When Dorian got home, Finian was already back from the spa. Luckily the kids were still in school, and Dorian was thankful for that. The atmosphere in the house was heavy and very tense.
Finian sat on the bed, leaning against several pillows when Dorian walked into the bedroom. The blond man stopped by the door, looking at his beloved. Finian didn't notice Dorian at first, and he sat peacefully in the bed, unaware that his husband was back. Finian's red-hair glimmered in the sunlight from the window, and the first thing that came to Dorian's mind was that this man, his husband, was becoming more beautiful by the day.
The red-haired alpha looked up from the phone in front of him and smiled when he saw his husband for the first time in several days. It wasn't a genuine smile. No, Finian forced himself. He thought he had to. Because the good-hearted Finian didn't want to burden Dorian with more guilt.
Finian put away the phone, and with trembling hands, he caressed his growing belly. And he looked at Finian with tear-filled eyes and that fake smile.
Dorian knew the smile was fake. He noticed it at once, and Dorian was determined to make everything better. Somehow.
He walked straight up to the bed, leaned over Finian, and pulled him into a firm embrace. Dorian felt Finian flinch at first. He was stiff but slowly started to relax in Dorian's strong arms.
"You smell like Shiro," Finian mumbled.
Dorian could hear the sadness in his husband's voice.
"Yeah, Babe. I guess I do."
Dorian didn't know what to say. He didn't want to apologize because he honestly thought that what had happened wasn't something he should apologies for. And what Finian needed wasn't an apology. He needed reassurance more than anything.
"Do you still love me?"
Dorian held Finian by his shoulders in front of him and gazed into those beautiful green eyes.
"There hasn't been a day that I haven't loved you. Yes, Finian, I still love you, and that will never change."
"You won't leave me?"
"Never. My life isn't worth living without you."
Finian smiled relieved and gently kissed Dorian's cheek. The look he gave his husband was filled with so much love that Dorian felt warm inside.
"I was so scared that you would leave me, but you're the same as always."
"Of course, I am Babe. You're my Finian! You're the most important person in the world to me. Nothing will ever change that."
It was now Finian that hugged Dorian, his arms around the blond alpha's shoulders.
"I'm so relieved! You have no idea how anxious I have been."
Dorian stroked his cheek against Finian's hair, enjoying the scent of coffee and dark chocolate.
"I love your scent," he whispered.
Finian chuckled.
"Even though you have that flowery scent from Shiro?"
"Well, your scent and Shiro's scent is completely different from each other. And I guess my feelings are as well."
"What kind of feelings?"
Dorian kissed Finian's hair while caressing the other side of the head with his big hands.
"Do you really want to know? Isn't it too soon?"
"I think I need to know. We have known each other for almost all our lives. If you suddenly start experience things without me, important, life-changing things, that would scare me more, than it would hurt me."
Dorian could hear the underlying sadness in Finian's voice, but he understood his husband well enough to know that Finian was sure of what he was asking of Dorian. And Finian probably was right, because he usually was.
"If that's what you really want, then I will tell you everything you want to know, but if it gets too much, then stop me. Your happiness is more important to anything to me."
Finian nodded and put some distance between him and Dorian. He leaned his back towards the pillows and put his hands on his round stomach again. As if seeking comfort.
"Did you bond?"
"Yes, we did," Dorian quickly answered, his heart nervously pounding in his chest.
Finian didn't show any emotions in his face, he just continued to look at his husband.
"How was it like? Did anything feel different afterwards?"
Dorian recognized this Finian. The curious, calm Finian. This was the psychiatrist, the researcher. And Dorian felt relieved. Perhaps it was selfish, but he didn't want to deal with a crying Finian. Not now. Not when he still was filled with all of these intense emotions from the past day's experience with Shiro.
"It's hard to describe. Shiro's pheromones affected me in a way I didn't think was possible. I really had no control over myself, and there was this strong urge to make Shiro mine. Like he was a thing I needed to possess and not a person. It was strange."
"Yes, that's typical between alpha and omega in heat, but perhaps the feeling was stronger because you are fated."
"I think so. And when I marked him, I knotted. I have never felt anything like it."
Finian's eyes grew big, and he leaned forward, intrigued.
"You did it! How was it like?"
"My cock grew so big that I couldn't pull out. And Shiro was panicking, but somehow I automatically released pheromones that seemed to calm him. And I came for minutes. It was nuts."
"I heard of this, sometimes an alpha can be affected by the pheromones, and it triggers some sort of extreme mating instinct."
"Yeah. Felt like my dick got caught in a vacuum cleaner."
The two men suddenly became completely quiet, just looking at each other. And burst out laughing. They laughed for minutes, tears streaming down Dorian's face, Finian held his arms over his stomach.
When they started to calm down, they smiled, shaking their heads. Dorian dried his tears, Finian took several deeps breaths. Both men filled with relief that they still could laugh together like this.
"This is really bonkers, isn't it?" Dorian smiled.
"Yeah, it really is. Well, good thing we can laugh about, right?"
"Looks like nothing really can break us apart, Babe."
Finian crawled on the bed towards his husband and put his lips on Dorian's. It was a soft kiss, full of love that was as strong as the very foundation of the earth. Both men were now sure that it would take more than fate or pheromones to break them apart. And suddenly, all the anxiety and emotions they had for weeks melted away and felt like nothing but a distant memory. Only a small crack that could quickly be restored. Nothing could break them apart.
Dorian pulled Finian toward him and held his beloved close to his chest.
"Do you love Shiro?" Finian didn't sound sad, he seemed curious.
"I don't know. I feel something. I want to protect Shiro and get to know him better. Do you resent me because of that?"
Finian shook his head.
"I can never hate you, and I would rather you loved Shiro than to simply use him. Because my Dorian isn't that cold-hearted."
Dorian couldn't hold back any longer. He was overfilled with love and lust for this perfect person in his arm. Dorian kissed Finian and spent an hour giving his husband much needed attention and pleasure. If Finian had any doubt about Dorian's devotion to him, it all went away during that hour.
Afterwards, Finian laid in Dorian's arms with a smug smile on his lips. Both men were panting and sweating.
"You spend three days having sex, and then you come home and do that to me. What are you? A sex machine? "
Dorian chuckled.
"I like that. Sexmachine. Perhaps my new nickname?"
Finian rolled his eyes, but he still smiled.
"We should invite Shiro to dinner soon," he then said.
Dorian's eye got bigger.
"Just what I wanted to suggest. I actually asked Shiro if he would like to come for dinner on Saturday."
"I guess after all these years together we think alike."
"Well, great minds think alike," Dorian said and grinned.
Finian kissed Dorian's cheek and laughed.
"Nerd," he mumbled, his lips still against the smooth skin.
"We need to prepare the kids for it. Especially Caomhie. This is still very difficult for her."
"I know, Babe. Should we talk to her together?" Dorian asked, frowning.
Caomhie had been a lot calmer the past week. She had apologized for her behaviour and told them about the spy program she put on Dorian's phone. Dorian couldn't believe it at first. Their little girl acting like that. Even the calm Finian was furious.
Caomhie had been crying, the girl clearly regretted everything she had said and done and felt bad about it all. In the end, neither Dorian nor Finian could stay angry at Caomhie for long. They understood why she was upset, but the way Caomhie acted was way out of line. She was grounded and would be for a long time.
When the kids got home, they both ran up to their father and hugged him. Caomhie was crying.
"I missed you," the eleven-year-old sobbed against her father's chest.
"I missed you too, Pet," Dorian held his daughter close.
Dorian pulled Eamon into a hug as well. The tall boy put his head on his father's shoulder.
"Everything alright, Eamon?"
"I'm good, dad. I'm glad you're home."
Dorian kissed Eamon's forehead.
"I'm not going anywhere for a while now, Son."
Finian stood behind the three people he loved the most and smiled at the sight of them together. This was his family, and his family was going to survive everything.
Caoimhe saw her Daidaí and hugged him after she let go of Dorian.
"How was school?"
"Math was boring as usual," she replied, and let out a heavy sigh.
"But if I want to be a psychologist, I guess I have to work hard."
Finian's eyes gleamed, and he looked down at his daughter.
"Do you want to be a psychologist?"
"Yes, Daidaí, I want to work with people and try to help them feel better about themself."
Finian hugged Caoimhe again, beaming at Dorian, who was smiling. That smile! Finian absolutely adored that smile.
"And what about you, Eamon? You want to work with your grandfather, right?" Dorian asked with his arm around the boy's shoulders.
The two men weren't surprised when Eamon nodded.
"Yes, I want to work with grandfather someday."
"Nobody wants to be like me," Dorian complained while faking a sad face and made the others laugh.
"Perhaps Little Bug wants to follow your footstep," Caoimhe said and stroked her father's growing waist tenderly.
"Oh, I need to start singing sweet serenades for the little one every night. So when he comes out, he will love music."
"Or hate it," Eamon said and winked, making Dorian ruffle the boy's hair.
The others laughed, and they started walking out of the hallway. Finian and Caoimhe volunteered to make dinner and walked into the kitchen. While Dorian and Eamon went to the living room.
"Dad, did you and Shiro bond?" Eamon asked in a low voice when the boy knew Caoimhe wouldn't hear.
"Yes. We are now a bonded pair," Dorian said, feeling a bit anxious and glanced at Eamon.
"How does that make you feel?"
Eamon didn't need to think, he seemed to already have the answer prepared.
"So long you and Daidaí accept this, then I'm happy."
Dorian smiled gratefully at his son. He was once again confident that Eamon would become a great alpha one day. The boy was calm, and he could make others feel calm as well.
"Thank you, Pet. Daidaí and I love you very much, and we are so proud of you."
Eamon blushed a little by the affectionate words from the man he looked up to. It wasn't like he never got to hear these kinds of encouraging words, it happened all the time. But there was something special about his father today. He seemed stronger, much more impressive than usual. Even Eamon, who still hadn't had his first rut yet, could sense his father's lingering pheromones. It was dominating but not frightening. And to hear these words from an alpha like that did make Eamon feel proud of himself.
"I love you too Dad. Can I go to my room, until dinner? I need to start with my homework."
"Yeah, I'll get you when the food is ready."
Eamon started walking towards his room when Dorian stopped him.
"Shiro is coming to dinner on Saturday. Is that okay with you?"
"Well, of course? He's family now, right?"
Dorian was surprised by that answer, but it made him happy.
"Good. We are going to talk with Caoimhe as well, and we don't know how she will react, but could you perhaps keep an eye on her. I don't want her to feel bad about it, but I don't want her to say something bad to Shiro, either."
"Okay, but I think everything will be fine. Caoimhe is really sorry about everything she did, and I haven't heard her saying bad things about Shiro anymore."
"I know and that's great. Caoimhe is a bright kid, just like you. I'm certain she will accept this. Eventually."
Eamon and Dorian nodded at each other before the boy left for his room. Dorian watched him go, feeling both relieved and very proud. Before getting kids, Dorian had never thought that someone other than Finian would mean so much to him. But after Eamon and Caoimhe were born, he realized that he loved them just as much. They meant everything to him, and he was so grateful for them. Eamon was just like Finian but looked like Dorian, except the red hair and green eyes. He would most likely become a prime-alpha as well, just like his father and grandfather. Not that it really mattered, but the chances were high that he would also find his fated pair. And Dorian hoped that his son would have an easier time then he did. Either way, Dorian promised to himself that he would support his beloved children no matter what.
"Dad, can I talk to you?" Dorian flinched when he heard Caoimhe's soft voice behind him, and he turned around.
The girl with the wild red hair looked troubled. She couldn't keep still, grasping her hands hard. She stared at them.
"What's on your mind, Sweetie?" Dorian said, walking up to the girl who was already tall for her age.
He took her hands in his and lead her to the sofa, where he sat down, and she followed. The girl hesitated before she managed to look Dorian in the eyes.
"Daidaí told me that you and Shiro have bonded now."
'Bless that man,' Dorian thought to himself, selfishly glad that Finian took the hard part all by himself.
It wasn't often Dorian was a coward, but towards Caoimhe and stuff like this, even Dorian could admit being a scaredy-cat.
"Yes, we have bonded. You understand that we had to, and your Daidaí is okay with it, right?"
Caoimhe nodded, but her bottom lip was trembling.
"You're not going to divorce Daidaí now and leave us?"
Caoimhe sounded so small, and Dorian's heart hurt.
"Oh no, Honey! I would never do that. I love you, Eamon, and Finian so incredibly much. You guys are my everything. I could never leave you."
"But, won't you live with Shiro now?"
"I don't know how we will do this. But no matter what, I won't leave this family."
"That's good," Caoimhe said, sounding slightly relieved.
"Did your Daidaí tell you about Shiro coming to visit?"
The girl nodded but didn't say anything.
"Please, Sweetheart. I need you to be kind to him. Shiro has done nothing wrong, and I know that he is worried that you all will hate him. Shiro is a great guy, and I am sure that you know that. After all, you were his fan for a long time."
"I know," Caoimhe said, almost mumbling. "Shiro can seem like confidant and flirty, but he's actually shy and very self-conscience. It's because his mother didn't want an omega."
Dorian leaned forward, thinking that this was very interesting.
"How do you know that?"
"It's only a rumour, but it's pretty well known among Shiro's fans. Everyone in his family is alphas. His husband was an alpha, his agent, who is also his best friend, is alpha as well."
"And now he has to be with a family that's all alphas," Dorian sighed, and Caoimhe nodded.
"Yeah."
"So it's very important that we treat him well, alright! Because haven't I raised you to not care about people's genders."
"Yes, but Dad! I didn't do those things because Shiro is an omega. I only did it because he is your mate, and I was afraid. I really won't do anything again. I promise," Caoihme's voice wavered, and her pretty green eyes were overflowing with tears.
Dorian caressed the girl's cheek and kissed her forehead.
"I know. You're a good person, and I love you so very much. I know you will be kind to Shiro.
Caoimhe hugged her father again and started to cry, her bad conscience overflowing. Dorian pulled her closer and held her tightly.
"Sweetie, everything will work out fine. You know what, I didn't throw away your Shiro merch. You want to put it in your room again?"
That made Caoimhe stop crying, and she glances at her father, frowning
"Wouldn't that be weird? Isn't he like my new step-dad? Should I really have a room full of my step-dads pictures?"
Dorian burst out laughing.
"Yeah, that would probably be a little weird."
Father and daughter looked at each other, feeling more at ease than in weeks.
"How about ice cream for dessert?"
"Yeah!"
"Race you to the kitchen. Ready, set go!" Dorian shouted and jumped up from the coach, with a screaming Caoimhe behind him.
"Cheater!"
She ran after Dorian, smiling happily. Feeling like she finally got her dad back.
Later that night, Dorian laid in bed. Finian was sleeping next to him on the side, his back against Dorian.
The blond alpha sat with his phone in his hand, texting Shiro. It felt weird, even though he had told Finian that he planned to send the omega a text. Finian hadn't objected, no, his husband had encouraged him to do it. But still, it felt like he was doing something wrong.
The first message he sent was a short one. He just asked if Shiro was feeling alright. Shiro had answered within a few seconds.
'I'm fine. I have been sleeping almost all day.'
'That's good. So I talked to Finian, and he also thought it would be nice if you came for dinner. So how about I pick you up around 17 on Saturday?'
It took a little while until Shiro replied, and Dorian started to feel nervous. Perhaps Shiro had second thoughts. And that made Dorian feel more anxious, then he thought he would.
When the phone notified a new message, Dorian quickly opened it.
'I look forward to it.'
Dorian's heart was hammering in his chest, and feeling relieved, he exhaled.
'That's great. I call you tomorrow. Good night.'
'Good night.'
Dorian stared at the text for a long time, and the emotions that were swelling inside him felt like a seed taking root and slowly starting to grow. And Dorian glanced at Finian, guilt in his eyes. But the guilt was gradually overshadowed by the longing after his mate.