"Go sit down," he whispered, nodding towards the kitchen table, "I'll finish making these."

"Lemme brew some coffee first."

Freddy leaned over and stole a quick kiss, teetering on the edge of giddiness.

"You're gonna love these," he bragged, stirring as he waited for the skillet to heat up.

~*~

Olivia stumbled in about half an hour later, eyes bloodshot and hair in disarray. She navigated towards the closest chair and collapsed into it.

"I'm never taking another sleeping pill ever again," she moaned, cradling her head on her arms.

"You're still taking those?" Freddy asked, alarmed.

"Not regularly. I'd mostly stopped. But my hours have been so crazy..."

"No job's worth it."

She looked up at him, contrite.

"I'll stop," she promised, and graciously took a cup of coffee from Larry's outstretched hand. He rubbed soothing circles against her back.

"Freddy made pancakes."

"How many do you want, ma?"

"Five will do it, I think."

He brought the plate over to her and she immediately dug into it, eyelids fluttering with bliss.

"These are amazing. You're too good to me."

Freddy pushed down the guilt before it could take hold. He kept his face as tightly schooled as Larry's.

"It's nothing," he murmured as he loaded the last of the pancakes onto his plate.

~*~

It was about a forty minute walk home from work, but Freddy sometimes liked to have the time alone just to think. The weather had started to turn slightly more brisk as August transitioned into September, and it was a relief to get home without drowning in sweat.

He was lost in thought, meandering about eight blocks from their house, when he noticed the car. It was a black Cadillac, nothing special, except the windows were tinted and he could make out the familiar silhouette of a police strobe inside, perched on the dashboard. A chill ran up his spine. It was a concealed law enforcement vehicle. Tilting his head down, he meandered past, obliquely aware as it slowly began to follow him.

Each time he felt tempted to sneak a glance over his shoulder, Freddy maintained his composure, eyes diligently trained in front of him. The car trailed him at a healthy distance for almost ten minutes before he finally cracked and snuck a brief peek. It turned at the nearest intersection and was gone. He spent the rest of his walk home in silent turmoil.

The door stuck as usual. He kicked off his sneakers and caught sight of mom in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner. He smiled in greeting and wandered into the dining room, where Larry was setting the silverware on the table. One glance up at him and Larry immediately stopped.

"You okay, kid? You're white as a ghost."

He hesitated. The vehicle he'd seen had never once harassed him. It could have been police, or federal, but he had no further indication about its intent. Perhaps he'd just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He suddenly felt like a silly teenager who watched too many cop shows.

"It's nothing," he blurted, strained, "just a shitty day at work."

Larry studied him for a moment, then briefly placed a reassuring hand on his forearm before wandering into the kitchen.

TBC

Thanks so much for the feedback. Olivia is so hard to write... it's hard to focus on the Freddy/Larry relationship while still making her a fully-realized human being in her own right.

(Next part is up! http://resdog-kink.livejournal.com/1631.html?thread=221791#t221791)