Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters get put in. Thanks so much for reading, I hope you review and let me know what you think!

Good To Be Home

Looking out the window Harry could see that it was raining cats and dogs now as they finally pulled into his street. Which was an unfortunate thought since he actually knew the genesis of that expression and imagining drowned animals was never at all appealing. Especially given his love of dogs. But pushing that aside, which was helped by the sight of his house, Harry had a brief moment to wonder if he should consider getting Daisy a pet of some sort-it would provide her with a companion and teach her responsibility-when the front door to said house came flying open and a small, very familiar figure came bolting out the doorway and straight towards the car at a dead run.

Instinct taking over, Eggsy was hurt or something else was very wrong, Harry didn't think. He just acted.

Reaching for the car door handle Harry opened it and was out of the still moving car in one fluid motion. Training meant he was around the door and running towards Daisy without any wasted movement, the rain immediately drenching what wasn't protected by clothing and blurring his glasses. Which he ripped off and tossed to the side as he took the last two strides necessary before he could scoop Daisy up and into the protection of his arms.

Immediately her little arms wrapped around his neck in the toddler equivalent of a chokehold as she choked out his name. And before he could ask her about Eggsy Harry sensed the other man's presence, and then there Eggsy was in front of him, holding an umbrella and scolding Daisy for not waiting like she'd promised. And without her shoes too.

"What happened...?"

"She's been staking out the door since she got home from daycare." Eggsy supplied as he did his best to shield them from the rain despite the size of the umbrella. It wasn't really up to the task.

"So nothing's wrong." Harry stated, just to be sure.

Eggsy looked torn between laughter and something vaguely resembling remorse. "Ya mean besides you two getting all wet? Nah. We just-she missed ya an awful lot."

Since his ward was doing her best to burrow into him Harry couldn't argue with that, however unbelievable it was. And she was probably also trying to absorb some of his body heat given that she was now drenched to the bone and shoeless.

Obviously thinking along the same lines Eggsy stated that he'd switch with Harry, give him the umbrella and he'd take Daisy in to get her into warm clothes.

"NO!" Was Daisy's reaction, her arms tightening a millimeter more. And how was that even possible?

"Let's get her inside."

Nodding, Eggsy moved to walk at Harry's side, the three of them heading for the house together.

"So you won't be wearing any rings any time soon." Eggsy commented, the sidelong look he aimed in Harry's direction making it clear that yes, he'd noticed Harry's slightly swollen and marked knuckles. And the fact that the signet ring Harry always wore had been removed because of them.

Clearing his throat, Harry shrugged his shoulders a little. "Americans have hard heads. That's the worst of it. I promise."

The narrow eyed look Eggsy gave him made it clear how ready Eggsy was to believe him. Or not.

"If you like you can make a thorough study of me later to-ah. I mean..." Harry cleared his throat as the horror of what he'd just said, implied, registered in his mind. "What I meant was-I-there's no way to save that, is there? I'm fine, Eggsy."

Eggsy opened the door for them rather than answer, motioning for Harry to go inside while he dealt with the umbrella.

Once inside Harry belatedly turned his attention to the car and people he'd left behind when he'd come running. Needlessly. Dear God, they were going to hold this over his head for months. Though at least Merlin and Addison weren't even looking in his direction at the moment. Both men had their umbrellas out and seemed to be retrieving their stuff from the boot of the now parked car.

"Oh no. Dinner!" Eggsy whipped around to look in the direction of the kitchen with definite worry on his face before looking back in Daisy's direction with serious indecision.

"Go. Deal with it. I'll take care of Daisy." Somehow.

Showing a great deal more faith in Harry than he had for himself Eggsy stashed the umbrella off to the side and then took off running down the hallway towards the kitchen.

And with no choice but to rise to the occasion Harry stood at the doorway and called out to Merlin that he was going to get Daisy into dry clothes and that they should just come in on their own. When Merlin nodded Harry nodded back and then mostly closing the door to keep the elements out.

That done...he'd been given his mission and he had no choice but to accept it.

Formulating his course of action as he took the stairs as quickly as possible, Harry headed straight for the bathroom and the towels it would provide. Once there Harry informed Daisy that she needed to let him set her down on her feet. He wasn't going anywhere, but they needed to get her dry and into new clothes or they wouldn't be able to eat dinner. Including Gran Gran's chips.

It took a couple of gentle tugs but Daisy finally let him pull her off and set her on her feet, the poor little poppet looking an utter mess with her clothes and curls plastered to her body and eyes puffy in a way that suggested the water dripping off her face might not all be from the rain.

Retrieving a fluffy towel from the side rack, Harry did his best to dry her hair off with it.

"All right, that's the best we can do, I think. You need to take off your clothes and put them on the tub to dry off, all right? Then use the towel to dry off and wipe your feet off on the mat. I'll turn my back, as it isn't polite for a gentleman to see-you can undress yourself, correct?"

Daisy nodded.

"All right then. Oh." Belatedly remembering something from a previous visit Harry turned around and saw that there was indeed a bright yellow terry cloth robe hanging on a hook attached to the door. Grabbing it Harry offered it to Daisy with the suggestion that she put that on after.

"Ogay."

Turning around to give her his back Harry waited patiently while the sound of wet clothes being removed and hitting the tiled floor provided him with clues concerning her state of dress. And demonstrating her house elf blood Harry soon heard the wet smack of her clothes being draped over the tub, followed by some careful arranging before she returned to his side to give his trousers a tug.

Taking that as his cue Harry turned to face her, so very relieved to see that Daisy was wearing the robe and holding her arms out to him.

"Right. One moment." Shrugging out of his wet trench coat now that his arms were free and she'd been taken care of, Harry hung that over the shower railing and then picked Daisy up again.

And was nearly choked once more by a three year old.

But he could still breath so Harry didn't comment as they left the room and he walked the short distance to Daisy's bedroom. The door was wide open, the smell of paint strong in the air as they went inside. Looking around Harry noted that the cherry tree looked excellently rendered, which was a relief, and it appeared that the boys had done a good job of covering the furniture and ensuring that none of the paint went where it shouldn't.

Heading over to the dresser containing Daisy's clothes Harry again had to do some tugging to get his ward to turn him loose so that he could complete the second part of this particular mission. "Now then, do you need me to pick out some clothes for you?"

The look that elicited suggested she was a tad insulted he would ask.

"I'll take that as a no. I'm going to go look at your tree, just come get me when you're dressed, all right?"

"You stay with me?"

"I will, yes."

A moment to debate his truthfulness and then Daisy turned her attention to pulling open a drawer to start rifling through its contents.

Leaving her to it Harry strolled over to the appropriate wall to evaluate Ryan's artistic abilities, making a thorough study of it since he had nothing better to do. And looking it over was some distraction from the fact that Daisy kept shooting his back looks that suggested she thought he might make a break for the door at any moment. Who knew a child could have such a pointed gaze?

Though it was...gratifying and heartwarming as well, to know that she wanted him to stay with her that much. Had even run barefoot into a rainstorm to get to him. He hadn't really noticed her expression when she'd ran at him but...but Harry didn't think he was exaggerating too much to say that she was happy he was back and...it was nice to be missed.

When the second tug came Harry was expecting it and when he turned the only surprise was what Daisy was wearing. Were those wings?

The fuzzy blue footie pajama bottoms he'd seen before, but the top was a black hoodie that seemed designed to make her look like...a cat/dragon hybrid? The ears and the green slitted eyes on the hood reminded him of a cat, while the tiny wings, spikes, and the odd looking tail at the back suggested dragon. Why was part of it red with a horned skull on it?

"Is that a new top?"

Daisy nodded enthusiastically, actually smiling at him. "I'm Toofless!"

"I see." He didn't, but Harry figured he could ask Eggsy about it later as he picked Daisy up and settled her on his hip to give his neck a break.

"Eggsy's gots one too." Daisy whispered at him, bringing her hand up so that she could put a finger to her lips. "Shh. It's a secret."

Oh dear Lord.

"Don't tell." Daisy warned him, her very serious look completely wrecked by the adorableness of her outfit.

"I won't breath a word." Harry assured her, fighting back a smile.

A nod and then a demand that they go down for dinner. She was hungry.

"Good idea."

And so with images of Eggsy in a dragon hoodie circling around his mind Harry headed for the stairs with his ward.

)

Going straight into the dining room Harry wasn't remotely surprised to see that both Addison and Merlin were already seated and waiting to be fed. Eggsy wasn't in sight so he must still be in the kitchen, Harry surmised. Walking up the length of the table Harry pulled Daisy's chair out and transferred her into her seat without any difficulty this time around. Probably because the smell of Gran Gran's chips was definitely in the air even before Eggsy came in as if he'd only been waiting for Harry to arrive. Which maybe he had, in order to ensure that Merlin didn't eat everything before they got there.

"Do you need help with that?"

Eggsy opened his mouth, then rethought whatever he'd been about to say. "Yeah, actually. I've got more stuff coming."

So Eggsy held the tray and Harry transferred the various plates and bowls onto the table, carefully selecting where each one went. The peas were deliberately placed closest to Merlin, while the sausages were set near Addison. The bowl with some of Daisy's pink marshmallow concoction was also placed close to her since she'd be eating the majority of that. The pickles and condiments went wherever, and then Eggsy excused himself to get the chips and Daisy's plate.

"Harry."

Turning his head to see what Merlin wanted Harry neatly caught the glasses lightly tossed at him. Ah. Right.

Merlin had wiped them off and cleaned them already so Harry just slid them back into place while thanking them for bringing it and the luggage in for him.

"I'd comment, but I'm too much of a gentleman."

"What you mean is Eggsy said it would affect your biscuit supply if you teased him about it." Addison corrected, pleased to undermined the Scotsman. He was almost smiling.

"You gots a scratchy face, Mr. Addy-son."

Scowling automatically at the reminder the man in question stated he'd shave as soon as he got home.

"Was the tan-ja-rine man there?"

The way Daisy whispered the question made it was clear she considered the American president right up there with the Boogeyman or Bloody Mary.

"He stayed in Washington during our visit so no, we didn't have to deal with him."

"That's good."

Coming back into the room with the chips, God they smelled divine, Eggsy set Daisy's pre prepared plate down in front of her and then went to take his seat, the very large basket of chips still in his hand.

"All right you lot, we're starting with me and working our way round the table ta Merlin. And don't be lookin at me like that. We wouldn't have ta do this if it weren't for what happened with the fried chicken." Eggsy's gave Merlin a look that would do any mother proud. "I put more on as well, so if we go through this lot there will be more. I except ya all ta eat those peas and the rest too if ya want more chips as well, understand?"

As if to punctuate Eggsy's point Daisy shoved a chip in her mouth and made a yummy sound.

"Dais, wait till everyone's got their food too."

That definitely brought on a pout of epic proportions.

Not swayed Eggsy gave her a quelling look and then put a small amount of the chips on his plate before he handed the basket over to Harry, who tried and failed to take just as small an amount. But he didn't take that much. Really. And while Addison did manage to copy Eggsy Merlin took Harry and Eggsy's amounts combined, so there.

And unlike Merlin Harry made sure to put plenty of peas on his plate, as well as some of Daisy's j-ello. Because it made her happy. And was better than it looked. And only two sausages...mostly because he wanted to save room for more chips later on.

All this was done speedily too, as Daisy was watching them like a hawk as she waited for the moment when she would be allowed to start eating too.

Once all plated were filled...well talking really wasn't required. Or possible really. Well, aside from people asking others to pass something or Eggsy excusing himself to get more chips after they ran out.

It was after they'd all loaded up their plates for their second helpings, no need to rein themselves in this time around, that an actual conversation began that wasn't food related. I.e. Harry asked Eggsy if the hoodie Daisy was wearing was supposed to be a dragon.

"Yeah. Toothless."

While Harry mulled that over Addison wanted to know what kind of dragon was toothless.

"Oh he's got teeth. They're just retractable. So when Hiccup first meets him up close he thinks he's got none, than he finds out otherwise. Hiccup's a Viking, in case you's was wondering."

"I'm not sure which makes the least amount of sense...a dragon named Toothless or a Viking named Hiccup. Or was the latter a nickname?" That would make at least some sense to Harry's way of thinking.

"Nah. He's Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third. From 'How Ta Train Your Dragon'." Eggsy explained with a grin. "There's a bunch of books, a couple of films, and a TV series."

"I wuv Hiccup." Daisy added very seriously. "And Toofless."

"Well you'll have to introduce me to the films sometime, then. So I can see them for myself."

"Two of your countrymen do voice acting in it, Merlin. Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson."

Merlin, whose mouth was full, nodded in agreement.

Conversation ebbed then for a few minutes before Eggsy spoke up again. "Harry, remember how you was sayin before that some people think that Gifted people get their magic from ancestors who was magical beings? Do people think that Fire Gifted come from...?" Eggsy trailed off, perhaps recalling that there was someone with that particularly gift at the table. And who liked to start fires even when he was in a good mood.

"They say once upon a time dragons could take the form of humans." Addison stated with just the barest hint of a smile. "So who knows."

Because of course Addison liked the idea that he might be related to dragon.

"Fuc-fudge." Eggsy caught himself just in time. "Are you sayin that...there was real ones? That way back when there was real dragons in the world? Like the ones in movies and on them tapestry things they've got in museums and, like, all the Queen's castles?"

"According to our history books, by which I mean those of us who practice magic, they did. Though physical proof of that is hard to come by."

"Well the buggers liked ta burn everything up, including their dead." Merlin pointed out.

"I wants a dragon!"

"I'm afraid that's not possible, Daisy. They stopped living here on earth a long time ago. You'll have to make do with Mr. Fox for the time being."

"Amen." Was Eggsy's feelings on the matter.

And really, who could blame him?