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The End of the Day

The polo match proved to be about as entertaining as Harry had expected it to be. Which was basically not at all. The only enjoyable part about it was leaning in close so that Eggsy could hear him as he explained the various rules and such since Eggy's attempts to understand them via Wikipedia hadn't really panned out. The cheers from the crowds kept Daisy semi-conscious for the first chukka, the ponies racing around interesting her for nearly that long before the novelty wore off. At that point she snuggled in for a series of cat naps against whichever chest she was pressed against as he and Eggsy took turns holding her. She was heavier than she looked.

Tequila offered to hold her too, but Daisy wasn't quite sold on the blond yet so they thanked him but declined to even try. As for Miss. Morton and Edward Hesketh...well the two were rather busy conversing with each other and Harry wasn't about to interrupt to see if Miss. Morton, who Daisy did trust, would give them a hand with the heavy lifting, so to speak.

And to his credit Tequila was leaving the couple to their own devices as well, though there was a gleam in the younger man's eyes that suggested he found observing them far more amusing than the polo match.

When he wasn't badgering Eggsy about feeding him in the future of course. The man was not letting this go.

Eggsy was good at tuning him out though.

"So these blokes are...really good at this?" Eggsy asked halfway through the third chukka.

"I would say so, yes."

Eggsy gave him a sidelong look. "I get that it's got ta be fuc-fudgin difficult ta whack that ball around while on horseback. Or ponyback, I guess. Fuc-nevermind. The point is...it's like tennis. Maybe fun ta play, but watchin it for more than ten minutes is pretty bloody boring."

In perfect agreement Harry asked if Eggsy was ready to head home then.

"Can we? I mean this is your aunt's thing, right?"

"And we brought a built-in excuse." Harry look pointedly down at the little girl half dozing in Eggsy's arms.

"Sweet."

Now that that was settled Harry turned his attention to Tequila, cutting the younger man off before he could offer to come with them. Or worse, suggest going home with them so that he would have access to any additional leftovers Eggsy might have in their fridge.

"It's been, as always, interesting to spend time with you, Mr. Channing. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in London, and that you return to the US in time to get your fair share of the biscuits Eggsy intends to send you and your colleagues. Until we meet again."

Harry could see the mental struggle as Tequila very grudgingly took Harry's hand and shook it.

"I'll be sure to drop in on you guys the next time I'm in your neighborhood."

Next Tequila offered his hand to Eggsy, all charming smiles now as they shook. "It's been a real pleasure making your acquaintance, Eggsy. I'll be sure to send those recipes I mentioned your way as soon as I get home."

"I'll look forward ta it, Mate. Try ta stay out of trouble, all right?"

Tequila winked. "Now that's easier said than done."

"I have the same problem."

The two young man shared a laugh and grin over that, Tequila asking Eggsy to pass on his goodbyes to Daisy when she was awake enough to hear it. Eggsy promised that he would.

Having said their goodbyes to Tequila Harry and Eggsy turned their attention to saying goodbye to Lancelot and Hesketh, the two having noticed their impeding departure and so put their own conversation on hold. Brisk handshakes and promises to see each other again soon made the rounds, Eggsy promising to send some biscuits Edward's way after Edward commented that Tequila and his colleagues were lucky to be getting that biscuit delivery.

Edward was obviously grateful.

Amused but not surprised, Harry had the feeling that he was going to have to put his foot down eventually or Eggsy would wind up sending food to everyone who tasted his cooking. Merlin was already bad enough with his gluttonous demands on Eggsy. But for now Harry just nodded one last goodbye and then not at all subtly began herding Eggsy out of the crowds that surrounded them with the hand he placed on Eggsy's lower back.

Once free of that crowd Harry was faced with the unfortunate fact that manners and family obligations meant that he had to go and find his aunt to say goodbye to her in person. He knew from previous experience that a text would not go over well with her. Or his mother when she called her sister to complain about her son's bad manners.

Ever the gentleman Harry offered Eggsy an out, telling him that he could head for the car with Daisy and he'd catch up. He'd give his aunt their regards for them.

"A good soldier never leaves a man behind."

Chuckling as Eggsy had intended him to, Harry inclined his head in agreement while stating that he still got points for being willing to sacrifice himself.

"Fair enough. So which way da we go?"

"She'll be over there by that tent if memory serves. All the better to see and be seen."

Aunt Celeste was indeed holding court with her usually cronies, the older women all visibly perking up at the sight of them approaching. Harry also noted that the conversations they'd been having amongst themselves died off so that they were all quiet and waiting for them, making Harry think that odds were high it was his family at least some of them had been discussing.

"There you are! And oh Daisy is all worn out, isn't she? Poor thing. Too much excitement?" Getting out of her chair Aunt Celeste came over to them, her friends all watching them with rapt interest. And eavesdropping to the best of their hearing aids' abilities in some cases, Harry didn't doubt.

"Yeah. And she usually naps around this time anyway." Eggsy volunteered.

"Which is why we've come over." Harry added, before his aunt or someone else could start trying to chat Eggsy up. "We're going to head home now so that she can sleep in the car, away from all this noise."

"Oh but she could sleep in the house. I could have one of the maids stay with her."

"Nah. I mean it's real kind of ya ta offer but she'd freak if she woke up in a strange place without us around. She's still havin a hard time with Harry and I droppin her off at daycare sometimes. Plus Harry just got back from a business trip and she's been his shadow ever since. She wakes up and he ain't there we'll be able ta hear her all the way out here."

Doing his best to hide how pleased he was about the fact that Daisy seemed to have actually missed him that much Harry stated that as much fun as they'd have here, Daisy's needs had to come first.

"Of course, of course."

"And where is my granddaughter whose basket you bought, young man?"

Damn. Miss. Morton's maternal grandmother.

"You're Roxy's grandmother?" Eggsy asked, smiling at her charmingly when she nodded. "Nice ta meet ya. I'm Eggsy. She's back in that direction with Edward Hesketh if ya want ta talk ta her. Or I can text her for ya."

"With Edward Hesketh? Really?" Aunt Celeste's eyes gleamed over that news. "Now isn't that odd."

"Yes. Apparently someone let it slip that Miss. Morton had asked Eggsy as her friend to bid for her so that she wouldn't end up having to have lunch with Mr. Hesketh." Harry gave his aunt a look that made it quite clear he knew who exactly was to blame for that. Not that her face betrayed that fact for a moment.

Instead his aunt smiled at him. "Obviously things worked out if they're together now."

"He came over to apologize for putting her in that situation and we all ended up having lunch together. As it turned out her main reason for wanting to avoid him was because of his younger brother Charlie, not any problem she had with Edward personally."

"That makes so much more sense." Miss. Morton's grandmother stated, nodding her head sagely. "Edward Hesketh is quite the catch from what I know of him. His brother on the other hand...that one I'd keep above water long enough for him to suffocate, then throw him back in."

Two of the women choked on whatever they were drinking, while the rest just stared in stunned silence or started whispering to whoever was situated beside them.

One hissed 'Margot' but was drowned out by the woman who got out of her seat to demand that Miss. Morton's grandmother repeat what she'd just said about her grandson.

"Oh please, Estelle. His taste in women says it all. He is still dating that classless twit Clara Von Gluckfberg, yes?"

"As a matter of fact he isn't. And if he and your granddaughter don't get along then I'm entirely sure it's not my Charlie's fault."

"Your Charlie can only wish a woman like Roxanne would give him the time of day. And I do mean that literally. Can he tell time?"

"This is bound to get ugly. Get out of here while you can." Aunt Celeste whispered to Harry out of the side of her mouth, a fake hostess smile on her face as she hurried forward to try and break up the brewing fight as Miss. Morton's grandmother puffed up in indignation on her granddaughter's behalf. He'd missed whatever Mrs. Hesketh had said to set her off, but it had definitely riled her up.

"Right...goodbye, Aunt Celeste. Lovely as always to see you." Harry called out after her, trusting her instincts on the matter. And Agnes was nearby and had medical training if one of the women required it shortly. Still...

Eggsy called out his own goodbye and then motioned with Harry to make a break for it with him, pointedly looking down at Daisy to remind Harry that the last thing they wanted was Daisy being exposed to a shouting match. Lancelot's grandmother still had quite the set of lungs on her after all.

Nodding his understanding Harry took one last look at the two women squaring off against each other and then joined Eggsy in making a quick exit.

"You hold on ta her and I'll message Rox and Edward and let them know that they should probably get over there. Just in case. Maybe those old birds will listen when it's their grandkids tellin them to settle down before they give themselves heart attacks or somethin." Eggsy passed over Daisy to Harry, the exchange made seamless enough that she hardly stirred before snuggling in against Harry's shoulder.

"Good idea."

)

By the time they'd made it to the car and deposited Daisy in her car seat Eggsy received texts that reassured them that the couple had arrived in time to ensure that the grandmothers hadn't ended up coming to blows or requiring CPR. Shocked their grandchildren with their language, yes, apparently, but thankfully Edward Hesketh was a smart man who knew his grandmother well. According to Miss. Morton's text he'd whispered something into her ear about how if she didn't agree to calm down and stop trading barbs with Miss. Morton's grandmother someone was liable to ask what Charlie had done to offend Miss. Morton so deeply. And she did not want anyone hearing the answer to that.

And apparently trusting her grandson judgement in this case, as well as probably being at least somewhat aware of her grandson's flaws no matter what she'd claimed earlier, Mrs. Hesketh had agreed to shake and agree to disagree on the matter.

"So now the two are stuck hangin out with their grandmothers ta make sure they don't kill each other while their backs are turned."

"Should we provide her with an extraction?" Harry couldn't see how he could save Mr. Hesketh, but Lancelot did work for him.

"I'll ask her."

While Eggsy typed away Harry double checked that Daisy was all buckled in, Mr. Fox secured along with her, and then asked if Eggsy wanted to drive back.

"Nah, you can drive. That way my hands are free."

Shaking his head affectionately Harry walked over to the driver's side and got behind the wheel, Eggsy somehow managing to take his seat while still texting away at lightning speed. Leaning over Harry grabbed Eggsy's seat belt and buckled it into place for him before seeing to his own, smiling when Eggsy's hand reached out to give his a squeeze of thanks.

Starting up the car Harry backed up and then soon had them on their way down the drive that would lead to the main road.

"She says no for now. She'll let me know if that changes." Looking up from his screen Eggsy glanced behind him at Daisy and then pocketed his cell rather than hooking it up to play music again. Which, given the little girl sleeping in the back, made absolute sense.

While also leaving them with a long car ride with nothing to distract them.

"Wot's with that look?"

"Nothing." Or no, it wasn't nothing, Harry silently admitted to himself. And really he needed to not silently admit it because it needed to be said. To Eggsy. Now rather than later when certain decisions could not be undone or forgotten. I mean yes he thought they were on the same wavelength, and Eggsy might be young but he had to grasp the seriousness of the step they were considering taking...but it was better to be sure, wasn't it?

"Harry?"

And all right, Eggsy was obviously not buying his 'nothing' answer. Smart boy.

"Just so we're clear I...what happened earlier and the things I said and insinuated-well I just want to be sure you realize that, that I'm not just interested in that. And that if that's all you're interested in I'd prefer to know now rather than later."

Fuck. How much more ridiculous and convoluted could he have been. If not for their safety being at risk Harry would have been tempted to smack his head a couple of times on the steering wheel. God, he hadn't been this awkward in decades. Possibly since he was younger than Eggsy was now.

And now Eggsy was giving him a weird look that Harry knew he deserved.

"If you're askin if I want us ta be, like, in a relationship and shit...Harry, we already are."

Harry expression obviously said it all because Eggsy laughed at him.

"Seriously, Harry. We're practically married at this point. You're the first adult I see in the morning and the last before I turn in. We eat most meals together and we're raising a sprog as well. We're a fucking family and that's why I ain't made a move before today. Cause I didn't want ta fuck things up even if ya kept egging me on, no pun intended."

"I've been egging you on? What about you?"

"Do ya even realize how many times you've called me 'Darling' without realizin it?"

Oh. "Well if I didn't realize it then that shouldn't count. Also do you have any idea how thin some of your undershirts are?"

"Yup."

The cheeky smile Eggsy aimed in his direction said it all.

"So you've been torturing me on purpose."

"Hey, you ain't any better, Bruv. Does the term suit porn mean anythin ta ya?"

Technically no...but Harry was going to go out on a limb and guess that it meant Eggsy found the way he looked in a suit to be very attractive.

"Don't say that around Daisy." A quick glance in the review mirror confirmed she was still sleeping, thankfully.

"Wot? She thinks ya look real pretty in your suits too."

Eggsy's grin shifted into serious lines. "I don't want ta fuck up our family neither, Harry. But now that we both know it ain't onesided...we'll fuck it up if we pretend otherwise. Just don't treat me like a kid. I might be younger but we gotta be equals for this to work, yeah?"

"Feel free to call me on it if I forget or make you think I think otherwise."

As for the statement that they'd fuck up their life together if they let fear keep them apart Harry agreed with that one hundred percent. Especially now. Ergo it was better to give them a shot than have them both be miserable and haunted by the what ifs for the rest of their hopefully long acquaintance.

And Harry had his own request to make. "If you change your mind about this I want your word you'll tell me. No dragging it out and making it worse in the long run."

Solemnly Eggsy stated that he'd promise if Harry did.

"Then you have my word."

"Mine too."

)

The majority of the drive home was passed in companionable silence, neither of them in the mood to further analyze their changing relationship. And since that was front and center in both their minds...well silence seemed the best option as Harry, at least, spent his time planning the rest of their evening in his mind with quite a bit of anticipation. Plans that had to be altered when his brain remembered that Daisy would not be sleeping for the rest of the day, unfortunately, but that was probably for the best since he wasn't a young man anymore and just didn't have the stamina. Though he'd make up the difference there with experience, thank you very much. He was very much looking forward to it in fact.

They were about twenty minutes from home when Daisy woke up and started looking around blearily, wanting to know where the ponies had gone.

Eggsy explained to her that the ponies had had to go have their naps too after playing polo all afternoon.

"Oh. Where are we goin now?"

"Home, Luv."

"Good."