Rufus approached Adi early that morning, taking her aside.

"Hey...Is...Is it okay if Mia comes over?"

"What? Rufus, she's my best friend. Of course it is."

"No, I mean...with...with Otis...I mean is he doing okay?"

"Yeah, he'll be okay. He knows Mia well enough."

He nodded.

Not much later, Mia strolled through the door. Adi squealed and grabbed her and hugged her.

"Oh my god! ADI! I'm so so glad to see you're okay!" She squeezed her.

"Agh! Mia!" She giggled.

They hugged each other for a long moment, leaving Rufus to stand awkwardly behind them.

When they finally broke away from each other, Mia turned to Rufus. "Hey, Russie." She hugged him, letting him scoop her up in his arms and kiss her.

"Good morning, my beautiful sunflower." He released Mia after a moment, setting her down on the ground.

"How...How's Otis?" Mia asked hesitantly, a hand on Rufus's arm.

"He's okay...He's doing better and better. He'll probably venture down here soon. Us squealing probably woke him up."

"He never sleeps this late." Mia whispered.

Adi chuckled. "He's still recovering a little bit. He works himself half to death with Rufus and then he'll sleep in the next day. He's trying to keep himself busy to block out whatever he's dealing with."

"Ohhh...Poor Otis..."

Adi sighed. "Yeah. He's...havin' a little bit of a hard time...But he's okay, I think."

"Addiiii?" Otis called down the stairs. "You...You okay?"

"Yeah, baby. I'm okay. Mia just came to visit."

"Oh, okay..."

"You should come down, sweetie."

"I am. I'll be down in a second."

"Ok handsome." She sighed. "Mia..." she whispered. "Do me a favor and don't say anything about the way he looks, okay?"

"Huh? O...Okay."

"I'll...I'll tell you about it some other time." Adi glanced at Rufus. She knew he wouldn't want the details.

After a few moments, Otis came down the stairs. Mia's jaw dropped and Adi had to step on her foot, reminding her of her warning.

"Hey, Otis." She approached him slowly to hug him, trying not to alarm him. Before he could stop himself, he flinched backward, but allowed her to hug him. "How're you doing?"

"I...I'm good...I'm good...How about you?"

"I'm fine, Otis. I'm just glad to see you guys are okay."

"Yeah...We are..." He glanced nervously at Adi.

Adi wrapped her arm around Otis's waist, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Hi, handsome."

"Hey, beautiful."

They sat in the living room and talked for a while. Mia curled up against Rufus, nestling into him. Otis pulled Adi against him, absentmindedly stroking her hair as they talked.

"We got anything today, Rufus?"

"Yeah, somethin', I'm sure."

"Well..."

"Otis, relax. We'll get to it. Cool it, man. Just chill a little while."

Adi looked back at Otis worriedly. She felt him shaking lightly against her. He was getting nervous. She reached up and stroked his face, relieved that he hadn't flinched that time. Sighing, he closed his eyes and kissed her head. She always brought him back down to earth, calmed him down.

It was around lunch time, and Adi's stomach rumbled. "Guys, I'm starving..."

"Alright. Well...We've got some stuff in the kitchen. Let's see." Rufus stood, picking Mia up and swaying with her to the kitchen.

Otis and Adi followed. They all got something to eat and sat down together. All except Otis.

"Babe...Don't you want anything?"

"N...No, I'm okay."

"Okay..." Adi ate, knowing any more attention called to him would make Otis agitated. When she had finished, she smirked at Mia. "You know what I want?"

"Ice Cream from the Frozen Lakes?"

"Yes!"

Otis and Rufus groaned.

"Fine. Don't go with us! We'll be back soon."

They hopped int he car and drove to the ice cream stand. Mia knew Adi had used it as an excuse to talk to her in private.

"So...Otis cut his hair, or...?" Mia said, licking her cone.

"No..." Adi explained what had happened. Mia knew they had been kidnapped, but not all the details."And...and now he even flinches with me...And he won't eat in front of you any more and he's so nervous and I...I don't know what to do anymore..."

"Wow...Sounds like they really did a number on him...But you...are you okay?"

"Yeah...I'm okay. Really, I am. He's been helping me through it."

"Sounds like you've been helping him and not dealing with what happened to you."

Adi sighed. "I'm...I'm just so worried about him. He's so disgusted with himself I worry what he would try to do to himself."

"Maybe if you let him help you through what you're going through he'll feel better. Y'know? Make him feel like he's useful again and like he's helping you."

"That's...That's a great idea, actually..."

"So...His hair, though."

"I know...I like it. I think it's cute. But he fucking HATES it, and I kind of do too, but only because I loved his long hair so, so much."

"If Russie cut his hair, I'd kill him."

"Yeah, but that would be different."

"I know...Awww, but he hates it?"

"Yeah...He hates the way he looks right now...A lot...He...He won't even look in the mirror half the time, Mia...That's how bad it is right now for him. I don't think he ever liked himself, but now it's really, really bad."

"Awww...You'll get him back on track. If anyone can it's you. But I think letting him help you will help a lot. You know...Leaning on him again will make him feel like the big strong man again."

"Yeah...Yeah, I get you. That's a great idea."

When they got back, Otis was slumbering on the couch. Mia quirked an eyebrow. He hadn't woken up that long ago.

"Did he eat anything after we left?" She asked.

"Yeah. He ate lunch, just what we had. Then he laid down and fell asleep...I don't think he's feelin' good today."

"No...I think you're right."

"I...I can leave, if..." Mia started.

"No, no. You're fine. I just think he's a little sore or didn't sleep well or something."

"Okay..."

Adi sat beside Otis on the couch. He whimpered in protest, curling into a tighter ball and fidgeting to get comfortable again. Rufus and Mia curled up on the love seat, snuggled against each other as they watched TV together.