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Let's Not Talk Too Much

Once each child had had their book read to him or her the head of the daycare came over to collect the children to take them outside for a while. Anna asked if they'd like to come too, which is how Harry and Eggsy ended up in charge of pushing kids on the swings while Taron, who'd also joined them towards the end of storytime, played in the sandbox with Lily. Clarissa and Richard were determined to see who could go higher on the swings, so Harry did his best to help the latter while Eggsy cheered Clarissa on.

"You're in luck. Nothing distracts a maternal dominant quite like children. Taron will be too occupied to think about returning to your training for at least an hour."

Eggsy grinned at him. "Yeah, I noticed."

"Why did you take a break in the first place?"

"A mate of Uncle Taron's called. Said she'd never forgive im if he didn't bring me by to meet her ASAP. Course by the time we got here she was on the warpath about what had happened with the window and all. Taron introduced us and then we came here cause he wanted ta check on the sprogs and she went back ta cursin the Kings for their bloody budget cuts and ignoring her memos bout improvements that need ta be made round here. Guess I'll meet her properly later."

"Kathrine Drummond?"

"Yeah. She seems pretty badarse."

"She is. She's also in charge of representing the maternal dominants in a number of capacities. I expect I'll hear from her within the next couple hours about this."

"She was talkin to Taron bout him and the rest of ya havin a meetin ta put together a list of demands for King. She figured once word got out about today there'd be more people willin ta back her about the daycare needing an update."

This was far from the first time Harry had heard Katherine complaining about Chester King's cheapness. Or the man's father when he'd been running things. "She isn't wrong. Though I'm not going to hold my breath that King will give in to our requests. I'll pay for better windows if it comes to that."

Harry felt his cheeks flush a little at the look Eggsy gave him.

"You're a good man, Harry Hart."

"It's nothing."

"Right. Well according to my uncles I'm pretty loaded now. I'll split the cost with ya."

Damn.

Saying to hell with whoever might be watching Harry stepped away from Richard and the swing long enough to get close to Eggsy and kiss his cheek.

Tilting his head Eggsy wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Do that again? Only over a little more."

"That's all you get. For now."

Eggsy gave him a cocky grin. "I can wait."

"Higher, Eggsy! Higher!"

"Yes, my princess." Laughing Eggsy turned his attention back to pushing Clarissa, who was pumping her legs for all they were worth.

Knowing his job Harry turned his attention back to giving Richard far more gentle pushes. He knew for previous experience that while Richard was a brave little fellow...he was no match for Clarissa. The girl had more nerve than plenty of wolves five times her age. She'd also had the-

As if just thinking of the bumps, bruises, and even a broken bone Harry knew the little girl had gotten over the past year had signaled the fates to add to the list, Clarissa let go of the chains to tuck her hair behind her ears. And lost her seat in the process.

Harry moved but Eggsy got there first, catching the girl in midair with what looked like ease, even keeping his feet in the process.

"Yay! Let's do it again!"

"Let's not." Eggsy informed her, putting her back on her feet.

"Clarissa Bolton Finch. We've talked about this." Having run over as well Taron put his hands on his hips, a stern look on his face. "Hands stay on the chains at all times, remember?"

"Oops."

"Oops is right. And just for that I'm stealing Eggsy away from you. He's got training to catch up on."

Harry joined Clarissa in being extremely disappointed as they watched Taron drag Eggsy away from them after a brief goodbye and see you later. Especially since Harry had a feeling that Eggsy would be half unconscious by the time dinner rolled around and in no condition to do more than exchange a kiss or two. If that.

The tug on his suit jacket had Harry looking down to find Clarissa giving him a knowing look. "Is he your boyfriend, Mr. Harry?"

Well hell. "What makes you think he might be?"

"He gives you gooey looks."

And out of the mouth of babes.

"Gooey looks?"

Clarissa nodded eagerly, wiggling gleefully while giving him what Harry assumed was supposed to be a 'gooey' look. It reminded Harry of the look silent actors used to give to their love interests in the movie. Very exaggerated, and Eggsy had never looked at him that way for certain...but still...

"You gave him a gooey look too."

Damn. He'd been afraid of that.

"We're still getting to know each other." Harry finally acknowledged, not about to say more on subject. Especially since she was far too young for this conversation.

The little girl outright laughed at him.

Then skipped away while singing the Harry and Eggsy version of that 'Sitting in a Tree' rhyme.

)

Lying in bed later that night, Harry fast asleep beside him, Eggsy continued to try and fail to come up with some sort of first romantic gesture to make. Earlier he'd fallen asleep right after he and Harry had come upstairs after dinner...but now it was like three in the morning and his mind was going a mile a minute. Or trying to. His brain was as exhausted as his body at this point. His poor, battered and bruised body. Which had prevented him from jumping Harry earlier and now was just one more thing keeping him awake since moving was not his friend.

Which was why he was currently lying awake in bed, trying to come up with a plan since he was awake anyway.

Uncle Taron had offered up a bunch of suggestions but none of them had felt right. Especially since most of them...Eggsy was going to go out on a limb and bet they'd all been done before. That or they involved spending more money than he was entirely comfortable with. And while his uncles didn't see it that way...Eggsy saw it that way. At least for now. And big, expensive gestures sure as fuck hadn't worked for all the blokes who'd tried to court Harry before him. From the sounds of it a lot of them had given up after the first or second gesture, Harry had shut them down that quickly and coldly. He was probably a little twisted to find that sexy. When it wasn't scaring the shit out of him because if they didn't stand a chance than how could he?

Unfortunately, after doing some suggested mental exercises suggested by Uncle Taron Eggsy had to conclude that his uncles were right when it came to how his wolf felt about Harry. To say he felt homicidal at the thought of Harry with someone else would be an understatement. The thought of a life spent with Harry...made his wolf really, really happy. And human him too. Which was completely mental, obviously, but at the end of the day he wanted to be with Harry. In bed and out. Would have wanted to date him even without the mate thing as a motivator. And most of this 'courting' stuff was dating stuff and that was normal. Or as normal as dating could ever be.

As soon as he figured out what he was doing. And how to date someone when he'd really never done that seriously before.

But he'd seen enough movies and shows on the telly to have some idea what was expected, and he'd certainly seen his share of bad relationships so doing the opposite would probably be best. If he wanted to be original that meant flowers and chocolate were out. Poetry...not his thing. Not to mention it brought back unpleasant flashbacks from his school days. There was serenading him, his voice was more than decent, but yeah...no. Or not yet, anyway. He was holding that in reserve.

Harry's place had made it clear the man dug butterflies. Maybe something related to that? There had to be an exhibit or museum somewhere in the city they could visit. Which Harry had probably already seen. A gift with a butterfly theme could work...but he wasn't sure Harry was interested in that sort of thing. He might just like to decorate with them.

He wanted something that made Harry smile and beam with pleasure, the way he had this afternoon when he'd been taking care of the sprogs and readin them stories. Harry was meant to be a dad, that was obvious enough. He just loved kids.

Eggsy felt a small bomb going off in his brain at the thought of providing Harry with kids, which was why he opted to shelve that thought before the added stress killed him very dead. Instead he started searching through his memories, trying to come up with gifts he'd been given in the past that had meant a lot to him. It was a short list and didn't help one bloody bit. His mum being sober, boyfriendless, and not depressed were the best gifts she'd ever given him. And Daisy was just a baby. Her gifts were drool coated kisses and hours spent cuddling. And he...

The bomb that went off in Eggsy's mind this time was a welcome one. A very welcome one as several pieces of the 'what the heck am I going to do' puzzle fell neatly into place. And were joined by other pieces as a plan began to form in his mind. A genius plan.

"YES!"

His fists in the air, V for victory was somewhat ruined by his groans as his abused body protested the sudden movement. And the fact that Harry jerked awake beside him in reaction.

"What was-"

"Sorry." Eggsy hurried to say, knowing how much Harry valued sleep. "I couldn't sleep cause of this problem on my mind and I figured out the solution and yeah...sorry for waking ya."

Swiping back his messy curls Harry half yawned, half spoke as he stated that Eggsy shouldn't worry about it. And that unless Eggsy needed input on his problem he was going back to sleep.

"Nah, I'm good." A new thought occurred. "Though seeing as we're both awake and I have something to celebrate..."

A chuckle in the darkness. "I rather think you should conserve your strength for whatever training regime Taron has planned for you come morning. Not to mention I know how bruised you are."

Eggsy didn't really have to think about it. And while pouncing was out, he was up to snuggling against Harry's side to kiss him. A lot.

"I'll risk it."

)

The following day Harry and Eggsy were once again woken up by Taron pounding on their door. The bastard. But he was a persistent one and after another shower together, a tradition they both appreciated, the two headed downstairs for breakfast. And once breakfast was over Harry left for the day after promising to return later that afternoon to help with Eggsy's training. It was for the best really, since he also knew that while he was away the Egerton brothers and Eggsy intended to sit down with Eggsy's mother to talk about sending her to rehab. Taron had already told him that he intended to make it clear to the woman that she either went voluntarily or they'd arrange for her to be out of reach of King for the time being. Once the month was over though they would be willing to give her a monthly allowance to live comfortably on, but she wouldn't be allowed near Daisy without supervision. She also wouldn't be able to ask for more if she spent said money unwisely.

Given his previous history with the woman and his current opinion of her Harry agreed that having him around for the talk would be counterproductive. He wanted to support Eggsy of course, but he would only have made it worse. He had to contend himself with making Eggsy promise to call him afterwards so that he'd know what decision she'd made and that Eggsy was all right.

He'd also made Taron promise to text him if he thought Eggsy needed him to return immediately, and had no idea why Taron seemed so pleased by his concern. Before making a request of his own. Taron had asked if he would stay at the estate for the rest of the month with Eggsy. He felt that Harry's presence would not only deter their enemies, but would make Eggsy feel safer. And just happier. Taron had smirked over that last one.

Harry had opted to be the better man and just agree with the plan since it was what he wanted to do anyway. Hence his first order of business for the day was going home to pack and make arrangements for his neighbor to water his plants for him.

He'd just picked up his mail when he got a text from Taron letting him know that Michelle had agreed to go into rehab. In the end she hadn't even put up a fight. She'd apparently listened to the two options she was being given and after a couple minutes of more silent treatment she'd gone with rehab.

Which was good. Very good. Provided that she made the effort and worked with the rehab clinic to change her behavior and bad habits. And didn't backslide as soon as she got out again. Taron's next text didn't bode well in that regard. Apparently the other man had gotten the vibe that she was only going along with the plan to shut them up and make the appearance of wanting to fix her life. Unless the staff at the clinic had better luck reaching her Taron didn't think she was going to benefit long term from this. Taron was pretty sure Michelle was so used to her son bending over backward to take care of her and Daisy that she didn't think they'd block her from their lives permanently. That so long as she 'tried' he'd forgive her and take care of her when it didn't take.

Taron was worried she might be right about that.

The two of them exchange eight texts back and forth discussing the matter before one came in from Eggsy saying that everything was fine and his mom had agreed to the rehab.

'I'm glad to hear that.' Was the best response Harry could come up with. Lame and predictable, but what else was he supposed to say? Expressing his opinion of Michelle or her chances of recovery wouldn't help. And likely harm instead.

'Yeah. Uncle T has a car coming for her in two hours. Looked the place up on my cell, it looks pretty fancy.'

Taking a moment to be grateful Eggsy was writing to him in full sentences and not some of that ridiculous code of initials so favored by today's youth, Harry texted back that he'd heard great things about the clinic and was sure they'd do their very best for Eggsy's mother.

'Gotta go. Training time.'

A possible lie, but Harry didn't call him on it. 'Good luck. I'll stop at the chemist's on the way back to get something for all the sore muscles you're going to have.'

The image Eggsy sent back was of a-happy face wasn't the right word. The face was leering and the eyebrows were wiggling.

That called for some eye rolling in Harry's opinion. 'I didn't say I'd help you apply it.'

When no answer came back immediately Harry returned his phone to his pocket, assuming that Taron had probably snatched the phone so that it couldn't distract Eggsy from the day's training. Everyone knew the dangers of trying to get someone of Eggsy's generation or younger to pay attention to them when they could be on their phones looking up memes or watching ridiculous videos.

Sorting and separating his legitimate mail from the junk Harry had just torn up and disposed of the latter when his phone chimed to alert him to an incoming text.

Pulling it out Harry opened up the message to see a text that said 'But wot about the places I can't reach?'

Followed by a picture. That judging from the angle of the shot Eggsy had taken himself. Of himself. More specifically of his bare back as he bent over a bathroom sink so that his trousers were pulled tight across his delectable arse.

Damn.

Saving that picture to his phone and only feeling a little perverted about it, Harry had to think for a minute to come up with a response to that.

'I suppose the view might be worth the trouble of a massage.'

Eggsy's response came quickly. It read 'Only might?' and featured a pouty face.

'I would have to make a thorough study of it.'

'It will be at your disposal tonite, then. Anywhere else ya want ta study?'

Harry didn't have to think about his reply to that one. He quickly typed out that if Eggsy so much as thought about sending him a dick pic he'd ended up with a very red arse tonight. And not in a fun way.

Sexy photos were appreciated. Vulgar ones were not.

'LOL. That means Laugh Out Loud btw. Understood.'

'I know what it means.' Though only because it was so over used these days. Harry was ninety percent sure that the majority of the time people didn't actually laugh. It was just a shortcut to say something had amused them.

'Ok. Uncle T is getting mad. Talk ta ya later.'

That message was quickly followed by another from Eggsy.

'My arse is all yours tonite. Ya can use it well.'

Fuck.

Well Harry knew what he was going to be thinking about for the rest of the day.