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“Kyle, wait! Please don’t leave, not like this.”
 
“Fuck you, Stan. I’m not staying here just to listen to you fuck Wendy every night.”
 
“Look, I should’ve been more honest with you but I swear I was just trying to look out for you.”
 
“Look out for me? Look out for me?” The ginger echoed with bitter laughter. “You didn’t look out for shit.”
 
“If I didn’t invite you here you’d still be living with your parents in Jersey. At least I gave you a place to stay away from their overbearing bullshit.”
 
“Is that what you think? I’d have rather stayed with them than to have come here where you already

have

a girlfriend. Just admit you led me on.”
 
“I didn’t lead you on.”
 
“Then what do you call this?” 
 
Stan swallowed. He honestly had no answer. He and Wendy had been off and on for years. When he suggested that Kyle should come live with him they had been in an off period. Kyle would’ve been a new…venture for him. His childhood best friend moved away when they were ten but they always kept in touch. Over the years Kyle had grown into his features, although more femininely. Stan was always confused about his sexuality, at least when it came to his friend. With Kyle not having the most masculine features, it made it easy to think he could accept dating Kyle. As sad as it was, he convinced himself that if he saw Kyle as the female he mildly looked like, he could push past the fact that the ginger was, in fact, a male. 
 
That was before he and Wendy started back up again. Not long after Kyle took the leap of faith and rented the moving truck, Wendy and Stan decided to try again. Stan didn’t have the heart to tell Kyle not to come. He missed Kyle and a part of him still had a crush on the man. In the event that he and Wendy broke up again, at least Kyle would be nearby. In hindsight, he knew it was cruel to leave Kyle as a benchwarmer but he just couldn’t let the chance go. 
 
Maybe if Kyle hadn’t found out so soon that Wendy was back in the picture things could’ve been good. Stan could’ve had time to let him down gently. He hadn’t counted on the ginger arriving two days early. 
 
How the hell was traffic so good? 
 
“Please, Kyle. It’s late and there’s nowhere else for you to go,” Stan begged. Sorrow was nestled in his voice. He knew Wendy could hear from his bedroom and she’d have some choice words for him. That was usually the case, though. He could work things out with her later. For now, he yearned to keep his friend safe.
 
“I’ll just find a hotel,” Kyle fished his phone out of his pocket. The small mountain town had to have at least one or two hotels or motels or somewhere for travelers to stay. He’d sooner sleep in the U-Haul than stay in Stan’s place. 
 
“No,” He swiftly snatched Kyle’s phone. Fury only increased in the green eyes Stan so longed to stare into. In all honesty, he liked how Kyle looked when he was angry. The ginger was beautiful. “Please just, take the guest room, okay? Then in the morning, I’ll help you find a place if you don’t want to stay here.”
 
“Give. Me. Back. My. Phone.”
 
“Kyle.”
 
“Give it to me,” he growled. 
 
“Just think about this.”
 
“Now!”
 
“Just stay the night!”
 
Stan had no time to react after Kyle slapped him. Blue eyes watched the man fight tears as he abandoned his phone. He stood in the doorway way watching Kyle fumble with the keys to the U-Haul before taking off into the night. There weren’t too many places Kyle could check into that late. He wished he’d just given him his phone back. Sighing, he closed the door having decided he’d hunt for Kyle first thing in the morning. 
 
For now, he had to lick his wounds and beg Wendy’s forgiveness. 
 
****
 
It had been eighteen years since Kyle had stepped foot in South Park. Things had changed for what he had hoped were for the better. The small, plain storefronts of his childhood seemed to expand with neon lights. He couldn’t remember any hotels in the area and Stan took his phone before he could find any. Driving around was his best choice. 
 
He couldn’t believe Stan lied to him this way. He had weeks, no months, to tell Kyle he had a girlfriend. All he did was tell Kyle how excited he was for him to be there. Spending time together would be the highlight of his summer. He was interested in exploring more of their relationship. It was all bullshit. How could Kyle have been so stupid? Of course, Stan had been lying. Why would he actually want a relationship with him? They didn’t really know each other. How could they date so easily? 
 
Kyle continued to scold himself for being so foolish as he continued driving around town. There were dozens of new restaurants and fashion boutiques but no hotels. A town without a place for travelers made it clear that they didn’t want any. Ironic considering most of their locals probably couldn’t afford half of the modern stores. 
 
“This is fucking stupid…” he muttered as he kept driving around. There had to be at least one somewhere. When he found none along the main streets and his eyes were tired from crying he thought to just give up and park somewhere for the night. He probably should’ve but in a last-ditch effort, he started driving to the last place he remembered there ever being a hotel.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It had been forever since Kyle hiked. When he was in the scouts, the activity was more routine. After moving to the city, the closest he got to hiking had been climbing the stairs at the subway station. For the past week and a half, Kyle managed to stay at the old hotel near the town’s camping grounds. It was a convenient place for those who couldn’t “rough it” entirely on the land but still wanted to experience the forest park. 
 
Every morning, Kyle’s eyes fell on the lush greenery outside of his window. Something in his chest made him want to scale the woods but he always pushed the feeling aside to handle his to-do’s. He needed a job and a place to stay. Thankfully, he was able to get a storage unit for his things but he wasn’t keen on keeping it there long term. That was a bill he could do without. 
 
Finding stable work shouldn’t have been as hard as it was. The Master’s student applied to where he thought he stood a good chance of finding decent pay. His goal was to be a guidance counselor for kids and teens so he tried applying for receptionist or clerical jobs at different offices. So far all he got were several “we’ll call you back” emails. It was disheartening, to say the least. Since he had no job some of the apartments wouldn’t care to even interview him. 
 
When he finally felt himself giving way to his stress, he decided a hike in the woods would be best instead of pushing through to continue on his hunt. He’d get nowhere if he was tense. After digging out his boots and cargo shorts, he set out to the forest with a map he took from the hotel lobby. The landscape wouldn’t have changed since he was a kid, at least not too much. He kept his eyes out for markers that faintly danced in his mind as he trekked through the land. 
 
“

Wasn’t there like, a shrine somewhere?”

he looked at the map. One camping trip in particular kept replaying in his mind as he navigated the woods. South Park was no stranger to odd things, supernatural things. The locals were hardly moved by ghost stories or crop circles. Taking a break, Kyle sat on a large enough rock as he searched for the shrine.

Raccoon spirits are said to protect the South Park woods. They enjoy a good trick and if you play along they’ll bless you in surprising ways. To see the local shrine dedicated to the forest keepers from over five hundred years ago, stay east along the river until you see trees marked with red, blue, and yellow paint. After reaching a quarter of a mile through the trees, you’ll find the shrine dedicated to them. Leave food to honor the spirits and perhaps you’ll find a gift in return.

Kyle’s eyes furrowed as he read the excerpt about the shrine in the map pamphlet. A picture of the worn-down shrine was printed next to the blurb. Kyle had been to that shrine only once before. The time on Kyle’s phone told him it was late morning. It was like pulling teeth to get his phone back from Stan but once he did, he immediately blocked the man’s number. He was alone again. 
 
“I guess let’s keep going,” he said aloud to nobody in particular. Based on his mapping skills, he was about halfway there.
 
Working on sheer determination, Kyle made his way to the shrine thirty minutes later. The place looked as worn as it did in the pictures. He briefly wondered who, if anyone, was keeping the place up. He decided it wasn’t any of his business as he slowly walked the quiet grounds. Loose snack wrappers crunched beneath fallen leaves as Kyle surveyed the place. He guessed a few people had to have come by recently. The wrappers were fresh, not that he over-analyzed them. 
 
Believing in the spirits probably helped. At least, that’s what he liked to think. His cheeks grew pink as he found a carving that he was all too familiar with. It was the same carving of a small fat raccoon that he stood before so many years ago. Not that he expected the cookies he left to still be there but an air of willful belief came that the spirit he prayed to enjoyed the cookies his mom baked for camp.

“Sorry, I don’t have cookies this time,”

he thought as he fished a green apple out of his backpack. He managed to find a pack of peanut butter crackers too. He looked thoughtful as he tried to figure out which snack to offer to the spirit. It honestly shouldn’t have been so hard to pick one but he was starved and honestly wanted the crackers and wasn’t sure he should leave something with a wrapper behind. But then again, maybe raccoons didn’t like sour apples. He felt silly that he was so invested in the offering. Perhaps if he wasn’t he’d have noticed someone watching him. 
 
“You pick,” he sighed as he held both snacks out to the statue. He hoped that some sort of cosmic sign would tell him which snack to lay down. By cosmic sign, he thought a leaf falling near the chosen one or he’d mentally be told which snack to leave there. He never expected a clear voice to pick for him. 
 
“I prefer the crackers,” it said from behind him. Kyle jumped to his feet, turning defensive to the source of the voice. He must’ve been dehydrated because why else would he have seen a bear-sized raccoon standing behind him? And why the hell did he hear it talk!? 
 
The two stared at each other. One afraid and one annoyed. Kyle swallowed dryly as he took a step back. The raccoon’s ears twitched slightly at the sound of a twig breaking beneath Kyle’s boot. For the first time all morning, Kyle began sweating. He managed to be totally fine during his hour-long hike but now that he was having the hallucination of a lifetime, he was in a cold sweat. When the raccoon didn’t make any motion to move towards him, Kyle’s internal defense system selected ‘flight’. 
 
The ginger got a mere five seconds before the spirit moved swiftly in his path blocking him. Kyle slipped slightly but caught his footing as he tried to take off in a different direction. The annoyed spirit was quicker still, blocking his path. 
 
“Stop running away, Kyle,” the spirit grumbled. 
 
“How do you know my name?” the man yelped as he tried yet again to get away. 
 
“You told me.”
 
“I didn’t tell you shit!” 
 
“You did.”
 
“Did not.”
 
“Yes,” the raccoon was suddenly no longer a raccoon but an equally fat human man that bore a tail and ears. “You did.” 
 
Kyle felt like he was losing his mind. He had fallen on his butt when the spirit blocked his path and changed forms all in one motion. He tried to scoot away but this strange hallucination only walked towards him. He was wearing what Kyle would’ve attributed to something between colonial and medieval. Brown trousers and an off-white top that was severely outdated. His feet were bare but somehow didn’t get dirty as he walked the forest floor. 
 
“I’ve never seen you before. And I won’t see you again,” the panicked man tightly shut his eyes. He held them closed for a few seconds before opening them. An unimpressed scowl from the strange man met him. Another yelp from the ginger prompted him to shut his eyes and try again. When he opened them the stranger was still there. “This has to be a dream. There’s no other explanation,” he panted as he tried hitting his cheeks to wake himself up. 
 
“Not a dream,” the man rolled his eyes. 
 
“Stop talking! Don’t talk or else you’ll make it worse!”
 
“Make what worse?” he raised a brow. 
 
“Ahh!” the ginger screamed. The stranger covered his ears before meeting the human with another deeply annoyed look. 
 
“Shut up, Kyle, God. Why are you screaming?” 
 
“Because a fucking giant raccoon just chased me through the forest and then turned into a man who’s now backing me against a tree!”
 
“Only because you fell. That wasn’t my fault.”
 
“It was your fault. I wouldn’t have fallen if you didn’t chase me.”
 
“I only chased you because you kept running.”
 
“Because you were chasing me!”
 
“Do you know how infuriating you are?” 
 
Not knowing what possessed him, Kyle threw the green apple he’d clutched for safety at the strange man. The man only scowled as he caught it effortlessly. 
 
“I told you I wanted the crackers…”
 
“Why should I give you anything? This is all a dream. A really weird, fucked up dream. It has to be.”
 
“No, it’s real,” the stranger sat in front of him, biting into the apple. “Just the like first time.”
 
“The first time? What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded. 
 
“The first time we met,” he rolled his eyes. “You know, where you told me your name. You seriously don’t remember?” Kyle only looked the man up and down before adjusting himself against the tree. The stranger sighed as he bit into the apple again. “It sucks that you really don’t remember.”
 
“What is it I’m supposed to be remembering?” he glared defensively. 
 
The raccoon man only looked at him a moment before aggressively finishing off the apple.
 
“The day you saved me.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Books about the South Park woods had always been Kyle’s favorite. The summer leading up to the camping trip he was especially devoted to learning all that he could about the land and the alleged spirits that lived there. All of the other boys in his troop, Stan included, were less interested. As far as they were concerned the myths and legends were just that, myths and legends, hardly anything true. 
 
Kyle found them exciting though. The lines between fake and real were always of interest. Visiting the shrine was the thing he had been looking forward to the most during that trip. When the time came for the scouts to take a small scavenger hunt through the wooded area to test their skills, Kyle was more than ready to meet the markers. He had studied that map daily and just knew he could finish with enough time to visit the shrine and get back to his troop. 
 
In an ideal world, being buddied up with Stan would’ve been perfect but the boy didn’t care for Kyle’s version of adventure. Instead, he decided that following Clyde and Kenny to spy on the girls was better fun than finding an old shrine. That didn’t deter the young Kyle, only saddened him. Setting out alone, he completed the scavenger hunt in record time and kept to the shrine. 
 
“My mom made these. She said that when someone cares, they do things from the heart. I, uh, cared to visit you. The guys in my troop say that nobody cares about you guys anymore but I do…so I wanted to share what my mom did because she cares about me,” the ten-year-old laid the chocolate chip cookies in front of the carving of a small raccoon. He didn’t know why but as he tried to eat the one cookie he kept for himself he broke down crying. It dawned on him that he was sharing cookies with what may have well have been a figment of his imagination. 
 
He never felt so alone. 
 
The crying boy couldn’t say as he tried to work through his tears. Eventually, he was able to calm down enough to finish the soggy cookie in his hand. The once sweet chocolate chip delight was now mildly salty. 
 
“I read that sometimes you guys can give gifts or grant wishes,” the boy sniffled as he wiped his eyes. “I wish I had a friend. A real one. One that likes to play with me a-and listen when I talk about my books. I promise I’ll be nice to him. I’ll be a good friend,” he whimpered tearfully. The young boy didn’t know who was actually listening to him but it was worth a try. He knew wishes weren’t granted instantaneously. Once he’d got his final tears out, he deemed it time to head back to camp. 
 
On his way back, he happened across a small raccoon with its leg caught in a hunter’s trap. The poor creature cried out, pulling at Kyle’s heartstrings. He immediately worked to loosen the trap. It took all the strength he could muster but he managed to free the animal. 
 
“Fuck dude, you’re hurt,” he said gently as he beaconed the animal to come close. Hesitant, the animal backed away but Kyle was insistent. He offered trail mix to the animal which got the rather chubby raccoon to come over. With the animal securely in his hands, Kyle was able to pour water from his canteen onto the wound before wrapping it in a bandage. He was sure the raccoon would likely gnaw the bandages off later but for now, it could help keep infection away, even if for a little while. “There, all better,” he cooed softly as he gave the raccoon pets. The animal was receptive, chirping slightly as it climbed into Kyle’s lap. 
 
“I’m glad you feel better,” Kyle hummed as he hugged the thankful animal. The sun was setting and he knew it was long after he was due back for the scavenger hunt. “I have to go now. It was nice meeting you.” 
 
For any normal situation, that would’ve been the last time Kyle would’ve seen the raccoon. He assumed it would be. After being scolded for wandering off from his buddy, the ginger carried on with the rest of the activities for the night. There was a whole week planned and unknown to Kyle the raccoon had planned to make himself known the entire time. 
 
That night, while all the boys went to bed, Kyle found it hard to fall asleep. He kept feeling like something, someone, was urging him outside. He had already been told off once that night and he didn’t need his mom getting a bad report. That’s how one of the volunteer troop assistants ended up escorting him to the bathroom. 
Peeing in the woods was a ten-year-old’s dream. Kyle felt indifferent towards it. After trying for a few minutes he was ready to give up but before he could the wind through the bush next to him caught his attention. It unsettled him, prompting him to work faster but his fears were set aside when the raccoon emerged. Kyle only knew him by the bandage on his leg. 
 
“What are you doing here?” he whispered when as he crouched down to greet him. The answer seemingly came when the raccoon presented him with a chocolate chip cookie. Green eyes grew wide when Kyle realized that the raccoon must’ve been responding to the shrine. 
 
He was getting his wish!
 
“My name’s Kyle,” the boy gushed in his whisper. “I promise to be good friends with you. My troop’s here so we have to be careful okay?” The raccoon chirped back seemingly with understanding. 
 
“Broflovski, hurry up. It’s time for bed,” the young assistant groaned. 
 
“I have to go. I’ll see you later,” Kyle waved to his new friend. The raccoon watched the ginger fade through the shrubs. For the remainder of the week, Kyle secretly engaged with the young raccoon. Whether it was sharing snacks or telling stories, he found the raccoon to be good company when he could sneak away from his troop. Stan was moderately suspicious but he was too busy trying to be cool to worry about Kyle’s skittish behavior. 
 
“I have to go home tomorrow…I’ll miss you,” Kyle hugged the raccoon on the trip’s final night. “You can keep a secret right?” he asked firmly. When the raccoon only looked him in the eye, slowly eating the rice crispy treat Kyle gave him, the ginger continued. “This is my last trip with the scouts. My dad took a job in New Jersey. We’re moving there in a couple of weeks before school starts. Mom says she needs to help look after my grandpa. That’s why Dad chose the opportunity in Jersey and not Denver. I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again,” he said sadly. Stan didn’t even know about the move yet. The past summer had been hard for Kyle. It was never the right time to break the news and now he had no choice. Stan would be mad at him.
 
He wasn’t the only one. 
 
Chattering that the young boy would never understand came rapidly from the raccoon. Kyle sniffled, not understanding the suddenly talkative animal. He opened his mouth to ask but before he could his scout leader called for him. Swiftly he pulled the raccoon in his arms.
 
“I’m sorry I have to go. You’ll always be my friend though. I promise,” he hugged the furry creature. A low growl came from the raccoon who scratched the boy’s shoulder in the hug. Kyle hissed slightly when he released the animal. He was hurt by the sudden aggression but there was a hurt look in the raccoon’s eyes that told him it likely just panicked. 
 
The two shared a moment of eye contact before the boy’s name was called again. 
 
“Goodbye,” Kyle sadly waved to the animal before taking off to his troop. Thankfully, he hadn’t been the last boy to reconvene at camp so he was spared another lecture. He liked to think the raccoon had given him a good one when the animal began fussing at him. The passing thought amused him. 
 
***
 
“None of that rings any bells?” the stranger asked. His eyes were fixed intensely on the shaken ginger. 
 
“I mean, yeah. I-I guess so but that was like years ago. How did you know-”
 
“Did it seriously not click for you that I was the raccoon you saved?”
 
“But how?”
 
“I’m one of the spirits of the forest, Kyle. It’s really not that hard.”
 
“If that’s true then why couldn’t you just, I don’t know, phase through the trap or something.”
 
“Doesn’t work that way,” he rolled his eyes. “And I was just a kid too. I didn’t have control over my powers yet,” he huffed. 
 
“Powers, yeah, right,” Kyle snorted. “Well as lovely as this weird acid trip has been, I need to leave,” he stood up. 
 
“Where are we going?”
 
“Oh, no, no, no. This weird shit stays here in the forest. I am leaving it here.

I

am going back to my hotel for a hot shower and aspirin to come out of whatever high this is.”
 
“You can’t leave me again. That isn’t fair. I can go with you now.”
 
“That isn’t fair? What’s not fair, me walking away from an alleged raccoon spirit that I made friends with as a kid?”
 
“Yes! You promised you’d always be my friend and I promised to marry you!” 
 
“You

what?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I’m sorry, wanna try that again?”
 
“That day you told me you were leaving, I promised that I’d marry you. Why do you think I scratched you?”
 
“Because you were a wild animal!”
 
“No, because I was marking you,” he sighed. “With my mark, I’d be able to find you when it was time. So thanks for coming back and ruining my trip to ‘New Jersey’, if that is a real place.” 
 
“It is a real place,” the man hissed. “And how were you planning to get there? Just walking as a giant raccoon cross country?”
 
“No,  my mom was going to pay for the flight.”
 
“Your mom?”
 
The stranger nodded. “Well anyway, now that you’re here we can get married and you’ll have our kits.”
 
“Have kits?” Kyle froze before he erupted in laughter. “This is all one psychotic ass dream. There’s no way some raccoon spirit is trying to marry me and have kids.”
 
“Kits.”
 
“It’s the same thing!” He didn’t hide his frustration. “Point is, I’m a man. I can’t get pregnant. This isn’t real. Now goodbye,” Kyle started walking off. The stranger watched him try to venture away but he had vowed to never let that happen again. 
 
Seeing as Kyle wasn’t keen on talking about it, he’d have to be shown. The stranger casually began walking after him. Kyle glanced over his shoulder to see the rather bored-looking fat man walking behind him. Huffing, he sped up. It was to no avail. No matter how calmly the stranger walked he was always on Kyle’s heels. 
 
“Get away from me!” He tried yelling. 
 
“Why?”
 
“Because this is a really bad trip and I don’t want to have it anymore,” he mourned his sanity. He wasn’t sure when he’d have come in contact with drugs but he was sure as hell going to clean out his hotel room. 
 
His hotel room. He needed to get to his hotel. With other people around maybe he’d shock himself back into reality and this “spirit ” would go away. They didn’t like being seen, right? In a crowded enough place, the weirdo would surely leave him alone. Taking a deep breath, Kyle decided to calmly play along with his delusion. His stride slowed to a less aggressive pace. The raccoon man’s ears twitched slightly, his eyes never leaving the ginger. 
 
“Is my mark still on your shoulder?” He broke the silence after a while. Kyle glanced at him before sighing.
 
“Yeah…my mom was kinda freaked out about it when I first came home. I had to get a rabies shot.”
 
“Offensive but okay.”
 
Kyle rolled his eyes, “So how does it work?”
 
“It ties me to you,” the stranger’s ears twitched again. “My magic stamp of claim if you will. It’s why you look the way you do.”
 
“Excuse me?” Kyle stopped walking. The stranger did as well, turning to face him.
 
“What?”
 
“What do you mean it’s why I look the way that I do?”
 
“Oh, I’m sure you naturally weren’t supposed to look so…pretty, I guess. You look softer, like a forest nymph. Nymphs are usually genderless and that reflects in their appearance.”
 
“I look like a man,” he huffed.
 
“A very pretty man,” the spirit teased. “Softest jawline I’ve ever seen. Long curly hair. Bright green eyes and long lashes. Willing to bet your body isn’t very toned either. Probably curvy because you're meant to carry kits.” He liked the way his bride blushed when he talked. The stubborn man refused to think anything he was saying was true. 
 
“Can’t fucking have kids,” he grumbled defiantly. 
 
‘Kits. We’ll have kits.”
 
“Ugh we aren’t having anything!“ he started to storm off again. The stranger smirked as he followed after. His bride was feisty and he liked that. 
 
After the agonizing hike back to the hotel, Kyle was sure his imaginary nuisance would fade away. Sweat only seemed to pour when he heard whispers from the few people in the lobby. 
 
“Sir, please try to wear shoes in the lobby,” the clerk sighed. 
 
“I don’t have any,” the stranger shrugged. 
 
“I’m sorry, we don’t house loiterers.”
 
“I don’t know what that means but I’m here with my bride.”
 
“Oh my god,” Kyle wheezed as he tried to make a beeline to the elevator. The weird man was on his heels again, ignoring the confused looks from the lobby patrons. “No, no, you are not following me to my hotel room,” he tried to block his entry. 
 
“I can get in that room a number of ways, Kyle. I think this is the best method you’d prefer.” 
 
Kyle wasn’t a fan of being threatened. Something about the challenging look of the stranger that he was telling the truth. When the clerk began reaching not-so-slyly for the phone, the ginger gave in. He yanked the weirdo by his collar into the old elevator. He stayed on the second floor of the two-story place. The strangely soft fabric of the man’s shirt was still clutched in his grasp when he rushed to open his hotel door. 
 
“Alright, tell me how all those people just saw you? And what happened to your ears and tail? And what the fuck am I doing?” The distressed man quickly shut the door behind them. 
 
“You’re panicking for no reason,” he rolled his eyes. When he was met with a scowl, he sighed. “They saw me because I allowed them to. When we’re in this form it’s more acceptable for humans to see us. That’s also why my ears and tail are gone.”
 
“So you just pick and choose what features to show?”
 
“Yup. It feels better as a human to at least have my natural ears and tail out but I can hold the total human form for a while now that I’m older,” he boasted his mastery. 
 
“Uh-huh,” Kyle nodded slowly. “Why are you here?”
 
The stranger scoffed, annoyed with the question. “I thought we already went over this. We’re getting

married

. If I’m not here, how would we get married?”
 
“We are not getting married. Stop saying that.”
 
“Why aren’t we getting married?” He glared at him. 
 
“Because you’re some forest spirit whose name I don’t even know and I have a life, a real life where I have friends, family, work, all that bullshit. I don’t see how some mythical madness fits in my life. It doesn’t fit in my life. Sorry, you waited eighteen years to get rejected but

this

isn’t happening,” Kyle gestured between them. 
 
The stranger’s face looked hard, studying the uncertain man. Kyle swallowed as he matched the intensity of the stranger. His hand was reached back for the doorknob. He may have already looked crazy but he’d run as fast as he could if this spirit decided to grow violent.
 
When he stepped close, Kyle stepped back. Their repeated encounter from the forest floor sent a chill down Kyle’s spine. In a split second, the stranger was behind him, blocking the door. 
 
“Let me-“
 
“Eric,” the spirit interrupted the dry cry of the human. 
 
“W-what?” Confusion bled into startled green eyes. 
 
“My name is Eric Cartman,” the stranger brought the fragile wrist to his mouth. Kyle’s heart raced as he watched him kiss his hand. A million questions ran through the ginger’s mind while he got lost in brown eyes. 
 
He had no idea where Eric Cartman was taking him. He had no idea if he wanted to go along for the ride. There was something that told him he may not have had a choice.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Eric lay on his side staring at Kyle. The ginger had been lying on his back, searching for an answer to the madness in the hotel room’s ceiling. A fond smile rested on Eric’s face. His bride looked lovely, even when he was worried. He shifted closer. Kyle glared at his space invader. His disapproving look did little to move the spirit man. For some strange reason, it only made him move closer. 
 
Eighteen years was a long time to not be near his bride. Kyle had grown and changed so much. He had lived a life that Eric hadn’t known. There were things about Kyle that Eric wanted to know. There were things he needed to know. As it presently stood Kyle was still refusing to open up to him. He guessed he’d have to pry. 
 
“Did you miss me?”
 
“Miss you?”
 
“Yeah, when you moved away. Did you miss me?”
 
Kyle noticed a glimmer of hope in those deep brown eyes. Sighing, he gave the most truthful answer he could muster, “A  little. I thought about you sometimes…when I’d see a raccoon nearby or when I was lonely. Guess in some ways I did, yeah.” 
 
“I missed you a lot,” Eric hummed. “I thought about you all the time. Couldn’t wait to be with you again,” he purred, nudging the ginger. 
 
“You really had your heart set on marrying me, didn’t you? All because I freed you.”
 
“It’s my thank you. Since you were all alone and weepy I promised to marry you so you wouldn't be ever again.”
 
“Well, I appreciate that but…it’s not necessary. I’m not alone anymore and,” he closed his eyes, sighing deeply. “And I’ll be okay.”
 
“You don’t have any friends,” the spirit said bluntly. 
 
“That is not true!” Kyle sat up angrily. “I have plenty of friends.”
 
“Oh yeah? Like who?”
 
Kyle’s struggle to name-drop told the raccoon man all he needed to know. When Eric gave him a smug knowing look the ginger growled and threw himself back on the bed facing away from him. Eric studied the man beside him. Sadness lingered around him. His bride was a terrible liar. Kyle couldn’t fool him and he wouldn’t let him try. Remembering the man’s hesitance, Eric knew that Kyle still didn’t have a grasp of their arrangement. He needed proof that things were real, that they were promised. 
 
Clawed fingers ran down Kyle’s stomach. The soft middle flexed at the sudden touch. Kyle’s face scrunched briefly before he opened his eyes. Hovering over him was Eric. Brown eyes continued to stare deeply into his soul.
 
“What are you doing?” He barely whispered before Eric kissed him. It was the most tender kiss Kyle had ever been met with. The warmth of the plush spirit engulfed him. Eric was easy to get lost in. So easy that he barely noticed his pants being slipped off.
 
With wide eyes, he tried to regain control of his senses, “Eric, wait-“
 
“Shh, allow me to service my bride. You’ll feel better,” he kissed down Kyle’s middle. 
 
The man shook under his tongue’s attentive pressure on his belly button. Eric’s tongue continued to taste the exposed skin of the human man beneath him. He was careful as he removed Kyle’s clothes. True to his assumption, Kyle’s body didn’t terribly resemble the average man’s. He was more androgynous with soft curves and edges. It made the spirit happy that his mate was so well prepared to receive kits. With that in mind, he lifted Kyle’s legs over his shoulders once he wrestled his boxers away. Kyle’s efforts were futile but he couldn’t say he wasn’t a little bit curious of what Eric could do. 
 
His curiosity would be the end of him, he was sure. Thoughts of his insanity raced through his mind as he felt the spirit’s tongue become familiar with his lower body. It was like Eric was trying to know him in the most invasive way possible. He probably was. Why else would his tongue be so dedicated to exploring his asshole? 
 
“E-eric,” his voice trembled along with his body. The sensation was foreign and he wasn’t sure he could handle it. His back arched as Eric held his hips steady. The raccoon ears that had manifested through brown curls twitched with intrigue at the sound of Kyle’s whimpers. 
 
“Hmm,” the spirit hummed as he dove deeper into Kyle’s opening. Kyle couldn’t help but clench when he felt Eric’s tongue surpass the average rim job on a quest to totally devour his ass. After getting an odd sensation in his belly, Kyle felt Eric move away and begin sucking his cock. His mouth felt large, easily taming Kyle’s member. Kyle had an inkling the brunette had never known the meaning of the word ‘gargle’ but the way he felt his balls vibrating from Eric’s manipulation gave him reason to think otherwise. 
 
Eric could feel Kyle pulsating in his mouth. It was an interesting sensation, one he’d never known before. If what his mother told him was true, Kyle would soon- 
 
“Uh, Eric,” the man’s fingers got trapped in his hair. Eric liked the feeling of Kyle holding him by his hair and neck. The sweet savor of what his cock released ignited a hunger in his belly. He wanted more of Kyle. A lot more. The human man was already panting from his climax but Eric wasn’t finished yet.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The alarm clock was obnoxious. It didn’t have to be so vulgar in the silent hotel room. Kyle groaned as he reached to turn it off. His hand fumbled to find the silence button. In a moment of headache-induced frustration, he yanked the damn thing from the socket. Sighing, he pulled the cover back over his head. It wasn’t like he had anywhere to be. There were only so many places he could apply in the small mountain town. Classes weren’t starting for another six weeks. The only thing that so demanded his attention was the forest dweller that refused to leave him or his asshole alone for the past three days. 
 
Kyle’s body was sore from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. His body was covered in bite marks. Scratches were also found to be common, Eric’s hands randomly sprouted claws instead of trim nails. It seemed like when the spirit’s emotions fluctuated, so did his form. Magically, the only thing that didn’t seem to change was his cock. 
 
Not that Kyle got around by any means but he has slept with his fair share of men in the past. He had been using toys since he was old enough to step foot in a toy shop. Nothing and nobody had ever stretched him the way Eric had. Eric’s mouth was just a warm-up. The notion that he could feel the spirit’s tongue in his belly was paled to the fact that his cock probably had reached his belly. He passed out several times from being overwhelmed. Each time he reached his limit, Eric was kind enough to stop. Once he had comforted the ginger back into consciousness he’d start over again. Kyle wasn’t sure what the aim was but he knew his body had reached total exhaustion. 
 
The raccoon man in his bed seemingly understood. Or perhaps he just wasn’t awake yet. His entire existence was still a mystery to Kyle. He didn’t know what Eric did for need or for want. 
 
Eating. Sleeping. Bathing. Sexing.
 
Kyle tried not to think too heavily about any of it. He still wasn’t sure how he’d shake Eric off but since there was nothing better to do, he guessed he’d indulge in his paranormal sex story. That sex story was paused for a moment, though. Eric instinctively wrapped his arms around Kyle, pulling him close. Over the past few days, Kyle had gotten used to being tucked under the larger being. He noticed that Eric shifted between his human presenting and natural states when he slept. It wasn’t clear if it was intentional or just simply the spirit releasing when he rested. All he knew was that Eric was insanely protective, even in slumber. 
 
Green eyes stared at the ceiling just beyond the broad shoulder of the spirit. Eric’s human face was resting near above his. Kyle felt the rise and fall of Eric’s chest against him, the other’s soft snores not far from his ears.

“I guess he breathes. Then again, why wouldn’t he?”

he mused. He hated to admit it but he was curious of the raccoon spirit. If he wasn’t careful he’d become too invested. 
 
More than he already was. 
 
Kyle closed his eyes, getting lost in Eric’s mixture of snores and purrs. His body warmth gave some relief to the aches of the human man. Kyle’s mind grew relaxed in comfort he had never known prior to knowing Eric. He decided that the spirit would be replaced with a weighted blanket when they parted ways. He’d also be on the hunt for fun butt plugs but that’d have to wait. For now, he needed to figure out his next move. The hotel bill was running high and his funds were running low. As much as he enjoyed being slutted out by a woodland spirit he had to find work soon or else he’d be in trouble. 
 
Calling his parents was absolutely not an option. He loved them very much and they had a good relationship but he could

not

go crawling back to them. They hadn’t wanted him to move at all. A move across the country wasn’t a good idea to them and he’d be damned to let them know they were right. His pride outweighed his bitterness and embarrassment. Hopefully, that motivation would be enough to get him a job. If none of the corporate places were hiring, he’d have to adjust his parameters. Once his heavyweight woke up, he’d set out job hunting again. 
 
***
 
Over the years, Eric had eaten his fair share of takeout. Sometimes campers didn’t adhere to the signs and left food open or sometimes stoners would leave their munchies behind. Eating Kyle’s takeout was something otherworldly to him. It was fresher. Probably because he got it ordered straight and then he refrigerated it properly. The man’s look of disapproval at his leftovers disappearing didn’t bother Eric. 
 
His bride always seemed to be upset about something. Eric thought it cute and quickly learned to ignore it. Kyle was virtually harmless. At least to him, anyway. 
 
While Kyle was in the shower Eric decided on the carton of fried rice from the night before. When he hadn’t been putting Kyle through the mattress, he was ordering food on the ginger’s card. He was a fast learner; ordering from Kyle’s phone was easy. The ginger would awake and scold him, saying he didn’t have a lot to spend on fast food but would then eat whatever it was Eric ordered for them to share. 
 
Eric’s eyes intensely focused on the microwave reheating the rice. The hum of the machine rotating his meal excited him. Anticipation brewed in his belly as the smell invaded his nostrils. When the beep of the timer stopped the spin, his hand was swift to open the door. Kyle’s brows furrowed as he watched the spirit huff his breath after shoveling a fresh hot forkful into his mouth. His tail wagged in matched joy. 
 
“You should blow on it or you know, wait a second for it to cool down,” he rolled his eyes as he dug for clean clothes. Fuck, he needed to do laundry soon. A trip to the laundromat would just be more money. The ginger’s mood only soured further at the realization. Eric watched his bride grumble to himself. His ears picked up that it was about money. He honestly didn’t know why Kyle was so worried about it. 
 
“What’s got you in a mood?” Eric breathed between bites. The food was still hot but manageable. 
 
“I have to go out and look for a job. Probably won’t get what I want but I need the money. Especially because

somebody

ate through the bulk of my savings in just seventy-two hours.”
 
“Really. Who?”
 
Kyle scowled at the greedy brunette before swallowing down his anger. He knew it was just bait and he wouldn’t take it. If he did, Eric would somehow maneuver him into bed. Quite frankly, he was tired of sex and that wouldn’t get him what he needed. 
 
“I’m going out,” was all he said as he threw on his jacket. Eric’s eyes were fixed on him. Kyle learned that Eric had a staring problem. Brown eyes bore holes into him constantly. He could be doing anything, anything at all, and Eric

had

to watch him. Talking wasn’t something the spirit felt necessary all the time, but staring, God forbid if he didn’t have Kyle in his line of sight. 
 
“You don’t have to,” he twirled the tips of the fork in his mouth. Kyle watched as he played with the utensil suggestively. Again, he chose to ignore the invitation. 
 
“I told you, I have to find a job. I can’t afford to just sit around and-” his pending rant was interrupted by his phone ringing. With an annoyed sigh, he took in the unknown number before answering. 
 
Eric continued eating the remainder of the fried rice. He vaguely listened to Kyle’s entire tune change from the conversation. The conversation itself wasn’t what interested him. He just found it interesting how little it took to make Kyle happy. His bride worried about things too much. 
 
Since not having a job was suddenly putting the ginger in a foul mood, Eric decided to do something about it. He couldn’t have Kyle stressed, now could he?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Butters and Kenny are going to going to help me move. Don’t say or do anything weird, okay?” 
 
“Who are they?”
 
“It doesn’t matter. Just promise me.”
 
“Why can’t we just move ourselves? I don’t see why we need more people.”
 
“Because I have furniture and it takes more than two men to move everything.”
 
“I could’ve just moved it?”
 
“Cartman,” he growled. In his new self-development, the spirit deemed he wanted to be called by his surname like he saw important people be called in the movies. 
 
“Fine,” the spirit held his hands up midway in surrender. 
 
After an agonizing two-month stay at the hotel, Kyle was finally approved for his own apartment. The sign-on bonus was generous enough to stabilize his account and after a couple of checks, he was about to get a jump on rent. The first apartment he applied to approved him instantaneously. Through it all, Eric stayed beside him. When he tried to shake the brunette the day he got approved, Eric refused. He then made it known plainly that Kyle’s stroke of luck had been because of him.

“You really think things have been better just because of you? It only takes a second for me, Kyle.”

“How did you do it then?” the ginger argued. He liked to think some God he believed in heard his prayer. The raccoon before him only snorted and crossed his arms.

“I’m good luck if you forgot. I got you the job and I got you the apartment. You don’t get to get rid of me so easily.”

“Fine, just don’t screw me over.”

Cartman didn’t know in what way he’d screw his bride over but it was an easy enough request. Just like not doing anything weird. The spirit didn’t think he was weird. He didn’t stand out anymore since Kyle forced him into new clothes and those ridiculous shoe things. He watched enough primetime TV and podcasts to be current on Kyle’s world outside of him. It annoyed him that he had to meet new people, however. In the two months he had been hoarding Kyle’s attention, he never knew what a Butters or Kenny was. 
 
Finding out served him no justice. The two blondes were already at the storage unit facility when they arrived. A dark aura radiated off the taller one. On reflex, he growled defensively with a swift pull of Kyle to keep him close. The blondes looked confused prompting his bride to elbow him into recollection. 
 
“Sorry, guys. Thanks for meeting us,” Kyle laughed off the awkward introduction. He’d have Cartman’s ass later. 
 
“Y-yeah, it’s no problem, Kyle. Glad we can help,” the bubbly one smiled. It was an art form of how he’d push past any bad moment effortlessly. 
 
“Who’s the big guy?” the taller one tilted his head. 
 
“I’m his fiance,” Cartman maintained his glare towards him. 
 
“My roommate,” Kyle coughed. 
 
“I’m not your roommate. We’re getting married.”
 
“Not right now, we’re not,” Kyle grit his teeth as he continued to overtalk the man. The two blondes only glanced at each other momentarily before looking back at the two argumentative men. Kyle caught their gaze before clearing his throat, “Cartman, this is Cartman.”
 
“Cool, I’m Kenny and this is Butters,” the taller one introduced them. 
 
“Why did your parents name you Butters?” the raccoon asked bluntly. Kyle facepalmed while the man in question laughed. 
 
“They didn’t. My real name is Leopold. Butters is just a nickname.”
 
“Why?”
 
“Cartman,” Kyle glared at him. 
 
“C’mon, let’s get moving before Kyle has an aneurysm,” Kenny laughed. Despite his weird energy, he was an easygoing guy. Eric still didn’t trust him. He’d keep a close eye on him around his bride. The one with the weird name was less of a concern; he honestly had the same energy as a nymph but Eric could tell he was human. Perhaps he was just what the TV called “happy-go-lucky”. 
 
Between the four men and their two vehicles, they managed to get most of Kyle’s things to his new apartment. Butters and Kenny knew the area well since they lived in the same complex. Eric found it suspicious and would be confronting his bride about it later. It took a few hours to unload everything into the two-bedroom apartment. Kyle hated to admit it really was luck that he got the place dirt cheap. 
 
“Dinner and drinks on me, guys. I really appreciate the help,” Kyle breathed when the last box got pulled in. 
 
“It was no problem. Was kinda expecting more,” Butters laughed. He always thought Kyle to have a massive library. It was sad to know the ginger sold some of his books to afford to be able to move. The raccoon spirit wasn’t exactly fond of that news either, but again, he’d ask later. 
 
“Me too, but I won’t complain about less shit to do,” Kenny stretched. Eric glared at him but it seemingly went unnoticed by the blonde. Kyle only pushed past them both and suggested they head out for dinner. 
 
After returning their rental car, Kyle and Eric loaded into the back of Kenny’s pickup truck. Since it was Kyle’s treat, the blonde couple got to pick the place they went. Kenny was all too eager to go to the local diner. It was one of South Park’s simplest places to eat and remained classic and true all those years. A good steak burger would never lead him wrong. 
 
“Wow, things haven’t changed since I was here last,” Kyle marveled as they climbed into a booth. 
 
“The good thing about home is that it never changes,” Kenny sighed contently. 
 
That much was true of the diner. It had been around for some sixty years and had managed to stay in business for a reason. Eric had never been there.  It never showed on Kyle’s takeout apps. The place smelled good though when they arrived so he guessed it’d suffice. He surveyed the place while he partially listened to Kyle and the others. Apparently, Kyle and his “friends” had been here plenty when they were kids. From what he gathered, Kenny and Butters had gone to school with Kyle up until he moved. 
 
To think, Kyle had an entire life here that he had to abandon because of his parents. What a silly notion, Eric mused. 
 
When the waitress came with menus Kyle wouldn’t let him see one. When he tried to argue for it, Kyle insisted he’d order for them both. Since he was supposed to be on his best behavior he gave in. Kyle proudly ordered them the same meal: a double BBQ ranch house burger, fries for the side, and a peanut butter milkshake. He couldn’t eat bacon but asked her to keep the bacon on Eric’s burger. Kenny and Butters ordered similarly, some sort of burger but instead of shakes, Kenny got a beer and Butters ordered a creamsickle. 
 
“So this place is known for their…burgers?” Cartman raised a brow. 
 
“The best in town,” Butters replied giddily. 
 
“I can’t believe I’m just now having one since I’ve been back. It’ll be worth it though, I can already taste it,” Kyle sipped his water. 
 
The table fell back into idle conversation. When their food came, Cartman’s sensitive nose was hit with a new passion. Kyle nudged him slightly with a smile, an affectionate encouraging him to enjoy. His first bite l sent him on a journey. 
 
“Woah,” he breathed. 
 
“Fucking good, right?” Kenny tore into his. 
 
“I love this place. Thanks for dinner, Ky,” Butters said happily from his drink. 
 
“Yeah, thanks.”
 
“It was my pleasure. Now eat up. We worked hard today,” he laughed as he sipped his shake. 
 
“Doing what?” a voice called from behind them. It was more inquisitive rather than snarky. Bitter all the same. Kyle frowned hearing it. Seeing his bride’s mood change put Eric on alert. 
 
“Minding our goddamn business. Mind yours,” the ginger retorted. 
 
“I just asked a question,” the noriette breathed tiredly. “Why can’t you just talk to me?”
 
“Because I don’t want to. Now beat it, Stan.”
 
Stan. This was Stan. As in, Stan, Stan. The Stan that was Kyle’s Super Best Friend. The Stan that lied to Kyle. The Stan that wanted Kyle, that Stan.
 
Eric’s eyes grew wide before shrinking into a glare. Thank God, Kyle was on the inside of the booth. Eric would’ve hated to lose dinner from jumping over the table at the man. He had settled into tolerating Kenny but he absolutely would

not

be accepting Stan into his or Kyle’s space. 
 
“Kyle, I just need a few minutes. Please, it’s been months already since we last talked.”
 
“Because there’s nothing to say.”
 
“There’s a lot to say. I owe you a lot. Just…can we talk?”
 
“We’re having dinner right now, Stan. Can you m-maybe try later?” Butters tried to break the scene apart. When Stan gave a dirty look at the interruption he was met with one hell of a protective glare from Kenny. The noriette knew better; everyone in town did. If they didn’t want to deal with the hell-raising McCormick they’d leave his boyfriend alone. 
 
“Look, Kyle, can you call me later? Just give me a few minutes to explain and then I’ll leave you alone. I promise,” he offered. 
 
“I’ll think about it,” Kyle huffed not making eye contact. Eric held in a growl, not even liking the consideration. Brown eyes met blue ones momentarily. Stan and Eric

understood

each other as the noriette backed away. 
 
“Never seen him look so desperate before,” Butters noted as he watched the upset man leave. 
 
“It’s because Stan doesn’t cope well with the shit in his life. Never could. It’s why he drinks all the damn time,” Kenny rolled his eyes. He’d always love Stan as a friend but he’d always hold him accountable too. The guy had his fuckups and had a hard time admitting them.

“Are you really gonna call him?” Butters asked softly. 
 
“I don’t know,” Kyle sighed tiredly. He knew realistically he didn’t owe Stan anything but Kenny was right; Stan had problems making things right. If he was trying so hard to then that meant he must’ve meant a lot to the man. Maybe he could stand to hear him out.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Eric stayed quiet as he unpacked Kyle’s things. The furniture was easy to move around. He wasn’t sure why the ginger made such a big deal about it. For some reason, Kyle didn’t want him moving things too much while they had boxes everywhere. As the result, he was tasked with unpacking the kitchen. 
 
Being a single man, Kyle didn’t have a ton of kitchen supplies. A standard set of pots, pans, and baking dishes. A few mix-matched plates and bowls. The cups were plain.  Some of the silverware could stand to be replaced but was fine by Cartman. It didn’t take Cartman long to break down the two boxes for the kitchen that his bride had. When he went to find the man to ask for his next task, he found Kyle sitting with a photo album. His delicate face looked hard in concentration as he strolled down memory lane. 
 
Silently, Cartman sat beside him. His eyes fell on the book, taking in the moments of Kyle’s past. The scouts. The day his parents brought Ike home. He, Stan, Kenny, and Butters. Birthday parties. Football games. Many other places in time where Kyle had hope in his eyes and love in his smile. 
 
“We used to be so close,” he sighed sadly. “Then I moved and he,” the ginger paused. “And he changed. I know Stan has his problems…we all do, but…”
 
“You don’t owe him anything, Kyle,” the brunette was firm. He

really

didn’t approve of Kyle talking to Stan. The moody noriette gave him the ick and he didn’t want him around his lover. 
 
“I know I don’t owe him anything,” Kyle closed the book. “He was a good friend to me…maybe not always but we stayed in touch for years. We talked about any and everything even if we were states apart. I know what he did was wrong but…I think just…one more conversation. Just to make peace.”
 
“No.”
 
It was stern and unmovable. Kyle gazed up at the unusually strict spirit. His voice was never so authoritative with Kyle. His face never looked so disapproving. 
 
“It’s not your call, Cartman,” Kyle stood up. Eric watched the ginger rub the back of his neck sorrowfully. “It’s just not your call.”
 
Eric was left alone with Kyle’s photo albums when the ginger went to busy himself somewhere else. He knew better than to destroy anything; defilement was a great sin to beings like him. Plus, Kyle would never forgive him. They were just starting to make headway in their relationship and he didn’t want to lose their progress. 
 
He didn’t want to lose Kyle.
 
So he sucked it up and waited inside the apartment when Kyle went to meet Stan a couple of weeks later. His bride asked him to keep unpacking the remaining boxes. The boxes were labeled where things should go so it wouldn’t be hard for him to properly place things. The spirit usually didn’t feel nervous or bothered but knowing that his bride was talking with a traitor drove him to distraction.

“Stupid Stan. Why couldn’t he just leave Kyle alone?”

he fumed as he unboxed more of Kyle’s books. His bride was an intellect. Books on philosophy, communication, language, and more had been packed away. There were too many to have been all for school; Eric could tell Kyle read these for fun. It made his golden blood boil to know that Kyle sold some of his collection on Stan’s say so. 
 
When Kyle got home, his “fiance” was stewing in the living room. His tail twitched with agitation, signaling that he was in a mood. He had been facing a wall which Kyle found funny. It was like he had put himself in time-out over something. He wore a soft smile as he sat beside him.
 
“Now that the kitchen’s unpacked I can cook. What do you want for dinner?” He asked the pouty man. Eric only glanced at him before refocusing on the blank wall. Kyle pursed his lips before deciding to test his temperament.
 
It was rare he initiated affection or intimacy. He usually cried with complaints to be left alone or not being touched (both of which Cartman willfully ignored). When he leaned on Eric, nuzzling him softly, the spirit knew immediately that Kyle probably did something he wouldn’t like. He growled lowly with his eyes falling on the ginger. Kyle looked up at him with innocent eyes only pissing him off more.
 
“You’re friends again aren’t you?” 
 
Kyle averted his eyes before sighing, “We said we’d work on our friendship.”
 
“Damn it, why!? He lied to you and still wants to fuck you! Why be ‘friends’ with someone you know isn’t a friend?” He ranted.
 
This had been the first time proper that Cartman yelled at his partner. Momentarily, Kyle looked taken aback before his face broke into a smug smirk. His hand caressed the firm middle of the man as he leaned in to kiss him. Cartman rested idle, not putting effort to kiss back. He only reacted when Kyle’s hand began traveling lower.
 
“My love, I find you to be sweet but not genuine. Now answer my question,” he held both Kyle’s wrist and his gaze firmly. Kyle swallowed before leaning in again only for the man to move back. 
 
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” Kyle breathed quietly. 
 
“Why wouldn’t I be? He’s an asshole. You don’t need him around if all he’s going to do is use you.”
 
“Use me? I’m sorry, was Stan the one to mooch off me for two months and contribute nothing besides his dick?”
 
“No, he’s just the one that lied to you for what, five months about sleeping with some chick he can’t get over.”
 
“Fuck you, Eric,” Kyle pushed himself off the floor. He could hardly walk away when the man pulled him back.
 
“You need to cut him off,” Cartman clutched his wrist. “I mean it, Kyle. Stop looking for attention from some useless jackass that’ll never pick you.”
 
Kyle sharply pulled his wrist away. He wasn’t interested in hearing Cartman’s opinion on his friendships. Yes, Stan fucked up. Yes, Kyle was hurt. But it was his choice on whether or not to still have Stan in his life. The two had history. It ran deeper than just this rough patch. Kyle had hope; he wanted closure. If things didn’t get better then he would cut Stan off for good. He didn’t need somebody, especially Cartman, telling him how to handle the situation. 
 
“Stay out of my personal business. You have no right to judge when the only thing you’ve ever known is a dream from when we were kids. Talk to me when you fucking learn a thing or two about caring for people,” he spat bitterly before storming to his bedroom. Cartman’s ears pointed backward when the loud slam of the door reached them. 
 
The man’s body shook with an unfamiliar feeling having just had his first fight with Kyle. There was a stinging in his chest that bled into a pain in his stomach. Was this what the humans called heartbreak? Betrayal? What was this? 
 
Cartman didn’t know. 
 
All he knew was he didn’t like it.
 
His eyes shifted onto his shaking hands, his nails growing into claws. Heat invaded his flesh as a growl brewed deep in his chest. His mouth watered with fangs growing. 
 
What was this?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kyle faceplanted on his mattress. He couldn’t be bothered to make the bed; he was too frustrated. Cartman’s words wounded him, then again, he said some awful things to the brunette too. He should’ve tried to communicate better. To anyone with common sense, taking Stan back was a bad move, he knew that. But the gamble was his to take.

“I should say sorry…”

he thought to himself. His mother raised him better than to be a cruel prideful person. He wasn’t sure how Eric would take it, though. The spirit was still getting used to life outside of the forest. Kyle could see how Eric’s honor code worked differently. His bluntness could be bothersome but was well intended even if not executed by the same means. 
 
A break would be well appreciated. Kyle decided it’d be best to put space between them for the night and they could talk about it in the morning. Little did he know Cartman had no intention of leaving so much as an inch between them. When Kyle opened the bedroom door to get his phone he was immediately met with an irate spirit. Cartman didn’t talk when he shoved Kyle back on the bed. It was rough, making the ginger fall back hard. The bed creaked under the sudden force. 
 
“E-Eric, what are you-”
 
“Shut. Up,” The spirit grabbed Kyle by the chin. His claws dug into the ginger’s cheeks, bringing him to tears. For the first time, pleading green eyes weren’t met with the usual inviting brown ones but this time they were red. Kyle was never one to be afraid but Cartman’s sudden state nearly had him paralyzed. “You have dishonored me,” the irate spirit growled. 
 
“I-I-I’m sorry, Please let’s talk about this. L- Let me explain,” he tried through Eric’s clutch. This couldn’t have been the same being he’d been with for months. Never had Eric come across as threatening before. Now Kyle thought he was about to die. 
 
“Explain what; your disrespect?” His claws dug deep into soft flesh. Kyle promptly kicked the spirit away in pain. In doing so, Cartman scratched his beloved. When gold fluid began bubbling from the wound he came back to himself. 
 
Kyle panted, his hand touching the wound. His eyes bore confusion. In the mere instance, he looked up to confront the spirit, he was gone. 
 
***
 
Kyle felt like he was losing his mind. He tried to consider the volatile spirit being gone a good thing but by the fifth day of Cartman being missing, he felt the absolute need to find him.

“I can’t believe him! Making me hike in the stupid woods because he wants to pout. Doesn’t he know I have homework I could be doing?”

The ginger grumbled to himself as he trekked instinctively through the woods. It seemed like the journey to the shrine got easier each time he took it. His only gripe today was having the recurring cramps that he had to push through.

“Have to cut back on the fast food. Doesn’t help when I exercise,”

he doubled over briefly in pain. After panting through sips of water he continued on his way. Before long he arrived at the quiet shrine.
 
As usual, no one was around. For some reason, he found himself embarrassed. Would it be rude to yell for Eric? It’d disturb the others, right?

“Are there others?”

Kyle grew flushed. Nausea bubbled in his center. He tried to fight the feeling with water but it only made it worse.
 
“Oh fuck,” he leaned on a tree. His flesh was heated and he defaced the gate of the shrine. He’d have some major ass-kissing to do. Eric was already pissed at him and now he’d thrown up on sacred grounds. Groaning, he slid down the tree before pulling his knees to his chest and resting his forehead there. Once he caught his breath he’d clean up the mess. 
 
The woods seemed quiet. Kyle chose to appreciate it. He wasn’t sure how much longer they would be once he’d worked the nerve up to call for Eric. Hopefully, the brunette was a speedy responder. If he somehow pissed off a fleet of raccoon spirits he wasn’t sure what he’d do.

“I’d probably be as good as dead,”

the bittersweet thought passed his mind. He rocked his feet a bit when he felt his stomach finally calming down.

“Time to clean up,”

he looked up. His eyes found a woman cleaning up his vomit. 
 
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sorry for the mess,” he moved quickly to take over. The woman only ignored him as she continued to work. He reached for her cleaning towel and finally got a response. 
 
The woman stared at him a moment before standing, cleaning towel in hand. “Come along, Kyle. You need to rest.“
 
“Y-you know my name?”
 
“Of course,” she smiled warmly. “My sweetums never stopped talking about you.”

“Sweetums? Wait could this be-“

“Are you Eric’s mom?” He grew flushed. His answer came by way of the woman holding her smile. 
 
“My name’s Liane, I think we should have a chat,” she beaconed for him to follow. Not having much of a choice, he pulled himself up from the forest floor and followed after.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Drink this,” she offered him a bowl of what looked like water. Not wanting to be rude, he pushed past his reservations and drank the cooling fluid. 
 
He felt his body ease its tensions with his stomach relaxing. The woman watched him process the physical peace taking over. 
 
“What happened to your cheek?” She tilted his chin up and turned his face.
 
“O-oh, nothing,” he tried to skirt around it. The last thing he wanted was to get Eric in trouble with his mother.
 
“You don’t have to lie,” she voiced softly, taking the bandage off. Kyle winced as more of the gold fluid dripped down his cheek. It seemed like he was mortally wounded by Eric’s claws. The older human narrowed her eyes slightly. Not caring that he hadn't finished his drink, she dipped her fingers in it before bringing it to the wound. “My son did this, didn’t he?”
 
Kyle swallowed before pushing quietly, “Yes. But i-it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have kicked him away when he was so close to me.”
 
“He shouldn’t have been gripping your face,” she said, all-knowing.   
 
“How did you know?”
 
“A mother knows,” she hummed, applying more of the fluid. Kyle glanced down at his wound seemingly closing with ease now. 
 
“What was that?” He asked gently. “Eric stopped when he saw it? I want to say it’s blood but…mine’s red.”
 
“Yours is. Not your kit’s.”
 
“M-my what?” his eyes grew wide.
 
Liane exhaled. She had hoped her son would’ve at least explained things but she guessed in all the excitement he hadn’t. 
 
“Kyle, when we become bonded to spirits, we go through transformations. We have the choice of living long as humans or we turn into spirits ourselves. Similarly, our bodies go through changes when we fall pregnant,” she touched his middle. “In order to grow a kit, your very DNA changes to accommodate that. That’s why Eric fled when he saw it. It showed him he was hurting the mother of his child. Likely forgot you were pregnant.”
 
“He knew?” He asked barely above a whisper.
 
“From the second it happened. The spirits are in tune that way, especially when bonded.”
 
“I don’t understand though,” he grew frustrated. “How can

I

get pregnant? This doesn’t make any sense.”
 
“I’m sure your parents gave you the talk about where babies come from?” She raised a brow.
 
“I mean, yeah, but I’m a man!” 
 
“That doesn’t matter in this case. I’m sure, Eric, was…

focused

on your…uhm,” the woman averted her eyes.
 
“On my asshole,” the flustered man spat out.
 
“Yes, right. That’s when he, I suppose, created a gateway for you to conceive. By granting you a gateway he granted you a way to carry.”
 
“Oh god,” he covered his face. “Is that where it’ll come out?”
 
“Good heavens no,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much right now in your case. I think there’s more pressing things to tend to.”
 
“Like where that fat piece of roadkill,” he paused remembering who sat beside him. “I mean, finding where Eric is.”
 
Liane only chuckled softly, “He’s around here somewhere. Came with his tail straight and fur on edge. Had to imagine it was bad, whatever it was that drove him here.” 
 
“C-can you have him come here? We need to talk,” he felt a pit in his stomach. “Especially now.”
 
“I think he’d come if you call. There’s a bit more cleaning for me to do.”
 
“Really, you don’t have to clean that up,” he facepalmed. 
 
“It’s quite alright,” she chuckled again. “Just focus on calling Eric. He’ll be here soon.”
 
There was no time for Kyle to respond before Liane disappeared just as quickly as her son did. He shifted in his seat, suddenly left alone with the heavyweight in his stomach. With Cartman disappearing, Kyle had been left alone to finish out the leftovers before they spoiled. His assumed indigestion on his hike had been from eating a mix of Thai and Mexican food for the past few days. To learn that it was because he overworked his body while pregnant was a revelation. 
 
If his calculations were correct, he’d be somewhere around two months, maybe a little more. There hadn’t been much of a change in his body, maybe a little weight but he ate out constantly since Cartman did. 
 
“

You stupid raccoon…you got me pregnant and just ran off. Face me you asshole!”

Kyle thought, his jaw clenching. He was damn angry! How dare Cartman take the cowardly route, leaving him alone with something he was unprepared for. It wasn’t like he could see a normal doctor about this kind of thing. Eric owed him answers and Kyle was determined to get them.
 
“Eric, I know you can hear me,” Kyle started low. “Come talk to me; you have to talk to me. I can’t do this alone.”
 
His plea went unanswered as he sat in the place Liane left him. Kyle took the opportunity to survey his area. This was the first time he’d ventured this far past the initial shrine gates. He saw other statues of raccoons, hardly coordinated in their placement. Where the others were during this floated in his mind. Was he the only human to be there? Liane’s being was still curious to him. She seemed human but then again, Eric had a seamless human form. It’d make sense for his mother to as well.
 
“What am I doing?” He muttered. His shaky hands started drumming on his thighs. “Some fiance you are Cartman. Maybe I can marry someone else and tell him the baby is his,” he pouted. 
 
“Don’t do that,” the raccoon manifested before him in a near state of panic. Finally. 
 
“Why?” Was all Kyle asked not looking up at the spirit. His low gaze was out of view to the large being. 
 
“Because I,” he sighed. “Because I have a responsibility to you and our kit. I’m sorry for-“ his apology was interrupted by a hard punch straight to the nose. The force was enough to force Cartman into his human form and back as he fell backward. 
 
“Don’t you

ever

just run away like that again,” Kyle scolded. With such a performance of being calm, he deserved an Oscar. Cartman only met him with startled eyes. “I don’t care what fight we have. You have forty-eight hours to get your ass back home and if not you better tell me at least once a day that you’re okay.”
 
The spirit managed to nod slowly before changing into his human form. Such brute force was shocking. No one had ever hit him that way before. Not even his unbearable brother. Liane certainly didn’t. All his life she encouraged he was precious, like most mothers did their kits.
 
“I won’t disappear again,” he said, still facing Kyle wide-eyed. His bride looked wild and strong. Ginger curls were unruly, flowing effortlessly in the subtle wind. Sweat glistened on fair skin from Kyle’s hike and sick spell. Those bright green eyes showed a fire that rivaled anything Eric had ever seen before. Kyle looked beautiful to him. Even with a scowl on his face, Kyle looked beautiful to him.
 
With a swallow, Cartman crawled near the human man. Kyle eyed him, watching to see what test the spirit would try. With his arms crossed, he kept a stern glare at the slow-approaching man. When Cartman finally got close to him, he wrapped his arms around Kyle’s middle and leaned his forehead against the soft flesh of the ginger. 
 
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, rubbing his forehead against Kyle’s belly. “I promise you, both of you, I won’t do that again.”
 
Kyle blinked away the attempt to cry as he looked away, “Whatever. Let’s go home.”
 
Cartman looked up at his stubborn bride. Kyle insisted on still being angry but that was fine. Cartman knew better. That’s why he knew he’d get away with whisking Kyle away without giving the ginger any warning. From a short distance away, Liane watched the exchange. Her son wasn’t usually so humble. To think he’d be hit into having common sense by a human man on his own turf amongst his own kind. Kyle didn’t seem to care. It made the woman smile fondly.
 
She rather liked her son’s bride.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Saturdays were Eric’s favorite days. Not because he was off work; he rarely did, to begin with. It was because Kyle didn’t work. There were no classes or schoolwork to be had. No leaving the house unless they wanted to and lately Kyle hadn’t been interested in outside.
At five months pregnant, Kyle only had an interest in the couch and cheesy poofs, really snacks of any kind. Any chance to sleep in was greatly cherished. Cartman loved indulging with his bride. On Saturdays, he got to hold Kyle late into the morning. His usually touch-avoidant bride had grown to be more accepting of his touch.
 
Well, he grew to be more demanding. 
 
His don’t touch me’s turned into hold me’s seemingly overnight. Eric didn’t mind. He loved being close to Kyle. His bride was easily his favorite person save for their kit growing strong in Kyle’s belly. Cartman couldn’t wait to meet them. He hoped the kit looked like Kyle, with bright orange hair and beautiful green eyes. A button nose and round cheeks. It made him purr every time he thought about it. 
 
Ironically, Kyle hoped the kid looked more like Cartman. Soft brown hair and matching brown eyes. A cheeky smile and chubby. In any case, they would love their little one regardless of how they looked. Kyle wished he could have a sonogram but this wasn't a normal pregnancy. Nobody knew he was even carrying besides Kenny and Butters. And they only found out by chance.
 
When a four-month pregnant Kyle entered an emotional state because all the fruit snacks were gone, Cartman felt helpless that he couldn’t get him more. A delivery would’ve been too long and if he’d just had money he could’ve gone to the store to buy his bride what he wanted. Getting a job wasn't exactly an option for him but he had come to learn that Kenny did odd jobs that paid cash.
 
Pushing past his distaste for Kenny was quick work for Eric. The dark aura around the blonde may have still put him off but there was nothing worse to Cartman than Kyle being upset. Kenny gladly showed Cartman how to collect cans and bottles for recycling and how to find other simple ways to earn cash. In spending time with Kenny, he found out

why

the nice blonde had such an awful aura. 
 
Apparently, Kenny’s alcoholic parents had him via the Cult of Cthulhu. Cartman, being of the spirit world himself, understood entirely when Kenny explained his estranged relationship with death and rebirth. After Kenny intentionally stepped in front of a car to die only to re-manifest the next day for rounds, Cartman showed the blonde a party trick of his own. 
 
The only thing Kenny had to offer when the big man turned into a big raccoon was “Hey man, cool,” with an approving nod and smile. South Park was full of strange people and strange events. Finding out that the raccoon forest spirits were real didn’t so shock Kenny. He was just glad they were peaceful. Cartman raised him one better and informed him they often married and lived with humans. 
 
Kenny put the pieces together and asked if he’d married Kyle. Cartman only stated they had plans after their kit was born. Not long after that, Kyle didn’t bother layering his clothes to hide his baby bump when Butters and Kenny came over to see if what Cartman said was true. Butters was thrilled by the news and Kenny again only offered an approving nod, “Cool.”
Telling others, like his parents, wasn’t on Kyle’s agenda. He wasn’t sure what to expect from the experience so he was keeping it to himself for as long as he could. That meant he probably wouldn’t say anything until well after the kid was born. Cartman wasn’t so bothered by that. What did bother him was Kyle finally starting to stir. 
 
They had been sleeping in like any other Saturday. Cartman existed in his true form, large and bushy-tailed. His body had been slightly curved around Kyle who slept in the spirit’s middle. The human man had started grabbing and slightly pulling his fur. Soft groans came from the waking man. Cartman’s eyes blinked open, watching his bride for anything being wrong. He felt Kyle stretch, having been pushed in his center. A low hum from the large raccoon prompted Kyle to finally open his tired eyes. He realized his hands were full of fur, meaning he’d probably been pulling at his pillow-like partner. 
 
“Sorry, Cartman,” he yawned. His reply was Cartman grunting as he moved slightly. Kyle pushed softly on Cartman to get himself up. Firm brown eyes watched disapprovingly as Kyle attempted to escape their bed. The bedside clock read that it was just after ten. That was too early as far as Cartman was concerned. 
 
“Where are you going?” He grumbled. 
 
“Gotta pee,” Kyle yawned again. The bathroom wasn’t far, just across the hall. Cartman watched. He knew Kyle would either return back to bed (which he

desperately

wanted) or the ginger would start operating around the apartment. 
 
As much as he liked sleeping late, Kyle didn’t totally like not having things to do. Saturdays were always for chores when he was younger. When he’d try to do something Cartman would somehow get the task done quicker or distract him with some silly question. 
 
It was cute, the way Cartman tried to make sure Kyle was well-rested and accounted for. It made the ginger smile to himself. Being cared for this way was nice. He wouldn’t get it from anyone else. 
 
Not at all.
 
Much to Cartman’s chagrin, Kyle made his way to another room rather than coming back to bed. He tried to burrow into the blankets but the bed just wasn’t as nice without his bride. 
 
Kyle hummed while he started his breakfast. Cereal bombs were his weekend guilty pleasure. Mixing Cap’N Crunch, Trix, and Cheerios with banana milk did it for him. With a large bowl, he poured just the right amount of each cereal before getting out his beloved banana milk. It was the only kind he drank. Honestly, that he could drink. 
Despite having a broader urge for food, there were still things his sensitive pregnant tummy couldn’t handle. Not being able to enjoy chocolate milk was a shocking blow to him. He was angry he cried over it. 
 
Being pregnant was hard.
 
“Kyle, come back to bed. Bring your food with you,” a human Cartman pouted.
 
“No, eating in bed isn’t good.”
 
“Please, it’s too early.”
 
“It’s almost noon,” Kyle raised a brow. “And it’s about time to start getting ready anyway.”
 
“Why?” The exasperated whine came. 
 
“We’re going out today,” he rolled his eyes.
 
“Where?” Brown eyes looked at him with anticipation.
 
The answer came just over an hour later. For the first time in the five months Cartman had been living with Kyle, he was taken to the mall. Shockingly enough, it overwhelmed the larger man. Smells were vibrant and the lights were bright. It was loud from all the talking and laughing that floated between the stores. Kyle never thought his usually adventurous partner would hate the place. 
 
Too bad. They needed stuff for their baby. 
 
Saddling Cartman with a fruit smoothie to stimulate and focus his senses, Kyle held his hand while they first began browsing storefronts. Once Cartman’s agitation was calmed, walking the mall was fairly nice. Kyle wasn’t even bothered by having to wear an oversized utility jacket. With an orange turtle neck appearing behind the forest green jacket, ripped faded black jeans, and black combat boots, the ginger looked rather fashionable. 
 
“Wow, Stan was right. That guy living with Kyle

is

pretty big.”
 
“He’s kinda cute too. Love ‘em big and tall.”
 
“We know, Heidi.”
 
The group of girls watched from afar. Visits to the mall were recreational for Bebe, Heidi, Wendy, and Nichole. Bebe always had an affinity for Kyle, watching from the comforts of Instagram and Snapchat after he moved away. He looked cute as a kid and he looked gorgeous now. Even more than when he first moved back to South Park. He practically glowed. 
 
“It’s not fair. How come men get to have long lashes so effortlessly? I mean Kyle seriously looks like some sort of model,” Heidi whined. 
 
“And it almost spreads to the guy next to him,” Nichole hummed from her coffee. “He looks good too.”
 
“Not fair. All the good ones are either gay or taken.”
 
“And in this case, it’s both,” Bebe sighed. The four women looked at each other. Wendy and Stan were still in recovery after his conflict with Kyle. She honestly didn’t care what the ginger did so long as it wasn’t with her boyfriend. “Heidi, let’s go.”
 
The pale brunette rose from her seat without having to be asked twice. Nichole merely shook her head. Those two were asking for trouble. 
 
Kyle sipped his smoothie as they stopped outside of a children’s store. An assortment of forest-themed onesies were on display. A beanie with little ears caught his eyes. The small kick in his middle made him want it. Cartman’s eyes shifted down to his bride when he felt his hand squeeze slightly. They were only supposed to be window shopping and making a list but he could tell Kyle was having a struggle of will. 
 
“You know, we can just buy it now if you want,” he muttered, giving Kyle a reassuring squeeze back.
 
“I know but if we buy it now I’ll buy every fucking thing and I don’t get paid until next week.”
 
“So?”
 
“It’s not good to spend what you don’t have-“
 
“Kyle, omg, Kyle is that you? It’s been forever,” Bebe laughed, approaching with Heidi beside her. Ignoring the fact that Kye and Cartman had been holding hands for almost twenty minutes in their line of sight, the two women engaged the man they respectively were interested in. 
 
“H-hey Bebe. It has been a while, how are you?” Kyle offered a smile. Cartman moved with disinterest away from the woman trying to peer into his personal space. He’d watched enough Gossip Girl and Sex in the City to know she was trying to come onto him. 
 
“Oh, I’ve been great. How have you been,” she touched his arm. Cartman growled lowly beside him while again stepping away from Heidi.
 
Kyle cleared his throat before mimicking his partner in stepping away slightly.
 
“Been pretty good lately. Had some free time so we decided to do some shopping.”
 
“At the Baby Block? Do you have a kid?” Heidi kept her interested gaze at Cartman. Before he could answer, Kyle did.
 
“No, but his brother does,” he laughed stiffly. “We’re in newborn gifting mode. So uh, if you’ll excuse us,” Kyle gently pushed Eric to the side so they could walk around the two women. They never let go of each other’s hands as they entered what they hoped was a safe haven. 
 
Defeated, the ladies returned to their slow-clapping friends. 
 
“Good game, team. Good game,” Nichole encouraged.
 
“Wonder why Kyle did all the talking,” Heidi huffed. 
 
“Probably because the other guy doesn’t know you.”
 
“Well, how can he if Kyle’s there? And matter of fact, I don’t even know his name.”
 
“I don’t think anyone does,” Wendy breathed with realization. 
 
“Weird,” Bebe pulled her phone out. She was determined to know Kyle’s not-so-mystery-man by the end of the day.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Aside from going through the normal changes that came from being pregnant, Kyle noticed other changes too. Like his nails randomly growing into claws or his hair standing up when he was upset. Hissing became the norm when he got defensive the same way purring did when he was happy.
 
Cartman smiled gently as he listened to his bride’s content purrs while he nuzzled the soft beanie in his hands. They had gotten home not long ago. In their escape from those weirdo ladies at the mall, they found an even bigger selection of woodland-themed baby clothes and blankets. Once Kyle held the beanie in his hands he was done for. It, as well as four onesies, two pairs of booties, and a god-awful flannel blanket that Kyle swore he needed, were charged on his bank card. 
 
So much for waiting until payday. 
 
What Kyle could only describe as approving kicks came from his kit. A warm smile rested on his face as he continued nuzzling the beanie. His baby was happy with the purchase; he was convinced. 
 
“

I can’t wait to see you in it,

” he thought warmly. 
 
Peaceful afternoon bliss was soon to be interrupted by unexpected company. Cartman wasn’t moved to growling since he recognized both the knock and the aura. Kyle pushed himself up from the couch, making an escape to the bedroom. He had done away with his jeans, no longer needing to have them cut into his belly or making him feel semi-indecent with them unbuttoned and hiding under his jacket. 
 
“Yeah?” Cartman stood protectively in the door frame. He was never swayed by the smiling blonde couple. They were just so nice and so…there. Cartman just wanted his home to be secured and safe for his kit. That meant only he and Kyle but alas, Kyle constantly welcomed these two into their nesting space. 
 
“We came with a gift for Kyle!” Butters’ natural beam blinded Eric. 
 
“Oh really? You shouldn’t have,” he deadpanned. 
 
“Shut up and stop being mean,” Kyle called from the bedroom. With the official approval made, Cartman was forced to sidestep and let the intruders in. Moments later wearing stretchy maternity leggings he ordered online, Kyle returned to the living room. “Hey guys,” he smiled before sitting back on the couch. Butters was quick to sit next to him with the snack basket in his hand.
 
“Do anything fun today?” Kenny asked on his way to the kitchen. He seemed oblivious to the frown on Cartman’s face as he raided the fridge.
 
“Bought a few things for the baby,” Kyle opened a bag of chips. Butters only nodded with interest as he rubbed Kyle’s middle. He loved his friend’s baby bump. Feeling the kit inside was exciting. Sometimes he felt the sharp movements and harsh kicks, others were soft. Liane explained to the expectant mother that his kit would transform in utero. Those harsher movements were likely the little one’s developing power. It was all fascinating to the pale blonde. 
 
“Sounds like a good day. Run into Bebe and the girls did you?” Kenny resurfaced with a can of soda. 
 
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
 
“She’s been asking around about Eric,” Butters cooed, feeling a jump from the kit. 
 
“Me?” The brunette’s upset seeped.
 
“Sounds about right,” Kyle rolled his eyes as he started on a pack of cheese crackers.
 
“The fuck does that mean?” Cartman pressed.
 
“That the girls have their eyes on you,” Kenny smirked.  
 
“And?” He grew flustered at the lack of panic from the others. Women of his kind were normal, they watched and worked. Were relaxed and friendly. Not into the drama. The ones he’d just met were…interesting and he wasn't sure he wanted their attention.
 
“And nothing. Just don’t talk to ‘em,” Kyle moved on to a different snack. Butters always got the good stuff. Peanut butter chocolate marshmallows? Kyle was in Heaven. Kenny and Butters found it funny how Kyle’s junk food intake mirrored that of actual raccoons, not that they said it in front of the expectant man.
 
“Yeah, nothing to worry about. They’ll lose interest eventually. Just don’t feed them or else they’ll stick around,” Kenny teased. Butters only laughed when Kyle nodded with understanding. If anyone would relate…
 
Cartman wasn’t impressed with the jokes as they continued talking casually about the girls. The one that kept smiling at him was annoying. He didn’t want her around any further than he had that day. She seemed like trouble and he’d be damned if there was trouble around his growing family. 
The other occupants in the apartment carried on as usual. Their failure to be alarmed frustrated him. Once Kyle had his fill of snacks and Butters had to leave for work, the expectant parents were again left alone. When a certain tail began twitching in agitation, Kyle knew a certain someone was upset. 
 
“Cartman, what’s wrong?” Kyle leaned on the large man beside him. Cartman remained on the arm of the couch, a look of concentration on his face. Kyle nuzzled himself in his partner’s side, enjoying the faint feeling of Cartman’s arm over him.
 
“Nothing,” he said shortly. 
 
“You’re lying. Your tail gives you away every time. Now tell me what’s wrong,” Kyle hugged the larger man’s middle.
 
After a moment of contemplating, Cartman sighed. There was a lot he was still learning about humans and how they acted. Every dynamic was different and strange at times. His pout deepened at the thought he was perhaps overreacting. Green eyes caught a sharp twitch. 
 
“Cartman-“
 
“Nothing’s wrong,” he insisted.
 
“Something is wrong,” Kyle said gently. A gentle hand turned Cartman’s heated face towards him. “Talk to me, Eric. We can’t work things out if we don’t talk.”
 
“There’s nothing to work out. It’s dumb.”
 
“Obviously not. If it’s important enough to bother you, it's important enough to talk about.”
 
Another moment of thought passed before Cartman gave in. He was worrying the mother of his kit and that wasn’t good. Sighing, he gave in. 
 
“I don’t…I don’t like those women from earlier,” his cheeks deepened in color.
 
“Who, Bebe and Heidi?”
 
“They were too close. And now they’re asking around town for me. I don’t need attention.

We

don’t need attention,” he gently pulled Kyle close. They weren’t the typical family. There was a lot that people didn’t need to know. With a kit on the way, the usually carefree brunette was on edge.  
 
Kyle patted Cartman’s stomach. He nuzzled the man’s side with a soft purr. It made his heart swoon that his lover was worried this way. 
 
“You don’t have to worry, Cartman. This will all blow over before you know it. I promise we’ll be just fine.”
 
“How can you be sure,” he began losing the battle with his embarrassment.
 
 The swooning ginger only met him with a kiss before answering.
 
“Because we always are.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Performing small miracles was common for spirits that resided in the South Park woods. Cartman guessed that power was starting to reach Kyle. Somehow, true to what Kyle said, the ladies from the mall seemingly lost interest in them as fast as they found it. 
 
After such an encounter, Cartman was glad of the peace. Now, the only things he had to worry about were Kyle and their coming kit. As the months progressed, he witnessed Kyle take to the coming parenthood. The second bedroom the ginger intended to be a home office, a place he could quietly do his homework or study, was made to be something new. With a mere three weeks away from the kit’s arrival the space had been converted into a nursery. 
 
Kyle had been quite taken with the serene feeling of a nature theme. By the time he was done, his baby’s room was completely cozy with wooden furniture and green, brown, red, and yellow decorations. Plenty of stuffed animals and plants were adding soft flare to the space. The mother-to-be sat in the freshly put-together rocking chair admiring the room. All that was missing was the little one currently rough-housing in his tummy. 
 
“Mmm,” Kyle rubbed his middle with a light rock in the chair. Liane said that the closer to the delivery date, the more

excited

kits tended to get. At the time he didn’t quite get what she meant but now that he was getting strong kicks repeatedly he understood. 
 
“

I know love, mommy can’t wait to meet you too,

” he closed his eyes. It seemed like the baby wanted out but Kyle could tell he wasn’t quite in labor yet. The thought honestly scared him. He didn’t know what labor looked like. And as infuriating as it was, neither did Cartman. All the brunette seemed to know was that Kyle

could

deliver kits, not

how

. Liane did her best to reassure Kyle that when the time came it’d all be taken care of. All he had to do was make it to the shrine. 
 
Brown eyes watched the wincing ginger from the doorframe. His brows furrowed, seeing his bride in silent pain. It was exciting, being so close to parenthood. But it was also terrifying. Kyle’s well-being had always been important to him. Even if it was because of their coming joy, Cartman preferred that Kyle didn’t suffer. 
 
“‘Need anything?” He broke the silence. Kyle’s eyes opened slowly to find his partner a few feet away. 
 
“No, I’m good,” he shook his head. “We’re good,” his voice grew quiet. With a sharp inhale, he rubbed the side of his full middle. Between his second and third trimesters, he had grown larger. Oversized clothes were more than just a fashion statement when he went out. 
 
“Okay…”Cartman whispered as he sat in front of the rocker. Kyle met him with a tender smile amid his wince. He didn’t like worrying the protective spirit. Softly, Cartman began rubbing Kyle’s bump. He could feel the anxious little one. A similar smile took his face. “They’re busy.”
 
“The busiest,” Kyle breathed a laugh. Endearing and frustrating. That was the best way he could describe it. 
 
Cartman only offered a nod before leaning closer to Kyle’s middle. The two sat in comfortable silence in their kit’s nursery. Cartman continued to feel the fluttering movements. Over the past few months, he’d come to sense what were normal kicks and what had been the kit exercising its powers. It seemed the busy one was doing both. The father-to-be rested his head near his kit’s present home. Fair fingers stroked his curls while their peaceful bliss continued. 
 
“

You have to play nice in there. It hurts mommy when you don’t. We don’t want him hurting, yeah?

” Cartman hoped the kit heard his wishes. ”

Just a little while longer. Then we can play all you want.”

Perhaps the kit did hear his plea. Two weeks went by and the little one seemingly obeyed their father. Kyle noticed the calm energy in his womb which he was thankful for. His baby was being kinder and that went a long way. 
 
That is until it didn’t. 
 
“Shit…”Kyle muttered from his place at the sink. The goal had been to clean his lunch plate but he could barely start the water. A vivid contraction pulsated through his core prompting him to double over. His heart began beating in his ears as another contraction rippled moments later. He was on his knees trying to control his breathing. If Cartman didn’t get sidetracked he’d be home soon. 
 
Turning in recycling for money wasn’t usually a long process. Cartman rode in the backseat of Kenny’s truck since he picked up his bubbly boyfriend. He had a nagging feeling in his gut. Trying to sit still in the back was hard. Kenny noticed and kept straight to their apartments. Usually, he’d have stopped for food or blow but he didn’t need an agitated Cartman out longer than he needed to be. 
 
Cartman didn’t bother with goodbyes when he climbed out of Kennty’s truck. He was hyper-focused on his bride. The sinking feeling in his stomach tightened, making him take to their apartment quickly. 
 
Hearing the door open gave Kyle a wave of relief. The man was still on the floor, holding his middle with a small puddle of water beneath him.

“C-Cartman! Come here, fast!” He cried out of him. Instantly his wide-eyed partner was before him. 
 
“Kyle, are you-”
 
“Shut up and get me to your mother,” the ginger wheezed in pain. Cartman knew he wasn’t supposed to teleport with a heavily pregnant lover but it was his only hope. It took a mere seconds before the laboring Kyle was in the backseat of Kenny’s truck. The two blondes looked started as they faced the expectant couple.
 
Kenny could barely ask what was happening before Cartman demanded he drive to the forest. Hearing Kyle’s pained breaths and groans told the man to not argue. Butters did his part by climbing in the backseat while Kenny drove. It was an honor to have his hand crushed by Kyle’s clawed hand when a contraction hit. 
 
“I-I’m sorry,” Kyle panted. 
 
“It’s fine; I’ll live,” Butters gasped shaking his hand as Kyle tried to pat it but was distracted by another contraction. Cartman received the brunt squeeze from his bride. He was more equipped to handle it but that didn’t mean it hurt any less. God, his bride was strong. 
 
By Cartman’s manipulation, Kenny never faced a red light as he drove quickly to the far end of the forest. Cartman instructed him on back roads around the preserve that’d get them closer to the shrine than the public opening. Kenny knew it was far from the time but he made mental notes of this route. It’d be good for later. Once they reached a heavily wooded area that the truck couldn’t face, Cartman carried Kyle from the backseat. Transforming into his natural form, he made sure his bride was secure on his back before whisking him away through the trees. 
 
“Butters, where are you going?” Kenny called after him when the pale blonde took to the woods. 
 
“To the shrine! We have to be there for Kyle and Eric!” he called back as he continued running in. Kenny bit his lip in a moment of internal debate. With an exasperated sigh, he ran after his boyfriend. 
 
“You’re okay, Kyle. You’re doing wonderful. Keep breathing,” Liane coached him. By this point, he had finally broken into tears. The pain had grown unbearable. He felt like his insides were on fire, twisted and pulsating all at once. 
 
“Please, I need it out. Get. It. Out,” he demanded through panting groans. 
 
“Drink this,” she brought the same cooling liquid she had given him before. Cartman helped him drink it down. Before long, his head felt lighter.
 
“E-eric-” his speech slurred. Cartman continued holding his hand, giving him reassuring kisses as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Suddenly, he felt nothing. His body felt normal, with no aches or pains. No contractions. He didn’t feel the blade opening his belly. Each time he blinked he felt like he saw something different. 
 
Liane and some woman he’d never seen before cutting him open. 
 
Butters and Kenny just beyond the shrine posts. 
 
Eric looking worried yet happy. 
 
Then he saw the kit, human-looking with ears and tail covered in the golden blood that told it was born unto a human that was properly bonded to a spirit. The shrieking cry brought Kyle from his dazed illusive state. 
 
“Oh my, Kyle, she’s beautiful,” Liane wrapped the child in the blanket her aid was holding. Kyle’s eyes glanced at his middle closing with a single run of the blade that opened him after it’d been dipped in the fluid. Once he was properly secured, he was introduced to his kit. Tears flowed heavily from the mother and child as they shared an embrace. 
 
“I’m so glad I get to finally meet you,” Kyle tearfully held his kit. She smelled like sunflowers. Her hair was brown with reddish undertones. Her eyes were still closed; Liane had prepped Kyle to not expect them to for at least a month. He couldn’t wait to see her eyes. He knew they’d be just as beautiful as her. 
 
Cartman only rested stunned and silent beside his crying family. He wasn’t so moved to tears himself. He was too shocked to be. He was a father. A little girl was given to him and Kyle. The rapid beating of his heart when he looked at her told him she’d be everything to him for all the days of his life. She looked like her mother which made him happy. His little girl. He had a little girl. He couldn’t be happier.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Breastfeeding was new. Never did Kyle think he’d do it; never was there a reason. Now he had one and the girl had a healthy appetite. It amazed Kyle all the same.His chest hadn’t grown significantly with milk for his kit. His pecs only grew softer during his pregnancy. There had been slight growth but nothing that required a maternity bra, at least not for size. He still wore one occasionally, just because he could leak and he’d rather not have wet shirts, even if he’d been at home for the past three weeks.With the birth of Kieri, Kyle dutifully abandoned outside life to stay with his precious little one. It was only temporary while she was so small. The girl had to be held constantly. Her little whimpers when she was alone were too much for her parents to take. Because their hearts couldn’t handle it, they took turns holding her throughout the day.Since Kyle was mama, Kieri was in his arms the most but when he needed a break Cartman happily rested the girl on his chest while he watched TV. She was a big cuddler. It made his heart swoon. Even in those moments when mommy didn’t necessarily need a break, Cartman enjoyed just looking at his daughter resting peacefully in his embrace. Those tiny eyes hadn’t opened yet but the new parents always knew when their little girl was awake or sleeping.Kieri loved both her parents. They were so warm and giving. Her grandma was also the few times she’d met her. As per Cartman’s culture, nobody had truly been to see the little kit. Her newness was for her parents to familiarize with. Those that did come by, were simply to give gifts in honor of her birth.Green eyes fell on the wooden bead bracelet around the newborn’s ankle. One morning a few days after bringing her home, Kyle woke up to see it there. Cartman hadn’t been the one to dress their daughter with it but instructed Kyle not to take it off. It’d have been rude to remove a gift, especially one that helped protect the small spirit from evil.Beside him in bed had been a bowl of treats. It wasn’t until he’d given birth he’d ever had them. They were some sort of baked dough that tasted like soy and rice with a hint of sweetness. Again, not from his partner but explained to be a gift for the new mother to help make milk. Kyle never actually saw the gifts be given but he’d woke up every few days with some on his nightstand. They never quite tasted or looked the same so he imagined it had been different spirits that left it.Similar things were left around their apartment. Cartman was always happy to find gifts for his bride and kit. The welcome of his family was encouraging. Little things, fresh flowers and fruit, palm stones, viles of the healing fluid, all tended to be found in Kieri’s room or on Kyle’s nightstand. One morning Kyle woke up a wooden bead bracelet on his wrist with a single red bead in amongst the brown ones. Cartman didn’t exactly know what to say when he saw it but encouraged his bride not to remove it.Kyle wasn’t sure if Cartman had been so happy when he saw the bracelet. The brunette usually wore a smile when he saw a gift given. Instead, he looked rather awkward as he made off with one of the baked dough bites. When Kyle tried to inquire, his fiance brushed it off. He’d have never guessed that Cartman wasn’t in the mood to talk about his father.Humming, Kyle looked down at the little one in his arms. Kieri was enjoying lunch, happily chirping while she held her mom’s finger. Kyle couldn't get over her tiny hand wrapping around the top of his pointer. A blush of contentment rested on his cheeks while his little girl nursed until she was full. He could distinguish between a happy chirp and an ‘I’m full mommy’ chirp. When his trained ears heard the latter he maneuvered her to his shoulder for burping.Being a spirit, Kieri’s biological makeup was the same as her father’s. That meant that Kyle was still learning what was a necessity and not. He liked to think she needed to be burped or have her diaper changed but that didn’t always happen. He panicked when she didn’t poop for almost three days but Liane explained that she wouldn't always. Her body didn’t digest the way humans did. The same went for burping. It wasn’t a sound Kyle was blessed to hear from his kit all the time but still, after every feeding he tried just for the sake of her comfort. He’d have hated for her to need the release but struggled because he hadn’t helped her.He attentively listened to the girl on his shoulder. Her chirps were quiet; she was getting sleepy. He continued patting her back. It'd either get him a burp or lull her to sleep. Either was fine for the new mother.Soon Kieri was lying on her mother’s chest. The sleepy kit curled into his warmth, enjoying his soft purrs. Purring was still new for Kyle but sentiment made him feel matronly. It was odd but he had accepted that he was, in most ways, the female entity in his house. The ginger still 100% saw himself as a man but he was also a mother, not a father. Liane explained that he could still very much see himself as a father or just simply a parent but Kyle was secure in his identity as a mother. He noticed that Cartman purred as well so it wasn’t entirely a gendered reaction but still, since it was usually only Kieri that warranted that response from him, he read it as a come-on for motherhood.Cartman slipped into the bedroom where Kyle had been propped up against the headboard. His eyes softened at his sleeping kit and resting bride. He could tell Kieri had a good meal which made him happy. Kyle was producing well which meant Kieri was eating well. The brunette carefully climbed into bed beside his bride. Carefully, he moved Kyle to lean against him, wrapping his arm around him. The tired mother looked appreciative. Cartman kissed his forehead lovingly. Kieri may have become his world the moment she took her first breath but Kyle was always his priority. If the ginger wasn’t okay then their daughter wouldn’t be.In the security of Eric’s arms, Kyle let himself drift off. Cartman watched his family sleep in his embrace. They found safety in him. It was an honor he’d never known before. Brown eyes continued to watch over the mother and child. Cartman never wanted to forget what they looked like at that moment.***“You’re so sweet. Yes, I love you,” Kyle cooed quietly. The rocking chair in the nursery had been his secondary stronghold. When he felt it was absolutely necessary to get out of bed, he would sit there with his kit for a change of pace. Today was one of those days.Gently, he rocked back and forth contently soothing his increasingly fussy daughter. She wasn’t entirely vocal but her whines were starting. He had already tried twice to nurse her but she wasn’t interested. It came to mind that she may have been struggling to poop but she wasn’t tensing her legs. He wished he knew what was bothering her. His ears had been pointed downward in concerned sadness.More and more, Kyle’s human features would disappear in favor of raccoon ones. He’d sprout a tail, not as lavish as Cartman’s but still stripped and bushy all the same. His ears would appear on the top of his head, again mirroring his lover’s but instead of brown they were more reddish brown like his daughters. The redness showed more on him. Claw-like nails would replace his trim fingernails. He had grown better about having them, no longer involuntarily scratching himself or Cartman. The only catch was that he had no control over when these changes would take effect.Kyle’s unprovoked transformations were also a contributing factor in him not leaving his home for a month. It’d be just his luck he’d be in the middle of the grocery store when his unruly tail would appear and knock over a soup display. Cartman constantly assured him he’d gain control over time. The only solace came from knowing he’d never change into a raccoon entirely. Apparently, bonded humans couldn’t do that and Kyle was grateful. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to cope if he was stuck as a raccoon for an unplanned unspecified amount of time.“Can you tell mommy what’s wrong? I can’t help if I don’t know,” he whimpered quietly. His little girl being uncomfortable broke his heart. Maybe it was the port-partum hormones but he felt close to crying. Kieri hadn’t even been upset for long and it was impacting Kyle greatly. All Kieri did was whine more for a brief second and scrunch her little face. She had been doing that a lot lately, scrunching. It made Kyle and Cartman think she was in some sort of pain they couldn't find. The upset new parents never really had the chance to evaluate as she’d release the look of frustration almost instantly. Her doll-like face would relax and she’d be content again. The whiplash drove her parents mad. It probably wouldn’t have if they’d realized the girl was nearing the moment they’d been waiting for since she came into the world.As it turns out, there was nothing so wrong with the kit. It just took a lot of energy and preparation to open her eyes.Kyle’s eyes grew wide as he witnessed those beautiful brown eyes open for the first time. He was left speechless as he took in their splendor. They were her father’s brown eyes with little flecks from her mother’s green ones. They were gorgeous as far as the ginger was concerned, well worth the wait. The girl stretched in his arms, rubbing her face through her slow blinks. Once Kyle came to, he lifted himself from the rocker.“Cartman?” He called softly as he entered the living room. The large man in question had been stationary on the couch watching the TV on mute. With a newborn spirit in the house, non-naturally occurring noises weren't good to be around. That meant no TV, no phones, no alarms. It’d disrupt her immersion into the world.“Hmm?” He hummed, glancing at his bride sitting beside him.“She did it. She opened her eyes,” he breathed wonder into his voice. “She has your eyes. They’re so beautiful,” he showed the girl to her father. Cartman’s cheeks stung as he took her into his arms. Kieri blinked more, now more fluid with a curiosity about her outside home. The smile on her face made Cartman’s heart race. That smile was just for him. So warm and silly through her coming sleepiness. She always gave him that smile.“Well hello there,” he said softly. The girl chirped in response, warranting her father to do the same. Kyle watched lovingly as he leaned onto Cartman’s arm. He kissed the brunette’s cheek before resting his head on his shoulder. He looked at their kit in Cartman’s hands.She was their everything.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Life, as Kyle knew it, had to resume at some point. After devoting his life for two and a half months to his baby, he had to return to work and school. He managed to forge doctor’s notes to take paid leave from both but now his leave was over. Kieri was been better about not being held constantly lately. She was accepting of the bottles her dad fed her. Her parents started introducing her to a bottle a couple of weeks prior since her mom wouldn’t be home to feed her during the day. The little one never would’ve thought her mom would go missing for eight-plus hours of the day. When Kyle’s first day of work came, it was hard on them all.
 
Despite trying to stay positive, Kyle simply couldn’t keep his head up at work. His whole life he had been a fast adaptor. Whatever guff life would throw at him, he’d take it and make it into nothing with ease. Perhaps he was too sensitive after giving birth. His mind had a hard time processing. He wasn’t one to make mistakes, let alone so many. The fact that he was made him self-conscious aside from missing his little one. 
 
After a stressful eight-hour return to the office, Kyle had to await the bus. He wanted a car but he couldn’t afford one without working. Keeping that in mind, he tried not to cry as gray clouds formed overhead.
 
Kieri wasn’t happy without her mother around for so long. Her dad was great and the visit to her grandma helped but she missed her mom. Cartman held a sigh as he bounced the crying kit in his arms. The living room clock told him it was just after five o’clock. His bride should’ve been home already. With a crying kit to focus on, Cartman tried not to worry about his still absent partner. His bubbling worry was alleviated when Kyle finally walked through the door.
 
Behind the soaking wet ginger, the rain poured outside. Kyle shook as he slowly put his umbrella in the holder and peeled off his jacket. Cartman’s eyes were soft as he watched his bride while also cooing at the crying kit. She seemed to calm, sensing her mother home finally. 
 
“Kyle, are you okay?” He tried quietly.
 
“E-Eric,” Kyle finally broke. Cartman didn’t care that his bride was wet from the cold rain. He pulled him close, letting him cry. Kieri sniffled, her small hand reaching for her mother’s cheek. Kyle held her hand in his as the overwhelm of the day poured through his tears. 
 
Not wanting a sick Kyle, Cartman ran a hot shower for him. It was well appreciated. Kieri didn’t want to be away from her mother again so she ended up joining him. After their day apart, Kyle was happy to hold her. While the two soothed their lonesome for each other, Cartman prepared fresh clothes for them. He didn’t know what caused Kyle to break the way he had but he’d be damned if it happened again. 
 
***
 
“And I missed lunch because I had to catch up on all the shit I messed up earlier in the day. I was just so distracted today. Usually, I can handle it, but today I just…I just felt like something was missing. It hurt me to be away. All day I just kept thinking about you guys,” Kyle sniffled. His nose was red and his cheeks were flushed. Beside him, Cartman held him comfortingly. Their daughter was content in his arms. That was the only thing preventing him from crying again. “And then the fucking bus was late when the storm started. It was just a shit day all around.”
 
Cartman listened patiently while his bride recounted his woeful day. Kieri nuzzled her mother, not so much from hunger but comfort. He had never been away too long. The girl didn’t like being separated from him, especially when he’d return in such upset. Cartman took note of his family’s distressed state. Something had to be done. 
 
“I don’t know how I can do this,” Kyle whimpered. “Being away all day is too much but we need the money. I have to go to school. Cartman, I don't know what to do.”
 
“My bride please don’t cry again,” he rubbed Kyle’s arm. “You have cried enough and if you do it again Kieri will too. Stress isn’t good for either of you,” he soothed him. “I think I have a solution.”
 
Sniffling, Kyle looked up at the larger man, “What is it?”
 
The answer came at lunchtime the next day. Kyle was happily surprised to see his partner and daughter awaiting him outside his workplace. The time for Kieri to become more familiar with the outside world had come. Eric thought the best compromise to help his daughter and bride soothe their lonesome for each other was to start meeting for lunch before escorting Kyle home at the end of the day. Doing so would help the new spirit learn more of the human world too.
 
Seeing Kieri in the animal-eared beanie made Kyle’s heart beat fast. He tried not to cry on their first lunch date. Crying so much bothered him but Liane said it was natural post-partum. Handling so much pure energy that came with birthing a spirit could lead to overwhelm. The sentiment would pass in time. 
 
 Having lunch together seemingly did the trick for both mother and child. Kieri’s mood improved, no longer fussy with loneliness for her mom. Kyle’s worry was soothed by the same means. He was able to go back to work with a clear head. Once his workday ended, he found his family waiting for him outside. Kieri’s whines for her mother made it clear who she wanted to hold her on the ride home. Cartman was hardly bitter about it. 
 
With each passing day, their new routine made life better. Kieri began enjoying time out with her dad. The world outside their quiet apartment was something strange. She had been to the forest plenty. There were even a few times she saw the spirit side of the shrine. Nothing so compared to the bustling town. Cartman himself was still adjusting but after nearly a year he was much better acclimated. When they were waiting for Kyle, Cartman often took his daughter to the playground or toy store. She was still rather small so it wasn’t like she could demand or play much. Still, being around other children was good and the energy was comparatively better in those spaces for her. 
 
Before long, Kieri was able to crawl. Kyle and Cartman mutually struggled with their now six-month-old daughter’s development. No longer was she so demanding of their physical touch. They didn’t know how to feel when the girl proactively crawled away, free to explore something that’d catch her attention in the apartment. She had grown more vocal when waiting to see her mother for lunch or picking him up after work. 
 
Waiting under an umbrella with her dad didn’t stop the girl from complaining. It was hardly storming but she still wasn’t thrilled to be outside. Cartman bounced her gently as they waited for Kyle. His bride told him they didn’t need to visit that day but he did a poor job of hiding his sadness. Every day, for over three months, Cartman brought Kieri to her mom’s job twice a day. He wouldn’t stop for the rain. The little one would just have to make do with her complaints. 
 
A soft smile spread rested on Kyle’s face when he left the office. To see his partner cooing at their baby made his heart flutter. She looked so stern to be only six months. It made the new mom chuckle to himself as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. His greeting was rewarded with a purr from his sweet one. Kyle’s nostrils shortly pushed air as he kept a smile when kissing Cartman. His affection had reached new heights and it was no longer due to his pregnancy. Kyle hadn’t so said it aloud but he genuinely loved Cartman. The life they shared felt normal; it felt

right

. For the first time in a while, Kyle felt happy. And it was all thanks to his loving fiance. 
 
***

Seeing Kyle kiss Cartman made Stan’s stomach twist. Seeing Kyle and Cartman in general made Stan’s stomach twist, amongst other things. Things seemed too serious between them for Stan’s liking, especially with a child that looked too much like both of them. He heard from Wendy that Cartman had a niece or nephew but the baby that was routinely strapped to his chest was too small to be the same child. Not to mention, she was far too attached to Kyle and vice versa. 
 
The first time Stan saw the child had been when he saw them across the way at the park. He was meant to be taking his dog for a walk during lunch when he spotted the obvious family. They were so sickeningly in love with each other, so carefree and indulgent. Cartman was lying on his back, his head supported by his arms. The small girl crawled on the blanket beside him, enjoying both a baby biscuit in one hand and a toy bunny in the other. On the other side of Cartman, Kyle had been sitting, people-watching before he noticed Cartman seemingly falling asleep. 
 
Stan felt his stomach drop when he watched Kyle lean over Cartman to kiss him. The faux-sleeping man wrapped an arm around Kyle, bringing him closer while he deepened the kiss. The nameless girl became interested in the pair and started her venture over. How lucky was Cartman to hold the girl with his other arm and gaze up into Kyle’s vibrant green eyes above him? Stan would’ve given his life to have Kyle look at him with love that way. All he could do was stand to the side and watch Kyle lay over Cartman’s large frame and give love to the little girl who happily received her share of kisses.
 
They looked so much like a family that it was hard to imagine they weren’t. Stan hadn’t been told anything about Kyle and Cartman having a kid, however. She looked too closely of relation to be adopted. Kenny and Butters hadn’t said anything. The girls functionally lost interest and weren’t good for any information. That left his mother. 
 
Sheila and Sharon were still good friends. The two women kept in contact regularly even with the move that happened years ago. Stan casually brought the child up to his mother during one of their routine visits. Sharon had been fairly confused, not knowing anything about it. Feeling like she was jipped out of knowing her friend was a grandmother, she brought it to Sheila’s attention during their weekly chat. 
 
“Wha-wha-what?!” Sheila nearly dropped her tea. 
 
“He has a child. Did you seriously not know too?” Sharon sounded worried. She knew that Kyle’s move wasn’t supported by his parents. Sheila and Gerald had been worried about him so finding out he had a child so suddenly likely encouraged their fears. 
 
“I did not! Are you sure the child is his?”
 
“If you saw the picture Stan took you wouldn’t have to ask.”
 
“Send it to me. Send it to me right now.”
 
“Better take a sedative, Sheila. The girl looks just like him,” Sharon hummed before sending the photo. It was a sly one that Stan snuck on another walk. Kyle had been holding the sweet girl, kissing her temple while Cartman sat beside him distracted by something in the sky. “The guy next to him is his boyfriend. According to Wendy, they’ve been together for about as long as Kyle’s been in town.” 
 
“I have never seen that man before in my life,” Sheila breathed. “And the girl…she does look just like Kyle…Oh my god,” her voice trailed off. 
 
“He’s really never mentioned the baby?”
 
“Or the boyfriend. I can’t believe this,” the East Coast accent sounded defeated. After a moment of silence, Sheila cleared her throat. “Gerald and I will be there next week. Don’t tell Bubbe.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“As I mentioned, the way bonds work, humans will either become spirits themselves or live long lives. I chose the latter.” 
 
“If you don’t mind my asking, how old are you then?”
 
“I just made five hundred twenty-nine.” 
 
“You had Carman at five hundred years old?”
 
“He was my birthday present.”
 
Kyle nodded slowly as his future mother-in-law smiled fondly. With the conversation of marriage resurfacing, it was time for Kyle to fully understand what it meant to be in the world he was being drawn into. His best resource was none other than Liane. 
 
“Spirits don’t operate too differently than humans. Some, like Eric, are monogamous. They only take one partner for their lives. Others, like his father, of polyamorous. His firstborn’s mother chose to join him as a spirit. She resides with him on the spirit plane rather than the earth side.”
 
“Why didn’t you choose to do that?”
 
“I felt it my responsibility to take care of the shrine earth-side. There hadn’t been anyone else around to do it. That and well…not to sound morbid, but I still hope to pass on one day. With choosing to have a long life with ties to the spirit world, I’m still considered ‘human’ rather than a spirit.”
 
“So spirits don’t die?” 
 
“They can, it’s just takes much longer. And even more so if the spirit is natural born like Eric, his father, or Kieri. For humans that adapt to living as a spirit, they tend to die after a few thousand years. Someone bound like myself, we’re expected to live only to about a thousand.” 
 
“The spirits can’t take care of the shrine themselves?”
 
“Well they can but there’s a better sense of power that comes with human energy. Having someone earth-side tend to the physical needs improves their quality of life.”
 
“When you die who’ll do that?”
 
“I’m not sure. I like to believe in the next four hundred years or so someone will come along,” she chuckled softly. Kyle looked down at the kit in his lap playing contently with her bunny toy. It had been one of the gifts she’d received as a newborn. She was rather fond of it which made her dad happy. It meant she’d get along well with animals as far as he was concerned. 
 
“I-I don’t know what I want to do. Someone has to keep this land up but I…I also want as much time with my family as I can have,” he sighed. “Is that selfish?”
 
“Of course not, Kyle,” Liane touched his shoulder. “It’s a hard decision. Some people pick neither.”
 
“That’s a choice?”
 
She nodded, “Not too long ago, a young man chose to simply love his wife for all of his natural life. He was dying of some sort of illness and you’d think he’d have wanted to save himself by becoming a spirit but no. He chose to wed her but did not complete the bond to pick either life path. He died a couple of years later, as a full-blooded human.” 
 
“That’s so sad…I wonder why. Didn’t he know she’d miss him for centuries?”
 
“He did. And so did she. But that’s what made their time together so much more precious. Their son may never truly know his father but, having him gives his mother peace. She still has a piece of her love to hold her through time.”
 
“I…I don’t think I could leave Eric or Kieri,” Kyle wiped a stray tear. “It’s hard to imagine in some fifty or so years leaving them. It feels so sudden, ya know?” 
 
Again she nodded, “I understand entirely. I try not to think about what’ll happen to Eric when my time comes. Four hundred years may seem like a long time, but from where I stand, it isn’t,’ she sighed. “But that’s why I do what I can to make the most of that time.”
 
“Everything feels so complicated,” he mourned. 
 
“I’m sorry you didn’t have a say in it.”
 
“I-” he paused. He really didn’t. Cartman claimed him when they were children. Their souls were bound without his permission or knowledge and now he had to figure out what to make of it. “I didn’t but…I don’t regret it. I love Kieri more than anything. And I love Eric too. I don’t know what I’d do without them.” 
 
“Then think things over. There’s still time before the wedding. You don’t have to decide right this second.”
 
“I know but-”
 
Liane held up her hand. “Take all the time you need. This is your life and your decision. Remember, no matter what, everything will be okay.” 
 
***
 
Kyle kept Liane’s words in his mind as he carried on through the week. He may have been partially distracted but that was fine. Work didn’t suffer and he still gave plenty of attention to his family. Cartman noticed Kyle’s deep thought but said nothing. He knew Kyle finally had

the talk

with Liane. There was a lot to consider about his future. As much as Cartman wanted his bride with him for all the days of his life, he couldn’t force Kyle into that. In his maturity, he realized he backed Kyle into a corner with the marking and eventual baby. He would never want such an arrangement for his daughter. 
 
An apology lingered on his tongue that he struggled to voice. He didn’t so know how. Would it anger Kyle? Cartman hoped that Kyle wouldn’t think he had regrets. There was nothing Cartman regretted about anything besides how he did things. He was only ten when he marked Kyle. As he grew older he could’ve always broken their bond but he left his own fantasies to drive him to seek out the ginger. Then he decided the best way to win Kyle over was with a baby. As much as he loved Kieri and the sight of a pregnant Kyle, he felt bad for the pain it caused the ginger. 
 
Labor was hard. Postpartum was hard. Growing a spirit was hard. The changes Kyle went through were hard. Trying to figure out his life commitment was hard. 
 
That was all because of a dream Cartman held onto from when he was a child. Guilt wasn’t a feeling spirits were accustomed to. There was always a certain level of detachment from the things they did that prevented it. Cartman tried to remember that but he couldn’t detach himself from the pain he caused his bride. A therapist on TV said that talking over one’s feelings would help. If he felt bad about something in his relationship, he should address it with his partner. The night he had plans to he was severely detrailed but an unsuspecting visit. 
 
Kieri shrieked briefly when the knock came to the door. Cartman’s brow furrowed at the sound. He picked his daughter up as the knock returned. Kyle told him he had an office party after work so he’d make his way home alone. It was too early for him to be home. Not knowing who else could be at the door, Cartman looked through the peephole. He expected to see Kenny or maybe even Butters. But alas, he saw neither. Who he did see were the faces of people that were only graced the photo albums his bride kept. 
 
***
 
“Kieri, I’m home,” Kyle breathed as he came through the front door. Work parties could be so draining. He was glad to finally be home to his baby and boyfriend. Peeling his jacket off, he kicked his boots off in the same motion. 
 
“Kyle, we’re in the living room. Someone’s here for you,” Cartman called. 
 
“Oh, is it Butters? He said he had something for Kieri.”
 
“No, Bubbe. Try again.”
 
Kyle stopped in his tracks at hearing the voice. It couldn’t be. There was just no way. 
 
“Well, don’t just stand in the doorway son. Come on in.”
 
Fuck, this wasn’t happening. Kyle’s heart grew loud in his ears. Slowly, he began his sudden journey to the living room. On the loveseat, Cartman had been holding Kieri who was thrilled by his return home. Across the room sitting on the couch were the two people Kyle hadn’t been ready to face yet. 
 
“Oh, Kyle it’s good to see you,” Sheila pulled him into her arms. Gerald joined in, never actually giving Kyle the chance to hug back. Cartman watched as Kyle stiffly stood in his parents’ arms. Based on similar things he’d seen on the TV, he knew their visit would be interesting.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“So, tell us, how have things been?” Sheila held a smile. Across the room, Kyle had joined his small family. Kieri was content on his lap, soaking in his being since he was home late. Beside him, Cartman was nestled in the crook of the couch. The larger man had one arm resting faithfully on the back of the couch behind Kyle’s head while he leaned on the other on the arm out the couch. Green eyes glanced at the brunette who seemed lost in thought. 
 
“Things have been great,” Kyle swallowed. There had been plenty of time to prepare for this but he hadn’t. He cursed himself for facing the very real need to prep for this talk. 
 
“Where are you working, again? Some sort of medical office?” Gerald invaded the conversation.
 
“Yup, yup. I’m an office aide at an urgent care.  Do the paperwork screening, sorting, check-in, and insurance submission. All that good stuff.”
 
“Do you like it?”
 
“Not entirely, but it’s something,” he cleared his throat. 
 
“Well I suppose something has to pay the bills,” Gerald matched his awkwardness. 
 
“Eric, do you work at all?” Sheila looked at the large man. 
 
“I’m a stay-at-home dad,” he didn’t look at them. The sinking suspicion that they already knew that lingered heavy between him and Kyle. 
 
“So this little one

is

your daughter?” Gerald asked. 
 
“Uh-huh,” the spirit still didn’t look up. 
 
“O-our daughter,” Kyle finally confessed. “She’s our daughter.”
 
“And how did that happen? You couldn’t have afforded a surrogate,” Sheila shifted from niceness into chastisement. She wanted answers and her son was going to give them.
 
Cartman and Kyle glanced at each other. Cartman would leave this part to his bride. It was up to him what he wanted to say; he only trusted the ginger wouldn’t put their family in danger. 
 
Kyle took a deep breath, “We didn’t hire a surrogate,” he started. “And I didn’t just sleep with someone to have her,” he said as his mother opened her mouth. Technically, he had. In fact, he got pregnant within three days of sleeping with someone he’d only just met but they didn’t need to know that.
 
“So how did she come to be?” Gerald’s voice demanded clarity in a tired tone. He didn’t care for the games and like his wife, he wanted the truth about his apparent granddaughter. Kyle not saying anything for over a year about having a child when they talked at least twice a month since the move was a blow.
 
“I,” he took another breath. “I gave birth to her. That’s how she looks like both Eric and I. She’s

ours

in every sense of the word.”
 
“And how is that possible,” Sheila eyed him. Her stern look went between her son and the man glaring slightly into space beside him.
 
“If I tell you, you have to promise not to say anything to anyone. If you do, you could seriously jeopardize us.”
 
“Kyle, what-“
 
“Do you promise?”
 
The older couple glanced at each other in silent consultation. Gerland exhaled sharply, he nodded on behalf of them both, “Yes, son.” He looked momentarily at the larger brunette beside his who looked stiff and angry amid his silence. Whatever this news was, it was going to be a pip.
 
“There’s an experimental scientist we saw. You see, Eric and I were fast. We met and just,” he looked at his partner and rested his free hand on his thigh before looking back at his parents. “We just fell in love instantly. It was kismet. From the moment we saw each other we knew we wanted to spend all of our lives together.”
 
Cartman tried not to look surprised as his bride spoke. His downcast eyes looked at Kyle as the ginger continued. 
 
“There’s always talk about weird people around here and Utah, and the desert and all that. Talking through the kinda…weird circles we found a ‘doctor’ that helped same-sex couples reproduce naturally without a donor or surrogate. We said why not and tried it. I volunteered to carry and well…it was successful and now Kieri is here.” 
 
“Kyle, how could you do something so dangerous?” Sheila looked at him. To know he was a test subject in something so life-threatening made her question his sanity. 
 
“I don’t regret it,” he said pointedly. “I know it’s unorthodox and was risky but, we had the chance to start our family, one we both wanted,” his thumb rubbed Cartman’s thigh. “Now you promised not to say anything. Don’t go looking for this doctor or tell people what happened. We want to keep Kieri safe and well…we may want another one day,” he shocked both his partner and parents.

“More kits?”

Cartman nearly sprouted a wagging tail. It took a lot of willpower to not purr at the news. He’d have to hold his joy until after the humans left. 
 
“You mean to tell us, you plan to go back to this doctor who may or may not even be licensed and do this all over again,” Gerald creases his brow. 
 
“Yes,” the pointed tone returned to the ginger. “We were successful once and I know we’d be again. I’m happy,” he sighed looking at the girl nuzzling him. “Kieri…Kieri means the world to me and Eric. I can’t imagine my life without her. Or Eric for that matter. Being with them makes me feel fulfilled in a way I’ve never known,” he took Eric’s hand into his. The spirit looked at him slightly, a blush creeping into his cheeks. “I’m in love. That should be enough of a reason to keep doing what makes me happy.”
 
The older couple again exchanged looks before Sheila took the new lead, “And how did you two meet? You’ve never mentioned Eric before.”
 
“We met on a hike,” Kyle said truthfully. “I was going through the woods, looking for the shrine and we came across each other,” he gave a very skeletal retelling of their first encounter. “After that we just,” he paused with a shrug. “Bonded.”
 
“And so you fell in love, just like that?”
 
“Just like that,” the ginger nodded. “It was like we knew each other all our lives. The first time he held me I knew he was someone I’d love for the rest of my life.”
 
Cartman decided not to look at anyone to prevent his blush from being known. A part of him wanted to think Kyle had been lying but another part felt like he wasn’t. He’d decide later. 
 
“So what do you plan to do?” Gerald breathed out his nose. Kyle knew what he was asking and returned the sigh.
 
“We’re getting married soon. Working on setting a date but it’ll be private. Nothing big or with guests, just an exchanging of vows with an official.”
 
“You’re eloping?“ Sheila’s eyes grew wide.
 
“Yes,” her son said firmly. He knew what was going through her mind but he wasn’t bending. There wasn’t an option to plan a massive wedding like she always planned. Oh well, there was always Ike. 
 
“Bubbe, are you sure? We can always put something together or,-”
 
“Ma, it’s okay,” Kyle sighed. “We’ll... Hold a small, small, very

small

reception. Just you, Dad, Eric’s mom, Butters, and Kenny,” he shifted his kit in his lap. She was busy trying to nom his fingers meaning it was close to dinner. Eric didn’t say anything, only listened. He guessed this reception would be fine. It wasn’t usually common for his kind but he needed to consider Kyle’s wants as well. 
 
“And Ike,” Gerald added. “He’d love to meet his niece, too.” 
 
“Right, Ike too. Didn’t know if he’d be back from London around that time.” 
 
“Well, you know you’re brother. He’s been busy with work.” 
 
“Yup, I know,” Kyle’s brows rose slightly as he sighed. Ike was doing marginally better than he was at just twenty-two years old. He took a teaching job in London, working in a high school teaching French. The Canadian-born young man was fluent in four languages and passed his teaching exam on the first try. Kyle tried not to clutch the last postcard he got too tightly. Holding animosity towards his brother wasn’t fair. They each made their own decisions after all. 
 
“In any case, I’m sure he’d love to be here,” Gerald cleared his throat. 
 
“I know,” Kyle repeated, shifting his gaze to his kit. Ike may have had a life across the globe but Kyle had a baby. A very cute, very chubby, very silly, adorable baby. He wouldn’t trade her for anything. Said baby started whining for her dinner. She was getting restless in her mom’s arms amid this awkward conversation. “How long are you in town for?” he shifted her in his lap and began bouncing his leg while patting her back. 
 
“Just three days. We didn’t think it’d take long to…to catch up,” Sheila chose her words carefully. Kyle nodded appreciating that. 
 
“We should get dinner before you leave. Maybe a send-off the night before, sound good?” 
 
“Yes, we’d love that. Maybe we can see you again before then?” Gerald asked hopeful. 
 
“Yeah,” Kyle nodded as he stood. Taking the hint, his parents followed suit. Cartman only watched, still not offering much to say to his future in-laws. The larger man only watched Kyle escort his parents to the front door. Their energy wasn’t threatening or dark so he didn’t mind when they hugged his bride and kit.
 
 Kieri rather liked these two strangers. They were nice and the lady talked funny. They had warm hugs that reminded her of her parents. Their departure distracted her from her hunger. Such a distraction was only temporary. 
 
“Okay, sweetie. Okay, give mommy a minute,” Kyle handed the girl back to her father as he landed on the couch beside him with a deep sigh. 
 
“They were nice,” Cartman offered. Kyle looked at him momentarily before unbuttoning his shirt. 
 
Sighing again, Kyle took his daughter back. “Yeah…”
 
“Are you…not happy with their arrival?”
 
“No, I am I just…wasn’t expecting that. We talked plenty over the past few weeks. I don’t know why they suddenly appeared…but I guess I wasn’t being fair either.” 
 
“How do you figure?” Cartman got up from the couch. He went to retrieve a few of the lactation snacks for his bride. Kyle didn’t need them every time he nursed but Cartman knew he hadn’t had them in a few days. Kieri seemed to be

just

satisfied at lunch earlier. Cartman didn’t miss the guilty look on his bride’s face as he weened the girl off. 
 
“I had time to mention Kieri to them,” Kyle started eating the sweet dough. He felt the stimulant in his chest as his daughter began nursing. The flow changed, making him content that she could now get her fill properly. 
 
“You

didn’t

have to mention anything to them at all.”
 
“And how would that work? I just go through life never mentioning you or our family?” 
 
“Well…” Cartman trailed off with a shrug. Attention from the human world outside of the direct point of contact wasn’t something his kind had been keen on. Kyle was his human of importance. Nobody else needed to even be aware that Cartman and Kieri existed as far as the older spirit was concerned. 
 
“Sorry, that wouldn’t work out. I’m pretty sure by the time I turned thirty-five and hadn’t brought someone home my parents would’ve done it for me.”
 
“There were ways around that.”
 
“Like what, smart guy?” 
 
Cartman only looked at him briefly before looking away. It wasn’t worth discussing any further. 
 
“You can take Kieri to see your parents before they leave. Just be sure to keep her bracelet on,” was all he offered before escaping to another room. 
 
Kyle looked in the direction his fiance went. He was left with a now sleepy kit nursing herself into bedtime. Cartman had been acting strange lately. A part of Kyle wanted to chalk it up to the rise in marriage talk but a greater part told him it was something else. He wished he had a clue.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The car keys rolled in his hand. It was hard to believe but he had his own car finally. He wasn’t exactly proud of how he got the car but he was glad to have it all the same. Now he could get groceries without relying so much on when Butters went or having to spend money on delivery. With a running vehicle, he could just get up and go whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. He could take Kieri on drives to lull her to sleep or drive new places with Cartman for dates. Kyle hadn’t felt this excited to have a car since he was sixteen.

“Ma, I can’t accept this,” the exasperated younger ginger said.

“Yes, you can. And you will. You need a car, Kyle.”

“I know and that’s why I’m working on it,” his jaw clenched.

“You don’t need the added stress. It’s enough working and going to school full-time with a baby at home. Having a car will lighten the load.”

“That doesn’t mean you and Dad just buy me a car! I don’t need the handout.”

“It’s not a handout, it’s a gift. We never…we never gave you anything when you moved here and we never gave you anything for a…baby shower,” her voice was questioning slightly. “Anyways, it’s just a gift. Something useful for you and Eric to get Kieri around safely instead of on the bus all the time.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the bus.”

“And there’s nothing wrong with having an Accord,” she pushed the keys into his hand. “Your father and I already put your name on the title.”

It had been a week since his parents left him with his housewarming/baby shower gift. He hated to admit how much he enjoyed it. Kieri looked cute in her car seat, although she hated being restricted for more than fifteen minutes. Thankfully, he never had far to go when he had the little one. 
 
Cartman had yet to step foot in the car. It was like he had a bad aversion to it, the same way he had Kenny when they first met. The only difference was Cartman didn’t input the energy to hiss at the grey hybrid. In all honesty, Kyle noticed Cartman didn’t input energy into a lot of things. The brunette seemed more tired lately. His mood and behavior change were still on Kyle’s radar. While he hadn’t so asked Cartman outright what was wrong, he could tell something was. His delay in conversation was because he was collecting evidence. He’d be damned if he had no rebuttal for when his partner would say “nothing” when he brought up his change. 
 
Sighing, Kyle pulled into his apartment’s parking lot. There was a sweet feeling that came with having a designated spot right in front of his door. All he had to do was get out and climb up seven steps and he’d be at home with his loves. A gentle smile rested on his face as he collected his work bag. The car’s beep when he locked her doors gave him a sense of normalcy. Resentment of the lavish gift still remained in his heart even though he truly did enjoy the vehicle. 
 
He really had to work on his emotions towards his family. 
 
“Kieri, Mommy’s home,” Kyle called as he stepped in. He was greeted by a tiny raccoon, scurrying to meet him. Green eyes softened when he bent down to hold her. Her red and brown fur was soft. Her little nose was a little wet when he kissed it. A short breath pushed from his nose as he smiled. Kieri’s natural form was adorable. She fit in her mother’s hands like any baby raccoon would.

“They must’ve gone to the shrine today,”

Kyle thought as he kicked off his shoes. It wasn’t often he saw his kit presenting in actual kit form. She was born with her human appearance and she only transformed sparingly in her first few months. Lately, if she did it, it wasn’t because of her own will. It was because of the large raccoon in the kitchen eyeing the stove. 
 
Cartman too rested in his natural state. He was still large enough to rival a bear but there was no mistake he was, in fact, a raccoon. With a large striped tail, it was undeniable. It was also undeniable how hilarious he looked wearing a pink apron that read “Kiss the Cook” while he stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding a spatula. Based on the empty Hamburger Helper box on the counter beside the stove, Kyle had a good idea of what was for dinner. A look of concentration was on his face amid a stubborn tiredness in his eyes. Kyle softly bit the inside of his cheek before approaching. 
 
“Kieri, doesn’t Daddy look nice in his apron?” Kyle hummed with a slight tug on the white lace. His kit chirped happily from her place in his hand. She mimicked, attaching herself to the apron by the lace trim. Brown eyes briefly flickered down at the ginger. Kyle had been standing just behind him. Something about the teasing look on his face forced Cartman to fight a blush. 
 
“Butters gave it to me since he got a new one,” the spirit muttered. Butters worked proactively to befriend him. Cartman didn’t know why he wasn’t regarded with the same casualness that Kenny presented. The pale blonde felt it absolutely necessary to be friends. All Kenny offered when Cartman asked about it was that Butters thought he was lonely. 
 
Lonely was subjective.

Kyle

was lonely; not him. 
 
He wasn’t sure where Butters got that notion.
 
“That was nice of him. I like it on you,” Kyle wrapped his arms around the large animal form. His newly free hands rubbed the warm fur of the living being. Kieri was content hanging securely on the apron. Cartman knew her grip was firm enough but he still motioned to move her into the apron’s pocket. 
 
“Thanks,” he again muttered. The small talk was agonizing. Never did he think he’d be having small talk with his bride. Focusing on finishing the thirty-minute meal became his new objective. He just wanted dinner ready for his bride and while Kyle ate he could busy himself. 
 
Cartman knew he was becoming bride-avoidant. He didn’t like Kyle so close in his space lately. It made him feel things he wasn’t used to feeling. Like exposure and discomfort; things he shouldn’t feel towards the love of his life. 
 
Mere months ago, Cartman invaded Kyle’s space as if his life depended on it. It was thrilling and fulfilling. Now he felt

cramped

by Kyle. Not that the ginger was so invasive and present; he just felt like much just being in the same room as Cartman. The spirit was having a hard time facing him. 
 
Such a fact was becoming increasingly apparent to Kyle. Fear of Cartman regretting his choice of bond began to bubble deep in Kyle’s stomach. It’d be just his luck that he finally finds love and the guy no longer wanted him but was stuck for hundreds upon thousands of years. 
 
Kyle wondered what he was doing wrong.
 
Cartman wondered why he was overwhelmed.
 
Kieri wanted dinner. 
 
The pending tension from the slighting embrace was broken when her chirps turned to whines. The larger spirit felt the tug of his apron pocket grow restless rather than explorative. Air pushed out Cartman’s nose as he turned the stove off. Kyle moved, giving him space. It stung that Cartman wasn’t very responsive to his embrace. 
 
Maybe he wasn’t loving Cartman the way he wanted to be loved. They didn’t have the talk about needs; they simply

did

in their relationship. Kyle considered that to be a talking point when he spoke to his fiance. 
 
Green eyes watched the spirit wrangle the smaller one from his apron pocket. She began screaming as if she expected to be fed from her white lace-trimmed pink fortress. The unmoving father merely focused on her. His free hand began pushing on her vertebra. Not harsh, but firm enough that she’d move as he did it. Her whines died down at the motion. Kyle always found this process interesting. He’d only witnessed it a handful of times and it never ceased to demand his attention.
 
Cartman’s fingers continued to take turns pressing the small girl’s spine. They didn’t move up and down and each press was intentional. His eyes were fixed on her, never blinking once as he concentrated on his daughter. After pressing until he felt he didn’t have to, he held the much smaller raccoon in both hands. His face furrowed slightly at the kit now making eye contact with him. 
 
In a split second, they were both human presenting. Kyle released a breath he didn't know he was holding. He wasn’t sure why the transformation always seemed so intense now. It was always quick, only taking a minute or two. Cartman usually did it instantly for himself. When it came to his kit he had this strange build-up process. Kyle, for some reason, felt silly asking about it so he didn’t. He just trusted his fiance to safely get their kit between forms. 
 
In her human form, Kieri stalled for a moment. The realization that she changed was slow. She only stared at her father who stared back before she sneezed, breaking the gridlock. Once she was free from her gaze, she again began whining. 
 
“For you,” Cartman extended her to her mother. Kyle bit the inside of his cheek slightly. Cartman’s ability to hold Kieri’s body in one hand reminded him of how big Cartman’s hands were, how big his

fingers

were. 
 
“Thank you,” he swallowed quietly. Kieri continued her crusade of demand as her flushed mother took his seat at the small dining room table. Cartman spooned a bowl of food for him and sat it in front of him while he began nursing. “You’re not eating too?”
 
“No, not hungry.”
 
“Oh…did you eat earlier?”
 
“No.”
 
“And you don’t want food now?”
 
“No.”
 
Kyle felt his heart racing at the short conversation. He felt like he was bothering Eric. The two gave way to silence before Cartman walked away.
 
“Call me if you need me,” he said simply over his shoulder. Kyle could only nod as he looked at his daughter. 
 
At least she seemed happy with him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I’m leaving for the weekend. Think you’ll be okay?” 
 
A look of moderate shock took over Kyle’s face as Eric came into view. For the first time in a while, Kyle landed a three-day weekend. He was looking forward to sleeping in with his family’s warm bed but his ever-so-loving-finace just threw a major wrench in his plans. 
 
“Y-you’re going away? Where?” Kyle cleared his throat. 
 
“Just taking some time away,” Cartman rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t find it necessary for Kyle to know where he was going; wasn’t like he could follow him there. 
 
“Does Kieri need to go too?”
 
“No, no,” Cartman denied. “You have her all to yourself.” 
 
“For the whole weekend? As in, all three days?” 
 
“Yup,” the ‘p’ popped as brown eyes still didn’t meet him. “I’ll be back before you go to work on Tuesday to get her. My mom will check in on you guys while I’m gone.” 
 
Kyle couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A few months ago Cartman had complained that two days wasn’t a long enough break. Now, he takes an extended leave at the first chance he gets without even asking Kyle. He

told

him. Kyle didn’t appreciate the man’s sudden departure. For weeks Cartman had been acting strange and right when Kyle thought he had an opening to work on their relationship, the brunette decided to disappear. Literally, diasppear, not telling Kyle where he was headed. The ginger was breaching a new level of offense. 
 
“Why?” 
 
“Why what?”
 
“Why are you leaving,” Kyle shifted the kit playing on the floor between his legs. She seemed ignorant of the growing tension between her parents. The squeaky blocks were more interesting.

Cartman shrugged, “I just thought it’d be good for us.”
 
“In what capacity?” 
 
“I’m sorry?”
 
Kyle took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he worked to calm himself before continuing. 
 
“Why do you think you leaving for three days would be good for us?” he tried again. 
 
“Well, Kieri could use the one-on-one time with you and I just…I just needed some time away.”
 
“What do you need time away from?”
 
“Why does it matter? I just need time away.”
 
“It matters,

Eric

, because if I’m a problem for you I need to know. If our daughter is a problem for you, I need to know. If our life together is a problem for you, I need to fucking know,” the calmness Kyle fought so hard to maintain was evading him. Kieri’s attention shifted from her toys to her mother’s upset. The man was shaking and his teeth, small fangs and all, were baring before his eyes began releasing tears. 
 
Eric only looked at his bride and daughter before averting his attention away. 
 
“I never said either of you was a problem. I won’t let you falsely accuse me of it. I said what I meant and meant what I said. I need time away and I’m taking it,” was all the brunette said before walking away. 
 
His footsteps faded from the nursery. The door never opened but Kyle knew the larger being was gone. He fought hard against the tears in his eyes but it was a losing battle. Kieri whimpered seeing it. The ginger cursed himself for crying in front of her, making her worry. She was too young to be concerned for him. Quickly, he wiped his eyes and picked her up. A small argument wasn’t anything to be so upset over. In time he’d have all the answers he needed.
 
He’d just have to wait for Liane to visit them. 
 
***
 
“Oh, I actually don’t know where Poopsikins is,” Liane hummed over her glass of tea. Kyle could've pulled his hair out over her nonchalance. The impulse was well controlled since Kieri was in her high chair becoming familiar with scrambled eggs. 
 
“He didn’t mention it? Like, at all?” he pressed. 
 
“No, I’m afraid not. He just asked me to visit once or twice a day while he was away.”
 
“Do you know why he needed a break?” he tried. 
 
“I think being domesticated was starting to strain him.”
 
“What do you mean being domesticated?” 
 
Liane sipped her tea. Her next words would have to be careful to not further upset the feisty human across the table. 
 
“Caring for Kieri on top of upkeeping your home was weighing on him. If I’m not mistaken the common term is “house-husband”. Eric’s father and brother haven’t been very,” she searched for the word. “

Approving

of such a dynamic. And they’ve been vocal about it. And, please don’t take this poorly but,” she braced herself. “He may not have been feeling appreciated either. There’s a clear bias in who Kieri wants mostly and well, when you come home, most of your attention goes to her rather than him. Not saying he’s jealous of his kit but…maybe he feels left out of your relationship. He cares for both you and her all day but who cares for him?” 
 
Kyle’s hands kept turning into fists under the tables. He’d release but then they’d retract into fists. It was a coping mechanism he forced in school to not shake when he was upset. Usually, if he did it enough he’d collect himself within mere moments. This time, his knuckles were turning white with how tight he was pulling his fingers into his palm. Claws began digging into his skin before they traced his leg when the release happened. If he moved too fast he’d draw blood. What difference did it make? He probably already had with how tight he was holding the fisted form. 
 
“Why didn’t he ever say anything?” Kyle finally managed. 
 
“More than likely shame,” she sighed. “As I mentioned, he has very vocal male figures in his life. These things aren’t issues in their world. My son has always been a bit…different. I don’t think he cared to solidify it any more than it already was.” 
 
“So, he does what, take off for three days to do what? Find someone else to appreciate him? Just abandon me and Kieri? Make me feel like a shit boyfriend?” Kyle’s voice cracked prompting him to clear his throat. 
 
“I can’t say what he’s doing but I don’t think he’s seeing someone else. He wouldn’t do that to you.” 
 
“I didn’t think he’d up and leave either but he did. How can you be so sure?” 
 
“Because despite how he feels right now, I know my son loves you very much, Kyle. He loves his life with you and Kieri. There’s just things he needs to figure out about himself and he seized the opportunity to do so now.” 
 
“Why didn’t he just tell me,” Kyle buried his face in his hands. “Why didn’t I notice?” 
 
Liane lowered her teacup. She understood his pain. Things weren’t easy on him either lately. Working, school, wedding planning, parenting, and preparing to make a decision about his mortality. It was easy to see how someone fell through the cracks. There was never any doubt in Liane’s mind about Kyle’s love for Eric. She knew most of the sacrifices he was making were for her son. Kyle was devoted and dedicated. It just hadn’t been received by the spirit the way he probably wanted. 
 
“I ran him off,” Kyle finally broke. 
 
“No,” she rubbed his back, cooing. “No, you didn’t. He just needs what you humans today call a “mental health break”. He’ll be back in just a few days and I’m sure he’ll feel a lot better and will be ready to talk. Just give him some space. Use this time for yourself too. If he’s been feeling strained I’m sure you have as well. I think this is a good opportunity to take some time and think about your needs and feelings too.” 
 
The younger human tried to calm himself as he listened to his future mother-in-law. His kit was still focusing on her eggs while occasionally chirping at him. With a deep exhale, he straightened his posture. 
 
“Sorry…and thank you,” he wiped his face. 
 
“Don’t apologize. I’m sure this is why he asked me to check on you. You deserve a space to break too.” 
 
“And if this is how I break, how do you think he does?” 
 
That question remained unanswered for the duration of the weekend. Liane honestly had no answer for it. Her son was never very forward with his emotions. He often existed by himself when he was young. She tried to engage him but it was rare he ever expressed himself to her. In hindsight, perhaps she should’ve taught him better-coping mechanisms. If she had, Kyle wouldn’t have nearly burned their apartment down when he discovered the spirit huddled with someone else.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It had been an agonizing three days for Kyle. With an open pen and pad, he tried to take Liane’s advice. What did he want? What did need? What would Cartman? How could he improve on his end? What things could be incorporated into their routine? 
 
Questions, so many questions, that needed answers. He ran himself ragged trying to answer them all. When he realized he needed his partner there for some of them, he decided to take his kit for some fresh air. 
 
Monday was free for many people in town. Not wanting to crowd his kit, Kyle decided to take her for a hike through the mountains. The park they went to had been a couple of hours away. Kieri never imagined woods beyond the one she and her father visited. It was adorable how wide those brown eyes were as they canvased the area. Soft chirps floated past his ears as the girl on his back called. It was almost an hour before he realized she was looking for other spirits. 
 
When she went to the South Park woods with her father there were probably plenty that greeted them through their travels. Here, there were none. At least, none that she or her mother had encountered. 
 
“It’s just us here, sweetie,” he breathed. “It’s just us.” 
 
That sentiment was well appreciated. Somewhat. There was a large, gaping absence of a certain brunette that grew as they continued through the woods. When Kieri grew mournful in her chirps, whining more at no one showing, Kyle realized it wasn’t so much other spirits she wanted to see; it was her father. The girl thought they were in the woods looking for him. Biting the inside of his cheek, he bounced her in his arms trying not to join her in tears. After blowing raspberries on her cheeks, her cries turned to hiccups with bits of laughter. 
 
“I know honey; I miss him too. He’ll be home later though, okay? Then we’ll give him a big,

big

hug and a lot of kisses,” he bartered with the little one. He wasn’t sure how much of it she actually understood at only seven months. Based on how she calmed he liked to think she understood enough. Maybe she didn’t understand at all. The raspberries tickled and that was enough of a distraction for her attention span. In any case, it bought him enough time to finish his hike. 
 
The fresh air filled his lungs as he stood on a cliff’s clearing. Kieri seemed interested in moss on a tree behind him. He felt her shifting in her carrier on his back but he didn’t think she had been touching the moss, much less eating it. When he realized she was within reach, the kit had already consumed a good amount. It covered her hands and mouth and she was hardly ashamed of it.
 
“Kieri Aya Cartman,” Kyle furrowed his brows at her as he began taking her out of the carrier. The girl only whined in response. Her snack time was being interrupted. The ginger didn’t care. He wasn’t impressed with the absurd amount of moss now in his baby carrier. It was almost like the kit had plans to save the moss for later. 
 
Maybe she did. She wasn’t happy with him trying to take it out. 
 
“Just how did you manage this?” he huffed. The kit hummed and attempted to crawl back to the mossy tree. If her mother wanted to take away her stash she needed to load up on the goods while she could. “Hey, no,” he said pulling her back. She screamed. He tried to resecure her in the mostly cleaned carrier but she gave a good fight. Good so much to the point she willed herself into transforming. The ginger gasped as the small raccoon evaded his hands and ran up the mossy tree. “Kieri!” his panicked yell called her. The only response he got was chattering gibberish he came to recognize as ‘raccoon speak’. 
 
 Apparently, the spirits could communicate with animals that way and while that was fine, the man wanted his defiant baby down from the tree. 
 
***
 
Tired green eyes looked in the rearview mirror at the sleeping baby in the backseat. Thank God, Kyle was marked by Cartman. In previous months he had been working on his power control. With his new agility, it only took him two hours to capture his kit. It probably would’ve taken a lot less if the girl didn’t run further up the tree each time he got close. The amount of work to stabilize himself at new heights while climbing without any harnesses was enough exercise for the man. 
 
Once he captured the girl who tried to run past him down the tree when she had nowhere else to go, he had to work her back into her human form. He tried to mimic Cartman’s finger pressing on her spine but since he didn’t exactly know

what

that did, it did little to get the girl back into her human form. He couldn’t drive with her in her natural form; he didn’t trust her to be secure and stationary on the long drive back. 
 
The only thing he thought to do was trying to show her himself.  It took a lot of energy to release and hide his raccoon features repeatedly for the girl to try to imitate. He thought his efforts were for nothing when the only thing she seemed to grasp was grunting. 
 
Eventually, the son of a lawyer resorted to bartering. Using the moss in his transformation, he managed to get his message across. After several attempts, Kieri managed to

mostly

transform back to her human form. While not small, her arms and legs were still raccoon-appearing, much like how her father looked. Her tail and ears were present. Sighing, Kyle bundled his sweet chimera and rode off into the sunset with her. In her sleep, Kieri’s body fell back into appearing human save for her ears and tail.

“What am I going to do with her?”

He smiled gently. Their hike certainly shook them of their sad mood. The sky was darkening by the time Kyle parked outside of their apartment. 
 
Inside their humble abode, in the living, on the floor, had been Cartman. Natural state entangled with another spirit that was constantly huddled in his larger frame. Her body was slender, her fur healthy and shiny. The sounds of purring reached Kyle’s ears, taking his shock state to an irate one. 
 
“What. The. Hell,” he grit his teeth.
 
Lazy brown eyes looked over at him, not bothering to move much. Cartman had some nerve to be cuddled up with some random bitch on the living room floor. Said bitch looked curiously at him from her place on the larger being's chest. Her tail had been linked with Cartman’s. The two appendages fluttered casually in a loose lock. 
 
If it hadn’t been for the sleeping baby in his arms, Kyle would’ve caused hell. Since he had one, he quietly went to her nursery to lay her down. With her door closed he spared the girl’s father no expense. 
 
“Hey!” Cartman hissed as Kyle threw the remote at him. 
 
“Hey my ass! You bring a bitch into this apartment and act like I have no right to be angry,” Kyle started throwing shoes.
 
“Don’t talk about Yentl that way,” Cartman defended her.
 
“Yentl,” Kyle snorted a laugh. “She’s a Jewish bitch. You must have a type.”
 
“Kyle,” Cartman growled warningly as he shifted into his human form. “Let me explain.”
 
“Explain what? How you took a submissive wife because you didn’t like how I don’t suck your dick every night?”
 
“Kyle!”  Cartman grabbed his wrists before the ginger could throw something else. The ginger’s words were crude and wounded the spirit. The one named Yentl only seemed curious of them. 
 
“What’s a “Jewish bitch” and how would he know I was one?” The newly turned human asked. Kyle scowled at her, thinking her ignorance was just a ploy to mock him.
 
“You aren’t Jewish or a bitch. He’s just mad at me,” Cartman sighed. 
 
“You’re damn straight I’m mad at you. Let me go,” he demanded angrily.
 
“Only if you promise not to throw anything,” Cartman eyes him. “Or hit or kick or spit or scratch or curse anymore.”
 
“Fine.”
 
Cartman’s exhale as he tried to release Kyle was interrupted by the sheer force of Kyle knocking him to the floor. The wind was knocked from the larger man when he fell to the floor in disbelief.
 
“I just said no hitting!” He wheezed.
 
“I didn’t hit you; I tackled you,” Kyle said matter-of-factly. He snatched Cartman by his collar and promptly pulled him to eye level while they remained on the floor. Before he could yell at him, Yentl spoke.
 
“So that was the football tackle you mentioned, Eric? It’s amazing the man so small could do that to you,” she said with wonder.
 
“Why are you still here!?” Kyle barked angrily.
 
“Oh, because Eric invited me to meet you,” she smiled kindly. 
 
“Meet me?”
 
“Yes,” Cartman wheezed again. “Her father is the priest that’s marrying us.”
 
“And I’m also the only friend he had until you came along,” she laughed. 
 
Kyle’s eyes jumped between the two spirits. Suddenly, he felt like the biggest asshole in existence. He probably was.
 
No.
 Not probably  
He was.
 
Liane told him that Cartman was monogamous several times. Raccoons, both as spirits and animals, cuddled when they were friends. Why did Kyle forget that? 
 
Why did he just assume the worst of his fiance?
 
“Oh god,” he swallowed and let go of Cartman’s shirt. “I am

so

sorry. I shouldn’t have-“
 
“You were right, Eric. He is alive with fire,” Yentl commended. “But maybe he is beginning to burn instead of warm.”
 
“Yes, I know. That’s why I wanted you to meet him. So you can, you know…”
 
“Oh I see,” she nodded
 
“Know what? See what?” Kyle whimpered with self-consciousness. It was well deserved after this horrifying display of jealousy. 
 
“I’m a guide for bonding. I think you two need a bit of help.”
 
“You brought home a relationship therapist?” Kyle looked at the brunette.
 
“What’s that?” She tilted her head. Cartman only raised his hand nodding slightly.
 
“It’ll be good for us before we move any further.”
 
Kyle wanted to object. He wanted to demand what the spirit was insinuating but as they still rested on the floor he quickly recalled why. Liane’s words floated to his memory as he quietly got off the larger man. He didn’t expect Cartman to accept his offer to help him up. When he did, Kyle realized the spirit was too forgiving.
 
How ironic.
 
“Okay,” Kyle whispered. “I’m ready to get help.”
 
Cartman studied him for a moment. He hadn’t let the ginger’s hand go. Instead. He gave it a light squeeze to which Kyle returned it. 
 
Yentl merely smiled. 
 
“I think you two will do good.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Cartman picked at the leftover moss in Keiri’s carrier. The kit would have to be upset that her supply was eaten by her father. The man’s eating of her snack left the carrier clean which Kyle supposed he was happy about. 
 
Relationship counseling was a touching and very telling hour. Yentl was still in their home although she was feasting her eyes on their television at the moment. Kieri was still asleep, which is how Cartman got away with eating her moss. When he was finished, he’d join Kyle outside. The ginger had taken to sitting in his car after counseling. He needed time alone to think, to reflect.

“Communication is important. It is sacred. A relationship cannot stand without it, especially one of different cultures. You two hurt one another without knowing it. A lot of hurt would be spared with a simple conversion.”

“A simple conversation,” Kyle shook his head. A simple fucking conversation. That was definitely what he needed before tackling Cartman or yelling at him. Why was he so angry these days? His fiance didn’t deserve to catch the brunt force of his anger; it wasn’t fair to him. There had to be a better way to handle his emotions than just lashing out so violently.

“Your fire burns instead of warms.”

That phrase rang through his mind as he laid back in the driver’s seat. Staring at the car ceiling felt weirdly nostalgic. It reminded him of the night he came out to his parents. He’d been in his car, somewhere along the Jersey shore out past curfew. His dad called him in an upset state, his mother in the background yelling. After hours of tears, Kyle had no more left to cry. Instead, he looked at his car’s ceiling tiredly before saying, “I’m gay.” Gerald didn’t immediately respond. Sheila’s yelling quieted in the background. All his dad said after what felt like an eternity was “Come home.” When he did, all his parents did was hug him tightly before grounding him for staying out so late past curfew. 
 
The memory brought a small smile to his face. Slowly, he closed his eyes and took in the silence. He needed to remember his faith, his resolve of peace. Being quick to anger would destroy his relationship. Running off Eric would be the biggest mistake of his life. Living without Stan or Bebe would be easy enough. Kyle knew for a fact that if he didn’t have Eric, his world would cease to exist. Not liking that thought, Kyle exhaled. 
 
He thought, “

We can work on this. I can work on this.”

Cartman made his way to the car for the first time. He’d been putting it off because, as Kyle learned, it seemingly solidified his role as a homemaker. After talking for two days with his friend, he realized the vehicle didn’t represent anything at all outside of transportation. As he opened the door, he found Kyle still with his eyes closed. 
 
He wasn’t ready to face the spirit yet. Kyle heard and felt the shift of Cartman joining him in the car. The other man sat quietly before beginning the small talk they both dreaded. 
 
“Are you sleeping?”
 
“No.”
 
“Are you going to sleep?”
 
“No, just thinking. Resting my eyes.”
 
“In the car?” 
 
“Yup.”
 
“Does it make a difference where?”
 
“Sometimes. I think sitting in the car can be nice. It’s like a place to get away.”
 
“Mmm,” Cartman hummed. He continued looking at his bride. While trying not to bring up Kyle not looking at him, he decided to look around the clean space. Well, mostly clean. Brown eyes fell on the car seat that had been covered in remnants of moss. 
Letting his seat back, Cartman began picking at the moss again. Kyle peeked an eye open to see his fiance eating the moss. Closing his eyes again with furrowed brows, Kyle decided to tell on the determined kit. 
 
“Your daughter transformed on her own and ran as high as possible up an oak tree just to get that stuff.” 
 
“I can see why,” the spirit mumbled as he continued eating it. 
 
“I didn’t know raccoons ate moss?”
 
“They don’t, but spirits do.”
 
“So it is a thing.”
 
“A sweet thing. It’s like..what humans consider chocolate. Not supposed to eat a ton of it but it’s very indulgent.”
 
“Moss is considered a dessert,” Kyle audible noted. “She ate a lot of it. And I do mean a lot of it.”
 
“I believe it. She got it everywhere.”
 
“And it was more than that. I cleaned out what I could and she was

not

happy about it.”
 
“Why not let her bring it home?” 
 
“So she could get it everywhere? Absolutely not. And now that I know it’s considered a treat I’ll be giving it to her as such.”
 
“Meaning?”
 
“It’s okay to have it every once and a while.”
 
Cartman looked at Kyle as if he’d gone mad. Out of everything, this was truly something he found offensive. The spirit turned his attention back to the car seat to continue finishing off the fresh moss his daughter collected. 
 
“Where did you get this?”
 
“The moss?” Kyle’s brow rose slightly. 
 
“Mmm.”
 
“I took her to a park upstate. Hiked a bit through the range.”
 
“A park upstate? What is that?”
 
“A park that’s…upstate…as in kinda north.”
 
“There’s another park around here?” Cartman looked at him again. His voice was treading between curiosity and anger. 
 
“Yes? There’s a few actually. Colorado is a mountain state. There’s a lot of forest preserves and a few national parks,” Kyle finally looked at the brunette. “You did…know that, didn’t you?”
 
The other man flushed as he focused on the car seat again. 
 
“There’s no reason to take her to other forests. They’ll confuse her or take her.”
 
“Take her? Who’ll take her?” Kyle asked softly. When he wasn’t answered he decided to try easing the brunette’s mind on taking their daughter to other forests.”She called you know. Nobody responded but…she called. I thought it was for other spirits at first. Then I realized it was for you. I think she wanted to see the new mountains with her daddy. Hiking is more of a thing for you guys than it is for me and her,” Kyle looked at his lap. “Maybe you can join us next time?”
 
Cartman waited a minute before answering. He wasn’t keen on going to other forests, let alone with his young kit. 
 
But the moss. 
 
Pursuing his lips, Cartman nodded slowly. He guessed he wouldn’t mind Kyle taking Kieri to see other greens if he scoped them out first. It’d just be damning if his kit got confused. After hearing she willed herself to transform in an unknown scape, Cartman would need to be more attentive to his daughter’s connection to the world. If she attached to a different forest there’d be a world of issues that’d follow. 
 
“Did she transform back on her own?” he asked thoughtfully.
 
“Kinda,” Kyle winced slightly. “She couldn’t do it entirely. She ended up getting her head and torso right but her limbs were still raccoon presenting. They returned human when she fell asleep on the ride home.”
 
“I see,” Cartman looked out the passenger side window. 
 
“I tried pressing on her back like you do but all she did was look at me.”
 
“She’ll do that. You have to press her energy points specifically.”
 
“Her what?” Kyle’s brow furrowed. Cartman’s nostrils flared slightly. 
 
“Her energy points. In our backs, we have places, kinda like those chakra things people talk about. She doesn’t know how her powers work; she can’t regulate them. By pressing on her energy points, I,” he paused to think. “I access them. By connecting her to my own power, I can manipulate hers. So that’s why when I transform she will. Her magical will becomes dependent on mine.” 
 
“And there’s no way I can do that,” Kyle pouted slightly. 
 
“No, you can. Don’t forget you have a bit of power now too. But since you can’t regulate yours well yet you won’t be able to regulate hers.”
 
“So what you’re saying is keep practicing.”
 
Cartman nodded. The two sat in silence for a beat before Kyle sighed again. 
 
“I’m sorry, Eric. For everything.” 
 
“Don’t apologize.”
 
“No, I have to. I’m sorry for not noticing how you were feeling. I knew there was

something

wrong but I didn’t know how to ask you. There were people in the past who’d gaslight me and say I was the one having issues and I wanted to…have proof I guess that it was you having the problem. For weeks I watched you suffer instead of talking to you when I first noticed. That wasn’t fair to you. Instead of preparing to help you I just made things worse.”
 
Out of anything the spirit could’ve said in response he merely followed, “How does one gaslight someone?”
 
“What?”
 
“What’s it mean to have someone gaslight you?”
 
Kyle’s brows furrowed for the hundredth time as he sat in the car with his fiance. He thought the man spent too much time watching drama specials to not know what gaslighting was but then again, Cartman didn’t always catch references. Based on Yentl’s curious state he could believe that Cartman too still had a lot to learn. 
 
“It’s where someone says or does something and when you talk about it they lie and say that it didn’t happen or alter it somehow.”
 
“Example.”
 
“Do you hear about the fork in the road?”
 
“No?” Cartman looked confused. 
 
“Yes, you did.”
 
“No, I didn’t.”
 
“Yes, you did,” Kyle insisted. 
 
“No, Kyle, I did not. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
 
“Cartman, we both know you know about the fork in the road.”
 
“What fork in the road,” The spirit grew upset. Kyle only smiled softly. 
 
“And that, my love, is gaslighting. It’s a manipulation tactic meant to inflict mental abuse, to make someone think they’re crazy or wrong. To go against what they know is right and second guess themselves.” 
 
Brown eyes studied the ginger who curled his lips inward. The lesson in gaslighting rested between them heavily. Cartman was trying to process what it was Kyle endured with others and Kyle was merely hoping Cartman didn’t take the exposure therapy the wrong way. 
 
“Others have hurt you this way in the past?” Cartman finally asked after a while. Kyle swallowed, nodding. His eyes were downcast as he tried not to think of his past relationships, both with friends and boyfriends. It was still a work in progress to uphold his boundaries but he realized he was directing that safeguard at the wrong person. “I’m sorry.”
 
“Don’t be. Not like you did it.”
 
“No, but I did not soothe your worries. I should’ve talked to you.”
 
“Not like I made it easy.”
 
“Kyle, let me apologize,” Cartman huffed. The ginger smiled weakly. 
 
“Okay,” he breathed. “Kiss me.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Kieri, I heard you went on a big adventure. Was it fun? Yeah?” Butters cooed at the kit happily babbling back at him. Today, she was left in his care while her parents spoke to their wedding officiant. Butters had come to be familiar with the shrine in the past few months. When he was younger he found the woods to be scary but now he’d seen them for their beauty. 
 
While Kyle and Cartman were becoming familiar with the practices for the wedding, Kieri was enjoying her time with the blonde man. He was always so bubbly and nice. The treats he brought were good, even though her mommy tried to keep them out of reach. If only he knew her babbling was her trying to plan for a secret delivery. 
 
Her mommy didn’t have to know a thing. 
 
With his attention on the little girl, Butters hardly noticed eyes on him. At least not at first. After a while, he felt the gaze of someone else. Since he was allegedly alone, the thought of someone watching him with Kieri made him tense. The girl quieted sensing his change in mood. He pulled her close, protectively holding her in his arms. Before him, a man of red hair with the same brown eyes as Cartman showed himself. 
 
A smug look on his face continued to put Butters off. 
 
“So, are you my brother’s other bride?”
 
“What?” Butters glared at him. 
 
“You’re his second bride, no? If not, what are you doing with his child? I see you often with his first bride so I assumed you were the second.”
 
“Why would I be the second?”
 
“Why wouldn’t you?”
 
Butters couldn’t put his finger on it but there was something about Cartman’s apparent brother that he just didn’t like. 
 
***
 
“Kyle, have you given much thought to your alignment?” the older man asked. The ginger’s eyes fell low, not having much of an answer. While he wanted to help preserve the shrine, he also wanted to stay with his family as long as he could. The decision was heavy on his heart and he had yet to make it.
 
“I-I’m sorry…but I haven’t. Does the decision have to be made by the time of the wedding?”
 
“Yes,” the answer was firm. “You’ve already partially begun the transformation since you’ve given birth. Now the time to commit to which way your body will continue to exist is drawing close. If we wait any longer it could negatively impact you.”
 
“Negatively impact me how?”
 
“You could die,” Cartman said more bluntly than he should’ve. Kyle’s eyes cut to him. Realizing that this was information Kyle could’ve used months ago, the brunette grew sheepish. “Not immediately,” he tried to correct himself. “Your body will start to become unstable with insecure magic. The only other way around that is just being pregnant constantly.”
 
“Which you wouldn’t want,” the older man rolled his eyes. “Can’t just go on making kits forever. Your body will be greatly affected each time. The more stable you think you are, the more damage that’ll be done ultimately.”
 
“So, my primary options are either existing with longevity like Liane or converting to a spirit?”
 
“Yes. There are drawbacks and goods to each option. Through it all you are still a human first. You won’t need the same sources of nourishment or rest that we do. Our way will only help you feel better. I believe your kind says, “Take the edge off” whenever you start to feel this “edge”. I think we’ve covered everything as deeply as we can. You simply must make a -”
 
“Kyle!” the voice reached their ears. “Eric! Can you guys hear me!? Come quick!”
 
The parents and priest shifted hearing the call from the human. On a given day maybe they wouldn’t have cared but a kit was to be with the man; it was far more serious. When they manifested earth side, they witnessed the antagonist redhead trying to take Kieri from the aggressive blonde holding her away. 
 
“Scott,” Cartman growled. 
 
“Aww, my little piggy. There you are,” his taunting smile only further angered Cartman. “Your second bride is being mean to me. I merely want to see your kit.”
 
“You know you aren’t allowed to touch her.”
 
“Cartman, who is this?” Kyle glared at the man still trying to get at Butters who skillfully moved further away. 
 
“Piggy, you didn’t tell your first bride about me? What about father?”
 
“Scott, go away!” he demanded. “Stop messing with me.”
 
“I only want to see your family. I’m proud my piggy is growing up. Why do you have to be so mean to me?”
 
“You know better, Tenorman,” the priest started with a sigh. His guard lowered upon finding this to be nothing more than a family squabble. “Now is not the time to antagonize your brother and his family.”
 
“Brother?” Kyle looked at his fiance. Cartman only cared to keep his look of disapproval pointed at the redhead. Kyle had known that the man existed. He never thought this was how he’d be introduced to the man. 
 
“Piggy is my younger brother.”
 
“Don’t call me piggy,” he demanded. 
 
“Show them the song. Do it.”
 
“Fuck off!”
 
“Language,” the priest gave Cartman a look. “There’s a kit here,” he motioned to the little one confused in Butters’ arms. 
 
“I want to see the kit,” Scott turned back to Butters who stepped back from him. 
 
“Scott, respect Eric’s wishes. He said you may not touch his kit so you will not,” the priest instructed. Butters quickly moved beside Kyle. The ginger protectively stood in front of him and Kieri. His hair had risen and his spirt ears and tail manifested. Scott pursed his lips in a smile. 
 
“I see your first bride is the fighter and the second is the homemaker.”
 
“He’s not my second bride!” Cartman argued. 
 
“Are you sure? The nymph seems to be ready to childbear.”
 
“The who?” Butters looked at him angrily. 
 
“That is enough. Scott, away with ye,” The priest demanded. With authority dismissing him, the older spirit was forced to depart from his brother. He only did so after flipping his brother off. Cartman scoffed with annoyance. 
 
He hated that man.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The ride home was quiet. Kieri had fallen asleep and the adults had nothing to say. Their encounter with Scott Tenorman threw a wrench in their mood. Kyle had enough to think about aside from this private portion of his fiance’s family. It never occurred to him that Cartman strayed from talking about his father and brother. After meeting the brother, he understood why. 
 
“Thanks for looking after Kieri,” Kyle pulled in front of the apartment Butters shared with Kenny. 
 
“No problem. She was a gem,” he breathed as he climbed out. With quiet goodbyes, Kyle then drove around the complex where they lived. Cartman remained stonefaced as he collected Kieri from her car seat. Being around Scott

really

bothered him. There was never an instance where he could say he enjoyed his older brother’s company. 
 
Kyle followed his fiance into their apartment. The larger man made a beeline to the nursery, leaving Kyle to his thoughts. It seemed like the closer to their wedding they got the more tense things became. Who knew committing to a person forever would be stressful, especially considering it seemed to be from other people and not just between them? Scott’s claim of Butters being another bride had clearly made the blonde uncomfortable. Kenny wouldn’t have taken kindly to that statement. The ginger settled onto the couch accepting the one good thing aside for Kieri not getting hurt. 
 
Why did Scott want her?
 
Was it just to annoy Cartman?
 
Having a brother made Kyle aware of sibling feuds. He and Ike were seven years apart and they had their fair share of fights. Those fights never breached endangerment, however. The intensity between Scott and Cartman didn’t feel right. He couldn’t blame it on them being spirits. Their rift seemed extreme, regardless of their being. 
 
After making sure his daughter’s nursery was secure, Cartman resurfaced in the living room. Somewhere, he knew he owed Kyle an explanation but he wasn’t in the mood to give it. When he decided he wasn’t talking he took to their bedroom. An apology was on the horizon to his bride. Kyle swallowed stiffly. He didn’t want to push or pry, but he needed something. Just something. If their daughter was a target he needed to know. 
 
“Eric?” he softly called as he stepped into their room. His eyes fell on the large raccoon shuffling around on the bed in agitation. A soft grunt of acknowledgment reached his ears, signaling him to continue. “Are you okay?” he started. 
 
Cartman thought carefully about that question. Perhaps too carefully. He didn’t like the question because the answer was obvious but he also knew Kyle asked it because he wasn’t trying to just jump into the questions. The human was trying to ease him into talking, which he wasn’t interested in. Fragile probing may have been the goal but Cartman couldn’t say he wanted to engage. 
 
“Yes,” he finally decided how to answer through his clenched jaw. Kyle bit the inside of his cheek. Fighting wasn’t what he wanted. Yelling wasn’t what he wanted. Cartman was on a thin line. The spirit’s patience was non-existent. Kyle debated on proceeding. 
 
Their daughter’s safety was important but so was Cartman’s space. Green eyes fell to the side. He picked his battle. 
 
“Alright, just checking,” he offered before leaving silence in the room. For now, he’d just stay close to Kieri until Cartman was in a better mood. A union was a give and take. That’s what Yentl said. Boundaries and reading each other had to be more amplified in their relationship. So did trust. Kyle was choosing to trust that Kieri would be safe despite the odd display between Cartman and Scott. 
 
Furry brown ears twitched as Kyle left the room. Cartman hadn’t been facing the door where Kyle stood. Conflict began brewing in his chest. His bride respected him and now he felt bad. The reason why was unknown and that fact bothered him. Since he couldn’t sort himself, he decided to sleep. When he’d awake he’d have the answers he needed. 
 
Sleeping the frustration off was a good release. Kyle had done it before. He’d never done it for two weeks though. Cartman didn’t awake for a full fifteen days. Kyle only knew he was alive because he saw the raccoon’s chest rise and fall. It was worrisome, even to the small kit that found his hibernation egregious. No matter her demands for his wake, he remained in a deep slumber. When he finally did rise, he had serious bedhead and no concept of time. 
 
“Ahh. Ahh,” Kyle opened his mouth, trying to get the kit to imitate him. The spoon of mashed peas wasn’t appetizing. He knew that and still he tried. Kieri wasn’t budging. She liked green beans just fine. Peas, however, were wicked. Her whines of refusal didn’t sway her mother. It was clear where the stubbornness came from. 
 
Cartman’s human form stumbled to the kitchen in search of water. His tail heavily dragged behind him. Kyle and Kieri’s eyes fell on the stumbling man. Their battle of will was put on hold as if knowing absolute quiet was needed for the large man. Cups would only slow him down so he drank directly from the faucet. That would’ve annoyed Kyle on a normal day but considering Cartman had just been unconscious for half a month he wasn’t interested in fussing at the man. 
 
It was hard to tell if the water made him lightheaded or not. He already was and the water’s sensation coursed through him with a fluid surge of electricity. Once he’d gotten his fill he hunched over the sink, still getting his bearings. The world slowly came to his mind. He felt eyes on his back. He wasn’t sure why his presence was a spectacle. All he did was sleep for the evening. When he turned around to face the eyes staring he found them to be awkward ones. Both his bride and daughter looked moderately shocked, nervous almost. 
 
“What?” his gruff voice came. Despite downing water for ten minutes, his vocal cords hadn’t gotten the preparation they needed. Strange but he didn’t think too much about it. He did think his family was acting weird. When he spoke Kyle winced. 
 
“How are you feeling?” Kyle recovered. 
 
“Fine,” the gruffness remained. God, why was he hoarse? It shouldn’t have been this bad.
 
“Good,” Kyle blinked himself into consciousness. There wasn’t a reason to act afraid of Cartman but there was a reason to be cautious. “Are you hungry?”
 
Cartman’s face twisted as he snorted. For once, he did actually need food to get rid of his headache. A slow nod came as he yawned. That confirmation prompted Kyle to abandon the bowl of mashed peas on his daughter’s highchair while he began preparing food for Cartman. While Kyle invaded the kitchen, Cartman traded places and sat at the dinette. Kieri jumped slightly when he attempted to lean down to kiss her head. The reaction hurt. His kit was too small to reject him that way. 
 
Silence remained as Kyle quickly made him a sandwich and cut up fruit. It was quick and easy. Apples, bananas, and he threw in orange slices and blueberries. The mixture interested the kit but she wasn’t keen on asking her father to share. 
 
“C’mon you,” Kyle said quietly as he picked the girl up. He’d feed her in her room and get her down for a nap. That plan was foiled by the slow-eating man. 
 
“Stay,” he said bluntly. 
 
“Cartman-”
 
“Sit.”
 
Kyle stroked Kieri’s hair when she whimpered. He held her close as he sat back in his seat. Cartman didn’t look at them as he continued eating. Again, they looked at him in silence. Kieri whined softly prompting her mother to pat her back. Cartman didn’t like the fact that they were acting afraid of him. There wasn’t a reason to. Maybe his claws were sharper than usual but that wasn’t cause to act like he’d hurt them. 
 
The food helped his mind flow back into steadiness. He couldn’t concentrate on anything properly before it. The grogginess of his sleep took a lot to shake. When he finally did he realized

why

his daughter rejected him and why her mother seemed tense around him. 
 
How he hadn’t realized he’d nearly doubled in size was beyond him. He realized he felt the weight of two tails dragging behind him instead of one. If it weren’t for the glass of water given to him he’d never have known his eyes were red. Once he had fully come into consciousness and these discoveries were made, he sat in front of a mirror constantly examining this form. Eventually, Kieri found him to be harmless and took an interest in his twin tails. Kyle still remained watchful. He didn’t share the bed with his hibernating fiance. He’d check on Cartman twice a day but he’d never seen the tails. The man’s size seemed to fluctuate. He seemed so much bigger once he stood and Kyle realized he hadn’t been crazy those days he thought Cartman had grown. 
 
“So, uhm,” Kyle cleared his throat. “What’s-”
 
“How long was I asleep?” he interrupted him. 
 
Kyle liked his lips before answering, “Fifteen days.” Cartman’s red eyes flickered to him in the mirror. 
 
“What do you mean fifteen days?”
 
“I mean you wouldn’t move,” Kyle shifted. “We tried waking you but you just…wouldn’t. Your mom said you may have been stress sleeping and that you would wake up when you were ready.” 
 
Cartman’s eyes went back to himself. He shouldn’t have slept that long. He knew

why

he did but it shouldn’t have happened. This would take time to come back from. At least he didn’t progress past this point. 
 
“Next time I sleep for more than three days don’t go to my mother. Go back to the priest,” Cartman kept staring at himself. Behind him, his bride nodded silently. 
 
“Eric, what is this?” he managed exhaustedly. The shock of today was an emotional labor in itself. 
 
“Corruption.” 
 
The statement seemed to linger between them. Kyle now had questions and Cartman had the answers to them all.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“My kind is not supposed to be provoked to extreme wrath or anguish. It disrupts our being. If it happens in deep-rooted emotion, corruption takes place. It’s not always like this. Sometimes, it’s much more minor. Then other times, it’s much more severe. That’s never something that’s to happen. If we get pushed to total corruption we’ll be put to death as we can never revert back. Based on the looks of it…I wasn’t pushed there but if I went any further it’d have been there,” Cartman looked at his claws as his hand opened and closed a fist. 
 
Kyle sat silently as he listened. His mind was transported to their first fight, the day he first saw those red eyes from his fiance’s anger. Finding out the spirit was close to death this time shook him. He wished he’d made Cartman talk that night. Maybe this could’ve been avoided. Cartman eyed him trying to process. Since Kyle was rendered silent, Cartman decided to continue. They were here now and he needed to speak plainly. 
 
“The sleep delayed it. I think…by sleeping my being fought with itself over the corruption. My waking up conscious and not a rampaging monster shows that I was in threat of being entirely taken by my fury but there was still enough peace within me to hold me from it,” he shook his head. “My brother pushed me here. He knew what he was doing. I should’ve known better than to let him upset me so bad.”
 
“What is the deal between you and him? From what you’ve just said he basically just tried to get you killed. Please Cartman,” he grabbed the man’s enlarged hand. “Talk to me about this. I don’t want to lose you.” 
 
Cartman felt his bride’s hands trembling as they held his. Kyle’s hands barely managed to hold one of his together. The difference was damning. His bride could’ve been hurt. His kit could’ve been hurt. Everything he’d fought for would’ve been gone just because he couldn’t control his anger towards his brother. Wouldn’t that have made Scott’s day?
 
“He never liked me,” he sighed. “He never

wanted

me. There was always this superiority complex between him and me. You see, his mother is our father’s first wife. He thinks just because he’s the first born and of the first wife he’s so much better than me. It kills him that my mother is our father’s favorite. She has limited time with him compared to Scott’s mother so he tends to dote on her more. Scott resents her and by extension me because of that.” 
 
Kyle nodded with understanding as Cartman explained. 
 
“When we were younger I tried to be a good brother. Following him. Trying to play or practice our powers together. He rejected me from the moment I could walk. For years, he tried to make it painfully clear that I’d never be as powerful or respected as him. I…was delayed in a lot of ways. Other kits weren’t interested in me. I supposed in human terms I was seen as a ‘loser’ because of…well a lot,” he tried to swallow the bitterness. “My brother was no help. He relished in my inabilities, in my ugliness, in everything that was wrong with me.”
 
“Eric-,”
 
“All our lives he’s done his best to make me feel unwanted. If it weren’t for my mother and on occasion, our father’s interference, I’d probably have been corrupted from sorrow long ago. And then I met you,” he smiled weakly. “You were my first friend, Kyle…I hadn’t met Yentl until almost a year later. Do you know it was her that kept my dream of marrying you alive? Scott swore I was an idiot, that you’d never return for me. I think he honestly told me each time he saw for a year, “He will never love you.” God, he tried to break me…but Yentl helped me,” he averted his eyes to the floor. Kyle kissed his hand as he spoke. 
 
“I’m so sorry, Eric. I didn’t know he was so cruel.”
 
“Cruel isn’t even the beginning,” he shook his head. “Well, that brings me to Kieri. Scott actually doesn’t have a bride or kits. Imagine his upset when he found out I had a bride and a child on the way. He demanded that our father put a stop to things since the eldest son had yet to be married and produce an heir. Well, Scott was always his favorite. I was sure he’d make me abandon you and Kieri but, he didn’t,” he sighed. “That bracelet you received. It was from him. That was his approval. I hadn’t expected it, honestly.”
 
Kyle stiffened slightly. The bracelet in question was still on his wrist. Cartman never told him where each gift came from, just that they had been from someone from the spirit plane. While he was glad Cartman’s father had approved of their union, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about Scott’s approach to everything. 
 
“And now Scott’s trying to have you killed just so he can have his way?” Kyle asked. 
 
“Seems so. Wouldn’t be the first time. He’s been trying to have me corrupted since I was born,” he shrugged bitterly. “He knew by even touching a hair on my kit I’d be moved to fury. Seeing her alone with Butters gave him the opportunity he needed. He knew better to approach when she’s with me alone or around my mother.”
 
“I don’t like her being a pawn in all this,” Kyle’s eyes lowered. 
 
“Neither do I. That’s why I’ll handle this alone. Please don’t worry.”
 
“Eric, you’ve just explained how you could’ve died if you were any angrier. How can you handle this?”
 
The spirit inhaled before exhaling out his nose sharply. 
 
“Like an adult.”
 
***
 
Cartman faced the wall. When he first began doing this Kyle thought it was his way of pouting. Now he realized that Cartman was trying to calm himself. A few days prior he’d met with Yentl’s father about his corruption. The higher being would handle Scott and sent him home to release. Meditation was medicine in this case.
 
Kieri liked climbing over her father. He didn’t need to acknowledge her directly when his tails were there. They’d twitch or move her which was enough for the kit. Kyle didn’t think she should be as excitable by them as she was but then again he was being hypocritical. 
Lately, his ass had been leaking. He didn’t know why and he struggled to bring it up. Cartman had enough going on than to deal with his weird butt problems. It had started randomly and Kyle couldn’t figure out why. He’d never guessed it was because he was horny. 
 
With everything in their lives, the engaged couple hadn’t been intimate in almost two months. Kyle hated that he found his inflated fiance to be the pinnacle of attractiveness. Cartman wasn’t supposed to be sexy in a deadly state. And yet, Kyle wanted the in-house titan inside of him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

He scolded himself as he showered. Due to his running leak, he found himself showering constantly. When he went out he now wore male pads to catch whatever this fluid was. It seemed to fluctuate in flow but there hadn’t been a day since Cartman woke up that it stopped. Showering helped, if only a little. Something had to be done about the sticky slick.
 
The evening had grown late. Cartman put Kieri to bed while her mother showered. He’s noticed Kyle spending more time there but not knowing why. The initial guess was that he was stressed and perhaps he was. After securing his kit, Cartman returned to the master bedroom. While he was preparing for bed, a freshly bathed Kyle made his way into the room.

“Ugh, I just got out the shower?”

Kyle scowled at his hand. Within mere minutes a fresh secretion was starting to moisten between his asscheeks. The thick fluid mocked him before disappearing into Cartman’s mouth. The large spirit capturing his hand suddenly was startling. Kyle would’ve thought Cartman was trying to eat him the way his entire hand was in the spirit’s large mouth. Red eyes dilated as his tails shot straight on edge. Once Cartman recovered, he released Kyle’s hand. Now that it had been acknowledged, Kyle had no reason not to ask. “What…what is that? It’s been happening for a few days and it won’t stop.”
 
“Your gateway is flowing.”
 
“My gateway? You mean how you got me pregnant?”
 
“Mmm.”
 
“So what does that mean?”
 
“Well, it usually means you’re interested.”
 
Kyle gulped when he was suddenly rendered speechless. Cartman’s eyes bore holes into him and he dared not break eye contact in return.  Silence filled their bedroom with an odd intensity. The ginger didn’t have much time to react when one of Cartman’s thick fingers began the venture into his ass.
 
One minute he had been standing at the entrance of his closet. The next he was on his back looking up at his concentrated fiance. Despite his pointed claws, Cartman caused no harm upon his entry into Kyle. Kyle’s breathing hitched, feeling the large digits exploring him. Slick continued to coat his fingers. 
 
“You’ve been suffering…” the spirit mumbled.
 
“It’s been seven weeks,” he moaned softly. Sex wasn’t something he usually pined for but he

missed

Eric. 
 
“Forgive my negligence,” he began kissing Kyle’s collar. 
 
Kyle’s breathing continued to labor while Cartman worked on him. The size difference was somewhat daunting. Not physically but mentally. Try as he might, Kyle didn’t want to become enamored with Cartman’s current state. It’d be wrong to give into the excitement of the enlarged man but he wanted to savor every bit of this that he could. 
 
Cartman found his bride’s body to be fragile. Not wanting to crush the man (no matter how much the latter might’ve wanted it), he sat Kyle on his lap. His hand found Kyle’s member and began stroking him the best his hand would allow.

“I could break him…”

he thought as he continued to edge the man. Whimpers reached his ears. Kyle yearned for more. Slick continued onto Cartman’s lap. After a moment of internal debate, he decided to try penetrating the man. 
 
“Fuck,” Kyle moaned as he felt the tip push into him. The swollen cock was barely inside him and he was already full. He didn’t know how he’d take the spirit. That didn’t take much consideration from Cartman. The spirit knew simply that his bride couldn’t. 
 
In an effort to make the insatiable man more comfortable, Cartman held Kyle’s arms above his head. The fragile wrists were held with ease in one of his hands while the other supported Kyle’s back, keeping him stead on his cock. Kyle felt the twin tails each claim an ankle. Panting, he demanded a kiss from his watering mouth. His fiance obliged, kissing him deeply. He worked to be careful of knicking Kyle’s lips on his sharp teeth. 
 
Sloppy, heated kisses tread down Kyle’s neck. He tilted his head, opening the access. Cartman feverishly licked the warm plain of fair skin. He felt Kyle clenching around his head. Red eyes captured Kyle's stomach rolling with each stroke he gifted the man. 
 
“M-more,” Kyle moaned. “Give me more. Eric I need-,” his pleas were interrupted by the sudden yet tender pull from his ankles. Cartman indulged his demands lowering him via his tails. Kyle felt the furry chains tighten and pull, sending a strange and exciting sensation up his flesh. 
 
The large cock intruded further into the wet stretching hole of Kyle’s ass. His cries grew heated as his eyes rolled back. Cartman continued pumping into his bride. He felt himself growing closer. For a brief moment, he realized that he need not impregnate his bride in this state. The hand holding Kyle’s back moved to his stomach. Cartman’s claws rested around Kyle’s belly button, pushing in ever so slightly. Kyle’s hiss prompted his ears to twitch. Cartman pulled his fingers slowly together on Kyle’s flesh. As he did, Kyle’s tail and ears sprouted. 
 
Once he’d made sure to keep Kyle away from fertility, he sharply bucked his hips into the ginger. The sound of Kyle moaning his name in a pierced cry excited the spirit. Again, he kissed him deeply as he climaxed. His bride became filled will his seed. The slight swell of Kyle’s middle makes him thankful he sealed Kyle’s gateway. If he hadn’t, surely Kieri would’ve become an older sister. 
 
Such a thought is captivating. Cartman could not wait to get his bride pregnant once more. And he would, just not tonight. Tonight, he needed to become familiar once more with the ginger. 
 
“My bride, most lovely are you,” he breathed into Kyle’s ear. The red fur-covered appendage twitched under his heated breath. Kyle swallowed deeply as he bit Cartman’s neck. A gruff moan bubbled from the spirit who returned the gesture to Kyle’s ear. The sensation of sharp nibbles coursed down Kyle’s neck. Through his moans, he began sucking the sweet spot of Cartman’s neck. Over the course of their relationship, Kyle had made it a personal goal to grant Cartman hickies but it was hard to bruise the flesh of a spirit. Tonight, Kyle spared no force. As if he was sucking Cartman off through a straw, he attached himself to Cartman’s neck. 
 
Kyle’s greedy hips continued trying to tame Cartman’s cock as he focused on his neck. His arms had been lowered, granting him access to rub the firm middle of the spirit. Cartman ran his fingers’ pointed edges along Kyle’s back. The ginger’s slick had blended with his seed, now pouring back down his cock, warming it with its delivery. Kyle’s own cum had landed on his swollen belly. It impressed how much the human carried then again, it was safe to say he had plenty of backup within himself. 
 
The release felt good. It felt like ecstasy. Kyle loved every minute of it. Sucking on the warm flesh of the spirit brought him to heatedly kiss it, licking between bites and suckling. Cartman’s stomach clenched with another climax near from the lustful pressure of his bride’s affection. 
 
When Kyle detached for air, he was met with another fill from his groom. Cartman arched slightly feeling a much larger delivery than the first. Perhaps it wasn’t only Kyle that had unbridled needs met. When his eyes become focused, he finds the dazed yet proud look on Kyle’s face. 
 
“I did it,” he breathed before hungrily kissing his groom. “I did it.”
 
Cartman’s eyes shifted down to his collar where Kyle had been attached. A darkening patch had begun to form. Small, much luck Kyle’s mouth but there nonetheless. A stiff smirk took to Cartman’s lips before he kissed his bride. 
 
“So you did.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kyle looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t feel any different. Well, the slick had stopped but other than that everything seemed normal. No aches. No change in weight. No nausea. Well, that shouldn’t have been the case at all. Still, how had Cartman known the first time?
 
It had been a week since the sex life between the couple had jolted back to life. Nearly every night they joined together in the lustful excursion of each other’s bodies. In doing that, Cartman’s body had begun reverting from its corruption. While still large, he was slowly coming back to his given size. Kyle hummed in slight annoyance as he continued looking in the mirror. His train of thought was diverted when he heard his family in the living room. 
 
“Am I pregnant?” he asked openly. Cartman’s eyes looked over to him for only an instant before looking back at Kieri trying to pull herself up by the couch cushion. 
 
“No,” the answer was simple.
 
“How can you tell?” 
 
“Your gateway is closed.”
 
“So at first it was leaking and now it’s closed? The sex did that?”
 
“No, I did it.”
 
“Why?” offense laced Kyle’s voice. Cartman’s mix-matched eyes again glanced at him before looking back to his kit. 
 
“I’m still managing corruption, Kyle. The essence of my being is hanging in the balance. It wouldn’t be good for a kit to be conceived when I’m essentially unclean.”
 
“As in your DNA is mutated at the moment and producing a kit would pass that down to them?”
 
Cartman blinked, his eyes narrowing in consideration. 
 
“Yes,” he said slowly. “We can have another kit once we get married.”
 
Kyle huffed, pouting as he stomped over to the couch childishly. A brow rose on the brunette before turning his attention back to the kit still trying to get her legs to cooperate with her goals. Her dad had placed her bunny on the furthest part of the cushion and acted confused about it. She needed it back. Pronto. 
 
“Since when are you in a hurry to get pregnant again?” Cartman asked after a while. 
 
Sighing, Kyle crossed his arms. “I don’t know. I just…want another baby. Maybe I think it’ll fix things. Maybe things were easier when I was having Kieri. Or maybe I just…want more time to think.”
 
“All are horrible reasons to have a kit.”
 
“And having one to keep a partner isn’t?”
 
Cartman couldn’t argue but his baby trapping his bride wasn’t the current conversation. His bride was having insecurities and it’d best to explore them. While Kyle couldn’t face corruption like him, his bride still didn’t need to sit in upset alone when he didn’t have to. 
 
“What troubles you?”
 
“Everything,” another sigh came from the ginger as he threw his head back. The larger man only nodded as he made a playful look of amazement at the kit trying to encourage her. 
 
Green eyes fell on the girl working on pure determination. Chubby fingers kept trying to grab at the thick fabric of the couch cushion. She could run on all fours when in her natural state but as a human, she could only crawl still. From what Kyle gathered from Liane, Kieri was developing on track in both states. He was happy for that he supposed. His girl was bright and healthy. That’s all he could ask for. 
 
“I don’t want to make a mistake,” Kyle said finally. “I love you and Kieri so much…but there’s still a life I want earth side. I still want to help kids and then there’s the shrine. My family. I just…don’t know what to pick. It feels like I’m losing something regardless of what I pick.”
 
“You won’t make a mistake. Don’t think of anything as losing something. You’re only gaining,” he continued to watch as Kieri made it up on one knee. When Kyle looked at him for more he continued. “You won’t be forsaking yourself by joining me. You can still have a life earth side, plenty of spirits do. Look at me, I only return home periodically. This entire time I’ve lived earth side with no complications.” 
 
Kyle twisted his mouth with a slight nod. That was true, he had to admit. He hadn’t considered that Cartman was a living example of spirits existing earth side. 
 
“As for your family, you have already put the distance between you, haven’t you? You are here and they are there. Never would I ask you to cut them off unless they were harmful to our family. The only thing you’d have to be burdened with is watching them pass away but if I’m being honest, you were going to anyway.”
 
“I guess,” he muttered. 
 
“You can still work and live life as you usually would. May have to change jobs every now and again or work under an assumed name, but that’s okay. Others have done it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
 
“But what about the shrine?”
 
“Don’t burden yourself if you don’t actually feel compelled to do it. Feeling responsible for something out of your control won’t do anything. Unless there is a deep desire, a source of compassion, a calling to be a caretaker, do not assume the role. You will grow to resent it later. It’s like…those priests and nuns I see on TV. Being a shrine keeper is a sacred commitment. The only difference is that the holy humans can leave their churches. Once you agree to that life, there is no changing.”
 
Kyle nodded as he leaned on his fiance. His eyes watched Kieri managing to get her footing together. He smiled softly as the girl pulled herself up. Once she had it, her parents clapped happily. She momentarily forgot about her bunny to join them in the celebration. When she noticed the toy just beyond her father’s side her cheers turned into a short whine. Cartman kept his end of the unspoken agreement and gave her the toy. Almost instantly, the girl fell on her bottom happily hugging the toy. Her parents wore tender smiles. 
 
They loved her beyond reason. 
 
“We can always find a groundskeeper. That’s never a concern, Kyle,” Cartman patted his thigh. “If it’s not truly what you want, do not do it. There is no going back once the choice has been made.” 
 
Again, he nodded. 
 
“Then I think I know what to decide.”
 
***
 
Marriage wasn’t on the table until Cartman was cleared of his corruption. Due to how bad it was, it took him nearly three weeks post-awakening to be cleared by the priest. The man thought it’d take him longer to heal but he wouldn’t pry into what Cartman did to regain merriment in his heart. With Cartman healed, the preparations resumed. 
 
Kyle did his best to distract his mother from planning a bigger affair. Her Pinterest board would have to be saved for Ike. With regard to his brother, Kyle finally called him. The video chat started off awkward and tender but eventually softened. There was no resentment to be had. Their age gap had strained them aside from their life choices but they were still brothers. 
 
Meeting her other uncle was an event for Kieri. The man was much nicer than her father’s brother. His smile was genuine towards her. Plushies from the UK were bountiful. A corner in her room had been dedicated to gifts her uncle and grandparents gave her. Their first time meeting had been quick and tense. Now knowing for sure they had a granddaughter, Gerald and Sheila, especially, spared no expense on the girl. 
 
Clothes that she’d only wear once filled her closet along with some for her to grow into. Cartman disclosed his thoughts to his bride about his family spoiling their kit. Greed wouldn’t serve to be embedded in the small child. Kyle understood but he knew his loving family needed the emotional outlet of tending to the first and so far only grandchild. He’d just shuffle things around in Kieri’s room later. It wasn’t like she’d remember

everything

being given. Cartman begged to differ. 
 
Liane enjoyed meeting Kyle’s family. She and Sheila got along well over their shared adoration for Kieri. Kyle had forewarned his family not to ask about Eric’s dad. He implied that the man was busy and while he loved his son, they had a “fragile” relationship. His presence wasn’t missed as Ike took to his pending brother-in-law. Cartman’s view on life and his banter had been entertaining. Finding the man that made his brother happy to be a good person was comforting. While he never so mentioned it, Ike worried for his brother at times.
 
All their lives Kyle pressed himself. He took himself too seriously and always killed himself to be the best. There were times Ike saw Kyle spiraling because he wasn’t

perfect

. Anytime plans fell through, Kyle would have major depressive episodes. Ike remembered how dark his brother became when he wasn’t awarded the scholarship he’d been betting on to carry him through to his dream school. The blow wasn’t as bad, at least not to Ike. Kyle still had a lot of other grants and scholarships he won. He only needed a $5K loan but that seemed to kill him. Ike tried not to think of the time when Kyle got a B+ in Geography instead of an A. 
 
Cartman was a good balance to his rigid brother. Kyle didn’t seem as tense, as serious. Maybe becoming a parent helped too. There was a new delicate nature to him now. He was nurturing, loving to the little girl. Perhaps now the things he let stress him in the past he now knew they weren’t as bad. 
 
There were more important things in life.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Alright, Benny. You’ll be seeing Jackson moving forward, okay? I promise he’s super nice,” Kyle smiled at the nervous boy on his computer screen. His dream of being a children’s counselor came true a few years ago. 
 
It was a good feeling.
 
“I won’t see you anymore when you get back?”
 
“Well, I won’t be back for some time,” Kyle maintained a soft smile. “When I get back in office we can see alright? But I want you to promise me you’ll continue what we’ve talked about. Jackson is one of my most trusted colleagues. He’ll help you.”
 
The boy nodded. Before long they said their goodbyes. With his camera off, Kyle leaned back freely in his office chair. His eyes closed as his hands found his swollen middle that had been hiding under his desk. A sharp kick solidified his reason for taking time off work. He had an exciting addition to his family on the way that he couldn’t wait to meet. As much as he liked pivoting between being a remote guidance counselor and children’s therapist, there was another little one who’d need him more. 
 
When another kick came from his belly, he forced himself to the kitchen to brew tea. Someone from the spirit world recommended him. He’d been a human turned spouse as well. The tea helped calm the faux labor pains although Kyle could tell his coming kit would be there any day now. He was just glad he made it through the last of his clients prior to taking his “medical” leave as he told his job.
 
Green eyes looked out the kitchen window as he leaned on the counter with one hand, the other holding the fresh cup of tea. A striped tail lazily switched behind him as his sprouted raccoon ears twitched through his ginger curls. In the backyard, three raccoons had been running through the leaves. Each had been smaller than the last but not massive enough to raise alarm like Eric had the first time Kyle saw him at the shrine nearly six years prior.

“

He left them alone. I’ll kill him,”

he thought as the sound of tires reached his ears. The again expectant mother made his way to the front of the house. He walked onto the porch, one hand supporting his back as the other securely held his mug. A smile broke onto his lips as Butters climbed out of his truck. The blonde released his two children from the backseat who were greeted almost instantly by the trio of young raccoons. 
 
“How you feeling there, Kyle?” Butters smiled.
 
“Ready for her to get here,” he sighed contently.
 
“Her? What makes you think it’s a girl?” He hugged him.
 
“She’s nicer than my boys were,” he explained as the two sat on the patio couch. “Reminds me more of when I was pregnant with Kieri than Theo or Cole.”
 
“Think you should have another after her just to be sure of this theory,” the blonde teased, warranting an eye roll from the ginger.
 
“She’s the last one. Don’t give two shits what competition Eric thinks he’s in with Scott. I am

done

after this one.”
 
“Aww, you’re no fun.”
 
“Ha, sure. Why don’t you get pregnant then since it’s so fun? You know, since you can do that now.”
 
Butters snorted a laugh. While he could, in theory, open a gateway, he decided not to. He was still too frequent in South Park despite moving into the woods like Kyle and Cartman had. Maybe one day down the line he’d give it a try but for now, he was content with the two littles he and Kenny adopted. They had time, after all.
 
After several rounds of purification at the hands of the priest, Kenny’s tie to life and death made for him to be an easy acceptance to be the shrine’s new keeper once Liane passed. For now, he worked alongside her, learning the trade. With him dedicated, Butters, as his spouse, was granted the same life expansion and the ability to carry should he choose to at some point. The blonde was glad to live alongside his friends and husband, upkeeping sacred ground and protecting the forest. 
 
“Maybe one day. I’ve been busy getting Justice settled,” he looked at his toddler playing with the smallest raccoon. Kyle hummed and motioned for them to come over. Like most tiny butts, the pair seemed to think it was a game and ran in the opposite direction. In no way, was Kyle going to chase Cole and the boy knew that. Butters gladly did it. He returned with his daughter on his hip and Cole in hand. He handed the boy to his mother who began pressing on his back. 
 
Once Cole returned to his human form, curly brown hair and bright brown eyes, he giggled madly kissing his mother. Kyle knew the game but he’d gladly play it. 
 
His kits were his life.
 
Cole and Justice were again turned loose and ran among the older children. Kieri and Theo had returned to their human states by then. They didn’t need as much help as Cole but there were times their parents still had to help. From the porch, Kyle and Butters sat talking until their husbands approached. 
 
“You,” Kyle frowned, seeing his husband. Cartman smiled shamelessly. 
 
“Me,” he kissed his male-wife. 
 
“You left the kids in the yard alone. You were supposed to be watching them.”
 
“They were fine. Kieri and Theo know to call if they need me.”
 
“Cartman, that’s,-“
 
His chastisement was interrupted by a tender kiss. Cartman knew Kyle wasn’t willing to argue as much at the moment. Too much energy was spent preparing for their kit’s arrival. 
 
“I wasn’t far,” the brunette purred. “Was helping Kenny set up tricks for the campers.”
 
“What?” Butters’ hands found his hips as his husband gave him a cheeky smile. 
 
“Just a lil’ fun,” the taller blonde offered.
 
“You’ll scare those poor kids,“ Butters wasn’t amused. 
 
“They’ll be fine.”
 
As Kenny and Cartman tried to get back in their spouses’ good graces, their children ran happily in front of the Broflovski-Cartman home. Candy, the oldest McCormick girl, was the same age as Kieri. Theo was just over a year behind his sister.  Then three years later Cole came along with Justice. Now two years later, another kit was on the way. As far as their parents were concerned, the collective of children all got along well which was the most important part.
 
“Let’s get you inside,” Cartman kissed his bride’s cheek when he saw him wince. If the tea wasn’t helping then the real labor pains were on the horizon. 
 
“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” Kyle huffed as he pushed himself from the sectional with Cartman’s support. 
 
“Ooh, someone’s about to not push,” Kenny taunted. Butters swatted at his husband, trying not to smile himself. 
 
Kyle rolled his eyes, sharing in Butters’ protest of smiling at the comment. 
 
“Well, lucky me.”