How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

Pausing as they walked along the street in Diagon Alley, Harry sighed contentedly as he opened the chocolate frog he'd pulled from one of the shopping bags and held it out to Grant. "Think we've enough now to mail out a parcel yet?" He dug in his bag and offered one to Hermione as well then retrieved one for himself, handing the bag back to Ron as they sat in the chilly sunshine outside of Florien Fortescue's ice cream parlour. He pulled off the leg and read the chocolate Frog card. "Oh Grant, it's Morgan Le Fay. Do you have that one?"

Mouth full, Grant frowned as he looked at the card Harry was holding. He'd only started his collection of Wizarding cards a few days ago and already had close to a hundred. "Don't know, maybe," he mumbled, swallowing part of the frog and then reaching for the card. Adjusting his glasses, he read the back and then looked at the picture curiously. "Maybe, do you?"

Harry shrugged as he slurped down the frog's other leg. "Just add it to the others, we can start a set for Jason, Sarah and little Max." He chuckled and pulled off one of the frog's forelegs, sucking it into his mouth much to Hermione's disgust.

"Merlin, Harry. Must you eat that so? It's disgusting." She made a face at him and daintily bit into the frog's head.

Grant narrowed his eyes for a moment and then winked at Harry as he opened another chocolate frog before neatly breaking it in half and stuffing the still twitching chocolate in his mouth with a contented grunt. "Here's another one of Sev," he said, his mouth stuffed full as he handed Harry one of the Wizarding cards that had his husband on it.

He looked down at the bags he was carrying, the ones on Hermione's arm and the ones Ron was burdened with. "I think we have enough to send a couple of packages, but do you think we need to shop anymore?" Grant asked as he looked at Harry before stuffing the rest of the frog in his mouth.

Harry looked around at the damage they had done and sighed. "Let's see how much this is to post home then shop some more. What time does the plane leave again?"

"It leaves at eighty-thirty tomorrow morning," Grant said as he shifted the bags he had in his hands and looked around the street. "I forgot to ask, are we using Muggle or Wizarding post? Do you have WPS delivery here?"

Harry nodded and answered after he swallowed. "Severus has an account that he uses for the shop. He has invoices sent to the house all the time. WPS will be fastest, yeah?" He licked his fingers and looked at the rest of their shopping party.

"Most likely Harry," Hermione said as she looked around to get her bearings. "We aren't too terribly far from their office, do you think you can walk it or would you rather wait here for us?" She nodded towards a small tea shop in case Harry needed to rest, she couldn't imagine waddling around like he did.

Harry nodded and took a deep breath, getting ready to heave himself up from the chair. He looked at Grant. "I'm ready to go again if you are Grant. Do you think Damon's card has screamed enough? I think Severus's still has some stamina left in it." He grinned at his mother-in-law.

Grant chuckled and patted the pouch that hung from the sash around his waist. "I think I have plenty of ammunition left," he laughed. "I was thinking about sending a few more pounds of fudge home, do you think it would keep well?"

Ron listened to the others, rolling his eyes and groaning as he realized his day of shopping was nowhere near over. "Merlin Harry, you've gotten worse than my Mum," he teased.

Harry laughed and rubbed his stomach then reached over and poked Ron in his. "You've just gotten lazy, Ron. Are you a wizard or what? You could have shrunken those bags." He shook his head and used the table to help himself up from the chair, then smiled at Grant. "No time like the present to test out your preserving spells. Molly did show you those, right?"

Grant nodded, drawing his wand from the pocket of his robe. Biting his lip in concentration, he murmured a few words as he flicked his wand over the bags of chocolate and other foodstuffs they'd bought.

"I think I did it," he said softly, shaking his head, still getting used to the fact he could do real spells and charms now without having things blow up or fall to pieces around him. "Do you think we should pick up anything else for Severus?"

Harry had been so happy to be able to stock up on several small things that he knew his husband enjoyed. He peered into the bags shaking his head, it seemed he had everything. He could feel the magic of Grant's spell pulsing against him and he looked at the other man, smiling widely at him. "You've got that one down at least. Congrats, Grant."

He turned and looked at Ron and Hermione. "I'm ready to post these things and then shop some more. Are you?"

Hermione smiled at her friend and then looked to her husband. "Of course we are Harry," she said warmly and then looked at Ron once more as if to dare him to open his mouth.

Ron rolled his eyes and then thought of something. "Harry... are you sure you want to leave Hedwig here with Pig?" he asked, knowing how much his friend loved his owl and surprised he wasn't taking her home with him. "I mean, I'll take care of her, but are you sure you don't want her there?"

Harry sighed, a pained look coming across his face. "First off, I want her to live. Hedwig would have to be quarantined once we got to the States. If she survived the flight. By that, I mean, if the sedative were to wear off during the flight, the US marshals wouldn't hesitate to put her down if she were to become unruly. Secondly, it's illegal in the States to have an indigenous animal as a pet. Like it or not, Hedwig is technically a dual citizen and I'd have to set her free if I took her to the States. Besides she's happy here with Pig and I don't want to take that away from her."

He shrugged and smiled weakly. "Cell phones and the floos are used much more over in the states so there's no real need for me to have an owl. I have Bez and Del now."

Grant shuddered as he listened to the two younger men talk. He didn't care much for the practice of keeping owls and refused to allow one in their house when Damon had mentioned getting one. For his people, the owl was a harbinger telling of the death of a loved one, he didn't want to have one close by.

"Well, I'll look after her mate and if you ever change your mind we'll find a way to get her to you safely," Ron said thoughtfully. He agreed with Harry, he didn't want to see the snowy owl destroyed either.

Harry nodded and led the little group towards the WPS shop. He wanted to make certain they had plenty of time to package up and post this load. He moved to Grant's side as they walked. "How many packages do you think this will take and how many do you think we can ship home?"

"We can ship as much as we like, I would think," Grant said with a shrug. "I have plenty of money left for shipping things and we can always pay with Muggle money or a credit card to ship things through the Muggle post, right? They should have all the boxes and packing things we need there."

Harry nodded and leaned closer to Grant, whispering in his ear. "How long did you say the cycle was? I don't want to be without this chocolate. If I have to max out Severus's card today I will. Ron's feet can fall off but you and I will have what we need."

Grant smirked at Harry's words. "Three weeks give or take and yours may not be too bad. I was thinking of shipping the non chocolate items by Muggle post, I don't care when they get there," he chuckled, reaching into his bag for a piece of chocolate. He knew he was in the beginnings of his season and was desperate to see Damon, having attempted to take care of his urges that morning while in the bath.

Harry nodded. That sounded good to him. "We'll just keep shopping then. Since this type of chocolate is so dear back home, we'll send as much as we can through the post. You think we should have Ron go to Hogsmeade to the shoppes there?"

"Do you think he would mind?" Grant asked as he pondered the suggestion. He was pretty certain Jason would appreciate the chocolate as well in the coming weeks.

Harry looked at his friend then back at Grant and grinned. "Hermione will make him go if we tell her we need it and that we can't get this back home. We can finish buying what we can from here and have him send what he finds in Hogsmeade to our room at the Leaky through the floo. Then we can post it later. That sound all right with you?"

Grant nodded slowly as he thought. "I think we have enough to get through the next week, so he wouldn't have to do it tonight. Do you think Honeyduke's would ship it if we contacted them about a private order?" he asked, unwrapping another piece of fudge and handing it to Harry. "Here, eat."

Harry took the fudge, breaking off a piece and popping it into his mouth. He let the chocolate and peanut butter melt on his tongue for a moment before speaking. "Are you certain we've enough? Even to share with Jason? Severus said he was getting huge the last time I talked with him." He detoured into the tea shop and purchased two pints of milk, bring one out to Grant and taking a long swallow before continuing. "I spoke with Basil Honeydukes and he said he'd be willing to speak with Severus to set up regular shipments if there was a demand for the chocolates. He gave me his card as well."

Drinking deeply from the bottle, Grant nodded. "I have two bags of chocolate just for Jason. Do you think he'd ship for an individual order?" he asked thinking about his own supply and how to keep Damon out of it. "I'll make certain Jason has enough, so don't worry about him." The chocolate was a little dear, but Grant thought it was about the best he'd had and hoped the young wizard at home would enjoy it as well.

"Might, if it was large enough. We can pool our order and have it sent to the Overlook or the Den." Harry shrugged and grinned. He'd bought a box of Chocolate cauldrons for Jason himself while shopping. In fact he'd been able to get most of his Christmas shopping done with Grant helping him as they had wandered the streets in and out of Wizarding and Muggle London. He turned back toward the WPS shop, thoughts turning away from Jason and the chocolate to Severus and home. He couldn't wait. Tomorrow afternoon they would be there.

@@@@@@@@@

Gregory turned on to the gravel drive leading up to the big farmhouse. He turned and looked at Richard as he skidded across the drive then straightened out, coming to a stop next to Damon’s POS.

He pointed to the big barn in the short distance from the house. “Damon said there’s gas, quilts and hay in the barn. There’s also a wagon attached to the tractor. Are you certain you can drive one of those things?”

Richard raised an eyebrow at his friend as they got out of the car and walked over to the barn. “Greg, I grew up on a farm. By the time I was eight, I was on a tractor ten hours a day during the summer. Unless it’s some sort of combine or harvester, I can drive it,” he said as they pulled the big doors open.

There in the back corner sat an old Ford tractor, the thing had to be at least thirty years old if not older. Richard let out a low whistle as he walked around it, pulling the dipstick to check the oil and then opening up the gas tank to check the level since the gauge looked as though it hadn’t worked in years.

He climbed up into the seat and turned the key while pushing in the choke. Amazingly or not, the thing fired up on the first try with a loud roar. Richard looked over to where Gregory was watching apprehensively and waved him over.

“Climb up here and sit on the toolbox after you put the quilts in the wagon, unless you’d feel safer riding in the wagon. I just need to know where I’m heading,” he yelled over the loud engine, making hand gestures as well.

Gregory looked around the barn and pulled a tarp off of something to reveal several stacked bales of straw. He pulled on the orange twine tightly wound around the bale and shook his head then began pulling the packed straw out in pieces.

Scowling and shaking his head at the small bits, he pushed the bale off the top hoping to split the straw apart. The straw block bounced on the floor then rolled a few feet away.

Richard watched his friend for a moment, completely confused. “What in the hell are you trying to do?” he asked as he set the brake on the tractor and climbed down careful of the spinning pto.

“Damon said to put the straw in the wagon so we could be warm. He didn’t tell me it was packed into a damned brick.” Gregory kicked the straw bale. He turned around again looking for the quilts.

Pulling another tarp he uncovered a St. Andrews Cross. He admired it for a moment then shook his head pulling on another drape.

Richard just shook his head as he watched the odd looking frame being uncovered. As soon as he saw the manacles hanging from the upper corners, he decided he just wouldn’t ask. He didn’t need to know that badly.

“I’ll get this, you find the quilts,” he called out as he picked up the straw bale and carried it to the wagon. Setting it on the dirt floor of the barn, he bent over it and with his pocketknife, snicked the twine. Grabbing the flakes of the sweet smelling oat straw, Richard began to shake them out in the wagon, soon having it bedded down thick.

He stood back for a moment and wondered if he ought not toss another bale in just in case. Deciding on safety, he went to the stack and retrieved another bale he tossed in unbroken.

“Come on, it’s dark and I have no idea if the lights on this thing work. Do you see any flashlights?” he called out as he got back on the tractor and waited for Gregory.

Gregory pulled one more tarp and was finally rewarded with a stack of bagged quilts he tossed two of them in the wagon and climbed up next to Richard. “I’m not a freaking country boy, but I at least remembered my damned wand.” He drew it and cast a Lumos spell and waved Richard toward the doors. “Follow the fence line and look for a lightening struck tree. Look out for the trash pit, whatever the hell that is.”

He shook his head and drew his coat around him, placing one hand on Richards shoulder. “Oh and welcome to West-by-God Virginia.”

Richard’s hearty laugh was stolen away by the wind as he pulled the old tractor out of the barn. Saying a silent prayer, he thumbed the light switch and whooped in joy when the bright yellow light cut a path through the swirling snow.

Steadily getting the feel of the machine, Richard followed the fence line and not much later stopped as he looked up at an old tree that looked like it had been half exploded sometime ago.

“Okay, now what?” he yelled over the wind as he pointed the tree out to Gregory.

“Cut the fence and turn right. We are looking for a dry creek bed then follow that to the left.” Gregory screamed and smirked. “What you going cut the barbed wire with?”

Richard just turned and grinned to Gregory. Reaching around behind him, he pulled his Leatherman out of his back pocket. “Go cut it so I can pull through,” he shouted and handed the tool to Gregory. “Be careful.”

Gregory glared at his friend and jerked the tool from his hands. He jumped down and bent, cutting the bottom line of barbed wire. He cut the second and top lines then pocketed Richard’s tool. Climbing back up, he settled himself close and waved the man forward once again. “Forward, Boy scout Jeeves.”

Richard just grinned as he drove on. He carefully headed out until there was a slight decline in the lay of the land and he knew he’d found the creek bed. “Hold on tight,” he shouted above the wind as he shifted gears and gave the old tractor more gas, hoping Greg wouldn’t fall off as they lurched up the other side.

Once out of the creek bed, he turned the tractor to the left and followed it along for a ways until he caught the scent of wood smoke on the wind. “I think we’re close, now what?”

Gregory looked around and spotted the oak trees Damon had mentioned and pointed. “There. There’s a trash pit and another fence, so be careful. We are looking for one of them silver bullet trailers like from the fifties.”

Through the swirling snow he spotted the plumes of smoke rising above the trees. “That’ll be Jason’s place.”

Richard nodded and began to pull forward cautiously, his eyes looking for the tell tale depression in the snow that should mean the trash pit Gregory had warned him of. Soon, he was upon the final fence and nudged his friend. “I think I see the trailer from here. He’s not going to shoot us or anything, is he?”

Gregory stared at Richard for a moment. “I have no idea. I do know he won’t be using any magic though.” He hopped down off the tractor and walked to the fence, carefully cutting the wires.

“We have to walk from here. The trees are too thick. It doesn’t look far; I can see the silver from the fence line.” He stepped back and waited for his friend to climb down.

Reluctantly, Richard shut the tractor down, worried that it may freeze up on them before they got back to it. As he hit the ground, he reached into the wagon and pulled out the quilts, shaking them free of snow before handing one to Gregory.

“Here, wrap up in it to walk,” he instructed as he wrapped up in the other one. “Let’s go get that boy.”

Gregory wrapped the blanket around him and trudged back through the snow, pushing branches and tree limbs out of his way. Once clear of the trees he stopped and screamed at the trailer. “Jason!”

He moved closer to the little snow covered porch and shouted again. “Jason! It’s Greg Corrican!”

Inside the trailer, Jason’s head came up at the sound of a human voice. Unwrapping himself enough from his blanket, he waddled stiffly to the door, holding it tight as he cracked it.

“Come in here!” he yelled as he opened the door further and stood out of the way of the two men. Briefly he wondered if the other man was Damon, he wasn’t tall enough to be his boss.

Gregory shook off as much snow as possible and entered into the little trailer. He pulled Richard in behind him and shut the door before turning to Jason. “Damn, it’s nasty out there. Damon and Sev sent us to bring you off the mountain.”

Jason got back to his chair next to his woodstove and huddled back up in his blankets once more, his teeth chattering and his lips bluish. “I’m alright, you all shouldn’t have come up here,” he said, trying to stop his teeth from chattering.

Gregory sighed and shook his head at the plume of white steam that floated on the air inside the trailer. “Jason… please. Sev and Damon are stuck in Wheeling because of this horrible front that’s going to drop at least a foot of snow or better on the entire region.” He walked over and knelt beside the younger man. “You’ll freeze to death out here. The phone lines are already out and it’s only a matter of time before the lights go most likely.”

Richard looked around the small trailer while Greg was trying to talk to the boy, and then noticed the wood box; he shook his head as he saw it was empty. “Excuse me, but where’s your wood stacked? I’ll bring some in to warm this place up before we go,” he said as he looked down in Jason’s pinched expression and smiled at the handsome young man.

“It’s out next to the trailer, I couldn’t pick the big pieces up,” Jason answered as he turned back to Gregory. “I can’t leave, I don’t have means to get a room.”

Gregory shook his head. “I told Damon you could stay with Davy and I. We’ve plenty of room.” He smiled at the small man. “Davy’s waiting on us to get back and he sent some steak sandwiches. Don’t make me tell Damon you wouldn’t come back with us. Please.”

Jason started to say something and then looked up as the pitch of the wind changed and the sound of ice pellets striking the metal sides was almost deafening. “Doc… I’m sorry, but I think you may be stuck here,” he mumbled as he looked out the tiny window over the sink.

Outside, Richard flinched as the ice began to rain down on him. Carrying a large armload of wood he made it back in the trailer and motioned Gregory to him as he dropped the wood in the box.

Gregory sidled up next to his friend. “We have to get out of here now. Do you think we can make it back?”

Richard shook his head. “No. You need to call Davy right now and tell him we are stuck out here. I’m not going to even try to get back with this ice coming down. We need to get all the wood we can in and anything else we can,” he said, his voice as serious as the look on his face.

Gregory rubbed his face and sighed. “There’s more quilts out on the wagon. I don’t know if the phone will work up on this mountain.”

He took a log over to the woodstove and looked back at Jason. “I’ve no idea how to do this but I’m a good pack mule.”

Unwrapping from his blankets once more, Jason took the log from Greg and let it rest on his lap. “It’s easy, just open the door by the bail and stir the coals up a bit with the poker, then set the log in,” he said as he motioned to the iron door and looked at Gregory. “I’m sorry Doc.”

Gregory shook his head and moved to do what Jason had said. “Don’t worry about it. At least I know you are safe now. Davy can call Sev and Damon for us.” He shoved the log in the stove and slammed the door shut.

“Stay right here by the fire and try to keep warm. Rich and I will get the wood.” He handed his phone to Jason. “Try and get Davy and tell him what’s happened.”

Jason nodded and took the phone, watching the doctor as he stood and went out the door. Turning to the phone, he quickly dialed the number and explained to Davy what had happened. He set the phone on the table and stood up to stretch.

When the door opened again and Greg dropped his load of wood, Jason held the phone out to him. “I called and explained. He says for you and Rich to stay warm and not try to come back in the storm. He also said not to worry about him, he was fine and would hopefully see you in the morning.”

Gregory nodded and rubbed his hands together. “Alright, get back by the fire and keep warm. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He nodded to Richard as the man came in with the quilt bags. "You remember Richard?"

He set the shrunken basket of food Davy had sent along on the table and waved his wand over it. He cast a Warming Charm on it then stepped out the back door to get another load of wood. "Give the man a sandwich and a blanket and quit staring, Rich."

Jason eyed the stranger for a moment, wondering why he seemed somewhat familiar and then realized this was the man that he had met at lunch. He flushed and smiled slightly at the tall man, pulling his thin blanket around him as if for protection.

"My apologies." Richard opened up the bag of quilts, spelled it and shook one out before wrapping it around the small man. “Go sit down and I’ll get you a sandwich then I’ll help Greg get the rest of the wood.”

Jason smiled wider as the bigger man tucked the blanket around him. “Alright, but I’d like to wait to eat until you both are back inside. I’ve got some soup we could have with it that might taste good to you,” he said almost shyly. As he watched the bigger man leave the trailer, he rolled his eyes and wondered what in the hell he’d just done.

Gregory looked up as the door open and Richard came out of the trailer. “How much more wood do you think we’ll need to heat Jason’s tin can? Why can’t we make it out? If we bundle him up really well, it isn’t all that far back to Damon and Grant’s. There’s a key in the barn.”

Richard looked at Gregory for a moment and looked back at the tractor. “Well, I’d say we could attempt it, but when I was getting the quilts, I tried the tractor and it’d already froze up. I don’t think he can walk back in this, do you?” he asked as he took the load of wood from his friend.

“If you are hell bent to get back, then we probably have enough wood in there for him to stay warm and you and I could hike out,” Richard said as he looked at Gregory.

Gregory scowled. “Fuck.” He shook his head and loaded up his arms again. “I came to get him out, Rich, not barricade him in the sardine can. I’m worried about him and the baby being out here in this nasty shit and wanted to get him to civilization. Now we’re all stuck out here.” He carefully climbed the steps. “I’m not going anywhere without him.”

Before Gregory could open the door, Richard leaned against it for a moment. “What is the problem Greg? Is it the fact you aren’t sleeping on your silk sheets tonight or do you think poverty is contagious? I’ll walk you out and then come back and stay with him so someone keeps the fire going,” he said, irritation creeping into his voice. He’d known Greg for over twenty years and knew the man was a spoiled rich boy in some respects. Sometimes Greg just didn’t deal real well with other social classes.

Gregory glared at his friend. “No, you ass. I’m worried about us all freezing to death out here. Jason’s become a good friend and he’s had a shit deal in his life. This trailer is older than I am and I don’t know how to fix it for him. I’m not a boy scout nor am I Mr. Fix-it like Damon is.”

He shook his head. “I don’t like not having control over the situation. That’s what I am upset about.” He raised his chin and looked up at Richard once more. “I’ll tough it out but we are getting him out in the morning.”

Richard nodded at the man. “I’ll see what I can do with the tractor in the morning, otherwise, we’ll make some sort of drag and just pull him behind us,” he said as he moved away from the door only to find Jason pushing it open from the other side.

The small pregnant wizard stared at both men silently for a moment before he turned his back and went to his chair once more. He’d heard a bit of their conversation and was feeling like he was something of a burden to them.

“I put the soup on to heat for you both and water for coffee as well,” Jason said as he kept his eyes on the food that was heating on the woodstove. He knew he didn’t have a palace to live in, but it was his and if they didn’t like it, they could hike their sanctimonious asses right back up the mountain and go back to that cushy little duplex. He’d be just fine there alone.

Gregory glared at Richard before stepping into the trailer. “Way to go, Doc. Always opening your mouth at inopportune times.”

He dropped the wood onto the pile they had been creating and went back outside once more.

Richard rolled his eyes and dropped his wood next to the box, bending over to take the time to stack all they had brought in neatly before adding what he’d just brought in. He eyed the full box, nodding as he opened the door.

“We should have enough, the box is full so get in here,” he yelled out before he shut the door again and went to tend to the woodstove, shoving several splits in and stoking the fire good.

Gregory stomped off the snow from his shoes, bringing a few last pieces then stacked them on the pile. He stood behind Richard and Jason warming himself. “Thank you for the soup, Jason.”

Jason just shrugged as he set bowls and spoons out on the small postage stamp of a table. “It’s rabbit,” he said curtly as he turned to make the coffee.

Gregory stared at the younger man for a moment. “Rabbit soup.” He nodded and
looked at Richard for a moment. The tension in the little trailer was so thick it was hard to know what to say. He hadn’t grown up running all over the woods and didn’t know quite what to make of the current situation.

Jason eyed Gregory for a moment before he shook his head and grabbed one of his small pans from a shelf and dipped some water in it from his bucket. After sitting the pan on the top of the woodstove to heat, he tossed down several packages of ramen noodles.

“Chicken, beef, or oriental. I recommend the chicken,” he said as he waited on the man to make a decision.

Gregory pursed his lips. “Jason, the soup is fine.” He looked back over his shoulder at Richard then back at Jason. “I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. My wildest interaction with nature has been at Sturgis with Sev and Max in a tent, so I apologize if it seems like I’m a bit out of my element because I am. I don’t mean anything by it but I just wanted you to know.”

He sighed. “I also want to apologize if I said something out of line earlier. I’m worried about Davy being alone as well as all of us being out here. It’s supposed to be really bad out there tonight and I don’t like not being in control of my environment. It’s a product of my upbringing Davy still hasn’t managed to change about me.”

He smiled at the younger man. “You are dealing with the original spoilt rich boy here so I am asking for a little bit of slack.”

Jason snorted and a ghost of a smile played over his lips. “It’s alright, you can’t help being a city boy,” he said with a chuckle as he opened two packages of the noodles and dumped them in the water to boil. “I thought we could use the carbs as well. You know, to stay warm.”

Stirring the noodles with a fork, he watched Richard out of the corner of his eye, aware the man had been staring at him. “Do I have something on my face?” he asked quietly as he turned his body a bit to shield his belly from view.

Gregory smirked and picked up a mug and filled it with coffee. He passed it to Richard. “He’s seen one before. Rich is a doctor too, Jason.”

Richard took the coffee and smiled at his friend before looking back towards Jason. “I’ve seen a few. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just thinking you should be sitting down.”

Jason shook his head and laughed softly. “Sitting down doesn’t get a thing done. I’m not one of those weak women that have the vapours every time you mention work,” he replied as he set the pan of noodles towards the back of the woodstove to stay hot. “I think everything is ready to eat if you all are hungry.”

Gregory gathered the bowls and dished up some noodles. He passed it to Jason and handed him a sandwich as well. “Eat them both. You need the nutrients.” He realized he wasn’t talking to Davy and shook his head. “Please.”

Jason swallowed the bite of sandwich and grinned. “Hell Doc, you’ll be lucky if you don’t have to watch me lick the pot clean. I have a healthy appetite.”

Gregory nodded and dished out a bowl for Richard as well then passed him a sandwich before dishing up one for himself. He settled down by the stove, wrapping his hands around the bowl, blowing the steam off of the noodles.

Jason looked out the window at the darkness and reached over to turn on the small radio. Soon the soothing sounds of mellow bluegrass were playing low as a background to the men’s silent eating.

Occasionally, Jason would feel Richard's eyes upon him only to look up and see the warm chocolate brown studying him. He returned the intense stares, trying hard not to flush and sometimes he succeeded.

Gregory watched them, slightly amused but didn't say a thing when they both reached for the soup spoon at the same time then jumped as their fingers brushed. He shook his head and dished up Jason more to eat as the younger man bowed his head and blushed wildly. He eyed his best friend, surprised to see the normally stoic man's cheeks also slightly pinked in embarrassment.

After Jason finished the sandwich, noodles and two bowls of soup, he leaned back and rubbed his swollen belly. “Thank you for the sandwich, it was really good,” he said as he made to stand up to clear the small table.

Gregory nodded and yawned. He’d been up since before five that morning and at the hospital plus had a full day’s patient load. “I’ll tell Davy you thought so. He’ll be pleased.” He looked around the small trailer and sighed.

“Would you like to go to bed?” Jason asked as he pushed open the short curtain that led back to the bedroom. “You are more than welcome to stretch out on the bed. It’s a double, but I think we’ll all fit.” He quickly spread the quilts that had been by the woodstove over the bed to warm it up.

Gregory stood and gathered up the empty dishes, placing them in the sink. “I think I will and we’ll be warmer sharing.” He pointed to a door, “That the bathroom?” He looked back at Jason for confirmation.

Richard answered for him. “It should be. It’s not bigger than a closet Greg so don’t bang your head on anything, you big lug.” He chuckled and sipped from his coffee mug.

Jason nodded and laughed. “There’s no running water, so if you have to, dip water from the bucket in the shower into the stool to flush it, otherwise, I’ll do it after we all get ready for bed. I’m not certain if the drain pipe is unfroze.”

Gregory blinked and stared at Jason for a moment. “Oh hell no.” He drew his wand and wedged himself into the little stall.

Jason just started laughing as he watched Greg. “See how much easier life is when you’ve not been restricted from magic?” he called out as he heard Gregory casting spells. He turned and grinned at Richard before he turned his face away shyly.

Richard smiled broadly at Jason. The younger man was quite handsome and the pregnancy made him even more so. He briefly wondered about the other father then put it away. He couldn’t let his curiosity ruin the tentative friendship and camaraderie they had found after the tension from earlier. “Yeah, Greg watch where you are waving that one, you’ll put your eye out.”

“Would you like another cup of coffee, or I’ve got some cocoa instead,” Jason asked, turning his head as he heard Gregory open the door and then watched him lie down on the bed. “At least he should have the sheets all warmed up.”

Richard nodded his head. “We’ll be warm with him in there first. Davy complains that Gregory could heat their bedroom by himself.” He looked at his mug and smiled at Jason. “The coffee is fine, Jason, thank you very much. I am sorry we imposed on you. Our intention was to help you out not make burdens of ourselves.” He sipped his coffee and leaned back in the bench seat, stretching as much as he could in the small space.

Jason turned and reached for the pot of coffee, refilling both of their mugs. “You’d be more comfortable on the sofa, hold on a moment,” he said as he pulled himself up out of the small dining nook. Moving to the front of the small trailer, he began to shift a laundry basket and duffel bag off of a small sofa.

Richard watched Jason for a moment then moved to help him. “I might but only if you’ll sit with me.” He turned and placed another log in the woodstove and grabbed one of the quilts.

Jason stopped for a moment, turning to disappear into the small water closet for a few minutes before returning. It had been nearly six months since he’d had much human contact with a man he found attractive and he was finding himself unnaturally shy around the newcomer.

“Do you think one quilt will be enough?” he asked as he sat down at one end of the sofa.

Richard settled the quilt around Jason and smiled down at him. “Warm enough?” He got his own quilt and sat down beside Jason then summoned a third to drape over their laps. He handed Jason his mug then got his own. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes for a moment and sighed as he listened to the little pelts of ice hitting the tin sides of the trailer. “It’s been years since I’ve heard snow and ice like this.”

He turned his head and smiled at Jason. “You grow up here?”

Jason nodded. “I was born not far from here, but lived most of the time in Wheeling. I inherited this place from my Aunt. Where are you from?” he asked as his hands rubbed circles over his belly under the quilt.

“Originally from outside Amarillo, but I’ve been all over. I just haven’t found some place to settle down yet. Right now I hang my hat in Oregon. Pretty country over there.” Richard watched Jason’s hands move and smiled. “Are the babies bothering you?”

Jason's hands stilled and he looked up at Richard curiously. "You said 'they' at lunch as well. How do you know there is more than one in there? What kind of doctor are you anyway?"

All thoughts of being subtle and modest fled as the instinct to protect and survive kicked in. He scooted away from the other man and stared at him waiting for an answer.

Richard grimaced and then shook his head. "You don't know you're carrying twins?" he asked carefully, worried he would be stepping on someone's toes, but he'd put money on the fact that the young man was carrying at least two fetuses.

Jason's jaw dropped then he snapped his mouth shut. He wasn't a twin but his brother and sister were and his ex-lover Todd had been as well. It had never even occurred to him that he might have twins and neither Doctor Sorens nor Doctor Wolffe had said anything about a second baby. He stood, wrapping the quilt around him and waddled over to the sink. He filled a glass with water and drank it down before answering, his back to the other man. "I... I didn't say that. I asked you a question first though and you didn't answer it."

"That's kind of what I do, Jason. I'm a specialist. I only work with Fleymann's patients so I've gotten good at reading the signs, so to speak," Richard said with a shrug. "Your doctor hasn't said anything?"

Jason set the glass down hard on the counter and placed his hands on his stomach. Closing his eyes, he thought about the things he'd been taught by his father, things he'd rarely thought to use since the old man had disowned him six months ago and focused his magic inward. He felt the tendrils of two lifelines, two strong heartbeats and two threads of magic pulses pushing back at him.

Jason gasped as tears pooled in the corners of his eyes. "Oh shit," he murmured softly and ran his hands over his stomach caressing the two lives he now knew resided in him and he was responsible for.

Understanding what the small man had just done, Richard watched him carefully. "Jason, are you alright?" he asked softly, starting to get to his feet.

@@@@@@@

Damon paced the floor, stopping to look out the window once more at the steadily falling snow. He scowled and patted his breast pocket, squeezing his cigarettes, desiring a smoke but not wanting to let in the cold wind and snow to the warm house.

"Why haven't they called? Do you think the cell towers have gone out?" He looked at Severus and scowled then looked back out the window and resumed his pacing.

Severus was just as concerned as Damon and shook his head in frustration. "I don't know. Have you tried to call them or anyone else?" he asked, looking up at the clock and wondering how much longer Mother Wolffe's nurse would be grocery shopping. He wanted to go home.

Damon stared at Severus. "No, I didn't want to make them crash the car or the tractor. Call Davy and see if they've checked in with him. I'm braving this shit for a smoke." He grabbed his jacket out of the closet and bundled up before quickly ducking out the door.

Severus nodded and pulled his mobile out of his pocket, thumbing through the menu for the Corrican's cell numbers. Finding Davy's, he pressed send and waited to see if the call would go through.

Davy was sitting on the sofa, his feet curled under him, bowl of gourmet white cheddar popcorn and Anthony Bourdain's newest book in hand as the storm raged around him. Jason had assured him they had buckled down in the trailer and nothing else could be done. He trusted Richard to keep his decidedly citified husband and Jason from freezing to death in this blizzard. He looked up and outside the window. He'd seen worse in Chicago but he still didn't like being away from Gregory but he dealt with it the only way he knew how. The fireplace crackled and heated the room nicely and he went back to his book, jumping as the phone scared him half to death.

He made a grab for it, not even looking at the display because he was so surprised it had even worked in this weather. "Hello? Gregory?"

"No, it's Severus. I was calling to see if you'd heard anything from Gregory about Jason and to see if there was still power in town," Severus said as he watched the flames dance in the fireplace.

Davy sighed and took a drink from his bottle of water. "Hello Severus. Yes, we've still power but I don't know for how long. There's already at least a foot of snow on the ground down here and that's already on top of the six inches of ice we got before." He curled his feet back under him, adjusting the throw over his lap. "Jason called about an hour ago. I guess he wasn't able to get another signal to call you. The three of them are holed up in his little trailer up there on the mountain. Greg and Rich were bringing in wood to try and keep them warm."

Severus wiped his hand over his face as he listened to Davy's words. "They were alright though, correct?" he asked as he thought about the small travel trailer Jason lived in, the thing couldn't be more than twenty-five feet long. "Are you alright?"

"As far as I know, they are fine. I sent them up there with tonight's dinner, a couple of thermoses of coffee and Greg's bag with some extra sweaters in it. I put our emergency first aid kit and his travel medical bag in as well if they need it. They took Rich's car but it's at Damon and Grant's house." Davy looked around the duplex and nodded even though Severus couldn't see him. "I'm fine. I've got my emergency kit if I need it and an entire box of fireplace logs if the power goes off."

Severus wasn't exactly certain why Davy would have wood in a box, but decided not to question it. "Good. You have my mobile number, don't you?" he asked, hoping that he and Damon would be able to get home that evening.

"Yes, thank you, Severus. You'll stay where you are at, right? You and Damon are still safe? Has anyone heard from Max?" Davy asked to just keep the man on the line and to have human contact.

"You shouldn't worry about us, David. Damon and I are visiting his mother but we should be home tonight as long as the floo system doesn't go down. I spoke with Max not long after speaking with Greg and they were fine," Severus answered, trying to will Mother Wolffe's nurse to be home as soon as possible. "Grant and Harry should be home tomorrow evening."

Davy smiled as he thought of the grand old dame he'd met at Thanksgiving and hoped the older woman was all right. "Tell Mother Wolffe we said hello then and be careful going home, Severus. It'll be good to have Harry back. I do hope we can get together again. I've missed talking and cooking with him. We are still going to be able to do that now that the holidays have passed?"

Severus frowned slightly as he heard the question. "Why wouldn't you be able to spend time with Harry after the holidays?" he asked. "Has something happened that I am unaware of? Are you and Greg returning to Chicago?"

Davy shook his head. "No, no, not that I know of. Gregory hasn't said anything about it. I was just asking because I didn't know what you would allow now that Thanksgiving was over. I mean, I know we have company in town and all but I think Rich is a pretty nice guy and he won't bother Harry."

"I understand now. You weren't certain if I'd allow the man near my husband, is that right?" Severus said, making sure he understood what the other man had meant.

Davy sighed. "Yes. Damon acted a bit strange around him after everyone else left at lunch today. He really is a very nice person, Severus. He's just, rather well... he's like a mix of you and Damon, I suppose. He can be a bit of an ass sometimes and he always tells you like it is whether you want him to or not." He cringed, waiting on Severus to either hang up on him or yell at him.

Severus chuckled as he listened to his former submissive describe him. "He's that bad, is he?" he asked with a laugh.

Davy snorted. "His first words to me when we got back home were, that I needed to knock Greg up and to make certain to leave him out of any match-making schemes I might have up my sleeve. He was here to relax, drink beer with his friends and enjoy the holidays."

Severus snorted as well. "So you and Greg are planning a family?" he asked curiously, not sure if that was information he'd been told before. It was certainly interesting that Davy would not be carrying the child.

"Eventually." Davy settled himself back in the sofa and rubbing his feet together under the throw. "We've decided that once we are certain this is where we are staying; we are giving it a year, then we'll be buying a house and Gregory will be taking the Male Pregnancy Potion."

"I wish you both, good luck with that. I do hope that you and he find that you like living in Echo; I know I've not been happier anywhere else. I would hope Harry will be able to say the same," Severus said, finding that he really did want Greg and Davy to stay in town and raise a family. He and the younger man had really not spoken in-depth about anything other than Davy's ability to get his insulin at the shop since the Corricans had moved into the area. "How do you like it?"

"Thank you, Severus. I hope so as well. I like having little Sarah around. She's a wonder and a handful but I'm hoping that it'll be different when the child is our own." Davy sighed and smiled as he pictured a little dark blonde headed girl with blue eyes running around with his husband trailing behind her. "I'll admit to it being quite a culture shock to both of us urbanites but it's nice and most of the people have been very polite."

Severus laughed softly as he remembered what it had been like for him when he'd first arrived to visit so many years ago. "You'll find the community is very accepting with few exceptions," he said as he looked up at the sound of the door opening and Damon's soft cursing. "Davy, if you should need anything or hear anything from the others, please call one of us as soon as you can. I'll call you when we return to Echo."

Davy nodded, sad to hear what sounded like the man dismissing him. "All right, Severus, you and Damon take care coming home." He hung up the phone and looked around the near empty duplex, sighing and leaning his head down on the sofa arm.

@@@@@@@@@

Damon stomped his feet and closed the door behind him, turning to look at Severus. He sighed as he unwrapped himself and hung his jacket back in the closet. "Celia's not coming back just yet. She was in an accident. She and the other driver are all right; just some bumps and bruises but they've taken her to Wheeling General." He sat down next to Severus and set a hand on his knee. "I can't leave Mom here alone."

Severus stifled a groan and nodded. Of course Mother Wolffe couldn't be left by herself. "Does one of us need to go get her vehicle?" Severus asked, uselessly wishing they could be home shortly. Unfortunately, as Marion's mind had deteriorated, the floo had had to be safe-guarded so she wouldn't be able to wander and it was keyed to only activate with Celia, Damon, or Grant's magical signature accompanying whomever was traveling.

Damon shook his head. "A tow truck was on its way but it's going to take a while. There's been several accidents and there's a back log. I'm glad we came by floo." He got up and padded softly to the bedroom to check on his mother then came back, sighing as he sat down again. "Were you able to find out anything?"

"Davy said that Jason had called to let him know that the other two had made it to his trailer and that they were stuck there for the night at least. Davy sounded a bit down when I spoke to him, but the power was still on and he was staying warm," Severus answered, turning his head to look at the man as he sat down. "Is Mother Wolffe still sleeping?"

Damon nodded. "Your potion put her out like a light. Her doctor said it would, we just need to keep an eye on her periodically." He picked up his glass of water and sat back on the sofa, sighing before taking a long drink. "Max go with Gregory? The nanny with the kids?"

"No, Max stayed at home. Apparently Greg didn't call him, so Richard went along instead," Severus said, happy to note that one of his potions had been able to ease the older woman's agitations

Damon stiffened in his seat then carefully set the water down on the low table in front of him. "And they are both up there with Jason? Did you try to call Jason to check on the boy?"

"The land lines are down in the area Damon," Severus said, eyeing Damon curiously and wondering why he'd suddenly stiffened. "Do you think there will be trouble?"

Damon snorted and scowled, standing to go back to his pacing. "Isn't there always with that boy?" he muttered. "Gregory's got a cell, did you try that? You know Grant will have my ass if something happens to Jason. He's bonded with that boy recently."

Severus sighed, rolling his eyes because he'd not thought of ringing Gregory. "I'd forgotten Damon. Let me call him now," he said as he flipped his mobile open once more and scrolled down for the man's number.

@@@@@@@@@@

Jason looked up at Richard as if he had grown a second head. "Hell no, I'm not all right. I've just discovered there's two babies not one in there. What makes you think I'm all right? Would you be?"

"Jason... please calm down, getting upset won't help you," Richard said softly, wishing now he'd kept his big mouth shut. "I didn't know that you didn't know this afternoon and truly, until your healer confirms it, you can't be certain." Richard was certain though, he'd seen enough cases to realize that if the young man was this large this early, he was either carrying multiples or there was a serious health risk to him.

"'Well cowboy, since this is your specialty, you know what I did and you know there's almost no better way to tell with someone this far along either." Jason put his hands on his hips for a moment, glaring at the tall man. He moved towards Richard and poked him in the chest. "Why did you have to come here looking like sex on legs, walk into my town, then into my trailer and tell me this shit. I liked you. Hell, I was actually thinking about fucking you!"

Richard's eyes widened, his nostrils flaring as he looked down at the little man and then grinned. "You were, huh?" he said softly, his voice low as he caught Jason's hand in his own and gave it a squeeze.

Jason's mouth opened and he looked up at Richard. He pulled on his hand, head shaking in disbelief. He moaned slightly, stepping closer even as he still tried to pull his hand away. "Maybe, yeah. I could you know," he offered softly, his face flushing.

Richard nodded as he noted the way Jason's pupils were dilating and the rosy flush that had spread over his cheeks. "I'm sure you could and I'm reasonably certain that I wouldn't stop you," he said softly turning Jason's hand loose.

Jason pulled his hand back to his chest and opened his mouth to say something when a buzzing sound interrupted and a tinny voice sang:

"My balls are always bouncing
To the left and to the right
It's my belief that my big balls
Should be held every night"

"What the hell is that?" Jason looked around his little kitchen as the song began again.

Richard looked around, the song getting even more annoying the second time around. "That has to be Greg's phone. Hold on," he said as he reached past Jason to pluck the man's jacket up from where he'd laid it earlier. Searching through the pockets, he quickly found the mobile and flipped it open.

"Corrican cell phone," Richard said with a smirk figuring it was Davy.

Severus's brow furrowed at the strange voice. "I'm trying to reach Gregory Corrican, is he available?"

"I'm sorry, but Greg has already gone to bed, could I take a message for him?" Richard asked politely while rolling his eyes and grinning at Jason.

Severus took a deep breath. "No, I suppose not. Is Jason Summers available? He is the real reason I was calling. This is Severus Snape."

Richard's eyebrows rose. "Um, sure, hold on a sec," he said as he turned to Jason and held out the phone.

"Your boss is Severus Snape, right?" Richard asked softly.

Jason nodded. "Wonder what he wants. Most likely to tell me to wait on him and he'll pick me up tomorrow." He took the phone from Richard and took a deep breath trying to calm his racing heart. "Yes Professor?"

"Jason?" Severus said as the young man's voice came over the line. "Are you well?"

Jason frowned. "Yes, Professor. We had dinner not too long ago and were just talking and having some cocoa. Are you well? You aren't out in this, are you?"

"No, no, Damon and I are in Wheeling. Why haven't you gone to the Wolffe house yet?" Severus asked as Damon watched him.

"Can't, the tractor froze over just after Doctor Corrican and Richard arrived. They brought in some wood and some extra quilts and we battened down the hatches." Jason explained and made to continue when the phone cut off, horrible static came across the lines and the trailer went dark. "Shit!"

"Jason? Jason?" Severus said loudly as the sound of static interference blared from his mobile. "Bugger, I think we've lost the towers." He looked at Damon and shrugged.

"He said that they were warm and settled before the connection was lost," Severus said with a sigh, folding his mobile and sliding it back into his pocket.

Damon nodded and sat back down on the sofa, letting out a sigh. It looked like it was going to be a long night. "Did he say anything else?"

"That the tractor had frozen up," Severus replied. "What is wrong Damon? Why are you so... antsy?"

Damon frowned and shook his head. "It's nothing. I just don't like being out in this weather." He looked over at the window then shook his head.

Severus sighed, thinking he knew what the problem may be. "Have you tried calling Grant?" he asked quietly.

Damon shook his head. "Wouldn't do me any good now, would it? Damn towers are gone." He crossed his leg and shook his foot, not looking at Severus. "You met that Montgomery today, what'd you think?"

"You could floo him, they are staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight," Severus said mildly, scratching his chin as he thought about what he thought about the strange doctor.

"He seemed quite nice actually, was I to find him onerous?"

Damon nodded as he thought about it trying to calculate the difference in time. "Yeah maybe. What the hell time is it over there? Would they be awake?" He looked over at Severus. "He wasn't what I was expecting him to be, that's for certain."

Severus looked down at his watch. "It's a little after one, but if I know Harry, they are awake still," he said. "How bad is Grant going to be? Max told me that he can't stand this Montgomery fellow."

Damon snorted. "We might get lucky with Christmas being this close and Grant being so sedated that he'll be so busy he won't have a chance to claw Montgomery's eyes out before the guy leaves."

That made Severus think of something. "How bad does he get? I don't recall him being overly hysterical too often in years past."

Damon slumped on the sofa as he picked up his glass. He rolled it between his hands carefully, watching the water slosh on the sides. "That's because he's been sedating himself more and more these past few years. I don't know how bad he's going to get because he's never been around other men with Fleymann's. That's why I wanted to get you stocked up as well. I have no idea how Harry, Jason and Grant are going to play off each other. It might be a very good thing that Montgomery has come to town right now, then again it might not be. I really don't know."

Severus frowned. "I don't understand why he's sedating himself. Is this common for those with Fleymann's?" He wasn't looking forward to a lifetime of hysterical Harry.

Damon shrugged. "It's gotten worse over the years. I have no idea what happened. He wasn't like this until after several years after I came home from 'Nam." He sighed and set the glass down. "Right after I came home from Korea we lived with Mom and Da. It wasn't until then that we started noticing a pattern and started figuring things out. We settled down and were all right then we lost the other two babies. It was crazy and confusing but so much has changed since then. Grant won't let me or anyone else help him deal with this and I respect his decision on that, mostly. What I do behind his back, he don't need to know."

"I will have to be certain that Harry doesn't become so obstinate about his health. I'll not stand to be shut out," Severus said tersely. "I'll drag him to see the man if I must."

Damon snorted and smiled sadly at his son. "I wish you all the luck in the world with that, Sev. You need to remember though while you might be his husband and his Master, it's Harry's body. He's been with Grant this past week and they've most likely been talking about this as well, if I know Grant. I don't think he'd talk Harry into any bad habits but I did ask him to help Harry out with the condition. I'm sorry if that works against you. I was trying to help."

"Bugger me," Severus groaned, fearing the worst. "What does Max have to say about the increased sedation?"

Damon spread his hands. "I have no idea. I have no control over that. That's all Grant's doing. That's his one and only thing he asked to have control over. The only time Max contacts me is if Grant specifically tells him to."

"You know he can't keep increasing his dosage, it will start to affect his liver," Severus said as he thought about the properties in the potion.

"Thanks for the warning. He only takes the potion for the three weeks every four months so will it be that much of a problem?" Damon asked. He had to get his information from somewhere. "If we alternate different sedative potions will the effects still be just as bad?"

"Do you know how much he's taking?" Severus asked thinking of all the different potions that could be used.

"The maximum amount daily of the Somniferous you gave him that first year. All day, every day for the entire cycle period of three weeks." Damon answered immediately. "Has been for the last two cycles at least, if not more."

Severus frowned for a moment as he thought back. "Damon... that's a lot. Too much really. Do you know if Max knows?" he asked concerned.

Damon shook his head. "I don't know what Max knows. All I know is that Grant can still function on what he's doing and he's still alive. Hopefully this new therapy that Max has got him on will help and that he goes through menopause quickly and we won't have to worry about it any longer."

Something had been niggling at the back of Severus' mind for several weeks floated to the surface and finally he decided to speak. "Damon, doesn't it seem odd to you that Grant would be in menopause so young? After all, most witches don't begin that phase of their lives until after they reach one hundred or so."

Damon held up his hands. "Sev, I have no idea, I'm not a doctor. First off, Grant's not a witch. Secondly, there's been nothing written about menopause in men with Fleymann's, so honestly Max is just taking a stab in the dark with this. The added hormones have seemed to be helping a bit so who knows. At this point we are both willing to try anything."

"My apologies Damon, I didn't mean to overstep," Severus said with a nod and sigh. He was worried about his other parent, but didn't know how to express it without it sounding like he was a know-it-all.

"You didn't and I didn't mean to make it seem like you did. This is why I was telling you earlier that we needed the things we did." Damon sighed. "Fifty years is a long time to live with and learn about the condition, Sev. Take my advice on this. Listen to Harry when he tells you things about what he wants or needs but read Montgomery's stuff too. The man knows what he's talking about. He's helped Grant a lot from the background even if Grant doesn't realize it."

"I was thinking of scheduling some time with him to talk to him about how to ease things for Harry, if he weren't adverse to it," Severus said. "I'm worried about him."

Damon nodded. "I think it's a good idea so long as you see him and not Harry."

"He didn't strike me as predatory, but then again, it was not in a professional setting," Severus mused, stretching his long legs out before him. "I am, however, still worried about how much of that potion Grant is taking."

Damon shrugged. "You know me, I'm not one to believe the gossip but the man does have a certain reputation of being a bit ruthless when it comes to getting his information. You can't deny his results. He told me today his success rate was like ninety eight percent and the only reason he'd failed was because of a genetic disorder that had been missed in previous testing. It's scary amazing, how good this kid is." He shook his head. "Not one malpractice suit filed on him either. Several complaints about his bedside manner but everyone has a bad week or so." he chuckled softly.

"So Grant is simply upset that Fleymann's is being exposed more?" Severus asked curiously.

Damon nodded. "I think so. Grant was taught differently. I don't know how Harry was brought up but Grant was taught to hide himself. But if he knew the reason this boy was doing this he'd keel over," he murmured softly. "I nearly did, spilled my damned drink all over him and Davy at lunch."

"What do you mean? Did I miss something?"

Damon took a deep breath and looked up at Severus. Their boy knew all about their history. "Montgomery's uncle had Fleymann's. Seems the man lost several children due to a weak cervix and Montgomery decided that another man should never have to go through what his uncle did. He went to school and decided to do something about it."

Severus whistled softly and shook his head. "That is a time bomb, you know," he murmured as he thought of the suffering his adopted parents had gone through. "I'll be sure to make his potions as strong as is safely possible."

Damon nodded as the wind howled outside. "Thank you, that's all I can ask of you, son."

Severus took a breath and continued. "Do you think this Montgomery would have an alternative to the sedatives? I'm sorry, but I really am worried about the amount Grant is taking, even if it is only for a few weeks at a time."

Damon looked at his hands and shrugged. "I don't know. I've searched through all his writings and not found anything so far. I've tried adding to his diet and that's helped some. It's only really bad during his fertility cycles and nothing we do seems to help. I promised Grant I wouldn't interfere but if it gets worse then I may have to, especially since you've told me that this medicine can do some serious damage to him."

Severus nodded, it was really all he could ask for from the other man, but he promised himself that his husband would not have to resort to drugging himself to a stupor in order to survive a few weeks every few months.

"Would you like me to see if there's anything to eat?" he asked as he looked at Damon and hoped Mother Wolffe would stay calm for the rest of the night.
Damon stretched and yawned. "You go on ahead and eat if you like. I'm not hungry. I'm going to check on Mama in a few minutes."

@@@@@@

Jason scowled in the darkness and reached out for the table setting the useless cell phone down, his eyes adjusting slowly to the low light barely provided by the woodstove. "Well, at least Blueridge Utilities lasted that long. I'm surprised. Normally a bird flies the wrong direction and the lights go out. Let me see if I can find a flash light there was one hanging beside the door. We were in the middle of something." The wind howled and rocked the small trailer slightly as he reached out to pat his way to the wall.

Richard reached out his hand, catching Jason's arm as he drew his wand from his pocket and murmured 'Lumos'. "Come here Jason," he said softly, his thumb stroking over the skin of Jason's inner elbow.

Jason froze, involuntarily groaning at the soft touch. "I want my flashlight. Don't need your Lumos," he murmured sullenly but stepped back against the tall man, sighing as he came into contact with the slender frame. He looked up at Richard, snuggling into Richard's warm body. "Yeah?"

"Shhhh Jason, forget the flashlight," Richard murmured softly, running his hands up and down the smaller man's arms. "I think I really like you Jason."

Jason closed his eyes and hummed. "I liked you too... before you decided to be the harbinger of doom. First you bring this storm, then you tell me I'm having twins. What else you gonna tell me? That we can't do this?" He rubbed his body against Richard's. "You smell and feel so good."

Richard sighed and hung his head. "Jason... I don't want you to do something you'll regret and honestly, I want to be able to take my time and make love to you properly, not a grope while Greg is snoring twenty feet from us."

Jason snarled and jerked away from Richard. "Don't you tell me what I'll regret. What I regret is opening that damned door and letting the two of you in this trailer." He looked around the small kitchen and grabbed the first thing he could find, a cup of plastic utensils, and began throwing them at Richard, continuing his tirade of words and Tupperware. "You pompous, overeducated, good looking, sexy asshole. Think you can come in here and tell me how to live and run my life. Well think again, cowboy!" he ran out of adjectives and ammunition and turned around looking for more.

Stepping quickly, Richard grabbed Jason's shoulders, pushing him up against the flimsy wall before pressing his mouth over the snarling lips. Taking his time, he mapped out Jason's mouth, tasting and teasing the younger man at his leisure. Pulling back slowly, he looked down at the shorter man. "Shut up Jason," he whispered.

Jason whimpered and reached up twisting his fingers in Richard's grey hair, pulling him down again and almost pressing their mouths together. "Make me."

"I intend to," Richard said with a growl as he rubbed his hands down Jason's arms and around to cup his bottom. "I'm not going to listen to you acting like a shrew, understand?"

The tall man pulled away enough to drop his head down to kiss and chew on Jason's neck, growling softly as he did so, his fingers tightening on the man's body.

Jason gasped, leaning his head to the side. "Not a shrew. It's just..." He swallowed as he rubbed up against Richard. "Oh gods yes, right there." He closed his eyes and pulled on Richard's hair, making his point. "You're the one who stopped us."
Richard chuckled low in his he throat as he bit harder into the younger man's neck, wondering if he could get Jason to come without actual intercourse. He brought one hand up slowly and began to tease one of Jason's hard little nipples through his shirt as he worried the skin of his neck with his teeth.

"Call me a shrew. Merlin, you are such a tease." Jason panted and writhed against Richard as he clung to him. It had been so long since someone had touched him like this. It felt so damn good. His entire body sang from the man's attentions and he still had his fucking clothes on.

Jason licked his lips then traced the shell of Richard's ear with the tip of his tongue trying to give back some of the torture as he sucked the fleshy end of his ear into his mouth.

Richard groaned, feeling himself stiffen inside his jeans and wished that Greg had decided to walk back to the Wolffe's. "Let me take care of you, okay?" he murmured, trying to keep a sane head and not bend Jason over the small sink and pound into his rounded ass.

Jason grinned as he felt Richard react to him. He looked up at the tall man and smiled, reaching down and cupping him through his jeans, "Only if I can return the favour." He squeezed the respectable length through the denim and licked his lips, enticingly. "I'm clean, but there's some condoms in the bathroom."

Richard stilled for a moment, thinking with the big head for a change. "Jason...," he groaned as the smaller man stroked him through his jeans. "Are you sure?" He knew that most likely the small man was reacting to his hormones and would go further than he normally would due to the drive he was feeling whether he realized that was behind his ardour or not.

Jason nodded and continued to run his hand over Richard's prick. He laid his head on Richard's chest and listened to the fast, steady heartbeat. Sighing, he rubbed his face across the slender torso and inhaled the masculine scent of the other man, trying to imbed the memory of it so he could recall it later if this never happened again. "Oh yeah, I'm sure. You can cast a muffling charm and Doctor Corrican won't hear a thing. I want you to."

He looked up at Richard and smiled gently. "I know some of what's going on. I may not understand all of the technical mumbo jumbo but I do want you."

Richard looked down into the dark eyes, studying them for a moment before picking up his wand and casting a quiet charm. "I just don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of the situation. I want you to respect me in the morning," he said seriously as he bent down to reclaim Jason's swollen mouth.

Jason's heart jumped at those words and he surrendered to Richard's kiss, wrapping his arms around him. He moaned and slid his tongue along Richard's, testing and tasting slowly this time and somehow his body recognized the truth in Richard's words. Reluctantly, he broke away to breathe and sighed as he rested his forehead against Richard's, "I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. I already do just because you were willing to stop even though I was acting like a jerk."

Richard chuckled for a moment. "That's alright, I'm an asshole too sometimes," he murmured, his fingers plucking up the hem of Jason's stretched tee shirt. "Has anyone told you how good you look lately?"

Jason made a face and slid his hand under the sweater that Richard wore. His fingers danced across the smooth skin as he watched his own stomach being exposed. "How old are you? Are you certain you don't need glasses? Because I look like a beached whale that swallowed a globe or two."

Richard smiled easily. "I'll be forty-one in a few months, am I too old for you?" he teased gently, running his fingers along the swell of Jason's abdomen. "Didn't you notice all the grey? Got it from my mama."

Jason pushed his stomach out into Richard's fingers, shaking his head. "Don't care. Last person I was with was the same age as me and he turned out to be useless." He looked up at Richard's hair and ran his other hand through the rough, thick locks. "It suits you. I like it." He pulled his hand out from under Richard's sweater and tugged up on the knitted material, "But this, this has to go. Now."

Complying to the younger man's wishes, Richard stepped back just enough to strip his sweater off, leaving the thin tee shirt he'd been wearing underneath behind. "So you aren't going to make me colour it, are you?" he teased. "Being grey seems to give patients a little more confidence that I know what the hell I'm talking about."

He moved back and pulled Jason into his arms. "Now, what shall we do since we've got your trailer all nice and warm?" he asked as he let his hands cup the smaller man's ass once more. Richard was aching to bury himself in the man, but wanted to take things slow.

Jason looked up at Richard, eyebrow arched. He pushed his bottom back into Richard's hands and smiled up at him. "You know what you are talking about, but you can't follow directions huh?"

Richard smirked in the dim light, moving one hand enough so he could slip it under the waistband of Jason's sweat pants, chuckling softly as he discovered the young man had no underpants on. "Did you want to give me some instruction?" he asked teasingly.

Jason moaned and pushed his pricked against Richard's hand. "Thought I had," he murmured breathlessly as he fumbled with the buckle on Richard's belt. "What the hell is this thing?" He blinked and frowned at the large round heavy buckle. He thumped it with his finger and looked up at Richard. "Stop sign?"

Richard laughed, pulling back from Jason for a minute. "I forgot I was wearing this belt, hold on a sec," he said, deftly undoing his belt and pulling it from the belt loops on his jeans. "Don't laugh at it, I earned that damned thing a few years ago." He set the belt with its heavy buckle across the table and moved back to press against Jason.

Jason stared at it for a few moments then wrapped his arms around Richard.
"Merlin, what'd you do to earn something like that?" He hummed as Richard's body fit against his perfectly. "Nevermind, where were we?" he reached between them and unbuttoned Richard's jeans, sliding his small hand in and grabbing his prick. He groaned as he realized it was still in a pair of thermal underwear. "Why do you wear so many clothes?"

"I was worried I might get cold," Richard breathed bending down to nibble and suck on Jason's ear lobe, thrusting his thermal covered cock into the smaller man's hand with a groan. "Give me a sec and I'll shuck them." He reached back into Jason's sweats, caressing the small hard prick.

"I'll keep you warm," Jason murmured and leaned his head to the side, as he let go of Richard's prick long enough to push his clothes aside. He wrapped his hand around the warm hard flesh and sighed, running his hand up and down the velvety skin, slowly. "Damn you feel so good. Want you in me. Want to be in you."

He bent his head and nuzzled Richard's chest through the thin t-shirt, his teeth nipping at the other man's nipples and muscles.

Richard groaned, rolling his eyes as Jason took him in hand, his hips bucking twice before coating the smaller man's fingers and belly.

"Fuck... Jason... Shit," Richard muttered in embarrassment at what had happened. The last thing he wanted the smaller man to think was that he had a hair trigger.

Jason gasped as Richard's hand squeezed his prick and he closed his eyes as he continued to stroke the other man. He understood; it had been that long for him as well. The scent and heat of the semen on his stomach and Richard's pants across his ear soon triggered his own orgasm. "Ahh, Rich!"

Jason sighed and rested his face against Richard's chest, sighing at the staccato heartbeat. "Thank you," he murmured softly, gently placing a kiss to the area.

"Mmmmm..." Richard murmured, his fingers rubbing gently through the seed on Jason's belly, slowly rubbing into the man's skin, his other arm wrapping around the man's shoulders and holding him tightly. "You get me so excited."

Jason hummed and looked down at Richard's large hand running the sticky substance over his stomach. "That's going to be nasty in a few minutes but it feels good now." He gasped as one of the babies moved and kicked out suddenly. He looked up at Richard flushing brightly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Richard grinned, splaying his fingers and gently pushing back as the baby pushed out, running his fingers over the bump. "I'll wash you off in a minute. Do you need to sit down?"

Jason grunted as they had a pushing war with him in middle then shrugged. He looked up at Richard's face for a moment and flushed again. "Are you upset with me? I know you said you didn't want to take advantage of me but did you allow me to take advantage of you for myself?"

"No, not upset at all," Richard breathed, moving his hand up to brush some of Jason's hair away from his forehead. "Nothing happened that I didn't want to happen, okay?" He looked down into the other man's eyes and smiled warmly before kissing him softly.

Jason grinned and snuggled into Richard's body, returning the kiss and running his hands over the slender frame. "Good cause I wanted this to happen too and I want it to happen again. Not just in my kitchen either."

"Oh no, we are going to need a whole big bed to do this right and I'll tell you now that I am very, very thorough in everything I do," Richard said as he dropped a kiss down onto Jason's head. "And I don't mind doing things over and over again until I feel I've achieved perfection."

Jason could feel his face flush as he heard Richard's words. He swallowed and looked up at the tall man, smiling shyly even after all that had happened. "That sounds good to me. Can we start tonight? I know I need practice sleeping next to someone again."

"I don't think I'll be good for much aside from holding you close as we sleep, will that work?" Richard asked, rubbing his hands over Jason's back, wanting to touch the smaller man as much as he could.

Jason nodded and rubbed his face against Richard's chest, nearly purring in contentment as Richard's hands moved over his body. "Be kinda strange trying to have sex with Doctor Corrican right next to us in my bed. Besides, I'm not into any of that strange stuff."

Richard chuckled, picking up his wand and keeping one arm around Jason, gently guiding towards the sleeping area. "That's good, because I'm not either. I love Greg like a brother, but not that damned much. Let's get you into bed, my feet are cold and you're nice and warm."

Jason nodded, unwrapping himself from Richard's arms long enough to wash his stomach then grab his quilt. Once back in the small bedroom, he realized it was fairly warm. "Would it be better if I slept on the outside?" he asked as he thought of his cranky bladder.

Richard added another log to the woodstove then banked the fire down low so it would last the night through. He kicked off his shoes and picked up the extra quilts just in case.

Stepping through the little curtain barrier, Richard eyed the bed then turned to Jason. “Babies doing jumping jacks on your organs huh? Might be best if you can get out easily.”

He shed his jeans down to his thermal underwear then spread the quilts out on the bed. Pulling back the blankets and climbing up onto the bed, he nudged Gregory onto his side then lay down next to him, covering the both of them up.

Richard looked up at Jason and held the blankets for him. “Come on, the heat’s escaping unless you need to have a pit stop.”

Jason shifted from foot to foot for a moment and groaned as he headed back to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he came out dressed in an oversized sweatshirt and his boxers. “Hope he won’t be offended,” he muttered softly as he crawled in next to Richard and lay facing the edge of the bed. “Sorry if you got cold waiting for me.”

Richard watched Jason as the man climbed into bed. “So long as you are comfortable and Gregory did a fine job of heating the sheets.”

He adjusted his arm under the shared pillow and stretched his legs. “I think we got lucky Greg went down first. Last time we had to share a bed he ended up wrapped around me. Davy says he’s still like that.” He chuckled and yawned. “I think it’s been at least three years since then.”

“Davy’s lucky,” Jason murmured to himself as he squirmed around to get comfortable. He could tell the larger man behind him was most likely feeling cramped up. “Hold on.”

Jason rose up on one elbow and reached for the arm that Richard was trying to fold under himself, pulling it out straight. “Do you mind…?” he asked not quite looking at the other man.

Richard bent his arm at the elbow and pulled Jason down gently. Wrapping his other arm over Jason’s waist he pulled the other man back, resting his head completely on the pillow his arm had made. “That alright with you,” he whispered softly trying not to shift and rub up against the pregnant man.

“Yeah,” Jason said softly, his head pillowed on Richard’s upper arm. Shifting once more as he yawned, he pushed his body back against the other man’s, putting his arm over Richard’s. “Feels so nice to have someone against my back.”

Richard closed his eyes and squeezed Jason closer. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.” He sighed deeply then ran his fingers over Jason’s belly purposefully.

Jason took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he fought back the sudden tears he felt welling up. It had been so long since someone had held him closely and like they wanted to. “I hope you find a reason to stay,” he mumbled as he wiped his hand over his face.

Richard chuckled softly and gently patted Jason’s stomach. “I think it shouldn’t be too hard to do so. I’ve seen a lot of things I really like out here and I can’t forget the friends I’ve made already.”

Jason smiled in the dark and let his fingers twine with Richard’s as both of their hands cradled his belly and unborn sons. Even if it was just for a little while, he wanted to feel safe and secure; like someone was watching over them.

Richard squeezed Jason’s fingers. “Sleep now, it’ll be better in the morning.” He whispered and settled down in the bed, curling himself tightly against Jason’s body.

@@@@@@@@@@

Max lay on the bed he'd shared with his wife until recently, the glow of the flames in the fireplace throwing flickering shadows over himself and the two small children sleeping in the bed with him. Sarah was curled up next to him, the thumb of one of her small hands in her mouth and her long hair spread around her. Little Max was lying on his daddy's broad chest, his soft breaths making little noise in the quiet.

Max stared down at his children, his eyes burning with unshed tears as he thought of his wife and the emptiness he felt now, knowing it had to be worse for Sarah. The big man had no idea how to make things better for his little girl and it was all he could do to keep it together when she woke up in the morning and asked for her mommy.

He still had no idea what had happened or why Allie had felt the need to abandon him, there had been no word from the little witch in several days and he was beginning to wonder if he would ever hear from her. Sighing, he looked down at Little Max reluctant to lay the baby in his crib just yet, his slight weight was comforting to his father. Max ran a big hand gently over the baby's back and started to sit up when the flames in the hearth flared green.

Allie looked into the bedroom she had once shared with her husband, taking in the domestic scene. It made her freeze for a moment wondering if she had done the right thing by leaving, filing for the divorce or even calling. She took a breath and smiled at the big man. "Hello Max."

Max stared at Allie's face for a moment and swallowed hard. "Hey Allie," he said softly, wincing as he heard the catch in his voice. "Hold on a sec and let me lie the baby down." He carefully sat up, swinging his long legs over the edge of the bed, cradling Little Max to him as he stood and then crossed the room to lay the baby in his crib.

Taking a deep breath, he walked back to the fireplace and knelt down. "Al... are you alright?" he asked softly, his eyes searching her face, aching to reach out and touch her.

Allie blinked and nodded, reaching into the fire and placing her hand on his face like she could see he wanted to do. Resting her palm against his cheek, she tsked. "Max, you need to shave. You'll rough the baby's face with that beard. Grant will have your hide if you muss his grandson like that," she chided him gently.

Max blinked his eyes rapidly for a moment, trying to keep control of his emotions as he looked into his wife's face. "I'll shave before I go to bed. I forget to do things some things now," he said softly, raising his hand to put over hers. "How are you Allie?"

"I've been all right, thinking a lot. I'm settled in a new place." Allie twined her fingers with his and sighed. "How have you and Sarah been? How's little Max?"

Max nodded. "We're making it, missing you of course, but I'm trying to get her to understand," he said with a shrug.

"I had to do this, Max. I don't know if I can explain it now and certainly couldn't then, but I'm trying to learn how." Allie told him softly. "I'm seeing someone about what happened during both pregnancies."

"Is it helping?" Max asked, wanting to understand what it was his wife needed. "Do you need any money?"

Allie smiled at him, "I think it might be. It's nice to have the quiet around. I've got money in my vault." She looked down at the hearth and took a deep breath. "Max... the reason I called is to let you know where I'm at and what I want from you."

Max felt the smile freeze on his face and he braced himself for what bad things the woman could tell him. "I got the papers from your lawyer. Sorry, I haven't sent them back yet."

Allie nodded. "That's all right. You can put them on hold if you like, because I'd like to try to work on things. If you'll let me, I'd like to see the children." She looked up at him and smiled. "And you. I'd like to work on us as well, Max."

Max nodded slowly, still waiting for the other shoe to fall. "You want to try again?" he asked, almost as if he didn't understand the words and then smiled suddenly. "Do you think marriage counseling would help?"

Allie shrugged. "Maybe, we can try it. If we do, I would like it to be just us. No master and servant, no dom and sub, none of that other stuff. Just me and you as equals." She'd never really tried a normal straight laced relationship, just bounced from one bad abusive relationship into another then she'd found Max. She wasn't certain she could succeed at that anymore than she could an alternate one, but she did love the big man and she was willing to try for her children's sake.

Max nodded, he was willing to try anything to help his marriage work. "That's fine Allie, we can do that. I've always told you that we would stop anytime you wanted to," he said, reaching his hand out to her and running it lightly down her arm. "Would you like me to box up everything and put it up in the attic?"

Allie shook her head and placed her hand over his, smiling at him. She picked his large hand up and placed a fiery kiss to the big fingers. "I'm going to keep my apartment for now. You can do whatever you like with the equipment. You know those old apartments over by the high school? That's where I'm at. Number 4A."

"I understand, I just meant for if you do come home, I thought you might want it all put away is all," Max said with a shrug as he mentally noted where she was living and then made a face. "That place isn't too safe from what I understand."

Allie looked at him. "It's fine and it's just temporary, Max. There's a fence and a deadbolt on the door. It was either that or the B and B until an apartment opens up at The Arms by the hospital in a couple of weeks and Merlin knows I wasn't staying there with Margaret's gossipy ass."

Max chuckled. "No, I suppose not. You can take care of yourself; you've always been quick with a hex. I just worry about you," he said with a shrug. "If you wanted, I could move out and you can stay here, you know."

Allie shook her head. "No, I'm fine Max. You patients know that number and where to find you. It's better this way." She looked down at the hearth then back up at his face. "Well, it's late and I should let you get some rest, Little Max will be up for a feeding soon, I imagine. Thank you for leaving the floo open to me Max," she whispered softly.

"I never considered closing it to you. I'm glad you fire called, I was thinking about you," Max said, pulling his hand back and giving her a lop-sided grin. "Would you do me a favor Al?"

Allie smiled at him. "I'll try, Max. What is it?"

"Try not to go out tomorrow if you don't have to. I have no idea how clean the roads will be and I haven't put new tires on your car yet and the snow chains are still here in the garage. I'll come by when the sitter gets here and put them on for you," he said as he tried to think of anything else he'd forgotten, not wanting to say goodbye.

Allie laughed. "Well considering that I am sitting here in the dark and the city may have to dig us both out, I think I can do that. Was that it?"

"You've got everything you need?" Max asked and then shook his head. Of course she did, she was a resourceful witch and could take care of herself. "Sorry. Sleep well Allie, I love you."

Allie looked at him for a moment and smiled gently reaching out once more to cup his cheek, stroking her fingers across his scruffy face. "Rest well. I love you too, Max."