"Dodok..." she began uncertainly, her heart racing as she struggled to find the right words. "I don't think that would be a good idea," she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "We shouldn't... We can't..." She trailed off, realizing how ridiculous it sounded.

Her cheeks flushed red as she felt herself growing aroused despite her better judgment. Dodok was her son, and they had been through so much together.

Her heart raced as she felt herself growing aroused despite her better judgment. Dodok is her son, and they had been through so much together. The idea of touching him in that way both thrilled and terrified her at the same time.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to meet his gaze. "Okay," she whispered, her voice shaky. "But only because you asked nicely." She swallowed hard before stepping closer, reaching out to gently grasp him where he was most aroused.

"...and I want you to feel comfortable talking to me about anything. But if something bothers you and all you can think to do is look at those kinds of pictures, it might not be the healthiest way to deal with your feelings." She paused, hoping he was listening. "I just want what's best for you, that's all."

Her heart ached as she said it; she knew how hard it could be to accept her advice sometimes. But she also knew that deep down, he understood.

She laughed softly at his comment, feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief. "I suppose you're right about that," she admitted. "Everyone has their fantasies, it's only natural." She paused, considering her words carefully before continuing. "But remember, just because something is in your head doesn't mean it's real or healthy to focus on too much. It's important to keep things in perspective."

She reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "

As they continued their exploration of the abandoned library, Lucia remained silent, lost in thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed her son somehow. Perhaps giving him an outlet for his desires would have helped ease some of his pain and frustration. But at the same time, she knew that there were lines she simply couldn't cross, even for him.

She glanced over at Timeaus as he examined a dusty old book on botany. Despite their differences in opinion, she was proud of the man he was becoming;

As they made their way back home, the weight of their conversation hung heavily between them. Lucia knew that she needed to find someway to make things better for her son, but she wasn't sure how. She wondered if maybe they should try and find other survivors, see if there was anyone out there who might be able to help them both through this difficult time.

"Timeaus," she said finally, breaking the silence that had settled over them, "I want you to know that I'm here for you, always.

"No," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. "You need those more than I do." She forced a light laugh. "I'm fine, really. Just rest up and tomorrow we'll find something else to keep ourselves busy." Even as she spoke, she knew that it was a lie. But what choice did they have?

They sat together in silence for a while longer, the weight of their shared burden almost too much to bear.

Lucia looked into his eyes as he held her hands, the sincerity and love in them almost too much to bear. She wanted nothing more than to protect him and keep him safe, but sometimes she felt like she was failing at everything. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to smile reassuringly at him.

"Timeaus," she said softly, "you're an amazing young man, and I will never forget all that you've done for me."

Despite herself, Lucia felt her cheeks heat up as she met her son's gaze. "I'm glad it didn't hurt," she managed to say softly. "You should always feel comfortable talking to me about anything." She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Now, why don't we get dressed and find something else to do? We can work on that salve later today if you like."

Lucia felt herself blush deeply at his question. "Um..." She hesitated, trying to find the right words. "I... I shouldn't. It's not appropriate for us to touch like that." Her voice sounded almost shaky as she tried to maintain her composure. "But you can always talk to me about it if you want."

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze any longer, and busied herself with folding some laundry on the nearby table. The silence between them grew thick and awkward.

Her cheeks flushed as she looked into his eyes. "Neither did I," she admitted softly. "But... I'm glad we are here together." She smiled tenderly at him, her heart racing with a mix of love and desire. "I never wanted to hurt you, Timeaus. I only want what's best for us both."

Her fingers continued to trace patterns on his chest, hesitant and unsure. "Do you think... we could be happy like this?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed up at him, the love and trust shining in his eyes. Despite the guilt that still lingered, she couldn't deny how right it felt to be with him like this; how much joy their connection brought her. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand, stroking his skin with gentle affection.

"I think... maybe we can," she whispered softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "