Andie hauled open the heavy door of the elegant establishment that operated above the Green Parlour. A manager in the back looked up from the bar when she entered with Morgan in tow, but he was well aware of her relation to Eric and Teddy by now and returned to his task without a word.

"Andie, where are we going?" Morgan hissed anxiously from behind. "What is this place?"

Stopping in the foyer, just in front of the doorway that would lead them down to the Green Parlour, Andie turned and faced her friend.

"I'm going to be very honest with you about me and Eric. That's what you want, right? But I need you to keep an open mind."

"Okay... You're making me really nervous."

"I'm sorry, I don't want to scare you. I just..." Andie sighed, pausing to rub her temples as she once again debated whether or not this was her best decision.

"Andie? What is it?"

"Nothing. I'm just worried about how you're going to react to what I'm about to show you."

"Okay, now I'm scared."

Sighing with great uncertainty, Andie turned and Morgan followed her down the stairs. She took one more deep breath before entering the Parlour with a squeak of the doorknob.

Just like the first time she had entered the Green Parlour, minimal light filled the large underground dungeon. It smelled of cedar and smoke. Out of habit, Andie started to remove her flats, but Morgan's voice from behind reminded her that this wasn't a usual visit to the Green Parlour.

"What...the...absolute...fuck."

Turning, Andie looked at her friend who was looking well within the room where racks of canes and floggers hung from the wall, as well as paddles of various woods that dangled from individual hooks. Every station was easily visible without the usual throng of bustling patrons that crowded the room.

Andie watched anxiously as Morgan's eyes drank in the sight of large wooden contraptions with leather straps for ankles and wrists, lined up and down the length of the room. And in the very center was Eric's domain; his very own station that looked less menacing than it usually did. However, a hook still hung from a ceiling with a red rope laying within sight on the tall entry table that also housed his bason of water, candles, and other torturous items tucked away within the drawers and cabinets.

Morgan didn't speak as she stepped further into the room. Andie quietly followed her friend, observing her closely. She stopped near the corner that looked as normal as possible; a few leather armchairs and tall end tables where the dominants would often sit and drink while observing the scenes before them. Then she turned and received a full view of the room. Her face gave nothing away.

"Morgan," Andie pressed gently. "Do you know what this is?"

After a moment Morgan slowly nodded her head. "How did you get mixed up in this?"

Frowning, Andie lowered her head and nervously played with the hem of her cream cotton dress.

She promised to be honest.

"It's Eric's."

"What?" Morgan's eyes finally turned to look at her friend. Andie offered a slight shrug.

"This place is called the Green Parlour. It's a...BDSM club, and... Eric runs it."

Morgan balked. "And you're okay with this?"

Sighing, Andie nervously rubbed at the back of her neck. "Six years ago, when Eric was taking care of me, he would discipline me if I...misbehaved. It started shortly after John started disciplining you. I... wanted Eric to do the same with me, so when he was upset with me for lying about my schoolwork, I suggested that he... spank me."

Morgan's face turned red. "He did what?"

"Morgan, it was my idea. My request, actually. I wanted that closeness that you and John had. I wanted some kind of parental boundaries and affection. And I wasn't doing good, Morgan. You know I wasn't in a good place. I needed this from Eric."

"And he agreed? Just like that?"

Andie offered a slow shrug. "He had some reservations, but then once we started, we kept it going. It was a part of our relationship, and... I want to be honest and tell you how important it was to me, and I much we both enjoyed it, but—"

"Enjoyed it?" Morgan gaped. She turned and threw her hands up in the air. "I can't believe this." She whirled back around on Andie. "You know how much I hated my brother disciplining me. I complained to you about it all the time, and you were going through the same thing, except you were enjoying it?"

"Morgan, I'm sorry—" Andie reached for her friend, but she was yanking her arm away.

"Don't, Andie. I can't even look at you right now."

"Morgan," Andie whimpered, tears welling in her eyes as she imagined the absolute disgust her friend must be feeling for her right now.

A loud moan of a door opening across the Green Parlour caught their attention, and Andie turned to see Teddy emerging from the back office. He spotted her immediately, and she watched as his head dropped back as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Andie, thank God," he muttered to himself. But he didn't look happy to see her. In long strides, he approached, his handsomely tan face carved in stone and his brow furrowed. Something about him made Andie want to drop to her knees as she was accustomed to doing in the Parlour. It took a great deal of willpower to push her submissive instincts aside and maintain eye contact as he approached.

"Would you like to tell me where the hell you have been?"

Andie opened her mouth to respond, but Morgan beat her to it.

"Who the hell are you?" she snorted.

Teddy scowled fiercely in return. "Who the hell are you?"

His tone startled Morgan, and she appeared taken aback. He took advantage of her moment of silence and returned his frown to Andie. He didn't repeat himself. He didn't have to. He lifted one eyebrow in expectation of her response, and stammering like an idiot, Andie answered his question.

"I-I was at lunch. This is my friend, Morgan. We were just..."

"Just not answering your phone?"

"M-my phone?" Andie reached into the pocket of her cotton dress, but her phone wasn't there. "I-I don't have it."

"Eric has been looking everywhere for you. He's under the impression you left Florida." Teddy crossed his arms over his chest, and Andie felt her heart hammer in her chest.

Eric must have come home early. If he did, he wouldn't have found her in their condo, because she was out with Morgan. She couldn't imagine what he must be feeling right now. She should have texted him of her plans.

"Wait—" Morgan stepped into the conversation again. "You have been considering leaving? And, what— he isn't letting you? So, you don't want to be a part of this? Oh my God, Andie. I am getting you out of this nightmare right now." She grabbed Andie's wrist and started walking towards the stairs.

"Now hang on just a goddamn minute," Teddy growled, storming after them.

"Morgan, stop it." Andie tugged her arm free. "I don't want to leave. I'm happy here."

"Happy?" Morgan shrieked. "How could you possibly be happy? You're not happy, Andie. You have been brainwashed by Eric, and whoever the hell this is."

"My name is Theodore, and I think you should be leaving."

"No, Teddy," Andie turned, placing her hands on his chest. "It's OK, let me talk to her."

"No, forget it," Morgan took a step back, waving her hands dismissively. "I don't want to talk. I'll leave."

"Morgan, please. Let's talk about this."

"I can't talk about it with you, Andie! I can't trust you!" Morgan's voice broke and Andie felt a rush of tears flood her eyes. "I hate this, Andie. You know how much I hate it. You saw that when we were kids. I can't be a part of this. It's too upsetting."

"But this isn't like that," Andie implored. "Your situation was very unique in that it was your brother delivering your discipline. With that familial connection, it might as well have been a parent. So, you have to understand that this," Andie stepped aside and waved to the room behind her, "isn't anything like that."

"What's the difference?" Morgan crossed her arms defensively.

Andie breathed a sigh of relief, so happy that Morgan opened the window for her to explain further.

"Okay," she took a deep breath, her argument clear in her mind. She opened her mouth to speak when Teddy stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder.

"Don't, Andie."

She turned and looked up to read Teddy's expression, but he wasn't looking at her. His eyes were trained straight ahead at Morgan.

"Why not?"

"You can't explain this to somebody who won't understand."

Andie returned her attention to her friend.

Was Teddy right? Would Morgan never understand? The idea of losing her friend over this tore at her heart, and she felt that she needed to try in an effort to preserve her longest and dearest friend.

"M-maybe I could show you..." Andie suggested warily, feeling uncertain in her ability to keep her friend from running off before she could properly explain herself. Morgan looked at her, just as warily, but she didn't make an attempt to leave which sparked hope in Andie's heart.

"I think I understand," Teddy's voice rumbled from above Andie's head where he stood just behind her with his hands still resting upon her shoulders. "You were spanked by your brother; of course, it felt weird. Andie was spanked by someone whom she romantically loved. Without those feelings, it would have been just as weird for her."

Andie waited silently, watching as Andie's eyes—so full of uncertainty—traveled from Teddy's to the floor. Her posture slackened, and she looked defeated. It broke Andie's heart, and she stepped forward and took her friend's hands in her own.

"I know that I can't convince you right now that this isn't a bad thing," she said sincerely. "But I want you to trust me when I say that this is very different from what transpired between you and John. If you let me explain... then I think I could show you that."

Morgan didn't pull away, but her eyes remained cast down. She sniffled quietly to herself before softly responding. "Can...can I think about it?"

Frowning, Andie swallowed her tears as she nodded her head. "Of course. Take all the time you need."

Nodding, Morgan gingerly slipped her hands from Andie's before turning and disappearing up the stairs, closing the door behind her. Andie wiped her tears away, watching the door at the bottom of the stairs as if Morgan might reappear. When it was clear that she was gone, Andie turned and faced Teddy.

"I'm sorry I worried you," she breathed, her head down, her arms hanging at her sides.

"Andie..." Teddy's voice was gentle—something Andie wasn't expecting as she assumed he was still displeased with her. His hand cupped her jaw, his fingers burying into her hair. "Are you all right?"

Her exterior cracked and Andie's face crumbled as her tears fell mercilessly. "She hates me. My best friend hates me."

Tugging her forward, Teddy enveloped Andie in his embrace. "She doesn't hate you, sweetheart. She just doesn't understand."