How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

In the workroom, Jason began to look over the stock sheet to find out what exactly he had to do today, enjoying the bit of quiet and not being stared at by Harry and the Professor. He wasn't ashamed of Richard or anyone knowing he liked the man, but really, it wasn't anyone's business.

He sighed softly as he heard the bell on the shop door tinkle and the door close, knowing Richard had just left. Jason missed him already.

Harry padded back to the workroom and looked around, eyes wide at the mess. "Merlin, what happened in here?" He looked around for a clean place to set his gifts to Jason and decided that maybe he'd better take them back to Severus's office.

"Nevermind, Jason, you have a minute? I want to give you something."

Jason eyed Harry while he ran a pail of warm water in the deep sink, adding soap and bleach to it. "What is it Harry?" he asked, bending down and looking for cleaning rags. He'd tried to forget about the mess the Professor had made the day before yesterday, but it had been waiting for him that morning.

"A gift, Jason, I told you that already." Harry chuckled. "What did you think it was? A punch in the conk? Come on now and open them." He wrinkled his nose at the smell rising up from the cleaning bucket and looked around the room once more.

"Urgh, you shouldn't be doing that. Severus made this mess, didn't he?"

Jason stood up, eyeing Harry warily, not certain of what to expect from the younger of his two employer's. "A gift? Why?" he asked as he picked up a scraper and ran it up the wall next to him. "I'm just doing my job Harry, that's all."

Harry sighed. "Jason, please put that down. I know you are doing your job but Sev made this mess in the first place and you shouldn't be cleaning up the chemicals after an explosion while you are pregnant." He turned and leaned the doorway, called for his husband then looked back at Jason. "As for the gift, well, I want to show my appreciation to you for picking up the extra work when I was gone. Besides, it's also something you do for a friend when you come back from a trip and like I said earlier, I'd really like to be your friend Jason."

Harry turned and smiled up at his husband, leaning against him as he entered the lab. "Husband, Jason nor I shouldn't really be exposed to these chemicals, should we? Would it be all right if we took the gifts I brought back from England to your office to open? We'll keep an eye on the sales floor and begin restocking the shelves between customers as well." He batted his eyes at the tall man and smiled up at him

Wrapping his arms around Harry for a moment, Severus regarded the coated walls, frowning slightly as he recalled what he'd put into the explosive cauldron. "Harry, you know that if I'm working with something that neither you nor Jason can be around, I tell you. There's been nothing used that merits alarm," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of the shorter man's head. "If you'd like to open your packages beforehand, that will be fine."

Jason looked at Harry and shrugged, it didn't matter to him if he took a break or not, the mess would wait for him.

Harry sighed and snuggled into Severus's arms, wondering just how much he could get away with this morning. "Yes Husband I know. Jason and I will clean up the mess in a few then." He pulled away and smiled at Jason.

Raising an eyebrow, Severus looked at Harry for a moment. "One of you will need to remain up front whilst I work in the back," he said, getting the impression that his young husband was angling for a way to get both he and Jason out of working. "I don't care who is manning the register and who is cleaning, work it out betwixt you."

Harry turned and looked at his husband. "Fine, Jason can sit behind the register and I'll clean up in the lab. Problem solved." He moved over to Jason and nudged him. "Come on, Jason. I hope you like what we got."

Severus nodded. "Very well Harry, let me know when you can no longer reach high enough," he said, trying hard not to smirk before moving over to his work table and busying himself with the day's work.

Jason stared at Harry like he'd lost what sense Merlin had given him, setting the scraper down on the edge of the pail. "What is that all about?" he asked softly as he eyed the two men. Neither seemed angry, but still, Harry did just stand up to the Professor.

Harry shrugged and dragged Jason out of the workroom to Severus's office, looking out into the store to make certain no one had entered then set the packages down on the desk. "I don't know what you mean." He picked up the smallest package and handed it to Jason, smiling widely. "Here, open this one first."

"What is it?" Jason asked, looking curiously at the package in his hand, almost reluctant to open it. The morning was just getting weirder by the minute. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, turning the package over in his hands. It had been a long, long time since someone had given him a gift.

"Why do you want to be my friend?" Jason asked softly.

Harry looked at Jason then the package. "It's a surprise, open it and find out." he bit his lip and sighed. "Jason... how long has it been since you had a friend? Someone that could talk to you about anything and everything, someone that would listen to you when you needed to talk as well. It's been a long time for me and I thought I'd found that with Allie but she's not like me. Not really." He stopped wondering if he was making any sense.

"It's kind of weird Harry... but okay," Jason said softly, nodding his head as he began to carefully tear away the tape. As he opened one flap, he spied gaily coloured wrappers. "Chocolate Cauldrons?"

Setting the box on the desk, Jason pulled a sweet out almost reverently. "I used to eat these when I was a kid, my dad would get them for me," he said as if talking to himself as he turned the small packet this way and that in the light before looking into the box again. "Harry, there's so many..."

Harry grinned and nodded. "I know, so you'll have a variety. I wasn't certain which flavour you might like but Grant and I figured out that the Wizarding chocolate helps. Remember the Frog this morning? Just keep an eye on the dark chocolate and cherry filled ones, Sev likes those and he's a sneaky bastard when he knows there's some about." He looked at Jason and bit his lip. "Do you really like them?"

"Yeah, I really do. I can't believe you spent this much on me, I know what these cost when you can get them here and this box is full," Jason said shaking his head. One thing he did know for certain was, that if his boss tried to swipe one of the cauldrons, things would get ugly fast. "The Professor's out of luck, I don't believe in sharing these things."

Harry chuckled. "Good on you, Jason. Don't fret about the cost, they are a gift. If you must know the reason they are so expensive here is because they are imported and they add a tariff to make up the costs. Anyway, stuff a couple in your apron pocket and munch on them through the day. While Grant and I were gone we found that having one or two chocolates whenever we got a craving helped keep us on a more even setting around others. You ever notice yourself getting irritable certain times of the year?" He pointed to the chocolates. "Those will help. Don't know how or why but they will."

Jason nodded; he knew exactly what Harry was talking about. "My grandfather has Fleymann's and man he'd turn into a high class bitch every so often," he said with a laugh, slipping several of the sweets into his apron pocket.

Harry's eyes went wide. "You know about this stuff? I mean someone was able to explain it to you and tell you what was going to happen?"

Jason quirked an eyebrow at Harry in surprise. "Yeah. My healer while I was growing up explained a lot of it to me and my grandfather did as well. It runs in my family," he said with a shrug.

Harry looked down at the table. "Oh. Um, it was kinda sprung on me. I thought there was just something wrong with me. Grant didn't know alot about it either. He's going to give me some stuff to read though and Severus said he's going to see if Doctor Montgomery will talk with us."

Reaching out his hand, Jason patted Harry's arm. "Nothing's wrong with you Harry, you can have kids, that's all," he said, trying to find words that were reassuring to the other man. "Rich really knows what he's talking about, I think. He's easy to talk to as well."

Harry snorted. "You think, eh? Well, let's hope so. You all looked rather cozy this morning. Congrats mate, I hope it works out for you. He's very handsome."

"Thanks. I don't know how long he's in town, but he's a nice guy," Jason said with a grin, refusing to let himself even dream about the possibility of a future with the Texan. Unsure of what else to say, he unwrapped a piece of the chocolate and stuck it into his mouth. "Damn that's good."

Harry grinned and pulled a Frog out of his own pocket, unwrapping it and nodded to the next package. "Whatever. He's a treat on the eyes and you should shag him. Open another one." He bit the frog's head off and grinned at Jason.

Jason snorted as he heard Harry's words. "Who says I haven't already?" he shot back.

Harry blinked then grinned, chuckling as he shook his head and ate the last of his frog. "Then why aren't you more agreeable this morning?" he teased the other man and nodded to the packages. "Go on open them. But before you do I don't want to hear nothing else about gifts, all right?" He eyed the other man for a moment. "Severus might be my husband and your employer but I'd still like to be your friend. No strings attached. Just two blokes, pregnant blokes but blokes nonetheless, learning to be friends."

Jason stared at Harry for a moment. "You don't have to give me things for me to be your friend Harry," he said as he looked at the other boxes. "It's kind of weird because I can't do something for you."

Harry shook his head. "I'm not giving them to you to have you be my friend, Jason. You did do something for me." He held up a hand. "Look, I know you said it was your job but you did all the work while I was gone so these things serve two purposes. A thank you for helping out and I thought you might use them."

Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded to Jason. "So, open the box, Jason. Enjoy it because I'd like you to have it." he grinned at his friend, "And stop being such a stick in the mud, I've seen you suck face now."

Jason felt his face warm and knew it was getting an interesting shade of red as he looked down at the boxes and shrugged. "Yeah, well he tastes good," he laughed.

Shaking his head, Jason pulled the second box to him and slowly opened it, looking down in confusion at the tissue wrapping paper inside. "What the...?" Pulling back the tissue, he was confronted with two of Madame Malkins's male pregnancy robes; one in a deep midnight blue and the other in a burgundy so dark it was almost black.

"Oh Merlin," Jason murmured softly as he quickly checked to be sure the area around him was spotless before lifting the first garment from the box. Sitting down on a crate, he let the soft, warm material pool in his lap as he stroked his fingers over the buttons.

He looked up at Harry, his eyes bright as tears threatened. "You got me robes?"

Harry nodded then bit his lip as he looked at Jason. "That's all right, isn't it? Severus said you were getting rather ..." he trailed off and gestured at his own stomach then to Jason's. "And well, I always thought you looked uncomfortable. I didn't know if you'd like them or not since I'd never seen you wear a robe but..." he stopped and bit his lip again. "Do you like them? We can send them back if you don't or I have some others if you'd like a different style."

Jason shook his head as he felt tears welling up in his eyes; hastily he wiped them away with the back of one hand. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and looked at the other man. "Nothing I have fits anymore," he whispered, "I was going to have to quit."

"They're beautiful Harry. Thank you," Jason said softly.

Harry smiled. "You're welcome, Jason. It was my pleasure." He stood and picked up the robe, holding it up. "Well, try it on. We'll have Severus adjust the charms on it to make certain it fits correctly. Can't have you quitting, who's going to keep me company when Sev locks himself in the lab all day?"

Leaning forward, Jason carefully placed the robe back in the box and laboriously got to his feet. Looking to make sure the door was shut; he partially turned away from Harry and undid the buttons on the shirt he'd borrowed from Richard that morning. Pulling it over his head, he'd forgotten about the scratches and welts that were still covering his skin, now seeming to getting bad again.

"Do you wear these with clothes under?" he asked, hating the fact that it sounded like a stupid question.

"You can, but you don't have to. Sometimes I wear an old t-shirt of Sev's when I want to be close to him." Harry moved around to help Jason with his robes, frowning as he spotted the marks on Jason's back. "What did you do to yourself?" He looked up at Jason then looked away. "I'm... I'm sorry. That's none of my business."

Jason looked down and shrugged. "I'm still so itchy all of the time. I think it's how I've been doing laundry. Don't worry, it isn't contagious, I just ran out of the cream I got here that one day and I couldn't use the oatmeal cake thing."

Harry frowned. "Why didn't you say something? Severus would have made you up some more. Wait right here and I'll get you some." He didn't even wait for Jason to answer and opened the door, going out to the shelf and grabbing a bottle. He had to stop and help a customer first, hoping Jason wasn't getting anxious as he waited for him to return as another person entered the shop.

Jason stared at the door after Harry, silently berating himself for not stopping the other man. He stocked that potion weekly and was well aware the price on the bottle. Even with his discount as an employee, the potion was dear and really, he just couldn't see spending the money on a lotion when he could take the same amount of money and buy food for a week. He'd been putting a generic lotion where he could reach, that would have to do.

Harry finished totalling out the customers and waved goodbye to them, sighing as the door closed. Pulling some money out of his pocket, he added it to the till and sold himself Jason's potion. He looked out the window for a moment and shook his head. The snow was falling again and what was with these crazy people coming in to buy little things like cosmetics and such; seemingly useless items that could wait for a better day. He had never understood the need people had to venture out in the worst weather. Shaking his head, he picked up the bottle for Jason and headed back to the office, stopping to check in on Severus first.

He knocked on the lab door but received no answer so he continued on to the office. Opening the door, he smiled at Jason and held out the bottle to him, "Here, sorry it took so long. We had a few customers. You really should have said something to Sev about this stuff. Max says you should always keep your potions in stock and take them all at the same time. They work better that way. Need help?" he offered and looked at Jason, curiously. "When do you see Max again?"

"Thank you Harry, but I had to stop using that potion. I have a lotion I picked up at Clangman's that I use when I remember," Jason said, making no move to reach for the bottle. "I'll get out front in a minute and don't worry about cleaning up in the workroom; I'll get it this afternoon."

Harry looked at Jason and held the bottle out to him. "Take it. You need it. Jason... I know what it's like to go without so please let me try to help. Take this and I'll talk to Severus about setting up an account for you. We can work out something to take a bit out of your check each week, if you like." He frowned slightly as he thought about what else Jason said. "Don't treat me like Sev does. That's what this morning was about. I'm trying to make him see that I'm just pregnant not fragile."

He shrugged and shoved the bottle at Jason. "We'll go back out in a mo; there's no one here. And if you like, we'll work on the workroom and stocking together." He smiled at Jason. "Now, use the lotion and try on the robe."

Wanting badly to tell Harry that he just couldn't afford to have anything else taken out of his check each week, Jason licked his lips and looked to the heavens as if for guidance.

"Harry, even with my discount, what I would spend on that potion will buy my groceries for almost a week. I'm glad you don't have to deal with this and I appreciate you're wanting to help, but the truth of it is this; I can't afford it," Jason said, hoping Harry would just drop the subject and let them get on with their day. "I can put tape over the scratches so they don't get anything on the robe."

Reaching for the packing tape in one of the desk drawers, Jason began tearing pieces off to cover the open lesions on his skin.

Harry reached out and put a hand on Jason's arm, shaking his head. "Stop. That's not going to help. I don't care about the robe, Jason. It's unimportant compared to you getting care for yourself and your baby. Has Max seen those marks?"

"Yeah, Doctor Sorens has seen them. He said its dry skin and hormones," Jason shrugged. "Said it would heal up sooner or later as long as I don't scratch them into infection."

Harry shook his head and held the bottle out to Jason. "I know you said you can't afford but take it anyway. It's not pity or anything else, Jason. It's just a friend trying to help out and it's about time you let someone help you. You're miserable. I can tell because I've been there, so I know. If you use this and the lotion you have, then it will last a bit longer." He eyed the other man for a moment. "Let me put it on your back where you can't reach. It's not going to do you any good if you keep scratching and you know you will then you get an infection and have another bill. Think about it."

Jason started to open his mouth to say something and then just sighed. "Thanks. You know the Professor's going to kill you, right?"

Jason handed the bottle to Harry and turned his back to him. He hadn't seen how bad his back had gotten in the past weeks, but he could certainly feel the miserable itching and had tended to rub against anything that might ease his suffering.

Harry snorted. "Severus got paid for his time and ingredients. And if you really want to pay me back for it then you can teach me how to make that purple jam. It was all he talked about on the way to the shop this morning. He and Damon apparently ate two entire jars of the stuff." He tipped some of the lotion out on to his hands and warmed it, then rubbed it into the muscles on Jason's back. He eyed Jason's skin again, making certain to smooth the lotion over the really rough patches first then started all over with a second coating.

Groaning softly without realizing he was doing, Jason dropped his head forward and sighed in relief as the constant itch was soothed. "Damn that feels good," he murmured, reaching behind his back so Harry could squirt some of the lotion into his hand so he could do his belly. "I was beginning to wonder if I was part lizard or something."

"I'll teach you how to make the jam, it's pretty easy as long as you have the berries to do it," he said, rubbing his swollen belly, smiling as one of his children kicked at him.

"Thanks." Harry poured the lotion in Jason's hand and grinned at him. "It does feel good, doesn't it? Reganne always kicks me when Sev puts it on my back." He patted Jason's shoulder and sat down in the desk chair to give the lotion time to settle in. "Have you decided on a name for yours yet? I mean, do you even know what it is, if that's not too personal a question." He rubbed his own stomach and pulled out another chocolate, peeling away the wrapper offering Jason some fudge.

Not ready to put the robe on while his body was still somewhat stacky, Jason eased his bulk into one of the other chairs, grunting softly as he did so. "I thought I had a name picked out, but things may have changed as of last night. I'm having boys."

Harry paused, the chocolate halfway to his mouth. "Boys? As in more than one?" He paled as he looked at Jason's stomach then looked at the other man's face. "Oh Merlin, no wonder you look like you're going to explode. Does Max know?"

Jason laughed as he watched the expressions on Harry's face. "Actually you are the first person I've told," he laughed. "Yeah, twins. I certainly look it, don't I?"

Harry chuckled half-heartedly and shook his head. "Damn Jason. You need to tell him." He swallowed and eyed his friend. "Wow, two in one go. I think if that had happened to me I'd tie Severus's dick in a knot."

"I know. I promised Rich that I would call Doctor Sorens and at least let him know so he can change my vitamins and stuff," Jason said with a shrug and then bit his lip. "Maybe the Professor shouldn't know."

"Why not? He's going to know anyway as he's going to be making your potions." Harry offered Jason his chocolate bar.

"I can't lose this job. Simple as that. The Professor was all worried while you were gone that I was going to pop here in the shop, so if he finds out I'm having two, he'll have a stroke," Jason muttered, making a face.

Harry snorted. "You aren't going to lose your job, Jason. Once he knows he should back off." He smiled at his friend and got up, waddling over to the insulated lunch kit he'd brought with him that morning. He pulled out a container of milk and sat down at the desk again. "He was worried about you. He acts even more like a bastard the more worried he is. Don't let him know I told you that though."

Jason nodded and then looked up. "I should probably get to work," he said as he got to his feet and picked up one of the robes. "Is it alright if I wear this here?"

Harry nodded and drank a long swallow of his milk. "They are yours, Jason. You can wear them where ever you like. Here, let me help you get dressed and then we can have Severus cast the Altering charm if necessary."

Holding the robe out in front of himself, Jason eyed it for a moment. "You know, I haven't worn a robe since the Christmas when I was ten. We had to wear them to have a portrait made. I don't know if I remember how the things work now," he muttered, shifting the garment in his hands to begin to undo the long row of buttons. "Pants or not under it?"

Harry chuckled and looked up as the bell to the door rang. "Depends on if you get cold or not. I'll get that. I don't wear anything under mine, so I'll close the door if you want to shuck your kit while I'm gone." He pointed to the robe. "That solid piece goes first then the top piece goes over it like a cloak." He waddled over to the door and grinned at Jason. "I'll be back in a mo if you need more help." He scooted out the door and shut it softly behind him.

Once he heard the door shut, Jason reached under his belly and undid the strained buttons on his jeans, sighing in relief as the pressure to his kidneys, and the small of his back and lower belly was released. "Geez that feels better," he mumbled to himself as he pushed the jeans down, relieved that the other man had left the room. Having not worn any boxers that morning, he would have ended up flashing Harry and that was something he didn't think anyone needed to be subjected to.

Pulling the under robe over his head and smoothing it over his bulging belly, Jason sighed appreciatively at the softness against his irritated skin. "Merlin bless him," he said softly, turning this way and that to see how the robe fell around his feet.

Harry quickly helped the customer find the complexion potions she was looking for and completed the sale, smiling and enduring the patting his belly received from the elderly lady before returning to the workroom. He knocked on the door and cracked it slightly. "Jason?"

"Yeah?" he asked as he looked up, dropping his hands to his sides from where he'd been rubbing his belly. "Everything okay?"

Nodding, Harry smiled at Jason and entered the room, sitting down in his chair and propping his feet up on the stool. He scratched his belly. "Merlin, I hate it when they think my stomach is public property. The little old ladies do that to you too?"

He watched Jason, crooking his head to the side. "You look good. That's a nice colour on you. They feel all right?" He bit his lip as Jason just stood there.

Snorting in amusement, Jason nodded. "Yeah, a few of them do. Most just look at me, a horrified expression on their faces," he laughed. "The under robe feels great, can it be worn alone?"

Jason picked up the heavier outer robe by the shoulders and looked it over appraisingly. "This is so nice Harry; I still can't believe you got them for me."

Harry shook his head. "Ignore them. I've gotten a couple of strange looks a few times as well but it's none of their business." He stood and walked over to Jason, eyeing the fit and cut, making certain they weren't too long as to be a hazard around the shop. "I don't see why you couldn't wear it alone. The over robe is more for warmth I think."

He leaned against the desk and smiled at Jason. "I'm glad you like them, Jason, so think nothing of it. I have some more too if you need some extras. Allie made them for me and I bet if we have someone let out all the extra stitching they'd fit over your stomach as well."

"How much would you want for them?" Jason asked, carefully refolding the outer robe and settling back in the box, he'd wear it to see Richard at lunch. The robe was comfortable and he could easily imagine finishing out his pregnancy in the loose fitting garments.

Harry waved Jason's question off. "We'll figure that out later. Do we need to have Severus make any adjustments for you?"

Jason shook his head. "No, I think it's pretty perfect. Does it look alright?" he asked as he moved to stand in front of Harry.

Harry grinned. "Jason, if I weren't married and knocked-up, I'd date you myself. You look so handsome; Doctor Montgomery won't know what hit him."

Laughing, Jason bent over to retrieve his clothes, folding them and placing them in the box with Rich's shirt laying on the top. "Is it alright if I let this set here until I go home?" he asked, stuffing his feet back into his worn sneakers.

Harry nodded. "Fine by me. But I'd hide the chocolate under your clothes and don't forget to put a few pieces in your apron pockets."

Jason did as was suggested, moving his jeans to lie on top of the chocolate. "I'm going to get to work Harry. Thanks again," he said softly as he opened the office door, picking up his shop apron on his way out.

Determined now, Jason pushed the door open to the back of the shop and walked over to where the bucket of now cold water set waiting. Harry had been nice to him, now he would return the favour the only way he could.

Harry followed behind Jason and grabbed his arm, steering him over to the counter. Looking Jason in the eye, he crossed his arms over his chest. "I meant what I said in the workroom, Jason. You work the register today. Severus is going to see that I'm not some fragile flower. Put up potions if you like and take down the out of dates but I'm going to clean up his bloody mess."

"I'll switch with you after lunch, okay?" Jason said as he tossed the scraper back down. He'd tried.

@@@@@

Max woke up slowly, his limbs stiff and half numb, disoriented for a moment; he looked around and wondered why he was in the living room. Alone.

Groaning softly, he rubbed at his face and looked down at his watch. It was seven in the morning and he could hear muffled sounds from the kitchen. "Allie? Is that you in there?" he called out quietly just in case Sarah had yet to make an appearance that morning.

Allie turned and smiled at Sarah, setting the plate in front of the little girl. "Did you hear that? It sounds like your Daddy's finally decided to join us. Why don't you go get him and tell him breakfast is ready?"

Sarah grinned and pushed the chair out from the table, sliding down and running into the living room. "Daddy!"

She jumped up onto his lap and grabbed at his scrub top. "Mickey's is on the table! With scrawberry syrup too! And bacon!"

Max gathered up his lapful of daughter, getting to his feet with a chuckle. "Strawberry syrup? What did you do to get something so good?" he teased as he carried their daughter back into the kitchen and deposited her in her chair.

Out of years of habit, Max shuffled over to where Allie was standing at the stove, stooping down to press a kiss to her cheek. "Morning Sunshine," he murmured, straightening back up to reach for a coffee cup.

Allie flushed and set a plate full of pancakes in front of his place on the table. "Morning, Max. You sleep all right, papa bear?" She opened the fridge and got the milk out, pouring some in a sippy cup for Sarah and set the gallon on the table for Max to put in his coffee as well.

"I did mama bear, what about you?" he asked as he sat down and looked at his plate, grinning over at Sarah briefly. "And did you sleep well sissy bear?"

Allie nodded and returned to the stove, flipping the last few strips of bacon. She turned around to watch Sarah and Max for a few minutes then looked up at the clock before pulling down a clean bottle to begin preparing breakfast for her son.

Sarah giggled and grabbed a piece of bacon, dripping and sticky with syrup. She licked the bright red syrup from the meat and crunched on the bacon. "All night, Daddy."

Max pushed his chair back, getting to his feet. "Here Allie, I'll get the baby, you sit down and have some breakfast. You've gone to all the trouble of making it, you should eat while it's hot," he said as he took the bottle from her and gave her an easy grin. It was nice to remember how she'd felt curled up on his lap while they'd slept. It had felt like a family again.

Allie smiled at him and shook her head, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Eat. I've already had some." She rolled a piece of bacon in a pancake and bit into it, then picked up the bottle and shook it, mixing the powder and water while she ate and smiled at them.

Max turned and grinned down at Sarah. "Did mama bear eat without me?" he asked with a chuckle. "Was I snoring loud in the living room?" He sat back down and picked up his fork, attacking his food with gusto.

Sarah giggled and nodded, reaching for her milk. "Out of the pan."

Allie chuckled and heaved herself off the counter, testing the milk on her wrist. "Shhh, you aren't supposed to tell on Mommy."

"That silly mommy," Max laughed, opening his mouth for another bite. Watching Allie, he continued to eat, startled out of his reverie at the shrill ring of the telephone there in the kitchen.

Frowning slightly, he leaned back in his chair and snagged the receiver. Answering the phone and then having a short conversation, which left him with a grim look on his face and a markedly deflated mood.

Allie arched an eyebrow at him but left him alone for a moment while she went and retrieved Little Max. She changed and dressed him, popped the bottle in his mouth then carted him back into the kitchen and settled herself down at the table next to Max. Leaning back in the chair, she smiled at Sarah, wondering if she should run a bath next.

"Who was that, if you don't mind me asking?" She adjusted Max in her arms and reached for a small bottle on the table, shaking out her medicine to take.

"The sitter. She just called to cancel," Max said with a sigh, pushing the rest of his breakfast away from him. He put a smile on his face and reached out to stroke little Max's cheek for a moment.

Allie nodded and took a large drink of her water then stuffed two pills in her mouth, swallowing them down then sticking her tongue out. "Ugh. Sorry about that."

She watched him touch Little Max then looked up at his face. "Well, do you need her? I mean, is the office opening today?"

"Yeah, we're supposed to open at one," Max said with a shrug. "I'll call Grant and see if he's feeling up to keeping the kids, he might be if Damon's going to be there to help him with the lifting."

"Don't." Allie rested her hand on his arm. "If it's all right, I'll stay with them. Sarah's gonna need a bath, I think she's got strawberry syrup in her eyebrows now." She nodded at her daughter and grinned.

"Of course you can stay Al, I just thought you had other things to do so I didn't want to ask," Max said as he looked at his sticky child. "How did she manage to get it in her eyebrows?"

Allie shrugged and laughed as she pulled the bottle from Max's mouth, moving him to her shoulder to burp him. "She's three. My gran used to say it wasn't good eats unless you got it in your eyebrows so I guess she enjoyed it."

Max just shook his head and laughed, pulling his plate back and finishing off his food. "I'll get the dishes if you don't mind starting her bath. I'll come in and help you with it," he said as he stood and began to clear the table.

Allie nodded. "All right, thanks. Finish up Sarah and we'll scrub you in the bath when you're done." She laid Max down in her arms again to give him the rest of his bottle and allow Sarah time to finish her breakfast, turning her eyes to watch the big man at the sink.

Smiling to himself, Max quickly did up the dishes, setting each item in the drainer and washing off the counters, stove and sink before he turned back to his family.

Sending Sarah ahead of them, he paused to look at Allie for a moment. "This isn't ruining anything for your day, is it?" he asked softly, trying to remember if she'd mentioned needing to do anything or not the night before.

Allie stood, easing the empty bottle from Max's mouth and setting it on the table. She rested a finger over her lips and shook her head, carrying the baby back to his room, patting his back gently before she laid him down again. Returning to the kitchen she smiled at him and took his hand, leading him to the bathroom. "No, I was going to try and see Adam today but if you all aren't opening up until after noon then I've got plenty of time."

"Do you want me to call him and make sure he's going to be in the office?" Max asked, gently squeezing the small woman's hand as he followed along after her.

Allie shook her head, smiling at him gently. "Thanks but no, it can wait. I'll just spend the time here with you and the kids, if that's all right." She grinned at the naked little girl jumping up and down in the bathroom, waiting on them to run the bathwater. "What do you say Sarah?"

"Please!" Sarah shrieked as she danced around them both, starting to sing loudly and off key.

"Mommy loves Daddy and Daddy loves Mommy!"

"All right, it's settled then." Allie laughed and shook her head, squeezing Max's hand once more then letting go to bend over the tub. She spun the taps and adjusted the temperature of the water, looking over her shoulder at Max, "Better catch that wild monkey, Papa bear."

Feeling a tightness in his chest, Max was speechless for a moment before he caught Sarah and settled her down into the large tub. "There you go mama bear, I'm going to go find her some clean clothes," he said as he left the bathroom before the woman could see the tears in his eyes.

Sarah looked up at her mother and pouted. "Is Daddy going to cry again?" she asked, her tone affronted.

Allie sighed and looked down at her daughter. She bit her lip as she turned off the water and knelt beside the tub. "I don't know, baby. I'll go check on him in a few minutes though when we're done with your bath, all right?"

Sarah looked up at her mother and nodded solemnly. The past few weeks had been hard on her and she was overjoyed to see her mother again. "Can we make cookies tonight?" she asked after a moment, lifting her washcloth up and wiping at her face.

Allie shook her head and smiled at her daughter, taking the washcloth from her and scrubbing her little face. "We'll see sweetheart." She ran the cloth over the top of Sarah's head then picked up the plastic cup and filled it with water. "Close your eyes baby, Mommy's going to shampoo your hair now. Got to get all the sticky off you."

"And tomorrow we can go see Nonnie," Sarah said planning out her weekend as she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. "Can we take cookies to Pop-pop?"

"You'll most likely see Nonnie and Pop-pop on Sunday, sweetie." Allie murmured as she rubbed the shampoo into the fine red hair and scrubbed Sarah's scalp. "Let's make a cake instead of cookies, hmm? How about that? Mommy would like to make something for Uncle Harry too."

"Can I help?" Sarah asked as she wobbled her head in her mother's capable hands. "Can I call Nonnie?"

Allie rinsed her hands and filled the cup again to wash the suds from Sarah's hair. "Yes, you may help and we'll see about calling Nonnie later. He was up late last night. Now be very still, baby. I don't want to get soap in your eyes."

"Why was Nonnie up late? Was Pop-pop up late too?" she asked as she stilled her movements. "Did Pop-pop get mad cause Nonnie was up late?"

Allie bit her lip. "Nonnie fell last night and got a boo-boo and Pop-pop had to take him to see your Daddy. Daddy patched him up and he's resting now." She finished rinsing Sarah's hair and lathered up a body pouf then handed it to Sarah so she could wash herself. Sitting back on her haunches she smiled at the little girl.

"Poor Nonnie," the child said as she took the pouf and began to rub it over her body. "Can we make a snowman?"

Allie nodded as she watched her daughter. "After your bath, we'll bundle up nice and warm and see if Daddy would like to join us for a little while. I'll see if we can't find the camera and we'll take some pictures as well. That sound good?"

Sarah nodded and she was quiet for a moment. "Mommy, are we going to your house?"

Allie blinked and filled the cup, rinsing Sarah quickly then pulling the plug from the tub. She rose and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her daughter as she lifted her from the bathwater. "No, baby. Mommy's going to stay here with you today. Why do you ask?"

"Cause you were losted before," Sarah said, patting Allie's cheek with a small wet hand, "but you found us."

Max stood in the doorway of the bathroom, looking down on the two women in his life and nearly broke down in tears. "Hey, I found some clothes for the little Sarah bear," he said, his voice hoarse and gruff as he stepped forward, offering a hand to Allie to help her up.

Allie looked up at Max then back down at Sarah uncertain what to say. She took Max's hand and stood, biting her lip for a moment. "All righty then. Well, you can dry her off and I'll go look for the camera." She squeezed Max's hand tightly for a moment then smiled at him. "Think you can see your way into making a snowman with us, Papa bear?"

Max looked at Allie, a pained expression on his face. "I'm sorry Al, she doesn't understand. I'll try to explain it to her again," he said softly as his wife turned his hand loose. "The camera is in the kitchen."

Allie swallowed and smiled down at Sarah then looked back up at the big man. She stepped closer to him, reaching up to touch his cheek gently. "It's all right, Max. Don't worry about it okay. I'm here right now and that's all that matters. One step at a time, right?"

Max nodded, he could live with that.

Sarah danced around in her towel. "We going to make a cake Daddy!" she sang out. "And I can help, Mommy said so!"

Max looked down at their daughter and laughed at her antics. "Well good. I like cake, so you better make a big one," he teased, reaching out to gently pat Allie's shoulder. "Chocolate, don't forget."

@@@@@

Grant slowly opened his eyes in the early morning sunlight that was streaming in the windows. He'd forgotten to draw the curtains the night before when they'd gone to bed.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, Grant looked down at the pink cast that encased his forearm and hand. "Damn," he murmured, shaking his head to clear it of all the pain and sedative potions he'd taken in the past twelve hours. Getting to his feet, he walked around to the other side of the bed and drew the curtains tightly, turning to smile down at his husband's blanketed form still lying in bed.

"Are you awake?" Grant asked as he slid back between the covers and scooted close to Damon.

Damon grunted and wrapped his arms around Grant "Yeah sorta. What time is it?" He sighed and snuggled into the small man's body.

"A little after eight," Grant replied softly, turning his body in Damon's arms so that he was lying with his back pressed to the man's broad chest. Rubbing his bare bottom over Damon's pyjama clad groin, Grant reached behind him with his good arm and began to tug at the man's waistband.

Damon chuckled. "You need something, Injun?" He slid his hand down to help Grant, moving his legs to kick off his pyjamas then reached up to tickle his fingers across Grant's stomach.

"Need you," Grant breathed, moving his hand to encircle the older man's cock, slowly stroking it to life. His own small cock was already painfully hard and his slit engorged with blood just at the thought of his man touching him.

"Do you want me?"

"I always want you," Damon murmured and kissed the back of Grant's neck, sliding his hand down to grasp Grant's little cock. He squeezed the firm flesh gently and eased back out of Grant's hand, pushing his leg over and sliding up closer to him, rubbing his prick between Grant's cheeks. "Nothing better than making love to you in the morning."

With one hard thrust, he entered Grant, sliding into his slit and moaning softly as he was gripped by the tight wet muscles.

Grunting as he was entered, Grant sighed and pushed back onto Damon's thick shaft and then thrust forward into the man's hand. "Merlin, I love waking up with you," he said with a moan and a soft laugh. Retirement definitely had its advantages.

Damon chuckled again as he slid back and thrust into Grant again. Nibbling and licking on Grant's shoulder, he fisted Grant's prick, stroking him lazily as he thrust once more, "It's nice to have you home, Pet. Missed you terribly. You can't ever go away again."

"I don't want to go away again, I missed you too much," Grant murmured, arching into the bites Damon was leaving on his neck. "I hate waking up and you not there." Sighing softly, somewhat relieved, Grant noted that the frantic need he'd felt the night before had seemed to abate some after resting.

"I can't believe I broke my wrist," he laughed and then groaned as he pressed Damon's hand flat over his prick.

Damon laughed against Grant's skin, sliding his hand out from under Grant's. He pressed Grant's hand to his own prick then reached under his sac and rubbed his clit lightly. "Touch yourself. We had fun getting there but accidents happen, baby."

He thrust in hard again and bit down on Grant's shoulder, moaning a bit louder as he moved his fingers and hips faster.

Grant's eyes closed as he sucked a breath in. Pushing and rubbing at his cock, his legs began to shake as Damon thrust into him harder. Squeezing his muscles tighter around Damon's shaft, the small man bit his lip and moaned loudly.

"That's it, little one," Damon murmured against Grant's skin. "You feel so good on me, so tight, so wet. Make it feel good and come for me, Pet."

Kissing and licking on Grant's shoulder, he thrust harder into his husband as he felt his body tense and ready for his own orgasm.

Almost painfully, Grant ground the heel of his hand into his small cock, flattening the shaft as he rode Damon.

"So big Daddy, so big!" Grant cried out, drawing his knees up to his body as the first waves of his orgasm broke over him, his little twat contracting tightly.

Damon hissed as he continued to thrust into Grant then gasped as he felt the hot fluid from Grant's orgasm soak him and the sheets. Groaning, he came, shuddering and continuing to piston into the smaller man as he rode out his release.

He tightened his arms around Grant and sighed, pressing kisses to Grant's sweaty skin and panting as he held him.

Grant could feel the evidence of what they'd just done on his inner thighs and he could also feel the incessant need that had fuelled him last night begin once more. Biting his lip, he began to rub at his cock once more, rocking back on Damon's softening shaft.

Damon grunted, opening his eyes and hissing softly. "Pet?" He tightened his arms around Grant, trying to rise up and see what his husband was doing. "Baby, I didn't take one of those pills," he murmured softly. "I can't."

Grant dropped his hand and stilled, closing his eyes as he lay panting next to his husband. The last thing he wanted was for Damon to feel like he needed to take a drug to satisfy him sexually.

"Don't take anymore of them, I want you to get rid of them," Grant said as he started to pull away. "I'm going to go start your shower, baby."

Damon held fast to Grant and shook his head. "No. I'm not going to get rid of them. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be fine. Or bring me some water and I'll take one. That's why I got them dammit."

"Please don't be angry with me," Grant said softly as he relaxed in Damon's grasp. "I can wait until you're ready, but can I have something for my arm first?"

Damon sighed and squeezed Grant to him, running his hands over Grant's skin trying to sooth his husband. "I'm not angry, Grant. I'm just trying to do what's best for you, Pet. You have to work with me here, not against me."

"Okay," Grant said simply and then wriggled around a little in the other man's arms until he was facing him.

"Your poor face," he murmured as he stroked the fingers of his good hand over Damon's cheek.

Damon hissed and tried not to pull away from Grant's fingers as they brushed his skin. It hurt something fierce and he wondered what his face looked like. He grabbed Grant's hand and pulled his fingers to his mouth, kissing and sucking on the small digits, then winked at him. "Probably an improvement, Pet."

Although he tried not to, Grant grinned at Damon's words, snickering softly. "Only makes you look even more dangerous than you do normally. Will you let me put some salve on it?"

Damon shook his head and leaned over to look at the clock. Swearing softly, he sighed. "Ain't got time, baby. I have to open today and I need to get up to the bar. Come shower with me and you can go with today." He set Grant on his feet and eased out of bed, gingerly making his way to the bathroom and pulling Grant with him.

Following along, Grant held his injured arm up and waved it. "Would you charm it so it stays dry?" he asked before taking some towels down from the shelf.

Damon turned around and smiled at him as he bent to turn on the taps. "Do it yourself. Do you know the charm?"

Grant shook his head. "No, not yet. Is it an easy one?" he asked as he walked back to the bedroom to find his wand among his discarded clothing. Returning to the bathroom, he stood with it in his good hand and looked at Damon. "Will it work? I can't use my wand hand."

Damon made a face. "Sorry, forgot about that." He hefted Grant's wand and smiled at the thrum that went through him. "It is an easy charm but I wouldn't be trying to do any magic since you need to be able to flick your wrist properly."
He demonstrated, waving the wand sharply. "Impervious!"

Grant watched Damon's hands and whispered the words to himself to remember for later use. "Thank you," he said as he stepped under the spray and tipped his face up to the hot water. "What do you want me to do at the bar today?"

Damon set Grant's wand on the counter and stepped in behind him, running his hands over Grant's wet body. He hummed as he slid his palms over Grant's tummy and down to his little cock. "Sit in my office and look handsome. Balance my books, make deposits and write out pay checks?"

Grant nodded, closing his eyes and leaning back against Damon. "You'll have to sign them, but I can do everything else on the computer," he breathed, pushing into Damon's hand.

Damon nodded, sliding his prick between Grant's cheeks and nibbling on his ear lobe. "I know and I will." He pulled back on Grant's foreskin gently as he pressed against him.

Reaching out, Grant braced his hands on the shower wall as best he could, raising on his tiptoes to rub his ass over Damon's cock better. "Do we have time for this?" he asked, biting back a groan as his cock was toyed with.

Damon hummed again, feeling his cock twitch as it slowly came around again and moved his hand faster over Grant. "I can make you come but that's about it, I think. We don't have time for much else."

"I can do it quick," Grant said as he went back down onto the soles of his feet. Putting one hand over Damon's large one, he flattened their palms over his cock, pressing it hard against his belly.

Damon cradled Grant against him, still nuzzling him and rubbing against him. "I know you can but let me help." He chuckled slightly. "It's old, Pet. You've used it and abused it a long time."

"Never meant to abuse it," Grant murmured, arching in Damon's arms, his cock twitching under the man's hand.

Damon fought not to wrap his hand around Grant's prick to stroke him. Pressing his palm flat against Grant's stomach, he licked Grant's shoulder. "Not real abuse then, just use, we'll say."

Biting down into Grant's skin, he moaned softly as he thrust against him and rubbed him harder.

Breathing harder, Grant rocked his hips and groaned almost inaudibly as he coated his belly and Damon's palm with his seed.

"Thank you," he whispered, leaning back heavily and letting his arms fall to his side.

Damon sighed, and rinsed his hand then Grant's stomach, his prick half hard from their frottage. He kissed the impression of his teeth on Grant's skin and chuckled, then reached up for the body wash and bath pouf. "It was my pleasure, little one. You gonna be all right for a little while now?"

Grant nodded, slowly opening his eyes and looking up at his husband. Taking the pouf and soap from Damon, he began to wash his husband thoroughly before washing his own body. "I thought I'd take the sedative with me just in case."

"All right, but not too much. Sev said that stuff's bad for you and he's working on some new. Plus you have whatever Max gave you last night and those pain pills. We need to drop that shit off." Damon reached up, pulling the showerhead from its perch and sprayed them off. He shampooed his short hair quickly then looked at Grant, arching an eyebrow.

"My hair's fine until tonight. I washed it yesterday before we left," Grant said as he shook his head at the other man. "I can't braid it up, but maybe a ponytail would work today."

Damon nodded and shut off the water, smiling at Grant as he leaned in and kissed Grant, then helped him out onto the bathmat. "A ponytail's fine. I can walk by and play with it when I come in and check on you."

He stepped out as well and wrapped a towel around Grant, drying him off then pinching his bottom for good measure. "Go on, get dressed and get me some clothes too. I'll make us something to eat at the bar."

Smiling, Grant did as he was told, pausing only to slip an extra phial of sedative into his pocket before pulling a sweater on over it. He laid out Damon's clothes and then awkwardly began to shine the man's boots while he waited for the man to finish shaving and come out to get dressed.

Damon sauntered out of the bathroom in a cloud of Stetson cologne and rubbing his face. "Hey, feel this. Did I get it..." he stared down at Grant "What do you think you are doing?"

Grant looked up, a smile on his face as he looked at his naked husband. "Shining your boots," he said as he held up a rag with polish on it for the man to see. "You smell delicious."

Damon arched an eyebrow and shook his head. "I can see that but you..." he chuckled slightly and took the rag away from Grant, reaching out to wipe away the tar black streak on his face and hands. He tossed the rag and polish back into the kit and looked at Grant, "Baby, I can do without the shine for a while. You can't do all the things you used to with that cast. If you keep trying, you aren't going to get any better."

Disgruntled, Grant sat back, crossing his legs as he sighed in disgust. "I hate feeling useless," he muttered, staring at his toenails. "Would you pull my hair back for me?"

Damon smirked and kissed Grant's pouty lip. "You aren't useless just broke for a bit. We'll have to find different things for you to do. You can supervise or something." He pulled Grant to his feet. "Go get me the brush while I dress then I'll do you hair."

@@@@@@@@

Not much later, the older couple were ready to walk out the door. As Grant managed to get his coat on, he felt something heavy in his pocket. Reaching in, he pulled out the jeweller's box that held the bracelet Orion Snape had given to Harry.
"Damon, I forgot to tell you, but we ran into Severus's father while we were in Diagon Alley. He gave this to Harry and I told him I'd hold onto it for him until we got back," the small man said as he held the box out for Damon.

Damon froze and stared at the black box. He'd only heard bits and pieces of the stories about Orion Snape from Grant, and not one thing he'd heard had been good. He'd seen the evidence of the man's heavy handedness on his son and while he had his own past to answer for, it was not something he'd brought on his loved ones willingly and with such malicious intent as the elder Snape.

He grasped the velvet box warily and opened it, eyeing the jewellery and feeling the heavy weight of ancient magic on the bracelet pushing against him. Grunting, he closed it. "Hmm, pretty trinket. I'll get it to Sev sometime today." Wrapping his arm around Grant, he aided his husband down the stairs to his truck. "Snape didn't bother the two of you overmuch, did he?"

Grant shook his head. "No, he was just creepy as all get out," he said as he held onto Damon for support. "I was afraid to let Harry wear it until it could be looked at. I know I'm probably being a worrywart, but you know me."

"Do you think it's alright?" Grant asked as he opened the truck door and climbed into the seat, shivering at the bitter cold, his wet hair icy on the back of his neck.

Damon shook his head at his husband and cast a drying charm on him then a warming charm on his little husband. He closed the door and jogged around to the other side sliding behind the wheel and starting the truck. "I didn't feel anything bad in the magic, just protection charms, a Watch-Over-Me charm, and a Stork charm. It might come in handy if Severus will allow Harry to use it." He leaned over and kissed Grant, gently. "All the same charms that was in your amulet, Pet. My Da used them with my mom then taught them to me when it was our time."

Straightening up, Damon looked out the back window and eased out of the drive. "You did a good thing Pet. Snape doesn't need to get his hands on Harry."

"I didn't know those charms were on the amulet," Grant said as he turned to look at his husband's profile. "So it's safe? Snape said that it had been worn by the heir producing Snape consort or wife."

Damon nodded as he pulled out on to the main highway into Echo. "Safe enough. They are like little alerts to the father. You know what protection charms are; except this is doubled for both mother and baby. Watch-Over-Me is a charm on the mother. It lets the father know about her health, just general stuff; morning sickness, hunger, fever, vapours, things of that nature. The Stork Charm lets the father know when the baby is about to arrive." He reached over and took Grant's hand, squeezing his fingers gently. "I had Da send me the spells when we found out about Amelia."

"Oh," Grant said softly, looking down at where their hands were joined. Quiet for several moments, he looked out the window at the passing scenery.

"I can't imagine anyone even trying to get out in this mess," he murmured as they passed an old car that was trundling down the road at them. "Surely Severus didn't open the shop up."

Damon snorted. "Life goes on; rain, sleet, snow or hail. He's got to, Pet. People need their medicines. Even your docs will be out later today. It's in your bylaws." He looked over at Grant as he drove through town. "You all right? I didn't mean to upset you by telling you. How else did you think I was able to get there so quickly when it happened?" he asked softly.

"I didn't know. I suppose I always thought the healer's wife had called you on base, but that was stupid wasn't it? They didn't have a telephone," Grant said, shrugging. "I'm glad you were there though."

Damon shook his head as he pulled into the back parking lot of Cutty's. He put the truck in park and turned to look at Grant, taking both of Grant's hands in his own. "It's not stupid, Pet. You were scared. Hell, so was I. The charm didn't tell me much of anything except that the baby was coming and that you were in pain. I didn't know what I could do but I was going to be there with you like I couldn't be for the others."

Grant opened his mouth to speak and then just nodded his head as he leaned toward Damon. "She would have been forty one this year," he whispered, his voice hoarse with unshed tears.

Damon nodded and pulled Grant into his lap, holding him tightly. "I know, baby, I know. She's home now though, where she belongs." He rubbed Grant's back briskly as he held him. "It'll be all right now."

@@@@@

Harry looked up at the clock and then back to the closed door to Severus' workroom. It was lunch time and he was more than ready for it. Sliding off of his stool behind the counter, he knocked on the door twice and then slipped into the work room.

"Husband... are you hungry?" he asked quietly as he watched Severus chopping up some sort of dried fungus.

Severus continued chopping his ingredients, not once looking up at his little husband, so involved in the processes of brewing. "Not now, Harry. I am busy." he murmured, not unkind just distracted. "My wallet is in my pocket if you need money to order something and have it delivered. Just don't bring it back here."

"I thought we were going to Cutty's for lunch?" Harry asked. "Did you want me to call and let Doctor Montgomery know we've changed our plans?"

Severus's brow furrowed. "Just a moment, Harry." He scraped the fungus into the bubbling cauldron then immediately stirred it with a wooden dowel seven times clockwise then seven times anti-clockwise. He tapped the cauldron with his wand and smirked in satisfaction as the potion changed colours from muted brown to a bright green.

He doused the flame with his wand then pocketed the ebony wood and looked up at his husband as he moved the small glass cauldron off the stand to cool. "Now what were you saying, little one?" he began to wash his hands at the sink and watched Harry, smiling at him and he beckon him forward with a nod of his head.

"I asked if you'd like me to cancel our lunch date," Harry said as he went to stand next to the taller man, leaning against him for a moment, smiling at the contact. He loved to watch Severus work; his hands were sure and precise in their motions, the same as they were when they were on his body.

Severus dried his hands and shook his head. "No, Harry, I most certainly do not. Is it that time already?" He wrapped one arm around Harry, squeezing him close and flung the towel into the trash. "How was your morning with Jason? I take it the two of you survived without me to run interference." He'd not heard any breaking glass nor yelling but then again he'd been brewing and often didn't hear many things whilst doing so.

"We've been fine. There have been a few customers, but it's been really slow. Do you think we should stay open after lunch?" Harry asked, wrapping his own arms around Severus' waist and holding him tight.

Severus rubbed Harry's back as they walked out of his lab. "Possibly. I do need to be here for those that need their medicines but since you say we've not been busy we may take a long lunch."

He eyed Jason at the counter, nearly goggling at the change in the younger man, just the effect a set of clothes had. The young man looked quite stunning in the new robes. He smiled down at his husband then looked at his employee "Mister Summers that is quite a fetching ensemble you have on. It will be my pleasure to escort two handsome young men to lunch today."

Jason looked up, his pale skin colouring as his mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Um... okay Professor," he said as he stared at his employer. Who knew, maybe he had ingested some sort of hallucinogenic ingredient back there.

Severus chuckled. "Come now, Jason, surely you've had someone offer you a compliment before." He looked around the shop then at the two men. "Are you both hungry and ready to go now?"

"Sure Professor," Jason said as he pulled his apron off and hung it on its hook. "I'll get the sign." Waddling over to the door, Jason peered out onto the street for a moment before flipping the open sign to 'closed'. As much as he hated to admit it, he was hungry and missing Richard terribly.

Harry smiled up at Severus. "Jason does look good, doesn't he? Robes always make me look shorter," he said with a laugh.

Severus nodded his head. "He does but I think you both look very handsome, Harry. You chose well." He offered his arm to Harry then looked at Jason. "Thank you, Jason. Let's go."

Jason picked up his coat and wrapped it around himself, following the Professor and Harry out the back. He'd overheard what Harry had said about closing after lunch and really hoped he could work the afternoon.

"Professor, would you like me to stock the ingredients that came in day before yesterday?" he asked as he heaved himself into the back seat of the truck while the Professor lifted his husband into the front seat.

Severus slid behind the wheel and started the truck, turning to look at Jason for a moment while it warmed. "I've already done so, Jason. I needed some of them whilst I brewed this morning." He smiled though and reached into his pocket, passing Jason his pay check.

Jason took the envelope, carefully putting it in one of the pockets of his robe for safekeeping. "Oh. I'm sorry I didn't get to them when they came in. What did you want me to do when we get back from lunch?"

Severus shook his head. "Never you mind Jason, sometimes it does me good to get in and deal with the ingredients immediately." He turned around and backed out of his space, manoeuvring the big truck through the streets to Cutty's. Reaching over to take Harry's hand, he looked up at Jason in the rear-view mirror. "I've not yet decided about after lunch yet, Jason, so try to relax. We'll decide after."

Harry smiled up at Severus and turned to look at Jason. "We may be taking a long lunch and then you can go home after. There's not much going on at the shop," he said cheerfully.

Jason looked down at his lap, scowling. In one way he wanted to deck Harry for being so cheerful. The man knew he needed to work however there was a little spark of something that said he would be able to spend more time with Richard if he went home.
He fingered the luxurious material of the robe and pondered the possibilities as they drove.

How long had it been since he'd done something so frivolous? He knew he couldn't afford it but it was something he really wanted. He wanted to spend that time with Richard Montgomery desperately.

@@@@@

Richard sat in his car, the engine running to keep him warm as he waited in the parking lot of Cutty's. He was looking forward to seeing Jason more than eating, but the food would be a bonus.

The parking lot was slowly filling and he began to wonder if they were going to be able to get a table. As he sat there debating on whether or not to go in and sit down to wait, he spotted a large black truck pull in with Jason in the backseat.

With a smile, he waited until the truck had come to a stop before getting out and walking over.

"Hello there Professor Snape, Mister Snape," he called as the truck's door opened. "Hold on a second Jason and I'll give you a hand."

Severus nodded to the man and Harry waved to him as well, grinning at Jason as he straightened up in the back seat.

Jason ran his hands over his robes and took a deep breath as Richard walked around the truck. He fought with himself not to open the door and jump down on his own, just because he could and because it was habit to go against something when someone gave him an order. But he wanted to see Richard's face when he saw the new robes. He had to see if it was just a side effect of something in the air at the shop or if he really did look that much different in them.

Opening the passenger door, Richard looked in at Jason, smiling and then froze at the sight of him. "Merlin," he breathed, standing there in the cold and staring.

Jason arched an eyebrow. All right, so maybe it was the robes. Maybe they'd all taken stupid pills that morning or something. He smiled at the man and held out his hand. "You gonna stand there all day or are we going to eat? Either way I'd like to get out of the truck, please."

"Yes, of course," Richard said, shaken into action as Jason spoke. Moving in closer, he undid Jason's belt and started to put his arms under him to lift him out of the truck when he stopped.

"I'm sorry, I should have asked. Would you like me to help you down?" Richard asked. He hadn't forgotten this morning and Jason's fierce streak of independence. Looking into the younger man's face, he smiled. "You look amazing, by the way."

"Thank you," Jason murmured softly and flushed slightly as he took Richard's hand. "Help down would be appreciated; you don't have to carry me though. I got up here just fine."

Richard helped Jason down from the truck, keeping a firm hand on him until his feet were firmly on the ground and then not letting go for fear of the younger man slipping on the ice.

Richard looked up to find Severus doing the same with Harry, strong hands keeping the smaller wizard upright and safe. "I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get a table or not, it looks like they are drawing a crowd."

Severus smiled and looked over at Richard as he walked up the path to the doors. "Cutty's is the best in town, Doctor, it's always crowded you'll find if you stay long enough. There will be a table for us regardless, my father owns it." He opened the heavy door and held it for Harry and the others.

"Father?" Richard muttered to himself, picturing Damon Wolffe and the small man he'd seen in several photographs, he simply couldn't see how Severus Snape was their son. Perhaps Snape was the product of a previous marriage for one of the men.

His hand at the small of Jason's back, Richard led the smaller man into the bar and raised a hand as he saw Damon Wolffe walking towards their small group.

Damon waved a hand at Montgomery, trying not to grimace and looked back to make certain Grant was still in his office. He put on a smile for them and grabbed some lunch menus out of the bin as he stopped at the hostess's podium. "Hey boys, hungry? Come on back."

"Hello Da," Severus said, smiling as he watched Harry looking around hungrily at the other diners, it made him happy to see his husband wanting to eat. "How is Grant doing? Recovered from the trip yet?"

The others followed along as Damon led them to a table, Richard holding a chair for Jason and carefully pushing him up to the table before sitting down.

Damon sat the menus down on the table, pulled his note pad from his back pocket and nodded. "He's getting there. How're you all today? What can I get you to drink?"

He looked down at them and smiled.

Harry looked up at Damon and stared. "Your face! What happened?" he asked, his eyes wide in shock at the sight of the shiner. "Look Husband."

Severus turned his head and raised a brow as he looked at the older man. "Are you alright Damon?"

Damon sighed, lowering his note pad for a moment to look at them. "I'm fine Harry, Sev. Just a shiner and we're out of salve, nothing to worry about. All right?"

He looked around the table and took up his note pad again. "Now what can I get for you?"

"I'll bring some bruise salve by later this afternoon," Severus said, respecting Damon's wishes and dropping the subject. "Is there a special today?"

Damon shook his head. "I'm sorry to disappoint you all but Grant's not up to doing his fried chicken. So you'll have to order off the regular menu."

Harry bit his lip and looked worriedly back at the closed office door. "Is he alright?" he asked softly, forgetting the rumble in his belly for a moment. "Is he here?"

Damon nodded at Harry, smiling at the younger man. "He's fine, Bit. Tired but fine. He's doing some paperwork for me in the office today."

Jason looked back towards the office door for a moment and then back down at the menu he was holding. The Professor hadn't stopped by the bank on their way to lunch, so he was going to have to use the change he had in his coat pocket. Scanning the menu for what he could afford, he nodded.

"French fries please," he said as he closed the menu and laid it back down on the table to wait for the others to order as well.

"I'll have a double cheeseburger, salad, and whatever soup is on for the day," Severus said, turning to Harry and smiling. "Harry will have the same."

Richard folded the menu closed and nodded, "That sounds good for me as well." He looked at Jason. "Is that all you want? Lunch is on me today, since it's my fault you are all out in this nasty weather."

He smiled at everyone at the table then looked back at Jason, leaning closer to his lover and whispering softly in his ear. "I know you didn't eat breakfast and I'd really like you to eat something now, Jason. Please." He kissed him softly and sat straight again.

His face colouring, Jason looked up at Damon. "Could I change my order Mister Wolffe? What they are having does sound good," he said, reaching under the table to place his hand over Richard's, giving the man's fingers a squeeze.

Richard twined his fingers with Jason's, returning the squeeze.

Damon nodded, eyeing them all for a moment and scribbled on the notepad. "Anything to drink? And you want the soups or salads first?"

"Salads please Da," Severus said for all of them. "I'd like tea, Harry and Jason will have milk and whatever Doctor Montgomery would like."

Richard arched an eyebrow at Snape then looked at Jason. His lover could answer for himself. "Tea is fine for me. It is sweet, yes? Jason, did you want something?"

Damon nodded and scrawled something down on the notepad then looked at Jason.

"Could I have chocolate milk?" Jason asked, trying hard not to tell the Professor to piss off. He knew the man was simply looking out for his best interests, but he wasn't a child. "And a coke?"

Damon chuckled and nodded, scribbling the request down. "I'll bring them right out or send Karen out with that." He tucked the pad away and grinned, "You all enjoy yourselves." He began to walk away then stopped and turned around, eyeing Severus. "Sev, when you get a minute come on back to the office. Alone. I have something for you."

Severus nodded and then excused himself to stand up and follow the older man. "What is it? Is everything alright?" he asked as he caught up with Damon and glanced over at the office door.

Damon nodded and sighed. "Yeah, I just wanted to let you know I had something for you, before I forgot. Just come see me when later when you bring the salve. I don't want to ruin your lunch. This can wait, because it'll take some time." He reached up, squeezed Severus's shoulder and smiled slightly at him.

Sighing again tiredly, he gave Severus a push back out to the floor, "Go on now and enjoy your meal and company."

Standing still, Severus put out a hand and held Damon's upper arm. "What happened to your face?" he asked softly, knowing Damon wasn't going to say anything around the others, but he might tell him privately.

Damon shook his head, chuckling slightly. "Just an accident. Grant knocked me one last night in bed. You know how restless he gets around this time."

Severus nodded; he did indeed know how Grant behaved at certain times of the year. "How is he doing? Is it as bad as you feared?"

Damon looked down at the floor and sighed again, nodding his head. "Yeah it's bad, worse than I expected." He bit his lip and looked up at Severus, meeting the man's eyes as he dug in his pockets for Grant's scripts. Handing the slips of paper to his son, he continued. "He's in there in the office and he's calm right now, but I don't know how long that's going to last. He fell last night and broke his wrist and he's mad as hell about it and feeling pretty useless, cause Max can't fix it with magic. Something about the bones needing to mend normally because of his age. Is the sedative going to interfere with that stuff?"

He nodded down at the scripts then looked at up Severus again. "I really need to know so I can be prepared for what's coming."

Turning the slips of paper right side up, Severus read over them silently, mouth pursed into a small frown. "There may be an interference with how the sedatives work Damon. Did he fall on the ice?" he asked as he looked back at the other man.

Damon snorted, shook his head and murmured softly. "Happenedduringsex." He cleared his throat and continued. "How much of interference? Should I stop the sedative while he's taking those?"

Severus snorted softly as he caught what Damon muttered. "The potions may increase or decrease the effectiveness of the sedatives. There's no way of knowing how he will react until he takes them. Does he need the sedatives?"

Damon nodded. "I can't keep up with him." he admitted quietly.

"There are potions you can take," Severus said gently, offering what assistance he could. "Have you considered them?"

Damon flushed and shook his head, looking around the bar. Thinking quickly, he made a decision. Between the Muggle pills, Sev's salve and the potions, he just might be able to keep up with his little husband. He'd do anything to make it easier on Grant. "Can we not talk about this now? Your salve worked really good but I think I need something else. Can you bring me something when you bring the salve? Please?"

Severus frowned and then shrugged. "Alright Damon, I'll bring something by for you later this afternoon." He wouldn't push the man into talking when it was obvious he was so uncomfortable. "We may be able to increase his potions a little if you think it might help."

Damon sighed, hating the fact that Grant had to take the potions in the first place. "Thanks, Sev. Whatever you think is best."

Patting Damon's arm, Severus started to go back to the others when the office door opened.

"Damon... oh, there you are," Grant said with a smile on his face, his glasses sitting low on the tip of his nose and his hair loose on his shoulders. "I have the payroll finished."

Damon smiled at his little husband and moved over to Grant, limping slightly, wrapping his arms around the small man and holding him tightly. "Thanks Pet. I appreciate that." He kissed the top of Grant's head and threaded his fingers through the dark strands, tilting his head back to kiss his mouth softly as well.

Grant whimpered softly as he opened his mouth to Damon, letting the man take what was his while he relaxed and leaned into his husband's body. As Damon pulled back from the kiss, Grant looked around with an expression that one might call sated.

"Hello there Sev, how are you?" he asked cheerfully, a glazed look in his dark eyes.

Severus arched an eyebrow at Grant, taking in his appearance for a moment. Grant looked tired as if he hadn't slept, despite the happy voice and he shook his head. "I'm well Grant. I take it you are feeling no pain at this time?" He reached out and tapped the bright pink cast twice.

Grant laughed softly and shrugged. "I can't believe I broke my wrist," he chuckled. "Are you here alone?"

Severus shook his head. "No, Harry, Jason and I are having lunch with someone." He stopped as he caught movement from Damon.

Damon was frantically shaking his head over Grant's and mouthing 'no' silently, but trying not to alert Grant to anything at the same time.

Grant perked up at the mention of the two younger men. "Really? How's Jason?" he asked and then turned to Damon. "I'm going to go say hello Damon, I'll be back to finish in a moment."

Damon stopped shaking his head and smiled widely at Grant. "I just saw them, Pet and I really should get their orders up to the kitchen. Would you do that for me first?"

Grant stopped and shrugged. "Alright, here let me have them," he said as he held out his good hand. Turning to Severus, he smiled once more.

"I think we have some chocolate pie in the kitchen if you'd like some after your lunch," Grant said as he moved the order slip to his bad hand and reached up to pat his adopted son's cheek.

Severus took Grant's hand as he bent to press it to his cheek, studying the older man intently. He was worried about him and Damon both. "That would be appreciated greatly. I think Harry came home with your fondness for chocolate, mum," he said softly and smiled at Grant.

"Oh, I think he had that fondness way before he met me, so no blaming the old man," Grant said with a dazed smile. "Did Damon give you the scripts Max wrote for me? Are you planning to be open this afternoon?"

Severus nodded and patted his pocket, looking up at Damon once more, who was again shaking his head. "I have your scripts and I'll bring them later this afternoon."

Grant held the order slip up and peered at it for a moment. "You aren't eating this shit," he announced with a shake of his head. "I'm going to make you boys something good for lunch. Something healthy." He smiled at both men once again and then turned for the kitchen.

Damon grabbed Grant's arm, running his fingers over his skin just above the edge of the cast. "You leave Robert alone in the kitchen. You don't need to be in there with your arm in a cast. I need you in my office."

"They need to eat something besides garbage Damon," Grant said, pulling back from the man's hand, his voice rising as his agitation grew. "I am perfectly capable of making them something healthy to eat. Harry and Jason don't need to eat this... this... crap!"

Damon took a deep breath. "Grant, watch your tone with me. That is not crap. I think Harry and Jason can decide on their own what is good for them to eat. It's a good balance of stuff and both them boys are eating for two."

"A good balance?" Grant asked incredulously as he looked at the order slip again. "Double cheeseburgers? No, they need something not loaded in grease."

Grant paused in his short tirade a moment as he realized Severus wasn't backing him up. "Fine. I'll go ask them myself," he snapped, setting off for the table where he could just see the top of Harry's head.

Damon scowled and followed after his little husband, cursing softly when he ran into the swinging bar door. He flung it open, limping a bit more pronounced as he stepped out on to the eating area floor. "Grant, get back here," he hissed loudly, trying not to disturb the diners and continued to follow his husband.

Grant simply held up his hand to Damon and continued on, weaving in and out of the tables, smiling and nodding to the patrons he knew until he came to the table where Harry, Jason, and Richard were seated.

"Harry, Jason, wouldn't you both rather have something else to eat besides a greasy burger?" Grant asked as he looked at Harry and then turned to look at Jason, his eyes going over Richard for a moment before he stopped and stared at the man.

"What in the hell are you doing in my bar?" Grant asked softly, staring at Richard.

The conversation stopped and Richard blinked, looking up at the small man that had approached the table. He recognized him from the pictures on the wall at the Wolffe house and smiled, scooting his chair back to stand. "Doctor Wolffe, pleasure to met you. I'm Richard Montgomery."

Grant glared at the newcomer, a look of pure hate on his elfin face. "I know who you are Doctor Montgomery. Get the hell out of here. We don't want your kind of people here," he snarled, grabbing at Jason's arm to pull him to safety.

"Harry, get up and get away from that damned jackal," Grant growled, his eyes never leaving Richard.

Harry stared at Grant then looked at Richard for a moment. He looked around the bar for Severus and swallowed hard as he spotted Severus hot on Damon's heels. "Husband?"

Jason pulled away from Grant and stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "Doctor Wolffe, what's wrong with you?" He moved closer to Richard, grabbing his arm and twining their fingers almost standing between Grant and his lover as if protecting Richard.

Damon finally made it over to the table and placed one hand on Grant's shoulder, "Grant, stop this right now. You are making a scene."

Richard looked around at the group of people and cleared his throat. "Oh shit."

"I know who you are and I know what you do. How dare you think you can come here and write those evil things about my family," Grant hissed, unmindful of Damon's hand on his shoulder. "You better turn Jason loose right now, or so help me, I'll… I'll do something."

The tiny man took a step closer to the table, his eyes wild as he slapped at Richard's hand to get him to turn loose of Jason.

Richard just stood there and stared at the small man, eyes taking in every gesture and word he spoke. He never even moved as Doctor Wolffe came closer to him, even though he could feel Jason tugging on his arm.

Damon grabbed Grant, wrapping his arms around the small man and pulling him back. "Grant, stop it right now, dammit. The man's not doing anything but trying to have lunch."

"Do you know who this is?" Grant cried out as he nodded towards Richard, struggling to get out of Damon's grasp.

"Yes, I do. Now calm down, Injun. Please Pet. Don't do this here. Not now." Damon murmured in Grant's ear, trying to hold his struggling husband so he didn't injure himself again. He'd tan Grant's hide later but right now he just wanted the scene over with.

"Mister Wolffe, it's all right. I understand why he's upset. This isn't the first time nor will it be the last time," Richard said softly and looked right at Doctor Wolffe. "I'm not here to write about anyone, Doctor Wolffe, especially not your family. I just want to enjoy my lunch with new some friends. Now, I'm sorry that you want me to leave but I can't do that. I was under the impression someone else owned this place and if he tells me to leave then I will. Until then I'd like to enjoy my lunch with my friends. I was told Cutty's was the best in town." He squeezed Jason's hand gently and sat back down, still eyeing Doctor Wolffe.

Grant turned his head and looked at Damon, his face filled with raw pain. "You knew he was here, didn't you?" he whispered, going limp in Damon's arms. "You know how I feel and..." Grant just stopped talking, hanging his head.

Damon swallowed hard and hitched Grant up into his arms. "Excuse me," he nodded to Richard and turned around carrying Grant back to his office.

Severus watched them go, knowing Damon would care for Grant. He looked at Harry stepping closer to his husband and wrapping his arms around him. "Are you all right, little one?" He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Harry's hair then looked across the table to Jason. "Jason, Doctor Montgomery, I apologize. Grant's been under the weather lately."

Harry looked up at Severus, eyes wide and worried. "Husband, I've never seen Grant like that. Is he alright?" he asked softly staring across the bar to where Damon had disappeared with his husband.

"I didn't realize Doctor Wolffe had such an intense dislike of me. If I had of, I would have never suggested dining here," Richard said as he ran a hand over Jason's shoulders, worried about the strain on the younger man. He was worried as well that the outburst of Jason's friend would colour the man's views on him. "Jason, are you alright?"

Jason nodded and leaned into Richard's hand and squeezing his other tightly. "Yeah, I'm all right but I'm with Harry. Professor, is he really all right? I've never seen Doctor Wolffe act like that. He's always so quiet."

Severus took a deep breath, not knowing exactly what to say. "Grant is on some new medication and that may have had something to do with it. Damon will see to it that he is alright though. Give them a few minutes more then I will go check on them, if you like." He looked at his husband and Jason, arching an eyebrow to see if that was to the two men's satisfaction.

Harry started to say something more when he stopped at a loud noise coming from the back of the bar. Several other patrons had stopped eating and were staring back at the office door as the sound of something large hitting the wall filled the room accompanied by several pictures falling from the wall and the sound of the glass breaking.

"Husband," Harry said softly, taking a step towards the office.

Severus put his hand out and stopped Harry. This he'd seen before and was pretty certain Grant was now letting Damon know of his displeasure. "Stay right there," he said softly as Grant's strident voice soon filtered out of office followed by the sounds of more breaking glass. The sound immediately cut off and Severus recognized it as a muffling charm. He looked at his little husband. "Grant's fine, Harry."

Richard looked back at the office door and shook his head as the remaining pictures on the wall shook and rattled in their frames. "He's got quite the temper, doesn't he?" he murmured softly.

Jason bit his lip, debating on whether or not to go back to the office and make certain for himself that Grant was indeed alright. Making up his mind, he pushed his chair back and got to his feet. "Excuse me a moment."

Severus hummed. "You have no idea." He looked at Jason and shook his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I know what you are thinking and it's better to leave them to it."

@@@@@@

In the office, Grant stood in front of the desk, his face red and chest heaving. "You knew he was in town? You knew and you didn't tell me?" he asked his husband.

Damon licked his lips and nodded. "Yeah, I knew. I'd already seen and spoken with him. I was hoping I'd have a few more days to break it to you gently."

Grant sat down heavily on the sofa along the wall, his mind reeling. His fit was over, the anger drained out of him leaving a sense of hopelessness behind. Looking down at the cast on his arm, he picked at the edges for a moment before getting back to his feet and starting to straighten up the office he'd just thrown things around.

Damon watched Grant for a moment, letting him settle himself with the routine of picking up the pieces. "You feel better now that you got it out?" he asked softly and drew his wand, enlarging his small wastebasket for Grant.

He bent and picked up his desk chair, waving his wand and repairing it, from where Grant had shoved it at him and hit the wall instead. He rolled it back to his desk and sat down, bending to pick up his check book and papers.

Grant nodded mutely, on his knees now, picking up pieces of a mug that had shattered against the floor. "It won't happen again Sir," he mumbled, keeping his head down and his eyes on the shards of crockery.

Damon hummed as he straightened up his desk. "I should hope not. There are neater ways of expressing your displeasure to me." He looked down at Grant. "And less public ones as well."

"Yes Sir, I apologize and I'll apologize to Doctor Montgomery as well," Grant said softly, crawling over to the next mess he'd made.

Damon arched an eyebrow. "I don't think you need to be near that man again. Not until you get some sense back in your head." He looked down at Grant. "Merlin, Grant, do you realize what you did out there? You are going to be very lucky if he doesn't file some kind of assault charges on you. And in my fucking bar, Grant! You don't see me walking into the practice and attacking people."

Grant looked up at Damon, pain still etched on his face. "I didn't know you knew he was here. I was trying to keep Jason and Harry safe from him," he said softly.

Damon sighed and rubbed his face, taking a deep breath before speaking. He reached down and pulled Grant up into his lap and tucked his head under his chin, rubbing his back slowly. "Grant, the man's not a monster. He's human just like the rest of us. I've tried to tell you that for years, Pet."

He kissed Grant's temple and continued. "I met him the other day before you came home. He and Gregory are old acquaintances, school chums from what I understand. When the storm came through the other day both of them went up and rescued Jason when Sev and I couldn't. He's been nothing but polite and hasn't bothered anyone."

He took another deep breath and tipped Grant's chin up to look him in the eye. "The reason he's out there with Severus and Harry is because Severus and Harry have decided to consult with him. And I think Jason is seeing him on the side as well."

Grant closed his eyes for a moment, biting his lip as the information sank in. "Yes Sir," he said quietly as his thoughts whirled around in his head. He'd offer to be studied so maybe Montgomery wouldn't write anything up about Harry or Jason; after all, he'd gleaned from Max just how rare it was for them to find a man with Fleymann's in the later stages of fertility. Besides, if he cooperated fully with whatever Montgomery wanted, maybe the man wouldn't hold anything against Damon.

After a moment, Grant slid off of Damon's lap and went to the door. "Their order never got put in, I'll go take care of it."

Damon eyed his little husband for a moment then nodded. "All right, but whatever you do, do not go back over there to that table if they are still here. Do you understand me?" He stopped and sighed, shaking his head as he looked at Grant. "Pet, I know you are having a hard time right now and I'm not trying to be a hard ass about this. I just want what's best for you."

"Yes Sir," Grant murmured before opening the door and slipping out.

Richard excused himself from the table and got up to follow Severus's directions to the restrooms. It had taken several minutes to distract Jason and Harry from the Wolffe situation but once they'd flagged down a waitress and reordered their food, the conversation had turned to more pleasant things.

His mind had drifted though, thinking about the little man and the confrontation. He knew Echo was a gathering place for people with Fleymann's due to Blue Ridge having the top level facilities. But it was rare that he encountered some many people at one time together with Fleymann's. He usually saw them on a one-on-one basis. It had been interesting to watch Harry and Jason play off each other and yet when Doctor Wolffe had entered the picture something had changed.

He looked up and spotted the small man exiting the office. Something wasn't right and he had to find out what was going on. Harry and Jason were acting quite normal but there was something off about Doctor Wolffe and the professional in him wanted to help. If the little man would let him. He'd offered once to Mister Wolffe but maybe the other man would let him. Despite the hostile first meeting and ever the optimist, he took a deep breath and screwed up his courage, changing his course to intercept the little man.

Richard raised his hand and called out, "Doctor Wolffe?"

Grant looked up, stopping in his tracks as he saw Richard. "Yes Doctor Montgomery?" he asked softly. Damon hadn't said anything about not speaking to the man if he was approached.