How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

A/N: This is the first chapter in a short series dealing with the impending arrival of Gregory and Davy to Echo. The next chapter will focus on Max and Allie and the one after that will be the Wolffes and Gregory and Damon. Each chapter will take place at some point during the same evening, so for the sake of the reader’s sanity, we chose to put each couple in a separate chapter.


Severus closed the door behind Gregory and Max and lean his head against it as he locked the door for the day. He banged his head against the solid mahogany door for a moment wondering what he was going to do. So much had happened in the past few months and he was wondering if their move hadn't made things worse. He was dreading telling Harry about Gregory and Davy as well. His little husband had not reacted well to his past lover and yet here was another one showing up.

However this one... well Davy had been something to him that Mark hadn't. Davy had been his sub and he had cut his teeth on learning the Lifestyle with Davy. The young man had gone through hell with Severus and had still managed to come out on the other side, safe and still somewhat sane. Severus groaned and beat his head again on the door. "Fuck," he muttered softly and sighed. "What am I going to do now?"

Harry was coming in the back entrance carrying Severus' tea and a drink for himself when he heard his husband in the front. "Husband? I'm back, did you want the drinks back here or at the counter?" he called out as he set everything on a worktable and shrugged out of the cloak the older man had put on him before he'd left.

Harry stepped onto the store floor and looked worriedly at Severus. "What's wrong? Have I done something?" he asked quietly, biting his lip as he watched the other man. Harry went over everything he'd done that day in his mind and couldn't find what he'd done wrong, but surely there was something from the look on his husband’s face.

Severus' head jerked up and he looked back at his husband. "Harry." He turned, went to his husband and wrapped him in a tight embrace. "No, no little one. It's not anything you've done. I promise." He pressed a kiss to Harry's hair, inhaling the crisp, chill wind from being outside and Harry's own scent. Severus sighed and pulled back from the embrace, giving the younger man a weak smile.

Green eyes watched the other man carefully, Harry wasn't quite sure what to think at the man's behaviour. "I should stay in the front sir," he said softly as he picked up a duster and began to run it over a row of small ceramic pots. He was still convinced he'd done something wrong and Severus was being kind and not punishing him.

Severus sighed and hung his head. "Harry... there's something I need to tell you and I am afraid you aren't going to like it much." He swallowed and took the duster from Harry and grabbed his husband's face. "I want you to know straightaway it's not anything you did or said. This... this has something to do with my past." He closed his eyes and pressed a kiss to Harry's mouth. "First and foremost I want you to know that I love you and will continue to love you for as long as you'll have me."

'I'm being thrown away' was the first thing Harry thought as he closed his eyes and swallowed. "I understand sir, I'll have my things packed within the hour," he said softly, tears threatening to spill. "Thank you for the time you bothered with this stupid thing."

The little wizard backed away from Severus, his hands twitching nervously as he tried to make his brain function enough so he could figure out where he was going to go. He had nowhere... maybe Ron and Hermione would let him stay with them for a short time. "This thing begs the use of your floo for a few moments Master," Harry murmured softly as he bumped into the glass counter with his hip.

Severus grabbed Harry and pulled him against him. "No Harry no. I want you to stay. Please don't leave me," he sighed and held on to Harry. "Merlin, I've gone and bollixed things up." He turned Harry around and ran a hand over the place where Harry had bumped himself. "Look at me, Harry. Please. Are you alright? Do you want me to have Max come and look at you?"

Harry's green eyes were blank as Severus tipped his face up to look at him. "This thing is sorry," he whispered, trembling in Severus' grasp. "It didn't mean to break anything." Harry turned in the other man's arms and began to run nervous fingertips over the unmarred glass top.

Severus sighed, "Oh Harry. Snap out of it, baby." He scooped Harry up into his arms, took him back to his office and sat him down in a chair. He knelt in front of his husband and cupped his face again, staring into the blank eyes. "Harry. Come back to me. You've done nothing wrong."

Harry stared at the small patch of floor between his feet as the two parts of his reality began to re-knit with each other. "Master... what have I done?" he asked quietly, unsure of what was happening.

Frightened eyes looked up at Severus as he gripped the man's arm. "Am I being thrown away again?" he asked, his voice not quite a whimper.

Relief spread through him that Harry had come back so quickly yet he knew he had to get out the news to his husband. He had to prepare Harry for the changes coming soon. It could wait for a bit while he reassured Harry that nothing that that was going to happen to them specifically, though. Not ever. Severus wrapped his arms around Harry. "No. I am not throwing you away, Harry. Please don't think that. I love you." He pulled back and ran his fingers along Harry's cheekbones. "You have done nothing wrong. Do you understand me?" He met Harry's eyes, allowing him to search his own for the truth in his statements.

Harry's eyes flitted from the man's lips to his eyes as he tried to work out what was happening. "What is it then?" he asked softly. He didn't like the way Severus was acting, it made him nervous and unsure of himself. Harry sighed softly as Severus drew him into his arms once more, holding him close and stroking his back. "Tell me."

Severus took a deep breath and pulled back from Harry. He clasped their hands together and looked him in the eyes. "I met the new doctor today that will be Reganne's paediatrician. He's a very nice man and Max and I know him very, very well. He used to be involved with Max quite seriously several years ago until Max met Allie." He bit his lip and let that sink in.

Harry cocked his head and looked at Severus. "Max had a boyfriend?" He knew the healer was bisexual from what Severus had told him, but he'd never really imagined the big man with anyone but Allie. "Allie must be pretty angry."

Severus chuckled. "Yes, Harry. Max plays with anyone and everyone who is willing. I told you that Max didn't care as long as it was consensual. He's very accepting that way." He shook his head remembering Max's reactions to learning about him several years ago. He sighed and continued.

“Max hasn't yet told Allie and she most likely will be. Max was very attached to Gregory. Gregory also held Max in high esteem and it was very serious but that's not what I want to talk to you about." He took a deep breath, "Gregory's husband is coming to work at the hospital as well. He's the one I want to speak with you about. Davy and I were involved while I used to take my holidays here in the states."

Harry stared at Severus for a moment before he spoke, "Davy was your pet, right?" he asked softly. "Is he like me? Does he have Fleymann's too?" Harry wound his fingers together and stared down at them, not sure how to feel about this bit of information. He was going to meet the man that had made sure Severus hadn't wanted to touch him for so long.

Severus wrinkled his brow. "Yes, Davy was my submissive while I was at Sturgis for many years. But that was all. I never thought to bring him back to Scotland nor here to Echo." He cupped Harry's chin and raised his face then smiled at him, "There is no one like you, my Harry. Davy was just a pastime and no he doesn't have Fleymann's at least that I know of. He never mentioned that."

Harry nodded and licked his lips. "So he's a real man," he said to himself. "I'm sure he'll be glad to see you again Sir." Harry wondered if Max and Severus were planning to rekindle the old relationships and wondered who he'd be given to first. It didn't really matter, if it would make Severus happy, Harry would do it without complaint.

Severus shook his head, "I guess Harry, but so are you. I want you to remember that I chose you. Davy is a part of my past just like Mark was and I wanted to tell you about him so there were no more surprises. I was not exactly selective when I came here and I did have encounters with a lot of people. I won't try to justify it to you but I did want you to know." He sat down on the floor, pulled Harry into his lap and rubbed his hand over the bump that was his and Harry's daughter. "Gregory and Davy are married and quite happily from what I’ve been given to understand. The only part they will play in our lives is as other professionals and friends if we'd like. I love you and Reganne and the both of you complete me."

Harry sat quietly on Severus' lap for a moment, thoughts running through his head. He had so many questions to ask, not sure if any of them were at all appropriate. "How did you play with him? Harder than you do with me?" he asked softly, this was something that bothered him, he didn't like knowing that Severus was still 'babying' him along, afraid to play roughly with him. He'd tried several times to let his husband know that he wanted more, that he wanted to be pushed, that he wanted to suffer for him. Had this Davy been allowed to suffer for his Master?

Severus took a deep breath. "Davy helped to train me, Harry, so yes I played pretty rough with him. I started off with Damon and Grant then Davy and Max helped me learn to play gently." He tipped Harry's face up and smiled gently. "Are you trying to tell me something Harry? Do we need to move to the next level in our play?"

Harry looked deep into Severus' eyes and then back down again. "You'll be using him again, then?" he asked softly. "I mean when you want to play roughly. Has Grant been filling that need since we've been here?"

Severus' eyes went wide and he shook his head, "No Harry. There has been no one but you since I returned to you that first summer." He grabbed Harry's face and looked him in the eyes. "There will never be another for me but you, my Harry. I would love for you to suffer for me. To see you cry tears of pain and joy as my flogger crossed your skin. To push you past your limit and still have you scream for more." He ran a finger down Harry's cheek. "I cannot give you that until you ask me for it though Harry."

"But what if I never want it? Will you tire of me?" Harry asked softly, needing to know what his husband needed to be happy. "Would you seek that somewhere else?" Every fibre of his being was begging to have Severus see what he could take for him, but he had to know. Had to know he would still be wanted even if he never asked Severus to play any rougher than they did right now.

Severus shook his head, "Harry, if you came to me and said that you wanted to play like Max does, I would be grateful for that amount of affection you chose to give to me. I would gladly set aside all thoughts of leather and pain just to have you smile at me and quiver under the gentle caress of my fingertips." He lifted Harry’s chin a bit more and softly captured his mouth.

Harry drew back from the kiss, a thoughtful look on his face as he turned his head a little to kiss Severus' thumb. "Maybe both would be nice..." he began carefully, weighing his words, ”I don't mind pain, at times I like it, makes me feel more alive, but I like it when you are gentle too. Perhaps we could try playing harder?" He offered his mouth up once more and opened it to a kiss.

"I would like to have you flog me, to use something besides the little fairy floggers I made," he said shyly, looking up as the sound of knocking came from the front of the store. "Did you lock the door, Husband?" Harry hopped off of Severus' lap and hurried, blushing into the front of the store.

Stunned Severus sat there for a moment then hauled his tall frame up from the floor. "I had closed the shop up for the day Harry, but..." He stopped and stared at the other pregnant person standing in the doorway as Harry let the young man into the shop.

The small man stepped inside the shop, looking around nervously. Jason Summers hated to come into town; he knew everyone was talking about him behind his back. "I thought y'all were open," he said quickly and then looked down at the watch on his wrist. The young man had just seen Healer Sorens and had some prescriptions he needed filled before he went back up the mountain to his little trailer.

Severus nodded, "Quite alright, Mister..." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Severus Snape. If I may see your scripts, I will see what I can do for you this evening." He smiled at Harry and the newcomer.

Jason looked at the proffered hand and then took it in one of his own. "I'm Jason Summers. I have some potions I need to be filled, if it isn't any trouble," he said as he handed the slips of paper over to Severus. "It'll sure be nice to get what I need here rather than try to order it online." He moved away from where Harry stood and began to look over the shelves, picking up items here and there.

"Would y'all have anything for itching?" he asked as he picked up a small white jar and squinted at it while absently scratching at his belly under the worn sweatshirt he was wearing.

Severus looked over the scripts, some of them he had already brewed. "I have all of these but one, Mr. Summers. It takes three days to brew." He watched the man move about the shop, grinning as he saw some of the same things Harry did reflected in this other man. "There is a salve on the third set of shelves for itching that might be appropriate, Mr. Summers. It's in a tan bottle. Are you allergic to anything?

"I'm Jason, Mister Summers is my dad," the young man laughed quietly as he looked up to where Severus was standing. "No sir, I'm not allergic to anything that I know of." Jason moved over to where Harry was pointing and looked at the small bottles there and then at the prices.

Whistling low, he looked up at Harry. "Do you maybe have something in a bigger container that wouldn't be quite so pricey?" he asked, a slow blush spreading over his cheeks. Harry had an idea of the problem and didn't know quite what to do, so he did what he thought best.

"Hold on a mo, okay?" Harry said as he hurried back to the workroom to where Severus kept that particular lotion stored and then looked around for a big bottle. He finally found one that Severus normally used to bottle a liquid vitamin and quickly poured over twenty regular bottles worth of the anti itching lotion into it. Harry knew that each of the one and a half bottles was priced at over ten dollars, but he quickly wrote a price of five dollars on the bottle and started to go back into the storefront.

Severus had followed his little husband to the back and watched him as he filled the bottle. His eyes widened as they read the price on the bottle that Harry had scrawled. He grabbed his husband's arm as he started to go back out onto the sales floor. "What are you doing?" He hissed softly.

"Getting our customer something to help him stop itching," Harry said softly, clutching the bottle to his chest.

"Harry, that amount of potion would take him a year to use if it didn't go sour first." Severus sighed. "I understand you wish to help the young man but I can't let that much walk out. There's a reason why it's bottled in such small amounts."

Harry stopped and then looked out at the young man who had his back to him. "Sev... Husband... look at the back of his neck," he said softly as he nodded towards him. Deep, furrowed and crusty scratched were showing plainly on the pale skin. "The backs of his hands and the little bit of belly that showed are the same way."

Severus studied the young man and then took the bottle from Harry. He gave him a block of dried oatmeal base. "Sell him one bottle of the anti-itch potion and give him this. Tell him to break a quarter sized chunk off and dissolve it in the bath water everyday and soak for ten minutes then rinse. Apply the potion every other day sparingly. If done correctly the potion should last him two months without going off." He pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead.

"Yes Sir, but I'm not going to charge him shelf price," Harry said softly, he knew in his heart the young man couldn't afford it and would continue to suffer because of it.

Severus nodded. "Base price of the ingredients is four dollars for a bottle that size, Harry. That doesn't include any of my time and effort." He swept passed his husband and took down a copper cauldron to begin the one script he didn't have in stock.

Harry swallowed and looked up at Severus. "I'll get the money for you Sir, I'll dig Grant's garden up for the winter," he said softly as he walked back out into the front of the store with everything.

"Sir, I've got your potions and the lotion for your itching," he said as he waited for Jason to come up to the register, noticing the young man had also picked up a small bottle of an herbal shampoo Severus brewed. Harry knew how bad he itched at times due to the pregnancy and he imagined the other man was in agony.

Jason nodded and set the shampoo on the counter and pulled a grubby money pouch from his jeans pocket. Glancing inside, he scratched his belly again as he counted and waited for Harry to total up the purchases. "Um.. how much without the shampoo?"

Harry looked at the total as he rang it up and then at the other man. "Do you have insurance?" he asked softly.

Jason shook his head, trying not to blush as his face warmed anyway. "How much for just my potions?"

"Three hundred and eighty-seven dollars," Harry mumbled as he looked at the floor. Merlin he hated this.

Jason paled and shook his head. "How much just for the monthly vitamin?”

Harry couldn't do this, he had been in this man's shoes and he couldn't do it. "Hold on, okay?" he said as he turned and hurried back into the backroom, going straight to the old desk and rummaging around on the surface of it.

Severus stared at Harry. "What's wrong? What are you looking for?"

Harry looked at Severus, a tear streaking down his cheek. "He can't even get his medicine, Sev. I know I saw something in the post about a fund for people like him. Where the bloody hell is it?" he muttered as he shuffled through papers and bent to look in the rubbish bin. "It was something called the Rainwalker Fund, have you seen it? Maybe it can help him."

Severus grinned. "Harry, all you have to do is write the young man's name down on the green slip of paper in the till. Charge him twenty five dollars and give him everything." He walked around the desk and placed a kiss on Harry's forehead then turned him back to the store front.

Harry beamed at his husband and walked back out to see the young man headed for the door. "Mister Summers... Jason, wait, please!" he called out as he scurried past the counter to where the young man stood. "Come back and get your things, okay?"

Jason stopped and hung his head, "I don't need your charity." He started for the door again.

Harry put his hand on the man's arm and tugged. "Please, there's something called the Rainwalker Fund that's there to help people that don't have health insurance. It covers what you need here. All it costs you is twenty five dollars, okay? Please?" he said softly, wanting to help if it meant dragging the other man back and forcing him to take the bag of wares.

Severus stood in the doorway, watching the exchange. "Mr. Summers, if I may be so bold. Please take advantage of the Fund if it is necessary. I am certain that if you told Healer Sorens of your need as well, he will set you up with the medical portion of the Fund. There are many programs that may be of assistance to you. My father believes that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time and that's why the Fund was established."

He walked into the room and over to the counter. "He was once like you, himself and would want to be certain you were kept healthy, especially since he couldn't have any children of his own." He held out the bag to the young man. "You will return for the last potion in three days as it's covered under the fund as well with today's purchases, yes?"

"Who's your father?" Jason asked as he reluctantly walked back to the counter and carefully counted out the money Harry had said he would need. He didn't really know many people here and these were the only two British speaking people around these parts. "Can I give money back when I get it?"

Severus smiled, "Dr. Wolffe, and yes, you may contribute back to the fund anytime you like in anyway you can."

"You mean Damon's husband?" Jason asked with a small grin, he knew those people and knew that they weren't trying to make those down on their luck feel any worse than they already did.

While Severus was talking to the customer, Harry quickly filled out a sheet of paper with instructions for everything before tucking it into the man's bag.

Jason looked at both men and then down at the bag of potions, drawing a deep breath. "Thank you a lot. As soon as I can get back to work, I'll bring you some money for all of this, okay?" he said as he picked up his purchase, an embarrassed look on his face. "Please, if you don't mind... don't tell anyone?"

Severus smiled. "Take care, Jason and don't bring the money to me, you can give it to the Fund if and when you are ready. Come see Healer Sorens and Healer Corrican, the new paediatrician, when the time comes. I am told he is very good."

Jason didn't say anything more, but lifted his hand and nodded as he quickly made his way out the door, he had a long walk home and it was getting dark out. At least now he had what he needed to make sure his baby boy would be born healthy.

Harry turned to Severus after the door closed and looked at him. "Grant started that fund?" he asked before moving to turn the sign to closed and lock the door. "I didn't know that was his fund."

Severus chuckled. "Pet, you were listening to Damon when he announced us at the reservation?" He pulled Harry into his arms and held him, rubbing his back as he continued to talk, "Rainwalker was Grant's name before he married Damon. They started the fund sometime after Damon came home from Vietnam and just after Grant opened up his practice. I don't remember the exact date but most of the medical professionals know who needs it and they usually pass the information on. I'll call Max later and make certain Jason is on his list as well. We might be able to get the young man some of his money returned and aid him until he can return to his profession."

Harry sighed softly as he laid his cheek against Severus' chest. "Thank you for helping me. I didn't know what to do, I almost just told him to take it all because I knew he needed it. I'm glad Damon and Grant did that for people," he said and then yawned. "I can't wait to go home. What can I do to help close up?" He was thinking of something simple to cook for their meal, since he'd been getting lessons from Grant, he was enjoying puttering around his kitchen and watching his husband try the things he created.

"Why don't you just order us something to be delivered here and I can work on the potion I started for Jason. It will take a few hours time until I can get it at the simmering stage and we can chat about this desire you have to be flogged, Mr. Snape, with something other than the wonderful toys you gifted me with. Otherwise it might be late before we get home to eat." Severus smirked. "The till needs to be counted, I need to check for off potions, sweep out the front of the store and the counters need to be wiped down. But the cleaning can wait until I have settled the potion under stasis."

Harry smiled up at his husband and pulled away from him. "I can do the sweeping up and wiping down before I order the food. Chinese take away alright with you?" he asked as he put his hand on his lower back and leaned backwards stretching, his tummy protruding towards Severus.

Severus rubbed Harry's belly and nodded. "That’s fine Harry so long as you eat a serving of broccoli."

The small wizard shrugged, it was a small price to pay for egg rolls. He picked up the broom and began to sweep in the far corner of the shop, meticulously sweeping every square inch as he would have during his days of serving detention for his husband.