Harris met his eyes, biting down a smile. “You haven’t seen it yet?”
“Seen what?” A nagging suspicion growing at the back of his mind, Sam stepped into the kitchen, finding Landon in a high chair, Valen sitting in front of him with a grin. Landon looked over at Sam, breaking into a toothy grin.
“C’mon, let’s try again,” Valen said, clicking his tongue to catch Landon’s attention. Then he opened his mouth.
Landon flung the cereal O at his face, and the cereal bounced off his cheek, flying onto the floor.
“Very close,” Valen said. “You almost made it!”
Landon giggled, knocking his bowl of cereal off his table. Tiny cereal O’s scattered across the kitchen floor.
“Valen,” Sam cried in exasperation, trying not to laugh. “What were you teaching him?”
“Good morning to you, too.” Valen grinned. “What did it look like?”
“He’s getting better,” Harris said with a smile. “Last I looked, he was throwing them over Valen’s shoulder.”
“And you never told me?” Sam asked. Had Harris been hiding more baby secrets from him?
“I told Big H not to,” Valen said, sheepish. “Wanted Landon to perfect it before we showed it to you.”
Sam sighed, his heart swelling with fondness. Trust Valen to do that. “Landon’s nine months old, and that’s what you’re teaching him first?”
Valen glanced at Harris, then at Sam. “No, I taught him this first.”
He looked at Landon and stuck his tongue out. Landon stuck his tongue out, too.
Sam dragged his hand down his face, laughter bursting from his chest. “Oh, gods, Valen. What am I going to do with you?”
“Make another baby.” Valen grinned. “This is fun!”
Sam leaned into Harris, clutching his stomach as he laughed. Harris kissed his ear, smiling.
“Never dull with V around, is it?” Harris grinned, stepping toward Valen. Valen tipped his head up, and Harris kissed him, slipping into his mouth. Landon watched them.
It had taken a while for all of them to settle around Landon. When they’d first brought him home, Landon had cried until Sam brought him into their bed. Then it had been four people sharing that king-sized mattress. Harris had slept on the couch first, then bought an extra double bed, expanding the size of their sleeping area.
They’d taken turns feeding and changing Landon, and Sam was the only one who hadn’t received a faceful of pee yet. Three months ago, Landon had flopped onto his belly and back. These days, he was learning to crawl.
Landon reached toward Sam, babbling.
“Right, feeding time with Daddy is over,” Valen said. He stood with a grin, taking the laundry hamper from Sam. Pressed their lips together. Sam smiled into the kiss, then pulled away, lifting Landon from his chair.
Harris leaned in, pressing a kiss to Landon’s temple. “Hey, Landon.”
Landon babbled at Harris, his fists clenched. He was wearing one of the teddy bear onesies Harris and Valen had bought a year ago, from that very first gift box they’d given Sam.
“He’s growing up quick,” Harris said, grinning. “I think he looks more like Valen right now.”
And Landon did, with his hair blond, his eyes more russet than blue.
“Maybe he’ll become a brunette later on.” Valen grinned. “I’m not sure if he’ll be an alpha.”
“Maybe an omega,” Harris said. “He’s pretty laid back.”
“I can already imagine him at our wedding,” Sam said, kissing Landon’s forehead. Landon smelled like baby shampoo, clean and warm. “Won’t be until he can walk, though.”
Valen rolled his eyes. “My dad’s still asking about it.”
“You’re inviting the station staff, aren’t you?” Sam asked, glancing at Harris. “Has everyone been okay with it?”
Harris shrugged. “Most, yeah.”
“Aside from the shoulder punches?” Valen grinned. “I think Dad’s starting to see that it’s not so bad.”
Sam breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn’t been easy, meeting Valen’s parents. Valen had felt obliged to show them their grandson, and Valen’s mom had mellowed somewhat at the sight of Landon. Things had been slightly tense between Harris and Valen’s dad, though. “I hope it’ll go okay.”
“It will,” Harris said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Sam watched his alphas, relaxing at their confident gazes. They’d stayed by him throughout, taking care of Landon before Sam even realized he needed a break. Valen had learned to change and wash the diapers, and Harris had been cooking meals when Sam was too tired to.
They’d all grown with each other, and Sam couldn’t be happier with his family.
“Da,” Landon said, breaking Sam from his thoughts.
They stared at him in surprise. Sam was the first to speak. “Did he just say... what I thought he said?”
“Could’ve been any one of us,” Valen said.
“Probably Dad,” Harris said, grinning. “Or Daddy.”
“Or Papa,” Sam said, his heart warming.
Landon looked at them all, his eyes wide. So Sam tried saying, “Dad. Da—”
Landon shoved a cereal O into Sam’s mouth. Then he giggled, looking at Valen.
Sam chewed on the cereal, following Landon’s stare. “Valen.”
Valen snorted, biting down a grin. “Great job, Landon! You did it!”
Harris chuckled, whacking Valen’s ass with the laundry hamper. “Get going before Sam nails your ass for it.”
Valen headed out of the kitchen, grinning. “I wouldn’t mind, you know!”
Sam shook his head, watching as Harris chased Valen through the hallways. Between himself teaching Landon to eat properly, Harris trying to explain the different food types, and Valen’s goofy teachings, Sam was sure Landon would grow up with everything he needed to know.
It hadn’t been easy, all of them getting to this point. But as Landon waved at Sam, his eyes bright, Sam couldn’t wait to see how the next years would unfold.
The wedding took place in two separate parts. The first was the signing of a certificate in Texas, where it was legal for two alphas to marry.
With Sam’s mom watching Landon, Sam flew to Texas with his alphas. They swore their oaths before a county judge, and signed their lives to each other.
That was the easy part.
The second part of the wedding happened later, when Landon was fifteen months old.
Landon could walk easily by then, toddling about
