Just Love

Chapter 2

Tino didn't know what to do. He kept reaching for items, then remembering he was shopping with his mate and not his mother, would hastily lower his arm. However, Berwald would then lean over him and pluck whatever Tino was going to grab. It was all very awkward.

After getting essentials like fresh fruits and veggies, Tino glanced up at Berwald. "What would you like for dinner?"

Berwald shrugged. "You decide."

"I have to impress your parents. You know what they like, so you have to choose." Tino said.

The alpha scanned Tino's face. He finally decided on what the omega should cook and Tino lead them around the store getting ingredients. Once finished, Tino looked guiltily at the cart overflowing with food. Omegas were hardly allowed to work once married, and to keep him looking pretty, Tino had never worked at a paying job. He had no money, he had to rely solely on Berwald. And it made him upset.

Berwald glanced at Tino and placed a warm hand on his head. "Are you ready?"

"Maybe we should put some stuff back." Tino said, despite the comforting touch.

"Why? You said we needed these things." Berwald slid his hand to cup Tino's cheek.

"It just seems like a lot." Tino replied.

"It's the money, isn't it?" Berwald asked, reading right through the omega.

Sheepishly, he nodded.

"Don't worry about it. I'm supposed to take care of this sort of thing." Berwald said, placing a large hand on Tino's head.

"But I'm not doing anything to help." Tino said, not able to shake the guilty feeling from his chest.

"Just by being who you are is helping." Berwald said simply.

Tino didn't quite understand what that was supposed to mean. Lost in thought, Tino had to jog to catch up with Berwald in line. Guess he'll figure it out later.

As soon as they got home, Tino began gathering everything he would need for dinner. However, in the middle of making the dessert that would need to cool for a few hours, Tino started to notice how dirty the house was.

After placing his dessert in the fridge, Tino changed into a t-shirt and began with the upstairs that consisted of the bedrooms and bathrooms.

He was on his knees scrubbing the bathroom tile when Berwald about tripped over him. "Tino!"

The omega jumped and spun to see Berwald with his hair sticking up in many places and oil smudged across the bridge if his nose.

"You scared me!" Tino gasped.

"You scared me." Berwald replied, helping Tino to his feet.

"I was just cleaning up before everyone came over."

"All by yourself?" Berwald asked.

"Its an omega's job to cook and clean." Tino said simply.

"But this isn't your mess." Berwald said.

"It's okay. I don't mind." Tino smiled.

Berwald was silent. Then he took a rag and sat on the floor where Tino was previously and began scrubbing.

"What are you doing?" Tino asked. No one ever told him how to react in this type of situation.

"I'm helping. It's our house now. I can't leave you to all of the work."

"But-"

"Don't make me pull the alpha card." Berwald said easily. Maybe it was a tease, but Tino was still unable to read all of Berwald's tones. Especially when they all pretty much sounded the same.

Tino wrung his hands. He chewed his lip. Everything in his nature was telling him to stop Berwald from cleaning, yet the alpha had pretty much given him orders. Right?

After a moment, Tino knelt down and showed Berwald the proper way to scrub floors.

With everything cooked and cleaned, all Tino had to worry about now was straightening Berwald's clothes. Thankfully, the alpha said nothing about Tino pulling and pecking at his clothes. Berwald actually found it quite cute.

"Okay. I think you're done." Tino said, stepping back from Berwald.

The alpha smiled and spread his palms, letting Tino examine him.

After a few moments, Tino was back in his face trying to tame his blond hair. "It never lays flat!"

"Never has." Berwald replied. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the little omega being so close to him. It was intoxicating.

Then the moment was ruined by a knock on the door and Tino's pale face. "What if I mess up?"

"You won't mess up." Berwald gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. After a smile, he moved to answer the door.

"Wait, let me rearrange the flowers-"

"Tino."

"What if we got the wrong flowers?" Tino began pacing.

"I'm opening the door." Berwald said, twisting the handle.

"Wait!" Tino hissed, afraid Berwald's parents will hear them.

"Yes?"

"How do I look?"

Berwald smiled. "Beautiful." then he swung the door open.

Tino was still blushing when Berwald's parents walked into the house. He ran his hands through his hair one last time and went to greet them with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Tino."

"Nice to meet you!" said the omega, a bubbly man with pale blond hair that matched Berwald's. "I'm Dylan, and this is Arlot, my husband."

After they shook hands, Tino faced Arlot and discovered where Berwald got his height and demeanor from. Arlot was roughly the size of a mountain and intimidating to boot. Tino held his breath as they shook hands. He only breathed again when Dylan took him by the arm and dragged him to the kitchen babbling about how Berwald was shy and such a cute baby.

Tino glanced over his shoulder to see matching smiles from father and son gazing at the two omegas.

"This looks lovely, Tino." Dylan cooed. Finally relaxed around the parents, Tino found his voice to respond.

"Thank you."

"He's been cooking all day." Berwald said. It wasn't a boast, but Tino felt a flutter in his chest at the thought of Berwald bragging about him to others. Especially his parents!

After everyone was served, Tino sat to Berwald's right and the meal began. Everything went smoothly until Tino about choked after Dylan asked a question.

"When is the wedding?"

Tino moved in yesterday! He was thinking how he was going to shower where Berwald was constantly naked and how they were going to sleep beside each other.

Luckily, Berwald wasn't too quiet around his parents. With a gentle hand on Tino's back, he answered. "We haven't decided yet. Tino is still working on getting this place to omega standards."

Dylan laughed and Arlot gave a small smile. Dylan spoke. "I do believe it was cleaner than when we first bought the place. Not to mention I saw fresh fruit in a bowl. When was the last time you had an apple, Berwald?"

Glad for the change of subject, Tino dabbed his mouth with a napkin and joined. "I won't even tell you what was in the fridge."

"Let me guess, milk and eggs." Dylan patted Berwald's hand in his motherly fashion.

"That's about it." Tino smiled at Berwald and he felt the alpha's warm hand on his knee. He just felt so lucky to have Berwald and his wonderful parents.

After dinner, Tino made coffee and the four gathered in the living room. Spring was still a ways away, so Berwald made a fire and placed blankets on the coffee table.

Berwalds parents sat close to each other. Dylan was not shy about kicking off his shoes and taking off his dress shirt to reveal a t-shirt underneath. Though Arlot kept his shoes and shirt on, he did loosen them. Berwald sat down on the loveseat and Tino handed out mugs, trying to figure out what to do. Would it be too forward to sit beside Berwald on the small couch? Or would it be more disrespectful to not sit with him?

He had run out of time to think. The only mug he held was his. Before he could panic though, Berwald lifted his arm, silently inviting Tino to sit beneath it. The omega quickly took the offer.

"I see you two are very close already." Dylan said fondly. "I can tell you two are going to be happy."

Tino smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot." And it did. He was afraid of not being the perfect omega, but Dylan had washed away those fears with his words and gentle smile.

After Berwald's parents left, Tino was left with a giddy feeling. They had accepted him! He was going to marry Berwald and be happy and have a family. Oh, he was so excited he could just-

Tino wrapped his arms around Berwald and planted a kiss smack on the mouth. The alpha froze and raised in hands in an 'I surrender' position. Tino quickly stepped back, blushing to his ears.

"I'm so sorry, I was just…" he was just what? It wasn't his heat, so he wasn't especially horny. How could be explain to Berwald that he was just happy and not sound crazy.

Berwald pushed a lock of hair behind Tino's ear. "It's okay."

The omega smiled and hid his face against Berwald's chest.

"Come on, I'll walk you to your room." Berwald kept his arm around Tino was they walked down the hall.

"Actually," Tino rested his head against Berwald's shoulder. "I'm thinking we can share a bed tonight."

"Are you sure?" Berwald asked, raising an eyebrow at Tino.

"Yes. Now that I know we are going to get married, I feel a lot less nervous."

"Were you afraid we wouldn't get married?" Berwald asked, attempting to hide his hurt. He was very good at it, but Tino was figuring out how to read the alpha.

"I just meant because I'm so much older than marrying age, I wasn't sure if your parents would approve."

Berwalds face softened. "I understand."

"But I'm really glad that a are official now." Tino said, knowing he was saying too much, but didn't care. "I've dreamt of this day for so long, and now I can finally see it. Not to mention all of the babies."

"As in, more than one?" Berwald asked, a slight blush to his cheeks. They walked into the alpha's room.

Tino blushed darkly. "If that's okay."

"Of course it is." Berwald caressed Tino's cheek.

"I'm uh, going to change." Tino said, feeling his blush spread to his ears.

Berwald nodded and Tino felt his ice blue gaze on his back. Once outside, Tino grinned widely to himself. This was all just so exciting! He was going to be a wife and a mom and it was amazing!

Though his favorite part had to be, he was falling in love with Berwald.

A week later, Tino said his thoughts out loud. "I'm ready for the wedding."

Berwald looked up from the engine he was elbow deep in. Tino came to the garage once before and swore he wouldn't come back. He said it was too messy. So, it was weird that he was in there now. He must be serious.

"How soon?" Berwald asked. Christmas was around the corner and that didn't seem like a good time for a wedding. Especially in Finland.

"January. I want snow." Tino said. He walked to Berwald's work bench and began rearranging the tools there. "And lights down the aisle then we would go inside for hot chocolate, hot cider and food. After that, dinner with white and blue decorations and a big cake… is that okay?" Tino said, finally realizing what he was saying. He quickly wiped the black grease that had gathered on his hands on a towel.

Berwald smiled and retracted himself depths of the engine. "Sounds perfect. We can get our parents over for dinner and we can begin to plan everything."

"What would you like?" Tino asked. He picked up the rag he used for his hand and began blotting Berwald's face.

The alpha took off his glasses and let Tino clean his cheeks. "It's your wedding."

"It's just not my wedding!" Tino rubbed Berwald's skin a bit harsher. "I can't be the one to decide everything!"

"I thought it was the omegas job?" Berwald asked, closing his eyes.

"I'm not a typical omega if you ask me." Tino mumbled. Satisfied with his cleaning, Tino set the rag down. Then he realized how close he was to Berwald.

The alpha seemed to notice too. He looked down at Tino, taking in his large brown eyes and cute little nose. Tino really wasn't like other omegas. He had asked for Berwald to wait until he was healthy enough to wed. Most couples their age were pregnant or already had children. Other omegas would have married without any regard for themselves. Based on what Tino had said about his illness, he would have died if he had gotten pregnant two years ago. Berwald was glad for the delay. He now has the rest of his life with Tino instead of two years.

"No," Berwalds whisper tickled Tinos cheeks. "You're not."

Tino looked at Berwald through his eyelashes. "That's good, right?"

"Perfect." Berwald ended his sentence with a kiss.

Butterflies were already in his stomach, but when their lips met, Tino was sure one was going to pop out of his mouth. His already warm cheeks heated up even more and he placed his hands on Berwald's shoulders to balance himself.

Tino pulled back first, his muscles twitching, and he wasn't even in heat! "I should start dinner now."

Berwald looked troubled, but nodded, releasing the omega.

That was when Tino realized that Berwald didn't understand. "It's not you! I'm just… I've never been kissed before. Well, multiple times anyway." It wasn't a total lie, but his first kiss wasn't like the one they just shared. That one was dominating and demanding. This one was sweet and gentle and wonderful.

"I didn't scare you, did I?" Berwald asked, honestly concerned.

"Never!" Tino gasped, taking hold of Berwald's hands.

"Then, can I kiss you again?"

Tino giggled as he leaned into Berwald's warm embrace.

The two kissed in the messy garage until Tino finally pulled away to make dinner and to call their mothers. They had a wedding to plan.