Harry had been worried about how Charlie may react; he was the one who had set them up. But he had a floo call from Charlie the following day. He and Rodger had run into Rick at the bar the night before. Rick had been upset, but a bit more about being shown up than anything. Charlie had assured Harry that he wasn't upset with him. Rick was a colleague, not a friend before, and Harry was his brother. He had thought Rick would be good for a few dates, to get Harry comfortable out of the closet. And Rick had done just that, and he would soon be dating someone else.
Harry had not spoken to Severus after the kiss. He knew the man was right, as funny and good looking as Rick was, he wasn't right. Harry had been bored with him, though he seemed a good fit. But Harry was still a bit reluctant about any kind of relationship with the other.
Harry went to collect his son on Monday. "Been good for Grandpa?"
Teddy nodded. "Yes Daddy."
Ted laughed. "You know I love having him."
Harry kissed the man on the cheek. "You are supposed to be semi-retired."
Ted shrugged. "One of the best perks, spending more time with my grandson."
Teddy was anxious. "See Mr. Toby?"
Harry nodded. "Yes Teddy bear, before dinner."
Ted had a small smile. "Have you spoken to him?"
Harry smirked. "No."
Teddy didn't understand. "Daddy no go without me."
Ted laughed. "I doubt it little guy."
Harry took his son's bag. "We should be going."
Ted called. "Lucius might think you ran away."
Harry snorted. "He'd hunt me down to the ends of the earth."
Harry had no idea how he was ever going to do this. He admitted he liked the kisses, but that was far from a relationship. And he was reminded of how his family reacted, well the Weasleys, when he had broken up with Ginny. He knew Ron always had a thing against the man, but then again, so had he. But he had been reminded by Charlie, that those of them who really loved him, would be there for him. And he never had a doubt in his mind about George, he knew George would always be a constant in his life. The death of Fred had driven them even closer to one another.
Lucius had no idea if Harry would even show up. He noticed Harry and Severus had not spoken, since the guests interrupted their kiss. Lucius was happy they had kissed, now his fool of a brother needed to act on it. Severus couldn't allow this to slip through his fingers.
Severus was waiting in their usual space. "You came."
Harry grunted. "Surprised?"
Severus smirked. "You left pretty quickly the other night."
Harry wouldn't give in to him. "Draco was gone, there was no point to stay."
Severus came his way. "Running were you?"
Harry didn't back up. "Why would I run?"
Severus smirked. "Because you liked the kiss."
Harry laughed. "If I liked it so much, why would I run?"
Severus shrugged. "You tell me."
Harry motioned to the rehab. "I came here to work."
Severus didn't move. "You gave the animal lover the boot."
Harry ground his teeth. "Don't gloat. It had nothing to do with you."
Severus laughed. "Who are you trying to fool?"
Harry reminded him. "You're the one who said he bored me."
Severus agreed. "You don't want some milk white boy."
Harry snorted. "Better than a greasy haired old man."
Harry got Severus to focus on his rehab. He hoped they would be done soon, as really Severus had made a great deal of progress. He was walking almost normally with his cane. There had been little to no progress though with his other leg, and Harry had doubts there ever would be. But if they built up the man's strength, he might not need a cane for certain things. And he may actually be able to return to teaching, if he chose to.
Severus pulled him in for a kiss when done. "Needed reminding."
Harry pulled back. "I am looking for more than a good kisser."
Severus had a glint in his eye. "Good kisser? Indeed."
Harry moved away. "I am a father. I am not looking for a tryst."
Severus reminded him. "Teddy adores me."
Harry grunted. "My son is not the one you have to convince."
Teddy broke up the moment. "Story time Mr. Toby?"
Severus sunk into a chair. "I assume so."
Lucius came in. "You and Teddy are welcome to stay for dinner."
Harry shook his head. "We should get home."
Lucius smirked. "You know everyone saw you kiss."
Harry groaned. "Don't remind me."
Lucius clapped him on the back. "You know how much we care about you."
The Malfoys were newer in his life, well on the family side of things. He had only started coming for dinner after he worked with Severus. But he knew Lucius was honest, and they did care about him as well. He was reminded Draco had little family, and Lucius had embraced what family his son did have. Narcissa had always wished that she had been able to have a relationship with her sister and niece.
Harry bent and scooped up his son. "We got to go little man, Kreacher is making your favorite."
It had been a long week, and Harry was exhausted. He loved being a pediatrician, and he would never give it up. But between it, Severus' rehab, and being a dad, it could be exhausting at times. Weekends were usually his, but he somehow was convinced to have a family dinner that night. He had a huge house and house elves, and he loved his family, but this was a first. Usually Molly always insisted on them at her house. Though Kreacher and Winky were happy to help, Harry found himself doing a lot of the cooking. He had hated cooking for his relatives, but he didn't mind cooking now a days. And it was a good way for him to relax he found sometimes, or keep his mind distracted.
Teddy was in the kitchen with him, not helping, but happily playing with his new kitten. Teddy absolutely adored the little ball of fur, and Harry was happy that Draco had suggested it. The cat hadn't started scratching or doing anything else to the house either.
Teddy suddenly said. "Mr. Toby."
Harry didn't look up. "I think you'll have to stick to Sev, your kitten already knows it."
A voice came from the door. "I believe your son was referring to me."
Teddy was bouncing up and down. "You come visit."
Harry turned around. "What are you doing in my house?"
Severus stood in the doorway. "I believe you suggested I needed out of the house."
Harry grimaced. "I meant into town, not at my house."
Severus shrugged. "This is town."
Harry pointed at the food. "I am having people over for dinner."
Severus smirked. "Thank you for the invitation."
Before Harry could say anything Teddy turned to him. "Daddy, Mr. Toby stay? Please, please, please."
Harry wished he was better at saying no to his son. "You know Teddy, Uncle George and the family are coming."
Severus grimaced but added. "A reunion."
Teddy grinned. "They like Mr. Toby too."
Harry snorted. "Oh they will be jumping for joy to see him."
His son didn't know sarcasm, and thought his daddy was being serious. Harry didn't know how the man knew about dinner, and wondered if it was bad timing. Lucius hadn't been invited, that would have made dinner even more interesting to say the least. The Weasleys and Tonks were the only ones who were. Luna and Neville had meant to come, but Luna had gone into early labor the day before, and given birth to their son. Today being Sunday, Harry had been free the day before, and had gone to the school to meet little Frankie. Harry had added to his list of godchildren, named for Frank Xeno Longbottom. Neither Neville nor Luna had much family, and they both considered Harry a brother.
Severus sunk down into a chair, and was not surprised when Teddy clambered into his lap for a story. Lucius had reminded Severus he needed to fight, if he wanted to have Harry. And after the kiss and his little play at the wedding, he knew there was no backing away now.
Harry looked at Severus. "They will be arriving any moment."
Severus just looked at Teddy. "Good thing our story is done then."
Teddy smiled. "You tell me one before bed too."
Harry grunted. "He is not staying that long."
Molly appeared in the door. "Harry I came early to make sureā¦.."
Severus noticed she trailed off when she saw him. "Hello Molly."
Arthur had come in beside her. "Severus, we were surprised to learn you were alive."
Molly looked at Harry. "I wasn't aware he was coming."
Harry glared at the man. "Either was I."
George had appeared. "This may get interesting."
Harry directed them into the dining room. "Dinner is almost ready."
Severus stood. "It smells good."
Harry looked at him. "There aren't enough plates set for you."
Teddy piped up. "He sit with me daddy."
Severus picked up the little boy. "Yes daddy, I'll sit with him."
Harry watched as the man and his son headed into the dining room. For a moment he could marvel at how well rehab had been going. The man was still on a cane, but he could carry Teddy without his balance being off at all. But that happiness soon was pushed aside, by his irk at having the man invite himself to dinner. If it wasn't for his son, he would have told the man to leave the house now.
George appeared back in the door with Charlie. "You invited him to dinner?"
Harry smirked. "You know me better than that."
Charlie shrugged. "He is good with your son."
George agreed. "And he does make you smile."
Harry groaned. "Has my son got to you?"
Charlie clapped him on the back. "No, we're just not blind."
Ron was in a right mood when they came into the dining room. "I thought I was rid of having to put up with you."
Severus smirked. "How is it your son has better table manners than you?"
Hermione cut in. "Ron, you do need to stop talking with a full mouth."
Molly looked at Harry. "I wasn't aware you two had become friends."
Harry sent a glare at Severus. "Either was I."
Severus smiled from his place next to Teddy. "Oh but we had such a wonderful night on Saturday."
Dinner was uncomfortable to say the least. Ron was not happy at all, though the rest of the family tried to make the man feel welcome there. He had been a spy, and had been a member of their order. They could also see Teddy was fond of him, and were starting to see Harry was as well. Molly stayed to help with the dishes, but in the end, only Severus was there. Against his protest, the man stayed and read Teddy a bed time story. As he watched the two together, Harry could admit they looked good together, that perhaps they could be a family.
When Teddy was asleep Severus went to leave but said. "I'm going nowhere. You will be mine one day, both you and Teddy, I swear."
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