Saving Draco

A.N: I hope you enjoy! I made it Eight years in the future instead of seven!! Pardon the obnoxious errors!!

Harry: 26

Draco: 27

Ayden: Turning 11.

Dylan & Isabella: 8

Tristan: 8

Eric: 7

Kelly: 1

Lillian Potter knew that if she were to die this very moment, she would willingly exhale her last breath with the name of her only child on her lips and depart into heaven’s light with the prideful joy of a contented mother. Idyllically one of the best moments of her life was being apart of her son’s life and never has there been a day in the last seven years that she hadn’t thanked the good lord for bringing him back to her. There’d been fleeting moments during those estranged years when she believed her son lost to her due in great parts to her own foolishness and her husband’s stubborn bigotry.

Her remorse was plentiful, her sorrow great, her shame she wore like a brooch as a constant reminder of her own stupidity all those years ago; stupidity that had lost her time in getting to know her eldest grandchild, to experience the delight of being a grandmother and spoiling him rotten. The times lost, were the times she most regretted, the pain she’d cause continued to eat away at her till this day, because no matter how many times Harry absolved her, no matter how many times he kissed her cheek and whispered the tender ‘I love yous’ ‘of a son to his mother, lily knew that she had failed him. The cross was cumbersome, but it was hers all the same and she would bear it for eternity if that’s all how long it took to forgive herself.

But now--

“Nana, look at me!” lily raised her head from the paper plate she had stacked with various snacks and smiled as her cherubic granddaughter blithely called out to her. Life was good---life was more than she could’ve ever asked for. Now, lily happily thought, she could contend to being the greatest nana that ever lived.

“No nana, look at me!” and her gaze shifted, only slightly to the left and focused on the jumping little sprite that was her youngest grandson. “Look how high I can jump, nana!” and he did jump, his small body hurtling against the cerulean blue backdrop of the clear cloudless sky. His laughter rang loud and clear, cutting through the subdued chatter of the adults milling about the backyard.

“Dylan Christopher Potter! How many times do I have to tell you not to jump so high?” lily abandoned her plate on the long picnic table, before following after her fuming son. Harry stood perfectly still; arms akimbo and face, no doubt splashed with the ingrained ‘look’ of annoyance that came so very naturally to parents and lily knew her grandbabies were in for it now.

Deciding to help without interfering, she reached over the iron ring of the trampoline and grabbed her granddaughter. It was too late to save Dylan, but Isabella she could take away from the line of fire.

“But paaaaaappa---“Dylan’s face scrunched up and lily had to hold back a knowing smirk; Harry had scrunched up his face in the exact same way when he had been about to start a whining war.

“Don’t but papa me, get down here now!” annoyance belied the tremor of apprehension tainting Harry’s voice and lily knowingly empathized. The minute to minute job of worrying about a child were limitless, one prolonged blink could have devastating effects.

“Bu—“

“Dylan!”

Contrite as any eight year old could be, knowing they’ve disappointed their parent; Dylan’s head wilted to his chest and hair spun from rays of glistening sunshine covered his face from the world. He walked to the trampoline’s edge, each bouncing step took him aversely close to his suppose doom. Socked feet came at a standstill before his father and Dylan quietly waited for his punishment.

The pad of his index finger reached beneath Dylan’s chin and Harry gently raised his son’s head to meet his eyes. “Look at me,” evergreen eyes, darker in shade than his own mirrored back at him and as distraught as they seemed, Harry knew that the same episode would be repeated, if not nipped in the bud immediately. “Why do I always have to tell you things at least a hundred times before you listen to me?” His voice had gentled; annoyance no longer evident, his consternation the only thing that remained.

Blue polo adorned shoulders lifted and dropped down. “I just wanted to show nana how high I could jump.” He mumbled in his own defense.

“That’s all well and good, trying to impress your Nan; but disobeying me to do something you know I’ve specifically asked you not do isn’t. And you know this isn’t the first time either.”

“I’m s-sorry. I- I wont do it again. M’ sorry…” The tears bubbled, falling fat and warm against Harry’s palm.

Harry gently thumbed the tears away, before cupping his hands beneath Dylan’s arms and scooped him up from the trampoline. “I know you are.” Harry said as he set a kiss at the corner of his son’s lips. “You know I yell because I love you right?” Dylan’s silken locks tickled his cheek as he nodded. “You, your sister and your brother are my life. If anything were to happen to either one of you, I’d be so lost.” His children were his beacon of light, without them, his world was cast in interminable darkness.

Disaster tactfully evaded, lily knew it was safe to approach her own son. “Hey mom,” he hadn’t the chance of properly greeting them when they’d arrive a half hour ago. Busy with greeting guests and taking bags of birthday presents to the long table they had set up in the backyard for exactly that purpose, Harry had barely enough time to make his way through the throngs of giggling children and their well-wishing parents, before spotting his son doing something he had been warned against doing.

“Where’s dad?” he leaned over and awkwardly dropped a kiss on her cheek, seeing as they were both holding limpets in their arms, it was all the affection afforded to them.

“With the birthday boy, amusing themselves with Ayden’s present.” Harry saw the sparkles in her eyes, made more evident by the fact that her emerald gaze danced with restrained mirth.

“Oh mom, you didn’t!”

“Well actually your father did.”

Harry rolled his eyes as they made their way back to the picnic table. “Yeah and I’m sure you tried really hard in getting to not buy it.” He wryly said as he sat Dylan down on the bench.

“You know how your father gets when he sets his eyes on something— me saying ‘no’ wouldn’t have made a difference.”

Harry only snorted disbelievingly at his mother’s comment, before turning his attention to his son. “Tristan and Eric are inside; you can go play with them until its time to cut the cake.” Dylan’s head swiftly snapped up and Harry amusedly took in eyes that clearly rivaled the Christmas lights they traditionally hung up when the holidays neared, staring up at him with incredulity.

For sure he’d believed that his papa would’ve sent him to his room because he was still angry, but—but his papa was smiling down at him! He wasn’t upset anymore!

“Really?” he cautiously asked, unsure of whether he deserved it or not.

“Yes.” Harry responded and watched as Dylan looked around his shoulder and set his gaze in the vicinity of where his grandmother quietly sat with his twin sister.

His eyes strayed back to Harry’s smiling face and in conspirational whisper he asked, “Do I have to take Bella with me?” it wasn’t exactly cool to have your sister tag along when you just wanted to play with the boys, even if she was his twin and older than him by a few minutes.

Dylan didn’t appreciate his sister being foisted on him when he just wanted to play boy games and he resented the fact that he was always suckered into playing her silly girlie games when she needed a playmate. Honestly! Who’s ever heard of a boy princess? It wasn’t like Tristan and Eric brought Kelly around wherever they went! And Dylan knew they wouldn’t be caught playing fairy princess with their little sister, no matter how hard she cried! It just wasn’t fair sometimes!

Understanding where his son was coming from, Harry took pity. “Not if you don’t want to.”

“I want to play with Tristan and Eric too, papa!” His daughter indignantly piped in, as she wiggled from lily’s arms and walked to where father and son sat.

Dylan glared down at her. “No.” And wittingly stuck his pink tongue out at her.

Rejection quickly took form in liquid tears and they threatened to fall from doleful dappled grey eyes. “But I want you to stay with me sweetheart, so you, me and nana can help bring out the cake for Ayden. Didn’t you say you wanted to help with the cake?” Tears slowly abated as she sniffed and nodded her head. “Well then, let Dylan go play and you can hang out with us okay?”

“Can I lick the frosting?” when she was like this, all rosy apple cheeks, wide silver eyes, and jutting bottom lip, she absolutely knew that her papa could refuse her nothing and the little rascal took advantage.

Harry set Dylan down, before Bella took his place on his lap. “I don’t want to catch you jumping too high on the trampoline again Dylan, if I do, it curtains to it. Got it?”

“Got it.” With a firm nod, he spun on his heel and took off across the yard, making a beeline for Sirius and Remus’s little tykes.

“Yes you can lick the frosting.” He dropped a kiss on her head as she grabbed the offered cupcake from her nana’s hands and embarked on the devouring process. Harry had a napkin at the ready just incase the blue icing smeared her lovely spring dress.

Lily had to admit that her son had the parenting thing down to an art form, watching him was like observing an artisan at work, as he manipulated and molded the daily problems of his offspring into oblivion. He had the firm hand that kept tantrums, tears and pouts at bay and the gentle smiles that brought joy, understanding, and contentment. At only twenty five Harry seemed far too mature for his age, but then one had to be when faced with at the adversity of raising three children alone.

She sighed, that was a subject for another time. Today was a day of celebration and so they would celebrate.

Focusing the whole of his attention once more on his mother, Harry spoke. “I can’t believe you got Ayden a puppy, mom.” Of course his eldest son had been going on and on about wanting one for the last year, but Harry had stayed firm in not buying him one. Eleven year olds had no business owning dogs, the responsibility was far too much and Harry had his hands full enough with his three hellions without needing to worry about a fourth, because no matter how many chores Ayden did to show his father that he was responsible enough, Harry knew that taking care of the dog would ultimately become his responsibility once Ayden lost interest. Ayden always lost interest. Three dead goldfishes and the neglected gerbil in their den, was proof enough.

“It’ll be good for him, teach him responsibility.”

Harry stared at her, before sighing resignedly. “I hope so.” It wasn’t like he could demand they take the puppy back, doing so would only bring about weeks of silent treatments; Harry had never been able to withstand those treatments from his eldest and had always caved in after a few days. It wouldn’t be different this time around.

“It’ll be okay sweetheart, you’ll see.” She patted his shoulder reassuringly. “How’ve you been?” they rarely had chanced to see each, except on holidays or special occasions, due in great parts to geographical location of their homes. The phone was all well and good for getting updates on her grandbabies and such, but every now and then lily just wanted to know how her son was doing.

Harry shrugged noncommittally distracted by the mess Isabella was making. “To tell you the truth mom, I’ve been a little stressed out with planning this party for Ayden,” he raised his head, looked at her and fleetingly smiled. “But it’s been worth it. I’m glad you and dad made it.” The sincerity in his face almost brought tears to lily’s eyes. It had taken them years to rebuild broken trusts and regain this level of sweet familial comfort that at times it managed to astound lily on just how lucky she was, so fortunate to have a son whose benevolence knew absolutely no bounds. Her Harry was one in a million. Many mothers could boast that about their own children, but for lily it was a simple matter of undisputed truth. Anyone who’s ever met him could attest to that.

“Are you crying nana?” Velvet grey eyes, curious as a dove, candidly stared at her and lily stared back and not for the first time, she wondered at the odd wisdom swimming through the eyes of her eight year old granddaughter. No child of such tender years should be able to penetrate someone with those beautiful dove grey eyes.

When Isabella had been born, it had been with eyes wide open, as if she’d observed everything before; knew everything. Lily had proudly held both babies, before handing them one by one to her son. The moment she had settled Isabella in Harry’s arm, her son had silently cried, his eyes had never left her perfect little face as he’d softly pressed a kiss to her little head and christened her Isabella. He loved his children beyond death's door everyone knew that, but looking at father and daughter anyone with an eye could see the connection that linked them. Bella was the apple of her papa’s eye.

“No sugarplum,” she ran her finger beneath her eyes before turning a smile to her worried son and curious granddaughter. “I’m fine. More than fine, we are so pleased that you’ve invited us.”

“As if---“

“Papa! Papa! Look what Gramps got me!!” Barefooted and running through the grass towards them was the birthday boy himself and in his arms, he held a bundle of copper-white ball of fur; a brood of exited ragamuffins at his tail. Some Harry knew and others he was unfamiliar with, but all the same they followed behind Ayden. Tristan and Eric, cute as any children of Sirius and Remus ought to be, sprinted at Ayden’s side, tugging Dylan between them as they approached. They looked like an Oreo, Harry realized as he watched them coming.

Tristan and Eric really only a year apart by Tristan leading a few months, took after Sirius in coloring. Hair pitch black as a midnight sky was cut short to their heads.

Tristan was Sirius’s double. From the wicked dance of evening grey eyes, that always seemed to be hiding some wicked humor only he and his dad shared, to the straight authoritative nose that those eyes were set beneath, to the smooth lines of their lips, and across the square cut slice of their jaw lines, they were identical; all this would become far more pronounced on Tristan with age.

He was a livewire….a bundle of crackling energy that fired off whenever he was in a room. Father and son shared such exuberance for life, that at times it became far too contagious. Those would be the times Remus sent them both out of his house so they could release all that energy. He didn’t want to run the risk of losing his sanity, he’d always tell Harry after the fact.

Seven year old Eric was a mix of both parents. In Remus he inherited liquid amber eyes that always shone with promised intelligence. He also gained his father’s subdued attitude; a far cry from his rambunctious sibling. Eric enjoyed sticking to Remus’s side and emulating the Sunday ritual of reading the newspaper with his dad. He was a sweet tempered child and always had a smile on his face. But he wasn’t to be underestimated, a fact that his older brother always seemed to overlook when teasing him; Eric was capable far more damage then his petite frame afforded him, if provoked enough he could wipe the floor with brother, a lesson Tristan failed to understand. One couldn’t call him pretty, but his face did have the cherubic sweetness often seen in a Botticelli painting.

Tristan and Eric. Eric and Tristan. However one chooses to look at them, the fact remained that they were both the pride of their fathers’ hearts. Perfect in every way imaginable. Dylan’s best friends.

His own son was wedged between them; all sun beamed hair bordering on platinum, translucently pale skin, flushed pink from exertion and sparkling bottle green eyes that swallowed his face. He was dwarfed by them and didn’t seem to mind in the least. Admiration for both brothers a permanent sparkle in his eyes. The contrast between them was jarring….but intensely beautiful. Harry wondered if they could be painted.

He shook his head and smiled as his son oldest son came to stop before them, winded. He took a moment to catch his breath and even managed a few wheezing coughs before he gifted them with a face splitting grin, cheeks an explosion of red. He peeled the fur away from his side and practically shoved it in Harry’s face. Isabella squealed and reached for it, but Ayden safely pulled it back in his arms.

“Ooohh Papa it’s a puppy!” she bounced on his lap, looked up at Harry and then back at Ayden and the puppy and squealed once more. “We have a puppy! We have a puppy!”

Almost every child’s dream was to own a dog, his kids weren’t any different and he smiled despite himself. “Yes,” he looked at Ayden’s hopeful face and rolled his eyes. He was such a sucker. “We have a puppy.”

And it was like Christmas again! Bella jumped from his lap and stood in front of her older brother. “Can I pet him, Ayde?” Harry chortled; if he was a sucker then Ayden was a complete pushover when it came to his sister

“Okay Bell, but be careful.” He warned before falling to his knees, right at her level and let her touch the puppy. Tristan, Eric, Dylan and the few other children gathered around Ayden, also taking their chance to pet the fur ball.

The picture they all made gathered around the husky puppy, was the essence of cuteness.

“What are you going to name it, sweetheart?” lily asked.

“Let’s call her princess!!”

Ayden grimaced, before glaring down at his hopeful sister. “We are not calling him princess. I’m going to call him Dragon.” He looked up then, straight at his father and it was all Harry could do in trying to get his heart to peel itself off of his ribcage—were it had slammed itself seconds ago. His eldest son continued to stare at him, his look piercing.

“Dragon…Dragon. I like that name.” Bella nodded her approval, and Ayden smiled down at her, his gaze no longer pinning his father.

“I like it too.”

There’d been meaning behind that gaze. What the hell was his son getting at? For god sakes, that part of his life was ancient history! Ayden shouldn’t have even remembered anything!!

“Honey, are you feeling okay?”

He just was overreacting! Finding meaning where there was none! Harry told himself. Ayden had only looked at him for approval, that was all, nothing more—

“I’m fine mom,” Nothing more….Harry silently whispered to himself as his heart lulled to normal beats. “I’m fine.” He said much more convincingly this time and looked at his mom with a smile.

There was a brief flash and then another. Harry blinked a few times to get rid of the orangey yellow glob that floated in vision, before focusing on Sirius’s grinning face who was holding the cutest munchkin of them all; little miss Kelly black. If Tristan and Eric were the pride of their fathers’ hearts, then Kelly was their entire world. Barely a year old, Kelly already had her besotted parents wrapped around her perfectly chubby finger and she had only to give them a toothless grin to have them at her complete beck and call.

Kelly redefined the word adorable, with her tufts of ginger blond hair, mountainous apple red cheeks, little button nose, cheery red lips that greedily hugged a pacifier, and perfectly round body, decked out in white and pink floral number that looked way too cute for words. Anne Geddes eat your heart out, Harry smugly thought, as he took in his little goddaughter.

Remus whacked his husband’s arm tenderly, before leaning over to plant a kiss of Harry’s cheek and then another to lily’s own. “Hey Harry…lily.” He greeted. “They weren’t too much trouble for you?” no matter how many times, Tristan and Eric spent the night over Harry’s home, Remus always asked the same question. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes---as if he didn’t have his own hell raisers to keep them distracted.

“They were perfect little angels.” He responded as he freed Sirius of Kelly. “Hey there baby girl…aren’t you just so cute in your little dress?” he happily cooed and she managed to just stare at him with round cognac colored eyes, sucking away on her pacifier and happy to just rest her chubby hand on his lips as he spoke.

“Yeah right and I’m Brad Pitt.” Was Sirius’s wry answer as he finished kissing lily’s cheek and leaned over to kiss Harry’s own.

“Dream on lover, dream on.” Harry laughed as Sirius grabbed Remus around the waist and jostled him about, both their laughter ringing clear.

“He’s right Siri, your more look a Johnny Depp type. Where’s my dad?” Everyone seemed to have congregated to where he and his mother had been seated, so Harry figured his dad would’ve made an appearance right about now.

Knowing that this was the signal, lily stood up. “I’ll go get him.” And the cake! Everyone nodded and watched her disappear. Remus took her abandoned seat beside Harry.

“Hey little man,” Sirius said in greeting as he ruffled Ayden’s tousled hair. “See your grandfather finally gave you the husky.” He greeted Dylan and Bella with hugs and kisses.

Ayden grinned up at Sirius. “Yeah, isn’t he cool Si-Si?”

“His name’s Dragon!” Bella added, mindless of the meaning behind that name.

And it shouldn’t have had so much meaning behind it---but it did.

Sirius’s eyebrows flew to his hairline, eyes wide, he chanced a look at his godson---but Harry refused to look at him. He didn’t seem overly bothered—but then again, appearances could be deceiving.

“Why Dragon Ayden? Why not buddy? Or captain beef heart?”

Ayden shrugged, suddenly abashed. “Dragon sounded like a cool name for a dog.”

“You sure you don----”

“It’s a good name, Siri,” Harry said firmly, giving a Sirius a look that clearly said for him to drop it. “Dragon’s a good name for a dog.”

There’d definitely been a double entendre in there; Sirius grinned, Harry deserved a clap on the back.

“So Harry, where’s Victor?” there was nothing like a good subject change to cool off tempers, Remus thought as he glared at Sirius from beneath his lashes.

Victor Krum, the handsome Bulgarian entrepreneur aptly named, the Bulgarian ‘Bon, Bon.’ By the Inquisitor, was Harry’s boyfriend of three years and the eldest son of an oil tycoon. They’d met at a parent teacher conference years ago, where Harry, as the teacher to Victor’s son, had had to tell him that his fourth grader wasn’t performing to the best of his abilities. Victor had taken it well, much to Harry’s surprise. Not accustomed to dealing with such a mild mannered parent--- usually the bastards he had had to deal with were pretentious bastards who believed he was at fault for their children’s shortcomings and presumed to cuss him out for his inadequacies as a teacher. Those were the people who made his job harder than it should’ve been---but Victor had been a venerable saint that day.

It wasn’t until months later, after some rather sweet and dogged courting, that Harry allowed Victor to take him out on a date; the first in four years. They’d really hit off, finding that they had much more in common then just being single parents. Harry hadn’t expected anything serious to come out of it, but here he was three years later---still dating the man who continued to make his stomach flutter with just being close and he was glad to realize that he was actually happy.

Sirius had been wary of him at the beginning, believing no one was deserving of his godson; but managed to ease up when he saw that Victor was no kid with a dick that needed to be satiated. At thirty two, he had life pretty much figured out; with a good and focused head on his shoulders, Victor was a man who just wanted to share the best of life with his godson and Harry had wanted that so much. It took almost a year and a half for Sirius to give his complete approval and comfortably holster his gun.

Remus had just been glad that Harry had finally found someone who could love him the way he deserved to be loved. And the fact that Victor adored Harry’s kids and treated them like they were his own was a definite added bonus.

“He’s been caught up with some business that he couldn’t get out of, but he promised he’d be over later tonight with Kosta.”

Kosta Krum was older than Ayden by three years, he was as tall and broad as his father and at times just as domineering, Ayden hadn’t particular liked him during the first few months of Harry’s fledgling romance. He had always been slammed in the middle of their spats. Now they just ignored each other to make their fathers happy.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you---“Everyone turned their heads towards the back entrance of the quaint two-family Victorian home and watched as Lily and James walked out together carrying a large three tiered ice cream cake between them, faces split in happy grins.

The cake was an extravagant beauty of Ayden’s latest obsession; monster trucks. Of course when victor had promised he’d take care of the cake details, Harry hadn’t imagined this being it! It was monstrous! So freaking lifelike! Even the candles had a certain flare to them---all eleven of them!

Everyone gathered around Ayden, happily chiming in their versions of the birthday song as he stared wide eyed at the cake. He stared at Harry and grinned. This was the best birthday ever!!

“Blow out your candles Ayde.” Said Bella anxiously, her face close enough to the candles that Harry feared her eyebrows would be singed off. He scooped her up.

“Don’t forget to make a wish.” One of his friends added and Ayden nodded.

He closed his eyes tight, his face slightly hidden in Dragon’s copper coat, before he reopened his eyes, locked gazes with his father before blowing out his candles.

He wanted the man in the pictures his father thought he didn’t know about to come back to them---he had liked that man—that man had made his papa happy---

The festivities continued late into the afternoon, with fun games and turns on the trampoline, Harry sent off the last of his guest with a smile and a “thank you for coming.” He closed the door and leaned against it for a moment with a great sigh.

Today had been a good day, stressful yes, but good all the same. His kids had been happy---Harry smiled as he remembered Ayden’s joyful face as he unwrapped present after present. There’d been clothes, a very expansive electric red Fender from Remus and Sirius so that Ayden could start up the band he’d been droning on about—his friends had ‘oohhed and ahhhed’ turning Ayden’s ears red. With the puppy, his nana and gramps had given him the latest Mp3 player and to accompany that gift had been victor and Harry’s gift of a Hewlett Packard laptop, equipped with almost everything he could need. Spoiled did not began to describe Mr. Ayden Evan potter. But he was happy and that was all that really counted, Harry thought.

He was grateful to have had his parents give a helping hand in cleaning the backyard before they left, needing to be on the road for their long journey home. Sirius and Remus had hung around for a bit, before they took departed, taking their brood with them. It was now just Ayden, Dylan, Bella and himself that remained. The family of four that they’d always been.

They were now all upstairs, taking turns in the shower. He’d be up there in a few minutes to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. It was ritual that was never missed.

The sound of the doorbell had him almost jumping from the door, but he recovered quickly and turned to open it. He was formidable, huge, could easily be mistaken for an athlete if it weren’t for the clean cut way he wore those designer suits. He was cut like a Brahma bull, all hard lines, rippling muscles and---Harry cleared his throat and tried to cover his blush as he quickly invited Victor in.

“Hey Vic,” Harry greeted, closing the door behind victor and divesting him of his long coat. “Where’s Kosta?”

Victor’s arm wrapped around Harry’s waist, pulled the smaller man against his frame and devoured lips that were made to be plundered. “I’ve missed you,” Victor whispered against his lips, his accent a breath of pure sex that had Harry’s knees buckling. His hold on broad shoulders the only thing keeping him from crumbling.

“M-missed you too.” Oh yeah, he missed him a lot! But---it wouldn’t do to have his kids catch them doing something that should be kept behind close bedroom doors, so Harry pulled away---very reluctantly. “We can say how much we’ve missed each later. Where’s your son?” he threaded his fingers through Victor’s and pulled him towards the kitchen.

“With his mother for the week. How was the party?”

“Great, but not the same without you. Are you hungry?” Harry dodged the hand that made to grab him and he laughed, cheeks blooming. “For food.”

“You are food; I can eat you in so many ways.”

Three years and those answer still managed to make him burst in violent blush. “Its only been a week Vic.” Only a week away on business—with no sex—

Victor grabbed hold of him this time and cornered him against the countertop and his massive frame. “A day is too much.” And his tongue was licking, his dick hard and persistent, stood at attention between them, the scent of his aftershave was arousing the hell out of Harry and he moaned as victor picked him up with little effort and settled him on the island. Splayed him out like some decadent meal at Dionysus’s table, ready to be devoured by the hungry. Victor looked ravenous.

“Papa, can dragon sleep with---“Lust quickly wilted with their erections and Victor silently cursed against Harry’s neck.

Harry pushed away from Victor and looked at his son. Ayden’s face was unsmiling---disapproving---making Harry feel as though he were the kid! He couldn’t have felt worst if the situation called for it.

“Umm…can you give us a second Ayden? You can bring dragon with you, I’ll be right up, okay?”

“Sure dad.” He spun on his heel and left without even a ‘hello’ for victor.

Harry winced. Ayden rarely called him dad and only did so, when he was mad or bothered by something.

“I’m sorry,” Victor began. “I should’ve controlled myself more. Maybe I should leave---“

“No,” Harry grabbed his big hands and brought them to his lips. “Don’t leave, just go to my room and make yourself comfortable, I’ll be in as soon as I can.” Victor was a part of life—a good part of his life that he wanted to keep. He just had to make sure that his kids understood that before things we farther.

Victor brought his hand to the back of Harry’s neck until their foreheads met. “I love you.” He wasn’t the type of person to share his emotions Harry knew, but Victor always managed to whisper those words to him when Harry most needed to hear them.

Harry pressed his lips to victor, just needing the contact before he descended. “I love you too.”