He found Bea sitting on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate.

"How you doing, babe?" he asked.

"Um...actually starting to feel better. I don't know if that shit actually works or if it's just the placebo effect, or if maybe it was about time for it to finally fuck off, but yeah," she replied.

"Cool." He began to come over and join her, then hesitated and pulled out his phone. He fired off a quick text to Mae. "If you're comfy here, I need to-" He paused as Mae sent a response back that she was free for talking. "I need to talk with Mae about something."

"What? It sounds serious, unless you're just in a serious mood right now and everything is coming across as serious," Bea replied.

"I'm not sure. I'm kind of chasing ghosts right now, but...I need to know for sure. I'll tell you after," he said.

"Oh. Okay. Good luck." He nodded and headed for the basement door. "Hey, Trent?"

"Yeah?" He looked back.

"I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too, Bea."

The smile that lit up her own face seemed to relieve some tension he hadn't even fully realized he'd been holding in. Trent headed downstairs. He found Mae at her desk, doing what seemed to be editing.

"What's up?" she asked. "Is Bea okay?"

"She's fine. Better now. We talked about things, she's never drinking again. Her words, not mine. She's content to stick with weed," he replied.

"Okay cool, because last night was...a bit much. Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"No. I have...a question to ask you. And I would appreciate...a direct answer."

She sat up a little straighter in her chair. "Uh-oh."

Trent sighed. "Mae, you aren't in trouble. Why do you keep reacting like that?"

"I don't know, honestly. I guess...it's kind of just who I am? It's kind of hard-coded into my DNA, I think...sorry."

"It's not your fault," Trent replied. He thought about how to word this, then sighed heavily. "I don't know how to say this beyond just saying it. So. Um. Is there something you and I need to discuss related to your mother? Because both of you are acting, like...weird? I can't really describe it, but-"

"Yes," Mae said, interrupting him. "There is."

"Oh." A moment of silence went by. "Well...I'm listening."

"Okay so like...this isn't a trick question." She suddenly gained a little bit of a smile. "I want a direct answer to this question."

He laughed. "Okay, fair enough."

"Would you fuck my mom?"

"I mean...I already answered that question."

"But we were sorta joking around then. I mean it. Seriously. No bullshit. If I suddenly gave you permission and you knew she was down for it, would you have sex with my mom?" she asked.

"If I knew that everyone was cool with it, then yeah, definitely," he replied.

"That's what I figured." She twisted her lips a little, considering. "Okay, so like, the night we got fucking incinerated by those weed brownies, I had, like, a really in depth conversation with my mom. It seemed to go on for a really, really long time but it probably wasn't more than an hour. We talked about a ton of stuff, and we both apologized for a ton of stuff, it was just a whole thing. And I feel like something really important happened to me during that conversation. Like, how I see her kind of just...changed? But like in a good way."

"Okay...how did it change?" he asked.

"I guess I'm realizing just how much like me she is? And I was thinking, what if I went through all the stuff she did? The getting pregnant and the miscarriages and getting a house and all the shit that happened with me, just everything, and I realized...I'd probably be a lot like how she is now. I don't know, I guess you could say me and my mom, how we are together, was sort of just thrown into focus, and I found out she's, like, way more of a kindred spirit than I ever thought. Before I just kind of thought of her as, you know, my mom, but I guess now like I think of her as more of a person? Separate from being my mom?

"So that kind of changed my perspective. And in the middle of all this she let slip that she's, like, really turned on by you. You make her super horny and she even admitted to fantasizing about you. Which, you know, as her daughter, gross. But as your fiancee? I get it. I mean a nice part of this whole 'you fucking other women' thing is that I honestly get why a lot of women would want to fuck you. You're weird, but like in the best ways. Also hot. Like, you're ten times hotter to me now than you were when we first met, but I guess that's supposed to happen as you get to know someone? I mean, am I hotter to you?"

"Oh yeah, definitely. I got to see how brave and kind and hardworking you are. Just what an amazing person you are. Definitely hotter," he replied.

She rolled her eyes. "Okay shut up, stop talking about me. Anyway, my point is this: I realized that I don't actually have a problem with the idea of you fucking my mom. I sort of thought I did when we first discussed it. I know I said it'd ruin the relationship if you were to fuck my mom, but...I was wrong. I've been thinking about it hardcore ever since we had the conversation, and, I mean, I really don't feel any differently about the idea of you banging my mom than I do about you banging anyone else, I guess." She paused, frowned.

"Okay no, that's wrong. I do not want to see it, hear it, or know about it. I'm cool with it happening, but I don't want to be involved in any way. I don't want to talk about it. But I do want you to do it and I do want you to...you know, show her a good time? God this feels weird to talk about, but it's important. For both of you. I also thought it would be, like, an awesome birthday present given how much you like older women and how much it's, like, a thing that dudes want to bang their girlfriend's moms? That's a thing, right?"

"That's definitely a thing," Trent replied. "Although it does depend." He was quiet for a long moment.

"So, um...how do you feel about all this?" Mae asked.

"Excited," he admitted. "To be clear: I want to do this. It also explains some things."

"Like what?...did my mom come onto you?"

"No, not really, but things got...heated, just now? She came over to check on Bea and we talked briefly in the backyard and we were kind of arguing because I learned she kinda likes fucking with me? But not in a mean way. Just like some light teasing. And now I kinda like fucking with her back? So it's like play arguing? And it kind of abruptly turned, like...there was sexual tension and it freaked me out so I basically ran in here."

Mae laughed loudly. "That's actually really funny."

"I'm glad you find it so amusing," he replied dryly.

"Oh come on, it's hilarious! You, like, ran away from my mom because she was horny at you. Like literally ran away."

"I mean not literally, oh whatever if you want to imagine it that way, fine. But I did it because, as far as I knew five minutes ago, you told me literally: if you bang my mom it'll ruin the relationship. So hell yes I ran away."

"Okay, that's actually really nice."

"Thank you...so I actually have permission to rail your mom?"

She sighed heavily. "Can you not say it like that? Honestly, I don't want to talk about it. But yes. You have permission to...do that."

"That is fucking awesome. Holy shit."

"This is officially going down as best birthday present ever, though," Mae said.

"Done," he replied. "But we need to talk to the others about it." They both glanced up as they heard the front door open faintly. "Perfect."

"Yeah, let's get this out of the way," Mae said, getting up.

They headed back upstairs and found the others in the process of taking off their shoes, chatting happily and, in Melody's and Claire's case, a little drunkenly.

"We aren't shitfaced," Melody said immediately as soon as she saw Trent. "...in case you were worried about that." Then she looked at Bea. "Oh God, I mean, I'm sorry-that's not to say-"

Bea laughed. "Melody, it's fine. Don't not drink on my account."

"Okay. Ann said it'd be cool…"

"We talked beforehand," Bea replied.

"Hey, babe...you look like you've got something to talk about," Ann murmured.

"Yep, house meeting," Trent replied.

"Should I go?" Claire asked, then giggled.

"Should I?" Melody asked. "I could plug my ears, I guess…" She snorted and then giggled too.

"Well...Mae, how do you feel about Melody knowing? I mean, I feel like, given where she lives, Claire is gonna have to know."

"Yeah. I don't care if Melody knows, as long as she keeps it to herself," Mae replied.

"Ooh, is it a sex thing?" Melody asked. "You guys are, like, so into sex things, and I can keep my mouth shut!"

"Cool. Um. Okay. Have a seat everyone. This'll probably be quick." Everyone got situated on the couch or the recliner, all of them staring silently at him. "This is so fucking weird to talk about out loud to you all...but this is how we agreed to do things. Okay, so...Mae has given me permission to have sex with her mom. As far as I know, her mom is receptive to this. Before I actually go speak with Candy about it, I want to know if anyone has any objections or thoughts on the matter."

"That's really hot," Melody murmured.

"Wow, Mae. I'm impressed," Claire said. "Um, I don't have any objections. Honestly you don't even need to kick me out of the house. I don't care if I...overhear."

"Ew," Mae said.

"Well she's not my mom. I mean, you know, biologically."

Mae laughed. "What, did you adopt my mom?"

"I mean...kinda? She offered to be, like, my...I don't know, stepmom? Whatever, my point is: I don't care. Go for it. Nail her, she actually deserves a great lay, which you can absolutely deliver." She paused. "I just realized that might imply that your dad isn't, um, a great lay. I'm sure he is. It's just-"

"Yeah okay, I get it," Mae said, rolling her eyes. "Let's speed this up."

"My vote is yes," Claire said, and shut up, then giggled a little.

"I knew this was coming," Bea said, "so yeah."

"Wait what? How?" Mae asked.

"Mae. You are so like your mom it's ridiculous. If you fell head over heels for Trent, then it would make sense that your mom would, at the very least, be aroused by him. And I figured there was probably a fifty-fifty shot at you deciding you were cool with it. So yes, I'm cool with it. I vote yes, hammer away."

"Ugh, ew," Mae groaned and Bea laughed. "Shut up, Beatrice!"

"Make me," Bea replied, and Mae sighed heavily.

"I'm fine with it," Ann said, "and I trust you and Candy to be responsible...during. Whatever that looks like. My only real thought is...I don't want you banging my mom, since we're on the subject. And I probably won't change my mind."

"Done deal," Trent said. "I won't do that."

"Okay, cool, then I'm fine with it."

"How about you two?" he asked, looking at Mae and Bea. "Any...restrictions on what actually happens inside the bedroom?"

"No," Mae said simply.

"I'm with Ann, you and Candy are responsible adults, do whatever makes sense to you. And then tell me about it later," Bea replied.

"You fucking pervert," Mae groused.

"Yeah I'm the pervert."

"Well, in that case, I'm...going to pay a visit to Candy," Trent said.

"Wait, you're gonna go fuck her literally right now?" Bea asked, grinning.

"I mean...unless someone has a compelling reason not to...also, to be clear, 'I don't want you to yet' is a compelling reason."

"Can you blame him?" Ann asked.

"Any objections?" he asked, looking at them all, then at Mae. They all said no and Mae shook her head.

"No, dude, go...do your thing. It's your birthday present."

"Wait this is a present?" Bea asked.

"Oh yeah...I should ask, so there's no confusion: is this a one-time thing or…?"

"No, it can be regular, I don't care. Although...don't spend the night over there with her. I want you to come home...after a shower. Over there," Mae said.

"You want some degree of separation," he murmured.

"Duh."

"I will abide by these rules. Thank you again. A lot."

"Happy birthday, husband," Mae replied.

"Oh, that reminds me...we should go ring shopping soon," Trent said.

"Fuck that shit," Bea growled.

"You've reconsidered?" he asked.

She heaved a sigh. "No, no I haven't. I'm just...angry. You're right. Maybe we can all hit Briddle."

"Wait," Ann said, and they all looked at her. "...I want you to propose to me."

"Really? I mean I totally will," Trent replied.

"Yeah. Get me a ring, nothing fancy, but don't show it to me ahead of time. Then take me somewhere nice, somewhere away from people, and do the whole proposal thing. I'd really appreciate it," she said.

"Done," Trent replied. He looked at Mae. "How about you?"

"Eh," she said with a shrug.

"You should at least give it a shot, Mae. You should know what it feels like," Ann said.

"...yeah, that's a good point. I guess it's an experience I should at least have, even on a really basic level. Okay yeah, get me one too, drop down to one knee, ask me that bullshit about marrying you, and I'll see how it makes me feel."

"Deal," Trent said.

"I will go with you out to Briddle sometime soon to get them, since my ring is very specifically not going to be offered to me down on one knee," Bea said.

"Why not?" Melody asked.

"Because Trent promised to propose to me for real once we move out to Bright Harbor. And me and him are probably going to actually get legally married," Bea replied.

"Oh my God! That's so sweet! Will you let me come?!" Melody asked.

"Of course, Melody. Shit, you can probably be a bridesmaid if you want."

She gasped. "That'd be so cool!"

"Don't get too excited, we're talking at the very least next year, probably two years or more," Bea said.

"I'll look forward to it," Melody replied.

"Well, if you will all excuse me ladies, I am going to go talk to and hopefully bang the ever-loving fuck out of Candy," Trent said.

"Have fun," Bea said.

"Yep, I'm going back to editing and putting on some noise canceling headphones so I don't accidentally hear my mom screaming in sexual ecstasy like she's probably heard me," Mae said, getting up.

"Do have fun, babe, we'll be here chilling," Ann said.

Trent hurriedly put his shoes on and then went out the backdoor.