How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

A/N: This chapter is the introduction of two new characters coming to Echo. Those of you who read at the stirs_of_echo live journal will recognize these two. Thank you to marry_me_draco for the beta.

Harry woke warm and safe, yet with the major discomfort of a very small person jumping up and down on his almost overfull bladder. He groaned softly, opened his eyes, and nearly startled when he looked into the sleeping face of Sev's best friend. He smiled as last night came back to him, and studied the man as he’d never really had a chance to before.
Max's face was relaxed in sleep, but the younger man could still see the shadows and hollows on his face. The Healer's arm was slung across his body to Severus', the large fingers gently curled around one lock of black hair. Green eyes turned and searched out his husband's face as well.
His beloved snored lightly, face mashed into the pillow, one long fingered hand resting gently on Harry's protruding tummy. The other arm was under Harry's head, the pale fingers gracing Max's shoulder.
Harry sighed and snuggled back down between the two of them, getting ready to go back to sleep when Reganne kicked him again, and his bladder decided to join in by spasming severely. "Alright, alright, bloody demanding female aren't you?" he whispered softly to his daughter, and rubbed his stomach.
Carefully easing his way out from between the two men, the sub left the room quietly. Once finishing his business in the loo, he padded into Grant's office, grabbed Max's bag, and brought it to their room.
He laid out Severus' clothing and his own, then on impulse went ahead and dug out Max's underthings as well since he didn‘t know what the Healer wanted to wear. Proud of himself, Harry smiled and squinted over at the clock to see if it was time to wake his husband. Making out the red numbers took a minute but since neither Damon or Grant had knocked on the door, nor had the alarm Severus had set sounded, the little sub decided to crawl back into bed and sleep until one of the two occurred. He yawned and gently crawled back in between the men, sighing once more as Severus' arms came about him and Max moved closer, curling about both of them.
He nuzzled Severus softly and patted Max's arm then closed his eyes, safe and warm once more. He was glad he had agreed to let Severus bring Max into their bed for something like this.
Downstairs in the kitchen, Grant was just setting Damon's cup of coffee in front of him when he heard the sounds of footsteps above his head. "That sounds like one of the boys are up," he said as he paused for a moment to let Damon press a kiss to his lips. "I'll go up in a moment to let them know breakfast is ready."
After serving his husband and his mother-in-law, Grant placed the food back on the stove to stay warm, and then left the kitchen, climbing the stairs quietly. Grant pushed open the door to his office first, and frowned thoughtfully when he didn't find Max sleeping on the pull out. Curious now, Grant moved on to the door of Severus' old room. Not hearing any sounds from within, he gently pushed the partially closed door open, and nearly laughed out loud at what he found.
He should have known his boys would comfort one another, and the fact they had Harry sandwiched between them only made it sweeter. Grant moved into the room quietly and looked down at Max and Severus, and how they had Harry cradled between them, their hands finding the other one in their sleep for reassurance.
As much as he hated to, he had no choice. Grant leaned down and gently shook Max's shoulder. "Wake up, Max. Breakfast is ready, okay?" he said as the impossibly blue eyes slitted, open and looked at him in confusion.
"Huh?" the big redhead grunted, and then gave a jaw cracking yawn before he realized one hand was circling Harry's shoulder, and the other was twined in Severus' hair. Max opened his eyes more and then looked up at Grant. "It's not what you think..."
Grant looked down at him and smiled softly. "I think you finally got a good night's sleep is all," he said as he leaned over Max and shook Severus. "Sev... you need to get up now."
Severus grunted and turned his face into Harry's pillow. "Go 'way." He swatted at the shaking hand on his arm and reached out for Max again, trying to pull the other man closer once more. " We’r sleepin'...warm."
Grant shook Severus and Max once more, not bothering yet with Harry. "I will get Damon up here if you don't get out of bed and get yourselves ready. We leave in an hour." The older man finally reached out and ran one hand over Harry's unruly hair.
"Harry, you need to wake up now," he murmured gently and then shook his shoulder.
Green eyes opened and looked up at Grant as the pregnant wizard tried to focus.
"Yes sir," he mumbled and scooted out from between the two Doms. Harry nudged Severus on the shoulder again. "Time to wake up, Sev, come on. We have to go to court today."
Severus sighed and sat up in the ruffled bed. "Fine. I'm up." He rubbed his face and yawned then looked up at Grant. "Thanks, Grant we'll be down in a minute."
Grant nodded to himself, and gave Max's shoulder one last pat before he left the room to go back downstairs.
Max sat up in the bed, wiping one big hand across his face as he looked over to where Severus was rubbing Harry's back gently. Clearing his throat softly, he got out of the bed. "I'll leave you two alone. Thanks a lot for letting me crash here last night. I'll see you downstairs."
Harry reached out and grabbed the big man's hand. "I've brought your clothes in here, Sir." He looked over his shoulder at Severus.
Severus nodded and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll let you have the shower first, if you like."
Max looked down at the small hand on his, and on impulse gave it a gentle squeeze. "You are always so thoughtful, Harry, thank you," he said with a smile, and then let his eyes travel up to meet Sev's. "Thanks man, but I took mine before you all came up last night. I figured we'd be running short on time this morning."
While Harry looked on, Max undid his bag and pulled out a set of white Healer's robes, laying them across the foot of the bed. "White is such a crap colour. I can never keep it clean," he chuckled as he shook the underrobe out and pulled it on.
Harry grinned, he had the same trouble with wearing white as well. "Is it alright if I get cleaned up now, Sev?" he asked as he gave his sleepy husband a smile.
Severus nodded. "Make it a quick one, Pet." He set Harry on his feet and swatted his bottom. "I need to shower as well." He watched his little husband waddle from the room and turned back to his friend.
Dark eyes watched as Max disappeared, and Healer Sorens emerged. "So, Doctor, was the treatment satisfactory?" He smirked as he stood and pulled his long frame from the bed.
Max laughed softly and grinned at his friend. "Yeah, thanks, Sev. I haven't slept that comfortably in a couple of months," he replied as he reached over his head, his fingertips running along the ceiling as he stretched.
Harry quickly returned in the deep blue robes he'd chosen for the hearing, immediately picking up Severus' clothes and taking them to the bathroom. "I'll wait for you downstairs, Sev, okay?" he asked, coming back into the bedroom to pick up the soft slippers he'd planned to wear that day. His feet had been bothering him a bit lately, and he'd found he liked the softness on his feet.
Severus nodded, and moved to over to Max as Harry left. He looked up into the man's face and studied him for a moment. "You are welcome anytime, my friend," he said softly as he reached up and played with the long red hair.
"You'll sit with us in the truck because you know damn good and well Damon will be driving. No excuses, Max."
The Potions Master turned and headed into the loo to prepare for the day.
&&&&&
Grant looked down and shook his head at the two empty baking dishes that were left on the table. He'd made two dozen cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and he had to wonder if Max and Severus weren't going to fight over the last one. Damon had settled the argument by splitting the roll between himself and Harry.
Grant looked up at his husband and laughed. "I am so screwed when their kids are big enough to eat as well." Both men looked out the kitchen window as Max, Severus, and Harry all got settled into the back seat of the truck. "Your mother's helper is in with her now. She said they'd leave around noon if Marion felt up to it."
Grant watched his husband's face and knew how hard it was on the older man as he watched his mother's mental capacities deteriorate over the years. Damon nodded and stood, brushing imaginary crumbs from his robes. He left the kitchen and said goodbye to his mother pressing a kiss to her forehead, before nodding to the helper, and making his way back into the kitchen.
Pulling Grant close, Damon held him for a moment, and then twined their hands. "Let's get this circus on the road then."
&&&&&&&
Nearly seven exhausting hours later, Harry pushed his way outside the wizarding courthouse that was hidden by the facade of a defunct talent agency in Charleston. The small wizard was tired, and he thought his head was going to explode. Merlin, all the questions that they had been asked. There had been several times he'd thought he was going to scream in frustration as the judge asked each of them the exact same questions. Over and over again, Harry had to wonder if the man was looking to see if they were making their life up or if he was simply mental.
At the end of it all though, the man had seemed satisfied that he and Severus were doing what they could to become useful members of the American society. Truth be told though, and he'd muttered it under his breath to Severus only to get a discreet pinch on his arm, Harry was feeling more like a trained dog being told to jump through hoop after hoop after the ever elusive bit of bacon.
Harry hadn't been the only one getting frustrated with the proceedings, he'd wondered a few times if Damon wasn't simply going to ask the man if he were truly that stupid and needed everyone to repeat the same damned answer time and again.
The small wizard sat down on the stone steps leading into the building, and waited in the chilly Halloween afternoon. There had been a cold front moving in, and finally he wasn't feeling overheated and bloated, at least he could say that much for the day. And what a day it had been, starting with waking up to find his husband's best friend asleep next to him.
Harry looked up as Damon stomped out of the building with a look of disgust on his face. "They are all fecking morons," Harry said softly as he looked back out over the quiet street at the tumbled down remains of a Laundromat across the way.
Damon snorted, and held out a hand to the little pregnant man to help him up. “I thoroughly agree. Grant and the others were right behind me, so we can be leaving soon. You need to eat or anything before we get back on to the road?” The Marine placed a hand on Harry’s back and rubbed the knots gently. “You alright? The little one’s not bothering you too much is she?”
Harry covered his mouth with his hand and yawned while he let Damon rub his back. "I'm fine, just tired from all of that nonsense. She's just been doing a few somersaults today, nothing too bad," he laughed and then looked up as everyone else poured out of the building.
Grant immediately sought Damon and leaned against his husband, while Severus and Max bickered back and forth good naturedly over the possible parentage of the judge that had overseen the proceedings.
"I still say half-troll, Sev. Did you see the size of his forehead?" Max laughed as Severus fought to keep a straight face.
Severus shook his head. "All idiot, my friend, there is no doubt in my mind." He held out a hand to Harry, pulling the smaller man into his arms, and turning to watch his parents and best friend. "Thank you all very much for putting yourselves through this for us," he said softly. " Now, let's get the hell out of here and go home."
&&&&&&&&&&
Meanwhile in Chicago....
&&&&&&&&&&
A mop haired brunette sat on the end of a bed watching his husband pack a suitcase. Packing boxes were littering all around them, and it looked as though a hurricane had gone through the two bedroom condo that was on Lake Shore Drive.
"Why are we going to West Virginia again?" Davy Corrican, nee Fleming, asked as he watched his husband and Dom, Greg, fold another undershirt and set it in amongst the others. "We could stay here, you know."
Sandy blond-haired Doctor Nathaniel Gregory Corrican sighed. "You know why, David. The Wizarding Hospital solicited me. It has excellent benefits, and they have a position for you as well." He zipped the suitcase up. "You've already been there and met their Nutritionist, and said you liked how the town looked, so what is the problem? Why are we having this discussion again?"
Gregory set the suitcase on the floor, and sat down next to his husband and took his hands. "This is a good move for us both. We'll be accepted there. Don't you remember the stories from Sturgis?"
Refusing to look at Gregory, Davy nodded and stared at the floor. "I remember listening to Max tell you how wonderful it was," he said softly. Davy wasn't certain how he felt about the fact his husband would be working with a former lover on a daily basis. The Nutritionist knew in his head that this was a good move for them, he didn't like having to hide while in public. Chicago though had been his home for most of his life, and he was afraid he might lose his husband to the big, burly redheaded Healer that they both knew from Sturgis, South Dakota.
Gregory tipped the other man's face up and looked into the worried dark blue eyes. "I love you, David Corrican. Nothing in the world is going to change that." He squeezed the other man's face gently and pressed a kiss to his full mouth. "I don't know what else I can do to alleviate your fears, except to remind you that I chose you, remember? I asked you to marry me."
His white, even teeth showed as he smiled at the other man. "Would you rather I wait until the sale is finished, and postpone the meeting once again?"
Gregory had already had to reschedule the meeting with the Administrator once because of scheduling problems, and Max had also moved the meeting due to personal problems. Finally, the time had come. Not one thing had interrupted the meeting, and Gregory was taking this as a sign that everything was going to go smoothly this time.
Davy shook his head. He didn't want to be an obstacle in his husband's career. "No, I'll stay here and finish packing. The movers will be here on Thursday, and I still have our office and the kitchen to do."
"I'm going to the kitchen, did you want anything?" Davy asked as he stood and ran his fingers over Gregory's face. "I am so proud of you, you know."
The pediatrician smiled and nodded. "I am proud of you as well, my husband. I would love to have you cook for me. Can I help with anything?" Gregory stood and smirked. "I packed up most of the stuff in the office last night while you were showering. But there was no way I was messing in your kitchen." He eyed his sub. "You know if you finish early, then you could always fly to meet with me. We can have a little vacation before trying to find an apartment or something else to live in.”
"We'd be back before the movers?" Davy asked as he looked around the room, and pondered how long it would take to pack up everything. The submissive walked out into the living room, looking at all the boxes lining the walls. Their life of seven years together had been crated up and made ready to relocate.
"We can be. Today's only Monday, and I leave early on Tuesday morning. We'll work on as much as we can today, and then whatever is left you can do tomorrow. We can arrange for a Portkey back here instead of taking a flight if everything gets done. How does that sound?" He moved to the cabinet, pulled down two glasses and poured his husband a large glass of water from the container in the fridge then one of his own.
"Have you had a chance to talk to Max first?" Davy asked as he began to prepare a simple quiche for their lunch.
The hazel eyed doctor leaned against the counter and sipped his drink while watching his husband work. “No I’ve not talked with him at all. What time are the movers showing up on Thursday?”
Davy thought for a moment as he deftly chopped up some raw broccoli. "They said around noon. Will you pass me the ham out of the fridge please?" he asked as he remembered that today was a meat day. The young man had been a vegetarian for many years, but due to rampant diabetes, he'd been forced to reincorporate meat back into his diet several times a week.
"I should be able to have the kitchen done today and we can have the cleaning service come in while we are gone," he said while he grated the Grueyere cheese into a bowl.
Gregory nodded. "Excellent, so I'll expect you Tuesday evening. Schedule the cleaning service for Thursday to come in and clean after we get everything out of here so we don't have to have them come back out twice." He bent and grabbed the Proscuitto ham slices out of the drawer. Setting the meat on the counter he smiled at his husband. "Sound good for you?"
Davy smiled at his husband and nodded. "Have you decided if we are selling the Sportster or not?" he asked, referring to the Harley he'd owned for the past fifteen years. He wasn't sure if Gregory wanted to ship it, or just sell it. Their little Saab couldn't pull it.
Gregory thought for a moment. He loved riding behind the other man on the cycle when it was warm enough to take it out, so he had never bothered to get his cycle license. "Let me ask you a question. Would like to keep it, or trade it in on a bigger one that has more comforts?" Sauntering over to his husband and wrapping his arms around the other man, Gregory laid his head on Davy's shoulder, and kissed the side of his face. "Just think all those mountain roads we've never tackled. We could even take a trip back to Sturgis next year if you like. Do you ever miss it?"
Davy stepped back as he put the quiche in the oven, thinking about what Gregory had said. "You'd be more comfortable on a bigger bike, wouldn't you?" he asked as he turned in the man's arms and nuzzled his throat. He smiled at the thought of riding in the mountains, and at the idea of going back to Sturgis.
"That would be wonderful. I wonder if Blue Feather is still up and running?" he asked with a small laugh. Blue Feather had been a small encampment of submissive male wizards at Sturgis. It was where he'd met and become friends with Gregory, and the two of them had served Max Sorens and the man's British friend for several years.
Gregory leaned his head back to allow the other man access to him. "I don't know, I like being snuggled up to you on the cycle. Can you handle a bigger bike?" He swallowed and ran his hands down the lithe form in front of him then chuckled softly. "Blue Feather is out of our league now, don't you think? You don't want to go back to that do you?"
Davy tipped his head up and stared at his husband. "You goober, I'm not some limp wristed nellie," he snorted. "I can handle a bigger bike, especially now. I weigh more now than I did the last time we went out to Sturgis. It's all that weight lifting you seem to think I need." Laughing, he moved backwards to the living room, pulling Gregory behind him. "No, I don't want to ever go to Blue Feather again, I just wondered if it were still in existence. Besides, if it hadn't of been for it, I'd have never met you."
Davy fell back onto the sofa and pulled Gregory down with him. "You know, it feels like I'm leaving part of me here," he said softly as he glanced around the apartment.
Gregory sighed. "I know, Pet, but look at it like this. We can find something that is all ours. Just ours." Hazel met blue, and the doctor grinned. "Blue Feather served its purpose just as this condo has. It's time for us to move past this and live our lives now, free of the constraints of the past, out in the open."
Davy tipped his face up for a kiss and then smiled at his husband. "I'm still not the one carrying the babies," he murmured as he wriggled under the other man.
Gregory laughed then took the offered mouth, "Well, we'll see. We've got your Diabetes under control, but I don't want to make it worse, so let's just agree to continue to debate on it. How does that sound?"
Running his hands up Davy's tee shirt and across the muscled plains of his stomach, the Dom eyed his husband. "What's wrong with all that weight lifting we do? You look and feel fabulous, love."
"Yes, but it just hides the fact I'm a lazy bastard," Davy laughed as his Dom's fingers found a ticklish spot and he bucked under the man.
Gregory shrugged and relented in his torture of the younger man. He sat up, and pulled Davy up with him. "We aren't getting anything done like this." Leaning forward, the Dom pressed a kiss to the pink lips and then stood. "How much longer till lunch is ready? I think we can finish off the office, and begin packing up the kitchen if you'll let me help."