"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry," said Andrea. "I... I wasn't thinking."

"Unfortunately you keep saying that. At some point, I have to believe you're lying to me on purpose or that you're just stupid."

"Stix, that's not fair."

"Okay." Satia stood from her chair and crossed to them. "Why don't we try and be a bit calmer about this." She turned to Stix. "I'm sure you are crushed by the news that you have a son you're only now finding out about." She turned to Andrea. "And it took a lot for you to come and even reach out to Stix. The thing is, he's in your life now, and Andre's and you two need to start trying to work together to take care of that sweet little boy in the other room. This isn't about the two of you, it's about him."

Stix stared at Satia. The voice of reason that he's always needed. The soothing and fun presence that had been missing his whole life. Hell the way she treated Andrea with respect and was so good with Andre. It was impossible for him to deny that she was meant to be his mate.

"I'm sorry," said Stix. "But you have to give me more credit than you are. Did you honestly think I would reject Andre because he's deaf?"

"No," said Andrea. It was evident that she meant it, but the expression on her face told him that someone had. Most likely her clan. It was probably the only reason she'd come to him at all he realized.

"Maybe we should start this again," she said. "How about tomorrow instead of me just dropping Andre off here, you and I and Andre spend the day together?"

"I thought you had work."

"I'm owed a few sick days."

Satia who nodded. He wanted to ask her to come along, but this was something he needed to do on his own.

"Sure," he said. "I'll meet you at your place at ten."

"You don't need to go all the way down there," she said. "Why don't we go for a picnic in the park instead? Andre loves the park."

Stix nodded. "Sounds good."

"I'll text you the address." She walked past Stix into the other room, and Andre smiled at her. She signed something to him, and he nodded and got up. Satia gathered Andre's bag and coat and handed them to Andrea.

"Thank you." She walked toward the door, and Andre waved. The smile on his face hit Stix straight in the heart.

"I'll see you tomorrow, buddy," he said.

Andrea walked out the door, and Stix stared at it for a long moment. Part of his heart broke knowing that Andre was gone for the night, but he was secure knowing that he'd see his son in the morning.

He glanced at the clock on his phone. "The bartender is going to open tonight, so we have a couple of hours to relax if you want."

Satia smiled. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat."

"I can grab some leftovers from the fridge."

"Then I have an idea." She took his hands in hers. "How about we eat and while we do I can teach you some signs."

He nodded. "Now is as good a time as any to start learning."

The day and the evening passed quickly. Satia wasn't fluent in sign language, but she knew enough to communicate with a toddler for sure. After they'd eaten, Stix went up to his room and searched the internet for classes and books on sign language and the deaf community in general. When he came down hours later to head to work Satia was in the middle room of the three and had set up an entire section for Andre to play in.

"I thought maybe I wouldn't go with you to the restaurant tonight," she said. "Instead I thought... maybe I would set up a room upstairs for Andre."

Stix nodded. "That would be amazing, but you don't have to do all that."

"I don't mind. And after all, I am still your assistant."

Stix chuckled. "I'll take that because I get the feeling that soon you're gonna be my boss."

She picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "I think I might like being the boss."

He caught the pillow and laughed before tossing it back to her. "So which room do you think we should give him?"

"Maybe Deacon's room?" She tugged on the fringe of the pillow.

He nodded. "Makes sense. Then you can move into my parent's old room."

She looked at the pillow. "Maybe... you could move in there too?"

It was so odd to think that the house was his now. That his parents wouldn't be coming back except to visit now and again. He'd left their room the way they had. Though all of their things were gone from in there, he still saw it as their room.

Stix walked to Satia and pulled out his wallet. He handed her his credit card. "You buy whatever you want to make that room yours."

"Mine?"

"Ours."

She smiled. Stix wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a long slow kiss that almost had him pulling her to the floor so he could bury himself inside her. He broke away and took a deep breath.

"Okay. I need to stop, so I can get to work."

"Are you sure?" she gave him a wry smile.

"I'm sure. I don't want to. Believe me, I'd rather be here with you, but yes, I need to go." He kissed her once more and headed for the door. "Get whatever you like," he called. "You're okay getting to the mall, right?"

"I can take an Uber," she replied. "Stix?"

He turned.

"What if I want butterflies and unicorns?"

He stopped at the front door. "Then I guess you'll be sleeping in there alone."

She laughed and shook her head. "I'll see you when you come home."

Stix nodded. He liked the sound of that.

* * *

Satia took a car to the mall where she bought several things for their new room. Being sure to only get items on sale she purchased bedding, pillows, sheets, an extra blanket as well as a pair of lamps, some curtains, and then a couple stuffed animals for Andre.

She carried her packages up the stairs to the second floor and then walked into what would be her new room. The scent of Stix's mom and dad lingered on every surface. Not overpoweringly but very obviously they'd lived in the room for many years. The smell wasn't unpleasant. Strangely it comforted her and made her feel more at home.

She walked to the bed and stripped it bare. She spent over an hour arranging everything in its place. She hung curtains and placed every pillow. Finally, she walked into Deacon's room, flipped on the light and set down several empty boxes she'd found in the basement.

When Satia had finished clearing out Deacon's things and taking them to the basement, she stretched and yawned. She hadn't done that much work in a long time. Exhausted she dragged herself into her new room and plopped down on the bed. She was asleep before she even turned out the light.

* * *

Stix walked into the quiet house and stood in the doorway for a moment. Somewhere inside he knew Satia was waiting for him. The thought warmed him all over, and he closed the front door. He'd lived in the house for close to fifteen years and now with her there it finally felt like a home.

Stix turned off the lights in the kitchen and the front room and headed up the stairs. He stopped at Deacon's door and glanced inside. Satia had cleared out everything of Deacon's and set up Andre's bed in the middle of the room. She'd even bought a few more toys for him. Stix smiled. She had taken to Andre the same as he had, and he couldn't ask for more.

He headed to his bedroom and stripped off his clothes. Then he walked in his underwear to his parents' old room. Satia lay curled in a ball on the large bed. Stix took in the room. Even with the little she'd done, the entire space felt different. She'd moved around the furniture and changed the colors. She'd put a beautiful cream colored comforter and pillows on the bed. The thick, light blocking curtains were a lovely cream compliment.

Stix walked to Satia and turned off the new lamp on the nightstand. She stirred, and he kissed her head and pulled the covers down and she crawled underneath.

"Stix..." she murmured.

"It's late. Go back to sleep."

He slipped under the covers and she curled into him. He pulled her close and closed his eyes. Everything about her felt so right.