Chapter 10

Three months passed by without much drama. Fred started therapy, making marked progress through processing his fraught childhood. Aaron supported him heartily as he worked through those issues. Fred took Aaron as his date to a couple of dinner parties hosted by his employer. Aaron reciprocated with his firm’s annual summer celebration picnic. Most of their colleagues weren’t phased by the couple. There were a few assholes here and there, but overall, the response was positive or neutral. It helped that the higher ups in both Aaron and Fred’s respective companies didn’t give a shit who they were fucking as long as they got their work done and both men excelled in their positions.

Fred had tried to reach out to his mother one last time. She only asked if he was still “living a sinful lifestyle” and when he replied that if she meant to ask if he was still in a loving relationship with Aaron, then yes, he was. After his confirmation she had ignored him. That had been a hard day, but he had wanted to try one more time, for his own closure. Closure on his terms not hers.

His efforts to reach out to Jennifer had garnered a little more of a response. On Taylor, Jennifer’s second son’s birthday, he had reached out to wish him a happy birthday and tell her he was thinking about them. It took her all day to respond but she did finally. She simply said thank you and sent Fred a picture of the four boys together at Taylor’s birthday party.

Another hard day, knowing he hadn’t been invited to the party. Not that he would have been able to go. In the background of the picture of the boys was Russell, beer in hand looking drunk and sloppy. Fred wouldn’t have wanted to go without Aaron, and he couldn’t guarantee that it would have been safe for them to go.

The two men spent increasing amounts of time with Aaron’s parents who warmed quickly to Fred as the months passed without so much as a hint of him jerking Aaron around. Of course there was plenty of time spent with Mark, Kate, and Madison. Aaron did start going to see Madison for his haircuts and loved hearing all the tea she spilled as she cut his hair.

Life was beginning to fall into a comfortable, predictable pattern for the couple. Aaron had gradually let go of his slovenly ways and would help clean more often than not. Cooking was not his gift, however, so Fred mostly took care of that. Both Aaron and Fred felt things couldn’t get any better than this.

On a quiet Friday night, they lounged together on the couch, watching a horror movie, with a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table between two beers. Aaron had propped a pillow on Fred’s lap and stretched out next to him. Fred had an arm draped over him, slowly stroking up and down his bicep as they watched the film.

“Are you fuckin’ serious?” Fred exclaimed as the main male lead ran back into the forest from his hiding spot to go after the female lead. “Why do they do that? He should just get the fuck out of there. Get the cops or something!” Aaron chuckled as Fred reached for one of the bottles.

“I’d leave you in the forest and go for help, Freddie,” Aaron said. Fred looked down at him as he sipped his beer.

“Awww, that’s so sweet baby. Going for help is always the right way to go.” He squeezed his boyfriend’s shoulder and ran his fingers back down to his elbow. Aaron sighed contentedly.

Fred’s phone started buzzing wildly on the table in front of them. He glanced down at the phone. Suddenly the doorbell rang as well, twice in a row and a fist banged on the door. Aaron jumped at the noise. He loved horror movies, but they always set him on edge. He sat up and grabbed the remote to pause the film.

“What the fuck is going on?” he asked.

“My dad is calling,” Fred said. “I guess I should answer it.” A fist pounded at their door again.

“Stay here,” Fred said to Aaron. “I’ll get the door.”

“But...” Aaron started.

“Just stay here,” Fred said. Something was weird, his dad calling and the pounding on the door starting at the same time was weirding him out. His phone kept ringing as he looked through the peep hole.

“Holy shit!” he exclaimed, unlocking the door and flinging it open. “Ben?! What the fuck happened to you?”

Fred’s oldest nephew stood at his door. His longish dark blond hair was ruffled, light brown eyes bloodshot, his left eye bloomed with a black and blue bruise, a twin bruise was on his opposite cheek, and he had a bloody lip.

“Uncle Fred,” he croaked and started crying.

“Fuck, come in here,” Fred said, ushering the tall boy into the house. Aaron stood up from the couch and caught a glimpse of Ben.

“Jesus! Ben!” Aaron said. He moved swiftly and took him by lightly by the elbow, directing him to sit at the dining room table. “Sit down, what happened?” Ben just kept crying, his sobs coming in huge hiccups. Aaron thought they sounded like sobs of relief.

Fred’s phone had stopped ringing at some point but started anew now. His dad, Paul, was calling again. He answered quickly.

“Dad?” Fred said as Aaron went to the kitchen to grab a bag of frozen peas. Aaron listened closely as he carefully put the bag of peas on Ben’s swelling eye.

“Here kiddo, hold that there,” Aaron said. Ben brought his hand up to hold the bag to his eye. Aaron noted the scrapes and redness on his knuckles and glanced at his other hand, which bore the same marks.

“No, no it’s fine. It’s OK. He’s here now,” Fred was saying. “No, he looks like shit.”

Aaron carefully pushed the long hair off of Ben’s face to inspect the bruise on his cheek and the split lip. He sucked a breath in through his teeth. Going back to the freezer he dug around looking for an ice pack. He couldn’t find one but did find a bag of corn that had migrated to the back of the freezer. Tossing it on the counter Aaron grabbed a paper towel, ran the corner under some cold water and squeezed out the excess. Sitting down in a chair across from Ben, he held the bag of corn on the bruised cheek.

“Does that hurt? Too much?” Aaron asked. He dabbed carefully at the split lip, wiping away the blood that dripped from the cut.

“No. It’s OK,” Ben croaked out. His sobs had stopped but he was still sucking his breath in and out too fast. Aaron put the paper towel aside and gently rubbed Ben’s shoulder.

“You’re safe Ben,” Aaron said as Fred finished up the call with his dad. “You need to relax; you’re going to hyperventilate. Slow deep breaths, kiddo.” Aaron started to take deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth and Ben did his best to copy it. Fred slammed his phone to the kitchen counter and stalked over to Ben.

“Let me see,” he ground out.

“Fred,” Aaron said warningly. “Relax.” Fred’s fiery eyes caught Aaron’s and he took a deep shuddering breath. He seemed a little calmer, but Aaron still noted the fury that remained.

“Can I see your face, Ben?” Fred asked him. The boy lowered the bag of peas from his eye and Aaron pulled away the corn. Fred gently cradled Ben’s face in his hands, turning it, pushing his hair carefully out of the way.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Fred asked quietly. Ben held up his hands and Fred looked them over.

“What happened Ben?” Fred asked. Ben’s face crumpled again, fresh tears coursing down his face. He didn’t cover them though, just let them flow freely.

“My dad,” he muttered, his breathing going ragged and rapid again.

“Ben,” Aaron said. Ben looked at Aaron, and he started taking his deep breaths again. Ben nodded and mimicked him until his breathing evened out once more.

“You’re safe here Ben,” Aaron reassured him. Ben took another deep breath, tears still rolling down his face, as if they would never stop.

“My ... my dad did it,” he said. Fred’s hands clenched into tight fists, the knuckles going white.

“Why?” Aaron asked gently when he noticed Fred was seething, far too angry to ask any coherent questions beyond how he should kill Russell.

“He ... he ... he found out ... something about me. I didn’t know where else to go. I had to call Grandpa Paul to get your address. Mom wouldn’t tell me,” Ben said.

“Oh Ben. Your mom doesn’t have this address,” Aaron admitted.

“What did your dad find out?” Fred asked, nearly spat out. He just barely held his anger back. Ben stared up at his uncle’s furious eyes.

“You don’t have to say,” Aaron said. Ben dragged his eyes to Aaron, then back to Fred. Ben shrugged then winced at the pain that shot through his shoulders and back.

“He found out about Finn,” Ben whispered. Fred’s face dissolved into confusion.

“Finn? You and Finn have been friends for years,” Fred said.

“Yeah,” Ben hesitated, dropping his eyes to the floor. “We’ve been boyfriends for about a year now.” Fred’s clenched fists relaxed.

“You ... have a boyfriend?” Fred asked. Ben nodded, bringing his eyes back up to Fred. “You’re gay?” Fred asked. Ben snorted and winced again at the pain.

“Yes, Uncle Fred. That’s why I’ve had a boyfriend for a year. I’m gay,” Ben said looking up at him. Fred ignored the sass and stared down at Ben. He pulled a chair over to him and sat next to Aaron leaning forward on his knees.

“And your dad found out tonight?” Aaron asked. Ben nodded again.

“Mom and dad were out, on a date night. My brothers were at...” he glanced at Fred. “They were at grandma’s house. So, I thought I’d have the house to myself for a while. Finn came over and we lost track of time.”

“Jesus Christ,” Fred muttered. Ben looked up quickly.

“We weren’t even doing anything! We were watching a movie on the couch. We might have been able to fly under the radar, like we’ve been doing for so long, but we fell asleep. We were all cuddled up...” Ben’s eyes welled at the memory. “Dad came home and saw us. I shoved Finn out the door when he started yelling. Mom had gone to get my brothers but dropped dad off cause ... because he got so drunk on their date night. She doesn’t like grandma to see how wasted gets sometimes ... all the time.” Fred scraped a hand down his face and clenched a fist again. Aaron reached out and took his clenched fist, loosening the fingers and lacing his with Fred’s. He squeezed it firmly and Fred glanced over at him.

“Is Finn, OK?” Aaron asked.

“I think so. He texted me when he got home,” Ben said. “I should probably call him.”

“You can, in a minute,” Fred said. “Put those frozen’s back on your face.” Ben brought up the peas and Aaron, taking his hand from Fred’s, held the corn to his cheek.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere else?” Fred asked. Ben assessed rolling his shoulders wincing with the twinges of pain. Fred raised his eyebrows.

“He might have...” Ben sighed. “He threw me against the wall, but I think I’m just sore, bruised.” Fred’s eyes flared with anger again, but he tried to tamp it down.

“OK, you can stay here tonight. We’ll talk more tomorrow,” he said glancing at Aaron, who nodded.

“I’ll get the air mattress set up,” Aaron said standing. Ben held the bag of corn to his face.

Aaron set up the mattress barely holding back his tears. He put some spare sheets on the mattress and dug an extra pillow out of the hall linen closet, setting it on the bed along with some towels. He went into the bathroom and pulled out a new toothbrush, a little travel toothpaste and a bar of soap. His eyes leaked as he dug through their stuff and he took a moment to steady his breathing, wiping away the tears.

Ben was seated on the couch now, with a glass of water and a slice of cold pizza from the night before. Fred sat next to him talking quietly. He hugged him and Ben returned it burying his face in Fred’s shoulder. His back started quaking and Fred soothed him.

Aaron gave them a moment while he put the toiletries in the bathroom. Fred still had an arm slung over Ben when he came down the hallway and the look of exhaustion and defeat on Ben’s face broke his heart.

“OK, you’re all set,” Aaron said. “I put a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap in the hall bathroom for you.”

“Thanks,” Ben said. He pulled his phone from his pocket and stared down at it.

“Don’t worry about those,” Fred said. “I’ll call her.” Ben nodded and started down the hall.

“Do you have a charger I could use?” he asked quietly.

“Oh,” Aaron said. Ben turned the phone so Aaron could see what kind it was. “Oh yeah, I have an extra.” He retrieved it for Ben and the boy disappeared into the bedroom.

Aaron sighed heavily and went to the living room where Fred sat on the couch. He toyed with his phone, turning it over and over in his hands. Aaron sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug.

“Fuck,” Fred said. He wrapped his arms around Aaron tightly and sighed heavily. “I want to fuckin’ kill that guy.” Aaron nodded.

“I do too,” he muttered, kissing Fred’s head. Fred pulled back and leaned back on the couch.

“I have to call Jennifer,” he said. Aaron winced.

“Ben had a bunch of missed calls and texts from her,” Fred said. “So, I have to call her and tell her he’s safe.” Aaron stared at Fred. “I don’t want to. She doesn’t deserve it.”
Aaron ran a hand down Fred’s arm and back up again. He planted a kiss on his shoulder.

“I have to though,” Fred said. He turned and kissed Aaron’s lips. Then he lifted his phone and scrolled through his contacts till he found Jennifer. He quickly placed the call before he talked himself out of it.

“Fred!” She was sobbing and he almost didn’t understand her.

“Jennifer,” he said quietly with venom in his voice. She cried more but gradually got her voice under control.

“Do you know what happened?” she sputtered.

“I do,” Fred said shortly. “Ben is safe.” Jennifer barked out a sob of relief.

“Where is he?” she asked when she got herself under control.

“He’s here with Aaron and me,” he said. There was a pause.

“Can I ... Can I come see him?” Jennifer asked.

“No.” There was no hesitation, no second guessing. Jennifer paused.

“You won’t let me see my son?” Jennifer asked, but there was no power or anger in her words. Only desperation and devastation.

“No. He’s in rough shape Jennifer and I don’t know if I can trust you to keep Russell away,” Fred said simply. She let out another sob.

“He’s never hit the boys before,” Jennifer sputtered. Fred balked for a moment.

“What do you mean?” Fred asked. Jennifer sobbed again.

“He never hit any of the boys ever. It was only me. I thought it was OK if he never hurt the boys,” Jennifer said. Fred scraped a hand down his face again feeling anger like bile rise in him again. He knew Russell was a piece of shit, but he hadn’t even suspected this. That his sister was in...

He huffed out a sigh and swiped at a tear that rolled out of his eye.

“Jesus Jennifer,” Fred said unable to hide the unbridled anger in his voice.

“I know! I’m ... just is he OK?” Jennifer asked.

“He’ll be OK,” Fred said roughly.

“When can I see him?” Jennifer asked. Fred sighed.

“That’s not up to me. Just not tonight,” Fred said. He felt the dam breaking. At his sister’s revelation of what kind of relationship she had been in for all these years he felt his resolve to be pissed at her breaking down.

“I have to go. Ben will call you later.” His voice cracked over the last word and he ended the call before she could hear him break.

Aaron gathered Fred up in his arms not knowing what the fuck Jennifer had said, only hearing half the conversation. He held Fred as he broke, doing his best to keep his meltdown quiet so as not to alarm Ben. Aaron held him, running his hands over his back, through his hair as Fred clutched him.

Fred finally filled Aaron in on what Jennifer had said as they lay in bed that night. He started crying again as he told him, but he didn’t sob as he had when he had first found out. The tears silently slid down his face as he relayed to Aaron what he had been told. Aaron had listened and cried with him, wiping Fred’s tears with his thumbs. Fred joked about making extra therapy appointments this week and Aaron had huffed out a quiet laugh, although he knew the joke masked the truth of the statement. Fred would make extra appointments that week.

They talked about letting Ben stay with them. Aaron felt no hesitation as he offered to clear the spare room for Ben. They barely used it, and Ben was almost done with high school. He’d be a senior in September and Fred said he’d been planning on going away to college on scholarships for a while. They quietly agreed to let Ben know the next morning that their home was his if he wanted it to be.

The men slept fitfully waking up to Ben’s sobbing at one point. Fred went and checked in on him, returning a few minutes later after the sobbing quieted, confirming he was alright. Aaron got up at one point, silence surrounding him, but feeling like something was off.

He wandered silently into the kitchen and found Ben there staring at the knife block. He wasn’t sure if he was sleepwalking or not, but he gingerly put a hand on his shoulder and Ben jumped. Aaron got him back in bed, telling him again he was safe.

He got back into bed with a sigh and Fred asked what was going on. Aaron told him, and Fred went to sleep in the spare room with Ben for the rest of the night, afraid of what he might do.

Aaron woke up the next morning, later than usual, feeling just as tired as he was when he had closed his eyes the night before. Fred lay next to him in bed, and he was surprised to see him. He rolled over and put an arm around him. Fred relaxed under his arm and stirred a little.

“Hey baby,” he muttered. Aaron kissed the back of his neck.

“Hey Freddie. When did you come back to bed?” Aaron asked. Fred sighed.

“About 5am. Ben finally seemed like he was actually sleeping. So, I came back,” Fred said.

“Are you OK?” Aaron asked, quietly.

“I am not,” Fred said. He sighed and Aaron tightened his arms around him. Fred grabbed Aaron’s fingers and kissed them lightly, one by one. He took one into his mouth and sucked on it, pressing his ass back against Aaron’s crotch.

“Freddie,” Aaron muttered.

“I’m not OK, but I’m not fucking dead,” he growled.

Aaron smirked and pressed his slowly rising cock against Fred’s ass. Fred brought another of Aaron’s fingers into his mouth. Aaron began pumping his fingers in and out of Fred’s mouth. Fred licked down the soaking fingers, to his wrist and up his arm. Aaron groaned quietly. He brought his hand to the waistband of Fred’s boxers and pushed past it trailing them through his crack to his puckered hole. Fred let out a moan as Aaron pressed his wet fingers there, circling around it.

“Shhhh,” Aaron breathed into his ear. “We have to be quiet.”

“Yeah,” Fred groaned out. “I know.” He gasped as one of Aaron’s fingers slipped into him.

“Ugh, baby, yes,” Fred moaned.

“Shhh, Freddie,” Aaron whispered.

“I am,” Fred groaned out. His voice was slightly annoyed, petulant. Aaron chuckled a little, dragging his tongue down Fred’s neck, biting him gently.

He knew now, after months of making love with and fucking Fred that when he was feeling vulnerable, he wanted Aaron to start gentle, but he still liked the soft biting. Fred liked a little rough sex every now and then. He never came so hard as when Aaron was full on pounding into him, but during moments of vulnerability, like now, it was too much. So, Aaron had to walk a fine line of tender and rough. Fred thought he usually did an exceptional job of it.

This morning was no exception as Aaron slowly and tenderly moved his fingers inside him, dragging his teeth along his tongue moistened skin. Fred’s cock immediately rose to the occasion. The men pulled off their boxers as their arousal grew.

Aaron slowly rose to a slouching seated position, his upper back resting against the headboard of their bed. Fred rolled onto his lap, Aaron’s fingers sliding out of him for just a moment, and he settled himself between Aaron’s legs, leaning back against him.

Aaron’s fingers slid back into Fred, as his other hand slithered to his cock, fingertips brushing the tip glistening with precum.

“Ugh, fuck, baby!” Fred moaned. Aaron brought his hand down Fred’s hard shaft.

“Freddie, you’re too loud,” Aaron grumbled. Fred snarled.

“I am not,” he said. He moaned his hips bucking as Aaron worked up and down his cock.

“You are,” Aaron muttered. He gasped as Fred rubbed against his dripping, granite member.

“Ahhann,” Fred moaned again. Aaron took his hand from Fred’s cock and clasped it over his mouth.

“Ben’s going to hear,” Aaron warned, but he still worked his fingers in Fred.

Sweat beaded on Fred’s forehead as his boyfriend’s fingers pressed in and out of him, his hand pressing to his mouth. He really didn’t think he was being too loud, but it was also fair to say that blood was pounding through his ears so his hearing might be a little off.

Aaron slid his fingers out of Fred and reached for the bedside table. He pulled the lube from the drawer and squirted some into his hand. He groaned quietly as he rubbed the slick liquid over his engorged cock. Fred watched with interest and as soon as his hand was out of the way Fred positioned himself over Aaron’s dick.
He lowered himself slowly, groaning with Aaron shushing him, until he sat comfortably against Aaron. Aaron put his hands on his hips and pressed Fred down further.

“Ugh, fuck, Freddie,” Aaron whispered. Fred groaned again as Aaron lifted him and quickly brought him down again. “Oh, fuck, yes,” Aaron whisper grunted.

“Fuck baby,” Fred groaned. “Deeper!” Aaron growled at Fred and put a hand on his mouth again. He pushed himself forward until Fred was on all fours. Aaron wrapped around him and began to thrust into him from behind, a hand still clutched over his mouth.

Fred moaned and grunted against Aaron’s hand. He lowered it a little to make sure Fred could still pull a breath in through his nose as he pounded into his ass. Aaron grunted, struggling to keep quiet. He pounded into Fred, harder and harder, feeling his balls slap against his lovers as he pushed faster and deeper.

“Ugh, fuck, Freddie,” he groaned a little loudly. He gritted his teeth trying to keep quiet, sweat slicked his body, sliding between him and Fred. He grunted feeling his balls tightening riding the wave of his orgasm. He pulled his hand away from Fred’s mouth and rose, gripping at Fred’s hips, nails digging deep as he buried his cock in him.

“Aaaahhnnnn, fuck baby, I’m cumming, fuck I’m cumming!” Fred choked out. It wasn’t his usual scream. He was trying to keep his voice down as his cock spurt in quick hot gushes onto the bed sheets. Fred’s teeth gritted together as he came hard, asshole tightening around Aaron’s cock causing him to barely muffle a cry.

“Ugh, fuck Freddie!” Aaron sputtered. He gripped him hard as his cock shot burst after burst into him. He pumped along with each spurt, mouth hanging open soundlessly, panting, wishing he could cry out.

“Ooohhhh, god,” Aaron groaned as the waves of pleasure ebbed away. Fred panted beneath him. Aaron pumped in twice more eliciting little gasps from Fred, before pulling himself out completely.

“Oh god, I love you baby,” Fred muttered as Aaron collapsed on the bed next to Fred. Aaron smiled and ran a hand down Fred’s back as he crawled to Aaron cuddling close to him.

“I love you, Freddie.” Aaron lay close to his boyfriend as they caressed each other, catching their breath.

Aaron came out of their bedroom an hour later, freshly showered and dressed for a lazy Saturday. He had left Fred in the shower with a quick peck telling him he’d make some breakfast. Fred had raised his eyebrows, smirking and said he’d toss the sheets in the wash after he got dressed. The door to the spare room was still closed, although Aaron could hear muffled talking.

In the kitchen Aaron decided to try to cook bacon again. He kept burning it whenever he made it, and he couldn’t figure out what he was doing wrong. Fred had told him to lower the heat and be patient, so that would be Aaron’s strategy today. He brewed himself a cup of coffee and pulled out two more mugs, one for Fred and one for Ben, just in case.

The bacon had been in the pan for a few minutes when Ben emerged from the bedroom. At some point he had crept across the hall and used the bathroom, because his shaggy hair was combed, and he had the minty smell of toothpaste about him.

“Good morning,” Aaron said quietly.

“Hey,” Ben said. He walked into the kitchen following the smell of food.

“Do you want some coffee, or tea or something?” Aaron looked at his face assessing the bruises there. They still looked bad, his lip had scabbed over, and Ben kept running his tongue over it.

“OK,” Ben said. “Just some coffee I guess.”

“Sure,” Aaron said tearing his eyes away from Ben’s face. He brewed a cup for him and went back to poking the bacon.

“I think they’re ready to flip,” Ben said looking down at the meat.

“Really? I can never tell,” Aaron said. Ben inched over to the coffee maker and retrieved his steaming mug.

“Yeah,” Ben said. He took a small sip of the coffee, burning the tip of his tongue. He sighed.

Fred came down the hall, hair combed carefully into place, also dressed casually.

“Morning,” he said. He came up behind Aaron and slid his arms around him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Looking good Aaron, but they need to be flipped.” Aaron whooshed out a sigh.

“That’s what Ben said too,” Aaron grumbled and started to flip the bacon. Fred disentangled himself from Aaron and turned to Ben.

“How’s your face, kid?” he asked. He brought his fingers up to Ben’s chin and carefully turned it grimacing at the dark bruising. “Fuck,” he muttered feeling a hot rush of rage.

“It’s sore,” Ben admitted, sipping his coffee again. Fred took a deep breath trying to rein in the feelings of anger and rage. He glanced down at Ben’s mug, the rich dark smell of coffee curling up from it.

“Black coffee huh?” Fred asked, going to the coffeemaker to brew a cup for himself “Since when?” Ben smiled a little.

He’d missed his Uncle Fred these past months. He’d always felt a certain kinship with him. Yeah, he was an excellent uncle, all of his brothers agreed with him on that. But he’d always felt a deeper connection with Uncle Fred. Like he just got him, maybe now he understood a little more why that was. Because Uncle Fred was more similar to him than he had initially realized.

“I started working at Starbucks like two months ago. I had to try all the coffee and drinks so I could talk to the customers about them,” Ben said. Fred sipped his own cup of coffee.

“Ow fuck, I always burn my tongue,” Fred said.

“Too impatient,” Aaron scolded. He was flipping the bacon again.

“Too soon, baby,” Fred said. Aaron rolled his eyes.

“I can do it,” Aaron said. Fred chuckled.

“Starbucks? Do you like it?” he asked his nephew. Ben took a moment to sip his coffee. Neither of his parents had asked him that. His dad had only asked if he was going to start paying rent, then had laughed like it was a joke, but Ben saw the truth of it in his eyes. Maybe if his dad stopped spending his whole goddamn paycheck in bars and on beer, they might not need their son to help them make rent.

“Hey,” Fred said, reaching out to Ben’s shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “You OK?” Ben swiped at his eyes quickly.

“Yeah,” he cleared his throat. “Yeah, I like it. Finn started an internship as an admin assistant, so I thought maybe I should start doing that shit too.” He reddened a little. “Sorry.” Fred looked confused.

“Sorry? For what?” he asked. Ben remembered then that he didn’t have to censor himself with his uncle. Swearing wasn’t just for “grown-ups” here like at his house. So much was different at his Uncle Fred’s place. He shook his head quickly.

“Nothing, never mind,” Ben said.

“Where’s Finn’s internship?” Aaron asked.

“Some lawyer’s office. I think it’s Pinkman Advocates or something,” Ben said. Aaron made a face.

“Pinkman’s? They don’t have any paid internships,” Aaron commented. Ben shrugged carefully.

“He’s doing it for the experience,” Ben said. Aaron regarded him for a minute.

“We’ve got paid internships at my firm. Better than Pinkman’s anyway. Have Finn give me a call and I’ll check and see if there’s any openings. I can’t promise he’ll get hired on, but I’ll put in a good word,” Aaron said. Ben smiled and looked down into his coffee.

“OK, thanks Aaron,” he said. He glanced at the pan, which now had dark smoke rolling up from it. Fred followed Ben’s gaze.

“Um, baby...” Fred gestured to the pan.

“Oh! God fucking dammit!” he exclaimed.

The three sat at the dining table eating scrambled eggs and crunching on charred bacon. Aaron scowled down at the chunks of bacon, wondering if he would ever not burn the strips to a crisp. He’d been standing right there for crying out loud.

“So, what’s the plan for today, Ben? Do you have a shift you need to get to?” Fred asked. Ben shook his head.