Promises

The house was calm and quiet as Harry shouldered open the front door and stood in the porch shuffling out of his cloak. He and Severus had learnt very early on that one simply didn't shout out greetings in a house with a baby, as it left a person liable to having their testicles hexed off from the party who had, after much coaxing and praying, finally managed to get said baby to sleep. He knew Severus was home, he could feel the man's senses roll against the edge of his mind and could feel the tingle of his magic permeate through the corridors.

He had been out picking up more baby supplies, which was the never-ending story of his life these days, then had stopped by Ron and Draco's for a coffee and a catch up. Draco was in his final year of medical school and was thoroughly exhausted with the relentless study schedule, while Ron was working hard as Leonard Broomfield's assistant. Both men were thriving in their chosen fields, and Draco had just learnt that he had been accepted as a Junior Healer to St Mungo's and would be able to specialise in his chosen area of chronic curses and their effects.

Harry was aware that Ginny had also been accepted to St Mungo's and would be branching off into paediatrics, and he fully expected to be summoned to a classic Weasley party at the Burrow to celebrate these achievements. He would be more than happy to attend; his life seemed to consist of nothing more than nappies, sleepless nights and washing baby clothes. He adored it, there was no denying it, but a change of scenery was long overdue.

He did a quick sweep of the downstairs rooms and discovered that Severus was in none of them, so made his way upstairs to see if he could track down his husband and son. The nursery was also empty, but Caleb's favourite toy, a plush teddy bear that Hermione had bought him when he was first born, was absent. That left only one room.

Harry walked quietly down the corridor to his and Severus' bedroom and opened the door softly, smiling at the sight that greeted him. Severus was fast asleep on his side, his hand splayed out towards the little cot that clipped to the side of the bed, ensuring closeness without fear of harming the baby. A chubby little fist was closed around two of Severus' fingers while Caleb slept, snuffling softly.

The image of his husband and his son fast asleep, hands entwined was enough to make Harry's chest constrict in the most beautiful way possible. He would never tire of watching Severus with Caleb, and the tenderness and affection that the man was capable of when it came to their little boy was breath-taking.

Harry had sometimes found it hard to picture the kind of father Severus would be. He knew he would be a good one and would do his best to support and nurture their children, but he hadn't imagined that Severus would allow himself to be so tactile. He cuddled and kissed Caleb, he lay on the floor with him as the little boy rolled around, encouraging him to try and crawl, and he rocked and soothed him when he cried. His love for his son was palpable, and Harry knew that their boys would never need to question how their parents felt about them.

As though aware of his father's scrutiny, Caleb's soft brown eyes opened and he blinked up at Harry before smiling at him, kicking his legs in his own happy version of a greeting. Not wanting Severus to be wakened, Harry reached down and picked Caleb up, peppering his cheeks with kisses.

"How's my gorgeous boy then?" he whispered as the little boy let out a series of happy gurgles. "Have you been a good boy for your daddy?"

He couldn't believe that the tiny little bundle they had brought home from the hospital was now this bouncy six-month-old. Caleb seemed to change every day; his capabilities improved, he became stronger, he made all sorts of different noises and his face was beginning to take on its own characteristics. There was no question that he favoured Severus, but his features were a lot softer and he had Harry's mouth and brow.

"Uncle Ron and Uncle Draco send big hugs and kisses," he told him, "and they'll come and see you soon."

Caleb continued to gurgle happily, kicking his legs and wriggling in Harry's hold. Harry took him over to the large doors at the end of the room and walked out onto the little balcony. It was February and surprisingly warm, but Harry still cast a warming charm over his son as he took him out into the fresh air.

"Isn't it a lovely day, pickle? Don't the gardens look pretty? When you're old enough, I'll make you and your brother a treehouse in that tree over there, and we can put one of those big wooden climbing frames over there. Grandad says he'll build you a swing when you're old enough, won't that be fun?"

Harry smiled and pictured all the things he was telling his son about. The garden would be a haven for him and Benji; they would have everything they wanted, and they would be able to make up such wonderful adventures together.

"I didn't get to play with things like that when I was little," he said softly as Caleb began to fiddle with the buttons on his shirt. "I didn't have toys or games, and I certainly didn't get to play outside, but you're going to get to have all those things that I didn't. You're going to have the happiest childhood that your father and I can possibly give you, I promise. You're going to be loved, and you're going to be safe."

It was a promise he had made the very first time he had held his son, and it was a promise he had made countless times since. He knew that all parents, all good parents anyway, wanted nothing less for their children, but he was sure that he felt it more keenly than most. He tried not to, but he still felt the bitter sting of resentment when he thought about his childhood.

It had taken him a long time to realise that his experiences weren't normal, that other children weren't treated the way he had been. The neglect had been bad enough, but the abuse he had suffered when he became older was abhorrent. Time spent with Severus speaking about it had made him see that it wasn't his fault, but it hadn't helped him to understand it. It was even less comprehensible to him after he had become a father.

He cuddled Caleb a little closer and whispered into the soft temple he nuzzled against, "You have no idea how much I love you. I loved you before you even existed, when I found out that you were just a distant possibility on the horizon. You're the best thing I've ever done."

He felt himself enveloped by a strong pair of arms and he and Caleb were wrapped up in Severus' hold. "I second your father's assessment," Severus murmured softly as he tenderly stroked Caleb's head. "You are, by far, my finest achievement."

Harry smiled and turned around to place a soft kiss to Severus' lips. "Sorry if I woke you," he said as Severus took Caleb, the little boy nestling into the crook of Severus' neck as had become his habit.

"I was only dozing. Your son was remarkably willing to have a nap today."

The two men moved back inside and settled themselves down on the bed, Caleb happily pillowed between them, kicking his legs and grabbing at his ankles, seemingly fascinated by his own feet.

Harry couldn't help but let out a happy sigh of contentment as he snuggled up against his husband, feeling the usual surge of gratitude he felt when he remembered how hard this life had been fought for.

"Ron and Drake say hello. Drake has his placement at St Mungo's."

"That's wonderful news, we'll have to celebrate," Severus replied, looking down at his son with the same look of warm affection that he seemed utterly unable to hide, no matter how hard he tried.

Harry stretched and was about to let his eyes close when he felt Severus tighten his hold around his shoulders, his long nose nuzzling against his hair as he whispered, "Caleb will have everything we didn't, my love."

Harry indulged in letting himself be held and said softly, "I know, we'll make sure of it. I know we're not going to be perfect, but we love him, and that's more important that anything else, isn't it?"

"Of course it is," Severus said, reaching down and letting Caleb grab hold of his fingers, smiling at his son. "I had wondered if I was capable of such a thing, if I could give him all the things that I had so desperately wanted when I was a child, but I find that loving him is the easiest thing I have ever done."

Harry felt a wave of emotion hit him squarely in the chest, and he couldn't determine whether it was his own or Severus'. He tilted his head up and met Severus' lips in a deep, loving kiss, overwhelmed by the force of what Severus had said.

There had been countless times when their experience of parenthood hadn't been so picture-perfect, when they had been exhausted, covered in baby sick and worried that they were doing everything wrong. There had been arguments over whose methods were better, slurs on each other's winding techniques and abilities to remember nursery rhymes, and rows over who had had the least sleep.

All of that paled in comparison to these moments though, times when Caleb was happy and content, when they'd had a few decent hours of sleep the night before and when they could remind themselves that all the hard times were worth it for these times of happy reflection.

"I love you," Harry murmured as he pulled away and pressed his forehead to Severus'. "And I love that I get to have the best adventure of my life with you. Half the reason this is all so amazing is because I get to share it with you."

"The feeling's mutual my love," Severus replied, shifting to press a kiss to Harry's forehead.

Caleb emitted another surge of happy little gurgles, and both men turned their attention back to their son, each offering him their fingers to play with. Yes, Harry thought as Caleb reached out and grabbed his thumb, his son would have everything he could give him and more.

AN: I promise they won't all be this soppy, but I'm in a very fluffy mood at the moment : ) I hope you enjoyed it, please let me know xx