Life continued on. Rita's life, having been a rollercoaster for many months, finally settled. As much as it is to be said that a polyamorous lifestyle with two workaholic siblings working in homicide and raising two children can in any way be called settled.

Still, it was nice now. Content. One day flowed into the next at a fairly comfortable pace. When she was with Dexter she felt soothed. His friendly, normal, dorky persona and that strange something that Rita could just barely see the edges of...calmed her. Debra was a maelstrom, passionate, fun in a way Rita had barely ever experienced. Especially not with someone who actually cared about her and treated her well.

When she was with both of them, it was just perfect. An experience she never thought she'd have. Certainly never one she'd thought she'd want. But she meant every word she told them. Dexter and Debra were beautiful together. Honestly, they seemed to fit together better than any couple she'd ever seen. They even looked like a couple, and a damn fine one.

And watching them have sex? It was really damn hot. Better then any porn she'd ever seen, not as if she was a connusier. When she was alone, and needed to satisfy her cravings, Rita turned to thinking of them together. more often than anything else.

Being in between them. That was a miracle.

Rita prayed every day that it would last. That Debra wouldn't get bored or get a new lover who could give her a normal family life. That Dexter wouldn't get insecure and relapse. That Dexter and Debra wouldn't run off together. She wouldn't even have the heart to blame them. That might be the scariest thing, as heartbroken as she would be, she wouldn't be able to hate them. After all, they'd never be able to share their love as openly as Rita could with Dexter here. It must be exhausting for them to carry this secret.

They wore it well though.

Rita also knew that they couldn't be open with the kids either. It wasn't just polyamoury, which might be a bit of an adjustment for the kids. The real problem was the...well, incest. It would be a difficult subject to breach and if it got out...Dexter and Debra would be ruined. It was far too much to trust (or burden) kids with.

So it had to be secret. Which made making time for date nights difficult. On good weeks, Rita could see Debra and/or Dexter several times a week. On bad weeks she got Dexter for a couple nights and wouldn't see Debra at all. Deb didn't have the luxury to just come over late at night. Not yet anyway. Maybe not ever.

Splitting time meant that when Deb and Dexter were pulling killer hours, they spent more time with each other. Rita was happy for them but it could be lonely.

Rita needed a way to keep Deb closer. To insert her more into the life she was building.

"You want me to come over for Pizza night?" Deb said, incredulous. Rita had asked her after date night with Deb. Dexter was busy at work apparently.

"Yeah. Why not?"

"I'm not exactly a child friendly person if you haven't fucking noticed."

"I think you can be on your best behavior for a night."

"I dunno. it might be pretty fucking hard." Deb said, she was smiling anxiously.

"Maybe we can add in a curse jar. It'll help my kids understand responsibility."Rita said.

"Ouch. That's one way to put it. Are you saying I'm not responsible?"

"Of course not. You just...are very free with your words."

"Double fuckin ouch."

"So are you coming over?" Rita asked.

"Yes. Of course. It won't be that weird right? I'm your boyfriends sister? This is normal enough." Deb said. Rita placed a kiss on her lips to reassure her.

"It will be."

Debra joined them for Pizza night. It was joyful. It went fine. They did put in the swear jar and Deb did have to donate a few dollars.

Afterwards, Deb and Dexter stayed over. They watched a bit of TV, quietly fucked and slept together. Debra got up early and left well before the kids were awake.

Debra wasn't over every pizza night, far from it, but it became semi-regular, and it felt like they were becoming closer. A family.

Debra liked being a part of a family. Rita could tell. Rita wondered if maybe that was the only reason Deb didn't run off with her brother to start a new life. One where nobody knew why they shared the same last name. Where nobody knew their father. Where nobody knew that Debra had nearly married a serial killer.

Trauma made people want to run away. Rita knew that better than most. After Paul, Rita would have run as fast and as far as her legs could carry her if it wasn't for her kids.

The fact that Debra, and Dexter wanted to stay after all they'd been through. That they were willing to stand their ground, put down roots beside her, spoke a lot of their character and feelings for her.

Rita was grateful. Truly grateful.

Still, a part of her wished she'd found them when she was younger. When they were a bit younger. They'd been alone together for too long, Rita had that sense. Rita had been with a monster for too long.

If the three had found each other sooner, life could have been a lot less painful.

Still, she couldn't be too sad about it. Rita got her kids out of it. She wouldn't be who she was and she liked who she was now. She liked Debra and Dexte for who they were too, demons and all. There was a dark beauty to how they all found each other. Darkness didn't have to be oppressive. Sometimes it could be...comforting.

Rita wondered if they would've even gotten together if not for the trauma and darkness. Maybe not. It wasn't like it really mattered. They were all here now.

The three of them had moved on. Past Lundy and Rudy. Passed Paul. Passed Lila. It might not all be smooth. There might be rough waters ahead. But in Rita's forecast, it looked to be clear skies in their immediate future. Safe. Normal. Comfy.

It's what the three of them all deserved, Rita thought, after so much chaos.