King's pov

Bear stands there like a statue as the casket is slowly disappears into the floor before he is going into the furnace below since Bear insisted that he is cremated. His blank expression doesn't sit well with me as my gut tightens in worry every time I look at him. From my peripheral vision I can see that Link is worried about the blank look on Bear's face as well.

The man from the church says a few words but nobody is really that interested in what he has to say. It is just the people from the funeral home, one of the hospital doctor's, and Bear, me and Link.

I take the man from the funeral home apart explaining that I will be the one receiving the urn with the ashes. No need to have Bear burdened with it, even in death, I want that man as far away from Bear as possible. Although the man looks surprised with my request, he doesn't hesitate to agree with me and motions me to follow him along. Signalling to Link that I will be gone for a while, he nods and continues to watch over Bear.

The stairs make the soles of my Italian leather dress shoes squeak as we descend to the lower floor where the furnace is located. As we enter the white room, I see someone seal a grey urn. She blinks at our presence but hands over the urn to me without question. Nodding my head in thanks, I turn on my heels and march on out of there. Needing to get out of there and Bear back to the house.

"Bear; do you want me to scatter his ashes anywhere in particular?" The shake of his head is the only motion I have seen from him since they announced Reagan clinically dead and pulled the plug on him. "Okay then." I glance at Link who is sitting on the backseat with Bear, "I will drop the two of you off at the house and then depose of this." I indicate at the urn on the passenger seat. Link blinks quickly, as my words sink in and nods his agreement.

I worry as Link is struggling to help Bear's not moving form into the house. Circling around the neighbourhood, I think of a fitting place to scatter the bastard's ashes. Every place I can think of is dismissed as they are all too good for an ass like him. Then a place pops in my head, and my foot pushes the gas pedal all the way to the floor as I race towards my destination.

Closing the car door with a soft click, I know for sure that the rocky cliffs are the right choice as I breathe in the clean sea air. Seagulls caw as they float overhead in the light breeze. The dying light from the sun setting seem fitting to close this particular roller-coaster chapter of life. Still, I feel some sort of gratitude towards the bastard for playing a role in making me realise that I want -- need Bear and Link in my life. The only thing I hate about it is that he has cost Bear so much pain and grief with just his presence. "Good riddance you bastard." I mutter darkly as I uncap the urn and shake out the ashes. After giving the urn a last shake to make sure there are no more ashes in there, I breathe out deeply, and glad it is all over. Shaking my head slightly, I make my way back to the car.

The house I silent as I return, the lights are all dimmed low and I can hear the distinct sound of the dishwasher in use. So they didn't wait for me. My gut clenches a little with disappointment that they are not around for my return but I do get that Bear would want to sleep. I, myself get like that too, whenever something emotionally heavy happens, I would want to sleep for three days straight. Making my way silently up the stairs to the bedroom I know they will be in, I can't fight the small smile on my lips as I see Bear and Link cuddling fast asleep in Link's bed. The only thing that worries me is the tight line of Link's lips and the deep furrow on both their foreheads. Both usually sleep soundly and carefree. "Wonder what has gotten him so worried." Muttering to myself and not expecting an answer, I gently close the door.

"It might have to do with Link's cousin and the funeral." I jolt in surprise as Lance's voice sounds from over my right shoulder. "The brat is been having some trouble on the home front and he isn't sharing it with the one person who can do something about it." He gives a meaningful look at the door before gliding around me and down the stairs.

"You really should wear a bell or something." Grumbling, as I walk down the stair I hear Lance's light laughter, making me roll my eyes. Settling in my home office seat, I fold my hands together, peering at Lance lounging around in the seat opposite the desk. "What can I do to help you Lance?" I am not even going to ask what has happened or who this is about. Lance will only come to me if he can't sort things out himself after trying every possible solution to the problem. He doesn't like being in anybody's debt.

Pressing the tops of my fingers together as I patiently wait for Lance to get his thoughts in order, I can't help but wonder who or what got under his skin so badly that he is fidgeting in his seat. Lance is usually very hard to read and a very private person. So something extraordinary must have happened to him for him to become like this.

After a few long minutes, Lance groans and ranks his hands through his hick hair. His hands drag over his face as he slowly lifts it up to look at me and traps his bottom lip between the tips of his index fingers, pulling it slightly. My eyes widen of their own accord at the clear display of how distraught he is with whatever situation he finds himself in.

As much as I want to probe, I know it is wiser to keep my mouth shut and have him tell me instead. From previous experiences I know he will clamp up should I start asking probing questions and shut me out entirely.

"How do you do it? How can you stand to deal with it?" Frowning at the odd question, I wait for Lance to elaborate. Tilting my head to the side as Lance gets up and paces around my office. "I can't stand it!" Chest heaving, he grips his hair, staring blankly at the walls. "I can't stand the worry and the unexpected need to know that they are okay. Where they are at any given moment, I just can't stand it!"

Worrying about Lance's sanity as he looks at me with a crazed gleam in his eye, I slowly get up and walk over. "Who are you talking about Lance? Who is driving you insane?" I grab his shoulders to keep him from pacing and from ripping out his hair.

"Ainsley Monroe." The words are muttered so softly I need to lean in with my ear against him mouth to properly hear them. Pulling back, I look at him in surprise; I never thought anyone would get under his mile thick skin.

How did he manage that? It took me several years for him to acknowledge me, let alone trust me and here is this young guy who accomplishes what took me years in weeks. Pushing away the jealousy that rears at the thought, I guide lance back to the seat he had vacated. "Tell me what happened."

My mind is still reeling at the story Lance just told me as I slowly make my way upstairs. "Cedric?" Stopping just past the door to the bathroom, I turn and see Bear standing on the threshold, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Yes Bear, what is it?" I side step as Bear stumbles in my direction, hand fumbling for the door handle to the bathroom. "Is everything okay?" Following him into the spacious room and flicking on the light so that he can see where he is going, Bear winches at the light.

"I was wondering why you are still up." He mumbles as he flushes the toilet and trips his way over to the sink and washes his hands. "Don't you need to sleep?"

Holding onto his elbow, I guide him so he doesn't walk into any walls. "Lance was here, we needed to talk about a few things." I whisper as we enter the room. "It is nothing to worry about." I assure him as he looks at me in question. "He was asking me about advice on how to deal with certain things in life."

The next few days my mind is more focused on slowly have Bear getting back to work and have him keeping his appointments with a therapist to talk about everything that has happened with his brother and parents. In the beginning he clamped down, refusing to say a word, even to me or Link. We both got the cold shoulder, but after many pleas to have him talk about this so he can move forward, he finally caved in and started talking.

A gasp escapes me as two firm hands land on my shoulders and start messaging the tenseness out of them. My head lolls back with my eyes closed, groaning as the tension slowly drains from my body. "You really need to take better care of yourself Cedric." Peeking through my lashes, I am met with Link's arched eyebrows.

"Link is right Cedric; there is more to life than work." Bear walks in holding a steaming tray and my stomach gurgles loudly at the delicious smells. Sitting up straight as Bear places the tray on the desk; I praise myself lucky to have the both of them in my life. My inner Dom growls and grunts as both take control and feed me. The human side however revels in the emotion, the contact.

My breath catches when their hands slowly kneed away the whole day's tension. There is nothing sexual in it, but I feel my body turns into a boneless mess under their skilful ministrations. Both follow me up to the master bedroom, their hands taking care of my clothes. Groaning as I fall back on the bed, Link pushes me on my side and pulls back the duvet as Bear rolls me on the other side to pull up the other point of the duvet.

Opening my eyes the next day, I find myself flanked by two warm bodies. Shifting slightly as my bladder demands attention; the bodies wiggle and move closer. "Boys," they both stop moving at my tone, "unless you want me to wet the bed, I suggest you let me out."

Grumbling under my breath at cold mornings, my heart skips a beat as I hear Bear and Link chuckle. Slipping back in bed is easier than slipping out. "Pet, where is Cub?" I worry slightly as I don't hear any sounds of him in another bathroom or room.

"He is making breakfast. He demanded to be in charge and was adamant that we all share it in bed. I wasn't even aloud to help." Pouting, Link snuggles up to me, draping his arms and head over my chest.

"I am sure he will let you help next time." Petting the back of his head, I let myself be amazed by Bear's cooking skills.

"This is absolutely wonderful Cub.Absolutely wonderful." I manage between bites of French toast and aphenomenal omelette. Bear blushes at the praise, looking down at his plate,twiddling with his fork. Right then I know I made the right decision to take him under my wing.