Staring at the closed door he groaned resting his head on his desk. "I'd cuddle all day if I could," he complained placing his hand over the claw marks on his desk. It had been covered up by a desk mat and sure he could get another desk. But he didn't want to, "Harry," Thomas grumbled feeling annoyed. He wanted to spend more time with Harriet.

The day passed by slowly and they received no relief after work. Thomas and Harriet got ready for dinner, it was the vague response from his mother. But she said to dress nice, which meant formal in Cheryl's terms.

In the months since the first meeting with Harriet, Cheryl seemed to have warmed up to her a little bit. Which of course meant she wanted to tell Harriet what was best. She was now video chatting with Harriet helping her choose earrings.

"Silver or gold?" Harriet asked holding them up to the camera, "What is Thomas wearing? You two have to look like a couple!" Cheryl declared, "I always accessorize based on Cesar!" She exclaimed. Thomas saw Harriet look over and eye his wristwatch, "He's wearing the silver one with blue accents." Harriet explained, "Silver then!" Cheryl exclaimed. "But I look better in gold." Thomas heard Harriet argue just to get his mother riled up. "Harriet!" "Fine. Fine."

The video chat ended and Thomas slipped on his jacket. "Do you really have to get her riled up?" Thomas sighed, "She's cute when she's mad." Harriet replied putting in the silver earrings. "Reminds me of you," Harriet remarked as Thomas walked over grabbing the matching necklace from her jewelry box and putting it on Harriet for her.

"Thank you for putting up with this." Thomas said fastening the necklace, Harriet let out a breath, "It's fine." She replied, Thomas, smoothed her blouse out, and rested his hands on her shoulders. "When am I going to meet your fathers?" He asked looking at Harriet in the mirror. Harriet paused and furrowed her brows.

"Probably during the holidays?" She asked sounding unsure, "They live across the country and we don't visit each other often." Harriet looked over her shoulder at Thomas, Thomas frowned surprised. Harriet had always described her fathers as very warm. He had thought they were close. "They're busy Thomas just like I am. If I could see them more I would." Harriet explained seeing the concerned look on his face.

"I just wear my thoughts to you don't I?" Thomas asked, Harriet, clicked her tongue, "If you hate it don't make it obvious." She replied coyly, Thomas hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek. "Who said I hated it?" He replied.

Harriet grinned at him, Thomas was about to give her a kiss when his phone started ringing. Pulling it out of his pocket he sighed, "Mother's using father's phone to call." Thomas said seeing his father's picture on his screen. His father hardly ever used his phone. He answered it and didn't even get a hello out when he heard his mother say.

"Tell Harriet she better not be wearing gold! Also, come on! We'll be late!" Cheryl demanded, Thomas looked over at Harriet knowing Harriet heard her. "She's bossing me around like I'm her child." Harriet deadpanned, "You're family now." Thomas teased, "I thought I was the harlot who turned her son into an omega?" Harriet asked, Thomas, laughed but then had to hold the phone away from his ear.

"Some mouth on you little girl! Don't think because you're an alpha doesn't mean I can't scold you just like Thomas!" Cheryl exclaimed on the other end. It seemed his mother had heard Harriet. "Yes. Yes. I know things are different now, I love you too!" Harriet replied seemingly getting to the heart of Cheryl's words. The omega woman's tirade stopped dead in its tracks.

There was a brief silence.

"Good that you know." Thomas covered his mouth finding his mother's embarrassed tone endearing. "Now hurry up!" Cheryl snapped before hanging up. Thomas and Harriet looked at each other trying to hold back their laughter.

"Okay, she is cute." Thomas confessed laughing, "I told you!" Harriet replied amused. Harriet and Thomas made their way to the restaurant, it was some high-end place that required reservations years in advance.

However, the West family being who they were, was an exception to this. Thomas and Harriet sat down at the table, Thomas looked around seeing his father and mother were there. A couple of cousins were there as well with his great aunt. It seemed that the entire West family was here.

"So is this her?" His great Aunt Camilla asked, "Yes that's Harriet." Cheryl replied, the older woman eyed Harriet up and down. Harriet raised an eyebrow and looked over at Thomas. "Hmm," Camilla replied stoically, shortly an older gentleman came in with Lucius.

"Oh how wonderful to see everyone here!" The older man exclaimed happily, that man was Thomas's grandfather, Memphis West the fourth. Previously his grandfather had been an incredibly unhappy man, the image of dead eyes in the older man's eyes was consistent in Thomas's memory ever since he was little.

It was so strange to see his grandfather so happy.

"Ah!" He was just about to sit down when he spotted Harriet. "Miss Harriet!" He exclaimed getting up and trotting over to her, "Stand up-Stand up!" he urged as Harriet stood up he hugged her. "Thank you so very much for coming!" He said patting her back, "Oh how exciting it is to see little Thomas finally finding someone!" he said holding his arms out to look at her.

"What handsome young alpha you are!" he complimented excitedly, "Careful now Thomas if I was just a few years younger I'd try to snatch her away!" He teased playfully. Thomas chuckled and shook his head, "Grandfather." Thomas scolded lightly, "I kid. I kid. I have a good alpha friend myself these days! She's a lady just like yours! Oh, she's so wonderful, I'm very happy." Memphis said pleased, "Raleigh!" Memphis called as an older alpha woman seemed to have just entered the restaurant, "Over here dear!" He said waving her over.

Raleigh was a tall proud looking alpha woman that Thomas recognized as the owner of the biggest talent agency on the West coast. "Memphis, I apologize for how late I am." She said walking over and kissing Memphis on the cheek. "Oh, it's fine Rae! Sit! Sit!" Memphis said having the waiters make room for Raleigh.

"Brother." Camilla sighed looking annoyed, "Aren't you a bit old for dating?" She asked, "Auntie." Cesar scolded, "If it makes father happy then I support him." Cesar spoke, "You too as well Lucius right?" He asked looking at his younger brother.

"Father can do as he pleases, he's a big boy," Lucius replied, Thomas, looked over at Harriet who seemed amused watching the exchange. "Besides, it's not like Raleigh's a new face," Lucius remarked. The older pair choked on their drinks, "Come now you're not as sneaky as you think father." Lucius chuckled, "At least you're a bit less obvious than Thomas over here." He said motioning over to Thomas who rolled his eyes.

"Quite the squeaky wheel aren't we?" Harriet sounded off from the other side of Thomas, "Pardon?" Lucius asked sharply, "I'm just saying you doth protest a bit too much. Sounding a tad jealous to me." Harriet replied taking a drink of her water. "Well, I suppose you really are a bit of a troublemaker." Lucius snapped annoyed.

"Lucius I don't recommend trading barbs with Harriet, she does not hesitate as I do." Thomas remarked, "Oh yes, Thomas West, best known for how gentle he is." Lucius remarked sounding even more annoyed. "Thomas is gentle enough for the likes of you." Harriet replied, "Come on now! Let's all just get along and have a nice family dinner." Cheryl encouraged.

"Please be quiet Cheryl we don't need your encouragement. You're part of this omega nonsense." Camilla snapped annoyed, Cheryl sat there looking stunned and Thomas glared. "Aunt Camilla." he said lowly, "Don't use such a tone on me, young man, this whole problem started with you and that girl of yours! If you want to be done in such an indecent way in the bedroom keep it to yourself! There's no need to go changing everyone's dynamics for the sake of your comfort!" Camilla exclaimed.

The table went silent at that, Lucius had wanted drama this night but the food had not even been served yet. Thomas understood that what had happened had shaken the foundation of the family. Hell, they had lost money because of this. Which was something his aunt Camilla cared greatly about.

But what good was all this money when he hadn't been happy? In the last few months, he had been so happy with Harriet. Everything for the first time in his life felt right! Had this been said to him just a couple of months ago Thomas would've been upset. But instead, Thomas stood up, and Harriet followed suit.

"I came here to visit grandfather." Thomas spoke calmly, "I had hoped to introduce Harriet to the rest of the family." He said holding out his hand and Harriet placed her hand in his. "She's my mate and she makes me happy. If you have an issue with that then I have nothing more to say to you." He said squeezing Harriet's hand in his, "Harriet and I are tired anyway." He said looking over at Harriet. "It's good to see you grandfather. But we should leave." He said looking over at Memphis who smiled and nodded.

"We should leave as well." Cesar declared standing up, "I don't appreciate having my Cheryl spoken to like that." He said shooting a dirty look at Camilla. "I hope you can find a way to speak more kindly in the future." He said helping Cheryl stand up.

The older couple walked out, "Come along Thomas." Cesar called, Thomas glanced at Harriet who shrugged and followed along with them. Once they left the restaurant Cesar let out a long sigh. "Father?" Thomas asked, he saw his father shaking, "I did it." Cesar said with a small smile on his face. "Good job honey!" Cheryl cheered patting him on his arm.

Thomas smiled a bit seeing the relieved look on Cesar's face. Before, his father would clam up whenever anyone in the family spoke poorly about his mother. Which was why Thomas usually came to her defense. This was the first time Cesar had managed to stand up for Thomas's mother and himself.

Cesar let out a breath and looked over at Thomas, "I'm so..." he started to say and then looked embarrassed of himself, "You get your backbone from your mother." Cesar said softly, "But I..." Cesar fell silent. Cheryl rested her head on his shoulder. "Thomas what your father means to say is..." She looked over at Thomas, "We wouldn't be able to do this without you." Cheryl said genuinely.

Her eyes landed over on Harriet, "Without either of you." She said softly she held out an arm and Harriet approached. Cheryl pulled Harriet into a hug and Thomas moved to the other side of Cesar and joined in the hug. After a moment everyone pulled away and Cheryl took a breath.

"It can be hard to accept things like this... By you just being so happy with Harriet. You're giving us something to work off of." Cheryl explained, "We've been going to therapy too." She added looking like she was getting a little choked up. "Cheryl," Cesar said softly and Cheryl smiled at him. "It's fine, I'm happy." She told him, and the older couple looked back at Thomas and Harriet.

"We'll leave you two to go get rest. You look like a complete mess anyway!" She said with a laugh and a sniffle. She pointed to Harriet, "I will be teaching you how to cover those bags up better later!" She declared, Harriet chuckled, "I look forward to it." She replied.

Thomas and Harriet were left alone outside of the restaurant, he saw his grandfather and Raleigh sneak out the back together. "Come along Rae! The night is young!" Memphis dragged Raleigh behind him, he heard genuine laughter from the alpha woman. He glanced over at Harriet who smiled.

"You know, I once heard that when you finally are happy other people around you learn to become happy too." Harriet remarked, Thomas chuckled, "Everyone's making it sound like I'm brave or something. I just had sex with a woman who I thought was attractive in my office." He joked. "Oh? Who was it? I might be jealous." Harriet teased. Thomas nudged against her, "Oh you know, she's frigid and cold in public, but really warm and kind in private, she's also extremely smart and absolutely stunning." He flirted Harriet grinned listening to him.

"Hmm, I might know her." Harriet remarked, Thomas laughed, "Let's go home Harry." he said softly, "Alright." Harriet replied. Thomas and Harriet went home and got well-deserved rest after a very long day. They worked together much more slowly on their business plan, and as the months passed they had finally gotten everything together.

They had been just on their way to pitch it to some investors when there had been panicked knocking at the door. Thomas answered and Avery was standing there looking white as a sheet. "Avery-?" Thomas barely got the name out of his lips when Avery blurted out. "Milo's in labor!"

"What?!" Harriet exclaimed from the other room. Thomas and Harriet helped get Milo to the car and started driving. Thomas felt nervous and couldn't think well, but Harriet helped navigate him to the hospital. He felt sick as Milo was taken away and Avery followed after. He leaned against Harriet feeling dizzy.

"Thomas, are you alright?" Harriet asked concerned, "it's sympathy sickness." A nurse remarked casually, "Very common for omegas around other omegas in labor." She explained, Thomas took deep breaths feeling like he was going to throw up. "Come on we have a place for you to rest." The nurse beckoned and Thomas and Harriet followed. Thomas was given some crackers and ginger ale to settle his stomach.

"That was awful." he sighed leaning against Harriet, Harriet rubbed his back. "You're alright now," Harriet said softly. Thomas sighed and relaxed, it was a few more hours before Avery found them and asked them to come back.

"Are you sure?" Thomas asked, "Of course, you helped get us here." Avery said grinning, she looked absolutely thrilled and exhausted. "Come on." She said softly, Harriet and Thomas followed quietly through the labor ward. Thomas looked at the babies on the other side of the glass in surprise. There were so many...

"There she is." Avery pointed to one sleeping form, "Little Emery." She sighed, "My baby." She said affectionately pressing her hand against the glass. "Congratulations Avery," Harriet spoke placing a hand on Avery's shoulder but the alpha woman pushed past her hand and hugged her. "You guys need to be the godparents!" Avery declared, "Please!" She begged. "if you let go of me then yes!" Harriet agreed sounding flustered.

Thomas chuckled, Harriet, didn't like it too much when other people got too handsy with her. He then looked back at the babies in front of him. He pursed his lips quietly.

He wanted a baby.