Arnold parked the van in his spot and he and Dalla climbed out. He took her into his arms and held her tenderly. “Thank you.”

“W-wait...” Dalla stated to protest, then he kissed her for several seconds and she stopped thinking.

Arnold broke the kiss and gave her the keys to the van, took her hand, and led her inside to the front desk. “Hi, Doris.” He said and Doris beamed a smile at him. “I'm going home for the weekend. Is it all right for Dalla to stay in my bed until Monday?”

“Well, as long as you're okay with it.” Doris said and picked up a piece of paper. “If anyone says anything to you, just show them this.” She signed it and handed it to Dalla.

“Th-thank you.” Dalla said, completely surprised that it was so easy to get permission to stay over.

“I'll be back down in ten minutes. I need to pack.” Arnold said and Doris knew what that meant. She nodded happily and Arnold took Dalla to the elevator. They rode it to the top floor and stepped out into the hallway. It was almost lunchtime, so it was practically empty again. He took her to the dorm room and let her hand go.

Arnold sat down at his computer and printed off several pictures. He stashed them in his drawers, in the closet in his new backpack that held his school books, and under his bed in his suitcase where he had left his old dissection tool kit. He also had the rat specimen container there and was tempted to leave one on it, then shrugged. The smell would be enough of a deterrent if they opened it.

“What are you doing?” Dalla asked.

“Prepping for the worst.” Arnold said and handed her the last picture. “If any strange men... or a brunette with short hair...” He pointed to the girl in the picture. “...show up here looking for me and where I live, show them that and let them know that one of the frat boys gave it to me.”

Dalla's mind finally made sense of the picture. “OH MY GOD!”

“Yeah.” Arnold said. “Tell them if they don't leave me alone, it will be all over social media.”

“That... it would ruin...” Dalla couldn't finish the thought.

“Yeah.” Arnold said. “They shouldn't show up, considering they don't know it was me that received the pictures and video.”

“There's VIDEO?” Dalla gasped loudly.

“I'll show you when I get back.” Arnold said and went for the door.

“Wait!” Dalla said and went to him. “Why are you letting me handle this?”

“I don't want you and Ida to get hurt over their stupid revenge.” Arnold said.

Dalla took a deep breath and let it out, then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him, as if she had loved him for all her life. “Thank you, Arnold.”

“We can't have sex. I have to go.” Arnold said.

Dalla laughed softly, surprised that he could read her so easily. “If you get back late Sunday night, I'll still be in your bed.” She said and blushed a little. “I'll set the alarm for early enough as well.”

Arnold gave her another kiss, picked up his already packed backpack, and left the dorm room. He rode the elevator down to the ground floor and saw that Doris was already away from her desk and her 'gone for lunch' sign was on top of it. He went around the desk and entered the back room and shut the door.

A very horny black beauty reclined on the bed and she had her legs spread wide for him. “Your hot box lunch is ready for you, my handsome young lover.” Doris purred. “It has missed your expert lips.”

Arnold quickly took off his suit, climbed onto the bed, and went down on her.

*

An hour later, the bus pulled to a stop and picked up a casually dressed young man.

“Hey, there! Heading home so soon? I didn't expect you until tomorrow morning.” The bus driver said.

Arnold took out his bus pass and scanned it. “I made sure to keep my Friday afternoons clear.”

“Ha! Your mom's gonna love that.” The bus driver said and pulled away from the curb. “How was your first week at school?”

“Quick.” Arnold said. “We barely had any work to do.”

“You won't be saying that next week when the professors get revved up.” The bus driver laughed. “I doubt I'll see you again for a couple of weeks.”

They chatted occasionally during the long two hour drive and the bus pulled over at the bus stop.

“See you Sunday night.” The driver said and watched the young man leave his bus.

*

Annie sat on her comfy couch and watched mind numbing television programs that she watched every day. She wore loose jogging pants and a long sleeved t-shirt that was so big, three of her could fit in it. It was like a tent and it fell down to her knees, and she laughed every time she put it on. She had bought it as a joke when she had passed by one of those big and tall stores, then soon discovered the thing was the most comfortable and soft piece of clothing she owned.

She sipped her giant mug of tea and waited patiently for Arnold to call and let her know if he was going to be home this weekend. She looked at the clock and saw that she had another hour or so before he was out of class and would contact her. Her sigh was loud when she let it out, because she still couldn't find a job.

Staying at home and taking care of her family was all Annie had known for twenty years. No one was willing to take a chance on her, not even herself. She didn't argue very hard when she was rejected, because she knew if she screwed up, she would have no one to blame but herself. That was a hard thing to admit to yourself, that when it came to certain things, you were afraid.

There was a knock on her front door and she put her tea down to go and answer it. She had no clue who it could be, so when she opened the door, she let out a shriek of surprise.

“ARNOLD!” Annie yelled and jumped into his arms. She hugged him tightly and held on for several moments. She gasped and let him go. “Wait, why are you home so early? Did something happen? Oh! Don't tell me they kicked you out! I'll kill them!”

Arnold raised his eyebrows at her, which made her laugh, because she knew he was practically shouting with that reaction.

“Don't mind me.” Annie said, then she realized what had happened. “Why did you have to knock?”

“My keys are in my other pants.” Arnold said and pointed to the bag in his hand.

“You changed so fast to get here that you didn't take your keys?” Annie asked and laughed again. “Come on. Get in here.” She said and dragged him into the house. “I was just thinking about you while I waited for your call.”

Arnold put his bag down and took off his jacket.

“Is there anything special you want for supper?” Annie asked. “I was going to cook something fast...”

“That's fine.” Arnold said and took her hand, then led her into the living room. He sat her on the couch then laid down to rest his head on her lap.

Annie had expected it and had pulled her huge top out of the way for him, then she grinned and let the fabric go. “You really can fit inside of it with me!” She said and burst out laughing as Arnold's head and chest were completely covered by it.

“What is this?” Arnold asked and started to dig through it and ended up inside of it with her. He saw the underwire bra his mother wore and frowned. “You shouldn't wear bras like that.” He said and dug his fingers into the thick understrap, and lifted it.

“ARNOLD!” Annie gasped as her bra was lifted and her breasts were set free. She tried to grab them over the fabric, then she felt his hand go behind her back and undid the clasp. “What are you doing?!?”

“Look at the damage it does.” Arnold said and he gently rubbed the red indents in her skin that were just under her breasts. “Do you have any moisturizing creme?”

Annie just sat there, her hands cupping her own breasts through the top, and her bra was only held on by the shoulder holes. She watched wordlessly as Arnold came out from under the large top and he left the living room. He was back a minute later with the creme and she didn't say anything as he ducked back under the large top and laid back down.

She shivered as Arnold carefully applied the slightly cold creme to the crevasses the underwire had left in her skin. “Arnold... you...” She swallowed audibly as he massaged the skin. “How do you know how to do that?”

“I help Doris when she wears one.” Arnold said and heard his mother gasp. “She wears it to give her shoulders a break, because of all the weight they normally carry with her large breasts.”

“Arnold... do you... do you play with her breasts when you do that?”

“No.” Arnold said. “Why would I play with them?”

Annie let out a sigh of relief. Her hands were cramping from holding her breasts so tightly, so she let them go.

“Your nipples are poking out.” Arnold said.

“Don't touch them!” Annie gasped.

“Why would I touch them? It's because of the cold creme.” Arnold said and kept working. When he had finished, he came back out from under the top.

“Arnold... I... you have to know that... that wasn't okay.” Annie said, her face red.

Even though it had felt really good, and she was very happy that he was that concerned for her, having her own son massage her like that wasn't something she had ever thought he would do for her.

He's wrong about the cold creme being the reason. Annie thought, nervously.

Her body had reacted to the contact, even though it wasn't intimate contact, and her mind couldn't handle that her own son made her nipples pop out, and he hadn't even been trying to do it.

“I love you, Mom.” Arnold said and hugged her.

“I... I don't want... to hear...” Annie tried to say that she didn't want to hear that he loved her, not with her body reacting like that, and yet, she couldn't tell him.

“I will never try to caress, molest, grab, pinch, lick, or kiss any part of you in a sexual way.” Arnold said.

Annie shivered, because that was what her mind was thinking. If he tried anything, would he take her rejection... her adamant and instant rejection... as a sign that she didn't actually love him?

“You told me the difference. I've had sex. I've seen and felt the difference between normal touching and sexual touching.”

“A-Arnold, I...”

“Mom.” Arnold let her out of the hug and looked into her eyes. “I will never have sex with you.” He took her hand and pushed it towards his crotch.

“NO!” Annie tried to pull her hand away and she couldn't.

“It's not hard, Mom.” Arnold said and put her hand on the bulge in his jeans. “I saw you naked a lot, and I just saw you with excited nipples, and it's not hard. I rubbed the soft and supple skin under your breasts and it's not hard.”

It's not getting hard with my hand on it, either. Annie thought, then she shook her head at having such a stupid thought. “L-let me go.”

“I love you, Mom. I will never do anything to harm you.” Arnold said and let her hand go. “I promise.”

Annie took in a sharp breath, because he hadn't said anything like that before. “Arnold!”

Arnold thought back to his sociology class. “You are my mother. You gave birth to me. You love me and you raised me. You taught me everything you could to help me. You nurtured me and let me grow into the man I am today.”

Annie's face turned sad and she started to berate herself for assuming he would try something.

“I'm sorry you thought I would take advantage of you, Mom.” Arnold said and wiped at her face as she started to cry. “I'm sorry.”

Annie sobbed and took him into a hug. She held him tightly for several minutes as she cried, then she calmed down and eased her hold on him. “I'm the one that's sorry.” She said and gave him a quick kiss. “I thought... with what was happening...” She shook her head. “If you did grab my breasts and tried to... play with them or... or tried to suckle...”

Arnold didn't say anything and waited for her to finish.

“It would... it would break something inside of me, Arnold.” Annie admitted as she tapped her temple, then she looked deep into his eyes. “If you ever tried anything, I... I wouldn't... I couldn't be your mother anymore. I wouldn't be me, anymore.” She said, then she asked something that she never thought she would ask, because she always assumed he did. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, Mom.” Arnold said. “If I tried to have sex with you, my mother would die and another person would be in your body.”

“That's right, and I don't know what that person would be like.” Annie said. “Vengeful, possessive, loving, horrible, angry, evil.” She shook her head. “I don't know what I would become if you crossed that line, and I never, ever, ever, ever want to find out.” She said. “Is that clear?”

“Yes, Mom. Perfectly clear.” Arnold said.

“Good, because I never thought I would have to have a 'please, no sex with your mother' conversation.” Annie said. “Now kiss me and I'll try to push this whole conversation out of my head.”

Arnold caressed the side of her face. “I love you, Mom.” He said and gave her a brief kiss.

“I love you, too.” Annie said. “Let's go make something quick to eat.” She stood up and slipped her bra straps off her shoulders and then let the bra drop to the floor. She was never wearing it again, considering what it had just caused.

“Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?” Arnold asked as they went to the kitchen.

“Only you finishing Beth's hedges on the other side of the property.” Annie said and took out two cutting boards. “I think she's been getting more and more concerned as the week went on that you might not finish it this weekend.”

“I'll do it early in the morning. I don't need the wood chipper. I already covered everything in mulch.” Arnold said and handed her two knives.

Annie took the one that she preferred. “We can store the excess branches in the back of the yard until next year, or we can gather them together and have a bit of a bonfire party.”

“It would be very smoky.” Arnold said and she chuckled.

“Oh, right. I guess it's next year after all.” Annie said. “Hand me the carrots and you start the potatoes.”

Arnold did so and they spent half an hour making themselves a quick and nutritious meal that they both liked. After that, they went back to the couch and resumed their places. Annie was a bit more careful with her large top and Arnold ignored her attempt and pulled it over his face.

“Arnold, what...”

Arnold pulled it away from his face. “Peek-a-boo.” He said and covered his face again.

Annie chuckled and shook her head, then he did it again and she laughed. “Arnold!”

“I like your laugh.” Arnold said and she smiled as she rubbed her hand over his blonde buzz-cut.

“You don't know how happy it makes me that you can say that.” Annie said. “Oops! I just told you!”

Arnold smiled and she laughed again, then she bent down slightly and briefly kissed him.

“My sweet little boy.” Annie whispered. “How I wish things like sex never came up.”

“According to the sociology professor, it always comes up.” Arnold said. “She also said to excuse the pun; but, I don't know what she meant.”

Annie chuckled and she didn't dare enlighten him. “What else did she say?”

“That your mother is the first woman you ever love.” Arnold said. “All other loves can only compare to it.”

Annie opened her mouth to say that wasn't true, since the first girl you fell in love with was usually the one great love of your life. “What do you think?”

“I only told two people that I loved them.” Arnold said.

Annie didn't even have to think about it. Kelly and myself.

“Empirical evidence tells me that it has to be true.” Arnold responded.

Annie's heart went pitter-patter at the admission that the love he felt for her, he used as a comparison for any other love that he felt for someone else. The both of them fell silent after that and they pretended to watch television.