The three men didn't hurry to leave the hotel. First, they showered, then they talked. And it was with dread that Shiro learned about what happened to Finian all those years ago. And in a way that made him understand the relationship between Finian and Dorian a little better. Shiro figured that traumatic events could either break or strengthen a relationship, and it had definitely made theirs stronger. And Shiros respect for the red-haired alpha grew.
Eamon and Caoimhe didn't know anything about what their Dadaí had been through, and their parents wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. But now Dorian and Finian had no idea what the kids would hear thanks to that reporter. The two men realised they had to be prepared to have a serious talk with the kids, but it was a conversation neither of them wanted to deal with.
When the three men left the hotel, the journalists were somehow all gone, but two black-clad security guards were waiting for them. Elliot had sent a message to Dorian that they had taken care of the press, and that they had sent guards and a car to take them home. Elliot suggested that Dorian should take the rest of the day of, and it was an offer Dorian wouldn't refuse. Dorian was grateful for his friend and the rest of his staff because all he wanted to do was to go home, to be with his beloved family and just for a moment forget about everything else.
While walking to the car, Shiro received a call from Deion. The American had arrived in London, and Shiro was ecstatic. A big bright smile grazed his face, and his eyes shone of happiness. All of which annoyed Dorian greatly, and even if he tried not to let it show on his face, Finian noticed it at once and smirked.
"It's only Deion, you know. There's no need for you to be jealous."
Dorian flinched and turned to Finian, who was walking a bit behind him.
"I'm not jealous."
But Finian just shook his head and smiled.
"Yes, you are. And even though it's cute, there is no need."
Dorian looked at Finian, then at Shiro who stood a few meters in front of them and smiling talked on the phone. Then his gaze went back to Finian.
"I know, but I can't help it. I'm pathetic, ain't I?"
Finian shook his head and walked up to his husband, giving him a quick peck on his cheek.
"Not at all. Look, Shiro's done with the call."
They walked up to Shiro, who was clearly excited.
"Deion is waiting at Victoria Station. Can we go pick him up?"
Dorian was still irritated, but he sucked it up and managed to smile as he gently caressed Shiro's cheek with his big hands.
"Of course, let's get in the car."
Shiro and Finian talked during the drive, while Dorian didn't say a word. He was still angry at the bloody reporter, and feeling jealous didn't help one bit. Dorian hated feeling like this, he really did. He knew he was petty and even if Finian said he wasn't pathetic, Dorian sure felt like it.
The truth was that Dorian didn't have the best confidence. He never had. Ever since Dorian was little, he always compared himself to others. That's why he'd worked so hard on his career and his appearance. He needed to look confident and strong, even if he felt weak. Dorian was his own foremost critic, and every time something bad happened to one of his family, he blamed himself. In his eyes, Dorian had failed to protect his loved one, and that was unacceptable. It was his job as a Prime to make sure that everyone in his family was safe, no matter what. And still, Dorian had failed so many times. He failed when Finian got raped, and today he failed once again. Dorian really wasn't in the mood to meet with this Deion, but it wasn't like he could refuse.
And the fact that Shiro and Finian chatted away without giving him any attention didn't precisely make Dorian feel any better. But he just sucked it up and stared out the window. Wishing he could just go home.
The car stopped at Victoria Station, and while Finian and Dorian waited in the car, Shiro got out to met his manager. It didn't take long for him to spot Deion and what he saw beside him made him cry out in surprise.
"Otosan!"
Shiro couldn't move. The shook paralysed him, left him frozen to the ground, but the tears flooded his eyes, and he cried when his beloved little girl threw herself at him. She held on to him with a grip that was surprisingly firm as if she was afraid he would disappear if she let him go.
It didn't take long for Shiro to collect himself, and he picked Ikumi up in his arms and kissed her cheek. Ikumi was wearing a cute blue dress and her black hair was in a long braid.
"My sweet baby!" He whispered, his face wet from the tears.
"Did we surprise you?" Ikumi asked, and Shiro nodded.
"You sure did."
"Ikumi really wanted to come, and she begged me not to say anything. I hope it was alright?" Deion asked when he'd walked up to them.
Shiro could hear the uncertainty in his friend's voice, and he gave him a reassuring smile while he hugged the taller man with one arm.
"Of course, it was! Thank you so much for bringing her."
Deion relaxed and looked around.
"Are you alone?"
"No, Dorian and Finian are waiting in the car," Shiro said and looked at his daughter as he put her down on the ground.
"You are going to meet Dorian and his husband Finian now. Does that feel alright?"
The black-haired girl nodded, but Shiro saw that she was anxious. So he grabbed her hand and smiled.
"They are very kind, and I like them both very much. I promise that you will like them as well."
"Alright Daddy," Ikumi finally said, and Shiro kissed her cheek again.
"Thank you, Sweetie."
He then looked at Deion and noticed that he was only carrying two bags.
"Is this everything?"
"Yeah, I figured that if we're going to stay here, we better get everything shipped instead."
"Good thinking. Let's get going then."
And off they went. While Shiro walked, holding Ikumi's hand firmly in his, his heart was pounding nervously. This was it. Now Dorian would finally meet Ikumi. There was no going back. Everybody always seemed so sure that Dorian would accept her, and Shiro had even started to believe that as well. But as he walked the final steps toward the waiting car, he started having second thoughts. What if Dorian realised that he couldn't take care of another alpha's child after all. What if Dorian would ask Shiro to send Ikumi away. That would be the end of their relationship, and Shiro didn't think he could endure that. Just the thought of not being with Dorian hurt.
Dorian and Finian waited outside the car, and when Dorian saw the little girl beside Shiro, he first got surprised. He hadn't expected Ikumi to come today, but Dorian quickly got over the shook and a big bright smile formed on his face. This was great. Shiro trusted him and wanted to stay with them. Otherwise, he would never have brought his daughter here.
Compared to the little girl Dorian was like a giant, and Ikumi's eyes were huge as she looked upon the tall, blond alpha that towered before her. But Dorian got down on one knee and smiled. Now they were the same height and seeing that radiant smile instantly made Ikumi feel safe. That was one thing Dorian always was good at, making others feel protected, and sure that he would somehow take care of them.
"Hi, you must be Ikumi. You father has told me so much about you. I am Dorian, and I'm delighted to finally met you."
Shiro had told Dorian that Ikumi knew English pretty well already, and the girl seemed to relax. She bent her head and smiled. It was a cute little smile that reminded Dorian of her father's smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Dorian-san," the girl said.
"Oh, please just call me Dorian, Sweetie."
Ikumi turned bright red in the face, and with a shy look, she nodded.
Dorian was in that moment sold. She was the sweetest little girl he had ever seen, and the Prime-alpha got one more family member to care for.
"Ikumi, do you remember Finian?"
Ikumi turned to look at the man beside the big alpha, and she smiled when she saw the friendly red-haired man.
"Hi there, Ikumi, nice to met you again," Finian returned the smile.
He had met Ikumi when he went to Tokyo to get Shiro to come back to London. Finian had liked the calm ten-year-old girl. She didn't say much, first a bit shy, but Finian quickly noticed that she was a caring child with a big heart.
"And it's truly great to see you again, Deion. Thanks for all the help before," Finian said and greeted the other alpha with a handshake.
Deion and Finian shared the same height and body type. But there was where the resemblance ended.
"I should be the one to thank you. If you hadn't gone out of your way to help Shiro, then I can't imagine what would have happened."
The two men shared a knowing look and smiled at each other. They both had stood by the sideline during it all. They shared the same frustration when their loved ones were both stubborn and hurting.
Deion then turned his gaze to Dorian. This was the first time the two men properly met. They had seen each other but never change words until now.
Deion put forth his hand and meet Dorians gaze.
"Deion Johnsson, Sir."
Dorian didn't hesitate, he grasped Deion's hand and held his gaze firmly.
"Dorian McCallister. And please, skip the Sir. I guess we're something like brothers-in-law?"
Deion pondered over that for a moment and then his stern face transformed when he chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess we are."
The two strong alphas shared a smile and a silent agreement that they accepted each other. Even more than acceptance, both of them felt instantly that they would most likely get along really well.
And all the while, Shiro was holding his breath during the greeting. He could finally relax when Dorian suggested that they should get back in the car and go home.
The drive home was surprisingly pleasant. Dorian was like a different person from how he'd been just moments ago, but that was just like Dorian. He loved people, especially children and he wanted to make a great impression on Ikumi. Shiro watched his mate's gentle approach towards his daughter, and his chest felt warm when he saw that the shy girl seemed to accept the tall man. Ikumi was usually not good with new people, and Shiro could imagine how Dorian must have appeared to her. He was taller than any other person she had met, and his big, muscular body could in a child's eyes appear quite intimidating. But Dorian had his kind smile and a soft demeanour that seemed to make Ikumi relax. Seeing how Dorian acted made Shiro fall even more in love with him.
Deion noticed Shiro's look of devotion, and he let out a sigh of relief. Even though Deion talked to Shiro every day and he knew that Shiro's relationship with Dorian was pretty good now, these past weeks had been extremely difficult for him. The anxiety had kept him lying awake at night, and the worry made his stomach hurt. What if Shiro lied to him? That he pretended that everything was okay even though he was actually suffering? That would break Deion's heart.
He loved Shiro, and it wasn't in any way, a romantic feeling. It had never been like that. Sure, Shiro was beautiful, and they always had fun together, but Deion had always felt like a part of the small family. Even Ikumi called Deion Ojisan, and he and Kei had gotten along really well. No, Shiro was more like Deion's brother, and he was his closest friend. Shiro's happiness meant a lot to Deion.
And now, as the black-haired alpha was looking at Dorian and saw how tenderly the blonde man was talking to Ikumi, Deion was filled with ease. That was not a malicious, fake person. Dorian radiated honesty and kindness. And the affection that both Shiro and Finian had in their eyes when they looked at their mate only reinforced Deion's impression that Dorian was a straight-up guy. It was as if a huge burden just lifted off his shoulder, and Deion felt like he could breathe with ease for the first time in weeks.
The car arrived at the McCallister home, and it was six seemingly carefree people that walked out of the vehicle and entered the empty house.
"Do you want to see you're room?" Shiro asked, and Ikumi nodded eagerly.
Father and daughter walked quickly inside the house, and Finian turned to Dorian. He had his cellphone in his hand.
"I'm going to call the kids. Something you want me to tell them?"
"Just, tell them I love them," Dorian answered, which made Finian smile tenderly before he walked to the bedroom.
Left in the hall were Dorian and Deion, and Dorian helped the other man with the bags.
"Could I have a moment of your time, Deion? There is something I need to talk to you about."
Deion was startled by the sudden seriousness in Dorian's voice, but he nodded.
"Sure, what about?"
Dorian asked Deion to follow him to the kitchen. There they sat down at the table and Dorian looked at Deion with a steady gaze.
"Shiro told us about the stalker. Have you any news regarding him?"
Deion nodded and lowered his voice.
"I haven't told Shiro this, but we think Midori is in the UK."
Dorian closed his eyes and sighed.
"Just what we needed. A crazy stalker on top of everything."
"I know. And I'm sorry to say this, but I'm afraid Midori might go after you and your family. He would never hurt Shiro or Ikumi because he loves Shiro, but he hates you. We need to make sure that everybody's safe."
Dorian nodded.
"We will see to that. I hope we can work together on this."
"Yes, me too. And I want to say thank you."
Dorian winced surprised.
"What for?"
"For accepting Shiro and Ikumi. I've been with Shiro for a long time, and I can't say when I last saw him this happy. So thanks."
Dorian was stunned by the sudden praise, and he felt a bit flustered. It felt good to hear, but he didn't know what to say, so he just smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"Well, how could I not love him. He's a remarkable man."
Deion flinched and stared at Dorian. But Dorian didn't even realise what he just said, and Deion didn't say anything. He knew that Shiro hadn't been told that Dorian loved him yet, because they had talked about it just last night. But Deion let it pass and just smirked at the other man.
"He really is, isn't he."