Ethan Anderson: He'd woken at the crack of dawn, set the horses out into the pasture, mucked the stalls, fed and watered them and the sheep...

The early morning finds him sitting quietly on the back steps, his hair in a tight braid, his kahki pants and polo rumpled and dirty from two days of wear, his handsome face caught between fear, sadness and joy.

Aerin Thomas: The back door opens, and he starts to step out, not realizing Ethan's there at first. It's early morning, and he hasn't had his cigarette. Hideous dreams last night...moreso then usual. His hair's a frizzed, tangled mess, as he steps out in a pair of pajama bottoms and his old, OLD leather jacket, cigarette already resting between his lips. He takes a step out and then starts at seeing Ethan. "Oh, shit...I didn't even see you were out here, hon. Sorry."

Ethan Anderson: "Sokay," he murmurs, not looking up. His eyes are on the horses, watching them play in the cool, early morning air. He sighs, breath steaming on the wind. There's a moments pause before he reaches back to cup his hand around the back of Aerin's calf, just holding tight for a bit.

Aerin Thomas: He smiles a little, accepting the gesture of affection with soft "Mmmm." Not sad...accepting. He leans down to brush his fingers over Ethan's hair, pulling his lighter out to flick the cigarette to life. "How are you?"

Ethan Anderson: "Confused. Worried. Neither of which is precisely your fault." He chuckles and leans back into Aerin's legs. "I woke up at about five this morning...Everyone's fed. I mucked the stalls...It helped a little."

Aerin Thomas: "I'm glad it did." He takes a drag off of the cigarette, exhaling it into the cold upstate air, mixed with the steam of his breath. "I'm sorry that you're confused and worried. Even if it's not precisely my fault."

Ethan Anderson: He shrugs and curls his arms behind him, around the other's legs, head nuzzling against his thigh. "Its okay. I love you. I'll do whatever you need me to."

Aerin Thomas: "I know." He looks down at Ethan and smiles sadly. "This...may be painful in parts. You know this, right?"

Ethan Anderson: He tips his head back until he can see Aerin's face. "Yeah. I know," he murmurs, his own reflecting the sadness he sees. "We'll pull through it Aerin..."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah. Yeah, we will." He crouches down, knees parting around the kin's back, and presses a kiss to the back of Ethan's head. "Thank you, Ethan. You don't know what this means to me. And I'm sorry I had to take what's legitimate emotions between us and use it in such a manipulative way. I really am. It's not fair to you."

Ethan Anderson: He turns his head to kiss Aerin's jaw, snorting softly. "At least you're taking legitimate emotions and not creating ones simply for your own gain hon... You're not just using me for the sake of using me. That I couldn't handle. This I'll deal with. Plus it means I don't have to try so hard to lie..."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah." He smiles a little bit. "Ita had an idea last night that there was something wrong with me, but she didn't make the connection to you. Or, at least, she didn't voice anything about it."

Ethan Anderson: "Hey!" He laughs slightly and leans back harder in an attempt to knock Aerin backwards. "I am not something that's wrong with you. D-d-dork."

Aerin Thomas: He purses his lips, a hand coming out to stop his fall. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean it like that." He sighs. I meant, me being...not my usual tired self. You know." He shrugs slightly.

Ethan Anderson: "I was trying to lighten the mood," he murmurs, contritely, shifting forward so he can turn and face the other on his knees. "Sorry. Everything's happening so fast and there's so much going on. ITs stressful for all of us but mostly for you who has to protect all of us."

Aerin Thomas: He reaches up to rub at his right shoulder a little bit, giving another shrug. "S'all right. My plan. I can hold it together." Emerald iris look at Ethan a moment, then out along the weak fog around the area. "I'll be fine."

Ethan Anderson: "No you won't. Not at first," he says, touching Aerin's cheek lightly. "But you'll pull through." He shrugs back at the man. "Its not in you to just give up and everyone gets tired of fighting sometimes."

Aerin Thomas: He opens his mouth to respond, to protests, but the words don't come out. He looks down at the ground, putting the cigarette between his lips for a heavy drag. "I can't let myself get tired. Not yet. Too much to fight...maybe when this is all over, I'll let myself be tired then."

Ethan Anderson: "Aerin, you're running on empty. And I get that. There's stuff you have to do before you can take a breather. I get that too...I just...I wanna help. You shouldn't have to do it all by yourself. Gaia knows I've made my share of mistakes but...This I can at least...I dunno, ease the burden a bit maybe?"

Aerin Thomas: He's quiet. His eyes stay on the floor. He takes another drag, eyes moving from floor to sky, squinting slightly upward, before he nods slightly.

Ethan Anderson: "Just don't give up," he begs softly. "Or...if it gets to be too much, tell me first...Don't wanna just wake up one morning and not have you here."

Aerin Thomas: "I'm not giving up," he murmurs. "I can't. Even if I wanted to...I couldn't handle the thought of the people I'd be failing...the duty I'd be failing. So it's not going to happen."

Ethan Anderson: "Then I won't worry about the what ifs." He reaches up and gently runs his fingers through Aerin's hair.

Aerin Thomas: "Good. Don't worry." He smiles warmly and leans into Ethan's hand. "I don't want you to worry. Everything will be fine, I promise."

Ethan Anderson: He glances over Aerin's shoulder at the house a moment and then leans in to kiss him softly and slowly as he continues to finger comb the poor Coggie's hair. "I believe you."

Aerin Thomas: He sighs deeply, leaning into the kiss and returning it, hand coming to rest on Ethan's side. "Good," he says, when it finally parts.

Ethan Anderson: "Mnn...If I didn't think we'd get caught I'd go for some more of that." He chuckles softly. "You kiss me like you're trying to climb inside."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah, well...I wouldn't say that I didn't feel like trying to hide sometimes, lately." He smiles gently and leans forward, pressing his forehead against Ethan's. "Not the case this time, though."

Ethan Anderson: "I know." He grins slightly, flushing as he rubs their foreheads together, hands dropping from Aerin's hair to his thighs to help keep his balance.

Aerin Thomas: A gentle chuckle, and then he looks up, sighing. "Gonna be a cold-ass day today." He takes a drag of smoke, exhaling it away from them. "So, I have a question...and bear with me here. Do you know Adrian's last name?"

Ethan Anderson: He sighs. "I thought you k-k...Knew it." He frowns, trying to remember. "Brat...Bratovich?"

Aerin Thomas: "Bratovich." He frowns, committing it to memory. "Thanks. I want to check up on him...see what I can find out about the truth behind his prison sentance. I believe Joe, but...if he was in jail for being a serial murder, I mean...he looks young to have gotten out on parole."

Ethan Anderson: "He may be like I was...He talks to animals the way Ita does," he murmurs.

Aerin Thomas: He frowns deeply...actually, more like scowls...and nods. "Ita told me of the talking to the animals...so I was thinking of that. He'd have to be the ghoul of someone inside, or in the prison system...he'd have to get his blood, after all, and I doubt that you can fit that into a care package well, you know?"

Ethan Anderson: "True. He doesn't talk about anyone. I met this girl. Said she was his cousin...Alice. Bitch." He snorts. Then again, the young man never had liked women other then his sister. "But the funny thing is, he n-never mentioned having cousins before."

Aerin Thomas: "Alice." He frowns, thinking about it...no. It couldn't be coincidence. "Alice Newcomb?"

Ethan Anderson: "Maybe. Didn't get her last name." He shrugs slightly. "Sorry, baby."

Aerin Thomas: "S'okay. Young girl, kinda preppy, blonde hair, blue eyes...peppy-ish girl? Drives a motorcycle around?" He frowns a little, considering potential implications for if he's right.

Ethan Anderson: "Bitch," he concludes, nodding.

Aerin Thomas: "Shit." He shakes his head. "Un-fucking-believable."

Ethan Anderson: "What," he asks, standing slowly to rub at his knees. Splinters and bruises. Fun.

Aerin Thomas: "She's friends with Kaeleigh. And she drew a picture of Joe. And she's his COUSIN?" His eyes narrow, looking along the back of the house. "Yeah, tell me THAT'S a fuckin' coincidence."

Ethan Anderson: He bites his lips until they go white, eyes widening. "Oh fuck...What did I do?"

Aerin Thomas: "I don't think it's you, hon." He shakes his head, rising to draw Ethan into a comforting hug. "Adrian was hanging around us before you. Remember, before I found you again, I caught him staring at Ita and Tori like..." He's good at not tightening his arms around Ethan painfully, though his jaw does clench. "Shit."

Ethan Anderson: "he knew, or guessed, when he called that I was with you...or them. He's sure we're together. When he c-c-called he asked how ITa and Tori were."

Aerin Thomas: "Dead. Man." He grinds his teeth. "Dead fucking man. That's his new last name."

Ethan Anderson: "Th-then again he thinks I'm a slut so...eh."

Aerin Thomas: He steps away from Ethan, hackles definitely raised, body rigid with tension...yeah, the man definitely needs some space. Bare feet step into the grass, and he pulls a cigarette. "He has no idea about this place, right?" It's not accusatory, just questioning...strong edge in his voice.

Ethan Anderson: "No. I've never mentioned it." Ethan sits back down, wrapping his arms around his shins.

Aerin Thomas: "Good." He nods. "I didn't think you had, I know..." Deep breath. "I know that you wouldn't compromise anything. I had to make sure, though. You understand, right?"

Ethan Anderson: He nods. "yeah. I just...I'm sorry I ever trusted him Aerin. I'm sorry we fought over that jackass."

Aerin Thomas: "Not your fault." He shakes his head, stalking back and forth on the grass. "He's a slimy little shit. You're trusting, and the ability to trust is a good thing, Ethan. Don't ever lose that." It's hard to be inspirational and supportive when you're choking back anger and imagining a man's head being used as a hacky-sack, but he's trying for it.

Ethan Anderson: Ethan sees it and smiles slightly. "Its okay to be angry. I don't need you to always support me you know," he murmurs softly. "Be angry. I'm angry. I'm angry enough to want to hit him...Not that I would, or necessarily could but..."

Aerin Thomas: "Don't worry about needing to. I'm gonna do a lot more then hit him," he growls, without even thinking about it.

Ethan Anderson: "You're sexy when you growl," he says suddenly. Distractions are sometimes good...

Aerin Thomas: He looks at Ethan a moment, his eyebrow quirking, and a bit of a smile managing to peirce through the anger in his face. "No, I'm vicious and sound like something rabid when I growl. But thank you."

Ethan Anderson: He blushes and draws his braid over his shoulder, toying idly with the end. "I have no doubt that Adrian will get what's coming to him...But worry about the more immediate concerns first, okay? Not that I'm telling you to leave him alone but...He's not an immediate threat."

Aerin Thomas: He almost disagrees, but lets it go. "All right, Adrian later. Immediate concerns first."

Ethan Anderson: He nods and glances up at Aerin almost coyly before looking past him to the barn.

Aerin Thomas: He blinks at Adrian, then turns his head, following it to the barn. A hint of a grin, and he shakes his head, chuckling. "Mmmm...all right." He smiles and holds a hand out for the kin.

Ethan Anderson: Ethan grins, and settles his hand in Aerin's, blue eyes bright.

Aerin Thomas: "Love you." He smiles, looking at Ethan adoringly, and turns to lead Ethan off.

Ethan Anderson: "Love you too," he says back, laughing as he leans into Aerin.