More Love

George

“Love, why are you so nervous?” George wrapped his arms around Lee. Who was running around the kitchen like it was on fire? His husband leaned into him. 

“Are you kidding me, George? You and Lola invited the cute werewolf over to our home for dinner.” Lee groaned.

George nipped at Lee’s neck. “You spent an hour with him once a week for how long.” 

“Yes, and it was torture then. You saw his eyes, and you haven’t heard him sing. He doesn’t know I heard him singing one day. Toby is talented, he just needs to see it.” George turned his husband around so he could look into his eyes. 

“Then we will have to show him how talented he is. Toby is beautiful, I can tell inside and out. How he is with Lola is amazing. Plus, we know from my sister-in-law this will all work out so why are you so worried?” Lee leaned into his touch as George cupped his cheek. His poor husband is going to worry himself to death. 

“You have seen what has happened with each couple, George. Charlie and Harry broke up for a while, when they were broken up Harry injured himself leaving him unconscious. Neville and Severus well they missed years away from each other they also broke up over a misunderstanding. Draco and Justin, well we know Draco had to go back into the hospital… Not because of Justin and it’s not that Toby would go back to hospital. Then Percy was kidnapped!” Gods maybe Lee was on to something. Though he couldn’t let his husband worry like this. 

“You know what all of that has in common?” George asked as he pressed a kiss to Lee’s forehead. 

“That fate has taken our lives and made it into a book series where everyone will find their happily ever afters. But first, they make their lives into a living nightmare.” Lee pressed their foreheads together.

George chuckled. “I was going to say communication, but what you said also sounds right.” He says playfully. 

“So we just tell Toby right up front we would like to see where this could go? On the first time we have him over for dinner?” Lee raised his eyebrow. He should know his husband by now.

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. We will wait until Lola goes to bed. Then we will make tea and talk. We will tell him we think he is beautiful, smart, and talented. We would like to see where this will go. Not to rush anything because he is still in a vulnerable place but we are not going anywhere.” George cupped Lee’s cheeks, his thumbs rubbed across his skin.

“George, it sounds crazy, but you are right. We need to be open and honest with him.” Lee pressed a soft kiss onto his lips. “I should have known you would do the direct approach. You were the one who decided one day we were together. What did you say?” 

George chuckled, “Lee I want to date you. I’ve been in love with you since the first moment I saw you.”

“We were 12 at the time. Our family has been so good, now it is time to make it complete. With our sweet little werewolf.”

Barnaby

Barnaby spied from the doorway as Toby paced in front of the mirror. The poor boy was a nervous wreck. 

“Well look how handsome you are!” He watched as the werewolf jumped and placed a hand on his chest. Toby pulled down his black long-sleeve shirt with a plaid button-up over top. 

“I... I’m not trying to look handsome. They are a married couple. Th... The only reason I am going over there is because Lola invited me. George didn’t want to make his daughter upset that's all P.. Barnaby.” Barnaby squeezed the younger man’s arm and pulled him over to sit on the bed.

“I understand why you are nervous. It is hard from not having any control over your life to being able to do whatever you want. If you don’t think you are ready for this I will let George and Lee know that you are not feeling up to visiting tonight.” The older man cupped Toby’s cheeks. There was a look of determination in those eyes. It made Barnaby proud.

“N... No, I want to. I was just having a moment. I want to go see Lola.” Then Toby did something that he wasn’t expecting. The werewolf kissed his cheek. “Thanks Pops. I.. I’m not used to someone besides my doctors caring about me.”

Tears burn the smaller man’s eyes. “I will not care about you, Toby. You are officially a part of the family. This means, you are my youngest son and I will do whatever to protect you, and love you. Just as I love the rest.” Maybe even a little more since he needed more. Barnaby thought to himself. 

Toby

When Toby walked through the floo of George and Lee the scent of the two men wrapped around him like a blanket. Then the smell of roast tickled his nose. Toby took a deep breath to calm himself down. This wasn’t a good idea. Nope, not at all. If he was around these two me for a long time his wolf and his stupid hormones would kill him. The wolf inside him is telling him these two will be his mate. Stupid beast. He thinks to himself. 

“TOBY!” Lola’s sweet voice brought him out of his head when small arms wrapped around his legs. 

He smiled down at her. 

“Hello, Lady Lola.” Toby playfully bows dramatically, while she is still attached to him. She giggled.

“Dad! Daddy! Toby is Here!” Lola squealed. Toby looked up when he heard a laugh. There stood George his red hair flopped onto his forehead. The smile he was wearing was contagious.

“Hiya Toby. I’m glad you could make it.” He watched as George walked up and took his hand squeezing softly. There was a tingle of electricity that zapped through his arm. 

“T.Thanks for inviting me. It smells delicious.” George bent down and picked up Lola.

“That is all Lee. Daddy is the best cook isn’t he Lola?” The little girl nodded her curls bouncing. Toby couldn’t help but smile. Come on I know Lee is excited to see you.”  George squeezed his arm before walking through the doorway. Toby took a deep breath as he followed the taller man. The house was cozy, it felt like a home. Someplace he could see himself but knowing it would never happen. He is happy with Barnaby. Well until he is kicked out of there. He doubts Barnaby would want him to live there for the rest of his life. 

Lee walked out of the kitchen with a smile on his face. 

“Toby! It's good to see you! You look great.” Lee shook his hand before pulling him into a half hug. The scent of him tickled his nose. He fought off a small whine. 

“Y...You look great too. Thank you for inviting me over. It smells great in here. Is there nothing you can’t do?” Toby is shocked himself by his boldness. 

Lee blushed… he blushed… 

George chuckled beside them and that pulled Toby back. Lee is married and George is married they are married to each other get a grip!

“There isn’t much he can’t do. That is why I married him. How about we eat.” 

“Ya! Let's eat so we can get to dessert! Daddy make chocolate cake!” Lola bounced in George’s arms. 

Dinner continued with an easy flow, despite Toby’s nerves. The conversation between Lee, George, and Lola was warm and casual, with Lola’s cheerful chatter about her day being the highlight of the meal. She had a way of making everything sound so exciting—whether it was something as simple as playing with her toys or visiting a friend. Toby couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, even if he felt like an outsider. He was still getting used to being in a place like this, a home so full of love and togetherness.

As the meal came to a close, Lola bounced in her seat, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Dad, can I have my cake now?"

George chuckled and leaned forward, looking at Toby. "I think it’s time for dessert.”George chuckled and leaned forward, looking at Toby. "I think it’s time for dessert. But first, tell me: How is learning guitar going? I know you’ve been practicing."

Toby froze, the fork halfway to his mouth. He hadn’t expected George to bring up the guitar. "Uhm... I’ve been practicing, yeah," Toby muttered, his eyes briefly flickering to Lee. Lee was watching him with a soft, encouraging smile, but it didn’t stop the nervous flutter in his chest.

"Don’t be shy, mate," George said, his voice light. "I bet you're a lot better than you give yourself credit for."

Toby shook his head. "I don’t know about that." He had always been self-conscious about his voice, always feeling like it wasn’t good enough. But George was right—he had been practicing, and it had been helping him feel more confident about it.

Lee, noticing the shift in Toby’s mood, smiled softly. "You know, Toby, your playing is wonderful. I’ve even heard you sing. And I think you’ve got a beautiful voice. If you ever want to perform, I’d love to listen." His voice was warm and genuine, it made Toby’s heart race in a way he wasn’t sure how to handle.

"Thanks, Lee," Toby whispered, unsure of how to respond to the compliment. His wolf seemed to perk up at the words, but he pushed the feeling away, trying to stay focused on the moment.

"You should definitely sing for us sometime," George added with a grin.

Before he could respond, Lola piped up, her hands clasped in front of her. "I think Toby should sing a song for dessert!" she declared, her eyes bright with mischief. "Then we can eat cake!"

Lee raised an eyebrow at her. "That’s quite the suggestion, sweetheart. But we won't force Toby to sing unless he wants to.”

Toby swallowed, “Not right now, Lady Lola. Maybe later.”

After dinner, Toby helped clean up, though Lee tried to shoo him away, insisting he was a guest. He didn’t mind, though—keeping his hands busy kept his thoughts from spiraling.

Lola started yawning halfway through drying the dishes, and Lee scooped her up effortlessly. “Alright, little lady, time for bed.”

“Nooo, Daddy,” she mumbled sleepily against his shoulder. “Wanna stay with Toby.”

Toby’s heart clenched at that, and for a second, he let himself enjoy the warmth of belonging.

George chuckled, ruffling his daughter’s curls. “Toby will be back, love. Go on, sleep.”

Will I? He thought to himself.

He shook off the thought as Lola finally relented, letting Lee take her upstairs. George motioned for Toby to follow him into the living room, where the fire crackled softly.

“Tea?” George offered, already setting out cups.

Toby hesitated before nodding. “Sure.”

The warmth of the mug in his hands was comforting, but it did nothing to settle the unease crawling under his skin. He tensed when Lee returned and took a seat beside George, their body language relaxed but Toby felt anything but.

Then George spoke. “Toby, we asked you here tonight because we wanted to talk. We care about you.”

Toby frowned. “You… care about me?”

Lee

Lee could feel his heart racing, even now as he sat next to Toby, trying to navigate the conversation carefully. There had always been a part of him that knew he and George would eventually want to bring someone else into their lives, but he never imagined it would feel this... important. Toby wasn’t just someone they saw for a night or two, someone to fill the space. He was different.

“From the moment George and I got together, we talked about the possibility of having someone else join us,” Lee started, the words coming easier now. He wasn’t uncomfortable to speak about, Toby needed to understand. He needed to know that this was something they’d thought about for years, not something they just decided on a whim. “We didn’t know exactly who that would be, but we always knew that we’d eventually want to share our love with someone else. Not just anyone, but someone who mattered, someone who could become a part of our family.”

Toby’s brows furrowed, confusion still lingering in his gaze. Lee could see how much he was processing everything. Toby wasn’t used to love like this. He wasn’t used to people being this open, this patient. And Lee knew Toby had been through too much to just dive headfirst into a situation like this, no matter how genuine their intentions were.

“But when we met you,” George continued, his voice calm, steady, and full of warmth, “we felt something different. Something we didn’t expect. We’ve always wanted a third, but we never wanted to pressure anyone into that role. We never thought we’d find someone we cared for this much. But we care about you, Toby. And... we think you’d be an incredible addition to our family. To us.”

Lee watched as Toby blinked rapidly, his lips parting as if he was about to say something, but then he hesitated. Lee could see the wariness in his eyes. “I—I don’t understand. You’re married. You already have everything. I don’t want to... I don’t want to complicate things.”

George leaned forward, his voice gentle yet firm. “Toby, this isn’t about us already having everything. It’s about you. We’ve never been looking for someone to ‘complete’ us. We’re happy, we’re in love, and we’re already a family. We just think that... well, we think you’d fit. We think you belong with us.”

Lee’s heart ached as he watched Toby struggle. He could see it in his eyes—the hesitation, the uncertainty. It was so clear that Toby was still unsure whether he even belonged in a family like theirs, let alone what it would mean to be part of it.

But Lee couldn’t give up on him. Not when they felt like this. Not when they had the chance to offer something different, something safe for Toby, who had never known that kind of stability.

“I... I don’t know,” Toby murmured, running a hand through his hair, his voice shaky. “I don’t know if I can. I’ve never had anything like that before. I don’t know how to be with you... like that.”

Lee’s heart twisted. He reached over, gently placing a hand on Toby’s. “It’s okay not to know. We don’t expect anything from you that you’re not ready to give. We just want to give you the chance to see what it could be. If you’re open to it, we’d love for you to be that third part of our family. But, Toby... it’s all on your terms.”

George nodded, looking just as serious as Lee felt. “We’re not rushing you, okay? We’re not asking you to jump into anything. But... maybe we could start small? Just a date. A chance to talk, to spend time together. No pressure.”

Toby’s brow furrowed in confusion, his voice hesitant. “A date? Like... a real date?”

Lee smiled softly. “Yeah. A real date. Just the three of us. We know you’re still figuring things out, but it could be a way to see what it feels like, without all the pressure. Just a simple dinner or something casual. What do you think?”

Toby’s gaze darted between Lee and George. His lips trembled as if he wanted to speak, but wasn’t sure if he should. “I... I don’t know.”

George sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “No pressure, Toby. We’re here for you, no matter what you decide. If you want to take a step forward, we’ll take it slow. But if you’re not ready, that’s okay too. Just know we’re not going anywhere.”

Lee squeezed Toby’s hand, his voice soft but earnest. “We care about you. We just want to give this a shot. Together. Whatever that looks like for you.”

Toby looked down, his eyes flicking to their joined hands before letting out a slow breath. He was quiet for a long time, his mind clearly spinning, his heart racing with uncertainty.

But then, softly, as if testing the waters, he whispered, “I guess... I guess we could try a date. Just to see.”

Lee’s heart swelled with hope. “We can take it slow. We’ll figure it out together, Toby. Whatever you need.”