Since the birth of their son, Jake and Amy were determined to juggle their personal and work lives, but it was proving to be almost impossible as both parents had huge things happening in their work lives, plus the lice outbreak at Mac’s nursery further added to the stress.

However, after some bickering between the pair, they agreed that Jake would stay at home with Mac whilst Amy got prepared to pitch her new police reform idea over at One Police Plaza.

Jake isn’t one to feel down very often, but when he does, it hits him hard. He felt like he was a bad detective, dad, friend and husband, not even Die Hard could cheer him up right now.

However, he forced himself to put on a smile when Amy came through the door, she was looking confident from her prep. But from being a sergeant, she could tell something was up with Jake.

“Babe? What’s going on?” She asked, immediately coming to sit down next to Jake, who just shook his head.

“Nothing, nothing, I’ve just put Mac to bed and it sounds like he’s settled so, we’re free for the evening now.” He replied, clearly a little distracted and just not himself.

“Okay well… I feel a little more relaxed about giving my pitch, everything seems to be in the right order and… yeah.” Amy replied, trying to keep a normal conversation before sighing.

“Jake, I know something’s up, what’s going on?” She offered.

Jake just sighed, shaking his head.

“I’m glad I chose Mac over the case but… I’m still bummed that I’m missing out, I bet Charles is blowing up my phone as we speak whilst attempting to be nonchalant. Which obviously for him is impossible.” He ranted as Amy rubbed his back.

“Hey, you never know, they could always catch the wrong guy or, there’s some admin error. You can still be involved in the case!” Amy tried to tell him to get him to be a bit more hopeful.

“They seem confident that they have their eye on the right guy, so it’s not gonna take long before they catch and get a confession out of him,” Jake replied defeatedly.

Amy sighed, trying to figure out a way to cheer her husband up. Since being a parent, she had allowed herself to dip into her silly, playful side even more so than when she started dating Jake, so she decided that silliness had a good chance of making him smile, so she gave it a go.

“Oh Jake, you may feel upset about missing out on finding Franzia but there’s still one perp on the loose that always leaves their victims…. Giggling…” Amy started with a small smirk on her face, trying to hold back her laughter when Jake looked genuinely confused, she could tell that he was trying to figure out who she was referring to.

“What? Who are you talking about?” He asked, getting even more confused when his wife leaned towards him, beginning to wonder if she was trying to get them to the bedroom.

“Oh they’ve been around for a long time, finding victims who are sad and need cheering up, and now they’re here for you…” she teased as she poked his side, causing the detective to jump and brush her hand away, beginning to catch on.

“Oh no no no don’t-“

“The tickle monster’s here!” Amy announced, pouncing and digging into his ribs, causing Jake to immediately burst into giggles, falling back onto the couch.

“And she’s not gonna let you go until you’re all cheered up!” She added, giggling fondly as she shook her fingers into his ribs, now sitting on his legs to avoid getting kicked in the face.

“STAHAHAHAP NAHAHAHAH!” Jake laughed out, wiggling from side to side, trying to be quiet for Mac’s sake but he was just too ticklish to be able to hide his laughter.

Amy grinned, now moving her hands down to squeeze the spot above his knees, kneading in rapidly to make Jake laugh hysterically. “But she’s loving your laugh, babe!” She teased, moving her squeezes up and down his thighs to get him to laugh harder.

Jake laughed helplessly, he had never expected things to go the way they had, but it was helping him take his mind off things, not that he’d ever admit it. His laughter simply got louder when Amy switched tactics and dug her fingers under his arms.

“Her attack is working! You’re cheering up!” Amy announced proudly, feeling incredibly fond of the fact that her husband was so ticklish, she was definitely going to use this against him in the future.

“AHAHAHAMY!” Jake laughed, squeezing his arms against his sides as he kicked out, his ticklishness completely taking over him but not necessarily hating it. Amy just smirked fondly and quickly moved back to his ribs, his most sensitive spot.

“Okaaaaay! I think the tickle monster has done her job and I have a feeling she’s gonna be back again at some point.” The sergeant winked and let him go, climbing off him and holding his hand to help him up.

Jake took in deep breaths, sitting up with a grin on his face, one that he couldn’t get rid of if he tried. “That was so mean…” he puffed out. Amy just giggled and nudged him.

“It worked though, didn’t it?” She teased, knowing that if Jake really hated it, he would’ve been trying harder to get away from her playful attack. He just rolled his eyes, shoving at her gently.

Unus! Annus! UnUS! ANNUSSsss...

Mark and Ethan started off on screen. “Waterboarding. A torture method that goes as far as the 1800’s, and was used by many countries in World War 2.” Mark explained. “The simple torture method that involved a cloth and water...that caused mental pain to victims, yet rarely injured or killed.” Mark explained. “Thousands of people have been waterboarded before. But what is it really like?” He asked rhetorically.

“How do you feel about it, Mark?” Ethan asked.

“Huh?” Mark muttered, turning to Ethan.

“How do you feel about being waterboarded?” Ethan asked again.

“...I’m not doing it.” Mark replied.

A record scratch sound effect went off in the background. “Wha- Oh yeah!” Ethan started laughing. “Then why did we start it out like this?” Ethan asked.

“For-for the anticipation! There’s only so much adrenaline you can experience before you die. I wanted to get the people...ya know...hyped up!” Mark explained.

“...Only for them to be surprised over nothing.” Mark added as he started laughing.

“Alright! So because waterboarding is actually really dangerous and could kill people either immediately or hours after experiencing it…” Ethan explained.

“We’re gonna go for something that’s a lot less severe: Chinese water torture.” Mark told them.

“What’s that, Mark?” Ethan asked in a scripted voice.

“It’s basically getting tied to a table, and getting a constant drop of water onto your head...for hours.” Mark said to the camera.

“So...we have a table for the waterbo-Chinese water drips on the right-” Ethan hit the table, “Right here.” Ethan explained. “And a towel underneath for that.” Ethan added as he pointed to the towel. “And, we have a padded table on the left, with comfy handcuffs. Please don’t ask where we got these…” Ethan warned as he started giggling. “We also have ankle cuffs and a high table filled with…” Ethan turned to Mark. “...Eeempty. Is there supposed to be something on here?” He asked.

Mark looked at the camera and smirked. “Yup.”

“Where is it?” Ethan asked.

Mark continued to look at the camera. “You’ll find out soon enough…” he said before looking away again. “Alright. Let’s get you in.” Mark told him as Ethan laid down onto the table.

“Wait, do I need to get the thing?” Ethan asked, motioning to the empty high table.

“Nope. We’ll get it soon.” Mark replied as he tightened the wrist straps. “This good?”

Ethan nodded. “Why am I stretched out like a star?” Ethan asked.

“Because it’s how people do it.” Mark replied.

“Huh...Wait, people do this?! They willingly get tied up and tickled?” Ethan asked.

“Yup.” Mark replied confidently. “It’s how I found the idea.”

Ethan looked at Amy, who was holding the camera in a worried/confused expression. “So, there are people who openly admit they like being tickled?” Ethan asked.

“Yes, there are. And they openly agree to be tied down, tickled and recorded.” Mark explained.

“How do you know they want it?” Ethan asked.

“Some of them say it in the thumbnail. Others don’t, but we can just assume they want to be this vulnerable.” Mark replied.

“Is it a fetish?” Ethan asked.

Mark stared at him, and blinked a few times. “...It can be, yeah. But there are people who innocently enjoy it too.” Mark explained.

“Oh.” Ethan reacted.

“Why? Do you have a tickle fetish?” Mark asked.

“No! Oh my god no.” Ethan replied, visibly disgusted.

“Do you enjoy being tickled?” Mark asked.

“I mean...I don’t hate it...It depends on the person.” Ethan replied.

“Yeah, same here.” Mark replied.

“Like, if it was you tickling me, I don’t mind. You’ve already tickled me on multiple occasions, actually.” Ethan added with a giggle.

“The painting our bodies video...We had to skip out on your armpits for that one.” Mark admitted.

“First of all, I said we could! YOU, were the one who got uncomfortable and cowered away.” Ethan argued. “And second of all, I was talking about the massage video; the one where we facetimed your Mom.” Ethan added.

“Ohoho yeah...I remember. You were double chinning and full on kicking your feet- you were a mess that day.” Mark admitted.

“Ihihit tickled! It’s like your neck! Your chin is a weakness, and the back of my neck is a weakness too!” Ethan reacted.

“You would not relax for the life of you! Even as we yelled for you to relax!” Mark added.

“I know. I’m super ticklish back there.” Ethan told him.

“I know.” Mark snuck his fingers on the back of his neck. “I can tell.”

Ethan giggled and squealed, wiggling his neck away. “Noooohohoho! Ahahare wehehe stahahartihihing?” Ethan asked.

“No. Just warming you up a little.” Mark admitted.

“Should we bring Jack in?” Amy asked behind the camera.

Mark looked up. “Yeah. Did he arrive yet?” Mark replied.

“Jack?” Ethan asked.

“Yup. He just arrived.” Amy replied to both of them.

“Is Jack here?” Ethan asked. Amy nodded back.

Suddenly, Jack’s voice could be heard praising Chica and giving her attention. “Hi Jack!” Mark greeted.

“Hi Mark!” Jack greeted back. “Is Ethan ready?” He asked.

“Yup! He’s all tied up.” Mark replied.

“Perfect. Can’t wait.” Jack said back. “Is this the tray of tools out here?” Jack asked.

“Yup! On the counter.” Mark replied.

Jack walked into the room eagerly with a tray of...a weird collection of tools. Jack placed them onto the side table beside Ethan and let Ethan look at all the tools in horror. “I love the tool variety! You even got 2 different types of toothbrushes!” Jack added. “Manual, and electric!” He said, showing them both off to Ethan and Mark.

“WHAT?! MARK, WHY?!” Ethan yelled at him. Mark and Jack both started laughing at his reaction. “NOOOooo! Is that a paintbrush too?! Remove that. Right now. Get rid of the feathers too. That’s not allowed. And- oh no not those cat toy fishing hooks...” Ethan reacted in horror.

“Now, I left one thing off the tray, specifically to get Ethan even more nervous.” Mark pulled out a medium-sized bottle and handed it to Jack.

“Baby oil?!” Jack reacted, laughing.

“Yup. I did some research and apparently, baby oil is supposed to enhance the ticklish feeling.” Mark explained. “People seem to use this on the feet most often, but I don’t think Ethan’s feet are ticklish. So, you can use it wherever.” Mark replied.

Jack started to giggle evilly with the pink bottle in his hand. “Ohohoho boy. I’m lathering this stuff everywhere.” Jack told him.

“NO! PLEASE DON’T! I’M PLENTY TICKLISH ALREADY! I DON’T NEED THAT-” Jack ignored Ethan’s cries and grabbed the paintbrush from the tray. “NO! NOOOO! I’m getting wax video flashbacks.” Ethan whined.

Jack bursted out laughing. “Oh! Oh! I should fill your belly button with baby oil like I did with the wax.” Jack said out loud, giggling evilly with a huge smile on his face.

“Jack, please no! JAAaaack...” Ethans protests quickly turned into whines and whimpers as he watched Jack pour baby oil right into his belly button.

“Ooooookay!” Jack lifted the bottle up. “Perfect!” He reacted. “Look at that! Filled his little belly button.” Jack declared. Ethan was already giggling and whining a little in anticipation. “Getting nervous yet?” Jack asked.

“Ihihi gohot nervous the moment yohou walked in hehehere with thehe trahahay.” Ethan admitted.

While Jack was getting Ethan oiled up, Mark had laid himself down on the other table. “Alright. Jack, can you get me tied up here?” Mark asked.

“Yup!” Jack twisted the baby oil cap back on and placed it onto the tray before coming over to help Mark.

“Just need to be tied up.” Mark told him.

“Do you want your belly button filled with oil too?” Jack asked as he started tying Mark’s wrists to the table.

“No thanks. I’m fine.” Mark replied. “My belly button isn’t ticklish anyway. It would just get messy.” Mark told him.

“Ok.” Jack tied the waist rope onto Mark’s waist. “There.” Lastly, Jack tied his ankles to the table. “You good?” Jack asked.

Mark tried shaking and wiggling, and only moved an inch or so. “Yup.” he replied.

“Perfect. And now, the water.” Jack tied a reusable water bottle with a tiny spout, onto a rope that was hanging down from the ceiling. “There!” Jack watched the first drip of water very slowly develop, to fall onto his forehead. “Start the timer, timer man.” Jack ordered.

Amy showed the timer in front of the camera and clicked the start button before moving it off screen.

“Woman. Timer woman.” Jack corrected with a giggle.

Mark anxiously waited for the building drip of water to build up enough, so it could fall off the spout and land onto his forehead. Another minute later, and the drip of water finally fell and splashed onto his forehead. The drip fell down the right side of his forehead onto the towel pillow.

“Drip number 1.” Mark told him.

“Oh no, oh no-” Jack’s paint brush touched down onto the belly button. “JahahahaHAHAHACK! AHAHAHAHAHAHahahahaha!” Ethan yelled, laughing almost immediately.

Jack was dipping his paintbrush into the oil and lathering the oil onto his entire belly. Ethan would giggle and move his belly around when the oil was being lathered, but would squeeze his eyes shut and throw his head back in strong laughter when the paintbrush would simply dip a few times into his belly button. Mark was right: the baby oil enhanced EVERYTHING! His belly button was DRENCHED in it, and his belly was slowly getting covered.

“I need more baby oil.” Jack muttered to himself as he reached for it.

“Noooo you don’t! My belly’s already ticklish! Why are you adding more?” Ethan whined.

“Because I wanna! And you,” Jack poked his navel with his finger, “Can’t stop me.” Jack wiggled his finger in his belly button with a mischievous little giggle.

“HAHAHAHAHA! JAHAHAHACK NOHOHOHOHO! GEHET OHOUT- GEHEHEHET OHOHOUT OHOF THEHEHERE!” Ethan shouted, wiggling his belly around as much as he could to get his finger out.

Jack followed what he said, but put some more baby oil onto his belly. “There we go. And nooow: a painty-painty-painty-paint! Aaaand a brushy-brushy-brushy-brush.” Jack teased surprisingly well as he spread the baby oil all over his abdomen and belly region.

“NAHAHAHAHAHA! IHIT TICKLES SOHOHOHO MUHUCH! HAHAHAHEHEHE!” Ethan laughed and giggled.

“Really? I had no clue! I thought you were just laughing for no reason, to be honest.” Jack joked.

“SHUHUHUT UHUHUHUP!” Ethan yelled.

“You guys wanna know something?” Mark asked.

“Sure.” Jack replied, still tickling Ethan.

“Ethan’s laugh is getting on my nerves more than the dripping itself.” Mark admitted.

“Mark!” Amy yelled from behind the camera.

“Wow! That’s really rude.” Jack warned. “How would you feel if Ethan proclaimed that your laugh was annoying him?” Jack asked.

Mark looked over with his jaw slightly dropped. “I wouldn’t give a shit!” Mark reacted.

“JAHAHAHahahahack, Ihihihi neheheheheed ahahaha breheheak! Plehehease gihihihihive mehehe aha breheheheak!” Ethan begged.

“Is that how tickle torture is supposed to work?” Jack asked.

“THIHIHIHIS IHIHIHISN’T EHEHEHEVEHEHEN TOHOHORTUHUHURE!” Ethan protested.

Jack shrugged his shoulders. “Okay.”

Jack stopped tickling Ethan and put the oily paintbrush down. “Alright. How are you doing, Mark?” Jack asked.

Mark grabbed the water bottle and yeeted it across the room. “Mark-” Amy reacted.

“The dripping isn't doing anything. I need tickle torture.” Mark told him.

Ethan and Jack looked at each other in surprise. “I...Really?” Jack asked.

“Are you even ticklish though?” Ethan asked. Mark kept staring at him expressionless till Ethan looked up at Amy. “Is Mark ticklish?” Ethan asked.

“Yup. He’s quite ticklish. He’s not ticklish like you, Ethan, but he is ticklish.” Amy replied, confirming his point.

Jack looked at Amy with a smile while he untied Ethan. “Where?”

Amy pointed at Ethan. “Just follow his lead when he’s out.” Amy told him.

Ethan smiled as he got off the table. He quickly remembered the one spot he hated: his chin. Ethan’s face slowly grew into a smirk as he lifted his chin with his left hand, and skittered his fingers right under the chin with his dominant hand.

“eeEEEEK! ETHAHAN YOHOU JEHEHERK!” Mark yelled at him.

“So...his chin?” Jack asked him.

“Yup! Go for his armpits too.” Ethan suggested. Jack smirked and quickly skittered his fingers in his armpits.

ETHAN- IHIHIHI’M GOHOHONNA KIHIHILL YOHOHOHOU!” Mark yelled before throwing his head back to let his laughter out.

Jack shook his head with a laugh. “I love how you’re pissed at Ethan, and not even considering the person who’s actually tickling you.” Jack admitted.

“YOHOHOU CAHAHAME HEHEHERE SOHO YOHOHOHOU COHOULD DOHOHOHO THIHIHIS!” Mark yelled back at him.

“Awww! How thoughtful of you to consider me!” Jack admitted before removing his fingers from the armpits. “And now, my favorite part: the baby oil!” Jack declared as he grabbed the bottle and the paintbrush. “Time to lube you up, my dude!”

Mark’s eyes widened as he looked at the baby oil. He was quickly starting to regret bringing that out. “Now hohohold ohon: Hohohow ahabout nohohoho?” Mark asked.

Jack tapped the brush handle on his own chin. “Hmmmm...How about yes?” Jack considered out loud before dipping some baby oil into a bowl. “There! Now it’s JUST like the wax video! Except this time, it’s Mark getting tickled!” Jack declared. “And his armpits are gonna be EXTRA ticklish!” Jack added as he brought the oiled-up brush to his open armpits.

“Nohoho! NOHO! JACK! BEGONE! DOHON’T YOU FUHUCKING DAHAHARE! NAH-” Mark wheezed and shook his head as the baby oil was lathered all over his right armpit. “NAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *quick breath* NOHOHOHOJAHAHAHAHACK!” Mark begged.

“No what, Mark? No tickling? Or no armpit tickles?” Jack asked. “Cause even if you meant one of those things:” Jack leaned closer into Mark’s mic. “I don’t care.” Jack replied.

Ethan decided to grab a big paintbrush that was on the tray. Oh boy! Now he could see why Mark was excited about this! “Alright! I’ll get the left armpit!” Ethan called out, tiptoeing happily in a Grinch-like fashion, to the left side of Mark.

“Here; let’s share the bowl.” Jack suggested as he put the styrofoam bowl onto the end of the table. Ethan took some of the baby oil from the dipping bowl and spread it onto his other armpit.

“NONONONONOOOHAHAHAHAHAHA! MEHEHEHEANIHIHIES!” Mark yelled at them both.

“Aww, is Marky too ticklish in his armpits?” Jack teased.

“I think he is.” Ethan added.

“WHYHYHY ARE YOHOU EHEHEVEHEHEN HEHEHELPIHIHING?!” Mark asked Ethan.

“Cause I wanna! And cause Jack untied me so I could!” Ethan replied.

“Yeah! Don’t be questioning our choices, Mr. Victim.” Jack warned.

Jack dipped the paintbrush deeper into the liquid. “Diiiiiip-” He said. “Aaaand tickle~!” Jack sing-songed as he covered his armpit with more baby oil.

“STAHAHAP IHIHIT! STAHAPITSTOPITSTAHAHAHAHAHA!” Mark begged.

“Is poor Markimoo too ticklish in his widdle pits?” Jack teased. “Now what if I were to take advantage of my small brush here…” Jack pushed his chin back slightly to prevent him from clamping down, “Aaaand a coochy coochy coo! A coochy coochy coochy coochy coochy coochy coo!” Jack teased.

Mark had a huge, toothy grin on his face as he shook his head to get Jack’s hand off his chin. This was truly vulnerability at its finest. And Mark...didn’t know how to feel about it.

“IHIHI’LL KIHIHILL YOHOHOU! IHIHIHI’M GOHOHOIHIHING FOHOHOR YOHOHOUR RIHIHIGHT SIHIHIDE WHEHEHEN IHIHI GEHET OHOHOUT!” Mark warned.

“Uuuuh...I thought the point of me coming over was to purposefully tickle you?” Jack reminded him. “Plus, you literally told me ‘I need tickle torture’. Those were your exact words.” Jack reminded him.

A quick flashback played, showing the very moment.

Mark growled. “IHIHIHI KNOHOHOW, BUHUHUHUT- JAHAHACK STAHAHAP LEHEHET MEHE TAHAHALK!” Mark shouted back.

Jack nodded back and retreated the paintbrush. Ethan retreated his paintbrush as well.

“Ihi’m tired. And Ethan’s not supposed to be tickling me. You’re supposed to be tickling Ethan and myself as well.” Mark explained.

Jack looked at the camera. “Now am I supposed to tickle two people at once?!” Jack asked.

“I can do it.” Amy replied. Jack turned to her. “I can do it. I just need to set up a tripod for the camera.” Amy told him.

A quick static TV transition happened and next thing we know, the four of them are ready with a timer in the corner of the screen. The camera is set up to view both men strapped down, Ethan and Mark are now both shirtless, and the wired mics are strapped around both boys' necks. The bottle rope above is no longer hanging down, and the high table with the tools has moved to the middle between the two beds. Amy is standing above Mark with a makeup brush in her hand while Jack is standing above Ethan with a fluffed Q-Tip in his hand.

Jack looked at Amy and started counting. “3...2...1...”

“GO!” Amy and Jack both shouted!

The timer had started and Amy had already started pushing Mark’s neck back lightly. Jack shoved the Q-Tip into Ethan’s belly button almost immediately, emitting a loud burst of giggles. Amy fluttered the makeup brush all over Mark’s neck and chin, causing a huge toothy grin, yet no laughter.

While Amy kept the fluttering going, Jack kept on switching tickle tactics constantly to determine the best reactions. Jack went from swirling the Q-Tip around in his belly button, to spinning the Q-Tip back and forth in between his palms.

“JAHAHAHACK! DOHOHOHON’T SPIHIHIN IHIT LIKE THAHAHAHAHAT!” Ethan shouted to him.

“Why? Is it working?” Jack asked innocently.

Ethan nodded and wiggled around as he threw his head back and laughed.

“Just because you can still move a little, doesn’t mean you should.” Jack warned with a giggle.

Ethan squeezed his eyes shut, wheezed and shook his head. “SHUHUT UHUHUHUHUP!” Ethan yelled back.

Meanwhile, Mark was getting super close to breaking. He was tittering a little through his teeth, and squeezing his fists, so he did not break without a fight.

“Don’t make me go for your armpits.” Amy warned. “I will go for the armpits if you keep this up.” Amy mentioned.

Jack looked up. “There’s a bottle of baby oil over there. Would that maybe help?” Jack asked.

Amy looked up to Jack and looked at the baby oil. “Not a bad idea...But I feel like that would be cheating because it’s enhancing the tickling. It’s making it worse than it’s meant to be.” Amy admitted.

Jack laughed a little. “Well, I already used it multiple times. So, I think it’s allowed at this point.” Jack replied.

Amy with some hesitance, dipped the makeup brush into the styrofoam bowl of baby oil and spread it onto his neck and chin. Surprised by just how much the tickling was enhanced, Mark finally bursted! “PPFFFFTTT- HAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHANDS OHOHOFF!” Mark laughed, shaking his head and struggling to get the brush away from him while tied.

“What do you mean, ‘hands off’? I’m barely using my hands on you!” Amy reacted.

“Yeah! Who needs hands when you can use tools?” Jack added, looking at the camera.

Suddenly, Jack put away the Q-Tip and grabbed the toothbrush while he watched Ethan’s eyes just about widen to the size of dinner plates.

Jack turned it on. “NO! JACK! PLEASE, NO!” Ethan begged.

Jack’s hand with toothbrush got closer and closer to the belly button while the video zoomed closer and closer as well.

“NO! NOOOO! AAAAAAAAAHHH-”

You had been doing such a great job in babysitting Jake and Amy’s son all night, but the second you mentioned to him that they’d be back soon, he started screaming the place down, and he has been inconsolable since.

You sat down on the couch and held Mac in your arms, rubbing his back and gently rocking him in hopes he could be soothed to sleep, it was way past his bedtime and despite following his nap schedule, he seemed more awake than ever.

All you wanted to do was give your two best friends a break, they have been working so hard at the precinct, as well as making sure they were amazing parents to their son, they deserved a night out together, so you offered to babysit.

As much as Amy trusted you, she just didn’t feel ready to leave her sons side for just a few hours, but after some encouragement from Jake, she caved in and let you look after him. You and Mac loved each other, he often called you by an adorable nickname which melted your heart every time he said it, but right now, he didn’t want anything to do with you.

Just as you were about to try and offer him a snack, the door opened, the two of you immediately looked over at the door and you soon saw a blur of a toddler run over to Jake and Amy. Jake immediately picked him up, a little confused as to why he was still awake.

“Hey lil man, you’re up late…” Jake told him softly, bouncing him and rubbing his back, just like you did earlier. He looked over at his wife, who brushed her fingers through his sons soft curls and kissed his head.

Amy then looked over at you, seeing that you were about to break down in tears and rush out the door. She told Jake to try and put Mac to bed and stopped you from going anywhere.

“Hey, what happened? You two seemed fine when I FaceTimed you earlier.” Amy asked you gently, showing you that she wasn’t mad by sitting you back down on the couch and pulling you into a side hug.

“I-I was putting him down to go to sleep and I told him that when he woke up you’d be back… he’s been crying ever since and I’m sorry he’s not asleep…” you explained with a sniffle, your face falling into your hands as you let out a helpless whimper. Your thoughts were all over the place, but you were quick to conclude that Jake and Amy were never going to trust you again, or they weren’t going to let you see Mac again, or even want to be friends with you. All these thoughts caused you to tense up and sniffle helplessly, you felt Amy give you a squeeze and rub your arm soothingly.

“Hey, it’s okay, this is the first time Mac has spent time with anyone for this amount of time outside of his family, he was bound to be nervous and he’s going to get separation anxiety sadly, just like Jake and I did.” Amy reassured you, but you just shrugged in response, not believing her words as your eyes gazed around the room, there were various toys and books you were meant to tidy up after Mac had went to sleep, but obviously, he had yet to fall asleep.

“I-I was meant to tidy up too… I’m really sorry, I understand if you’d never trust me again…” you sniffled, trying to hold back your tears as Amy was quick to pull you into a tight hug.

“Hey, you’re okay, the house is always a mess anyway, it would be a miracle to see the floor on any given day.” She chuckled, looking at the books and toys too, her eyes then gazed upon one particular book, and idea forming in her head. She reached forward and picked it up.

“He loves this book, I bet he made you read it a thousand times.” Amy giggled as she flicked through the pages. You snapped back into reality and looked down at the book she was holding, ‘The Tickle Monster’. She was right, Mac would make you do the voices and use the glove that came with it, you had read it to him at least 5 times in the last six hours, but you didn’t mind, it was fun to bond with him like that, and it made you miss being on the side where you were the one being tickled.

You often thought about the time you and Amy spent together, around ten years ago now, she often babysat you when you were little, much like you and Mac now, only difference being that you were around six when she babysat you. Amy was never afraid to bring out the tickle monster whenever you were pouty or upset from a rough day at school.

You were caught up in your thoughts so much that you almost didn’t notice Amy shaking you to snap you out of it, you looked over at her to try and give her your full attention.

“Hey, this book reminds me of something… do you remember what I did whenever you were grumpy whilst I was babysitting you?” Amy asked with a small smile as he fingers crept down towards your sides.

“I don’t think it would hurt to bring the tickle monster back now…” she whispered before gently wriggling her fingers up and down your sides.

You immediately flinched away and covered your mouth, trying hard not to giggle as you attempted to shuffle out of Amy’s hold, although Amy has reassured you that she doesn’t hate you after what happened, you still felt like you didn’t deserve to giggle and have fun.

“Y/N! Don’t you remember my binder which had all your information in? Your tickle spots were also included in there!” Amy teased, obviously, this wasn’t true, it would be a little weird. But she did have a binder with all of your information, like your favourite foods and activities to do. But that comment was fun to throw in there in hopes to cheer you up.

You believed her, but hoped that she somehow forgot about your number one tickle spot, but when you felt her fingers crawling up to your armpits, you knew you were done for.

“Wow, 28 year old me would never believe me if I said you were just as ticklish now!” Amy teased before scribbling under your arms, making sure you were trapped in her hug at all times.

You instantly slammed your arms down to your sides and cackled with hysterical giggles, you wriggled around from side to side. “Ahahahahamy!” You whined, hating how sensitive you were as you attempted to get rid of the sensation.

“Aw Y/N, you’ll always be so ticklish.” Amy giggled, giving you a small break by squeezing into the spot just above your knees, watching you as you kicked out and let out a stream of adorable giggles.

You kicked out and covered your face with your hands, deciding there was no point in defending yourself as you knew that Amy has managed to pin way more violent people down, so you’d be no match for her.

Amy smiled fondly at you as she moved to flutter into your belly, blowing a raspberry onto your neck to get you to squeal, but then tut when you did so.

“Hey, you’re gonna wake up the kiddo again!” She giggled, blowing another raspberry as punishment whilst scribbling back under your arms, smiling over at Jake briefly as you broke into giggly laughter.

Jake came over and sat on the other side of you, poking your knees and thighs. “What’s going on here then, huh?” He asked casually, watching as your laughter went silent, which signalled for Amy to let you go, instead just pulling you into another hug.

“Oh, just reminded Y/N that they’ll always be victim to the tickle monster.” Amy commented casually with a smile. “And that they’re a great babysitter who is a great role model to our son.” She added, making you bite your lip and look at Jake, he didn’t seem to happy when Mac was still awake earlier, so you hesitantly waited for this response.

“Oh yeah, once Mac calmed down he said he had a great time with you!” Jake smiled reassuringly, making you sigh in relief.

“So you’d have me over again?” You asked quietly, just to reassure yourself. The two detectives quickly nodded, with Amy kissing your head.