Chapter Text
Louis was embarrassed to say just how quickly he fell into an easy pattern with the pack over the next few weeks.
How quickly he went from slapping Niall silly against the living room floor to sleeping in his arms? The answer is probably too soon but he just sank into it so easily.
The pack had a natural rhythm that Louis and Ollie settled into. One night at dinner with everyone sitting around the dinner table, not even a week after Louis began sleeping there every night Ollie raised the first question.
“Do we live here now, Mumma?” Ollie asked around a mouthful of mash potatoes. Louis almost spit his drink out. Why’d he think that? Oh, maybe because he has more toys, clothes and attention here than he’ll ever get at home.
The boys all look to Louis uneasily. Of course, they all want Louis and Ollie to live with them, but that wasn’t their place.
“Umm no baby. We still have our home. We’re just staying here for a little while.” Louis’ voice wavered. Not sure if Ollie would believe him.
“Oh ok.” Ollie looked almost disappointed. Louis looked him over carefully. If Ollie didn’t want to stay here anymore Louis would go home.
“Is that ok, baby?”
“Yeah.” Ollie looked over to Harry and then back to Louis, “Mumma, will you marry, Harry?”
Louis did spit his drink out at that, “What?’
“You marry Harry!” Louis looked over at Harry who was blushing furiously. Liam was grinning cheekily looking between his step brother and Harry.
“Why Harry, Ollie?” Niall asked from beside Louis. Genuinely curious and not even jealous.
“Uhh.” Ollie jutted his lip out a little, thinking through his answer, “Harry loves me!”
“I sure do bud!” Harry pat Ollie’s shoulder smiling.
“And Harry has puzzles!”
“Aww baby.” Louis can’t help but feel elated, “Harry can still love you and do puzzles with you but not marry me. Plus, baby, Harry’s in a pack. Remember what that means?”
“Like Grammy?”
“Yup. So Harry, Niall, Liam, and Zayn are in a pack together. Harry wouldn’t marry anyone without them.”
Ollie looked between all of them each of whom smiled back, “And mumma?”
“No Mumma’s not in the pack.” Louis gulped but felt the tangible sadness in the room at the reminder, “Would you be ok with Mumma joining a pack someday?”
Ollie thought about it for a while chewing a carrot and finally nodding, “Only Harry’s pack.” Louis chuckled again. His boy really loves this idea.
Harry lent down and whispered to Ollie while maintaining eye contact with Louis, “I’ll make your Mumma love me. Don’t worry.” Louis blushed and rolled his eyes.
Their easy domesticity was ripped from them one evening when Louis received a phone call, “Lous?”
“Yes?” Louis answered wearily, “Who is this?”
“It’s Angie.”
“Oh hey, Angie.” Louis felt slightly relieved, “What’s up?”
“Well it looks like we finally got assigned a day in family court. I got the case to stay in Vermont, but they moved it up to this week on Tuesday.”
“Ok, I’ll be there.”
And just like that they went from easy dinners and a normal sleeping arrangement to walking on egg shells again.
The pack and Louis found themselves standing outside the courtroom the day of the hearing. Ollie was at home with his parents who begged to come but Louis didn’t really want the pack there let alone his own parents. He was worried that the affidavit would be read, and everyone would know so many intimate details about his relationship with Oliver.
Louis was ringing his fingers nervously and pacing, he didn't even realize Oliver was walking up the hall until he was in front of him, “Oliver.”
He tilted his head looking over Louis’ new suit, “Louis.”
Liam was suddenly next to the pair dragging Louis under his arm and slightly behind him, “I’m Liam. Louis’ brother.” He purposefully didn't reach a hand out to greet him. The alpha pheromones ran thick between the two, sizing each other up.
“Oh, I know who you are.” Oliver leaned over to spy Niall making his way over, as well, “And I know who you are. You’re the people who abandoned Louis.” Niall bared his teeth at Oliver stepping up to him, even though this new alpha stood half a foot taller.
“Well at least Louis didn’t have to leave running in the middle of the night from me.” Oliver’s face changed and Louis shrunk back, noticing Oliver’s ‘I’m going to smack you face’, “What? Are you going to hit me? Like you hit Louis? Well, guess what fucker, this Omega hits back.”
Niall brought his fist back to swing but stopped by Harry grasping his arm and pulling him back. There’s no need to escalate the situation.
Oliver just laughs snidely turning his attention back to Louis, “Louis what stories have you been telling?” Louis shrunk even further at being addressed head on, “I guess we’ll see in the hearing. I looked over that affidavit you submitted. Very interesting read.”
Louis’ lip trembled and he shook like a leaf, “I-i-i don’t want any trouble Oliver.”
“You know I’d drop the case, Louis.” Oliver shrugged and the man who must be the Lawyer Angie told him about, Marty Bouchard, approached them, “All you have to do is say the word.”
“He’ll never come back to you.” Liam stated, an undertone of command in his voice.
“What? You think he’ll join your pack?” Oliver scoffed, “He likes a real alpha not some boy band synchronized dancing faggot.” All the alphas growled at this insult but Oliver’s lawyer pulled him back.
“Gentleman, let’s settle this in court, ok?” Mr. Bouchard remarked rather bored with the conversation.
The judge looked wearily between the two tables in front of her and their extremely well-dressed Lawyers. The pack sat in the row behind Louis trying to provide a comforting presence. Louis recognized Oliver’s parents and uncle sitting behind him, giving him dirty looks.
“You all do realize this is family court? Not an episode of Law & Order?” The judge started sassily. When the lawyers each nod she sighed and looked down at the file in front of her, “Where is the child, Oliver?”
“There is a current restraining order keeping Mr. Sullivan from the child and his mother, your honor.” Angie answered standing humbly.
“Which I might add,” Oliver’s attorney stood and smoothly continued, “Is unfounded. There is no proof of any of the accusations.”
“No proof?” The judge asked, “I’m looking at pictures here of solid evidence of physical abuse.”
“My client denies that was his work.” Louis’ heart sank and he nervously rubbed his hands together, under the table. How many times had Oliver’s friends and family looked at Louis with a bruised cheek or a slight limp and turned a blind eye? People didn’t care.
“Lewis, is it?” The judge asked.
Louis' head whipped up to meet the judge’s eyes, just realizing for the first time this judge was an omega, “Y-y-yes, it’s Louis, your honor?” Angie pulled his arm to make him stand.
“Do you understand what perjury is?”
Louis nodded but responded verbally after Angie elbowed him softly, “Yes, ma’am.”
“And you maintain your claim that the evidence supplied for your protection against abuse order and your affidavit are true?”
“Yes, mamma.”
“There we have it. Does Mr. Sullivan have any evidence to supply against Mr. Tomlinson’s claim? Or can we continue with the custody case?”
“We’d like to move forward with the custody case, your honor.” Angie replied, respectfully. Louis was astonished at the way this omega judge was holding herself in court. He was so glad his son would grow up would omegas like this in the world. No matter how he presented, it's important to know that you can be anything.
“We’d like the same.” Mr. Bouchard continued.
“Ok well according to both of your affidavits Mr. Sullivan has not been in contact with the child for two years. Why is this?”
“Mr. Tomlinson took the child and ran leaving a heart broken Oliver to pick up the pieces.” Mr. Bouchard continued painting Oliver as the victim. Oliver sat stoically back in the chair throwing scathing glances Louis' way every few minutes, not making himself a sympathetic victim at that.
“Did your client not attempt to reconcile with the child’s mothers?”
“Mr. Tomlinson wouldn’t allow him to see his child. They were never married, and my client was unsure of his legal rights until recently.”
“That’s not true.” Louis looked over to Angie grabbing her arm, “W-we talked, and we came to an agreement.”
Angie nodded, “Your honor, if you look to page three of my client’s affidavit, you’ll see that Mr. Sullivan and my client met and came to an out of court agreement two years ago.”
The judge sighed again, “Yes I saw that wasn’t mentioned in your client’s affidavit at all, Mr. Bouchard, any comments?”
“My client says that never happened.”
“No.” Louis whimpered and turned to Oliver, “You said that if I left and never asked for child support, you’d leave us alone.” Oliver just shook his head and feigned a look of confusion.
“Mr. Tomlinson, please refrain from talking to Mr. Sullivan.” The judge admonished, “One of you is perjuring yourself. Please can we maintain some semblance of respect for my court?”
“I think we know who the liar is.” Oliver stated bitterly, “The whore with the failed bond mark.” Louis heard gasps from his pack behind him and he flinched at the sound.
“And no derogatory name calling, or I’ll add additional fines, do you understand me?”
Both lawyers nodded, “Ok, aside from the conflicting stories, why is your client asking for full custody, Mr. Bouchard?”
“The child’s mother himself claims in his own statement under oath that he did want Oliver to begin with. My client always wanted that child.”
“You have no grounds for that claim.” Angie scoffed.
“I do actually, page two of the affidavit and I quote, ‘I did not want to have children with Oliver…’ Those were your client’s words.”
Angie grabbed the affidavit and flipped to the page, “I did not want to have children with Oliver because,” Angie began to read the full statement, “Oliver proved to be volatile and capricious and I feared he’d hurt any children we’d have.’ Those are the words of a mother who puts any child’s safety above his own.”
“Ok. Fine. Let’s claim those words are true if he didn’t want to have children with my client than why are we here today? It seems your client is an expert at twisting the past to fit his story.” Angie looked pissed and Louis was close behind, but Angie was respectful of the court and wasn’t about the start a screaming match.
Louis wasn’t as concerned about the court’s rules standing again to turn to Oliver, “I’m here today because you raped me.” Louis threw a quick glance to his pack and Liam’s face stood out amongst the rest, heartbroken.
“Raped you?” Oliver shouted and pretended to laugh, “Are you kidding, Louis? I was your partner. You wanted it.”
Louis looked over to Niall who nodded encouragingly, “You know I didn't want it and you did it anyways. When I was dropping or when I was too weak to fight back. You may have beat me. You may have controlled everything I did. And you may have made me feel like I was worthless, but you’ll never get to do that to our son.” Louis wished his voice sounded stronger but in his breaking tear streaked confession the room had settled into silence. He may not have been the loudest voice, but he knew he’d been heard.
“Ok. Both of you will not say another word to one another, or I’ll hold you in contempt of my court.” The judge threatened but mostly looked to Oliver.
“Your honor regardless of Mr. Tomlinson’s baseless claims, my client makes a much better living than him. He could provide for his son in ways that Mr. Tomlinson never could.”
The judge maintained a passive face looking down at the records, “I did notice that. Mr. Tomlinson, do you have any plans to better your financial situation? Perhaps going back to school? Or doing a technical training?”
Louis bit his lip and looked to Angie who nodded with a soft smile, “Umm. Not at this time but I will go back to school.”
“Also, I’d like to add on that in accordance with Smith v. Maryland, Louis could add the income of his bonded mate to his when calculating his ability to care for his child financially, whether or not said mate is the legal parent.” Angie said this so seamlessly it was almost like she wasn’t dropping a bomb on Louis and Oliver. Louis quickly turned to look at Angie with large eyes and then at the pack who didn’t looked surprised at all.
“Bonded mate?” Mr. Bouchard asked, “We weren’t aware there was a bonded mate?”
“We’ll we don’t have to disclose that.” Angie gave him a perfectly nice grin but her tone screamed, ‘fuck you.’
“Who is this unidentified mate?” The judge asked.
“One, Mr. Niall Horan.” Angie raised her hand to point behind her and Niall stood.
“Your honor, if I may?” Niall asked and the judge nodded, “I am willing to claim full financial responsibility for my mate’s son.” She nodded and jotted that down.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Oliver was up and around his lawyer before anyone can respond barreling down on Louis, “That little faggot just can’t stop ruining your life, Louis.”
Before Oliver could reach Louis again Angie was stepping between the two defensively. The pack was up and Louis backed up to the bannister between the courtroom seating and suddenly he was being lifted over. Taken into Harry’s arms which he leaned into. While Liam leaped over same bannister and looked like he’s going to beat the shit out of Oliver.
Liam made his way around Angie and squared up to Oliver taking the first swing and Oliver was down. Liam doesn’t stop though bringing his fist down again and again until the bailiff in the courtroom pulled them apart. Oliver’s head remained on the ground and he was bleeding from his nose and mouth.
“Please take these two and place them in contempt. I’ll rule on their cases when I’m done with this.” The bailiff tugged Liam to his feet and dragged him away while another carried Oliver close behind. Louis was shaking in Harry’s arms. It all happened so quick but he was being pet by Harry and Zayn and even Niall. But Liam’s gone.
“L-l-l-liam?” Louis asked Zayn who just happened to be in front of him.
“It’s ok, bud.” Zayn wiped unnoticed tears away, “He’ll be back soon, ok?” Louis nodded.
It took a few moments to get himself back and presentable to walk around the bannister and back to Angie, “Ok. I’ve seen and heard enough. There’s no way I can reasonably place a child with that man. I’m denying your clients request and insisting the mother maintains full custody.”
Oliver’s lawyer jut nods. Oliver really dug their case its own grave with his words and actions.
“As for Mr. Sullivan’s fate he’ll be awaiting a bail hearing and Mr. Payne will be released.”
“You honor, on what grounds?” Mr. Bouchard asked.
“I told your client multiple times to not refer to Mr. Tomlinson and he even attempted to physically intimidate him. As far as I see it, Mr. Payne was simply defending an omega in need.”
The two lawyers nodded and thanked the judge, one triumphant the other simmering, “I can certainly say my court does not usually see this much action. Now I’ll be heading home to my omega.” The judge looked stony as she glanced once more at Oliver’s lawyer and walked out. The lawyer sighed clearly the judge did not appreciate the derogatory word used for Niall and Louis which also could be used against herself. They really struck out.
“We’ll be appealing this decision.” He declared and then left the room.
The courthouse had an underground garage, which was where the pack and Louis found themselves sitting in Harry behemoth of a Mercedes. Louis was against the window behind Liam in the driver’s seat. Nobody had uttered a word since they reunited with Liam outside the courthouses jail cells.
The air was heavy, and no one felt they had the right to lighten it. They'd have to talk about what they'd learned today no matter how angry it made them or how uncomfortable Louis was with it. They'd have to talk about it eventually but maybe not today.
The whole pack peeked glances over at Louis who stared out the window before finally sighing, “Liam remember when I was a freshman and I asked you to punch Marcus Pinkham and you said you were a pacifist. Was that a lie or…”
Liam laughed heartily, “Marcus Pinkham was a little twit.”
“He was and remember he told me I was going to be the smallest Alpha ever and no omega would want me?”
Everyone laughed, but Niall responded rubbing and hand down Louis' thigh, “How wrong was he, huh?”
Louis finally looked over at Niall meaningfully, “He was very wrong.” Niall leaned in to plant a small kiss to Louis cheek.
“Mostly wrong.” Niall stated.
“Mostly?” Louis’ suddenly felt worried what if they don’t want him anymore after the things that were said in court.
“Well you’re not an alpha. And I personally know one omega who wants you. But…” Niall smiled widely at Louis, “You are very small. So, I guess he was just mostly wrong. Great a predicting height though.” Louis smiled bashfully.
“You still want me?”
“Yes, little cub.” Niall nudged Louis’ nose against his, “We all do.” Louis looked to each alpha, first Zayn in the back row with them. Then he looks to Harry in the passenger seat nodding widely and finally Liam in the rearview mirror.
“Ok.”
“Ok.” Niall repeaeds with the same tone and inflection, “Glad we got that settled.”
“No.” Louis shook his head, “I meant ok. I want to try this for real.”
“For real?” Liam asked.
“Yeah. Like all of us. I want to try making this work as a pack. If that’s still ok?” Louis felt sweaty.
No one wanted to come on too strong and scare Louis off, so they nodded and Liam said, “There’s nothing more that I want.”
Liam and Louis’ parents agreed to watch Ollie tonight so the pack could have some alone time. They decided on take out and while Liam ran to go get it Louis announced he wanted to take a shower.
“Use the one in the master bedroom.” Harry said nonchalantly, “It has the best water pressure.” Louis nodded and Niall had to restrain himself from asking if he wanted any company.
Louis planned on taking a quick shower but that plan was swiftly derailed by the heat and pressure of this perfect shower. The glassed-in shower area was big enough for the pack and Louis to fit in easily and the five different shower heads make it so no one would be left out in the cold.
Louis’ five minute shower turned into a twenty minute shower and once he was dried off and in some clothes he found in the walk in, he found Liam was back with the pizza. He also eavesdropped a little. “He should decide with us.” It was Liam’s voice and Louis was pretty sure they were talking about him.
“Decide what?” Louis asked and they all turn quickly to look at him. Niall instantly recognizing his boxers and Liam recognizing his shirt, “Sorry I just borrowed some stuff. Hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s ok. You look lovely, Lou.” Harry answered, “While you were in the shower, we got a call from one of our PR team.”
“Oh?” Louis asked finally joining the pack on the couches, “About what?”
They all look between themselves and Niall helf up his phone, “About this.” On Niall’s phone he could see a tweet with a photo of the pack talking to Oliver before the hearing. Louis nestled timidly under Liam’s arm and Niall stepping up to Oliver. It read:
NOT sure if I’m high or something but I was in my district courthouse today refuting a parking ticket and all of One Direction is here.
“Oh.” Louis looked over the pack timidly, “What’re you going to do?”
“Well.” Liam acting as head alpha stepped in, “Since we’re trying this pack thing for real its what are we going to do? And we feel that what you want is most important.”
“Right.” Louis nodded, “What’re the options?”
“The team has some options for us.” Zayn started now lifting his phone up to read an email, “First, they could issue a statement across all mediums saying that Liam and the pack are home, in Vermont, supporting Liam’s step brother through a custody battle. Second, they could issue a statement saying that we are entertaining the idea of taking on another omega and just try to take the heat off the tweet all together.”
“Wait.” Louis interrupted, “What did your guys say about postponing the ceremony.”
“They haven’t said anything.” Harry answered, “We’ve been on radio silence, so the fans know somethings up. Someone tweeted the video of Niall singing at the Foliage festival so there’s a rumor going around that we’re adding another omega.” Louis bit his lip, he knew that his indecision was affecting the pack but he didn’t think of the pack’s fans and potentially their whole careers.
“Which brings us to the third option which Niall made up and the PR team was uneasy about but approved.” Zayn began again, “Niall wants to post a nondescript picture of you without any real identifiers.”
Liam nodded, “This will give us some time to figure out which angle would be most appropriate and to see if this thing will work.”
Louis blushed slightly, “What picture?”
Niall smiled widely and rose from his seat to land heavily next to Louis, “This one.”
Louis watched Niall pull up a group chat going to the information page to just see the pictures. Louis’ eyes widen when he saw that all the pictures were sneakily taken of Louis and the pack. He recognized the one Liam took in the orchard the other day of Niall and Louis kissing and one of Louis kissing Ollie on Harry’s shoulders. But Niall clicked on one before Louis could see more.
“Do you have a group chat that’s just pictures of me?” Louis asked looking around with a silly smirk on his face.
“That’s just our regular group chat.” Harry answered honestly and Zayn whacked his thigh rolling his eyes.
“What it is.” Harry muttered rubbing his thigh.
Louis giggled and looked to Niall’s phone to see a picture from the other night. Louis in Zayn’s shirt with the blanket coming up to mid-thigh. There was only a thin sliver of skin exposed but it was tan and alluring. Louis blushed at the thought of this photo out there for everyone to see.
“I’d crop your face out.” Niall continued showing Louis with the flick of his thumb. Louis’ chin was raised high in the picture, so his lower neck tilted to not show his scar was still visible. Louis' hand rested lazily but completely omegan against his chest. From the size and posture there was no way anyone would see this and not know it was an omega.
“So, you’d post that on what?” Louis asked looking up to Niall unsure.
“I’d post it on Instagram, but it’ll be all over the internet in less than a few minutes.” Louis’ eyes widen.
“And that would be enough?” Louis asked, “For your fans?”
“The fans can never get enough.” Zayn teased from the other couch, “But it’ll keep them busy until we’re ready.”
“Ok.” Louis nodded, “You can post it.” In all honesty that could be any number of male omegas, so Louis didn’t really feel trapped.
“Awesome!” Niall dropped a kiss to Louis’ lips, “Now everyone will know I have a cute omega in my bed!”
“Our bed.” Liam reminded from next to Zayn, “Are you sure you’re ready, Louis?”
“Yeah.” Louis nodded, “I’m tired of being scared. Let’s do it.”
They all had looks of encouragement to share and Niall lifted his phone up to Louis, “it’s done.”
The post was simple enough no filters or anything just the words, ‘If the whole world was watching I’d still dance with you.” On the bottom and it already has a thousand likes.