Adi sighed as the phone rang and she crawled off of Otis, who grunted discontentedly. As she stood, he rolled over and groped her ass, earning a laugh and an eye roll.

"Hello? Oh, hi!"

Otis pulled her closer as she talked, kissing her hips gently.

"We're so excited to see you guys!...Uh huh...Yeah? Ok...What?"

He understood now. Her aunt. They were coming to visit with Joshie.

"W...What? What happened?"

As her tone changed, he pulled away to look at her face, catching her just in time to see her turn sheet white.

"N...No...No..."

He lay still as the conversation ended and she sat down beside him on the bed. "What's wrong, mama?"

"Well...They're still coming. But something...Happened to Joshie."

"Oh no." He sat up. "What? What happened?"

"Well...They...went on a school camping trip...A-and...He had the 'privilege' of sleeping in the teacher's tent because he had been so good that week...And..."

"And what?"

"Otis...They think it's a good idea for you to talk to him..."

"Why? About what?"

"They know you'll understand. You...He needs to talk to someone who's been through what he has...That should help..."

"Adi what happ-" Realization dawned on Otis's face as he did the mental math. "Oh god...No...God no please don't tell me."

Adi nodded. "He's...So scared right now. He doesn't...Really understand. He just knows..."

"Oh god...Oh god no...Not him..."

"Otis..."

"I should have talked with him about this. I should have told him..."

"No, honey...No. That's not your job." She sighed. "They'll be here Wednesday...Think you can spend some time just you and him?"

"If he's not too scared, of course. "

She nodded. God she hoped he could help.

As Joshie got out of the car to greet them, she noticed a marked difference. He was drawn in on himself. Wearing an oversized sweater to protect him from the world, carrying his teddy bear.

Otis crouched down to receive him, opening his arms for a hug. Wordlessly, Joshie curled into him, burying himself in Otis's body. Otis slowly stood, cradling him and holding him close. "I know buddy. I know..." Otis kissed the boy's forehead and Adi balked, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Come on. Let's go inside." She suggested, resting her hand on Otis's back and smiling sweetly at Joshie, who sheepishly smiled back.

Otis grunted. "You're getting too big for me to carry around, buddy." He stood Joshie beside him, reaching for his hand. Tears welled up in the little boy's eyes and he clamored for Otis desperately. "Ok, ok. Shh." He scooped Joshie into his arms around. "Don't cry. Don't cry. It's okay."

"He's been like this ever since..." His mother mourned. "He just...wants to be held all the time. And he can be fine and just start bawling and sobbing and I don't...I don't know what to do. He has horrible night terrors every night now. Wakes up screaming and crying."

"I know how that goes." She looked at Otis, currently, trying to calm Joshie, who was whimpering and shaking. He glared back. "I've been thrown out of bed many of times by a flailing husband."

"What do I do?"

Adi shrugged. "You just have to try and help them through it. Whatever they throw at you. They need you to know that you still love them. Even if they are scared. And even if they do catapult you out of bed at 3 am."

"Shhhh..." Otis soothed. Adi stood in awe. She had never seen him like this. Fatherly. Gentle. It made a part of her wish for children with him, seeing him with Joshie. It always had. But now it was more apparent. "I know buddy...It's okay."

Joshie whimpered and sniffled, finally calming himself.

"You look sleepy buddy. Are you tired?" Otis asked.

"Yeah..." He choked.

"Ok. How about you lay down for a nap then, huh? Come on. I'll get you set up in my bed alright?"

"Ok..."

The rest of the evening went on without much problem, except for a few moments where Joshie tugged on Otis's shirt and required soothing, but was relatively fine otherwise.

As Otis stumbled behind Adi into their bedroom that night, he grimaced, grabbing for his back. "Urgh...Kid's gettin' too big for that."

"You can tell him no, you know."

"No. I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I know exactly what he's going through. And I know what it's like to want that, ask for it, and get hit. I know what it's like to need something so simple that makes a world of difference, and you can't have it. I won't do that to him. He needs it right now, Adi. He's confused and scared and doesn't fully understand. I won't let him turn into me."

"Otis..."

"If I had had someone..." He sighed. "Nevermind."

"You're...You're so sweet and wonderful and Kind...I just wonder so much what you see when you look in the mirror." She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him.

"Mm..." He smirked. "How about a little more of that sugar, huh?"

"I think you worked for it today." She giggled.

It wasn't long until they were both naked, her kissing up and down his chest as he lie beneath her, growling and moaning in pleasure and appreciation at the sight before him.

"Do you want me, baby?" She purred.

"Nn...God, yes..." He answered, resting a hand on her back. "Always."

She straddled him, almost lowering herself onto him when she saw the presence beside them. "JOSHIE!"

"Don't hurt uncle Otis...Don't hurt him like that..."

"Holy fuckin' christ, kid..." Otis sighed, trying to get his heart to stop racing in his chest. "You scared the hell out of us."

"You're hurting him!"

"No, honey..." Adi looked desperately between the two of them, grappling for words.

"Look, buddy. I...I know it's hard to understand right now because of what you just went through...But when...You're with the right person and they do things LIKE that to you, and you WANT them to do it to you and you ASK them, it feels really, really good. Now...Adi and I are married. Married people like to do those things with each other because it feels good. It's not supposed to hurt. But you're not supposed to do it like it happened to you..."

"And to you..."

"Yes, and to me." Otis sighed. "But do you understand?"

"Kinda..."

"Ok..."

"Goodnight...I love you guys."

"Love you too, buddy." Otis called as he shut the door behind him.

"...Did Joshie just walk in on us having sex?"

"Yes. After he had been assaulted."

"Does that make us terrible people?"

"It makes us stupid people for not locking the door."

"You're right..."