Sorry this took so long to write! I didn't know how to finish the chapter.
Leonard moved around the kitchen with ease, grabbed tools without even needing to look at them as he made breakfast. To no surprise Jim was still asleep and Spock had also yet to make an appearance. Khan had still been sleeping when Leonard had slipped out of bed; he was too used to his early schedule at the hospital and even being away for a week hadn't broken him of the habit. It had made shopping for ingredients for breakfast much easier because practically no one was at the grocery store at 7 am (he wasn't going to mention to Khan that he went out alone).
Even over the scent of sizzling sausage, bacon, and eggs (with some vegetables and spices of course to make it a more balanced meal) he could still smell when Khan entered the kitchen. Powerful mint and vanilla that Leonard now associated with safety and comfort. He didn't jump when the Alpha's hands landed on his hips and Khan nuzzled against his neck as Leonard leaned back against him. "Good mornin'." He greeted playfully and Khan hummed.
"Good morning." He purred in response. "Are you already making breakfast?" He questioned as Leonard returned his attention to the food. Or, at least as much of his attention as he could since Khan's arms were still wrapped around his waist.
"Blame years of early morning shifts." Leonard replied. "And early morning emergencies on overnight ones." He added and actually got a chuckle from Khan. The Alpha placed a kiss on his neck before lifting his head and resting his chin on Leonard's shoulder.
"It looks good, but there wasn't any of this in the house." There was definitely a question in Khan's statement, one that Leonard was not going to answer. Instead he lifted the pan from the stove and quickly plated up the food onto four plates.
He offered one to Khan and added "breakfast is served" in the hope Khan would just let it go. The plate was accepted, though Khan's expression warned their discussion was not over, and they took seats at the table. They both took bites and Khan looked surprised. "This is really good, Leonard." He said.
"I told you I could cook." Leonard replied before he took another few bites of his breakfast. He was selfish enough to admit he had missed his cooking while away.
"You did. You'll have to cook for me again." Khan replied and Leonard smiled.
"I would be happy to." Leonard answered and they fell comfortably silence as they ate. The longer the silence went on the more Leonard felt a question in his mind nagging at him. But he held off asking until they had finished eating. And after he collected and washed the dishes. He had just finished washing the frying pan when Khan tugged on his hips. Leonard leaned back against Khan's chest and got a chuckle from the Alpha. "Shut up." He grumbled.
Khan chuckled again and tugged him away from the sink. Leonard let himself be led into the living room and they took seats next to each other. "What's worrying you?" Khan asked.
Leonard paused and studied his face. "How did you know?"
"I may not have known you for very long, Leonard, but I am your Alpha and I know when something is concerning you." Khan said.
Leonard couldn't help chuckling. "I'm supposed to worry about you." He reminded and Khan smirked. Leonard smiled back but as he sighed his smile faded. "But you are right. I… I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm going to be leaving, not only Riverside, but the US. It's… Well, it's a long way from home. And I know it's soon, but how soon is soon?" Leonard questioned.
"Ideally, you will both be Claimed this Friday and we will leave Riverside before Monday." Khan answered. Leonard sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands. It felt much too soon and yet with the way everything had been going lately… Riverside simply wasn't safe. For him or Jim and no matter how much he might want to stay it simply wasn't an option.
"And I don't imagine we'd be able to stop in Georgia on the way?" Leonard asked halfheartedly.
"It may be possible." Khan said which took Leonard by surprise.
"Seriously?" Leonard questioned and he nodded.
"Of course, I understand you would want to say goodbye to your daughter. And don't forget; it is no trouble for me to help you visit her on a regular basis. In fact, as long as it makes you happy, we could even make the trip every weekend." Khan reminded and Leonard laughed, though this time it was significantly more self deprecating.
"Oh yeah, me showing up to see Jojo every weekend? That would go over about as well as a fox in a hen house." He muttered, still chuckling darkly under his breath. He could just imagine the hissy fit Jocelyn would pull if he did that.
"Leonard, why did you get a divorce with Jocelyn? Why would she be so opposed to you seeing your daughter?" Khan asked.
Leonard sighed and rubbed his face again. "Okay, long story short, she wasn't satisfied for a number of reason. I worked a lot, I would have regular mood swings, I had a much higher libido, and I'm a cuddler. Clingy was the word she used. And because she's a beta she preferred her independence. She ended up cheating on me, after Joanna was born, with another beta. But I know Jojo is mine, even before she tested as an Omega."
Before Leonard could register that Khan had moved he was wrapped up in the Alpha's arms. Khan was shaking, but Leonard just knew somehow that it was with anger. "Just say the word, Leonard, and I will fight for your daughter. She deserves to be with her father, especially since you are both Omegas. Just say the word." Khan repeated softly.
Leonard grabbed Khan's shirt and wound his fists into it. He wasn't actually crying, but there was a strange feeling of warmth in his chest. The only other person to get upset on his behalf over what had happened was Jim (that had been a memorable night; after telling his friend, a half drunk Jim had threatened to drive to Georgia and essentially kidnap Joanna).
Leonard jumped when a new pair of hands came to rest on his back. They weren't Khan's, which were wrapped around his shoulders and head protectively. "You okay, Bones?" Jim asked quietly as he started rubbing Leonard's back.
Leonard pulled back a little from Khan, just far enough to face Jim. "You scared me, kid." He muttered, with only a fraction of the irritation he would have normally had in his voice. Jim smirked and squeezed his shoulder.
"You okay?" He asked again and Leonard nodded.
"Thank you." He said, to both of them. "I mean it. I've never had anyone so willing to fight for me." He added. Jim pulled him away just long enough to give him a tight hug before he pushed his fellow Omega into Khan's chest.
Khan held him as Leonard rolled his eyes and the two got settled more comfortably. "And I will always fight for you, Leonard." Khan whispered quietly, which sent a primal thrill through Leonard's body. To know how much Khan cared, no matter how cold the Alpha was sometimes. Leonard realized he hadn't seen much of that side of Khan and wondered of it had more to do with the situations they'd been through or if it was because of Leonard himself.
"Damn, it's not even noon and I've already nearly cried. You would think I'm pregnant the way my mood swings have been." Leonard joked, hoping to lighten the mood. He knew he'd succeeded when Jim laughed, Khan chuckled, and if he wasn't mistaken even the corners of Spock's mouth flicked up very briefly. Leonard took a deep breath with his eyes closed and he felt oddly stable. The idea of moving didn't seem so wild anymore and, if he were honest, even excited him. It would be a new place and a new life.
A clatter in the kitchen didn't ruin his peaceful mood (he didn't dare ask what Jim thought he was doing since no one else could make such noise). What did ruin his mood was Khan suddenly shoving him off the couch. They toppled to the floor and Khan laid on top of him, covering almost his whole body. There was another thump of someone hitting the floor near him followed immediately by a painfully loud boom.
It was rare indeed Jim saw Leonard looking so content. He looked younger even, like the thirty year old he was instead of a fifty year old man. It was the first time that Jim could recall when his friend didn't have a grumpy expression complete with deep stress marks (admittedly, some of which he had caused). Khan had been good for him. Jim glanced at Spock, who had elected not to take a seat when he had followed Jim into the living room.
Spock looked away from Khan and Leonard almost as soon as Jim had and met his Omega's eyes. Jim smiled at him and though Spock didn't exactly smile back Jim was satisfied with the warmth in his eyes. As Khan and Leonard seemed content not to pay much attention to either of them Jim got up from where he had been sitting only half on the couch. He moved in close to Spock and despite having been surrounded by the Alpha's scent all night the incense was still relaxing. "Will Leonard be alright?" Spock questioned softly and Jim nodded.
"I think so, yeah. He's… well, neither of us are used to having Alphas around. Let alone ones we trust and get along with. It's good." Jim assured, and he couldn't held touching Spock's arm. To his surprise when he started to pull away the Alpha reached for him and took his hand. Jim didn't know who moved first but they laced their fingers together. Jim shifted closer, resting his head on Spock's shoulder.
He had never really admitted it to Bones, or even himself, but he had missed being around an Alpha. He hadn't had any Alphas to look up to or rely on when he was younger. It was only in high school that he had discovered why Omegas needed Alphas, and actually believed some of the nonsense the Omega-based classes tried to force down their throats. Of course that relationship had ended abruptly when his ex had moved out of the country the summer after their sophomore year.
But even that hadn't felt like this. Since practically the first car ride they had together Jim had begun associating Spock's specific incense scent with comfort and safety. He felt stronger, more relaxed and more in control when Spock was around. Like he could do anything and knew Spock would stand by him. And he was grateful for that.
Jim's reminiscing was cut short by the sound of glass breaking. He had barely had the time to look towards the kitchen and see something small and dark in the air before Spock was dragging him to the floor. And then his whole world got violently and loudly rocked.