Chapter 8
After Action Reviews

"Bitch?" the Wench queried, "I don't understand..." The pair were in the restroom off Armand's suite of offices, cleaning up. Sharon was just heading into the stall, and the Wench was arranging Sharon's clothing on the sink counter and a couple of coathooks arrayed along the wall. "What with everything that went on in there, you wanted to know about that?"

Sharon sighed. She thought briefly about closing the stall door, but if Felicia -- or Wench, or whatever her name was -- wanted to talk... Besides, Charlene had said that they'd have the place to themselves. She settled herself on the toilet, and began attempting to expel Armand's semen from her abused ass. Still, did she need to talk about this with a stranger? Ah, Hell with it! "Armand hasn't called me that since we were married. It used to be almost a term of endearment..."

"Oh." The Wench dampened a paper towel and began swiping at her pudenda. Semen was something she hadn't managed to collect, but she was gooey... "I can see that, from Master... It probably isn't even 'almost'."

"...Which only makes things more confusing." Sharon eyed the willowy redhead. "Why did you keep it to yourself that I was lubed?"

The Wench prepared another paper towel and brought it to Sharon to wipe her face with. Sharon took it, but didn't do anything with it; she was just too tired. The Wench pulled it back out of Sharon's limp grip and began wiping her face. "Master likes his fun, part of which is inflicting a little pain. Why get him excited over having a little bit of his fun snatched out from under him, when he'd already directed that I lube you with spit?" She eyed Sharon sidelong, "Do you always do that?"

"No. Armand told me Sunday that he was going to have me anally today. You never know when he's telling you something just to mess with your mind, but I figured a little preparation wouldn't hurt. Usually, he doesn't warn me about what he's going to do." She eyed the Wench, who had finished and leaned back against the sink counter, apparently thoroughly comfortable with nudity in front of another woman. "So, you live with him now?"

"I'm the lowest of the low in my Master's house," the Wench replied, "while you are its Mistress."

"What?" exclaimed Sharon. "I've never been in the place! And I probably never will!"

The Wench shrugged. "Perhaps." Sharon obviously didn't see it; so the Wench let it lie. "I'm a convenience for Master's guests, and an occasional vessel for his pleasure, when no one else is available. My position isn't exalted."

"He doesn't keep many," Sharon returned. "You're the only one I'm certain of." Almost, she was jealous...

"The house is fully staffed," the Wench returned, frowning in thought. "I can think of at least one other -- one of the maids... Master offered me my present position because he considers me a broken thing, someone he damaged too much to return to the wild. I disagree -- I've found something fulfilling..."

"Sounds wonderful," Sharon rasped, rolling her eyes. "I was his vessel -- still am, occasionally, obviously. But I didn't cater to guests... In fact, I've watched or been watched by others, but never..." She busied herself with wiping herself to cover embarrassment.

"Had someone else participate?" the Wench chuckled. "I'm not sure what that is all about -- but Master planned it. I was called for, specifically." She eyed Sharon, birdlike, "Why do you continue to come to him?"

Sharon rose, flushed, and walked to the sink. "He calls, I come. There are a thousand reasons, chief among which is that he doesn't really allow me any choice. And if I weren't already thoroughly bound, there is our daughter..."

"Do you love him?"

"WHAT?" Sharon was thoroughly taken aback, but was uncomfortable with the second wave of emotion that went through her. "We have... a lot of history. But love?" She shook her head, more in confusion than anything else. To change the subject, she asked, "Do you, uhh, do women much?"

The Wench grinned. "Sometimes. Women are gentler. They can be fun, and they're safe, and you can snuggle and talk girl talk afterwards. But they won't replace men. Even -- or perhaps especially -- men like Master." She tilted her head, and added, "You're not ruined, either."

"I suppose not. But why do you suppose he decided to do this today?" Sharon's panties had disappeared; well, it wouldn't be the first time. She stepped into her skirt.

"There have been some recent changes, haven't there? And maybe more in the offing? I think Master is 'shifting his grip' on you -- giving you new things to think about. Making some kind of point, perhaps."

"Maybe. It makes sense. I think he's trying to secure things against changes to come, maybe." Sharon worked her way back into the bra.

"I think so," the Wench agreed. "Certainly, it had nothing to do with me -- Master has MY destiny firmly in hand."

"He's had MINE for longer than I care to think about," Sharon grunted, working on her blouse buttons.

"But things are changing. That Master will do whatever he feels improves his position is a given, but it is also possible that he was working to improve YOURS."

Sharon was down to primping. Fishing out a comb, she began trying to get her hair in order. "Maybe. It certainly seemed like it." Then she turned on the other woman, suspicious. "How much do you know?"

The Wench lowered her eyes. "Quite a bit. I know he sent you videos of several old sessions, and that viewing them fostered quite a bit of unhappiness in you. I know that his intent is to remind you that the situation is basically unchanged -- only your perception of it differs."

Sharon glared. "How...?"

"I was present when he got certain surveillance reports."

Sharon's imagination went wild; those sessions -- the ones where she was making very certain that Armand knew she'd followed instructions! Gawd, how much had she seen? She blushed crimson. "I was... following instructions. He made this horrendous threat..."

"I know." The Wench didn't pursue it. "The point is, I think he was trying to prove to you that whether you deal with it or tuck it away, you still have a relationship. And your basic methods of dealing with him probably won't change, either."

"Why do something new, then?" Sharon put away her comb and motioned toward the door.

The Wench preceded her out it and into the anteroom, collecting her cloak and swirling it around herself on the way out. "I don't know; I think it was instinctive. Perhaps introducing some change was a way to trigger a deeper analysis of the situation in you. It couldn't quite be the same old thing..." She pondered, "Master is subtle."

Sharon punched the elevator button, wondering vaguely why she was being so open with this woman. "Sticking his 'thing' in my ass is NOT subtle!"

"The action may not be, but why... THAT might have several reasons besides the obvious."

"I guess."

The elevator dropped fourteen floors in silence, opening upon the lobby. Sharon, who was going on to the parking garage in the basement, made no move, but the Wench got out, backing away with a curious genuflection. "Goodbye... Sharon."

"Goodbye, Felicia."

The Wench stepped forward and caught the elevator door. "My Master has seen fit to change my name. I am merely the Wench, now, until he again changes it."

"Armand can and will do as he pleases," Sharon replied, "but I'm not required to play his games when he is not present. Goodbye, Felicia."

The Wench stepped back smiling. "Goodbye." The elevator closed.

At school, the entire cluster gathered early. Stick and Draper arrived first, both looking altogether too pleased with themselves. Tenisha arrived next, Draper's greeting leaving no doubt as to the source of his mood. Nora arrived next, and approached the trio cautiously, but Tenisha welcomed her warmly. "Hi, Hon. How goes the wild animal training?"

"It has its ups and downs," Nora quipped, provoking chuckles. "At least I don't tease bears!"

"Teddy bears," Tenisha retorted. "Big cuddly teddy bears." Draper rolled his eyes and looked mildly put upon while Stick smirked. But a glance up from Draper caused Stick to move on without comment as he followed it to discover Mary as she hove into view, looking somewhat the worse for the wear. "You look wasted," Tenisha observed.

"I didn't sleep much," Mary replied, flicking a glance at Stick. "But it was worth it."

Nate's Chevette rattled into the parking lot. "That thing's on its last legs," Draper observed. He swept his eyes to Nora. "Sometime, he's gonna do the breakdown thing with you -- only it'll be for real!" There was a general chuckle.

Nate was tentative as he approached, "Sorry, Baby."

Nora enfolded him in her embrace. "Well, it wasn't good, but we survived, I think." Mary pricked up her ears, but Nora waved her off before her mouth opened. Nate merely closed his eyes and absorbed the cuddle.

Mary shifted her attention to Stick, asking quietly, "When did you leave?"

Stick's reply was equally quiet, "'Bout three. Hadda go change clothes. You was deep in..."

"You should have awakened me..."

"Nah. Woulda jus' disturbed ya. As it was, I got plenty -- didn't know what to do wit' myself, sleeping on a good mattress. Came wide awake." He shifted his attention, "Hey, Ted."

Teddy had been approaching warily; now he closed more confidently. "Hi, Stick, hi Mary. How's it going?"

"Oh, fine, fine," Mary replied blandly, doing a self-assessment. She was going to need a nap, but... "What are we doing tonight?"

Teddy's demeanor eased up quite a bit. "I don't know -- a movie?"

"Okay. No need to do anything wild, though -- we could just hang out at my place..." Mary was walking a tightrope, here. It was important that Teddy not go to more financial effort than Stick, whose resources were limited. But she couldn't appear to be setting a trap for Teddy, either.

Stick's "Mary's got movies," and the accompanying wink didn't help. Mary contrived to surreptitiously kick him in the instep.

Teddy started looking anxious, so Mary added, "Take a look and let me know what's on. We'll decide then." The bell rang, and the group started shuffling toward the door. Mary held Stick back; Teddy had moved off, nodding absently, no doubt thinking about where he could get a movie schedule. "We have to take it easy on Teddy," Mary remonstrated. "You know how anxious he gets around me. To him, my place is a bear trap."

"Yeh, I forgot."

"Still, if you can get him to feel more confident, it'll be easier. You know, remind him it's a competition..." Mary eyed Stick sidelong.

Stick grunted. "Is it?"

Mary shrugged. "Well, yeah, to a certain extent. If you two settle out and I have to choose..."

"This shit's complicated," Stick groused. "Why should I shoot myself in the foot?"

"You need to play fair," Mary teased, tweaking his nose. "Besides, it might keep peace in the family."

"Whose family?" Stick rubbed his nose.

"Ours," Mary passed over her shoulder, then moved off through the crowd.

Teddy and Stick contrived to stand together at gym class. "Fuckin' dodge ball sucks," Stick muttered.

"At least you can get out of the way," was Teddy's distracted rejoinder. "How did last night go?"

"Decent. Helped her with her math, then we had a couple of burgers an' watched some of Mary's porn collection."

"So you..."

"Yeah, twice." Stick grinned. "Look, Man, if you're worried about her runnin' things, then YOU gotta step up. If you're controlling things, she won't bother. An' things will go your way..."

"Well, this isn't last Saturday."

"No, but you got last Saturday under your belt. An' just 'cause I ain't standin' there... 'Sides, it's kinda a competition. You can't win if you don' play..." The pair leaped left to avoid an oncoming ball, Stick nearly bowling over the smaller Teddy. When they had settled to warily awaiting the next attack, Stick added, "Under the original plan I'm supposed to keep her off you, an' you're supposed to keep her off me. I'm doin' my job -- you gonna cover my ass, or what?"

"Yeah, I got it. She just..."

"She just nuthin', Man. You been in her crib, an' you got more time on the ground wit' her than I do! She won't bite!" Stick grinned and glanced sideways, "But she might suck..."

Teddy grinned in spite of himself. "Yeah..." The pair leapt to the right.

Later, in the locker room, Teddy turned to Stick. "What about the other thing?"

Stick toweled his leg. "Talk to Mary. I figure we'll do Friday night. Cool?"

"Cool." Teddy left it -- it seemed fair. They'd get to talk, if nothing else...

The girls sat for lunch. Mary opened with, "Nate's in the doghouse already?"

"Not really," Nora sighed. "He was actually trying to be helpful when he stuck his foot in it."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." Nora looked around a bit. "I told you about the videos, didn't I?"

"The ones your Daddy made of him abusing your Mom?"

"Yeah. Those videos."

"Okay, so?" Mary eyed Nora sidelong.

"Well, Mom apparently went ahead and viewed a couple and, well, freaked -- so I sneaked a disk into my room and Nate and I scoped it out to see what was so awful..."

"Holy Shit! You're kidding me, right?"

"Huh! Wish I was! Nate and I watched two scenes, and they were hot, even if it WAS Mom and Daddy! Basically, they were everything Mom said they were -- Daddy is, well, seriously rough and kinky. But the really weird part is that Mom would start out trying to keep things from getting out of hand, but ended up enjoying it!"

"Damn! Really?"

"Yeah... And that's what weirded Mom out. You see, she never remembered the good parts! She'd go see Daddy, and he'd rape her, basically -- wild shit, tying her up and just doing whatever came to mind, I guess -- and she'd remember being taken against her will -- but she WOULDN'T remember breaking down and enjoying it! Then along comes the evidence, in living color!" Nora shook her head. "Well, Mom wasn't thrilled with THAT discovery. And Nate, well, let the cat out of the bag, trying to console her..."

Mary couldn't suppress a snicker. "Oh, shit!"

"Yeah. Worse, Mom has to go see Daddy today! She's a wreck!" Nora grimaced, "I spent three or four hours trying to settle her down, but she still hadn't gotten a grip when I left for school this morning."

"So, how much did THAT cut into your love life?" Mary quipped.

"Ummmmm, not a lot. We did it twice while we were watching the videos." Nora looked pensive. "I think I might be a chip off the old block."

"Huh?"

"Well, we were watching this scene... Daddy had Mom all tied over a desk and was doing her doggy-style while spanking her ass. Well, Nate was doing me the same way..."

"No! Nate popped you on the ass?"

"Uh huh," Nora nodded. "He wasn't going for cherry red like Daddy -- he just liked the ripples from what he said afterward -- he loves my ass, you know." Mary grinned and shook her head. "So I let him do it. And it was okay -- I enjoyed it..."

"Sounds like he took it easy..."

"Well, he did. But it still stung, kind of built up slowly. Every time he'd hit me, I'd clench, which would make THAT part better, and the sting -- I dunno -- it just seemed to add to things..."

"Well, don't feel bad. Maybe it's a female thing -- one nobody mentions much," Mary opined. "I convinced Stick that maybe he ought to run things last night -- we were watching this 'Blacks on Blondes' flick, Big Black Dudes Dominate White Slut stuff, you know?" Nora didn't, but she nodded, anyway. "Stick started out reluctant, but once he got into the swing of things, well, it was nice not having to concentrate on running a seduction..."

Nora shelved the basic question as a new subject had revealed itself, "So Stick came back for seconds?"

"Uh huh." Mary grinned. "There'll be thirds, too. And I've got Teddy tonight, unless he sprouts some serious feathers."

Nora worked hard to conceal surprise. Of course, both of the boys could have decided that any pussy was better than none, in which case Mary was on the short route to unhappiness. Besides, there was the other issue... "What about their little thing?"

"We're looking at Friday night for another big get-together," Mary replied. "I'm starting to get a read on Stick; Teddy is the bigger question."

"You know," Nora opined, "keeping both of them is unlikely, at best. Even if you do, it's a share with their relationship. And they're never equal."

"What if I come out on top on both sides?" Mary challenged.

"You'll probably be unable to deal with it. Keeping both of them happy? They aren't even anything alike..." Nora frowned. "I'd be afraid that it would look really good, then crash and burn, fairly quickly."

"You sound like my mother," Mary grumbled. She assumed a nasal whine, obviously mimicking her mother, "All those two want is between your legs -- especially that black boy! And when something else better comes along, POOF! They'll be gone! I expected better of Teddy..." Mary dropped the impersonation. "Yada, yada, yada. What the fuck am I SUPPOSED to do?"

Obviously, the dissenting opinion had been expressed. And equally obviously, Mary was going to do what she thought would bring her happiness. Time for a true friend to shut up. Nora shrugged. Who was she to talk? Nate was pretty questionable, in most circles. At least Mary had a back-up, if a weak one. And maybe one -- or both -- of them WAS the real deal. Nora pasted on a grin. "So, your social calendar's pretty full, huh?"

Mary perked up, "For once."

"Better enjoy it, then," Nora laughed.

"Oh, I am! Boy! Am I!" Mary laughed. "You get Nate all trained, and you'll start to have competition, too!"

"They had their chance," Nora replied, preening. "Some girl tries to get Nate, I'll sick Daddy on her. She'll be dating men 'round the clock -- in the red-light district!" She giggled.

Mary looked scandalized, then she giggled, too. Then she leaned forward, "We're gonna have to plan a girl's night! I'd sure like to see one of those videos!"

"Maybe I should check out 'Blacks on Blondes!'" Nora quipped. The pair moved on to other subjects.

Nate, Draper, and Stick gathered as usual after school for basically the first time since Prom weekend. "So, what'cha doin' tonight?" Nate opened up.

"Dunno," Draper replied, "Hit the books, I guess -- gotta Civics test tomorrow. You?"

Nate shrugged. The big uncertainty in his life was how long he was going to be in the doghouse over running his mouth the previous night. Nora hadn't treated it as that serious, but... "Hang out, I guess. Go see if ol' man Johnson has any piece work."

"No date?" Draper interjected.

"Nah. Nora's Mama got kinda excited last night..."

"Yeah?" Draper looked sympathetic. "Usual shit?" That Nora's mother should be pissed over her dating a bruthuh wouldn't exactly be a surprise...

"Not like that," Nate amplified. "More about her than me. I said sumpthin' when I shoulda kept my mouth shut."

"Bad?" Stick wanted to know.

"I sure as shit hope not..." Nate mused. "Nora didn't seem TOO pissed. I think we're jus' gonna wait for it to blow over." He turned to Stick, "What 'bout you?"

"See if I can find my laundry, I guess," Stick replied. "It's Teddy's night with Mary..."

"Man, I don' get ANY of THAT shit..." Nate muttered.

Stick rolled his eyes. "What's to get? Been over it a coupla times..."

"Fat Mary..." Draper looked perplexed.

"Fat Mary turns out to be pretty sweet. An' she fucks like a mink!" Stick retorted, irritated.

"And Frick?" Nate raised an eyebrow.

"Teddy keeps her from gettin' all emotionally dependent. I fuck her, an' she turns the eye on me, then he fucks her, an' she looks his direction..."

"How long's THAT gonna last?" Draper wondered aloud.

"Not long... Hey, FUCK y'all! Mary's ass ain't no bigger than Nora's!" Stick started working up a head of steam.

"Awright, awright! We're jus' surprised, is all!" Draper placated.

"Yeah, well, nobody's perfect -- an' that includes 'Nisha!" Stick ranted. "Mary's a good shit; if I decide she's gonna be my main squeeze, that's 'tween her an' me!"

If Stick had unloaded on Nate, there would have been a fight, but Draper was the cooler head of the group; he just grunted. "Awright, cool. That gonna happen?"

"It might." Stick was still touchy. "Looks ain't everything. 'Sides, she's pretty in places." Even Draper nodded, there -- it was one of the things that made Mary grotesque. She had a very pretty face, nice hands and feet. Only her midsection was out of hand... "An' she treats me good -- ain't a lot of women 'round here standin' in line to do THAT!"

"An' Frick the Prick?" Nate prodded.

"Ted's almost a charity case. Let him alone. Little shit don't get nuthin' from nobody. He's gotta dick, too, the poor fuck."

"Cain't be much," Nate opined.

"You'd be fuckin' surprised! It ain't much for length, but I tol' him I was gonna sic Beulah on him! Fucker's damn near as big around as a soda can!"

"Jeezus! No shit?" Nate was rocked.

"No shit. He's gonna have a helluva time finding pussy he can pop on the first pass. That dick's made for sloppy seconds!"

"Huh! I'll be a sumbitch," Draper rumbled. Then he chuckled. "Beulah'd squash the poor fuck."

Stick laughed. "No shit. Even if he was on top, she'd probably pick him up an' use him for a dildo! Anyway, he's probably gonna solo tonight w/Mary. Mebbe she'll jack up his ego some."

Nate eyed Stick. "You ain't worried Mary will decide to keep him?"

Stick shook his head, "She had all the time in the world to reel him in. An' I'm startin' to think that she don' want to be somebody's mama. Nah, I ain't too worried. Meanwhile, he helps me keep Mary off-balance 'til I'm sure I ain't lettin' pussy cloud my judgment." This whole attitude was projection; the complications of the relationship that he couldn't talk about had Stick working hard to make it look easy. He knew that the other two smelled something not right about the whole thing, but telling them he'd been playing queer games with Teddy just made no damned sense. Maybe at some point, he'd have to own up to it -- but for now, revealing his and Teddy's little experiment before they had any results was just stupid.

Nora's arrival put an end to the conversation. Nate's surprised pleasure was thoroughly alien to the face the other two were used to seeing on him; the usual expression had had large quantities of anger and frustration embedded in it. Nora reached around him from behind and rubbed at his hard chest, and Nate lit up. "Nate, Honey, would you take me home?"

Nate's quick shrug and the look on his face said any other plans they might have been concocting had just gone on hold. "Sure, Baby."

Draper smiled and his eyes drooped. "Later, Man." Stick nodded, amused. Nate grinned and backed off, turning to collect Nora against him as he headed off toward his car. "Pussy's turnin' Nate inta a model citizen," Draper drawled.

"She ain't hurtin' him, that's fo' sho'," Stick agreed. "'Sides, Nate always was an ass man." He squinted over Draper's shoulder. "Talkin' 'bout pussy, ain't that yours, comin' up the walk?"

Draper spun. Tenisha WAS coming up the walk, making no excuses for having Draper in her sights. "Huh!" Draper grunted, "Guess so."

" 'Nisha ain't fuckin' around, Man. Pretty clear she 'spects you to hang around..." Stick noted.

Draper watched the narrow girl cover ground. No, there wasn't much question, from the look on her face. Serious determination, there... "I ain't complainin'."

Stick chuckled and turned away. Laundry tonight, it looked like. "Later, Man."

"Later." Tenisha just kept coming until she was pressed against Draper, "Hey, Baby." An instant later, he was kissing her full lips.

Nate turned to Nora as they got into his rickety Chevette, "What do you think of Stick datin' Fat Mary? An' Frick?"

Nora's raised eyebrow told Nate he was on dangerous ground. "Mary is a friend. And so is Teddy."

"Well, so is Stick!"

Nora waited him out. "Well, we gave Stick some shit over it..."

"And?"

"Sounded like he might be serious. He got all pissy about it."

"That's bad?" Nora eyed him askance.

"Shit, I dunno," Nate replied. "F-, uh, Mary ain't considered a catch..."

"Neither am I," Nora pointed out.

'Fuckin' up by the numbers,' Nate thought. "Yeah, okay. Stick got all defensive, pointin' out alla her good parts..."

"Like?"

"Like she's got a pretty face. Like she's a good shit..."

"Did sex get mentioned?" Nora inquired archly.

"Well, yeah, but it was downplayed. Stick was tryin' to impress us with other shit." Nate frowned. "Huh! He IS serious!"

"How can you tell?"

"Well," Nate glanced across at what he'd come to think of as his woman. "Uh, a fuck's a fuck. It's the big thing. You brag about it. You say shit like, 'Oh, sure, she's skinny, but she fucks like a mink! I did her three times last night, once in the ass!' Shit like that. On the other hand, if the chick means something to ya, you start justifyin' it by talkin' about other stuff -- how sweet tempered she is, or how she puts up with your shit, that kinda thing. Stick was busy doin' THAT stuff." Nate frowned. "But then there's Teddy. Sumpthin' ain't right. I don't see where Stick owes him ANYTHING, much less a piece o' Mary..."

"What's he said about it?" Nora, knowing what the issue really was, wanted to know how it was being represented.

"Oh, things. Early on, it was him an' Teddy keepin' Mary confused over who to sink her claws inta. An' how she wants so much dick she's hard to keep up with. Now it's all about how Teddy is a charity case an' he's lettin' Mary prop up his ego." Nate shook his head. "There's sumpthin' else there..."

"Maybe," Nora agreed cautiously. How could she defuse this?

"So," Nate grinned, "Is Mary usin' Stick for sex?"

"Well," Nora chuckled, "it's no secret that Mary's been trolling for a boyfriend. From what she says, based on their first couple of outings, Stick is a prime candidate. But Stick helped her crack Teddy's shell Saturday night, something she'd been trying to do for a long time. She's confused, all right."

"Things won't last, the way they are," Nate opined.

"No, they won't," Nora agreed. "I told her so, too. She's seeing Teddy tonight -- that might tip the balance, one way or the other."

"I don't understand why she hasn't already made up her mind..."

"Well, she says they both have good things about them -- but they're very different, so direct comparisons are hard." Nora had a flash of an idea. "You know, Mary hasn't had a whole lot of luck. If she settles on one and dumps the other, and it doesn't work out..."

"Oh, I gotcha. She's fucked herself outta the other one. That makes sense..." Nate frowned. "It still don't explain why they put up with each other."

"Well, if Stick tolerates Teddy, doesn't that say good things about him?"

"Maybe." The idea made some sense, but Mary'd have to have been some prime stuff for Nate to see THAT kind of effort as worth it. From where Nate sat, she wasn't, whether she was Nora's friend or not. Maybe that Pinkersley bitch... Claudette Pinkersley was a regular Ice Princess -- the dude who finally broke the lock on HER chastity belt would probably have to jump through all kinds of hoops -- but Fat Mary? Nate was an ass man, but Mary's didn't qualify; her blocky slab of an ass bore little resemblance to the round, plush flesh Nora exhibited. But at least it was some kind of excuse for Stick's behavior... Nate wheeled the car into Nora's driveway, still pensive -- but in a moment, he realized that he had another worry: Was this JUST a ride home? "Say, uh, am I welcome?"

Nora chuckled throatily, "Well, as far as I'M concerned you are -- but there's no telling what state Mom's in. You know she went to see Daddy..." Realizing that she hadn't produced a clear answer, she murmured, "Let's try it. Keep your head down!" Nora grabbed her books; Nate collected his and followed her in.

On the surface, things hadn't changed much. Sharon sat at the kitchen table, a glass of iced tea before her. She looked up to see Nora enter the house, her boyfriend almost comically trying to hide behind her, and nodded warily.

Nora took this as a good sign; Mom had been a lot more shaky-looking when she'd left for school. "Hi, Mom." She advanced into the kitchen. "How did your visit with Daddy go?" Nate winced; he wasn't sure he wanted to hear...

Sharon affected a look of exasperation and rolled her eyes, "Film at eleven..." Nora giggled, and she smiled in return, her eyes shifting to acknowledge Nate. The smile didn't go away, so Nate figured maybe she wouldn't flake on him. "It was... different. And it was the same." Nora pulled up a chair; Nate got fidgety. "Sit down, Nate -- you know everything else..." While Nate seated himself gingerly, she took a swig of tea. "Your father and I talked for some time; he's got something up his sleeve that he hasn't revealed, but he DOES say that giving me the videos and pressing me to watch them was a mistake. On the other hand, he made it VERY clear that dealing with it was MY problem; although he plans some unspecified changes, in general, the basics will remain as they have been."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that he owns me, no matter what the divorce papers say, and he will continue to prove it, periodically."

"Why don't you fight it?" Nora asked.

"I DO, every time I enter that office!" Sharon shook her head. "Apparently, one of your father's big concerns is the idea that I might STOP fighting him!" She shrugged. "It's useless, you know -- there IS no escape -- but I can't just go meekly in there and let him do whatever insane thing he comes up with to me, even if I end up discovering that it wasn't all that unpleasant. I just HAVE to fight a little. Besides, sometimes it works -- or he's distracted by some OTHER poor victim."

Armand, watching on the closed circuit monitor in his office, relaxed. Sharon seemed to be doing well. He'd give her a day or two before moving on to the next phase and pressing her again, but things looked okay. Besides, he needed to have a talk with his daughter, first.

"What else happened?" Nora queried.

"Well, we talked about YOU for a bit. It seems that your father absented himself more or less deliberately from us in order to ensure that you were raised in a proper environment. He told me that even he didn't really think about it until a few days ago, but that many of the things he does to and for us were to see to it that you didn't get 'twisted'" -- Sharon's fingers came up to add quote marks to the word -- "by either one of us at an early age..."

"Twisted?"

"His word," Sharon shrugged. "I can easily see that his household might be a poor environment for a little girl, but your father had the nerve to announce that in his own way, he protected you from ME!" The more Sharon thought about it the more indignant she got...

"Oh?" Nora was somewhat awash.

"According to HIM, I was raised to live in a fantasy world, where everything was sweetness and light -- so he harassed me and kept the purse strings tight so you would realize that there was a cold, cruel world out there... What bullshit!"

Nora sucked this in without evaluating it -- she'd go over it later, perhaps after talking with her father... After a moment, the implications of THAT thought process reached out and slapped her; maybe Daddy DID have an influence on her, after all! Why else would she wait to hear the other side of the story before evaluating it?

Meanwhile, Sharon continued, "Your father claims that he watches us a lot closer than we've ever realized -- and that, believe it or not, it's because he CARES for us! I guess he's never heard of voyeurism..."

Nora raised an eyebrow. This was the first indication she'd ever gotten that her mother had heard of the term! More grist for the mill... "Well, he's surprised me four times in four days..."

Sharon shook her head; confusion was putting a cap on her anger. "Apparently, he has us watched twenty-four hours a day. According to him, the only possible explanation is that he has a serious interest... Proprietary, it might be -- but loving? I'm not sure your father knows anything much about love..." She rubbed at her face. "Anyway, things have changed. Your relationship," -- Sharon flicked a glance at Nate -- "indicated to your father that you have reached adulthood, and were capable of dealing with his brand of reality. So from now on -- when it's too late -- he's going to be a lot more visible. Isn't that nice?" Sarcasm hung heavy in the air.

Nora didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she asked, "Was that it?"

"No, then he proceeded to rape me again -- for my own good, of course! And THIS time, he brought in some woman to help!" Sharon shifted from outraged to pensive, "THAT was DEFINITELY new..." She raised an eyebrow, "I suppose you want details?"

Nora did, but she knew better than to approach it directly. Instead, she asked, "Do you remember them?"

"Yeah," her mother sighed, "I remember." She glanced at Nate, but he'd SEEN her for God's sake! "I remember cumming, twice, towards the tail end of things. But it's REALLY embarrassing -- I don't think I can talk about it."

"Worse than usual?" Nora was sympathetic.

"Yeah." There was NO WAY Sharon was going to tell ANYBODY about licking some woman's clitoris -- or having hers licked by one, for that matter! And especially not with Nate around...

"Okay." Mom seemed to be handling things well, despite the fact that Daddy had apparently changed-up on her in some way. Nora rose. "We'll be upstairs." Nate took his cue and followed.

Sharon nodded. As they hit the stairs, she yelled, "Is Nate staying for supper?"

Nora glanced at Nate and he opened his mouth, but before any sound came out, Nora answered, "Yes!" Nate blinked and shrugged; some day he was going to have to assume control around here -- but today didn't seem to be it. He followed the sway of his lover's ass as she ascended the stairs.