Ow...

Hmm? 

...it hurts. 

Blinking open one blurry eye, Baron exhaled as he tried to figure out what he was hearing. 

Dad? Dad?! 

At first, his sleepy mind thought that his daughter was calling out to him, but as he woke up more, he realized that the voice in his head definitely wasn't his daughter's. 

After a quick glance around the room he was in, he finished putting the puzzle pieces together and looked down. 

King...

The guy looked like he was having a nightmare. 

Hmm? 

Reaching over and downward toward where the man rested on the floor below him, Baron was just about to touch King's right hand where it was tightly holding his left arm in the hopes of getting him to release it and possibly calm his tumultuous dream, when the man suddenly awoke with a startled gasp! Almost immediately, that gasp turned into a pained groan, making Baron realize that his pain was actually real and not part of his nightmare. 

Quickly scooting off the bed, Baron carefully knelt over King with a leg on either side of his body as he gently began massaging the muscles in his left arm. 

They're really tight. 

It felt like what had happened when his wife had gotten into a bad accident. Thankfully her injuries had fully healed, but...

He doesn't look like he's been in a wreck anytime recently, and he hasn't mentioned anything. 

Either way, he pushed himself to focus completely on what he was doing since one wrong move could make the injury worse. He also felt King try to pull his arm away a few times as he worked, but the man never seemed to really commit to completing the action, making Baron all the more intent to keep working. 

It's going to hurt a little more, but it will feel better soon. 

In fact, he could feel the muscles slowly beginning to relax beneath his hands as time passed, though the amount of effort and pressure it took to continue massaging was beginning to make him sweat. 

He worked for another ten minutes or so before he felt one of King's warm hands gently grasp his wrist. The faint touch broke his concentration and had his hands immediately relaxing as he finally looked toward his face again. 

Aw, babe...

He quickly but carefully lowered the young man's arm back down to the carpeted floor, then moved himself so that he was sitting between King and the bed. 

It was a tight spot, but he hadn't realized he'd been partially sitting on top of him before. 

"King?" he asked as he looked upon that exhausted face covered in tear stains. 

The man had closed his eyes at some point, but there had been no stopping the tears from flowing. 

Rexy...

Baron felt his heart skip in his chest. 

I have your Rexy... your support....

Reaching forward, Baron carefully helped King sit up, then leaned him forward as he moved his own legs to either side, eventually managing to settle him against his chest for a hug. 

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I've got your Rexy with me. He's right here for you," Baron said soothingly as he began running his fingers through King's soft hair. 

He even pressed his cheek to the guy's forehead, hoping that the contact would return his little one to him. Baron could clearly feel Rexy wandering around at the forefront of his mind, obviously nervous about his other half. 

Go home, sweetheart. Your daddy needs you. 

A faint pattering of jaws joined Rexy a moment later as both their shifts grew anxious. When Rexy still didn't transfer, though, Baron gave a long sigh and hugged King closer. 

"He's right here, I promise. And Prince is worried about you, too. You have two babies watching over you right now, and I won't leave, either." 

Rexy, please go back to him. He needs you. 

More paws tapped here, then there. Then a squeak was heard, then a little nervous cry. Then, finally, he felt a set of little paws crossing through his connection with King. 

Thank you, sweetheart. 

He wasn't exactly sure what he'd expected to see as a result of Rexy going back, though he'd hoped that the little guy would be able to finish calming its dad, but when he actually felt King begin to shake a little in his arms, Baron frowned and lifted his head a little. 

What's going on? 

Leaning forward a bit so that he could see a little of the guy's face, Baron blinked, then blinked again. 

He's... giggling? 

He wasn't sure what was funny. 

Maybe Rexy? 

The little otter in his mind perked up at hearing its name, making Baron grin. 

You're a good b—wait. 

The otter flicked an ear, then yawned. 

...Prince? 

When he got no response, Baron furrowed his brow and reached over to gently nudge King's chin upward, allowing him to get a good look at his face.

The set of soft blue eyes staring up at him were amplified by the mischievous darker ones right behind them. 

You...

The beaming smile he suddenly got from King immediately cleared all of his previous worry about their current situation. 

"Prince is so sweet!" King said, making Baron smile awkwardly. 

He was sweet, but he was also a rambunctious little deviant sometimes. 

"Your hair's all messy, B," King said as he suddenly got up on his knees and turned around, then settled back down in his lap before reaching up to mess with his hair. 

His actions, and words, caught Baron so off guard that he simply let him do as he pleased, restyling his hair one way, then another. He had a feeling that King's sudden enthusiasm was, at least in part, from his raccoon wandering into his mind, but while it was a bit awkward, he couldn't find a reason to push the man away. 

Besides, he was no longer crying and his arm seemed like it was managing well enough now. 

He's smiling, so it's alright if he just wants to play with my hair. 

Baron even moved one hand to the man's waist so that he didn't unintentionally fall backwards. 

"Having fun?" he asked after a few more moments of having his hair messed with. 

King quickly nodded, humming an affirmative sound at the same time. Baron felt a faint tug on either side of the back of his head as King leaned against him a little bit. Baron immediately moved his hand up a little, making sure that King stayed balanced. 

"What are you doing?" he asked with a smile as the tugs on his hair grew in consistency, but thankfully not pain. 

He heard a mumbled response as King moved a little here and there, making Baron's smile grow a little as he focused on holding him and staying still. It didn't take him much longer to figure out what he was doing, though, and once King finally sat back down in his lap with a pleased expression on his face, Baron could feel the tiny ponytail at the back of his head. 

Didn't think my hair was long enough for one yet. My wife would have a fit if she saw it. 

Granted, it definitely wasn't something he'd go out in, but considering how entertained King seemed by making the simple thing, he didn't mind leaving it... especially if it would annoy his wife if she ever saw it. 

That reminds me. 

Moving his hand from King's waist, Baron reached up and retrieved his new phone from the bed, then turned it on and looked back up at King. 

"Um, would it be alright if I asked for your mother's phone number?" 

King's smile faltered slightly, but was soon back in place as he took the phone and quickly punched something in, then hit a few buttons before typing something else. When he handed it back to him after a minute and Baron glanced at the screen, he noticed that there were now two names in the phone's contact list. 

He put his number down as the first one...

Unable to hold back a chuckle, Baron reached up with his free hand and mussed up a bit of King's hair as he tapped his mom's contact information, then pressed the call button. 

As he lifted the phone to his ear, he felt King lean forward and wrap his arms around him. 

Um...

"Hello, you've reached state attorney Anne Law, who may I be speaking with?" 

Baron was just reaching up to try and gently remove King's arms from around his neck when he heard a familiar, quiet purring sound rumble from the young man's chest. 

Prince? 

Distracted, he quickly lowered his hand until it was simply settled against King's lower back, then spoke into the receiver. 

"Hello ma'am, it's Baron. I got your number from your son." 

"Ah! How are you doing, sweetheart?" 

She's so nice. 

Moving his thumb absentmindedly against King's back, Baron smiled as he replied. 

"Very well ma'am, thank you. King and I went out earlier and bought some things and he also got me this phone. I hope you don't mind that I got your number from him, too." 

Anne laughed quietly, clearly not bothered. 

"That's perfectly fine, hun." 

Relieved, Baron continued. 

"Um, I know you've helped me a lot already, so if this will be a hassle, please disregard it, but if you have the time, would you be able to help me file for divorce?"

King's arms tightened around him a little but Baron ignored him since he was busy talking on the phone. 

"That's not a problem. I actually have the paperwork all set. I can email it to King if you'd like? All you'd have to do is e-sign them and send them back." 

King, your mom is amazing. 

"That would be perfect. Thank you so much, ma—" Baron coughed from inhaling so suddenly, startled by what had happened!

"Is everything alright?" Anne asked, sounding a little worried.  

Swallowing, Baron stared down at the little raccoon now standing in his lap, its little black paws reaching as high as they could up his chest, as if it was asking for attention... because it was. 

"I-I was just a little startled. King shifted suddenly," he said without thinking. 

There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the line once he'd finished speaking, making him frown, now the one confused. 

"...ma'am?" 

The sound of someone running around quickly met his ears, then the sound of keys jingling, then a door slamming. 

"I'm on my way!" 

Before he could get a single word out in response, the line went dead. 

"What... just hap—" he paused as the raccoon began climbing his shirt, clearly frustrated that it wasn't getting attention. 

Sighing, Baron lifted Prince into his arms, then stood up.

"Your mom's coming to see you," he told the raccoon still reaching for his face with his little grabby hands. 

Unfortunately, he couldn't sense King at all right then, which meant that there would be no changing back so soon. 

Let me just go get the door unlocked before she breaks it down... 

She had sounded like she would, too. 

How long has it been since you let your mom see your otter? 

Prince replied with a little excited wiggle as he tugged at Baron's borrowed shirt, squeaking every few moments. 

"Hang on, you brat," he said as he got the door unlocked, then walked over to the fridge. 

Hmm, lots to choose from. 

Prince was already squirming to get out of his arms and dive into the fridge, but he knew better than to let him. It might have been a stereotype for raccoons, but it was honestly true that they ate just about everything. 

"Alright, this is what you're getting, you little dumpster-nugget," he said as he pulled out what appeared to be a lettuce and bologna wrap and handed it to his other half. 

Prince greedily took it and began crunching away like the garbage disposal he was. 

Okay, now I need to figure out what I'm supposed to say to your mom when she gets here, because I'm sure she's not expecting to see a raccoon in place of her otter. 

Pacing back and forth in the little kitchen, Baron went through idea after idea, but he couldn't decide on anything specific. Unfortunately, his time ran out far quicker than he'd thought it would, because, all too soon, he heard someone hurrying up the stairs right outside! 

No! 

"K-King!" he whined as he looked down at the plump raccoon in his arms. 

Prince looked up at him with a disinterested expression as he crunched loudly on his last bite of lettuce. 

Feeling his anxiety begin to claw at his mind, Baron squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face in Prince's fur. 

Please don't be mad! Please don't be mad!

He could just barely hear the door handle depress as his heart roared in his ears. Then, somehow, everything went quiet. 

His heart steadily calmed to a reasonable pace. 

His demons quieted within his frantic mind. 

And, slowly, he blinked open his eyes and looked up. 

He was a little surprised to see that King's mom had walked over to him and knelt down only two or so feet away, but what he didn't understand...

Why are you crying? And why are you so big? I swear I'm not a small guy.

"My baby..." 

Baron was about to start apologizing profusely for the odd situation, but when he opened his mouth, all he heard was a tiny squeak. 

Uh?

He tried again, but got the same, pathetic-sounding, result. 

Did I lose my voice? 

 Before he could question himself more, fuzzy arms were around him, pulling him into an awkward hug before they began toting him forward. 

Wait, what's going on? 

Lost in his confusion, Baron didn't put up a fight, but he did freeze when he was suddenly picked up by King's mom and hugged to her chest! 

U-um, this isn't quite appropriate, is it? 

"My sweet baby is finally back!" Anne cried, tears running like water down her cheeks as she held him close, petting his hair like one would a...

Well. Shit. 

Twitching his whiskers, Baron finally realized what had happened. 

I guess this could work, but I'm not sure how to act. 

Feeling a faint hint of pressure near the back of his mind, Baron focused on it until he began to hear static-like words. 

King? 

A few more moments passed before he could finally make out what he was thinking to him. 

Just let her love you. She hasn't seen Rexy since I was eight. 

Baron felt his heart skip a beat as he snuggled into the woman's arms, no longer minding that it might not be quite appropriate. He couldn't fathom not seeing his daughter's kitten for so long, let alone his daughter in general. He already missed her dearly. 

Thank you, Baron. 

Baron was about to respond when he saw Prince wander over and promptly try to climb up into Anne's arms, too!

Uh... 

He felt bad that his raccoon was being greedy for attention when Anne needed some time with Rexy, but before he could even try to chastise his shift, the woman had scooped him right up and hugged him close, too!

"Oh you sweet little angel. Thank you so much for bringing my Rexy back to me!" she said as she sniffled and hugged them both again, then pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, stunning Baron into silence. 

He wasn't used to having someone show him such affection, let alone someone older, since his mother had passed away years ago, and his father, while having just recently gone to heaven, had been bedridden for quite a long time. 

Sorry, I can't control Prince, but it seems like it's okay, King thought to him a few moments later. 

It was okay. More than okay. 

"Would you guys like some snacks?" Anne asked as she finally stood back up, easily holding them both. 

She opened the fridge and nonchalantly set Prince right inside, but before the raccoon could wreak havoc, she spoke a warning. 

"You behave, King. You only get one for now. No ruining your dinner," she chastised, making Baron nod Rexy's head in agreement. 

Yeah, and you already had a lettuce wrap right before she came in, too. 

Prince didn't seem interested in listening, but after grabbing a big boiled egg he was promptly removed from the fridge by an arm around his fuzzy belly. 

Of course, he grumbled out his protest, but Anne wasn't hearing it, and honestly, Baron wasn't either, because his mind was already on something far more important that he'd missed only moments ago. 

She called Prince King... she knows we switched.