How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

A/N: Wow, you know it’s like the one year anniversary for this story. Damn. Thank you to all that are reading. Now about the story. Things are finally approaching something that might pass for normal in Echo *smirks*. There are references in this chapter to the side pieces on live journal that some of you may catch. If you are not a member of the lj community, don’t worry, I’m only talking about background stories for the story, if you’d like, you can join us at http://community.livejournal.com/stirs_of_echo/profile , we’d be proud to have you.

Harry looked around his husband's shop, The Mortar and Pestle, and smiled. Business had taken off well in the small community and Severus was keeping busy brewing up custom orders in the back. The small pregnant wizard shifted his weight on the well padded stool behind the old fashioned register at the counter and watched the few customers that were perusing the shelves. In the three weeks the shop had been open, they had already amassed regulars and Harry was learning them by name now, knowing their preferences and reminding Severus if they were running low on something.

"Mrs. Addison, Severus will have more of the moisturizer stocked Tuesday, he is brewing it now," he called out as he spotted one of their regulars looking for the small jar of crème she bought every few days.

The woman nodded and smiled at Harry. "Thank you, dear." She turned to exit the shop.

Severus stuck his head out the lab door and grinned at his husband and their customers. "Mrs. Addison." He held up a small jar. "Here you are. I managed to finish it early." He walked out into the shop and placed the jar on the counter.

He helped Harry finish with the customers and then placed the closed for lunch sign on the door. "Harry, I want you to start telling the customers that we will be closed Monday. We have to go to Charleston, remember? Max and Allie are going to meet us at the farmhouse so we can all go together in the truck." He reached out and laid a hand on Harry's belly, rubbing his kicking daughter. "You are still feeling well?"

Harry slid off the stool and stretched his arms over his head. "I'm feeling good, just hungry. I didn't forget about tomorrow, I made up a sign for the door," he said and picked up a sheet of paper that was lying on the counter next to the register. He quickly scanned over it. 'Closed Monday for personal reasons. We will reopen Tuesday morning at 9.00 am sharp. The Snapes'. He handed it to his husband to look over.

"I was going to put that up when we closed this afternoon. Are we going to Cutty's for lunch?" he asked as he picked up the lightweight cloak he'd worn that morning over his robes. "Grant said he was going to make a meatloaf for the special and that sounds so good right now."

Damon had gone home to Grant a week earlier and since then, you'd need a pry bar to get the two men away from each other. At least Grant seemed happier and healthier and Damon wasn't growling at people anymore.

Harry took the arm Severus offered him and tipped his face up for kiss. "Feed me Daddy."

"The sign looks good, Harry. We can go to Cutty's if you like. Let's get Max as well." Severus chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "Daddy?" He shook his head. "I should think I prefer Papa, if you don't mind and I only want to hear that out of Reganne's mouth." He smirked down at Harry then led him up the back stairs to get Max. "Unless you are wanting to call me 'Daddy' in a different sense of the word."

Harry smirked and waggled his eyebrows at his husband. "I'll call you Daddy tonight," he purred as the got to the back entrance of the general practice. "I hope Max is ready, I'm starving. Grant is making meatloaf."

Max looked up as the couple shadowed his office doorway. "Hey, what are you two doing? Harry, how are you feeling?" he asked as he tossed his pen to the top of his desk and leaned back in his chair.

Harry sat down in one of the chairs in the simple office, reaching out to get a piece of chocolate from the dish on Max's desk. "I'm starving."

Max chuckled as Sev pressed a kiss to the top of Harry's raven hair. "Well then let's feed that growing baby by all means." He stood and grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair.

Allie stormed into the room. "Max..." She saw Harry and Severus standing and she shook her head. "Sir," she ground out. "I need to leave and see to Sarah. I'll have to get lunch later."

Max frowned at his heavily pregnant wife and reached out to touch her shoulder. "What's wrong, Allie? Is Sarah alright?" he asked worriedly.

Harry looked at his friend, nearly wincing back from the waves of anger pouring off of her. He held Severus' hand and tried to not be seen.

Severus squeezed Harry's hand and smiled down at Harry. He pulled the other man to his chest and rubbed his back.

Allie stepped back from his touch and sighed, "Of course she is. The daycare would have called you if something was wrong. She had an accident and they were out of clean clothes for her. I had thought I filled her bag but I guess I got sidetracked." She shrugged and turned then walked out of the office without so much as a goodbye.


Max frowned as his wife strode out of his office, holding up a finger to Severus and Harry, he went after her, catching her in the hallway. "Allie, I'd like to speak to you for a moment."

Allie sighed, "Yes Sir." She turned and bowed her head. She had been hoping to get out without him saying anything but no such luck. She rubbed her stomach and placed a hand to her back.

Max led her into an empty exam room and shut the door behind them, sitting his wife in the chair by the exam table. He stepped around behind her and began to rub her shoulders and upper back. "What's wrong today, Allie? If it's Sarah, don't worry about it, I'll take them some clothes in a few minutes, alright?" he said gently, trying to sooth her. She'd been out of sorts more and more lately, taking it out on he and Sarah, it had to end.

Allie tensed when her husband laid his hands on her shoulders and back. "I said I would get her, Max. I'm sorry I forgot to fill the bag.” She pulled away from him. "Please, sir. I asked that you...," she sighed. "Max, I just don't feel like being touched right now. I am bigger than a house and I hurt all the time and I just don't want to be touched."

The baby moved at that moment and Allie's stomach rolled in a large wave. She groaned and closed her eyes. "He's been really active today and I just want to go and lie down. Sir."

Max almost winced at the 'Sir' and sighed. "Go on home Al, I've got some of Sarah's clothes here, I'll go by on my way to lunch," he said softly and backed away from his wife. "Don't worry about making dinner tonight, I'll bring something home for us. Would you like Mexican?" He hoped maybe that would help some, and he knew she loved the spicy fare.

Max moved to lean against the other wall and looked down at the tired woman. "You know, you are still the most beautiful woman in the world to me," he said gently and then offered her a hand to get out of the chair. "Go rest baby."

"Mexican sounds fine, Max. Get me lots of the chicken taquitos and the sour cream-salsa sauce please." Allie rolled her eyes. "You are just saying that cause I am carrying your son. I look like a pregnant elephant." This time she took his hand and let him pull her up from the chair. "I'll take the clothes to Right Start and then go home. If you would, please pick her up this evening," she sighed and put a hand to her back again.

Max smiled and looked down at his wife. "Would you like some chocolate banana ice cream too?" he asked as he motioned in question at her lower back with one hand. "I'll pick her up at four. Would you let me rub the cramp out? And I happen to find pregnant elephants incredibly beautiful, you know."

Allie smirked at him, "Only if I can have the green cherries and some vanilla wafers with it." She sighed and rolled her eyes again. “I think you need glasses, sir and I need to go. Maybe I'll feel better later then you can."

Max smiled as he held the door open for the witch. "I'll even bring you some of that strawberry soda you like. Be careful driving baby," he said and bent down to give her a quick kiss. "I love you, say hello to Sarah for me, okay?”

"Once again you love me because I have produced children for you,” Allie hummed and kissed the air next to his cheek. "I always am, sir. Have fun with Harry and Sev." She waddled out to her car moved the pillow in the seat and closed the door after she sat down then drove out of the parking lot.

Max paused for a moment in the doorway, watching as Allie drove away, he shook his head sadly and wondered what he could do to make his little wife happy tonight. He really hoped Harry didn’t go through these mood swings for both Severus’ and Harry’s sake. The big healer wondered some days if his little wife was going to pull out an axe and chase him around the house.

Max went back down the hall to his office and walked in the door with a smile on his face. “Alright, let’s go get something to eat before Harry fades away,” he chuckled as he watched Severus rubbing Harry tummy, the younger man standing still, his eyes half lidded and a content little smile on his lips.

Harry opened his eyes and smiled at Max then looked up at Severus and nodded. He waddled over to the healer and looked up at him. “Sir, Is Allie going to be alright?” He asked softly and looked to the floor. “Am I going to get like that? My magic has already gone a little wonky and I nearly set the bed on fire a few time trying to warm the blankets.”

Max smiled down at the small pregnant man. “Harry, Allie is just having some hormone issues, she’s going to be just fine, it’s nothing to worry about. I don’t know if you are going to get like that, but I would doubt it,” he said gently and patted his back. “You should probably refrain from using your magic as much as possible if it’s not doing exactly as you wish. The baby is just creating surges when you try a spell, so don’t unless someone is with you that can counteract it if something goes awry.”

He turned Harry around and with a hand on his shoulder, propelled him back to Severus. “Come on Sev, let’s go eat.” Max waited as Severus draped Harry’s robe back over his shoulders and followed as he led the small man back down the stairs.

^^^^

Harry stood in front of the mirror of their dresser that Saturday evening and smiled at his reflection. They were getting ready to leave for Cutty’s in a bit for the anniversary party Sev and Max had planned for the Wolffes, Harry could only imagine what it would be like when he’d been married for that long to his husband.

He looked once more at his reflection and then turned to where Severus was coming out of the bathroom with a towel draped around his lean hips. “Do you think this burgundy robe looks alright? I don’t want to wear the orange one Allie made, I’ll look like a bloody pumpkin,” he laughed and held his arms out from his sides for his husband to look him over in the simple deep burgundy robe.

Severus eyed his little husband and thought he looked very nice for the plain styling of the robe. “Do you have another one just as nice that’s clean to wear on Monday?” They were going home with Damon and Grant after tonight’s celebration to the farmhouse. Harry wanted to try again to make Sunday dinner and had brought along a British cook book that Hermione had sent him. He wanted to make something from home to share with the Americans.

Grant had agreed and both had pored over the book Friday at lunch, nitpicking and debating on which of the foreign dishes might be expanded to feed the ever growing group that descended on the Wolffes farm.

Severus tossed the towel on the bed and sauntered over to the bed and began slipping on his midnight blue robes, that Harry had lain out earlier. “Did you finish the packing for this weekend as well? Have we got everything?”

Harry moved to the bed and began to button up the long line of silver buttons on the front of his husband’s robe. “Yes Sir, I packed a dark green robe for Monday for myself. For you, I packed your formal Potions Master’s robes with the underrobes as well. I also packed some comfortable things for you to wear tomorrow and on the drive back,” he murmured as he got down on his knees to finish buttoning the long row. “The dogs are in their crate and their food is on top of it, ready to be put in the truck. I think I’ve got everything done Husband. Would you like me to pack your pillow as well?”

He got back to his feet slowly and dusted off his knees before he picked up the sash that was meant to tie above his swollen midsection. Allie had made him several maternity robes and for some reason, she liked to show off his belly. Harry wrapped it around himself and worked on fastening the wide piece of material behind his back.

“I also packed my potions and a Pepper-Up for you as well as several for headaches, I can’t think of anything else to pack and that was all that was on my list,” he said as he gave up and turned around to let Severus help him.

Severus smirked, “You should let me help you more often, little one.” He fastened the hook and eye then turned Harry around and smoothed the front of the cummerbund. “You look very handsome, My Harry.” He bent and pressed a kiss to the younger man’s forehead and then turned back to the bed to get the outer cloak for his own robes. “It sounds like you did everything. Shall we drop off the dogs at the farmhouse before we get to Cutty’s?”

“Yes, I’d like to get there soon, I don’t want to miss anything,” Harry said with a laugh. “Grant said they were both going to wear robes tonight and I can’t imagine Damon in a set of robes. Surely Damon isn’t going to wear a denim robe, is he?” He giggled at the image as he followed Severus out to the truck and waited while he tucked the dogs in the back seat.

“When are you going to put a step here for me?” he asked as he opened his door and began to hoist himself up into the seat.

Severus chuckled and went over and pushed on Harry’s bottom. “I told you to wait and I would help you up. The step is in the barn at the farmhouse, however with everything that happened the past month I have yet been able to get the truck over there long enough to have Max help me put it on.”

He grabbed Harry’s waist, pulled the dangling man out of the truck and scooped him up then set him on the seat buckling the seat belt under the rounded belly. He walked around the car and reached into the back buckling the dogs in as well in their taxi. “Start the truck and turn on the heat if you need it while I go back in and get the bags then we can go.”

He grinned at Harry, “And Damon will most likely have leather robes on.”

Harry stared at him with an open mouth. Leather? He couldn’t imagine Grant allowing him out of the house in something like that, at least not to be in the company of people not in the Leather community. Shaking his head, he reached over and turned the key in the ignition switch of the truck. He was getting chilled and he wanted to set the radio before Severus came back out.

Severus came out of the house a few moments later and soon they were on their way to the Wolffe house to drop off Asphodel and Bezoar. No one was home, but the kitchen door was unlocked for them. By the time they finally got to the bar, the parking area was filling up fast with the older couple’s friends.

“I couldn’t imagine knowing this many people,” Harry breathed as Severus pulled the truck into a reserved spot and shut it off. He wasn’t exactly certain how he was going to do with all of these people. He’d been alright over Labour Day, but he’d also been waiting on tables, not making conversation with strangers.

“Harry you do know this many people. There’s the Weasleys and their various spouses and children, all of the faculty at Hogwarts, Sirius and Remus, plus all the new people you have met here in America. Shall I keep naming them?” Severus turned and looked at his husband. The young man had not had an episode in quite sometime and he was hoping that the throng of people wouldn’t send him into a tailspin tonight.

“Are you going to be alright inside tonight? Max and Allie will be here as well as Jo,” he told Harry to reassure him that there would be friendly faces around.

Harry was breathing shallowly as he looked at his husband with wide eyes. “I’ll try to be good, Husband,” he said softly. Severus was correct, he did know a lot of people, he just never saw them all in one spot like this.

He opened his door and the sounds of the music and laughter from the throng of people inside washed over him. “I’m ready Husband,” he said as he slid out of the cab of the truck to the graveled lot and waited for the older man to come around the front for him.

Severus held out his elbow for Harry to take and looked down at him once more. “I am very proud of you Harry. I know you will be good and if you need to get some air come to one of us and we’ll take you outside.” He had already spoken with Max and Courtney, a Wolffe family friend. He still needed to introduce Harry to the man as well as Damon’s mother.

The older woman would most likely not stay long this evening but she would be there at the house with them. The old southern belle was still spry and beautiful even if age had addled her somewhat. Severus had a feeling it was the loss of her husband just before he came to America the first time that had done it.

She was sweet and meant well and loved Grant and Damon with all her heart and had taken to him as well. He hoped she wouldn’t scare Harry too badly.

“There a couple of people I want to introduce you to tonight.”

“Yes Sir,” he said and followed along as he was led to the entrance of the bar and then through the crowd, smiling at the few faces that were familiar to him from the town. They finally stopped at a table with a ‘Reserved’ sign on the top. There were several people already seated, including Max and Allie who had a small, older woman seated next to them.

He slipped into the chair Severus was holding out for him and smiled to the rest of the people seated there. “Hello,” he said shyly.

Marion Wolffe looked up and spied the tall man her son had adopted and grinned, “Sevvie!” She stood and offered her powdered cheek to the young man. “How lovely to see you. Give us a peck, sweetheart.”

She looked at the younger man he had led to the table. “Well goodness gracious, Damon told me that you had gotten married but I didn’t know he was so handsome. Oh and look isn’t he just lovely… what are you sweetie about six or seven months along. Come here and greet Mother Wolffe.”

Harry tried his best to keep his horrified look off of his face and nearly burst out laughing when he caught sight of Allie twirling her finger beside her ear and smirking at him. Severus pulled his chair out and helped him to his feet before he walked around the table to greet Damon’s mother.

“Hello Ma’am, I’m Harry,” he said quietly and leaned down to kiss the cheek she offered him. “Max has told us that I should deliver the beginning of March. It’s very nice to meet you.” He stood back up and started to go back to his husband.

Marion looked at Harry and shook her head, “Baby, that little witch is coming early. You listen to Mother Wolffe. I’ll tell you when I was pregnant with Damon it was just something else. He used to kick on me… I thought I was going to have a Rockette.”

She turned to Allie then and smiled at her, “And you little lady… goodness you got a bear of a man and that little peanut you had before isn’t nothing compared to that boy you are going to have to shove out. He’s going to be at least eleven pounds. Mother Wolffe is always right about them babies.”

She looked around the room. ”Speaking of babies, Where’s my Damon and little Gracie.” She smiled sadly. “That poor young’un… she tried hard for Damon.” She looked at the young people around the table, her eyes clouded with history. “I swear I know I have baby pictures of all of you somewhere. You all make such a beautiful family together and I know my Damon and Gracie are proud of you.” He pulled a handkerchief from a large pocketbook and wiped at her eyes. “Sevvie, Where is Damon and Gracie?”

Severus smiled gently at the old woman and then at his husband. “They’ll join us shortly Grandmother. I’ll go and see what is keeping them.” He moved around the table and kissed Harry’s cheek gently and then bent down to kiss Marion’s once more. “I’ll return in a moment.”

Harry listened to the woman speak, hearing the sadness in her voice and realized there was truly something wrong with her. He pulled out the chair on the other side of her and sat down, letting her take his hand and begin to tell him stories of Damon while he was growing up and of her husband John.

Marion suddenly smiled at Harry and leaned forward to place her hand on his stomach. “Oh… Harry… she’s a powerful little one… You and Sevvie did well.” She looked up at him with watery blue eyes. “You’ll have an easy time with your babies, honey. Fill that old house with them, sweetie.”

Harry nodded and noticed the faces Allie was making and shook his head slightly, he wasn’t impressed by his friend’s catty behaviour towards the elderly woman. “We plan to have several children Mother Wolffe,” he said softly. “I’m sure Damon and… Gracie will spoil them rotten and I can only imagine how spoiled you are going to have them.”

Marion nodded and patted his tummy as the baby moved. The motion cause Harry’s stomach to roll in a wide wave under his robe and the old woman smiled broadly, “Look at you, little one.”

She looked up at Harry and touched his cheek. “You are a kind soul, Harry talking to an old woman. Thank you.”

Harry placed his hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for allowing me to do so. I am quite content to stay here all evening with you, I like to hear about what Damon and Gracie were like when they were younger,” he said and didn’t bother to look up as Max stood and led Allie away with the excuse of stretching their legs. He looked around and smiled as he spotted his husband. “Severus is coming and I think he has them with him.”

Severus made his way over to the stage and stepped up onto the slightly raised platform. The bar quieted and he smiled out at the audience. “It seems our guests of honour need but a few moments more. Apparently Damon is having a fight with his tie and losing and Grant has lost his list for the evening.”

There was good natured laughter from the gathered revelers and Severus grinned again. “I have been instructed to start the music and invite you all to the dance floor while they finish preparing for their grand entrance.” He pointed his wand at the juke box and an old tune came playing from the speakers. “This is a song Grant informed me that was playing the year he and Damon decided to get married. We’ve stocked the jukebox with some of Damon and Grant’s favorite songs and we may even be able to entice the pair out on the floor at some point tonight.”

^^^

In the bar office, Grant sat behind the desk and watched Damon pull the tie from around his neck and fling it across the room. “I think you look handsome without it,” he said with a smile as he picked up his wand and summoned the tie to him.

The little man still looked like death warmed over, but he was happy and smiling, glad to be sharing this occasion with their family and friends. Grant could hear Severus speaking to the crowd and chuckled at the bit about the lost list.

“Would you like me to tie it for you, Sir?” he asked as he stood and walked over to his husband, who was dressed in the formal black robes.

Damon turned around and smiled down at his husband. “If I look good without it why do you want to tie me up with it? I think you just want something to choke me with after all these years,” he chuckled and bent down so Grant could tie the black material around his neck.

Grant listened to the song and smiled, “Indian Love Call by Slim Whitman. I can still smell the elephant ears and the roasted peanuts from the fair we all went to.”

Damon snorted, “You are old Injun.”

Grant finished tying the knot and looked up at his husband with one eyebrow raised. “I’m still younger than you,” he quipped and then stood back to look him over once more. “You know, we didn’t go to a fair this year. We missed a ride on the Ferris wheel.”

He turned from Damon and picked up a scrap of paper, stuffing it in one of his robe pockets before turning back. “I’m ready when you are, unless you’ve decided to trade me in for a young, blond model with better mileage.”

Damon grinned, “I don’t know, maybe I want a red head this year.” He pulled Grant to closer and looked at the robe he was wearing. The light blue dress robe made Grant’s skin look more tanned than he had in a long time and he was happy to see the grin on his husband’s face. The formal clothing was accented by the gilded golden collar that ringed his slender neck. “You are still beautiful to me, Injun, I would never trade you in.”

Grant tipped his face up for a kiss and then thought of something. “Your mother is loose out there.”

Damon raised an eyebrow and bent to place a soft kiss on the full mouth. “And? Sev said she was predicting things about the babies remember but seemed to be happy. Ready to make our entrance?”

Grant nodded and took his husband’s arm, taking a deep breath as the other man opened the door and led them out.

Max spotted them first and waved his wand to cut the music before casting Sonorus on himself. “Ladies and gentleman, please welcome our guests of honour. Damon and Grant Wolffe.” He turned and began to applaud as the couple made their way to the stage where Severus was waiting for them.

Damon led Grant before the assembled friends and family and smiled out at them. He saw Harry and his mother sitting together and shook his head hoping she wasn’t disturbing the young man however the smile on the submissive’s face let him know everything was alright.

He cleared his throat and looked down at Grant then back out at the audience. “Fifty years is a long time and I think it took everyone of them for Grant to get me trained just like he wanted me. You all have a drink on me while I dance with my husband.”

He led Grant off the stage and out to the floor as the crowd parted. He twirled the younger man into his arms and smiled down at him, “Ready, My Grant?”

A song by Elvis Presley began to play over the sound system and the lights went low with only a soft spotlight shining on the couple. Grant laid his head on his husband’s chest, the soft light glinting off the blue-black of the newly charmed braid that hung heavily down his back. “I’m always ready by your side,” he said softly and waited for Damon to lead him in the dance.

Damon lifted the smaller man and set his feet on top of his own. Pulling Grant even closer to his body he slowly began the first steps to the slow soulful voice of the southern man, softly singing along with him in Grant’s ear.

“Wise men say only fools rush in but I can't help falling in love with you.
Shall I stay would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you…”

Grant smiled and closed his eyes, just listening to the rumble of his husband’s voice, a tear trickling down his cheek, glistening as the spotlight caught it from time to time. “I love you so much,” he whispered.

Severus watched his parents dance around the floor and after the first stanza of the song he saw Max lead Allie out there and take her in his arms. He was glad the younger woman was semi on balance tonight; he wanted nothing to go wrong this evening. He turned and walked back to there table and stopped next to Harry’s chair and held out a hand to his husband. “Would you like to dance with me, My Harry?”

Harry smiled up at his husband and pushed his chair back as he took the man’s hand. “Please excuse me, Mother Wolffe while I dance with my husband,” he said softly and allowed Severus to lead him to the dance floor. He was nearly in shock; Severus hated to dance and claimed to be pants at it. This could prove to be interesting.

Severus turned Harry around to face him and smiled down at him, “Step up on my feet, little one.” He held tightly to the other man as Harry carefully stepped up onto Severus’ shoes.

The tall wizard pulled Harry flush against him, laying his head on his chest then stepped out onto the dance floor with the smaller man clinging to him, similar to how Damon and Grant were dancing.

Harry could feel his husband’s feet through the soles of the soft kidskin slippers he was wearing. He was surprised and speechless as Severus danced confidently with him in his arms, not really what he’d been expecting at all. “I like this,” he murmured under the strains of the music, letting himself be carried about the dance floor by the bigger man.

Max watched the other two couples and looked down at his wife, considering making the offer to allow her to stand on his feet, then decided she was happy, so it was best to not rock the boat.

Mother Wolffe watched proudly from the sidelines clutching her handkerchief. She looked up at the man standing behind her and smiled. “They look lovely don’t they John,” she said softly.

The apparition nodded and smiled gently down at his wife. He placed a smoky hand on her shoulder and then vanished as Courtney came over to offer her some company as her children danced.

Grant looked around as the song segued into a new one and noticed Mother Wolffe talking to Courtney. “Baby, go dance with your mother, she looks so alone,” he said as he nodded towards the woman. “Then we’ll see if she’s ready to go back to the house.”

Damon kissed Grant softly and nodded. He led Grant over to the table and smiled at his friend. He held out a hand to her. “Let’s show them how to do it right, mom.”

Marion smiled and stood, letting Grant take her seat as her son led her out onto the dance floor. After they took their turn around the dance floor and he was leading her back to her seat, she stopped and cocked her head. “Who is that sitting next to your Gracie?”

There was a silver haired gentleman sitting next to Grant speaking softly to the small man. Grant looked up and gave Damon a desperate smile.

Damon stared at the man sitting next to Grant, the old man looked familiar but he wasn’t certain. He made his way over there and stood next to Grant’s chair and seated his mother beside Grant. He stuck out his hand to the gentleman. “Damon Wolffe. I am sorry but I can not recall your name.”

The man smiled and stood, bringing his hand up and snapping a salute to Damon. “Hello Colonel Wolffe. It doesn’t surprise me that you don’t know my name, I was Specialist Everett Braynard at the time I served under you in Japan. I apologize for barging in on your party like this, but I live a couple towns over and saw the announcement in the paper and wondered if it was the same man,” he said and shook Damon’s hand firmly. “I do remember Miss Grace and the cookies she’d bake for all of us.”

Damon stared at the younger man and nodded slowly. He had no Idea what to say and looked down at Grant.

Grant was in a state of shock, not knowing exactly how to respond to the man. He looked down and wished he had the damn amulet at least so he could attempt to pull a miracle out of his ass and not have someone cause trouble tonight. “Damon, if you will excuse me, I should go check the kitchen,” he murmured and started to push his chair back to make his escape.

Damon grabbed the other man and pulled him to his side, trying to cover their asses. There was no way in hell Grant was leaving him alone to deal with this. Bobby was at the next table and he looked over at the Sheriff and then back at the silver haired man. “Well, thank you for coming Mr. Braynard. We appreciate your good will.”

Grant stopped and looked up at the newcomer for a moment. “Braynard,” he whispered under his breath and looked at him again, surprise and shock on his face. “Potato chip cookies! You were always asking if I could make those because your mama always made them for you.” He brought his hand up to his mouth and stared in shock at the other man.

Braynard grinned and nodded, “Yes Ma’am, that was me.” He looked up at Damon and back to Grant and smiled again. “I just wanted to thank you all for making a lonely soldier feel at home in a foreign place and congratulate you.”

Not even thinking, Grant stepped forward and gave the newcomer a quick hug. “I’m glad you came by to see us and those cookies are made here now every so often, so you’ll have to stop back in sometime,” he said and gave Damon’s hand a squeeze.

Braynard blushed and backed away as Grant hugged him. “Yes ma’am… sir, I’ll do that. No one made them like you did,” he said as a tall, black haired man joined the Wolffe’s.

Grant smiled again and motioned to the tall man. “Mr. Braynard, I’d like you to meet our son, Severus.”

Damon looked at his husband like he had lost his ever loving mind. He looked at Severus and shook his head slightly then turned back to Braynard with an explanation on his lips.

The younger man smiled and nodded at Damon, “It’s alright, Colonel. Families come in all different shapes and sizes now days.”

Harry looked around for his husband and spotted the tall man standing with Damon and Grant. Carrying glasses of punch in both hands, the pregnant wizard made his way over to the small group. “Hey Sev,” he said softly as he tipped his face up for a kiss and gave a glass of the punch to him as well. He didn’t recognize the man they were speaking with, but Severus had told him it was to be all family and friends here tonight.

Damon looked at his husband and son and shook his head. He fingered his wand in his robe pocket and looked at Harry’s swollen middle. Merlin could this evening get any worse.

Braynard grinned at the little man and stuck his hand out to touch his swollen belly. “My son is about this far along. He and his wife reversed the roles after she had a bad pregnancy the first time.” He looked at the small dark haired man and grinned as the baby kicked the newcomer.

Damon gaped at them all and shook his head. Braynard smiled and stepped back from the men. “You have a very nice looking family, sir. I am glad to have met you and wish you another fifty years together.”

Grant smiled at him and took Damon’s hand. “Please come see us again Everett and please bring your wife along as well,” he said as he felt Damon shift and the man’s long arms come around to hold him tight from behind.

Braynard smiled, “I would but Shelia died a few years back. She was a bit older than I was and even though she was a witch it couldn’t help her when the cancer got her. She lives on in our son and his littles though.”

Grant nodded, he could barely remember the man that had been a lonely red haired boy that would come and read his girlfriend’s letter to Gracie while she hung her laundry out on the line behind their little house on the base. “I’m sure she does Everett, but please… do come back.”

Braynard smiled and offered his hand to Damon once more. “Congratulations sir, you were both a wonderful couple then and I’m sure just as wonderful now.”

Damon nodded and shook the man’s hand still in shock. “Thank you,” he said softly and then man nodded and turned to go. He watched Braynard walk out the door then let go of Grant and sank into a chair at the table. “I need a drink. And not no damn punch either.”

Harry quickly pulled back the glass he had nearly offered his father-in-law, watching as Grant waved to one of the waitresses and ordered his husband a double shot of bourbon.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he took the drink from the young woman and set it down in front of Damon and then looked up at Harry and Severus, shrugging his shoulders. He didn’t think it had gone badly at all.

Damon stared at the drink for a moment and then sighed, “Merlin, I never thought something like that would ever happen.” He leaned back in his chair and pulled Grant down into his lap. “Thank you, Pet. But I am alright now. They’ll be no drinking tonight.”

Mother Wolffe reached over and took the shot, draining it before setting the glass back down. “I think it’s time for me to get ready for bed and watch my show,” she announced to no one in particular, having watched the little exchange with amusement, wondering why her son was so unnerved by it.

Harry looked up to Severus and smiled. “I’m a little tired, maybe we could take her back to the house?” he asked softly and then looked at Damon. “I have a question.”

Severus nodded and then looked down at Harry and his father. He wasn’t certain what all had happened but so long as no one was drinking, screaming, fighting or hexed into next week he was fine. “Mother Wolffe I would be happy to escort you back to the house.”

Damon looked up from where he had been nuzzling Grant’s neck and focused on Harry. “Go ahead, Bit.”

“Why doesn’t your house have a name like the Overlook? It’s just as old, isn’t it?” he asked, it was something he’d been curious about for a few weeks now, but hadn’t had a chance to ask yet.

Marion spoke up before Damon could. “It does have a name sweetie. Damon’s great granddaddy built that house back in 1865 after the original homestead was burned to the ground in the Civil War. He named it the Wolffe’s Den. The man thought he was being witty, I suppose,” she explained as she took the glass of punch Harry had been drinking and began to sip at it.

“Nolan, that was John’s daddy and Damon’s granddaddy thought the name was pretentious and dropped it, but if you go up to the county courthouse, the name is still on the registers.”

Harry looked at the old woman and nodded. “Thank you,” he said and took Severus’ punch.

Marion fixed her eye on Harry and opened her mouth again. “You all are living at the Overlook?” she asked and clucked her tongue. “Don’t be surprised if you see faery folk out there.”

Severus looked at Harry and then to his father with his brows raised. “Do tell Mother Wolffe,” He said gamely. “Damon tells us nothing of the history of the place.”

Damon glared at Severus and shook his head signaling the waitress to bring them more punch and waited on his mother’s version of the old mountain tales. It almost past time for her to be in bed but he hadn’t seen her so spry in quite some time.

“Well sit down and get comfortable,” she said as she patted his hand. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that Damon isn’t telling you anything about that old place. John tanned his hide good the day he and the Fletcher boy busted out one of those big stained glass windows with a rock and the slingshot I’d told him not to make. Boy never would listen to his mama.”

Grant shifted on Damon’s lap and looked at his husband. He’d heard very few stories like these and it was always good to have blackmail material on hand. He looked back and smirked at his husband.

“Oh yes,” Marion continued after drinking more punch. “He and that boy Seth Fletcher, may he rest in peace, would get up to no good all the time. Back in ’35 they were up on the sheep pasture below the Overlook and caught themselves a real live fairy. Damon show them your scar from where it bit you.” She reached over and took her son’s hand in her own and pointed out the faint half moon scar on the knuckle of his index finger. “That bite festered for weeks because he wouldn’t stop picking at it.”

Damon growled, “That wasn’t no fairy it was a damned lizard.” He turned his hand and squeezed his mother’s hand shaking his head. “You ready to go on home now, mama.”

Marion shook her head and returned the squeeze to her son’s hand. “I’ll get back to you in a minute.” She turned to Harry. “So, tell me, Harry what are you naming the baby and it better be a good strong name for that little witch. None of this newfangled Jennifer or ...,” she wrinkled her nose. “Allison.”

Harry nearly spit his punch out and smiled at the old woman. “No ma’am. We’ve picked Reganne Siobhan Snape, I hope it will serve her well.”

Marion looked at him and raised a delicately penciled brow. “You are naming her after that damned actor that tried to be a president?” she asked. “Regan Savon?”

Grant laughed out loud and shook his head. “No Marion, they are going with an Irish name, it just sounds like that, but it’s spelled differently. R-E-G-A-N-N-E S-I-O-B-H-A-N, see? It’s different, isn’t it pretty?” he said as he explained it to his mother-in-law.

Marion nodded and turned back to her son. “Don’t you talk to your mama like that. Your Daddy was here earlier and he’s going to tan your hide if he hears about that when he returns to get me.” She smirked’ “And it was too a fairy. My mason jar sparkled for a week after I had to let that little woman go. I swear I have never seen a young boy so fascinated with something so shiny. That poor thing left me a blackberry on the window sill every morning for a month in gratitude to escape your sadistic little ass.”

At the last bit, Grant nearly fell off of Damon’s lap laughing. “So he started young, did he?” he gasped out as Damon held onto him to keep him from landing on the floor.

Marion looked at her son and smiled fondly. “Damon was always getting his wand taken away for something or another. He was just a little heathen. One time I took him to Sunday school and the teacher came out to get me because he’d cut off a girl’s braid because she’d tried to kiss him.”

Damon shook his head and cringed as the people around the table laughed again and Courtny and his wife walked over. Two more people to listen to his mother’s outrageously fabricated tales about his youth. “Mama, it is getting late. Why don’t you let Sev take you and Harry home now?”

Marion gave her son’s hand a squeeze. “That’s alright Damon, your Daddy will be along directly for me, you go and dance with Gracie now,” she said and sat back smiling.

Damon frowned slightly and shook his head. He looked over at Severus and raised an eyebrow. “Are you certain? Harry and Severus are going to be staying with us tonight and you can talk with them some more at the house if you wish.” He knew the woman would be asleep within moments of settling in the big truck even though the house wasn’t all that far out of town.

Marion waved her hand at her boy and fixed her sight on a point over by the far window. “Go on and dance with Gracie now, your Daddy’s watching.”

Damon’s eyes drifted over to where his mother was looking and saw nothing but the stars. He sighed and wondered if it was time to change her medicine again. He looked back at the others sitting around the table and frowned at the green look Harry had on his face. “You alright, Bit?”

“Who is that?” Harry asked softly as he nodded towards what was obviously a ghost by the window. It was the first ghost he’d seen in West Virginia and the resemblance to Damon was frightening.

Marion smiled, “That’s John, honey. Damon looks just like his daddy, doesn’t he? Damon got my hair though. John had the thickest, chestnut coloured hair that was just as dark the day we married as it was the day he passed.”

Grant turned his head quickly and gasped in shock. “Damon… it’s your dad,” he whispered and grabbed for his hand. He had seen ghosts in his life, he just wasn’t really comfortable with them.

Damon looked at Grant and squeezed the younger man’s hand. He looked over at the window again and shook his head. “Pet, there’s nothing there now stop before you scare Harry. I know he thinks he’s seen it as well but there is nothing there,” he said softly in Grant’s ear. He was worried about the man sitting in his lap. He didn’t need Grant and Marion getting the vapors.

Grant looked past Damon and nodded his head to something else. “Yes John,” he whispered softly and got to his feet, turning and pulling Damon to his. “Damon, dance with me, your daddy wants to watch us again.”

Marion nodded happily and reached out to pat Harry’s and a nervous Severus’ hands. “It’s alright, he’s just here for the party. He always did like a good party.”

Damon frowned but did as Grant asked not certain he wanted to leave Harry with his mother. He wrapped his arm around Grant’s waist and led him back to the dance floor waving his wand at the juke box changing the song to a popular Righteous Brother’s song.

He eyed the window as he circled Grant across the floor, dancing to the melody.

More and more people stopped what they were doing and watched the couple on the dance floor and the shade that had moved from the window to stand next to the table beside Damon’s mother. Many were old enough to recognize John Wolffe and quickly all noise but the song stopped.

Damon flicked his wand at the juke box again and Bob Seger’s gruff voice sang out at them. The music seemed to scratch and silence filled the bar as he aimed his wand at it again, trying to get the song back. A staticy sound came from the speakers and Bing Crosby began to croon.

“Soon, the lonely nights will be ended, soon, two hearts as one will be blended. I've found the happiness I've waited for, the only girl that I was fated for.”

Damon gasped he recognized the song and his mother stood up at the table. She led Severus out to the floor and climbed up onto his feet and he began to twirl her around to the music. He stared at them for a moment just watching as his son seemed to shorten and his father appeared to be superimposed over the slender wizard.

Grant moaned softly, his body shaking as he watched what almost appeared to be his in laws dancing there beside them. He knew that this song, ‘Soon’, had been one of ‘their’ songs and the fact it was playing in the bar when he knew for a fact there wasn’t a copy on the jukebox either. “Damon, I can see him,” he whispered.

“I know, Pet, so can I.” Damon looked down at Grant and started dancing once more. “Tonight’s their ninetieth anniversary. If Da would have lived he would have been one hundred and eighteen this year.”

Ghosts were rarely seen in America unless there had been some tragic bit of history that had happened and most often they stayed at the sight of their death. Damon thought about what this might mean for his mother and swallowed; he had only seen his father’s ghost once before and man had been gone thirteen years. He looked over at to Severus and his mother worried for the both of them.

The tall man had a smile on his face with John still settled over him like a double image in a photograph. Marion’s eyes were bright and she was telling Severus/John something and the ghostly image had the temerity to look sheepish.

She led Severus back to the table as the song ended and Damon followed him, dragging Grant along with him.

Marion guided Severus down to a chair and petted his hair. He had a slightly dazed look on his face but other wise looked unharmed. He picked up Harry’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the small hand and assuring his husband he was alright while Marion had the waitress bring the dark haired man a drink.

“I told John it was impolite to just set in and take over. He apologizes if he scared you, Harry,” Marion was telling the two younger men as Damon and Grant arrived at the table.

Harry looked up at the old woman and then back at his husband who was still shivering as if he’d become deeply chilled and was having trouble warming up. “He’s gone again, isn’t he?” Harry asked softly as Severus stroked his hair gently.

Marion nodded and smiled. “Tonight was our anniversary little one, we’ve been married for ninety years now and he wanted to have a dance with me. I am sorry if he frightened you or Sevvie, he didn’t mean to,” she said gently and then laid a hand on her son’s forearm. “I told you he was coming for me, Damon. Now that I’ve had my dance, I believe I’m ready to go back to the house and have some cocoa with Harry.”

Grant smiled at his mother-in-law and nodded. “I’ll get your wrap Mother Wolffe, I think I’m ready to go as well,” he said and looked over at his pale husband.

Damon squeezed his mother’s hand gently and nodded. “Severus, if it’s alright with you we’ll take your truck to the house and I’ll drive. You don’t look steady yet.” He held out his hand for the keys. “Let me go get it started and warmed up and then I’ll talk to Tom about shutting the place down. They can enjoy the free food and beer on us.”

He took the keys from his son’s outstretched shaking hand and replaced it with the shot of bourbon the waitress brought over. He took Grant’s hand and led him over to the office where they had placed Mother Wolffe’s cloak. He kissed the other man’s cheek and searched his face. “I’m sorry, Pet. I didn’t want our evening to be ruined.” He ran a finger down the younger man’s face and smiled sadly.

Grant stroked his man’s cheek gently and smiled. “It wasn’t ruined at all baby, I’m honoured that your daddy came to visit. I just hope he hasn’t come for any other reasons,” he said softly. “I’ll get everyone together and we’ll meet you in the front, alright?”

Harry stood up and smoothed his robe down, he looked over the crowd for Max, he wanted the healer to look Severus over before they left, but there was no sign of the big red head. Pursing his lips in frustration, he began to weave through the crowd and found one of the waitresses and asked her if she’d seen Max lately. He shook his head when he learned the big man had taken Allie out of the bar and left after she’d begun to get angry and curse at someone who’d asked to feel the baby move.

He went back to Severus and rubbed a hand over his shoulders gently, feeling the shivers subside and the man calm down. “Are you tired, Husband?” he asked softly.

Severus sighed and looked up at Harry, “No my Harry, just cold yet serene at the same time. John sounds a lot like Damon. He loved them both very much.” He pulled the other man close and hugged him to him while Reganne kicked back at the pressure. He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the younger man’s messy hair. “I’ll take a Pepper-Up and eat some chocolate once we get back to…” he turned and grinned widely as Grant came up, “the Wolffe’s Den.”

Grant rolled his eyes at the mention of their home’s name, he thought it was amusing but Damon found little humour in it. “Damon has gone on out to the truck, are we ready?” he asked as he draped a warm woolen cloak around Marion’s shoulders. “And yes Severus, John loved them both fiercely. Damon is like him in so many ways.” He smiled as he helped the little woman to her feet.

“Gracie, I think we need to go down to the salon Monday and get our hair trimmed, don’t you? Yours is just a little long dear for someone of your age,” the old woman said as she patted the small man’s shoulder. “You always did look good when you wore your hair up.”

Grant just shook his head and rubbed the woman’s shoulders. “Damon is waiting for us Mother Wolffe, let’s not keep him, you know how the Wolffe men are,” he said gently and steered her to the door. Harry followed along leading his husband by the hand.

Severus smiled down at Harry, “I was only possessed for three minutes, Harry. I think I will be just fine.” He stopped next to Grant and Mother Wolffe and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You dance beautifully, Grandmother. It was my pleasure to share it with you even if I don’t remember much.”

He ran a hand over Harry’s head as Damon drove the big truck up to the door then go out to help the submissives and his mother into the truck. He propped Severus up against the side of the truck then lifted Harry into the back seat and shoved Severus in beside him then put his mother and Grant in the front seat before closing the door and going around to climb in behind the wheel.

There was still plenty of room in the back seat and he thought they might all fit Monday morning when they went to Charleston. He made certain Grant and Marion were buckled in while Harry and Severus did the same to each other. “Let’s go home then.”

Once home, Grant helped Damon get Mother Wolffe into the downstairs guest room and settled in for the night, while Harry went into the kitchen and put a kettle of water on for tea and got out milk to make cocoa as well. Severus let the puppies outside before he went upstairs to his old bed room to change out of his robes into his pyjamas. As soon as he came down, he sent Harry up to change as well.

Soon, the four men were sitting in the living room in various items of sleep wear, drinking either tea or cocoa. Harry was leaned against Severus and had his feet propped up on the coffee table, while Grant was curled up in the crook of Damon’s arm, his feet tucked up under the hem of his flannel nightshirt.

Severus set his mug of cocoa down and looked at Damon. “Why didn’t you tell me we have fairies on our property?” he asked. He would have liked to have known so he could have been leaving out the proper gifts to keep them from creating mischief for being slighted.

Damon shook his head, “They know better than to mess with pregnant people besides they live in the walnut tree and I am most certain after Harry taught you that lesson a few months ago they won’t be bothering you all.”

He smiled at Harry, “Harry looks Fey enough that they might just leave him be on principal. I’d watch for elves though. I remember hearing something about them being back on the mountain hiding in the forests. There’s lots of trees out there on the property and with the baby coming it would be a good idea to make arrangement to have her baptized. The legends say they take the males but I’d not gamble with the Gentry.”

Severus nodded, he’d heard many tales while growing up and he himself had been baptized before he was a day old. He’d see to it that it was done before Reganne was more than a few days old. He knew there was no way to keep the elves away, but he could keep them from coveting his daughter. He gave Harry’s shoulders a squeeze to reassure him and looked to the older couple.

“Damon, it looks like Grant is about to fall asleep on you and I think Harry is fading as well. I’m going to go ahead and tuck him in. Good night,” he said as he stood and gathered his husband up, supporting him with one arm and leading him to the stairs. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

Damon nodded and scooped up Grant as well and took him into their bedroom. He kicked the door shut then cursed as he set Grant on the bed and turned down the sheets. “Everyone got to feel the baby move tonight but me.” He grumped as he climbed into bed and held the blankets for his husband.

Grant laughed quietly and slid in next to his husband, holding his warm nightshirt close to him. He seemed to be cold constantly now that he’d lost weight and was damned happy Damon put off enough warmth he’d finally get comfortable. “She’ll be here soon enough and you’ll be able to spoil her rotten and make her Pop-pop’s girl,” he said as he turned onto his side and pulled Damon’s arm over him.

“Do you think there was anything more to your father’s visit?” he asked hesitantly while Damon shifted and got comfortable behind him.

A knock on the door cause Damon to turn back to the portal as it opened and Severus stuck his head. “Damon… John said to tell you he’s proud of you for taking care of Marion and that she’ll be here a bit longer before he’s ready for her to come home.”

He smiled at the older man. “Happy anniversary to you both.” He closed the door quietly and padded back upstairs to his husband.

Damon stared at the closed door for a moment then turned back over and snuggled Grant close to him. “I guess that answers your question.” He sighed and kissed his husband softly.

Harry lay under the thick comforter in nothing but a smile waiting for his husband. When Severus had gone downstairs, he’d been wearing a warm flannel nightshirt, now he wondered if the man would notice the difference.

Severus turned off the lights downstairs, locked the doors and set wards like he did at the Overlook since Harry had been telling him of the dreams he’d been having about a shadowy man and someone taking the baby away.

He was going to do everything in his power to keep Percy Weasley away from his husband and Lucius and Ron were already on it together. He wasn’t certain how that was going to work out but he knew Lucius would see to it that everything was taken care of.

He climbed the stairs and opened the door to his old room slowly incase Harry had drifted while he was out delivering John’s message. “Harry,” he said softly.

“I’m awake Sev, I was waiting for you. They took the news well?” he asked quietly as he listened to his husband move about in the darkened room. “Come to bed.”

“It seemed to me they did… well at least Damon was shocked into silence anyway,” he chuckled and pulled back the sheets and slidinto the warmed bed, sighing as he lay back on the pillows. “And you, My Harry are you well this evening also? Grandmother and all that happened didn’t wear you out?”

Harry smiled in the dark and rose up on one elbow, propping his hand under his cheek as he lay on his side. “I like her, she seems like she’s fun to be around. It was a bit unnerving to see how everyone was reacting to John’s ghost, definitely different from home, but I’ll admit I was a bit frightened when he stepped into you,” he said and waited as Severus got comfortable. “I’m not really tired though.”

Severus smiled and reached out to touch Harry’s face in the darkness. He ran a finger down the younger man’s cheek, stroking it lightly. “Is that so, little one?” He reached out with his other hand and pulled the smaller man closer to him. “And what is this?” he asked softly as he ran a hand down Harry’s naked chest and over his rounded belly.

“An elephant in the making,” Harry teased and put his hand over Severus’. “Kiss me?” he asked as he leaned over a bit and pressed his lips to the other man’s face.

Severus hummed and pulled Harry on top of him as he rolled on to his back. He picked his wand up from the nightstand and cast a Silencing charm over their room. “Always my Pet.”

Harry whimpered low in his throat and straddled his husband’s waist, leaning forward on his hands and rubbing himself over Severus’ pyjama covered prick. “I want you, Husband,” he whispered huskily and began to unbutton the other man’s shirt.

Severus ran his hand over Harry’s back and bottom. “Hmm it’s nice to be wanted,” he teased the younger man gently.

“Always want my Husband in me,” he murmured and pushed back into the large hands. He leaned forward and kissed the older man, his hands pushing the pyjama top open and pressed his swollen tummy and chest to Severus’ warm skin.

Severus hummed into Harry’s kisses softly and continued to rub on the smaller man. He rolled them to the side and slipped out of his top and bottoms, tossing them over the side of the bed then pulled Harry close to him again. He rubbed up against the smaller man loving the slid of their limbs and the way the hair on Harry’s legs tickled the insides of his thighs as their legs twined. He continued the soul sucking kisses as his hands played along Harry’s back and bottom once more.

Harry broke from one searing kiss, pulling back to catch his breath. “Sev… tell me there is lube hidden somewhere in this room… please,” he murmured as he reached between them and stroked his fingers lightly along Severus’ foreskin, grinning at the shiver that ran through his husband.

Harry wanted to be taken like a man tonight not… not like something else and he was mentally kicking himself for not packing the lube they normally kept by their bed at home.

Severus chuckled. “You mean to tell me you didn’t pack some.” He backed away to look at his husband. “I am sorry to tell you this, my own, but Grant most likely had this room scrubbed top to bottom after we left then once again after his family came and went. We may just be out of luck,” he grinned at his husband in the darkness. In his red bag with their potions was a silky blend of his own making just begging to be tried. “You have to go downstairs and ask Damon for some.”

Harry closed his eyes and groaned. “Fuck me,” he muttered and climbed off of Severus quickly and ran for the door, stooping to pick up Sev’s shirt on the way. If he could just get one of the older men to throw it out the door without having to go in, he’d be fine. He got the long shirt on and smiled as he realized it covered him to mid thigh, finishing up the buttons as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Severus couldn’t hold his laughter in any longer and he turned over and buried his face in the pillows. He hoped Damon would have a sense of humour about Harry knocking on their door.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs Marion turned and squinted in the low light where she sat on the couch reading, her glasses low on her nose. She smiled at thelittle man coming down the stairs and then watched him tiptoe towards the hall. “I wouldn’t go down there if I were you,” she said softly. “They get up to an awful racket when they are deprived of each other for any length of time.”

At the sound of the old woman’s voice, Harry nearly jumped out of his skin and turned around quickly, making sure the shirt was pulled down and covering him. “Mother Wolffe, you frightened me,” he exclaimed and then tried to think of an excuse as to why he was going to knock on their door. “I was… um… just going to see if they would mind if we turned the heat up. It’s a bit cold.” He edged his way back to the living room and then decided to look in the kitchen for something.

Marion grinned. “I am be old son but I am not that daft yet. My Sevvie carries a bag that has every potion known to man inside of it. He’ll have what you are seeking,” she chuckled. “I know I looked one time when he was here.” She chuckled once more. “I found some of the most interesting things inside those bottles.”

Harry wondered if he could actually die of embarrassment or if something else would have to happen to give him heart failure. He wondered how he was going to tell Sev that Mother Wolffe snooped through his things when she got the chance. He didn’t have long to wait to see what would happen next when a low moan that increased to a loud raspy cry came from behind the closed door of the bedroom down the hall.

The young pregnant wizard looked at Mother Wolffe, he could feel his face burning in a blush and wondered just what he could say that would possibly sound normal in this house. “I need something from the kitchen… cocoa.”

Marion raised an eyebrow. “Honey, Sevvie has what you are looking for in his bag. He sent you down here for a cackle. Now that was Grant making that noise and I can guarantee you that after living with those two for as long as I did that there’ll be a bunch more noise coming from that room.”

She smiled at him, “Go on back up there and tell him Mother Wolffe said to give you what you needed and not to venture down here anymore. Bit like walking in on you parents isn’t it baby? I understand, go on back up there and hide under the covers. I know Damon did once when he walked in on John and I.”

Speechless, Harry shook his head and kissed the woman’s cheek before slowly starting up the stairs again, only stopping briefly when another caterwauling shriek sounded from down the hall. He didn’t want to even think about it.

He opened the bedroom door and slipped in, leaning against it as a banging noise sounded from downstairs. He looked over to where his husband was lying on the bed with the lamp on and shook his head. “I hate you.”

Severus held up a little bottle and stilted it back and forth. “Oh really?”

Harry came back to the bed and climbed in on his side. “I am never having sex again in my life Severus. I am traumatized,” he muttered and his eyes flew open wide at a thought. “If we can hear them… can they hear us?”

The furnace kicked on and more than hot air came through the vent as a deep growl filled the air. “Oh gods…” Severus murmured and he laid the phial on the nightstand. “I forgot that only Damon or Grant can cast certain spells in the house. They added that charm after I made Max really sick one time.”

More noises filtered up from the downstairs bedroom and Harry looked at Severus, “Can we go home now? Mother Wolffe has been through your bags… she knew why I was down there Sev. I stood there and listened to her tell me how you have just what I need. And then… then I swear, they are torturing something in that bedroom, but she says it’s Grant.”

Severus opened his mouth to say something and a long high pitched howl and barking sounded from the laundry room and then Marion’s voice. “Oh what cute little puppies!”

The sound of padded paws running up the stairs made Severus bury his face in his hands and begin laughing. The scratching at the door was soft and almost dignified and one small bark let the Snapes know it was Asphodel at the door. He was so much more dignified than Bezoar. He looked up at Harry. “You know what this means don’t you?” He grinned, “Bezoar went looking for Damon.”

Harry nearly fell out of the bed laughing as the sounds of Bezoar’s howling filled the house accompanying the howls made by one small Indian winkte. “You have to go get him Sev. Damon is going to hex him otherwise.”

Severus moved the blankets back to go get the small dog when Grant’s voice came through the vent. “Is that Harry? Damon, did you hear that? Get off of me and go see what that noise is.”

Severus knelt in the floor and got close to the vent at the baseboard. “This is the WWN and the whole damn house can hear you two. You’ve woken the dogs and Grandmother and she’s giving out sex tips in the living room now.”

Twin groans filtered back to the young man and he chuckled. “That will be all. Say goodnight Gracie.”

There was silence for a moment and Grant’s voice came through loud and clear. "Goodnight Gracie." He giggled softly and Damon's guff, "Fuck you, Limey Bastard" followed it.

Marion piped up, “I heard that! Watch your mouth, Damon Nolan Wolffe! Don’t make get a hickory switch.”

At this point Harry was laughing so hard, tears were streaming down his cheeks and he couldn’t sit upright. “Oh Merlin, Sev, you have to help me,” he giggled loudly. “I have to pee and I can’t walk.” He reached out a hand and swatted at the raven haired man. “Come on Sev.” He began to laugh harder when he heard the excited yapping from Bezoar when Damon opened the bedroom door downstairs.

“Everyone is a fucking critic.” Came up through the vent along with the sounds of Grant’s muffled laughter.

Harry just looked at Severus and grinned, “I love your family.”