Phase I.III- Setting In.

"So, that's my problem. I want to give myself, all of myself to him, but I don't know if I can handle all that in such a small space."

The young lady, Alex, moderated tanned, blonde hair, blue-purple floral dress with purple petticoats with a cardigan, looked down at fingers embarassed about this.

Kat, in her black evening dress, considered the young woman's problem for a second, and began: "Well, honey, you ....."

Kat paused and considered her words.

"Yes, Ms. Morgan?"

Kat thought for another second, and smiled.

"Sometimes you have concerns about your sex life. That's natural and the best thing to do is not hide it, but try to talk to your husband. You need to at least bring up these concerns."

"But..." Darryl interjected. "Make sure to understand his perspective."

Darryl dressed properly for the occasion, with a sweater vest, khakis and Oxfords. Kat stopped as Darryl continued:

"Your husband wants to explore the sexuality of your relationship. He wants to make sure that all possibilities are open. You have to make clear that you are open to this, but that you have some concerns. I'm sure you can work it out."

Kat smiled at her son. Since he had joined her sessions, he had become invaluable in helping her. He reigned in her explanations and feminist focused therapy strategies, and got to the heart of the problems the women had and often had reasonable solutions. He also made sure she looked presentable in either her skirt suit or evening dress.

Because of his due dilligence, the women seemed to absorb what she was talking about. They were thinking, considering what was said, and how to apply it to their personal lives. Kat had already gotten calls about how she and her son had improved their relationships.

Over the course of the past few days, Kat had learned to let her son explain her words a little better, no feminist academics or theory necessary.

"Just remember that you need to make yourself clearer to your husband. Make sure he can be loving and tender."

Her son finished, Kat got a final word in: "My thoughts exactly. Alex, you need to talk, and have that difficult conversation. Otherwise, neither of you will be satisfied."

Alex smiled. "Yes.... Yes! I think I can do it."

Alex jumped from the couch, while Kat and Darryl slowly rose. She shook both their hands.

"Thank you so much, Mr and Ms. Morgan."

"Please, we're here to help" Darryl assured her.

Alex almost danced out, as Darryl and Kat began to pack up for the night.

"Hey, Darryl, you're really coming along nicely on these session."

"Thanks mom." Darryl moved in and kissed his mom on the cheek.

"You're keeping a good pace with me and contributing a lot."

"I'm just trying to help." Darryl held his mom tight. Kat, in turn, felt his hard body against her. She bit her lip. She was having very strange feelings around her son recently. Very ... sensual feelings. Like she felt good around him, way more than she had before.

Darryl had been more physical with her since they moved, a lot more hugs and touching. And Kat was... okay. Granted, she did feel a lot looser and more pleasured as well, and being this close to her son was adding to that.

"I really appreciate it." Kat looked up to her son and smiled.

Eventually they distangled, and Kat went to her desk to write her notes.

"Actually," Darryl interjected, pulling Kat away from the desk. "I was thinking I could take some notes. To ease the burden a little."

"I don't know..."

"Trust me, I can do it."

Kat looked at her son's giddy attitude, and decided that maybe, since he did talk most of the session, it might be better to have him take the notes.

"I have to get out of this dress. I've been wearing it and the skirt suit for the past couple days. It's been a great icebreaker."

"Yeah, it's great."

Kat pondered.

"I can't keep wearing these two outfits, though."

"You could always get more clothes."

Kat giggled. "Not a bad idea. I haven't been clothes shopping in a while. The ladies told me they have so many clothing stores here, they have trouble choosing."

"It's a good start."

"I just need to get into my home wear now."

Kat was about to leave when Darryl piped in one final thing.

"I got you a gift. It's in your bedroom."

"Oh, I'll take a look."

"No, I want you to open it at night. It's a real surprise.

---

"And SHE suggested it?" the fedora gentleman's mouth took another bite of the sandwich. The wrapping (with the Subway logo made to look like the original from 1965) was still on it.

"She did. I think that stuff is working."

Darryl watched as the gentlemen took another bite.

"It probably is. Now, you get to make more of a move on her. Her defenses are down, and you can break the ice, you just need to plan it properly. But be bold. Now, she won't have to the inhibitions to really object."

"Right, I get it."

"You gave her the gift?"

Darryl nodded.

"Good. That really sets off the process. Accelerates it. She will fall within a few weeks, if not sooner, if you have the other thing."

"It's the second surprise."

Fedora gentleman laughed, spitting out some of the sandwich. "You.... not a lot of men like you."

"I'm just doing what's best for her."

"Oh, absolutely. I prefer you guys, because you're romantic. You know how to treat a lady."

Darryl smiled. "Thanks. I'm really doing this for her."

Darryl was about to get on his bike, when he turned to the fedora gentleman.

"I swear, you sound familiar."

Fedora gentleman choked.

"Oh, you sound a lot like .... Randy Bat!"

"I... I actually don't get that a lot."

"I love that series. I have newest one on the Switch."

"Well, I didn't voice that character!"

"Didn't think so. Someone else did it."

Darryl walked away. "Anything else?"

"You can finally move on to Assignment 3. And I know you'll accomplish this one."

Darryl smiled as he biked away. Meanwhile, Emmett sighed in relief. Close one there. He even got the damn character right.

------------

"I don't know, Bi, I'm starting to settle in." Kat held her phone as she sat on the chair. She bothered to put on a maroon T-shirt, but not any pants. "The patients are pretty interesting, and Darryl... Darryl has been a revelation. He's been working so hard, so so thoroughly. He's actually also doing half my job for me!"

Chatter on the phone.

"Well, they have a private airfield, if you could afford it, but you mainly get there through an app with a map on it."

Chatter.

"Don't know. I think they said some security thing."

Chatter.

"Oh, you'd love it here! The people are super nice, the climate is nice, and it's so immaculate."

Chatter.

"You can always work from home here. I'm sure there's a newspaper around here that'll also hire you. And your wife can always come! It's pretty LGBTQ+ friendly. I've met some clients in lesbian or pan relationships. I think you'd be accepted. A doctor and journalist team."

Chatter.

"Give it some thought."

Chatter.

"Dunno. I might go clothes shopping some time in the next few days. I also wanted to check out a spa today. They didn't have bookings for today, but I'm going there in a little while to see if they have an opening for tomorrow."

---

Kat was surprised by the spa. Very pink: pink walls, pink columns, attendants in pink uniforms. Just pink all around.

There was a gaggle of housewives waiting for their appointments, decked out in their sunday best. One or two women were just in more modern clothing, including herself in a grey pantsuit with a maroon undershirt. In fact, Kat believed these were the first two women she had seen in Stepford with... well, pants, let alone modern ones.

She approached the counter, and rang the bell. A young brunette with big blue eyes in one of the pink shirt dresses with puffy sleeves and white gloves came over.

"Welcome to Stepford Serenity! The best spa in the Stepford area and proud member of the Tranquility Family! How may I assist you?"

Kat was so used to unnerving smiles that her own wide, unflappable smile didn't faze her in the slightest.

"I wanted to know if there was an appointment that could be made. I feel like I need a makeover and a well-deserved rest."

"Let me take a look!" The girl, without even changing expressions, looked on her computer. "Oh! There's on Friday, if you're interested."

"Friday's good. No clients that day."

"Wonderful!" the attendant clicked a little. "Would you like the full treatment?"

"What's the full treatment?"

"Well, it's all the massages and relaxation, alongside some truly great rejuvenation techniques! Takes years off! Plus, some hair and make-up."

"Well, might as well indulge myself."

"Full treatment it is!"

Kate pulled out her credit card, and the attendant swiped it.

"All done! See you on Friday, Mrs....."

"Dr. Morgan"

"Have a good day."

Kat took her credit card and left.

---

"I'm back!"

Kat dropped groceries in the kitchen, and headed upstairs.

"Darryl, you back yet!"

As she searched the upstairs, Darryl, on quote, walked out of the bathroom. Completely naked.

The two stared at each other for more than a few seconds, before Darryl fled in embarassment, and Kat fell into her bedroom.

The image of her naked son was seared into her mind. His... sturdy, but also thin (and fucking clean shaven) torso with those pecs, his chiseled features, his running back legs, and his penis, surrounded by brown hair.

There was no horror, though- In her mind, Darryl looked more like a statue from antiquity, forged in bronze.

That sensual feeling came back, and Kat just contemplated her son and his body. As she did, she slowly moved_ _her hand down.

"Hey!"

Kat was broken from her trance by Darryl, now wearing a wife-beater and boxers.

"Sorry about that, Mom. Didn't expect you."

"That's fine, Darryl, I was just shocked."

"Hope you aren't mad."

"I'm not mad at all!" Kat definitely wasn't. "You have... a great body, and I shouldn't be so ashamed about seeing you, my own son, naked."

"Still, it was my bad. I'll lock the door next time."

"No... I mean, it's fine if you don't! It's really nothing. Really." Kat was giggling a little, but just withheld her own urges.

"Well, if I could make it up to you, I have a present."

Darryl held up a light green box with a bow on the top. Kat was drawn to it somehow.