"How's Kenny's place?" Cartman inquired that Sunday.

"Oh Eric, you'll love it!" his mother cut in, gushing. She had picked Butters up at his new place and demanded a tour.

"I better, since I'll be living there once I'm out," he replied, smirking at his mother's expression.

"Oh! Well…then I suppose I'll start packing some of your things and moving them," she said, quickly recovering. "If that's all right Butters dear?"

"Y…yes, ma'am," Butters stammered.

"Glad you approve, Mom," Cartman said quietly.

Mrs. Cartman smiled gently at her son. "Honey of course I do! Clearly you two are close or you would never be in here! I approve wholeheartedly, dear. I know you'll be perfectly fine there, you're my brilliant, brave, perfect little sweetums."

"Mom shut up," Cartman growled halfheartedly.

His mother sniffled and blew her nose. "Anyway," she said, smiling hugely. "I have the best news! Your parole officer tells me you're on track for an early release!"

"Really?" Cartman asked.

"Yes! He said that not only are the extenuating circumstances of your imprisonment being considered in the decision, but apparently you are a model prisoner. He said you should be up for parole in another two to four months. Unfortunately, I spoke to your school earlier this week. They said that they had no choice but to expel you and there's no chance of you graduating there." She looked remorseful.

"Doesn't matter," Cartman said, saving a hand dismissively. "I can get my GED. And my record will be sealed on my eighteenth birthday so college won't be a problem."

"Oh, that's my smart boy!"

"Mooooooom…"

Butters tried to hide his grin. He had been worried about Cartman's reaction to his expulsion but he should have known Cartman wouldn't care.

Liane excused herself so the boys could have some time to themselves before they had to leave.

"So, there's room for both of us in that bedroom, right?" Cartman asked once she was out of earshot.

"Yes, Eric. And Mr. Al gave me a job so ah can save up for a bigger bed." Butters blushed at Cartman's lecherous smile. "He said that he'll only schedule me on weekdays so ah can still come and visit every weekend. And he said when ya get out he wants ya to come by and pick out a cat, no adoption fee."

Cartman smiled. "That's awesome. I miss having a cat. Hard to believe Mr. Kitty's been gone three years already. Kenny's cool with a pet?"

"Yeah! He wasn't too happy about me getting a job, boy howdy, but ah know he appreciates the help with the bills. Ah didn't know how much groceries actually cost!"

Cartman laughed. "I saw our electric bill one month and told my mom to stop giving me an allowance. Being an adult sucks. Anyway, Mr. Slave came by yesterday and told me he'd give me a job as a busboy at his club once I'm out. Not the most glamourous job but I'll take it. Kenny tries and tells me not to, I'll shove the damn money down his throat. He's taking care of you, he'll shut up and take my money."

Butters blushed a deep crimson. Cartman saw this and smirked.

"What, you think I wouldn't be appreciative? Hell no, I'm grateful as fuck you're taken care of until I can take care of you. You'll never hear me say thank you though. That's for your ears alone."

Butters was almost certain marshmallows could be roasted on his cheeks at this point.

"How're the nightmares?" Cartman asked abruptly, switching topics without warning.

"Ah'm…ah'm getting better," Butters muttered. Cartman scowled.

"Don't lie to me. I saw Kenny and Stan yesterday and they're coming back next week too. They'll tell me if you don't and I'll be pissed if you're lying."

"All right! Ah'm still having nightmares. But ah'm getting better Eric! Ah swear!" He didn't tell him Kenny had woken him up twice in the past week from his nightmares. When he had first moved in, it had been nearly every night so it wasn't really a lie.

"Tell me," Cartman ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

"Ah haven't had one about that day in a while," Butters admitted. "Now they're…well they're about ya. Getting hurt, ah mean."

Cartman was silent for a long while, then took hold of one of Butters' fidgeting hands and laced their fingers together.

"Ah think they'll only stop once yer home," Butters whispered. "Ah'm just so worried about ya."

"You really don't have to be. I told you, I'm the big cheese here. Everyone knows I'm in for murder but they don't know it was in defense. So, they don't fuck with me."

"Still…" Butters murmured.

Cartman sighed and squeezed Butters' hand. "I'll be home soon enough if what my mom said is true."

Butters smiled happily and hugged Cartman goodbye as the guard ended visiting hours.

"Ah'll see you next week, Eric," he told him and blushed again when Cartman kissed his cheek in response.

Liane met him outside. "We'll make a quick stop at my house, I hope you don't mind," she said as they buckled themselves in. "I saw the state of your refrigerator and I insist on you taking home some food." She waved off his protests with an airy hand. "Nonsense. You two are growing boys, you need real food, not just hot pockets. Besides, if my mother's intuition is correct, you'll be my son-in-law soon enough and I don't let family starve," she winked.

"Wh-what?"

"Oh hush, I saw the way you and Eric were looking at each other. I couldn't be happier he finally pulled his head out his ass and told you how he felt." Butters stared at her, never having heard her curse before. She smirked at him and he saw her resemblance to her son for the first time. "Oh yes, I've known for years. Which is why I'm not upset my baby won't be moving back in. Disappointed, yes, but more overjoyed than I can say. Now," she said as they parked in her garage, "you head to Eric's room and start packing while I gather the food."

"Good gods," Kenny muttered as he opened their fridge that evening. "There's a whole fucking turkey in here."

"Mrs. Cartman wouldn't take no for an answer," Butters told him as Kenny cracked open a soda.

"Liane made this shit? Fuck yes," his friend said as he ripped off a turkey leg and dug in. "Woman knows how to cook."

"She said she'd start dropping off more of Eric's things next week."

Kenny nodded in agreement. "I'll leave the set up to you. Though, ask Cartman if we can use his TV and consoles while he's locked up. His stuff's better than mine."

"He won't say no," Butters chuckled. "He said he'd deny it if asked but he's very grateful yer taking care of me and he says he'll pay rent and if ya say no he'll hurt ya."

"Fucking demanding punkass bitch," Kenny growled, dropping the now empty soda can and turkey bone in the garbage. "See if I fucking let him pay for shit. I don't even know why I'm letting you pay for shit."

"Because it means ya have a night off every week if ah do," Butters replied sweetly, laughing at Kenny's glare.

Kenny scratched under his tank top with a yawn. "Well fuck both of you. I look forward to beating him into the dirt he tries to give me so much as a quarter. You said he's up for early release?" Butters nodded and Kenny grimaced. "I better start working out more then. He's probably ripped at this point, nothing else to do in jail."

Butters thought about Cartman's muscular arms in his orange jumpsuit and blushed.

Kenny chuckled. "I'll take that as a 'yes he is, boy howdy.' I'm heading to bed, text Liane and tell her thanks for the grub." He took a tub of potato salad with him and Butters laughed as he heard the door close and Kenny exclaim a muffled, "Oh fuck yes."