Chapter Text
Hal's smile grows when he sees the palace in the distance, excitedly accelerating his gallop to such an extent that his friend John's scolding can only be heard in the background as the imposing gate of the palace gets closer and closer.
He slows down his hair in a nimble motion and quickly dismounts from it to run up the stairs happily.
His servants greet him and bow to him, but Hal thanks them with a few quick words as he keeps running and fervently holds the leather bag against his body.
"Is King Barry in his bedroom?" he asks, taking a deep breath to recover.
The dazed housekeeper nods in fright and the Alpha smiles at her before running off again like a small child.
He bends several times and slips, fortunately he always manages to stabilize himself before falling.
And then, in front of the door of the room she shares with his husband, Hal lets out a delicate sigh before opening and discreetly entering.
His nose is enveloped in the warm, sweet smell of lavender that permeates the room.
He walks calmly looking for her husband, however, she does not find him despite the strong smell that emanates from him.
He begins to worry about Barry until she looks out onto the balcony and sees the blond sitting at a small table while he calmly drinks a cup of tea and lovingly caresses his belly.
Hal's being shudders at the sight of such a captivating scene.
From the moment they both knew they were soon to become parents, their relationship blossomed to its fullest, and the radiant aspect of their beloved seemed to become even more angelic.
Shining with a light of its own that made the kingdom itself shine.
"How's my beautiful puppy?"Barry is startled and turns to look at him.
His eyes light up and a smile spreads across his face.
Carefully the Omega stands up and does not hesitate to crash into the warm arms of his alpha who kisses him gladly, making sure to leave his scent on him.
Barry reciprocates the gesture willingly, while Hal rubs his back affectionately.
"I thought it would take longer," he murmurs, blond once he has enough breath to speak.
"He was able to solve everything ahead of schedule and I decided to come as soon as possible to see my Omega and my puppy," he says, kissing the back of the boy who sighs. “Also, I wanted to show you something.”
Barry looks at him with interest as the Alpha gently tugs at his hand to drag him into the room.
Barry letts Hal guide him to the bed, where they both sit down.It is then that Hal discreetly takes a small silver relic from her leather bag, delicately extending it to his partner who curiously takes the object and analyzes it intrigued.
"It's got a lever on the right side," he says. “Move it around a bit, then push the lid up.”
Barry expectantly obeys his husband's instructions.
First, gently turn the copper lever on the relic, then push the lid of the relic upwards.
His eyes widen with excitement when he sees a small couple emerge from the center. Both men and of a fairly similar height, however the brown and blonde hair together with the clothes of different colors allows to create a contrast between both characters.
Barry's heart tightens when he hears the melody and recognizes it as the first song he and his partner danced to when they became husband and husband.
"How...?"
"When I went to settle the matter," he murmurs, kissing his temple. “A group of artisans came up to me and talked about how grateful they were for the proposals that some brilliant mind was giving on their behalf.”
Barry's cheeks turn red at the mention of his work in meetings with the council.
"That's how they wanted to give a small present to my husband and his future prince," he reveals. “They made this especially for you.”
"That was very sweet of them.” Hal says happily and kisses him again.
"Do you think our baby will like it?"
Barry turns his face toward him and presses a kiss to his lips.
"Our puppy is going to love it.”
Hal smiles and Barry knows he made the right choice in choosing to love his alpha and have his cubs.
***
Barry sighs wearily when he bumps into Bruce in front of him.
He's not surprised that the alpha came looking for him the first moment he realized he had separated from his husband.
For several months he had been sending him "anonymous" letters where he wanted to meet him to talk, logically, Barry had burned them all in the fire and had warned his husband.
He discreetly squeezes her puppy closer to his chest, as a discreet way of warning him that whatever he plans to do against him, it is best to desist, as he would never endanger his puppies.
"Barry."
"What the hell are you doing here?" he asks annoyed as his son leans gently against his shoulder as he analyzes the man in front of him curiously, but discreetly.
"Come back to me," he pleads as Barry snorts and backs away at the sight of his former partner approaching him with a deranged expression. “I've got it all planned out, we can go out together tonight and make it all work.”
Barry opens his eyes and immediately shakes his head, unable to believe that his ex is so brazen and stupid to make such a proposal while they were both inside his palace, while Hal was celebrating a party in honor of his first child and took the opportunity to announce the future birth of his second child.
"Do you really think I'd be such an idiot as to give up my position as king and go back to being just the lover of an alpha who traded me as if I were worthless?"
"Barry," he whispers as he walks over to him, softening his scent as he reaches out trying to stroke his son's wavy brown hair. But the blond recoils in terror as he holds Martin tighter, proving to Bruce that he didn't plan to let him touch a single hair of his son.
"It's beautiful," he murmured as he looked at the puppy, Barry growls defensively, showing off his canines for the first time in his life.
"Don't get my son into this, Bruce," he says.
"It could have been our puppy," he murmurs in a wistful tone that seeks to stir up the past in the blonde.
"But it's not," he replied angrily. “Martin is Hal's son, not yours, and I don't want you to use him again for your stupid plans.”
"You can come with us," he adds quickly. “I'll love your puppy like it's my own, and we'll raise him together, just like his brother on the way.”
The Omega looks at him unable to contain the disgust he feels for the figure of the alpha in front of him.
He will never be able to understand what made him fall in love with such a disgusting and shameless being, who was able to sacrifice his own puppies and sell them to a stranger as if he didn't care, and now a couple of years later that he had managed to have a family together with the alpha with whom he had given him, he would come back crying and begging for a second chance.
"Bruce, if you don't leave now, I'll ask Hal to get you and Talia out."
“Barry, please..."
"I've been very patient with you," he says, approaching him, facing him in a way Bruce can't recognize, recoiling in confusion. “But if you keep harassing me with this idea, I won't hesitate to tell Hal what you want to do and accept any action he wishes to take against you.”
"Barry..."
“Leave me alone, Bruce," he insists. “I don't love you anymore and you're no longer a part of my life.”
"Please," he pleaded, but the blond shakes his head and walks past him, ignoring the Alpha's hurried steps and pleas.
Barry doesn't hear him and continues to move forward without looking back while petting his little boy who raises his head curiously and looks at him with his big blue eyes.
"Daddy…”
"Shh," the Omega whispered, pressing his son to his chest, while kissing his forehead. “It's all good, don't worry about anything, baby.”
"Good?"
"Daddy's fine," he says, kissing him. “Don't worry about it, let's go with Dad.”
The boy says as he enjoys the affection that his father gives him before they both arrive at the garden.
Martin smiles happily upon recognizing the spot and begins to fidget, prompting Barry to gently lower his son, while holding his belly with his other hand.
Barry smiles when he sees Hal watching them in the distance.
His husband smiles back at her and does not hesitate to stop what he was doing to run to hug his son who imitates his father's actions and lets himself be carried by himself.
The Omega's heart fills with a warmth when he hears his son laugh along with his alpha, who is in charge of carrying him and filling him with kisses.
Barry knows that if he had stayed with Bruce, he could never have had a life like this.
He would never have been able to experience such great joy as he does today and he would not be able to enjoy his puppies as he can when he is with Hal.
He may never have dreamed of starting a family with an Alpha he barely knew, but now that he was by Hal's side, Barry couldn't imagine any other life than this one.