Chapter Text
“Harry,” Regulus called out.
Two boys turned to the sound from where they were putting a puzzle together on the floor.
“Sorry, Harry James,” Regulus added as he got down to their level, popping down onto the hardwood as he picked up an edge piece, moving it to connect to another. “I have a question.”
“That's what you get for giving them the same name, Reg. That was such an unbelievably stupid idea,” Evan snapped, clearly in an irritated mood.
“It was your idea,” Regulus mumbled under his breath, "And Lily loved it."
“I don't know if I want to be involved in this argument,” Harry James responded, quirking up an eyebrow.
“Shut up, Evan. That's not what we're talking about right now,” Barty said to him. “As I was saying, I don't know if Dora is going to want to have two babies at once. That was really hard on Lily… I think it's only fair if we ask for one. Maybe down the line, we can ask for another, but–”
Harry James sighed as he looked up at his father, Regulus. Harry Severus, bedside him, popped three pieces right up into where a corner of the puzzle had been put together. “Jay, your parents are always so loud.”
“I know, Sev,” Harry James sighed and rolled his eyes at them.
“Well,” Regulus tried to defend them, “They're just discussing an emotional topic. In any case…”
“You're loud too!” Harry Severus pointed at him, “Just because you aren't loud right now doesn't make you better than them.”
“I see your point…” Regulus scrunched his nose, “but hey!”
“She's my sister. I can ask her whatever the bloody hell I want to!” Evan nearly snarled as he threw his hands in the air. “She wants to. She's over the moon about it! You have no say in this–”
“As one of the fathers, I disagree about having no say!”
“And I want three, not two.”
“At the same time? That's mad. You went years, years, without wanting any kids at all. You were sworn off children. Harry was enough for you, you said. You didn't need one of your own blood, you said. Now all of a sudden, you want three?”
“One from each of you, yes.”
“Did you discuss this with our mind healer or are you–”
“How dare you?!” Evan hissed.
“So how do you feel about all this?” Regulus said gently to Harry James.
“Where's Daddy J?” Harry James asked Regulus, “It's getting really annoying without him.”
“He's out with AuntDora for her check up appointment.”
“I wish I could get a little sibling,” Harry Severus mourned, pouting with his brilliant green eyes, “You're going to get three. That's not fair.”
“Did you ask for one?” Harry James hummed as he popped together two pieces with a cloud pattern and quickly found a third to add to it.
“Oh, don't start with that! You and I both know you should discuss anything big with our Mind Healer. We all need to.” Barty argued.
“I did bring it up to her, not that what I discuss with her in private is any of your BLOODY business, bit it's still wrong of you to question my state of mind!”
“They said they don't really feel ready for another baby,” Harry Severus sighed loudly to Harry James.
Harry James sucked on his lower lip as he attached another cloud piece to the bunch, “Well, I'm about to have three, so I'll lend you one of mine whenever you want–”
“We don't know if it's going to be three,” Regulus argued, “Your Pappa E is just feeling… passionate. That's what I actually wanted to discuss with you. How do you feel–”
“You are not Daddy J. I'd rather have this conversation with him,” Harry James said with a raised brow, “No offense.”
“All offense,” Harry Severus chipped, flashing his crooked toothed grin Regulus' way.
Regulus stuck his tongue out at him.
“Real mature!” Harry Severus popped off before giggling as Regulus threw a tickling charm his way.
“Listen, you can't just ask Dora to have triplets. She's so excited you want a child of your own that she'll say yes to anything you ask of her and that isn't fair! What if she gets really hurt?” Barty pressed.
“She's not going to get hurt. She's seeing the finest mediwitch in all of London with a specialty in Prenatal Healing. It's the same one we used for Lily. The blood adoption with Harry was perfect and flawless and she managed to carry our blood adopted boy to term right along with her and Severus' child.”
Regulus reached over to play with Harry James’ messy locks. Harry just smiled at him with his cool blue eyes and turned back to his puzzle, scooting closer to Harry Severus as he put his three cloud pieces together with the four he just managed to connect.
“They've been at it for like an hour,” Harry Severus pointed out.
“Daddy J is out. That's why.”
“They are both passionate individuals, so they get animated,” Regulus hummed, putting another cloud piece to the crowd of them.
“And you're twitchy. I'm surprised you haven't hexed their bullocks off yet!”
Harry Severus snickered at Harry James’ comment. “Give it time. He's pretending to be mature. He thinks he's all responsible with Uncle Jay gone.”
“Well, at least he's not whiny. I swear, the way he goes off to Daddy J, you'd think he was my brother!”
“Oh, that's just unfair. How could you come after your own blood that way?” Regulus pouted.
“Remember what Daddy J said? No matter what my blood says, you're all equally my Dads.”
“That's right, little one,” Regulus cooed at him.
Harry James started to smile, but then let out an exaggerated sigh as he looked over at Barty and Evan. “Though with the way E Pops is putting so much importance on having one with each of you, you'd think–”
There. That set him off like a slingshot. In the blink of an eye, Regulus snapped to his feet and threw off a spell at both Barty and Evan, who leapt apart out of pure instinct built off of living with him for so long.
“See what you did? Now Harry doesn't think you see him as your son! Both of you. I'm going to–” Evan jumped out of the way of another spell before grabbing his wand and starting to throw up shields.
“Regulus… calm down!” Barty stressed.
“Why did you start this?” Harry Severus asked Harry James, brushing a long lock of slick black hair behind his ear as he connected two puzzle pieces that looked like a beam of sunlight.
“He was acting like he's better than either of them,” Harry James smirked as he shrugged, immediately finding another piece to the beam and adding it to Sev’s.
“Or you're just a trouble maker,” Harry Severus smirked in approval.
“You don't get to tell me to calm down. And Evan, just have a kid with Barty and leave it at that. That's what's fair!” Regulus snapped as he shot out three more spells, all of which Evan blocked for both him and Barty.
“No! I want one with James too. That's only fair because you got one with him. I want to see my hair with his warm skin and smile.”
“Hear that? I was got,” Harry James snarked at Harry Severus, talking loudly enough for Regulus to hear. “I thought I was their son, but I'm just Daddy Reg's prize!”
Regulus' grit his teeth and shot off three more spells, all of which Evan blocked as Barty stood behind him, “Do you see what this kind of talk is doing to our son? And in front of Sev too, his best friend!”
“We came out of the same Mum. I'd call us brothers,” Harry Severus pressed.
“Twins, really,” Harry James added with a grin, “We do have the same name.” He popped another two pieces together against the four Harry Severus had moved towards a corner which seemed to have a similar pattern of building windows. They just hadn't found where it connected yet.
“But your parents are much more entertaining. Mine can be boring.”
“Boring?! They're so peaceful!” Harry James argued, “and absolutely brilliant.”
“See, Regulus? He isn't that bothered!” Evan argued.
“Did you hear what he said just moments before?!” Regulus snapped.
“Yours are brilliant too though and much less strict.”
“I guess.” Harry James scrunched his nose.
“And MumDora is the best, though,” Harry Severus smiled fondly.
“You're just being sensitive,” Evan accused Regulus.
“Yeah she is. And so is Luna. You should have brought her,” Harry James pouted.
Pandora and her husband Xenophilius were dating Severus and Lily. While the two couples didn't yet live together, they were thinking of arranging it when the Harrys went off to school. Pandora wanted to start a lengthy experimental magical process of magically stitching their homes together even though they were in two separate locations. Severus had tried to argue that they could just move in. He and Lily were gone for most of the school year to teach anyway, but Pandora was excited about the idea of being able to walk into Severus and Lily's home where they moved once Harry Severus was born and coming out of Pandora and Xenophilius’ home in Devon.
“How dare you of all people call me sensitive. You're demanding three children regardless of how the rest of us feel!” Regulus started casting again.
“Well, MumDora took her shopping for supplies for her little experiment. I'll be excited to officially live with her when we get back from school. Maybe we could join all three of our homes,” Harry Severus explained
“I don't think Daddy J and Uncle Sev would be able to live with each other long term.”
“I think Mum-ily would keep them tame, the way Uncle James keeps…” Harry Severus waved to where Evan had cast a spell to bring to life the painted vines on a large portrait of a tree to restrain Regulus to the wall. “No. You're right. If that tended to happen when she left… Well, I don't know. I'm always entertained over here, though. It could be alright.”
“Your parents are all very peaceful people. They wouldn't appreciate the bickering.”
“James, for your information, LOVES the idea of three more children,” Evan retorted.
“You're having the children with all of us. We should have more of a say in this!” Barty finally cut into the conversation again.
“Do you really not want a child with me?” Evan asked, turning the conversation violently around.
“Are you mad?! Of course I want a child with you,” Barty said immediately as Regulus wrestled with the vines, “I just don't think you should have a baby with all three of us at the same time.”
“We aren't even saying no to there being three,” Regulus added, “Just no to three at once. Three babies? Come on, Evan. We can space it out. Just… have one with Barty for now.”
“Are you saying you don't want a baby with me?” Evan asked Regulus, “Because I really want a baby with you.”
“No! I just said we should wait–”
“Well, James wants a baby with me! And Dora is more than willing to try triplets. The mediwitch will be doing thorough testing to make sure she can handle it.”
“Evan, please. I don't want three babies waking up crying at all different times of the night. One is rough enough!” Regulus begged.
“It feels like I'm listening to three babies crying right now,” Harry James rolled his eyes as Harry Severus covered his mouth to contain the shriek that tried to leave him.
“I just want children with you all and I refuse to choose who to have one with first. There are four of us. I'm sure we can handle it. James almost handled Harry James all by himself. I hardly ever heard him cry.”
“Oh he cried, believe me. You just slept through it,” Barty argued, “The rest of us were woken up plenty of times.”
“I don't think one is enough. I feel like I didn't get to hold Harry James enough growing up,” Evan crossed his arms. “I feel like… if there's more than one, then I'll be able to hold at least one of them more often.”
The other two softened. “Oh, Evan…” Regulus sighed, “Let me go so I can give you a hug, baby.”
“I don't want to be touched by either of you right now,” Evan snipped as Barty tried to approach him with love and sympathy in his eyes. Shortly, Barty stopped with a pout.
“Well, sounds like I'm getting three siblings,” Harry James snorted as Harry Severus finally found a window piece that connected the good chunk they had going to the corner.
There was a knock at the door and Harry James hopped to his feet, “Maybe that's Daddy J.”
“He wouldn't knock. He lives here,” Harry Severus said with an eye roll as he continued to focus on his puzzle.
Instead of admitting Harry Severus was right, Harry James just ran to the door and opened it up to see–
“Uncle Sirius!”
“Hey Harry!” Sirius bent over and picked Harry James up, hoisting him onto his hip, “I heard your Daddy Jay was out and figured you could use some help.”
“Yeah, they're fighting. Sev is here too.”
“Oh?” Sirius stepped in on the sight of Regulus hugging Evan now that he was freed.
“Well, they WERE fighting,” Harry corrected.
“Hey Sirius,” Harry Sev said as he bit his lip, turning two puzzle pieces around to try and fit them together, but it didn't work.
Barty smiled at Sirius a bit awkwardly and Sirius nodded at him, avoiding eye contact as he focused on Regulus instead. “Hey Reg. Did I miss all the good stuff?”
Regulus snorted and Evan rolled his eyes. “I believe we've come to an agreement. The same agreement we were at before the argument started.”
“Only you and James–” Barty started.
“Hey. We're just in the planning stage for now. Let's relax, alright? No need to fight,” Sirius said calmly, “Listen, James and Dora are just… getting some diagnostics done and starting to plan the process. That's it. And we all agree that there will be a baby, just not how many or with who.”
Barty shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well… What do you… think?”
Sirius hummed as he and Barty met eyes. Nervous, Sirius bit his lip and focused on Harry James, swinging him around a bit as he cheered a little. “What does James want?”
After one look at their faces, Sirius laughed. “So three it is. Poor Dora…”
“She's over the moon, just like Evan and James are,” Barty mumbled.
Sirius sighed as he put Harry James down and ruffled Regulus' hair, “I wouldn't mind another mini James or mini you running around.”
Regulus snorted as he pushed forward to hug Sirius tightly. “I'm glad you stopped by, Siri. I'm sure James will be happy too. “You're staying for dinner, right? I'll ask him to cook your favorite.”
“I still can't believe Kreacher lets him cook. I'll never get used to that.” Sirius laughed as he gripped Regulus's tighter, smacking his mid back. Over his shoulder, Regulus could see Barty staring. Catching his gaze, Regulus glared fiercely, tightening his own grip. Fuck. Off. Barty.
To Sirius, he replied like nothing was wrong. “Kreacher loves him almost as much as our Harry.”
Barty took far too long to heed Regulus' warning, so Regulus caught Evan's eye instead and Evan rolled his eyes.
“Actually, Barty, how about you and I have twins?”
“I'm sorry, WHAT?” That distracted Barty as he whirled around to face his insane husband.
Evan smirked, winking at Regulus as he focused back on Barty. “You heard me…”
“Uhm. Just twins between us instead of the triplets with everyone or-”
Regulus pulled back as Sirius turned to ruffle Harry's hair. “Harry Sev, come here and say hi! Stop ignoring me.”
“I said hi!” Harry Severus argued.
“Get over here!”
“Twins with us and then, if Dora is open for it, in a year or two I'll have the little ones with Regulus and James.”
“I don't want four more children. I don't even want three!” Barty complained.
Harry Severus stood up and walked over elegantly, carding his silky hair back. “If someone steps on the puzzle because it's not being guarded, I'm blaming you.”
Sirius snorted and cast a protective barrier around it on the floor. “There. Now, hugs!”
Harry Severus smiled softly and threw his arms around Sirius, laughing quietly as Sirius tried to mess up his hair, but it was far too straight for that. All the attention did was make it fall forward into his eyes.
“What if they're all girls?” Evan asked, head tilting to the side.
Barty paused.
“And with us, they'll be identical twin girls. Think about it, Barty…”
It was a real struggle and Regulus caught Sirius looking over, the edge of his mouth twitching up fondly.
“I… but… that's… That's not bloody fair!”
“Rosie and Rosa…” Evan cooed as he leaned forward, hands on Barty's chest.
“That would be too confusing. Harry and Harry is bad enough!” Regulus argued.
Barty turned to look at Regulus and immediately, Sirius jerked his head away. These two were ridiculous. Honestly, over a decade of therapy had done all of them good. Regulus should be grateful. His relationship with his brother was fantastic. The relationship between him and his three husbands was even better. Yes, they fought from time to time, but they made up and any lingering issues would be talked out in therapy with the mind healer. Their son was the best thing to ever happen to them all and soon, their family would grow even more.
Sirius and Remus were happy and healthy, somehow, even after Regulus went through a period of time when he violently hexed Remus every time he so much as glared at Sirius and it made Sirius laugh each time.
Sirius and Barty… Well, there was no more resentment or bitterness. All that history being spilled onto their poor mind healer… It helped both of them move past so much pain. But one thing they couldn't move past was each other. There was a crush on both sides, a longing that threatened to burn down their home, an unbearable, mind numbing pain in Regulus' arse.
Sirius he could understand, but Barty? Weren't three husbands enough? Also, Regulus would never allow it. Sirius had gone through far too much pain. In fact, Regulus would love if Sirius broke up with Remus too given their history. He should find an absolutely wonderful, completely different person that would treat him right without traumatizing him.
“So!” Harry Severus said, “Since you're here… piano lessons tonight?”
“Are mine not good enough?” Regulus asked him sassily.
“No, you suck,” Harry Severus snarked with a wicked smirk.
The door popped open and immediately, the entire house grew brighter.
“The appointment went great!” James said as Harry James did his best to tackle him. Grinning, James picked him up and threw him in the air, caught him and then started tickling him wildly as he held him on his hip. Harry James squealed, wiggling around, but not really struggling.
Evan pulled his sister into a hug and kissed her forehead, making her beam. “Oh Ev,” Dora said. “I'm so excited to see three little versions of you run around! Why did you make me wait this long?”
Barty came over to James and kissed him fully on the mouth. “Missed you. It's been madness.”
“I'm sorry. I just…” Evan carded his fingers through Dora's hair as she jabbed him in the side. “I just… You know. It's the right time.”
“I can't believe you tried to ask Lily before your own sister. I would have killed you for that, but you need to be alive for the children.”
“I… she did it last time,” Evan blushed and shrugged. “And… Sorry.”
Dora laughed and smacked his arm. “I'm joking.”
That was another thing Regulus was happy with. Evan had grown so much more affectionate. Of course, he still had phases of time where he couldn't stand to be touched, but he'd grown a lot when it came to enjoying physical contact with his loved ones.
Evan rolled his eyes and turned to kiss James, resting their foreheads together as he pulled back. “Sirius is here!”
“I see that!” James grinned, turning to greet his friend, but Regulus came over first, plucking Harry James from him and kissing his cheek.
“I was thinking, can we make–”
“Of course,” James grinned, “Little Sev, want to help me cook?”
Harry Severus looked torn to the point of getting emotional over it, but Sirius thankfully cut in. “I can stay late to give you your lesson after dinner and I'll help cook too—”
“Absolutely not. You'll burn my kitchen down!” James immediately denied him.
Sirius gasped, hand over his heart. “I'm offended! How could you say that to me?”
“How could you destroy my kitchen? It took Dora a month to repair the damage you caused trying to cook on my birthday. Kreacher and I will never forgive you.”
“Kreacher already hates me, and you can't stay mad at anyone.” Sirius rolled his eyes as he walked over to ruffle James' hair. “Fine. I'll just hang out with Regulus and Harry James.”
“We can work on the puzzle!” Harry James pointed at it on the floor.
“That sounds like a fantastic idea,” Sirius said as he caught sight of a familiar ring on Harry's finger. Immediately, he crouched down and took his hand. “Hey, I know this guy. Where'd you get him?”
Harry James popped off the mini quaffle on top and threw it into the air. Sirius grinned and caught it, running his thumb over the surface of it as his eyes grew damp.
Barty was staring again. Regulus went over and kicked him in the shin, making him hop.
“Daddy Jay gave them to us,” Harry Severus chimed in, showing off his own, “We are going to be chasers…. In whatever house we end up in.”
“How do you know you'll end up in the same house?” Sirius asked as he tossed the little quaffle back to Harry James.
“Well, it's quite simple,” Harry Severus said, “Jay gets sorted first… and I'll just threaten the hat if it tries to put me anywhere else.”
“Perfect!”
“Don't sway him to violence,” Regulus smacked his shoulder.
“He's around you all the time. It was inevitable!” Sirius sassed.
Regulus rolled his eyes, but as James started getting out the food and Dora took Harry Severus' hand to walk over and help Kreacher cut up some ingredients, he couldn't help but feel drowned by the warmth overflowing from him. He loved his family so, so much.