Chapter 35

A s if to grant me my wish, no sooner had Rek taken off on more important business I was to keep my nosy ass out of for the day, a lovely day with enough sunshine and cooler weather to make me sick, a knock sounded on the door.

Wiping sudsy water from my hands as I did my dishes from breakfast, I waited until the second knock to answer.

Doogie stood on my doorstep, looking both worried and excited, his gaze darting about everywhere, anywhere but making eye contact with me.

"Well… well… well…" I began, but no sooner had the words started to spew forth, he charged at me.

A yelp left me as he scooped me up in a bear hug, mumbled an apology, and then promptly set me on my feet.

"Smell food," he grumbled happily, stepping in to close the door behind me and make a beeline for the sweet rolls Rek had woken me up to the smell of. "Smells goot."

"Please, make yourself at home," I murmured dryly as he did just that.

"You make? Rek make?" Doogie garbled out around a bite that had sweet roll stuffing his cheeks like a squirrel's.

"Rek made them." Joining him at the table, he poured us both a cup of tea.

Doogie paused to sniff it before taking a sip. "Rek say Jojomine giving him a baby," he said conversationally as he decimated several sweet rolls in quick succession.

"That is the plan," I confirmed with a shrug. Cupping my chin in my hands, elbows resting on the table, I looked to him askance. "Did Rek tell you what important thing he's working on that I'm not supposed to know about?"

Doogie blinked at that. "No," he said slowly, like he was pretty sure he didn't know but needed a second to think about it.

"Crap on a dirty cracker," I muttered, feeling thwarted yet again.

"Maybe thing Jo not ‘sposed to know good thing. Like surprise?" he suggested.

"Yeah, I dunno. Maybe."

Doogie paused with his fourth roll to his lips. "Why look so sad Jo no know?"

Blowing out a long breath, I admitted, "I just- I can't help but feel like-" A frustrated noise left me and I blurted, "I'm worried."

Doogie reached over and gave my back a comforting pat. "No worry. Rek loves Jo."

"Oh? Does he sing it to the rafters?" I retorted smartly.

"Celuk scares Rek, but Rek stand up to Celuk for Jo," Doogie told me.

He does? I mean, he did? "Who said that?" It was news to me.

Doogie's smile turned into a knowing smirk. "Celuk."

"Huh," I mumbled, not really knowing what to say to that.

Clapping his hands together to rub them, he rumbled happily. "What we do today?"

Giving him a funny look, I snorted. "What do you mean what are WE doing today? I don't recall inviting you to tag along." I was testing him, being my testy, bitchy self.

As if he expected as much and simply did not give one single shit, he grinned in the face of my snarked up annoyance. "Rek tell Doogie Jo might be mean. Jo want make sure Doogie really want to be here with Jo. Doogie wants."

Holy fuck, I've been ratted out. Rek has cracked the code. My eyes widened. I flat out gaped at Doogie. Had I not been warned that Rek knew things by the furry headache himself? It was good, in a way, but also left me feeling exposed and vulnerable. Rek was looking, and he was seeing me.

"I planned to go check in on Mal and the girls, catch up with Boog," I mumbled, still feeling dumbstruck.

Doogie nodded but then frowned. "Not in this." His hand waved at my jammies. "Not warm ‘nough."

"Yes, mother," I spluttered out on a laugh.

"Mama says goes," he teased in a high falsetto mimic of his mama's do or die tryin' her tone.

Bursting out laughing, I stood. "Don't rush me, fool," I warned him, rounding the table to dump our dishes in the sink and make my way down the hall to dress.

"Rek say make sure Jo brings hat! Always complains head cold!" he called after me.

A yelp left me as I stumbled in surprise. He said what now?!

"No take all the days!" Doogie called after me.

"Don't rush me, woman!" I bellowed after him, making him chuckle.

I had a funny feeling Rek had given Doogie ample ammo on handling his feisty female, and that Doogie meant to put all of this knowledge to good use.

I am so damn fucked.

???

"W hat's all that?" I asked Doogie as we stepped out from a lovely, lengthy visit with Mal and her crew. Doogie was still smiling from all the cookies he'd found room for in that bottomless pit he calls a stomach and the baby cuddles we'd nabbed.

Doogie glanced up to where I was pointing and frowned. "Portal open," he said simply.

"Hunting season is upon us," I intoned darkly.

This was quite a fuss, even for hunting season.

My gaze darted to Doogie as snarls rent the air.

Had a fight broken out? Already?

"Take back!" someone bellowed.

The, "Can't take back! MOVE!" in response was what gave me pause.

Drawn to those snarling words, blood thundered in my ears. Feeling like I was in some sort of waking nightmare come true, I shoved off Doogie's halting hand on my arm. He grabbed at my purse strap, claiming it as I let it go in favor of easily losing him as I hurriedly jumped into the crowd.

Elbowing my way closer amongst the sea of unhappy beasts, I heard, "Can't have two! Lo denaii only have one!" among the unhappy rumblings.

I told myself I was wrong. My heart told me I had to be mistaken.

As I finally made my way to the front, my eyes told me a very different story entirely.

Arms thrown out, my male stood there, hovering protectively over a small little pipsqueak of a cowering woman.

The woman trembled like a leaf, clutching at Rek's side.

The shock of it sent me stumbling back into the crowd at my back.

"What the fuck?" I blurted, when I'd finally found my voice.

Rek's gaze immediately found mine and locked on.

Swallowing thickly, looking guilty as shit, he barked sharply, "Rek can explain."

A pained noise left me. My hand clamped over my mouth to silence it but that didn't do much to muffle the startled sobs leaving me.

"My Joanie," Rek tried to croon, to pause and scowl down at his clinger-on.

"Don't let them get me! You said you'd take me with you and protect me!" the woman squeaked.

"Not what Jojoknee thinks," Rek pleaded, holding his hands out placatingly.

"Bullshit!" I burst out, breaking free of the crowd to advance on him.

The woman behind him, her eyes bugged and she released him to scramble back.

Rek's eyes widened at the anger rushing to the fore, blazing in my eyes.

Grabbing up the woman, he held her out in front of him like a human shield. The woman's squeals were fucking ear piercing. "Enough!" I bellowed at her, relieved when she clamped her trap shut, trembling in place as she was, so I could focus on the bastard holding her out in front of him.

"Rek explain," he spluttered, while ducking down so he was crouching behind his stolen bride.

"Explain?! Pal, I'll explain you somethin'!" I bellowed as I went to rush them.

"Nope." Strong arms nabbed me up, lifting me through the air.

"Fuck you!" I screamed, flailing, kicking, clawing at the open air. "PUT. ME. DOWN! I'm gonna kill ‘im!""

"Nope," Odix repeated, shaking his head vehemently as he brought my back to his front and pin-cuddled me to his person.

With a snarl, I sank my puny human teeth into his arm.

Odix growled as I broke the skin of his forearm, but the big bastard refused to let me the fuck go.

"She's deranged!" Rek's stolen bride cried. "Protect me, Rik!" she squeaked.

That bitch couldn't even get his fucking name right!

Releasing my mouth's hold on Odix, I snapped, "I'll show you deranged, you man-stealing tart!" Kicking and flailing anew, wild to be let free, I bellowed at Odix, "Put me down, you kumquat headed dick, or I'll make you!"

"Nope," Odix rumbled out curtly, firmly, and just shook his head and held on.

"I'll never forgive you if you don't put me the fuck down so I can kick both of their asses inward!" I snarled and snapped.

"I don't like her," the woman whispered too loudly. "She's scary."

"No talk about my Joanie," Rek snapped at her, causing her to burst into loud, noisy tears.

Rek's eyes widened and he shoved his hands out, waving them at her wildly as he winced and groaned. "No cry. No more cries. Cries scare animals. Yes? ‘Member Rek say?"

I felt it like a real, tangible thing, watching them, the moment my heart cracked wide open and broke.

All the fight within me left me, my screams and growls bursting into loud, noisy sobs. "You fucking liar! I hate you! I hate you so much!" I wailed.

Rek tried to say something but Odix's warning growl was so loud I couldn't hear much else pressed up against him as his chest rattled ominously.

"I hate you so fucking much," I sobbed openly. I didn't care who saw.

This was just like with Rosa. All the lies and making me think we were in a good place but it was all bullshit. All of it.

I felt so stupid to just fall for it again and again with him so easily. He must think I'm the biggest dumb ass and easiest dupe.

Odix's growl cut off abruptly and he turned me towards him. Falling into him, I buried my face in his neck as he rubbed my back soothingly, mumbling shit I had no clue as to what comfortingly.

Rek snarled, the sound cutting in above the din. The one Odix let loose back said touch her and die.

"I don't want to be here," I whispered, sniffling all the while.

Odix nodded and turned to leave without another word.

The gathering Yetis trying to figure out what the fuck was going on had tripled. They parted to make way for Odix to pass through, closing the gap behind him, effectively barring Rek from trying to come up on us.

All of it. Lies.

I found tears falling anew as I tried to make sense of his deception.

I'd thought he was happy. We were trying to have a baby.

My head was starting to hurt as bad as my heart, a migraine proportions headache building behind my eyes as I tried to shove all these fucking feelings rushing me back down and they shoved their way right back up.

Stepping inside his place, Odix set me down to close and lock the door. Turning around to face me, he looked as lost as I felt as to where to go from here.

"I bet you feel really smug right now," I got out between sniffles, frowning down at my boots. Boots Rek had gifted me. Boots that had obviously meant nothing to him. The toe of my boot scuffed his floor as I focused on counting the tiles. It gave me some semblance of calm.

Odix made a noise that said he felt anything but smug.

"I feel so stupid," I blurted. Swiping at my eyes, I lifted my head to meet his gaze searchingly. "Why? What did I do?" I croaked.

Odix let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl and rushed me to scoop me up and cuddle me close. "No do no thing wrong," he rumbled out softly.

"Why didn't he want me? Why did he take up with that sniffling, cowering… mouse?" I blubbered as he sat down on his bed with me in his lap.

And more importantly, at least to me as a growl built in my throat, "Why didn't you let me go?!"

"Never let my Jo go," he growled right back, nuzzling my temple to place a kiss there. "Mine," he muttered, then closed his eyes to inhale deeply.

The purring rumble he let loose had me shivering in place.

My hand went to my stomach and I had to take a deep breath so I didn't lose it all over the place again. "We were supposed to be starting a family. He acted like he wanted one s-s-so- He said he wanted one so- So badly."

"No cry," Odix crooned, peppering kisses down my heated cheeks until he was focusing all his attention on nuzzling the side of my face.

"You're probably happy as a pig in shit right now. You tried to tell me he was bad but I didn't want to listen," I whispered defeatedly.

"Odix sad. No want to see my Jo cry over stupid head Rek. Sad for my Jojo," he murmured quietly.

"Why?" I blubbered irrationally. "Why should you care?!"

Cupping my face, forcing me to meet his gaze, he growled right in my face, "Jo mine." Leaning in to kiss my lips, he kept pecking at them sweetly until I opened to him. His tongue darted in to tease mine the second I acquiesced. A happy growl left him as I kissed him back. "Mine," he repeated, this time more possessively than the last.

Dropping backwards on the bed, drawing me down with him, he purred as I sprawled out atop him.

Reaching for my boots, he took off one, then the other.

Propping up atop him, I had to wonder what he was getting all riled up about. My face was splotchy, tear tracks staining my face. My makeup was ruined. I looked like a hot mess. Who would want this?!

"I'm not having sex with you," I huffed down at him. "In case you've forgotten, I just had my heart ripped to shreds."

"No sex," Odix agreed, yet continued to work on undressing me.

"What the hell do you think is going to happen, poop boy?" I drawled sarcastically.

His tongue curled up, the tip sticking out of his mouth in his concentration, exposing a peek of fang. "Jo claims Odix. Odix gives Jojo a baby," he said simply.

At the surprised look on my face, he went on. "Kiss my Jo ‘til she forgets about males that no ‘serve her." As if I wasn't aware of just what he was packing, the cheeky beast purred, "Odix cock bigger." Meaning bigger than Rek's, a fact I was already well aware of.

"Bigger is not always better," I quipped with a sniff.

Odix grinned, unperturbed. "Odix's is."

A sputtering laugh left me, unbidden. "Cocky," I muttered, stiffly sitting up, which essentially left me straddling him.

Odix was a biggun. And I meant that in all the best ways.

"No matter," he muttered, lifting me up to smooth a claw down the crotch of the seam of my pants once he realized I wasn't going to be as cooperative as he'd hoped.

"Excuse you," I spluttered. My hands slapped to his chest, halting his progress as I stared down at him. "I don't see how hopping on the Odix train is going to fix the crazy of the situation I was just subjected to."

"Not fix." Odix picked me up to resettle me atop him, using my flailing surprise to divest me of my shirt. His happy rumble vibrated my groin as the girls were set free. "Distract. Keep. Worship my Jo."

"Where on earth have you been getting pointers from?" I breathed.

"Odix hear things. Listen. Learn. My Jo wants males want her. Odix wants," he purred. "Wants all of my Jo."

Sitting up, sending me slipping down his big body, he boldly cupped one of my breasts and brought it to his lips to take my nipple into his mouth.

"Shit," I gasped out, grabbing at his head for purchase, burying my fingers in his fur. The longer the dragging pulls he took, the harder I clutched him to me.

Thick fingers grabbed the sides of my pants and pulled. The wrenching sound of my pants splitting in half was loud in his small, cozy hut.

Loving the wildman shit, he didn't need to see if it was turning me on. I was pretty sure he could smell it, I was that aroused.

"Mine," he muttered around my breast, urging me to rub up against that great white beast jerking between his legs.

Fuck. I wanted an escape and he was offering it. I wanted to feel anything but the pain Rek's betrayal had caused me. "Make me forget," I mumbled. "I don't want to think about- about- Ah…"

"No think. Feel," he ground out gutturally. Gripping an ass cheek in each hand, he ground me into the underside of his shaft.

Little by little, he worked me up his length, until he was teasing the opening of my sex with the head of his cock.

Releasing my breast, he nipped at my lips, purring all the while. "Claim," he urged me, yet made no further moves to coax me. He was leaving it up to me.

"Break my heart like that other asshole whose name shall not be said did, I'll cut your junk off while you're sleeping," I warned him, right before I slid down on his length, one stretch me so damn good it fucking hurts inch at a time.

"My Jojo," Odix choked out as I worked myself down on his length, until I could feel his balls pressing up against me. His eyes looked like they were struggling not to roll up into the back of his head as he groaned and growled beneath me.

Once he looked like he was struggling to breathe but trying not to force me to move, sweating the hell out of it, did I begin to move.

Odix was not quiet with his enthusiasm for what we were doing.

"My Jojo- OH! Oh- my Jo-JO!" He growled, barked, shouted, shook beneath me.

He meant it. He wanted me to claim him, and he'd be damned if he was going to break and take over.

Digging my nails into his chest, enjoying the way he responded in kind by pressing up into my hands with a growl of a moan, I swiveled my hips, lifted up just enough he made soft pleading sounds, to drop back down and grind down hard enough that pinch followed by the pleasure of it all reminded me I was still alive.

A strangled noise left the behemoth at my mercy. He growled his release through gritted teeth. But that's not what I wanted, what I needed. I wanted him to be wild, at my mercy. I wanted to drive him to the brink and watch him tumble over the edge not sweetly but with total abandon, take no prisoners, no holds barred.

Digging my nails in hard enough I knew it had to hurt, I rode him through his orgasm, aiming to drag another one, a better one, out of him.

A groan left him as his cock swelled and locked us together tight.

And still, I moved as if he wasn't.

This was all I was good at, all I was good for, these deliriously sweet, stolen moments of passion. He'd leave too, just like Rek. He'd find some excuse. They always found a reason to let go, to move on. I nearly teared up at the thought.

I wanted to savor this moment, bask in it, to remember it forever.

Startled shouts left him, followed by guttural, bone deep growls as I rode him as hard and fast as I possibly could.

"Give it to me," I snapped, working him harder, faster, the noises he was making tapering off to barely coherent choking sounds and garbled snarls.

He was getting close. I just needed to push him a little bit farther.

Squeezing my inner muscles around him, I let go of my hold on his chest to pinch my own nipples. I was so close myself. Just a little bit more…

Odix let out a guttural sound that reminded me of one of his grizzed out growls.

My toes curled as my orgasm started to build. It was going to be so damn good.

"Fuck me," I burst out, right as I started to crest.

Odix broke then, grabbing me to him to flip us. Nabbing my legs to throw them over his shoulders, he grabbed the head of the bed and pounded into me with what to my ears sounded like a war cry.

When he came, he took me screaming my release along with him as he roared the roof down.

As the heat of the moment ebbed, he was careful as he dropped down atop me. He made sure not to give me his whole weight.

"My Jo… so good," he mumbled where his face was slumped into his bedding.

A small laugh left me and I closed my eyes and pressed the side of my head to his.

But the moment was over as quickly as we had found it.

Reality was a fucked up thing. You really couldn't escape it, no matter how hard one tried.

"I didn't want to acknowledge it but I've been cramping all day," I admitted, reaching out to smooth a hand up and down his wide back. "We just kick started my period, didn't we?" My voice was barely above a whisper and trembled something horrible.

Odix fidgeted atop me but lifted his head and dutifully gave a sniff. "Smell blood," he confirmed.

Sitting up a little bit more and sliding us to our sides, our bodies still locked together, he nuzzled my forehead and cuddled me close.

Burying my face in his chest as he rubbed my back and whispered comforting nonsense to me, I cried and cried, until his cock softened enough to slip free and I was forced to face yet another ugly truth. Rek had not in fact put a baby in me.

Grabbing me things I asked for, which included retrieving my purse from Doogie, I used some woven cloth he had on hand as a temporary pad in the meantime.

Waiting until he'd been gone for a few minutes, I slipped my shirt, boots and coat on, my pale legs exposed because those pants were toast.

Quietly exiting his home, I took the back way through town.

Without a single fuck to give, I strode up to Bum-bum's door and tried the handle.

It opened right up. Glancing around quickly, I stepped inside before he had a chance to answer. "Scuse me," I said quietly, walking over to his wall, examining the implements of torture he kept on hand.

Axe, sword, spikey ball thing. Another axe, a smaller sword, a dagger.

Choosing the smallest axe closest to me, I managed to get it down all by myself as Bum-bum turned in his chair to frown over the side of it at me.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I hefted the weight of it in my hands.

"What do that?" Bum-bum asked.

"I'm going to go Cruella on Rek's ass and nab me a furball coat," I muttered with a sniff. Turning, I sighed. "You lied to me… but he tried to replace me," and tromped right out the door without another word.

Perhaps this was my psychotic break, I thought as I made my way down the path, feeling numb, detached. Anger simmered below the surface, driving me on.

This axe was fucking heavy. It was like toting around two forty pound weights. How the hell did Bum-bum wield this stupid thing?

The closer I got to Rek's, the heavier the axe felt.

My gaze kept darting to it, until I finally had that single stray thought, What the hell am I doing?

Detouring for my hut, I made it there in no time. By this point, I was dragging the axe behind me, feeling like the crazy person in a twisted horror flick. I didn't want to be the first gal on the Yetified version of Snapped.

Leaving that dragging weight by the door, I walked inside and sat on my bed. Silence reigned as I stared off at nothing.

That was how Celuk found me, tears slipping down my cheeks as I stared blankly at the wall.

My door was thrown open and he came scrambling inside. He paused as he spotted me. His gaze unerringly darted around to land on the axe by the door.

"Despite what Bum-bum may have told you my intentions were in borrowing said weapon of mass destruction… he who shall not be named remains hearty and whole, I'm sure. For now."

"Too big for my Jo use." Celuk waved a hand at the weapon, as if my thoughts of unaliving a fellow Yetiville peep were no big to him.

Walking over to me to crouch down in front of me, he took my hands in his. Lifting my right hand to his face, he nuzzled into my palm, then kissed it. Doing the same to my left, his purr was more of an unsure warble.

"I want to be mad," my breath hitched, "but I- I think I'm just too fucking sad for anything else." My voice cracked and I lifted my bloodshot eyes to meet his. "I don't understand- I- I don't know what to do with myself- I- Fuck!"

"Be ‘kay," he rumbled out softly.

"No, it won't."

Cupping my chin, he lifted my head back up when it started to dip. "Jo be ‘kay," he elaborated. "Not feel ‘kay now, but Jo be ‘kay."

My expression started to crumple. Tears welled. "I believed him." A soft hiccup left me. "I- I can't- I don't even trust myself at this point."

Wrapping his arms around me, he curled me into his warmth. A hiccup of a sound left me as I let out another shaky breath.

"Odix comes." Celuk offered the heads up long before I heard those loud, thundering thuds headed our way.

The barrel chested male came zipping past us, muttering what I assumed were curses in Lo denaii.

Celuk's arm lowered as he turned to watch him whip past, a flurry of movement and grumble-growled beast-speak. A funny noise left me, watching Odix's long gorilla arms flail as he zipped past, my enormous purse flung over his wide shoulder.

Catching my reaction, that two second smile that fell as quickly as it came over me, that mangled warble in Celuk's chest smoothed out, blending more harmoniously with the constant rumble rattling his chest.

A soft grunt left Celuk as we watched and waited. I blinked as I spied a thick arm shoot out, feeling around on the ground, to curl around the doorway as loud sniffs suddenly sounded off, and thick fingers felt around.

Like I was watching the fur-ified version of a phantom, living hand from a beloved gothic family comedy from my childhood, I could only stare, enrapt, as it felt around for something.

Landing on the axe handle just inside the door, the object of disastrous intention was lifted up and away, so quietly that had I not been witness to this feat I'd have had no clue it occurred.

"We see, Hyde," Celuk called out

At the bewildered frown tugging at my brow, Celuk informed me, "Bum-bum take name. Hyde. Hornies, Tor."

"He's named his Jekyll and Hyde ass Hyde, like… literally?" I blurted, gaping. "What's middle guy amalgamation's name?" I sputtered, "Hydtor?"

Bum-bum, or should I say… Hyde, grumbled out his Lo denaii name I had zero chance of pronouncing, along with a rather long string of beast speak.

"They both home," his hand lifted to tap his head, "they both," Celuk translated.

"No like Hydtor," Bum-bum/Hyde grunted out.

"But Hyde and Tor are cool?" I muttered, scrunching my nose up at that.

"Doogie say jeh-kals snappy-teethies beasties. Hyde like Jeh-kal." A loud grunt left him.

"Did he explain the fiction characters my sarcasm and double dealing hinted insults are coming from?" I called out sweetly, my voice loaded with condescension.

"Jes," he said simply.

"And?" I pressed, as Celuk's gaze darted from the door to me.

"Born this way." The sound of what I thought was him smacking the axe handle into his hand rent the air. "Not want be different. Jojo wants both. Tor likes. Hyde and Tor… Jeh-kal want Jojo. No fight no more."

"Maybe I don't want to be a dirt diva in your little wifey out in the woods fantasy," I bit out, scowling as my jumbled emotions took me for an unwanted ride.

What? Rek doesn't see fit to keep me and since both sides of him agree now all of him is cool with pursuing me? I don't think so.

"Maybe I don't want anybody anymore," I grumbled under my breath. "Maybe I wanna be a single lady with a hut full of those puffy thingies you all are allergic as shit to."

A grunt sounded off from the door.

Celuk remained as he was, holding me, watching, waiting, only commenting as he saw fit.

Guilt and shame filled me, until I was squirming in his hold.

As if sensing my discomfort, he pulled back.

"Odix comes back," Celuk announced, pulling out a chair to make himself comfortable at my kitchen table. He chose to remain close but offered me some much needed and appreciated space.

Sure enough, Odix came skidding back into view, and rushed right past my hut.

Hyde, as he preferred to be addressed, barked something at Odix that had Odix garbling out a shout and thundering to my door. Or was it Jeh-kal? I believe Celuk said they were both in residence…? Shit. Hell if I know!

"What you do that by my Jojo's door? Put ‘way!" Odix barked, scowling as he stormed in past him.

Crap.

"You… leave… me," Odix garbled out as he took a moment after realizing he'd found me to catch his breath.

He must have been running like a lunatic all over the place because he was freaking winded.

Celuk said something to Odix that had him frowning, glancing from my wincing face, to grimace and wince himself, then glance at Celuk's perpetually frowning mug.

With a barely perceptible nod, whatever Celuk had told them had Odix softening his voice as he replied to the supposed king of Crazy Town.

"I didn't do it," I blurted, as Celuk and Odix conversed in their native tongue and left me hanging in the wind.

"Do what?" Odix grunted out.

"Crude-hella on Rek, make coat, with axe," Jeh-kal tossed out, deciding to join the conversation, in English for my benefit I assumed.

Or added misery and embarrassment, I corrected as Odix's gaping gaze swung from Jeh-kal outside the door, then to me and my reddening mug.

"I didn't actually do it!" I burst out, to Odix's unblinking, jaw swinging near his knees, stare.

"Axe too big," Jeh-kal inserted himself yet again into the conversation. "No be able lift, swing, hit good."

"I changed my mind, okay! It was never going to go that far!" I squawked.

"Goot." Jeh-kal gave a grunt. "Hurt arms trying hit Rek. Miss? Owies. If hit, messy. Maybe hurt Jojo, she try." There was a pause and then he offered, "Make smaller axe. Fit female's hands. Practice swing."

"No!" Odix barked as I squeaked, "Not necessary!"

"No smacks anyone axe," Odix garbled out. "No care it stupid dummy head Rek. My Jojo no Crude-hellas no one!"

With a groan, I covered my face with my hands. "I said I wasn't going to do it!"

A loud grunt left Odix. I peeked to spy him sliding my purse off his arm to walk over and settle it down next to me. "Jojo thinks about it. Thinks ‘nough to leave Odix, think try."

"I. Changed. My. Mind," I gritted out. Dropping my hands, I lifted my head, glaring at him to keep harping on that shit.

Did Rek look bludgeoned? Was his tart holding his severed head, hmm? Was I parading his carcass through town?! I didn't think so!

Feeling on edge, wanting nothing more than a moment alone to just- to just- I don't know- Think! I scrubbed at my face and a frustrated sound left me.

"No' helping," Jeh-kal called out to Odix.

"You no' help," Odix shot back, marching out the door to shake a finger at Jeh-kal, who was apparently sitting just outside my door, his long legs sprawling out as he gave them a good stretch.

"That you axe. You give my Jojo? You say, here, go kills Rek, Crude-hellas him? Hm? What then? Jojo loves Rek dummy head. Hurts him, hurts her! You stupid dummy head!"

"I wish everyone would just go…" I mumbled, my internal filter unhinging.

Whatever else Odix was going to say as Jeh-kal started to growl cut off at my words.

Staring at my hands as they fell into my lap, I sighed, groaned, and grimaced anew. "I- I think…" Stealing a peek at Celuk, whose sole focus was on me, I blurted, "I think I just need some time alone." Taking several deep breaths, I elaborated, "I'm all over the place. I have no idea what to say, think, feel, past the hurt and the anger. I'm dying to take it out on everyone around me. I'm struggling to hold back." My voice broke, causing me to pause and take several deep breaths before continuing. "I would really appreciate it if you would all just give me some time to process."

When it looked like nobody was going to fucking move, I bit out through gritted teeth as the anger and tears I was barely holding back welled, "Please."

Celuk stood with a short, jerky nod and, grabbing Odix on his way, walked right out my door.

Rushing to the threshold right after them, I closed and locked the door behind them.

Stumbling back to my bed, I sat there wondering what the fuck I was going to do.

How the hell was this my life?! What the hell happened?

I couldn't stay here. The chances of running into Rek were astronomical. He looked like he was in no mood to avoid me, either, increasing those odds. Plus, if the idiot felt like "explaining" himself, if only to assuage his guilty conscience, he knew exactly where I lived and it wasn't all that far from his place.

"Fuck," I muttered, standing to grab empty bags and suitcases to stuff them with all of my things.

By the time I was done, there was nothing left. I'd cleaned my place out.

A sharp knock at my door as I prepared to leave, no real idea where the fuck I actually intended to go in mind, just far, far away from Rek and his betrayal, had me freezing in place.

This was also just as much because of how much I didn't trust myself not to hunt down a sharp pointy thing and go after him again, and I knew it.

Distance. Time. Find some way to get out the anger, hurt, rage, and if I was lucky work past it with minimal bloodshed.

But why? Why did he do it?! Why?!!

Everything I'd thought or didn't, I was questioning EVERYTHING.

"Jo? Joans? Joanie?" Rosa's rapid-fire knocking had the icy dread filling me at that first sharp rap melting.

"Do you hear anything?" I thought I heard Mal whisper from the other side of the door.

I barely got the door open before the tears spilled and the blubbering began.

"Oh, Joans," Rosa murmured, practically charging me to grab me up in a hug.

Mal closed the door and set down her purse, rushing in on that hugging me business.

"I don't know what happened," I blubbered. "I don't- I don't know… what I did wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong!" Mal was quick to chime in.

"I know what happened." Rosa had a growl in her voice. "He's a selfish asshole and you did NOTHING wrong! If he was unhappy, he should have grown a pair like a real male, spoken up, or if he was so damn unhappy, not bullshit you and be real about it, not show up with some- some stranger and a mouth full of excuses!"

"He'd seemed so happy, barring a few incidences, and we- I- We were trying for a baby," I admitted.

Pulling back, I swiped at my eyes repeatedly, struggling to get a damn grip. I was reduced to a watering pot for a guy that clearly wasn't worth it, but someone tell that to the organ he'd just punched a hole through.

Sniffling, smiling my thanks as Mal offered me a bit of cloth to wipe my nose with, I blurted, "Was it because of Celuk? I- Was this his kind of revenge? I don't. I mean, they had some kind of a disagreement following that but Rek wasn't cross with me, I- He'd said he'd been working on a present for me." And there came the tears again.

"Some fucking present," Rosa harrumphed.

I don't think I've ever seen her that absolutely, punch you in the face pissed like this. It was oddly endearing. My best bitches had my back.

Mal started tea while Rosa guided me over to my bed. Urging me to take a seat, Mal and Rosa pulled up chairs next to the bed.

Their presence and support were like a balm to my battered soul.

"I gave that asshole a pocket watch," I blurted.

Rosa and Mal blinked at me uncomprehendingly.

"I wanted him to have something, a symbol of my love for him, that his dumb ass could pass down to our kids and shit," I mumblingly rambled in reply in somewhat of an explanation to my nonsense. "It would have been b-beautiful."

And despite my efforts not to, I burst into tears for the umpteenth time.

"Well, that's…" Rosa struggled for the right words.

"It was stupid!" I got out between choked sobs.

"The sentiment was beautiful," Mal countered, taking my hand to brush her hand over the top of it, forcing warmth back into it. I felt like all the blood in my body was pooling in my head. It was pounding so hard at this point I was worried it might explode.

"I have to get out of here. I can't be near him. I'm so mad… I don't know what I'll do." My confession was met with knowing nods, like if they were in my position they could understand. And while they could, they really couldn't, not living it firsthand, but I appreciated their support.

"You could come to my place? We have plenty of extra room?" Rosa offered.

"I can't go to either of your places. That's the first place he'd look," I muttered, hiking up my big girl panties and pushing down all the hurt and pain, that simmering anger to figure out my next step before I did something really ugly and drastic.

"You really think he'll try to come to you, after all that?" Mal blurted.

She wasn't trying to sound harsh but I winced all the same.

"He's dumb enough to try," Rosa mumbled, frowning.

"Go Hyde house," a voice just outside my door suggested.

"But that's," Mal started to cut in, to Jeh-kal cutting right back in to talk over her with a grumbled, "Tree house."

"And end up winding up preggo with your massive monster baby to push out? Then what? And then it'll just push me away when it's old enough because it thinks I'm too weak or small or human for the likes of it? I don't think so. Pity fucking is off the table, permanently, and so is tree house hiding away," I shot back.

Mal and Rosa sat there looking stunned, just shy of gaping, as their heads whipped back and forth, trying to keep up.

"Long story. Bum wants to be called Hyde, his form in agreement Jeh-kal, and his horny form Tor," I muttered, which just served to send Rosa's eyes widening and Mal's mouth forming a tiny little shocked O of surprise.

Mal was the first to snap out of it, garbling out on a strangled breath, "Bitch, you've been holding out on us."

"A lot. Not going to lie," I muttered with a shrug, unable to meet their gazes.

"When you're ready," Rosa stated firmly in reply.

"When she's ready?" Mal spluttered. "How long has this been going on? Who else is involved? Did Rek know? Was that why he was being stupid? Was he jealous because, I mean, Bum-bum is, you know, and Rek is, well, you know, in comparison and you mentioned something about Celuk… I-"

Rosa reached over and gently pushed her index finger under Mal's chin, kindly urging her to shut the fuck up. "When she's ready," Rosa repeated, more firmly than the last.

"Of course," Mal blurted, then shut her gob, thank god. "When you're ready," she agreed after a lengthy pause.

"Where else can you go that Rek won't think to look?" Mal wondered aloud.

"Or won't want to," Rosa pressed. She had that look on her face, making me think she already had a place in mind.

"I'm not following," I muttered.

Rosa grinned. "Where were you staying that Rek was reluctant to set foot?"

"Celuk's." I knew the answer instantly. "But… I literally just asked him to leave me alone," I admitted.

Rosa popped up. "So then I'll go and ask him."

"I'll stay here with her until you get back," Mal offered.

"Wait!" I burst out and shot to my feet.

Rosa glanced my way, askance, as she headed for the door.

"I can't just ask him to stay at his place because Rek is an asshole and may or may not think to come over here. That's ridiculous." Flopping my butt back onto the bed, I sighed heavily.

Mal and Rosa offered me a moment to think this all through.

Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing, trying to ignore the bullshit tugging at me, burning my eyes, clogging my throat, causing that unmistakable sharp pain in my chest, to admit the truth of the matter, "Rek's made his choice. I just have to learn to live with it. Without him." Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I forced the truth past dry lips. "He's not coming back, and I wouldn't take him back anyway."

Glancing around my little hut, the idea of leaving it to avoid him rankled. "Why should I have to leave? Fuck him." Standing, I stomped my foot on the floor. "I'm staying right here. Fuck him!"

"That's the spirit," Mal cheered.

"Are you sure?" Rosa sounded unsure, like she thought tracking down Celuk to ask him to take me in was the better bet, but I didn't want her to— I couldn't explain it.

"I'm sure." Forcing a smile, I motioned that we should all sit at the table. "I'd like company for a bit longer, though, if that's okay?"

"Of course." Rosa dragged her chair back to the table and joined me.

Mal followed, pulling a small loaf of bread and assorted sweets from the bag she'd come in with out. "Boog sent me off with the sweets. He thought you might need them. I told him if that doesn't work I'm sending him after you next," she teased.

"So he can eat all of my Yetiland barbecue sauce?" I quipped. "Joke'd be on him, I'm fresh out."

Mal smiled and laughed but her eyes were filled with worry. "I'll mention that to him and see if maybe he can't fix that for you." Jerking her chin towards the array of cookies before us, she teased, "He insists they're great drenched in barbecue sauce but I'm of a mind I'd rather take his word for it."

Rosa smiled but didn't laugh. She was focused on the way my hands shook, my puffy face. Her worry worried me, weird as that sounded.

It felt weird to be joking around at a time like this, when every part of me was screaming and I honestly just wanted to curl up in a ball and bawl my eyes out.

"I think I might just lie down for a bit. Pack some snow in doubled cloth and ease the pulsing in my face." It was as polite of a please leave so I can wallow in peace as I was capable of.

Mal nodded and stood, taking the hint. "If I know my man, and I do, Boog is probably stress baking right now. I'll be back with more carb fun and see how you're doing. If you need anything you know where to find me. Don't lock us out, eh?"

Ugh. She knew me so fucking well.

"I promise to catch you all up when I'm feeling more human," I told her.

Mal made her way to the door but Rosa remained seated.

When Mal glanced between us. I waved her off. "One of your fellas is nearby?" I asked, though the question was redundant.

"Khri," Mal said simply.

"Say hi to him for me, Boog too," I replied absently.

Walking back over to me, Mal gave me a hug hard enough to make my back crack.

"Don't break her now," Rosa teased, then let out a little o of surprise when Mal gave her a hug and whispered something to her I couldn't make out.

"I make no promises," Rosa muttered as Mal let her go, to a soft laugh from Mal.

When I looked to Rosa, she answered the unspoken question, "Tokre is waiting for me. Took a seat right next to Bum- uh, erm…"

"Hyde," Bum-bum/Hyde supplied for her from outside. "Tokre show Hyde finger words."

"Hyde?" Rosa mumbled, then shook her head. She mouthed, I thought he was Jeh-kal? With confusion.

"Like warrior in Jojo stories," he supplied.

"Villain, antihero, self-created own worst enemy in an attempt to hide his own inner evil impulses, horroresque gothic tale, I think you mean," I sarcastically corrected. With a sigh, I muttered, "I should have told him about Multiplicity instead. So many Michael Keatons… so little time."

"Tor want Jo." There was a loud grunt. "No want anyfing eltse. No want hurt other Lo denaii for acting like we big but stupid, hurt chest. No care no more. No yell and snarls in head, angry, mad. Scary bad male no more. Want be goot. All Tor want, just want Jo."

Riiight. Uh-huh. Okay. Pfft. "I refuse to believe the hoo-ha was that good it made you want to give up any and all thoughts of revenge for feeling slighted and turn your entire existence around and be one with yourself," I called sweetly.

Rosa stared at me, wide-eyed. I guess the shocks just kept rollin' in for her today too.

Hyde's rumble-purring reply had my face reddening along with my cousin's.

When a hysterical giggle full of what the fuck left me, he thought to add, "Rek no dead, jes? Still has all him's fur and parts, yes? Slights my Jo, slights US." To reiterate, he added, "Jo no like maim other males. Won't like us. We just want Jo."

"You can't bear to part with the Glamazon hootenanny. You might die," I intoned dramatically, placing my hand on my chest.

"What hood-tan-nanny?" he muttered quite loudly.

A deep rumbled growl-speak answered him.

His affirmative grunt of an answer was answer enough but he felt the need to loudly call out emphatically, "Jo and hood-tan-nanny, jes."

A laugh burst out of me, unbidden. It felt awful and good at the same time.

Rosa rolled her eyes, caught me rolling mine at that too, and we snorted simultaneously.

"I'd say TMI," Rosa whispered, "but I'm oddly invested in how this all plays out." That's oddly… sweet , she mouthed, shrugging and ducking out of swatting range. A grin stole over her face. I knew then she was on team Jeh-kal, the traitor.

"We Jo's. That how plays to the outs. Jo ours," he answered, because crazy Lo denaii hearing.

"We're a we now, are we? You, yourself, and Irene? Well, I dunno about none of that, axe boy, but I do know this, the muffin shop is closed." Pursing my lips, my eyes narrowed and I folded my arms across my chest. "If that's what you're hanging around here for, a chance at all o' this, don't hold your breath."

"Who I-reen?" Hyde grumbled.

Rosa coughed to cover up a laugh but her eyes started to water, she was trying to hold it in that hard. "I'm sorry, but you two are weirdly adorable," she laughingly croaked out. "He's like a male version of you once you've set your mind to something. If a bit on the primal side…"

"My god- What?" I squawked. "What's the matter with you?! You don't say things like that! You shut your mouth. You shut it right now!"

But it was too late. Hyde's purr was so loud it sounded like a diesel engine was revving outside.

Waving a hand wildly at the door, I gave her a dirty look. "See? See what you just did?! You're encouraging him, you- you monster romance enabler! He sounds all sweet and coy, but he's a beast! One half of him did just about everything in his power to convince me the other half of him was no good. He insisted he was no good, then wooed me despite it, to reject me yet again, and in-between there somewhere, he saved my bacon a couple times as if to make it all even stevens, but that's not how it works!"

The diesel engine rev promptly cut off.

It let the funny noises Rosa was making fill the room.

"Hyde not bad no mores," he rumbled out softly, sounding contrite, chagrined.

"I'll believe that when I see it! Hmmph," I harrumphed.

His purr started to kick up again but I growled a little under my breath and he stopped immediately.

The look on Rosa's face said she wanted to reiterate her earlier point but I was having none of it.

"If that fool was me with a dick," I started to say to cut myself off the moment I realized how stupid anything that came out of my mouth would be for me. The dingus out there would take it like a road map to wooing me. And then what, six monster babies born in, IF I should survive, when he tires of me and wants to un-mate me and just dumps me yet again, what then? Hmm? No. I wasn't going to be fooled yet again!

"If that fool was you?" Rosa pressed.

"I wouldn't have done any of the things he did," I muttered lamely, glancing away from her raised-eyebrows stare. "That's for sure."

Walking over to the sideboard, I sliced the loaf of bread Mal had left behind. With my back to her, I muttered, "You don't have to babysit me."

"Don't," Rosa said softly.

"Don't what?" Playing dumb, I buttered two pieces of bread, grabbed some fruit, and put more water on for tea.

Turning to her, I found her opening my randomly spread out suitcases to start putting my things back where they rightfully belonged, namely making up my bed. "You know what," she said simply.

When I waited, distracting myself by thinking about all the rest of my shit at Rek's and lamenting the loss of said shit, she took her time making the bed with the spare sheets in the first suitcase she'd opened to sit on the edge of it.

"After tea, I'll leave, for now, but don't push me away, okay? I love you. I'm here for you, Joans." Patting the spot next to her, she grinned when I sarcastically took her invite too literally and scooched in until I was practically on her lap. "Bony Joanie, do you remember that? Because of your ridiculously bony ass," she teased, knocking into me on purpose until I moved the fuck aside.

"Bish, your ass was so flat back then it was inverted. We were kids! We had to hit puberty first, give that shit a chance to fill out!" The dark glare I gave her for bringing up the bullshit of the past didn't faze her.

Rosa grinned and laughed, and for once it really honestly felt just like old times, even if it so was not.

Rosa's smile fell a little as we lapsed into silence.

"He'll realize what he's done and it'll be too late," she murmured softly. Another nudge to me. "No takebacksies. Rek can suck it."

"I hope he regrets the rest of his life," I bit out, rolling my eyes at myself as my voice cracked and I found myself swiping at my eyes.

"Can I ask you a very personal question?" Rosa had glanced to my shoulder as I scratched at it, but then looked to me, meeting my gaze dead on.

"You can, but I can refuse to answer…" My shoulder lifted in a shrug.

"How many mates do you have?" She was just gonna blurt it out there, huh? Just like that?

When I gave her a frowning, unblinking stare, she gestured towards my neck.

My scars. Shit. Must've spied them when we were joking. I'd gotten really good at covering them up. I was exposed in more ways than one right now.

"Does it matter?" I said finally. Dragging my hair over my shoulder, I covered them back up.

Her face pinkened as she shoved my hair right back over my shoulder in a take back the sass reverse hair flip. One good look at the state of my neck and shoulder and she blurted, "Girl, you look like a chew toy!"

"Maybe I like it," I shot back, then made her blush look like amateur shit as I turned tomato red. Once more, I hastily pulled my hair over my shoulder and adjusted the collar of my stretched out top.

The deep chuckle issuing from outside had that tell-tale tomato red of my face going dark beet. "They talk sex bites," Hyde told Tokre.

I recognized Tokre's answering grunt.

"My Jo likes sex bites," Hyde felt the need to inform him. "Lots."

"Of all the-" My lips clamped shut as my eyes bugged. Holy hells, shut up, you big mouth! When I said just that, Hyde chuckled like I'd just said the cutest fucking thing and didn't sound ready to maul him to death.

Rosa and I sputtered when twin rumble-purrs issued from outside and Hyde announced, like we hadn't already guessed, "The Rosa likes the sex bites, too. Humans females like Lo denaii. Likes to bite." He made a chomping sound and a garbled, gurgling noise left me.

"Okay! Enough sex talk!" I shouted, slapping a hand to my forehead in exasperation.

"Oh my god," Rosa sputtered, mortified.

As we took a moment to get over that, I had to throw my hands up and brush it off.

"They're… bonding?" I blurted finally, hoping it offered Rosa some way to save face and leave here without my extra pillow case over her head, which turned her sputtering gasps into soft witch cackles.

"Not over THAT, in front of us, they're not!" Rosa managed to get out between stomach aching snorted-chortles.

Rosa hung out for a little bit longer before encouraging me to have that rest I was talking about as she puttered around my place like a kindly maiden aunt cleaning up my shit after me. She even went so far as to grab ice to make an ice pack for my face.

I was so exhausted from everything, I'd fallen asleep with my face feeling half frozen, to snuffle awake to blankets tucked around me, no ice pack in sight, a good fire going that should last me throughout the night, and an unintended houseguest.

"How did you get past Mama Rosie?" I snarked, rolling over to face him.

"Rosie ask Hyde watch for Jo. Hyde say jes. Rosie say, ‘kay. Hyde smell fire go out, come inside, make more fire food. Jo sleeps. Hyde watch."

"You watched me sleep?" I repeated stupidly.

"Jes," he said shortly.

"Whatever. Weirdo." Keeping my distance, I got some water and glanced to him pointedly. "There's no bathroom in here and I need to pee."

He nodded and waited.

Realizing more was required of him, he scratched at his head. "‘Kay?" he half mumbled, wondering if that was the right way to go.

"You need to leave so I can pee," I pointed out.

"Screen." His finger shot up and he pointed at the small privacy screen he must have put back up.

"No," I said simply, pointing at the door.

Glancing up towards the door from his cozy spread out on the floor near the table, he gave a grunt of an answer.

"Because I don't want to pee in front of you!" I burst out.

"Already pee with us," he pointed out.

"Well… maybe I don't wanna piss with ‘you's right now! You ever think of that?" I wasn't being irrational. I didn't feel like wanting to pee in peace was irrational.

"‘Kay," he said simply, thinking that was the end of that.

"Get out before I piss myself!" I burst out.

Surprised by my shout, he got to his feet and walked to the door. A befuddled frown muddled his brow. Opening the door and waiting, like he thought maybe I'd change my mind, he hesitated.

"Today!" I barked.

He was barely all the way bodily outside when I slammed the door shut on his pouty ass and locked it. Making use of the pee pot on hand, I'd just started going, bladder screaming, when he called through the door.

"Not want see or hear? I hear," he pointed out.

"Then maybe don't listen," I snapped, hovering precariously.

Hyde broke out into some weird song I'd never heard before, singing it quite loudly. Too loudly. By the time I'd finished up and washed my hands, he sounded like he was putting on a concert. A concert for other fellow dying sheep.

I had one hand on my stomach, the other over my mouth, I was giggling so hard.

It was horrendous. He could hum like no one's business but he was shit at singing.

"What you do?" someone loudly asked from outside.

"Jo say no listen to her-"

I could not get that door open fast enough. "Okay!" Reaching out, I grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. It was more like I led and he followed because literally dragging him was never gonna happen without him going along for the ride. "All good now! Shut up! Let's go!"

"In times out?" the male called after him.

"You will be if you don't shut your face!" I told the strange male sweetly, then slammed the door on said strange male's surprised mug.

Turning around to stare at him, craning my neck to manage the feat, I gave Hyde a dirty look to end all dirty looks. "Bit of a fun tidbit, pointer, what-have-you if you're going to force yourself in my presence— don't announce I'm going to the bathroom to anyone for any reason, ever, or I will lose my shit!"

When he blink-blinked down at me questioningly, I growlingly corrected, "Not literally!"

Staring down at me, he tilted his head. "All have to go some of the times."

"Well, whatever the hell I'm doing, I don't need it broadcasted!" I snarled back. And because I felt it needed saying, I grumbled, "I obviously was not taking a shit. I had… private lady things to tend to…"

It had taken me longer than a normal pee for all of the myriad reasons that it might. My menstrual cup, for one. Swapping out a washable pad with the diaper thick looking thing I'd been wearing that had been made on the fly for another.

Hyde let out a grunt that said message received.

No matter the mix up, my regret was instant. I was being a wee bit over the top, I felt. He wasn't technically doing anything wrong.

"Look, I have a lady headache, I'm starting to bleed like a stuck pig. I just want to, with much reluctance, take care of that stupid piss pot, wash my hands until they crack, eat, and crawl back into bed and pretend my life is much more fun than it currently feels, okay?"

"‘Kay," he said simply. Walking over to the hearth, he pulled a lidded pot off of it and set it on the table.

Grabbing a change of clothes, I hurried behind my screen to change. Scrubbing my face, putting on face lotion, pulling my hair up into a messy bun, I felt marginally better, but not so much it counted. Fresh hoodie, comfy pants, and floppy oversized shirt and fresh socks on, I stepped out to find the table set for two.

Hyde nodded at me as he disappeared behind the screen, grabbed the pot I was dreading emptying, and walked it outside to dispose of it in one of the public bathrooms.

Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth when I knew all I'd have eaten was bread and cookies otherwise, and appreciating the effort, I walked over and took the seat I knew was intended for him, if only to see what he'd do. Boundaries, I'm always pushin' ‘em. I'm an asshole like that. What can I say?

As if that was just fine, he took the seat on the other side after he came back in and washed his hands, and filled up the plate dished out with a portion I'd be more capable of managing.

"This isn't a date. You're not forgiven," I mumbled.

He paused mid chew of a monstrous bite, gave a curt nod and a soft grunt, and we continued on, two beings eating in silence.

"I'm not putting out, so don't expect anything," I muttered, eyeing him.

"‘Kay," he said simply.

His presence was strangely calming and I didn't really want him to leave, but, well, I'm Joanie and it's complicated.

"I might even be gassy as hell," I pressed.

"Butt trumped-ets, hear Mina tell Veck. Daid-see call them toots." Tapping his ear, he nodded. "We listen."

My eyebrows shot up. Pushing my mostly empty plate to the side, I ran my tongue along the inside of my check as I steepled my fingers. "Oh yeah? What else do you hear, Captain Eavesdropper?"

"Hear all the kinds of things," he grunted out, glancing away.

"I don't wanna know what weirdness goes on around here," I muttered, standing to stretch.

He watched. I knew he would. Dark eyes glittered in the firelight as he took me in.

"You can stay if you must, I guess," I muttered, gesturing vaguely to his corner. "My head still feels like it was hit with a sledgehammer. No funny business. It's the last damn thing I need right now."

The chair scraped loudly as he pushed it back and stood to his full, towering height. He made no move to step away from the table.

"Ways make head aches go ‘way," he rumbled out quietly.

"Lemme guess, by putting your penis in me? Uh, no." My sarcasm laden words were met with a shake of his head.

Hands on my hips, mouth puckering in a funny moue, I thought, alright, I'll bite.

"It has nothing to do with your penis?" I queried, just to be sure.

Once more, he shook his head.

"And it's not going to hurt?" I had to be sure.

Another shake of his head.

"Fine, what is it?" I muttered, eyeing him curiously.

"Eat. Then fix," he grunted out between monster bites as he quickly retook his seat.

After I'd eaten as much as my stomach would allow without feeling like I was going to puke, I offered the rest of my food to the furry garbage disposal inhaling his third heaping helping.

"I assume you'll be gone come morning. I'm cool with this," I muttered. I expected nothing less, or more, of him.

At least in that, I understood him. I wasn't going to ask him for things he wasn't capable of giving me. We were past that. He may swear he wants me but his actions have taught me otherwise. He wants me for a moment, then he's ready to run.

Walking over to the bed, he gestured for me to lay down. He had nothing to say about vamoosing come daylight. Giving him a look that said he'd better not be lying, I did as he'd instructed.

Coming over me, leaning over until I was sure this was a trick and he was two seconds from climbing atop me, he placed his fingers at my temple and forehead and began to massage my aching skull.

Less than a minute in and I felt myself relaxing, despite how tense the rest of me was.

"No dying animal songs," I muttered, then blew out a deep breath.

"No like singings?" I could hear the humor in his voice.

"Jackass," I mumbled, not bothering to open my eyes as he turned my brain to pudding in the best possible way.

"Thanks, you know, for this, since I'm, like, about to pass out and you'll be halfway to your treehouse by the time I realize you're gone and all that shit," I croaked out. My brow tried to tug into a frown at the emotion seeping into my voice but he smoothed those frown lines right out.

Fuck, am I pathetic.

I didn't want him to go.

Scooting over towards the wall, hoping he took it as me trying to get comfortable, yet also hoping he took it as a sign to join me on the bed, I didn't realize how much I'd tensed up waiting to see what he was going to do until he drew closer and the bed dipped.

A whimper of a noise left me when he paused for a minute and lifted his hands before scooting closer and resettling them, to pick up right where he'd left off.

His soft chuckle was full of Told ya so.

"Shut up," I muttered, which just seemed to amuse him even more.

A snort left me as he had himself a little chuckle at my expense.

Whatever, I told myself. He was here, a quiet presence not expecting a fucking thing from me and his thick digits were finger feckin' my face and it was glorious.

Laying there with the beast of few words, I was once more entrapped in my own thoughts.

Just as I felt those emotions growing heads like a hydra, one lopped off for two or three more to come at me, the most awful song in existence came softly erupting from the beast hovering over me.

Tears slipped down my cheeks and I felt my face fighting not to screw up, but at that sound I choked on the thickness in my throat.

He kept it up, until I was sputtering with laughter beneath him between begging him to knock that shit off.

Despite everything, I managed to fall asleep with a silly smile on my face.