Work Text:
It’s been five months since the whole Elpis debacle, and Leon’s at home in a chair watching something on the TV. He wasn’t paying all that much attention to what was on the TV; it was just background noise to fill the empty space.
Moving his gaze to the couch, Leon smiles with a purr as he finds Emily is still napping in a nest of blankets and pillows, he’s made. Leon had known that his motherly instincts had kicked in rather hard when he first encountered Grace. At the time, he cursed himself for not taking his suppressants sooner, but with a life as hectic as his, a dose being late was bound to happen.
It wasn’t the first time he’d taken a dose late or missed one entirely. Most of the time, it meant he would be a moody omega for about a week or so, but Chris wasn’t bothered by it. Having been married for about eight to nine years had allowed the other man to learn how to navigate his omega when a heat cycle started.
Luckily the heats Leon experienced were not as bad as those of other omegas, he’s friends with. There was a time Leon had to help one of his co-workers to their desk due to how bad the cramps were during their heat. Another time, he saw another omega unconscious at their desk and dragged them to the medical wing with the help of another.
Many of the alphas and betas in the D.S.O were understanding of heat-related issues and didn’t comment; they focused on their work and picked up more when needed.
A month after the release of Elpis, Grace had asked Leon to babysit Emily due to an accident on the road that had caused a long line of backed-up traffic. He didn’t mind keeping an eye on the girl until Grace had returned home. It was that day that Leon realized both Grace and Emily did not have the scent of a pack.
A day later, Leon spoke to Chris about scenting the two. Leon had started a heat cycle, which had not helped the situation as his instincts screamed at him to scent the two as his new daughter and granddaughter. Chris, the ever-so-understanding alpha that he is, recognized the situation for what it was and helped Leon stay calm for the rest of the week.
Leon turns his attention to the TV and mindlessly watches a rerun of some baking show that he had put on to keep Emily busy while he had fixed lunch. According to Grace, Emily had taken an interest in baking after she had a slice of coconut cake that Grace had brought home.
The jiggle of a doorknob draws Leon’s attention to the front door, and he watches as it opens to reveal Chris. The omega lets out a purr to welcome his alpha home, which Chris responds with his own deeper purr.
“Happy, are we?” Chris chirps once he’s inside and next to Leon’s chair. He leans down and gives the omega a kiss. “How’s Emily been?”
“When you’re home? Most certainly,” Leon purrs, reciprocating the kiss. As for the question, “She’s been napping for a little bit of the day. After I found out she’s hopped up on sugar. She did not want to settle down, but the TV helped keep her entertained for a bit.”
“I wonder if Grace did that on purpose,” Chris hums, “You did send Emily all sugared up one time.”
“That was one time, and it was weeks ago!” Leon pouted, “And I didn’t know she snuck two more cookies from the package. Though she does have good taste. Oreos are the best cookies.”
“I have to disagree on that.” Chris shrugs, “You smell nice, a sweet scent. Like honey and raspberries.”
“Of course you do,” Leon rolled his eyes, but he purred at the compliment, “I always have a sweet scent, it’s something I take pride in. Though I haven’t talked to Grace about… You know. I don’t want to push the subject if she’s not ready.”
“I understand. She’s been unscented for a long time. I’m not sure how she’ll react to someone wanting to pack-scent her.” Chris agrees. But there’s something he’s noticed about his mate’s scent, “Though… your scent seems… sweeter than normal.”
Leon raised a curious brow at the alpha, “What do you mean by ‘sweeter’, love?”
“Not sure. It’s just… You smell a lot sweeter than normal. Like cologne. Perfume even.” Chris shrugged, “I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Well, I’m not wearing any cologne or perfume,” Leon says, “I haven’t changed body wash either.”
“We’ll figure this out some other time. I’m sure Grace will be arriving within the hour or so.” Chris sits on the other armchair and looks at the TV, “Is there anything else you want to watch?”
“I’m just using it for background noise.” Leon tosses the remote to Chris, “I don't have anything in mind, really.”
Chris had flipped through the streaming apps until he found a random action movie that seemed more interesting than the baking show that had been on. About an hour later, there’s a knock at the door, and Chris pauses the movie to see who it is.
Leon turns his head and finds Chris helping Grace into the house. Immediately, he can tell there’s something wrong. Grace is shaking, pacing back and forth like a wild animal trapped in a cage. Her breathing’s rapid, uneven, and shaky, reminding Leon of when he first met Grace back in the Care Center.
“Grace? Grace, what’s wrong?” Getting up from the chair, Leon approaches the troubled female and calls to her in a soft voice. The same one he uses when comforting a frightened child or upset person, “Grace?”
“I— un— I d-don’t know.” Grace stutters, “I— I was fine e-earlier, but—”
“Easy, easy,” Leon pulls Grace into his arms and gives a comforting purr, “Let’s get you calmed down first, ok?”
Leon had not expected Grace to wrap her arms around him and pressed her face into the scent gland on his neck. It takes his brain a moment to register the situation before his instincts kick in and envelopes Grace in his arms. Humming as he rocked side to side until Grace’s trembling gradually stopped.
“Bad day?” Leon asks, but all he gets is a grunt from the female against him. “You don’t have to talk about it. Sometimes a bad day just happens.”
Leon looks around and finds Chris with a blanket in his arms. The couch had mysteriously multiplied the blankets and pillows. Leon gives a thankful nod to his mate and leads the female to the nest on the couch.
“Try to relax. Sometimes a bad day happens for no reason, and you just need to be near someone you feel safe with.” Leon hums, taking the blanket Chris had and placing it around Grace. The omega laughs as Grace huffs while she wiggles about until comfortable.
The image before him is rather cute. Emily’s sleeping on two pillows that dwarf her small frame and is covered with a blanket that’s up to his shoulders. Grace, on the other hand, was nothing but a head sticking out from a nest of blankets with a pillow.
Leon and Chris both returned to their respective chairs once they knew that Grace was settled in. They continued to watch the movie, but Leon would steal glances at the couch until he found Grace sleeping. His hand would also drift to the scent gland Grace had nuzzled into earlier.
“You, ok?” Chris asks.
Leon realizes he’s touching his neck again and removes it quickly before answering, “Yeah. I’m fine. Just… a bit surprised is all. Grace has never scented me like that before.”
“We’ll discuss it with Grace once she’s feeling better.” Chris hums, “Try to watch the movie for now.”
Leon nods.
“I think we'd better make something for dinner.” Chris’ voice comes after the second movie they watched finished.
“I think we should just order out,” Leon says, stealing yet another glance at the sleeping figures on the couch. The nest looked really tempting to the omega, “I don’t want to wake them up.”
There’s an amused chuckle from Chris, but the alpha doesn’t argue. He picks up the phone and asks, “What are you thinking?”
“Pizza.” It’s so quick, Leon didn’t register his answer for a moment, “Oh… un… if that’s what you want.”
“Pizza’s fine.” Chris hums with a raised brow, “What kind?”
“Anything with meat… and spicy,” Leon says.
“Spicy,” Chris hums, “Not something you get all the time.”
“I’ve been wanting spicy food lately.” Leon shrugs, turning his attention back to the TV. He did not see the knowing smirk on his mate’s lips.
Dinner arrives thirty minutes later, and Leon gently shakes Grace and Emily awake. Leon couldn’t help but be amused at the four extra-large pies that Chris had ordered. There was spicy and normal all meat, another was cheese, and the final was pepperoni. A classic pizza spread, but one that was good.
After dinner and cleaning up the dishes, Leon bids Grace and Emily farewell with plans to talk about pack scenting in a few days. This way, both girls could write down a list of questions that he and Chris can answer.
“I have a feeling they’ll agree to being scented. Grace seemed to have relaxed and calmed almost immediately when you pulled her into you.” Chris hums as he heads to the kitchen to put leftovers away.
“I’m still not sure,” Leon follows, “But I won’t object if it’s what they want.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t have any objections.” Chris snickered, “I saw how you kept looking back at them when they were napping in the nest. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’d join them if you could.”
Leon crosses his arms over his chest and huffs as heat flushes to his cheeks, but Chris isn’t wrong.
“Don’t be all pouty with me,” Chris teases, “You know I’m right.”
“Enough,” Leon grunts, “Or you're sleeping in the doghouse tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Chris snorts, before leaning close to the omega and whispering, “But I suppose pissing you off, isn’t good for you. And the pup.”
Leon blinks in shock while he backs up from Chris. What did he mean by…
“Chris, I’m not…I can’t…” Leon trails off.
“You might want to take a test tomorrow,” Chris pulls Leon into his embrace and purrs, trying to help calm his mate.
Leon rests his head on his mate’s shoulder and purrs in response. He didn’t think he was carrying a pup, but he has missed more than one heat cycle. Though he had thought nothing of it.
Leon looked at the two pink lines and wondered if he was dreaming. But he wasn’t, and Chris could confirm that.
“You’ll be a good mother,” Chris hums as he holds Leon tenderly, “You already have three adopted daughters and a granddaughter.”
Leon set the test down and rolled his eyes, “You're not letting this “If a blonde woman is in danger on a mission, she’s getting adopted by Leon” crap down, are you?”
“No,” Chris chirps with a smug smirk.
Leon let out a huff and leaned into his mate, “I swear I better not be having twins.”
Chris only laughs.