Chapter Text
Harry knew as soon as he presented as an omega that his life was planned out for him, but he didn’t mind. In fact for as long as he could remember the one thing he wanted to be more than anything was a housewife . Omegas typically did most of the chores, things like cooking, cleaning, and gardening, looking after the pups. Honestly that's what Harry wanted most, a mate and pups, a family to look after and care for. At 28 he knew he was cutting it a little close, but he had focused on his career of owning his own bakery for most of his early twenties. He didn’t regret doing that one bit, but he had to be honest he was missing something, a hole in his heart only an Alpha could fill.
Harry’s bakery had actually exceeded his expectations and he was able to buy the perfect house that he’d always dreamed of with big bay windows, a huge backyard, a white picket fence enclosed it all, and beautiful lemon trees on both sides of the entrance way. He loved it, it was in a wonderful neighborhood as well. Harry mostly stuck to himself when he was home, he sometimes had Liam, an alpha and his childhood best friend over for dinner, on days they both had off from the bakery, but being the owner had its perks.
Funnily enough Harry did most of his baking at home, countless pies, cakes, cookies, danishes, you name it. He usually went around to his elderly neighbors when he made too much while testing new recipes. He never felt as free as when he was baking, his long curly brown hair pulled into a tight bun at the top of his head, his apron tied tightly around his neck and waist. His body flowed in the kitchen when he baked, not his normally clumsy self, a more confident and self assured version of who he was. He didn’t have to overthink everything he did, he could get lost in his thoughts, make a mess and then clean it up after and have something beautiful he had created in the process.
That's what he was doing as he heard the doorbell ring, he wiped the sweat over his brow with the back of his flour covered hand, wiping his hands on his apron before going to answer the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone, let alone the most gorgeous alpha he had ever laid his eyes on as he pulled the door open. An alpha a little shorter than him, with wispy brown hair and stunning blue eyes.
“H-hello” Harry stuttered out, nervously hiding some of his body behind the door.
“Hey, hi! My name is Louis! I’m just moving across the street, over there and wanted to introduce meself” The alpha said in a high raspy voice, pointing his thumb over his shoulders at the big moving truck.
A few people in moving outfits bringing boxes into the small house, while a gorgeous omega smoking a cigarette and leaning on the truck watching Louis back, Harry could smell his crazy strong delicious omega scent from all the way over here! Harry wondered if his heat was near or if he normally smelled like that. His eyes quickly snapped back to the alpha in front of him, his bright blue eyes staring deep into Harrys’ green ones.
“Oh sorry, I’m Harry, it's so lovely to meet you!” Harry stammered his reply, cheeks growing pink, he put out his hand to shake Louis' waiting one.
As their hands met, Harry's stomach did flips, butterflies erupting and flapping their little wings, causing his whole body to shiver. He pulled his hand back and tried to fix his loose hairs around his bun. He wished his stomach would stop, seeing as he was probably looking at louis omega over his shoulder, how could he resist that scent.
“Well I better get back now, got a lot of unpacking to do, lovely to meet you harry” Louis said, eyes lingering on Harrys before turning and jogging back across the street.
Harry closed the door, turned around and slid down with his back against it, letting out a deep breath, he smiled to himself. What a perfect alpha, Harry's inner omega was preening at what little contact they had made. Maybe Harry was a little touch deprived, he should probably call Liam and invite him over for movies and cuddles. He got up and ran back to the kitchen to grab his cell phone to do just that.
*****
Louis surprised a lot of people when he presented as an alpha, but he knew it all along. He always felt from a young age the overwhelming urge to protect and care for his family and friends. He may not be the biggest baddest alpha that ever lived but he would do anything to protect the ones he loved. Louis, now at 31 was moving across town to a small house to be closer to his new theater teaching job at the local high school. He would miss being roommates with Zayn but he knows it's time. Plus he will save a lot of money on not having to stay at a hotel everytime Zayn goes into heat. Although he wasn’t looking forward to being alone at all.
Louis has decided not long ago to stop actively looking for a mate, if it happens it happens but he didn’t want to keep being disappointed when it didn’t work out. So for now he wanted to put his all into his new job. That was until he got a look at his new neighbor, the perfect omega, his smell was divine, he could smell that he made the omega slightly nervous as they shook hands but he still appeared confident and friendly, smelling of fresh baked apple pies. He didn’t smell another Alpha in the home so he hoped there wasn't one. Louis jogged back over to a smirking Zayn,
“What are you smiling about?” Zayn asked him,
“Nothing you twat” He joked stealing Zayn's cigarette and taking the last drag before stepping on it
Zayn giggled, “Mmhmm”
“Fine, my neighbor is quite fit, now let's go, I have lots of unpacking to do” Louis sighed, pulling Zayn towards the open front door.
“Get it tommo!” Zayn laughed running into the house..
Louis did hope he would get Harry, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up too high too soon.
*****
Harry stands by the front bay window, impatiently waiting for Liam to get out of his car and come inside. Liam does so at what Harry would call a sluggish pace, but as he does, movement from Louis' front door catches his eye. Harry looks over to see Louis hugging the omega goodbye before he walks down the sidewalk. Louis sees Harry through the window and gives him a little wave before returning back inside. Liam is obviously watching said omega because he's not watching where he is walking and trips up Harry's front steps, Harry snorts out a laugh before answering the door.
“Who was that!? I’ve never smelled an omega like that before” Liam questions the first thing, his eyes glazed a bit
“Well I don’t know the omega, but the alpha he hugged is my new neighbor Louis and he is perfect Li, just perfect!”
“What’s his last name?”
“Uhm I don’t know that yet, but I was thinking of bringing him a pie, a welcome to the neighborhood pie!” Harry quickly replies, pacing back and forth a little.
Liam giggles, “Okay H, calm down, that's a brilliant idea, you are such a sweet omega” He pulls harry to sit on the couch with him side by side, harry lets out a content sigh.
“Thanks li, I really need a good cuddle”
Liam smiles, “No problem”
*****
A few hours later as Liam drives off, Harry slowly crosses the street with an Apple Pie clutched in his hands. He nervously knocks on the door and waits. What is he thinking? Louis is probably with that gorgeous smelling omega, how could he not be? He doesn’t need a pie from little old Harry. Maybe he should just turn around and run back, maybe he could make it, he could just leave the pie on the doorstep. The door opens and Harry swears his heart stops beating.
“Oh hello!” Louis greets with the most blinding smile,
“H-hi, I uhm wanted to officially welcome you to the neighborhood so I brought you a homemade apple pie, I hope you like it, if not it's okay, I can make you something else, anything really, I own a bakery” Harry stutters,
“Wow no, this is perfect, apple pie is my favorite! Thank you so much, sweet omega!” Louis gushes
“Good, good! Uhm I hope your omega likes it as well”
“My omega?” Louis asks “-Oh you mean Zayn! No! He's not my omega, he's my best friend and ex roommate, yeah no, it's just me”
“Oh” Harry says, he can’t help but smile big, “That's good, I mean not good, that's nice that you had your best friend here to help you”
Harry's cheeks are heated with how much he is blushing.
Louis is smiling just as big when he says “ Yeah he’s great, uhm I saw the Alpha earlier, is he-?”
“Uhm Liam, he's actually my best friend, he works at my bakery with me too”
Louis smile grows, “That’s great, I mean nice that you get to spend so much time with your best friend”
Harry nods, smiling so big it almost hurts, his hands clasped behind his back, head slightly bowed to show respect.
“Well I should be going, but feel free to stop over anytime, I always have extra sweets I bring home, I'd love to share”
“Thank you so much Harry, I’ll make sure to bring the dish back when the pie is done. Hopefully I'll see you real soon” Louis says and gives a little wave
“Bye Louis” Harry waves and turns to scurry back to his house.
For the second time that day Harry slides down his closed front door, holding his hand over his heart as he lets out a huge sigh. He smiles, he can't stop smiling. He really hopes he made a good first impression with louis. He hasn’t ever felt this way towards an alpha so quickly in his whole life.