Chapter Text
When he first told Louis he wanted to bond during his next heat, Harry thought it would come much sooner.
Elizabeth was only a few months old when Harry started seeing signs that his heat was approaching. Jane and Char were six months and seven months, respectively. All three of those heats came after the girls started sleeping through the night.
However, Louis has turned into a light sleeper since Julia was born, waking at the slightest noise from her, hurrying to pick her up and soothe her, before changing her diaper and bringing her to Harry to nurse. Harry’s told him a few times that he should give her a moment to fall back to sleep before picking her up, but he doesn’t have the heart to be firm about it just yet. It makes him happy to see how attentive his Alpha is, so he lets it be.
Which is why Julia is closing in on a year when Louis comes home one night from the theater, leans over the back of the couch to say hello to Harry while he nurses her, takes one sniff of Harry’s neck, and declares his heat imminent.
“I’d estimate three days,” Louis says, licking over the spot where he’ll bite and bond Harry. “Was wondering why I’d been thinking about knotting you all day.”
“Louis.” Harry shushes him and bounces Julia in his arms. She’s been asleep for a few minutes, but hasn’t stopped feeding yet, and they’ve both been waiting for Louis to get home.
“She can’t hear me,” Louis says, still bent over, lips brushing against Harry’s skin with every word. “Missed you.”
“Missed you,” Harry whispers, turning his head to kiss Louis properly. “You smell good. Don’t shower.”
“Maybe three days is overestimating,” Louis says, and Harry kisses him again.
“So, Sunday or Monday?” Harry pouts. “I’ll be in heat on my birthday.”
“Yeah, but the party’s not ’til the next weekend,” Louis says, standing up and pulling out his phone. “I’m texting Niall.”
“I’ll do it. Here. Take her,” Harry says, slipping his thumb into Julia’s mouth to get her to let go of his nipple. “She needs a change, too.”
While Louis takes Julia to her room to get her ready for bed, Harry texts Niall, who promised to play messenger with Jane, Char, and Elizabeth. Allison and Zoe have asked if they can keep Julia overnight so that she and Felix can play. Unfortunately for Louis’ little sisters, they’re pretty far down the line of volunteer babysitters.
The next few days pass quickly, with Harry obsessively taking his temperature, and it seems like they barely get everything done in time for their heat and rut to hit.
After dropping Julia off with Zoe and Allison, Harry picks up his and Louis’ new prescriptions for lucidity meds and heads home. He’s just as nervous walking into his own apartment as he was that first heat with Louis almost two years before. Sweat beads his forehead, and not because he made himself take the stairs.
Harry opens the door to their apartment and Louis immediately walks towards him from the kitchen. Smiling hard, Harry leans back against the door to close it, and tries to lock it without looking, but Louis gets there first, flipping the deadbolt and crowding Harry against the door.
“Hello,” Harry says, as Louis mouths at his neck.
“You smell so good, baby.” Louis nips at Harry’s mating spot. “Missed you. Happy birthday.”
“Love you.” Closing his eyes, Harry tips his head to the side. “Can’t wait to bond with you.”
Growling with his teeth pressed to Harry's skin, Louis sucks a bruise where he’ll bite Harry later, and pulls back. “Love you.”
Harry hits him in the arm with the bag in his hand. “Lucidity meds, Lou.”
Taking the bag, Louis kisses Harry’s bruised neck once more, and leads him to the kitchen hand in hand. If Harry knows his husband, their bedroom is already set up and ready to go.
“Here,” Louis says, handing Harry one of two glasses of ice water sitting on the counter. Harry swallows his pills without thinking about it until he drains the glass and sets it back down, staring wide-eyed at Louis, who asks, “You okay?”
Harry nods. “Yeah. I should take my temp.”
“Why?” Louis lifts his hand, resting the inside of his wrist against Harry’s forehead. “We’re home. Everything’s ready. We can just…” Lowering his hand, Louis tips his head to the side, sniffing the air. “You smell anxious.”
“I am,” Harry admits.
“Baby,” Louis whispers, circling his arms around Harry’s waist and pulling him close. “Is this about bonding or about—”
“My heat!” Harry rushes to reassure him. “I’m nervous about… I don’t know how I’ll behave. You could bond me right now, if you wanted.”
Growling low in his throat, Louis leans in, sucking another harsh kiss on Harry’s neck. Lips still pressed against Harry's skin, the rough scratch of his beard sends shivers down Harry’s spine when he mumbles, “Shouldn’t talk like that.”
“Why?” Harry asks, tipping his head and threading his fingers through Louis’ hair.
“Don’t want to do it in the kitchen.” Louis nips at his mating spot again, sliding his hands down to Harry's lower back and tucking his fingers beneath the waistband of his trousers. His touch is cool on Harry’s overheated skin and wetness seeps from between his cheeks, soaking his pad.
Pushing Louis away, Harry says, “Bedroom, then.”
Louis takes him by the hand again, leading him to their room. The door swings open and Harry gasps.
Like Harry expected, the bed is stripped down to only a fitted sheet, with extras stacked on the chair in the corner. There’s a jar of peanut butter and a basket of fruit on the dresser, and a small cooler on the floor. In the corners of the bedroom where they’ll be out of the way, Louis has hung strings of fairy lights, and with the lamps off, it gives the room a soft, pale golden glow.
“Lou,” Harry whispers, biting the side of his thumb as he tries to take it all in.
“You ready?”
Harry shakes his head. “Give me a moment?”
“Sure, baby,” Louis says, pressing a kiss to Harry’s cheek and patting him on the bum when he turns towards the bathroom. Harry squeaks and jumps, swatting his hand away.
Alone, Harry quickly strips out of his clothes, pees, then washes his hands and face. He brushes his teeth, staring at his reflection. A year ago, he never would’ve been able to look at himself standing naked in front of a mirror without wondering what Louis would think about his lines and wrinkles, scars and sagging skin.
One night last week, after they put Julia to bed, Louis laid him down on the couch, kissing what felt like every inch of him, including the scar from his c-section, murmuring words of love in such a worshipful tone that Harry had to close his eyes. Then he brought him off with his mouth, licking him clean.
Harry has no hesitations about bonding with Louis. He’ll proudly wear his mating mark for the rest of his life, and they’ve even decided together that Harry will bite Louis too, though it’s much less common for Omegas to mark their Alphas. And he really shouldn’t be nervous about his behavior during heat, not since Louis told him what he was like during the last one. After he takes one last deep breath, Harry turns off the light and steps back into the bedroom.
“I knew you’d undress in there,” Louis says, patting the mattress beside his hip and rolling onto his side. He’s naked, too, lying there in the middle of their bed, already hard and waiting for Harry, who crawls up and lays down beside him.
“Of course I did. You’d take forever to get me out of my trousers.”
Pouting so that Harry can’t help but roll his eyes, Louis says, “It’s my favorite part.”
“I can go get dressed again,” Harry offers, though he knows Louis won’t take him up on it, too busy trailing his fingers over Harry’s side and kissing the hollow of his throat. With his hand on Harry’s hip, Louis moves closer until they’re stomach to stomach and chest to chest, sucking at the bruise where his bite will be soon.
Pulling back a little, Louis meets his eyes, and Harry wonders if his own are as dark and glassy as Louis’ are. He leans in again, nudging their noses together. “Your scent, baby. It’s incredible.”
“It’s the same as my last heat, Lou,” Harry says, tipping his head to let Louis nuzzle his neck again.
“Not the same.” Sniffing along Harry’s jawline, Louis drags his lips over Harry’s scruff, growling low in his throat. “God… Wanna knock you up again.”
“Yes,” Harry hisses, letting his heat take over, though his mind remains clear. When he inhales deeply, his senses are flooded with the combination of Louis’ devotion and his own adoration, but he’s too far gone to think properly or to wonder why he can pick those apart. Louis slips his hand down between Harry’s thighs, cupping his balls and reaching behind them as soon as Harry bends his knee.
Wetter than he ever is outside of heat, Harry’s body welcomes Louis’ fingers when he pushes two inside. He curls them, finding Harry’s prostate, before kissing his way down Harry’s neck and chest, stopping to take his nipple into his mouth. Harry sighs happily, cradling the back of Louis’ neck while he sucks on each of his nipples in turn, fucking his fingers in deep.
“Give me a baby, Lou,” Harry says as soon as Louis slides his fingers out.
“Gonna. Gonna fill you up, keep you on my knot for days,” Louis says, groaning as he urges Harry onto his back. Harry hooks his hands behind his knees, but Louis shakes his head, leaning down to lick the beads of milk away from Harry’s nipples as they gather, and Harry releases his legs, wrapping them around Louis’ waist instead.
Sucking one nipple between his lips, Louis pulls more milk from Harry’s breast, and when he shifts slightly, the head of his dick bumps against Harry’s slick rim. Louis moans into Harry’s chest, kissing his way up to Harry’s neck, while reaching down to steady himself as he pushes inside. His cock feels thicker and harder, stretching and filling Harry until there’s hardly room to breathe, and he bucks his hips, setting a brutal pace from the start.
Unable to do more than press his hands against the headboard, Harry gives himself over to his heat, relishing the force of Louis’ thrusts. As he begs to be bred, and Louis promises over and over to give him as many babies as he can, Harry threads his fingers through Louis’ hair. He tugs until Louis lifts his head, kissing his waiting mouth. His Alpha is strong and tender and perfect, fucking him roughly while leaving soft kisses wherever his lips land. The contrasting touches have Harry trembling and coming fast, long before Louis’ knot begins to swell.
“Baby,” Louis says, panting into the curve of Harry’s underarm. “Gonna knock you up again.”
“Do it,” Harry whines, spreading his thighs and trying to take more of Louis inside him. “Want you to.”
Growling, Louis pistons his hips, the slight swell of his knot bumping against Harry’s rim. He slips his arm behind one of Harry’s knees, holding him open and dicking in fast. The knot at the base of his cock expands, popping in and out with every thrust, until it catches inside. Grinding against him, Louis’ knot rubs him in all the right places, stretching him even more.
With a short grunt, Louis falls forward, burying his face against Harry’s neck, and licking over his mating spot. In the haze of his heat, thanks to his lucidity meds, Harry’s still aware and able to remember what happens next, whispering into Louis’ ear, “Breed me, Lou. Mate me and breed me and make me yours.”
Louis’ teeth pierce his skin before Harry finishes speaking, and Harry comes again, tangling his fingers in Louis’ hair to hold him there while his orgasm sends sparks shooting up his spine. The bond flares to life, clearing Harry’s mind as it ties them together, and Louis sucks and licks and bites him again, rolling them over so that he’s underneath Harry. He cups the back of Harry’s neck, guiding him to his scent gland and pressing gently until Harry remembers what he’s supposed to do. He bites down, breaking the skin, and sucking a bruise until he feels the bond twist, and the torrent of Louis’ emotions flows into him.
“Oh my God,” Harry says, sitting up and back. The change of position makes Louis’ pulsing knot rub against his prostate again, and Harry comes for the third time, while tears run down his face.
“Baby?” Louis asks, raspy and quiet, but the concern woven through his voice and their bond draw Harry’s attention. He looks down at Louis, blinking slowly.
“I can feel you here.” Holding his hand to his heart, Harry closes his eyes, marveling at the strength of their connection, astonished that their bond makes him feel so complete. “Can you feel me?”
Nodding, Louis reaches up and pulls Harry to his chest, kissing him much too sweetly for an Alpha in rut. “Love you so much, Harry.”
Unable to control himself, Harry sobs, hiding his face in the curve of Louis’ neck. “Love you, Lou. My Alpha.”
Louis hums, running his palm over Harry’s spine. “My baby. My Omega.”
A grin tugs at the corners of Harry’s mouth, and he says, “Yours. Always yours.”
▓▓▓
“Happy birthday!”
Harry jumps, still clinging to Louis’ hand, staring around the restaurant at all of their friends and family. “What…”
“Surprise?” Louis bites his lower lip, leaning in and kissing Harry’s cheek.
“But… If Zayn and Liam are here, who has Julia?” Harry asks, searching the room for his baby.
“Phoebe and Daisy,” Louis answers. “Twenty bucks an hour. They have Felix too.”
“Oh my God, Louis,” Harry says, shaking his head, and letting go of his hand to cup Louis’ jaw and kiss him properly. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, baby,” Louis says, nuzzling Harry’s new mating bite. “Happy birthday.”
Louis takes his hand, leading him over to the bar where Gemma’s waiting with a glass of red wine. She passes it to Harry and says, “Fifty-two or twenty-five?”
“Fifty-two,” Harry says, laughing and throwing his head back. “Who wants to be twenty-five?”
“I mean, I do,” Jane says, stepping up beside him and wrapping him up in a hug. “I’ve enjoyed twenty-five so far. Happy birthday, Dad.”
“Thanks, Janie.” Harry kisses her cheek. “Love you.”
“Char and Elizabeth are arguing over the music,” she says with a roll of her eyes.
“Of course they are,” Harry says, matching her eye roll.
It’s the best birthday party of Harry’s life. Louis booked Zayn’s restaurant for the night, and the food is, as always, incredible. Harry drinks his favorite wine, dances with his daughters, and whenever he turns around, his eyes find Louis, whether he’s beside him or across the room.
Their bond connects them in a way that Harry wasn’t aware was possible, and everytime they look at each other, Harry feels a surge of Louis’ love like adrenaline flowing through his veins. Watching as Louis walks across the floor to him, Harry smiles. As soon as he’s close enough, Harry reaches for him, and Louis takes his hands, pulling him onto the makeshift dance floor.
“Dance with me?” Louis asks, already gripping Harry’s hips.
“We’ve never done this,” Harry says, letting Louis guide him closer.
“Not true. We dance all the time,” Louis says, pressing a kiss to Harry’s mating mark.
“Yeah, at home.” Kissing Louis’ mark in return, Harry says, “In the kitchen. The bedroom. The shower. Not in public.”
“Remember we’re in public, then,” Louis warns him, moving his hands to Harry’s lower back, pressing their hips together. “Don’t take your clothes off.”
“I’ll try,” Harry says, lifting his head from Louis’ shoulder, and leaning in until their foreheads touch. He drapes his arms around Louis, snuggling close. “This is the best birthday.”
“Good,” Louis says, nudging their noses together. “That’s what I was going for.”
Harry pulls back, wanting to see more of Louis. A year with a new baby has given him a few more grey hairs, and deepened the crinkles by his eyes, but he’s still beautiful. “Alpha,” Harry whispers, and Louis raises his eyebrows expectantly. “I wish I was better with words.”
“Why?” Louis asks, pursing his lips, and studying Harry’s face.
“Just wish I could say something more than ‘I love you’ to let you know how I feel,” Harry says, closing his eyes, and trying to send as much affection through their bond as he can. Louis tightens his hold on Harry's waist, pulling him impossibly close, as love flows back and forth through their bond.
“It’s alright, baby,” Louis murmurs, kissing Harry's forehead. “I know.”