Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Erik didn’t know what to do anymore.

The two little faces staring up at him were so innocent. Wanda and Pietro with their big round eyes and chubby red cheeks were both smiling so sweetly up at him.

And yet Erik had just been told that the nursery staff had had enough. The twins had been rowdy and uncooperative all day and were now being let go from the facility. 

The manager had been kind as she informed Erik, but he could pick up the glee in her scent. She was happy to see the twins go.

He sighed, plastering on as best a smile he could before poking their chubby cheeks. “Go pack up your things please.”

They dashed over to the wooden cubbies where their colourful bags were lying. The many charms and badges Erik had bought for them over the years decorating the bright canvas. Erik could already hear them begin to squabble over who had been the fastest to reach the wooden shelf.

Erik noticed the glares sent their way by the staff, the way none of them offered to help them pack up in the sweet kind voices they gave to the other children collecting their things.

Perhaps it was for the best that they left this nursery. Erik couldn’t stand his babies being treated like outcasts. He wouldn’t let them stay in an environment where the teachers steered clear of them as though they were demons.

He knew his children were energetic, he knew they had trouble listening and paying attention. But it wasn’t their fault.

“Reactive omegan attachment disorder.” The doctor had called it.

“The lack of maternal bond has made it difficult for them to regulate their emotions and hormones.”

Erik had known they’d suffered from it since they were babies. They’d been difficult to settle and cried more often than they’d smiled. He’d thought he could fix the issue by having them spend more time with his mother, surely a grandma could substitute for a maternal influence? But she hadn’t. For some unknown reason, her presence hadn’t worked to fill in the gap, despite all the doctors saying she should have been able to. The twins adored her. There wasn’t anything they loved more than her scent and cuddles, but for some unknown reason, it just wasn’t enough for them.

The alpha had tried to date but that only revealed the twins' over-sensitivity to omegan scents. Their noses would always turn red and they’d be sneezing for days after Erik would come home. He’d learnt quickly to strip himself off his omega-pheromone-scented clothes before he’d even reentered the house.

But even if the twins could stand the omegas he brought home, Erik hadn’t. Most of them, he quickly figured out, were only interested in his money. They talked only of when they could move in and yet couldn’t hide their grimaces whenever he mentioned having children.

Needless to say, Erik did not think he’d rejoin the dating scene any time soon.

“Would you like to say goodbye to your teachers? We won’t be coming back here okay?” He asked them once they had come bouncing back, looking tiny with their large backpacks hanging on their shoulders.

He nearly wept at seeing how nervous they got at the mention of their teachers. Wanda bit her lip and quickly shook her head back and forth, red ponytails swinging as she did. Pietro simply grabbed his hand and buried himself into Erik’s side, hiding the teachers from his view.

“That’s okay, you don’t have to,” Erik reassured. So long as he lived, his children would never be forced to do something they did not want to. 

So, without any goodbyes from the staff or other children, the trio left the nursery for the last time.

Erik was truly glad to be rid of it. He couldn’t even look at the sweet chalk drawings on the cobblestone without remembering how Wanda and Pietro had been forced to sit out of the activity, all because they’d wanted to draw their own artwork rather than follow the teachers’ orders of what they wanted.

Yet no matter his satisfaction with finally leaving the place that caused his children such grief, frustration still simmered beneath his skin.

What would he do now? 

There was only one other nursery in the area but Erik didn’t know if he could risk moving his children into another copy of the environment that had harmed them. 

Besides, the one they’d been going to was known as the better of the two. The one that was the most vocal about preventing bullying and ensuring each child was welcome. 

If the school that preached that kind of message could still treat his children like little more than dirt, he dreaded to wonder how the other nursery would welcome them.

“Papa, papa can we stop to pet the cat?” Wanda chirped, voice high with excitement. 

“No, I-“ he sighed in frustration. All he wanted to do was go home and rant to his mother about what had happened. He wanted to receive her advice and also her hugs as she would tell him that everything would be fine.  But Erik couldn’t let his own upset interfere with his children’s moods. 

“Alright then,” he said, suddenly more weary about his agreement when he noticed that the cat was much more scraggly and feral-looking than he had originally noticed. 

The alpha shuddered and sent a silent wish for neither of his children to contract anything from the animal.  

“She’s pretty Papa,” Pietro squealed, tiny hand stroking the cat’s spotted fur. 

“And how do you know it’s a girl,” Erik smiled, amused at how his son’s brain worked.

The toddler shrugged. “Can just tell,” he mumbled. 

Erik let them have a few more minutes petting the poor thing before the thought of all the germs became too much for him to handle. 

“Right, how about we go visit Uncle Logan,” he clapped his hands, drawing the twin’s attention back to him. 

“Yea!” They cheered, readily accepting a few squirts of hand sanitiser from the bottle Erik had pulled out of his blazer pocket.

Despite Erik desperately wishing he could, he wasn’t able to stay with the twins. There was a meeting he couldn’t get out of, one it was impossible for him to miss as the company's CEO. He’d only just been able to push it back to pick up the twins.

His mother was at a doctor's appointment and was always exhausted after them. Erik knew his mother adored the children and would likely feign good health in order to take them off his hands. But he couldn’t do that to her.

That only left Logan’s. 

They seemed slightly more alive after petting the cat, but their paces were still slower than normal. Their faces were still glum and they weren’t running ahead of him as usual. Wanda and Pietro were both meek as they clung to his hands and hadn’t even argued about who got to be on which side.

Erik had noticed it before, of course. The way the twins would always seem much more forlorn while leaving the nursery. Erik, stupidly, had just assumed they were sad leaving their friends and teachers behind. He hadn’t realised it was because the teachers were likely yelling at them all day, calling them cruel names.

Erik didn’t know how he’d ever trust anyone around his children again. He’d already failed them once, he wouldn’t fail them again.

Erik felt hopelessly out of his depth, he didn’t know how to bring his pups’ spark back. 

Maybe his mother would have advice. She always seemed to know what to say, what things Erik needed to hear at that moment.

 He should really call her. He missed her voice.

When Logan had told Erik that he wanted to start up a café, Erik had laughed. The gruff alpha he knew? Who had paid for his University fees with cage fights and knife throwing? Running a café? The image hadn’t made sense in his head.

But seeing it now, all the smart brick and colourful flowers surrounding the exterior, Erik could see it. Logan had done it all for his little girl Laura. She wasn’t so little now but the café still lived on. It had become the little social hub of Genosha and Erik knew it was Logan’s pride and joy. 

The little bell by the door rang as they entered the café. The afternoon crowd had not yet begun to arrive, meaning the store was relatively empty. A fact that helped abate a lot of Erik’s anxiety. Sometimes, simply the scent of other omegas could upset the twins.

Another abnormal side effect of their condition. With them having never made a maternal bond to an omegas scent, they tended to view all omegan scents as foreign and abrasive. Their grandmother was the only one they could stand due to the familial connections they could sense. Some of Erik’s own green apple scent had come from her.

They were fine with any other gender though. Alphas and betas, they didn’t seem to mind their scenes, despite them typically being much more abrasive and heavier compared to the softer scents omegan biology favoured.

That’s why Erik was so comfortable with them being around Logan. The alpha’s cold, earthy moss scent always seemed to have a soothing quality to it. Erik swore it was because they shared a similar metallic aspect to their scents, but Logan always denied it.

However, Erik did wish the man would quit his terrible smoking habit, he dreaded to think about how much smoke the twins had inhaled from his clothes.

“Uncle Logan! Uncle Logan!” They yelled, squirming in Erik’s hold until he released his grip and let the twins free. 

Erik’s eyes didn’t follow them. They’d been here enough times for him to trust they’d be okay. He was also distracted by the unfamiliar scent in the air. Looking around the café, he was trying to find the origin of the lovely scent of freshly harvested berries and citrus-tinged jams. 

“You’re not Uncle Logan,” Wanda’s indignant little voice sounded out. She didn’t sound too alarmed but the strangeness of it not being Logan or his teenage daughter Laura was enough of an odd occurrence to get Erik spinning around to see who was behind the register.

“No, I’m not,” the cheery omega smiled down at the children.

If Erik were a little less mesmerised with the beautiful omega, he would’ve noticed how the twins didn’t back up at the sight of the foreign omega, nor did their noses scrunch up in offence. 

Erik couldn’t help but stare.

Across the empty room, standing upright with perfect posture behind the tall café counter, was the most striking omega Erik had ever laid eyes on. The man was luminous, with skin kissed by a delicate dusting of freckles that seemed to gather like stars across his nose and cheeks. His eyes were the most brilliant shade of blue, with a sparkle of warmth, crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

And what a smile it was. Red lips stretched into a curve of such sweetness that Erik felt his chest tighten. The omega’s dark curls tumbled around his face, framing his face amongst their gentle waves, each strand reflecting hints of auburn and gold in the sunlight.

The omega’s face was so sweet it bordered on angelic. 

He was so beautiful that he almost seemed otherworldly. But it was the kind of beauty that came with youth because the omega looked young. He could barely be over twenty-three.

And suddenly Erik felt the world was being unnecessarily cruel to him, placing his dream omega right in front of him yet making him someone Erik could never have.

Remembering his children, the alpha rushed forward, grabbing the twins by the shoulder and gently pulling them back a few steps. Even if they hadn’t seemed unsettled by the omega, Erik wouldn’t take any chances.

“Where’s Logan?” Erik grunted. Gruff and to the point. He didn’t want to spend any longer talking to the joyful omega than he had to, not when seeing how sweet the omega looked at his children caused pains to shoot through his heart. 

“Oh he’s just out the back,” the omega’s voice was so light and airy, almost as if he was singing. “I’ll go get him for you, shall I?” He smiled, turning around with a flourish.

The angle at which he turned allowed Erik to read the name on the little plastic name badge the omega was wearing.

Charles.

After a few moments, the omega emerged from the back with the alpha following him. 

Logan’s blank expression appears almost comical behind Charles’ bright smile. 

The twins both burst out laughing as they noticed the bits of flour stuck to Logan’s beard.

“What’s so funny, pipsqueaks?” He peered down at them, propping his hands against the countertop and unintentionally flexing his muscles, only making them giggle harder.

“You’ve got flour on your face,” Pietro rushed out before slapping his hands over his mouth, only drawing more attention to his giggling.

Logan winked at them before wiping the white dust off.

“What’s the matter with you then?” Logan huffed, shifting his weight onto one elbow as he switched his gaze over to Erik. 

Erik pursed his lips, glancing subtly at Charles.

The omega was lovely, sure. But lovely omegas were always the cruellest. 

Erik had been walked out on by many omegas. His dates would always end in failure the second they found out he was a single father to children who had reactive omegan attachment disorder. 

He didn’t know anything about Charles and he didn’t want to subject his twins to the omega’s judgment so soon.

“I can’t stay for long, Logan, I was just hoping I could leave these two with you.”

The alpha’s brows furrowed. “Why aren’t they at the nursery?”

“They were let go,” Erik rushed out, gently rubbing the twins’ shoulders when he felt them tense up. It worried him that merely the mention of the nursery upset them.

Logan’s jaw dropped slightly and Erik could scent a slight burnt tinge to the fresh berries in the air. Looking to the side, he could see Charles’ face fall, his gaze sad as he looked down at the twins. He had no doubt the burnt berry smell was coming from him.

“Right then” Logan clapped his hands, “how about you two pipsqueaks go sit at your favourite table and I’ll bring you some pencils and paper.” 

“I’ll get them set up,” Erik assured him, it was the least he could do after having dumped the children on him on such short notice. 

Erik tightened his grip on their shoulders and began moving them in the direction of their favourite table. They liked it because of its position right by the window, allowing them to watch the people walking past as well as admire the colourful flowers outside. 

The twins whined, trying to dig their heels into the floor but their father was too strong.

“But, but-“

Erik sighed, assuming they didn’t want to move from their spot because they hadn’t yet pointed out the sweets they wanted from the pastry cabinet. 

“Uncle Logan will take your order once you’re sitting down, let Charles,” the alpha found he liked the way the sounds curled around his tongue. The omega’s name felt right in his mouth. It didn’t escape his notice how the omega shivered either. 

He swallowed and continued his sentence. Unable to stop himself from repeating the name. “Let Charles help out the kind lady behind us.”

The twins grumbled as he shuffled them into their seats. The alpha had to call out several reminders for them to sit up straight and to stop trying to kick him under the table while he was trying to set them up.

Their strong legs were a complaint he often heard from the nursery teachers. The reminder only made him feel worse.

Logan arrived not long after with Erik’s coffee in a to-go cup and the twins' milkshakes, along with the iced cookies they loved so much, that had been decorated to look like little faces.

The coffee was good, better than usual. Logan always liked to burn Erik’s coffee just a tad and Erik had grown used to the disgusting taste by now, visiting the cafe for the company and to get his children out and about.

But today, the coffee was actually enjoyable.

“Did you finally decide not to burn my beans?” Erik huffed, taking another sip from the cardboard cup.

“You can thank Chuck for that. He’s the one that made it.”

The reminder of the omega made his throat thicken. “Right, we’ll. I’ve got to go. Thanks so much, Logan,” he patted the alpha on his shoulder.

“No worries, you know I love the little rascals.”

Erik nodded, about to leave when Logan called out after him.

“We’ll talk once you’re back, yes?”

“Of course.”

As the alpha was leaving, Charles had just finished serving another customer, leaving him free to send Erik a smile as he cheerily waved goodbye.

Even as Erik called a taxi and made his way back to the office, the omega’s sweet voice was still repeating in his head.

“You’ve got a nice scent about you,” the taxi driver commented. Politely trying to make small talk.

“Yes,” the alpha mumbled distractedly. His mind is still on Charles. “The apple is from my mother.”

“Apple?” The woman exclaimed. “I’d say the scent is more of fresh berry jam.”

Berries.

It was Charles’ scent she was picking up. It must have stuck to him as he was leaving. 

“Ah yes, it is a rather nice scent isn’t it?” The thought did not help distract him from the omega who he was not allowed to have.

Erik’s presence at the meeting turned out to be merely a formal one. He couldn’t contribute anything of merit to the discussion when his mind was preoccupied with worrying about his children.

He felt awful for abandoning them when they likely never needed him more than at this moment. 

Erik also didn’t know what he would do. The only other nursery had outright rejected the twins once he’d disclosed their diagnosis, spitting out criticisms of unruly children who never listened.

Erik had maintained his polite, business-focused facade as he shook hands and wished his collaborators well. However, the minute they were out the door, he was packing his things and ordering a taxi back to the café.

Erik wasn’t sure what he was expecting to find. A nightmare perhaps. 

The twins crying and complaining of bleeding noses, their small bodies unable to calm themselves down without the hormones they simply couldn't produce. Their bodies were unable to signal their brain that they weren’t in danger and that they could relax.

But he’s met with none of that.

The twins are calmly colouring in, for once sharing their pencils and crayons nicely. Erik almost gasped when he saw Wanda offer Pietro a sticker of her favourite sheet. Asking for a sticker was usually the fastest way to cause a meltdown, yet here she was offering one up first. 

“Yeah,” Logan huffed a smirk as he came to stand next to him. “The little rascals were a dream for once. Not too sure what it was.”

“Should we go talk outside then?” Erik turned to look at him, curious as to why he wanted to go outside until he looked down and saw the unlit cigar between the other man’s fingers.

He chuckled lightly. “Can’t stop yourself can you?”

Logan just grumbled as they walked outside, picking the chairs and tables directly opposite the twins.

Erik smiled as he knocked on the glass and saw their little heads pick up and look around like little meerkats. 

“Papa!” He could hear their cheers through the glass as they finally spotted him and waved, picking up various drawings to show him.

“Very beautiful,” the father nodded. “I’ll come inside a bit okay. I’m just going to talk to Uncle Logan.” 

They both gave him a little thumbs up before returning to their drawings with even more gusto, likely aiming to finish them before he came back inside.

The café owner lit a cigar before raising an eyebrow at Erik, pointedly signalling for him to begin telling the full story of what had happened that day.

Erik sighed wearily, resting his forehead in his hands and rubbing it, hoping to try to relieve the growing tension in the back of his head.

“They said their behaviour was horrible. That the twins were too unruly and difficult to deal with.”

“And you just took it?” Logan’s mouth curled in disgust, as though considering Erik in a new light. One where he was weaker and more permissive than he thought.

The insinuation that he was a bad alpha, a bad father, made his hackles rise and skin prickle. Erik instinctively straightened up, as if he was talking to an enemy and not his friend. 

“They said it was hopeless to try and turn them into well-behaved children, Logan. I had to leave before I lost my mind,” Erik cried, voice high-pitched with frustration as he slammed his fist down on the table, slightly regretful as he saw it wobble and shake.

“Shit,” Logan sighed, rubbing his face wearily before leaving it to rest upon his mouth, with his thumb pressing against his cheek.

“So what now? They stay home with you?”

Logan knew all about the drama that had happened with the previous nursery. He’d been the first one Erik told about what they’d said, about how they called the twins ‘monsters who weren’t welcome there.’ Erik had had to hold the alpha back from storming the place and beating someone up.

Erik nodded. “Yes, but honestly Logan I—“, he sighed in frustration. “I’ve got no idea how to teach kids, isn’t there some curriculum they have to follow?”

The other alpha pursed his lips, thinking about what Erik had just said as he lightly snubbed his cigar out into the ashtray.

“I’m not sure, mate.” Logan sighed as he got up from the chair, Erik followed suit as they reentered the café. “And the doctors? They don’t know any other way to help them?”

“They rejected all the artificial stuff they tried to prescribe them.” It had been a nightmare. The twins’ symptoms had only worsened all the while doctors were baffled, repeatedly telling Erik that it should have worked.

“What about a nanny? They are supposed to be good at that kind of stuff, right?”

A nanny? Erik shook his head. 

“It’s the scents. The lack of a bond means they’ve never grown used to omegan scents. Instead of being soothed by them, like most pups, they just make them antsy and uncomfortable.”

The woman who had entered earlier, an omega, was clearly getting ready to meet someone. She sprayed on a scent-enhancing perfume, causing the scent of candied plums to grow sweeter and spread amongst the room. Erik’s heart twinged as he noticed his children flinch and begin to rub at their noses.

“They aren’t misbehaving on purpose. It aggravates their noses. When the teachers think they are being disobedient, they are just in pain.” Erik’s voice petered out, the anger he felt over the situation was beginning to fade, leaving him only with a sense of utter uselessness. He had no idea how to help his children.

The two alphas stood in silence for a minute, resting against the countertop where Charles no longer was. Erik didn’t dare to ask Logan where the omega had gone.

The both of them watched the twins as they quietly amused themselves. It was the calmest he’d ever seen them. 

But Erik couldn’t stop himself from wondering if it had a more sinister cause. Perhaps the staff at the nursery had finally had enough and snapped at them. Erik wasn’t there, he couldn’t possibly know the things they’d tell the twins. What if they’d been completely and utterly cruel? Should Erik think about putting them into therapy?

Erik sniffed and instantly noticed that Charles's sweet citrus-tinged berries were everywhere in the café. 

“Yeah sorry about that,” Logan chuckled as he noticed Erik’s face scrunched in confusion. “The kid’s scent is strong, it just seems to spread everywhere. Customers seem to like it though.” 

Logan seemed unsure about his next sentence but continued anyway. “Maybe that’s why the twins are so calm. It’s the scent of an omega.”

Erik said nothing, his heart racing as he considered it. Erik found it somewhat unnerving as if it was a reminder that he had failed his children. That there was something they had needed all their life and that he had not provided it for them.

“I could ask him y’know, Charles,” the alpha elaborated as if Erik hadn't already known who he was talking about. “He could be the twin’s nanny. He’s at University to become a teacher anyway.”

Erik felt his gut churn with a sudden sense of guilt. Guilt at the idea of trapping the omega down with him. Charles was so bright and sweet, Erik knew he deserved better than to be a nanny to a single father with twins who were struggling to cope with their condition.

“No. No, I will stay with them. I know them best, they don’t need anyone else.” 

Anyone else could just hurt them went unsaid but with how Logan’s face creased with sympathy, Erik felt his concerns could easily be felt.

“They don’t seem to mind it though, his scent.” 

“It’s probably a fluke, just wait, I’ll be cleaning up bloody noses tonight,” Erik sighed, checking his watch and seeing that it was time to begin making their way home.  

“Alright well, if you change your mind just let me know. I’m sure Chuck will say yes, he adores children.”

Erik doubted that it would be true for his children. The world seemed to deem them unlovable due to their personalities and condition. 

Moreover, what young, pretty thing like Charles would agree to spend so much time working for an old man like him? It just wouldn’t be fair, Erik couldn’t ask it of him.

He thanked Logan anyway, if only in the hope that his friend would let the topic die.

The twins were so engrossed in what they were doing that they didn’t even notice Erik’s approach. It made him smile.

“Shall we go?” He asked, brushing his hand through their hair as he did. It always soothed him, feeling the soft strands. A reminder that his children were close, and if they were close, then it meant they were safe.

They both smacked their lips together, making funny little popping sounds as they pretended to think on it but Erik could see it in their eyes that they were tired.

“Okay,” Pietro said, elongating the word as he shuffled around on his chair. “But can we have cuddles when we get home?”

“Of course,” he hummed, placing a soft kiss upon each of their foreheads. “Are you going to thank Uncle Logan for watching you?”

Twin choruses of thank yous both sounded out.

“You’re welcome pipsqueaks,” Logan said, pinching their chubby cheeks as they ran past him and toward the door. “Be good for your dad.”

“Of course,” Wanda sighed, hanging on the door handle. 

Erik shook his head fondly, recognising when his children were over it and just wanted the safety and familiarity of home. “Thanks again Logan. I’m sorry it was such short notice.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Logan scoffed. “They are always welcome here Erik.” 

At least they had someone who felt that way

Dinner, like so many before it, had turned into Wanda and Pietro making a mess of themselves while Erik spent most of his time cleaning up after them. 

As he was wiping Pietro’s sauce-stained face and fingers, Wanda piped up.

“Papa, do you think we could see Charles again?”

Erik briefly paused his actions, the reminder of the beautiful omega stunning them. He hadn’t realised Charles had made a big enough impression on the twins.

Pietro whined, wiggling his fingers in front of his father’s face. He never liked the feeling of being sticky or dirty. Erik quickly resumed his cleaning.

“Well, Charles works at the bakery so I’m sure you’ll see him plenty.” He said gently, hoping the answer would satisfy the girl.

Though of course, it didn’t.

“I don’t mean just in the bakery,” she sighed, irritated as she began to squirm on her chair. “I mean I want to play with him.”

“I doubt Charles wants to spend his free time playing with a bunch of pups now would he?” 

Wanda pouted, clearly seeing some reason in his words. Erik had been subject to many of her complaints about younger children wishing to play with her in the park, he knew she would understand.

“He was nice though,” Pietro mumbled around a mouthful of pasta. “He gave us free cookies.” 

Erik just hummed in response. Thinking about the omega and his beautiful face, and apparently, even kinder heart just made him feel like an old lecher. 

“Well, I’m sure Papa can make you cookies that are just as nice.”

“No you can’t,” Wanda giggled. “Only Nana can!”

“Then I better call Nana and ask her to bake you some.” Erik teased, digging his fingers into her ribs and tickling her.

“Me too! Me too!” Pietro squealed, his face and hands finally clean as the boy begged for tickles.

“Bath first, then you can have all the tickles you’d like,” Erik said, stifling a laugh as the twins bolted from their seats and dashed to the bathroom. He could hear their laughter right up until they went upstairs, the distance too big for their small voices to travel.

Finally left alone with his thoughts, Erik slumped, placing his forehead upon his forearms. The emotional exhaustion was finally catching up to him and he felt as though he was about to give out.

The alpha was just glad the topic of Charles had been forgotten, although he had no doubt that the omega would appear in his dreams later that night. With his pretty smile and gorgeous eyes. 

If he only allowed himself to have Charles in his dreams then it was okay. No harm ever came from dreams. 

Chapter Text

Erik should not be hiding away in the bathroom, a whole flight of stairs above the room where he’d left his children.

He should not be sitting in the bathtub with his forehead resting upon the cool tiles in hopes of easing up his throbbing headache.

But he was.

The day had started fine. Erik let the twins sleep in for an extra hour. They’d often been his little cuddle bugs, but since yesterday's events, they had been essentially glued to his side. Not to mention their Disney marathon had lasted longer than initially planned and the two had ended up going to bed with large dark under-eye circles and the inability to get a word out without yawning.

That was fine for Erik, he liked watching them like this. The pups sweetly snuggled into his side and made soft sleepy noises as small hands clutched at his shirt. 

Erik made sure to wake them up gently, with soft kisses to their forehead and soothing strokes of their hair to encourage their wake.

But things soon began to lose the syrupy sweetness of early morning.

It had started out small. The twins were only arguing about who got to look at the side of the cereal box with the games on it, it had been an argument Erik easily resolved by simply moving them to the same side of the table.

But despite the solution being found, the twin’s agitation remained 

The twins couldn’t regulate themselves, they found it difficult to let things go and to calm down. That meant every annoyance throughout the day built up, resulting in them now being frustrated and unable to understand what was going on.

It meant that one small thing was enough to tip off the chaos that had erupted downstairs. A fight that raged and roared as they screamed and cried, their small faces had just begun to turn red with exhaustion when Erik had left, unable to cope anymore.

The extra strength paracetamols he’d taken had done nothing to ease his splitting headache and they couldn’t do anything to heal the pain in his heart either.

The pain of him being a useless father.

When he’d heard that he was going to become a father, Erik could not have consumed parenting books fast enough. He’d probably bought every single one on the market and all of them ended up read, heavily scribbled in with colourful page flags sticking out the edges.

He’d poured over them day and night in hopes that they could prepare him to be the best father he could be for the tiny little souls who would now rely on him for everything.

It was only one book that told him that it was okay to leave the room. That leaving his babies, safely, in their cribs for a few minutes while he left to take a breather was okay. 

But that was when they were small, fragile little things. That was when Erik’s large frame and string hands posed a threat to them. His own frustration could be the very thing to kill them if he let himself get out of hand. That’s what the books would say, and that’s what the news would report. Sad stories of puppies shaken until they passed away. 

But he didn’t know if that advice still applied. 

His twins needed him now, in a way that wasn’t helped by him hiding away as though they were monsters. They were not irritating him on purpose.

They were sad, angry and frustrated and, unlike Erik who could recognise when he was overwhelmed and take the steps to calm down, they didn’t even know what they were feeling.

“Papa!” He could hear their sad voices outside the bathroom door, their small fists knocking as they begged to be let in.

Erik’s head throbbed as if begging him to not let his children in. The alpha could almost feel the call for them to go away crawling up his throat, but he curled his tongue and swallowed it down.

“Give me a minute, okay my darlings?” 

He swallowed a second time as he got up from the bathtub, this time flinching as the acidic bile moved back down his oesophagus.

Erik stumbled over to the sink, his eyes closing in relief as he splashed his face in cool water. Cupping his hands, he used the water he collected to douse his neck.

He looked as though he had aged five years when he looked up into the mirror. Erik was no longer young, he could feel the exhaustion deep within his bones. Perhaps that was just another reason he was no longer fit to be a good father to his children. 

His age, after all, was why he was not deserving of love. Not when the only omega he ever found himself enchanted by, the one with the beautiful blue eyes, was so many years younger than Erik. 

He sighed, heading to the door that his children were still banging against. The lock was undone with a small click and the handle immediately twisted, the children entering as quickly as they could.

Erik sank to his knees as he took them in his arms. Their faces, wet with tears, snuffled into his neck. Erik consciously released more pheromones, the scent of crisp green apples spreading across the bathroom. 

It may not have been as soothing as that of an omega’s but the scent of their father helped enough to quieten their cries.

“Sorry papa,” Pietro mumbled miserably. “Won’t be bad anymore, we’re sorry.”

Suddenly, no headache nor frustration of his own mattered. His children were the sole owners of Erik’s heart. Just like their power to make it feel full and warm, they had the power to make it cold and empty.

It's shattered now. He never wanted to make his children feel as though he was upset with them. It couldn't have been further from the truth. 

“No, my darlings. It’s Papa who should apologise. Papa was unfair leaving you two alone, I’m sorry.”

The two said nothing, merely digging their little hands deeper into his clothes to clutch at the fabric. 

He continued to stroke their hair, the strands tangled and messy as Erik wasn’t able to convince them to let him brush it. 

“How about we go play, hmm?” He asked, leaning back so that they had no option but to look their father in the eyes, their own were teary and wide.

“Could we call Nana as well? She could tell us— tell us the recipe for her cupcakes.” Wanda stuttered as she twisted her father’s collar. 

“I see,” Erik chuckled. “Is my recipe not good enough for you two,” he teased, lightly jostling them until they laughed. Their laughs were slightly wet and their eyes were still filled with tears, but Erik considered it a win nonetheless.

“No way,” Pietro grinned. “I want Nana’s! The ones that taste like peaches!”

He sighed in mock reluctance. “Alright, then let’s go downstairs and call her.”

Erik was beginning to regret this. 

“No! I want to crack the egg!” Pietro shouted as Wanda picked up one of the eggs from the carton.

“Well I am,” Wanda said smartly, grinning as she cracked the egg into the bowl.

“There are two eggs, Pietro. You can crack the other—“ Erik started, but the twins did not listen. 

Pietro grabbed a small fistful of flour and threw it at Wanda.

Erik felt his heart sink, there was nothing Wanda hated more than her clothes being ruined. 

“You idiot,” she spat at her brother. “This is my favourite dress!”

Erik was tempted to object, just the other day she had claimed another dress to be her favourite.

“What’s going on!” His mother’s voice chimed in tinnily from where she was present only through his phone. Erik did not yet know how to work FaceTime, so she was only aware of the things she was able to hear.

“Nothing Mama,” he reassured her. “Everything’s fine— shit!”

His attempts at nonchalance were quickly foiled as Wanda clenched her fist, crumbling the eggshells within them and then shook them down Pietro’s shirt.

Erik’s eyes widened as he saw Pietro’s arms reach out and cling to Wanda, clearly meaning to push her. The twins were only standing on regular kitchen chairs, there’d be nothing to break her fall.

He quickly grasped onto Pietro's arms, holding them firmly and stopping him from making any further movements. He also had to hold on to Wanda’s, the clever girl figuring out what her brother intended to do and wishing to retaliate. 

“There will be no pushing, and no throwing or crushing, ” Erik looked pointedly to Wanda, he had noticed her face scrunch, as if she was about to argue that she hadn’t technically done any of that to Pietro, “at each other. You two will behave or else you will not be allowed to help me finish the cupcakes, nor will you be allowed to have any of them.”

That quieted the twins real fast, the two mumbling out apologies to Erik and then to Edie when he promoted them too.

“Nana is very kindly helping us, so let’s not waste her time, okay?” Erik asked, giving them both a kiss on their chubby cheeks so that they did not think him mad at them.

Wanda nodded, her messy curls bouncing up and down as she did. 

“Sorry Pietro,” she mumbled, giving her brother a one-armed hug which Pietro returned with a similar hug of his own.

“What wonderful puppies you two are,” Erik said, draping his arms around the both of them. “How proud I am to call you my own.” 

The twins giggled and squirmed, Erik had tried to be heavy on praise these last few hours. His mother had recommended it after they had been reluctant to disclose just how often they’d been admonished by the nursery staff.

“How about we think of something you both want on the cake.” His mother’s voice rang softly through the phone.

“Berry jam,” they both said in tandem.

“Berry jam? But I thought my grandpuppies didn’t like berries,” his mother laughed. Her confusion matched Erik’s own, he’d tried many times to get them to eat berries and jams but each time they’d refused.

“We like them now!” Wanda said smartly.

“Yeah, because of Charles,” Pietro said distractedly as he reached for the spatula and began mixing the batter. The twins’ agreement over what they wanted to add to the cupcakes must have smoothed over any lasting angst from their argument, as now they were readily taking turns mixing and sneaking licks, from the batter.

“Charles?” His mother's tinny voice rang out.

Her questioning was clearly directed at Erik, but the twins answered before he could. Likely because the mention of the omega’s name rendered Erik still and stuttering.

“The pretty ‘mega who works at Uncle Logan’s bakery.”

“Oh? And did your papa like him?”

Erik cursed under his breath. His mother was always questioning him about his love life. Despite his trouble finding an omega whose scent the twins liked, she never gave up. There were even times she’d set him up with a few alphas, an effort which he wholly appreciated, was not what he typically preferred.

“I dunno, papa didn’t really talk to him.” 

“Oh, what a shame.” Erik winced, he knew he’d be getting a scolding about that later. If not because of the missed opportunity for love, as she claimed, then because he had been rude ignoring the young omega.

“What about Charles has made you like berries?”

“Because he smells like them, like— like the fresh ones at farms and when we gave him a drawing it went all sweet! Like jams.”

Erik, who had been placing the cupcake liners in the tin, paused. He hadn’t known that the twins actually spoke to Charles, much less giving him a drawing. The twins could be shy around new people, especially omega’s since their brains have naturally connected them with their sore noses and headaches they get when around their scents.

“You liked his scent? Oh, how lovely!” His mother’s voice was high and sweet as she continued to encourage the twins to talk about the day they’d had yesterday. Charles’ name came up many more times as they recounted it.

“Do you know what Charles works as?”

“He’s in um—,” Wanda’s wide eyes turned to Erik. His heart warmed at the way she trusted him to know exactly what she meant. Whenever her words failed, her father would always help her.

“He’s in university,” he answered softly.

“He’s in university,” the auburn-haired girl stumbled a little over the word, but the proud smile on her face as she said it filled him with so much love. “He’s studying to become a teacher!”

“Oh, a teacher? That could be very handy for your papa.”

The twins turned to him, confused at their grandmother’s words.

Erik was stumped. This was the second time now that someone had suggested he hire Charles to teach the twins and Erik wasn’t sure how he could get out of it this time. His mother would surely unearth the real reason behind his objection, she always seemed to know everything about him.

“Alright my little magnets,” he clapped, the two erupting into giggles at the nickname. They’d fallen in love with it after they’d watched some movie at the cinema with his mother and claimed that Erik looked exactly like the metal-controlling villain.

“How about you two go wash up and I’ll put these in the oven.” The two didn’t object, they were well aware that they were not allowed to touch the oven and that it was a non-negotiable if they wished to be in the kitchen.

They ran off, chattering about anything and everything as the two typically did. Like most twins, they had their own little world which Erik often didn’t even try to enter. He’d asked before and the tales they told were so confusing that he just accepted they had a bond and a side to themselves that he’d never truly understand.

“So an omega who’s scent the twins like, who’s studying to be a teacher and is—presumably, very beautiful.”

Erik sighed, wiping his hands off on a nearby tea towel after placing the cupcakes in the oven. He picked up the phone and took it off speaker, placing it up to his ear. He didn’t want his children getting any ideas should they walk in and overhear their conversation.

“Mama, whatever you are thinking, stop.”

“Why, I didn’t say anything!”

“But I know what you are thinking mama,” he sighed, leaning his back against the cool, marble countertop. 

“He’s too young for me!” And wasn’t that just the painful truth?

“Erik, my darling, I wish sometimes you just let yourself try things instead of swearing them off from the start.” 

“Mama, trust me. He’d never like me and anyway, what young pretty omega wants to give up their spare time to nanny a set of,” he paused, not quite wanting to say the next word but knowing it was a key part of his reluctance to offer Charles the job, “difficult twins.”

“You’d be surprised by how much kindness people can have in their hearts if you’d only let them in, Erik.”

“They’ll be fine, we’ll be fine.” Erik moved the phone from his ear when he heard the twins yell from upstairs.

“Now, I’ve got to go mama, the twins threw flour and eggshells at each other and it seems I have to go help them clean up.”

Edie fondly chuckled, muttering under her breath about what cute rascals they were before wishing him goodbye.

Erik hung up and tilted his back for a moment, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath.

He stood there for a moment, allowing himself to take more than just a couple of deep breaths despite his children’s cries growing more urgent. 

They likely weren’t strong enough to turn the bath off, meaning by the time Erik arrived, the bath would have spilled over and there’d be water all over the tiles.

But Erik won’t mind cleaning it up because this brief moment of reprieve allowed him to erase the omega’s face from his mind. 

Meaning he wouldn’t spend the rest of the evening yearning for an omega he couldn't have.

The next day was even worse. Erik wasn’t sure how that was possible, but it was.

The alpha had started out the day hopeful. He’d printed off colouring sheets for the twins and set up lessons for them on the iPads. 

The pups had been excited when he showed them the array of movies he’d downloaded for them to watch, as well as the snack baskets he made, containing plenty of the cupcakes they baked yesterday.

Erik had done all that because he had to work. 

He’d moved everything to today, in hopes that giving the pups his full attention yesterday would have calmed their need for him. 

His plan had failed.

The children had lasted two hours before Wanda came into his study, crying and complaining of an itch that could only be sated when she was cuddling him.

Ordinarily, Erik would drop everything to hug his daughter, but he was currently in a meeting with ten other alphas, none of whom appreciated the interruption, especially not when it added an extra ten minutes to their meeting.

Pietro came in soon after, he too was complaining of a strange empty feeling whenever his father wasn’t there.

The doctor had warned Erik that this may happen, that in the aftermath of having felt so neglected by their teachers, they may cling to familial figures and feel anxious should they not be near.

He’d told him that most pups could move past the feeling though, that as long as they were in the same house as said family figure children were normally okay.

But his twins weren’t. 

Erik felt close to snapping at them. 

He’d had to, once again, reschedule meetings. He’s had to extend deadlines on projects all because he couldn’t get to reading over and approving them all on time.

Erik knew it wasn’t their fault, he knew that.

But it was hard to remember that when they were constantly climbing all over him, whispering in his ear every ten minutes if they could have a snack or demanding help with figuring out their iPads.

Erik also knew the twins could feel his agitation.

Erik could scent it himself. He could tell the way his scent grew more metallic, the apples growing more sour and he knew it was only making the twin’s fidgeting worse, their demands more frequent as they instinctively wanted to know their father was still with them and was still willing to do kind things for them.

They wanted to reassure themselves that it was not them he was mad at. Erik hated that it was them he was irritated at. He just needed to get this done and they weren’t letting him. 

The ingredients for the home-cooked meal he had been planning to make were likely still on the countertop, spoiling after being left out for hours.

The alpha had hoped to finish his work by five PM but that had clearly not happened. He’d had to order the twin's takeout and now the smell of fatty grease and crinkling takeout paper was only irritating him further.

His migraine from the other day was back in full force as he squinted at his computer screen and tried to block out Pietro’s whines of not liking his food.

“That is your favourite takeout place and that is your favourite meal.”

“Well, I don’t like it anymore.”

The twins were testing him, his mother had told him they would grow clingy and Erik couldn’t bear to look at them.

He knew the moment he did that he’d see the unspoken question in their eyes.

Do you still love us? Are we still important to you?

“Papa?” Wanda said, walking up to his desk. 

“We said we don’t like it,” she whined, dragging out her last word and darting out her hands all over the desk, knocking over a carefully balanced pile of papers. A pile of papers that he needed to hand in tomorrow.

“Wanda!” Erik barked, sharper than he intended. The girl froze, startled by the tone and Erik immediately regretted it.

“Sorry papa,” Wanda mumbled, her lip wobbling as she returned to the little blanket she and her brother had laid out. 

Erik’s chest tightened, guilt unfurling in his gut like a heavyweight as he took in the sight before him. He’d been annoyed when they brought it in, high voices squealing about having a picnic with Daddy. Erik had been grumpy, just wishing for a few moments of peace but looking at them now, they had just wanted to be by their father’s side.

He set his pencil down and brought down the screen of his laptop, turning his full attention to them.

Erik grunted as he got up from his chair, bones and joints popping and aching from having been sitting in his chair all day. 

He walked over to the twins and wrapped his arms around them, bringing them into his chest.

They resisted for only a brief moment before they burrowed themselves into his shirt, sniffling in an attempt to take in as much of his scent as they could.

“Papa is sorry, he didn’t mean to snap,” he whispered, rocking them slightly as he began to scent their unsure, insecure, doesn’t love us in the air.

“Listen to me,” he said softly, his voice steady and warm. “I will always love you, no matter how busy I am. Nothing will ever change that.”

“Even if we’re bad?” Wanda asked, looking up at him with tear-bright eyes.

“Even if you’re bad,” Erik confirmed, cupping her small cheek in his hand. “But you’re not bad, sweetheart. You’re just… testing me a little, hm?”

Pietro nodded, fidgeting. “We just wanted to see if you would still love us, even if we are being difficult,” the last few words were muffled as he stuck anxious little fingers into his mouth.

Erik sighed, reaching up to pull them out and wiping off the saliva with his shirt. 

“You two will be the death of me,” he muttered with no real heat behind his words.

The twins smiled sadly, still scenting unsure and still clinging onto him, as if scared that the second they’d let go Erik would be mad at them again,

Wanda’s foot hit one of the takeout containers as she fidgeted, the squeak of the styrofoam reminding Erik about the dinner dilemma.

He checked his watch and saw that it was only seven-thirty. Tonight the cafe didn’t close until nine.

“What if we go to Uncle Logan’s cafe for dinner?”

The mention of the cafe caused their scents to sweeten slightly, even if their nods of assent were still rather dejected. 

Erik sighed, unsure how he was going to fix it this time.

Logan wasn’t working tonight, a fact he only found out once he’d walked in and gotten the twins settled.

There had been no one behind the counter when they’d walked in. Erik had assumed it was fine, Logan nearly always hid in the back, especially at this time when customers were typically cranky night shift workers coming to get their coffees before their shift started.

But when the smell of sweet summer berries started drifting around the room, he knew it hadn’t been Logan hiding back there.

The twins spun around, their small faces lighting up in a way Erik had failed to do.

“Charles!” They cheered, their shoes tapping against the floor as they ran to the omega, unsurprisingly leaving Erik to clean up the mess of papers and crayons they’d left behind in their rush.

“Hello sweethearts,” he heard that sweet voice greet his children. 

Erik refused to turn around. He busied himself with cleaning up papers and lining up crayons for as long as he could until it was no longer believable that he needed to straighten up the colouring sheets for the tenth time. 

What he saw when he finally looked behind him took Erik’s breath away.

The twins were both giggling, smiling as they clutched onto the countertop and they swung their legs around all while they pestered Charles with question after question.

And Charles, with an ever-patient smile on his face, answered each and every one of them.

The omega’s kind expression didn’t waver, even when Pietro and Wanda changed their mind eighty times about what they’d like to eat. Charles hadn’t even seemed peeved when they asked him to remake their drinks.

Erik felt as though the world was cruel for placing such a perfect specimen in front of him. For presenting him with the most beautiful omega who had all the patience Erik seemed to lack today.

And yet he was happy. He was happy that finally his twins were smiling and scenting like sugary sweet joy and contentment. 

Erik’s relief was so palpable that he almost melted into the chair he was seated in. He hadn’t realised that all day he’d been smelling his children’s sour, distressed scents, and he hadn’t realised the effect it had on him.

He could hear them telling Charles all about the things they’d done that day.

“Charles,” Pietro began, bouncing on his heels as all his energy suddenly came back and could barely be contained around the omega. “How does the moon stay up in the sky? Doesn’t it get tired and fall down?”

Erik stiffened. The very same question had stumped him only hours earlier. He had tried to explain gravity, orbits, and space in simple terms, but his frustration had mounted as Pietro kept asking, “But why?” in that relentless way only children could. Erik’s eventual answer had been a sharp, "It just does, Pietro. That's how it works."  

Charles, however, didn’t miss a beat. He leaned forward slightly, his expression warm and inviting. "That’s such a wonderful question, Pietro. Do you know how when you run really fast in a circle, you feel a little pull that keeps you from falling over?"  

Pietro nodded eagerly, his small body nearly vibrating with excitement.  

“Well,” Charles continued, “the moon is kind of like that. It’s moving in a big circle around the Earth, and the Earth is holding it close, like a big invisible hug. The moon doesn’t fall because it’s always moving, and it doesn’t get tired because it doesn’t have muscles like we do.”  

Pietro’s face lit up, the explanation clearly clicking in his young mind. "So the Earth is hugging the moon? That’s nice."  

Charles smiled, coming out from behind the counter to fix up some of the signs out front. As he passed the twins, he leaned down slightly to brush a stray lock of silver hair from Pietro’s face. "It is. The Earth and the moon are very special friends."  

Erik’s chest tightened as he watched Pietro and Wanda share satisfied nods. The boy had accepted the explanation without a single “but why?” Charles had made it seem so easy, so natural.  

Pietro turned to Erik and began skipping towards him, his face glowing. “Did you know that, Papa? The Earth hugs the moon!”  

Erik’s lips twitched into a small smile, and he ruffled Pietro’s hair. “I do now.”

The scent of sweet jams grew stronger and Erik felt his whole body relax even further. Any more and he feared he might turn into a pile of goo.

The clink of china against the wooden table sounded out as a meat pie and a black coffee was placed down in front of him.

Erik looked up and was met with the omega giving him a sheepish smile.

“I just assumed you’d like it the same way as last time,” Charles brushed a lock of brown, shiny hair behind his hair. “Although if you’d like something else I can always—“

“No, no,” Erik waved him off. “It’s fine, I only take it black.”

Charles taps his fingernails on the table for a few seconds. Erik finds himself thinking that he’s got a very pretty hand.

“Are you alright?” The omega begins hesitantly. “You look exhausted.”

The alpha smiled and picked up his coffee, hoping to hide his blush behind the mug.

“It’s harder than I thought teaching the twins,” he nudged his head towards the children who were now occupying themselves with the little bookshelf Logan had set up for children. 

“Yes,” Charles smiled, seemingly unaware of his effect on Erik as sent a fond look over to the twins. Erik’s heart stuttered. 

“Children are the world's delight but they can be tiring.”

“Yes, but their own father shouldn’t find them exhausting.”

Sympathy was often something that Erik hated, but when Charles looked at him with warmth in his eyes and a soft smile, Erik found he didn’t hate it so much now.

“Raising a child and teaching them can be two very different skills, Erik.” The omega moved to the opposite side of the table, the squeak of the chair being pulled out was loud in the quiet café. 

The omega laid his hands out on the table, fiddling with some of the crayons.

“It can be very hard for parents to suddenly be with them all the time, especially for those not used to teaching. You haven’t failed as a parent just because it was a situation that was difficult for all three of you.”

Erik was always upset with himself. He was upset at his weakness, at his inability to comfort them or listen to their cries without his body failing him.

Charles was right, his attempt at managing his work and his children simply did not work. It didn’t work for him nor did it work for the twins. If anything, he probably just made things worse for all three of them.

Perhaps it’s time Erik finally admits that he needs help.

“You are studying it aren’t you? Teaching?” the alpha asks.

His hands are resting on the table too. It would only take the smallest twitch of his fingers to brush his against Charles’.

Then Wanda runs up and Charles’ hands move away to accept the crayon she eagerly hands him. Regaling Charles with some tale of having found it lost in the book corner.

“Yes. I’m studying it for all ages but I must confess that theirs is my favourite.” Charles’ warm, beautiful hands pinch Wanda’s cheek who giggles and clutches onto his apron.

Charles turns his wide, crystal blue eyes on Erik now. There’s a glint behind them, one that suggests he knows exactly what Erik wishes to ask.

Erik fidgets for quite a while. For a length of time that he’s frankly embarrassed by when he looks back on the moment and yet not once did Charles's kind expression waver. Not once did the omega push the alpha to speak.

Charles is so patient and sweet, even with him.

“I’m thinking about getting a nanny and well— you are the only omega whose scent they seem to like and—“

Erik’s heart sinks as he notes the way Charles’ face falls, his pretty features morphing into a frown and his eyes taking on such a sad look that Erik regrets ever bringing the topic up. He hates that he’s the reason the omega has become upset. 

The scent of burnt jams and rotting berries takes over the sweet fresh fruit smell and Erik quickly backtracks.

“I’m sorry. It was stupid of me to ask. I’m sure a young omega like you has better things to do with your time.”

“No! I’d be delighted to,” Charles’ eyes widened, his white teeth visible as he bit down on his red lower lip. Erik couldn’t help the way he watched it, fantasising about what it would be like to kiss that gorgeous mouth.

“I mean— having another job couldn't hurt right? University tuition waits for no one.” The omega laughed, clearly trying to lighten the mood with his joke but it just made Erik feel sleazy.

All his fantasies vanished the moment Charles said ‘university’. It wasn’t appropriate for an alpha as old as him to be thinking such things about a university-age omega.

“Sorry, it’s just Logan told me a bit about their condition and it’s—“ eyebrows creased together. “It’s awful, the poor little darlings are suffering so much and so unfairly.”

“It doesn’t put you off looking after them?”

“Not at all. All children are deserving of love and a teacher who will care for them.”

Erik suddenly found himself so overwhelmed with the love this omega already had for his children that he felt the sudden urge to run. 

Instead, he ripped off a piece of paper and quickly scribbled down his number.

“Here, my number. Message me and we can discuss it further.” Erik winced as he glanced over at the twins to see that they had gotten crumbs all over the book corner, their sausage rolls having been messily devoured.

“I best get them home.” 

Erik had never been faster at packing up the twins’ belongings and cleaning up the book corner. His speed, in part, was motivated by the need to get out of the omega’s space before he felt his mind turned to mush by his pretty face and delicious scent.

As if he wasn’t perfect enough, Charles even helped Erik pack up. Shuffling papers and crayons into the bag he’d brought with them.

Erik and the twins were about to leave when he paused.

“Also, if you change your mind,” Erik hesitated, looking down at his twins who were both staring up at him with wide eyes and sweet smiles. “Please message me, just so that I don’t get my hopes up.”

“Of course. But trust me Erik,” Charles smirked, his blue eyes looking up at Erik through his long dark lashes as he followed behind them, ready to close up the cafe for the night.

“I won’t change my mind.”

Chapter Text

Erik wasn’t sure why he felt the need to clean his entire house before Charles could arrive. 

His room was tidy. The wardrobe was always neat, his shirts folded and long coats hung correctly. His bed was made, albeit slightly wrinkled from the twins throwing themselves over the sheets once he had finished.

So Erik’s room was fine, it was the rest of the house that caused his skin to feel itchy. A strange sensation of having failed formed in his gut.

“Fuck,” the alpha muttered, bending over to clutch at his foot. As he rubbed at the site, the sharp pain began to fade and he could focus on just what he had stepped on.

It was a Lego sculpture, one of the fancy ones that Pietro had begged for because it had blocks that lit up. 

The LED lights felt as though they were mocking Erik. A sharp pain was still running through his foot.

There were toys everywhere, he noticed. His ability as a father to tune them all out suddenly vanished as his detachment to the chaotic lives children tended to favour, switched to a hyper-awareness of how someone used to such a mess, like Charles, might perceive his living space.

“Kids,” Erik called out as he walked quickly down the stairs, fixing his tie and hair as he went. He’d delayed his morning start at work so that he could stay behind longer and give Charles a proper tour of the house. Erik had thought it the proper thing to do. The last thing he wanted was for the young omega to feel unwelcome.

“Are you two able to help me clean up a little?”

The twins eagerly ran in, both still in their pyjamas and their hair resembling the bird's nest that had taken up residence in one of the trees in their back garden.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He’d asked them to get dressed and wash their faces half an hour ago. But he could hear the TV blaring out high-pitched, cutesy cartoons and he could see remnants of their porridge by the corner of their mouths.

Erik didn’t want to get upset at them. They were trying. The two of them both picked up their bowls and placed them in the sink, remembering to fill them with water so that the porridge did not harden and get stuck to the bowl.

Erik couldn’t yell at them, not when he could see it in their eyes. The underlying anxiety that they’d do something to upset Charles.

The text had come in late at night, much later than the alpha had anticipated. Erik had worried it would contain a flaky apology with vague promises to watch the twins another time. 

But instead, the omega’s message contained far too many emojis and a request for the address. Erik had messaged him back quickly and removed a promise to be there by eight in the morning.

Now there were only ten minutes until he was due to arrive and Erik still felt as though there were a million things that had to be done.

But no, he wouldn’t get angry at the twins. Not when he opened up the fridge and saw it was bare, a fault that could only be attributed to him.

“Papa,” Wands asked sweetly, her eyes wide as she tugged on his dress pants. “Is there anything else we can do?”

She was so sweet, his little girl. Erik loved her so much.

He knelt down to get at her eye level, laughing lightly as he moved strands of tangled hair behind her ear. 

“How about you and your brother get that box of chalk and make the pathway all pretty for Charles, okay?”

The twins squealed, their socked feet causing them to slip and slide around the kitchen tiles as they ran to where the chalk was kept.

Erik could hear their chirping voices through the window as they debated just what they wanted to draw and which colours Charles would like best.

Erik wandered around the living room, picking up stuffed toys and fallen cushions as he searched for his briefcase. The twins had been playing with it just the other day.

The alpha curses as the doorbell rings. He instinctively lifted his head at the noise causing it to slam against the wooden coffee table he currently found himself kneeling under.

Checking his watch, he saw that it was two minutes past eight, so it had to have been Charles at the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone else and the mail was normally delivered at nine.

Erik jogged to the front door and sighed a breath when he saw it was still open, the twins had not shut it properly when they left. Charles didn’t take the open door as an invitation to come in, however. He stood on the porch, patiently waiting for Erik with a sweet smile on his face. 

“Hello Charles,” he greeted, feeling oddly like a father as the omega rocked on his feet with his books in hand and colourful messenger bag slung around his shoulders.

“Mr Lehnsherr,” he greeted shyly.

Ordinarily, Erik would laugh and wave it off, asking Charles to just call him Erik, but not this time. He thinks the distance, and the formality of Mr Lehnsherr will help him.

The two stared at each other for a moment, only sharing soft smiles as the omega fidgeted and the alpha tapped absentmindedly on the door frame.

“So,” Charles trailed off expectantly, his smile taking on a teasing lilt. “May I come in?”

Erik chuckled and moved to the side, gesturing broadly for the omega to enter, although he frowned when he didn’t see two little toddlers trailing behind him.

“Did the twins ignore you? I’m so sorry—“ he started, poking his head out the door ready to call them back in.

Charles’ hand was small where it wrapped around his bicep and pulled, tugging the alpha back inside the house.

“Oh no they did,” Charles shook his head fondly. “They ran up to me, gave me hugs and everything!” He cheered.

“Well they should’ve come in, it’s impolite not to,” Erik mumbled, resisting the urge to look back outside and call them in. Charles’ hand was still holding onto him and for some reason, Erik did not wish to defy the omega.

“Oh it’s fine Erik,” Charles reassured, loosening his hand to pat the alpha on the arm. “They wished to keep drawing so I just told them to come in once you were gone so that they could bathe and get dressed for the day.”

Charles rambled until he noticed that Erik had not said a word. He blushed and looked down at the light blue and white sneakers he was wearing. 

“I hope that’s okay? I just thought… that it would be easier for you to tell me about them and the house without them here.”

“It’s fine! It’s only—“ The alpha glanced back at the door before turning away, gesturing for Charles to follow him. “They were fine with that agreement?”

Charles hummed as he looked around the house. “Yes, Wanda even told me exactly which dress she wished to wear,” Charles laughed.

“Huh,” Erik mumbled under his breath, quiet enough so that the omega would not hear. The twins never liked getting dressed for the day, it had always been a fight that Erik didn’t like to take part in. There was always a fabric they didn’t like or a colour they suddenly found hideous. 

“Well I’m warning you now,” Erik chuckled, his mind playing countless memories of his disastrous attempts at getting them out of their pyjamas. “They’ll change their minds as soon as you get them in front of that wardrobe.”

Charles just shrugged, as if the idea didn’t affect him.

“Here’s the living room,” Erik announced as they made their way into the large, open space where those brightly coloured cartoons were still playing. 

“You can just place your things down on the couch if you’d like,” Erik tells Charles from over his shoulder before he turns back to the television, focused on turning off the ear-bleeding music. He turns around just in time to see Charles picking up the various stuffed toys lying on the floor, arranging them all cutely on the sofa.

“I’m sorry about the mess,” he sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I tried to clean but I just lost track of time.”

“It’s okay,” Charles sent a dazzling smile his way before placing a bunny at the top of the pile, smoothing down the soft fluff of its ears. “I’m perfectly capable of doing a bit of cleaning.”

“I hired you to be a nanny, not a maid.”

Charles stood, his hand reaching under the couch and just so happened to pull out the briefcase that Erik had been searching for.

“You hired me to help you out, Mr Lehnsherr,” Charles murmured, pushing the briefcase into his chest. “So let me help you out.”

Erik nodded, feeling frozen in place by those clear blue eyes. “Well,” he stuttered as he tried to regain his ability to speak. “You helped me find this,” he laughed as he shook the handle. “The twins must have hidden it, I’ve been searching for it all morning.”

“Perhaps they don't want you to leave,” the omega teased him as he turned around with a flourish, clasping his hands behind his back. 

Erik cursed, checking his watch again as he realised they had spent too much time here in the living room. “Right the tour—“

Something didn’t feel quite right about leaving the omega without having given him a full tour, he almost felt disappointed at the lack of time he’d been able to spend in the sweet berry-scented omega’s presence.

He chewed on his lip for a second before asking, “You read the files I sent you?”

The omega turned back and nodded seriously. “Of course. I’ve learnt a lot about reactive omegan attachment syndrome at university too, they’ll be fine, Erik.”

“And if they aren’t, you’ll call me straight away, yes?” Something in him hurt at the idea of leaving his children behind with someone who was still, essentially, a stranger to him.

He’d miss them. There was a part of Erik that wanted to call it all off, to send Charles home and figure out another plan.

“Of course,” Charles said, his eyes wide and voice soft. Erik scrutinised him and deemed the omega truthful enough.

Erik made a decisive nod. He’d give the omega a chance. If it didn’t work out, he’d let Charles go. 

“Okay well, I’ll get my things and then I’ll go,” it wouldn't take him long, he’d left his files and folders all in a neat pile on the kitchen table. Charles followed him as he went, staring warily at the lunch Erik had packed for himself.

The twins gave him careful hugs as he left, aware that they shouldn’t get their chalk-stained hands all over his expensive suit. 

“Love you, papa,” they said as they planted kisses on his cheek. 

“I love you both too, more than anything,” he stressed. “If anything’s wrong, you both know the house phone has my number on it?” The alpha asked, he’d gone over it with them a million times, asking them to demonstrate that they knew how to ring him in case of an emergency until they’d been whining and begging to move on.

He should’ve expected their exasperated nods and tiny eye rolls, but even in their irritation, they were too adorable to not make him smile. 

As he settled into his car, Erik saw Charles reach out his hands for them to take. He frowned as he noticed they were much more hesitant to take it today, offering Charles shy, uncertain smiles now that their father was leaving.

He shrugged it off as them just being a bit shy without him there.

They’ll be fine, he told himself as he pulled out of the driveway.

They’ll be fine.

Erik had assumed, because of the calm nighttime air that was disturbed only by the low buzzing of cicadas, that everything had gone well.

The drawing the twins had started this morning had now extended past the driveway. Colourful swirls, flowers and strange squiggles greeted him.

Skipping ropes and hula hoops were even lying in the yard.

So yes, Erik had taken all this as signs that the children had been happy with Charles.

But as the alpha walked in the front door, he was not greeted with warm laughter and fond voices. He could only hear hushed whispers and sniffles.

He followed the sounds to the living room, where he saw both twins sitting on the couch with Charles kneeling in front of them.

And there were tear tracks on their faces. 

A distant part of Erik’s brain noted the empty dinner plates on the coffee table, that they were in clean pyjamas with their hair damp and brushed. The television was playing their favourite movie, albeit the sound was muted,

Yet all Erik could focus on was the twat tracks, wet eyes and wobbly lips.

“It’s okay,” Charles soothed, his hand coming up to stroke Wanda’s hair and then Pietro’s. “Don’t cry,” he hushed, one finger wiping away a tear beginning to leave Pietro’s eye.

“What happened?” Erik asked, his voice stern as every muscle in his body tightened, perceiving the omega as a danger who’d hurt his children.

“Papa,” the twins sobbed as they ran towards him with open arms and clung to his legs. Erik stumbled back slightly with the force of them knocking into him and he reached his hands down to stroke their hair.

Charles gave him a soft smile, somewhat shaky and unconfident as if the omega was nervous. “They missed you that’s all, it’s normal for—“

“Oh, it’s normal for me to come home to my children sobbing, is it?” He asked sarcastically. His tone was colder than he’d intended, but the sight of his children’s tear-streaked faces had his brain in overdrive. 

“After I’ve left them with a stranger?” Charles flinched at that, his smile turning into a soft pout as he opened his mouth before sighing in frustration.

“They are okay, Mr Lehnsherr! They just missed you, that’s all. It’s normal for children to be happy one moment and then overwhelmed the next, they are still adjusting after what happened at the nursery—“

“Oh yes, the nursery,” Erik spat, as he knelt down, holding their cheeks as he scanned them for injuries. He noted the way the omega flinched.

“Did you take your nannying advice from the nursery then? What did you do? Hurt them? Yell at them.

Charles’s mouth fell open in shock, his wide blue eyes brimming with hurt. “I didn’t yell at them, Mr. Lehnsherr, nor did I hurt them,” he said softly, though there was a slight tremor in his voice.

“They are just adjusting. It's a normal process. I promise you, I would never yell or harm a child.” The omega’s pitch increased at the end of his sentence, as though he was offended the alpha could ever have believed him capable of such a thing.

“Oh stop with that.” Erik snapped, getting up from his kneeling position as he stalked closer to the omega, his large frame towering over the other. He scoffed at the pitiful expression on the omega’s face.

“You couldn’t even help them feel loved for one day? You had to go and be just like them ?”

The omega’s breathing quickened. “You don’t mean—“

“You’re supposed to keep them happy and yet they are exactly the same as when I’d pick them up from the nursery.” The alpha’s gaze grew cold, his voice a low growl that he knew his children wouldn’t be able to hear.

“Maybe you are just the same as those workers at the nursery. Maybe I was wrong in believing you didn’t hate my children.”

Charles flinched as if struck, his composure faltering. He stood, his hands clasped tightly in front of him, his usual grace marred by a stiffness that betrayed his hurt.

“I think it’s best if I leave for the evening,” Charles said quietly, his voice taut but polite. “Perhaps they’ll feel more at ease with just you here.”

Erik grunted, moving to the side in a clear request for the omega to leave. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily through his nose. He could hear the tiny patter of feet against tiles and hushed murmurs before the door clicked closed.

“Papa?” He opened his eyes to see the two of them clinging to the doorframe, little fingers in their mouths as they bit at their nails anxiously.

“Come on,” Erik tried his best to give them, what he hoped, was a reassuring smile. From the way their scents didn’t lighten up, Erik wasn’t so sure he had succeeded.

The twins were easy to put to bed. They hadn’t wanted a story and to Charles’ credit, they had already been bathed, clothed and had their teeth brushed. All the tasks Erik had written for him to do on the piece of paper he’d pinned to the fridge.

He was grateful that they went down without a fuss, it allowed him to call Logan over quickly. It also allowed him to request a large case of beer.

“So how’d it go?” Logan asked, as chipper as an alpha like him could get, as he stopped in front of where Erik had been waiting for him, sitting on the porch since he didn’t like to drink inside where the twins could catch him. Logan’s typical, forest-like scent was covered up by the smell of warm, fresh bread. The man has probably been making loaves for the local soup stand like he often did. 

“He made the twins cry,” Erik said, grabbing the beer that his friend was holding out for him and taking a big swig. 

Logan’s brows furrowed, his face settling into that eternal scowl he seemed to always have. He sat down on the chair next to Erik with a groan of exertion and quickly opened up his own beer.

“Cry? Are you sure?”

Erik looked away from the dark shadows dancing across his yard and glared at his friend. “You think I don’t know what my children crying looks like? How do they scent when they are upset?” He snapped.

“Now I didn’t mean it like that,” Logan grumbled, shifting as his alpha brain registered that the alpha in front of him was angry, his own nose reacting negatively to the sour pheromones Erik was pumping out of anger and competition.

“I only mean,” he knocked the mouth of the glass bottle against his teeth as he met Erik’s eyes, not bowing down to the alpha’s look of contempt. “Are you sure those tears were because of Charles?”

Erik scoffed a sharp sound that made Logan raise an eyebrow. He swirled the bottle in his hand and took another sip. “How could they not? Every time the twins have been upset it’s been because of other people’s cruelty.”

Logan gave him a long, assessing look, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a wry smile. 

“You sure you’re not letting the past mess with your head? I mean, Charles isn’t exactly the scolding type.” The alpha laughed, running a hand over his face. “Hell, I bet he apologised to them if he even raised his voice,” Logan said, all while shrugging a broad shoulder.  

Erik bristled. He didn’t like it when others argued with him, especially not on topics that concerned his children. 

“Logan, for a year— a year —those kids came home from nursery crying because their teachers didn’t know how to handle them. They were ignored or scolded too harshly, or dismissed when they needed comfort. I’m not going to let anyone treat them like that again. Not even Charles.”

It was silent for a while. The two sipped their beers as they stared out into Erik’s front garden, the soft breeze bringing forward the scent of the rose bushes his mother had planted.

“Did Charles say what happened?” Logan finally asked, breaking the silence with his gruff voice and the clinking of glass as he reached for a second beer.

“Just that they missed me,” mumbled.

Erik exhaled slowly, his grip on the glass easing slightly. “You didn’t see their faces, Logan. The tear tracks… the way they clung to me. It—it looked too familiar.”

Logan nodded slowly, his tone softer now. “Yeah, but just because it looked familiar doesn’t mean it is the same. The teachers before? They didn’t give a damn about your kids. Charles? He tears up if he forgets a customer’s sugar. You sure you didn’t bark at him and chase him off before getting the full story?” 

Erik scowled, tipping back his drink and draining it in one go. “I’m not imagining things, Logan. I know what I saw.”

“Do you?” Logan challenged, his tone calm but firm. “Or did you see your kids cryin’ and let your brain jump straight to the worst-case scenario? You’ve been in protective mode for so long, you might be forgettin’ that not everyone’s out to hurt ‘em.”

Erik opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss. Logan’s words hit uncomfortably close to home, and a flicker of doubt began to creep into his mind.

Logan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “On Laura’s first day of school, she was so upset she worked herself up to a bloody nose.”

“But she loved it there?” Erik pointed out, confused as he replayed the memory of her first day. He was never told about this mystery crying fit, Laura had only sung praises and talked about how eager she was to go back.

His friend nodded. “It’s just how kids are, Erik. They’ve never had Charles babysit before. New person, new situation—it’s not exactly outta left field for them to be unsettled.” Logan said. “Especially when you’ve said they’ve been so clingy with you the past few days.”

His green apple scent had long turned sour with uncomfort, the alpha unused to being called out or held accountable for something. Erik avoided Logan’s searching gaze as he looked down and dug around in the case for another beer.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t look out for ‘em,” Logan continued, his voice softer now. “Hell, that’s what a good dad does. But Charles? That sweet little ‘mega couldn’t hurt a fly. Maybe you oughta give him another shot before you write him off.”

Erik stared out into the darkness, the guilt from earlier returning with a vengeance.

He frowned, the weight of Logan’s words settling in his chest. He thought back to the flash of hurt in Charles’s blue eyes, the polite but strained way he’d excused himself.

Perhaps he’d been harsh.

He hadn’t even given Charles a chance to explain properly. Maybe Logan was right.

“I’ll think about it,” Erik muttered, his voice low.

Logan smirked, raising his bottle. “That’s all I’m askin’.”

They sat in silence after that, the night settling around them, Erik’s thoughts far from quiet.

Erik sits in the kitchen, staring at his phone, for a long time after Logan has left. 

He has his chat history with Charles open, but he hasn’t found the courage to message him.

The alpha turns to the kitchen door as he hears a strange thump and a huff. Soon enough, the door handle dips and the door creaks open to reveal Pietro.

The boy’s eyes are squinted, clearly unused to the warm light of the kitchen. His hair is sleep mussed and his pyjamas ruffled, a few buttons have even come undone. Trailing behind him is his blanket, and in one arm is his favourite plushie, a stuffed peanut.

“What are you doing up, baby boy?” Erik mused, opening his arms as Pietro made a beeline for him.

“Water,” he said, voice quiet and still scratchy with sleep.

“Alright,” Erik heaved, picking Pietro up and placing him on his hip. “Let’s get you some water.”

Pietro’s white-blond hair tickled at his neck as the boy dropped his head to rest it on his father's shoulder, too tired to keep it upright.

He watched in silence as Erik filled a cup with water from the tap and held it up to the little boy’s mouth, carefully helping him to take a few sips before Pietro lightly pushed it away.

“All done?” Erik asked, setting the glass down when Pietro nodded and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

Pietro made no move to indicate he wanted out of Erik’s arms, so the alpha stood for a moment more, letting his son fiddle with the buttons in his dress shirt that Erik had still not changed out of. 

“Will Charles be back tomorrow?” His son finally asked, refusing to look his father in the eye and keeping his stare solely on the buttons.

Erik froze, his breath catching. Of all the things he’d expected his son to say, this wasn’t it. “That depends,” he said carefully. “Papa thought you and Wanda didn’t like him, because you both were crying when I got home.”

Pietro looked up at him, his brows furrowed in confusion. “Not because of him! But because we missed you.” The boy mumbled. “We liked Charles a lot, he was nice.”

“Yeah?” Erik swallowed thickly, he was finding it hard to breathe as the revelation of just how deeply he’d misunderstood the situation was dawning on him.

“Mhm,” Pietro said, rubbing his head on Erik’s cheek. “He made us our favourite food, ‘n played with us all day. He helped us draw outside and now we can find our names!”

Logan had been the one to notice it, the area of the driveway which had numbers and letters drawn all over it in neat, beautiful handwriting, followed by some attempts in much scratchier fonts. 

Erik hadn’t wanted to think much about it, not when the sick feeling of guilt was already beginning to churn his stomach. But now he knew it really had been Charles who’d done that. Erik had spent a whole day trying to get them just to recognise one letter, and Charles had managed to get them reading their full names.

And now, hearing Pietro’s quiet defence, Erik felt a pang of regret so sharp it almost took his breath away.

“He did, did he?” Erik cooed.

“Yeah,” Pietro mumbled around his fingers. “Can Charles come back?” The boy asked nonchalantly, unaware of how much guilt the omega’s name sparked in his father.

Erik sighed, bouncing him lightly in hopes that it would send his son to sleep and he could escape this conversation. “I’m not sure if he’ll want to, baby. Papa was rather rude to him,” he confessed. 

“We didn’t mean to make you think Charles was bad,” Pietro said, sounding glum as he kicked his feet. “We just missed you and started crying.”

“It’s not your fault, my darling,” Erik hummed, kissing Pietro’s forehead. “It’s all mine. But I’ll try to get him back for you.” The alpha could only hope the omega accepted his apology and felt comfortable enough to return.

Pietro snuggled closer, his trust and warmth a small balm to Erik’s guilt. “Charles will forgive you. He’s nice like that.”

Erik kissed the top of Pietro’s head, his heart heavy but resolute. “I hope you’re right, baby. I’ll do everything I can to make it right.”

“‘Kay,” Pietro said, sounding more chipper now as he wiggled his legs faster. “Want to go back to bed now.” 

Erik huffed, amused at how fascinating little minds worked. He placed Pietro down who quickly snatched up his fallen blanket and ran back to his room.

The alpha trusted him enough to settle back down. He grabbed his phone when he saw a notification and came through.

It was a message from Charles.

Hello Mr Lehnsherr, I understand if you don’t wish to hear from me, but I wanted to reach out to say that Wanda and Pietro are wonderful children and I hope that they will be looked after by someone who appreciates that.

I’m sorry again for the misunderstanding that occurred this evening.

Erik stared at his phone, the message from Charles still lighting up the screen. It had been polite, understanding, and far kinder than Erik deserved. Yet beneath the carefully chosen words, he could sense the hurt.  

His stomach churned as he read it again. The thought of Charles walking away—of his twins losing the first person they’d truly connected with—was unbearable. Taking a deep breath, Erik pressed the call button before he could second-guess himself.  

The line rang twice before a soft, familiar voice answered.  

“Mr. Lehnsherr?”  

“Charles,” Erik said, his tone careful, bordering on formal. “Thank you for answering. I wanted to speak with you about today.”  

There was a pause, the faintest hesitation and a slight intake of breath. “Of course,” Charles replied, his voice steady but quieter than usual.  

Erik swallowed, gripping the phone tighter. “First, I owe you an apology. I was,” he hesitates, grimacing as he accepts his wrongdoings, “out of line. My reaction was unfair and unkind. I accused you of things you did not do, and I deeply regret how I treated you.”  

“I understand,” Charles said softly, though there was a slight wobble in his voice. “You were worried about the twins. I don’t hold it against you.”  

Erik closed his eyes, guilt twisting in his chest. “You are far more forgiving than I deserve,” he said, his voice measured. “But I would like to ask if you would consider returning tomorrow. Wanda and Pietro were clear that they wanted to see you again, and… I realise now how much trust they have in you. It is rare for them.”  

Charles hesitated again, and Erik could hear him take a steadying breath. “I appreciate your apology, Mr. Lehnsherr,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “And I would be happy to come back, but I need to be clear about something.”  

“Of course,” Erik said immediately, straightening in his chair.  

“I understand that your priority is protecting your children,” Charles began, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of determination. “But I will not tolerate being spoken to or accused like that again. I have done my utmost to care for Wanda and Pietro with kindness and patience, and I won’t have my integrity questioned without cause.”  

Erik’s chest tightened at the quiet strength in Charles’s words, even as he heard the faint tremor beneath them. Charles was brave, but he had clearly been hurt.  

“I understand,” Erik said after a moment, his voice grave. “You are right to set that boundary, and I give you my word it will not happen again. I acted out of fear rather than reason, and I will not repeat that mistake.”  

There was a beat of silence, and Erik could hear Charles’s exhale on the other end of the line.  

“Alright,” Charles said, at last, the faintest hint of relief in his tone. “I’ll be there tomorrow morning.”  

“Thank you,” Erik said, his voice softening. “And… Charles? I am truly grateful for the care you’ve shown my children. It means more than I can say.”  

For the first time in the call, Erik thought he could hear the smallest smile in Charles’s reply. “Thank you, Mr. Lehnsherr. I’ll see you tomorrow.”  

As the call ended, Erik set the phone down, his shoulders sagging under the weight of guilt and relief. 

He wouldn’t be the reason his children lost the only omega they’d ever asked to see again.

Chapter Text

Erik had never known peace before.

He’d never had a steady companionship or easy partnership.

The alpha had known since a young age that his stubborn personality and passion made him a difficult person to maintain a conversation with let alone garner a friendship.

And so he really wasn’t sure how he and Charles had achieved the balance they had.

Erik would leave the house in an absolute state. With crusted cereal bowls in the sink and bacon-greased pans still on the stove. There would be plastic clips all over the bathroom floor just waiting to be trodden on, and the TV would have sticky fingerprints all over it.

Yet he’d arrive home to a perfectly clean house. There would be no trace of the morning’s mess. 

Erik could only see dishes drying, having been scrubbed so clean they sparkled. He’d see the twins bathed and clothed, without puddles of water everywhere and each towel in the bathroom soaked.

The two of them would be calmly sitting at the table, giggling and laughing as they ate dinner with Charles. 

Erik had thought he’d entered an alternate universe the first time he saw their spoonfuls of oceans actually making it into their mouths and not being thrown towards their twin sibling.

As the weeks passed, the alpha had begun to trust Charles more. 

The omega started to watch them for longer hours. He would even watch them on the weekends, taking them to parks or museums, sometimes accompanied by his mother, who would always give him a knowing smirk when Erik arrived home and wished Charles a good evening.

Erik always avoided her eyes and would quickly leave the room to escape her questioning why his eyes had lingered on the omega’s backside as he left. 

It didn’t matter, he was steadfast in his resolve to never approach Charles with any of his sick intentions. 

There were moments when he wavered. When in his exhausted, lonely state Erik let himself be lured in by Charles' sweet smile and kind eyes. 

It was natural, his coworkers would say, for an alpha of Erik’s age to want to settle down with some pretty young thing. 

But it was the reminder of just how young Charles was that would have Erik recoiling. That would have him waking up from his dreams, his breathing heavy as he splashed water on his face, desperate for his mind to forget the omega who featured so heavily in his dreams.

He’d find Charles sitting on the sofa, computer lying on his lap. When the alpha would enquire as to what he was doing, the following complaints of homework and studying would make him freeze.

It would remind him that the omega he would allow himself to desire during his weakest moments was a mere twenty years old. While he had not had to do homework in fifteen years.

When he would arrive home and notice that the omega was clearly antsy, bouncing on the balls of his feet and checking his watch, Charles would give him apologetic smiles and say that he had no time to stay behind and chat, as they often did, for was going out with some friends to a club.

Erik, at thirty-five years old, could not remember the last time going to a club had sounded appealing to him. He didn’t think it ever had. His days as a university student were spent in quiet bars with only a small group of friends.

The car that would pull up to pick up Charles would be rowdy, full of friends already calling out for him to hurry up and join them.

So while his university years looked much different to the omega’s, he could not begrudge him.

Erik would never be the one to dull Charles’ light. Not when Erik found himself relying on it so often these days.

He did not wish to be cruel either.

The house was quiet, and the twins were still asleep upstairs when Erik read the message from Charles. His phone screen glowed faintly in the predawn light as his eyes scanned the carefully worded text.  

“ Good morning, Mr. Lehnsherr. If it’s not too much trouble, I was wondering if I might start later today. I’m afraid I stayed out late last night and woke up feeling rather… delicate. My apologies for the inconvenience. Please let me know if this doesn’t work for you .”

Erik frowned, rereading the words. Delicate. A carefully chosen word, soft and polite, masking what was clearly a hangover. His chest tightened as his mind conjured an image of Charles the night before—laughing, bright-eyed, surrounded by people who basked in the glow of his warmth and charm.  

Who had he been with?  

Erik’s hand tightened around his phone, a sharp pang of jealousy cutting through him. It was a ridiculous, unreasonable feeling. Charles wasn’t his. He was an employee and a caretaker for Wanda and Pietro. Whatever Charles did outside of working hours was none of Erik’s concern.  

But the thought lingered, unbidden and unwelcome. The idea of Charles sparkling in someone else’s company—his soft laughter, his brilliant smile shared with someone who wasn’t Erik—gnawed at him.  

He shook his head sharply, brushing the feeling aside. It was a knee-jerk reaction, nothing more. He had spent so much time relying on Charles’s calm presence, on the quiet joy he brought to the house, that it had become second nature to expect him there. But that didn’t mean he had any right to feel possessive.  

Erik typed out a quick reply, deliberately measured and neutral.  

That’s fine. Start when you’re ready.

He set the phone down, exhaling slowly.

He wasn’t going to let this affect him. Why should it? What did the lives of beautiful omegas concern Erik?

Still, as he poured himself a second cup of coffee and tried to focus on his work, the tightness in his chest lingered. His mood considerably lowered as he tried to ignore the disappointment of having to wait a few hours to have the omega in his presence. He told himself it didn’t matter.  

Erik hadn’t worked from home since his first attempt at watching the twins.

He felt guilty for saying that he dreaded it. All he could remember was the splitting headaches and overwhelming feeling of failure from the last time.

It was stupid, how only one day had caused Erik to lose all his confidence around the twins. He was worried that they too would feel awkward around him, perhaps upset at being left with him and not the kind, beautiful Charles who they had come to adore so strongly in the past few weeks.

But they still greeted him in the kitchen with warm hugs and sticky kisses on the cheek, already pleading for pancakes with extra syrup. 

Erik was never one to deny them anything they wanted.

Their calmness shocked him. The twins were still their bright, bubbly selves but they seemed so much more at peace. Pietro hogging the syrup, for once, did not cause a fight between the two, instead, Wanda asked if she could ‘please have some’ and patiently waited until he was done.

They settled down eagerly to their iPads and books, plugging in their headphones as they started on their lessons whichErik had set up, with Charles’ assistance through messages.

Erik was left to his conference calls and forms in peace. It was hard for him to relax at first, constantly on edge and listening out for the first sign of things having gone out of control. But after two hours had passed, and all the alpha could hear was his children’s bright laughter and their soft attempts at helping each other through difficult questions, he found he was finally able to breathe and concentrate on his work.

When Wanda came into his office, he held his breath. Pietro had wandered in only a few minutes earlier, and he felt uneasy about the twins being in there. 

The alpha looked worriedly at the sticky note taped to his laptop, reminding him of the conference he had to attend in ten minutes.

That was plenty of time for them to start an argument, or to cry and demand his attention.

But it seemed she was far less interested in him and more so intrigued by his nails. 

“Give,” she said, holding out her hand expectantly.

Erik stared down at her incredulously.

She puffed her cheeks out and dropped her arm when she realised her father wasn’t going to hand her his hand. The auburn-haired girl turned to Pietro and sighed as if seeking his help in getting whatever she wanted.

“Charles said to be polite Wanda,” Pietro hummed, sounding bored as he tapped on the iPad. The volume was quiet, but Erik could hear the slow reading of a simple book coming from the tablet. Pietro was on some learning app that Erik had no doubt tried to get him to use. Charles must have gotten them to finally try it.

“Papa, may I please have your hand?”

Erik held it out, confused as she grabbed it, assessed it and then nodded, satisfied by whatever she found.

She started climbing up his lap, the little girl happily settling herself in once Erik had picked her up and erased most of the hard work.

It was only when the small clink of glass against wood caught his attention that he realised what she had in mind, she had with her a tiny bottle of glittery silver nail polish.

“Are you going to paint your nails?” He hummed, pressing a kiss into her neck and feeling her soft curls brush against his cheek. He moved his nose to her hair, finding it smelt of sweet strawberries.

“No,” Wanda chirped, “I’m going to paint yours.” 

Despite the ding of his computer, signalling that the meeting was about to begin, Erik couldn’t help but smile. He shifted her onto just one leg, so that she would be out of the webcam’s frame, and then laid his hand out. Trying to remain as still as he could while she messily got polish everywhere.

“What do you think?” She whispered, face beaming with pride as she looked up at him. Erik was surprised at her lowered volume, normally the twins were not so good at it, having been known to disrupt many a conference call in the past. But today she had been completely quiet, only speaking in short, hushed murmurs whenever she needed something.

“They are beautiful, my darling,” he said, kissing her unruly curls as looked down at her handiwork. More polish had made it to his skin than his actual nails, but he didn’t mind.

Erik didn’t care for the nails, not really. He loved them for what they represented, Wanda’s progress.

The meeting had lasted an hour, and she had sat quietly for the entirety of that time. He’d seen her grow frustrated, her small face scrunching as she struggled to paint his nails with the flimsy nail polish brush, but each time she pushed through it. Determined to finish her task without bothering him and interrupting his meeting.

He stroked her cheek, the skin soft and warm, flushed with happiness as she admired her work and sought out her father’sapproval.

“My talented girl,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek causing her to squirm and giggle. “I’m sure you are hungry after all that work.”

“Lunchtime,” Pietro exclaimed, small fists clenched as cheered, dropping his iPad onto the couch in the process. 

“That’s right,” Erik said, popping Wanda on the ground as he stood up and walked over to Pietro, who was doing grabby hands in hopes of being carried.

When they reached the kitchen, the twins were already running off, pulling out ham and cheese and whatever fruits they wanted alongside their sandwiches. 

They leave the fridge open, of course. The small act of closing it was forgotten in their very important task of finding the flavour of chips they wanted.

When Erik closed it, he was met with their calendar, and something written in bright red on today's date.

Vaccinations for the twins, 2:30

It was forty-five minutes past one. 

The doctor's office was twenty minutes away, and the twins were still in pyjamas. Erik had thought it fine since they’d be at home all day.

The alpha hoped that Charles had got it wrong. That his perfect, loopy handwriting was just on the wrong day.

But as he fished out his phone from his pocket, he saw a text from Charles.

Don’t forget the twins’ doctor’s appointment! They are due for their vaccinations!

The alpha swore. So Charles had not gotten the day wrong then. His eyes darted between his bright phone screen and the twins, who were still lightly squabbling over which packet of chips they wanted.

“My darlings, papa has forgotten that there’s somewhere we need to go, so how about you two go get dressed and I’ll make your lunches to go.”

Pietro shrugged, walking over and placing the crinkled packet of chips in his hands before running out of the kitchen, his heavy stomps up the staircase audible from where Erik stood.

Wanda was more hesitant, however.

She did not place her chips in Erik’s outstretched hand, rather she clutched them closer into her chest as if protecting them against a very hungry bear.

“Where are we going?” She asked, squinting her eyes as she looked her father up and down.

“To the doctors,” he says. “You two have to get some shots. But we can go to the toy store straight after,” the alpha rushes out, hoping the promise of a new toy will soften the news about having to get shots. 

“Could I be the one who stabs Pietro?” Wanda asks, her posture losing its tenseness as she considers the news. Some light entered her eyes at the thought of seeing her brother squirm.

Erik blinks, quite unsure what to say in response to that.

“Well no, the doctor has to give them because he’s the one who’s trained in it. But I’m sure Pietro wouldn’t mind you burying him in the sandpit.” 

That was their new favourite game, according to Charles. Erik couldn’t understand the appeal of being trapped underneath the sand, but it was Charles who dealt with the mess of sandy shoes and clothes so Erik couldn’t complain too much.

She shrugged, finally handing over her now crumpled bag of chips before chirping out okay and running off after Pietro.

A receptionist greets them warmly as they enter. The building is clean and shiny, a private practice that mainly caters to the city’s wealthiest families, making Erik and his twins their target demographic. The kid’s area is well-decked out with toys and books.

He sees a few familiar faces, other families who likely have similar vaccination schedules as the twins. He notes the way they eye them with hesitation, shifting and gaining looks of dread.

The twins used to be terrible at the doctor’s office, their early years were full of constant blood tests and needles, and attempts to get their hormone levels balanced failed at everything except giving the twins a lot of anxiety related to anything medical.

But today they played calmly, even offering to share their packets of raisins with the other children already playing with the wooden car set.

But Pietro leaves the corner quickly, thankfully saving Erik from one mother’s awful attempt at flirting with him.

Pietro curled into his side, clutching his arm with surprising strength for someone so small.

“I don’t wanna get a shot, Papa,” Pietro whispered, his voice trembling.  

“It’ll be quick,” Erik said, trying to keep his tone calm. “Just a little pinch and it’s over.”  

Pietro didn’t look convinced. His eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and his lower lip quivered.

“Why are you making us do it.”

“I’m not,” Erik said. “It was Charles who booked this for you two.”

It was a cheap shot he knew, throwing the blame at Charles. But the twins adored him, worshipped him even. They’d cite the things he’d say all the time, even to prove Erik wrong. 

And it was Charles who had booked it. The omega had found the papers from their last doctor’s visit while he was cleaning, something the omega always did without fail despite the alpha pleading with him that he didn’t have to. It was Charles who asked for their information so that he could book their appointment. Had it been left to Erik, he probably wouldn’t have remembered for another few months.

“Charles booked it?” Pietro asked, chewing on his thumbnail. “Can we speak to Charlie?” 

Erik wasn’t going to send a message to the omega, he knew the boy was probably still nursing his hangover and wouldn’t want to speak to two nervous toddlers. But Pietro was watching his screen with eyes as sharp as lasers, so Erik had no option but to type out a message.

Hello Charles. We are at the doctor’s now and the twins were hoping to speak with you before the appointment. I completely understand if you do not wish to and am not expecting anything from you.

To his surprise, he gets an answer almost immediately. In the form of a FaceTime call.

Pietro squeals and clicks the green answer button before Erik can even register what’s happening.

“Wanda, Wanda! It’s Charlie,” Pietro calls out, waving the little girl over who quickly abandons the toys.

Their brief moment of distraction leaves Erik the only one actually looking at the screen. The alpha is stunned for a few short moments, despite the omega’s obvious exhaustion, his smile is still bright and beautiful. Erik sends him a brief smile of his own.

“Hi, Charlie!” Wanda says, throwing herself across the chair’s arm with such force that it sends her unruly curls flying right into Erik’s mouth.

“Hello, my angels,” Charles hums, his voice croaky but soft. 

“Are you at the doctors?”

“I don’t want to get shots Charlie,” Pietro mumbles. Erik’s heart rate picks up as he registers the way the boy’s lip wobbles and his eyes fill with tears. He tightens his grip on the blond and tries to pump out more comforting pheromones, filling the air with crisp green apples.

“They are very scary aren’t they?” The omega responds, his voice filled with so much sympathy and patience that Erik feels his throat close up. 

Even Wanda reaches out to grasp her brother’s hand, small brows knitted together in concern as she tries to clumsily comfort him. It was a gentle side of her that Erik hadn’t often seen. If only because their condition made it difficult for them to not feed off the other’s emotional state. 

Pietro didn’t respond for a moment, his sniffling only growing louder. “It’ll hurt,” Pietro sobbed, voice small and muffled as he buried his face into Erik’s jumper. 

“Only for a moment, and do you remember what I always call you?” Charles prompted, his face scrunched in sadness as he viewed the puppy through his screen, unable to do anything but offer kind words.

“Your brave boy,” Pietro mumbled.

“That’s right,” The omega’s smile was blinding, even when through the grainy screen and dim light. “My brave boy.” 

“I’m so proud of you for going to the doctor. It’s not easy, but you’re being so strong already. You’re sitting there, being such a good boy for Papa and Wanda. That’s very brave.”  

Pietro sniffled, his grip on Erik loosening just slightly. “But… it’s gonna hurt.”  

Charles went to nod his head but then winced. Erik knew that pain all too well, the omega’s head was likely still pounding and each slight movement would result in agony. “It might hurt a little, yes. But only for a moment. Do you remember when we had that big adventure with the paper cuts and bandages? You were so brave then, weren’t you?”  

Pietro nodded hesitantly.  

“And do you remember how quickly the hurt went away after that?” Charles continued. “This will be just like that. A little pinch, and then it’s all done. And I know you can do it because you’re my brave boy, aren’t you?”  

Pietro’s lip wobbled, but a faint smile crept onto his face. “Yeah, I am.”  

“That’s right,” Charles said, his own smile widening. “And guess what? When you’re done, you can call me back and I’ll have a special surprise for you.” 

The twins both perked up at that. “What is it?” Pietro squeaked, his voice now high with excitement as he rubbed his wet cheeks.

The omega’s expression softened, taking on a look of almost longing as he looked between the twin’s cherubic faces.“Well, you have to wait until you’ve had your shots to find out, don’t you?”

Pietro seemed to hesitate, then nodded, a small spark of determination lighting in his eyes. “Okay. I’ll get them.”

Pietro gave a tiny smile, and Erik felt his chest tighten—not with frustration or worry, but with something warmer, deeper.

Wanda chimed in, her voice encouraging. “See, Pietro? It’s not so bad. I’ll hold your hand and let you have a turn on the swing first and then, we will get Charlie’s surprise!” She squealed, throwing her arms up in the air and swinging her legs from her chair. 

Erik watched, stunned, as Pietro nodded, his fear easing under Charles’s gentle encouragement and Wanda’s support. It was such a stark contrast to how things had been in the past. Wanda, who used to mirror Pietro’s anxiety and make situations even harder, was now a source of calm and reassurance.  

And Charles… Erik’s chest tightened as he listened to the omega’s soothing words. There was so much affection in Charles’s tone, so much genuine care for his son, and it struck Erik in a way he hadn’t anticipated.  

He hadn’t realized how much of an impact Charles had on their lives until now. The trust his children had in him, the way they flourished under his care—it was undeniable.  

“Thank you, Charles,” Erik said quietly, his voice softer than he intended.  

Charles turned his attention to Erik, his smile as warm as ever. “Of course, Mr. Lehnsherr. It’s my pleasure. I will be at yours around six-thirty if that’s okay?”  

Erik nodded readily as if he would ever oppose having the omega’s presence in his home. He was already counting down the hours in his head.

As the call ended and Pietro sat up a little straighter, Erik felt something shift inside him. He had always been protective of his children, determined to shield them from harm. But seeing the way Charles had brought out the best in them—how he’d calmed Pietro and inspired Wanda—made Erik realise that sometimes, protecting them meant letting the right people in.  

And Charles, Erik thought as he watched Pietro muster the courage to face the doctor, was undoubtedly the right person.

Progress was not linear, Erik knew that all too well. 

He likely should have expected that the fear and pain from the shots would upset the twins.

They’d been grouchy and irritated ever since the appointment, complaining of achy muscles and exhaustion. 

Erik had never seen them so lethargic, they were unable to keep their faces upright, the alpha having to stop them many times from nearly falling into their bowls of dinner. 

“Shall we try one more spoonful?” He asked Pietro, his own dinner cold and long abandoned in favour of helping his children, who’d both barely managed a few mouthfuls.

“Too tired papa… just wanna go to sleep,” the boy whispered, voice soft and breathless as though that sentence had just used the last of his energy.

The father ran a hand through the boy’s hair which had grown sticky with sweat. The doctor had warned him that a light fever and some tiredness were to be expected, especially since the twins had rather weak immune systems as a result of their condition, but it worried him to see his normally energetic children so lifeless.

The doorbell rang, snapping him out of his concerned stupor.

“Charles,” he breathed, relieved to find the omega standing on the other side of the door. The omega always made him feel like that. Lighter, supported. As though everything would be okay now that he had Charles by his side.

The omega looked much better than he did in their earlier call. The brunet seemed well rested and no longer had the concerning pale pallor that tended to come with nausea. 

“Hello, Mr Lehnsherr. How are the twins?” Charles asked, his voice chipper and a smile already growing on his face, presumably excited to see the children. Erik had never really known anyone apart from his mother and Logan who were excited to see his kids, and he was worried that their ill state would be a cause of disappointment for Charles.

“I was about to start putting them to bed,” he said, signalling the omega to follow him into the dining room.

“To bed? But it’s only six-thirty-five, normally they like to play for a while after— oh.” 

The omega cut himself off, shoulders dropping as he took in the twins, who in Erik’s absence, must have given in to their tiredness. Their heads were now resting on the brown hardwood table, and their eyelids were shut, eyes already beginning to roll around with dreams.  

Wanda’s hand was even resting in her bowl of soup.

Erik held his breath, feeling both embarrassed and defensive at the scene. He did not wish for Charles to view him as an incompetent father. An incompetent alpha. 

“Was it the vaccines?” Charles huffed, amusement dancing around his eyes as his mouth quirked up in a light laugh. “I’mthe same, I always get very tired after them.”

Erik breathed a sigh of relief. He had become used to finding himself blamed for every odd behaviour of the twins. It was nice that, for once, someone acknowledged the external factors that can impact children’s mood and that it was not all out on him. Erik had spent many nights drinking and wallowing in guilt after being called an awful father.

“I’ll help you put them to bed,” Charles said, already moving over to Wanda, picking up a napkin as he moved around the table and used it to wipe at her hand.

Erik picked up Pietro, the boy present enough to tighten his grip around Erik’s neck as he lifted him up from his chair.

“Papa, bed?”

“Yes, we will get you to bed. Charles is here too.”

“Charlie?” Pietro’s head lifted from Erik’s chest, the boy’s neck moving around slowly as he searched for the omega. Although Erik doubted he would be able to find him given how his eyes were still closed.

“I’m here, baby.” Charles had Wanda settled on his hip as he reached out his other hand to grasp Pietro’s. Charles’ scent was that of sugary sweet jam and Erik could feel his own eyes drooping, soothed by the omega’s pheromones.

Wanda made soft sleepy sounds as the omega adjusted her on his hip. Erik watched in awe as Charles’ attention was immediately drawn to her, touching her cheek softly in concern and tucking hair behind her ears, softly murmuring to her.

It didn’t take long for them to be settled in their beds, the task much quicker with Charles handling one of them. In no time the two were both softly snoring away, tucked up in their colourful sheets with various stuffed animals locked in their arms. 

They had been so tired that in their soft, sleepy voices they had only demanded two goodnight kisses, one from the alpha and one from the omega.

Erik doesn’t know where he found the courage, but he offers the omega to stay a little bit longer.

Charles drinks tea with three sugars. He’s unsure why he finds that fact so endearing. The idea is that such a sweet omega could require even more sugar. Perhaps that’s the secret, the reason behind that saccharine scent that Erik had begun to crave. He had even begun to take half a spoonful of sugar in his coffee.

“So, the twins have been okay?” Charles asked after taking a sip of his tea. He looked lovely in his white woollen sweater and brown crush falling softly around his shoulders. 

“The doctor was impressed by them,” Erik’s chest puffed out in pride. The man couldn’t believe the progress the pups had made, he had laid praise after praise upon Erik, inquiring as to what had changed.

All Erik could say was that he had been lucky to find an omega whose scent didn’t irritate their little noses. 

And one who was patient and loved them.

“They have made so much progress,” Charles beamed. “You should be very proud of them.”

“They are resilient.”

“Just like their father,” Charles teased, bumping the shoulders together. Erik was hypnotised by the smell of fresh berries that wafted his way and stuck to his shirt.

Their eyes met in a soft gaze for a few minutes, neither saying a word, only drifting between the other's eyes and lips.

Charles was the one to break it, the omega breathing in deeply as he looked back down at his cup of tea, tracing a finger across the rim. Erik could see his finger was trembling slightly.

“I’m sorry, again, for not coming today. I hope they didn’t disrupt your work too much.”

Charles’ hand was still shaking and Erik feared he was going to drop the mug. The alpha reached out his hand and cupped the omega’s smaller one, gently taking the mug and placing it down. 

The alpha tried to ignore how the omega’s scent took on a honeyed tinge. One that was often attributed to arousal.

“It’s okay, trust me, Charles,” he added when he saw Charles purse his lips in doubt. “I greatly appreciate everything you’ve done for my children. I wish I could spend more time with them, give them all the attention they deserve.” Erik drew away, looking down at his own, now cold, cup of coffee.

He’d never discussed this topic with anyone, not even his mother. When his children were diagnosed with reactive omegan attachment syndrome, he’d seen the diagnosis as a criticism, a sign that he wasn’t enough for his children.

Many fathers were able to raise their children alone, single alpha parents getting by without the need for an omega. So why wasn’t Erik able to? Why wasn’t he enough for the twins? Why were their bodies unable to manage themselves without an omega, without a mother, to help them?

“Sometimes I just worry that I’m not enough.” He constantly worries. He knows he's not enough.

“You’re a good father, you know,” Charles said softly, breaking the silence.  

Erik’s head jerked up, his brows furrowing. “I don’t feel like one,” he admitted, his voice low. “I’m gone so often. It feels like every time I come home, I’m just playing catch-up. I miss you so much.”  

Charles tilted his head slightly, his expression tender. “I understand why you’d feel that way, but I don’t think you see the whole picture.”  

Erik gave a short, humourless laugh, glancing down at his mug. “And what picture is that?”  

“The one where your children adore you,” Charles said, leaning forward just a fraction. His eyes, warm and impossibly blue, met Erik’s. “They talk about you constantly when you’re not here. Every little thing reminds them of you. Wanda tells me stories about how you fix things around the house and how strong you are. Pietro says you’re the smartest man in the world because you always know what to do. They only eat green apples because they say it reminds them of you. ” Erik had noticed that they turned their noses up at any other type of apple, but he’d never connected that they liked the green ones because of his scent.

“They idolise you, Erik. They feel safe because of you.”  

Erik’s throat tightened, and he struggled to find words. “They don’t… resent me? For not being around enough?”  

Charles smiled softly, shaking his head. “No, Erik. They understand, as much as children their age can. And even when you’re not here, they know you love them. That’s what matters most.”  

Erik looked up again, his eyes lingering on Charles’s face. There was something about the omega’s presence—so calming, so grounding—that made him feel like he could breathe more easily, even when the weight of his guilt was pressing down on him.  

“You make it sound so simple,” Erik said, his voice quieter now.  

“It’s not simple,” Charles replied, a flicker of sadness crossing his face. “Parenting never is. But you’re doing your best, and that’s more than enough. Wanda and Pietro feel that even if you don’t always see it.”  

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant creak of the house settling filled the space between them. Erik found his gaze drawn to Charles again, his attention snagging on the faint blush that coloured the omega’s cheeks when their eyes met.  

Charles glanced down quickly, his lashes brushing against his skin as he focused intently on his tea. “You… you’re very hard on yourself, Erik,” he said softly. “But I think if you could see yourself the way your children do, or even the way I do, you might feel differently.”  

Erik’s breath caught, the quiet admission settling over him like a warmth he hadn’t realized he needed. He studied Charles’s face—the way his lips pressed together shyly, the way he peeked up through his lashes as though testing the waters of his own courage.  

“And how is it that you see me, Charles?” Erik asked, his voice lower, more deliberate.  

Charles’s blush deepened, and he smiled a small, almost bashful thing. “I see a man who loves his children more than anything. A man who works tirelessly to give them a good life. Someone kind and patient, even when he doubts himself.”  

Erik’s chest tightened, though this time it wasn’t from guilt or frustration. It was something else entirely, something he wasn’t sure he was ready to name.  

“Thank you,” he said after a moment, his voice rough but sincere.  

Charles’s smile grew, his confidence bolstered by Erik’s response. “You don’t need to thank me, Erik. I’m just telling you the truth.”  

They sat there for a while longer, the air between them shifting, charged with something unspoken but undeniably present. Erik found himself unwilling to break the moment, unwilling to let go of the quiet comfort Charles offered so freely.  

For the first time in a long time, Erik felt like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t failing. And the way Charles looked at him—as though he truly believed Erik was a good man—made him wonder if there was more to life than just getting by. 

“But if you wanted to spend more time with them, um,” the omega mumbled, fidgeting with his nails. “They’ve asked to go to the beach and well I was wondering if you’d like to come with us.”

“The beach?” Erik asked, the words feeling thick and sticky in his mouth as he blinked rapidly, trying to get his brain to dispel the images of pretty pretty Charles in a swimsuit, those long slim legs on display.

“Yes,” the omega nodded, little curls slipping out from where he’d tucked them behind his ear. “I was planning on taking them to the beach not far from here. It’s rather easy to get to on the bus so I just thought—”

“No no, I’ll come with you three, and I can drive. The twins have a favourite beach that’s a bit further away but well,” Erik chuckled, reaching out to pick up Charles’ long neglected tea, only taking it to the sink once Charles nodded and signalled that he was finished.

“Maybe the drive will be easier with some company.”

Charles smiled bashfully at Erik from where he was seated at the table, leaning one pink cheek against his palm as he traced patterns on the table with his other hand.

“Yes, I think it would be nice to finally have another adult to talk to.”

Erik placed three lines underneath the date they'd agreed upon, determined not to forget it.

Chapter Text

Erik has been a father long enough to know that silence was suspicious.

This was especially true for his children who didn’t even like to sleep in silence.

Pietro liked to sleep with the radio on, it was a habit he’d likely inherited from his father, although Erik made sure to put on a child-friendly channel for the small boy to listen to.

The children didn’t pounce on him to wake him up, Erik had scolded them many times for that and ensured the habit was one they knew not to do, but at the very least he was normally woken up to their incessant knocking on his door.

Or from the sound of them arguing with their toys. The two always tried to play together quietly in the mornings. But that never really worked out. Not when they loved the same toys and both wanted the same dolls. Erik had broken up many fights over small plastic figurines.

But lately, quiet mornings have been more common in their household. With their increasing exposure to a comforting omegan scent, their bodies were beginning to regulate themselves a bit better. They now slept longer and more restfully, their appetites had grown and thankfully they had begun to gain some weight, their faces no longer sickly thin.

But they weren’t in their beds and Erik’s blood ran cold.

The sheets were tangled and kicked off, as though in a rush or a struggle. The thin embroidered curtains were flowing everywhere and that’s when Erik noticed that the window was open, wide enough for someone to have come in and taken two children out.

Erik raced down the stairs, his feet stumbling as he was both still half asleep and moving too fast for him to keep up. 

Horrific images ran through his mind, ones where he’d never see his children again. 

He paused at the end of the stairs though, when he heard the squeaking of plastic and the hitting of foam.

And two high-pitched voices talking to each other.

Standing right by the front door were the twins, already dressed in their neon swimsuits with their water wings inflated and wrapped around their arms. The two were banging water noodles on the tiled floor and had an array of sand toys and water ones lying around them.

It was a mess, absolute chaos. There were even those little jibbitz everywhere as Pietro was kneeling, analysing his Crocs as he decided which ones to put on.

Erik stood there, dressed in nothing but his sweatpants, staring down at his twins who only looked back with faces of disappointment.

“Papa, why aren’t you ready?” Wanda asked, dropping her pool noodle with a squeak as she placed her hands on her hips, the little pink swim skirt swaying as she popped out her hip.

“Why are you two ready?” He croaked, his heart still racing, his mind struggling to calm down and realise that his children were safe and not in some stranger's car being taken away from him.

“Because we are going to the beach! And we need to go now!” The small girl said, stomping her foot as she pouted.

“I’m not ready, papa, can’t decide which ones Charlie would like better.” Pietro hummed, holding up two jibbitz that looked the same in Erik’s opinion.

The alpha sighed, rubbing the remaining sleep from his eyes before dragging his hand down his face.

“We are all,” he stared pointedly at Wanda. “Going to go have breakfast, then you two are going to wait for me to get ready and pack the car.”

“But! But the beach,” Wanda protested, looking towards the door with a stressed expression. “Charlie will be waiting! What if we go too late and he decides he doesn’t wanna come anymore?”

Erik sighed as he knelt, trying his best to take her into his arms which was a task made rather difficult by the inflated water wings that prevented her from fully burying into his chest.

“Charles is still coming.”

“But how do you know he won’t change his mind,” she pouted, voice small and insecure as she fiddled with the pink zipper of her swimsuit.

“Because I’ve got a message from him, one that he sent just this morning.” 

She shuffled, demanding to see the message.

Pietro waddled over, asking to see it as well, even though they were both still too young to fully understand the words.

Erik dug his phone out, pointing at each word on his phone as he read the message aloud for them.

Hi Mr Lehnsherr, super excited to head to the beach with the twins today. I’m making sandwiches and snack boxes but let me know if they’d like anything specific.

Of course, then, having been reassured that their favourite person in the world was still coming, their focus was then on ensuring their father gave Charles every snack they wanted. Ranging from crisp grapes to biscuits of all flavours. 

“Breakfast first,” he said, amused as he pushed them lightly to the kitchen, squeezing their shoulders each time they turned around and tried to stop.

It was quite comical seeing them, still in their goggles and water wings struggling to spoon porridge into their mouths. The alpha allowed himself to giggle for a few moments before he took pity on them and helped them take it off, with the promise that he’d blow them back up for them as soon as they arrived at the beach.

While the twins raced to finish their breakfast, it was Erik who didn’t get to eat much of his own. As soon as their bowls were empty they were back to whining and asking when they could get in the car to leave.

Erik didn’t have much of a heart to leave them waiting. He had packed the car up the night before and he could always stop for breakfast on the way, likely he’d just grab something from the petrol station on the way there. He didn’t doubt one of the twins would beg to use the bathroom as they drove past.

Soon enough, they were packed up and buckled into their car seats. The twins were singing along to some song on the children’s radio station that Erik had found as they tried hitting each other with their pool noodles. Erik was surprised that their playing remained nice, the two just giggling and neither one crying or trying to get too aggressive.

His smiles faded as he drove through Charles’ neighbourhood. He’d never visited the omega’s house before but he had not expected the boy to live in a place like this.

The houses looked poorly maintained, the streets full of what looked like students returning from nights out or graveyard shifts at their retail jobs. These were clearly buildings set aside for student accommodation, and very cheap subsidised housing at that.

“Charlie lives here?” The twins asked in soft confused little voices. They’d only ever known the wealthy neighbourhood they’d grown up in, with well-maintained gardens and large mansions, it was no wonder they found themselves confused at the sight of anything else.

Erik had allowed himself to be confused for a moment too. He’d thought an omega as beautiful and sweet as Charles would have a kind family to fall back on, or at least an alpha partner who supported him. 

Suddenly, his eagerness to work two jobs made sense. Erik made a silent promise to himself to write a few extra zeros on his next few cheques to Charles.

Erik looked back towards the twins, worrying his lip between his teeth. He wasn’t too keen on leaving them alone in the car, even if it would only be for a few minutes. It was hot today and one could never be too careful.

“There’s Charlie!” They cheered, pointing tiny fingers towards the window.

Erik looked and saw the sweet omega smiling and waving, he was wearing a swimsuit top as blue as his eyes, denim shirts that showed far too much leg than Erik was sane for and a knitted cover-up a few sizes too big, allowing Charles’ delicate collar bones to peek through.

Erik was fucked.

The omega was also struggling with a bag that seemed far too heavy for him.

“Stay in the car, okay?” Erik warned the twins, who nodded with wide eyes. The alpha jogged up to the omega.

Here,” Erik said, his voice gruff as he reached for the bag. “Let me help.”

Erik offered, reaching for the basket. His muscles flexed under the tight fabric of his shirt as he lifted it effortlessly, and Charles couldn’t stop the blush that crept up his neck.

“Thank you Mr Lehnsherr,” Charles murmured, his voice a little softer than usual, He glanced at Erik, his eyes lingering for a moment too long on the way the alpha’s shirt clung to his chest and shoulders, a bead of sweat glistening at the edge of the alpha’s hairline.

Biting his lip, the omega looked away, his gaze catching on the car, where Wanda and Pietro sat buckled into their seats. The omega gasped

“Erik, the twins!”

Erik blinked, startled. “Charles—”

But the omega was already pulling open the passenger door, his eyes darting to Wanda and Pietro, who looked up at him in mild confusion.

“Are you alright?” Charles asked, his voice tight with worry as his eyes ran over them, looking for any sign of them being hot or out of breath.

Erik strode over quickly, his brows furrowed. “Charles, it’s fine,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He was right behind Charles, the two so close that he could smell the sunscreen and perfume on the omega’s skin.

Charles turned to him, his wide blue eyes still full of concern. “It’s so hot today. They could’ve—”

“The air conditioning is on,” Erik interrupted gently. He stepped closer, taking Charles’s thin wrist in his hand with surprising care. He guided it toward the car’s air vent. “Feel that?”

Charles stilled, his breath catching as the cool air brushed over his skin. Slowly, he nodded, his lips parting slightly in surprise.

“Oh,” he murmured, his cheeks flushing a deeper pink. He stepped back out of the car, looking up at Erik as he spoke softly. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known you’d never put them in danger. I just panicked.”

Erik’s expression softened, his grip on Charles’s wrist lingered, his calloused grip squeezing Charles softly in reassurance.

“I understand,” he said, his voice low, the tension between them palpable. “You care about them. That’s never something to apologise for.”

Erik, for his part, couldn’t seem to look away from Charles—his delicate features framed by soft waves of hair, his lips slightly parted as though he wanted to say more but couldn’t find the words. The omega’s scent, sweet and subtle, filled the air between them, making Erik’s pulse quicken.

“I do care,” Charles admitted quietly. “But I know you’d never let anything happen to them. You’re a wonderful father.”

The compliment hung in the air, charged and intimate. The alpha still towered over the small omega and Erik wondered what it would be like if he leaned down and placed a kiss on those glossy lips.

 Erik’s throat worked as he swallowed, his eyes searching Charles’s face. “Thank you,” he said, his voice a little rough.

“Charlie, what did you pack?” Pietro’s voice interrupted.

Charles smiled at Erik, a small, shy thing, before glancing away. His movements were graceful as he ducked his head back in the car, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear as he did so.

“Clearly far too much! That’s why I need your papa to help me!”

Erik remained standing by the omega’s side, watching him interact with the children, his chest tightening in a way that had nothing to do with the summer heat.

“Papa take good care of Charlie’s stuff!”

“Oh I will,” Erik chuckled. “I’ll place it in the best spot in the trunk.”

They moved to the trunk of the car, and Erik began arranging Charles’s bags to fit alongside their own gear.

“Wanda was so excited yesterday,” Charles said, his voice light as he broke the lasting tension between the two. “She told me she was going to build the biggest sandcastle in the world. I suspect she might enlist me as her assistant.”

“She’ll have Pietro bossing her around in no time,” Erik replied, smirking as he maneuvered a cooler into place.

Charles laughed, the sound soft and melodic. “You may be right. I suppose I should brace myself for a lecture on proper turret proportions.”

Erik chuckled, glancing down at Charles. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Charles tilted his head, his grin widening. “Well, I’m used to it by now. Besides, it’s worth it to see them happy.”

Erik found himself smiling, a rare and genuine expression. “You’re good with them. They’ve never taken to anyone the way they’ve taken to you.”

Charles blushed again, his gaze flicking up to meet Erik’s before darting away. “That’s kind of you to say. But I think it’s because they’re so wonderful themselves. It’s easy to love them.”

He closed the trunk with a soft thud and turned to Charles, who was still smiling. The omega’s hair ruffled slightly in the breeze, and Erik had the sudden, irrational urge to reach out and smooth it back into place.

The twins quickly took up all of Charles’ attention once they were back in the car, pestering him with stories of how big their sandcastles would be and how many waves they wanted to try to catch on their boogie boards, that Charles and Erik would help them on.

Thankfully, they got tired of the conversation quickly. It was rare that they were allowed to use the iPad for movie purposes, and they wanted to take full advantage of the allowances Erik had made for them today.

That left Charles and Erik free to talk to each other.

Charles broke the silence first, something Erik was grateful for as his mind scrambled to think of an appropriate conversation starter.

“How's work been?” The omega asked, voice soft as he turned to look at the alpha.

“It’s been fine but,” he huffed, tapping the wheel in exasperation. “This one guy—“

Erik allowed himself to be lost in the easy ranting and discussion with another adult, one who was so caring and interested in what he had to say, all while not laying on any judgment or expectations unto him, like his mother so often did.

The beach wasn’t crowded at all when they got there. That was the benefit of their favourite beach, it was secluded and not very well known due to it being hidden behind a myriad of twisted trees. But it was beautiful with large waves, white fine sand and rock pools to climb and explore.

Erik instructed Charles to take the twins down while he’d fetch everything from the car but it was Charles who insisted on setting up their spot once he arrived back with everything.

“It needs to be perfect Mr Lehnsherr,” Charles lightly scolded him as he set up their little area so that all of the twins’ towels and toys were deep within the shade of their cabanas and umbrellas. 

Erik chuckled, shaking his head fondly as he focused on inflating the twins' water wings once more. The two were waddling around, having coined themselves Charles’ ‘little helpers’ although they were more so just holding some towels and a bucket.

The alpha had already taken off his shirt, leaving him in only his board shorts. It filled his inner alpha with glee to note that the omega hadn’t stopped sneaking glances at him, a pink blush permanently etched onto his cheeks.

“Charlie, did you know that if you get stung by a jellyfish you just have to pee on it and the pain goes away,” Wanda said, her voice amazed as though it was the most incredible fact she’d ever heard.

Charles, who had been in the middle of placing layer upon layer of sunscreen on Wanda, paused.

“Oh… well I don’t think we will need to do any of that sweetheart.”

“But how can you be sure?” Pietro squawked, whining as he pumped out way too much sunscreen on his hands.

Charles smiled, shifting over to the little boy and scooping off the goopy mixture, dividing it and rubbing it into his skin.

“Because you’ll have Papa who will protect you from any and all jellyfish!” 

The puppies looked back at him, with matching faces of suspicion.

Erik popped his mouth off the rubber-inflating part of the water wings and smiled, nodding confidently.

He’d spent all night researching everything, from spider bites to jellyfish stings to shark locations. He was prepared for anything the day might throw at him.

“Okay, we are going to go play now.”

Charles barely had time to pop on their water hats before they were squirming away, snatching up buckets and spades and heading off. Their tan skin glowed under the bright sun. 

“But your floaties!” Erik called out, waving them around in the air. The twins didn’t seem phased though, even looking back towards him and shrugging.

Erik’s arms slumped, chuckling fondly. They’d pestered him so much about these floaties and now they didn’t want them.

“Unbelievable,” Erik muttered under his breath, glancing down at the abandoned floaties in his hands.

A soft giggle floated over to him from the lounge chairs behind him, light and melodic. Erik turned his head to see Charles, still perched on his chair under the shade of a large umbrella. The omega’s laughter lit up his face, his lips curved in a smile that made something in Erik’s chest tighten.

“They don’t even want them now?” Charles asked, clearly amused.

“Apparently not,” Erik replied, his tone dry but with the faintest twitch of a smile tugging at his lips.

Charles shook his head, his curls bouncing slightly as he kicked his feet up, laying down on the lounge chair.

“Those two, always changing their minds,” he said playfully, reaching down to tug at the edge of his knit cover-up.

Erik had clearly not prepared himself for everything.

He was not prepared for the omega to reveal smooth, pale skin and a slim, gorgeous figure.  

Erik froze, his breath catching as he took in the smooth line of Charles’ shoulders, the gentle curve of his waist and the subtle strength of his arms and stomach. Muscles were born from an exercise routine that Erik knew nothing about but was now appreciating heavily.

The sun couldn’t reach Charles like this, and Erik hoped it never would. He couldn't bear to see such perfect skin become reddened and burnt by the harsh sun.

It was even worse when the omega stood, removing his denim shorts and revealing long, slim legs and a round ass that would haunt Erik for the rest of his days

The alpha clenched his jaw, looking away before the omega could catch his gaze. He felt like a disgusting lecher, looking at Charles like this.

What the hell is wrong with him, he thought. An old alpha like him had no right ogling someone far younger, far brighter, far more beautiful than him.

The omega likely felt nothing for him. He might even see Erik like a father, no doubt that being why he felt so comfortable around the alpha. He trusted the alpha to not treat him like a piece of meat.

Charles was the children’s nanny—trusted, kind, and sweet with his little ones. 

And yet Erik could feel his pants tightening. He was an adult, not a teenage alpha still fingering out what his knot did and yet he very much felt like one in this moment.

A bead of sweat slid down Erik’s temple, and he rubbed at the back of his neck, his fingers digging into tense muscles.

“Erik?” Charles’ voice pulled him out of these thoughts, soft and polite as always.

Erik forced himself to meet the omega’s gaze, schooling his expression into something neutral. 

Hm?” Erik grunted, trying to sound unaffected as he glanced back at the omega, though his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.

“Would you..” the omega trailed off sheepishly, holding up the bottle of sunscreen. “I can’t quite reach my back, you see.” 

Erik froze, his mind racing. He should refuse. He really should. He didn’t know how he would cope, touching the omega’s soft skin and inhaling that scent of sugary jam straight from the source. 

But Charles’ expression was so trusting that it made it impossible for Erik to refuse. He found it worrying how ill he felt at the thought of telling the omega no.

The first touch of his hands against Charles’s skin made Erik’s breath catch and he knew he’d never forget this moment, that it would play over and over again in his dreams.

Erik worked methodically, his movements careful, trying to focus solely on the task at hand. But the omega let out a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxing under Erik’s touch, and it sent a wave of guilt crashing over him.

Charles’s back was warm under his palms, his skin impossibly soft. It was soft, and delicate as it dipped readily beneath his fingers.

Erik’s throat felt dry, his thoughts a mess. He shouldn’t be noticing how the curve of Charles’s waist led seamlessly into his hips. He shouldn’t be thinking about the way the omega’s scent, faintly sweet and intoxicating, seemed stronger now that they were this close.

He shouldn’t feel this way at all.

“Thank you,” Charles said softly, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes met Erik’s, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt.

Erik quickly pulled his hands back, his jaw tightening. “It’s nothing,” he said, his voice brusque as he handed the bottle back.

Charles blinked at his tone, his brows knitting slightly. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

“Fine,” Erik said shortly but he couldn’t stand the way Charles’ scent took on a sour note, smelling of upset omega.

“Sorry, I’m just hungry.” He laughed, waving a hand in the air towards the children who were busy laughing and playing, already having a rather impressive sand castle in front of them. “The twins rushed me out before I could eat something.”

“You haven’t eaten?” The omega squeaked, his face flashing with alarm.

“But it’s already so warm! If you don’t eat you might faint, here—“ The omega jumped up from the lounge chair and walked over to the esky he’d packed, pulling out all sorts of sandwiches, cakes and other sweets.

The omega didn’t just hand him one immediately, he checked the fillings of each one before placing one in Erik’s hands.

“The pups told me this one’s your favourite? Tomato relish, lettuce, mustard and chicken, right?” The omega’s voice increased in pitch, excited and hopeful that he’d gotten it right, that he’d pleased the alpha.

“Yes, that’s right,” Erik smiled. Hopelessly endeared by the omega who seemed always willing to help him out. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Mr Lehnsherr,” he chirped.

“Shall I do your back as well?”

Erik hummed, having not quite thought about it.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Erik’s feelings of guilt over thoroughly enjoying having the omega’s hands all over him couldn’t even register as the scent of sweet, pleased omega drifted to his nose.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Charles began, his voice tentative. “You very handsome, Mr Lehnsherr, how is it that you don’t have an omega of your own?”

“Well the twins just never liked anyone, nor did anyone ever really like them,” he shifted and sighed.

“I’m an old alpha with a set of rambunctious children,” he said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Not exactly the dream mate most omegas are looking for.”

The omega’s face twisted into a frown, his fingers tightening where they rested against Erik’s shoulders.

“That’s nonsense,” the omega huffed, forcefully squeezing more sunscreen from the bottle before rubbing it onto Erik’s skin with much more strength.

“Upset on my behalf are you,” Erik teased, tilting his neck up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the omega’s face.

“Of course I am! Any omega would be lucky to have you and the twins! You are handsome, kind and wealthy with the sweetest set of children I’ve ever met.” Charles huffed, moving to Erik’s side and leaning in so that the alpha had no choice but to meet the omega’s eyes and recognise his sincerity.

The omega had angled himself nearly into Erik’s lap, the alpha could feel the bare thigh pressing warmly into his. His fingers itched with the desire to tug at Charles’ waist and have him resting right where he wanted.

 “If only more omegas thought like you,” Erik said, his voice soft and gentle as he looked up at Charles’ pretty pretty face. This close, he could see the small amount of freckles littering his nose.

“Charlie!” Wanda’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and Erik turned towards her, grateful for the distraction.

Although he was less grateful for the way the warm weight by his side was suddenly gone. The omega stood up and wiped his sunscreen-covered hands on his legs.  

Erik wanted to reach up and pull him back down. But the omega seemed flustered, his brows furrowed as though he was even slightly frustrated.  

“Charlie, can we have a snack?” The twins asked at exactly the same time, causing the two adults to share matching grins. 

“Of course, my darlings,” he said, quickly walking over to the cooler and pulling out all sorts of sliced fruit and crackers.

The twins sat down on the towels Charles had laid out, almost too distracted to eat their snacks as they beamed and proudly told the adults all about their sandcastle building, Charles had to gently encourage them to take more bites.

“Can we go in the water now?” Pietro asked once he was finished,

“Your papa needs a few more minutes, he’s only just put his sunscreen on, he needs to wait a little bit for it to be protective,” Charles explained. 

“Okay, can we have hugs?”

Erik was both stunned by how readily they accepted the omega’s explanation and by how aware the omega was of Erik’s own well-being. He’d only ever hired the omega to take care of the twins but as he thought back on the sunscreen, the sandwich… even everything Charles had done for him around the house, it felt as though Charles had been caring for Erik equally.

The alpha smiled, feeling undeniably happy as he watched the way the twins burrowed themselves in Charles’ arms, digging their small noses into his neck and scenting him readily. The omega was just as free with his affection, giving them kiss after kiss on their little cheeks and heads.

“Alright,” Erik clapped his hands as he stood up. “I think it’s been long enough.”

Charles gave him a look but he didn’t outwardly challenge him, merely fixing a cap over his head. Erik couldn't help his chuckle as he noticed that the omega needed to go onto his tiptoes to reach him.

“Oh hush, Mr Lehnsherr,” Charles huffed, his cheeks turning pink as he turned around to take the twins’ hands. Erik was ashamed to admit that his eyes travelled down to admire the omegas’ round, peachy ass.

“Charlie,” Pietro said, kicking at the sand as they all walked towards the water. “We want to play mermaid families!”

“Yes!” Wanda chimed in, clutching Charles’ hand tighter as she jumped up and down. “I’ll be the baby mermaid and Pietro the baby merman and—“

“And you can be the mummy mermaid,” Pietro interrupted with a big grin.

Charles laughed, throwing his head back and causing his curls to fly everywhere. Erik was mesmerised at the sight and paused, causing him to fall behind the rest of them.

“Oh, I see. And will there be a daddy mermaid or do I have to raise you two rascals all on my own,” Charles sighed like a woesome princess.

“Papa, of course!” Wanda declared, without any hesitation.

Erik arched an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched the omega’s cheeks flush faintly at the proclamation. Charles glanced over his shoulder at Erik, his smile shy but warm.

“And what is it that mermaid mummies and daddies do, exactly?”

“They protect their babies from sharks!” Wanda said, her tone serious as she clung tighter to Charles’s hand.

“And we live in a big underwater castle,” Pietro added, practically bouncing with excitement.

Erik quickened his pace, closing the distance between them. Pietro squealed in delight as Erik scooped him up into his arms, propping the boy over his shoulder.

“Did someone say sharks?” He asked, feigning a deep ominous tone as he spun the boy in a circle, pretending to nip at his son’s ears.

“Papa!” Pietro shrieked, squirming in Erik’s grasp and waving his legs about.

Wanda, however, pressed herself closer to Charles, her little hand clutching at his.

“No sharks!” Wanda shrieked. “Don’t let him take me away, Charlie!” she said, her voice a mix of mock seriousness and genuine affection. “I’m staying with you!”

Charles crouched slightly, scooping the little girl up and placing her on his hip. “Don’t worry, my darling. I’ll keep you safe,” he said with a playful wink, earning a bright grin from her. 

“Do you like the game then Charlie?” Wands asked, nervously biting her thumbnail. The omega gently reached up and took her hand out of her mouth, rubbing soothingly at the bitten skin.

“I love it,” he reassured her.

The sight stirred something in Erik, a warmth that he didn’t wish to dwell on.

“So are we all playing then?” Erik asked, glancing at Charles.

Charles nodded, his smile warm but a touch shy. “Of course. It’s not every day I get to be a mermaid mummy.”

Erik brought Pietro off his shoulder and made a motion to set him down but the boy clung to his neck.

“No! I’m a mer-baby papa, you have to carry me to the ocean!”

“Me too!” Wanda shouted, glaring at Charles before he could even think of placing her back down.

Charles’s laugh was light and melodic, and for a fleeting moment, Erik allowed himself to imagine that this wasn’t just a game—that this little scene of warmth and laughter could be something more. That he and his children didn’t have to pretend that Charles was their mother. 

But the thought was fleeting, chased away by the knowledge that Erik could never chain Charles down in such a way. 

“Come on, Papa!” Wanda urged, glancing at him from over Charles’ shoulder. Charles was already knee-deep in the water.

“Come on! Or else you two won’t get to pick the colours of your tails!” Charles shouted, laughing and smiling as he did so with Wanda giggling into his neck.

“Hurry up Papa!”

As Erik made his way to the two in the water, Erik let the contentment settle in his chest.

 For now, this was enough.

The game of mermaids had entertained the twins for hours. They seemed to never run out of ideas, constantly having a new storyline or a new task for Erik and Charles to do. 

There was always a ‘shark’ to defeat or a new underwater palace to explore.

Even when the twins were all wrinkly and shivering, their small bodies cold despite the warm weather, they hadn’t wanted to come out.

It had taken promises of sandwiches and cupcakes for them to get out of the water and eat their lunch.

Erik sat cross-legged on the blanket, his plate balanced precariously on one knee. Wanda was nestled in his lap, wrapped snugly in her hooded towel, her damp hair curling against her cheeks as she nibbled on a sandwich.

Pietro, wrapped in his matching towel, was seated beside Charles, their plates close together. Charles had a soft, patient smile on his face as he gently wiped a smudge of peanut butter from Pietro’s cheek with a napkin.

 “Can we make a real mermaid after lunch?” Pietro suddenly spoke up, his eyes darting between the two adults as Charles now wiped stocky frosting off of his fingers.  

“A real mermaid?” Charles echoed, tilting his head. “What does that mean?”

“Like—“ Pietro stuttered before sighing in frustration. He glanced at Wanda for help.

The girl squirmed in Erik’s lap, taking another bite of her half-eaten fruit before she spoke.

“It means,” Wanda began with the air of someone imparting great wisdom, despite her words being muffled by the food in her mouth. “We cover you with sand and make them a mermaid tail.”

“Don’t speak with your mouth full, baby girl,” Erik chided softly, grinning as Charles winked at him in thanks.

“I see,” Charles said, nodding in understanding. “That sounds like a brilliant idea,” the idea made Erik shudder. He’d be cleaning sand up for days. “And who will be our lucky mermaid?” 

Both twins fell silent, glancing at each other with conspiring looks before Pietro blurted out, “We can’t decide!”

“That’s why we’ll do an arm wrestle,” Wanda declared, turning to look up at Erik with a determined expression.

Erik raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking in amusement. “An arm wrestle, huh? Between who?”

Wanda rolled her eyes as if the answer was obvious. “Between you and Charlie, of course.”

Charles let out a soft laugh, his cheeks flushing as he waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t know if that’s a fair match,” he said, his tone playful but a little hesitant. “Erik’s much stronger than I am.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Pietro said earnestly. “Papa will go easy on you!”

Erik chuckled, setting his plate aside and ruffling Wanda’s damp curls. “What do you think, Charles? Up for the challenge?”

Charles hesitated, glancing at the eager faces of the twins before smiling softly. “Well, I suppose I can’t let my little mermaids down, can I?”

Wanda cheered, clapping her hands together. “Charlie’s gonna win!” she declared, even as Erik gave her an amused look.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Erik muttered, shifting Wanda slightly so she wouldn’t tumble off his lap.

Charles’ hand was slightly cold in his hand and was still wrinkled from the water. Yet it was softer than anything he’d ever felt. His delicate fingers curled around Erik’s larger ones.

For a moment, Erik forgot why they were even sitting like this. His gaze travelled upward, catching the light blush dusting Charles’s cheeks and the way the omega’s loose curls framed his face, the waves weighed down by the water still dripping down his neck. The sun had brought out Charles’ freckles, the light dusting over his nose and cheeks looking like constellations.

“Ready?” Charles prompted, tilting his head and smiling softly.

Erik blinked, snapping back to reality. “Right. Ready.”

Pietro knelt beside Charles, acting as referee. “On your marks... get set... go!”

Erik let him win for a bit, not wanting to end the game too quickly. Both because he relished in the joy on his children's faces and also because he never wanted to let the omega’s hand go.

“You’re weaker than I thought, alpha,” the omega teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Erik stiffened, his body reacting all too readily to the object of his desires calling him alpha. The alpha smirked and then leaned in, applying just enough pressure to gently push Charles’ hand down to the lounge chair they had propped their elbows up against.

“Papa won!” Wanda cried, clapping her hands as Erik sat back, releasing Charles’ hand. The omega only giggled as Pietro frowned and leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

Charles nodded with a cheeky smile on his face.

“Okay so actually, the rules are different! The winner has to be the mermaid.”

Erik raised an eyebrow, giving his son a mock glare. “Oh, really? That’s not what you said before.”

“That’s the rule now,” Wanda declared, nodding sagely.

Erik crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at the two. “You just want an excuse to cover me in sand, don’t you?”

The twins giggled, clutching onto the straps of Charles’ swimsuit as they tried to dodge their father who was attempting to grab them.

“No!” They squealed as his fingers found their sides, tickling them.

As the game went on, Pietro suddenly tugged on Charles’s swimsuit top. The action was too rough, and before anyone could react, the knot of Charles’s halter-neck top came loose.

The fabric slipped down, baring far more than Charles intended.

Charles gasped softly, his hands immediately flying up to cover himself.

Erik’s body stiffened in response, his jaw tightening as he averted his gaze so sharply it was almost comical. 

Pietro, sensing the omega’s discomfort, froze. “I didn’t mean to! I'm sorry Charlie!”

The omega shifted, turning his body to the side. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the faint tremor in it.

The omega’s scent was already starting to sour into unripe berries, the brunet anxiously biting his lip as his fingers curled into his skin. Erik could tell the omega wanted a few moments alone.

Erik clapped. “Alright, you two. Let’s get started on burying me.” His tone was light

Wanda and Pietro, seeing their father's eagerness to get started, nodded. 

“But Charlie has to help—” Wanda started, but Erik was already steering them away, his large hands resting lightly on their shoulders.

“Charlie will join us in a moment,” Erik said, keeping his tone light. “For now, let’s get the mermaid tail ready. You can start piling the sand on my legs.”

The twins eagerly ran off, taking with them the buckets and shades they thought would help their mission.

A few moments later, Charles rejoined them, his composure seemingly restored, though his cheeks were still flushed and the omega shyly tucked some hair behind his ear as he knelt down by the twins, who were enthusiastically piling sand onto Erik’s legs.

“I see I missed the start of the masterpiece,” Charles said, his voice light and teasing. The omega eagerly propped his cheek out for Pietro who came to give him a soft kiss in apology for earlier.

Erik glanced up at him, his eyes immediately drawn to the way the sunlight caught on Charles’s collarbones and the delicate line of his chest beneath the carefully retied top. He quickly looked away, his throat tightening with guilt over the glimpse he’d seen earlier. 

Guilt pooled in Erik’s chest, and he quickly averted his gaze again, focusing instead on Pietro, who was patting sand around his shoulders.

“You didn’t miss much,” Erik said gruffly, trying to ignore the way his pulse quickened.

Here he was, his children squealing and playing and yet his mind was a pile of filth.

Charles chuckled softly, leaning closer to smooth some of the sand Wanda was piling on Erik’s arm. His voice was light and teasing, but his hands were steady and kind.

And Erik couldn’t ignore how his retired top now squished his small tits closer together. As the omega leaned over him, they were right in his face and the alpha could feel his fingers twitch with how desperately he wished to hold them and kiss Charles’ pretty lips that were smiling so kindly down at him.  “I don’t know, Mr Lehnsherr. I think you make a very convincing mermaid.”

“No, Pietro, you need more sand on this side,” Charles said with a laugh, kneeling down and pointing to where Wanda had built up one side of Erik’s “tail” a little too enthusiastically.

“But Wanda keeps taking my sand!” Pietro protested, his pout drawing an indulgent smile from Charles.

“You’ve got plenty of sand all around you, darling,” Charles reassured him, brushing a bit of sand off Pietro’s cheek.

“Let’s get more from over there, Pietro!” Wanda shouted, the two of them scuttling off, kicking up sand all over them as they did so.

“I’m sorry again, for Pietro,” Erik said softly, feeling as though he owed the omega an apology.

Charles laughed softly, his smile radiant despite discussing the mishap from earlier. “It’s okay. It couldn’t have happened around a kinder alpha.” 

The omega giggled as he shifted, lightly tapping Erik’s hat. “Of course, you wouldn’t have done anything would you?”

The alpha is rendered speechless, thankfully saved by the return of his children who quickly begin chatting and stealing away Charles’ attention.

He tenses whenever he feels Charles’ hands on his legs and is relieved when the layers of sand eventually grow too thick for him to feel the delicate way in which the omega touches him.

After what feels like ages, the sand tail is finished. The twins stopped long ago, the two now just hanging off Charles as he finished the project for them. They’d found the actual sculpting part too difficult, apparently.

“How do I look?” Erik grinned

 “Well, I’m certainly not in University for art,” Charles laughed as he snapped a picture of the alpha with his phone and multiple others of the twins lying down beside him.

“I think Papa looks handsome,” Wanda nodded in approval, the girl making her ‘final improvements’ as she laid various shells all over him.

Surprisingly the twins left them alone for a while after that, the two wanted to go eat more snacks and Charles kindly offered to stay with Erik so that he did not grow too lonely. For the pups had demanded he ‘not ruin their hard work’.

It was nice, talking to Charles, and even if his heart twinged as he asked about Charles' degree, a harsh reminder that this boy was only twenty, he adored the way the omega’s eyes lit up as he talked about his passion and which classmates he absolutely hated.

“But surely you’ve had enough of hearing me talk,” the omega pouted, lightly playing with the sand as he looked away from the alpha.

“Never,” Erik said earnestly. “I could listen to you for hours.”

The omega hummed, drumming his fingers on his thigh now as he looked around the beach. Erik mourned the loss of Charles' beautiful blue eyes that had once been on him. He felt a little colder without his stare.

“It is getting a bit late, don’t you think?”

Erik looked around, noting that the sky had indeed started to darken and the waves more wild as the day cooled down.

It would take them a while to get home, and if they stayed here any longer then the twins would likely be tired and irritable the whole journey.

The alpha shook his legs, breaking the sand tail that had trapped them for nearly an hour now.

He stood, holding out a hand for the omega to grab onto and do the same.

“Let’s go for one last swim to wash the sand off.”

The alpha didn’t wait for Charles to answer, he tightened his grip on the omega’s hand and started walking towards the shoreline.

“But there’s showers up—“

“And I want to go for a swim.” He turned to look at the omega over his shoulder. “With you.”

The omega paused, his face flushing. They were knee-deep in the water at this point.

“What about the twins?” Charles huffed, crossing his arms.

“They are fine. Look,” the alpha pointed to where the twins were walking along the shoreline as well, holding large frosted cupcakes in one hand and using the other to pick up and wash shells. He dreaded finding out how many they had stuffed in their buckets.

“Okay,” the omega nodded, his cheeks spreading in a cheeky grin as he reached his hands out.

And pushed Erik into the water.

Caught off guard, Erik stumbled backward, the water swallowing him completely with a loud splash.

When he surfaced, sputtering and shaking water from his hair, he found Charles doubled over with laughter, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Oh, you’re going to regret that,” Erik said, his voice low but tinged with amusement.

Before Charles could dart away, the alpha surged forward, his hands finding the omega’s slim waist. Charles gasped as Erik easily lifted him off his feet.

“Mr Lehnsherr, don’t you dare—”

The rest of his protest was cut off by a yelp as Erik spun and dropped them both into the water.

They surfaced at nearly the same time, Charles gasping and laughing, his curls plastered to his face. “You’re awful!” he exclaimed, though his smile betrayed him. “An absolute brute,” the omega teased, resting his palms on Erik’s chest and shoving him

Erik chuckled, shaking droplets from his hair. “You started it,” he said, his hands reaching up to grasp Charles' small wrists, his thumb stroking them lightly.

Charles made a soft nose before tugging his wrists out of the alpha’s grip and then using them to splash him in retaliation.  Erik returned the favour, their laughter echoing over the gentle waves as they played like children, splashing and dodging each other in the water.

At some point, Charles lunged at Erik again, but this time, the alpha was ready. He caught the omega’s wrists, their movements stilling as they both breathed heavily from the exertion.

Their laughter faded, leaving only the sound of the waves lapping around them. Erik’s hands lingered on Charles’s wrists before sliding to the back of his forearms, steadying him and keeping the omega close as their gazes locked. Charles’s bright, blue eyes were soft and searching, his lips parted slightly as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Erik’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. Erik hadn’t allowed himself to truly look at Charles like this before—so close, so unguarded. The fading sunlight reflected in the omega’s eyes, turning them into brilliantly sparkling gems. Erik found himself captivated by the faint freckles dusting his nose and cheeks, as well as how not even the salty sea could dampen Charles’ sweet scent, speaking only of happiness and joy.

The space between them felt charged, the sounds of the beach fading into the background. Erik’s heart thudded heavily in his chest, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered what it would feel like to close the distance entirely.

“Papa! Charlie! Can we go now!” The sound of high-pitched voices calling out broke the spell between them. 

He shouldn’t be doing this, he’s gotten too comfortable and forgotten himself.

Erik cleared his throat and stepped back slightly, looking back to see the twins cupping their mouths and standing by the shoreline, the waves slightly touching their feet whenever they rose.

“We should probably head back,” he said, his voice low but steady. “The twins will lose it if we don’t,” he chuckled, trying to hide his disappointment.

Charles blinked, as if shaking himself from a dream, and then nodded, his cheeks tinged pink even if his scent soured a little. “Of course, we can't let them get bored,” he giggled as he brushed his salty curls back.

They waded back toward the shore, the playful atmosphere from earlier replaced by a quieter, more reflective one. Erik couldn’t help but glance at Charles out of the corner of his eye, the omega’s smile lingering in his mind far longer than it should have.

It stayed with him until he dropped the omega back at his home on that run-down, student accommodation street. 

Then, the memory of his smile was replaced by his soft whisper of thanks.

“This is the most fun I’ve ever had with an alpha, Mr Lehnsherr, thank you very much for bringing me with you and the twins.”

‘You belong with us’ was what Erik wanted to say, but he swallowed the words down and simply nodded.

Chapter Text

Erik tries to be a good boss.

He knows he can be snappy with his employees, demanding too much and setting deadlines they struggle to meet.

But he tries his best to support them. He extends them whenever he can, silently omits dot points from the tasks he sets, and completes them on his own.

After completing a survey a few years ago, he asked what his employees take the most joy from.

Unexpected to him, company social events came out on top.

So ever since that day, he’s hosted a company barbecue every summer.

At his house.

It’s normally chaos.

The twins would have been crying, refusing to get into the outfits he’d picked out for them. Erik wouldn’t have tidied the house, nor gotten the pool ready for the sheer amount of guests he was about to receive.

His mother would usually be the one to arrive and take over, wrangling the twins into their clothes even as they screamed, shouting over their shrill voices for Erik to go and pick up the endless amounts of meat, beer and juice he’d need.

When he mentioned the barbecue to Charles a few weeks back, he’d assumed the omega would want no part in it. After all, Charles’ brows had furrowed in the way they often did when he found something tricky. Erik thought it a cute habit, one he noticed whenever he and Charles would sit at the table together after dinner, the omega sometimes having an assignment to quickly complete or submit before he could drive off.

That’s why it had been a shock when he opened the door to Charles. The omega had arrived four hours before the barbecue was set to begin.

“Oh, hello Charles,” Erik said, his eyes wide as he took the omega in. Charles was dressed in the most lovely checkered dress that tapered in at his waist, the alpha was glad he’d worn his baggier sleep pants.

“Hello, Mr Lehnsherr!” Charles chirped, his voice much too bright and excited for eight o'clock in the morning.

“Um,” Erik said dumbly, rubbing his blurry eyes as he, in his sleep-deprived state, wondered if an angel had come to visit him.

“What are you here for Charles?” Erik mumbled. “Not that it’s not nice to see you,” he stuttered, wincing as he registered his error. He stood up taller as Charles giggled.

“For the barbecue Erik!” The omega exclaimed, almost shocked that the alpha hadn’t pieced it together. “I couldn’t let you do it all alone, besides! The twins asked me to come.”

Erik nodded sagely. “Ah, of course, the twins. You’d do whatever they asked,” he teased, stepping aside to let Charles move into the house.

“Well obviously,” Charles huffed, offended at the mere idea of not giving in to the sweet little round-cheeked twins.

“They are angels.”

Erik raised his eyes and nodded in disbelief at the omega’s claim. Angels to Charles maybe. But Erik still remembered the mess they'd made during bath time last night. The water had been cold by the time Erik managed to calm them down and get in the water, of course, the cold water caused another upset. 

“Now,” Charles sighed, setting his hands on his hips as he looked around the elaborate hallway.

“What needs to be done?”

“Well I'll go get dressed,” Erik said awkwardly, suddenly feeling shy as the omega looked over his shoulder and gave him an appraising look, slow and in-depth as he ran his eyes down the alpha’s body. 

In the moment, he preens. He puffs his chest out a little further and clenches his abs. It feels good, smelling the way the omega’s scent sweetens, picking up notes of gentle arousal. 

It’s nice to be admired, and desired, especially by the omega who occupies his every waking thought and sleeping dream. Erik found it intoxicating, the idea that someone as young and beautiful as Charles might find him attractive.

But as he climbs up the stairs and walks past his twins, who are running to greet Charles having heard his voice, he feels awful and disgusting.

He paused halfway up, gripping the railing tightly as the realisation hit him. He wasn’t some carefree young man anymore. He was a father, an employer, someone Charles looked to for stability and safety—not temptation. Charles deserved someone his own age, someone who could match his energy and optimism without bringing the baggage of a complicated life.

And more than that, Erik knew he held power over Charles, even unintentionally. It wasn’t right to bask in the omega’sadmiration or to enjoy the way Charles looked at him. It wasn’t fair.

He shouldn’t try to tempt the young omega. Shouldn’t tempt the omega to stray from his bright path and be stuck with a mage and two children who were difficult and required a lot of energy to care for. 

But even with those thoughts circulating in his mind, he selected his outfit carefully, all while thinking about what Charles would approve of.

Jogging back down the stairs, he was met with the sound of sweet giggles and gentle murmurs coming from the kitchen.

The twins both had the plastic, child-safe knives that Charles had insisted they needed for their development and learning. Although the twins were more cuddling into Charles’ side than helping chop strawberries.

Erik’s heart squeezed at the affectionate smile Charles sent his way as he entered the kitchen. The twins, copying their beloved omega as they always did, sent him bright smiles as well.

It looked like the vision of the sweet families that were always in the movies and television shows the twins enjoyed. 

Erik wished this was real, that Charles was here because he was Erik’s wife and the twins’ mother, and not because he was paid by Erik to be here.

“Papa, do you want a strawberry? I cut it,” Wanda hummed as she held one out for him while eating the other half. Judging by the way Charles’ mouth ticked up and Pietro stared judgingly at her, he guessed that Wanda had not been the one to cut the strawberry. Especially seeing as her knife was perfectly clean and dry.

“No thanks, baby,” Erik told her gently, the girl simply shrugging and popping the berry in her own mouth.

“Is it good?” Charles asked sweetly, rubbing his and Wanda’s noses together as the girl leaned up into him. Wanda nodded and Pietro reached out to eat his own berry, emboldened by his sister’s actions.

The sight was disarmingly sweet, so much so that Erik’s chest ached. He wanted this to be real—desperately. The kind of real that didn’t end when Charles left at the end of the day. He wanted to see this every morning, to come down the stairs to find Charles already in the kitchen with the twins, to have this kind of lightness in his life.

It hit him so sharply, so abruptly that it startled him. Erik’s heart almost hurt at the knowledge that he wouldn’t get it.

Unable to bear the weight of it any longer, he shifted, stretching his arms as he groaned.

“I’m going to go set up outside, will you be alright in here?”

Charles’s expression was so open, so sweet, and the twins were both looking at him with the same trusting innocence. His heart clenched painfully.

The omega smiled, reaching out to squeeze the alpha's hand that was now resting upon the cool, marble countertop. The touch was brief but grounding, his fingers delicate against Erik’s calloused skin.

“We’ll be fine,” Charles assured him, his voice quiet but firm, as though he sensed Erik’s distress surrounding the coming afternoon and wanted to ease it.

“Good,” Erik said finally, his voice rough. He nodded curtly, slipping his hand from Charles’s grasp, and strode out of the kitchen before he could let himself linger.

Stepping outside, he was relieved to feel the cool air hit his face, a stark contrast to the warmth he’d just left behind. Erik took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the large garden.

It was devoid of people, but certainly not of personality.

Charles, in another one of his ‘lessons’ for the twins, had filled the garden with all sorts of flowers, even setting up a small vegetable garden off in the corner where the twins had painted the wooden planters.

It’s sweet and provides the garden with a lovely, fresh smile that makes it so much more pleasant to sit in.

He’d noticed that the twins’ favourite spot to sit and play was by the berry planters.

Erik couldn’t blame them. That was his favourite spot too.

The garden was quiet except for the occasional chirp of birds in the trees, the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the scrape of Erik’s boots on the stone patio. He worked methodically, pulling chairs into place around the long table he’d set up earlier.  

The barbecue grill stood nearby, cold and waiting, but Erik had already pulled out the bag of coals, setting them close to hand. He’d test the fire soon enough.  

He wiped his brow with the back of his hand as the sun broke through the earlier overcast sky, bathing the garden in golden light. The warmth was welcome at first, but soon Erik felt it prickling the back of his neck and shoulders. He tugged at the collar of his shirt, wondering if he should’ve stayed in something lighter.  

By the time he made his way to the storage shed, he was sweating. He hefted the box of pool toys out into the open air, letting it thud onto the grass near the pool.

Digging through it, Erik pulled out familiar inflatable shapes, brightly coloured noodles, and a beach ball that had clearly seen better days. He frowned.  

He was still sorting through them when he heard the sound of the patio door sliding open. Turning, he saw Charles approaching, a tall glass of water in hand. Behind him, Wanda and Pietro followed like twin shadows, their energy already bubbling over as they skipped onto the lawn.  

He noticed that in the time he’d been gone, Charles had gotten the two dressed.

Pietro was now sporting his favourite navy sweater with a colourful red boat, the boy wearing shorts to ensure he stayed cool, although the sweater was pretty thin and the boy tended to run cold.

Wanda on the other hand, was the very image of colour. In her yellow and pink dress with matching hair ribbons and hair clips, her two braids were some of the neatest he’d ever seen.

“You look like you could use this,” Charles said, smiling as he offered the glass. His curls caught the sunlight, glowing like a soft halo around his head.  

Erik straightened, brushing his hands on his pants before taking the water. His fingers briefly brushed Charles’s, and though he didn’t let himself linger, he noticed the omega shiver despite the warm sun already beating down on them.

“Thanks,” Erik said gruffly, lifting the glass to his lips.  

“Papa!” Wanda called suddenly, crouching by the box of pool toys. “Where’s the floaty swan? You said it was here!”  

“And the shark!” Pietro added, digging through the pile with exaggerated motions, his small face creased in a frown.  

Erik lowered the glass and sighed, watching as the twins ransacked the box with growing frustration. The heat had begun to take a toll on him and he always got cranky in the heat. “I think the swan got a tear last summer,” he admitted.  

Pietro looked up, his expression scandalized. “Then why didn’t you fix it?”  

“Because I’m not a magician, Pietro,” Erik replied dryly.  

Charles chuckled softly beside him, drawing Erik’s gaze. “Perhaps we can improvise?” the omega suggested, crouching next to Wanda and pulling out a bright green inflatable ring. “This one looks like fun.”  

“It’s not the swan,” Wanda said with a pout, but she didn’t pull it away from Charles, watching him curiously.  

“No,” Charles agreed with a small smile, “but it could be... a turtle. Or a frog.”  

“A frog?” Wanda’s nose scrunched.  

Charles nodded earnestly. “The best frog. You can even name it.”  

Wanda considered this, glancing at Pietro for confirmation. The boy shrugged but seemed less upset, pulling out a long foam noodle and testing its sturdiness.  

As Erik watched, Charles’s patience and gentleness with his children hit him again. It was such a simple thing, an inflatable ring and a few kind words, but it diffused their frustrations like magic.  

The twins had never been able to improvise or compromise before, their little minds too caught up in the fact that it hadn’t been what they wanted. 

Now, they accepted it readily. Wanda even said she liked the green frog ring more than the swan.

“Thank you,” Erik murmured, his voice low enough that it was meant just for Charles.  

Charles looked up at him, a hint of colour rising in his cheeks as he smiled. “It’s nothing, really.”  

The twins were soon distracted by the idea of turning the pool noodles into swords, and Erik downed the last of his water, setting the empty glass on the patio table. He turned to Charles.  

“You’re good with them,” Erik said, the words heavier than he intended.  

Charles gave a soft laugh, his eyes warm. “They make it easy,” he replied. “So easy to love and play with, I never grow tired of it.”

But Erik knew better. It wasn’t easy—not really. And yet, with Charles here, it felt like it could be.

The sudden sound of something hitting the patio startled Erik. He turned sharply, just in time to see Wanda stomp his foot against the ground, his small fists balled up, his face red and scrunched with frustration.  

“I don’t want to play anymore!” Wanda shouted, her voice shrill with emotion.  

Pietro froze mid-step, clutching a pool noodle, her eyes darting between his sister and Erik. The boy was clearly unsure of what to do.

Charles was by Wanda’s side in an instant, kneeling down to his level. “Hey, hey,” he murmured softly, his hands hovering near but not touching the girl, noting the way her breathing was quickening and her eyes raced around. “What’swrong, sweet girl? It’s okay, take a deep breath for me.”  

“I don’t want to!” Wanda shouted again, her voice cracking as her little chest heaved. Her eyes were shiny with tears that hadn’t fallen yet, but they were close, especially given how unstable and wobbly her voice was.

“Okay, you don’t have to,” Charles said quickly, his voice calm and soothing. “But I’m here, and I’m listening, all right? You can tell me what’s bothering you whenever you’re ready.”  

Wanda let out a frustrated whimper, rubbing at her face with the heel of his palm as though trying to push the tears away. Erik stepped forward, but Charles held up a gentle hand, signalling him to wait.  

The alpha instead took Pietro in his arms, the boy bringing his pool noodle with him as he sought comfort from his father.

“It’s okay,” Charles repeated, his voice steady. “You’re safe. I’m right here.”  

For a moment, Erik thought Wanda would bolt like she used to, running until she exhausted himself and left Erik chasing her down. But instead, Wanda’s breathing began to slow, and her shoulders dropped slightly.  

Finally, in a small, choked voice, Wanda mumbled, “I don’t want people to look at me.”  

Charles tilted his head, his tone was soft but curious. “Who’s going to look at you, sweetheart?”  

Wanda sniffled, looking down at her feet. “Everyone. They’ll say stuff like last time.”  

Erik felt a pang of guilt twist in his chest. He crouched down next to Charles, his large hand resting on his daughter’ssmall shoulder. The strap of her colourful dress shifted as he did so.

“Wanda,” Erik said gently, “what they say doesn’t matter. You’re here to have fun, not to worry about anyone else.”  

But Wanda didn’t look reassured, and Erik knew why. He sighed, glancing at Charles. The omega’s eyes were full of quiet concern, but he didn’t press.  

“This day is always hard for them,” Erik admitted quietly. “When we’ve gone to barbecues or family events in the past, people… they comment. On how they’re acting, how they’re ‘difficult.’” His jaw tightened at the memory of those whispered remarks—or worse, the ones said outright in front of his children. “It’s always made them anxious.”  

“Oh, Wanda,” Charles murmured, his face softening as he looked back at the girl. “I’m so sorry they did that to you, my darling. That’s not fair to you, nor is it okay to talk about you like that.”  

Wanda looked up at him, his lip trembling. “But what if they think I’m bad again?”  

“No one here thinks that,” Charles assured him firmly. “And even if someone did, it wouldn’t change who you are—a kind, smart, and wonderful little girl. Nothing anyone says can change that, okay?”  

Wanda sniffled again but nodded, rubbing at his eyes. Pietro stepped closer, his pool noodle now forgotten as he put an arm around his sister.  

Charles smiled gently, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of Pietro’s hair behind his ear as he approached. “And you know what? I think you’re one of the bravest girls I’ve ever met, too. It takes a lot of courage to talk about your feelings like this. You’ve made so much progress with me! You are such a well-behaved girl and I’m sure everyone will see that!”

Wanda sniffled again but managed a tiny smile, leaning into Charles’s touch.  

Erik’s chest tightened as he watched the way Charles handled the moment, so patient and understanding, his words like a balm to the wounds Erik hadn’t even realized his children still carried.  

“Thank you,” Erik said softly, his voice thick with emotion.  

Charles glanced at him, his smile kind but a little shy. “Of course,” he said simply, as though it were the easiest thing in the world. 

Perhaps, Charles was the only omega for whom it was.

The barbecue was in full swing now, employees sitting on plastic lawn chairs as they sipped beers or glasses of champagne.

The garden was alright with the laughter and cheers of children, a select few adults having elected to stay completely sober so that they could watch those who had chosen to swim in the pool.

The sight of Wanda and Pietro playing with the rest of them made Erik want to cry. He’d seen how anxious and nervous they’d been when the other kids started turning up and playing with each other, the rest of them having none of the awkwardness that adults tend to have when seeing each other again after a long time.

The two had kept to themselves, close but not quite. It had been Charles who'd taken the two by their hands and walked up to the group, introducing them and asking if Wanda and Pietro could play.

The twins hadn’t wanted Charles to go, clutching onto the skirt of his dress as he got up to walk away once the other children had mumbled their assent. So Erik, and plenty of other alphas, had watched in adoration as Charles joined in on the children’s game, playing until everyone in the group was laughing and smiling, the twins having integrated just fine.

Erik couldn't remember ever seeing them like this, playing so nicely with a crowd of children and even having others beg for their attention. He could remember many a barbeque where the twins were cast aside and ignored due to them being less than stellar playmates, but now, the twins were being gentle. Even Wanda was readily asking if others would like to play with her favourite dolls, the ones she used to be so possessive over.

“You never mentioned having an omega." his assistant, Emma, hummed as she sidled up to Erik, the Alpha still by the grill preparing the burgers and sausages.

“I don’t.” Erik grumbled, blinking his eyes rapidly as the smoke from the grill irritated his eyes.

“Aw, does that thought make you sad?” She cooed mockingly despite gently taking the spatula and stepping into the grill while Erik stepped backwards and reached for a tissue to blot the stinging tears running down his face.

He cursed softly as a soft, manicured hand rested upon his shoulder.

“Mr Lehnsherr? Are you okay?”

It was Charles, sweet, sweet Charles who’d noticed Erik in distress and had come over to check on him immediately.

“Just the smoke from the grill, it’s getting in my eyes,” he chuckled, moving the tissue from his face and folding it over to a new, non-soaked side. The alpha squinted as his eyes kept stinging.

The omega’s face twisted in concern. “I’ll go get some eye drops, wait here, okay?”

The omega’s dress flittered behind him as he left and ran back into the house.

“What a sweet thing,” Emma hummed. “Are you sure he’s not yours?”

Erik sighed deeply, tilting his head back as he leaned against the table he had set up next to the grill, containing all the bread and salads for lunch. 

“He’s not.”

“But you wish he was,” Emma said pointedly. She was right, of course. There was nothing Erik wanted more than to put a ring on that slim finger and a bite on that pale neck.

“In fact, I think many people here feel that way.”

Erik prided himself on having a high level of diversity amongst his employees, especially in age. He had many who’dworked in the sector for years, hosting decades of experience. The Alpha also hired many fresh out of university, young people wishing to get a foot into the industry and make connections.

Despite his often impatience, Erik liked chatting to the younger crowds. He felt it kept him up to date on the social norms, even if he was never able to understand their many weird trends and like for jeans so baggy you could fit two legs into one whole.

But right now, he hated that he’d ever entertained the idea of hiring anyone who wasn’t already mated.

As Charles dashed out, eye drops in one hand, Erik saw everyone’s eyes turn to face the omega. 

Looks that ran up and down his body, accompanied by smirks and whispers.

Some even reached out to grab at Charles, holding his arm as they made small requests or complimented his appearance. Erik could tell because the omega’s cheeks had begun to turn the same pink shade that happened whenever Erik complimented the omega.

He hated that the omega’s flushed cheeks were now the result of some other alpha.

“Mr Lehnsherr!” Charles rushed up to him. “I’ve got them.”

Erik’s eyes weren’t stinging anymore, in fact, they felt just fine. But he wasn’t about to refuse to have the omega’s soft fingers on his face, having Charles’ sugary berry jam scent right by his nose as the omega asked him to sit down and let him do the eye drops.

Erik’s hand instinctively wrapped around Charles’ waist as the omega wobbled and leaned over to drop in the liquid.

“Seriously, you should have worn your sunglasses, that would have protected your eyes Mr Lehnsherr,” Charles scolds, reminding Erik all too much of a nagging wife.

He blinks rapidly, spreading the fluid throughout his eyes. His vision is blurry for a moment but it clears up just in time to notice one of the interns invited to today’s event approach, tactfully taking off his shirt.

Erik had noticed the alpha eyeing Charles up earlier and was all too familiar with the face of a wanting alpha.

“Thanks love,” he says when Charles leans back, his words said loud enough for the approaching intern to hear, and quickly turn on his heel and walk away. The alpha shook his head to his friends as if to dissuade them from trying.

Good.

The omega stiffens and Erik doesn’t have to look at his face to know that it’s probably as red as his checkered dress.

As soon as Erik said the words, and realised that Charles would have heard it. He regretted them. Who was he to lay claim to an omega he could never have? It probably would have been better, for that young alpha to approach Charles and charm him, for it with him until Charles was giggling and asking for the alpha to take him home.

But no matter how many times he told himself that Charles should have someone younger, Erik couldn’t shake the feeling that the sight of it was wrong. That Charles truly belonged in his arms.

The alpha greatly regretted asking Charles to let everyone know lunch was ready. While most quickly moved over to the barbecue, grabbing plates and covering burgers in pools of sauce, some took the opportunity to chat longer with the alpha.

Erik’s hands clenched, clutching the plates he’d made for the twins even tighter, the thin cardboard creasing as he watched the new hire, an annoying, overconfident, cocky young alpha named Wade wink and smile at Charles.

Erik scoffed, Wade didn't even have the decency to pretend that he wasn’t looking at the omega’s chest.

“Papa, you are going to ruin our burgers.”

Erik looked down, away from the source of his anger to see the twins both looking up at him with wide eyes, the two bothgiving him judgemental looks as they held their hands out for their plates.

“Oh. Well please accept my apologies, my prince,” he said, dropping into an elaborate bow as he handed Pietro his plate.“My princess,” he said, then bowing to his daughter. The sounds of their sweet giggles made him smile, and for a moment, forget all about his inner turmoil.

“You are forgiven,” Wanda said with amusement. The twins then ran off to some corner of the garden where Charles had set up a large blanket, surrounded by fairy lights and now littered with the many toys the child guests had brought with them.

“The twins are happy?”

Erik jolted as a soft voice came up from behind. He turned around quickly, but the omega had already moved, standing by Erik’s side as he put together a plate full of colourful salad. He was close enough for Erik to catch the faint scent of sunscreen and something sweet.

Erik nodded, mesmerised by the omega’s quick movements. Although he frowned when he saw the omega reach for a hamburger bun and patty, he could have sworn the omega mentioned disliking burgers to him. Erik had bought a pack of sausages specifically for Charles, them being the omega’s favourite brand.

“Yeah, they are sitting over there with the rest of the kids.” He pointed to where they were sat under the tree, laughing with their new friends, and thankfully, eating their food.

Charles’ gaze lingered on the twins, his expression soft with affection. He set the plate down to adjust a napkin on top of it, almost absentmindedly.

Erik’s attention flicked to the omega just as Charles was reaching for a bottle of ketchup. He squirted a little too much onto the edge of his thumb and, without a second thought, lifted his hand to his mouth.

Erik froze. Mesmerised as the omega’s pink lips wrapped around the digit, casually sucking the ketchup off his thumb. The gesture wasn’t even deliberate—just a simple, absentminded habit—but the sight of his lips around his thumb, paired with the soft little hum of satisfaction that escaped him, was enough to leave Erik momentarily mesmerized.

The sun glinted off Charles’s dark hair, and the curve of his pale, unmarked neck, visible and made shinier with the fresh layer of sunscreen he had no doubt applied.

Erik swallowed hard, his chest tightening with an unfamiliar and unbidden heat.

Charles, oblivious, kept his thumb in his mouth for longer than necessary, his brow furrowed slightly as he continued to watch the twins. Finally, he pulled it free, licking the corner of his lips.

Erik’s pulse thrummed in his ears as his eyes betrayed him, lingering on the soft curve of Charles’s mouth before darting away. What are you doing? he chastised himself silently, forcing his gaze back to the burgers in front of him. He grabbed a paper plate just to keep his hands occupied. 

Charles finally turned back, the plate in his hands laden with food. “Do you think this will be enough?”

Erik cleared his throat, feeling heat crawl up his neck.

Truthfully, it seemed like far too much food for the omega. Erik had never known him to eat large portions, the omega more the type to eat many smaller meals over a few large ones.

But what did he know about young omegas and their strange fad diets and whims?

He nodded. 

Charles smiled, perfectly gentle and unassuming. “Perfect. I also wanted to ask where you put the sugar-free drinks? Wade asked for one.”

Erik knew the moment Charles returned with the drink that Wade would capture him in another conversation that Charles would not be able to get free from.

Erik didn’t want that. He was a greedy man and wanted to prolong the amount of time that Charles was by his side.

“I’ll take you,” he said. “But don’t you want to eat your lunch first?” He looked back at the plate, confused to see that Charles had now placed a napkin over it.

“Mine? No, I made that plate for you. I’ll make mine once we are back.” The omega smiled before lightly pushing him to keep walking and to take him to where the drinks were.

Pride spread warmly across his chest. The omega might be fetching a drink for one of the alphas but that was simply him being the gorgeous host he was. Charles made Erik that plate of food out of a need to care for him, it was personal, done of his own volition and not by request. 

It was an act of love, he let his mind think briefly before he shook the thought away.

“I kept them down here,” he said, pointing down the side of the house where no guests were allowed. Erik kept the sugar-free drinks down here simply because no one really asked for them, and while setting up earlier he hadn’t felt like bringing the cases of cans out.

“Thank you,” the omega hummed, leaning up on his tiptoes to place a kiss on the alpha’s cheek before he moved towards the cooler, rummaging around for the exact can Wade had requested.

Erik hadn’t known that a can, a pink can with orange swirls, would anger him so much. But just seeing it in Charles’hand, knowing that it would go to some other alpha. That they would receive Charles’ bright smile and sweet, sugary scent angered him.

Every piece of rational thought, every objection he had, left his mind and all he could think about was the possessive need to let his omega know who he belonged to.

Before he could think it through, Erik’s hand shot out, closing around Charles’s slender wrist.

“Wait,” Erik said, his voice rough and low.

Charles turned, startled, his lips parting in surprise. “Erik?”

Erik didn’t respond. He didn’t give himself time to. 

Instead, he stepped forward, pulling Charles against him, his other hand coming up to cradle the back of the omega’sneck. For a moment, Charles’s wide eyes locked with his, blue and bright and startled.

Then Erik kissed him.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t tentative. It was a rush of pent-up frustration and longing, of months of unspoken feelings that could no longer be contained. Charles gasped against his mouth, his free hand flying up to brace against Erik’s chest.

Erik pressed him back, his broad frame pinning Charles gently but firmly against the fence, the cooler right at their feet.

Charles melted into the kiss, a soft noise of pleasure and a smile spreading on his lips, as though he’d been waiting for this for ages. His arms wrapped around the alpha’s neck, pulling the alpha’s body flush against his as he tilted his hips.

Erik didn’t know how long he spent with his lips glued to the omegas, he only pulled away once his lungs were burning and his head grew light.

Erik pulled back just enough to look at him, his breathing uneven, his voice low and rough. A hand coming up to caress the omega’s soft, sun-freckled cheek.

Charles’s cheeks were flushed, his lips red and slightly swollen from the kiss. His eyes were wide, his chest rising and falling quickly as he stared up at Erik, utterly stunned.

“Erik,” Charles whispered, his voice barely audible. It was the first time Charles had called the alpha by his first name, Erik couldn’t hold back his smile, overcome with a feeling of rightness, that the omega in his arms was his, for good.

“Erik,” Charles repeated, the omega grinning and reaching him to tuck a fallen piece of Erik’s hair behind his ear. 

Reality crashed over Erik like a wave, and he stumbled back, releasing Charles as though burned. 

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, though the apology felt hollow even to himself. His thumb brushed against the soft skin of Charles’s wrist. “I couldn’t—”

Charles shook his head quickly, his voice soft and eyes misty as though in a daze. “Don’t apologise,” he whispered, his voice shaky but earnest.

“No, no,” Erik said, moving away from the omega sharply and shaking his head, locking his fingers behind his neck as he paced back and forth. “I really shouldn’t have done that.”

Charles blinked, his chest still heaving from the whirlwind of emotions coursing through him. His nostrils flared in confusion, or anger, perhaps both. “What?”  

Erik exhaled sharply, turning away. “This... whatever this is between us—it can’t happen. It’s not right.”  

Charles froze, his heart sinking like a stone. “Not right?” His voice wavered, but there was an edge creeping into it, hurt and disbelief bleeding through. “Erik, I—”  

“It’s not you,” Erik interrupted, his tone tight. “It’s—," he sighed. "I’m too old. I’ve got baggage. You deserve someone your own age, someone who can offer you more than I ever could.”  

Charles stared at him, his cheeks burning, the sting of rejection mingling with anger that Erik didn’t seem to understand how much those words hurt.  His scent, which had grown so sweet during the kiss, now smelt of rotten, sour berries.

“You think I care about that?” Charles said, his voice rising slightly.  

Erik flinched but didn’t respond. Of course, the omega did, all omegas cared about things like that. Every omega he’d ever tried to date had grown tired of him eventually for at least one of those things.

Charles’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “You kissed me, Erik. Don’t act like I’m some child who doesn’t know what I want. Don’t treat me like this.”  

“You are young, Charles. You don’t know what you want.” Erik huffed, straightening his shirt and ignoring the omega’s gaze.  “It’ll come to you, you’ll realise that you don’t want me or the twins.”

“You think me so shallow? So cruel?” The omega asked tearfully, his voice wobbling as his face fell. 

Erik didn’t, but there was no other way to get Charles to leave him, to forget all his ambitions of romance. 

“You’ve fallen for some fantasy,” Erik said, his voice sharp. “You think it’s all picnics and mermaid games, but it’s not. It’s tantrums and sleepless nights. It’s them crying because they need a mother, and it’s me trying to be enough for them and failing. You have no idea what it would mean to be a mother to Wanda and Pietro.”

Charles’s lips parted, his breath catching. “Erik—”

“They’d get attached to you,” Erik pressed on, his voice hard. “And then what? One day, you’d realise this isn’t the life you want. Because you are young and a beautiful omega who doesn't want to be caged down by crying children. You’d leave, Charles. And when you did, you wouldn’t just break my heart—you’d break theirs. I can’t risk that. I won’t risk that.”

The hurt that flashed across Charles’s face was immediate and sharp.

“You think I’d—?” Charles gasped softly.

Erik said nothing more and simply shrugged.

The omega sniffled, the sound small and pitiful. "You're a coward Erik Lehnsherr."

"Better a coward than a delusional fool."

Charles pursed his lips and reached down to the cooler, pulling out an orange can and popping the tab.

Charles reached forward and grabbed onto the alpha’s shirt.

“Charles, please you don’t need to act like a heartbroken teenage omega over this—”

Erik, whose eyes were closed as he admonished the omega in that disapproving way all alphas spoke to omegas, wasn’t able to react as Charles tilted the can over his head, pouring ice-cold, sticky liquid down the alpha’s face and shirt, soaking him in sticky sweetness that smelt of oranges and citrus.

Erik swore, the shock of the cold pulling him from his brooding thoughts. “What the—”  

“I’m leaving,” Charles said sharply, his voice trembling but firm. He tossed the empty can aside, his blue eyes blazing as he stepped back. “I’ll say goodbye to the twins, and then I’ll be gone. You don’t have to worry about me and my silly ideas anymore.”  

Erik opened his mouth to speak, but Charles was already turning on his heel, storming off towards the main garden.  

Erik stood there, drenched and stunned, the sticky drink dripping from his chest as the faint scent of citrus hung in the air. The soda offered a sickly sweet version of Charles’ scent. 

He watched Charles’s retreating figure, guilt and regret twisting painfully in his chest.  

But he knew he’d done what was best. Charles wouldn’t be happy with him.

He was just protecting them all.

Erik waited a few minutes, he did not want to come across Charles again, not when his inner alpha was so desperately screaming at him to chase after the omega.

He needed to let Charles go.

Erik sighed as he went into the cooler to find another of the sugar-free sodas that Wade had requested since the one Charles had previously taken out had been dropped at some point during their kiss.

His hand clenched around the can as he remembered the kiss… the taste of strawberry lipgloss on the omega’s lips…

He shook the memory from his head, taking off his sticky-soaked shirt and heading back to the garden.

“Oh, thank you Mr Lehnsherr,” Wade grinned as Erik pushed the drink into his hands.

Erik didn't stand around to chat, but the young intern followed him anyway.

“Yeah I tried to stop Charles but he seemed cranky.” The alpha smirked and playfully jabbed his elbow in Erik’s side.“Maybe it's PMS.”

Erik glared, the other alpha quickly getting the hint and mumbling about heading off to greet some friends.

Erik walked back to the food table, finding his plate still there, with the napkin carefully placed over it to stop flies from landing on his food.

He looked at the corner where all the children sat and noticed Wanda and Pietro were much more subdued. The twins were quiet as they nibbled on a plate of strawberries, the one that Erik noticed they had cut up with Charles that morning.

He turned away, not wanting to look at them anymore, unable to bear with the guilt the image surfaced in him.

He took a bite of the burger that Charles had made him and could barely swallow it down.

It tasted like ash on his tongue.

Chapter Text

On the seventh day without Charles, the twins grew ill.

Erik received the call at one-thirty-five PM. 

He’d been taking his lunch when his secretary had come in, informing him that his mother was on the line and that it was urgent. 

He could hardly make out a word she was saying, the woman switching between blubbering English and rapid-fire German. 

But what he could make out, were the loud sirens in the background, the sound of paramedics chattering and the shallow breathing of the twins.

Erik can’t quite remember leaving work. Later on, he found out that he’d stormed out, sending papers and pens flying and screaming at anyone who tried to stop him.

The recounts made him cringe but he couldn’t find it in himself to feel guilty for it. Not when the nurses cast him pitiful looks as he arrived at the children’s ward.

Not when it was the head nurse who took him to the twins’ room, informing him that she’d been the one put in charge of their care plan.

His mind had raced, wasn’t that a bad sign? The nurse’s face was kind, but wrinkled. She looked older than his mother, weren’t nurses with so many years of experience usually put on the worst cases? 

Erik was only with them for a short while.

He’d been there long enough to see their tiny bodies swallowed up by the large, sterile white hospital sheets, tubes and cords of all types plugged into machines and attached to small hands.

He was grateful they’d put them in the same room. He stroked Wanda’s hair, the auburn curls messy against the pillow and brushed his fingers against Pietro’s tiny ones; he was too scared to grab the boy’s hand. Too worried he’d dislodge some important tube.

Erik’s jaw clenched as he watched them, their pale faces and hollowed cheeks evidence of how quickly they’ve deteriorated the past week. 

Erik had been burying himself in his work to try to avoid thinking about the beautiful omega whose heart he had broken, and now he was forced to confront the evidence of his neglect. He should have been there more for them. Erik could have picked up on their illness earlier. 

He could have intervened before they had collapsed onto the floor in spasms, struggling to breathe as they were lugged into ambulances. 

The nurse from earlier approached, clipboard in hand, her expression sympathetic yet professional. "Mr. Lehnsherr, may I have a moment?"

Erik nodded, stepping just outside the room but keeping the door ajar, his gaze never fully leaving his children.

The nurse glanced at her notes before speaking.

“Do the twins have a mother?” The elder beta asked, stern-faced and with that no-nonsense sort of expression he’d seen many times in schools from the matrons. Years later it still had the same effect on him.

Erik fidgeted, aware that his wrinkled blue shirt (Erik hadn’t realised how much Charles had done around the house, nor had the alpha realised he didn’t know how to use an iron) was likely stained dark blue with sweat.

Erik pursed his lips, grateful for the scent neutralisers the hospital pumped out in full force. There were so many children around, that he wouldn’t want his scent to irritate them.

The reminder of the omega who’d left Erik, insecure and utterly clueless about raising a child, alone in the hospital with two sickly twins, always caused his scent to grow sour and irritated.

“Well, not one who’s stayed.”

The nurse seemed unaffected, her brows scrunching with concern but clinically, her questions delivered in the odd sort of way all healthcare professionals did to get to the bottom of the situation. Detached and wishing Erik would just tell her the whole story.

“Their mother has left recently?”

“Um, no?” Erik said, stuttering as the question left him confused and wondering how this was even relevant.

“Have there been any changes in omegas you have allowed around the twins?” 

Erik’s cheeks grew hot at that, both with shame and fluster as he remembered Charles, the beautiful young thing who he’d offended so horribly the last time they saw each other and yet he still wanted so desperately. 

The twins had been so upset when Erik explained that Charles would no longer be watching them. They’d cried and screamed, yelled and threw fits that had taken hours for Erik to calm them down. The only consolation was the message Charles had sent Erik and asked him to read to the twins.

It was a precious message, one that was full of apologies and reassurances of their good nature and kind hearts.

They’d asked him to read it multiple times each day and would even ask Erik to send Charles responses, pleading for him to come back.

Erik would write them out, but he could never find it in himself to take the final action and press send.

“Yes,” he starts. The nurse looks up from her notepad and raises a brow, clearly having no patience for the way he’s shifting and avoiding her eyes. 

“They had a nanny who they’d grown close to. But I don’t see how that—“

“Mr Lehnsherr,” the nurse interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. Her face was so stern that Erik quickly shut up, swallowing thickly. “The twins were more than close to this omega, they’ve likely bonded to this omega the same way one would do to a mother.”

The alpha was stunned. He swallowed thickly around the odd tickling sensation in his throat.

“A–a mother?” 

He couldn’t quite get his brain to work. 

The nurse’s face softened and suddenly Erik couldn’t find it in himself to keep looking at her anymore. He didn’t like it, the way her warm brown eyes looked and he seemed to know everything.

Instead, he looked around the room.

A mother was sitting on a chair, peeling a cheese stick for her child. The same way Charles always did when Pietro would come waddling up to him, four sticks of cheese in hand. Charles would laugh and ask if Pietro thought he could eat them all.

One woman was laughing with a child as they played some silly game on an iPad. Charles would sit there for hours, listening intently as Wanda and Pietro educated him on the millions of different games on Roblox .

Another one softly stroked her child’s hair as the poor thing cried and sobbed over having their blood taken. Kind and patient, the same way Charles would be whenever the twins would be in the midst of a tantrum 

A mother, she’d said.

Perhaps.

“So what does that mean for them? How does—” He croaked. 

“I’ve reviewed their tests,” she began, her tone careful but professional. “The results are concerning, especially Pietro’s. His cortisol levels are alarmingly high, and his oxytocin levels are dangerously low. Wanda’s are similar although her symptoms seem less severe.”

“So they are sick? Because they don’t have a mother?” 

The nurse sighed heavily. “Essentially, yes,” the nurse said. “But these hormone levels are something we typically see in children who’ve experienced a significant loss or trauma—specifically, the loss of a mother or a mother figure.”

“But mothers leave all the time,” Erik said. “Vacations, divorce, custody arrangements.” Erik listed, his brain so frazzled that it took him ages simply to come up with those three scenarios.

The nurse pursed her lips, looking back down at the clipboard in her hands, presumably reading their file.

“That is true, and typically most children will be unaffected or simply experience very mild symptoms but I understand they’ve been diagnosed with reactive attachment omegan disorder?”

Erik nodded.

“From what we’ve observed in children with ROAD, once their bodies find an omega they respond to positively, one whose pheromones nurture and act to help stabilise the child’s own, the bond they form can be deeper than with a biological parent.”

“If that bond has been abruptly severed, it could trigger an emotional and physiological reaction. The omega whose pheromones they’ve depended on has suddenly left. Their bodies are now lacking the very thing that helped to balance out their body. They are unable to regulate anymore and to a much more severe level.”

Erik felt his chest tighten, the nurse’s words cutting through him like shards of glass.

“More severe? How could it possibly be more severe than what it once was?”

“They are grieving, Mr Lehnsherr, their bodies are processing the absence as a loss. They are in a constant state of stress, and it is placing difficulty upon their other systems.”

Erik needed a cigarette. He hadn’t smoked since he was a stressed-out university student and yet there was nothing he craved more in this moment. 

“On their other systems?”

“Their heart, their lungs, their digestive tract. It’s all struggling to keep up with the heightened levels of cortisol in their bodies. Stress hormones like cortisol, when elevated over a prolonged period, can wreak havoc on the body. In children, particularly young ones, this can disrupt normal growth, weaken the immune system, and even affect brain development.”

The words hit Erik like a punch to the gut, and he found himself leaning against the nearby wall to steady himself. His chest was tight, his breaths shallow as he struggled to process everything the nurse was saying. The weight of it pressed down on him like a physical burden.

Erik exhaled shakily, his mind flashing to the past few days: Wanda crying uncontrollably over small things, Pietro refusing to eat, their energy utterly drained. He’d assumed it was just the stress of adjusting, something they’d get over in time. He hadn’t realized the depth of the damage.

“They… they’re suffering because I let Charles go,” he murmured, the realization dawning on him like a crashing wave. His voice broke as he continued, “I didn’t… I didn’t know. I thought it was just… a job to him.”

The nurse’s gaze softened, but she didn’t contradict him. She continued explaining, her tone steady and compassionate. “It’s not uncommon for parents or caregivers to underestimate the emotional impact an omega can have on children with ROAD. For the twins, Charles wasn’t just a nanny. His presence, his pheromones, and his nurturing behaviour likely became a crucial anchor for their emotional and physiological stability.”

He thought of Wanda, her delicate hands clinging to Charles’ shirt when she was tired or overwhelmed. He thought of Pietro, insisting Charles sit beside him for every meal, wanting to hear every story or joke Charles could offer.

They didn’t just like Charles. They needed him.

His chest felt heavy like a boulder was pressing down on it, squeezing the air out of his lungs. He ran a hand over his face, frustration and self-loathing coursing through him. This wasn’t fair to Wanda and Pietro. This wasn’t their fault. They didn’t deserve to suffer because Erik couldn’t get his act together.

“Is there… is there anything I can do? Medications? Therapy?” His voice trembled, but he forced the words out, desperate for any solution.

The nurse gave him a sympathetic look. “We can try some therapies to help regulate their cortisol levels and introduce coping mechanisms, but it’s a slow process. Hormone imbalances of this nature take time to stabilize. It’s critical to create a consistent, nurturing environment for them. They need stability now more than ever.”

Erik pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to keep his composure. Stability. He thought he was giving them that. He thought he was enough. But the truth was staring him in the face—he wasn’t enough. Not without Charles.

“I- I need some time to think.” The alpha said, his voice breathy with exhaustion as he rubbed a hand across his forehead. 

“Of course, Mr Lehnsherr. Let us know if you need anything.” The nurse’s stern face softened and she gently grabbed the alpha’s hand. Her own hands were wrinkled, but soft, as though she’d just lathered them in moisturiser.

He nodded, thanking her before she walked off, no doubt about to attend to one of the other patients. 

The alpha hesitated by the door to the twins’ room. For a moment, he wondered if he even deserved to be there with them. Was their illness, their current state, not his fault?

He shook his head.

No.

Even if it was his fault, Erik could still make it better. He was their father, he couldn’t abandon them as well.

The room still smelt of the same sterile antiseptic and the only sound was still the same, rhythmic beeping.

Erik found it irritating, the constant sounds, but he supposed it was better to be hearing sounds than none at all. 

A young nurse was fiddling with some wires, hooking a clear bag of saline to the IV hook. She turned as he entered, giving him a soft smile.

“Hello, you are their father?”

“Yes.” Erik nodded, unable to take his eyes off of his twins who still looked so small in their too big beds. They were sleeping, but they were restless, both of them having pillows on either side of their little bodies to prevent them from turning too much and potentially dislodging their wires.

The nurse hummed, continuing with her job and otherwise not paying Erik much mind as he picked up fallen teddies and tucked them by his children’s, his mother must have brought them.

Just before the nurse was about to leave, she turned and spoke.

“Oh, the twins have been mumbling about someone named Charlie? Was there anyone you wanted us to call for you?”

The alpha froze, his stomach rolling and something somewhat acidic climbing up his throat at the mention of the omega.

“No,” He said, harsher than intended. Erik winced and quickly glanced at the twins to check his loud volume hadn’t bothered them.

Wanda whimpered but otherwise remained sleeping.

The nurse's brows furrowed and she fidgeted with her nails but she gave him a cheery enough smile.

“Okay, no worries!” She said, before wishing him goodnight.

Erik returned the sentiment but he could not look at her.

He couldn’t bring himself to.

“Pipsqueaks!”

Wanda looked up from where she was lethargically colouring.

“Uncle Logan,” she said, the small girl wincing as she did so. Her voice was raspy, her throat raw as she’d come down with a nasty cough that sometimes left her turning slightly blue and gasping for air.

The nurses had said it was an infection, one she’d caught due to her weakened immune system.

Erik hadn’t taken in what it meant, only that his little girl was now being administered antibiotics through a small plastic tube that had been put into a vein in her upper arm.

The alpha had watched the nurses while they’d done it, tears building in his eyes as they remarked about her ‘little veins’. Something intended as a joke but only served to remind him of what a failure he was. Of how badly he had caused his twins to suffer. 

Pietro was still asleep in Erik’s lap, trying to fight off the last of his fever.

“Uncle Logan,” Wanda cheered lowly, dropping her glittery gel pens in favour of reaching out for a hug. 

“Hey, bub,” came Logan’s gruff voice as he stepped into the room, a bouquet of wildflowers in one hand and a pack of colouring pencils in the other. He looked rugged as always, his flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, but there was a softness in his expression as he took in the twins.

“How are you holding up baby girl?”

“Papa is boring,” Wanda pouted, picking up one of her pens to poke her father in the cheek.

Erik smiled, a small weak one, not white having the energy to muster up anything bigger. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten a proper night's sleep.

Logan gave a mock sigh of exasperation. “Don’t I know it? You know the only reason I came here is to hang out with you.”

Wanda giggled raspily, biting her thumbnail as she smiled. It was the most alive he’d seen her in a while, the little girl was quieter and slower than normal. Often needed to take breaks to gasp for air, but she still fought through to show her uncle every finished page in her colouring book.

Pietro stirred in his lap, blinking bleary eyes as he woke up. When he saw Logan, his face lit up, and he squirmed out of Erik’s hold.

“Uncle Logan!” Pietro scrambled to his feet and nearly tripped over the blanket as he launched himself at Logan. Logan caught him with ease, scooping him up like he weighed nothing.

“Woah, slow down there squirt,” Logan teased, setting Pietro down on his lap as the boy seemed to flop, his muscles losing all their strength as he used it all up in his excitement to get to the other alpha.

“I like Wanda’s flowers,” Pietro whispered.

“Me too,” Logan smiled, an odd expression in his eyes as he looked at the silver-haired boy. “You gonna teach us how to colour like that, Wanda?”

She nodded shyly, her small smile making Erik’s chest ache with a bittersweet mix of hope and guilt.

She looked quickly down at her fingers, fidgeting with them nervously. 

“Uncle Logan, have you heard anything from Charlie?”

Erik stiffened, his jaw tightening, but before Logan could answer.

The door opened again, and a nurse stepped inside.

It was the head nurse again, the one that strangely enough, the twins loved. She still made Erik feel terrified though.

“Hello you two, I’m afraid it’s time to take your blood again.”

Wanda’s smile faltered, and Pietro’s excitement dimmed, but neither of them protested. They’d gotten used to the routine, and Erik hated that they had.

Erik stood quickly, giving Logan a meaningful look before moving to comfort his children.

“It’s okay, darlings,” Erik murmured, crouching to their level. “It’ll be quick, I promise. I’m right here.”

Logan stayed seated on the bed, his presence steady and grounding as the nurse began her work. Erik kept his focus on Wanda and Pietro, whispering reassurances and holding their hands as the blood was drawn.

The twins settled quickly after they, exhaustion overtaking them as the excitement of Logan’s visit began to wear away.

Erik encouraged them to take a few big mouthfuls of water and a few bites of some biscuits before allowing them to lean heavily against their pillows, their eyes fluttering closed almost immediately. 

For a moment, the two men watched the twins in silence, their quiet breathing the only sound in the room.

“How are you holding up?” Logan asked finally, his voice gruff but laced with concern.

Erik ran a hand over his face, the weight of the past weeks evident in the lines around his eyes. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I feel like I’m failing them. They’re sick, and I—” He broke off, his voice cracking slightly. “I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t realise how much they’d… how much they’d need him.”

Logan crossed his arms, his brows furrowing. “You’re talking about Charles.”

Erik nodded.

“Y’know, I was hoping you could tell me about that. One day I had a happy little employee who wouldn’t stop giggling about you three and the next day Charles came into work with red eyes, asking for extra shifts and a sour scent whenever I bring up your name.”

Erik inhaled sharply, his scent turning to sour apples as he was quickly hit with the memories of that day.

“I kissed him.”

Logan didn’t speak for a few moments.

“You kissed Charles?”

“And then I told him we couldn’t be together. That he was stupid and young and didn’t know what he wanted.” The alpha rushed out, unable to stop the words from coming out once he’d let them start.

“Erik—“

“I know okay! I know…”

Logan stared at him, his brow furrowing deeply. “You kissed him… and then sent him away? What the hell, Erik?”

Erik’s shoulders sagged as he let out a bitter laugh. “You think I don’t know how idiotic that was? I thought—” He paused, struggling to find the words. “I thought it was the right thing to do. He deserved better. I didn’t want to make things… complicated.”

“Complicated?” Logan repeated, his voice rising slightly. He gestured toward the twins again, his frustration evident. “This is complicated, Erik. These kids are hanging on by a thread, and you’re telling me you sent away the one person who could help them because you were scared of things getting ‘complicated?’”

Erik’s hands clenched into fists on his knees. “I didn’t know—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I didn’t understand what he meant to them. To all of us.”

Logan scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “You didn’t understand? Erik, it doesn’t take a genius to see how those kids looked at him. How you looked at him.”

At that, Erik’s head shot up, his glare sharp. “Don’t start with that.”

Logan held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, fine. But answer me this—are they like this because Charles is gone?”

The room went silent, save for the rhythmic beeping of the machines monitoring the twins. Erik’s chest tightened as he thought of the nurse’s words earlier, the clinical explanation of their high cortisol levels, their inability to regulate without the soothing presence of the omega they’d bonded to.

Finally, Erik sighed, his voice heavy with resignation. “Yes.”

Logan didn’t say anything at first, just stared at him with that steady, knowing gaze. After a long pause, he let out a low whistle, running a hand through his thick hair. “You really screwed this one up, didn’t you?”

Erik slumped forward, burying his face in his hands. “You don’t think I know that?”

Logan’s voice softened, though it still carried its usual gruffness. “What are you gonna do about it, Erik?”

“I don’t know,” he muttered. Looking away as tears filled his eyes.

“They are getting discharged tomorrow,” Erik said, rubbing his eyes which were already red from the many tears he’d spilt. “There’s nothing else they can do here, they only hope the familiarity of their home will help lower their stress. Said a nurse will visit every day.”

Erik didn’t like the thought of that. He didn’t like the thought of some stranger coming into his house, not when his children were both so vulnerable.

They already couldn’t stand most of the omegan nurses. Both of them have reacted poorly to every single scent. Their noses were now red with irritation from prolonged exposure and Erik’s shirt was stained from the amount of spontaneous blood noses they’d received.

Neither alpha said any more but he could see Logan fidgeting from the corner of his eye.

Erik turned to him, his elbows resting on his knees as he raised an eyebrow, silently telling Logan to just say whatever it was he had on his mind.

“I could call him for you.”

Erik didn’t know what to say. He instinctively wanted to say no. He wanted to refuse, he couldn’t bear Charles seeing them all like this. Or worse, if Charles said no. If he didn’t want to come see them.

Erik couldn’t live with himself if that happened.

“Charlie?” Pietro mumbled sleepily, his arm reaching out, searching for his stuffed dragon.

Erik turned back to face his children, on instinct moving up from his chair to grab the stuffed animal, placing it in the boy’s arm.

Pietro didn’t ask again for the omega, but Erik could still hear that low whisper play over and over again in his head.

This wasn’t just about him, and he needed to try.

“Please,” Erik whispered, not taking his eyes off the twins.

He felt Logan squeeze his shoulder before he bid the other alpha goodbye.

The beeping of the machines proved quite soothing after a while, their steady rhythm predictable and chiming, Erik could pretend that it was almost like a song.

Of course, no song could compare to the sweeter voice that breaks his daze.

“Mr Lehnsherr.”

The alpha’s eyes snap open, meeting the ocean blue ones that so frequently haunted his dreams.

“Charles,” he whispers, his voice reverent as though a deity stood before him.

However, for Erik, there was truly no difference between a God and his Charles.

Despite his unease, the omega, even with his purple under eyes and nervous fidgeting was just as beautiful as the day he had left Erik. The soft lighting of the hospital room cast a glow over his delicate features, his blue eyes as deep as ever, his lips pink and slightly raw from cheering on them. The soft curls that Wanda had once tamed into her ribbons were now loose, brushing his cheeks.

Erik doesn’t even think he deserves to be looking at Charles. 

He knows he doesn’t.

The question was almost laughable, considering the circumstances, but there was no malice in Charles’ voice—only genuine concern, a kind of quiet yearning that made Erik’s throat feel tight. He could have lied, could have brushed it off, but he was too tired for that now.

“Terrible,” Erik admitted, voice hoarse.

Charles inhaled sharply, his face crumpling, his lips pressing together as though he were trying to keep himself composed. He looked down for a moment, his chest rising and falling with a steadying breath before he nodded as if he’d expected the answer but had still hoped to hear something else.

His hands trembled, his blue eyes wide and glassy. “Oh, Erik…”

The sound of his name leaving the omega’s sweet mouth made Erik want to cry. It made him want to get on his knees and spill the millions of apologies he’d crafted in his mind.

Charles looked like he wanted to say something else, but his gaze flickered back to the twins. His breath hitched.

The only sound was the steady flow of air, the beeping machines and the cracking of Charles's knuckles.

Charles took a hesitant step forward. “Can I…” He trailed off, looking at the twins. “May I…?”

Finally, Charles turned toward the bed, his fingers tightening around the strap of his satchel before releasing it again. Slowly, carefully, he stepped forward, stopping just at the bedside where Wanda and Pietro lay.

His hesitation was palpable.

Erik saw the way Charles’ hands twitched, as if unsure whether he had the right to reach for them.

And then, finally, he did.

Soft fingers, gentle and warm, brushed over Wanda’s flushed cheek, smoothing a stray strand of hair away from her face. His other hand hovered over Pietro’s messy silver curls before finally stroking through them.

Erik’s heart clenched as he watched the twins react immediately, instinctively.

A tiny sigh escaped Wanda’s lips, her small body shifting just enough to press into the touch. Pietro made a barely-there noise, little fingers curling into the blanket, but he too leaned toward Charles’ hand when it eventually drifted to him, seeking comfort even in his sleep.

Erik swallowed against the tightness in his throat.

Charles’ breath hitched. Erik could see the way his lashes fluttered, the way his fingers trembled just slightly as he continued his gentle motions, brushing the children’s faces, stroking their hair as if reacquainting himself with something he had been aching to touch.

Even as his fingers retreated, tracing small patterns on their blankets, he watched them desperately as if reassuring himself that they were still here, still breathing. He glanced up at Erik then, blue eyes dark with worry, and whispered, “They are ill.”  

It wasn’t a question.  

Erik exhaled sharply through his nose, rubbing his fingers against his temple as if that could dull the deep ache in his skull. “Yes,” he said simply, voice low and rough.  

Charles swallowed, his gaze flitting back to the twins, watching the way their small bodies barely stirred under the blankets. Wanda’s breathing was soft but uneven, Pietro’s little hand still clutching the edge of the sheet-like he was holding onto something in his dreams.  

“What will help them?” Charles asked, quiet but firm.  

Erik’s chest tightened. He knew the answer. Knew it down to the marrow of his bones. He had known the moment the nurse had said the words. He knew it now, watching how easily the twins melted into Charles’ presence even in their sleep.  

You .  

The word rose to his tongue so quickly, so fiercely, that he had to physically bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep it from slipping out.  

Instead, he forced himself to say, “Familiar scents, they think.”

His voice was weak, cracking around the words, and he hated it. Hated the way his throat burned, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, the way the truth sat like glass shards in his mouth.  

Charles didn’t move for a long moment. He simply stared at Erik, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.  

Then, with slow, careful precision, he turned back to the twins.  

A burst of citrus filled the air, coupled with sweet sugary jams. Charles leaned forward, rubbing his wrist on each of the twins’ pillows, right by their little noses.

Erik swore he could see small smiles spread across their faces.

“I will nurse them back to health,” he said, voice steady but edged with something sharp, something final. It left no room for argument.  

Erik stiffened, inhaling sharply as Charles straightened, shoulders drawn back, expression cool and unshakable. “I’ll visit every day,” Charles continued, running his fingers once more through Pietro’s messy curls. “I will take care of them.”  

Then, finally, he turned his gaze back to Erik and glared.  

Daring him.  

Daring him to protest.  

Daring him to send him away again.  

Erik could only stare.  

Charles was beautiful when he was like this—furious in the quietest way, chin tilted just slightly upward, lips pressed together in a firm line, eyes glinting with determination.  

He’d never loved Charles more.

And Erik, breathless and his heart pounding, swallowed thickly, his voice barely more than a whisper. 

“Okay.” 

Chapter Text

Erik hadn’t told the twins of Charles’ promise. Despite it being all that Erik could think about.

He played that memory over and over again in his head. Erik couldn’t stop thinking about those stunning blue eyes that were so cold as they looked at Erik but had turned so soft whenever he turned to look at the puppies.

The omega was so determined to care for them, so desperate for them to return to good health that he had even managed to push aside the, no doubt, hatred he held for Erik.

But still, Erik feared telling them.

He worried that Charles would change his mind. That he’d open the door, the twins excitedly bouncing at his feet and be greeted with a stern-faced, plain-dressed nurse rather than the bright grin and colourful skirts Charles favoured. 

“Do you want me to take that for you, baby?” Erik hummed, reaching for the small pink pillow Wanda was still clutching in her arms. He always packed the twins’ bags and they often liked to help him, so he did not find it strange that she was already holding it for him.

“No,” she snapped, turning her body away from Erik, and with it the pillow. Her lips pursed into a small pout as she looked back down at the iPad in her lap

Now that was strange. That was her least favourite pillow, a mistake on Erik’s part to have packed such a thing, but he’d been in a rush to collect the twin’s things before he rushed to meet them and his mother in the hospital.

He couldn’t figure out why she was suddenly so defensive over it when she’d spent the entirety of their stay whining about how the texture just wasn’t right.

Erik snatched the pillow out of her hands. 

“Papa!” Wanda whined, small hands reaching up for the pillow as she tried to sit up on shaking knees to decrease the distance between her and her father.

Erik ignored her demands, instead bringing the pillow up to his nose where he caught the faint scent of ripe strawberries.

He flinched as he registered the smell.

Charles.

Erik had seen the omega scent on their pillows last night, but he hadn’t thought the intention, the love the omega put behind it had been strong enough to still be present upon the fabric.

It clung to the fabric, warm and unmistakable, despite the scent-neutralizing systems in the hospital. It wasn’t just a faint trace—no, it was strong, still lingering after an entire night. Erik swallowed hard and buried his face against the pillow, inhaling deeply.

It was Charles' scent, thick with comfort and warmth, still wrapped around the twins like a shield. And for it to still be this strong…

That meant something.

For an omega’s scent to linger this long, it wasn’t just a matter of proximity. It wasn’t something that could be faked, not something that happened by accident. Pheromones were instinctive, deeply tied to emotion and intent.

For Charles’ scent to still be woven into the very fabric of their pillows, meant that his body, his instincts, his very being, had poured everything into comforting Wanda and Pietro. It meant he loved them.

Not in the way a nanny was supposed to. Not in the way someone who was just passing through would.

Charles loved them like a real mother.

Erik clenched the pillow, his fingers tightening around the fabric as the weight of it settled in his chest. He had spent so long thinking Charles was just a soft-hearted young omega who got attached too easily, someone who didn’t understand the depth of responsibility that came with loving children like this.

But he had been so, so wrong.

“Is Papa being mean, my darling?”

Erik jolted at the sweet voice, his spine went ramrod straight as his skin prickled and a shiver ran through him. Guilt and panic washed over him, as well as relief.

Relief to know that Charles had come, that children still had a chance at happiness.

Refusing to turn around and meet the omega’s gaze, he handed the pillow back to Wanda, but the girl no longer cared for it.

“Charlie…” Wanda gasped, her voice barely a whisper. She lifted her arms, her little hands outstretched as though she were afraid Charles might disappear if she didn’t reach him in time.

Erik’s fingers flexed, and the pillow felt strangely heavy in his hands now as he watched Charles approach the girl who now had tears running quickly silently down her cheeks.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Charles said softly, his voice soothing. “I’ve missed you, too.” Arms coming up to wrap around her small body.

Wanda’s lips trembled for a moment, and then, like a dam breaking, she collapsed into Charles’ arms, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Her face nuzzled into his chest as she let out a small sob, the tension that had been weighing on her for days seemingly melting away in an instant.

“Hey, hey it’s okay darling. I’ve got you.” Charles crooned, his omega scent filling the room with sweetness. He pulled back, smoothing down her tangled auburn curls and wiped at her wet cheeks.

“There's no need to cry,” he hummed, his expression slightly pinched as he gazed worriedly at the girl.

“Did’n’ know if you were coming back,” Wanda mumbled around the finger in her mouth, crashing her body back into the omega’s arms. Charles smiled as she nuzzled in, placing her little red nose right into the crook of his neck where his scent gland was and where his scent was strongest.

Erik felt his blood go cold as Charles opened his eyes and gave him a stare so frosty that 

“Do you know where your brother is, Wanda?”

“In the bathroom,” she sniffled, but her face lit up with pride at knowing the answer to the omega’s question, she clutched onto the omega’s arms as though they were her lifeline.

“Of course you knew, my smart girl,” he cooed. “How about you go get him for me while I help your papa finish packing?”

She nodded like a madman before hopping off the bed and sprinting through the corridors in search of her wayward brother.

Charles had only been back for a few short minutes and already her energy levels were returning to what they once were.

Erik barely had a moment to process before Charles was rising to his feet, turning toward him with an expression that sent a sharp pang through his chest.  

The softness Charles had shown Wanda was gone, replaced by something far more cutting. His blue eyes, so warm a moment ago, were now sharp with accusation, the full force of his glare pinning Erik in place.  

“You didn’t tell them.” It wasn’t a question—it was a statement, one laced with disbelief.  

Erik tensed but said nothing.  

Charles took a step closer, his voice low and steady, but there was a tremor of hurt beneath it. “You let them believe I might not come back. That I might have abandoned them.”  

Erik swallowed, forcing himself to meet Charles’ gaze. He hadn’t wanted them to hope for something that might not happen. Hadn’t wanted them to wait for a promise that could have been broken.  

“Charles,” he started, but Charles cut him off.  

“Did you think I wouldn’t keep my word?” Charles demanded, his voice laced with something wounded, something furious. His hands curled into fists at his sides. “Did you think I would let them suffer when I could do something about it?”  

Erik exhaled sharply, his frustration bubbling beneath the guilt. “I didn’t know if you would come,” he admitted, voice rough.

Charles scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. His hand came to rest upon the alpha’s chest, fisting his shirt as he tried to shake the alpha back and forth.

“They needed me, Erik. And you let them believe I had abandoned them.”  

Erik flinched, looking down at the omega’s hand which was now turning white at the sheer force he was clutching his shirt.

 He hadn’t meant it like that. Hadn’t wanted to hurt Charles, or his children—had only been trying to protect them from disappointment.  Erik had been trying to protect them from when Charles inevitably realised that he wasn’t getting the pretty little trophy wife lifestyle most young omegas idealised about.

“I’m sorry,” he said thickly. “I’m sorry Charles, for all of it.”

The omega’s grip loosened the anger in his face dissipating as his gaze grew almost softer.

He inhaled sharply sniffling as he wiped his nose before turning around, giving the alpha only a view of his small back as he placed one hand on his hip and seemed to be putting all his focus on keeping his breaths steady.  

Erik thought he saw the omega’s shoulders shaking.

His body moved before his mind had caught up, his foot lifting to step forward. To reach for him.

He hesitated.

What right did he have to comfort Charles now? After everything?

Before he could decide, the sound of hurried footsteps thundered down the hall.

“Charlie!”

Pietro came barreling into the room at full speed, his silver hair a blur as he ran straight for Charles. Without hesitation, he threw himself at Charles’ leg, gripping onto him with all the strength his little body could muster.

Charles let out a soft oof at the impact, and Erik saw his shoulders jerk again—but this time, when he turned his head slightly, Erik caught a glimpse of Charles’ face.

There were tears in his eyes, but his expression had crumpled into something else entirely. Something full of raw, aching love.

“Pietro,” Charles breathed, dropping to his knees and pulling the boy into his arms.

Pietro held on tight, his little body shivering with relief, and behind him, Wanda stood frozen for just a second before she let out a strangled sound and flung herself forward too.

Erik watched, silent and still, as Charles gathered them both up like he had never left at all.

“Are you coming home with us, Charlie?” Pietro asked, voice full of hope as he clutched onto Charles, as though his fierce grip could keep the omega with him forever.

Charles nodded, his arms tightening around the little boy.

“Of course, I am,” a bright smile spread on his face, one that Wanda and Pietro excitedly shared. “I’m going to help Papa get you better.”

“We were very sick Charlie,” Wanda said, in that matter-of-fact tone she loved so much. She leaned her little cheek on the omega’s shoulder, twirling a lock of brown hair in her fingers.

Charles’ lips wobbled dangerously, in a way that hinted at a fading control over his emotions.

Erik took that as his sign to step in.

“He knows bub,” Erik hushed, kneeling to the height of the cuddling trio. “That’s why he’s here, Charles heard you two were sick and he just knew he had to come back.”

Pietro just sniffled, wet little gasps escaping his mouth every so often.

Wanda was no better. Her eyes were already red-rimmed and her fingers anxiously ran all over Charles as she clutched onto his wrist.

Erik supposed it was a lot for them to take in. They adored Charles and had suddenly gotten him back after weeks of suffering.

“Are their bags ready, Mr Lehnsherr?” Charles breathed shakily.

“Yes, um— are you okay with them?” He asked, raising to his feet with a careful hand reaching out as Charles stood with both of the children in his arms. 

“Of course,” Charles smiled, the first one he’d sent the alpha’s way all day. 

Erik hadn't noticed how dark his life had been until that smile brightened it.

Charles had settled into the Lehnsherr home as though he had never left. In the civil conversation they’d had while the twins unpacked, they’d decided that Charles would take up the guest bedroom as it would be easier for him to be here at all times in case something went wrong.

Erik hadn’t quite accounted for how greatly having the omega around twenty-four-seven would affect him.

Charles was everywhere.

It had only been three days and already his scent lingered on the pillows, on the twins' clothes, in the very air of the house. His voice drifted softly through the halls, reading to the twins, singing to them, coaxing out weak little giggles that Erik had not heard in what felt like a lifetime.

Sometimes a piece of his laundry would end up in Erik’s pile and the alpha was ashamed to admit that he did not usually give it back right away. Although it held no trace of the omega’s sweet scent, the clean light smell of his laundry detergent was enough to have Erik bringing the item up to his nose.

That was all he would allow himself.

While Charles moved around the house with apparent comfort, Erik knew that likely did not extend to him.

So he kept himself scarce, lingering just outside of the twins’ room, in the kitchen, in the study. Anywhere but where Charles was. He told himself that Charles would not want to see him anyway, not after everything. Not after hed so grave,y offended the omega and alluded to him being nothing but an immature, delusional child.

He shuddered whenever he thought about it, and if Erik was honest with himself, he wouldn’t want to face himself either if he were Charles. 

Not when the memory of his own words still burned in his throat.

Not when he had been so terribly, unforgivably wrong.

Charles was the most attentive nurse he’d ever seen. Perhaps even more than his mother, although the alpha’s memories of the days when his mother would care for him as a sick child were rather hazy now. 

However, the memories of gorgeous Charles caring for his children would never fade.

He moved through the space with careful grace, his hands gentle as he tended to the twins, his voice soft when he soothed their discomfort. It was slow, agonizingly slow, for Erik who had expected his twins to bounce back as soon as Charles came home with them.

But still, each day, Wanda and Pietro grew a little stronger under his care.

They still tired easily, but Charles coaxed them into eating, spoonful by spoonful, his patience endless. He held them when they were too exhausted to move, whispering sweet reassurances into their hair, running his fingers over their heated foreheads. When Wanda had a fevered nightmare, Charles was there to rub her back until she slipped back into rest. When Pietro grew fussy and irritable, Charles hummed softly to him, swaying gently until the tension melted from his little body.

“They’ve gotten much better,” his mother hummed softly as she gazed upon the two who were cuddled up by her side as they quietly watched some show on their iPads.

“Yes,” Erik said, his hand resting on the head of the couch as he looked down at them. Looking at their sweet faces, so entranced by the dancing animals on the screen. He leaned down and kissed them on their heads.

“It’s a good thing you asked him to come back.” She mused, lifting one hand to stroke their hair behind their ears, using the back of her hand to check their temperatures as she did.

Erik already knew their fevers had begun to go down. Charles had informed him of their results shortly before he’d left.

They avoided saying Charles’ name, knowing that it would suddenly remind the twins of his absence and cause them to throw a fit again. 

Charles had tried desperately, but he was unable to have his exam changed for another day.

Erik warred between the guilt he still felt at loving a university student and the indignation he felt hearing the University tell Charles that they couldn’t accommodate his request because he was not the mother of the children in question.

Charles was their mother, in every way that mattered.

“I’m the lucky one. For he chose to come back.”

His mother turned to look at him from over her shoulder. Her dark eyes held many emotions, but the clearest one was of agreement. 

The house was quiet at this hour, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath Erik’s feet as he made his way to the kitchen. His meetings had run late, leaving him exhausted, his bones felt heavy, and his mind numb. There was nothing he wanted more than to go to sleep but the dryness in his throat was unbearable. 

He could feel the dull throb of a headache beginning to make itself known. The alpha hoped he would be fast asleep by the time it hit him in full force.

He stumbled to the kitchen, trying to shake off the residual tension and frustration that was so common after meetings. 

The sight that met him when he stepped into the dimly lit kitchen made him pause.

Charles was there.

The omega was sitting on one of the stools by the kitchen island, wrapped in a thick dressing gown, a cup of tea held between his delicate hands. His hair was slightly dishevelled, and the soft light of the kitchen cast a glow over his features. He looked like something out of a dream, but there was an edge of exhaustion in the way he sat, in the faint shadows beneath his eyes.  

He’d been nursing the tea absently, but his blue eyes turned sharp and clear as they flickered toward Erik the moment he stepped inside.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.  

Erik hesitated in the doorway, debating whether to turn back and just get a mouthful of water from the bathroom sink. 

But Charles’ blue eyes flickered toward him, sharp and unmistakably aware, and retreating was no longer an option.  

But Charles had already seen him and was already watching him curiously.

“…What are you doing up?” Erik asked finally, stepping toward the sink. His voice was rougher than he intended, thick with fatigue.  

Charles hummed, noncommittal, bringing the cup to his lips. “Could ask you the same thing,” he murmured, voice soft with fatigue.

Erik sighed, filling his glass and taking a slow sip, the cold water doing little to ease the sudden tightness in his chest. “Meetings ran late,” he admitted. “Needed a drink before turning in.” 

Charles didn’t respond right away. He simply watched Erik over the rim of his cup, something unreadable in his gaze.  

For a brief, fleeting moment, Erik thought he might say something—something real, something sharp, something about the unspoken weight between them. But then Charles merely looked away, lowering his cup to the table.  

“…Don’t overwork yourself,” he said at last. His voice was level, but there was an underlying coolness to it, a distance that had not been there before.  

Erik exhaled slowly, gripping his glass a little tighter. “I could say the same for you,” he said, echoing the omega's words from earlier.  Charles had been up all day caring the twins and now he looked pale and sickly, as though he would need a nurse soon enough.

Charles scoffed quietly, shaking his head as he set the mug down with a quiet clink. “I will decide when I’ve done enough, thank you.”

Erik clenched his jaw, fingers tightening around the cool glass in his grip. He wanted to argue, to tell Charles that he didn’t need to push himself so hard, that he didn’t have to keep doing this—caring, even when Erik had given him every reason to stop.

But Erik had lost the right to tell Charles what to do.

So he only exhaled slowly, glancing away. “I appreciate what you’re doing for them.”

Charles nodded.

“I’m going into the office early tomorrow, will you be okay with them alone?”

Charles raised a perfect eyebrow from above his mug, setting it down with a clink. “Of course.”

Another silence stretched between them, heavy and awkward. Charles, for all his warmth with the twins, was colder with Erik now, distant in a way that stung more than Erik wanted to admit. He wanted to say something, to bridge the gap between them, but he didn’t know how he could possibly make it up to the omega.

So he settled for watching Charles as he took another sip of tea, his lashes lowering, his expression unreadable.  

Erik lingered for another beat, then, finding nothing else to say, he turned and left.

The next morning, when Erik entered the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his gaze landed on something unexpected.  

A neatly packed lunch sat on the counter.  

Erik blinked, stepping closer. The container was filled with balanced portions, and the arrangement careful and precise. It was unmistakably Charles’ handiwork.  

Erik swallowed, his throat suddenly dry again.  

He stared at it for a long moment, something warm and unfamiliar curling in his chest. Then, wordlessly, he picked it up.

It’s been a week when Erik was awakened by the sounds of retching.

Erik blinked blearily at the clock on his nightstand—3:07 AM. The sound that had roused him, harsh and wet, came again from down the hall, and Erik scrubbed a hand over his face before pushing the blankets back.  

He had been used to being woken to one of the twins vomiting while in the hospital, but the sound never became easier to hear.

The house was dim and quiet aside from the muffled coughing, the sharp retch of a little stomach emptying itself, and the occasional murmur of soft, soothing words. Erik padded toward the twins’ room, rubbing at his eyes.  

He stopped just before the doorway, swallowing hard.  

Charles was already there, kneeling on the floor beside Pietro, his delicate hand moving in slow, rhythmic circles over the boy’s trembling back while his other helped support the bucket in the boy’s grasp. Pietro clutched the edge of the bucket, pale and miserable, his small body shuddering with each heave.  

On the bed, Wanda sat curled up against the headboard, watching anxiously. She clutched a stuffed rabbit tight to her chest, her little fingers worrying at its long ears.  

Her eyes darted between her brother and the ruined sheets on the other side of the bed, Pietro clearly having been unable to reach the bucket in time.

Erik lingered in the shadows of the hallway, reluctant to step in.  

Not because he did not want to care for his children, but because he was unsure how Charles would take his presence. Whether their awkward relationship would upset them further. They had always been incredibly perceptive and despite their somewhat truce —Charles still made lunches for Erik every day— Erik did not wish to cross any boundaries.

Lately, he had made a habit of tending to the twins only when Charles wasn’t around. It was easier that way. There was less chance of saying the wrong thing, of making Charles retreat behind that careful, polite distance he had placed between them.  

But seeing Charles now, his face soft with worry, his nightshirt slightly wrinkled from sleep, Erik felt something tighten in his chest.  

He hadn’t heard Charles come to them. Hadn’t even stirred when Pietro first called out.  

But Charles had.  

“Shh, darling,” Charles murmured, adjusting his grip to smooth Pietro’s damp curls back from his forehead. “I know it’s awful, but it’ll pass soon, I promise.”  

Pietro whimpered but didn’t fight Charles’ touch, leaning into it as another wave of nausea rolled through him.  

Wanda sniffled from the bed, her eyes wide and braids messy. “Is he gonna be okay?”  

“Of course, sweetheart,” Charles reassured her, glancing up with a small, tired smile. “It’s just a little bug. He’ll be right as rain soon poppet.”  

Wanda nodded, but her grip on the rabbit didn’t loosen.  

“Why did you leave Charlie?” She asked as Pietro’s heaving slowed and all that was left was the sound of heavy breathing and the soft murmuring of Charles as he wiped the boy's mouth. “Why did you stop being our nanny?” She asked, her voice soft with pure confusion, not anger. “Were we bad?”

Erik felt something twist in his chest.

Inside, Charles stilled for a moment.

“Oh darling, no,” Charles said gently, brushing Wanda’s loose curls back. “Never that. You and your brother are so wonderful, you two are everything I’ve ever wanted.“

Wanda frowned, lips pursing as she failed to understand the complexity of the situation. 

“Then why?”

The words struck something deep in Erik’s chest, something raw that he wasn’t prepared for. He saw Charles hesitate, white teeth biting down on his plump red lips. He seems stuck, his eyes shiny as he looks away from Wanda and towards the wall. 

Erik shifted his weight, the floor creaking faintly beneath him. Charles’ head lifted at the sound, his blue eyes meeting Erik’s in the dim light.  

For a second, neither of them spoke. 

Then, he sent Erik another one of his shaky smiles. His eyes appeared utterly heartbroken.

Erik stumbled into the room, wanting more than anything to get that expression off of the omega’s face.

He scooped Wanda up into his arms, making her squeak in surprise, and settled her easily against his hip. “Because Charles is working very, very hard at university,” Erik said, nodding solemnly. He realised, that for the first time, that the mention of Charles being a university student didn’t bother him.

“His brain is so full of numbers and books and boring lectures that there’s hardly any room left for anything else.”

Wanda giggled, tucking her head against his shoulder. “Like… it might pop?”

“Exactly,” Erik said with mock seriousness. “If he learns one more thing, I think he might explode.”

A soft laugh escaped Charles before he could stop it, and Erik glanced over in time to see him press a hand to his mouth, his blue eyes bright with amusement. His scent sweetened, no longer the bitter unripe berries it had soured too earlier.

“That’s hardly true,” Charles murmured, shaking his head.

Erik smirked but didn’t push it, turning his attention back to Pietro. “Come on,” he said, adjusting Wanda in his arms as he addressed Charles. “Let’s get him changed. You undress him, I’ll take care of the sheets.”

Charles nodded, already moving carefully to ease Pietro onto the mattress. The boy grumbled sleepily but didn’t protest as Charles gently pulled off his sweat-dampened pyjamas and ushered him into the bathroom to clean his teeth.

Erik, meanwhile, stripped the bed efficiently, bundling the soiled sheets together with practised ease.

“Do you want to sleep with Wanda?” The omega asked Pietro once they returned, softly stroking his cheek. Pietro whined, eyes already beginning to close.

“I want him too,” Wanda stated, voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

Erik laughed fondly.

“Okay princess, in your bed he goes.”

He placed her down and remained kneeling by her side as Charles placed Pietro next to her.

He smiled as the little girl quickly brought her brother into her arms, clutching onto him like a little koala.

Pietro sighed in relief, already dozing again, Charles tucked him in with a final, gentle touch, smoothing his hair down. Placing the bucket next to him in case he would need it again.

Together, they worked silently, their movements familiar, practised. When Charles finally sat back, Erik reached out and pulled the blankets up to Wanda’s chin as she snuggled beside her brother.

“There,” Erik murmured. “All settled.”

Wanda yawned and gave a sleepy nod. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Thank you, Charlie,” she added, her voice soft.

Charles’ lips twitched into something fond as he brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Sleep well, darling.”

Erik stood, the bundle of sheets and clothes in his arms. They left together, but once the door had been carefully closed, the alpha spun on his heel towards the laundry. Making a quick escape before any awkward words were shared with Charles.

But before he could get very far, a small hand wrapped around his wrist.

He stopped.

Charles.

Erik looked down, and Charles’ delicate fingers tightened, just slightly.

“Thank you,” Charles said quietly, his voice warm, and sincere. His thumb brushed absently against Erik’s pulse before he let go, retreating just as quickly.

Erik swallowed.

Then, with a nod, he turned and left for the laundry room.

The morning air was crisp but warming under the steady rise of the sun as afternoon approached. Erik sat outside on the patio, a steaming mug of coffee cradled in his hands, its heat sinking into his palms. He exhaled slowly, watching as the gentle breeze rustled through the garden, stirring the leaves and coaxing open the petals of the flowers that had begun to bloom again.

It hadn’t looked like this before.

For a long time, the garden had been neglected, suffering the same quiet, suffocating grief that had settled over the house. The once vibrant plants had withered, the beds overgrown with weeds, the earth dry and cracked. But now, colour had begun to return—soft purples and yellows, deep greens pushing up from the soil, vines curling along the trellis. Charles’ work, no doubt.

Even when Erik had tried to avoid him, the proof of his care was everywhere.

The alpha took a slow sip of his coffee, closing his eyes as he finally allowed himself to breathe.

While difficult at the beginning, in the three weeks that had passed since Charles had come to stay with them, the twins had made incredible improvements.

They were now back to their old selves, smiling, laughing and teasing each other readily. 

Despite his joy at seeing his children healthy again, Erik dreaded what it meant for Charles and the conversation that the alpha would need to finally face.

The burst of laughter ringing out behind him made his chest feel warm, a sound he had not heard in weeks but thanks to Charles, was now commonplace.

The twins came spilling through the back door, still in their pyjamas, and still barefoot as they trodden through the grass, their giggles carried by the wind.

Their small faces pinched as they assessed the various flowers that were growing in the garden before glancing at each other and nodding, plucking some yellow thing.

“Papa, look!” Wanda called her curls bouncing as she ran up to him.

He barely had time to brace himself before Pietro, all energy and mischief, launched onto the bench beside him, his little hands grasping at Erik’s sleeve. Wanda followed a second later, her curls bouncing, her breathless laughter making Erik’s chest tighten with something achingly fond.

“We found something for you,” Wanda declared, her voice full of importance.

Before Erik could ask, Pietro thrust a small flower toward him, its yellow petals soft and delicate in his tiny fingers. Erik looked down at it, at the earnest expression on his son’s face, then back at Wanda, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet, eager for his reaction.

He accepted it with a slow nod, rubbing his thumb lightly over the petals. “It’s very nice.”

Wanda beamed, pleased with herself before they ran back off. Wanda steered Pietro in the direction of her large pink playhouse.

“They wanted to go outside for a little while,” came Charles’ voice from the doorway.

Erik looked up just as Charles stepped onto the patio, his hands fidgeted with the pockets of his deep denim jeans. The fit was flattering on him, in the slightly baggy style the younger generations seemed to favour. He had on a pretty white blouse, with short puffy sleeves and intricate white embroidery all along the shirt. He looked at ease in the morning light, the wind playing with his soft hair, but there was an undercurrent of nervousness in the way he hesitated just at the edge of the space, as if unsure of his welcome.

He looked lovely

“I thought the sun would be good for them,” Charles continued, his voice quieter now. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Erik shook his head. “I don’t.”

The alpha huffed a laugh. “Although it would have been nice for them to change their clothes, it’s ten in the morning after all,” he joked, his smile and tone lighthearted in an attempt to get the omega to loosen up.

The omega sent a small, shy smile back. “Well, I certainly did make a valiant effort.”

The teasing must have emboldened the omega, his scent turning sugary sweet as he approached the chair beside Erik. When he saw that the alpha did not make any moves to deny him, he sat down.

He was close enough that every time the alpha breathed in, he could catch the scent of fresh berries and citrus.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the twins play, their laughter filling the space between them. Eventually, Erik exhaled, shifting his now-empty coffee cup between his hands.

“How have you been?” he asked after a moment, his voice careful, deliberate. Ready to forefeet any attempts at conversation should the omega wish it.

Charles glanced at him, surprised by the question.

“Oh fine,” he said, looking back down at his lap as he traced the hems and stitching of his pretty shirt. 

Erik nodded, accepting the steady silence they entered after his answer.

It was okay. They didn’t need to talk. Just being by Charles was enough.

The omega, however, bit his lip and then looked back up at the alpha, his voice coming out high and fast, as though only being powered by a brief moment of bravery.

“It’s been busy.

My coursework has been… demanding.”

“Still top of your class?” Erik asked, allowing the barest hint of a smirk to tug at the corner of his mouth.

Charles huffed softly, almost a laugh. “What do you think?”

It was an easy thing to picture—Charles in some grand university hall, perfectly put together, answering every question before the professor had even finished asking.

“And your friends?” Erik asked next, glancing at him.

Charles hummed, thoughtful. “They’re well. Raven’s been keeping me from locking myself in the library.” His lips quirked, small fingers tapping against the table in between them. “She’s taken up photography. Keeps making me sit for portraits, says I have the right kind of face for it.”

Erik could see that.

He envied the alpha who would one day have photos of Charles on their wall. Perhaps even one of the omega in a beautiful wedding dress and a shining ring on his finger.

His chest tightened at the idea and he cleared his test in an attempt to dispel the image from his mind. “How’s the cafe?”

The omega pouted. “Well, there’s been no customers quite as darling as the twins that’s for sure.”

“Good,” Erik sniffed haughtily. “No one can ever be better than my children.”

The omega laughed, a light, sweet thing. Accompanied by a fond shaking of the head.

Silence settled between them for a brief moment before Charles inhaled sharply.

“I’m sorry, Mr Lehnsherr. I think I’ve been too harsh on you.”

“I think you should’ve been meaner Charles,” Erik replied, his voice dark and husky.  “We both know I deserve it.” He sipped the last of his coffee, placing the mug down on the table harsher than he intended to.

Charles shrugged, anxiously fidgeting with his fingers again. “It’s okay.”

The alpha shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”

He shifted slightly, lifting the small flower still clutched in his hand. Charles looked at him in faint confusion, tilting his head, and Erik—before he could think better of it—reached up and tucked the flower gently into Charles’ hair.

“And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry Charles.”

The omega froze for just a second, his breath catching.

Then, slowly, his fingers lifted, brushing lightly over the petals, as if testing if it was really there.

“I should get back to work,” he murmured, his voice gruff in a way he hadn’t intended.

Charles didn’t say anything, but Erik could feel that telltale shiver running up his spine, the feeling of eyes following him.

He only hoped that he hadn’t messed things up

The house was quiet now, save for the sound of running water and the occasional clatter of dishes as they worked side by side at the sink. The twins had finished their dinner in record time before scampering off, talking about some level in their game they just had to beat, before leaving just Charles and Erik to clean up.  

Charles had been acting strangely ever since that day out on the patio. The omega was often thoughtful, but he’d never been absent-minded. Had never drifted off mid thought like he so often had been in the past three days.

His eyes now lingered on Erik often, eyes misty with confusion like he was trying to puzzle something out. Erik felt as though he were being studied, being ripped open by the omega’s keen brain. 

Erik scrubbed at a plate, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. “I’m heading out later,” he said, voice casual. “Logan and I are grabbing drinks.”  

Erik hadn't been all too keen on the idea when Logan offered it, but if he had to be around the omega for one more night, have to witness him sweetly scenting his children, then the alpha feared he would lose all of his careful control and do something he'd regret.

“A bar?” Charles echoed, blinking wide eyes up at him.  

Erik quirked a brow. “Yes, a bar, Charles. Where people drink and talk.” Erik rinsed the plate and set it on the drying rack. “Why?”  

Charles didn’t answer. He stood still for a moment, resting his hands against the sink, a dish towel clutched in one of them.

Erik took his silence as the conversation had finished and he turned to leave, rubbing his damp hands against his jeans—but before he could take a step, Charles’ fingers curled around his wrist.  

“Oh no, you don’t,” Charles said, voice low and fierce.  

Erik stilled. He looked down at Charles, brows furrowed, but Charles only tightened his grip, eyes flashing with something sharp and unguarded.  

“Not when you put that flower in my hair,” Charles continued, almost breathless. “You don’t get to go out and see other omegas when I know your heart is still mine —when I’m here, in your home, raising your children.”  

Erik exhaled, something twisting in his chest.  

Charles’ fingers twitched but didn’t let go, his gaze fiery as he looked up at the alpha, searching Erik’s face as though looking for something.

Erik swallowed, glancing down at where Charles’ fingers were still wrapped around his wrist. He let out a slow breath, then shook his head.  

"I—" He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry for the flower. It was—" He hesitated, then shook his head. "It was silly of me to think you’d forgive me so easily after what I did. After what I said to you that day at the barbecue." His voice dropped lower, rough with guilt. "I was awful. Cruel."

Charles’ gaze didn’t waver. “You are all of those things, Erik Lehnsherr.” His fingers tightened against Erik’s skin. “And yet…”  

Before Erik could process what was happening, Charles surged up and kissed him.  

It wasn’t tentative or hesitant—it was sure, decisive. His lips were warm, and soft, pressing insistently against Erik’s own as though he had made up his mind about something. And maybe he had.  

Erik was frozen for a moment, but then he found himself leaning into it, his hands twitching at his sides, aching to touch. He’d only been able to place one hand upon Charles’ hip before the omega pulled away, eyes searching his face.  

Erik blinked down at him, dazed. And then, because he was an idiot, he exhaled and then rasped, “Are you going to throw another drink on me now?”

The omega smiled coyly, looking like some perfect seductress straight out of the wet dreams Erik once had as a teenager.

Charles’ eyes were dark with something unreadable, locked only on Erik’s lips. “I’m well within my right to,” he said. And then he kissed him again.  

This time, there was nothing soft about it.  

Charles’ hands slid up to Erik’s collar, curling in the fabric of his shirt as he pressed forward, parting Erik’s lips with his own. A low, unsteady sound rumbled in Erik’s throat as he grabbed Charles’ waist, hauling him closer. The dishes were forgotten, the sink, the kitchen—all of it faded away. There was only Charles, his scent curling thick and saccharine sweet around them, his mouth hot and insistent.  

Erik’s grip tightened, fingers digging into Charles’ hips as he let himself drown in it, in him, in everything he had wanted and pushed away.  

When they finally pulled apart, both breathing hard, Erik’s head was spinning. He rested his forehead against Charles’, exhaling against his lips. “Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?” he murmured.  

Charles’ lips curved, but his voice was quiet, certain. “I’ll only forgive you,” he said, brushing his nose against Erik’s, “Once I have your teeth in my neck.”  

Erik awoke, bleary eyed and neck aching, to see the figure next to him wrapping themselves in a pink dressing gown.

“No,” Erik whined, sounding like a little child rather than the grown alpha he was.

He wrapped his arms around the person’s waist, ignoring the way it made his neck throb and sighed in satisfaction as sharp nails came to rest upon his head, smoothing down his brown locks before gently scratching at his scalp.

“The twins will wake up soon, Erik,” the omega said, voice all too fond and slightly scratchy from the night’s activities.

The alpha hummed, tilting his head upwards to meet the warm gaze of the omega.

His omega.

His mate.

His Charles.

The omega never looked more beautiful than how he did right now.

His cheeks were rosy, curls tousled and lips still red and bitten. The smile on his face was perhaps the softest, most affectionate one that had ever been sent Erik’s way.

His eyes drifted from the omega’s face to his slim neck, where he knew his bite would be.

But it wasn’t.

Charles had covered it with his pink robe.

The alpha growled, tightening his grip on the omega’s waist and then pulling him with all the strength he could muster.

The omega made a small sound of surprise as Erik hovered on top of him.

“And why do you cover up my mark, sweet omega?” He asked, fingers quickly ripping the fabric off, the roughness causing Charles to hiss, the action no doubt aggravating the still sensitive wound.

But Erik’s hands were gentle, reverent as they fluttered over the bond mark he’d left on the omega’s pale neck, the mark that he’d sunken his teeth in to leave, so deep there would be no doubt about Charles' status as a mated omega. Biting him with such possession that Charles had seen stars. Softly tracing the teeth marks that marked the omega as his forever.

“Because the twins will see,” the omega said weakly, eyes closing and breath hitching as his mate began to place delicate kisses on the tender skin.

“Oh?” The alpha’s lips curled up into a smirk, his hands beginning to drift lower, slipping under the gown. “You are embarrassed of me?”

“No, alpha,” the omega whined, voice breathy and high as his fingers dipped to circle Erik’s wrist. He didn’t stop the alpha’s machinations, however, merely moving the fingers to where he really wanted them.

“Then why?” He whispered into the omega’s ear, drifting slightly to lay kisses at the tears falling down Charles’ reddened cheeks.

And hadn’t that been a delight to find out? That his omega’s tears would fall readily while in his state of euphoric pleasure.

“They are too little,” Charles whimpered, hand curling into Erik’s shirt as the alpha increased his speed, drawing out small moans of pleasure from the omega beneath him.

“Is mummy too shy to let his babies know what daddy did to him?” Erik crooned.

Charles sobbed, crying out his name as his hole clenched around Erik’s fingers, warm and wet.

His slick and release tasted exactly like he smelt. Sweet strawberries.

Charles was breathing heavily, his eyes still cloudy with pleasure, his skin flushed, his curls a mess against the pillow. Erik rolled off Charles before wrapping the small thing up in his arms pressing his nose into the delicate curve of Charles' neck. His scent was even richer now, fully entwined with Erik’s own.  

Charles shivered at the touch, and Erik’s fingers traced along the fluffy sleeve of his dressing gown, slow and steady.  

“Don’t cover it,” Erik murmured, brushing a thumb over the fresh mating mark on Charles’ throat, careful not to press too harshly.  

Charles exhaled shakily, his fingers coming up to brush against Erik’s hand. “I don’t—”  

“I want them to see,” Erik continued, his voice rough with something tender, something utterly unshaken. “I want the twins to know I finally got them their mama.”  

Charles made a soft noise, something small and overwhelmed, but before he could say anything, the door burst open.  

The twins came tumbling in, their little feet pattering against the floor.  

“Charlie!” Wanda’s voice was high and breathless, her curls bouncing as she scrambled onto the bed. Erik smiled as he noticed she was dressed in a smaller version of Charles’ dressing gown. The alpha couldn't remember having bought it for her. 

Pietro wasn’t far behind, his bright blue eyes wide as he climbed up with her.  

“We couldn’t find you!” Pietro said, sniffling. “Not in your room—not in the kitchen—”  

And then, suddenly, their eyes landed on the mark. Their eyes widened. All children knew what bonding marks looked like, what they meant.  

Wanda gasped.  

Pietro’s lip trembled.  

“Does—” Wanda’s voice wavered. “Does this mean you’re our mama now?”  

Charles inhaled sharply, pushing up out of Erik’s arms as his hands flew to cup their little faces, to soothe them. “Oh, darlings, of course,” he cooed, brushing back Pietro’s wild hair, pressing a kiss to Wanda’s forehead. “Of course I am.”  

Both of them let out choked little cries before throwing themselves at him, burrowing into his warmth. 

Charles winced as they shoved their little noses into his neck, right into his mating mark to try to inhale the mixed scents of their father and, now, mother. 

Erik jumped off the pillows too, lightly grabbing their small chins to provide Charles with some relief.

“Be careful with Mama's neck, okay?”

Charles met his eyes over the tops of their heads, something soft and unguarded in his expression.

He made a strange sound, almost like a sob. His eyes were wet with unshed tears but his smile was so wide Erik thought it must have hurt.

“They can do whatever they want.” The omega ducked his head, meeting the twin’s eyes as he hummed. “Can’t you, my babies?” 

The twins nodded so fast that Erik laughed, shuffling closer to wrap all three of them in his arms.

He felt tears of his own sting in his eyes, overwhelmed with how much love he held for all three of them.

He felt a warm hand scrambling out for him.

Charles’ hand.

The alpha sighed as he felt his mate’s fingers curl between his. 

Erik felt solid, certain, and home.