Being a Cody by blood was not all it was chalked up to be by those who lived on the outside of it. Nice cars, apartments, plenty of money and what looked to be a normal family bond came at a cost. The cost of permanent scarring, physical and mental. Blood shed on a daily basis, cauterizing wounds in the garage with a sock shoved in their mouth so the neighbors wouldn't grow worried and call the cops. It was only natural that anyone who became involved with a member of the Cody's became dragged into the family activities.

Except for you, and Andrew made damn sure of it.

The first time you even went over to the house was six months into your relationship, and even then he stayed glued to your side like a puppy dog. Anytime you asked to sleep over it was always at the condo he lived in with his niece, never the big house despite you mentioning wanting to swim in the pool. His excuse? The condo was quite literally on the beach.

You were his. His delicate partner who didn't deserve to be dragged into the world of the Cody's. You who tended to his cuts not knowing where they came from or the guilt that came with them. His innocent, better half, who up until today truly was innocent in all terms of the word.

He had never quite grasped why you were always so... modest, with him. Not in clothing or anything, but in touching. You two didn't hold hands until nearly two months in, didn't really kiss or do anything further until that night you had visited the family home the first time. Even then and ever since, it's always been above the clothes activities. Not that he minded, he understood in his own way. But it got to a point where he let his curiosity get the better of him and he had to ask what the deal was.

The conversation was a long one, too. He sat you down one evening and it came to light you had never really done anything. With anyone. Ever. Andrew, to simplify it, was your first everything, and you were a bit nervous to bring that up. Plus, how does that naturally come into a conversation?

It had been another five or so months of the same routine since that question until tonight rolled around. Some sort of anniversary, Andrew wasn't sure. One year? Year and a half? He lost track a while ago but was relieved you kept up with the dates. You two had spent the day doing what he deemed cheesy couple things before you got down to business once back at the condo. You told him that you were ready, and today was the day.

So, fast forward about three hours of Andrew being nothing but sweet and you two were now laying in the shared bed with nothing but the thin top sheet draped over your bodies. Yours, mostly.

Andrew was watching you as you settled down, calloused fingers coming to push your hair out of your face. "Are you okay?" He finally murmured slowly, his voice a bit hoarse from use but also due to the natural sound of his voice. "You need a... a bath or something? Some water maybe?" He murmured as his hand came to rest on your side, his calloused skin rubbing slowly up and down your smooth skin.