Warning: Mentions of body dysmorphia, negative body image, bigotry, and death
Thomas frowned, "So you wouldn't even want just one?" He asked softly, the more he thought about it. The more he wanted to have a child with Harriet. Harriet picked out an outfit for herself and Thomas. She turned around and looked at him, "It's not exactly about what I want. It's about a conversation we need to have..." She trailed off, "But in all honesty, knowing the risks... I'm against it. I don't want you to risk your health over someone who doesn't even exist yet." Harriet explained her stance.
"We can talk more later though, I'm not telling you one way or the other..." Harriet trailed off as she sat an outfit down in front of Thomas and started getting dressed. "I just rather have you." She said dropping her nightgown in front of Thomas shamelessly. A few days earlier Thomas would've had a reaction but, in a surprisingly short amount of time, he and Harriet had gotten comfortable with each other.
"So you don't want someone who's part me and you to exist?" Thomas asked beginning to get dressed, Harriet paused staring at him. Thomas frowned, "I just... I think it's unfair that you're saying no so soon." He remarked looking away, "I didn't say no, I said I was uncomfortable." Harriet replied in a quiet voice. Thomas opened his mouth to say more but Harriet walked over and put a finger to his lips. "Thomas." She said softly, "I'd like to talk about this more when your mother is not in the other room." She moved her hand from his lips to caressing his cheek.
Her eyes were filled with worry and concern, Thomas could tell that Harriet took this subject very seriously. "After she leaves?" he asked wanting a timeframe of when they talked about this, "Sure, we can go out to eat and talk." Harriet agreed. Thomas stared, "Are you hungry?" He asked, "Yes." Harriet replied just as her stomach growled. Thomas chuckled pulling Harriet into a hug, "I'll make you something while we talk to my mother." He kissed her forehead.
Harriet made a helpless face, "Please." She begged causing Thomas to laugh. The two of them finished getting dressed and headed out into the living room where Cheryl sat looking prim and proper. She looked over at Thomas and Harriet and scoffed. "At least she cleans up nice." She grumbled. Thomas smiled grabbing Harriet from behind in a hug, "She definitely does." He announced affectionately.
Harriet looked up at him and grinned, Thomas leaned down and kissed Harriet in front of her mother. "I'll make you an omelet." He said, Harriet's eyes lit up. "Thank you." She said looking excited. "So what you're cooking for her now?!" Cheryl gawked, "It's best if I don't cook." Harriet confessed. Harriet sat down on the couch across from his mother and Thomas went into the kitchen to make him and Harriet breakfast.
"You seduced my son in his office exposing him!" Cheryl exclaimed pointing at Harriet who sat cross-legged with her arms folded. "It's not even ten o'clock and you're this aggressive? Where do you get the energy?" Harriet questioned yawning. Cheryl glared at Harriet fiercely, "Just admit you seduced him for his money!" She accused, Thomas, ignored his mother as he cooked.
Harriet would take care of everything, he wasn't worried. He had seen how Harriet dealt with much more aggressive people in the office. She brought several full-grown alpha men to tears with just a few sharp words.
"No, I seduced him because I wanted his body." Harriet replied, "Your son is a very attractive man. Regardless if he were an omega, alpha, or beta all things being equal we would've ended up in bed anyway." Harriet explained, "Thomas and I liked each other for a very long time. We just forgot ourselves and where we were. Honestly, if I had the mind to then I would've locked the door." Harriet shrugged.
"But that's neither here nor there, Thomas and I are mates now. Regardless of how much you throw a tantrum like a child, I'm not going anywhere. Thomas is my omega and I'm his alpha." Harriet uncrossed her legs and adjusted her seating. Thomas having finished cooking as Harriet spoke walked in with two plates, one for him and one for Harriet. He set the plates down on the coffee table and Harriet reached for them.
"Not yet," Thomas said tapping her hand, Harriet gawked looking betrayed. "I need to get us our drinks." Thomas said firmly, "I'll do it..." Harriet said eying her food. "I'll be too tempted otherwise." She mumbled. Thomas shrugged and sat down as Harriet got up to get them drinks.
Cheryl was fuming so much that her face was red. "Thomas did you hear the way she spoke to me!" Cheryl exclaimed. Thomas looked at his mother and frowned, "Mother I know it's difficult to accept but I am an omega. It's hard enough on me without you here causing a scene." Thomas scolded as Harriet came back with two glasses of orange juice. "Thank you." he said taking his, "I can do that much in the kitchen at least," Harriet remarked jokingly.
Thomas smiled hearing her joke, Harriet sat beside him and ate her breakfast with greed. "A scene? Thomas, I'm just concerned about you being used!" Cheryl spoke sadly as if hurt. Thomas frowned feeling a little guilty as he took a sip of his juice. "Wince a bit more it'll make your tears more believable," Harriet remarked swallowing some of her omelet. Thomas choked on his drink having almost fallen for his mother's tricks. "Har-riet!" he coughed laughing.
Cheryl's sad look instantly disappeared and she glared at Harriet. "I'll never approve of you." She snapped, "I don't need your approval." Harriet replied simply. Cheryl gripped her hands tightly gritting her teeth. "What's your name?" Harriet asked setting an empty plate down on the coffee table.
"Cheryl West." Thomas's mother replied haughtily as if her name had weight to it, her smug smirk faded when she saw how unaffected Harriet was. Then again, Harriet wasn't an omega like the other girls that Thomas had dated before. Cheryl was a big deal in terms of the social scene for omegas. "Cheryl, do you know how disrespectful you're being to Thomas right now?" Harriet asked wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"What?" Cheryl asked shocked, "You are essentially saying to Thomas you don't trust his judgment and you don't accept him for who he is." Harriet glared fiercely. "That's incredibly hurtful and as his mother, you should know better." Harriet seemed to be finally digging into Cheryl now that her stomach was full. Thomas ate his omelet silently watching the scene, Harriet had been only playing with Cheryl earlier.
She always liked to get people irate with anger and then make them feel ridiculous with logic. He had seen it a thousand times by now. He just never thought he'd see it used on his own mother. "I love Thomas." Harriet announced as Cheryl was silent, "I don't care if I have to put up with your little tantrums for the rest of your life. I'm not going anywhere." Harriet announced,
"I know change is hard but you have to get used to it. You're at the age where you can't be throwing tantrums anymore." Harriet sighed sounding like a disapproving mother. In a moment she was splashed with Thomas's orange juice in her face. Cheryl held the cup in her hand and Harriet sat there. "You wasted perfectly good juice." Harriet deadpanned. She looked more offended at the waste than it being on her.
Thomas sat there in shock and sat his plate down, "Mother!" he exclaimed, Cheryl who had a satisfied smirk on her face froze, "Thomas!" Cheryl exclaimed, "Leave!" Thomas shouted. "Thomas she was-!" Cheryl tried to defend herself, "LEAVE!" Thomas screamed. Cheryl grabbed her things and headed to the door. Thomas stomped after her furious, "Thomas I-!" Cheryl stuttered, "I'm changing the code, I'm informing staff to not let you in the building." Thomas declared glaring.
"Thomas!" Cheryl sobbed as if she was hit, "I will not be answering any of your calls or messages." Thomas hissed through his teeth. "Not until you learn to behave like an adult!" He growled feeling protective of Harriet. He shoved his mother out of the door and slammed the door shut locking it. "Leave before I have security show you the way out!" He shouted at the door before using the keypad to change the number.
He had a separate code for his mother, so he deleted it.
Instantly he heard beeping on the other side, Cheryl was trying to get back in but buzzing happened soon after. "Thomas!" Cheryl screamed. Thomas sighed and turned around, he paused when he saw Harriet eating some of his omelets. "Harriet!" he exclaimed, "I'll trade you some juice for an omelet." She remarked with her mouth full.
Thomas relaxed laughing, he walked over and pulled Harriet into a hug. "You're getting wet." Harriet remarked, "It's fine." Thomas said. He felt Harriet wrap her arms around his neck, "You alright?" The both of them asked each other at the same time. Thomas paused and chuckled, "I'm fine Harriet, how are you?" he said more concerned about her, "I'm sticky." Harriet replied. Thomas smiled and pulled her up into his arms.
Harriet held onto him and looked at him, "Where are we going?" She asked unoffended by him carrying her. "To get you into the shower." Thomas said adjusting his grip, "Why do you need to carry me?" She asked as he walked to the bathroom. "I want to." he replied, "Fair enough," Harriet responded leaning against Thomas. As he cut through the bedroom Harriet spoke up, "You didn't need to cut your mother off like that." She said, Thomas, frowned, "Harriet, she would've tortured you constantly." Thomas said softly, "She did that to every other woman I dated. No one was ever good enough."
Harriet stared at him, her stoic expression fading and she looked at Thomas softly. "Well thank you." She said sounding flattered. Thomas side-eyed her as he walked into the bathroom. "No thank you. I got to see my mother get thrashed in a conversation that she's made others run away crying from." Thomas said setting Harriet down, "I liked being tall." Harriet complained once she was standing on her feet again.
Thomas rolled his eyes and started taking his shirt off. "Oh. free show." Harriet remarked, "Get undressed and into the shower!" Thomas exclaimed feeling Harriet's hands on his bare stomach. "I don't want to," Harriet replied grinning her hands slipped up Thomas's shirt, "Your hands are cold!" Thomas put his shirt down complaining. "Warm them then," Harriet replied.
The two of them argued until Thomas had enough and undressed Harriet himself putting her in the shower and then following after. "I was trying to have a nice moment." He grumbled, "I was trying to cop a feel." Harriet replied wiggling her fingers at him as if threateningly going to grab at him again. Thomas turned away scoffing, "You know I can be aggressive too," he declared, "How would you like it if I did that?" he turned back to Harriet who stared at him.
"What?" He asked, "Do it." Harriet replied smirking, "I might like it." She added wiggling her eyebrows at him. Thomas felt his cheeks burn at this response, "You... You wouldn't be upset?" he asked in a softer tone, the sound of the water almost drowned out his voice. Harriet's playful look relaxed and she stared up at Thomas. "Not at all. I like being with you." She said honestly.
Thomas smiled feeling happy to hear that, "Thomas." Harriet called in a serious tone, "If my teasing gets too much just say something okay?" She requested, "I'll stop I promise." She swore. Thomas moved close to her in the shower and smiled. "I don't mind it," he said pulling her into his arms. "You sure?" Harriet asked, "Yeah." Thomas replied, Harriet, reached up pulling Thomas down to her level. He thought she was going to kiss him but she bit his nose. It was a light bite and didn't hurt but it didn't mean it wasn't shocking.
"Harriet!" He complained, "You're too cute Thomas." Harriet replied grinning. "Don't bite my face!" Thomas whined, "Where should I bite then?" Harriet asked, "No where!" Thomas exclaimed. The two of them bickered in the shower, Harriet playfully but harmlessly annoying Thomas.
This side to Harriet was one that he had only gotten glimspes of in the past. Quiet nights when they were working side by side. They had balled up paper fights when Harriet got bored. Arguing over chinese food bickering about the best way to achieve whatever project Thomas had put them on. He couldn't believe he was going to get to do this sort of thing forever with her.
Harriet seeing the sentimental look on Thomas's face stopped poking at his side and hugged him. "You baby." She spoke in his ear as Thomas tucked his head down. He hugged her tightly enjoying the feeling of Harriet's nails scratching his scalp. The bathroom was soon filled with sounds of growling.
After they got cleaned up, Harriet and Thomas headed out to get lunch. They decided to walk to get food rather than drive. As they walked to the restaurant that Thomas picked out just down the street, Thomas tried to decide if now was the time to talk about children again. They had agreed upon it, but, Thomas would be lying if his mother's actions hadn't embarrassed him. Harriet and Thomas held hands as they walked.
Harriet looked over at Thomas quietly and then spoke. "I have three fathers." She said suddenly, "My biological father Stephen, my other biological father Joey, and my stepfather Marcus." Harriet explained. "My father married my stepfather two years after I was born." Harriet continued.
"Did your parents get a divorce?" Thomas asked curiously, "No." Harriet replied, "My father's first husband, my other father Joey..." Harriet took a breath and then stopped. "He died giving birth to me." She looked at Thomas as they stood there on the sidewalk. Thomas's lips were in a thin line, this explained why Harriet was uncomfortable.
"My father and stepfather are very loving. But there are nights... Where my father..." Harriet trailed off looking away. "All he does is cry." Harriet swallowed as if remembering such occasions. "He tries to hide it. But it's hard to miss the sobs while the shower is running." Harriet took a deep breath. "My father is much stronger of an alpha than I am." She looked back at Thomas.
"If I lost you over a child..." Harriet gritted her teeth, "I'd go crazy." She gripped his hand tightly. "I know we have not been together for very long. But being with you feels right like I was meant to be with you." Harriet confessed, "That's why I'm uncomfortable with having a child." She finished.
Thomas stared at her feeling guilty for pressing the subject now, "It's still too early to talk about this." Thomas decided, "But thank you for telling me." He said smiling at Harriet. "I didn't mean to upset you, I just... Got excited." Thomas struggled to find the words, "We're not exactly a normal couple. The chance to be a family... It sounded nice." Thomas sighed finding he was filling a little choked up now.
"We don't even know if I can have children anyway."
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