms around the guy's neck and pressed against him, "Sean says that too when he cries. I will not tell anyone. We are friends, and friends love and protect each other."

"Do you love me too?" asked Nicholas in a hoarse voice.

"Sure! I love Sean and I love you! You are cool!" Ashley laughed, and the boy's shoulders trembled. He buried his face in the little girl's shoulder and squeezed her in his arms. "I love you too, Ashley Williams. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Nick," Ashley closed her eyes and buried her nose in the guy's black hair.

Nick smelled nice, and his presence gave her warm goosebumps. Ashley wondered if Nick could be her prince instead of Armand. After all, he is also handsome, and very good.

Yes, when she grows up, she will marry Nick. The main thing is that Sean is not offended. But they will somehow resolve this issue.

After all, today is Christmas Eve, and you can make any wish.