Wait to start the song.
***It's important that you watch for author's notes.***

As always, Josh woke up before Tyler. It was disorienting to wake up in the temple, surrounded by religious relics that he'd never been allowed to be this close to as a child. Things were very different with Tyler here, though. It was a testament to Josh's upbringing that he mouthed a "thank you" to the Satan statue across the room. He couldn't help it. Someone had to have placed Tyler in his path, and that someone would have to be pretty powerful.

Something about Tyler's very presence made Josh's whole body flood with warmth. He loved him so much that it was almost unbearable. It was mind blowing that after everything they'd been through, he was waking up with Tyler's naked form pressed against him.

Contentment breezed through Josh's mind at the memories of the night before. While seeing his father touch Tyler had scared his husband and secretly himself as well, all negativity from the night was drowned out by the residual taste of Tyler's lips on Josh's.

Tyler hummed in his sleep, nuzzling his face against Josh's neck before relaxing. A smile came to Josh's lips, but it was bittersweet. Although he'd told Tyler he'd go with him on Sunday, part of him felt like he really couldn't leave. His roots here were too deep. Everything he'd ever known was inside of this fence, and if he left, there was no coming back.

Leaving would mean giving up his religion, not being able to see his family again, and starting over with nothing. His entire identity was tied to this place. He had been a member of The Family since his tenth birthday, but he'd been a part of this cult since birth. Every aspect of his being had somehow been shaped by this place.

"Your heart is beating really fast," Tyler mumbled tiredly against Josh's neck.

"Sorry," Josh replied quietly.

His nerves were calmed instantly when Tyler's hand soothed across his chest. "Just breathe, Josh. We're safe."

Warmth dripped into his bloodstream as he wrapped his arms more firmly around Tyler, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Yes, we are," he whispered back.

Tyler smiled dreamily, keeping his eyes shut as his body melted against Josh's once again. "I love you," he mumbled.

"I love you too," Josh replied quietly, unable to keep himself from smiling.

His fingertips trailed along Tyler's soft skin, leaving trails of goosebumps wherever the pads of his fingers touched. Tyler shivered against him, but his body became more and more relaxed until he drifted off once again. The uncertainty that had previously been weighing Josh down was forgotten as he held his sleeping husband. All of that could be sorted later. For now, Tyler was right here where Josh could be certain that he was safe. He didn't have to worry over things he couldn't change today.

-----

Something Josh was in no way prepared for was the reaction of The Family when they saw him walking home with Tyler, who was dressed in black. Never in Josh's life had he received so many hugs from adults he'd only ever met during rituals. It seemed as though everyone was celebrating their consummation.

Tyler was receiving a lot of hugs as well, as well as several enthusiastic exclamations of welcome into The Family. It hurt to think that he'd initiated Tyler into this cult last night, but that hadn't been their goal. All they'd wanted was to be fully married and for Tyler to be safe. His initiation was just another unavoidable consequence.

Initiation was a complicated feat, one that was different depending on blood status and age. Those who were born into The Family were initiated at ten, although no one seemed to remember their initiation. It was different when someone married into the cult. Like Tyler, they were inducted through sex, or some violent impersonation of it. While Tyler's initiation was far less painful than usual, Josh had a feeling it was nowhere near as terrible as the initiation of children. There had to be a reason he didn't remember entering The Family.

"Josh?" Tyler whispered.

"Hm?" Josh mumbled as he shuffled along, holding Tyler's hand softly.

Tyler was looking at him in concern when Josh glanced up at his husband. "You disappeared for a second."

It took Josh a moment to realise that they were nearly to the house. He had to have zoned out for quite a while. "I'm back. Sorry. I was just thinking."

"About what?" Tyler asked curiously, swinging their hands slightly.

Josh smiled at the movement, which he didn't think Tyler had consciously made. "Nothing important. Do you think Ashley's home yet?"

"Not sure," Tyler replied, looking uncertainly at Josh for a moment before moving his eyes to the house as they drew nearer to it. "It's been a few days. She probably is."

"She's going to kill me when she sees what you're wearing," Josh laughed out.

Tyler laughed with him. "Yeah, well, she'll have to go through me first."

"I'll treasure those three extra seconds," Josh replied with a smirk.

"You're the worst person I've ever met," Tyler laughed out, smacking his arm.

Josh smiled as he scooped Tyler up, making him squeak in surprise. "But you still love me," he replied casually as he tossed Tyler over his shoulder and carried him along the unpaved dirt road.

The sound of his husband's giggling made him smile as he walked. "Josh! Oh my god. If you drop me-"

"Why the hell would I do that?" Josh asked with a chuckle. "We've only been fully married for a few hours and you think I'm going to break you already? Fuck no. I'm keeping you nice and safe forever."

Tyler held onto Josh's shirt from where he was dangling. "Promise?"

"My pinky is busy keeping you from smashing your face on gravel, but yes, I promise," Josh replied easily.

"Joshua!" A voice called. He looked over his shoulder to find a girl who couldn't be older than twelve or thirteen running toward him. She was gasping for breath by the time she reach him. "You're needed in the sanctuary."

An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. "Men aren't allowed in the sanctuary unless it's an emergency. What happened?" He tried to keep his voice steady as her wide brown eyes watched him seriously.

"He didn't tell me that. He just said you're needed in the sanctuary and that you have to hurry," she told him.

"Who's he?" Josh asked nervously.

"Titus."

Leaving him absolutely baffled, the girl walked away, sticking her hands in the pockets of the dark cloak that blocked out the October wind. Slowly, Josh set Tyler back down on his feet, finding Tyler's expression just as anxious as his own.

"She's okay though, right?" Tyler whispered shakily.

Josh nodded although he had no idea. "I'm sure she's okay. I'll just go check, okay? Go back to the house and....I don't know. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"But Josh-"

"I love you. I'll be right back!" Josh assured him, kissing his lips quickly before running away from the house and in the direction of the sanctuary.

***This part is going to get a little scary and potentially triggering. However, it won't be graphic. Stop reading and message me for a summary minus the triggering part if you need to. Twitter DMs are the easiest way to get a hold of me, but I'll check Wattpad messages too. ***
Start the song. It's Sugarland by Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, and Reverend Goat Carson.

Before he'd even come within ten feet of the old wooden building, Josh could hear the crying. It was clearly several girls, but that didn't calm Josh's nerves at all. An old woman he recognised as one of the elders, Lamia, was sitting on the front steps in her dark robe. She was smoking something from a metal pipe, but Josh was unsure what.

"Lamia?" He asked as calmly as possible.

She looked up, smiling to reveal the three teeth she still had. Her eyes were wild, blue and far too large for her face. "Joshua, just in time. Titus is inside, dear. You'll want to hurry."

"Is everything okay?" Josh asked her nervously.

Lamia laughed, sounding more like coughing and gagging as purple smoke puffed out of her mouth with each cackle. The sound made the hairs on Josh's arms stand up. Of all of the elders, she was his least favourite.

"Go on in, dear. Don't keep him waiting," she told him before sticking her pipe back into her mouth and striking a match to light whatever it was she was smoking.

"Yes, ma'am," Josh replied quietly as he hurried past her and into the sanctuary.

His heart sank as the crying got louder. He hurried through the building, trying with all his might to block out the pleading and sobbing of the girls he passed as he looked for Titus. The old man was found at the far end of the shack, leaning against the wall beside Ashley, who was chained beside him. Her arms were locked into cuffs which were connected to the wall, and her pale dress was stained with blood. She was filthy, and it was clear that she'd been crying, based on the tear tracks visibly cutting through the dirt on her face.

"Josh," she whimpered out.

Ignoring the amused chuckle that Titus let out, Josh ran to Ashley, dropping down on his knees in front of her. "Are you okay?" He asked her quickly, lifting her up just enough that the cuffs wouldn't dig into her wrists anymore.

"Josh, please," she sobbed out.

He looked up at Titus for help. The man smiled fondly at him. "Congratulations on your consummation, Joshua."

Ashley's face fell as fear became apparent in her eyes. This wasn't the time to explain the rule change to her. He needed to get her out of this place, cleaned up, and into warm clothes. He shook his head.

"He's safe, Ashley," he assured her before looking to Titus. He stood quickly. "Can I take her back now?" He asked.

The elder shook his head causally. "Not yet, Joshua." Ashley squeaked and turned her face away when Titus touched her dirty hair softly. "Your wife is lovely, Joshua. Surely you know that, though, don't you?" His voice was so nonchalant that it gave Josh chills. Something was wrong.

He nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

"Even in her current state, she's one of the most beautiful creatures Mathias has ever gifted one of our children with," Titus said thoughtfully as his eyes wandered across Ashley's stained dress. He crouched down in front of her, brushing her hair off of her forehead. She turned her head quickly, making him grin darkly. "Wilful too. She's a regular Jezebel, isn't she? I had one myself just like this at your age."

"Titus, what's going on?" Josh asked quietly. He could hear blood rushing in his ears as his anxiety grew.

The elder sighed before standing. "She was collected in June, Joshua. You've had well over four months to take her. Why wait?"

Josh swallowed the lump forming in his throat, feeling Ashley's panicked eyes searing through his skin. "The fertili-"

"Many new and full moons have passed, Joshua. I don't buy that. Try again," Titus replied calmly.

His usually friendly, wrinkled face reminded Josh of the statue from the temple. Pure evil was standing before him, and Ashley's life depended on whether or not he could protect her from it.

Seeing no other way out, Josh told as much of the truth as he could without betraying Ashley, Tyler, Brendon, or Dallon. "I was doubting, sir. Being different from everyone around me when I left the fence was overwhelming and I thought I needed to fit in there. I know better now. This is my home and my family."

"So you thought you'd keep her pure until the two of you could run." It wasn't a question. Titus knew.

Josh met Ashley's frightened eyes as he nodded. "Yes, sir. She convinced me otherwise though. The world outside of this place is judgemental and wrong and dangerous. Ashley said that The Family was a better community than anything out there," Josh replied quietly. Now he was stretching the truth immensely, but Titus smiled fondly down at Ashley, so he must have bought it.

"I knew I picked well with this one," he said proudly. Tears were filling Ashley's eyes as Titus studied her face. "So she was the one who wanted babies to begin with. That wasn't you."

"It was her idea, sir. She wanted to raise our children here. I know now that that's the right choice. I've been praying on it." The words burnt his throat as they came out.

Titus nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation. He stood and looked to Josh warmly, making his stomach lurch. "And what was the verdict?"

"This is our home. I'll give Ashley as many children as Satan permits, and Tyler will help us raise them. They'll be initiated like I was and will eventually receive spouses of their own," Josh lied, wincing when one of the girls near them began to sob.

Seemingly happy with this response, Titus stood and stepped away from Ashley, who continued to watch him fearfully. Josh stepped between them as subtly as possible. He could feel her frail body shaking behind him.

"Take her now then," Titus decided, making Josh's throat tighten.

"But the full moon isn't for four more days, sir," Josh insisted.

"She doesn't have to be a virgin for the fertility ritual, Joshua. You know that. Satan took away your doubts. Show him your thanks by giving him another soul. Take what's yours, Joshua." The old man's eyes were narrowed into slits, clearly challenging him.

Anxiety was weighing Josh down like lead, stilling his tongue as he searched for any excuse he could possibly use. Titus was right. There wasn't one. He had to find something though.

"Sir, she just finished bleeding. Shouldn't she-"

Any and all traces of kindness left Titus's face. "Joshua, take her or someone else will."

That made Josh's heart still in his chest. "She belongs to me," he heard his own voice reply darkly.

"Prove it, or she can easily be given to someone more deserving," Titus snapped. They glared at each other for a moment before Titus said in a low, even voice, "Take her innocence or I'll do it myself."

Genuine fear coursed through Josh's veins as Ashley sobbed. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Titus would do it now. This was it. They'd put it off for as long as possible, but now Josh's ability to protect her at all was about to be taken from him if he didn't hurt her like he was being commanded to. It was out of his control now.

"Animals prey on the weak," Josh whispered angrily. "Humans don't."

"Humans are animals, Joshua. Don't make me teach you that lesson right now. She won't recover easily from that," Titus replied with a smirk.

Josh looked back at Ashley, who was sobbing. Her knees were pressed together tightly as she pulled at her shackles, making her wrists begin to bleed. Three days and she would be out of here. He only had three more days to keep her safe, and now he was going to have to put her in more danger than she'd ever been in.

He hated Titus. He hated Satan. He hated The Family. He hated his father. He hated these laws. He hated himself. Most of all, he hated that he had no choice right now. The only way left to protect her was to destroy her completely. For that, he'd never forgive himself.

"Fine," he whispered, hearing his own voice break. "But if you ever touch her, you'll wind up worse than Mathias. I promise you that," he snarled at the old man.

Titus smiled, clearly content in his victory. "And here I thought I'd have to keep feeding you mistletoe until you withered away. Good choice, Joshua."

Rage was pooling in Josh worse than ever. It had been Titus. Titus had given him the berries as punishment for not taking Ashley. He'd taken them to give himself a chance at taking her for himself. Since that hadn't worked, he was forcing Josh to hurt her only so she could be destroyed by someone she trusted instead of him. Josh hated every person who had ever supported this goddamn way of life. He didn't hate Ashley though, and he would do anything to get her home safe, even if it meant destroying any trust she had left in him.