Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.

Worth The Price

Turning down the hallway Albus came to a halting stop, his eyes going as huge as they possible could without them actually popping out of his head. Louis and Teddy looked equally stunned to see him suddenly appear in front of them, the three men staring at each other and processing the reactions of the other to figure out that yes, Albus had indeed taken note of Teddy's arm around Louis's waist, the unbuttoned shirts, and the fact that Teddy had bedhead and they both had hickeys.

"Okay…give me a moment to process."

"Al…."

"Just a minute."

And so the two kept quiet, forcing themselves not to squirm or fuss with their appearance as they waited for him to have his moment.

"Okay…I'm good now. I think. Mum sent me to check on you, Teddy. She was worried because she heard you two had had a fight. I see you managed to get over that…thoroughly. So I will go now and send her a message telling her not to worry. And then I will get some lunch to go. Sorry for barging in."

Worried that the shock had fried his brother's brain, Teddy moved forward and grabbed Al's arm to keep him in place. If nothing else he didn't want to risk the younger man tripping on the stairs and breaking his neck in the process. "I think you need to take a few more moments."

"No. No I'm okay. I mean it…it is a little freaky because now I have images of your guys naked in my head, and I really don't want those images in my head because you're my brother and he's my cousin and that…that sounds really wrong and perverted when said out loud, doesn't it? Not that I have a problem with the two of you getting naked of course, I really don't. Live and let live and all that stuff.

It's like that time I walked in on Lily playing tonsil hockey with Flint." Albus explained, knowing mentally that he needed to just shut up but being unable to do so. "That was way worse than this. That was mentally scarring for life. And not just because of what she threatened to do to me if I told James she was dating Flint either, though that was pretty bad too. It also didn't help that I'd just recently finished eating and therefore was in danger of throwing all that up which would have really been disgusting icing on the cake."

Letting go of Albus's wrist Teddy opted to place his hand over the man's mouth instead, ordering his god brother to breathe.

While Albus did that Louis moved closer to stand at Teddy's side again, worry written all over his face. "Is he going to be okay?"

"I hope so."

Albus mumbled against Teddy's hand and then repeated his words when the hand was removed. "I'm fine. I just didn't expect to find you guys this way when I showed up. I thought I was going to have to play referee, so this is actually a much better scenario."

Not at all sure what to say, or how to handle the current situation, Teddy fell back on distracting them both with questions until the shock wore off enough that they were both thinking straighter. "You…you said your mum sent you? You can just send her a message telling her that I'll be dropping by there tonight…to explain things. So you don't have to."

"Which I appreciate, believe me." Shaking his head Albus thanked the powers that be that his father hadn't come into the house looking for the two earlier that morning. The man had seen enough traumatizing things without seeing his godson and nephew getting naked together.

And since he had recovered enough brain cells to be thinking somewhat clearly now, Albus motioned towards Louis's with his thumb. "You might wanna clue his parents in too."

"Also on the agenda."

"Okay. Good." That settled Albus figured his work there was done. Not to mention the fact that he had a whole bunch of people to inform about this and that was going to take awhile. So he announced again that he was going to be on his way since he had yet to eat lunch.

Since the man's eyes were no longer glazed over Teddy and Louis figured it was safe to let Albus navigate stairs, though they offered to feed him before he left.

"Naw, I'm good. You guys keep with the making up and making out thing. I don't want to be a third wheel. Plus I hear Louis is stuffing you full of healthy food, and I've got the urge for something decidedly not. Later!"

Not knowing what else to say they returned the good bye and watched him go, Teddy belatedly calling down the stairs to ask Albus not to tell anyone that he and Louis were a couple until the next day, which would give them time to inform certain people first.

Albus yelled back his agreement, figuring that would give him time to figure out how to break the news to everyone anyway.

)

Once they arrived at the kitchen, which had been their original destination, Louis got out the stuff to throw together some omelets, allowing Teddy to help only because he wanted the man to stay in the room with him so that he could address something his lover had said to Albus before he'd left. "You told Albus that you intend to go to my parents and your godparents' houses tonight and inform them that you and I are now lovers and seeing each other. You weren't serious, right? I mean I know you're pretty old school about a lot of things, but people don't actually go and talk about that sort of thing with the parents of the person they're seeing anymore. Even when those parents are like an aunt and uncle to you." He added, because that only made it weirder in his opinion.

Continuing to chop up the onion he'd been given with careful precision, Teddy didn't beat around the bush. "They're going to be caught in the middle when Victoire finds out about us. Call me crazy, but I think it would be better if they heard it from us as opposed to her."

"Crap…you have a point."

"I have to make sure your mother knows I'm serious or she'll join forces with Victoire, which will effectively mark my death sentences. Victoire I can handle, your mother…no way in hell. She's your sister with her hormones screwed up thanks to menopause. Not to mention she'll see my dating her baby boy as cradle robbing."

Just the thought of his aunt's reactions had Teddy looking down at the knife he held, making a mental note to have the coming discussion with his lover's mother and eldest sister as far away from their kitchens as was possible.

"We're only eight years apart. That's not cradle robbing." And dismissing that part of the discussion Louis zeroed in on what really interested him. "And just how serious are you, exactly?"

Setting aside the knife Teddy turned and reaching out set his hand on the back of Louis's neck, bringing him forward for a slow, deep kiss that had the blonde's toes curling.

When he drew back he smiled, resisting the temptation to do that again since he could now. "Consider all the ramification if we screw this up, then factor in the fact that I consider you worth facing those consequences. That should give you some idea."

"You're really that afraid of what she'll do to you?" Frankly Louis was surprised. Teddy had been raised by Andromeda Tonks after all, and that woman was frankly scarier and more dangerous than Victoire or his Maman. And Teddy had never been the sort to worry overly about Victoire's grudge against him, ignoring it for the most part and taking it when he had to with a maturity that made his sister crazy.

Of course sleeping with him was going to put his sister's grudge against Teddy into a whole new stratosphere.

Yup, Louis had completely missed the big picture, Teddy realized with a sigh, feeling another weight drop onto his shoulders. Not to mention the question of whether to clue the younger man in or not. Though judging by the look he was getting from Louis the blonde had clued in that that hadn't been what he'd been referring to.

"I wasn't talking about Victoire and your mother, or at least not just them. I meant the family in general. You remember how it was when they all thought Victoire and I were a couple thanks to James blabbing about that brief kiss? Remember how long it took me to get it through everyone's head that there was never going to be anything between Victoire and I? Everyone liked the idea of me being an actual part of the family so much that they threw us together every chance they got, pressuring the hell out of us without meaning to, and then getting into arguments as they picked sides when none of that worked. Now imagine what it will be like if our relationship ends badly."

"Oh. Shit."

"Exactly."

He remembered well how it had been in those days, he'd probably been one of the people who'd put pressure on Teddy in his zeal to have the older man become his brother. Wow…thinking about that was a little nauseating now.

But more importantly, Louis reminded himself, was the fact that both Teddy and Victoire had been made miserable by their friends and family who'd all thought to interfere because they thought they knew what was best or because it suited them. And if it had been that bad when the two weren't even going out, how much worse would it be if he and Teddy split up and everyone decided to try and get them back together?

And huh…if?

Not that he went into a relationship planning for it to end of course, but they'd technically only slept together for one night and morning on top of the fact that they both had somewhat crappy dating records. There was also the fact that Teddy was apparently still hung up on someone else, not to mention the strain their relationship was going to go under once their family, particular Victoire, got involved and started adding their two knuts to everything. Throw in the fact that he and Teddy didn't have that much in common when it came to surface characteristics, and this whole thing was pretty much doomed from the start.

You couldn't base a relationship on the best sex of your life even if it ruined you for life.

Yet even as he thought that Louis realized that Teddy must have come to those conclusions already. Probably before they'd even gotten naked together and realized how combustible they were in bed.

And he was still willing to start something between them.

"You're usually way more logical and mature in your thinking than I am."

"I wouldn't argue with that." Teddy agreed, waiting to see where Louis was going with this. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like it either.

"But you still think that I'm worth all the trouble ahead…even though after last night I can personally attest to the fact that you could find someone else annoyingly easy."

"That's what I said." Reaching out Teddy forced himself to ruffle Louis's hair, to take some of the sting out of the next words for both of them. "But that's my choice. If it gets to be too much for you I'll understand. Been there, done that, got the massive migraines like you wouldn't believe."

Having drawn the line so to speak Teddy headed towards the cupboard to get himself a glass, needing his back to Louis for the moment as he asked whether or not the other man would like something to drink too.

Not being a complete idiot Louis got the underlying message, which was that if he backed out for that reason he was implying that he didn't consider Teddy worth the trouble. So okay…he had obviously not thought this thing through beyond the hotness that was Teddy, but he also wasn't the sort who gave up on something he wanted without a damn good reason.

Out of love his family had been messing with his and Teddy's life since birth. And while he didn't have it down to a science, he'd always been able to weather the storms better than most if he did say so himself.

Plus, unlike Teddy, he was more than capable of being rude enough to tell them to mind their own business.

Well…everyone but Gran. And his maman and sisters. But everyone else.

Oh, and he definitely couldn't be rude to Teddy's grandmother, Louis added with a wince. His balls would shrivel up in fear and fall off before the words had finished leaving his lips.

"Louis? Is that a no for the juice?"

Blinking away that nightmarish thought Louis turned his attention back to Teddy. Or to be more accurate, Teddy's back.

Crap.

Calling himself the kind of idiot who wold actually mouth off to Andromeda, Louis walked over and wrapped his arms around Teddy's waist, feeling the man's back muscles contract against him at the action as he rubbed his cheek against Teddy's. And though his knee jerk reaction was to make a joke to lighten the mood, Louis's basic common sense kicked in and kicked that idea out of the picture.

"I can't promise anything, this whole thing has just started and I don't know what's going to happen any more than you do. But whatever happens, it's going to be because it's what best for us, not anyone else. Deal?"

"Deal." Teddy agreed, setting his hands over Louis's.

)

In order to keep abreast of the situation, Louis had announced over lunch that he was going with Teddy on his dealing with the family rounds. If their relationship was going to be laid out that way he was going to be there to do as much damage control as possible. Their first stop was going to be the Potter house, followed by his parents' house, and ending with Victoire's house so that they could save the worst, most potentially dangerous and exhausting visit for last. They weren't going to be dropping in on Andromeda, which had struck him as odd, but for whatever reason Teddy thought it was okay to send her an owl telling her they were dating along with a promise to drop by on Sunday for dinner. Personally he would have thought she'd be numero uno on Teddy's list, but he supposed the older man must know what he was doing in that regard.

So after dinner that night they headed out to the Potter residence, Louis unable to stop himself from repeatedly glancing at Teddy from out of the corner of his eye as they walked down the laneway.

"What?"

"Why aren't you more nervous? I mean yes we're coming here to tell them that we're dating, but by telling them that they'll know you've been interested in guys all this time and never told them. Aren't you worried about how they're going to take that?"

Not about to lie Teddy nodded in agreement. He was a little worried, but not as worried as some might be. Harry and Ginny Potter had been like parents to him, there for most of the major events of his young life, to celebrate the good times and hold onto during the bad. The Potter house had always been his second home, the door always open. He knew that they'd react badly to the news that he'd deliberately been misleading them all these years, but he was also sure that they'd forgive him after being mad at him for a while.

"So you're freaking out inside but you're this cool on the outside? Damn you're good."

Amused Teddy reached out and took Louis's hand for a moment, giving it a squeeze before letting it go again. "I'm not freaking out. I've had years to practice my speech so to speak if I need to."

Wondering if he should take Teddy's hand back into his as a show of support, Louis was still weighing the pros and cons when they arrived at the house, Teddy unlocking the door with his own special key and then heading inside, calling out their presence once they were both inside.

Closing the door Teddy had just hung his coat up beside Louis's when Ginny appeared in the hallway, coming towards them with a pleased smile on their face. "I figured you boys would get here about this time. Come in, come in. Harry's fighting with the stove in the kitchen. Maybe you could get him to stop, Louis. Tell him about accidents involved with stoves and people playing with them like they're toys."

"Uh oh. Uncle Harry! Uncle Harry, what are you doing to the stove?!" Forgetting all about why they'd come Louis hurried towards the kitchen to defend the helpless appliance, Teddy and Ginny following after him with amused looks on their faces.

"Siccing him on me was low." Harry informed his wife when she came back into the room, his nephew in between him and the stove now. "I can fix it, you know."

"No you can't."

"Yes I can. I even did research beforehand and looked at the manual." The fact that so far he couldn't gotten the damn thing to work wasn't the point. And knowing that Teddy was even more independent than he was Harry shot his godson a look that asked for support.

This not being his area of expertise, not even remotely. Teddy shrugged his shoulders. "I'd call in an expert. Remember what happened the last time Granddad tried to fix the plumbing at the Burrow?"

The other three winced.

Studying what he could see of the stove with Louis still in the way, Harry decided that he might as well take a break and then have another go at it after the two boys had left.

That way he'd only have one person telling him to stop fiddling with it instead of three.

"So what brings you boys by?"