Dazai and Kunikida's relationship progressed slowly, firstly they had to be sneaky. Tabitha and Dante knew that Dazai and Kunikida were dating, but their Dada was happy and Kuni-kun spoilt them so they didn't say anything, waiting for the two to tell them. They also had to be sneaky in work, Kunikida had already asked Fukuzawa if dating a colleague was allowed, and he'd given the relationship his blessing, but as Dazai was still very nervous at being in a relationship, Kunikida didn't want the teasing of their colleagues to run the work he was putting it. Not that it stopped Kunikida pulling Dazai in for a sneaky kiss when he thought no one was looking, Dazai's resulting blush too adorable to stop him from doing it.

Secondly, Dazai just didn't know how a relationship worked, and spent a lot of his time second guessing his or Kunikida's actions. Too afraid of putting a foot wrong, to enjoy his time with the other man. It took a whispered argument – as the children were asleep, when they had been dating for four months, for Dazai to finally realise that Kunikida wasn't leaving. That for once in his life, the good think was his and he didn't have to be so scared. After that Dazai became more relaxed, planning small romantic gestures – a bouquet of flowers sent to the agency from an 'anonymous admirer' or packing a mini picnic of their favourite foods on days he knew they'd be out of the office all day. Kunikida was so pleased that Dazai had managed to relax enough to start enjoying their relationship (and of course, he reciprocated the romantic gestures in his own way)

Thirdly, was Dazai's problems with intimacy. Kunikida knew that aspect of their relationship would be slow to become established. Taking care of two children was tiring and he knew Dazai rarely took private time for himself, his evenings filled with housework, so he could spend his weekends solely with his children, meant he was likely to fall into bed with no energy to do anything. But the children were getting older and more independent, and Kunikida tried to help with housework when Dazai would let him, but as Kunikida was a guest in Dazai's home, he was reluctant to let his boyfriend help out.

This problem built in the background of their relationship until they hit their nine-month anniversary, it was two years since Kunikida had met Dazai's children, and they marked the occasion by taking a trip to the Zoo. Tabitha and Dante had worn themselves out at the Zoo, so had gone to bed early, surprising themselves Dazai and Kunikida still had energy, and were making out on the settee. Kunikida ran his hands down Dazai's sides and slowly started to feel up the slight bulge in Dazai's pants. Dazai practically yelped and broke their kiss, moving away from Kunikida's exploring hands.

"I'm sorry." Dazai muttered, eyes wide in almost fear.

"Osamu, I thought you were okay with this? When we discussed boundaries, this wasn't one of them – we're not upstairs, the children are fast asleep, and tomorrow's not a work day. You've been okay in similar situations before, granted you've fallen asleep on me each time," Kunikida tried to laugh.

"It was different, it was all for you."

"But it shouldn't be all for me, we're equals, and I want to make you feel good."

"It doesn't matter," Dazai leaned forward and tried to kiss Kunikida, he was stopped by strong hands on his shoulders, pushing him back

"Yes, it does. Talk to me Osamu, what's going on in that mind of yours."

"You're going to think I'm being stupid." Dazai muttered.

"Matters like this are never stupid"

Dazai sighed, "The last time I got intimate with someone, I ended up pregnant. You may be a beta, but there's still a 1% chance I could get pregnant outside of my heat, and now before you say those odds are small, consider, that 1% chance of failure is what got me pregnant in the first place. Chuuya and I did everything right, and you and I can do everything right, but it's not enough, if it happened once, what stops it from happening again? I was in labour for twenty-six hours, they were born the wrong way around and pregnancy was hell. I may love Tabitha and Dante, but I don't want them to have siblings, could you imagine two newborns on top of two children?" Dazai paused, "Or wait, do you want children? I've just realised we've never discussed it."

"I'll be honest I've never seen myself with a family, if you really wanted another child, then I would be more than happy to have one with you, but…" he trailed off, "But I like your family."

Dazai smiled, trying to cwtch up to Kunikida,

"Ah-ah, we're not done. We've settled the children decision for now, but that was a lot of fear in the first half."

"It's fine Kunikida, I'll just push it down and I'm sure I'll be fine the next time you want to have sex or do whatever."

"No, Osamu you need to talk to someone about this. You once referenced Nakahara-san as a 'good fuck' so I take it you did enjoy the sex you had before your children?"

"I guess, it was fun getting to explore things with a partner," Dazai smiled before shaking his head, "but that was teenager Dazai, adult Dazai, well he can live without sex, it's just not worth that possibility."

"What about me Dazai? Can't I get to experience these things with you? I mean if you truly don't want to then I'll let it drop, but I really think you could benefit from some therapy. Not just for this issue, you've repressed a lot of the years Osamu."

"I don't have the time to go to therapy Kunikida,"

"I can pick Tabitha and Dante up from school or take them in the morning, or whatever it takes for you to get the help you need."

"I guess I can ask Yosano for suggestions."

"That's a good start, but please take it at your pace, and I will be here to support you every step of the way."

"Thanks Doppo," Dazai smiled, moving closer to Kunikida, who allowed him to cwtch in this time, now he'd gotten Dazai to talk.

"I'm open to couple's therapy, later on if you need it, to work through any uhh bedroom related problems you need to discuss."

"I'll keep it in mind," Dazai placed a light kiss on Kunikida's lips. "Sorry for ruining our one quiet night, you'll be going home soon, won't you?"

"It's fine, we needed to have that talk," Kunikida smiled.

True to his word, Dazai did go to therapy, and to his surprise, it actually helped. After years of having no one to talk to, having someone to talk about his biggest and darkest fears, and provide him with steps on how to manage those fears, made him feel freer than he had in years. It helped in the way Kunikida had hoped as well, they hadn't had sex together yet, but Dazai was more open to the idea of it, starting small and just exploring each other's bodies when they had the opportunity to. It wasn't the way Kunikida had expected their relationship to progress, but he didn't mind, it was the happiest relationship he had ever been apart of.

When Dante and Tabitha turned eight, Dazai and Kunikida had been dating for two years. They had never announced their relationship to Tabitha and Dante, but somewhere after the first year they stopped being so careful and would openly hold hands or chastely kiss when the children were in the room. Most nights Kunikida would join them for dinner, and stay for bath time and their story before bed, he wouldn't stay the night. Other than Dazai's heat, he had only stayed over night once more, when Tabitha and Dante had picked up germs and Dazai just couldn't cope with it alone.

After the disaster of their sixth birthday party, Dazai hadn't thrown a birthday party since. Instead they went out as a family, enjoying a day at the beach instead. When they got home, they took turns showering, before the house ended up covered in sand. When they were done, they all sat around the kitchen table, and Dazai brought out their birthday cake. After they all sang Happy Birthday and finished the cake, Kunikida started saying his goodbyes to go home.

Tabitha and Dante started crying,

"We want Kuni-kun to staaayyy!" they whined.

"Now, none of these tears, you're eight now, it may be your birthday, but you know tears and whining doesn't work on either of us." Dazai told them off, it was an unusual reaction for those two but birthday or not he wasn't raising them to act like that. Kunikida stayed quiet, knowing this was Dazai's battle. After a minute of pouting, the tears had dried and calmer Tabitha and Dante tried again, Dante taking the lead,

"We would like Kuni-kun to stay the night pleaaaaase."

"We want him to stay allll of the nights, pretty please!" Tabitha added.

"I can stay for story time more night if you'd like?" Kunikida asked, confused.

"Nooooooo" Dante replied, displeased with Kunikida's question.

"Dadaaaaa?" Tabitha

Dazai sighed, "Okay, you two are trying to ask us something, but I know you are better than these whiny questions."

Tabitha sighed, an exact copy of Dazai's "Kunikida-kun needs to move in."

"Yeah we know you two are dating" Dante added.

"Where do you think Kunikida will sleep?" Dazai asked, "we only have three bedrooms."

His children stared at him, as if to ask if Dazai was stupid.

"Duh your bedroom!" Tabitha answered.

"Yeah! And it's not like Kuni-kun isn't here alllll of the time, it's silly for him to be all alone each night." Dante added.

Dazai's mind couldn't keep up with the openness of his children, so Kunikida answered for him,

"Thank you for the invitation, but this is something your Dada and I will need to discuss. It's a big move and change of life for all of us. Even though you are both very enthusiastic about this." Kunikida smiled.

Dante and Tabitha look satisfied with that answer and gave Dazai and Kunikida a big cwtch, before dragging them out of the kitchen for their bedtime story.

Kunikida officially moved in the next day.

(Dazai could never say no to such a politely worded request from his children, and neither could Kunikida)