Thread by @erisabesu3

#atsuhina #omegaverse
The winter of Atsumu's senior year, his family vacations in a countryside village. At the Christmas tree farm he meets a boy around his age with a smile as radiant as the sun on snow... and a powerful scent that triggers his heat.

https://twitter.com/hdsreadinglife/status/1471955272025395207?s=20

When his suppressant doesn't work and there's no time to get help, Atsumu has to trust this redheaded alpha to knot him and dispel his heat. But he's not the only one affected--the alpha's inexplicably in rut & it takes several hours (and rounds) before their conditions subside.

Atsumu's overprotective parents end their vacation early and rush back to the city before he can even say goodbye. He's resigned to keep the encounter in his heart as a beautiful memory that will fade over time... until he discovers he's pregnant.

He's elated! And worried about the many challenges this brings. With his parents on the warpath, Atsumu refuses to name the father for the redhead's own protection. (He only knows the alpha's first name anyway since it was embroidered on his Christmas tree farm uniform jacket.)

He'll be able to graduate high school before showing, but Shouyou has another year left. For this and many other reasons Atsumu decides to raise his pup alone. In autumn he has a beautiful little girl with riotous red hair just like the orange and red leaves of the forest trees.

He names her "Aki."

Ten years pass and Atsumu and Aki have a very happy life, just them, but she's now at an age where she's very curious about her father. Atsumu can sense her longing, and to be honest he's also wondering about Shouyou, the boy from the Christmas tree farm.

Does he still live in that village, or did he move away? What's he doing now? Does he have a mate?

This last sends pangs through Atsumu's chest. The likelihood of Shouyou being unmated after all this time is slim--alphas with scents as powerful as his surely have their pick

of willing omegas at their fingertips. He could have sired an entire volleyball team in the last ten years!

Atsumu shakes off this troubling thought, though the ache in his chest lingers. He feels lucky that because of having Aki so young, his heats are manageable without

the need for an alpha's... companionship. The thought of any other alpha touching him makes him feel ill, anyhow, so it's just as well the suppressants work so well on him.

Atsumu and Aki are decorating their house for Christmas, when Osamu suddenly comes over.

Trending on social media is a local news promo for a certain countryside Christmas tree farm. The promo spotlights the redheaded owner's message that his farm produces the best, most beautiful trees that will surely make any Christmas wish come true.

The reporter asks the man if he has a Christmas wish this year--and the redhead's smile turns so radiant Atsumu can feel it pierce right through his heart.

"My wish is the same this year as it's been for the last ten years--to be reunited with my fated pair."

Then the owner turns to the camera and continues. "Wherever you are, Atsu, I'm right here waiting for you. Someday I hope you'll come back to me."

Atsumu sits down abruptly, jaw hanging open.

"You're goin', right?" Osamu asks, arms akimbo. Atsumu just looks up at him, shocked.

"C'mon," Osamu huffs, tugging Atsumu up from the couch and marching him towards the bedroom. "Pack yer bags."

"But--?!" Atsumu attempts to protest.

"I'll stay here and watch Aki. Ya need t'go check it out, dontcha?"

"But!!" Atsumu waves his arms, emotions all over the place.

Osamu pulls an empty suitcase out from the closet and opens it on the bed. He takes hold of Atsumu's arms.

"Heard what he said, didn'tcha? He's waitin' on ya, Tsumu. Yer fated mate. Makes sense don't it? Why ya never tried t'find another partner or father for Aki?"

Atsumu's cheeks heat. It's answer enough. Osamu chuckles and steers him to the suitcase.

"What are ya waitin' for?" Osamu prompts.

Atsumu's lip wobbles, but he nods and packs a suitcase, not really paying attention to what he's shoved in there, a sense of urgency fueling him.

He goes into Aki's room and packs her suitcase too, calling to her to gather her books and tablet and things for entertainment--they've got a long drive ahead of them.

"Yer sure about takin' Aki with ya? Be glad to take care of 'er here while ya suss things out," Osamu offers.

Atsumu shakes his head. "Thanks but..." He looks at his daughter's sparkling eyes. She's humming and glowing with excitement, so keen to go on a surprise adventure even though the nuances have gone right over her head.

Atsumu smiles. They'll talk it over in the car. He turns back to Osamu. "This is as much for her as it is for me."

Osamu grins. "Gotcha. I'll come by for the mail, then. Don't forget the snacks I brought. Good luck, 'kay?"

They all hug goodbye, and Atsumu bundles Aki and the bags into their car. Soon they're on the highway heading out of the city and into the countryside... to reunite with Shouyou.

Oh gosh. The nerves creep in, and Atsumu puts on a Christmas playlist so he and Aki can sing along.

The singing helps but Atsumu's worried--petrified, actually--that Shouyou will be upset at him for not trying harder to find him before now. For keeping Aki a secret. What on earth will he think when they show up on his doorstep?

Atsumu sighs. He doesn't have an address except

for the Christmas tree farm. He'd thought Shouyou was a seasonal worker, so it never occurred to him that he'd be there after that one winter, much less that he'd take over the business.

What's Shouyou going to think when they show up at his workplace? Isn't that kind of rude?

It's almost dark and nearly time for dinner when they arrive in the countryside village Atsumu's family stayed in so many years ago. He finds the Christmas tree farm easily enough, and parks a few blocks away. The front shop is decorated in garlands and white icicle lights, and

the floodlights through the rows of fir and spruce trees around back are still on, along with the red neon "OPEN" sign at the entrance.

"Ready?" Atsumu asks his daughter, but she's already half out of the car. "Hey, wait!" he calls, hurriedly undoing his seatbelt and clambering

out after her. She grins up at him and holds out her hand. "C'mon, daddy! He's waiting!"

They enter the front shop area with the check out counters and walls and displays full of tree ornaments, skirts, and other trappings, all of it glittering and sparkly. Aki gasps aloud.

It's so pretty and full of holiday spirit, even Atsumu grins as his eyes dart all over to take it all in. Then footsteps approach them from behind.

"Can I help you?" The voice is unfamiliar but Atsumu recognizes that scent--his /whole body/ reacts and he quickly whips around.

The sight of Shouyou after so many years steals his breath. He's taller now, lean muscled and /gorgeous,/ his hair gleaming like burnished copper and that smile--that smile still makes Atsumu's knees weak. Or maybe it's his scent, or maybe the fit of his thick flannel jacket and

darkwash jeans hugging muscled thighs and his big workboots, and--Atsumu swallows, the racing of his heart confirming what he was too young to understand back then.

Shouyou's smile falters and his eyes go misty, hands lifting towards Atsumu before he catches himself, hesitating.

"Ats-/Atsumu?/" he asks softly, brows lifted, hopeful. "Is that really you?"

Atsumu smiles, a lump in his throat. "'s me," he answers, stepping closer. He puts an arm around Aki, hugging her into his side. "It's /us/," he modifies. "Her name's Aki. Turned 9 in September."

Shouyou's eyes go wide, mouth opening and closing. Then he takes off his work gloves and holds out his hand to Aki. "Hi Aki, I'm Shouyou. So good to meet you."

"Nice ta meetcha," Aki replies, clasping Shouyou's hand. She grins, looking him up and down, delighted. "Finally!"

When they both laugh, Atsumu can sense their instant connection and his chest aches with joy. It's more than he could have hoped for and yet he also feels like it's his fault they didn't meet sooner. All the time they've lost as a family weighs heavily on his shoulders.

Without intending it to, Atsumu's scent changes to reflect his inner conflict. Aki looks up at him, worried. But Shouyou turns his soft, heartfelt smile on Atsumu and takes his hand too, squeezing it in his own. "I'm so glad you're here, Atsumu. Both of you."

There's such warmth there, freely offered and given, that Atsumu's eyes well up. Wordlessly, Shouyou draws them both in for a hug, and Atsumu sinks into his embrace, comforted by Shouyou's overjoyed scent and his strong arms, muscular from the labor of his work and sturdy enough

to support and protect them both. The three of them stand there a long, long time, content to hold each other. When they step apart, Shouyou strokes a hand over Aki's long auburn hair, and playfully tweaks her button nose, making her giggle.

He turns to Atsumu next,

taking both hands in his and kissing Atsumu's knuckles. He caresses Atsumu's face next, looking deeply into his eyes before pulling him close, arms twining in another hug. This time they scent each other and hold each other very close, sighing each other's names over and over.

Atsumu draws back. "Shouyou I--I didn't know, I didn't know /how--/"

"Shhh," Shouyou smiles, smoothing a thumb over Atsumu's lips. "It's fine now. No need to worry." He gently presses their foreheads together, and Atsumu takes a deep breath.

"So what do we do now?" he asks.

Shouyou considers this, head tilted. "How long can you stay?" he counters.

"We packed suitcases!" Aki chimes in, grinning from ear to ear just like her papa.

Shouyou nods. "Good! You're both welcome to stay with me as long as you like." He smiles at Atsumu. "We'll take our time

and figure out the rest."

Atsumu's heart swells full of the love and contentment radiating from his fated mate and from his daughter, echoing his relief and sincere happiness that all their Christmas wishes have finally come true.

🎄🍊🦊🍁🎄

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