Sam took a few more deep breaths as he heard the door open, and as Sammy and Shelly came into the living room, slapped on a smile and turned around. “Hi, Daddy! We’re home!” Sam bent down and kissed Sammy’s head, glad to see a bright, genuine smile spread across the boy’s face.

“Hi, Sammy boy. Did you have fun with your Aunt Shelly?” he asked as he stood back up. 

Nodding, he said, “Uh huh. We had really good ice cream at the creamery and I had so much! Two whole cup fulls! And then after that, we went to the arcade and I got so many tickets!”

Sam couldn’t help the bona fide smile that engulfed his face at Sammy’s enthusiasm. It was something that he hadn’t seen in quite some time from the boy and didn’t try to stop himself from enjoying this simple moment of happiness. Pointing to the giant neon green alligator that Shelly had set on the floor at her feet, he said, “Is that what all your tickets got you?”

“Isn’t it cool, Dad?”

Sam ruffled Sammy’s hair as he chuckled. “It sure is. I’m glad you had fun, Sammy boy.”

“Me, too. Aunt Shelly, will you bring my alligator to my room?”

Smiling at him, she nodded. “I will do just that. I’ll meet you there, okay?” When Sammy vanished into his room and the door finally shut, she looked at Sam and commented, “You look exhausted.”

“Beyond exhausted at this point.”

“Why don’t you let me get him ready for bed.” Looking around, she said, “Is Sy home?”

Sam nodded, looking toward the bedroom. “Yeah. He’s in the shower.”

“Go be with him. We’ll be alright.”

Smiling his thanks, Sam walked toward the bedroom. Just before he reached it, Sammy opened the door and popped his head out as he leaned on his crutch. “Daddy?”

“What’s up, Sammy?”

“Will you and Daddy come and tuck me in?”

Sam smiled and gently poked his nose. “You know we will. We’ll be in there in a few. Daddy is in the shower.” Sammy smiled, happiness and love filling his expression as he disappeared back into his room. When Sam entered the bedroom, he heard the shower still running and made his way toward the attached bathroom.

Sy was standing under the water’s spray, trying to dispel the last several months of stress with the hot water beating down on his sore muscles. Sy knew the moment that Sam entered the bathroom and his heart beat faster as Sam stepped in behind him. Soft fingers trailed down Sy’s spine, his hands sliding around Sy’s hips. Sy leaned back into him, his arms coming up to grip the back of Sam’s neck as Sam’s hand slid further down. 

Sy gasped as Sam grasped him, giving him a firm stroke and kissing where his shoulder met his neck. Moaning, Sy turned his head, capturing Sam’s mouth in a soft, yet demanding kiss. As pleasure swept through him from Sam’s working hand, Sy pushed back into Sam’s hard length. “Sammy, please,” he begged, needing something to be inside him. 

He felt Sam’s lips quirk up into a devious grin as he slipped one and then two fingers inside Sy’s body. Sy grunted on a harsh, ragged breath as the sharp sting of ecstasy filled him. He pushed back into Sam’s hand, his knees almost giving out as Sam’s masterful fingers grazed that sweet spot inside him. 

“Oh fuck, Sammy. Fuck.” Sam hit that spot that made Sy crazy a few more times before withdrawing his fingers, making Sy moan with the loss. Sy’s head dropped back onto Sam’s shoulder once again as Sam breached his body, his breath coming in short, panting gasps. Moving slowly within him, Sam held him close against his body, reconnecting them in every way he could right then. With both hands holding tightly to Sy, ensuring also that they don’t fall, they moved with each other in a slow, deep, torturous rhythm that brought them each over that edge and together they fell.

After they were both dried and dressed, Sam pulled Sy to him once more and kissed him deeply. Smiling as he pulled back, he said, “Sammy requests that we go tuck him in.”

Sammy’s room was already dark when they made their way inside, but the boy was sitting up centered in his bed with his covers piled atop his legs. He smiled as they both took a seat on the bed with him sandwiched between them. He leaned into Sy as he reached his hand out to Sam, a small smile playing on his face. 

“Did you have a good time with Aunt Shelly?” Sy asked him gently as he kissed the boy’s forehead. Sy smiled as the boy’s eyes began to slip closed. 

“Mhm. Lots of fun, Daddy. I got a giant alligator with my tickets,” he said, lazily pointing to the other side of the room across from the bed where the alligator lay.

Sy smiled as he looked back at Sammy. “Looks like you cleaned the place out of its tickets, didn’t you?” Sammy giggled and nodded. The serious expression that overtook his little face arrived in a flash as he looked between them. “Daddies…can I ask you something?”

“Of course. You can always ask us anything. You know that,” Sy said as he kissed the boy’s temple.

Nodding and not looking at either of them, he said, “Are you two going to break up?” Looking at Sam, he added, “Are you going to leave?”

Sam met Sy’s gaze over Sammy’s shoulder, an equal look of shock covering Sy's expression, before looking back down at Sammy. “What? No, Sammy boy. I’m not going anywhere. Whatever gave you that idea?” Sam’s concern grew when the boy’s chin started to quiver. “Sammy, what, baby? What is it?”

Sammy shrugged, his voice suddenly full of tears as he said, “I don’t know. Things have been different since I came home from the hospital. You’ve both been really sad. When you look at each other, you look like you’ve lost something.” He looked back at Sam as his eyes continued to well. “I don’t want you to leave us, Daddy.”

Sam pulled his namesake into his arms and held him tightly. Looking at Sy with a determined look in his eyes, just in case there was any remaining doubt lingering in Sy’s mind, he said in Sammy’s ear, “I’m not going anywhere. Okay? My place is right here with you and your daddy. It always has been. I love you both more than I could ever say. Me leaving isn’t something that you ever have to worry about, okay?” The boy nodded his head into Sam’s chest and he felt the small, wet patches left by crying, little eyes.

Sitting up, Sammy sniffled and said, “Okay. I love you.”

“I love you, Sammy boy. And I love your daddy. I’ll always be right here, Sammy.” Sammy laid down, his eyes drooping closed as soon as his head hit the pillow. Kissing his forehead he bid him a goodnight and waited next to Sy as he did the same before they both quietly left the room.

Spotting Shelly, they went toward where she stood freshly showered, dressed in fresh clothes, and grabbing her keys off the hook by the door. “Taking off?” Sy asked as Sam wrapped his arms around him from behind him and kissed his cheek.

She smiled at both of them and nodded. “Yep. Heading over to Reagan’s. Don’t wait up, boys.” 

Still chuckling, they stumbled into their bedroom with Sam’s arms still wrapped around over Sy's shoulders. Sam kicked the door closed behind him, making sure not to slam the door as he did. Sam slowly spun Sy around, bringing their lips together for a soft, gentle, yet fervent kiss that Sy continued to deepen before he pulled back with a sleepy smile.

Sam dragged his knuckle down Sy’s face, giving him a light smile in response. “You look tired.”

“I really am,” he responded, leaning his forehead against Sam’s shoulder. 

Sam wrapped his arms around Sy’s back, swaying gently for a moment and kissed his temple before stepping back. “Come on, love. Let’s go to bed.”

Sy bolted upright in bed, his breath coming in desperate pants as sweat dripped down his face. The nightmare he’d been able to escape this night he thought would never truly be over. Sy felt Sam stir and sit up next to him. Neither said a word, the only sound in the room being Sy’s heavy breathing. Sy closed his eyes tightly as he felt Sam’s soft fingertips run along his spine before sliding through his hair and back down. 

“Bad dream?” Sy nodded, his breath hitching slightly. “Want to tell me about it?”

Sy didn’t say anything for a moment, weighing his options. “He was here.” Sam didn’t say anything, waiting for Sy to continue, giving him the patience and support he needed. “He came and got me out of bed…y-you were there…you were there and didn’t do anything to stop him. And then you turned to Casey and we were in the cabin. He had Casey tied up with licorice whips…” He looked at Sam then and gave him a sad grin. “Dreams…” He paused with a slight shrug, looking away into the darkness of the bedroom. “He was touching me. I could feel him behind me…up against me. He grew two more arms…but…they weren’t like…regular arms…they were metal strap-like things…and he pinned me against him…but he could still move freely. He snapped his fingers and suddenly my clothes were gone. I woke up when he was lining himself up…” 

Sam watched Sy closely as he spoke, keeping his hand along his back, tracing soft patterns up and into his hair and back again. He was far enough away that Sy didn’t feel crowded, but close enough to offer the support Sy needed. “I’m so afraid that I’ll never move past that point in my life, Sammy.” The whispered admission came with a swiping of tears from his face before he leaned bodily into Sam, who then held him close.

“I know it doesn't seem like it. But the more you heal, the less it'll haunt you. I love you, Sy. And no matter what, that won’t change.” Sy nodded into his chest and sniffled before responding in kind.