A/N: While editing this on-stream with the help of my sister, I've come to realize what an absolute garbage fire the previous chapters were. We're currently in the process of re-editing chapter 1, but I won't update with the edits because I do plan to file the serial numbers off this and have it professionally published. But when I do that, it has to look… like something Oscar the Grouch doesn't use to wipe his bunghole.

Twitch streaming has moved to Sundays or Mondays—whenever both my sister and I feel like streaming—and we have to cut the stream when we reach anything salacious.

By the way, in case you wanted to know, I (littlen00bgyn) write Trent, Nathaniel, Josh, Bethany, Sebastian, and a few NPCs (or background characters). My co-writer (Rebecca Butler) wrote Rebecca, George, Greg, Paula, and some upcoming OC's. I came up with the concepts of Cat and Annmarie, but Bex ultimately took over writing them. Cope.

Chapter 25: A Dangerous Mind

Rebecca nearly jumped as her phone rang. She pulled it out and sighed softly. "Crap! Paula." She sent the call to voicemail, as being with Trent was more important, but it rang and vibrated again a second time. She leaned up to kiss Trent, then whispered, "I'll be right back" as she went out into the hallway to answer it.

"Yes, Paula?"

"Are you alright?" Paula asked.

"I'm alright. Trent's dad just died. Heart attack. And meeting part of his family hasn't gone exactly like I had hoped. But his mother is LOVELY!" she replied.

"Ohhhh honey, I am so sorry. Send Trent my condolences. I will make this quick then. You know George, from the office? He and Nathaniel are…well…kind of a thing now?" Paula tried to keep her voice down. "He came in to ask Nathaniel if there was anything he needed for his day and Nathaniel dismissed Darryl from the office, but we both listened at the door, and plainly heard him ask George if he wanted to be friends with benefits. Then this package arrived, full of sex stuff! George tried to hide it, but I saw it! Can you believe it!" Paula spilled it all out in a fast rush.

"What? What?" Rebecca shook her head, trying to keep up. "GEORGE? From work? George and Nathaniel?!" She wrinkled her nose. "Look, I promise to call back later when I can. But I gotta go."

"Yeah, you get back to your man and cheer him up. Give Trent my best and tell him I am sorry."

"I will. Bye."

Trent overheard Rebecca's side of the conversation. It amused him, but you wouldn't tell just by looking at him. So, Nathaniel was warming up to George, then, or trying to.

Rebecca returned to Trent's side. "Paula says to tell you hi, and that she is sorry for your loss." Rebecca kissed his cheek.

He smiled. "Tell her hi from me, and thanks," he said.

xoxo

Cat, feeling very unsure about anything for the first time, had grabbed her phone and walked into the hallway, the same time Rebecca had come back and without thinking, dialed Nate's number. She needed to hear his voice. "Come on...Please pick up, Nate..."

Nathaniel had his back to the door and was contemplating that dildo again. He had unwrapped it and was examining it with his eyes and his hands. The texture was perfectly lifelike. Damn.

When his cell phone rang, he picked it up immediately when he saw who it was.

"Hey," he said. "How's your dad? Is everything okay?"

"Ohhhh...Nate..." Cat couldn't help it, but at the sound of his voice, she just broke down again. Tears fell from her eyes for a second time even as she tried to control herself. "He's...he's gone... He was fine one moment, and then the next, he was gone. Another fatal heart attack. He looked awful when we went in to see him...but I didn't think he would...Ohhh Nate, I am sorry. I called you at work..." Cat sniffed. "I just didn't know what else to do. I had to talk to you...I am sorry."

"Hey, it's okay," Nate said. "I'm here for you, whenever you need me. It's a slow day today, anyway. Is there anything I can do for you right now? I can sit here and listen for as long as you need." Nate remembered when his nanny had died and the only person he had had to talk to was Heather, who hadn't understood at first. If Cat was calling him, he guessed that meant her own mother and brother weren't being much help, or were probably grieving in their own way.

"I am okay, I guess. I just...had a mild panic attack for a moment, and couldn't function. Thanks, though. Hearing your voice really helps." She sniffed as she felt herself calm down more. "He wasn't much of a dad, but he was the only one I had, ya know? He wasn't very nice to Rebecca either, and said some pretty crass things about her and my Aunt. He wasn't a good person for emotion, but he didn't have to be so rude either." She rubbed her eyes. "Thanks for listening though; it really helps. I really miss you and hope you are doing ok. How is your day?" She tried to turn the conversation into something normal. "I should be back sometime tomorrow unless they decide to have the actual funeral. I have no idea how this is going to go. It was only supposed to be a day trip..."

Nathaniel was pleased that he could be of help. And he could guess how she felt. He had been devastated when his nanny had died, and he had loved her. As for his father, both his father and grandfather were still going strong, but if either of them died, he would probably feel completely lost.

"I'm here for you anytime," he repeated sincerely. "I'm sorry, Cat. This must feel very complicated for you. And whatever you're feeling, it's okay. To feel it. I miss you too.

"My day is... Interesting so far. I talked to George and we're going to try being friends with benefits. I also got a really weird delivery. Bedroom stuff. Must be the universe telling me to go for it," he joked. "Most of it is stuff we can use together, but... I think some things are just for me."

Cat giggled. "That sounds...interesting. Hope you two have fun. Don't wear each other out, now, though. Save some of you for me for when I get back," she teased with another laugh. Talking to Nate had helped.

"There's always enough of me for you. Theoretically," Nate joked. He and Cat hadn't gotten to that point yet. Was it too soon? She seemed so ethereal that it was hard to imagine her in a sexual way.

"Perhaps we could use some of it, sometime?" she asked, wickedly playful as she leaned into the phone. "I can be one scary, scary, sexy minx," she whispered seductively to him.

"Oh really?" Nathaniel asked. "Scary like a minx and sexy like a sexy minx, huh? I see you and Rebecca must be getting along well."

"Handsome, I got to go, doctors are leaving the room and I wanna catch one of them. I will text or call back later. I miss and love you..." So saying she hung up, not realizing that she had just told Nathaniel that she loved him.

He barely had time to stutter out, "Uh— uh, yeah, I... Ditto!" before the call dropped.

She loved him? Wow. That was...wow. That was surprising, considering they'd barely known each other a few days. Then again, her father had just died. Maybe she was just unstable right now. He decided he probably shouldn't take it to heart.

xoxo

Trent waited for Catherine to get off the phone so he could tell her he was on his way out.

"Hey," he said, touching her shoulder. "I'm going to take Rebecca out for some air. We'll be back a little later, okay? Text me when the certificate is finalized."

Cat looked up at Trent's voice and nodded, giving Rebecca a small smile. "Alright. You guys take care of each other out there. See you back at home later...I guess." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.

Rebecca had waited patiently, silently as Trent and his family had said their goodbyes. Talking to doctors and lawyers… it had been a big, emotional day for everyone.

Hearing they were leaving made her feel elated, as she didn't do well in this type of scenario, and worried, since he had seemed so detached from all that was happening around them. Getting out was just what they both needed for a while.

She gave Cat another hug. Cat mumbled something about finding out who was going to draw up Terrance's death certificate before walking off, and Rebecca turned to Trent and simply held out her hand for his. She would follow that man anywhere.

Trent rented a motorcycle and took her to a little out of the way adult boutique. Rebecca slid onto the hog behind Trent, wrapped her arms around him, and enjoyed the ride. The fresh air hitting her face, the smell of the man she was pressed against, and the thrill of the ride were all very exciting. However, where he took her to was not what she had been expecting.

"This may be a bit surprising," he said gently, "but I wanted to show you part of how Bash and I paid for college. My father sent money, but it wouldn't cover both of us, and I didn't really want to use it. So... we did some modeling."

He took her inside. As she entered the store with him, her eyes grew wide from surprise and her mouth had formed a little 'O' of surprise. He was indeed on at least half the packages for the fetish gear. But what he brought her to was the dildo display. There were lots of different ones, but the one he stood before was his very own cast.

The staff all knew him, of course; he bought his own dildo every time he came back to town, and he sent them as gag gifts to his Facebook friends when they got married or a big promotion, whichever came first. He explained all this to Rebecca, quietly proud and excited.

"So what do you think?" he asked.

She looked about and smiled back up at Trent. "Well...that's an interesting way to pay for college, I must say." When she realized what she was looking at, she snickered. "That's...that's awesome. Women would die...for what you were blessed with, Babe," she said very softly and warmly. "But I get you for free..."

She turned to go browsing a bit, taking note of the things he had modeled for to get a few ideas for later. He was a very well put together man, she wouldn't deny that and seeing him in many different poses, clothes, and even fetish gear brought playful thoughts to her mind. Oh yes...she was one lucky girl!

"Oh yes, I've had many thanks from the ladies, for sending them or their husbands these. They know it's from me, but they don't know it's of me, so there's no impropriety." He looked incredibly pleased with his ingenuity. "Do you want to get anything while we're here?" he asked, resting a hand gently on her hip.

The staff of the boutique stared at him. He was pretty infamous, not just for posing for fetish gear, but also for being a terminal bachelor. There were competing rumors. Some said that he'd stayed celibate despite the fact that the women in this town were lining up to date him. Some … took that as evidence for something else. Either way, to see him now, with a beautiful, sophisticated-looking woman, was a lot.

Trent wasn't fazed. He gave them a cheery smile and wave. "Guys, this is Rebecca. She's my fiancée," he said proudly. "We've been living together in West Covina, California."

Being introduced to the people who very obviously knew Trent made Rebecca smile shyly as she waved and greeted them in turn. Seeing their expressions, she could guess what their thoughts were. "Hi. Nice to meet you."

Then Rebecca went to pick out a cross-body harness that Trent looked positively devilish in on the package, as well as a simple black leather collar and leash set. As she passed the clothing section, she came to a complete stop at seeing a pair of leather high-heeled boots. The images they called to mind, Trent on his knees, collar around his neck, and cross-body harness around his muscular chest, leash in her hand while he kissed his way up those boots to her skin, made her shiver in place! Yes!

She tried to school such thoughts off her face, but she knew Trent knew her so well that it was futile. "See anything you like too, babe?" she asked as she tried to clear her throat so she sounded normal.

"I like everything on you, and nothing most of all," he said frankly, "but let's see..."

If she didn't flush red from her own thoughts, she sure did at Trent's words. That phrase alone stole a giggle from her as well as she watched to see what he would pick out.

He picked out a full body fishnet outfit, a shiny black patent leather corset that would emphasize her large breasts and hourglass figure, a school-uniform-inspired miniskirt, and a miniature red-and-black flogger.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Rebecca secretly smiled, thinking of the outfit she had picked just for him for their wedding night. "I love those, babe. The school uniform most though." She dropped her voice to a low, sexy whisper. "Perhaps we could pretend we were back in college...?" she purred at him, her smile wicked. "Just a thought." She kissed his cheek.

"Really!? You would do that? Oh, Rebecca, I've been wanting to roleplay naughty collegiates with you forever!"

"Of course I would, Babe. It sounds like fun!" She giggled at his reaction and once again felt her love for him flare up at making him so happy. It was almost infectious.

"In that case," Trent continued enthusiastically, "I'm glad I still have some of the clothes I actually wore in college in my closet at home!" He picked her up and spun her happily, then went to get a tight-looking scoop-necked white button-down shirt to go with the uniform.

"Do you now?" she asked, squealing as he picked her up. "I would love to see you dressed like that again." Just the thought of them roleplaying something like that out made her smile. He had said he had loved her since college, and though she didn't remember him from back then, she wondered just what both their lives would have been like had she had taken the time to notice him. It might not be the same but acting it out could bring up emotions as well, and she was so excited.

"We have to be quiet, though," Trent purred in her ear, setting her down as they went to pay for their goodies. "Mom's a light sleeper. We don't discuss those types of things, but I'm fairly sure she thinks I'm still a virgin."

A playful snort escaped Rebecca. That was cute to think, in a way and she would note that for further discussions.

The store clerks exchanged looks. So he had slept with this woman. Jealousy was written across one female clerk's face.

"Hold that thought," he said as they were ringing him up. "I just got a text— oh, it's Catherine. The certificate's been finalized. Time to go meet the lawyer. Hey, if the word 'prenup' even starts to come out of Auntie's mouth, feel free to punch her," said Trent casually.

Back at the hospital, Bethany sat with her niece, holding her gently and giving her the comfort Annmarie couldn't, or wouldn't. They looked up when Trent entered the hospital, Rebecca in tow.

Bethany was also a woman, and as she looked at the store logo on the bags in their hands, she chuckled softly to herself; she would be sure to sleep with her Walkman playing tonight. Rebecca noted Bethany's hidden smile right away. Yeah... she wasn't stupid, but Rebecca wasn't going to point out that she had noticed either.

Seeing Bethany still comforting Cat, Rebecca went to sit beside her friend to offer support. "You alright?" she asked Cat gently.

"Yeah...just a little shell-shocked, I guess. I'll be okay," Cat replied with a small smile. "Just all happened so fast. I knew he was sick but..." She trailed off with a soft sigh. "Anyway...thanks. I'm glad you're here."

"You're welcome, Cat. We are going to be family soon so I am glad I could help."

Annmarie snorted derisively, drawing everyone's attention in the room to her. "Family...sure. Got yourself in good with Cat too, huh?" she bit at Rebecca.

"Mother...stop. Now isn't the time or place," Cat said tiredly.

"No, I think it's the perfect time. No one else is gonna say it so it might as well be me. I. Don't. Like. You," Annmarie said calmly and clearly, ignoring everyone else in the room but the little interloper. "I don't like how you treated Trent all these years. Ignoring him and such when you had the chance to get to know him. I don't like the fact that he wasted the best years of his adult life chasing after you. Disgraceful really, and I certainly don't like that you are here, nor do I like the fact that you two are getting married! Trent! She pushed you off a roof, broke your heart, and all but spit in your face time and time again. How can you LOVE someone like that?"

The entire room had gone silent by this point. Rebecca knew Annmarie was right; that was exactly what had happened. But never would Rebecca have thought that someone in Trent's family had felt this way. It made her feel exceedingly small.

Trent set his bags down by Rebecca's feet, grabbed his aunt's arm, and hauled her outside, striding quickly.

"I have had enough of your bullshit," he snapped once they were out of the hospital and wouldn't disturb others. "Rebecca's and my relationship is none of your business. What do you know about love? You broke up my parents, and now you're trying to break up my new family? What the FUCK is wrong with you? No, don't put on that pearl-clutching act, you miserable old hag! You are NOT family to me. You may be my sister's mother, but you are NOTHING to me, and you'd better watch your fucking back, before I put a knife in it, just like Rebecca thought I was going to do to a man before she saved his life. That's right, Annmarie. I fell off the roof because Rebecca thought she was saving someone's life. And, you know what, even if she was the kind of person you're trying to paint her to be, at least she didn't take me away from anyone. Where the fuck were you when all my bones were broken and I was in the hospital, hmm? You had plenty of time to come and see me. But instead, you were playing house with my father. You know who came to see me? That wonderful, caring, deeply loving woman whom you can't stand because she is everything you are not. All you are is a trashy, preening homewrecker. You say one more word about my Rebecca, and I will put you in the goddamn hospital, and I will make sure that you go quietly into the night with no one to visit you. Do I make myself clear?"

Trent's voice was low and deadly, his breathing heavy, his eyes manic. He would not stand another second of this. Not even another word. He was dimly aware, in the back of his mind, that Sebastian would have a heart attack if he heard Trent so blatantly threatening someone, without a shred of plausible deniability, but Trent was so far past the point of caring that he easily shook the thought off.

Annmarie had no idea how to respond at her nephew's raves. None! She always knew Trent hated her for what had happened to his family, but never realized the depths to which that hatred went.

Wisely though, she said nothing. Noticing that manic look in his eyes, she knew he meant every single word. This...this was her nephew? The man Rebecca loved? She didn't know this man. All she could do was stare.

When he was sure Annmarie had gotten the message, he turned on his heel and walked back. He immediately knelt before Rebecca and took both her hands, soothing her, grounding her the way he had with Nathaniel.

Trent's reactions surprised Rebecca and Cat both but all Rebecca did was shrug. She had no idea what was said and honestly, didn't want to hear it. She didn't care for Trent's aunt either and she knew how protective Trent could be.

"Hey, Rebekitty," Trent said softly. "Are you okay?

"I'm fine, Trenty Bear. Thank you. Just. Little frazzled but I'll be okay." She smiled down at him, giving his hands a gentle squeeze.

"I want you to know that her perspective is completely irrelevant. Everything unpleasant is in the past, remember, we promised?" Trent spoke slowly, gently. "She's going to back off now, okay? Everything will be all right, my love."

Rebecca instantly felt better. "I know, my love. Her opinion of me doesn't matter to me either. You are the one I love." She didn't care if Cat and Bethany watched. They were more her family then her own had been and with them, she felt comfortable.

Bethany nodded in approval. She, too, believed Annmarie had overstepped her boundaries. She also knew her son well enough to have a sneaking suspicion of what he had said to get her to back off.

"You did the right thing," she told Trent. "You gallantly stood up for your Princess. That's the brave man I raised. I'm proud of you."

Trent stood and hugged his mother. "Thank you," he said. They communicated silently with their eyes; Bethany knew things that Trent would never tell another living soul. She understood what had happened, in the exam room and outside, and she nodded her approval once more.

"Good. Now that that unpleasantness is settled, let's go see the lawyer."