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Fill Up Your Bag

Once everyone was in their seat Katherine opened up with the announcement that Eggsy Unwin Egerton's courtship of Harry was off the table for discussion until the meeting was concluded. Anyone who disobeyed that edict would be kicked out of the room and banned from returning until she said otherwise. As this was something Katherine had done on multiple occasions when someone had crossed her, everyone knew to take her threat seriously. Which probably wouldn't have stopped a number of the room's occupants from gossiping about him, especially since the majority of them didn't even want to be there, but Katherine followed up that statement with the tease that there was going to be a surprise at the end of the meeting that they all wouldn't want to miss.

The way Katherine looked very pointedly in Harry's direction made it quite clear said surprise would involve him in some way.

Hadn't he been surprised enough already today? And of course the tease worked. No one was going to risk being thrown out now that they knew they'd be rewarded later.

Aware of this Katherine smiled like the cat that got the canary. Or whatever the wolf version of that saying would be as she drew their attention back from Harry to her with her next statement.

"So originally this meeting was going to be a discussion about how we could best go about 'convincing' our acting Alpha to cough up the money needed to update our childcare facilities and ensure the safety of said children. His father, our former Alpha, was never interested in devoting more than the bare minimum of Pack revenue to this project, and up until yesterday his son seemed prepared to follow in his father's footsteps in that regard. However in light of the fact that he needs as many people behind him as he can get in order to secure his position as Alpha...King has agreed to cough up the funds I requested in my previous funds report. So we have the money...we just have to decide how we want to spend it."

All around the table Harry's fellow wolves perked up for a reason that thankfully had nothing to do with him. They were all sick of meetings discussing ways to try and fail to make their Alpha do what they wanted him to do, but this was now something else entirely. This was spending money and getting all the things they wanted for their precious little darlings or grandchildren.

"And before anyone says the windows, that's already been covered by someone else."

Given what had happened no one was surprised that someone had stepped up to pay for new, safer windows for the daycare, and instead moved on to the debate about how best to spend the Pack money they'd been given. Harry, on the other hand, had recovered enough that his brain and gut immediately jumped to the same conclusion.

Eggsy was the one who was paying for the windows.

They'd talked about paying for them if need be, and Taron and Addison hadn't been surprised by Eggsy announcement that he was courting Harry so obviously he'd talked to them about it. They would have explained how that worked and buying new windows...was quite frankly a lovely opening gesture. It certainly wasn't a typical courting gift, but Harry smiled at the idea regardless. Of course he could also be wrong and someone else had made the offer to cover the cost, but looking over at Taron, who was sitting beside him, Harry didn't think he was wrong. The other maternal just looked too smug and proud about something for it to be otherwise.

Really he should just be thanking his lucky stars that Eggsy hadn't followed in typical Egerton tradition when it came to the courting process. The family was legendary both for the lengths their dominants would go to and the extreme pickiness and fickleness of their maternals. When Eggsy's grandfather had been courting Nora Howard the man had infamously commissioned multiple sculptures of her in both her human and wolf form, the work done by masters of their crafts. The Howards were big art collectors and Nora's vanity was big as their collection. Hence receiving wood, glass, bronze and metal sculptures of herself had definitely hit the mark, as had the other expensive and exotic gifts he'd laid at her feet...until she'd announced she was more interested in status than love. Eggsy great grandfather had had more luck with his courting, famously sneaking onto his future mate's family estate under the cover of darkness with hundreds of potted flowers that he'd then arranged to spell her name within a decorative border as his first courting gift. Knowing her love of nature he'd also purchased thousands of acres of land all over the world to become protected reserves, and bought up wild animals in captivity just to set them free for her. The two had been very happy together until she'd died during childbirth, the baby as well. Egertons who found their mates often didn't get to keep them for long.

Harry had often wondered if that was why Addison had never seemed to pursue his cat shifter with typical Egerton stubbornness. Because maybe the wolf thought that if he caught him...he wouldn't get to keep him for long before fate took him away for good.

Glancing at Taron out of the corner of his eye again Harry's thoughts turned to why the man had had less wolves court him than Harry had.

Maternal dominants born to the Egerton family were generally fun loving, free spirited lovers that any dominant would want to spend time with and take to bed. And many did date them and looked back on those memories with a great deal of fondness and wistful thinking of what could have been. But they didn't court them. Egerton maternals weren't picky when it came to their lovers...mates were a whole other story. There wasn't a word for how high maintenance and entitled they were said to be when it came to settling on just one man for life. You had to have more bravery and balls then twenty men put together to even attempt to court one. And even if you did try that was no guarantee of success. Because even if they didn't maul you for even suggesting you might be worthy of them-as Taron and at least seven other Egerton ancestors that Harry knew about had done-you still had to prove yourself worthy during said courtship.

One of Eggsy's maternal ancestors had nearly blinded the wolf courting her because she'd caught him charming another wolf behind her back. As it turned out he'd been 'charming' her to get her help for a surprise masquerade ball he'd been planning as a present for his girl's birthday. Lucky for him that had been the truth, so his life had been spared. And she'd agreed to mate with him, taking his continued devotion as proof that he was worthy of her. Personally Harry had always seen it as proof that the man's sanity was in question but apparently they'd been quite happy together, so who was he to judge? Either way the point remained that the average wolf would sooner run into a war zone than attempt to officially court an Egerton.

And now he was being courted by an Egerton. Dear lord.

What was he going to say to Eggsy when this meeting was over?

)

Nearly an hour and a half later the meeting began to wrap up with Harry still at a loss as to what he was going to do. Which didn't bode well given that Eggsy might be waiting for him once this was all over, expecting an answer from him. And he had no idea what the right answer was. For either of them. He needed quiet and time to think without people arguing or giving him looks across the table. Maybe he could slip out before Eggsy arrived? He could explain things to Taron and surely the other wolf would understand and know what to say so that Eggsy didn't take that as rejection. Because that's not what he wanted to do and-

"All right. That concludes things for now, I think. Which brings me to the final matter of the day, as promised. Harry, you're going to want to get out of your seat for this."

Wait. What?

"Do as the lady says." Taron told him with a smirk as the other wolf got out of his own seat, pushed his chair in, and then shocked everyone by jumping up and onto the table, walking a few steps, then sitting down in the middle like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Then he pulled out Kingsman issue glasses from his pocket and put them on.

Whatever was about to happen, he wanted it recorded. Shit.

"Taron..."

"Trust me. Just get out of the chair."

Not trusting the man's words or wink Harry got out of his chair. Mostly because if he needed to make a break for it he didn't want the chair in his way.

While he did that Katherine made a quick text on her phone, all eyes flitting back and forth between the three of them with extreme interest and anticipation. No one spoke a word, everyone sensing that something big was about to happen. Something they didn't want to miss or accidentally interrupt.

About two minutes of silence passed and then they all heard it. Little feet coming down the hallway, the familiar scents of the pack's younger children reaching their noses. Very excited and giggling children. And Rachel and Daisy. But why?

Multiple scenarios running through his mind Harry still hadn't come up with a good theory by the time Katherine opened the door to admit nine children from the daycare, two of their tenders, and Rachel with Daisy in her arms. And a bouquet of daisies as well. He also smelled...chocolate?

All nine children were wiggling with glee-how much chocolate had they been given? And the more dominant ones were all looking in his direction while the more submissive ones peeked at him shyly before giggling and looking away. This could not bode well for him, particularly since they were all hiding something behind their backs.

"Now?" Clarissa demanded to know, the little girl naturally in front of the group.

"Go ahead, Princess." Taron gave her a thumbs up.

Strutting over to him like a peacock while eliciting plenty of smiles and chuckles from their audience, Clarissa walked up to him, Harry crouching down to her level automatically. And to try and be less visible though everyone just got out of their seats to see better.

Coming to a stop in front of him Clarissa brought her hands around to reveal...a small, clear bag with a pretty yellow ribbon wrapped up in a bow, keeping the Hershey chocolate kisses sealed inside.

"Kisses from Eggsy." Clarissa announced with a wide, beaming smile. "And a hug too!"

Staring at the little girl who'd opened her arms to him expectedly Harry hugged her on autopilot, his brain struggling to understand what was going on.

The loud 'AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWS' echoing through the room weren't helping.

Accepting the chocolate after the hug Harry watched Clarissa walk away, the little girl moving to make way for a young dominant named Aaron who also had a bag of kisses to present 'from Eggsy'. And a hug to give as well. All of them did.

By the fourth child the shock of it all had worn off and Harry found himself reduced to hormonal human goo. One with a biological clock that had just been given new batteries after a thorough cleaning. His wolf wasn't quite sure what to make of this intriguing maneuver, but his human side thought this was the most romantic, devious, and well thought out gesture anyone had ever made towards him.

Then Rachel came over with Daisy, the little girl waving around the lone daisy she'd been given with obvious glee, burbling happily at Harry and holding her arms out, demanding that she be given over to him.

Thinking this was the final, devastating blow Harry took her and immediately cuddled her against his chest for a snuggle. Which he needed to keep any hint of composure at the moment.

"Daisies from Daisy." Rachel informed him, holding out the boquet in question while the room nearly deafened them with their reactions.

"Christ. Just put them on the table." Harry brushed a kiss over Daisy's curls. "Thank you for the flowers."

"And on a final note the daycare windows? Your Eggsy is paying for them and has asked that one of the windows be stained glass. Depicting butterflies. You're in charge of picking out the design, Harry."

Harry looked at Katherine, who was beaming at him.

Everyone was beaming at him. Some had tears in their eyes including Taron.

Fuck. How was this his life?

)

As distractions went William King was pretty aces. His dad's cousin had a presence that made Eggsy's wolf want to give him his complete and total attention, which was great since Eggsy wasn't really all that keen to spend his time spazzing out in front of his relatives until he saw Harry again. Or got a message from Uncle Taron about how his plan had gone. Why hadn't his uncle messaged him yet? How hard was it to type out a few words letting him know if Harry was going to snog or punch him when he saw him next? Well probably not punch him, Eggsy acknowledged morosely. More like let him down disgustingly easy which would be so much worse.

A hand on the back of his neck, squeezing, made Eggsy tense and then relax ridiculously fast.

"Hart might not be as difficult as an Egerton maternal, but you're going to need more than the average amount of spine and heart to win him. And show no fear."

Eggsy opened his mouth to protest that he wasn't afraid, then thought better of it. What was the point? So instead he asked what they were going to see next. There were buildings nearby, but now that Eggsy was actually looking they were more moving away from them than closer.

"Taron is having problems training you, isn't he?"

While Eggsy blinked up at him in surprise Addison growled in warning behind them.

"Hush, Gawain. I'm not asking for my father. You are, aren't you?"

"Me uncle's a great trainer."

"A mildly sadistic one but yes, he is excellent in the role. But not someone that can train you, I'm guessing. He's never trained someone with your wiring before."

"My wiring?"

"What the hell are you talking about, King?"

"The maternals meeting should be ending about now. We should head back in that direction. I'll talk to Taron about your training then."

Addison moved in closer as he stated that William could talk to him about it. Now.

"We both know you're no trainer, Gawain. You'd maul anyone assigned to you."

"King."

"He needs to be trained." William stated, his tone both a command and a statement of absolute fact. "That's more important than your pride. Or Taron's. If neither of you can do it, or Harry, then I'm the logical choice."

"You're no trainer either."

"I haven't, no. And there's a reason for that. That reason won't be a problem where Eggsy is concerned."

"Ah...that ain't reassuring, Bruv."

"It's not because I care about your safety less than they do. I don't. I'd prefer no harm comes to you at all. But if you can't protect yourself than you risk not only getting yourself killed but the man you want to call your mate. What family you have. So again...is Taron having problems training you?"

There was really only one answer when he put it that way.

"Yeah."

"Boy!"

"I thought so. And I can and will help you with that. While being properly supervised by your uncles since neither of them trust me as far as your sister could throw me."

The slightest curving of his lips suggested he meant to be humorous, and Eggsy realized out of nowhere that he'd never seen the man even close to a real smile. He had a fake one he wore really well, but there wasn't even a hint of humor in those cool blue eyes. And how fucking depressing was that? Even Uncle Addy smiled for real sometimes. Evilly, but it was still genuine at least.

"Hey, Uncle Will? What do you call a dog that's half collie, half pitbull?"

William stared at him in confusion while Addison asked him what he was talking about.

"It's a joke. Fuck. Do either of ya know?"

The lack of response said no, they didn't.

"A dog that rips off your arm then runs for help."

No response. Tough crowd.

"What does a dog have in common with phones? They both have collar id."

"Seriously?" Addison smacked him upside the back of his head. "Quit it with the dog jokes."

Meanwhile William had raised an eyebrow, but no smile.

"All right, so there's this bloke and his missus ain't happy with im cause he keeps gamblin away his pay and comin home smellin of beer and smoke. She's always tellin him that if he don't clean up his act and lead a more godly life he's gonna wind up burnin in hell. But he don't listen. So one day she gets fed up with im and decides he needs ta be taught a lesson. She goes out, buys a devil costume, and dresses up in it after he's gone for the night. Then she waits."

"Oh for the-"

"Hush. So when he comes home pissed and stumblin about his missus jumps out at him and tells im that she's the devil and she's come ta take him down ta hell ta burn for all eternity for the sins he's committed. Oh how he'll suffer, she tells im, somethin he could have avoided if only he'd listened to his loving wife. But the bloke see, he just stands there and when she's finished he just shrugs, dismissing the whole thing. Pisses her right off, that does, so she demands ta know why he ain't scared given what's in store for im."

Eggsy paused a moment for emphasis.

"'Why should I be scared?' The bloke asks her. 'I've been married ta your sister for over twenty years. How much worse can you be?'"

From behind him Addison snorted.

And William, William smiled. Just a little.

Score.