Otis learned to be less insecure about the hold he had on Adi- she wasn't trying to go anywhere. She wasn't going to leave at any turn. She was there for the long haul.

She stayed that night at the Firefly household, to ensure that Otis was alright.

"I love you..." She murmured, stroking his hair.

"You'll learn not to." He replied.

"What? Otis, stop. Don't you know you are worth loving? That you are an amazing person?" She sighed, nuzzling into his chest. "Someday, you'll believe me. I'll just have to keep telling you."

He smiled softly, kissing her forehead and sighing against her cool skin. "I..."

Her heart pounded. Was he about to say that he loved her?

"Mm..." He trailed off, squeezing her tighter. It didn't matter that the words hadn't formed themselves on his tongue. She knew they were there.

She rolled over on top of him, peppering his face with kisses.

"Augh! Stop! I can't breathe!" He protested.

"I love you." She said, looking deeply into his eyes. A slow smile spread across his face. He loved her, too. He just couldn't make his mouth form the words. Those words were dangerous to him. Put him at too much of a risk for being hurt.

Weeks passed, and Otis still couldn't find it in him to say those three words. For a man so fearsome and strong, it bothered him immensely that three little words could be so intimidating to him.

It was storming that night, he noted. He wished he had a phone so Adi could let him know that she had gotten back to her apartment safely. But she was from the north, he reasoned. She was probably better at driving in bad weather than he was.

The door crashed open and he jumped in his seat. Adi stood, in the doorway, drenched and shaking.

"Adi!" He bolted to her, almost skidding in the water she had splashed in with her. She clung to him desperately, and he knew with the force that she drug him to her, something was wrong.

It wasn't until a few moments passed that he realized she was shaking, not just shivering.

"Mama? Hey, mama it's okay. It's okay..."

Baby stared at him questioningly. He shook his head- he had no idea what had happened.

"What's wrong, babygirl? You afraid of a little thunder and lightning?" He tipped her chin up to look him in the eye, and noticed the blood stain across her face. "Adi!?"

He jerked away from her, stumbling and slipping on that fucking water she had brought in, falling on his ass. Blood stained her clothes, and now his, too.

"Are you okay?! Baby!? Answer me!" He struggled to his feet, taking her shoulders in his hands. She seemed so small, so withered. It scared the hell out of him.

She began to sob, but nodded.

"Is this blood yours?"

She shook her head, and he sighed in relief.

"Okay. Let's...get you sorted out." He scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, placing her at the center of his room. "I think you should get a nice hot shower..."

Finally settling herself, she spoke. "I'm fine, Otis..."

"Yeah, ya really seem it."

That adorable angry glare and a fist to the ribs got his attention.

"Oof...Hey, now. I was being nice..."

She wordlessly slid her rain slicker off, letting it drop to the floor. With horror, his eyes traced her figure. Her clothes were torn at, and scratch marks decorated her chest.

"Shit...Adi, what happened?"

"Two assholes grabbed a hold of me in the parking lot. Tried to strip me down. Take me for their own..." She swallowed heavily. "I dropped their asses. One in the throat and one in the lungs. He died a more painful death..."

Rage built in Otis's stomach. Someone had tried to take his Adi away from him. Someone had tried to take that happiness from him that he had worked so hard to build. He was furious, but also proud. His baby girl had certainly proven herself to be a Firefly girl.

"Mama-"

"I said I'm fine, Otis!" She snapped. "Nothing like you went through. I'm fine."

"Hey, just cuz I went through all that stuff doesn't mean what happened to you isn't bad..." He murmured.

She sighed, pausing, then nodded. "...I think I'm going to take you up on that shower..."

"Okay." He stepped away from her, sitting on his bed.

"Uhm...I...don't want to be alone...Please don't make me be..."

"I won't...You want me to shower with you?"

"That...That would be great..."

They stripped and showered under the warm water; Otis couldn't keep his hands off of her. He didn't make any advances, though, he simply held her body against his, letting her do as she pleased. She huddled into him, leaving a few kisses on his chest.

"I love you..." She whispered. He kissed her lightly, with more tenderness than he knew he possessed. He stared down at her, such a beautiful angel of a woman, and she was his. His heart raced- even looking as fearful as she did, like an innocent animal peering up at him with eyes quivering with tears, she was immaculate. He swallowed heavily as he stared down at her naked, wet body pressed against his. She simply smiled slightly at him, and rested her head on his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.

She finished, exiting the warm sanctuary of the shower and drying herself off.

"Shit. I don't have any pajamas..."

He snorted. "Don't have to wear anything when you're sleepin' with me, mama."

"Otis...I don't want to have sex tonight..." She said, sounding exhausted.

"Don't have to." He answered, lightly resting his hand on her back.

"I'm not giving you a blowjob, either." She said, deadpanning.

"Adi. I know you're tired. I know you're still scared, whether you're trying to play it off or not."

"...How did you know that?"

"I can smell it."

A chill ran up her spine. She knew Otis killed people, but she often forgot. In moments like that, she was keenly reminded.

"Come on." He took her hand, leading her to the bed.

"If I'm sleeping naked, you have to too..."

"Feelin' vulnerable?"

"How can you do that? I hate that..." She sighed. "Yeah. And I'm sick of it already. So you have to, too."

"Alright." He lay down beside her, holding her close.

She began to sob, alarming him. He had fucked up- he would lose her. "What'd I do?" He asked, panicked.

"I don't want to live alone anymore, Otis...I'm...I'm so scared..."

He sighed in somewhat relief, pulling her closer. "Shhh...Okay, okay...You...You don't have to...You can just...You can move in here. Mama'll be overjoyed..." He hesitated.

"I...A...Are you ready f...for that?" She sniffed.

"What do you mean? In our relationship?" He snorted again. "Woman... You're crazy. We'll start packing up your stuff tomorrow, alright?"

She nodded. "Okay..."

"You're alright, mama. Just settle down, now." He murmured, stroking her hair. "Everything's gonna be alright."

She sniveled, looking up at him. He kissed her forehead. "Shhh...I'm right here, mama."

She eventually settled herself down enough to sleep, curling up to him as tightly as she could.

The next morning, when her eyes cracked open, she was surprised to still find him slumbering. He was almost always awake before she was. He looked so peaceful- she had always noticed that even when he was asleep, he looked worried or angry, but he was entirely relaxed- except for his fingers. One of his hands was resting on his stomach- it had been on her, but had wandered- his other was in the small of her back, fingers twitching, as if he was trying to stroke her back in his sleep.

"Baby..." She murmured into his chest, smiling up at him. She had to squash the urge to stroke his face- stubble had grown in on his cheeks and jaw over night, but she didn't want to disturb him. She knew that sleep didn't come easily, nor did it come every night for him.

"Mm..." he grumbled, eyebrows knitting together.

"Ohh, baby no..." She watched him fuss for a while, then settle again.

She let him sleep long into the morning, until she finally had to stir- she was getting restless and stiff.

"Nnn...What time is it?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.

"10..." She murmured.

"What?!" He sat up. "why'd you let me sleep that long?"

"You were so peaceful, baby..."

He let a small smile grow on his features. "Yeah, well...Some things on my mind lately..." He sighed in contentment as she straddled him, letting her hands roam his chest as she gazed lovingly down at him. "Been laid to rest."

"Oh, yeah?" She smirked, leaning down to kiss him. "Would any of that have to do with me?"

He chuckled in response. "Maybe." He admitted, crimson eyes glittering.

"Like what?" She asked, cocking her head.

One look from him said it all. He was afraid of her leaving him.

"When...I asked you that last night...That was...That wasn't me offering...Because I felt bad...That...That was me asking you to stay." He swallowed heavily, looking into her eyes with great anticipation. "And I was so afraid you would say 'no' and shrug it off."

"Otis...You stop that."

"What?"

"Being so worried that I'm going to leave you at any turn."

"I'm tryin'. I'm tryin'."