Standing at the front door, Walker turned and looked up the stairs as Marsh hobbled down them. It had been a few days since he'd tried to get the man to let him measure him so that he could order him some decent fitting clothing, but he still refused.

Not sure why he wants to come grocery shopping with me all of a sudden, though.

Marsh was just about to the bottom of the stairs when Ranger walked out from the hallway behind them, making the smaller guy fidget and hunch against the railing.

Ever since Ranger had returned from his trip to the neighbors a couple days ago he'd been grumpy and mumbling about his lasso, which Walker quickly found out was missing from its usual spot in the barn.

He wasn't sure why he didn't just go back over and retrieve it if he had left it there, but he didn't dare bother him when he was moody. Their mother had also yelled at him to go get more vegetables while there was a break in the bad weather, so away he went... with a bear, evidently.

"Walker?"

Blinking out of his thoughts, Walker noticed that Marsh had made it to him and had already taken his hand. He was also trying to tug him outside, but not putting much effort into it.

Still a sleepy bear.

Smiling, Walker followed Marsh over to his SUV and unlocked it as they walked. Marsh settled in the passenger seat as Walker hopped into the driver's.

They were on their way soon after since enough of the snow had melted for him to drive safely. He switched on the heater once the car had been running for a bit, then glanced over at Marsh once they got out onto the main road.

Asleep already. Not surprised.

He left the radio off to allow Marsh to rest. It took about an hour to get to the store, and while he'd normally listen to music, he couldn't deny that the man's growl-snores had become quite calming to him over the short time he'd known him.

After what had happened when he'd tried to get him to shower, however, Walker had decided to sleep on the couch. Marsh didn't mention anything about it, so he just figured that he'd do that for a while... or at least until their mother decided to finally leave. She'd only planned to be with them for a day or two, but that time span was already turning into a week.

Oh well. It's nice to have her around and she seems to love Marsh.

The guy had put on a decent amount of weight in the time he'd been with them already, and each day he ate a little more. Thankfully, he wasn't picky, either. He'd eat raw, cooked, meat or veggies. The only thing he wasn't really a fan of was baked or processed sweets.

He remained relaxed for the last twenty minutes of the drive, then pulled into the parking lot of the local department store. Granted, he wanted to go to the actual grocery store, but he decided, halfway through the drive, that he'd try to get Marsh some actual clothing.

"Hey Marsh, we're here," he said as he gently shook the guy's shoulder through his thick, borrowed blue jacket. It took him a minute to come around before he looked up at him sleepily.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay in the car? It's pretty cold out, still. It would be fine to snuggle up in the back and wait until I came out," he said, wanting to get the guy clothing but not wanting to drag or carry him through the process. He definitely didn't need to be stared at for trying to share a dressing room with a sleeping guy he was carrying around.

Definitely not.

"I'm coming," Marsh eventually grumbled as he opened his door and slid from the SUV.

Walker wasn't sure how long he would last, but they'd just leave when he got too tired.

Hopping out of his own side, he hurried around and took Marsh's hand, knowing that he'd probably fall behind if he didn't guide him.

First stop, shoes. That shouldn't take much time.

He immediately got them to the back of the store and sat Marsh down in one of the uncomfortable plastic and metal chairs. The man was asleep in moments, making the task much easier than he'd expected it to be. He eventually found something he thought looked comfortable and woke him up again to walk a few steps in them.

Marsh didn't seem too happy with the new items on his feet, but after he moved in them a bit, he looked up at Walker and tilted his head.

"I'll take these."

Small victories!

"Perfect! Let's go this way now," Walker said as he jammed the shoes he'd borrowed awkwardly into the small box, then took Marsh's hand with his free one and headed toward the clothing section.

He expected some resistance now that Marsh was actually awake enough to bother looking around, and of course, when they stepped into the rows of clothing the guy immediately hit the brakes.

"You said we were going for food, Walker. I already let you do the shoes thing," he said, staring up at him with a pout that shouldn't be allowed, ever.

I know there's a ferocious bear in there, but why is its human half so adorable sometimes?

"What do I get if I go through with this?" Marsh asked after a moment of silence from both of them.

Walker frowned, trying to figure out something that might entice the guy. He liked food, sure, but he knew that his mother was already going to give him whatever he wanted in that category. She even made him a list of food to get, and several of the items, he'd noticed, were things that Marsh specifically really liked.

"Um, what would you like? It's for your own good, though. I know that the big clothing you borrow can be a hassle. Wouldn't you like things that fit a little better so it's not annoying to move around?" he asked as an older couple came up to them, their attention looking between the two of them.

"Oh my, I just couldn't help but come over and say hello. Is this young man you little brother, sir? He's quite adorable," the woman said, making Walker glance down at Marsh.

He didn't seem impressed by her words, but he did seem to be thinking.

"We're not brothers," Walker answered, wanting to at least clear that little bit up.

Marsh took over at that point and raised a finger toward the older man.

"What is he?"

The woman looked toward her husband, then back to Marsh, confused.

"My husband?" she questioned.

Marsh nodded, then looked up at Walker, tapping his chest with his pointer finger.

"My husband."

The small group of people were stunned into silence long enough for Marsh to get bored and take Walker's hand, then tug him toward the men's department.

Walker remained silent as he watched Marsh sift through random racks of clothing, clearly not paying any attention to the price tags. Not that it really mattered, though. His mother had given him her debit card and said to get whatever they needed.

He was busy going over what little extra things he wanted when Marsh took his hand again and tugged. Walker grabbed the front of the cart and pulled it along, surprised when Marsh stopped in front of the dressing rooms. He eyed the stalls for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with their size, when he noticed the handicap one, which was twice the size of the others.

It was a first come first serve dressing room, so he couldn't really argue as Marsh pulled him into the larger one after removing the clothing from the cart.

Walker immediately turned toward the wall as Marsh pulled off his loose clothing. Unfortunately, said wall had a mirror, so he quickly closed his eyes.

A light chuckle sounded behind him, but he didn't dare open his eyes until Marsh told him to check his current outfit. He was hesitant to turn around, but when Marsh walked up behind him, then reach around to begin undoing the button on his jeans, Walker jumped and immediately spun around, ready to tell Marsh that he was being inappropriate. That's when he felt his mouth suddenly go dry, though, and refuse to open.

Marsh had definitely changed clothes, but while he wore a nice pair of waist-hugging, faded, dark blue jeans, he seemed to have forgotten to put on a shirt altogether.

"Y-you should finish trying on your clothing to make sure it fits," he eventually managed to mumble out as he turned around again, pressing his forehead to the cold glass of the mirror.

The sounds of Marsh doing as told after a moment of silence filled the air for about ten minutes, then he felt a finger slip into one of his back belt loops, drawing his attention and making him turn around again. He was hesitant to open his eyes, but he did so when he felt Marsh begin to inch his fingers beneath the hem of his shirt.

Oh.

"What's this?" he asked as he took the sweater Marsh was holding out to him.

Surprised but unable to hold back a smile, Walker tugged off the sweater he currently wore over a long-sleeved T-shirt. When he set it aside and looked back at Marsh, the guy looked like he was pouting slightly.

"Expected a show?" he asked jokingly as he took the sweater and pulled it over his own head.

Before he could get his head out of the top, he felt felt hands grasp the hem of his T-shirt and nonchalantly tug it up slightly. Sensing where the situation was going, he quickly yanked the sweater down and gave Marsh a look that made the other guy almost appear remorseful... almost.

Shaking his head, Walker tugged the sweater off again, then pulled on his own before they exited the room. Marsh tossed most of the clothing he'd tried on back into the cart, as well as the sweater he'd picked out for Walker, then handed the items he hadn't liked to the clerk at the counter.

They were off toward the food area now, finally, but Walker swiped a few packages of underwear for Marsh along the way, noting the size of the pants he'd been trying on to pick out a size for them. He doubted the guy cared what color or design he got, and as the items hit the cart, Marsh didn't even bother acknowledging them.

As they stepped into the first section of food Walker noticed Marsh scoot a little closer to the side of the cart and grasp it tightly with his hand. He wasn't sure if he should react to the behavior, so he made a mental note of it, then took out his list to begin stocking up on what his mother had asked for.

He considered asking Marsh to go grab a few things in the isles further down, but each time he glanced at the guy he was holding the cart in a death-grip with one hand and seemed much more nervous than usual.

It was odd, though. He expected him to be looking around, wary of the people around them, but it almost seemed like they didn't exist. Not wanting to bother him further, Walker sped up their cart a little, figuring that Marsh would want to get done as soon as possible so that they could go.

He came to a stop by the fruit and vegetable area last, loading up on just about every kind they had. It took a few minutes, and each time he filled a little bag with something he'd glance back at Marsh. The guy still looked really stressed, but he kept sneaking glances at the berry area.

Ah, of course. Bears are foragers, so berries would definitely be on the menu.

He didn't normally buy them, since him and his brother didn't really care for them, but...

"Would you like some berries, Marsh?" he asked with a warm smile.

The guy seemed like he had spaced out, maybe remembering something that used to be buried in his mind?

"Marsh?"

Walker wanted to go over to him, but for some reason, he didn't think that it was a good idea. Startling a bear was never a wise decision. So, he waited patiently after stopping in front of the stand of different berries.

When he still didn't get a reaction, he picked up one of each kind; raspberry, blueberry and blackberry, then walked over to stop about a foot or so away from Marsh.

"How about one of each? Just for you," he said with a reassuring smile that finally seemed to thaw Marsh's frozen features.

He slowly looked at the containers, then up to Walker.

"I'm going to buy them all. If you want them, you're welcome to all of them," he said as he stepped up to the cart and set the containers inside.

When he straightened back up, Marsh tugged at the sleeve of his sweater, drawing his attention back to him.

"Walker, would you..." he wouldn't finish his sentence, making Walker reach over and gently pat his hair to try and calm him. Except, Marsh flinched when he tapped his hair, making Walker raise an eyebrow.

"Are you alright, Marsh? Do you not want me touching you?"

It seemed a bit odd, since the guy had literally started trying to take his pants off earlier.

Marsh shook his head before replying, "I don't mind it now. I just... I don't like shopping for food."

He doesn't like shopping for food?

"Then why did you come? I would have been glad to get you whatever you wanted. You didn't need to stress yourself by coming," Walker said, wanting to hug him, but nervous that he might make him fidget again. He clearly had some bad experiences, and as Walker thought about it, he actually realized what it might have been.

"You wandered away from the cart a lot as a cub, huh?"

The look in Marsh's eyes changed to one of fear as he stared up at him, hunching his shoulders and gripping the cart tighter.

"You wouldn't hit me..." Marsh asked, his words clearly a response to Walker's own.

Shaking his head slowly, Walker reached forward and pulled Marsh into a gentle hug. The guy still refused to let go of the cart, but he knew that past traumas didn't heal in the blink of an eye. He knew that it must be frustrating when your kids run off in a grocery store, but hitting them to the point of making them terrified to let go of the cart around the food areas was pretty harsh. They were probably just excited to get their favorite snacks.

"I promise I will never hit you, and especially not for that," Walker said before releasing Marsh and walking around to the front of the cart.

"Is there anything else you'd like to grab before we go?" he asked, watching as Marsh looked around a little, then hesitantly pulled the cart over to the berry stand and, using his free hand, put six more packs in the cart.

Adorable.

When he was done, Marsh looked back at Walker and gave him a half-smile.

"I came with you so that no one tried to do anything to you."

Anything to me...? While shopping?

"You are my husband."

He... came to fight off anyone who might possibly try coming onto me. God, I picked up a strange bear.