Adam was having a pretty good day.

His depression was quiet for the moment as his husband hugged him from behind. "I love you."

Adam let himself smile fully so Jacob could see the emotion. "I love you too. What does my Jack need from me today?"

The Brit hesitated, bringing one of his hands obscured by the sleeve of a pink sweater to nuzzle into Adam. Jacob looked so pretty today, but raw strength leaked from him. He managed a balance with his boyish looks: looking absolutely precious and adorable, and also looking like a grown man who hypothetically could knock you out. It was all about angles and tone. But now with an uneven tenor he murmured, "I need you to protect me. From everyone including myself."

He had asked so seriously, no humor could be found in the silly pools of green Adam had become accustomed to. But as a man, it felt like it was his duty to do exactly that. "Done. No one will hurt you. Not even you."

"I need you close."

Unlike Adam, Jacob was having a bad day for PTSD.

*

He'd awoken drenched in sweat and sobbing curled into a ball at the drop of a hat. Adam immediately awoke and turned over to kiss at his head.

Jacob had trembled at the touch until he heard the soothing voice he'd become accustomed to hearing when he was stuck in the past. "I'm here, Jacob. Please, let me hold you."

He'd gasped, finally fully awake from the horrible nightmare as he turned over and cried into his husband's chest. "I hate him!"

"Me too, baby," Adam agreed hoarsely, his heart breaking into pieces with every shaky sob that he couldn't fix. "I hate him so much but he's never, ever going to do anything to you again. I promise."

"Promise me! Please!" Jacob was shaking violently, terror filling him as another flashback crashed upon him and he became hysterical. "Someone please help me!" He screamed so hard his voice cracked with exhaustion.

Adam shut his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He had to be careful, but he had to be stern. "Jacob, look at me."

His lashes fluttered against his chest as his eyes opened to blink out the tears so he could see. He was obedient to his core, it had been instilled under the rage for what he'd gone through. "Oliver?"

"Adam," He corrected smoothly, trying to bring him back. "Your husband."

More tears filled his eyes and he buried his face in his chest. He inhaled and smelled his faint trace of body wash and then higher to smell his normal scent. His flashbacks tended to have the odor of Oliver, but Adam's was soothing and far different than his. There was safety there, there was comfort. "Adam. I've missed you so much."

Sometimes the dreams lasted for eons and only when it was coming to a close could he scream before Oliver... before he was finished with him.

He was so physically weak, but Jacob was trying hard to focus so Adam rubbed under his ear with all of the love in the universe. "You're 23, you're home in your bed with your husband. The date is June 2nd, 2024. Our anniversary is coming up on the 11th. We've been married for 1 year, 11 months and 21 days. I love you more than anything in the entire world and you're my favorite person. I love talking to you and being around you, I love when we fight and make up in less than an hour because we can't stay mad at each other that long." He paused nervously, uncomfortable with sharing so much so openly. What else could he say? "I'm so in love with you. I think about you all the time and whenever you're not around, I-I feel so empty inside. You're my everything. I adore every part of you, even the parts you hate. You're so kind and funny, you make me laugh when I can't feel anything at all. You're the most loyal, wonderful husband in the world and I'm so blessed you're mine."

Jacob bunted into his neck, no longer shaking but still tense. "Dress me today?"

Adam nodded, he loved picking out his outfits. "Yes."

By the time they'd gotten to the kitchen he was clingy and soft spoken. "We should check our Insta. It'll make me happy."

Adam whipped out his phone because he'd do anything to see that smile again. "Of course, Jack. Let's see how many bigots are mad we're hot and gay."

There were none, but there was so much love in the comments of their most recent post that Jacob seemed to relax more. "They said we're the cutest gay couple in the world. I think so too," He murmured, kissing Adam's neck sweetly. "We look so good together."

Adam couldn't help but agree. They scrolled through their oldest pictures where both were 2 years younger and still shy around each other. Their kiss was authentic though, Adam remembered it.

It was their first kiss in The House Of Tok, the first picture Alex had snapped of them.

"You remember this day? You backed me into the fridge and stared down at me for so long I thought you were frozen." Adam's cheeks suddenly blazed with color at Jacob's chuckle and the memory alike. "You kissed me and told me you loved me like that wasn't crazy to say three months in."

"It was true," Jacob protested, starting to sound more like himself as he went on. "I waited for three months exactly because that's when the online world said I would know. I knew it the whole time, I was in love the second I saw you poke your head out of your room."

Adam reached over to the leftovers and took a glob of cream cheese frosting from his carrot cake to smear it over Jacob's cheek. He giggled, knowing where this was going and positively thrilled when Alex walked in and cried, "Pause!" Alex appeared out of nowhere on a regular basis right when they needed him for everything but dishes.

Adam was mid-lick and Jacob was burning red, but Alex snapped a few pictures from a few angles. "Ugh. I hate you fuckers for looking so sexy all the time," He griped dramatically.

Steven and Connie walked in hand in hand, for the twelfth time since she'd moved in. Not that anyone was counting. Truly they were inseparable, and while with anyone else the couple would be worried, Steven and Connie had something so special it was impossible not to notice. They could see in his eyes as they hung out as just the guys that Steven was irrevocably different. A part of him was aging up with someone in his life, and Connie didn't exactly give player vibes.

They were flirting shyly and giggling at each others shyness before Connie swatted at Steven and he picked her up into a dazzling kiss Alex switched to for a few shots.

Jacob bit his lip. "Alex, take your pictures cause he's making me horny."

Adam bit down on his cheek lightly and Alex laughed. "Awe, that's so gay."

Connie sparkled at the sight. "Oh my stars, that is gay. You should definitely post this with a NSFW version."

Jacob let Adam wipe at his cheek and exchanged a look with the goth. Their NSFW page was not exactly secret, they were famous on there too though few knew it was them. Adam glanced back at Connie thoughtfully. "People would pay money to see a trans goth boy lick frosting off a goofy freckled comedian?"

Steven and Connie both nodded hard. "Definitely."

Jacob glanced at Adam. "...would you–?"

"100%. Anywhere, anytime, with anything but garlic."

Connie gasped. "Are you a vampire?"

Grinning cheerfully, his husband nodded. "He is! Thank you for asking! We have a blood drive seven times a week, which is why us Doms and Switches insist you guys eat! You don't know it's happening, we just let him feed in the night and then dart him right in the ass."

Adam's jaw dropped and he put a hand over his heart in offense. "Oh darling, that joke has to go. Women will fall for me or something, they love vampires."

Jacob kissed at his cheek. "Not if you're licking frosting–," His voice cut to a low rumble and Adam nudged him away.

"Stop that, Connie definitely doesn't need to have an inkling of what we do," He laughed, rubbing at still pale cheeks.

Connie really loved it here. It felt like she'd met her neurodiverse, kinky, chronically online people. There was such an air of friendship and love and safety. She couldn't help feeling safe surrounded by these new people. They wanted the best for her and each other, and... it was so nice.

She rocked back and forth on her feet, mind drifting off to think about bubbles for some reason. She smiled a little then giggled at Jacob shamelessly flirting with Adam and Adam somehow ill prepared and happily surprised as he started to flirt back.

Who had invented bubbles? Surely they had always been around. And why had bubbles been invented? Who made the solutions? Now one could use soap but was there ever another way?

Steven noticed her distant smile and sweet movements. His heart started racing as she let out a tiny chiming giggle. "Connie, what are you thinking about, honey?"

She looked up at him with bright eyes a second late, then scooted closer. "Bubbles! I like when you call me nicknames."

One brow raised and he lowered himself until he was crouching in front of her holding her hips. "Yeah? I like calling you Ni. And Berry." She grinned and put both hands on his cheeks to squish them. "I also think princess fits you really well," He admitted boldly, turning to kiss at one of the hands.

Connie winkled her nose cutely and shook her head. "I'm too loud and energetic to be a princess! I wanna be a knight!"

Steven groaned and pulled her close for a hug. "I can literally make that happen, baby. You're so cute. Stop it."

She squealed when one of his hands dug into her side just a bit, tickling her and then more when his eyes filled with humor and he stood at full height. "You're ticklish? I'll put that away for later, just in case."

"No!" She laughed and grabbed his wrists to hold them in place. "Wow..." Her hands tightened but she couldn't make it all the way around. "I can't fit my hands here."

He wiggled his fingers experimentally in front of her as she let go and she raised her arms without a second thought.

Luxury like he'd never known as a prince equated to Connie sitting on his hips with his arm under her and her legs wrapped around him. Her head found his right shoulder and she pressed a cheek against it. "You're comfy."

Steven didn't hear her. Adam and Jacob were giving him wide eyes and shocked silent laughter.

They kept mouthing, "WHAT?!!!!?" and it was so obnoxious he had to hold back a laugh.

Adam held up his phone and Steven dug his out to see the message as he bounced Connie gently.

"no way did she just randomly slip into Little Space in the middle of the fucking kitchen!!!!!!!!!!! anna and jasmin will love having a new friend to play with hint hint."

"A lot of exclamation points...," Steven replied, though he wasn't suspected to be wrong in his mind. Connie had suddenly gone soft and syrupy sweet. One of her fingers was tracing the cut of his tank top innocently, but she was looking out the window and watching the cherry blossom billow in the breezes of nearly summer.

"It's pretty outside," She mumbled emphatically. "I like the tree buds that turn into flowers."

Steven chuckled and kissed her cheek to a squeak. "I like the cherry blossoms, too."

Jacob signed to Adam, and Adam typed it in. "Jacob says as someone who's experienced with Littles, they tend to be pretty shy and don't just warm up to strangers like this. You must make her feel so safe she slipped into it without thinking."

"Connie, are you okay?" Steven asked gently.

"I was thinking about bubbles... now I'm thinking about if you like flowers in big bunches."

"Those are called bouquets," He told her with an enamored smile.

Jacob patted over his heart then turned to Adam cheerfully. "Daddy, can you take me to a lame excuse to leave them alone and see what happens?"

"I love lame excuses!" Adam laughed, pinching his cheek. "You're so pretty. Hold my hand, then, baby."

Red faced, the Brit grabbed it but mumbled, "Wait, hold on now—,"

Adam winked at Steven and they wandered off, leaving both alone.

Connie leaned up and pressed her lips against Steven's until he smiled big and kissed over to her cheek before he exploded with joy. "Can we cuddle? I think I miss your cuddles."

Steven brought them to the couch and kept her straddling him, kissing at her forehead. "Are you sure you're okay, Princess?"

She nodded shyly. "I... think I'm just getting comfortable. I need a quick recharge."

He didn't need to be told twice and he already understood anyhow. Her endless energy was truly unmatched, but like any energizer bunny, she could run out of juice.

Of course she'd be bouncing all over the place again in no time, but for now she needed a reset.

"NiNi, do you like the nickname Bunny too?"

She giggled and nodded fiercely. "That one's my favorite. Now I have like, five favorites."

He rubbed her back soothingly, feeling how her breaths became long and deep in no time. She really was comfortable, and possibly sleepy. "Naptime?"

"Here?"

"We can go back to my–,"

Connie wiggled enough that he let go to see her suckling on her bottom lip shyly. "Can we sleep on the patio?" Then quieter, "Are we allowed to?"

Steven huffed as the precious innocence ran him through again and again. He had to stop emoting entirely for a second, he was overwhelmed with affection for this wildly entertaining, beautiful, interesting woman. "This is gonna sound like I'm entitled, and it's probably because at the barest level, I definitely am." Connie snorted and he found feeling again. "I can do pretty much whatever the hell I'd like to, and no one's going to mind if we take a nap in the sun."

Together they went on a mission with Connie riding his back while he gathered blankets and a cot from his closet.

Instead of stars they found warm sun and cool air, perfect for a snuggly nap on a Sunday.

Alex found them with Steven on his back and Connie on top of him with her face buried in his neck. Being the gentleman he was Steven had a protective hand on her waist; if anyone moved it he'd be sure to wake up, but otherwise he'd sleep hard and silent. Connie on the other hand was snoring quietly, and one leg was in between his.

The sun shone on them and turned Connie to a golden brown and Steven's freckles practically glowed in contrast to his skin.

Alex left to retrieve Adam and Jacob, who were sincerely just staring into each other's eyes and sharing sweet kisses. "You guys, come look."

Adam grinned and tugged Jacob along. "I love you."

His husband was lovesick and swooning but let him pull him after Alex.

"How mad would they be if we posted this?" Alex murmured, catching a perfect shot of Steven wrapping his arms around Connie and smiling in his sleep.

Jacob pondered that. "No. We definitely shouldn't yet. I think we should compile these and when they become official, we release it in HOT's couples reel."

"Think they'll film some more together tomorrow?"

Adam snorted. "Oh yeah. Definitely."