As the days passed, Tim healed physically. The bruises faded and the slashes on his back healed although leaving scars. But mentally, he wasn't healing as fast.

He seemed very jumpy. Any sudden sound would startle him. He would become extremely paranoid when left alone.

The doctors had warned Adam and Austin that besides the injuries to Tim's body that his mind could also be damaged.

"Are you sure that you feel like going today?" Adam asks as he and Tim got dressed for the festival.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Besides, we need to go help Kelsey set up." Tim answers as he slips on his boots.

"I just don't want you over doing it." Adam says.

"I'm fine, Beautiful." Tim smiles as he kisses his husband on the nose.

As they walk out of the bedroom, they are met with the aroma of fresh coffee. Austin was in the kitchen filling three to go mugs with coffee.

"Where's Olena? Is she going?" Adam asks as he takes one of the mugs.

"Yeah, she's going. She's just going to get a little more sleep and come later." Austin answers, handing his brother a mug of coffee. "What about you? You sure that you're ready for this?"

"I have to be. I can't hide out in the house for the rest of my life." Tim says as he sips his coffee.

"Well, you know that you will be closely watched." Austin smirks.

"Oh, I'm sure of it." Tim nods as he slips on his glasses. "Yall ready?"

Satchmo hops into the back of the truck as the three men get inside.

It was still a few hours before sun up but a lot of work had to be done in town. The road into town was dark and creepy. Raccoons and possums were a constant sight.

As they pull into a parking place, they see Mark and Bob's trucks already there.

As they are getting out of their truck. Tim glances around just in time to see a figure coming out of the dark woods and walking toward them.

"Oh, God." Tim gasps as he grabs Adam by the arm.

"Honey, it's alright. It's just Bob." Adam says, trying to pry Tim's tight grip from his arm.

"Sorry, man. Didn't mean to scare you. Just had to take a piss." Bob chuckles.

Tim leans against his truck trying to calm himself.

"Well, hell. Seeing Bigfoot coming out of the woods would scare anybody." Austin chuckles.

"Shut up, Squirt." Bob laughs as they begin walking toward the main street.

"Hey, guys." Kelsey waves as they walk up to the area where Chris and Mark were sitting up tables. She hugs Tim's neck. "So glad to see you here. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. I haven't missed one of these yet. Not gonna start now." Tim smiles.

"That's my Tim." She smiles, rubbing him on the cheek.

"Where's Chance?" Austin asks as he glances around.

"Uh... He's going to be a little late today. He had to make a trip to New Orleans. He left a couple of hours ago." Rob answers.

"Is anything wrong?" Tim asks, only to get a quick head shake from Rob. His actions left Tim thinking that Rob wasn't telling everything he knew.

"Where's my BFF?" Jenika asks.

"Your what?" Austin asks.

"Olena." Jenika laughs.

"Oh." Austin says, still with a puzzled look on his face. "She's coming. Just wanted to get a little more sleep."

"What the hell is BFF?" Tim asks.

"Never mind, Timmy." Jenika laughs. 

"It means, best friend forever." Adam whispers to his husband.

"Oh. Okay?" Tim says shaking his head slightly. "Why didn't she just say that? Never mind, this is Jenika we're talking about."

"Morning Y'all." Hattie smiles as she walks over. "Got breakfast fixed. Can't have my boys working on empty stomachs."

"That's music to my ears." Tim chuckles as he grabs Adam by the hand. "Let's eat."

"Yall go ahead. Kelsey and I have already ate breakfast. We can finish up." Rob says.

With that being said, the others hurry over to the cafe to grab a bite to eat.

The towns people had all heard about Tim's ordeal and were quite shock to see him in town. He hadn't been to town since it happened. Staying hid in the safety of his own home.

By the time they had finished eating, Olena had joined them. The sun's rays was beginning to creep through the moss covered trees that surrounded the swamp. The street was filled with vendors trying to make a buck. The smell of Cajun cooking fill the air.

Tim and the others make their way through the now crowded street. Checking out what the vendors had to offer. Most of the vendors were not fans of Tim. BUT, his money spent as good as the next person.

"Wow, are these real gator teeth?" Adam asks as he picks up a necklace made from a rawhide string with a tooth hanging on it. "That's really cool."

"You like that?" Tim asks, taking the necklace from him and putting it around his husband's neck. "Looks good on you. But then, what doesn't?"

"That's awesome." Adam smiles as the looks into a mirror that was provided.

"How much?" Tim asks.

"Five bucks." The vendor answers sharply.

"That's highway robbery." Austin mumbles just so his friends could hear him. "I think we're in the wrong business."

Tim smiles as he hands the vendor the cash.

"You make a lot of money off these?" Olena asks as she examines one of the necklaces.

"You'd be surprised." The toothless Cajun smiles. "Lotta city folks come to dese festivals. They dumb enough to buy anything."

"Uh, excuse me?" Adam asks with raised brows.

"HEY! Look what they got over here." Tim says quickly, grabbing Adam by the arm and pulling him away from the table.

"I can do that." Olena comments as they head down the street.

"Do what, Babe?" Austin asks, taking her by the hand.

"That gives me a brilliant idea." She says as her face lights up. "I can make jewelry for extra cash for the baby. He only had necklaces. I can also make ear rings and bracelets and with different kinds of teeth, not only gator."

"And claws." Austin adds.

"Oh, my God!! YES!!!" She says with a huge smile.

"I find bear claws all the time while we're out running our traps." Tim says as he checks out the new varieties of moonshine that Joe Ben had made.

"Wait. There's bears here?" Adam asks.

"Mhmm." Tim nods. "Black bear."

"Hey, Guys." Chance speaks up suddenly.

Tim jumps, dropping the jar of shine that he was holding.

"Oh, crap. I'm so sorry, Tim." Chance apologizes as he looks down at the broken jar.

"That's okay." Tim says, running a shaky hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Joe Ben. How much do I owe you for this?"

"Ya don't owe me a tang. Dare's plenty more war dat come from. I guarantee." Joe Ben says with a smile.

"What the hell you doing slipping up behind me like that, Chance?" Tim says as he notices someone standing beside Chance. "And who is this?"

"This is the reason I went to New Orleans." Chance smiles. "Guys? This is Avi. My boyfriend."

"No sh*t??" Tim asks as the others' jaws drop.

**********

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