"Dammit!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"What's wrong, Princess?" AJ looked out the door as I stood there with my foot in my hand.

"What the hell does it look like? The box fell on my damn foot!" It was the last thing that needed to go in the house... our house. On the outside, it was your typical house. Inside... it was what some would call 'creepy', 'disturbing', or even 'demented looking'. To us... it was our sanctuary. Our escape from the rest of the world. "Man in the Box" by Alice in Chains was blasting over the stereo, and AJ picked me up and carried me to our bedroom.

"Let me see your foot." He took off my shoe and sock. It looked pretty nasty. "Poor Princess." He kissed it, hoping it would feel better. "Does that help my baby feel better?"

"It does, my little Phenom." We smiled at each other. "You look so cute on your knees." The evil grin came across his lips.

"That's not the only thing I do on my knees..." I kicked him, but with my injured foot. Just another dumb moment of mine.

"Ow... I can't believe I did that. That reminds me. One time, Danny and I went to this little state fair, and we were playing that hammer game... baby?" AJ had this sad look on his face. "What's wrong?"

He sighed. "Nothing." He laid next to me on the bed.

"Does it bother you when I talk about Danny?" All he could do was look at the ceiling. "Does it, AJ?"

"Kinda. I mean, I know Danny's always going to be a part of your life, but still - "

"Baby, Danny's gone. Talking about him helps me remember the good times we had. It's not like I'm going to leave you for my dead husband." He finally looked at me and smiled. "I'm all yours now, oh mighty Phenomenal one." He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me. My cell phone rang. "Dammit again." I pick it up. "Hello?"

"Adriane? What did I see on TV three days ago?"

"Jennifer? Is that you?"

"Yeah it's me. What the fuck was that?"

"Who is it, baby?" AJ asked me.

"It's Jennifer Nydia. Danny's sister." I turned my attention back to the phone. "How are you doing?"

"Don't try to change the subject! Why did you do that?"

"Look, I thought you were into blood and guts. I figured I knew you'd kick out of it."

"It wasn't that. You kissed someone who isn't my brother."

"Jen, if Danny were still alive, I wouldn't have kissed AJ on national TV. Don't get me wrong, I miss Danny, and I always will. But I have to move on with my life. AJ is the only man who can make me happy these days, and I love him. You know that this was what Danny wanted. He would want us to do whatever it took to make ourselves happy again. You know that Danny can never be replaced."

"It looks like you're replacing him. Listen, Adriane. You're still my sister. I just want you to still be a part of our family."

"I always will be, Jen. There's plenty of me to go around, I promise."

"Mom and Dad say hi. Listen, I have to go, but I'll be in touch."

"Ok. Tell everyone I said hi. Okay bye."

"Bye, Sis." I hung up the phone, and turned to AJ.

"Is everything okay, Princess?" I laid my head on his chest.

"Yeah. I love you, Allen."

"Love you too, Adriane." I fell asleep in his arms, on our brand new bed, in our own house. Liberation can be so sweet, and so bitter, too.