Incest/Taboo Unbelievable

"What do you mean?" Janus asked, stepping up to his side.

"The whole valve assembly is shot; see how there's a hair line gap in the valve's mouth when it's supposed to be closed?" Brandan stated, pointing at it, seeing Janus nod in response. "Even if it could have been replaced, which it seems in this model you can't given how they pretty much encased it. It would still be cheaper to buy a new one then try to repair this thing."

"Ah, well, it can't be helped," Janus sighed. She did like that faucet. It went with all the other fixtures in the bathroom.

"Johnny, get the putty out of the bag while I go fetch the caulking gun," Brandan instructed. "When I get back, we'll finish up our little project."

"Okay, Dad," Johnny replied, seeing his father nod and the smile on his lips before leaving him and Janus alone.

"I've always wanted my own personal handyman," Janus cooed, stepping into the room. Her arms slid around his waist as she felt him doing the same. "So, think you can take care of this house, husband?"

"With some help, yes, I can," John stated firmly.

"Good, because we're going to have lots of years in this place together, and I want our baby to grow up in this home that's filled with our love," Janus whispered, leaning in and kissing her man. Moaning into his mouth as she felt his hands lingering on her ass. She might play around with the ladies of the family; however, John would be the only man she would ever lay with again. He's the only one that's proven that he could be trusted with her safety. Pressing her forehead against his, so very happy she had taken the chance in having sex with him. She knew how much of a miracle their baby was, and she would do everything in her power to see Julia is born healthy. She was not about to lose this chance of a lifetime. Feeling her body heat as Brandan cleared his throat. "I'll just get out of your way. Johnny, come get me when it's done. I want to see my man's finished handy work," she said, coyly waving to him as she disappeared from view.

"Johnny?"

"Hmm?" Johnny hummed, watching his father rolling up the putty into a snake.

"What she said about her ex, is that true?" Brandan asked; he just was curious. Not to push her into joining them, just to figure out why she had chosen his son and not some other man.

"Mmmhmm," Johnny hummed as he nodded. "He was just as bad as the men from Raven Dale," he said, just so his father would understand.

"Ah, no wonder she said it's been ten years," Brandan muttered low, getting another nod from John. "Well, I am truly sorry the two of you had to go through all that. I can understand now why she doesn't want to... join us. But just to man to man, is she as hot as I think she is without clothes on?" he asked, smirking at his son.

"By a factor of ten," Johnny answered, getting a whistle out of his father.

"Hold the faucet steady for me, Johnny, while I put this caulking on. It's not really needed since we put the putty on it; it just gives it an extra layer of protection, so water isn't leaking beneath it," Brandan said, laying a bead of it along the edge of the faucet as John held it steady in his hands. After he had put the O-rings, the gasket, and the washers on it. Once the faucet was secured to the sink and the water lines reconnected and turned back on. Father and son shared satisfied smiles as the faucet ran like it was supposed to as they tested it out. "Now, if you need any more help around here, you just let me know, and we'll do them together, okay?"

"Sure thing, Dad."

"Good, now why don't you go get Janus and show off our handy work while I go put the tools back in the car," Brandan said in a prideful, fatherly tone as he laid his hand on his son's shoulder.

"Oh, God, yes, Johnny, right there?!" Brandan's head snapped up as he walked back into their house. Shaking his head with a smile on his face at Janus' moan as it drifted down the stairs. "Don't stop, fuck me against this sink you just fixed!"

"Hey, honey," Kathrine greeted when Brandan stepped out onto the deck through the sliding glass door. Noting how his white socks glowed in the sun as he did. "How did it go?"

"Oh, it went better than I could imagine," Brandan answered happily as he sat down beside his wife.

"And where are the two of them?"

"Janus is showing her appreciation for our hard work to Johnny," Brandan said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Oh?!" Kathrine felt her chest grow flush as she lounged out in the black two-piece swimsuit she had brought along.

"Got to say, honey, Johnny was right about that suit," Brandan said, leering hungrily at his wife's body.

"Like what you see, do you?" Kathrine purred, flicking her tongue against her teeth.

"Damn right, I do."

"Good, I'll let you take it off of me later tonight," Kathrine cooed, tickling his chin.

"You know, Annie, I'm so jealous of you," Wanda said as they laid on their stomachs, tanning their backs.

"Why do you say that?" Annie asked with an amused grin on her lips.

"One: you get to spend the summer here, free of charge. And you know how the kids back at college would give anything to spend the summer here. Having parties and getting laid along those lines. Two: you're getting that fat tube of meat laid into you every night," Wanda said, remembering the wails Annie produced back at their primary home.

"True, I do love that stick of his," Annie sighed in want.

"Oh, fuck me!" Everyone's heads lifted as Janus' orgasmic scream could be heard through the walls of her home.

"Wanda, what are you doing?" Ray asked when he noted how her hand reached between her legs.

"Can't help it, Ray, just listening to them is making me wet," Wanda panted as she played with her pussy through her bikini bottoms.

"Then come on, let's go take care of your need," Ray said, getting to his feet.

"We'll be back," Wanda uttered, quickly following after Ray.

"They do have a bright idea; shall we follow their lead?" Brandan asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Annie, let them know where we went, okay?" he spoke, peering down at his daughter, who nodded she would as Kathrine leapt to her feet.

Annie sashayed into the house. Her nose led the way up the stairs as their sex guided her. Her top fell from her fingers as she neared the second-floor bathroom. Her bottoms soon followed. She was definitely not going to be left out if Janus was getting the dicking they both loved. Albeit Janus' libido has increased in the past month, so she was benefiting from it too.

"What do we have here?" Annie asked, catching Janus with John's cock in her mouth as she cleaned him up. "I do hope you have enough left in you to satisfy your second wife, baby?" she asked with a sinful grin on her lips as she, too, sank to her knees. Rocking her head on his cock. Her eyes peered up at him as she worked to get him hard again.

"Let's take this to another room," Janus said, getting to her feet. "This bathroom is too small for three people."

"Mmmkay," Annie hummed; the slickness that coated John's phallus resounded in the air as she stroked him off. Watching John shutter as she licked up the head of his cock. Her hand held onto it as she led him out of the bathroom to one of the spare bedrooms. It wouldn't be the first time they had sex in it. They have christened every room in the house with their sex many times over.

"So, where's everyone?" Janus asked, listening to Annie telling John to lie down.

"Oh, you got the four of them all hot and bothered when you were screaming, so they went to take care of it," Annie said, shooting Janus a smile as she eased onto the bed. Swinging her leg over John's waist, fondling her breasts as she slit surfed along his pole. "Don't you like how my pussy feels on your cock, Johnny?" she asked breathlessly.

"Y-yes," Johnny stammered as her lips wrapped around his sensitive member.

"Then let's put it back where it belongs, what'cha say?" Annie purred, lifting herself up, reaching down, taking hold of the base of his cock. Her eyes fluttered as she sank down onto his pole. Feeling him stretching her out like he's always done. "Just enjoy the ride, baby. After all, you worked hard today. Janus can't be the only one that gets to show her appreciation," she said in a lustful tone as her hands ran up his chest as her hips slowly rocked. "Oh, Johnny," Annie moaned, enjoying the feel of her brother deep inside of her. Wondering how he would take the news that she was pregnant when the time came. She didn't want to stress him out with having two infants to take care of at the same time, nor did she want to finish the last years of her college life pregnant either. Still, the thought of carrying John's child did get her womb quivering in anticipation.

"Johnny, you like watching me play with her, don't you?" Janus asked in a salacious tone as she knelt between his legs and behind Annie. Rolling Annie's heavy hanging breasts in her hands, listening to the mewing she was doing as she tweaked Annie's nipples. "Let's get her cumming on that cock of yours, what'cha say?"

"Mmmhmm?!" Johnny hummed vigorously, nodding his head.

"You want to cum for our man, don't you, Annie?" Janus whispered heatedly into Annie's ear as her left hand moved down her stomach. Listening to her squeal as she rolled Annie's clit.

"Oh, God!" Annie moaned loudly as her orgasmic juices surged down her canal.

"Look at her, Johnny. Isn't she gorgeous just creaming that cock?" Janus asked, slipping two fingers into Annie's hot pussy, feeling John's cock rubbing against the back of them. Feeling Annie's body just trembling against her as she finger fucked her.

"Johnny, watch as I cum for you?!" Annie groaned out, her hips rocking on their own accord. Her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she came on Janus's fingers and his cock. "That's it, baby, fill my pussy up with your cum!" she urged him on; what could she say? She loved the feel of it when it struck the back of her womb. Biting her lip as she felt how his cock flexed as he dumped his hot load into her. Watching Janus bringing her fingers up to her lips when they were covered in her sex and John's spunk. It wasn't the first time they had tasted each other. In the form of her or Janus eating the creampie out of each other's pussies. Just to show John they were in this together. No matter what other people might think of their relationship. They would never abandon John to the darkness of his mind.

"Come, let's go shower, you two. No sense in letting them smell us on each other," Janus said, smiling at the two of them. Helping Annie to walk towards their bedroom after the sublime orgasms John had given her.

After lunch, still wearing her black swimsuit, her pussy hummed after the enjoyable sex she had with her husband. With Janus' okay, John led her and Wanda up to their third-floor bedroom. It wasn't hard for anyone not to notice the heaviness of sex on the air when they had returned. Not that she could blame them, Kathrine was just happy that John wasn't equating what they did to what had happened to him in Raven Dale. That was the furthest thing she wanted for her son.

"Wow, just look at the size of this room?!" Wanda uttered in awe as she gazed around the floor space. "Johnny?"

"Hmm?"

"I bet you've had Annie against those windows, haven't you?" Wanda asked with a devious grin.

"I'm not answering that," Johnny stated as he walked towards the ladder that led up to the widow's walk.

"You sure? I bet she was standing like this," Wanda cooed, resting her hands against the glass, waving her ass at him. Letting him see how her bottoms contoured to her mound. "I bet those huge breasts of hers were swaying as you fucked her from behind, weren't they?" Peering over her shoulder, the fires of her lust burned in her hazel eyes at the sight of the movement in his shorts. Smiling knowingly at Kathrine as John scurried up the ladder, unbolting the latch and out onto the roof.

"Thank you, honey," Kathrine said in a sweet tone as she took John's offered hand, helping up onto the widow's walk. "This is some view she has from up here," she uttered in awe as she looked around. Not hiding her smile when she noted how John was eyeing her, namely her suit, out from the corner of his left eye as he helped Wanda up.

"And no one can see us up here?" Wanda asked, looking around, seeing the bass boats on the water, the speed boats trailing water skiers behind them. The pontoon boats lazily cruising along the water as their passengers voices filled the air. Knowing how great this spot would be to spend their summer break at. Turning as she heard the door closing, the sound of the metal handle thumping against the wood.

"Johnny, come help us lay out our towels," Kathrine said in a soft tone. "Do you like the suit? I wore it just for you, baby," she spoke, showing off her body to him. Feeling it heat as her son's eyes ran down her body. Her mouth watered as she noted the movement in his shorts. Pleased that she could affect him to the point of getting aroused with just a swimsuit.

"I might not have the breasts that your mother does," showing off her 32B breasts to his eyes, "but I know you like how they feel in your hand," Wanda purred as she cradled her orbs.

"Would you think Janus would mind us using her sunscreen?" Kathrine asked, pointing down at it as it set in the far corner. She wanted to keep the burning to a minimal while displaying her body to him.

"No," Johnny answered as he helped to straighten out Wanda's towel.

"Good, then you wouldn't have a problem applying it to us, would you?" Kathrine asked, laying on her stomach, resting her right cheek on her interlocked fingers.

"No. I guess not," Johnny admitted.

"Come and lay those hands on me," Wanda said, reaching back and untying the knot in her top. "Hey, Johnny," reaching down, lifting her hips, and pushing aside her bottoms to show off her pink pussy, "don't you miss this pussy?" she asked, running her fingers along her labia. Spreading her lips open, showing John just how eager her little pussy was to be wrapped around his cock.

"I know you loved being inside of me yesterday," Kathrine said, mimicking Wanda. A little moan escaped her lips as she slid two fingers into her hot mound. "But if you don't want to, we understand. It must be hard keeping up with Janus and Annie. Especially Janus, given how I know how being pregnant makes a woman extra horny. Yet honey, can't you see how much we need you inside of us?"

"Oh, Johnny," Wanda moaned lightly as she felt two of his fingers slipping into her hot sex as he knelt between them.

"That's it, baby; touch me all you want," Kathrine panted, her hand covering his, urging him deeper into her sex. Sure, they all might have had sex earlier, yet she would willingly spread her legs for John just for another ride on his pogo stick. She knew Wanda felt the same way. It didn't matter if she would be sore afterwards; it was the fact she could be this close to her son. That he allowed her to be this close to him after being kept at arms' length for five years.

"Johnny, I know this will sound like I'm just using you for sex, but can we just skip the sunbathing and get down to why we are up here?" Wanda asked, rolling onto her side, causing his fingers to slide out of her. "I hope I have shown you over these past few months that I'm not like that. That the times we have been together has shown you that I see you more than just your big cock. I'll admit I so love being fucked or fucking it. I've never denied that. But can't you feel how hot and wet my pussy is just at the thought of having it back inside of me?" she inquired, watching how those green eyes were studying her.

"Honey," noting how his eyes darted to her as she laid a hand on his right thigh, "I know you have so much going on with you that you don't know if you're coming or going. With everything from your illness to the baby, the operation that you might agree too. To life after high school and taking on the role of a father. We aren't trying to force ourselves onto you. We just want to show you how much you're loved, cherished, and wanted in this family," Kathrine said, lightly brushing her thumb along his leg. Hoping he could see the truth of her words in her eyes. Praying they were making amends with him for their failure to see what he was telling them about what was going on in Raven Dale. Watching his eyes as she slid her hand up the leg of his shorts. Rolling her tongue in her mouth at the feel of his hard cock in her hand.

"You know I've never hurt you, never used you, never degraded you like I know you suffered at the hands of those people. I just really love being filled to the brim with your cock," Wanda said, reaching down, taking hold of his left hand, and bringing it back to her wet cunt. "Can't you see how much this has missed you? Haven't I shown you I will take care of you? Protect you, like we did at the party? Comfort you after we had left Jared's lawyer's office that day?" Shuttering when John, on his own, eased his fingers back inside of her pussy. She had purposely cleaned herself up on the off chance that this might happen. While she did love getting creampied by Ray. She didn't want John thinking that she would soil his cock when another man's load was still inside her, even if it was his brother's. "Please, all I'm asking is that you let us share this part of yourself with us."

"Didn't you like making my cheeks clap yesterday?" Kathrine asked, watching her son's face as her nails lightly skimmed down her son's rod. "Didn't you love having this hard thing buried deep inside of me? You know how many sons wish they could do what I let you do to me with their own? Quite a lot of them, they just won't admit it, even to themselves. Why else is your hand lingering on my ass as we talk?" she mused with a devilish grin on her lips. "Yeah, you like the feel of it, don't you? You can touch it any time you want, Johnny; I'll never deny you."

"And you two thought to do it up here and not a bed?" Johnny asked, finally speaking.

"Well..." Feeling her face heating under her son's pointed look, "I thought if Janus was that adventurous with you up here, I could be too, to show you that I can rise to the challenge," Kathrine said in firm determination.

"You know this isn't a competition, right?"

"Says you?! A mother never likes the woman that sweeps away her son," Kathrine uttered, playfully sticking her nose into the air.

"Johnny, why don't you come here and taste these," Wanda cooed, running her hand along the curvature of her right breast. "They have missed your lips." Slipping her top off from over her head, the ends of her light brown hair feathered out along her towel as John's lips wrapped around her areola. Watching through her half-closed eyes as Kathrine removed her top, showing off her 32D breasts to the world.

"Baby, mama needs to feel your kiss to," Kathrine said wantonly. Her body shuddered as her son began to suckle on her left teat. Her fingers weaved through strands of his black hair. Noting how Wanda was lightly stroking him off as her hand was in his shorts like hers once was just to keep John in that state of arousal.

"Johnny, come eat me; I love feeling your tongue on my pussy, like I know you love the feel of mine on your cock," Wanda said, laying on her back, lifting her legs into the air, and pulling off her bottoms. Filling the air with the smell of her sex. Hoping the neighbors wouldn't hear what was going to happen on top of Janus' house. Her fingers took hold of tufts of his hair as John teased her hot mound with that tongue of his. Mewing as he was bringing her closer to her peak. Rocking her hips adding to his skill to get her off quicker. She knew the longer they were out there, the more likely they would be found out.

"Honey, you remember the day you first tasted me?" Kathrine asked, knelling over her son as he laid on Wanda's towel as she was currently going to town on John's cock. Smiling down at him when John nodded. "Mama needs to feel that tongue on my pussy; it just loves it when you lick me," she uttered, straddling his face, hoping that they were far enough away from the knee-high wall that no one could see them if they were passing by on the lake or the road.

"Fuck, Johnny, you're so big," Wanda lightly moaned as she eased herself down onto his dagger. Feeling her folds wrapping around his cock as they welcomed him back into her depths. Panting heavily as she rode him hard. As much as she wanted to fuck him for hours and walk bowlegged for a week. She knew they couldn't, at least not in the open like they were. She also knew if he fucked her like she wanted him to do, there was no way she could keep as quiet as she was doing at the moment. No. She'd be screaming and moaning like a harlot, begging John like she always did not to take his cock out of her. To let her cum on it as much as he desired. She truly did love Ray, yet he could never fill her up like his brother could.

"Oh, yes, baby, that's it, taste me like that," Kathrine moaned low as her son's tongue moved through her labia. Enjoying the feel of his tongue on her overheated sex. So very happy that they could finally be like this. Pondering if this was his own breakthrough or the new pills Dr. Copper had him on. Either way, she didn't care. All she truly cared about was if John was happy and that he was safe. She just hoped that he would seek her out more often. She loved being with all her boys. Brushing her fingers through his hair, her left hand flew to her mouth as she came on her son's tongue. Her body trembled as she peered over her shoulder as Wanda, too, came hard on John's cock.

"See, Johnny, this isn't so bad, now is it?" Wanda asked, lying beside him as Kathrine's ass bounced against his hips as she was riding him hard and fast. "This is no different than what you do with Annie and Janus. I promise we'll look after her if she wants to be with us girls like you saw in the sunroom over there," she said, pointing over at John's family lake house. "I'll make sure none of the other men sees her naked. I know she wouldn't like that," Wanda spoke in a sweet tone as she rubbed his chest as his eyes studied her. Nodding her head, silently telling him she knew Janus' reasons and that she was going to make sure Janus never felt uncomfortable with them. She never wanted anyone to feel the pain the two of them had suffered. Wondering if that was the bond that drew them together in the first place.

She knew if she hadn't been dating Ray, and if she ever met John, which given what she knew about was impossible since he kept to himself around strangers, that if she could have become his girlfriend. She, too, would protect him like Annie and Janus were doing. Although she would admit once she learned about his size, she wouldn't give him up without a fight, no matter how difficult John can be on his bad days. Her eyes glanced down as she heard the sound of John's cock slipping out of Kathrine's gapping pussy as it slapped against his stomach. Noting how her pussy juice just gusted out of her wide-open pussy as Kathrine was lost in her orgasmic bliss. "How about I finish you off, hmm?" Wanda hummed, smiling warmly down at him as she took her former spot. Her voice shuddering as she eased him back inside of her. "Cum in me, Johnny; I want to feel you shooting that hot load into me. So I know you enjoyed this as much as we did," she whispered, her hips rocking quickly, urging on his own climax to return the favor of how he had given them their own.

"Janus, I want to thank you for opening up your home to us this weekend," Brandan said as they sat in Janus' living room as they all watched TV.

"You're welcome, Brandan. After all, you and Kathrine opened your own to me that day," Janus said, smiling friendly over at him. Noting how Ray kept his eyes on the screen and not her breasts like he's been doing when he thought she didn't notice. Hoping the talk, Annie had told her about had stuck.

"I was thinking..."

"What about?" Janus asked curiously.

"You know how cramped it is back at the house with all of us there, and I know you and John will have that house next to us when the two of you move in once the connector is completed. But the holidays are meant to be celebrated as a whole, so I thought since you three have all this room. That you three might think about hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas here. I know Kathrine is going to go overboard with the presents this Christmas. Seeing how Julia will be a little over three months old by then. Not to guilt you three into it, just something to think about. Although I agree with Kathrine, I can't wait to hold my grandbaby," Brandan said, smiling over at Janus as she sat on the other end of the couch with him while Annie and Ray sat on the matching loveseat that sat perpendicular to it.

"Neither can I, Brandan, neither can I," Janus said, cooing down to her daughter as she lightly rubbed her ever-growing stomach.

"So, can I ask, without seeming rude, are you hoping for another one after this?" Brandan asked innocently.

"Oh yes, but I know what my chances are; I can hope and pray that John's little swimmers take again, if not. I'll cherish our daughter regardless if I can't give her a brother or sister."

"I hope you can, I really do, Janus," Brandan said affectionately, patting the cushion between the two of them. "Have you thought about fertility drugs?"

"No... I have not. I was always under the assumption that I couldn't get pregnant after what was done to me, that I never even thought about it. But now," smiling down at her daughter once again, "I just might have to have that conversation with my doctor," Janus said in an excited tone as she peered over at him. "Thank you for the suggestion."

"If you need help with anything, you just let me know, alright?"

"I will," Janus nodded.

"Now, who do you think you're little girl is going to take after?" Brandan asked with a broad smile.

"Me, of course," Janus stated, chuckling. "She'll probably have her daddy's hair. Since the blonde gene is a recessive gene."

"I bet she's going to have a cute button nose like Annie did when she was born," Brandan uttered, watching how his daughter's head snapped over to him.

"Dad?! Don't embarrass me," Annie groaned.

"What?! You were cute as a button; why would I lie about that?"

"I have to wonder where Annie got those from," Janus mused, gesturing towards Annie's large bust.

"Oh, that's simple, she got them from my mother; she was slightly bigger than Annie is when she was alive," Brandan spoke, his eyes filled with sadness recounting how he had lost his mother.

"I'm sorry to hear that, I truly am; I bet she was a wonderful woman," Janus said softly, lightly touching Brandan's upper right arm.

"She was; her passing came out of nowhere and took us all by surprise. Wish she could have met Kathrine, but we weren't so lucky."

"Can I ask what happened to her?" Janus asked, truly intrigued.

"Bone cancer," Brandan said truthfully. "We never knew she was sick until one day when I was twelve, she broke her leg just getting up from her chair. By then, it was too late to do anything but make her as comfortable as we could. The cancer had spread throughout her body, and that is something I don't wish on anyone to watch their love one go out with. It was horrible. I like to think that's what drove my father to become the acholic he was before he drank himself to death."

"Janus?" Ray finally spoke after being silent since returning to her house.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry; I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable or upset, Johnny. It's just... well, you've been like my dream woman for so long, and now... being this close to you, I just let it go to my head. I'll promise to work on it," Ray stated factually.

"Why, thank you, Ray. That was very big of you; as long as you remember who I am with, we'll get along just fine," Janus said, smiling warmly at him.

"Still won't stop me from wondering," Ray said truthfully as he turned his attention back to the TV.

"There's nothing wrong with fantasizing; we all do it. I do; I know your father does, your mother; it's when you let that fantasy take over that it becomes a problem," Janus uttered, offering her wisdom. Turning her head, as did Brandan, as they heard voices and then footsteps on the stairs as they drew near. Holding out her hands to John when he came into view. Noting the glow on Wanda and Kathrine as they took their spots beside their respective partners. Snuggling up to John when he joined her on the couch. Her fingers lightly danced along the back of his hand as his own rested over their growing child. "How about we go get the grill ready?" she asked once the hour drew near. Happily, leading her man out of the house and onto the back deck to heat up their gas grill. Chatting away with John as they listened to the rocking of her float, the gentle waves rolling onto the shore as their grill got up to temperature.

It was around four in the afternoon the next day when all seven of them arrived back home. Bill and Ruth quickly exited the house as John and Annie were unloading the back of Janus' SUV while Kathrine had popped the trunk of her former car. The old fence that once separated the two yards now lay in a heap on the grass as the foundation for the connector sat curing in the sun. The contractor would only install the doors once the walls and roof were in place so no one could sneak into their homes since the only windows that would be in the connector would be facing their combined backyards. Since there would only be two switches and a single light fixture within the space. The man had said the building should go up in a flash once the inspector signed off on it. They were only looking at a few weeks of construction if the weather holds out.

Ruth and Wanda chatted away as they headed off towards hers and Ray's bedroom with their bags. It wasn't hard for Ruth to guess what had happened over the weekend. She knew from the look on Wanda's face that she had been with Johnny. Bill stood outside with his father going over what the foreman had told him when they were laying the foundation as Ray and John carried the tools to the shed. Kathrine, Annie, and Janus headed next door to see how they wanted to decorate the house once the construction was complete.

Debating what would be taken out of the house and given to charity since the house was officially Janus'. Chatting happily, pointing out where the items Ray had moved out of that room would look good in a certain spot within the house. The smell of hot pizza filled the Masters' home that evening as everyone got caught up with what they all did over the weekend. John's eyes moved around the table as he watched how they all were laughing and joking. Looking over at Annie as she leaned against him. Seeing her loving smile on her lips as she rested her chin on his right shoulder. His eyes cut to Janus when she rested her hand on his left thigh. Feeling her fingers curling around his hand when he took hold of it.

"Johnny," Ruth whispered, lightly taking hold of his right arm when it was time for John to seek his bed when his medication was kicking in. Her amber eyes held a warm light to them as John peered back at her. "I really want to thank you for all that you've done for Yasmine," she said, her blonde hair brushed along her chest as they stood near the foot of the stairs.

"I haven't really done anything," Johnny said truthfully.

"But you have; she tells me how much the two of you have talked, how much it's been helping her to deal with what happened to her. I can't thank you enough for that. I can see her returning back to the sister I knew," Ruth said, hugging him out of nowhere. "I know you might not be able to return to what you once were before what happened to you. I am sorry for that, but you can't imagine how happy we are that she's finally coming out of that dark pit she was in. If there's ever anything you need, you let me know; it's the least I can do for you for helping my sister," she whispered, rubbing his back. She wasn't expecting him to return her hug, yet it didn't stop her smile from forming on her lips at the light pat on her back. "You have a good night, Johnny," Ruth said, placing a kiss on his right cheek. "We'll see you in the morning." Looking to her right as Bill placed a hand on her shoulder. Leaning into him as they watched Johnny disappearing down the hall to his room.

It was nine o'clock on a Friday morning as. John, his mother, father, brothers, sister, Janus, Wanda, Ruth, and Yasmine, who had flown in when Ruth told her about the court appearance. No one was expecting Yasmine to fly in like she did, nor were they expecting to see her standing on their doorstep bright and early Wednesday morning. They all watched on when she ran up to John, took hold of his hands, and told him flat out that she was there to support him. Knowing how difficult it was going to be for him, that after all the help he had given her, she was there to return the favor. Since then, Janus and John had been staying at their house while Annie stayed in their room while his mother and father put up Yasmine in Annie's old room. Still, that didn't mean Annie wasn't over at their house every second of the day. John would admit just with him and Janus there, it was rather quiet. He didn't know if he liked that or not, given the years of having so many people around him. Annie kept her annoyance to herself when Yasmine took her spot next to John when they all sat behind Jared in the gallery.

"It's going to be okay, Johnny; we're all here for you," Yasmine said low in a supportive voice as she laid her hands over his. Not seeing the scowl on Annie's face who was sitting beside her. While Ray, Bill, her sister, and Wanda sat in the row behind them, John's parents took the spots beside Janus, who sat on the right of John. "I know this will be difficult for you, but we're here to support you," she uttered in a friendly tone. Her amber eyes held their certainty in them that she was going to support her friend. To be there for him like he has been there for her. Watching how he was nodding when Mrs. Hicks gave him some last-minute pointers before turning back around, shuffling papers as she did.

"Glad you could make it, Dr. Copper," Brandan said, getting to his feet when John's doctor appeared next to him.

"It's not often Johnny asks for me, so I knew this would be trying for your son. I just hope this doesn't fire off an episode of his," Dr. Copper stated, lightly touching Brandan's upper arm.

"I do, too," Brandan nodded. That was the last thing he wanted his son to suffer. Yet knew that might come about if he thought what John was going to say happened. Retaking his seat, peering over his shoulder as Dr. Copper moved down the other pew to sit down next to Wanda.

"How are you feeling today, Johnny?" Dr. Copper whispered, leaning forward and lightly touching his left shoulder.

"As well as you can expect," Johnny answered.

"Any time you need me, you just call for me, and I'll try to help you to get through this, okay?" Gently squeezing his shoulder as she saw John's nod. Wondering who the dark blonde woman sitting next to him was. She knew who Janus was; they had a long session with John about their baby and how he could cope with being a father. While she personally was a tad cynical about their age differences, yet she couldn't deny that Janus had brought something out in John. So far, she could see Janus was good for John; whether or not that continued to be the case, she couldn't say.

As the hour grew near, John looked around, seeing how the pews had filled up. He did note the glaring looks of hate on one elderly man's and woman's face that was directed at the table where Jared's lawyer waited for the bailiff to bring Jared out. Mrs. Hicks had told him that they wouldn't bring him out until a few minutes before the case was set to proceed. He wondered if those were Julia's grandparents. Pondering if they, too, knew what was happening to them and, like their daughter, profited from it.

"Breathe, Johnny, just picture something to take your mind off of it," Janus whispered into his ear as she squeezed his hand affectionately. Feeling her body heat when those green eyes of his ran down her body. She knew that look, how it made her feel so wanted, knowing he was picturing her in the nude.

John's breathing quickened as he heard the sounds of chains. Feeling hands on him as he tried to keep himself from dwelling on that moment. Yet the fear that was carved into his body and soul was not something so easily dismissed. However, the smile on Jared's face did pull him back from the precipice for the moment. Looking to the guard, making sure it was okay for him to shake Jared's hand. Feeling the warmth of it as Jared's left covered the backside of his hand as they shook.

Introducing him to his family and Yasmine, seeing Janus smiling at the both of them as he told Jared how their baby was doing. Seeing Jared's own reaching his eyes when John told him how Julia had a strong kick when she was grumpy. John noticed how Jared nodded to those same elderly people that sat behind the prosecutor's table. Straightening out the suit jacket that he had borrowed from his father since he had none of his own. He wanted to look presentable for Jared so they couldn't use his outfit against him in the cross-examination Mrs. Hicks told him that would likely take place. It was a little big for him, yet he did like how Janus and Annie looked at him in it.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Blackwell!" Came the female bailiff cadence, telling John it was time. Watching how the middle-aged woman in a black robe walked up to her seat. Lifting her gavel, banging it loudly, bringing the courtroom into order.

"The State of Oregon vs. Mr. Anders will now proceed," the judge spoke as she took her seat. "On the charge of first-degree mur*er, manslaughter, braking, and entering, how does your defendant plea?"

"Not guilty due to temporary insanity at the time of the offense," Mrs. Hicks stated, her eyes glancing over to the jury, noting how they were watching them intently. Knowing how hard it was to prove that, yet it was her hope that once they heard the truth about what happened to Julia and John in Raven Dale, that would sway enough of the jurors to lean her way.

"Very well, Mrs. Hicks, prosecutor, anything you wish to add?" the judge asked, peering over at the lead attorney for the State.

"Yes, we will prove that Mr. Anders went there to willfully mur*er his ex-wife and her new husband," the man stated firmly. Seeing the judge writing down his response before moving out and around the table as he went into his opening remarks. Painting Jared as a scorned husband that just couldn't stand his wife leaving him for another man. That he wasn't 'insane' at the time of the murders, to not allow the defense to muddy the waters of the truth. He felt a little chill when he noted the pair of green eyes gazing at him as he walked back to his seat.

The wood of her seat creaked as Mrs. Hicks rose from her seat. Her fingertips traced along the table's surface as she walked around it. Smiling warmly at the twelve jurors, eight women, and four men. It was her hope that with such a heavy-laden pool of females that when it came to John's testimony, it would hit home closer to them than it would the men. Since most men can't understand what it's like to be violated in the manner John and Julia were. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen; thank you for taking time out of your day to sit here in this courtroom," she said, looking each and every one of them in the eye as she laid her hands on the railing of the jury box.

"I would like to apologize to you all now for what you are about to hear on this day. What you will be witness to will not be something you will be able to easily shake off. I know I couldn't when I heard the truth. Even after so many years working for the DA, I thought I was hardened against the kind of gore that takes place in this world. How wrong I was," shaking her head, "even to this day, I still have nightmares of what I heard. I will show you and this court that while, yes, the act that brought us here was horrific that my client was not in a sound mind at the moment of their deaths. That anyone of you might too find yourselves where my client now sits if you had heard the truth of what happened in that place.​