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"Mean words really never leave people, some of my coworkers always say that it happened so long ago and people should get over it, but it really has a big impact." Even with Tim, well, he supposed he had different circumstances already, different than most.

But was it really different? Bullying was bullying.

"I was a quiet kid. Nothing really exciting with me. I wasn't really, mistreated, til middle school when everyone realized what homosexuality actually was. It was really bad, especially when teachers knew, they didn't seem to like me much either. Y'know, back then wasn't as open about being gay as it is nowadays." he gave a small shrug. "So that was that, and it got worse in high school, met Andy and he tried to defend me, but he got pretty beat up as well and we hung out, though he was still as loud as he is now. No one bothered me much out of school, it was just in school was it really bad. Lots of name calling and putting me down. Getting in to college was a miracle I was really quite depressed.

And you know what happened from there." it was in police files.

Tim hugged him back. It was okay, he'd managed. "We've both had crappy lives, huh?" he said, unknowing that he was voicing Daren's thoughts. "What school did you go to? I'd ask what sports you played but I never attended any games so we would've never met there." he said, letting go and giving him a smile. "I'll take care of you too. And I'm too embarrassed to kiss in public so If you let me I'll kiss you when we get home." he mumbled, face pink as he continued to walk.

Waking was nice, his legs were a little sore and his lungs burned with chilly fall air, but it was nice.

"Yep, I went to Miller. We were the pirates." he said with a small laugh, continuing to walk. It was nice, walking quietly. Him and Daren were very audible before, everything. Constantly talking, Tim found it amazing and sort of, frightening. Loud and busy... why did that frighten him so much?

He pondered this, making a few comments here and there before they ended up back at the complex. "Cocoa sounds fine. I miss chocolate." He looked at the open doors and stepped out, pausing as he saw his mothers. he didn't hesitate to retract back in to the elevator, fear and worry flooding his being. But the doors stayed open, waiting for a button to be pressed and the women spotted them.

"W-We need to go." he croaked, holding Daren's hand and carefully walking out. His mothers made no move to get closer, they stood their waiting, though gave each other nervous glances. As he got close he stopped, looking at them shamefully. "Hi moms..."

"Hey sweetheart." Rachel said, worry on her face. "Can we come in?" and she looked at Daren for this question. She wasn't demanding, wasn't ordering, it was a simple, honest to god question.

Tim looked up at Daren and gave the barest hint of a nod. What could possibly go wrong at this point? So they were let in, Tim leading them in and offering them the couch, taking their coats and hanging them in the small closet."

"No thank you." Amanda said, shaking her head before watching the man strip his outer layers, eyes widening at how narrow and sunken in he'd become.

"No, well, we'd like to talk to you too," Rachel said, glancing at Tim who was standing nervously, looking at his hands like he wasn't sure what he wanted to do.

When had they both become so skittish? It broke her heart.

Amanda spoke first, "We didn't know what happened, but, get yourselves something to drink, if you're thirsty."

"How've you been?" Amanda asked, "We haven't seen you since you got out of the hospital."

"I've been, fine. Um, Nothing too bad, really." Tim said, glancing at Amanda before looking away, "Got out for the first time in two weeks today, we went for a walk. It was nice."

Rachel nodded, "That's good." she smelled the faintest smell of... bleach? Cleaning product? Something... "How's your skin?"

He rubbed his arms, "It's better... I'm still using the lotion. You can't tell it's there anymore."

That meant Daren didn't know. "That's good. No Christmas decorations?"

TIm perked up at this, smiling, "We ordered some online," he started, looking as Daren came, "Thank you." he took a sip from his drink happily, not bothering to flinch at the heat of the drink because it just meant he was cleaning the bacteria from his mouth.

Amanda's brows furrowed at that. It must have been hot she heard the stove click.

"We wanted to check up on you two. Iroh called us saying what happened, that you were in jail and Tim was in the hospital. We didn't know what to think."

The petite woman nodded, "He told us what we could, and we visited Tim, but we tried to visit you and the guards wouldn't let us. We were really worried about the both of you." she hesitated, looking over their gaunt appearances, "Are you two doing well?"

How much did they hear...

The women looked at each other, Rachel speaking, "We got a call from Iroh saying, saying that Tim was going to the hospital and Daren was going to prison. I thought that you'd been caught beating Tim or something.' she admitted shamefully, looking away and rubbing her arm, "But Iroh said that Andrew had escaped, and that he was filled with bullets, that he'd been waiting for Tim.... I wasn't sure which scenario I liked more."

"We asked what happened," Amanda continued, letting Rachel try to recompose herself from her shame, "He said Andrew had been waiting for Tim, that there had been some rough housing... TIm shot Andrew but Daren was taking blame for it--"

"So yo believe I shot him?" he asked. No one, not even the doctors, believed him. Everyone had been telling him he hadn't and his mind had made up the scenario to keep Daren as a good guy in his book, to keep him close. "You believe me?"

"I don't know," His mother admitted, "All that matters is that you're okay, and that Daren's okay. I'm sorry you had to go to jail for Timothy, and TImothy I'm sorry you had to go to the hospital. I'm just, we're just so glad you're okay." she sighed, "Please let me hug you..."

"You, you can hug me." Tim barely had time to finish as he was wrapped tightly in his mother's arms, quickly hugging her back, tears in his eyes. No one believed him, but his moms did. They'd always believe him.

"We're just glad you boys are okay." Rachel whispered.

"You did a good job," Rachel said with a small smile, "You always said you would, and I believe you. I trust you, and I'm proud of what you did, Daren." and shook her head at his apology, "It's fine."

Amanda finally let go of Tim, kissing his head and cheeks, hugging him again before letting go quickly and looking at Daren. "Can I hug you too?"