"The nerves just melted away, huh?"

Steve hovered above Olivia, kissing her neck as their bodies moved together with only a sheet covering them. "Oh, yeah. I'm a long way from nervous now."

Olivia sighed with pleasure as Steve loved her, each of his actions slow and deliberate. "I'm ready when you are."

Steve continued to kiss Olivia all over, experiencing sensations he'd once feared would eternally be a source of confusion. His attention fully on his wife, he then did what he'd wanted to for the last few years, this blessed act making their union whole and complete.

"Hey, what's up, man? I brought you some lunch."

Soda had just clocked out for his break when Steve showed up at the service center he now managed. "Hey, Stevie. Just a day at work. What'd you bring me?"

Steve carried two styrofoam cartons and a pair of drinks as he led Soda out to the back. "Oh, nothing much. Just some barbecue chicken and baked potatoes."

Soda began digging in almost instantly as he and Steve settled outside. "Aw, just what I like. You even got me sour cream. What's the occasion? I thought you'd be at the hospital most of the day."

"I was just there, but I wanted to come have lunch with you. Liv is having lunch with Mallory too."

"How is your dad today anyway? You seem like you're in good spirits."

"He's pretty good, I think. It looks like he'll be able to move out of intensive care by Wednesday."

"That's great, buddy. He'll be packin' up to head home before you know it."

"Yeah, I hope so." Steve spent a little bit of time just eating the food he'd brought to share before he moved on to the subject he actually wanted to get into with his friend. "Last night, Liv and I, well, we had sex."

"Okay. So how'd you do?" Realizing how the question had come out, Soda's face turned red as he backtracked. "Damn. That didn't sound right. I mean, were you good? Man, that was even worse."

Steve burst out laughing as Soda's face got redder, putting a reassuring hand on his friend's back. "It's all right, man. I get what you're trying to ask me."

"Thank God. 'Cause I just keep gettin' the words wrong and embarrassin' myself."

"Hey, we've all been there, buddy. Anyway, everything was fine. I didn't have a flashback."

"I'm so happy for you, Stevie."

A mischievous grin crossed Steve's face as he decided to tease his friend. "And, if you ask me, I think I was damn good, if you catch my drift."

"Oh, I caught it all right, and I don't need it in graphic detail." Soda paused, his face then breaking into the same type of grin. "Unless, of course, you want to hear the graphic details about me and Mallory."

"No, thanks. I think I get the picture already. Man, we're like two teenagers in on a bull session again. With one big difference, of course."

"And that is?"

"Well, a bull session must be called that for a reason, right? It's full of bullshit, at least to a degree. But us now, we're just being real with one another."

"Yeah. There's nothin' like two grown men talkin' 'bout their sex lives over lunch. It sure ain't like teenage boys braggin' up a storm just to try to make themselves look good."

"And probably failing badly, at that. I didn't only bring you lunch to tell you about last night either. I also wanted to say thanks for how much you've done for me these past couple of days. I couldn't get through this without you, buddy, and I know I've been a handful to deal with lately. I hate being like that, but I guess I can't help it."

Soda took a moment to wipe his face and hands with a napkin before he touched Steve's shoulder, making the other man's eyes meet his own. "I know you can't, Stevie. It's okay to be a handful sometimes 'cause that's where we get our best chances to lean on each other. Those kinds of times are what friendship is all about. Especially one like ours."

Steve found himself nodding as he thought of every circumstance which had led Soda to draw that conclusion, each trial the two had faced together always made at least a little bit lighter.

Soda nudged Steve, hoping to bring him out of the thoughts he knew could wander too far. "Hey, don't go checkin' out on me again, man. I've gotta admit, seein' you like that yesterday was kinda scary."

"Don't worry. I'm not. I did take everything you said to heart, by the way. And I forgave you."

"Well, of course you did. I could tell."

"I figured that. But still. I wanted to say it 'cause we never know, right? We never know when tragedy is right around the corner, just waiting to strike."

"No. I suppose we don't. Which is somethin' both of us have known for quite a while now. I barely remember not knowin'."

Steve noticed the tone of Soda's voice, realizing easily where his best friend's musings must be taking him. "Yeah. Me neither." He then looked down at their lunch, remembering the spirit with which he'd shown up unexpectedly, his only intention to share some news and appreciation. "Damn. I didn't mean for this to end up getting so serious. I just wanted to tell you about Liv and me and make sure you know a couple of things."

"Aw, it's par for the course, Stevie. That's somethin' else we both know by now. We can make anything into a deep conversation. We don't even gotta try. It just happens."

Steve decided to shift the subject a little bit as he took in the calming atmosphere that existed behind the shop. "Do you know what I love the most about you?"

Soda's face broke out in the biggest grin he could muster. "My award winning smile?"

"Nice one. While that's definitely at the top of the list, what I really love most is how you can always help me with my perspective. Like putting a positive spin or just one that paints things in a better light than I could see at first."

"I do that?"

"Absolutely. It comes natural for you, buddy. When I'm all over the place and taking too many turns, you always have a way of setting me straight."

"Daddy, can I go see Uncle Nicholas too?"

Samuel sat at the table with Emily as he looked over one of her last math assignments for her third-grade year. "I'm afraid you can't yet, sweetheart. Kids aren't allowed in the CCU because it's part of intensive care."

Emily moved on to her language arts homework, her attention now split between a review of parts of speech and the conversation with her dad. "What does 'intensive' mean? It sounds scary."

"It can be scary, but for Uncle Nicholas, it just means he's getting a lot of help and care that he really needs right now."

"Would he die if he didn't have it?"

Samuel noticed how at ease Emily appeared to be with the question, her voice taking on such an everyday tone that he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or concerned. "Um, maybe. Because he wouldn't have everything he needs to make sure he recovers completely. I'll take you to visit him once he's moved out of the CCU though. I know he'd love to see you."

"Can I make him a card?"

"Of course. He could use lots of get well wishes."

Emily's pencil made marks and circles on the paper, then paused as she looked up at Samuel. "Have you ever been in the hospital, Daddy?"

Samuel could almost feel the innocence radiating off his daughter as he tried to decide how to tread the line between an honest answer and too much information. "Yes. I have. But it was a very long time ago."

"What happened? Were you sick?"

"Um, yes, I guess you can say I was. I was so sad about your brother dying that I didn't take care of myself in the best way. I needed the hospital to help take care of me for a little bit so I could get better."

"Oh. Do you still get sad about my brother? Do you miss him a lot?"

"Yes. Of course I do. I'll always miss him. But I don't get as sad as I did back then."

"Are you sad about Uncle Nicholas being sick?"

"Not as much as I was at first. It helped a lot to see him and to know he's going to be okay."

"What about Uncle Steve? Is he sad?"

Samuel chuckled, realizing Emily's string of questions would probably prove to be endless. "Yes. Everyone who loves Uncle Nicholas has been sad that he had a heart attack, but do you know what else that means?"

"What?"

"It means we also get to be happy to see him pulling through, and the sadness makes the joy twice as sweet."

"It's okay if you need to get some sleep, Dad. You don't have to entertain me or anything."

Nicholas held his eyes open as Steve encouraged him to rest, wishing he had more energy, even though he realized that would take time. "I know, Son. I just like being with you and talking to you. It reminds me there's hope."

Steve wasn't sure how to take Nicholas' words, mindful of the fact that his dad remained in a critical stage of recovery, each moment building on the last. "Of course there is. You're going to be just fine. Feeling tired is normal."

Nicholas allowed his eyes to close, continuing to feel Steve's presence at his side as he let himself drift off to sleep.

Steve was still for a while as he watched Nicholas' natural movements and listened to the breathing that accompanied them. He found himself falling deep into thought, remembering how their relationship had once been so very troubled, the most painful events in his life ironically becoming the vessel that would change things for the best. It feels so long ago, Steve thought. That time feels so far away, but it's constantly part of me. It made us the father and son we are.

"Do you want to come and take a walk with me while he sleeps?"

Steve wasn't aware of how much he'd begun to be absorbed by his own reflections until Olivia appeared at his side, her voice bringing him back to the present. "Sure. We can do that. I need to stop thinking so hard anyway." He started to follow his wife out of the room, one last look at Nicholas making him linger for a few moments in search of bountiful reassurance and peace.

Olivia slipped her arm around Steve's waist as she gave him what little she could. "He'll still be right here when you get back. He's stable and well taken care of."

Steve took the words right to heart, hearing them as a reminder of what he already knew. He then left the room with Olivia, the two venturing down the hall in a silence that could only be comfortable between those who know each other well. It wasn't until the pair had made it outside that Steve felt the familiar pull he'd once been so accustomed to dealing with, his memories gripping him fiercely as they took him back to the terror of abuse: Please stop. I promise I won't tell. Just leave me alone.

Olivia remained unaware initially, her mind somewhere else entirely until she felt Steve's steps come to a stop. She then looked at his face, the stress and emotions visible. "Are you okay, babe? What's wrong?"

Just go away. Stop hurting me. I don't want to. Steve heard the voice of his childhood as he also felt Clara's hands, the cold sensation leading him to pull away from Olivia. What's wrong with me? I don't want Dad to be mad. It must be my fault.

Olivia followed Steve to the center of the courtyard, remaining close by as he knelt down near the fountain. She noticed how her husband seemed to be intently focused on the water, his hands brushing along the grass. She could also see his lips moving, the only resulting sound a very faint whisper. "Are you having a flashback?"

Steve wished in vain to be somewhere else as he battled the memories, reminding himself that the only way past them was through. "Yeah. It- it just came out of nowhere. Well, not really. With the stuff I've been thinking about lately, it's probably no wonder."

"Tell me when it's okay for me to touch you again. I want you to always be comfortable when I do."

Steve could've laughed and cried at the same time as Olivia's words touched his heart, his arm then reaching out to draw her closer. "I'm sorry I pulled away like that. It just hit me really hard for a minute there."

"That's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. I know how this can be for you."

Steve stared at the water, remembering the times in the past when he'd done the same, those moments often coated with a helplessness he definitely didn't feel anymore. "I hate how those memories can still wreck me on the inside. It was so long ago, but that hasn't changed. I can feel her touching me and remember how I felt like it all just happened yesterday."

"Well, of course I came by to visit you tonight. I've gotta see for myself how you're doin'."

Nicholas was once again sitting up in the arm chair near the side of his bed as Soda sauntered in, the younger man's grin making him smile as well. "I'm okay, Sodapop. Ready to get out of this room though."

Soda could empathize with that feeling as he pulled a chair up beside Nicholas. "I know what you mean. Kind of, at least. Since I've never had to stay in the hospital as long as you'll have to. Sure wasn't in bed for three days either."

The thought made Nicholas chuckle, having known Soda for enough years that he could predict the outcome of such a circumstance. "They would have to tie you down to keep you off your feet for this long."

"You ain't kiddin'. When I was in the hospital for just a few days, I was wanderin' around the building still attached to my IV pole."

"I remember that. You were beyond restless all right. So, uh, maybe I should be asking my son this directly, but how is he doing? I can't see him being too upfront with me while I'm still in here, and I think you'd know better than anyone else."

"He's doin' okay. Honestly, I was worried about him for a little bit there, but I'm not anymore. What happened with you hit him real hard, and you know how it gets for Steve with the way things connect to each other. Anything that hurts him ripples into somethin' else."

Nicholas knew very well what Soda meant, having witnessed his son's reactions many times over the years. "He can be too insightful, can't he? Can I tell you something that's rather personal? And, actually, ask a question too?"

Soda didn't hesitate with his answer, his hand reaching to cover Nicholas' when he felt the change in the other man's demeanor. "Of course. Anything you want to say, I'm all ears."

"So, I've had a lot of time to think lately. Maybe even too much. I've obviously thought of death and what it would mean, and you'd think I'd be most concerned about my wife. But Audrey had a life and everything before we met. Steve is the one who bothers me because he's my child, and we've never been without each other."

"I ain't surprised at all that you'd think of him first. Even now, with him bein' a married man, ya'll are just as important to one another. He's your kid, so it makes sense that you want to be here with him."

Nicholas wondered very briefly if he should even be having this conversation with Soda, afraid that the topic could become too heavy for his son's best friend. Yet, he pressed on anyway, aware of how high the stakes could become if any words were left unsaid. "Sodapop, will you please promise me that you'll take care of my son when I'm gone? I realize he's married now and has Liv by his side, but you know him in a way no one else ever can because you've been close to him for so many years. It's simply impossible for someone else to turn back the clock and be where you've been with Steve. Maybe I'm not going anywhere now or even anytime soon, but I need to know that, when my time comes, he'll still have someone who knows everything about what he's had to face in his life."

Soda felt himself begin to get choked up, the tears in his eyes making him realize that no one had seen him cry in the last two days despite the fact that he had certainly done so. "He's my brother, Nicholas. I'll always be there for him. I swear to you that Steve won't ever be alone. I'm not sure how much I can do as far as easing your mind. But I love both of ya'll to the moon and back, so I hope my promise is enough to at least help you start gettin' there."

"It is. Just hearing you say it helps. Though it's not like you told me anything I haven't known for over a decade now."

Soda gave Nicholas' hand a squeeze. "It's all right to need some extra support. It's different too 'cause we've never talked about such a specific time before. I ain't your kid, but it hurts me to think about you bein' gone. It's not somethin' I want to consider, but-"

"Hey. You two look like you're deep in conversation. What did I miss?"

At the sound of Steve's voice, Nicholas' gaze moved away from Soda, landing on his son, who had just entered the room. "Not too much, Son. We've just been talking."

Soda agreed with Nicholas, though part of him was still reeling from the conversation they'd been sharing as he felt the atmosphere shift. "Yeah, buddy. Me and your dad have heart-to-hearts now too."

Steve looked between his dad and best friend, searching the faces of the two most important men in his life. "Both of you look like you've been crying. Or close to it anyway. Is everything okay?"

Nicholas held a hand out to Steve, who came closer. He then put one arm around the son of his blood and the other around the man who had become a son of his heart, holding each one dearly. "Yes, everything is okay. In fact, for me, it's just about perfect."